Chapter 26

William was angry. His mother had hardly given him a satisfactory explanation, though she had admitted the former duke was his father. It seemed everyone – his mother, the duke, the duchess – knew the truth, except him. He wanted to know why they had hidden it from him, and why his godfather had not accepted him as the rightful heir.

"I am the rightful heir," he told himself, thinking of Maximilian and his false claims to the inheritance.

William had been told a lie, or rather, the truth had entirely been kept from him, and he had lived his life in false belief. He was not pauper to be tossed a few bones and told to be thankful. His father had been the Duke of Lancaster, and had he lived, he would have married William's mother, and William would have been raised as the heir.

"It's not right, none of it," he said to himself, pacing up and down in front of the hearth in the cottage.

His mother had gone to Burnley Abbey, promising to tell the duke and duchess what William now knew. He wondered how they would respond, for surely, they would not take kindly to William's claim. But William was determined to make it. He knew the truth, and he was not about to be silenced in revealing it. There was scandal involved – great scandal – and William had many unanswered questions as to what had happened all those years ago.

I just don't understand, he thought to himself, as a knock came at the cottage door.

It was Digby, who had been waiting for William's return to the inn where they had taken lodgings. William was surprised to see him.

"How did you know where to find my mother's cottage?" he asked, as Digby entered the parlour.

"I know all about your mother's cottage. I know all about everything, William. But what did she say? Did you confront her?" Digby asked, and William nodded.

He had not wanted to be angry with his mother. She had been visibly upset. But the concealing of such a monumental truth was too much to bear, and William had felt a sense of betrayal at having been kept in the dark for so long. Would they have ever told him the truth?

"She admitted it," William replied, and Digby smiled.

"She couldn't do anything but admit it. It's the truth, and the truth can be unpalatable at times. I suppose she's hurried off to Burnley Abbey, has she? I can just picture your godfather's face when he hears what's happened," Connor said, a smirking coming over his face.

William did not understand what Digby held such vitriol towards the duke, but his thoughts were concentrated on his anger, and he was grateful to his friend for at last revealing the truth.

"But what happens now? Am I really the heir to the dukedom?" William asked.

"What did your mother say?" Digby replied.

William's mother had not actually agreed with him as to the facts of his inheritance. William did not know if he was the heir, or not. It was all very confusing, but William was determined to discover the truth.

"She said my father was Max Oakley, the previous Duke – the one who died in Corsica, the same story as my own father, but that would be him, wouldn't it? They made him up. I used to picture him – a hero, charging into battle. But now…you knew him. What was he like?" William asked, and Digby shook his head.

"I'm afraid they're all the same, William – self-entitled, and willing to lie and cheat others out of what's rightfully theirs. It was all a terrible scandal back then – at least it would've been," he said, his eyes narrowing, and an angry look coming over his face.

"But what happens now?" William asked, for he had not entirely thought through the implications of what was to happen in the wake of these astonishing revelations.

He had returned to Lancashire burning with anger, and now he knew a confrontation was inevitable. Digby smiled at him.

"Go to Burnley Abbey. It's yours, isn't it? And one final thing – don't allow your mother to defend their cause. She was as much to blame for hiding it from you," he replied.

* * *

William had been to Burnley Abbey on numerous occasions in his youth. He had always felt a sense of awe at its towering fa?ade, its richly decorated rooms, the army of servants, and the trappings of wealth and opulence it exuded. But as he hurried up the steps that day, it was not as the son of a former servant coming to see his godfather, his benefactor, but as a man, coming to claim what he rightfully believed to be his.

"They can't stop me, can they," William said, turning to Digby, who shook his head.

"Don't let them, William. They tried to pay you off – sending you to London on a promise. They made it seem they were being generous, and all the while, they kept this from you – this is your rightful place, William. This is where you belong," Digby replied.

William knocked loudly at the door. It was opened by the butler, Mr. Gregson – a man who had always looked down his nose at William.

"Can I help you, sir," he said, his voice cold and domineering.

But William ignored him, pushing past the butler, who gave a cry of indignation.

"You can start by summoning Ralph and Miriam. Is my mother here, Gregson?" William demanded, for he was not about to speak of the duke and duchess in formal terms – not after the way they had treated him.

