Audrey shrugged. “She was only a servant.”
“I am not going to marry you. Now or ever.” Devlin threw his hands up and stormed out of the room before he said something he would regret.
Grabbing his jacket from his room, he strode downstairs and passed the parlor doors.
“Devlin,” his father called.
He halted, even though all he wanted to do was keep walking.
Richard peered around the corner. “Where are you going?”
Devlin pivoted to face his father. “I am going to search for Molly.”
“Let the constable and his men do that, lad.”
“No, Father!”
Richard’s brow furrowed and he came out of the parlor to stand with his hands on his hips. In a calm, controlled voice, he said, “She left you, Son. Let her go.”
Devlin rubbed his forehead and grimaced. “I cannot.” He stared at his father. “I love her.”
“You can’t be serious. Devlin, she is suspected of murder.”
“She did not do it,” he said. “I know it in my heart.”
Richard took a deep breath. “Even if that is true you have no future with her. She is beneath your station.”
Devlin placed his hands on his father’s shoulder. “You did the honorable thing and married my mother. But you were both miserable. So much so, she took her life rather than live with a man she could not love.”
“You go too far,” his father warned.
“I have a chance to be happy, to feel complete. I am not going to make the same mistake you made.”
“But your duty—”
“—is not more important than Molly.” Devlin rubbed the stubble on his cheek. “Nothing is.”
Richard lowered his eyes. A glazed look of despair clouded his face.
“I am sorry, Father. Take away my title...do what you need to do. I’ve got to go.”
Leading Aphrodite out of the stables, Devlin swung onto the saddle and rode toward Molly’s home. He could not wait for the constable to question him about Yvette. An overwhelming sense of danger urged him to hurry.
Molly had to be found and fast.
So consumed with thoughts of her, he did not see the snake in the middle of the road. Aphrodite pulled up and kicked her legs in the air, unbalancing Devlin. He fell off the back and landed on the ground with a thud. His horse bolted away.
Devlin tried to move, but he felt as if a burning rapier plunged into his ribs. A person’s shadow covered the ground next to him.
He twisted his head to see who stood above him.
“You should have stayed at the manor,” a familiar voice said.
All he could see was a large rock held high in the air. Within seconds, it came down on Devlin’s head, showering splinters of light beneath his eyes until blackness shrouded his vision.
Chapter Sixteen
The door swung open. Kenneth’s tall stature filled the doorway, blocking the sunlight from outside. Molly scanned the room for a weapon, but the only thing she could find was the chair. She scrambled behind it, her hands clutching the wood.
“Devlin is probably searching for me. If you…you let me go, I will not tell him anything.” She stared at the rope in his hands and her insides quivered.
He walked toward her, his face emotionless, unmoved by her plea.
Seizing her wrist, he yanked her against his body. She smothered a sob when he kissed her hard on the lips. His mouth was demanding, possessive. Molly tried to twist her hand to free herself from his grip but it was impossible.
She bit his lip and a warm metallic taste of blood seeped into her mouth.
“Ouch!” He shoved her down onto the chair and touched his cut lip. “Bitch!”
She gave him a self-satisfied grin, but it soon fell when he lengthened the rope in both hands. Black terror consumed her, chilling her to the core. She shook her head.
“No. Please.”
He leaned over her, blocking her escape. Looping the rope, he used it to tie her to the chair. She did not know whether to laugh or cry.
“You thought I was going to strangle you?” he said and chuckled. Straightening, he stood over her and wiped the blood from his mouth. “I should kill you after you pierced my lip.”
He grabbed her chin, his blue eyes glaring into hers. “But how would I keep you as a sex slave if you are dead?”
She jerked her head from his grasp. “I will fight you the whole time.”
“I was hoping you would, my dear.”
“Devlin—”
“Devlin this, Devlin that! You are a fool to worship him,” Kenneth said with a subtle challenge and turned his back to her.
“Release me, Kenneth.”
He shook his head.
“Please, I promise, I will be your courtesan or sex slave if you wish. But don’t keep me locked up here. My aunt needs my help for the spring harvest. She will starve without me.”
A female’s high-pitched voice pierced the dusty air, “You are not going anywhere.”
Audrey glided into the room wearing a black gown trimmed in white lace. A fashionable black hat slanted across her brow. Except for the lifeless glaze in her sapphire eyes, she appeared as majestic as a duchess.
“What are you doing here?” Kenneth asked.
“To make sure you keep your vow,” she answered.
“I will take care of Molly. You will never hear from her again.”
“Stop talking about me as if I was not in the room,” Molly shouted.
Audrey sniffed the air with distaste. The rigid lines on her face relaxed. “Kill her.”
Molly’s throat tightened, her insides quaking with fear. She looked to Kenneth, her eyes silently pleading with his.
A long brittle silence loomed within the room.
“No,” he finally answered.
“No?” Audrey said. “Then I will tell His Grace about your secret.”
Kenneth stared at Molly again. Indecision and torment within his eyes.
“Kill her or you will be homeless and poor.” Audrey picked up a strand of Molly’s hair. “Just like this hideous farm girl.”
