Family Scandals by Denise Patrick Read Free Book Online Page A

in motion before his death. According to his letter to me, even if Michael and I hadn’t disappeared, once he discovered your mother’s background, he would have asked to have the title restored to you, anyway. It was his way of making amends for what he considered to be his part in your grandfather’s unjust prosecution.”
    “What happened to the others?”
    “What others?”
    “You said that there was a group of operatives. After what you just told me, I can’t believe my mother only targeted Papa.”
    The smile died abruptly. Brand sighed and ran his hand over his face. Marcus had the distinctly uneasy feeling that Brand was trying to shield him from something truly unpleasant.
    “They’re all dead.” Brand’s voice was flat.
    “I would imagine so. But tell me the truth, did my mother have anything to do with their deaths?”
    “Yes.” That one word seemed forced.
    “How many of them?”
    Brand hesitated, but seemed to recognize Marcus’s determination.
    “All of them,” he responded.
    “Including Papa?” Marcus hadn’t wanted to ask the question, but once it surfaced he couldn’t let it go. He had to know how far his mother had been prepared to go in her quest for revenge.
    “Yes.” The answer was dragged from Brand.
    He sat back in his chair. “I see. Why’d she wait so long?”
    Brand took another drink. “She said you needed to be groomed more.”
    Marcus was laughing before he caught himself. He wasn’t sure why, except that it suddenly seemed amusing his mother would have quibbled about whether or not he was ready to inherit a dukedom she was willing to kill her own husband for.
    “I’m sorry,” he said, shaking his head, “but she had to know I wasn’t being groomed at all. Not only did I not want to be groomed, but Papa refused to groom me—especially after that gypsy fortune teller told him you were still alive when I was fifteen.” Marcus mulled the information over for a few minutes. “How much of this is public knowledge?”
    “Very little, if any. Anyone who might have known about your grandfather firsthand is likely dead. The members of Parliament aren’t likely to bandy the information about. And the title was restored to you three years ago, so it’s old news now.”
    Marcus stared. “Three years ago? Why didn’t you say something in one of your letters?”
    “Unlike Father, I thought it was news best delivered in person.”
    Marcus had no rejoinder to that. Would he have returned before now if he’d known?
    “Father anticipated his death,” Brand said, “with a number of written instructions, all to be carried out after his death. He left no contingency uncovered, including the possibility your mother might attempt to do away with me and Felicia.” Marcus started to say something, but Brand continued. “He left me a letter detailing the events surrounding your grandfather’s situation, explaining why he wanted you to have St. Ayers, and even instructions as to where to bury your mother upon her death.”
    “And where was that?”
    “Here. She is buried in the family cemetery beside her father. I don’t know how it was done, but someone apparently retrieved your grandfather’s body, brought it here, and had him interred. My guess is that it was one of the operatives. Father’s letter said he was sure at least one of them knew the truth.”
    The silence stretched to minutes, Marcus digesting this last bit of information. “Do you still have the letters?”
    “Yes.”
    “Do you mind if I read them?”
    A fleeting smile touched Brand’s lips. “I saved them for just that purpose. And there is also a last letter to you with them. It is sealed, so I am not privy to its contents, but I would guess that he also left you an explanation of sorts as well. I would suggest disposing of all the letters afterwards, though. That chapter in St. Ayers’ history is now closed, and should stay that way.”
    Marcus agreed. He would make one more foray into the past by