The twins nodded their agreement.
“That capricious nature and grievous wit he has.” A contemptuous curl elevated the duke’s lips. “He sold my son down the river for his own amusement. Cheeky bastard. I saw to it he had nothing left to smile about.”
Connor’s good humor fled as the implications of Rutledge’s words sank in. “What do ye mean?”
“Exactly what I said,” the duke sneered, while Celeste emitted a series of distressed moans. “Aylesbury exposed my son to scandal on a lark.”
“Ye mean, Aylesbury exposed yer son’s disgrace,” Ian corrected. “Nae gentleman would hide what Dormer did to Edgington’s lass.”
Tam nodded. “If no’ Aylesbury, another would have done it. Dormer’s a right git bastard.”
Rutledge finally lost his head. “Well, it wasn’t another. It was Aylesbury!”
Revenge? That’s what all of this was? Rutledge punishing Harry for ruining his son? Rather than merely sullying Piper’s reputation, he intended to punish Harry a hundredfold by putting his sister at the mercy of the very rapist he’d exposed. Connor stared at the duke. Then, Rutledge had tried to take Piper himself only to fail in the attempt.
He’d bided his time, waiting for another chance. Only cold calculation and sadistic determination could influence a man to stay the course for so long. It fit what Connor knew of him. A man who’d never been denied what he wanted now obsessed with having it. And an obsessed man was a dangerous one.
If two years hadn’t discouraged the duke, stranding him or even imprisonment wasn’t going to dissuade him. Connor would be willing to wager that the duke hadn’t been drawn to Dinton Grange by the faint possibility of finding Piper. Conscious of Aylesbury’s imminent return, Rutledge might hope to finally gain a measure of the revenge he’d been denied thus far. Taunting Harry with the details of what he’d done to his sister.
What he might do to her if he found her.
The reminder of what had already been done to her returned to the front of Connor’s mind and that cluster of fury inside of him unwound a fraction, ready to let loose entirely. Perhaps after a year or two, he could be as magnanimous as Piper and have the red haze that crowded his vision fade away.
This was not that day. Or year.
Connor could spare Harry the rage that knotted his own stomach, save Piper a moment’s humiliation, and solve all their problems by ensuring Rutledge’s immediate—and permanent—removal from the equation.
His feet carried him toward the duke, hands fisted before he even processed the movement. The guards took a step forward, ready to intercept him.
“I made him pay for what he’d done and I can do the same with you.” That cool polish was off, exposing the rage Piper had warned him of. Spittle flew from the duke’s mouth. “Do not think you can provoke me without repercussions.”
Connor growled low in his throat, fighting his base instinct to lay the man out flat. “And dinnae think ye can push me wi’out me pushing back. Duke.”
The duke put a hand on Connor’s chest and gave him a hard shove. As he wasn’t a little fellow, he might have anticipated some measure of success in doing so. All the same, Connor was large enough and furious enough to stand his ground.
“Dinnae touch me again, Duke,” he ground out. His brothers both rose to their feet, intimidating the guards with their size. “Or ye and I will have a more serious argument on our hands.”
“Assault on a peer of the realm is a criminal offense.”
Connor leaned forward until they were nearly nose-to-nose and snarled, “Aye, but worth it to me.”
Rutledge’s nostrils flared, he inhaled sharply.
And paused, wavering.
“Aye, I’m game,” Tam asserted with a nod.
“Let’s do it.” Ian cracked his knuckles with a grin. “I haven’t had a good brawl all day.”
* * *
“Thank ye both. Normally I’d say ye took it too far, but Rutledge deserved it,” Connor ground out as he led his brothers above stairs a short while later. “And more.”
“A pleasure.” Ian grinned. “Been a while since we’ve been able to verbally crush the unsuspecting.”
“Regrettable that it dinnae get more physical,” Tam bemoaned with a shake of his head.
“Yer reputation does tend to proceed ye.”
