Free Hold Your Breath 02 - Unmasking the Marquess by K.J. Jackson

at one of my country estates at the moment.”
    “That is unfortunate. I had hoped to speak to her of my regret at having to miss the nuptials. I presume the affair went well?”
    “It did. Everything that was required to be taken care of, was.”
    Halstead cocked his head at the peculiar comment, but said nothing.
    Killian leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk as he clasped his hands under his chin. “I have very little time today, Halstead. What is it you wanted to see me about?”
    Halstead bristled, then sighed. “You know, of course, about my ruin. It is why I stayed my distance from the wedding. I wanted to afford my daughter and you a scandal-free engagement. Especially after your understanding about her lack of dowry.”
    “It was my pleasure.”
    He smiled. The opening he was hoping for. “She pleases you, then?”
    “She has pleased me, yes.”
    “Excellent. I had hoped yours was to be a good match. I am glad you could see past the financial aspects of the marriage business.”
    “I did want to marry her enough to overlook a penniless father, yes.”
    Halstead cleared his throat. “And that is what I had hoped to speak to you about. My ruin was through a series of unfortunate incidents that were beyond my control. But I have some new investments lined up that would get me on the track back to respectability. These are delicate matters, as we are now related, but I am sure my daughter would want that for me, for my name not to taint yours. All I need is a sizable investment—not too large, I assure you—and I am sure this venture will play out.”
    “So, you thought to come to me, naturally.” Killian tapped his finger on his chin. “Which brings me to the suspicion that you were whoring out your daughter when you sent her to London for the season.”
    “What? Whoring? Bloody rude, young man. I would not whore out my own daughter.”
    Killian’s brows arched. “So it is just mothers that you whore out?”
    “What?” Halstead sputtered. “What is this mad talk, Southfork?”
    “My parents. You knew them.” Killian leaned back in his chair once more, arms crossed over his chest.
    “I did. Vaguely. Although I remember little of them.” Halstead’s wrinkled eyes twitched around the room, landing above Killian’s head at a line of books. “That was a long time ago.”
    “It was. But do you think I was too young at the time to understand what you did to my mother? What you did to my father? Or maybe you just hope it.”
    “Whatever you may think happened, Southfork, I can assure you—”
    “No. I can assure you. I was not too young. I understood everything you did. Everything.”
    “This is a misunderstanding, your father—”
    Killian’s hand slammed onto the desk. “Do not speak of my father. There is no misunderstanding. You determined your fate long ago, Halstead, when you destroyed my world.”
    “But…but my daughter—you knew about me and you married her?”
    Killian smiled. “She was your last chance. The last thing you could whore out. I naturally could not have that, not after all the work I put into ruining you.”
    “You? What do you mean you ruined me?” His eyes narrowed at Killian. He was finally beginning to understand that he was sitting across from his own destruction.
    “Your companies, your holdings, did you not wonder how all of them could turn so sour, one after another?”
    “But you? How? We had no dealings. There were never any like investments.”
    “Not directly. But I have many connections. And there was great profit to be made by others at each of your failed investments.”
    “Inconceivable, man—do you have any idea how much wealth disappeared with those investments?”
    “Yes, I do. I kept very close tabs on your outstanding debts.” Killian stood, palms flat on the desk, leaning toward the baron. “And apparently, you had no idea the Duke of Dunway and I are close. Very close.”
    Halstead visibly paled. “The ship.”
    “Yes. You