by Sadie Bosque
Blake reached inside his pocket and took out his sketches. “These are the rough sketches of the people I remember.”
Hades took the paper and stared at the unfinished drawings. “They are missing some integral body parts. Like eyes and noses.”
“Perhaps you would recognize the silhouette or…”
Hades handed the sketches back. “I hope to never see you here again, Payne.”
Blake looked at Ford, who gestured for him to step outside. Blake fought to conceal his irritation and left the room.
“Well, that was an incredible waste of time,” Blake said with a sigh as they exited the hell.
“Not necessarily,” Ford said and hurried behind the building. He let out three short whistles, and three men appeared before him.
“Jamison,” he addressed one of his men. “How about you get yourself a drink and a whore and get as close to Hades’ private chambers as you can. Pay close attention to what is going on inside. The rest of you watch the building closely. If you see any suspicious activity, send one of the boys with a missive.”
With nods, the three men scattered in different directions.
Ford turned back to Blake. “We’ve made certain Hades knows that we shan’t stop until we find the culprits. He knows that if his men turn out to be the ones responsible, he and his business would suffer greatly; therefore, he’ll do anything in his power to find them himself and punish them. Besides, I did not like how he looked at your sketches; I think he recognized the men despite his flippancy. If I am right and he starts looking for these men today, they might want to flee. If he does it silently, he will execute them before we have a chance to find out who is behind your disappearance. So my men will hold the watch, and you can sleep soundly for now.”
Blake raised his brow, and Ford gave him a wink. “It’s not my first day on the job, Blake. And as much as I hate sharing bread with Hades, he comes in handy in situations like this.”
Blake thought a while about his words. “You’d rather he was the one who hung from the rope, wouldn’t you?”
“Cutting off the snake’s head seems to be the best approach, yes. He holds too much power in London. I know, just like everybody else, that he has some dark dungeons of his own. But he is too well connected and protected by both criminals and lords alike. It’s not as easy as catching him in a crime and hanging him. He’d be too difficult to prosecute. Until that day comes…” Ford shrugged.
“Bake bread and make merry,” Blake finished for his friend.
“Exactly.” Ford nodded and gestured for him to proceed toward the carriage.
Chapter 17
It was the day of the grand ball, and Annalise was a nervous wreck. She hadn’t seen Blake for two days. After the tender night she’d spent in his arms, the night he’d promised to be there when she woke up, instead, she awakened alone, and Blake had disappeared for the next two days.
Annalise knew that he’d occasionally been in the house. The door to his study was shut, and food was sometimes delivered there, but she hadn’t managed to catch him, and he hadn’t spent nights at home either.
What had happened that night that he just disappeared like that? Was it just because of her courses? Annalise knew, deep down, that the reason must have been more complex than that, but after the experience she went through for the first months of their marriage, she didn’t feel confident about anything. And this seemed too familiar. After a few weeks of courting, he started acting exactly the way he had during their marriage.
She only prayed that he’d actually show up to their ball.
It was the first ball she’d hosted as the Countess of Payne. She’d hosted a couple of dinners and a musical the year before but never a ball. And this was the first official event in the Payne house since Blake’s return, so they were expecting lots of guests.
Annalise was nervous and anxious about the ball, especially since she didn’t have anyone to rely on. And during this stressful time for her, Blake was nowhere to be found. Annalise sent the housekeeper to find him and remind him that the ball was in an hour.
She really should be the one to find him, but she was afraid she would break down if she was unsuccessful. If he didn’t come to fetch her before the guests started arriving, she would have to host their first ball alone.
Ruth made an intricate coiffure and let a few golden ringlets loose at the front and back of her head. She dressed her in a deep coral gown, fastened the heavy ruby necklace Blake bought her around her neck and handed her the silk gloves.
Annalise gave one more twirl before the mirror and went to look out the window. Soon, the guests would arrive, and the ball would begin. Annalise picked on the tips of her gloves.
“Breathtaking.” Blake’s hoarse voice startled her, and Annalise jumped before whirling on him. Blake gave her an apologetic smile. “I didn’t mean to startle you.” He walked further into the room.
“I didn’t hear the door open.” Annalise’s voice was breathless; her heart beat incessantly against her chest.
“I should have knocked; I just… couldn’t wait another moment to see you.”
Annalise expelled a breath in relief. You came. She didn’t realize fully how frightened she was that Blake might let her down again.
Blake made a few long strides, and in a moment, he was right in front of her, holding her gloved hands in his. “Is everything all right?” he asked. “You seem—”
“Nervous,” Annalise said with a shaky laugh. “I thought… I was afraid… I haven’t seen you for two days.”
Blake brushed a lock of hair away from her face. “I am sorry, darling. I had a few things to take care of, but I shall be with you every step of the way.”
Annalise closed her eyes. Their problems could wait. She would question Blake about what kept him from her later. She’d have plenty of time to worry about their future after the ball. For now, she bathed in the warmth of his reassurance. This was all she ever needed to hear. That he would be there beside her. Always.
Blake placed a soft, warm kiss on her forehead, and Annalise sighed.
