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“That must be killing you,” Pryde said.

“What of your aunt?” Lucien asked, clearly changing the subject. “Did she speak to you of marriage again?”

Dorian sighed, his thoughts momentarily pulled away from the past by the mention of his beloved aunt. “Yes, she remains ever hopeful. I would do much to make her happy, if only I could reconcile it with my own desires.”

He paused, meeting the silent, understanding gazes of his friends. They all knew well the weight of familial duty and societal expectations that accompanied their titles. And the constant struggle of rebelling against all that.

“Speaking of desires,” said Lucien. “I hear the city is positively teeming with lovely young ladies this upcoming season. Perhaps one of them might yet thaw Rath’s icy heart?”

Pryde chuckled at Lucien’s jest, but Dorian remained silent while Howe pulled a fresh shirt over his head. He couldn’t get his aunt’s request out of his mind. He wished he could make her happy, yet he couldn’t fathom the idea of having a wife. Or looking for one…

Good Lord, he could only imagine the dreadful nights of attending balls where eager debutantes and their mamas would hover around him. A physical shudder ran through him. This caused Howe to stop tying the collar of Dorian’s shirt and murmur an excuse.

“It’s not you, Howe,” muttered Dorian. “No need for an apology.”

“Do you know whom I saw in the city last night?” said Pryde, and relief flooded Dorian at the change of topic. “Mr. George Rose.”

Rose…

Dorian froze, his knuckles whitening where they gripped the edge of the table. He felt as though a cold hand had reached into his chest and seized his heart, squeezing mercilessly.

“Indeed?” he managed to force out, his voice tight.

His valet fastened the last button on his waistcoat, seemingly oblivious of the storm brewing within his master.

“Ah, yes,” Pryde continued, seemingly oblivious to Dorian’s discomfort. “Poor man was attempting to sell whatever he could to pay off his family’s mounting debts. It appears that John’s education at Oxford drained them dry, and now they’re left with nothing.”

Dorian clenched his jaw, struggling to maintain his composure as guilt gnawed at his insides like a ravenous beast.

“Why are they left with nothing?” he asked through parched lips.

“Well,” Pryde said, clearing his throat, “because everyone believes John ended his own life, rumors started circulating around the Roses. You know what happens to families in those situations. Their old acquaintances, especially the good ones, stopped seeing them, afraid to be associated with a tarnished family. The six daughters became unmarriageable, so they’re left with the expenses of a large household but dwindling income. Since John was their last hope to change their financial situation, they’ve been scarcely able to provide for themselves.”

“Six daughters…” Dorian echoed.

As the faces of his two friends swam before him, his mind reeled.

“How unfortunate…” mumbled Luhst, his eyes still on Dorian.

“It is. I tried to help,” said Pryde. “I gave the Duke of Fortyne’s card to Mr. Rose, and they’re meeting later today.”

Dorian scowled at Pryde while Howe fiddled with his cravat at his neck. “You know Fortyne. No doubt he’ll pick up the estate for pennies and then turn it profitable.”

“Well,” said Pryde, “Mr. Rose is desperate to sell today to avoid landing in debtor’s prison. Anything he can get quickly is better than nothing.”

Debtor’s prison? And what would happen to the six young women and their mother? Without money or connections, would they all end up in a workhouse? Dorian’s hand ached again, the scars, the torn sinews, the new splits on his knuckles… Fury burst through him like the blast of a gun, followed by remorse for the life he had destroyed.

Not just one, as it turned out, but eight more. Six sisters and two parents.

Could he have eight more lives on his conscience? Goddamn it. His aunt’s pleading expression came to mind, the hope and the tears in her eyes as she spoke of grandbabies.

Goddamn it again.

Mr. Rose had six unmarriageable daughters and a large debt he was desperate to pay off.

“Perhaps…there is another way,” Dorian said, and he couldn’t believe the words had actually left his mouth.

“Another way?” Pryde raised an eyebrow.