A Knight of Vengeance: (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book)

by Deborah Wilson

“Did Alguire truly hurt you?”

  She nodded again.

  Avery sighed. “I’ll find a way to deal with him. Tonight.”

  “You’re not planning to hit him or anything, are you?”

  Avery laughed and let his sister go as he stepped away. “I don’t fight in such ways anymore, Elisa. I’m watched far too much for that.”

  The words made Elisa think that if there was no one to witness it, Avery would attack Alguire.

  “Perhaps, you should think about a nap before Belle arrives. I’ll see you later.” He left.

  Elisa stopped herself just short of tossing something at his retreating back. If one more person suggested she rest...

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  3 6

  * * *

  In five years, Elisa couldn’t see much difference in her father’s ball. The Reddington Ball was always a staple to the London Season, unofficially marking the beginning of Parliament and the start of the marriage market.

  Elisa had enjoyed her first Reddington Ball at the age of eighteen. Back then, she’d been anxious to marry and had fallen for any man who’d seemed to smile at her kindly, but her mother had encouraged her to wait and so she had.

  Then the very next year, she’d witnessed a murder and had found herself engaged to Lord Alguire, and her world had begun to unravel.

  She stood by her brother as he greeted their guests. Their father sat in a chair in the ballroom. Avery had warned her that his time was near. She’d wept that morning after they’d parted ways and had gone to check on her father as he’d rested.

  As he’d slept, he’d seemed at peace and now he was laughing, though he would have to remain on the side of the events.

  He had insisted the ball would go on, just as her mother had planned it every year before her death.

  There were at least a hundred people in their home. They filled the foyer, the public rooms, and the ballroom upstairs. She recognized many, but names were lost to her. Elisa was also nervous.

  Upton had yet to arrive. She had not seen him in many years, but he was on the guest list.

  Nicholas was not, but Belle had sworn he would come.

  What if he didn’t?

  What if he did?

  “Elisa.”

  She stiffened and looked up at the next approaching guest.

  Lord Alguire.

  She’d known he was coming.

  He’d been invited by her father. The duke had no idea that his son was plotting behind his back to give Elisa to someone else and neither did Alguire.

  There was no hostility when the two men greeted one another.

  Elisa knew Avery hated him, but he didn’t let it show.

  Elisa felt numb as she was forced to give the earl her hand.

  “I’ve been looking for you, my dear. We shall dance later,” Alguire said, his dark eyes burning with malice. His fingers tightened around hers.

  “I’m afraid not,” Avery cut in, taking her hand from Alguire. “Her every dance has been spoken for. It has been some time since my sister has been seen. As you can imagine, people are quite anxious to speak to her.”

  Alguire straightened. “I’m her fiancé,” he said loudly. “I’ve waited many, many years to claim her. We shall dance.”

  Avery frowned but then nodded and put on a smile. “Thank you for coming, my lord.”

  Alguire cut his eyes to Elisa. “Until later.” He moved away after that.

  Elisa’s stomach tightened. The last time she’d seen the earl, he’d been dragged into the snow by Lord Nicholas. If Alguire got her alone, he would punish her in some way. “Avery…”

  “Don’t fear him,” her brother whispered in her ear.

  “You don’t know what happened the day he came to get me from Bedlam.”

  “I know everything. I know what Lord Nicholas did, one of the few things I approve of the man. That, and saving you, of course. Van Dero told me everything.”

  Her stomach flipped with hope. “You approve of Nicholas?”

  He shook his head. “I said I approved of the action. The man himself, I still do not like or trust.”

  “You trusted him to save me.”

  He lifted a brow. “And look where that almost got you. I’ll not have him for a brother-in-law. I will not accept him into our family.”

  Elisa pressed her lips together and turned away. “He’s the son of a marquess. He’s perfectly suitable.”

  “On the outside, yes, but inside, his heart is black. It always has been.”

  “You don’t know that. How could you make such a claim when it was only a few weeks ago that you met?” The more her brother spoke about Avery, the less his anger made sense.

