by Tracy Kay
“It is all right, luv, you can tell me,” Raven reassured her, spinning his spell tighter and giving her mind a hard, mental push.
With confusion and emotional release, the words poured out of her mouth and the tears began to fall. “I used my lovers for money. I promised I would marry them, and after they had given me money and gifts, I broke it off with excuses. If they gave me a difficult time, I blackmailed them with something I learned about them or with some sort of scandal I created. I had no choice. I do not have much money and I had to pay for the dresses and everything. No one will understand,” she sobbed, helpless against his ruthless interrogation.
“I understand, luv.” Raven again began stroking her back soothingly. “Tell me the rest of it, Joselyn. Did this Parez fellow hurt you?”
She nodded and cried, hating herself for her lack of resistance. She could not understand why she could not fight him. She could not control herself or her thoughts. She was revealing her darkest secrets and she was unable to stop herself.
“How?” Raven urged her to finish. Raven was persistent because he knew from experience that once she revealed all her secrets, she could begin healing.
“He violated me,” she wailed, covering her face in humiliation and self-loathing. She hated herself and the things she had done, and now, everyone would know. She would be ruined.
“Ah, now I begin to understand.” Raven continued caressing her back, waiting patiently for her to tell him the rest of it.
Raising her head from her hands, she stared at Raven with shame in her eyes and with tears running down her face. “It wasn’t the first time. When we were lovers, he would beat me and take me against my will. He said they were lessons on obedience. I may not be a nice person, but I never deserved that, did I?” Joselyn asked him in a small voice, not sure if she had deserved it or not.
“No, Joselyn, nothing you could do deserves that kind of punishment,” Raven affirmed, stroking her back, while the images of her memories flashed in his mind. As he manipulated her subconscious, full understanding came to him. Her mind and spirit had been broken from the trauma inflicted on her in her past; her family’s deaths, Manual’s control of her, and her manipulation of the men she used, all contributed to her state of mind. She would need a lot of patience, care, and time before she could heal. He briefly glanced at Nicholas, taking note of the anger and pain on his face. Raven would have to deal with him later. He couldn’t allow Nicholas to do something foolish.
“Then why? Why was I punished? I never did anything wrong. I always did as he requested,” Joselyn cried, looking at Raven for answers to questions Manuel would never give her.
“I don’t know why, luv. I don’t have a good answer for you.” Raven wished he had an answer for her, but he did not know why some men hurt women so cruelly and senselessly. He knew one thing though; Manuel Parez would never hurt Joselyn or Madeline again.
“How can I stop him?” Joselyn asked pitifully.
“Put him out of your mind, luv. I will deal with him from now on,” he directed firmly, stroking her hair.
“Madeline getting hurt is my fault. How can anyone love me after all the awful things I have done?” She sobbed, bowing her head in humiliation and despair.
“Ssh, luv.” Raven took her into his arms and held her close. “It is not your fault and you are loved. We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t love you.” Raven gave her a tight hug before letting her go and releasing her from his spell. “You have been through a lot today.”
Dazed, Joselyn nodded at him as he brushed a stray hair off her flushed face. She was so confused and didn’t understand why she felt compelled to reveal her past. Raven was a strange man and she was terrified of him.
“You are very brave to tell me your secrets. Go to your room, Joselyn, and get some rest,” he ordered as he helped her to stand and steered her out of the room.
“I understand her obsession with beatings now,” Nicholas stated after Joselyn had left the room. “We need to find this Parez,” he added angrily, pacing the room. “He deserves to be shot.”
“You are not going to do anything, Nicholas,” Raven commanded, thankful Nicholas was unable to see the images of Joselyn’s memories as he could. “I will handle Parez.” Raven would not allow Nicholas to deal with Parez. He was too emotionally involved and obviously cared for Joselyn. His involvement would only make matters worse and Raven didn’t think they could afford that right now.
“I want to be part of this. I care for Joselyn,” Nicholas confirmed Raven’s conclusion. Nicholas wanted to protect Joselyn and what was done to her was unconscionable. He refused to allow Parez to continue hurting her.
“All the more reason you should not be part of this. I will deal with Parez and you deal with Joselyn.” Raven put his hand on Nicholas’ shoulder in support. “She needs someone with patience and a gentle hand who can help her heal. I think you are up to the task. I know you can forgive her for her past and help her forgive herself.”
“I will do as you say, Raven,” Nicholas agreed reluctantly. “But if you do not deal with Parez soon, I will.” He wanted retribution for Joselyn and his sister. If Raven didn’t take care of Parez, he was calling him out. He would not get away with violating a lady and possibly attempting to murder Madeline. He would not stand for it.
“It is already done, Nicholas.” Raven squeezed his shoulder. “I need to speak to Brandon. Take care of yourself and Joselyn,” he instructed in parting before dashing up the stairs.
Manuel Parez was in bed enjoying a young lady of newly ill repute when the pounding on the door began. Manuel chose to ignore the threatening sound and continued his endeavors, disregarding the struggles of the woman beneath him. Manuel had no idea that his world was about to come down around him, so he was stunned when two large men broke down the door.
