“You were the best thing your father ever created,” Cassius said. “It was too bad you were born the bastard of his mistress.”
Sirius took no offense to that, since he knew Cassius didn’t mean to offend.
The Earl of Gordie had sired three sons: Tobias, Sirius, and Adam. Two belonged to his wife and one to his mistress.
Sirius’ real name was Adam. He was the bastard, but when Sirius died, the former Duke of Van Dero had forced him to take on his brother’s identity. The real Sirius had left home the same year Adam had moved away with his mother. Then he died and left two daughters behind. To pay a debt, the girls would have ended up sex slaves had Adam not stepped in.
He’d begged the old duke, Gregory, to keep them. In exchange, Gregory had required him to become Sirius.
All he’d had to do was disappear for a few years and then return with dark hair instead of his own natural blond. Sirius and his brothers had all inherited the same eyes. A dark Egyptian blue with a golden ring around the middle.
The only other difference, aside from hair, had been Sirius’ mannerism and his voracious habits. Sirius had been round around the waist and in his face as well. Adam was not. The years away helped explain the athletic transformation.
No one had suspected a thing. Still, no one did. It showed just how distant Sirius had become from his family years prior. Everyone in the world thought him the true Sirius Hayes except for those who knew the truth. Cassius, their friend Nicholas, his nieces Adalina and Babbette who recognized him as their father, his mother, and Lady Van Dero.
Milly had figured part of Sirius’ truth out on her own, thanks to Gregory’s book. Her finding it had led Cassius to stealing it from her and thus had begun their romantic tale of love, murder, blood, and happiness.
Lord and Lady Van Dero were both people one didn’t wish to upset.
“If your life had been easier, you wouldn’t be one of my best mates,” Cass said. He rarely showed or even spoke of his fondness for Sirius and Nick, but both men were aware that their friend treasured their relationship. “Since you took the place of the second son, you will become earl.”
Sirius sighed. It was what he’d been dreading. More than his brother’s death, he dreaded becoming an earl. “But I don’t want it.”
“Oh, do stop pouting.”
He stomped his foot. “I don’t want to be earl.”
“He threatened my family,” Cassius said. All humor left him. “He threatened Milly, and you know who I’d become without her. She reminds me that I am not God and that I can’t control everything.”
Cassius would become a monster if anything happened to Milly. There were moments when the sight of her humbled Sirius as well. Men with their resources needed to be reminded that there were reasons they still needed to pray. “Why not... simply send Toby away? Forever?”
Cassius shrugged. “Honestly, I can’t say that having you as an earl won’t benefit me.”
“Let me talk to Toby,” he suggested.
Cassius chuckled. “Very well. Speak to your brother, but I highly doubt that you’ll change his mind. The one he has doesn’t work very well. But hurry. Others know your brother’s plan. I can’t have people thinking I don’t punish those who threaten my life.”
“You could punish Toby,” Sirius suggested. “Take his finger like you did Barnaby.” Barnaby was Cassius’ personal footman, closer to him than his own valet.
Cassius shook his head. “Barnaby tried to take The Book. Your brother wants my life. It is hardly the same.”
Sirius grabbed his umbrella and started for the door. “I’ll speak to Toby. I’ll make this right.”
* * *
Sirius arrived at his brother’s home an hour later and knocked.
The butler opened it and bowed. “My lord.”
Sirius still found it odd that the staff that had once looked down their noses at him could believe him the real Sirius. It was comical, yet left him uneasy at the same time. Had his presence in this house all those years ago truly meant nothing to anyone?
A young maid escorted him.
He found his brother in the earl’s office.
He and two other men were all looking over a map. Their expressions were pensive.
Toby’s large finger traced across the map. “My men will come in from the north. You will each take either side and create a distraction so my men can get in easily.”
Sirius looked down at the maid who’d shown him to the door to gauge her expression.
The young woman looked troubled.
She should be.
He allowed her to leave and then closed the door loudly behind him.