The butler stared at him in astonishment.

"I…but…what impertinence," he exclaimed, as Digby now came through the door behind.

"It's quite all right, Gregson – no need to concern yourself. They're in the drawing room, I suppose," he said, and pointing across the hallway, he hurried William towards the drawing room door.

Voices could be heard from inside, but William was determined to act, and now he burst through the door, only to be confronted by an extraordinary scene. His godfather and the duchess were there, along with his mother, but they were joined by none other than Anne and the earl and countess. William stared at Anne in astonishment, as his godfather rose to his feet.

"William, I think you need to…" he began, but William interrupted him.

"I know the truth about my father. I know I'm the rightful heir. You've kept it from me all these years – all of you – but I know the truth now, thanks to Digby," he said, as Digby entered the room behind him.

To William's surprise, the appearance of his friend brought with it a gasp from his mother and the duchess, their faces set in fearful expressions, as Digby came to stand next to William.

"Yes, it was fortunate someone was willing to tell William the truth, wasn't it?" he said, placing his hand on William's shoulder.

"Connor," the duke snarled, and William turned to Digby in surprise.

"Connor?" he said, and Digby smirked.

"An old name, William – one I haven't used in many years, Yes, they know me as Connor. But it hardly matters, does it. What's in a name? I'd say their secret is rather more…interesting," he said, glancing at the earl and countess, both of whom looked thoroughly bewildered.

"What's the meaning of this, William? More lies, I suppose," the earl demanded, as Anne continued to stare at William in astonishment.

"Not lies, sir, no – the truth, at last," William replied.

"William, this isn't the time," his mother said, but for William, the time had come.

He was not about to allow the truth to be brushed aside, or to be dismissed as a mere irritant. William was the son of the Duke of Lancaster, and he was not about to be kept quiet – the scandal was revealed, and the truth was there to be told.

"I think it's the perfect time, Mother. What better time could there be?" William replied, even as Max rose to his feet.

"I don't understand – what's all this about?" he demanded, advancing towards William, who stood his ground defiantly.

"It's about the fact of your being my cousin, Max," William replied, stopping Max in his tracks, as the countess gasped.

"William, please, it can all be explained," the duke said, but William was determined to have his say.

"I know who my father is. I know you're my uncle. I know it should be my mother and I living amidst this opulence. I know I should be the one to inherit the dukedom," William replied, fixing his godfather – his uncle – with a defiant gaze.

The duke sighed and shook his head.

"You've poisoned his mind, Connor," he said, but Connor only laughed.

"I've told him the truth, Ralph. I'd say it's you that's poisoned his mind. You kept the secret from him all these years – the three of you conspiring. I only told him what he had the right to know. You tossed him a bone, Ralph – a letter of introduction. Well, I've made sure he has something far more worthwhile – the right to a claim against you," Connor replied, his tone triumphal, even as the duke pointed his finger angrily at him.

"You don't know the truth, Connor. And don't you remember what I told you the last time I set eyes on you? You know what you did, and you know what I promised, too," William's godfather said.

"Empty threats," Connor said, turning to William, who was still seething with anger.

"This was my right – all of this," he said, but the duke shook his head.

"It wasn't, William. You'd never have been the heir. A child born out of wedlock can't be the heir. My brother and your mother weren't married. He died before they could be so. You've no legitimacy. That's why we protected you by keeping it a secret from you," the duke replied.

"And you promise him nothing. You send him off to London, and hope he's forgotten," Connor snarled.

But to William's surprise, his godfather shook his head.

"On the contrary, Connor – you don't know the full story. I've provided handsomely for William, and I sent him to London to help him stand on his own two feet, before giving him that which was always promised – the title of Baron of Mowbray, its land and income. It was to be William's at the point he'd established himself. I'd have told him the truth then, as was always my intention," the duke said.

William stared at his godfather in disbelief, and Connor, too, seemed unsettled by this unexpected revelation.

"But I… I don't understand. What title is this?" William asked, and it was the duchess who now replied.

