He felt his irritation flare at Uriel’s admission that he was essentially sorry he got caught, and there was a flicker of that annoyance in these private quarters. But, it was ultimately reigned in by his own guilt.

“Uriel, there are things I am ashamed of, too.”

Much as he had rehearsed this part, it was infinitely more difficult in front of his little brother than the mirror.

“I am knee-deep in a scandal of my own creation, and it may come to haunt you, too.”