Page 52 of After the Abduction
Yet she was as sure as ever that Sebastian had been the one to kidnap her. Indeed, Mr. Pryce’s attempt to engage her sympathies toward him only proved it.
“Why are you telling me all this about Sebastian?” She crossed her arms over her chest defensively. “What does it have to do with Morgan’s kidnapping me?”
The question seemed to disturb him, just as she’d intended. He glanced away. “If you’ll recall, this conversation began when you asked me how Sebastian lacked control. I’m merely explaining that having spent half his life with no control, he now goes to extremes to exert it in every sphere.”
She laid her cards on the table. “You mean, by kidnapping a gentlewoman for some…purpose he won’t reveal?”
His gaze swung back to her in alarm. “Sebastian was not responsible for that.”
Drat him, did he not know the truth? Or was he simply being loyal? Either way, she’d get nowhere by pressing the matter. Like his nephew, he’d merely dig in his heels.
She tried another tack. “Morgan may have performed the act, but how do I know Sebastian had no part in the planning?”
Instead of answering that question, he posed one of his own. “Is that why you came here? To find some way of making my nephew pay for what his brother did?”
“No, I came here to learn the truth, that’s all,” she said fiercely. “I want to know why he did it. What it was about. Why he didn’t just tell Crouch to leave me and my family alone. I want to know why, after it was all over, he just abandoned—” She caught herself before she could reveal more. Sucking in a harsh breath, she said, “I only want the truth.”
He looked visibly shaken by her words. “Perfectly understandable. And you deserve it, too. But sometimes the truth is complicated, and knowing it wouldn’t change anything.”
“It would for me. I’ve spent two years wondering how I could be so stupid as to fall into your nephew’s trap. But if I thought he’d done it for something more than a whim or a hope of monetary gain…” Her face brightened. “Could he have needed the money for Charnwood? Could he have done it for that reason?”
“Morgan?” he asked coolly. “Why would he care about Charnwood?”
She gritted her teeth. He refused to acknowledge the truth, even though she felt certain he knew it.
“Besides,” Mr. Pryce continued, “you said he didn’t take any money for it. Only information.”
“Yes, but perhaps that’s why he wanted the information, so he could go aboard the Oceana. Perhaps Crouch knew of some…I don’t know…rich cargo that would be loaded on July 17, one that would make it worth Morgan’s while to be aboard.” It made sense. Indeed, it was the only explanation that did, in light of the evidence.
His face closed up. “Morgan had no interest in money from that kidnapping. I am certain of that. It is not in his character.”
“Yes, but if his brother asked it of him—”
“It is not in Sebastian’s character, either. Have you not heard anything I told you?”
Oh yes, every word. He’d told her all the things calculated to make her want to forgive Sebastian, to forget his deceptions and treacheries. But she refused to let him—or Sebastian—use her tender feelings against her.
“I agree that your nephews have had difficulties in their lives. But if you expect me to excuse their actions because of what you’ve told me, you don’t know me very well. My father was a scoundrel, too. He brought great shame on his children at one point in our lives, yet my sisters and I have never used that as an excuse for behaving badly.”
“You are a hard case, Lady Juliet.” He brushed a speck of dust from his immaculate coat. “Nonetheless, although my nephew enticed you away from your family, you are the one who ignored all propriety and good sense to go with him. So what excuse do you use for ‘behaving badly’ two years ago?”
She flinched, but his question was fair. “None. The difference between me and your nephew is that I don’t make excuses. I don’t wish to avoid the consequences of my foolishness. I recognize that I made my own bed, and now I must lie in it. But if I should have to pay, so should he.”
“And if he’s dead and cannot pay, you will seize on Sebastian for your revenge?”
“This isn’t about revenge!” Striding up to the settee, she sat down and grabbed his hand. “This is about justice. Please, Mr. Pryce, you must understand. Soon I’ll return to London to face the effects of this gossip. It doesn’t matter who started it or who’s spreading it—someone will eventually dig deeply enough to realize it’s true. No one will believe I was kidnapped—my family didn’t prosecute it. So society will note only that I eloped with a man and came home unwed. When that occurs, no man will marry me.”
“I have trouble believing that.” He patted her hand with a fatherly concern that made her want to scream. “A lovely woman like yourself, with so much to offer? I am sure that when your family explains the situation—”
“My family wouldn’t be here if they thought they could simply explain everything away.” She leaned toward him imploringly. “And you know what happens to women who are ruined. They’re scorned by other women, shunned by respectable men, and sought out by those scoundrels who consider any such woman an easy target.”
“Perhaps in some cases, but—”
“Do you think it’s fair that the man who wronged me should walk freely in society while I suffer the attentions of every rogue who wants to ravish me?”
“Of course not!” Sweat beaded on his forehead. Looking uncertain, he drew out a handkerchief with a shaky hand and mopped his brow. “But I don’t know what you want from me. Morgan is…dead. What could I possibly offer—”
“The truth, curse it! It’s the least I deserve! If I have to endure the groping hands and improper advances of unfeeling blackguards thanks to this gossip—”