"My father's title, William. Before I married the Duke, my father lost everything. It was Ralph who saved him. He had no male heir – only my sister and I. Your godfather – your uncle – bought the title from him, and we've managed the land and income ever since. It was always to be yours at the proper time. It's just a shame Connor saw fit to make mischief over it – but then that's his way, and I'm afraid you've fallen into his trap. He didn't do any of this for you, but for himself," she said, fixing Connor with an angry gaze.

William turned to his friend in astonishment – why had Digby – Connor – made no mention of his past? There had been ample opportunity to do so, even as William now thought back to the odd manner in which Connor had presented himself. Had he been waiting for William at The Spaniards Inn? It was surely no coincidence…

"I did it for the truth," Connor replied, folding his arms.

But the duke shook his head.

"You know nothing about the truth, Connor – you're a liar, and you always were a liar. You thought I cared nothing for William. That I cheated him out of his rightful inheritance. But it's not true. His inheritance wasn't secure. He'd never have been accepted as the Duke of Lancaster. But to be made Baron of Mowbray, that's a completely different thing – a bought title can be gifted, and I intend to gift William the title immediately. It's his, and it was always going to be," the duke said.

"Which leaves us with the matter of your past, Connor," William's mother said, stepping forward and fixing Connor with an angry gaze.

"My past? I don't know what you mean," Connor said, though he was visibly unsettled by the duke's words, and William turned to him curiously, unsure of what to think.

"What past? I don't understand. You said you knew my mother, my godfather, and the Duchess. But how?" he asked.

"We knew Connor very well, William. He tried to blackmail us over you. He threatened to reveal the scandal to secure his own position of power. But it was your grandmother – my mother – who ensured his plans came to nothing," the duke said, as Connor gave an angry cry.

"Lies – just like the lies you've told," he snarled.

"We kept a damaging truth from a young man, waiting until the proper time to reveal it," William's mother replied, and William felt suddenly foolish for having done what he had done and said what he had said.

His godfather had intended a title for him all along, and he was right – a bastard couldn't inherit the title of Duke of Lancaster. William thought back to everything his godfather had done for him and felt terribly guilty for the anger he had just displayed.

He glanced at Anne, sitting next to her parents, the three of them listening in silent astonishment. He wondered what they were thinking as this scandal unfolded before them. If the earl had not approved of him before, he would certainly not approve of him now, and as for Anne, William could only imagine what was going through her mind…

"I… I'm sorry," he said, and his mother stepped forward and placed her hand on his arm.

"We wanted to tell you sooner, but there was never going to be the right time. Your uncle wanted you to make something of yourself, not just inherit wealth and privilege. Your father would've said the same. He was a good and honest man. I'm only sorry you've had your mind poisoned by Connor," she said, shaking her head sadly.

Connor let out an angry exclamation.

"I'll reveal it all. I'll show you – if he won't do so, I will," he said, but the duke shook his head.

"And don't you think I have your ruin to hand, too?" he replied.

Connor stared at him in surprise.

"What do you mean?" he demanded.

"I kept everything – I could still have you sent to prison. Didn't you think I'd want some insurance against you? I was far too lenient before – I should've reported you to the authorities," Ralph said, as both the duchess and William's mother closed ranks on either side of the duke, who folded his arms with a defiant glare on his face.

William was astonished – he had been played for a complete and utter fool by Digby, by Connor. The man was nothing but a fraud, and now it all made perfect sense. Connor had used William for his own gain – he had drawn him into scandal, ruined his reputation, and all for the revenge he had waited to enact these twenty years gone.

"You cheated me, Digby… Connor. I trusted you. I was so…blinded by my feelings for Anne, you took advantage of that," William said, glancing at Anne as he spoke.

She was staring at him in disbelief, but her expression was softer now – sympathetic, even.

"Blinded? I helped you," Connor snarled.

"But you didn't care about me – you cared only for your petty desire for revenge. I'm so sorry, Mother – I realize what a fool I've been now. I trusted this man, but I shouldn't have done. I was so caught up in my feelings for Anne… Lady Miller. I'd have done anything. But if only I'd waited, you'd have told me the truth," William said, turning to his mother, who smiled.

"You've a right to be angry, William. There was never going to be an easy way out of this. But I'm glad you know the truth – the whole truth," she said, glancing at the duke, who nodded.

"And the whole truth means you've a bright future ahead of you, William, or should I say the Baron of Mowbray," he replied.