“It’s fine, Vita,” Holly said. “I don’t have much time myself. Why don’t you tell me what you want and then I’ll go.”
Vita stared into her mother’s blue eyes and forgot how to breathe. The words had been callous considering the fact that they’d not seen one another for fifteen years, but surely Holly hadn’t meant it in the way Vita was thinking.
Something was wrong.
“I looked for you,” Vita said.
Holly said nothing.
“Did he hurt you?” Vita asked.
“Who?”
“Fontaine?”
Holly frowned. “Of course not.” A worried expression came over her. “Why would you ever believe that?”
“Because… you looked like you didn’t want to go when you left.” Had Vita imagined it all?
“You saw me leave?” Holly was astonished. “I thought you were asleep.”
Vita shook her head. “I saw.”
Holly held her gaze and took a deep breath. “I wanted to go, Vita. I loved Fontaine. It was my idea to leave.”
It was her idea to leave Vita?
“I don’t understand…”
Holly straightened her shoulders. “I couldn’t bear to be there anymore. I grew tired of pretending to be happy. I am happy now.” She looked Vita over. “And I hear you are courting?”
“Who told you I was courting anyone?” Had Holly been keeping up with her life?
“This man.” She pointed at Husher. “He said I had to come upstairs, because your fiancé is looking for you, but you wished to see me before you wed.”
“You mean Lord Dunst?”
Holly stiffened. “Dunst?” She looked at Husher and then at Vita. “Lord Dunst? You can’t marry him.”
“Why not?” Did Holly know something about him? “Is he a bad man?”
Holly looked away and shook her head. “No, I didn’t mean that. I just meant… I thought your father would wed you to Little Jeremy is all. Even as a baby, it was always his plan for you. However, I’m sure Dunst will treat you well.” She looked at Husher. “I’m ready to go.”
“The lady hasn’t dismissed you,” Husher said.
Holly turned back to Vita.
And Vita couldn’t help but note it was begrudgingly.
Vita felt her eyes begin to burn. Her mother hadn’t even touched her. She’d have likely stood farther away were it not for the hand that Husher had on her arm. How had she not noticed that when they’d first entered?
Her mother didn’t want her.
The love she’d imagined had only been on Vita’s part.
Her memories were false.
“Y-you can go,” Vita whispered.
“I’ll be back.” Husher turned Holly around and closed the door behind them.
Holly hadn’t even glanced back.
∫ ∫ ∫
4 2
* * *
Vita didn’t know how long she stood at the door, but she wasn’t surprised at all by Remy’s touch. Her body barely registered his hands on her shoulders.
She was numb. She had to be. It was the only way she could still be standing given everything that had happened.
Her father had been right. Holly had betrayed them both. She’d never loved anyone. Only Fontaine.
Vita didn’t know if her mother was still with Fontaine.
And she didn’t care.
“I’m so sorry.”
She didn’t reply but closed her eyes when his arms went around her. The heat of his body seemed to activate her feelings and all at once, the emotions she tried to suppress began to claw and burn their way to the front.
She ripped herself from Remy’s hold and buried her face in her hands. “Please go.”
“I can’t. I won’t.”
She turned to look at him. Tears fell from her eyes. “That was so embarrassing.”
“It was more than that.” He looked pained. “I know it hurts.”
She wrapped her arms around herself. “W-what did I do wrong?” Didn’t all mothers love their children? Had it been clear that Vita would be odd even at five? Maybe even before that. Perhaps, her mother was ashamed of her.
“You’ve done absolutely nothing wrong.” Remy grabbed her shoulder. “The fault does not rest with you. Your mother made a choice.”
Vita wasn’t good enough. “You should leave before Husher returns.”
“We both need to leave.”
“Step away from Lady Vita.” Husher stood by the door. His body was rigid but unarmed.
Not that he needed a weapon.
