“A boat to France?” Why on earth would the man agree to that?
Lady Abernath twirled her hand in the air. “Afraid so. He’s carrying an amazing amount of gambling debt. He’s got a real problem, I’d say. I gave him enough to help him live comfortably in another country but not enough that he could pay all his debts and remain here. It was a beneficial arrangement for both of us. He needed money to leave and I needed a means to an end.”
Cordelia’s stomach tightened. Lady Abernath had paid McKenzie to steal her away and now no one knew where she was or even that she was safe. How was she going to get out of this mess?
Chapter Fifteen
Malice burst into the back room of the club, his breath coming in short gasps. He needed to speak with Bad. His friend might know where McKenzie was, or at the very least, how to find the fiend who’d taken Cordelia.
But it wasn’t Bad who sat in the back room but golden-haired Vice. “What’s got you all aflutter?”
“Where’s Bad?” he bit out, stopping just in front of the man. “I need him now.”
Vice grimaced, rising up from his chair. “Exile. Malice needs Bad. It’s an emergency.”
“On it,” Exile called from the hallway between the back room and the club itself.
Malice relaxed a bit as he drew in a breath. His friends made this easier. “I need Daring too. Can you fetch him for me?”
“Of course. What should I tell him has happened?” Vice was already shrugging on his coat.
“McKenzie has taken Cordelia.” The words stuck in his throat, making the inside of his mouth feel swollen and raw.
Vice stopped, turning to stare at him. “What?”
“It’s true. Now go. I’ll need all of you to help me get her back.”
Vice gave a quick jerk of his chin and then sprinted for the door. “I need a hack now!”
Exile came back in the room. “Bad will be here in just a moment. Did I hear you say that Cordelia has been stolen away by McKenzie?”
He nodded. “Yes. If I were to guess, he’s taken her to Lady Abernath but I can’t know for certain.”
“I’d guess you were correct,” Bad said from the doorway, pulling his domino from his face. Then he pointed down the hall. “If he were still with Cordelia then he couldn’t be here.”
A jolt of energy zinged down his spine. “He’s here. Now?” He jumped toward the door, intent upon murdering the man at the table where he sat.
Both Exile and Bad blocked his way. “You can’t kill him yet,” Exile said close to his ear.
“I agree,” Bad replied. “We need a plan.”
Malice drew in several deep breaths. “Does the plan involve beating the piss out of McKenzie?”
“Absolutely.” He snapped the domino back in place. “But let’s get him in the back room first.”
“How are you going to do that?” Malice asked.
“He’s a degenerate gambler. I’m going to offer him a high stakes game in our private room. He’s throwing immense amounts of coin around this evening.”
That made Malice’s gut clench. “I thought you said he was in debt up to his ears.”
“He is.” Bad shrugged. “But he got money from somewhere.”
“Cordelia,” Malice grit out. “Do you think Lady Abernath paid him?”
Bad gave him a one-sided grin. “Let’s ask him, shall we?”
“Fantastic idea,” Exile answered. “We’ll sit at the table with our backs to the door so he thinks we’re also here for the game. When you come in behind him, be sure to close the lock.”
Malice slapped Exile on the back. “Good thinking.” Then he hit him again. “I hope never to be on your bad side.”
Exile winked. “I’m a kitten compared with you.”
They crossed over to the table. Sitting in the chair and waiting was a small form of torture and minutes felt like hours as Malice flexed his fingers trying to remain calm. Finally, feet shuffled down the hall and the door clicked closed.
“My lord.” Bad had a natural cockney accent that he broke out on the gaming floor. It helped maintain their secret and keep up the story that they were working men. As a result, Bad was often the man who monitored the tables and kept the peace. “Have a seat right next to that big fellow.”
“Don’t mind if I do,” McKenzie answered, his voice chipper but slurred. “What a night. I should warn you gentlemen that fortune is on my side this evening.” And he whistled as he sat.