  Her brother ignored the question.

  “Do not fear Lord Alguire,” Avery told her again. “Every staff member in the building is on alert. You’ll not be alone with anyone but me or Father tonight.” Then her brother turned away and smiled. “Michael is here.”

  Elisa turned just as Lord Michael Upton approached.

  Michael Upton was a man of stately beauty. Many of Elisa’s friends had swooned over his ability to stand out without trying.

  Belle had told her he’d married, but the wife had died two years ago. Now, widowed, he was once again back on the marriage market.

  “Avery.” Michael grinned. “How are you?”

  “Well. Thank you for accepting the invitation. I’m sure you remember my sister, Lady Elisa.”

  Michael’s green eyes turned to Elisa as he took her hand. “Of course, I remember Little Lisa. Not so little anymore, are you?” He bent his head over her hand. “How are you, my lady?”

  Elisa smiled and recalled how Michael and Avery’s other friends used to call her that. “I’m well.”

  “That is good to hear.” His touch didn’t linger and neither did his eyes. He then turned to Avery. “We’ve much to discuss. I am anxious to tell you about my travels in Asia.”

  “Later,” Avery said. “But I have a dance with Elisa saved for you.”

  Michael turned back to Elisa and hesitated before saying. “I look forward to it.” He bowed again and then stepped away.

  The hesitation bothered her.

  Elisa turned to Avery. “What’s going on?”

  Avery cleared his throat. “Michael doesn’t exactly know about the match.”

  “What?” Her voice rose.

  Avery frowned at her. “I plan to ask him tonight. He has no wife. He wrote to me a few years ago, expressing his wish to have someone travel with him. I thought you two would be good together. Wouldn’t you like to get away from London and its… memories? Don’t you want to see the world?”

  Was her brother trying to send her away because of her madness?

  Elisa’s cheeks went hot. All this time, she’d been thinking Upton knew about the match, that he wanted her, but he didn’t. He’d not asked for her hand. What did this mean?

  “Avery, please, just let me be with Nicholas—”

  “Not more of that,” her brother said. “I will never allow the fiend to have you. Do you understand?”

  Why in the world did Avery hate Nicholas so much? “According to your story, he didn’t even hit you. Why do you—”

  “No. Not Lord Nicholas. Anyone but him.”

  Elisa was struck speechless.

  “Lord Upton will come over tomorrow, likely to discuss his trip,” Avery said. “I’ll arrange for you to be there and for you and him to speak. Just be normal and all will go well.”

  Be normal.

  She got the wicked idea to be the exact opposite.

  She smiled.

  “What are you smiling about?”

  “Nothing,” she whispered.

  “Don’t think I don’t know you,” Avery said.

  Oh, her brother had no clue who she was.

  She was glad when the dancing was announced. The moment she moved away from her brother, she began to think. She thought through the first dance, only slightly listening to anything her par
tner said. Afterward, she moved to stand by Belle.

  “You dance well,” Belle told her. The people at Belle’s back seemed packed together. their voices loud and drowning her out.

  Elisa moved close. “Thank you.”

  Belle pulled her close. “Stay still. Keep looking at me.”

  Elisa was about to ask why when she heard her name, said in a strong voice that she recognized.

  “No, don’t look,” Belle said.

  But she knew who’d called her. She knew he stood right next to her, blending into the sea of people pressed together. She felt Nick’s hand grab her. A rush went through her.

  Then his mouth was at her ear. “Hello.”

  “Nicholas,” she whispered. Her heart raced.

  “Not Nickie?” he mocked.

  She smiled even as she looked in Belle’s eyes. Tears began to build. “Have you come for me?”

  “Didn’t I vow to you that I would?” he asked. “You are mine.”

  She wanted to look at him. She wanted to speak with him alone.

  “You are mine, aren’t you?” he asked.

  “Always,” she replied.

  “Lord Alguire approaches,” Belle said.

