A Rogue to Ruin (The Pretenders #3) - Darcy Burke Page 0,40

Rafe set his soup spoon down and addressed the table. His blue eyes glimmered in the candlelight, and his hair seemed to shine like gold. “It is my hope that we can find a way to be a family.” He glanced toward Selina. “My sister and I have only had each other—until Selina was fortunate enough to meet Beatrix—and the prospect of family is something we never imagined. To find our uncle…” He looked to Anne’s godfather. “To be reunited with our father’s brother is beyond comprehension. I know this must be a terrible shock for you, as it is for us. But in the end, it will hopefully be a good thing.”

The former earl stared at him. “That depends. Do you plan to leave us destitute?”

Sheffield coughed. “That is not Mr. Mallory’s intent.” Rafe was Mr. Mallory now? She supposed he was and that her godfather was still the earl. At least until the Committee for Privileges voted. “He does, however, intend to be the earl as that is his birthright. All entailed estates will, of course, be his. The only properties that are not entailed are your house here in London and Kilmaar in Ireland. The former was purchased by you, so that will remain yours. That you used money that is almost certainly the rightful asset of Mr. Mallory is not something he wishes to contest.” Sheffield transferred his attention to Lorcan. “Furthermore, he would like to gift Kilmaar to you.”

Lorcan’s mouth dropped open, and he clanged his spoon down against his bowl. He stared at Rafe. “You don’t want it?”

“You do. It’s been made clear to me that it’s important to you. I can’t imagine I’ll have occasion to visit Ireland regularly. I would like to see it once, however. Perhaps you’ll accommodate me.” He smiled at Lorcan, and Anne knew in that moment that she definitely hadn’t fallen out of love with him.

“You will be welcome any time. Forever.” Lorcan glanced toward his father before continuing. “You didn’t have to be generous. I keep trying to imagine how I would feel in your position. You must be so angry.”

It took Rafe a moment to reply. During that time, he exchanged a meaningful look with Selina. “Yes. It’s not that I am upset about being denied my birthright. I am, of course, but it’s more than that. I am deeply troubled by losing my parents and being stolen away. I would like to know why.”

“So would I,” Selina said. “My life would have been different—it should have been.” She turned a frigid stare on Deborah. “Just think if I had been the daughter of an earl at Mrs. Goodwin’s. Imagine us growing up as cousins and how differently you would have treated me.”

Deborah had the grace to look down at her soup. She reached for her wine again and took another substantial drink.

Anne wondered if Deborah would apologize. Not tonight, but perhaps someday. Anne hoped so and planned to talk to her about it.

“Lorcan, I appreciate you trying to understand how we feel,” Selina said. “That means a great deal to me. And to Rafe, I’m sure.”

“It does,” Rafe agreed. “I am going to need all the help I can get. I was not raised in this environment.”

“You can count on my support.” Lorcan lifted his glass in a silent toast.

Sheffield set his glass down after sipping his wine and fixed his attention on the current earl. “Can we also rely on you to provide guidance to Mr. Mallory as he assumes his rightful role? In the absence of his father to teach him, that will fall to you. If he and his sister hadn’t been kidnapped—and I think we must characterize what happened to them in this way, for there is no other apparent explanation—you would have been the one to act as steward to Rafe while he grew up as the earl.”

Anne held her breath. The godfather she loved would certainly agree. He’d always been kind and supportive. But this was a horrible situation.

Finally, her godfather nodded. “I will help him.” He looked at Rafe. “I miss your father.”

Rafe’s features tensed, and his jaw clenched. “Selina doesn’t even remember him.”

Anne frowned. Her godfather was trying. But she also knew Rafe was trying too. There was just so much pain and loss. Was there too much for everyone to move forward and leave the past behind? She thought of her own family and whether Jane would ever reconcile with their parents. They’d believed the nasty