* * *
Belle sat up and began to look for him.
Oliver was right where he was supposed to be, right where he’d promised he’d remain until she felt she didn’t need him anymore.
On her wedding night, she’d screamed in the middle of a night terror and Oliver had come running to calm her. Embarrassed, she’d told him then that he need not return, but he said he would continue to stay until he believed her.
Three nights later, he sat in the chair by the fire in one of the guest rooms at Cassius’ house.
He was asleep, but he was there.
She took a deep breath and then another and slowed her heart down. She felt hot and cold.
Her body was covered in sweat.
She’d had another night terror. This time, she’d been hanging from the roof and Dunst had pulled out a device so sinister…
Her heart started up once more, and her stomach nearly turned.
She laid back down and stared at the ceiling.
She was safe.
At least thirty people resided at Cassius’ house. Everyone from Lord and Lady Van Dero to the scullery maid would come to her rescue if she called.
“Still dreaming about him?”
She sat up and looked at Oliver. His eyes were open.
“Did I wake you?” She hated that he slept in that chair. She hated that he felt obligated to stay with her just as much as she appreciated it.
He stood and stretched.
“That chair is going to ruin your back,” she said, not for the first time.
“I’ve slept in worse positions.”
It seemed they were going to have the same conversation they had every night.
She let it play out.
He sat on the edge of the bed. “You’re going to be all right.” His blue eyes were sleepy.
She sighed. “I know.”
“You’re going to get through this.”
She nodded. “I know.”
“I’d never have let him hurt you.”
She took another deep breath. “Thank you for saving me.”
“The fact that you are still having night terrors tells me that you don’t believe me.” He took her hand. “I’d never have allowed him to hurt you.”
She broke from the usual tonight. “If Milly hadn’t sent you after him, you never would have come.” He’d told her that Milly had sent him to the house, and Belle had told Oliver why she’d thought he’d come to kill her. He’d told her about his conversation with Husher.
“I saw your fear at breakfast. I would have come,” he vowed. “I’d have been upstairs sooner had I found a way in. When I heard your scream, I decided to come through the front door.”
Faith was hard to come by. “No one else saw my fear. How is it that you know it when you see it?”
He just stared at her, and Belle lowered her eyes.
They rarely talk about the past.
They’d spoken about it, hinted at it more than ever these last few days.
“I remember the fear in your eyes when I told you that I would go after Gregory’s enemies,” he whispered.
She remembered. After he’d begged her permission to avenge her, she’d had no choice but to tell him the truth. She thought he’d change his mind after finding out that she’d only come into his life to lure him into Gregory’s fold, but instead, he’d gone in headfirst. “I didn’t tell you that I’d been sent by Gregory so that you’d do exactly what he wanted.”
“I know, but you still gained something out of it.”
She had.
In exchange for his service, Belle had gotten her freedom. Not completely, but her body had been her own from then on.
He’d paid a high price for her.
“Don’t pretend you don’t regret it,” she said. “You’ve been kind to me these past few days, but you never hid your hatred from me before that.”
He leaned back on the bedpost across from her. “I had my reasons for not liking you, but I never hated you.”
She narrowed her eyes.
He rolled his eyes. “All right. I hated you.”
“You still hate me,” she corrected. No fact had ever hurt more. “Admit it.”
He swung one foot up on the bed and then the other. They settled next to her thighs. His socks had a hole in the big toe. For some reason, this made her smile. It was such a normal thing on a man who was so… different.
With the fire behind him, his eyes appeared darker, but he grinned. “If I still hated you, would I be here?”
“Yes, because you feel responsible.” She’d had days to think it over. “Perhaps, it was the kiss? Maybe you think Dunst found out.” Milly had revealed to her upon her return that the wedding itself had all been staged. She was not Lady Dunst, though the public would think so.
There had been no wedding contract, and the clergyman himself had not been a vicar at all but one of the men in their organization who’d turned his hair white with powder and had hired an actress to make his face appear older with paint.
It had been a lovely performance. And she was glad to know she wasn’t married to him. She was still a free woman.
“He didn’t know about the kiss,” Oliver said.
“How do you know?” she asked.
“I just do.”
“Meaning, you don’t. The dead make no confessions.” Because surely, the man was dead.
When Oliver said nothing, she asked, “He is dead, isn’t he?” She’d been assuming it for days.
If that man were still alive…
Oliver sat at her hip and placed his hands on her arms. “He can’t hurt you ever again, Belle. I swear it.”
Her skin felt cold, even where his hands touched. “Is he or is he not still breathing?”
Oliver made a face. “Barely.”
“Barely? What does that mean?”
“Once I saw what he’d done to you, I lost control, but he lives.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t kill him?”
Oliver rubbed her arms. “Milly has presented another idea to her husband.” He lifted an accusing brow. “I’m sure you’ve heard of this prison.”
∫ ∫ ∫
1 1
* * *
She’d more than heard about it. She’d helped to put it together. Sir Raven, a former assassin of Van Dero’s, was running the facility.