The burly, blond man picked up the woman’s clothing from the floor, handed them to her, and signaled her to leave.
Her abrupt exit snapped Manuel out of his stupor. “Tilly, you cannot leave. I am not finished.”
“You are now,” Conrad Morgan commanded. Power radiated off his large frame, filling the room with his presence.
“Who the hell are you?” Manuel demanded as he got out of bed and yanked on his trousers.
“Will you do the honors, Raven?” Conrad gestured to Raven.
“Glad to.” Raven centered his attention on Manuel. “I am Raven, and my associate here is Conrad Morgan. We have a mutual acquaintance.”
“What is this about?” Manuel snarled as he shrugged on his shirt. He didn’t enjoy being interrupted and he wasn’t going to be threatened by these thugs.
“Madeline Cathcart and Joselyn Parker. The one you shot, and the other you raped and blackmailed,” Raven replied smoothly and calmly, beginning to exert his will over Manuel.
“I never shot Madeline Cathcart,” Manuel denied, vaguely recalling she was a friend of Joselyn’s.
“Then who did?” Raven crooned in a silky voice, invading Manuel’s mind and taking control of his thoughts.
“I do not know,” Manuel shrugged nonchalantly.
“You wouldn’t try to lie to me, now, would you?” Raven rumbled in a threatening tone.
Manuel took a step back defensively and peered at the intimidating man with trepidation. “I am not lying.”
“We shall see.” Raven moved closer to Manuel. Raven grasped Manuel’s neck with his hand and stared deeply into his eyes. “You are going to tell me everything I want to know,” he ordered with a compelling tone in his voice.
Manuel could only stiffly nod his head in agreement.
“Good.” Raven took a step back and pushed Manuel onto the bed. Pulling a chair close to the bed, Raven straddled it, met Manuel’s brown eyes with his piercing blue ones and began the inquiry. He was not gentle. There was no need for Raven to touch Manuel physically. His mind was weak and easy for Raven to control. Raven started with questions in which he already knew the answers. “When did you first m
eet Joselyn Parker?”
“Six years ago,” he replied automatically. Manuel tried getting off the bed, but he couldn’t move. He looked around the room with bewilderment, unable to understand what was happening to him.
“Did you abuse her?” Raven asked calmly, imposing his will over Manuel’s with a forceful mind manipulation.
“Sí, she wanted me to. She wanted me to teach her,” Manuel defended, struggling to move his arms.
“Yes or no answers will suffice. Did you visit her four days ago?” Raven continued.
“Yes.” Manuel stumbled over his answers, his head feeling heavy and his vision blurry. He was unable to comprehend why he was telling this man his secrets and why he couldn’t move. There was no one holding him down or confining him.
“Did you blackmail her?”
“Sí . . . yes.” Manuel was confused and he couldn’t think straight. The answers seemed to fall out of his mouth. He couldn’t stop himself no matter how hard he tried. His head felt muddled and heavy.
“Did you rape her?” Raven growled brutally, pushing for the truth.
“Yes, but that . . .” Manuel tried to explain that it was typical behavior between Joselyn and himself, but Raven cut him off.
“Did you threaten to kill someone close to her?” Raven was ruthless with his interrogation.
“No,” he gasped, unable to catch his breath.
“Did you threaten to hurt someone close to her?” Raven continued his merciless inquiry, easily keeping a tight hold over Manuel’s thoughts and movements.
“Yes.” Manuel tried to move again but couldn’t. He began to panic.
“Did you shoot Madeline Cathcart?”
“No.” Manuel was desperate. He couldn’t breathe and he began to cry. He didn’t understand what was happening to him and why he couldn’t control his mind or body.
“Do you know who did?” Raven demanded, pushing him harder.
“No,” Manuel wheezed, tears flowing freely down his face.
Raven stood and turned away, breaking the spell he had woven over Manuel. “He had nothing to do with shooting Madeline,” he imparted to Conrad. He ignored the man behind him who was gasping for breath and struggling to stand.
“Then who did?” Conrad was dissatisfied that there were no positive leads to who was threatening Joselyn and now the Cathcarts.
“I can take a good guess,” Raven said dryly.
“Farrington,” Conrad bit out.
Raven was about to say something more when Manuel tugged at his arm, turning him around to face him. Raven looked at the man and lifted a black eyebrow in question.
Confused and breathless, Manuel felt it necessary to justify himself. “I was never going to hurt anyone. I was only blackmailing Joselyn. I need money. I wouldn’t hurt her.”
“But you have,” Raven stated crossly.
“How?” Manuel replied, still confused and seeing nothing wrong in what he had done.
“You raped her and used her for your own pleasures,” Raven answered with exasperation.
“But she wanted me to,” he defended himself and his actions.
“She was young and foolish. You should have known better than to use a vulnerable, young girl for your own pleasures,” Raven said, irritated with the man. “You made her frightened of men and gave her some very nasty habits in manipulation. Beating and raping a woman is not the best way of getting what you want from her. Most of the time, kindness and understanding will work much better.”