“Husher.” Remy straightened. “Vita needs me. I don’t know what arrangement you have with Dunst, but…”
“I have a job to complete,” Husher said. Then he turned to Vita. “You owe me money.”
She nodded. She did owe him money. Strangely, thinking of that actually helped wake her up. Money was such a cold thing. There were no emotions necessary to complete the transaction.
No wonder Husher lived his life the way he did.
Remy stepped slightly in front of her. “I’ll pay whatever she owes and double whatever Dunst promised you.”
“That’s not how this works,” Husher said. “You can pay what the lady owes, but I don’t break contracts. My deal with Dunst still stands. I am taking her to him. She will decide her own fate from there.” He held his hand out to Vita. “Come. It’s time to go.”
Remy blocked her. His voice no longer held reasoning. “She’s not leaving with you.”
“We share a history. I don’t want to harm you, Lord Bowland,” Husher said. “That doesn’t mean I won’t.”
Vita wasn’t sure where her mind went, but when it returned to the present, it was just in time for her to see Remy pin Husher against the wall. The room rattled with the slam. The assassin ricocheted, but then his knee went up and hit Remy in the gut.
They both went to the floor. Their hard bodies rocked the room and tasseled furniture.
And both seemed to be aware of where Vita stood motionless. They never ventured too far.
Objects were knocked from furniture. The sound of pounding flesh was nauseating.
“Stop,” Vita whispered. Then she shouted, but the fighting didn’t cease.
The men were once again on their feet and the glass on the balcony doors broke as they burst through them.
Vita gasped and ran to them. “Stop. Please!”
Her nearness caught Remy’s attention.
The glance cost him.
Husher pressed a piece of glass to the other man’s throat. Blood dripped from his palm and other places. He took a deep breath and then said, “I’m taking the lady.”
Remy looked ready to continue to fight, but Vita said, “I’m going with him, Remy.”
“You’re not,” Remy said. “He’ll have to kill me first.”
‘And then who would help raise Noel?” Vita swallowed. “I owe Dunst an answer.”
Remy met her eyes. “You’ve just gone through something traumatic. You’re not thinking clearly.”
“I’m thinking I don’t want you dead.” She loved him, but in time, she prayed that would fade.
She wanted everything to fade. She felt so broken. So confused. She didn’t trust her feelings. She didn’t trust herself.
But she’d told Dunst she would consider his offer and planned to give him an answer. “I’m leaving with Husher.”
Remy growled. “Vita, if you agree to marry that man…”
She waited for him to finish his words. Was this threat directed at her or Dunst?
With all the rage he had in his eyes, she believed he had been about to say something about her.
Perhaps, he’d never speak to her again or he’d never forgive her.
It shouldn’t have mattered, but it did.
And that was a problem.
“Husher, lower your weapon,” she said.
“I don’t take orders from you.” The assassin’s face was peaceably blank.
Vita picked up
a piece of glass from the floor and held it to her own throat. She had no clue what she was thinking. Perhaps, she wasn’t thinking at all.
Both men froze.
She spoke to Husher. “You’re to deliver me to Dunst unharmed, aren’t you? Otherwise, you don’t get your money?”
Husher dropped his shard and at the same time put distance between him and Remy.
Remy took a step toward her.
“No.” Vita gasped when she felt the glass nick her.
Remy’s eyes widened and went to her throat. She could feel the blood trickle. “Vita, put that down.”
“Stay where you are.” She looked at Husher. “Let’s go.”
Husher moved toward her, cautiously.
Remy just stood there dumbstruck, but he snapped out of it as she began to back away. “Vita, you’re not thinking clearly.”
She knew that. She’d just lost her mother for the second time in her life. She’d been stupid to hope for happiness and love. Now all she could hope for was fewer lives lost. Her own no longer mattered.
She’d not let another man die for her. Not Remy. Not any of the men who worked for Oliver or Van Dero. No one. “Stay where you are,” she told Remy again. “Don’t follow me.” Her voice wobbled.
