Page 102 of Deceiving an Earl
“I know Fieldhurst adored him.”
“Do you think that maybe Philip is looking for a replacement for Arthur?” She sounded too hopeful, grasping at alternate scenarios while ignoring the truth that sat between them like an elephant.
“No,” Oliver said. “I don’t.” He motioned to the couch for them to sit down.
Ellen was too nervous, too fidgety to sit. And in the back of her mind was the constant thought that William could arrive at any moment, and he would be furious if Oliver was here. William had a knack of knowing when Oliver had visited.
Ellen sat on the edge of the couch, pressing her knees together and smoothing her skirts, concentrating on the folds, while Oliver took the seat opposite her.
“My butler discovered Philip on my front stoop this morning, soaked to the skin and shivering. He’d been there most of the night.”
Ellen’s head jerked up, and their gazes clashed. “What in the world.Why?”
“He was upset, would barely look at me, let alone talk to me.”
Ellen’s hands tightened together on her lap as she remembered the confrontation between Philip and William and then her and Philip before he’d run out.
“He was upset when he left,” she began carefully. “Thank you for taking care of him.”
Oliver stared at her, and she got the impression that he wanted more from her. But she couldn’t give him more. She couldn’t give him what he wanted.
“I can make sure he is taken care of now,” she said. “We’ll talk, he and I.”
But instead of getting up and heading out the door like she had hoped, Oliver sat back, not going anywhere.
“He told me what happened between him and William. He told me how he got that black eye.”
Ellen was becoming nervous, because Oliver was very calm. Calmer than she’d ever seen him, and she suspected he had a tight control over his anger.
“You don’t understand,” she whispered.
Oliver leaned forward. “Make me understand. Did Philip strike first?”
“No.”
“Then there is no excuse for a grown man to hit a boy.” Oliver leaned back again and studied her for so many beats that Ellen grew uncomfortable.
Just leave, she wanted to tell him.Walk away from us.
But she knew that wouldn’t happen. Philip had heard her secret from William’s lips, and he ran to Oliver for confirmation. Now Oliver was here digging for the truth, and he wouldn’t stop until he found it.
And they would all be ruined.
“And yet you still are intent on marrying this man?”
Every word felt like the blow it was meant to be. Oliver was striking hard and fast, and she had no defense. She was the worst sort of mother for allowing this, but what else was she supposed to do? Let William ruin Philip? The best she could do was keep the two apart.
“This is between Philip, William, and me.”
“Pardon me, Ellen, but I believe you are lying. Tell me that Philip is not my son.”
“Please don’t,” she whispered into her lap.
“I can help you if William’s threatening you.”
She blinked away sudden tears, wishing with all her might that what he was saying was true.
“You can help by walking away from us.”
