Page 58 of The Gentleman Was Right
“I vowed to protect her fromthe truth,” Basil said, a touch louder than necessary.
Foreboding ticked up Edward’s spine. What truth did Basil keep alluding to?
“The truth?” he prompted.
“Her fatherwasa businessman. Of sorts.”
“Of sorts?”
Basil hesitated, and then added, “He moved goods for a profit.”
The ominous feeling expanded. What had he gotten himself into? “Illegalgoods?”
Basil’s eyes darted away. “Maybe. Sometimes. Not always.”
“Her father was a smuggler?”
“No. A supplier. Or a seller, if you prefer.”
“What’s the difference?”
“The risk, mostly. Smuggling is dangerous, but what we do is less so.”
“Because?”
“It’s harder to get caught. We procure goods and then auction them off. If we were caught, we could claim no knowledge of their provenance.”
Edward had no idea if that would make any difference, but he supposed it didn’t much matter. “And Violet doesn’t know?”
“Of course not. She’s a woman, and as such, her father didn’t want her to worry.”
“If the risk is low, why would she worry?”
“The risk is low, but it isn’t nonexistent. Nor is it drawing room conversation. Her father believed she had delicate sensibilities and wanted to protect her.” He snorted. “He obviously wasn’t well-acquainted with her stubborn nature.”
“Why are you tellingme?”
“Because you need to know. I can’t have you sniffing around and stirring up trouble.” Basil crossed his ankles. “There’s something else.” He shifted his attention to the ground. “As soon as you visit the bank, you’ll discover that there were no stipulations for Violet’s inheritance.” His nose wrinkled. “I imagine she’ll be angry. And have questions. There isn’t much I can say, other than I thought I was doing what was best.”
Edward looked at Basil in horror. “You’re saying that Violet didn’t have to marry. Her inheritance was already in her possession. And she didn’t know.”
Basil nodded.
A terrible thought occurred. “And the money?”
“I’m not a thief.” Basil stiffened with apparent outrage. “I haven’t touched the funds. The money is accounted for. Every last shilling. The bank can prove that the only withdrawals have been Violet and Isabelle’s pin money since their father died.”
Edward raised his brow. “You’re a liar, but not a thief?”
“Believe what you will.” Basil sniffled. “If I’d known she was considering marrying another, I would have told her the truth about her inheritance ages ago. Contrary to what she believes, I’ve always acted with her best interests in mind.”
“By convincing her she had to marry you?”
“It was forherown good.”
It probably wasn’t worth arguing but—“She didnothave to marry at all,” Edward practically shouted. How could Basil treat her so cavalierly? And how could Edward tell her that she’d had no reason to marry him?
Even though he hadn’t known the truth, his ignorance made him complicit.
