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three took a seat.
    ‘What we tell you now must never leave this room. The only other people who know the truth are my mother and Clarice. I ask that you do not make mention of it to either of them. They have both suffered enough,’ said Lord Langham.
    ‘My wife is with child, Mr Fox, and I will not have anything said to her which could cause her distress,’ David added.
    The sudden formality with which David addressed him caused a slow-burning fear to heat the pit of Avery’s empty stomach. Lord Langham pursed his lips and sat silent for a time.
    What had Thaxter done to the women of this family?
    ‘A short time ago David asked for my permission to court Clarice. Due to reasons which I will not go into, I refused. After that I sent Clarice and her grandmother home to my estate in Norfolk. Unbeknownst to either David or myself, Thaxter followed them to Langham Hall.’
    David took a cup from a nearby tray and, after filling it with coffee, handed it to Avery. Though David held the cup steady and met Avery’s gaze, the air was thick with tension.
    ‘Thank you,’ Avery said.
    David remained seated forward in his chair, his body rigid.
    ‘When your brother arrived at Langham Hall he attempted to force Clarice into marrying him,’ David said.
    ‘When you say force her to marry him, I take it you mean . . .?’ Avery replied.
    He tasted the burning bile which had risen up from his stomach and into his mouth.
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Oh God,’ Avery whispered as the truth of his brother’s wickedness hit him. Thaxter had always been a vicious bully, but even Avery had never thought him capable of rape. Memories of the last time he saw his brother alive quickly flooded his mind.
    Fists and foul curses rained down upon him as Thaxter held him down for yet another violent thrashing.
    He puffed out his cheeks as he forced the air from his lungs. Yes, Thaxter had been capable of such villainy.
    ‘Fortunately, Clarice managed to escape and the staff at Langham Hall held Thaxter prisoner until I arrived,’ David added.
    ‘But Lady Alice cannot think I pose that kind of threat to the womenfolk of this house. You would not have allowed me within the front door if that were the case. What else did he do?’ Avery replied.
    ‘Just the matter of a significant amount of priceless heirloom silverware your brother had stuffed into his bag before David managed to recover it. We were not so fortunate with a number of other pocket-sized but extremely valuable items here in London,’ Lord Langham replied.
    Avery took a sip of the hot, bitter coffee before setting his cup down. He rose from the chair.
    ‘I’m . . .’
    The word sorry was on the tip of his tongue and there it would stay. He’d be damned if he would apologise for something Thaxter had done. It wasn’t as if he were here as the representative of the Fox family. A family who had treated him far worse than the Langhams. At least the earl’s family didn’t visit him in his bed at night and attempt to throttle him.
    ‘What my brother did was reprehensible and from the manner of his demise I would suggest he has paid for his evil ways with the only thing of value he truly had. Thank you for the coffee and please give my regards to the rest of your family.’
    He turned and headed for the door.
    ‘So shall we see you at breakfast?’ David asked.
    ‘I shall pack my things and be out of the house within the hour,’ Avery replied.
    ‘Why?’ Lord Langham cried.
    ‘Because, my lord, I have been judged by my brother’s actions. A foul villain I have not seen since I was thirteen. You did not grant me a fair trial, only an unjust sentence. And that, my lord, I cannot abide,’ he replied.
    ‘Please, Avery, you cannot leave,’ Lord Langham said, rising from his chair.
    ‘Please stay,’ David added.
    Lord Langham now stood between him and the door. Avery shook his head, as a droll smile threatened at his lips. He did not need to mention that he could best the older man