  Elisa heard a growl from where Nicholas’ voice had come from. Then she felt a brush of his lips to her cheek and her entire world filled with vibrancy.

  She turned and caught his eyes.

  He smiled, winked, and then he pulled away and was swallowed by the bodies around her.

  The crowd moved away a moment later, spreading around the room.

  Nicholas wasn’t there. He must have moved away with the crowd.

  “How odd,” she whispered. “Where did the crowd go?”

  “The men and women are connected to Van Dero,” Belle said. “They were only around so that you and Nick could speak. As you can expect, he was not invited to this affair and should he be seen…”

  “I understand.”

  “This is my dance, my lady.” Alguire grabbed her hand and dragged her away before she could stop him.

  She was not at all surprised that he’d claimed a waltz.

  “I put out an announcement about our wedding weeks ago,” Alguire hissed. Belle had told her about the announcement. She’d told her more about her circumstances in London than Avery had.

  Alguire’s breath burned her nostrils. He’d been drinking and was clearly drunk. “People are expecting it. You will not embarrass me.”

  She turned away and tried to fight back tears. “You know it will never happen.” She looked around for Nicholas, but instead, she found her brother. He was tracking their moves, watching closely. If anything happened, he would step in.

  “It would happen this very evening if the Archbishop of Canterbury hadn’t denied me.” He leaned closer. “Can you believe it? I was denied. He denies no one for the right amount. I can’t imagine who got in the way of that.”

  She was glad he said nothing for the remainder of the dance. Yet once the music stopped, instead of letting her go, he tightened his hands on her and began to yank her out of the room.

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  3 7

  * * *

  “I’m thirsty,” Alguire said. “Let’s go get some punch.” His hold was punishing, so much so that Elisa found herself rushing to catch up in the hopes that he would loosen her.

  Elisa looked at her brother but saw he was being spoken to by a man she didn’t know, a man who was holding his shoulder and seemed to be telling him to stay put.

  No! Her mind shouted.

  She looked ahead.

  Avery’s footman blocked the door and Elisa’s fear resided.

  Until another man came over and whispered something in his ear.

  The footman stepped aside, and Alguire rushed past and smirked.

  The door to the ballroom closed.

  Elisa heard a voice from the other side, a lady asking to go through.

  “I’m sorry, my lady,” a servant said. “But there has been a great spill in the east hall. The staterooms on the west wing have been opened in their place.”

  Elisa looked around for a spill and saw none, but she did notice the hall was empty of anyone else but her and Alguire.

  The doors to the other rooms were also closed.

  They were alone.

  Fear strangled Elisa as she imagined what Alguire had arranged. Clearly, the servant had lied. She assumed he worked for Alguire.

  Yet as she turned to the man she thought meant to hurt her, she noticed concern in his own appearance. Alguire looked nervous.

  He glanced around, impatiently. “What is going on? Why are the doors closed?” He let her go as he tried the door to the ballroom. It was locked. He turned and then tried the one that led to the upstairs drawing-room. It, too, was locked.

  Elisa saw someone move behind Alguire’s back down the hall.

  Alguire turned, opening the way for Elisa to see the face of the man who stood at the other end of the hall.

  Elisa tried to recall if she’d been introduced to the tall and elegantly dressed gentleman, yet knew she hadn’t. There was an emptiness in his gold eyes and his face was so striking she’d not have forgotten him had they met.

  “What is going on?” Alguire asked the man. “Why won’t any of the doors open?”

  “I’ve arranged for them to remain closed while you and I speak,” the unidentified man said. “You seem to be obsessed with something that doesn’t belong to you. I am here to spare you an unpleasant future.”

  Alguire immediately grabbed Elisa. “She is mine. I don’t know who you are, but you can tell Lord Nicholas that she is mine and I will not tolerate him stealing her from me again.” Alguire still didn’t know that Nick had been working for someone else and not on his own behalf.

  It mattered little. Nick was definitely coming for her now, without anyone to tell him to do it either. No longer did he move at her brother or the mysterious Duke of Van Dero’s word.

