“Panicked? What could possibly—?”

“Rumors that your underhanded business practices led you to financial ruin perhaps?”

“Preposterous!”

Vincent shrugged, unimpressed with the man’s florid-faced indignation. “You weren’t here to prove otherwise, were you? In fact, your prolonged absence only confirmed and strengthened the suspicions that you weren’t planning on returning to England at all.”

“My family was still here! No one in their right mind would conclude that I would abandon them!”

“Someone without ethics wouldn’t worry about throwing his family to the wolves. It happens all the time. Besides, how were your creditors to know that your family wasn’t already making plans to abandon England as well?”

George became infused with even more indignant color. “You sound as if you believe those ridiculous rumors.”

“Perhaps because I do.”

“Why? You don’t even know me.”

“Don’t I? Did you not learn my name before you sent your driver pounding on my door?”

George frowned at that point, explaining, “I come home to find my house empty of my family and all furnishings. My nearest neighbors inform me that I can find my family, at least, at Baron Windsmoor’s residence and give me the address Rissa left with them. No, actually, I got no more than your title before I hied it here in all haste. Is your name relevant? Just who are you, sir?”

“Vincent Everett.”

“Good God, you aren’t related to that blackguard Albert Everett, are you?”

Vincent stiffened now. “My brother, now referred to as deceased.”

“He’s dead?” George asked in surprise. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

“Don’t be a hypocrite, Ascot,” Vincent said in disgust. “Sorrow from the man who drove him to his death just doesn’t smack of sincerity.”

“Drove him—!” George gasped. “What madness are you spouting now?”

“So now you would claim ignorance? Very well, let me refresh your memory, then. Albert used what little was left of his inheritance to start a business that would support him. Unfortunately, he picked your line of business, and you went out of your way to make sure that he knew the added competition wasn’t welcome.”

“That isn’t—”

“Let me finish,” Vincent interrupted. “You undermined his efforts at every turn, had your captains escalate the bids on the cargoes he was after, so he couldn’t hope to make a profit on them. You made sure his business would fail, and so it did. You crushed my brother thoroughly, so much so that he killed himself rather than admit to me that he had lost everything. You didn’t really think his family would let you get away with that, did you, Ascot?”