CHAPTER 23

"YOU ARE BEING AN IDIOT ."

"Shut up, Drew."

His brother had taken it upon himself to invade his study, his one refuge from the world, to pester him.

As if he needed his brother's constant harassment to add to his misery. It had been a week since he had parted ways with Thalia, and in all that time, he had not stopped thinking about her for even one minute. She had become an obsession in his blood. He couldn't sleep, couldn't work, couldn't breathe with the need for her.

Every morning, he would come to his study, telling himself he would either work on the damned sculpture, or he would destroy what he had created and begin anew. And every day he could do neither. So he ended up staring at the clay mold he had made, grabbing the chisel, pressing it to the marble block, and then not moving. He just stared at the stone as if it could come to life and give him the comfort he needed.

There was no point in finishing the sculpture now. He had lost the motivation now that he had lost his muse. But neither could he destroy it, nor abandon it. So he was stuck. His work was in the same state as his feelings. Unable to let her go, but unable to forgive her.

"If you don't snap out of your doldrums soon, you'll lose her forever."

As an answer, he glowered at his brother. "How's your search for a home going?" he asked, hoping to distract his brother.

Andrew and his new wife had been living in a hotel since their return from their honeymoon.

"We found a townhouse that Artemis likes not far from here. We hope to finalize the purchase soon. But don't change the subject. My affairs are not the issue here. Yours are."

"My affairs are none of your concern."

"Oh, but they are. You see, it pains me to see you so miserable. And her sister's heartache likewise affects my wife. So your affairs are impacting my happiness, whether you want it or not."

"You are acting as if I was at fault here. She is the one who engaged in inappropriate activities. And refused to give them up when I gave her the chance. She chose those loathsome caricatures over me."

His voice rose with his temper, kindled by the pain of her betrayal. He hated the display of vulnerability. The evidence that her behavior affected him. After the shame his wife caused him, he had vowed never to be a fool for a woman again. Yet here he was. Would he never learn?

"Have you wondered why she does that?"

"Maybe she has a vendetta against those men? Or she might do it for money. I don't know, and I don't care. It's a contemptible activity, and she refused to stop when I asked her. So it's clear I don't matter to her."

"From what I heard, you didn't ask her. You gave her an ultimatum."

"I gave her a choice. She chose that."

"Stop for a moment and try to use your reason, Liam. I know this is a sensitive subject for you, because you have been mocked in caricatures before. But think about it, if you had been tried and condemned as an innocent, would you conclude the entire judicial system is wrong and therefore, all people who are part of it are corrupt?"

"Probably."

Drew rolled his eyes. "And I suppose that because you have been maligned by some newspapers, all written press should be consigned to rubbish?"

"Absolutely."

"Don't be a dolt."

"If you are going to insult me, you might as well leave."

"Did you know she is part of a group of ladies who are fighting to help women and children in disadvantaged and often dangerous situations?"

Liam shrugged. "A lot of ladies are involved in charity. What does that have to do with caricatures?"

"There are many ways to contribute. She is not wealthy, so she can't contribute as much money as the other ladies, so she does the caricatures. All those drawings you saw...the content is not from hearsay and rumors. It comes directly from women they have helped. Some of those characters are deviants who prey on children, some beat their wives. Others neglect their families to spend all their money on vice. The caricatures are popular, and they help to expose their contemptible behavior. To bring them to justice. They have helped women and children from all stations in life."

"She mentioned nothing about that."

"Did you give her the chance?"

"Well, not when I found the drawings. But we spent weeks together before that. Seeing each other every fucking day. Talking about everything, or so I assumed. Why didn't she say anything? Why did she keep such an important part of her life from me?"

"I don't know Liam. You ask yourself that question. Perhaps she didn't think you'd be interested or that you would support her."

The thought was like acid in his stomach. He thought they were close. He had opened himself to her, told her things he didn't discuss with anyone. She had spoken about her late husband's proclivities, but only the bare minimum and only after he had discovered her virginity. Before, she had tried to hide it. The conclusion was inescapable. She didn't trust him.

Was it because she didn't care about him? He thought of her passion, her artless response to his caresses, the way she had given herself to him, and he couldn't believe that.

What did he have to do to earn her trust? Hadn't he been caring, loving, and protective? Yes, and also high-handed, dictatorial, and controlling. He had offered her nothing more than sexual pleasure. Mind-blowing pleasure, yes, but nothing permanent. He had given her no place in his life, other than that of a paramour. And then he had dared to show up at her house uninvited, accuse her of misdeeds, and give her ultimatums. God, he had acted like an oaf. It would be a miracle if she forgave him at all. Let alone trust him.

"I need to go talk to her."

"She's not home right now."

Liam had never noticed how annoying Andrew could be. "Then where the hell is she, and why do you know of her whereabouts so well?"

"She is with my wife at the moment, attending a tea party."

"Then I'll visit her later."

"I'm escorting them to a ball later."

"Stop being a jackanapes and tell me where the fucking ball is."

To his infinite annoyance, his brother just laughed and tossed over his shoulder as he stood to leave the room.

"It's the Duchess of Aycliffe's ball. Oh, and, Liam?"

"Yes?"

"Be there early if you want to have a chance of securing a dance with your lady-love. She's mighty popular among the male population."