In the hope to clean up Van Dero’s organization and truly make it just, the women worked to end as much bloodshed as possible.
She hadn’t known Milly had presented what they’d done thus far. She colored at being found out. “How did Cassius take it?”
Oliver lifted a brow. “He knew.”
Belle groaned. “Of course, he knew. One can keep very little from the duke.”
“Fortunately for Dunst, we’ve had reason to keep him alive these last few days as we debated the matter. My men found the chessboard when I rescued you. He was impressed by how long Milly kept her mouth shut. He commended her for that at least.”
Milly had been quite strong during their testing phase. “Dunst said the women were making their men soft. Do you believe that to be true?”
He sighed. “I thought so until I spoke with Milly alone. She’s strong, just as strong as Cassius. I don’t think the women make their men soft. I think they remind the men, all of us really, of our humanity.
Repeatedly, we are forced to face a very important fact. We can’t control everything, but there is a God in charge who can.” He squeezed her arms. “Such things are good to remember when you’re feeling defeated.”
She couldn’t imagine a moment in Oliver’s life where he’d ever felt defeat. “Have you felt defeated?”
“You’re right. I do feel guilty about you.” He stood. “I let Dunst touch you. He hurt you.”
She touched her head lightly. The pain from their struggle only bloomed if she pressed the skin. “It wasn’t your fault. You’ve no reason to feel guilt.” She greatly wished there had been another reaso
n he’d stayed these last few nights. She’d hoped he’d done it out of affection, but she knew Oliver too well.
“I gave my freedom for yours,” he said. “The least I can do is make sure you keep yours.”
“You’re free now. We’re both free.”
* * *
Oliver didn’t feel that way. He’d wanted to kill Dunst. Even with the vow he’d made to offer mercy to his enemies, he was enraged. He’d walked around Dunst’s torture chamber and soaked in every detail.
Had Milly not warned him, had he not been urged by his own gut, terrible things would have been done to a beautiful woman. He’d never seen so much darkness in one man, but Vita had warned them months ago.
She’d said there had been little light in his house. That should have been a clue. Also, he’d hurt them both before and while he’d only caused Vita slight pain, he’d hit Belle with his full strength.
This was all his fault.
He’d let it happen.
“So has Dunst already been put away?” she asked.
He wrapped a hand around the bedpost. “I’ll take him once I’m sure you’re well.”
“I’m well,” she said. “I wish to go with you.”
“Why?”
Her eyes were as expressive as he’d ever seen them. Old memories came to the forefront of his mind. Though she’d been planted into his life with injuries that hadn’t technically come from the hands of her enemies, the injuries had still been real. Her pain from them had still been real.
Yet so had her strength. As her bruises had healed, she’d gained more as he’d taught her to fight.
So much good that had done her with Dunst. Fighting back had likely only made it worse.
All the techniques in the world wouldn’t stop her from being a small woman.
Yet at the moment, she gave him that look he’d grown to loathe as much as he admired it. A look of pure confidence. She’d sat at tables with the highest-ranking men and women in the country and would don that look. “I wish to see the gates close him in. I wish to be sure he’ll never touch me again.”
She needed to see it for herself.
Well, if that was what it took to end the night terrors… “I’ll take you with me.”
Her eyes flashed. “We’re not going to fight about it?”
He grinned. “Is it a fight you want?”
She shook her head and smiled. “You’re just… being so nice to me. It must be pity.”
“Whatever else could it be?”
She picked up the pillow beside her and made a threatening look. Her smile didn’t fade an inch. “Go back to your chair, Ollie.”
“Or what?” He rested his head on the post. He hadn’t allowed himself the pleasure of simply staring at her endlessly in years. Always, he kept their glances short. Otherwise, he would give her a fight if only to fight down his own feelings.
It was more than the fact that she’d lied to him. She’d been a lie. The woman she’d presented, the one he’d fallen for, had been false.
He would not forget that. He’d only made such a mistake once.
But that didn’t make him feel any less responsible for her. Someone was after her. Someone wanted her dead. If he left her behind, he’d feel troubled not knowing if she were safe. It was another reason she had to come with him. “Sleep. You need your rest.”
As if realizing his mood had shifted, Belle tucked the pillow under her chin and gripped it tightly. Her eyes blinked slowly. “Thank you for staying.” She was growing tired.
“Goodnight.” He moved back to the chair and settled down.
He’d slept in worse positions, upon rocks and sticks. By comparison, the chair was a luxury. As was sleep.
* * *
Two days later, a convey started for the Gavellorp Mines, the place of the new prison. One carriage followed another north. The leaders of Cassius’ organization wished to behold Milly’s project for themselves, as did their wives.
As they traveled, Belle sat in the carriage with her friends and bridesmaids.
“So, what’s the plan?” Belle asked. “Dunst’s allies will inquire to his whereabouts.”
Milly said, “We shall widow you but not really. Dunst shall live, just not where others can be harmed by him. Cass has already sent all his servants away with enough money to keep their mouths shut.”
