Page 105 of The Earl's Reluctant Artist

Miss Flick’s words spilled faster now, as though Eliza’s touch had loosened them. “Marcus is after Evermere’s wealth. He wants the power and influence”

Eliza swallowed as Flick continued.

“I helped him once. But no more. I will not help him any longer.”

Eliza’s grip steadied. “Then tell us all you know. Everything. It may be the only way to end this.”

Miss Flick nodded weakly, wiping her face with a lace handkerchief. “I will try. But you must believe me when I say … I am afraid.”

“You are not alone,” Eliza repeated. “We are with you now.”

The duke leaned forward, his cane pressing the floor. “Then let the truth be spoken. All of it.”

The burning logs in the fireplace crackled, the silence deepened, and Miss Flick drew in a long, unsteady breath.

“The Berkeley project,” she began, her voice raw, “it is nothing but a scam. He … Marcus … told me it would reshape Evermere, that it would lift everyone. But it was lies. He only plans to use itto fill his own pockets, and those of a few men who follow him. No one else matters.”

Tristan stepped even closer as the duke’s cane tapped once against the floor. “Mr. Harwood has been saying otherwise to every lord in the county.”

Flick shook her head quickly. “Do not believe him. He swore I would come out of it a rich woman. That was his promise. But he has not spoken a word to me in over a month. When I tried to warn him that this must stop, that it had gone too far, he shut me out. He would not even let me through the door. The next time he sent for me, it was to basically threaten me into silence.”

“The park.” Eliza whispered, her voice almost too quiet to hear. “That was the reason for your meeting with him.”

Flick turned to her, her eyes widening. “You were there?”

Eliza nodded, her eyes softening.

Flick’s voice cracked as she continued to speak. “I thought he was going to destroy me, the way he has destroyed so many others.”

The duke leaned back, watching her with sharp, measuring eyes. Tristan’s jaw had set like stone, but he did not speak.

Flick’s hands moved at last. She lifted the satchel onto the table and unfastened its clasp. A small ledger, bound in worn leather, slid into the glowing firelight.

Eliza leaned closer without thinking and the duke tilted forward. Tristan, on the other hand, stood, his body sharp against the wall.

Flick pushed it toward them with shaking fingers. “This is his ledger. I … I took it. I do not know what that makes me, but it holds everything. Copies of deeds, records of sales that never took place, and I am certain there are some forged documents as well.”

Tristan opened it with stiff hands. His eyes darted down the first page, then another. His face hardened. “These are in my name.”

Eliza felt her breath stop. “In your name?”

He held up the page, his voice low with fury. “Well, not just my name. But in the names of other noblemen in the county. He has forged them. To make it appear like we approved transfers that never occurred in the first place.”

The duke’s features turned grim. “Well, it is quite clear, is it not? Mr. Harwood has crossed a line no man returns from.”

Flick clutched her knees as if shrinking from the heat of their anger. “I can give this to you. But you must swear … swear on your honor … that my name stays hidden. If he learns I betrayed him, he will ruin me.”

The duke’s reply came slow but firm. “You have my word. No one here will expose you. You are undermyprotection.”

Eliza’s gaze slid to Tristan. He had not spoken. His eyes remained locked on the ledger, his chest rising and falling with quiet force.

Flick pressed her palms together. “The last thing I want is to incur his wrath in any way. You must all understand. If he finds out I was ever involved in any of this…You do not know Marcus. He would hunt me down. I have tried all I could to warn all of you, especially Lady Vale.”

Eliza froze at the mention of her name and a stark realization settled in the bottom of her stomach. “It was you, was it not? You sent the letter to me at the inn.”

Flick nodded. “I could not keep silent. I could not watch him ruin more lives, yours most of all. He has already taken too much.”

Eliza’s throat tightened. “You should have come sooner.”