Chapter 63

“Allardyce? Allardyce, is that you?” he said, staring at Will as if he had seen a ghost. Dearne looked at Will who was rooted to the spot. “Katherine, look, It’s Allardyce. Good God, man. Where on earth have you been this last, what? Ten, eleven years. You look damned well.”

For a moment, Dearne thought Will was going to deny it, but then his shoulders squared resolutely, and he took the proffered hand. Minty’s hand closed tightly over Dearne’s arm as he watched and waited.

“What the…I thought your name was Marsden?” Holbrook blustered.

“It is,” Will said to Holbrook. “It used to be James Allardyce.” He cleared his throat and cast a wary glance at Dearne.

“Allardyce?” Holbrook repeated and shook his head. “Not Sutton’s boy?” When everyone looked blank, Holbrook elaborate. “Godfrey Allardyce’s boy, Earl of Sutton. His only son and heir who went missing.”

Dearne’s head was spinning. Will was Sutton’s heir.