by Suzi Love
“About me?” Carina was stunned.
Georgie spoke first, an unusual occurrence. “You’ve been so busy fretting over us, that you’ve worn yourself to a frazzle. And with the preparations for the balls Max has arranged, you’ve barely eaten enough to keep a sparrow alive.”
“You’re thinner.” Lucy gave Carina’s figure an assessing look.
Before Carina could voice her protest, the butler announced a caller. She picked up the embossed card from the salver and felt an acute premonition of danger.
“Georgie, Lucy,” she said, trying to sound calm, “our stepbrother is here.”
Georgie gasped and paled, and Lucy fidgeted. Carina walked to Georgie’s chair and gently laid her hands on her sister’s shoulders. “I’ll not allow Peter to take you away.”
Lucy’s red face was a startling contrast to Georgie’s pallor. “Peter can’t force me to marry an old man like he did you, can he?” Her agitated gaze swung back and forth between Carina and Gertie. “No, no, I won’t do it.”
Gertie put her arms around Lucy. “There, there, pet. Nothing bad is going to happen, because we won’t allow it.”
The four women linked arms and walked into the drawing room with their heads held high. Peter stopped his pacing and scrutinized each of them in turn. By the displeased expression on his face, they’d once again failed to meet his lofty expectations.
“Gertrude,” he snapped. “You’re still in residence. Haven’t you outstayed your welcome?”
Carina bristled, but Peter had never been able to intimidate Gertie.
Her friend bobbed a quick curtsy. “Lord Lindsay, always a pleasure to see you.”
Carina stepped towards Peter and scowled. “Hold your tongue, Peter. Mrs. Carlyle is my guest and the length of time she resides with me is none of your concern.”
“Everything you do is my concern. I am the head of this family.”
Carina clenched her fists into the sides of her skirt. “May I remind you, sir, that I’m a widow with my own income and therefore not dependent upon you.”
He glared at her. “Unfortunately, Georgiana isn’t as rich as you and Lucille is unmarried. I’m taking them home. Girls, go and pack your belongings.”
“No.” Carina stood, hands on hips, and looked Peter in the eye, knowing that cowards like their stepbrother couldn’t deal with people who stood up to him. Georgie moved behind her and Carina could feel her tremble when she pressed against her back.
Brave Lucy faced her stepbrother. “I shall remain with Carina. The Duke is coming here.”
“Huh!” Peter ignored Carina and addressed the girls, who he saw as easier targets. “I imagine you’re referring to the Duke of Stirkton. That haughty brute seen associating with you for the last two weeks.”
Georgie’s eyes were round with terror, but she stepped out from behind Carina. “The Duke is not a brute. He is a gentle and considerate man.”
“You’re trailing after him because he’s rich. Acting like sycophants and embarrassing our family, and after all I’ve done for you.”
“You’ve done nothing for us,” Lucy said, pointing her finger at Peter. “Apart from treating us like servants and...stealing our dowries.”
Carina moved to shield the girls. The look in Peter’s eyes was threatening and she’d seen it before. “They’re not going with you, Peter. They’re under my protection.”
“Your protection? Rubbish! They belong to me.”
“No,” Lucy pushed forward again. “Georgie and I are staying here at Woods House. If you try to make us leave, we’ll—”
“What can you do?” Peter sneered. “Lock yourselves in your bedchamber? Report me to a magistrate?” He picked up a statuette of a shepherdess from the mantle and tipped it over to read the maker’s name. “Nothing but the best for the Countess of Dorchester. This little trinket will make a nice gift to quiet my nagging spouse. Something to satisfy her until I…”
Carina snatched the porcelain out of his hands. “Until you what, Peter? Sell Georgie for a second time? Promise Lucy to a rich old letch?”
Lucy shook her head. “No, you’ll not decide whom I marry. Carina, tell him.” Lucy wrapped her hands around Carina’s arm. “We’ll tell the Duke and he’ll stop Peter.”
“Well, Lucille,” Peter said as he ran his hands over another porcelain figurine. “Unfortunately for you and your sister, the Duke has no say in the matter. I’ll decide who you marry, and when.”