The men who stood abreast with his brother looked up… and their expressions moved from recognition to disbelief, to terror.
Sirius’ reputation was hardly any better than the duke’s. They knew he was close to Cassius. They knew he’d done the odd assignment to get Cassius what he needed. They knew Sirius took no issue ending a life he thought worthy of ending.
The men backed away from Toby… who’d yet to realize there was anyone else in the room.
His brother was a true simpleton to speak so freely about killing Van Dero. “Toby.”
Toby looked up and finally, his mouth closed, but it didn’t stay that way for long. “Sirius, what are you doing here?” He began to roll up the map as though it would make any difference.
“I know what you’re doing. I’ve come to tell you to stop.” Cassius didn’t need to kill Toby. He could beat him like he’d done Milly’s brother for allowing her to sell herself for money—not that she had, but the very idea had sent Cass into a rage.
If the man’s plans didn’t include hurting Milly, there was a chance that Sirius would be able to help him.
Toby glared at him even as he tossed the map underneath his table. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” The fool.
“I heard everything.” Done with this half-brother for the moment, he turned to the tall, thin-nosed man on his brother’s right. “Hmm.” Sirius leaned back against the closed door—blocking their only way out—and tapped his chin. “It’s Boar something, isn’t it? Boar. Deer perhaps?.”
“What?” The man’s white brows rose. “Boar?”
“Your name,” Sirius clarified.
The thin man swallowed. “Lord Levi Foxton.”
“Foxton, yes.” Sirius grinned. “I knew it reminded me of something to hunt down.”
Foxton threw himself back against the wall and began to cower like the spineless man he was.
Sirius turned to the other man next. He was larger and stood by the window. Undoubtedly, he wondered if he could make it out before Sirius could catch him.
Undoubtedly, he would fail.
A small part of Sirius did enjoy this sort of work. He’d tried to run from it over and over again, yet so long as there were men like these in the world, Sirius’ dark tendencies would prevail.
“I’ve never met you before,” Sirius said. “What’s your name?”
The giant blinked over and over again. “I would r-rather not give it to you.” He straightened, trying to intimidate.
Sirius grinned cruelly. “Excellent. I do enjoy a good chase, though you should be aware that the more work I put into chasing you, the more I’ll take out of your hide when I do catch you.”
The giant crumbled to the ground. The very floor shook when he landed. His hands went up. His fingers folded as if in prayer. “Please, my lord. Do not tell the duke I was here. I had no part in this. It was all Levi and Tobias!” He pointed at them as though Sirius were unaware of who they were.
Foxton hissed, “You listen here, Harry Callum.”
The giant looked struck by the fact that Foxton had said his name. He glanced over at Sirius to see if he’d caught the slip.
But it had been no slip.
Before either man could go on, Sirius lifted his hands. “I will deal with you both later. You may go, but I wouldn’t go far. Take my warnin
g and don’t leave the city. I will find you.” The moment Sirius stepped away from the door and moved to the center of the office, the men ran.
They would leave the city, but sadly Sirius would be too busy to chase them himself. Collecting past debts and new infractions was no longer his occupation. He was a banker. An upstanding member of Society.
Yet somewhere deep inside, the monster hid and eventually came out.
During the time the other men spoke and eventually left, Sirius’ brother worked to hide the remainder of the evidence as though Sirius were as much an imbecile as he were.
By the time Sirius reached his brother’s desk, Toby was trembling, shaking enough that his lower jaw jiggled. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”
“You’re plotting to kill Van Dero.”
Tobias gasped. “Who told you?”
Sirius laughed at the bafflement on Tobias’ face. It seemed a crime to kill someone who lacked basic reasoning. “Who do you think told me? The duke.”
Tobias’ eyes nearly rolled back in his head. He placed his hands on his desk to keep himself upright. Then he hung his head.
Sirius waited for the apology. The begging.