Lady Vita’s blue eyes were hard. “I can’t believe the things he had planned for you. For me.” She’d been Dunst’s first intended before Belle had offered herself. Her husband Remy was the leader of Cass’ personal army. “Dunst’s butler gave Remy a hard time, but as it so happened, we had something else the man wanted more than money. He’d been looking for his daughter, a girl who’d run away many years ago after an encounter with Dunst.”
Belle could only imagine how that encounter had gone. She prayed the girl hadn’t been abused.
“Sirius found her,” Pia said, speaking about her husband. Sirius was a natural hunter. “And after reuniting father and daughter, the butler swore he’d tell Dunst’s friends whatever story we told him to tell.”
“Dunst is gone,” Milly said. “Someone wanted him dead and he left. That is our tale.”
Belle grunted. “That tale is the truth.” Many wanted Dunst dead. “He will be gone forever once he’s locked away.”
Milly nodded. “You are not the first woman Dunst tried to play his little game with. Over the last few days, we’ve found other victims. Dunst will be found guilty for his crimes and shall be locked away forever.”
It seemed right.
Less killing. More justice. And the people were safe.
“How did you get Cass to agree to this?” Belle wished she’d been there to see the men’s reaction once they’d discovered their secret.
Milly smiled. “Well, it was a well thought out plan and Cassius is logical if anything. We’ve implemented a new magistrate and officers in Gavellorp, men we’re certain can’t be corrupted, men who have suffered from the hands of many of the men we’ve already locked away. Everything will be official.”
“We’ll simply keep their names from the public,” Vita added.
Belle nodded. She’d been a great supporter of this project from the beginning. She’d been the one to turn Oliver into the monster that he was. She’d do anything to find a way to reverse that.
Her night terrors had vanished the night after they’d spoken, and she’d finally managed to get Oliver out of her room.
She hadn’t been able to accept any more of his undeserved kindness. They’d both been very busy after that.
For the past year, Belle had been working to get the many lost boys from the streets into orphanages where they’d be educated and have a chance at a normal life. Many of the boys she tried to take in had been abused, forced to fight one another for money, and wouldn’t trust her. Yet a few weeks ago, another young man had joined her efforts and had managed to convince the other boys to trust her.
Yet her engagement to Dunst had put everything on hold. Now, she was back to her passion—saving the people of tomorrow.
She didn’t know what trickery Cassius used with the banks, but now Dunst’s money was hers. She’d given a great portion to the prison but had saved another portion for her own projects.
She didn’t speak of it often, but every young man she saved made her think of Oliver. While she’d not been the one to turn him into a fighter, she had forced him to become an assassin. She’d always believed there was no way to save him, but God had a way of making the impossible possible.
This prison would be the first step in undoing what she’d done. The next…
She believed the pain she’d once caused him was the reason he couldn’t trust women and thus had yet to marry. She wanted to change that. She wanted him to be happy, to have the love of a woman even while knowing that woman would never be her.
Every time a strong woman came into Cassius’ circle, she prayed that woman would be the one for him, but so far, all of Belle’s friend
s had married other men in the company.
But Oliver’s time would come. She’d make certain of that.
But how to get him to trust again?
∫ ∫ ∫
1 2
* * *
The carriages stopped for a horse change and everyone got out.
Belle looked toward the last carriage and watched Oliver climb out. He’d ridden with his brothers, Nicholas and Leonard.
Oliver’s gaze found hers immediately and even with the distance of two carriages between them, Belle’s belly flipped. His gaze glided down her body before returning to her face and though his expression didn’t change, Belle felt heat knocking against her skin.
Though they’d spoken about the kiss, they’d yet to speak about it in-depth, but Belle refused to bring it up. She didn’t want to be told that he’d kissed her for any other reason than because it was what he desired.
And since she doubted such words would ever leave his lips, she left the matter alone.
Even currently, with his eyes on her, she was certain his intentions were to make sure she was all right. Someone did want her dead, after all.
She smiled and gave a small assuring wave to him.
He nodded and then turned to his younger brother as he said something.
While the brothers looked different in appearance, their eyes were similar, a captivating shade of blue. Leo was dark-haired while Nick was blond, but Belle’s personal favorite was Oliver’s red. Wherever had it come from?
He was also taller than his brothers. His height and build made the legends of giants seem possible.
Another man got out of Oliver’s carriage.
Mr. Noel Trouble. At sixteen, he’d already manifested the looks of a man who would break hearts across England. He had his uncle Remy’s darker features, but his visage had a soft charm. He wore a golden hoop in one ear, a gift from Vita after the boy had saved her from an assailant.
Noel had suffered in the boy fights, taken there against his will, and was now key to Belle getting the others off the streets. Noel had a book in his hand. He’d begun home studies, since his uncle wanted him to be educated, but Noel wanted nothing more than to be a part of Cassius’ team.
The Marquess Who Kissed Me: (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) Page 6
