“A useless threat, I’m afraid,” Heath said.

“And why is that?” Gabriel snarled.

“Because our father named you as his heir. Like it or not, four days ago at dawn, you became the new Marquess of Rosenthorne.”

CHAPTER 16

Gabriel slammed a fist into the surface of Sebastian’s desk.

“I don’t want it.”

There was a moment of silence before Sebastian gave a low chuckle. “It seems you haven’t a choice, my friend.”

Gabriel glared at him. They were alone now. Now that Heath had been shown to a guest room. Now that Gabriel’s life was essentially ruined. Now that everything he knew of himself was questionable.

“I learned the marquess was my father the year I turned sixteen. He did not acknowledge me then and it doesn’t need to happen now.”

Sebastian turned his tumbler over in his hands. “It’s not so simple, ignoring a matter of such magnitude.”

“Banbury may have it.”

“According to Banbury, he cannot claim it as long as you are alive. Your parents’ marriage before your birth made you the legal heir. No matter that Rosenthorne wed another soon after your mother’s death and later fathered another son. You are firstborn. You, my friend, are the new marquess regardless of your reluctance to claim it. And I know you have your own wealth, but you just came into a windfall.”

“I’ve no need of his damned money. He threw my mother aside, Seb. Abandoned her in the cruelest manner and left me in the care of strangers. Then he promptly procured himself a new wife. Along with a new son.” Gabriel paced before the fireplace in restless agitation. “If I were legally his and my mother his wife, why did he abandon us both? I don’t believe he married her. After all, he only confessed this to Banbury while on his deathbed. Perhaps he suffered a state of delirium.”

“There is proof. A marriage license and the minister who performed the ceremony. The marquess swore to it in that statement crafted along with his barrister’s assistance and witnessed by his physician.” Sebastian refilled their glasses with whiskey. “It seems Rosenthorne intended on atoning for his misdeeds.”

Gabriel slanted Sebastian a look full of suspicion. “Are you not surprised by this momentous revelation that Rosenthorne is my father?”

Sebastian sighed. “I learned that secret shortly after we arrived in England. But like you, I had no idea you were his legitimate son. It wasn’t that difficult to guess if one took the time to look. You bear an uncanny likeness to the old marquess. And to Banbury.”

Gabriel scrubbed his jaw. “Over the last two years, you’ve said nothing.”

“It’s not my story to tell. Gabriel, think hard on this before you walk away. It is an opportunity to gain everything you ever wanted. An opportunity to claim the woman you want.”

Gabriel’s jaw tightened. A muscle ticked along its clenched length. He knew precisely what Sebastian meant by that. His status as a bastard had just been shattered. Now, as a bachelor with a lofty title, he would find himself besieged by women eagerly hoping they might become a marchioness.