Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Weston’s temper was a fickle thing. Normally, he felt that he was a very well controlled sort of person, but in matters such as this… he was struggling to maintain his composure. The pure audacity that Cassian had to speak to him in such bold terms was grating on his nerves. The man was not entitled to a single bill, let alone an inheritance. He was so opposed to earning his own money that he expected to have something for nothing, and it was not going to suit him.

“Perhaps now that the two of us are alone, you will listen to reason, cousin.” Cassian continued. There was such a haughty air about him that Weston could hardly abide.

“Is that right?” Weston refrained from rolling his eyes. Perhaps he ought to have called the constables in the first place. Perhaps it was too kind to presume that he would take his licks and be on his way. But apparently that was hoping for too much.

“Yes. I think that if you are wise, as I hope that you are, you will see the benefits of giving me what I’m due.” Cassian folds his arms across his chest, looking every bit the cat who got the cream.

“And what, exactly, do you think that you are owed?”

It was likely a mistake to indulge him in this conversation, but he needed a moment or two to figure out what he was going to do with the bastard in the first place.

“The earldom should suffice for the pain and suffering that you have caused me.”

Weston laughed outright. “Oh? Is that all? Why not gilded horses and a dragon’s trove of treasures as well?”

“You will give me what I want, cousin, or else I shall have to tell all of these lovely people as well as anyone with ears, that I was kidnapped and abused by the lady of the house. Is that the sort of rumor that you wish to have leaked?”

Weston saw red. The moment that Lydia was threatened, he wanted nothing more than to wrap his hand around his throat until the man’s face started to purple. The sudden violent impulses should have frightened Weston, but at the moment it felt perfectly logical to do.

“Choose your next words very carefully.” Weston warned. “Not that anyone will believe a single word that you say.”

“I know that the lady had help. I will find the witness, for she is far too small to transport and truss me up on her own. Either way, such violent rumors so shortly after her husband’s death? It is bound to spark all manner of rumors that will not be beneficial should she ever choose to remarry.

I will be more than happy to bring down an investigation should you attempt to refuse me.” Cassian continued with his smarmy tone. In his mind, he likely had already won the whole conversation. Weston was not one to give in to such things so easily.

“You do not have nearly the sway that you believe you do. You are an untitled man, who will be making baseless accusations without any evidence. Just how do you think that you are going to leverage me?”

Weston shook his head and turned around. It was best for all parties involved to simply walk away from this encounter. Any prolonged lingering in this setting was only going to ensure that Weston got into a physical altercation with Cassian. It would not be the impression that he wanted to leave here today.

“I have not dismissed you!” Cassian shrieked shrilly. He sounded almost like a child throwing a tantrum.

“You presume to command me in any capacity?” Weston spun on the man quickly. At least Cassian had the sense to stumble back a couple of paces lest he be barreled into by Weston and his irritation. “What gives you such a right?”

“Because I am the one in control here.” Cassian lifted his chin, attempting to somehow make himself be larger than he was, but he could not hold a candle to Weston.

Weston sneered down his nose at the irritating man. “An act out of sheer desperation is hardly an indicator of a criminal. Besides, it is a far worse transgression that you were claiming to be me so that you could cheat a grieving widow out of her home and funds!”

“I would not have kicked her out, I am certain that she could be of some use to me.”

Weston’s knuckles cracked. His jaw felt painfully tense from the intense effort that he was putting into not putting his fist through Cassian’s face. “Watch your tongue.”

“I had rather hoped that you would take the easy route here and see sense, but since you will not, do not think that this is the only trick that I have up my sleeve.” Cassian continued. He was an annoying gnat floating around his head that Weston could not seem to swat away.

“I do not know what you mean, but I can assure you that whatever harebrained scheme that you think is going to work, it will not. I will put forth any means necessary to thwart you.”

If Cassian chose not to be intelligent enough to take the warning for the threat that it truly was, then the consequences would be on his own head.

“Do you not wish to know why I am so certain?” Cassian continued, nearly bouncing on his heels with glee. “And before I tell you, I shall assure you that I have proof for all of my claims. Whether you believe me or not.”

“I do not believe you.”

“The dowager’s reputation will be quite ruined when I expose the real reason that she was forced to marry the late earl with such haste. I know that you were not around for their wedding, but the whole reason that it was so pressed was due to the error in her sister’s ways.”

Cassian sneered. “As a younger woman, her little sister was caught in a compromising position with another member of the ton —only to have the dowager bail her out to cover the scandal. If memory serves, I believe that the earl had to pay quite a sum to smooth things over.”

Weston could not believe what he was hearing. It was not that he did not think that Lydia would do anything to get her sister out of trouble. However, Weston also was slowly coming to know Kitty for the woman that she truly was, and he could not fathom a situation where she would allow herself to be compromised in the slightest.

She seemed far too shy and reserved for such a thing. But was there a reason for that perhaps? It was not the sort of situation that he could simply ask them about.

“Would you like to know more? It was such an influential member, it might shock you that such a wallflower could be capable of such a thing.” Cassian laughed at his own comment. One would think that he was having the time of his life. “Such a strange thing for such a spinster to reside with her sister, is it not? I should hate for her prospects of any future marriage be wholly ruined.”

“You call yourself a gentleman when you can make such threats against women? Have you no pride? No sense of honor?” Weston demanded, crowding his cousin’s personal space. If he would not see reason, he would have to force him one way or another.

Were they not in such a public setting, he would handle this situation right here and now. He would like nothing better than to personally remind Cassian of his proper place. But he knew that he could not make a scene no matter how badly he might wish it.

What he was certain of, was that he would not allow this to happen. No matter what happened, he would have to help her out of this situation. He would not abandon her to the crazed whims of such an obvious madman. But there was also no way that this could be resolved here and now.

“I shall consider your proposal.” Weston said through gritted teeth.

“I shall not wait forever to receive the money and title that I am owed, cousin. If you drag your feet for too long, I shall make my own arrangements.”

“Such things cannot be done overnight.” Weston hissed bitterly.

“Three months, cousin. That is all the time that I am willing to permit you to sort out all of the legalities. If you do not, three months and one day from now I will expose everything that I know to the ton .”