Malice looked over at him, cracking his neck. “Is it really?”
McKenzie’s eyes slowly focused on his face. It took several seconds before he started and tried to jump from his chair but Bad was already behind him and pushed him back into the seat.
“Don’t move,” Bad growled.
Malice stood. “This can go one of two ways. You can begin talking and we can have a nice conversation. Or you can resist, in which case I will enjoy breaking each of your limbs.”
McKenzie swallowed. “Lady Cordelia is at the Countess of Abernath’s townhouse. Or she was when I dropped her there at six.”
Malice gave a curt nod. “Why did you take her?”
“Cristina…that is to say the countess…gave me money to leave the country. I’ve a boat to catch in a few hours.”
Anger ripped at his nerves. The man was going to run from his debt. “You were never going to marry her, were you?”
McKenzie held up his hands. “I was. Until it was clear that you were going to best me. I need the funds. If I don’t leave, I’ll go to prison.”
Malice’s growl sliced the air. Had he just felt a glimmer of sympathy for this complete animal? His name was Malice, for feck’s sake. He didn’t feel anything for anyone.
Except for Cordelia. And now, he couldn’t help but think about what she would do in this situation. “What time is your boat?”
McKenzie swallowed. “It sails with the tide at six this morning.”
Malice looked at Exile. “Keep him here. I’ll let you know if I find Cordelia. If I do and she’s unharmed, see him to the boat.”
“She will be,” McKenzie held up his hands. “Cristina doesn’t want to hurt her. She wants her to help in some nefarious plot.”
“What plot?” Malice asked leaning closer.
McKenzie shook his head. “I don’t know. She didn’t say and I didn’t ask. I assumed the less I knew, the better. Frankly, there have been a few times that I’ve questioned her sanity. She seems to lose herself somewhere in the past.”
Malice straightened. He believed the man. Mostly because if Lady Abernath had told McKenzie that she wanted to out the owners of the Den of Sins, he wouldn’t have arrived at this very club. “Why did you come here tonight?”
McKenzie looked down at his hands. “I thought I could increase my money before I left and this club has the highest stakes games in all of London.”
Malice let out a snort of disgust. “Your problems will follow you wherever you go.” Then he straightened. McKenzie wasn’t the only man allowing his past to ruin his future. Malice had been doing the same. But not any longer. It was time to rescue the woman he loved. “Is your carriage outside?”
“Yes,” McKenzie answered, his brow drawing together. “Why?”
“Give me your cloak.”
“But,” McKenzie covered the clasp with his hand. “I need this—”
Malice raised his hand and brought it down hard on McKenzie’s face. He should have punched the piece of shit. He blamed Cordelia, she was making him soft. He’d have to kiss her over and over as her punishment. “Give it to me now. If she isn’t there, you won’t be needing it because you’ll be at the bottom of the Thames.”
With a trembling hand, the other man unclasped the wool garment and handed it to Malice. “She’ll be there.”
He grabbed the garment and then the collar of McKenzie’s shirt, pulling the man half out of the chair as he leaned down in his face. “How do you enter the Countess’s house? And remember…your life depends on Cordelia
’s safe return.”
“I always come through the kitchen. Never the front door.”
The outside door slammed open and Daring stood, filling the doorway with his dark glower. “What did I miss?”
Malice looked at his friend, dropping McKenzie back in his chair. “I’ll catch you up on the way. We are headed to Lady Abernath’s house to rescue Cordelia.”
* * *
Cordelia sat in the bed slowly chewing a piece of cheese while the countess spread jam on a cracker and then popped it into her mouth. Her stomach turned. She should not, under any circumstances, be breaking bread with this woman. But then again, she needed her strength. Whatever they’d given her had made her sick to her stomach and the food was helping.
“Better?” Lady Abernath gave her another of those cold smiles. The sort that set Cordelia’s teeth on edge.
“Yes, thank you, my lady.” What was she doing? Her mother had drilled manners into her, but did she really need to thank her captor for a bit of cheese?