Audrey dropped the hair as if it held fleas, and puckered her lips. Bending over, she hiked up her skirts and petticoats to reveal a small muff pistol strapped to her thigh “Use my gun if you must make her death fast.”
Kenneth took a step back, showing his palms. “I…I cannot do it.”
“Coward!” Audrey pivoted and held the gun to Molly’s temple. “Never trust a man to follow through.”
Molly gasped and squeezed her eyes shut. Memories of her aunt flashed through her mind. Then thoughts of Devlin’s smile, his loving gray eyes. She wished she had more time…
“No,” Kenneth yelled and struggled with Audrey for the pistol. “She…is…mine.”
A shot vibrated through the cottage.
Audrey and Kenneth collapsed to the floor, blood splattered over both of them.
She tried to wiggle out of the ropes, but Kenneth had tied them too tight.
A moan came from the floor.
Audrey shoved Kenneth’s body off her and scooted out from underneath him. Her hat lay haphazardly on her head and she shoved it back into place.
She glanced down. “This is the second time blood has ruined my gown today.”
Audrey tried to brush off the stain, but it only spread further. She growled in frustration. “This is your entire fault. I had to kill two people for you.”
Her words barely registered. All Molly could do was stare at Kenneth’s lifeless body, laying on the filthy rushes. “Two…two people? You killed two people?”
Adjusting her clothing, Audrey replied, “That stupid maid overheard our plan and refused to stay quiet.”
“So you killed her?”
“I could not let her spoil everything. Besides, it worked out brilliantly. Now, everyone thinks you killed her in a fit of jealously. Isn’t that simply delicious?” Audrey laughed. “You should have seen the look on Devlin’s face
when he read your goodbye letter.”
Crouching down, she grunted when rolling Kenneth’s body over, and then picked up the pistol he had been lying on. “Serves him right for refusing me.”
Molly did not know if she spoke of Kenneth or Devlin. She took a quick intake of air. “You were the one who shot the arrow at Devlin.”
“I was aiming for you,” Audrey confessed in exasperation.
“Lady Audrey, listen to me—”
The sound of horses approaching distracted Audrey’s attention. She walked to the open doorway. “Who is that on the back of the horse?” she asked someone outside.
“With him out of the way, Lord Kenneth will be the next duke,” a voice replied.
A sinking feeling intensified.
Devlin!
“Bring him in here. I have no use for the fool,” Audrey replied. “However, I think your efforts were in vain.”
Joves walked in with an unconscious body slung over his shoulders. He slung Devlin down, and Molly winced at the sickening thud his head made when it hit the floorboards.
“What did you do to him?” Molly asked but the butler ignored her.
He turned to Audrey. “Where is Lord Kenneth?”
Audrey pointed to Kenneth’s body behind her. “The courtesan tried to escape and she killed him.”
“That is not true,” Molly replied, but Joves’ bellow drowned out her words.
He ran to Kenneth and kneeled at his side. “My son, my son.”
Molly stiffened. “The butler is Kenneth’s real father?”
“You couldn’t notice the resemblance?” Audrey rubbed a smudge of soot off her hand. “Obviously I am the only one who slept with both father and son. They have identical marks on their inner thighs. I heard a rumor Kenneth’s mother had a special thing for Joves, so it was not difficult to work out the rest. Especially since she killed herself after he was born.”
“Lady Ann killed herself because she had her servant’s child?” Molly asked.
“No, she killed herself because we could not be together.” Joves rose from the floor, tears streaked through the dirt on his face. “She knew if the scandal got out that Kenneth was mine, His Grace would throw her out along with my son.” The butler’s eyes took on the same crazed look as Kenneth’s.
“His Grace may be younger, more handsome than I, but she loved me!” He pounded his chest. “And now I have lost both of them.”
He stalked toward Molly. “And you are the cause of my son’s death.”
She shook her head. “I did not kill him, I swear. It was—”
“Do not listen to the commoner,” Audrey said over Molly. “She is an apt liar. All courtesans are.”
Joves peered over his shoulder. “You had better leave my lady. What I am about to do is not fit for your delicate eyes.”
Audrey smiled. “Make them suffer, Joves.”
He nodded, and rubbed his chin.
Molly watched him warily and felt herself shrinking under his murderous gaze.
Pouting her lips into a sad smile, Audrey waved at her and left.
“Joves, please, you have got to believe me, I would never kill anybody,” she pleaded. With her nerves raw, nausea threatened to overcome her. She had to convince him.
He glanced at his son then back to her, a shadow of pure hatred emanated from him. “I knew you were a filthy whore the moment you came to the door.”
The tension in her shoulders hardened. The butler had always despised her. He would never let her go. Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let her murderer see them. She swallowed the lump in her throat, and looked at her love on the floor.
“Let Devlin go, he didn’t do anything to you,” she pleaded.
Joves stood over her. “You entranced him.” He pointed to Devlin’s body. “Just like you bewitched my son. Both of the lads were unable to think the moment you entered the manor.” He stared a Devlin. “No, I will not let him be made into a fool. Ann’s sons will both die where she took her life.”
“Please, I beg of you, let him go.”
