Page 61 of Taming of the Rake
Tobias flinched and opened his mouth to speak, but his words died on a gurgle and a sharp, pained wail as Powell wrenched and twisted the arm. He fell silent then, his pitiful, whining breaths the only sound emitting from him as he drooled into the carpet.
“Now, then,” David continued. “I am a generous man, and am more than willing to allow the Hurst estate to continue to provide your living at the yearly amount decided upon by my wife and her solicitor. I find it to be a fair sum, and more than a wastrel like you deserves. However, there are stipulations to my generosity. Would you like to hear them? Oh, and you may speak now.”
“Yes, damn you,” Tobias growled, one dark eye glowering at David from beneath his tousled hair.
“It’s quite simple, really. If you return to this house, or otherwise accost my wife in any way, I will cut you off without a farthing for the rest of your days. You see, Regina felt herself responsible for you because you were her relative by marriage. But you and I aren’t related, are we? Which means I have no interest in keeping you supplied with horseflesh, women, and liquor. So, I suggest you keep your distance and manage your funds better. Agreed?”
“Agreed!” Tobias spat, face now the color of a plum as he grunted and snorted his rage.
“Before you go, I would request that you apologize to my wife for the inconvenience you have caused her. Make it pretty.”
Tobias glowered at him, and for a moment David thought he wouldn’t comply. But, one squeeze of Powell’s hand at his wrist, and the man opened his mouth. “I beg your pardon for any offense I may have caused you in the past, cousin. You have my word it will not happen again.”
“Well done,” David murmured, turning to Regina. “Was that good enough, my dear, or would you like it a bit more poetic?”
Regina’s pinched lips and quivering shoulders hinted at her amusement, but she hid it well. “It will do, I suppose.”
“Very well. Oh, one more thing, Tobias. I have been generous, yet you don’t seem very grateful. A simple ‘thank you, Mr. Graham’ will do.”
“Thank you … Mr. Graham,” Tobias managed from behind clenched teeth.
At David’s nod, Powell let him up, clapping a hand on his shoulder and steering him toward the door.
“All right then, time to go,” Powell muttered, pushing Tobias out into the corridor, where two other footmen lay in wait. They each took one of Tobias’s arms and led him out of sight, leaving Powell in the room with them.
David studied the footman, who seemed reluctant to leave as he looked to Regina. If he wasn’t mistaken, guilt was clearly written on Powell’s face as he cleared his throat.
“Before I go, ma’am, there’s something I must tell you. It has weighed on my conscience all these months, but I did not want to cause you distress. Seems like now might be the best time for me to lay it all at your feet.”
This time, when Regina sat up straight, David let her go, too curious over what Powell might have to confess to stop her.
“What is it?” she asked.
The footman flinched under the weight of her stare but maintained his quiet dignity. “You have to understand, I wanted to kill him. I almost did, truth be told. He was already dying, but some men can survive anything. I couldn’t stand back and let him hurt you anymore.”
“You mean Randolph,” Regina whispered, her voice quavering when she spoke the name of her first husband.
David rested a hand over hers but said nothing, offering his silent support.
“Yes,” Powell confirmed. “I went into his room the night after his accident, while you were sleeping, and meant to be in and out in a trice. I’d press the pillow over his face and have done with it. No one would know and all would assume he succumbed to his injuries. But then, he awakened when I was standing over him. He saw me.”
Regina turned her hand over to press her palm against David’s, squeezing him so hard his knuckles ached. David kept his silence and let her. He didn’t like the idea of Randolph Hurst overshadowing their wedding day in any way, but this matter was between his wife and the man who had cared for her before he had come along.
“What happened?” Regina whispered.
“He told me he knew why I’d come. Said he always knew I had sympathy for you, accused me of wanting you for myself. ‘Do you think she’ll be yours once I’m gone?’ That’s what he asked me as he lay there struggling to breathe and grimacing in agony.”
Regina snorted. “Randolph could never understand a relationship between a man and a woman that wasn’t carnal in nature.”
“That’s true enough. I stood there thinking about smothering him, but then I had another thought. What if he died and left you nothing? What if, after he was gone, you were abandoned with no money or a place to live? I couldn’t bear it. I had to know. I asked him what was in his will and what he’d set aside for you.”
David knew what Powell would say before the words were spoken, but they still left a bitter taste in his mouth and an even stronger loathing for the ghost of Randolph Hurst.
“Not a ha’penny was meant for you,” he said with a shake of his head. “Not a dower’s portion, or a house … not a goddamn thing.”
Regina leaned forward, lips parting and eyes spreading wide as she seemed to register Powell’s meaning. “Randolph’s will … That was you?”
Powell squared his shoulders, unflinching pride radiating from his eyes. “It was. I hurt him, just enough to remind him of his helplessness. Told him I’d make his last days on earth a living hell if he didn’t send for the solicitor right away and make sure you received everything he owned. Took away his spirits and his laudanum until he complied. He spent three days in misery before he finally called for the man to see it done.”