“Shall we?” Blake offered his arm, and Annalise took it with a smile.
* * *
Blake stood with Annalise in the receiving line for what seemed like forever. Ever since the visit to the Hades hell, Blake had felt twitchy and on edge. He’d come back from the outing shaking and covered in a cold sweat. Ford had told him he should be able to sleep easier after their visit to the gambling hell, but that wasn’t the case.
After having a long, warm bath, he’d locked himself in the study, fighting to keep the old memories at bay. He reached for the bottle of brandy once or twice but hadn’t been able to pick it up. He’d promised himself to be better for Annalise. He’d promise himself to never have an alcoholic drink again. She hated the smell of alcohol on him, but most importantly, he loathed the man he turned into when he was foxed. Not a man, a beast. So he kept himself from drinking, but that meant his thoughts and memories were driving him insane.
Blake couldn’t come to Annalise in this state of mind. He would have terrified her with his appearance. He wanted nothing more but to spend nights in her arms. But he was tense and irritable, and he never wanted Annalise to see him this way.
When it became obvious that the memories plaguing him would not disappear, he decided to do something useful. So he left the house and followed a lead of his own.
He went to the clubs and social events, looking for Jarvis. He wanted to see if any message would be delivered to him or if he’d act strange in any way. The first night they’d spent together, nothing seemed out of place, but on the second night, Jarvis had left the company during the night, disappearing without so much as a word.
And this morning, Blake had received a note from Ford, saying that something had happened in Hades hell. A fight broke out, and a few men defected, nearly setting the place on fire. It might have been unrelated, or this might have been the result of Hades recognizing one of the sketches a
nd trying to punish his men for disobedience.
Two gentlemen came up to the greeting line, laughing. Blake looked up and saw Jarvis and their mutual friend, the one they’d spent the previous nights in the clubs with.
“Lord St. John, Lord Bradshaw, welcome.” Annalise curtsied with a smile.
“Jarvis, Bradshaw.” Blake sketched a bow.
The men bowed over Annalise’s hand before turning toward Blake.
“It’s so good to see you back in the clubs. I assume we are going to see you there more frequently now?” Bradshaw asked.
Annalise’s hand tensed on Blake’s arm.
“Perhaps,” Blake gritted out.
He watched Jarvis intently. The man didn’t look out of sorts. He seemed collected and well-groomed.
“We still haven’t heard the story about where you have been hiding,” Bradshaw continued relentlessly.
Blake knew he’d have to answer the incessant questioning, but after getting hit by reminders during their visit to Hades, he wasn’t in the mood, and there were other things on his mind.
“I shall regale you with all the details later,” Blake answered swiftly. “And perhaps Jarvis can tell us where he disappeared to last night.”
Jarvis raised a brow but otherwise didn’t miss a beat. “I got myself a nice, warm wench,” he replied with a wink.
“Is that also what you did when you disappeared?” Bradshaw turned to Blake.
Annalise stilled beside him, and Blake cursed Bradshaw for his thoughtless words. This was not the time for questioning Jarvis, however. Neither could he quench Bradshaw’s curiosity. That would have to wait. “Not at all,” he answered with a pleasant smile. “I shall tell you all, gentlemen, as soon as I am done with the receiving line. For now, I have a duty as a host.”
“Oh, of course, of course. Did not mean to keep you from your duties.” Bradshaw sketched a theatrical bow, and both he and Jarvis disappeared into the throng of guests.
“I don’t think I ever liked that man,” Blake grumbled under his breath.
When they were finally done with the receiving line, Annalise disengaged from him and went on to chat with the guests, while Blake went to the refreshments table and eyed the bottles of wine. He poured himself a glass of punch instead. He sipped it, pretending it was wine, pretending it had the same soothing effect on his mind.
He gazed across the ballroom at his wife, who fluttered like a butterfly from one cluster of matrons to another, greeting them with a sunny smile on her face. He had to join her. It was not only the polite thing to do—or what he was supposed to do both as a host and a man who’d returned from a long absence—it was something he wanted to do. To be by his wife’s side at all times was his fervent wish. She drew him to her, and he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her. But he couldn’t do it. Not at the moment.
His energies were so low, his mood so foul, he would bark at a shriveled old lady the moment she hinted at his disappearance. He was a curiosity everyone wanted to learn about. They whispered about him behind their fans. And they needed his story to feed the gossip. There was nothing wrong with that. That was how their society lived and functioned.
Only they had no earthly idea about the horrors Blake had gone through, or they wouldn’t be asking. And willingly throwing himself into the pit of his dark memories wasn’t something Blake looked forward to doing.
“Are you all right?” Jarvis appeared at his elbow.
Blake choked on his punch and coughed into his fist. Jarvis clapped him good-naturedly on the back.
“Didn’t mean to startle you. Apologies,” he said with a grin.
Blake took out the handkerchief and wiped at his teary eyes. “That’s all right. I was lost in thought. Didn’t see you approaching.”
“I am just here to warn you that gentlemen are determined to get the account of your disappearance out of you,” he said sotto voce. “I hope you have a story prepared.”
