Page 51

He paused, doing the same math Sam was doing. Felix was two-and thirty, which meant…

“That’s one-and-twenty years,” Felix said weakly. “And Weston is only eighteen.”

Lady Bentley clapped her hands nervously—nearly identical to Mr. Campbell’s movement only a moment ago. Her gaze darted between the two boys— her two boys. “Oh dear.”

Felix’s mouth worked, no words forming. It was the first time Sam had seen the Earl of Bentley completely taken aback, the rug ripped right out from beneath his always steady feet. “How? I don’t understand.”

Felix glanced at Mr. Campbell, eyes scanning over the man like Felix was seeing him for the first time.

He laughed—a bit hysterically—and Sam winced.

“I mean, I would have known if you had a child. Even at… What? Thirteen? I would remember you being with…” His eyes flashed with realization, and he shook his head. “Oh my God. Oh. My. God.”

His mother winced. “Felix, darling. Perhaps you should sit down.”

“ Oh my God. ”

Sam didn’t know what was happening, but Felix’s breath was coming too fast, too shallow for Sam’s comfort. Sam wanted to reach for him, but there was a desk, a new brother, and a panicked mother in Sam’s way.

“You didn’t lose the child, did you?” Felix covered his mouth with his hand, shaking his head.

“Father told us something had gone wrong. There were complications during the birth, and the child didn’t make it.

And you were sent away to recover.” His gaze was glued to the floor, eyes searching, the memories seeming to unfold in his amber irises.

Then his chin lifted, his gaze latching onto his mother.

“We visited you,” he accused. “There was no child. You both said we’d lost our sibling. ”

Lady Bentley’s welling blue eyes fluttered shut.

“You were gone for over a year. Father had said you’d fallen into a deep melancholy and needed some time at a special place in Bath.”

“We had to do it that way, Felix,” his mother said quietly.

He dropped his head in his hands and let out a pained growl.

“Felix, darling. Breathe. Please, sit. This is a shock. But I can explain. This was the only way for Weston to be raised by his own father. Otherwise, the world would recognize Weston as…”

Felix lifted his head. “As Father’s. And as soon as his jet-black hair was seen, everyone would know you’d cuckolded Father. The great Earl of Bentley, Frederick Jennings, could never be cuckolded,” he said bitterly.

Lady Bentley frowned, her jaw jutting out. “You’re bloody right, he could never be cuckolded,” she said fiercely.

Sam’s eyebrows shot to his hairline. He hadn’t ever heard Lady Bentley swear before.

“Don’t disrespect me or your father, Felix Percival Jennings. This was the best decision for our family. Both our families. We do not live a life where we can do as we please, marry who we please. Duty comes first. Always. I know you know this. I know you understand this.”

She glared at her son, and Sam took a small step back at the power in that mother’s scold.

“And you will apologize to your brother right now. Because he was a blessing . Malcolm never thought he’d have a child of his own, and he was willing to sacrifice that for me.

So, when we found out, he, Freddy, and I came up with a plan.

A child is always something to be celebrated.

And right now, you are making your brother feel unwanted. Like he’s a shame to us.”

Felix glanced at Mr. Campbell, who looked like he wanted to sink into the floor and disappear. “I’m—Weston, Christ, I’m sorry. My reaction—I’m struggling to process here. I don’t—” He looked back at his mother. “You hid him from us.”

Sam’s heart withered at the pain etched in Felix’s tone. That was the crux of it, then. Felix was shocked to find he had another brother, but more than anything, he was hurt he hadn’t known; that his parents hadn’t told him.

“Were you ever going to tell us?” Felix’s voice cracked. “And Weston knew?” His gaze darted to his brother quickly and back. “I’m guessing by his reaction right now, he knew. Knew we were his siblings. Yet never got to be a part of our family.”

Lady Bentley reached for her son’s hand, but he flinched and stepped back. She inhaled an unsteady breath. “Yes, Weston has always known. And yes, at some point, I had every intention of telling you,” she said quietly.

“When? When, Mother?” He swore, his eyes squeezing shut.

His body vibrated with choked-back emotion.

His eyes flew open, revealing shattered amber irises.

“I need—” He swallowed hard, and when he spoke again, it was the Earl of Bentley, the facade.

“If you’ll please excuse me. I need a moment to myself.

” He stepped around his mother and strode from the room, white-knuckled fists balled at his sides.

Silence fell over the room, a thick, uncomfortable silence. Sam slowly backed away. Very aware he did not belong in this room right now. “I…”

“Go, Samuel,” Lady Bentley said softly. “Please ensure he is all right.”

Sam nodded jerkily and quickly set off in search of Felix.