Page 76 of A Family Bargain with the Duke

“Are you entirely certain of this, Julian? Once the statement is made, there is no taking it back.”

“I have never been more certain of anything in my life, Piers.”

“You are prepared to admit publicly that our father falsified evidence to ruin an innocent man. That he conspired with Vane to cover a scheme that destroyed a family and drove a good man to an early grave.” Piers watched him carefully from the chair opposite. “Some will never forgive the family for it, whatever grace they might have extended to you personally.”

“Then let them withhold their forgiveness. I would rather carry the weight of the truth than the comfort of a lie our father built at another man’s expense.” Julian sighed heavily. “I have spent a week turning over every possible way to soften this, and I find I have no wish to soften it any longer. Whitmore’s father deserves to have his name cleared. Nothing less will do.”

“Then I shall stand beside you when you deliver it.”

“You needn’t.”

“I know I needn’t.” Piers rose, straightening his coat with rather more solemnity than he brought to anything. “But I am your brother, Julian. Whatever this costs our family, I would rather face it at your side than read about your courage in a random newspaper.”

Piers watched him for a moment. “You have not heard from Louisa.” It was not a question.

Julian’s expression shuttered. “No.”

“Have you written?”

“I began to.”

“And…?” Piers prompted.

“I stopped.”

“Why?”

Julian looked down at the statement. “Because there is nothing I can put on paper that will make what I said disappear.”

Piers was quiet for a moment. Then he asked, “What did you say?”

Julian’s jaw tightened. “That I was only trying to give her the life she asked for.”

Piers winced. “Ah.”

“I know.”

“That was a particularly unfortunate sentence.”

“I am aware.”

“Possibly the worst one you have ever spoken.”

“I am aware of that too.”

Piers studied him. “And what did you mean?”

Julian stared at the papers for a long moment. “I meant that I wanted her safe.”

“That is not what you said.”

“No.”

“Why didn’t you?”

Julian had no answer.

Piers nodded as though he had expected as much. “Then perhaps you should stop trying to write to her.”