Blake took another sip of his drink and gave a slight nod.
True to Jarvis’s word, soon Blake was surrounded by a crowd of gentlemen, all eager to finally hear the story of Blake’s whereabouts for the past year and a half. Blake’s panicked gaze landed on Annalise.
She must have felt his turmoil because she turned to him at that same moment and gave him a reassuring smile. Blake took a breath. For a moment, everything disappeared: the crowd, the noise, the ballroom. All he could see was Annalise. All he could hear was his heartbeat slowing down, steadying under the calming gaze of his wife. He could do it. He could beat his anxiety and get through this day with her by his side. With her, he could get through anything.
Blake concentrated on Annalise’s face, imagining their future. Many more balls like these, many more nights in bed with her. If he had a choice, he’d stalk right through the crowd, pick her up, and carry her to the first solitary room. He’d have her against the door, or table, or any furniture in sight. Hell, he’d settle for cuddling her close to him or even just holding her hand at that moment. He needed her reassuring warmth beside him.
But he couldn’t have that. At least, not yet. They’d have many quiet evenings and passionate nights ahead of them once he found the people behind his disappearance, once some other scandal stole the attention of gossips.
All he needed to do was weave an articulate story for the benefit of irksome lords—a lie—so they’d leave him alone and never ask about his experiences again.
So he winked at his wife and turned back to the men around him.
“It’s a long story, gentlemen, and not for the ears of gentle ladies. So shall we adjourn to the card room?”
* * *
The incessant racket of laughter came from the card room ever since Blake had disappeared there with a throng of gentlemen. Annalise couldn’t help but cast a glance over her shoulder at the room. Blake had led the lords there under the pretense of telling them the story of where he’d been for the past year and a half. But unless he’d spent that time traveling with court jesters and harlequins, the laughter coming from the room seemed out of place.
After speaking with some of the matrons and making sure that the ball was proceeding accordingly, she walked toward the card room.
Another peal of laughter ripped through the curtain hangers separating the card room from the ballroom. Annalise entered and hovered at the threshold.
“And did the young maiden thank you for your efforts?” one of the men asked suggestively.
“I wouldn’t have saved her otherwise,” Blake said with a grin.
“Oh, poor maidens across the sea. How shall they fare without their mighty protector now?” an old lord shouted with a drunken slur.
“Now we all want to roam the seas instead of being stuck with our old wives in musty ballrooms,” another one chimed in.
Annalise put her hand to her abdomen, feeling ill. She turned to leave, but with the corner of her eye, she caught Blake noticing her.
“Excuse me, gentlemen, I believe my wife needs a rescue too.”
He tipped his hat and walked out of the room. Annalise hurried her steps, trying to get away from her husband, but he caught up with her and took her by her arm.
“Is anything amiss?”
“Amiss?” Annalise whirled on him. “Is any of it true?”
“What?” Blake’s eyes ran nervously around the room, his breathing shallow.
“Your outrageous stories about saving maidens and roaming the seas? Is that truly where you were all this time?”
“Let us discuss this in another place. Somewhere far from here.” Blake took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off his forehead. He took a deep breath before steering Annalise away from the ballroom.
“Where are we going?” Annalise asked worriedly.
“Somewhere private.”
They made a few steps down the dimly lit corridor before Blake turned and opened the door to his study. He held it open for Annalise, so she entered. She couldn’t be out of the ballroom for too long. T
he disappearance of the hostess would be commented upon. But she was much more interested in what Blake had to say.
Instead of speaking, Blake took her by the waist, whirled her around, and trapped her with his body against the door. The next moment, his lips were on her, kissing, devouring. Annalise sagged against his body for a moment before she returned to her senses and shoved him in the chest.
Blake took a step back and looked at her curiously.
“Blake, this is not why we are here.”
“Darling, I don’t want to talk. I’ve been talking for two hours trying to appease the lords and making certain there won’t be any scandal.”
“This was your way of ensuring no scandal would happen? Humiliating me?”
Blake raked a hand through his hair. “Humiliating? Darling, those lords do not care about any of that. They just needed an entertaining story. Besides, what would you have me say? The truth?” he asked irritably.
“I don’t even know what this truth is!” Annalise let out a huff of breath. “And no, I do not wish you told them the truth, but I wish you told it to me.”
“The truth is not for your ears.”
“Oh, for the love of God, if I hear you say that one more time!” Annalise was so enraged she was ready to stomp her foot.
Instead, she took a deep breath and walked past him, deeper into the study. She lit the candle on the desk and perched herself on the corner. “I want to know the truth. No matter what it is. No matter how ugly.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Then I can’t do this.” Annalise waved her hand between them. “I can’t pretend like everything is all right in this marriage anymore. If you can’t trust me, then there is no point in us even feigning a relationship.”
Blake’s head shot up. “I do trust you.”
“Do you? Because ever since you’ve come back, you haven’t shared anything of worth with me. Is this how you trust me?” She looked away and noticed the leather journal. The same one with the list of suspects of his disappearance. She took it and held it up in her hand. “Is this how you trust me?” she repeated.