“To the contrary,” a deep voice said from the doorway. “The Countess requested my assistance in presenting her sisters in society, and I take those responsibilities seriously.”
“Max,” Georgie cried in relief. To their astonishment and most of all, Max’s, Georgie ran around the table and threw herself into his arms.
His arms closed around her and held her tucked under his chin for a few moments. He gently unwound her arms before speaking. “Georgie, my betrothed is looking forward to your shopping outing, so perhaps you should go upstairs and prepare. You wouldn’t wish to be late.”
Georgie smiled at Max. “I’m so looking forward to our morning together.” With a little wave, she flitted out the door, leaving Carina and Gertie staring at her retreating back.
Lucy looked awed by her sister’s calm composure. She turned to Max. “Please, I need to stay here with Carina. I want to see you and Alice every day.”
“Of course, Lucy. Until your sister releases me from my promise, I hold myself personally accountable for your well-being.”
Peter’s face contorted with anger, and Carina knew he wouldn’t let the presence of a powerful duke stop him from unleashing his temper. She moved to stand one step in front of the stepbrother she loathed and placed her palm squarely on his chest.
“The Duke of Stirkton kindly offered to assist me in introducing our sisters to society. We owe him our gratitude.”
Peter pushed her hand aside and sneered. “You’re naïve if you believe a man like Stirkton offered to help without expecting something in return.” He moved to face Max. “I know your reputation, Stirkton, and you’re not known for helping women. Quite the opposite, in fact.”
Carina and Gertie both gasped. “Peter,” Carina said. His recent behavior had shown a disregard for social niceties, but to deliberately insult a duke was beyond appalling. She tried to move between the two men. “His Grace is a friend and my guest, so please remember your manners.”
Max laid a hand on her arm and gave her a small smile before edging her aside. “Lady Dorchester, please do not take offence on my account. I, in return, am aware of the reputation of Lord Lindsay.” He held her arm so she couldn’t move in front of him. “So I expect nothing more of him.”
“No, please stop,” Carina said. “This isn’t necessary. Max, perhaps I speak to Peter alone.”
Peter nodded. “I prefer speaking to my sister in private.”
“Ah, but I prefer that the Countess has a friend supporting her.” Max’s cool tone was at variance with his warrior-like stare. “Though I’ve no wish to interfere in family matters.”
“Then go away,” Peter said. He pointed at Gertie. “And you can leave, too. This is a family matter.”
Carina pulled away from Max and nodded to Gertie. “I’m fine. Gertie, could you see if the girls are ready so His Grace’s horse aren’t kept standing.”
Gertie shot Peter a look of pure hatred and left the room.
Max ignored Peter. “Countess, I’d like to hear what Lindsay plans for your sisters, as I feel responsible for all of you while you’re in town.”
Peter sneered. “Everyone can see what you feel towards my elder sister.”
“My arrangements with the Countess are between the lady and me, and no one else.” Carina knew Max’s temper had risen to match Peter’s. “But, Lindsay, we were discussing the younger ladies, Georgiana and Lucille.”
“Peter, tell me what you want. I’ve no secrets from Max.”
“Huh! You mean he’s curried favor with you an
d ingratiated himself into the household. But I hope to hell you’ve not succumbed to Stirkton, because he’s a known womanizer. He buys courtesans and whores the way he buys cravats.” He looked Carina up and down. “He’s only after you for one thing. The only thing women are useful for.”
Max stood less than an arm’s length from Peter. “Not one more word, Lindsey. I’m an excellent shot and if you malign Lady Dorchester, or me, one more time, my seconds will be paying you a visit.”
Peter looked momentarily taken aback, as he was unused to facing an opponent of the same gender, one who seriously outweighed him in power and strength, but conceit wouldn’t let him back down. “I’ve made plans for my sisters.”
“Stepsisters!”
Peter ignored her. “It’s of no consequence to me whether you stay or leave.”