“Your charms will not work on me, witch!” Joves picked up an unlit lantern and lifted the glass lid. Tilting the lantern, the oil poured over Molly’s head, soaking her hair and clothes. The sharp fumes made her want to retch while her head swam with dizziness.
“Goodbye, dear.”
He threw the oil lamp up at the thatched-roof and the glass broke apart, bursting into flames. Fire consumed the layer of dry vegetation, spreading across the ceiling within moments.
With one last look at his son, he ambled out of the small cottage.
“No, do not leave us,” she screamed, and then heard something jam against the door.
The heat from the fire quickly seared the room. Choking waves of black smoke billowed downward. Molly coughed, her eyes stinging.
Lamp oil dripped down her bare arms. She struggled, and the oil seeped into the rope, making it slippery. Wiggling as if ants crawled over her, the binds slowly slid down her arms, loosening the slack. She shifted on her chair until she could escape.
Ducking her head, she stumbled to the door, but something outside blocked it. She tried to budge the wood, but to no avail. There were no other exits, no windows. They were trapped.
Kneeling down, she shook Devlin’s unconscious body.
“Devlin, wake up. Wake up!”
Her eyes burned while tears blurred her vision. The smoke grew thicker, making it hard to breathe. “Devlin, please, wake up.”
She tried to rub the oil off her skin, but it was no use. It was all through her hair, her clothes. Soon she would catch on fire. The heaviness in her chest broke with a sob. Wrapping her arms around Devlin, she stained his linen shirt with tears.
This would be the last time she held her love.
Chapter Seventeen
Devlin’s hard chest beneath her hands shifted. Her eyelashes flew open. She hesitated; half dreading she’d only imagined the slight movement.
Devlin groaned.
Molly jerked back then threw her arms around his neck, kissing his cheek.
Gingerly, he sat up, rubbing his head. “Where am I?” he moaned, his eyes squinting against the smoke.
“Devlin, you have got to get up. The cottage is burning. We have to get out of here.”
“What…what is…?”
A part of the roof fell down, showering sparks over Molly’s dress. The oil soaked garment caught on fire and she jumped.
Like a soldier in battle, Devlin became immediately alert, and smothered her burning gown with his bare hands. When she was free from the flames, he quickly scanned the room.
“The door,” he said and pointed.
“It’s bolted,” she croaked, her throat raw. “There is no way out.”
“Then we will make a way out.”
Rising, he kept his head low and scrambled to the table. He saw his brother on the floor. “Kenneth!”
“He’s dead,” Molly called. She yelped when sparks floated near her. Covering her head, she shuffled further into the corner.
“Come here,” Devlin yelled over the roaring fire.
“I can’t, I will catch on fire.”
“You must come to me.” He coughed and held out a hand. “Trust me.”
The flames heated her skin, but she scuttled across the floor to Devlin.
“Stand up,” he ordered. Picking up the table, he held it in front of them like a shield. “Stay with me.”
The determination in his eyes sent her a message of hope. She wanted to take a deep breath, but knew it would send her into a spasm of coughs.
With the table as their protection against the flames, they rammed through a clay wall. The roof collapsed behind them as they stumbled onto the damp grass. Cool fresh air filled Molly’s lungs and she breathed deeply, only to cough again.
“Are you all right?” Devlin pulled her roughly into his arms. His moist eyes gently searched her face.
All she could do was nod and buried her foreh
ead against his neck. The taste of smoke covered her tongue, her dry throat still burning.
Holding each other, they watched the cottage go up in flames. Molly studied Devlin’s somber profile. His square jaw line was tense while his brow furrowed, sadness shadowed his eyes. He licked his cracked lips and swallowed. “My brother and I never got along.”
Assailed with the grief he must be experiencing, Molly knew very well what it was like to lose a family member.
“I wish…” He looked at her. Half of his face glowed orange from the fire, the other half remained shadowed. “…things could have been different.”
She touched his cheek covered in soot. “I am sorry.”
“Who did this? Who killed him and set the fire?”
“In a crazed state of grief over Lord Kenneth, Joves caused the cottage to blaze, but it was Lady Audrey who killed your brother when he tried to save me. She also murdered Yvette,” Molly said, sorrow burning the back of her throat. “The maid must have discovered her wicked plans for me.”
“I cannot believe they would do such a thing.” He ran his fingers through his hair; his bloodshot eyes full of bewilderment. “Why was Joves grieving over my brother? I knew they were close, but to resort to killing us both...”
Molly told him everything she knew, stopping when she informed him Kenneth was only his half-brother.
“So my mother killed herself rather than face a scandal?”
“I’m sure it was more than that.”
He gave a curt nod, then stared off into the distance. For an hour they sat in silence, each lost in thought. Molly neither had the strength nor the want to rise. The comfort of Devlin's arms soothed her raw emotions.
Devlin cleared his throat. “I want you to be exclusively mine.”
Shock vibrated through her.
She pulled out of his arms and studied his profile for any sign of confirmation. He slowly turned toward her. “When I thought you had left, it tore me inside. I could not face my life without you.”
He placed a light kiss on her lips. Molly’s heart beat so loudly she thought he would be able to hear it. This was everything she had wanted.
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