  Elisa stared at the man before her and gasped. Could he be Van Dero?

  The stranger’s empty expression shifted to Elisa. Neither his features nor his tone changed as he spoke. “You’ve nothing to fear, my lady.”

  “Who is he?” Alguire asked her. “Yet another man to challenge me for you?”

  Elisa shook her head. “The Duke of Van Dero.” She’d said the title boldly, though she wasn’t certain.

  Van Dero bowed in recognition. “I had hoped we’d meet on better terms, my lady, and under less stressful circumstances.”

  “The duke?” Alguire’s eyes widened. He knew the name, knew to fear it. “Your G-Grace.” He bowed and then straightened. He moved to stand before Elisa. “I didn’t know you were acquainted with Reddington.”

  “I’m not. Unhand the woman and live to see another day,” Van Dero said. “Don’t and…” He sighed. “I’d rather not finish the rest in front of the lady.”

  Alguire looked back at Elisa and frowned. Then he turned to the duke. “She was promised to me.”

  “Promises have been known to be broken,” Van Dero replied. “Yet you should know… I don’t break my promises.”

  Alguire looked at Elisa again and then stepped away.

  Elisa couldn’t believe how easily the duke’s warning had worked. She’d never met the man. Alguire had never met him, yet his reputation preceded him.

  “Come,” Van Dero said to her. To Alguire, he said, “And I’m certain we can keep this little matter away from Lord Reddington, can we not?”

  “Of course, Your Grace.” Alguire kept his eyes down as he spoke to the duke and worked his jaw in frustration. He was a man she’d thought to never see bested and yet he’d been bested by Nick and now Van Dero.

  Elisa moved around Alguire, fearing he would change his mind and make a grab for her again.

  He didn’t, but he watched her as she walked away. He looked lost and even hurt, as though she were a toy his governess had taken away from him.

  The moment she reached Van Dero’
s side, another door opened, and Elisa ran straight into Nicholas’ arms.

  His mouth landed on hers, and she threw her arms around his neck. Everything was instantly right. His touch soothed her and made the world better. His fingers moved through her hair with a greed that matched the urgency in her heart.

  When he pulled away, Elisa drowned in the intensity of his eyes. He’d kissed her in front of the duke.

  “Come with me,” her love told her.

  She’d go anywhere with him.

  ‘You’ve little time,” Van Dero said. “I must give the word to my men to reopen the rooms before there is panic.”

  “Half an hour?” Nick asked.

  “Five minutes,” the duke warned before he turned toward the doors that led to a private receiving room. “Lord Goldstone believes I am meeting with his sister. I will wait in here until you’re finished then escort Lady Elisa back to her brother.”

  “Thank you,” Elisa told him with a soft smile, her arms still around Nicholas. “And you were wrong, Your Grace. There were no better circumstances to meet than these.” He’d likely saved her from some severe pain or perhaps even death.

  The duke nodded, his gold eyes watching her closely. “Four minutes.” He left the hall.

  Alguire was gone, and Elisa didn’t care where.

  Nick turned Elisa toward him. “I don’t know what I want to do first, look at you, kiss you, or ask you if you’re all right.”

  “I feel perfect now that you are here.” She placed her hands on his shoulders.

  “If I can find a way to get you out of here tonight—”

  “We can’t run.”

  “Why?” he asked.

  “My father. I can’t do anything that would upset him. He’s ill, Nick. Surely, you could see how weak he is. It will be enough of a surprise that I’ve married someone other than Lord Alguire. I cannot run now.” Even if it was all she wanted to do. “I won’t be the reason he goes before the time is right.”

  Nick frowned. “I have noticed his weakness. Everyone has. I am very sorry that you are going through this. I know he put you in Bedlam, but I can also see that you love him.”

  She loved Nick for noticing that. “Thank you.”

  He sighed. “It would be impossible to steal you tonight anyway. Your brother seems to have taken great precautions. It was hard enough for me to slip in as I did. There is no way I could get you out of here, not even with this crowd.”