Remy’s eyes glittered, and she turned away.
“You’re either more clever or more dangerous than I thought,” Husher said as their carriage pulled away.
Vita shook her head. “Someone will have to pay for the damage done to Lady Douglas’ home.”
“Dunst will pay for it,” Husher said. “I’ll see to it.”
A great amount of time passed before Husher spoke again. “I’ve been hired to take you to Dunst and to give you privacy while you give him an answer. I’ve not yet been paid for what happens once you've given your answer.”
She looked up and noticed most of the day had passed. A lamp burned between them. Outside, the sun was hidden beyond the trees. It would be dark soon enough.
She understood Husher’s meaning. She could hire him again, but at the expenses he quoted, she’d be poor once she was done. “How much would it cost me for you to take me to Van Dero once my answer has been given?” Where else could she go? Her father had left her in Van Dero’s care. She didn’t want anyone else getting into trouble because of her.
“Nothing.”
Nothing? She gazed into the assassin’s eyes. “Is this being done out of friendship or pity?”
“Pity,” he told her. “Or don’t you recall? I’m the last sort of friend you want.” He turned away, leaving her with nothing to look at but his strong profile.
She thought about Remy, unable to help but compare the men.
They’d fought evenly though Remy had to be older.
Want hit her squarely in the chest and she felt the flutter of panic.
She didn’t want to marry Dunst. She wanted Remy.
Was she making a mistake?
She beat back her feelings and closed her eyes until she thought herself settled. “Thank you.” She wiped at her eyes.
He looked at her again and looked ready to say something but then nodded.
“Am I doing the right thing?” she asked him suddenly.
“We have the same agreement as last time,” Husher said. “I’ll require your silence.”
Vita leaned away. Husher’s rejection didn’t hurt as much as everything else had that day.
That was good. Perhaps in time, she’d learn to control her emotions better.
∫ ∫ ∫
4 3
* * *
“You’re coming?” Noel asked Remy in astonishment.
Noel was dressed extremely well in a pale blue coat and buckskin breeches. His wound had healed enough that he could walk with far less pain.
Remy was also dressed and had taken care with his appearance. “Why wouldn’t I come? I attend most of Van Dero’s parties.” Though usually he stuck to the background and was rarely seen. Tonight, he planned to be a part of the crowd, even dance.
In all his life, he’d never hidden from anything. He’d not hide from a woman.
“Of course, I’m coming. I have a duty to Van Dero.” The duke was having one of his legendary parties. Remy’s usual position was in the shadows, but tonight, he planned to stop the gossip that had spread.
There’d been a meeting at Van Dero’s with Dunst present and it had taken everything in Remy not to snap the man’s neck while he and Cass negotiated the wedding contract.
There was far more than a dowry mentioned.
Dunst was in on something big, and Van Dero wanted to know what.
Once Dunst hinted at potentially knowing where the lost boys from England were going, Remy had reined himself in.
The negotiations were like none Remy had ever heard. A treaty would be signed on the day of the wedding. Dunst said he could influence others to join Van Dero’s campaign for justice.
And all Dunst wanted was Vita… and a little power.
Remy had stood silently in the corner, been out of character once Dunst left. He’d gone to a tavern— one Cass’ people frequented often— with Oliver and Leo and hadn’t been able to hold his tongue.
His attraction to Vita was now known in Van Dero’s circle. There were many who thought him still heartbroken by recent events.
He had been, but a week full of grueling assignments had cured him of any longing for Vita.
Noel narrowed his eyes at his uncle. “You know she’ll be there tonight, don’t you?”
Remy knew Dunst planned to escort his fiancée. The entirety of London knew. It would be their first public sighting together. Before this summer, no one had known much about Lady Vita, but after Dunst had vandalized her home, the papers had begun to take interest.
Now everyone wished to see her, the woman who’d managed to pull a rather reclusive lord from the shadows.
