Anne blanched at the confrontation. Her gaze passed from Lord Havershire back to Regina.
Don’t do this, Regina warned. But she knew that her life and her father’s hung in the balance.
‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered, tears breaking forth. Then she turned back to the magistrate. ‘I...heard voices that night. I went to the stairs, because I thought Regina had returned from the ball. I heard Lord Mallencourt talking with her, so I didn’t go down. But I saw them go into the parlour together. And later, I heard him attacking her.’
‘You did nothing to help,’ Regina interrupted, her own tears streaming down her face. It was too late to hide the evidence any longer, but she seized the opportunity to confront her former friend. ‘That blackguard tried to rape me, while you stood by on the stairs and allowed it to happen.’
Anne stared back at her. ‘And what could I have done? I didn’t know what was happening, and I just...froze.’
Regina didn’t look at the magistrate or Mallencourt—only Anne. ‘If someone had tried to hurt you, I would have done anything to stop it. I would have tried to open the door or screamed. I wouldn’t have stood by, and I certainly wouldn’t have tried to extort money out of it.’
‘Is that what happened?’ the magistrate asked. ‘Did the baron try to...defile you?’
Regina closed her eyes and nodded.
‘And I broke the door down to help her,’ the earl added. At the sound of her father’s voice, Regina turned to him. ‘Like any father, I would do everything necessary to save my daughter from ruin.’
‘Even murder?’ Mallencourt prompted.
Regina was shaking her head in horror. ‘Papa, no.’
But from the resignation on her father’s face, she knew he was intending to confess. He coughed again, a hacking sound that revealed the weakness he was suffering. For long moments, he struggled to breathe, and the magistrate exchanged a look with the attorney.
‘I think we have our answers,’ Mallencourt said softly. ‘My brother did not die by drowning in the Thames after a drunken night.’
The silence that spread throughout the room was damning. Regina felt physically ill, wondering if she should confess the truth. It was the right thing to do, and she could not let her father suffer for her own sins.
But Dalton seemed to sense what she was about to do, and his hand clamped down on hers in a warning.
Chapter Fifteen
‘Perhaps the greater question is why you would dredge up the past,’ Dalton countered, staring hard at Mallencourt. ‘Your older brother attacked a lady. His death was ruled an accident by the coroner, but even if his death were manslaughter, I doubt if any jury would convict an earl defending his daughter.’
‘You don’t know that,’ the baron started to say.
‘What do you hope to gain?’ Dalton pressed further. ‘I know the state of your finances, and you cannot afford to pay for another trial. Nor will it bring your brother back.’ He softened his tone. ‘Which is a good thing, I think. I’ve heard that you’ve done a great deal to rebuild your family’s name. You’re a far better baron than he ever was.’
Mallencourt sobered at that. When Dalton met his eyes, he added, ‘I know what it is to live in the shadow of an older brother. And what it is to lose him.’
In that moment, a look of understanding passed between them. He could see the baron faltering, and it gave him reason to hope.
The door opened quietly, and he was startled to see his father entering the room. The magistrate glanced up, and Lord Brevershire greeted him. ‘Forgive me for my tardiness, Harold. I was delayed and could not be here until now.’
Dalton met his father’s gaze with a silent question, but the earl did not reveal anything at all.
The magistrate appeared unsettled by the intrusion. ‘Did you need to be here, Brevershire?’
‘In a matter that affects my son? Of course, I should be here.’ John went to Dalton’s side, and his expression held silent support. Emotion gathered up inside him, and when his father rested his hand upon his shoulder, Dalton felt his hope rising higher. He met his father’s gaze, and in the older man’s expression, he saw the strength of an alliance. He was grateful that the earl had seen fit to help him.
‘Lord Mallencourt, I think it would be in your best interests to drop these charges,’ Brevershire began. ‘Your brother had a dreadful reputation in society, and it would be terrible, if everyone learned what he did to Lady Camford.’
Before Mallencourt could answer, the earl went on. ‘I also thought you should know that my son and I have made many investments over the past few months, and last week, we purchased the Larkin Factory and the properties at Melford. I believe they represent most of your family’s assets.’
Dalton hid his smile, thankful that the purchase had indeed been successful. He hadn’t known for certain until just now.
Lord Mallencourt’s expression turned shocked. ‘You’ve done what?’
‘Oh, it was my son’s idea,’ Brevershire remarked. ‘I understand that your family has been undergoing some financial difficulties. We have now purchased the property and your businesses. I think we may be able to help you rebuild. I look forward to a profitable arrangement between us.’
The magistrate’s expression still revealed his confusion. The earl smiled warmly. ‘I don’t think this discussion needs to go any further. I do believe that all will be well, and there is no need to pursue any unpleasantness. Am I right?’ He sent a pointed look towards Lord Mallencourt.
The unspoken message was, Let the matter go. For they had effectively purchased every source of income the Mallencourts had. One breath of scandal, and it would all end.
Lord Brevershire then turned to Lady Anne. ‘And as for you, I am certain that a lovely young woman like yourself would not want to
