“She’s attracted at least one suitor,” Tobias noted. That did not include him, because he wasn’t a suitor. He was merely the man who’d taken advantage of her.

“Then there is absolutely no reason for her to be unwed,” the dowager said firmly. “Give her an ultimatum.”

Tobias bit his lip to keep from laughing. “I, er, somewhat tried that. Miss Wingate has suffered some…challenges in adjusting from country life.”

“Your father should have seen that coming. I told him not to give her a Season, but he was adamant.” Her shoulders twitched, and her features displayed such a sharp expression of distaste that Tobias’s curiosity was pricked.

“What do you know of Miss Wingate? I don’t understand why Father made such a commitment to her. He could have settled a modest dowry on her and left it up to her cousin to see that she was wed.”

The dowager sat straighter, her interest clearly piqued. “She has a cousin?”

“She resided in a cottage on his estate.”

She emitted a thoroughly unladylike sound of derision. “That makes absolutely no sense. Your father was a fool not to let him handle the matter. Instead, he’s made her your problem. I am sorry for the way he’s treated you, Deane.” She pursed her lips again. “Overton, rather. This will take some getting used to.”

“It won’t bother me at all if you continue to call me Deane.” He smiled. “I prefer that, in fact.”

“That is unsurprising given the estrangement between you and your father. But you mustn’t take any of it to heart. You couldn’t be more different from him, what with his scandalous tendencies.” Her gaze softened but only slightly. “You would have no idea of those, however, since you are not aware of the reasons for his…commitment to Miss Wingate.”

His father had “scandalous tendencies” and that made him different from Tobias who also possessed…scandalous tendencies? Oh no—had his father carried on a liaison with Fiona’s mother? Was she his half-sister? Perhaps the “friendship” with Fiona’s father had been a ruse. Tobias’s blood went cold. “Was he having an affair?” He barely forced the words out.

“Since Oxford.” Again, her lips pursed. “At least he was skilled at keeping it hidden. I don’t think anyone ever knew about his vile sins against nature.”

Since Oxford. Had Fiona’s mother been a maid there? Wait. Vile sins against nature…

Tobias froze. “Who was he having an affair with?”

“That Wingate miscreant! They met at school. The only reason I know about it is because I saw them once.” A shudder passed over her once more, and she pressed her hands to her cheeks.

“They carried on an affair all those years?” So many things made sense all of a sudden, including the cold relationship between his father and Tobias’s mother. To her credit, she’d never denigrated him to Tobias. She’d only said that he wasn’t capable of loving her, and she accepted that, especially since she had Tobias to love and love her in return. It was after learning this that Tobias had vowed to love his wife. Which would be impossible if he adhered to his father’s requirements. Perhaps that had been the man’s goal—to ensure that Tobias wouldn’t have time to fall in love.