“This changes everything. Where I would have delayed a fortnight, I must now act by the end of this week.” Tobias pushed away from the desk and then began to open drawers. He pulled out all the papers he’d recently stuffed away. “I’ve men ready to see it done.”
“Tobias! It’s the Duke of Van Dero. Your men will be wiped away as easily as pollen in the wind.”
“Not so! I have the money. I’m paying them well enough.” Tobias did have money, all thanks to Sirius. Now he wondered how wise it was to have helped Tobias.
Sirius rarely did good deeds for those who didn’t deserve them. Now, he regretted it.
Sirius moved to his brother’s side and grabbed his shoulders, turning Tobias to face him. This was the same boy who’d once spat in his face and pushed him down the stairs whenever he got the chance. As Adam, he’d have not been allowed to stand before him as he did, but as Sirius, he was respected... Mostly. “Listen to me. You must stop.”
“I can’t!” Tobias glared. “I simply cannot.”
“Why?”
“Because…” Tobias looked away. “I took something. He’ll be upset when he finds out.”
Sirius narrowed his eyes and dropped his arms. “What was it?”
Tobias, still refusing to meet his eyes, shrugged. “A painting.”
“A painting? Well, give it back.”
Tobias’ mouth fell open and his thick hand covered the center of his chest with dismay. “Give it back? But it’s a Bellini!”
“Bellini?” Sirius asked with more patience than he knew he had. “Gentile Bellini?” He prayed he was mistaken. Perhaps Bellini was a common name for painters.
“Of course, a Gentile Bellini! We’ve Italian blood, I’ll have you know.” Tobias wrinkled his nose. “We’ll never know what’s in that man’s blood. A distant cousin of Gregory?” He scoffed. “Likely not. He’s nothing more than a highwayman. I see him for what he is. Rubbish. A little nothing half-blood rat. I plan to take everything from him. I deserve it.”
Tobias collected himself. “Surely, you agree, Sirius. Tell me that your time away from the family hasn’t completely changed you. You know what Mama always said. People like him need to mind their place. I plan to make certain he does.” Turning away, Tobias said, “I’ve other lords on my side who agree. It’s time you pick a side, brother. Either you’re with us or against us.”
Sirius felt the lash of every word that left Tobias’ mouth because they were all words that had once been used against him. How many times had Tobias found ways to torture him into tears with cruel words, making certain Adam always knew he’d inherit nothing more than his father’s eyes?
He recalled Tobias speaking of his plans for Adam once their father had died. He planned to kill Adam and his mother. He’d had no remorse at the time. He’d been sixteen to Adam’s ten.
Adam had feared him.
Fear had been beaten out of him a few years later.
“Cassius is going to kill you and any man who stands against him.”
A snide smile curved Tobias’ lips. “He can try.” Then Tobias turned away and spread his map out again. “I plan to go after the swollen wife first. I’ll make sure the child doesn’t get the chance to take his first breath..”
Anger hit him strong, but Sirius cooled it until the burn passed. Sirius stared at his brother, knowing it would be the last time he saw him. He left there and went back to his office. It didn’t take him long to pack his personal belongings. He’d never been one to procrastinate.
∫ ∫ ∫
CHAPTER 02
Two Months Later
Lady Pia Brooks walked into Lady Melody’s Pottery and smiled at her aunt, who stood speaking to a group of men, who’d clearly come to Melody’s shop for more than the fine porcelain pieces that lined the walls. Each was a different vibrant hue with various objects displayed on shelves and stands.
With well-placed mirrors and glass objects, even on a dreary day, the flicker of candles off the shiny glazed surfaces lit up the room. It had always made Pia feel as though she were walking amongst the stars.
It was much like Miss Georgiana’s home in Liverpool. A place she’d spent many days.
As a girl, she remembered dancing in the center of the drawing room and laughing at the small spots of light from the chandeliers that would cover her and make her glow like a diamond. She’d spin and spin again.
