Panic jammed in Sidonie’s throat, choking her. Was William even now taking his frustrations out on his defenseless wife? She’d never been able to save Roberta from William’s violence before, often as she’d tried, but it was torture to be so far away and not know what was happening to her sister.
“You’re a dashed cold fish, Merrick.” Sidonie raised her head in time to see the duke’s expression harden into disdain. At least his attention was now on Merrick and not on any possible eavesdroppers. “I knew coming here was a waste of time. I’ve delivered the warning as I promised Richard. I’ll see myself out.”
Merrick sighed audibly. The belligerence seeped from his stance and he gestured to a chair. “Sit down, for God’s sake, and take a glass before you go. It will be dark by the time you’re back in civilization.”
“Don’t inconvenience yourself.” But the duke subsided into one of the leather chairs and watched with a discontented air as Merrick filled two glasses from the decanter.
“Your health,” Merrick said drily, raising his brandy to his guest and leaning with apparent indolence against the massive desk.
“Your continuing health is the reason I’m here,” His Grace said after a sip.
“My cousin has never hidden his wish to expunge the bastard filth from the family escutcheon.”
“Richard saw him at White’s last week. The man seems to be undergoing some kind of collapse.”
“A financial one, anyway. He borrowed heavily to buy shares in the mines. My information is he has nothing left to repay his debts.”
“He blames you for that.”
“So he damn well should. My whole life I’ve done my best to ruin him.”
“Which is no more than he deserves, whatever opinion I harbor of your methods.” The Duke paused. “I can’t help feeling sorry for Hillbrook’s wife and children, though. They haven’t wronged you.”
Jonas shrugged. “It can’t be helped. At least they won’t starve on the streets like many another who made the mistake of investing in William’s ramshackle projects.”
Sidonie’s hands tightened into fists. How could he speak so heartlessly of Roberta’s sufferings and the fate of her children? After all, much as Jonas might hate William, Roberta’s sons were blood kin to him. This afternoon he’d spoken with more compassion about Greek villagers who were strangers. The impulse to tell Merrick of his birth receded under a wave of sick anger. He sounded so smug as he spoke of William’s ruin and Roberta’s looming destitution.
“You mightn’t be quite so sanguine if you heard the man.”
“He’s sworn to destroy me before.” Merrick took an unhurried sip of brandy. “And as you see, often as he’s tried, I’m still here.”
“Richard seemed to think he was close enough to complete breakdown that the threat was worth heeding.”
Dread oozed down Sidonie’s spine. Dear God, let Roberta be all right. At least the boys were in school and out of their father’s immediate reach.
“You and Richard might have saved my bacon in the past. It doesn’t mean that as a result you owe me a
lifetime’s protection.”
“I came here in good faith.” His Grace passed Jonas his empty glass.
Merrick straightened in obvious dismissal of his guest. “And I assert my right to disregard your warning. I appreciate your concern, but I can protect myself against William’s pathetic plots.”
The duke rose and surveyed Merrick with frustration. “God forbid the great isolated monument to his own self-importance, Jonas Merrick, should accept aid.”
A strange expression that might almost be shame or remorse flickered over Merrick’s face. Yet again Sidonie realized that, despite the confidences she’d forced out of him over the last days, she understood very little about her mercurial host. “Through bitter experience, I’ve learned that I’m better fighting my own battles.”
“Not always.”
A silence fell, heavy with unspoken words that Sidonie could only guess at. “No, not always. But at least now if I fail, I go down alone.”
To Sidonie’s surprise, a short laugh escaped the duke. “Well, you’ve always been ready to beat your own path to hell. Who am I to offer you a rope to climb out of the pit you’ve dug yourself?”
“A damned presumptuous busybody,” Jonas said without a trace of warmth to rob the insult of its sting. “Does it look as if William is taking his anger out on his wife?”
Furious denial made Sidonie clench her fists against the tiles. Surely Merrick wouldn’t make her family’s humiliations public. The duke looked surprised. “I didn’t know he did.”
Merrick shook his head. “I wondered if he sought other targets, seeing I’m presently out of reach.”