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Another visitor arrived as day became dusk. Drew stood as the key turned in the lock of the cell’s door.

The door opened.

The Duke of Arundel entered. He did not smile.

The door shut, and locked.

‘Do you have news?’ Drew asked.

‘Not yet.’

Drew sat, because there was too little room for them both to stand. Wiltshire remained on his feet.

‘Lady Kilbride has confirmed everything you said. But the magistrate is conscious it could just be lies that the two of you have made up?—’

‘It is not li?—’

‘I have not finished.’ Wiltshire lifted a staying hand. ‘The magistrate intends to speak with a former lady’s maid, who could provide evidence on whether or not the beatings took place. If she confirms she saw the beatings and bruises, then the magistrate has said he is willing to accept the charge is not true.’

‘Did you see Mary? How is she? How is Caro?’

‘Mary sends her love to you, and your sister is a strong woman, she will cope. We will not see her suffer. Yet she is frightened. She did not want to tell her story, she did so to help you. She is more frightened for you than she is for herself. But I promise you, whatever happens I will not let her be harmed in any way.’

‘Thank you.’

‘I also spoke to your father.’

Drew stood, astonished and instantly irate. His hands curled to fists. ‘You did not speak to my father, Your Grace. That is impossible because I have no idea who the hell he is.’

‘So I discovered,’ Wiltshire answered, not reacting to Drew’s anger, yet not showing regret either. ‘ Is Lady Kilbride your sister?’

Drew’s eyes narrowed. ‘If you hope to get me off on those grounds, you cannot. Caro and I share a mother, but the Marquis is not our father.’

‘I see. I only asked because I know some families take illegitimate children from other mothers too.’

He did not see, he would have no concept of it, no more of a concept than Mary had. But now he knew just how low a match his niece had made. ‘You could, of course, leave me to hang. You would be rid of me then.’

Wiltshire’s eyebrows lifted. ‘You think I think less of you because of your parentage. I do not judge a man by his birth, I judge him by his actions, Lord Framlington. I judged you as a bad man, when you ran off with my niece. I judged you even worse when you hit Lord Brooke in a public place. And I admit, when I first heard this accusation, I thought you the lowest of scum.

‘But now I know the truth. You helped your sister, not harmed her, and I have seen how Lord Brooke respects you despite that brawl, but most importantly I know of your true affections for my niece. I judge facts, and so now I know the truth I am doing my utmost to get you out of this mess and I will continue to do so. But I can tell you, neither you nor Lady Kilbride will have any help from your family.’

‘Pray tell me something I do not know.’

Wiltshire held Drew’s shoulder. ‘It is of no matter, you are part of Mary’s family now.’

Devil take it . Emotion caught in Drew’s throat and punched him in the chest. This was what he had craved when he watched Mary in the beginning – to be a part of a family like hers. He had hoped to steal her away and make their own family. He had never considered he might become a part of her life like this.

‘I am grateful, Your Grace.’ No more words would come without displaying the emotions he would rather hide.

‘Not Your Grace, just Richard.’ Wiltshire’s grip on Drew’s shoulder firmed. ‘You are my nephew now.’

‘Enough!’ The shout came from outside.

‘Keep your chin up,’ Wiltshire said as the guard let him out.

When the door shut, Drew sat down, wondering if he got out of here, how he would fit into the heart of Mary’s family when he had struggled on the edges.