Max walked to the closest armchair and sprawled across it in a pose of elegant indifference, yet he was fully alert and his presence boosted her confidence. In years past, she’d not been able to stand up to Peter’s bullying, but her title and wealth had elevated her above him and his grasping wife.
“Georgiana and Lucille are happy to stay with me and nothing would be achieved by disrupting them. They can live here until they marry, or until I return to the country.”
“No, they’re coming back with me. I’ve gone to a lot of trouble to find them husbands. And those men are anxious to become acquainted with their brides.”
“You’ll not do that to them.” Carina rushed towards him. You forced me into marriage when I was far too young. You did the same to Georgie, and look what happened. We both suffered in those miserable marriages.”
“Suffered? You were married to titled gentlemen. And you, my dear, inherited a lot of money. How is that suffering?”
“You know how badly Georgie was treated by Lumley’s family.” She growled. “And you, more than anyone, know the type of man I married. You sold a sixteen-year-old girl to a man with known perversions. I won’t allow you to do it to Lucy.”
Peter laughed. “How will you stop me? I’m Lucy’s legal guardian. Georgiana’s husband is dead, a pattern for the Griffith sisters, and as she has no money, it falls to me as head of the family to arrange her second marriage.”
He picked up the figurine again, and stared at her calculatingly. Max watched, fingers pressed together, and his silent presence comforted her and stiffened her backbone.
“Unless,” Peter said smugly, “you wish to spare one of your sisters.”
“How?”
“You could stand in for one of you sisters and marry the man I’ve chosen.”
Max leapt to his feet, but she put out her hand to stop him. “I’ll never marry again.”
“So you’ve said, but I know how devoted you are to your sisters. You’d do anything to save them from more unhappiness. So tell me, will you be able to cling to your vow when one of your sisters is standing at the altar beside a man you dislike?” He snickered. “Or will you overcome your own squeamishness about men and stand up in their place.”
“There’s no rush for either of them to marry. They’re being introduced to the ton slowly and they’re already making friends.”
“Huh! I don’t want them making friends. I need them to marry well so I can recoup the money I’ve wasted supporting you three ungrateful girls all your lives.”
“That’s ridiculous. We were no longer girls when our mother married your father. Georgie and I spent very few years in your house before you arranged our disastrous marriages. It wasn’t our fault that you spent our dowries before we debuted.”
“Then Lucille should be grateful that I’ve allowed her longer before selecting her husband and arranging contracts.”
“Who with?” Max’s barked question made Carina and Peter jump.
She should have insisted Max left before they aired their dirty linen, but she’d been relieved to have someone other than Gertie stand by her during Peter’s barrage.
“Max, perhaps Peter and I should discuss this by ourselves.”
Max smiled at her before, once again, standing face to face with Peter. “I ask again, who is the man?” His tone was cold enough to freeze a pond.
“None of your business, Stirkton. This is between me and my sisters.”
“Step-sisters,” Carina said, though neither man looked at her.
Max kept his frosty stare fixed on Peter. “Either you tell me his name, Lindsay, or I’ll find out by other means.” Carina shivered, but Peter was blind to the danger. “Though I’m warning you, Lindsay. You don’t want me as your enemy. I can, and I will, make life very unpleasant for you and your wife, financially and socially.”
Peter frowned. His arrogant belief that no one could stop him using the women in his family as pawns whenever he needed to pay gambling debts wouldn’t allow him to back down. Though Peter knew Max had the power to carry out his threats.
He shrugged. “Very well. Lucille will marry Baron Mitchell.”
“Mitchell.”
Max sounded appalled, and Carina’s anxiety ratcheted up several more notches. “Who …who is he, Max?”
“A man three times Lucy’s age and rumored to be riddled with the pox.”
Carina whacked Peter’s chest. “Not even you could do something so vile. Not to your own sister.” Peter grabbed her arm before she could hit him again and she stiffened.
Though she didn’t suffer Georgie’s fear of being touched by a man, she loathed her stepbrother, and having her arm held by him made her feel as helpless as when he’d sold her to the Earl. She pulled out of Peter’s grip before Max swung at him with the fist he’d pulled back in readiness. She took Max’s hand and held it at her side, earning them both another of Peter’s sneers.
