Page 88 of Notorious

No, he should not feel guilty—he’d done nothing. But he probably knew the people who had—he was probably even related to some of them. People who’d killed Visel’s entire family.

He shook his head and looked up at his friend. “That is why Visel hates me—he blames me. Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

“Because I knew you’d get that look on your face: the one you are wearing right now. The one you were wearing when you came back from Oran this last time.”

“What look is that?” he snapped.

“As if you’d like to put a pistol to your head.” Byer leaned forward. “What happened to Visel’s family is not your fault, Gabe.”

“Where did the ship take the prisoners?”

Byer shook his head.

“Tell me, dammit!”

Four men at the nearest table turned at the sound of his raised voice. Gabriel got hold of his frazzled emotions. “Just tell me.”

“Oran.”

Gabriel groaned. “Good Lord. Why don’t I recall reading about any of this?”

“It was small news compared to Napoleon’s escape. People were in a state of shock and paying attention to the resumption of war—not the sinking of a ship. As for Visel’s sister? Well, the duke has impressive connections and made sure the story was not spread—on the chance the girl could be ransomed.”

“How the hell do you know about it?”

Byer just gave him a stony look. This wasn’t the first time Gabriel had wondered what his friend was really up to when he hadn’t been in their shared lodgings at Oxford. That there was more to Byer was apparent—Gabriel already knew that—but he suspected the man kept even deeper secrets hidden beneath his lazy, foppish façade.

“So, Visel wants to make me suffer because somebody else—quite probably one of Assad’s captains—killed his family.”

“You are the only one left to punish.”

Gabriel knew his friend was correct—no matter how mad or illogical it was. “Then why did he apologize and call off the duel?”

Byer’s face flushed, and he shifted in his chair.

“What? What is it you are not telling me?”

His friend shook his head. “No. If I tell you, you’ll kill the man.”

Gabriel took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I will not. I give you my word.”

Still Byer hesitated.

“Byer—”

“All right, all right.” He raised his hand. “But I’ll need another glass for this.” He waved to a waiter and held up two fingers.

“I didn’t ask for that,” Gabriel said.

“No, but I think you’ll be glad you have it.”

“Will you just get on with it?”

“Visel apologized that night because he’d already gotten his revenge. Not only was he pleased about breaking up your budding romance with the Kitten, but he felt you’d been doubly punished by being forced to marry Miss—” Byer grimaced.

Gabriel stared. “Go on.”

“Dash it, Gabe—why must you make me say it? Fine.” He went on before Gabriel could answer. “Visel said it was punishment enough to be forced to marry a woman like Miss Clare.”