“Call me Cristina,” she said as she picked up a cube of cheese. “McKenzie was right. You are very sweet. Too nice to be mixed up in this.”
She opened her mouth but closed it again. She was tempted to ask, if they held her in such high regard why had they stolen her from her home, but it was likely a useless question. “And yet, here we are.”
The smile slipped. “So, my dear, the sun will come up very soon. We could have you back in your bed before anyone in society is the wiser. All you have to do is agree to attend a party tomorrow night. At it, you’ll tell everyone with an ear for gossip that you heard the Duke of Daring and the Earl of Effington secretly own and run London’s most notorious gaming hell.”
Cordelia nibbled her lip. “Can I ask you a question? How does that information hurt them? I’m not sure I understand.”
Cristina nodded. “They’ve built the club by pretending to be pirates or thieves or something. Meanwhile they operate in society as if they have sterling reputations. They should suffer the way a woman would.”
Cordelia rubbed her chin. “I’m inclined to agree that society is unfair to women.” She didn’t add that she doubted it would hurt the men that much. Did their livelihoods depend on the club’s revenue?
And more importantly, what would happen if she refused the countess’s offer? Or if she agreed and then didn’t follow through? Or if…
“I see your little brain turning.” Cristina leaned forward. “Did you know that they threatened me? Said they would have men claim to be my lovers and go to my husband?”
Cordelia suspected that the men really had been her lovers. “I’m sorry?”
Cristina nodded. “I only married the Earl of Abernath because Darlington left me for ruin. The man is cruel and repulsive.” She gave a shiver then leaned forward. “He’s taught me how to really hurt another person. Physically.” Then Cristina reached out and took her hand. Pulling it toward her Cordelia tried to pull her arm back, but she was still so weak and the countess’s grip was tight. Reaching for the candle, she dripped a large spot of burning hot wax on Cordelia’s skin. Without meaning too, Cordelia let out a scream, the burn sending shivers up her arm as the pain amplified.
Quickly, Cristina let the arm go again and righted the candle. “I’m a nice person, Corde.”
How did the other woman know her nickname? “But I’ve learned a great deal about you and your habits. Cross me and I will find you. And this was just a taste of what I will do to you.”
Cordelia hugged her arm to her chest as the burning pain radiated along her skin. “And if I don’t agree?”
The countess gave her that toothy smile as she leaned closer. “Then we’ll have to convince you with some more wax.” The other woman reached for her arm again and without meaning to, Cordelia let out another scream.
Chapter Sixteen
Malice flexed his arms trying to remain calm as the carriage rumbled down the street. Inside, however, he was a frantic ball of nerves. He wanted his woman back and he wanted to make the countess pay.
“I can’t believe she would go to this length.” Daring shook his head. “I knew Cristina was deep down dark, but I didn’t think she’d take innocent girls.”
Malice squeezed his eyes shut. Apprehension curled in his stomach, spreading a nauseating sensation through his body. “Will the countess hurt Cordelia?”
Daring sighed, staring at the ceiling. “I don’t know. I thought I knew her but I was proven wrong a long time ago.”
“What happened between you?” Malice wasn’t sure why he asked other than he needed something to pass the time and, perhaps if he understood the woman better, he’d better be able to fight her.
“I was courting her. Our relationship, at least the physical part, progressed. She was rather adventurous and I found it exciting.” Daring looked out the window into the dark night. “When she became pregnant, I offered for her hand.”
Malice nodded. He’d known most of this already. “How did it end?”
“I found her in bed with another man.” Daring scrubbed his face. “I never learned who he was and I don’t care. At the time I did, but now I realize that bloke did me a favor. I ended it with her and never looked back. She married Abernath a month later.”
“And the child?” Malice asked.
Daring shrugged. “She lost the baby.”
Malice scratched his chin. “By all accounts, you should be angry with her. Why does she hate you so much?”