Yet, he’d wavered even before the twins had stepped up, prepared for violence. Perhaps it had only been Connor’s imagination. The duke had been willing to initiate a melee. It was his guards who had backed down from the physical threat of three strapping MacKintosh men, combined with the added force of a quartet of footmen at their backs. By the standard of their position, all were over six feet and well built.
Shame, really. Connor regretted losing the chance to whip Rutledge’s hide. Next time, the odds might not be in their favor. No doubt the duke’s four personal guards would become twice that by morning. All the more reason to be done with this nonsense.
“Thought the auld bat was going to faint when one of those guards drew his weapon. Good on ye for taking him down with such grace,” Tam ribbed his twin who took the praise as if it were his due.
“Who is she anyway?” Tam asked.
“Harry’s stepmother,” Connor told them, enjoying their collective grimace even in his surly mood.
“Puir lad,” Ian sighed dramatically with a hand over his heart. “I may be experiencing a morsel of remorse for that beating now.”
“I dinnae. He got what he deserved,” Tam retorted. “What’s she doing here while he’s away? Blossom willnae like it.”
“Forget her.” Ian dismissed the obvious opportunity to upbraid Connor in favor of the more serious matter at hand. “Ye’ve got the likes of Rutledge in yer drawing room. How did that happen?”
“About that.” Connor paused in front of his bedchamber door, the solemnity of the circumstances descending. “That sister none of us kent?”
“Aye?”
Connor opened the door and motioned for them to follow him inside. Piper sat at a small table loaded with food across from Temple. Her fork clattered to her plate when she saw him, the joy in her eyes humbling.
Hurrying to him, she threw her arms around his neck. “How was it? Is he…? Did you…?”
“He lives,” he assured her.
“He hasn’t left then?”
A harsh chuckle passed his lips. “I have nae authority to evict him. The extent of my command here is limited to management of the farm, otherwise I’m nae more than a guest in this house. He kens it, though I thought to bluff him.”
“Perhaps the constable…?”
“The constable wouldnae dare counteract the word of the Duke of Rutledge,” he told her. “Bugger it all, if I could put a fright into the man, the duke would eat him alive.”
“Lord Temple?”
Connor jerked his chin to waylay his friend’s protest. “Temple wouldnae appreciate being plucked from the shadows for such an undertaking. Nay, the easiest way to circumvent the duke’s efforts will be to aid in his plans. I told Rutledge I would assist in his search for ye.”
Piper gaped at him. “I beg your pardon?”
Temple nodded with a slight smile. “Well-played. That must have surprised him.”
“Hopefully enough to buy us some time.” He brushed his knuckles along Piper’s cheek. “He’ll no’ find ye, lass. I promise ye that. If he does, my preferred option remains.”
“Excuse us?” Ian nudged his way between them. “The duke can go bugger himself, but I’d love an introduction to this fair lass.”
“Aye, as would I,” Tam agreed, shouldering his way in front of his twin.
Connor pursed his lips and gestured to the pair. “Piper, may I introduce two of my brothers, Tam and Ian MacKintosh. Lads, this is Harry’s sister, Piper Brudenall.”
Her bright, bonny smile was forced. Even so, she managed to stupefy them more than her presence already had. Both gawped at her as if it had been a month since they’d seen a lovely woman, whe
n most likely, it had been less than a day.
Then again, that smile stole Connor’s breath as well. Each time it hit him with the same gale force it had from the first. Stole his breath and left him a tad shoogly in his boots.
Within moments of their teasing and effusive greetings, that smile became more genuine and she visibly relaxed.
“I knew it! Simply knew it!” She beamed at the pair, her dimple flashing. “When I first met Connor, I was certain he must have a ginger or two in his family. My goodness, look at you!”
She took their hands, ascertaining which was Tam and which was Ian when most of the family had long since given up the sport. The pair took more delight in presenting themselves as the other than owning their own name.
As he watched her beguile them with ease, Connor decided it was perhaps best Piper never had a Season. She would have done the same to every man in London and left a trail of broken hearts behind her.
