I gasped out a choking laugh of shock and disbelief. “Which one?”

He raised an eyebrow, as though I were the one being confusing. “I have two dead brothers. I suppose I did kill Robert, but it was an accident. I was just curious.”

“Who is Robert?” My mind whirled as it tried to fill in the past with this new information.

“My first brother. The one who died as an infant.”

“I am not talking about that! I have never asked you about that!”

He frowned at my shrill tone. “I know. Because you understand me.”

I stood, buzzing and numb at the same time. I was going to fly apart. I clasped my hands tightly in front of myself to keep them from shaking. “I am talking about William. Did you kill William?”

He said nothing, blinking several times as his eyebrows drew close together. I had always loved that expression, loved the thoughts that churned mysteriously behind it. Now I wanted to carve it from his face.

He finally spoke, with the careful, soothing tone I had always used on him. “I was not yet back in Geneva. And Justine was found with damning evidence.”

“I taught you how to plant blame!” I jabbed a finger toward him in accusation. “And you agreed with me that Justine was innocent! You were as convinced as I that she was not guilty! It was because you knew the identity of the murderer. All this time, I thought that you knew and could not say because no one would believe you that the monster existed. But you knew and could not say because it was you!”

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You were never supposed to see the monster. I am humiliated.”

“You are humiliated? That is your response?”

He shook his head and turned, as though considering walking out the door. But he took a deep breath, steeling himself. “I can see that this is upsetting you. I knew it would. Why have you insisted on chasing after the things I keep hidden for your own benefit? You are my angel, Elizabeth, and I have ever endeavored to keep you ignorant of the less savory requirements of my work.”

I staggered back, leaning against the wall lest I fall to the floor. “So you did. You murdered your child brother. And then you framed my dearest friend so that she would be killed for it.”

His eyes flashed, and all ease left his posture. “I am your dearest friend.”

The enormity of my culpability threatened to overwhelm me. “Did she— Did you pick her because I loved her?” A new realization stole my breath. “Did you kill Henry, too? Is that why no one has heard from him since he left for England?”