The memory would not rest until she thought of the boy who’d often taken her hand and danced with her. His eyes were stormy blue with brilliant golden rings around the pupil. More often than not, they’d reminded her of the one summer she’d spent with her aunt on Brownsea Island many years later, the way the blue waves would wash against the shimmering gold shore.
She blinked the memory away when her aunt called her over.
Pia started forward, nervously. Like every space that Melody owned, the shop was one of the prettiest places in London. Fresh flowers covered the tables. Pia doubted her aunt ever had to buy a single bloom. Gentlemen were known to bring them to her.
“Gentlemen,” Aunt Melody said. “You know my niece, Lady Pia. She is Freylor’s daughter.”
The men looked her over. Lord Burien said, “I know Lady Pia. She favors you, Melody. She has the eyes.”
Melody reached over and touched Pia’s chin. “She does, doesn’t she?”
Pia didn’t look like the famed Melody Brooks, who was a sensually curved woman with black hair, striking cheekbones, and plush rosy lips.
Melody had been an actress who’d traveled the world with nothing but her beauty, talent, and education in four languages to propel her future. Pia’s grandfather, the third Earl of Freylor, had disowned her. He’d blamed Melody’s violet eyes for her wayward behavior. She’d been called possessed, just as Pia’s grandmother had been.
Grandmama, an enchanting woman, had been the first to have those eyes. Even until her death at sixty-two, she’d been known to keep lovers. Pia’s grandfather had died despising his wife. He’d hated everyone with the violet eyes, the ‘cursed vision’ as he had called them.
He’d treated his own daughter Melody poorly and had then encouraged the same for Pia, but Melody had fought back and gained pride in her appearance. She not only accepted her eyes but loved them.
Pia loved Aunt Melody though, much like her grandmama, there were certain parts of Melody’s life she didn’t wish to know about.
She glanced up to find the men still staring at her.
Certain lighting, like that of the pottery shop, made every hue in the room more potent.
Pia knew her eyes were lighting up as well. Whatever their ailment, both women had their grandmother’s cursed vision.
Pia had grown up hating her eyes. Aside from her aunt and grandmother, there had only ever been one person in her life who’d tried to enc
ourage her. But those days and that boy were long gone.
“Those eyes,” Lord Burien said with a shake of his head. “It’s a shame you and the late Lord Ginter never had children.”
Pia put on a smile even as her aunt moved her hand away to touch Lord Burien’s arm gently. “My lord, my niece has just come out of mourning. Let us not speak of the departed.”
“It wasn’t that recent,” another gentleman, Lord Halley, argued. “Two years. Lady Pia should have been wed again by now.”
The very thought made her shiver with fear, yet the fact that they went on to speak as though she weren’t present filled her with anger.
She turned to her aunt. “I’ll meet you in the storage room. It was lovely seeing you, gentlemen.” She curtseyed and nearly ran from the room.
The next space was a hall with nothing but mirrors. Melody adored herself a little much in Pia’s opinion. Moving quickly, she pushed back the blond hair that had begun to stick out from her bonnet and walked through the only door on the left.
A man stood in the storage room. His back was toward her but then he turned and met her eyes. He wasn’t a servant but a young gentleman. She could tell from the detail in his suit. A ledger was in his hand, and he closed it at the sight of her.
She took him in quickly before looking away. Tall. Leanly built. Dark eyes and dark hair.
“Hello, Lady Pia,” he said.
She was startled and wondered how the man knew her name.
Aunt Melody rushed in at that very moment. “Pia, you’re not supposed to be here so early, dove.” Melody laughed and rushed to stand by the gentleman.
Pia was a little early. “I started my walk early this morning. It was lovely.” Pia kept her eyes steadfast on her aunt and waited to be introduced.
Aunt Melody did so at once. “Pia, this is Lord Seys, son of the Duke of Reddington. He is the one who pays you for the deliveries.”
Pia’s eyes widened, and she looked up at the lord with embarrassment. “Oh. It’s lovely to meet you.” Making deliveries for her aunt was her only means of income unless she wished to remarry.
And she didn’t.
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