Piper smiled at Connor’s brothers, one hand in each of theirs. It was the first time in years she could recall meeting anyone without being overcome by suspicion. Even though Lord Temple had won her over during the past hour, she’d been wary of his sudden appearance. Now, for the first time in a long while, she was able to enjoy a new acquaintance.
Odd given their sizeable presence. Taller than Connor, who was at least a few inches over six feet, they both had to be six-and-a-half-feet tall. Whereas Connor was well-muscled yet lean, the twins were broad and thick with muscle. By rights, Piper should have shied away from them. However, they were divinely handsome in a dramatic fashion, with their dark auburn hair and vivid blue eyes. And affable, with broad smiles on their identical faces, she couldn’t find it in herself to summon an ounce of fear.
Because they were Connor’s kin. He’d brought them to meet her, therefore they were harmless. It was as simple as that.
“Och, I’m fair puckled at the sight of such a bonny lass,” Ian drawled with a waggle of his brows. “Nae wonder Harry never mentioned ye.”
Her happiness wavered. Had Harry truly never mentioned her?
Tam nodded, kissing her hand. “Aye, he’d cry foul now if he kent a heap of MacKintosh bachelors were falling at yer feet.”
The way they jockeyed to gain a position by her side and joked, piling one quip or outrageous compliment on top of the other, set her at ease. It was nice to enjoy a moment of high spirits after waiting on pins and needles wondering what was happening below.
Laughter bubbled up in Piper. “Such sweet talk! You two must set all the ladies aflutter. Why, my friend Miss Jane Langston would positively swoon at such flattery.”
“If she’s as bonny a lass as ye, I’ll prostrate myself at her feet,” Tam solemnly swore, hand over his heart.
“Nay,” Ian retorted. “There can be nae lass as bonny as ye, m’lady. How’s it possible wi’ yer brother being such a hackit jimmy?”
Piper couldn’t help but chuckle at their exaggerated blandishment. “Oh, no! I recall many of my friends gushing over Harry’s good looks. Though, he cannot hold a candle to you two.” She considered one of them, then the other with a playful frown. “I swear, I cannot decide which of you is more handsome.”
“I am,” they both answered.
“You’re absolutely right.” They all laughed.
Tam addressed Temple with faux surprise. “Temple, I dinnae see ye there.”
“I’m all but invisible when there’s a beautiful woman in the room,” the agent agreed and shook hands with the pair before bowing out of the way.
Clearly, he knew better than to get between them and a meal. At least they were gentlemen enough to see Piper seated before they sat down to tuck into the remainder of the food she and the agent had gathered from the kitchen.
“That amount of food exceeds discretion.” Connor winced at Temple, having deduced their departure from the room when he’d specifically asked her not to leave. “Anyone see ye?”
“No one that matters,” the agent assured him. “Have you eaten?”
Connor shook his head. While the near altercation below had served to rouse his brothers’ appetites, his was nonexistent. He had too much on his mind for a meal to rank overmuch.
Not only regarding Rutledge now. He also felt a moment of misgiving for bringing his brothers to meet Piper. The twins were known to be Casanovas, able to charm any lady out of her unmentionables within minutes. Would Piper regret choosing him after meeting them? Or when this was all over and the world was at her feet? He’d come in first in a race of one. It wasn’t as if her circumstances had allowed her a large variety of men to pick from.
The thought left Connor lower than he’d been in months. Back at the bottom of the pack with little to recommend him.
Temple turned to Connor. “All the arrangements are made. Lady Phillipa and I will leave at dawn and make our way to the train station in Aylesbury.”
Piper blinked at the announcement. “Lord Temple and I?” She leapt to her feet and the twins paused their intake to do the same. “Where will you be?”
“I had planned to remain behind to throw Rutledge off the scent.” He held up a hand to stay her protest. “Ye’re safety is all that matters, lass.”
Chapter 26
I hate Rutledge for what I have become. I hate myself for letting him make me feel less than what I am. I would love to have vengeance for it all. I would… oh, now I mock myself as well.
~ from the diary of Piper Brudenall, August 1893
“You need a new mantra.” Piper’s good humor fled, and she mourned the demise of the carefree interlude.