They knew nothing about Dunst being behind the vandalism or the ultimatum he’d given her. All they cared about was what they thought was a love story.
When Remy began to grow nauseous at the thought of them together, instead of putting his feelings to the side, he focused on it and told his stomach to settle. He’d be seeing them together tonight. Perhaps, they’d even dance.
He’d have to bear it. He’d have to smile and pretend to be pleasant.
“You don’t have to go,” Noel said. “Van Dero said you didn’t have to go. Your men know what to do.”
He’d been there when he met with the duke earlier that week. They’d met in Van Dero’s office and every second that went by, he’d waited for Vita to come to him, for her to storm the room and confess she was making a mistake.
But it hadn’t happened, and he’d left with his heart hardened.
“You should stay home,” Noel said.
Remy lifted a brow and then crossed the room. “I’ve never been to one of Van Dero’s special parties. I’ve no choice but to attend.”
With his hat in place, he stepped outside. The sun was just beginning to slip behind the buildings. He would arrive earlier than the guests and make sure his men were in place.
“What happens at the duke’s special parties?” Noel was very interested in the duke’s business. Remy knew he wanted to join the organization and wasn’t against it in the least. He simply wanted his nephew to gain his education first.
“It is not open for all guests,” Remy said as the carriage moved into the early afternoon traffic. “Those who arrive will have a coin. It’s their invitation to get through the door. It's more of a summons.”
“Summons?” Noel’s brows lifted. “Why are they being summoned?”
“For information. Van Dero collects information. It is how he keeps the worst of Society on a leash.” But there were still darkened corners of England that had yet to be explored. For now, they fought the evil they were aware of and left the rest alone.
Remy was angry that he’d let Husher go. He was no longer a friend but an enemy and who knew what sort of th
ings he’d gotten himself into since he’d left Van Dero’s service? Remy wouldn’t bring it up any time soon. He didn’t want anyone to think him bitter about the situation.
No, he’d wait. And then when his chance came, he’d direct some of his efforts to finding Husher.
“Is the Book of Affairs real?” Noel asked. “I heard a boy talk about it once. He said Van Dero had entries of every sin anyone had ever committed in England. Is it true?”
“No,” Remy said. “Not every sin. Only God possesses such a book.” And God was far more forgiving, which he was thankful for.
And the Book of Affairs was now the Books of Affairs. Van Dero kept them in his office. Their pages were written in a special ink that only the duke could reveal.
“Do you think he knows what I’ve done?” Noel asked.
“No.” Remy smiled. “He doesn’t go after... young men.” He’d almost called Noel a child.
Noel frowned.
“Powerful people,” Remy said.
“Like you and Dunst?”
Dunst.
Remy hadn’t asked the duke if he had anything on the earl, but he doubted Cass would be allowing Vita to marry him if he did know something terrible.
Aside from recent events, Dunst must have been an upstanding gentleman.
Or he hid his transgressions well.
Remy had no intention of looking into it.
Vita had made her choice. He would stay out of it.
“What will you be doing tonight?’ Noel asked.
“Making sure everyone is doing what they’re supposed to do. The duke will stay in his office most of the night. Men and women will be escorted in to deliver what they know.” But his men were efficient. They wouldn’t need his help unless someone stepped out of place.
In the presence of Van Dero, one would think such circumstances never came to be, but in the room full of people who had secrets of their own, it could be deadly.
Remy looked out the window as Van Dero’s home came into view. “So that no one is distracted by his absence or anyone else’s, there is usually some extravagant display planned. Tonight, there shall be a performance of Romeo and Juliet by some of London’s best actors.”
When they arrived at Cassius’ home, Remy made certain he didn’t look for Vita. He kept his mind focused on what he’d come to do. Even as he and Cass greeted one another, Remy’s mind remained on the task at hand.
A Knight to Dare: (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) Page 21
