The Unclaimed Duchess Read Free Page B

did not deserve his rank and the privileges he had been granted. He and his family could very well be shunned, their name tied to fraud and ruination for as long as they lived and even beyond.
    â€œA man of rank…” Rhys breathed, almost unable to say it. “It is highly regrettable, but—”
    He broke off, knowing how differently Simon felt about the importance of birth. Still, his friend had to know the consequences.
    â€œThe man is a bastard by birth and should not be given the consideration of his title, no matter what the law says,” Rhys finally finished slowly. “Those around him have a right to know that he is only masquerading as something he is not. Revealing the truth won’t only protect you against this blackmail, but it’s only fair. This person must face the consequences—”
    â€œHe is a friend,” Simon interrupted.
    Rhys staggered back. “Someone we know? My God!”
    â€œNo, Rhys, not someone we know…Rhys…” Simon seemed to struggle. His hands shook and his face was a sickly shade of green, as though he was only just controlling the urge to cast up his accounts. “Rhys, you are my brother.”
    It took a moment for the words to fully pierce Rhys’s mind because the statement was so entirely unfathomable that it almost seemed like a foreign language to him.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou heard me,” Simon whispered. “You’re my brother.”
    All the denials and reasonings in Rhys’s mind faded away as his friend’s words sank in. He stared at Simon, his eyes widening and his blood pounding in his ears.
    â€œThat isn’t funny, Billingham,” he finally said, his voice low and dangerous. “I don’t appreciate you coming here and wasting my time with this nonsense. This little joke of yours has gone too far.”
    He pushed to his feet and turned on his heel toward the door, but he hadn’t gotten two steps when Simon spoke again.
    â€œDamn it, Waverly, you’ve known me for almost twenty years. Do you think I would do such a thing as lie to you about this ? Or make light about what is the greatest pain of my life, and what I know full well will be the greatest pain of yours?”
    Rhys froze. If Simon didn’t truly believe what he was saying was true, he wouldn’t come here and repeat it. Slowly he pivoted to face his friend, who was now standing, arms open in a pleading gesture.
    â€œThen you have been misled, my friend,” Rhys said softly. “Because there is no way that I could be your brother in anything more than spirit. If someone has told you otherwise, then they have played a cruel hoax on you. Perhaps the blackmailer arranged this, perhaps—”
    Simon reached into his coat pocket and withdrewa packet of papers. Rhys noticed his friend’s hand trembled as he offered him the bundle.
    â€œRhys, I have irrefutable proof that you are my brother. You are one of my father’s by-blows.”
    Rhys snapped his gaze to his friend’s face, then down to the papers he still held out, waiting patiently for Rhys to take them. But Rhys didn’t. He dodged the offering as if it were a hot poker that would burn.
    â€œThis is unacceptable, Billingham,” he said as he paced away. “To imply such a thing about my mother and your father…If you weren’t my dearest friend I would call you out this instant.”
    Simon lowered his hand with a sigh. “I realize it is difficult to accept. When I first discovered the truth I hesitated to tell you because I knew it would destroy your world. But with the blackmailer threatening, this might come out on its own. I thought you deserved to know the truth and help me determine how to handle it. And I thought you would want to know who you are from a friend, not some blackguard demanding payment for silence.”
    Rhys crossed the room in a few long strides and grasped Simon’s collars.