There were more substantial worries to consider. Rutledge was a fearsome man. There was no telling what he would do if Piper fell into his hands. Unfortunately, she could well imagine there would be physical retribution involved.
For all that, it chafed to hide like a hunted fox. Laughable, given that was all she’d ever done. Yet every idea she’d heard on the matter using words like escape, retreat, and safety vexed her all the more. The duke gained another victory with each, when he’d already had so many.
“I’ll not let you stay behind,” she told him.
“Ye willnae,” he surprised her by agreeing. She sank back into her chair and the twins resumed their meal. Connor glanced at Temple. “As I said, that was our plan. Circumstances have changed.”
Plans. They must have made them while she slept. As if they didn’t concern her at all.
Piper inwardly stewed while Connor provided the twins an abbreviated recounting of the problem at hand without the more personal details. She appreciated his discretion but not the summary of Rutledge’s motivations.
Rising, Piper paced to the fireplace and back, hardly noticing that the twins politely rose with her. She returned to the table and sat again, as did they. “All of this has been nothing more than revenge?”
“Aye, it had to be ye because yer brother was the one who had the bullocks to point the finger at Dormer.” Connor nodded.
Agitation brought her to her feet once more. Tam stood, plate in hand this time, and kept eating. Ian shook his head and remained seated. She didn’t care. “Dormer’s braggadocio started all of this and the duke has the audacity to blame Harry?”
“Harry was the one who outed him, so aye.” Connor shrugged. “That seems to be the case.”
Ian pushed back his now empty plate and crossed his arms over his chest as he lounged back in his chair. “I would say Dormer’s attack on an innocent lass started all of this.”
Tam adopted a similar stance. His expression, too, dissolved of all humor. “Aye, I’ll no’ stand by while the pair of them hurt another one.”
Little did they know that Rutledge already had. Somehow Piper doubted it would all end with her.
“I was counting on that,” Connor said. “And I’ll be needing yer help to set it all to rights.”
“We will,” Piper corrected, needing to take a stand. “This is my fight more than anyone’s. I want a hand in deciding how it w
ill be resolved.”
Temple shook his head. “My lady, I must agree with Connor that your safety is paramount and should be our primary consideration.”
“I disagree,” she maintained. “There is much more that should be taken into consideration. Such as what might happen after I’m gone. Such as the possibility that I might want my own revenge. You do realize you’re allowing me no chance to find satisfaction for all Mother and Rutledge have done to me.”
“Ye haven’t the turpitude to confront Rutledge on his own level,” Temple told her.
“And Connor does?” She waved a hand at him where he stood by the fireplace. “For all your avowal to skewer him, you haven’t a malevolent bone in your body, Connor MacKintosh. You know nothing of the depths of his depravity.”
“I ken enough to have found a great deal of delight in envisioning his demise and the myriad ways it might be accomplished.”
His claim was in earnest. Given his mood when he’d departed earlier, she hadn’t been convinced, despite what she knew of him and Lord Temple’s assurances that he would refrain from spilling the duke’s blood.
For all Rutledge was deserving of punishment, she truly did not want his blood on Connor’s hands, or his demise on his conscience. While he might find fleeting gratification in the task, a man of Connor’s principles would come to rue taking such action.
He would make a terrible harbinger of death.
Piper had time enough to recognize the limitations of her wrath, as well. She wanted blood, yes. She longed to exact her pound of flesh for all that the duke had taken from her. Had even begun to think Connor’s preferred solution might be the most thorough route to guaranteed success. Be that as it may, Temple was right. She didn’t possess the fortitude to deliver a death blow.
That didn’t mean she wanted to run away and cower from her problems. That she didn’t want him punished and prevented from harming anyone else. “Why not face him? What can he do in front of a dozen witnesses?”
“We dinnae ken what he would do,” Connor allowed. “He shied away from a physical confrontation even when he had the advantage of an armed force.”
A Question for the Ages (Questions for a Highlander Book 7) Page 23
