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Without saying a word, Edwin pulled him up roughly and shoved him against the railing.

“Your Grace, I promise… I…” the man sputtered.

Edwin crouched in front of him and fixed him with a steely glare. He would have said that the man was harmless if he did not know better.

“Who sent you here?” he asked.

The intruder whimpered again.

“It seems you are not ready to answer my question.”

“Uh… nobody sent me.” The intruder averted his gaze. “I simply came here because I thought I could steal some trinkets and jewelry.”

Edwin chuckled. “You must think me a fool.”

The man shook his head frantically. “I do not, Your Grace.”

“No common thief would dare trespass on my estate. I know someone in the ton sent you.”

“I…” The intruder sniffed as he wiped the blood on his brow. “I cannot tell you who sent me.”

Edwin nodded.

“If I tell you… my family… I…”

The intruder has not denied that he was, in fact, sent by someone.

“You do not have to tell me. I already know who it is,” Edwin said with finality. “But I am quite certain that when the constables get here, you will confess to them.”

The intruder’s eyes widened in terror and darted around. “Please, Your Grace. Not the constables.”

Edwin shrugged nonchalantly. “You came to my home to attack my wife. I would be a fool not to hand you over to them.”

The man shook his head aggressively. “I promise you, I was simply here to scare you, not to kill anyone.”

“And I would be an even bigger fool to believe you.”

The intruder inched forward. Edwin started when the man grabbed his leg. He was about to kick him off when he saw the pleading look on his face.

“If you do not report me to the constables, I will tell you everything you need to know about the man who sent me,” the intruder said.

“You are asking me to let you walk free?” Edwin could not believe his ears.

“And in return, I shall tell you everything I know about the man who hired me. In fact, I can take you to him.”

The offer was rather ridiculous, but it was tempting nonetheless. Edwin knew that no matter what, he would hand the intruder over to the constables.

However, at that moment, he was tempted to lie just so the scoundrel would tell him what he needed to know about the man who was bent on attacking or even killing him.

Perhaps I could lie to him and then hand him over to the constables after he tells me about the man who sent him.

Edwin shook off the thought. He was an honorable man, and making such a promise, even to a thug, and then breaking it would simply make him dishonorable.

“There is more you must know about the man. I can tell you everything.”

“I would rather hand you over to the constables and have you rot in prison,” Edwin hissed.

“But—but the man…” the intruder stammered. “You must know. He?—”