Stark silence followed his declaration, except for the baron’s mewling. Skye looked around her and found that an audience had crowded into the dining room, watching with varying degrees of satisfaction.
The servants were not overly shocked, considering the destruction that Farnwell had wrought. Not surprisingly, Isabella, Cornelius, and Rachel all looked as if they wholly approved of Hawk’s retribution. Rachel particularly. After abandoning her daughter all those years ago, she had been prepared to defend Daphne to the death during the fire, like a mother tiger with her cub. Even Daphne, who was Edgar’s closest family, appeared supportive.
“Do you comprehend me, Farnwell?” Hawk barked.
The baron cringed and nodded rather frantically.
Noting the audience, Hawk dismissed the servants, who backed away obediently and shut the door behind themselves.
“We need to settle this issue once and for all,” Hawk added, beckoning the other vested observers further into the room.
Daphne, Rachel, Cornelius, Isabella, and Skye gathered around the baron. Skye fully agreed with Hawk. Matters had finally come to a head, and they needed a long-overdue discussion of Farnwell’s violence and the disposition of his future relationship with Rachel.
Farnwell was not as eager, obviously.
Seeing her brother cowering on the floor, Daphne knelt beside him and put a gentle hand on his arm to help him up.
Farnwell sniffled and sat up gingerly, then winced at his split lower lip. “Oww! I am bleeding like a stuck pig.”
“You know you deserve much worse, Edgar,” Daphne said unsympathetically. “You will be fortunate if Lord Hawkhurst doesn’t bring criminal charges against you for arson or even attempted murder.”
“I told you a dozen times that I am dreadfully sorry.”
“That is not good enough. You owe his lordship an abject apology for nearly destroying his home.”
“Very well.” Wiping the blood from his mouth with his sleeve, Farnwell sent a contrite glance toward Hawk. “I hope you will accept my deepest apologies, my lord. Naturally I will pay for damages incurred to your home.”
“Yes, you will,” Hawk said curtly. “But I am more interested in how you intend to redeem yourself with your sister.”
“I realize I have a temper—” he began.
“A temper?” Cornelius burst out. “You nearly killed her.”
Skye had never seen her uncle so livid, but Farnwell seemed truly remorseful as he pleaded with his sister. “I pray you will forgive me, Daphne. I vow I never, ever meant to hurt you.”
“I suppose I believe you,” she replied, relenting a little. “But actions count more than intentions.”
“You know I have never done anything so heinous before.”
“I also know you had a terrible example in our father. But there is no excuse for your brutality.”
Farnwell grimaced. “What must I do to earn your forgiveness?”
Daphne needed no time to consider. “A little groveling toward Mrs. Donnelly would be appropriate. You should tell her how sorry you are for threatening her for refusing to leave the country.”
“Yes, of course.” Farnwell earnestly repeated his apology to Rachel.
“And you must swear to leave her alone and let her live her own life here in England without fear of reprisal.”
“Yes, I swear it.”
“Lord Farnwell,” Rachel said slowly, “I have a better idea. You will give Daphne half of your fortune.”
Farnwell stared at Rachel while Daphne raised an eyebrow. “I don’t need his fortune.”
“Perhaps not,” Rachel replied, “but you deserve it. It is only fair that he be made to share his wealth with you, since none of it belongs to him.”
“I would be happy if he will give up control of the settlement my father made me.”