“As you’ve so often reminded me, Carina, we’re only linked because of our unthinking parents. We’ve no blood relationship, and therefore I don’t feel guilty about handing over three troublesome women to whichever men can best compensate me. The Baron wants to sight Lucille and then the papers will be signed.”
“What does he want? To check her teeth and hooves?”
Peter shrugged. “Or that she’ll warm his bed nicely and that her hips are wide enough to carry his children.”
“You’re telling lies,” Max said. “The pox means that the Baron cannot bed a woman, nor can he sire a child. He’s outlived three wives, yet has no offspring.”
“Peter, no.” Carina wrapped her arms around her stomach and shook her head. “I won’t let you do the same thing to Lucy as you did to me.” She took Max’s arm and turned him towards the door. “Please wait outside. I need a few minutes alone with Peter.”
Carina tugged Max forward, but he’d dug in his heels and wouldn’t budge.
“I’m not leaving you alone with him, Carina. Not for a minute.”
Fortunately for Carina—though unfortunately for Max—Georgie and Lucy tripped down the stairs and straight towards Max. They were dressed ready for their outing and Max had no choice but to escort the girls to his coach.
He whispered so the girls wouldn’t overhear. “Carina, Lindsay’s plans are despicable. Let me deal with him.”
“His plans are always despicable, Max, but this time I’ll fight him tooth and nail. I know what to do and it’ll be easier to convince him without anyone else around.”
“Very well, but I’ll be back as soon as I’ve delivered the girls into safe hands.” He looked back and glared at Peter. “I want them out of Lindsay’s conniving grasp first.”
“Trust me. Lucy will never go to the Baron.”
“What can you do to stop it?”
Carina stayed silent and Max tilted her face up to meet his eyes, trying to read her thoughts. He shook his head. “No. Don’t even think of taking Lucille’s place. I’ll marry you myself before I’d let the Baron touch you.”
Carina straightened. “You forget yourself, Your Grace. You’re already betrothed.”
Max sucked in a harsh breath, and she knew he’d indeed fo
rgotten his own situation for a moment. She didn’t want him involved any further, because Peter’s disgusting schemes dirtied everything and everyone and Max had his future planned.
“I’ll be back.” He sketched a quick nod and went to the carriage.
Gertie hovered near the door. “I won’t leave you alone with that man, Carina.” She waved her hand towards where Peter waited. “We still don’t know how involved he was in the past. Nor his intentions towards you in the future. ”
Carina put her hand on her friend’s arm. “He isn’t going to harm any of us again. I’ll make sure of that.”
She held her head high and walked back to Peter. He was lounging on the settee and flicking the pages of a book with his usual insolence and disregard for her belongings. If she’d left him in her study, he’d have rifled through her account books and letters as if he had the right.
“We must reach an understanding. Several eligible gentlemen have shown interest in the girls. Young and respectable men who’d treat them with care. Wouldn’t you rather they were happy than sharing a bed with an old or diseased man?”
“That’s where you and I have always differed.” He shrugged. “I don’t give a damn about happiness. Only money. But to prove that I’m not an unfeeling monster, like Stirkton, I’ll wait two weeks. If the girls don’t bring two men up to scratch, men who can be trusted to pay off my debts without squabble, all three of you will wed whomsoever I dictate. And if you resist, I’ll tell the world that you gave yourself to four different men while you were married to the Earl.”
“You bastard! That’s not true, and you know it.”
He shrugged. “You and I may know the truth, but the stories I tell will be far juicier and the gossips will enjoy spreading them across every part of England. Even your country neighbors will shun you when you return there.”
“I had no part in the Earl’s arrangements and you can’t prove otherwise.”
“Ah, but I do have proof. One of those men at the inn told me what happened. Even how much he paid the man who arranged the transaction. Your husband, I presume.”
Peter might be guessing in the hope that she’d share more information, but she couldn’t be certain how much he knew and one small slip could land her in prison.