Daring shook his head. “I honestly don’t know. Looking back, I wasn’t sure she ever even liked me. She seemed to hate me at times, and not just me. She didn’t like men in general.” He scrubbed his face with his hands. “She sent me several letters. In one of them, she accused me of ruining her future. Like I was to blame for ending our engagement. I suppose I was but…”
Malice let out a long breath. “She doesn’t want to take accountability for her own actions.” That made his gut tighten. A person like that was dangerous.
“Try not to worry.” Daring looked over at him. The sun was just beginning to brighten the sky. “She must want Cordelia for a reason and it isn’t just to hurt. How would that make me pay for my supposed sins?”
Malice scratched his head. “Why would she want Cordelia?”
Daring frowned. “I have no idea. Unless she thinks that Cordelia could ruin me?”
Malice’s eyes widened. Of course. “She wants Cordelia to share what she knows about the club.” Then he paused. “But why doesn’t she share that herself?”
Daring shrugged. “She doesn’t have a lot of sway left in society. She likely thinks a woman as pure as Cordelia could do far more damage.”
The carriage began to slow. His insides contracted as he stood, opening the door before the carriage had even stopped. “I’m going to go in and pretend to be McKenzie. Follow in a few minutes and have your pistols ready.”
Daring gave a terse nod. “Be safe.”
“My safety isn’t that important. But if something happens to me, see that Cordelia is married. To a nice man who reads her poetry and captures stars for her.” Then he jumped from the carriage, making his way down the alley.
Daring stuck his head out the door. “So the opposite of you then?”
Malice bit back a smile. He likely was all wrong for Cordelia. But she had his heart now and he’d tell her come hell or high water. Hell, he’d die just to have the chance.
He made his way through the back gate and followed a path to a door at the back of the house. Entering by the kitchen, he heard one of the servants call out. “Hurry, she requested that tray five minutes ago.”
Malice pulled the cloak tighter about his face. A servant came rushing from the kitchen and practically sprinted toward the back staircase. Only the mistress of the house could inspire that sort of fear and so he followed being careful to stay far enough back that he wouldn’t be seen.
The servant went up two flights and disappeared in the third. Damn, maybe he’d left too muc
h space because by the time he made it up the stairs, all the doors were closed. How would he figure out which room the woman had gone in? At the end of the hall were some curtains, he worked his way to the other end, and hid himself behind them. The window overlooked the street. Any more light outside and someone could look up and notice him standing in the window, but at least the fabric hid him from the hall.
Carefully, he peeked out of the one side and watched as the servant left from the third door on the right.
He let out a breath. He was assuming that was the countess’s chamber but how to make certain? And from there, how would he find Cordelia?
He crept out from behind the curtains and slowly made his way down the hall, listening for any sound of voices or any other clue as to the occupants in the room. All was quiet as he reached the door. Slowly, ever so quietly, he turned the knob. When the latch finally gave way, he pushed the door the tiniest bit open. Then leaned over to peek inside, holding his breath. Was Cordelia here? His answer came not a second later as a blood curdling scream pierced his eardrums. Without another thought, he threw open the door.
* * *
Cordelia sat on the bed, her eyes wide as she watched Cristina bring the candle toward her arm again. Why was she so weak?
She opened her mouth to scream again when the door banged against the frame causing both women to start.
But before Cordelia could even register what had happened, the candle went flying across the room, landing on the floor.
“What the—” The Countess stood, letting go of her arm. “You!”
“Me,” Malice rumbled. “You’ve taken something of mine and I want it back.”
Cristina’s mouth curled into a sneer. “So like a man to think he owns a woman.”
Cordelia began to push off the bed, trying to get to Chad. If she were in his arms, she was sure to be safe. He bent down and in one movement, scooped her up with one hand, holding out a pistol in the other. “I’m letting Daring deal with you.”
Marquess of Malice: Lords of Scandal Book 2 Page 10