“You are still a young and healthy man, Parez,” Conrad observed. “I suggest you begin a new life far away from England and Joselyn Parker.” Conrad took out a small bag of coins and threw it on the bed. “The Golden Wave leaves in the morning for America. Be on it for your own sake. We will be watching you, and if I learn that you abuse another woman or return to England, you will wish you hadn’t.
Manuel nodded as he watched the two men leave his room. Manuel sunk down on the bed and looked around him. He had nothing to lose if he left England and nothing to lose if he stayed. He had nothing in Spain. His family had disowned him only months ago for raping a woman in his village, leaving him no family, no place to go, and no money. Manuel dumped the contents of the bag and counted the money that spilled out. He grinned and made his decision. Why should he leave England when he could earn money for nothing more than threatening a woman? There were other wealthy families in England. Perhaps, he should pay one a call.
“Mr. Penwich, what do I owe this visit?” Brandon asked tiredly but pleasantly from behind his desk, having stood when Charles Penwich entered the study. He didn’t have the time nor the patience to deal with visitors. He had ordered Avery, the Cathcart’s butler, not to accept any callers, but Penwich was insistent. Brandon had spent the night watching over Madeline, praying she would wake from the coma she had slipped into. He was worried. If she didn’t wake soon, he wasn’t sure if she would, and if she did, there was no certainty that she would still have all her faculties. There was no telling the outcome with head injuries. Weary, Brandon ran a hand through his hair and focused on the man standing in front of him.
“Lord Kenrik, I am actually here to visit with Lady Joselyn. I heard of her aunt’s death and I wished to pay my respects,” Charles greeted nervously. He wasn’t accustomed to associating with the nobility and certainly not one of Lord Kenrik’s status and reputed dubious character.
“Please call me Brandon, Mr. Penwich, and take a seat.” Brandon gestured at the leather chair in front of the desk as he sat down. “I am not much for formality and I have always found it odd being called Kenrik. My father’s the one for all the formality, not me.”
Charles chortled with relief. Kenrik wasn’t as intimidating as his reputation made him out to be. “Call me Charles. I am not much of a formal man myself. My Ma and Da are simple folk who worked hard for what little they had. Although, I am a well-off man, I still prefer my simple roots to all the high society shenanigans.
“It is less complicated to be sure,” Brandon agreed, never having gotten used to the nobility and their titles, even if he was one himself. All the formality frustrated him. To him, it was a complex mess and enough to give him a headache. “Now tell me, how do you know Lady Joselyn?”
“Prior to her brother’s death, Lady Joselyn and I were planning on marrying,” Charles began a little timidly. He sincerely wanted to keep their relationship secret as she wanted; however, under the circumstances, he needed to let his intentions known. He simply couldn’t let the woman he loved and planned on marrying go through such a trying time without him. “She was in the process of convincing her brother that I was a good match. She said she had made some progress, but with his death, she didn’t feel it was a good time to announce my intentions. She wanted some time to pass and Lady Joselyn claimed there was a threat against her. Her aunt had insisted that she and Jeremy move in here,” Charles further explained. “As her cousin, you would provide her the protection she needed. She didn’t want to cause problems since her aunt had been adamant, and she had expressed her wish that Lady Joselyn marry one of your brothers.”
Brandon laughed tiredly at her schemes and at the idea of Joselyn being his cousin. “My cousin, huh? That is what she told you?”
“Yes.” Charles was puzzled by Brandon’s reaction.
“Charles, I believe you have been duped,” Brandon announced sympathetically. Raven and Nicholas had informed him of Joselyn’s confession of her numerous affairs, and after a little prodding, she confessed that she had deceived several men out of a great deal of money with promises of marriage and various other lies.
“Pardon?” Charles stared at him questioningly, not understanding what Brandon was telling him.
“Joselyn is not my cousin or any relation for that matter. She is a friend of my sister’s.” He raised his hand up, stopping Charles before he interrupted and Brandon clarified. “Her brother and aunt were murdered, and there have been threatening notes, but she had no intention of marrying
you.”
“I don’t understand.” Charles passed a hand over his eyes. “We are in love.”
“I am sorry, Charles, but it is what she does,” Brandon stated compassionately, hating to have to explain Joselyn’s misdeeds. He liked the man. Perhaps a little naive, but Charles was genuine and he truly loved Joselyn. How many kind men like Charles had she used? Brandon sighed before continuing. “She convinces wealthy men that she loves them and promises to marry them. Once the men have lavished her with gifts and money, she tells them her family won’t approve of the match. Her story varies a bit, I am sure, but it is mostly the same.”
“I can’t believe this.” Charles didn’t want to believe him, but the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach told him Brandon was telling the truth. He should have known better. He wasn’t some bumbling youth to be so easily manipulated, but here he was good and truly fooled. Charles had only wanted a nice woman as his wife, have a few children, and a nice home to return to after a long day of work.
“Did you ever meet any of Lady Joselyn’s family? Did she allow you to call on her?” Brandon questioned, waiting for Charles to accept the truth.
“No, there was always an excuse of some kind.” Charles sighed, admitting that he had been used. “I was a fool. I should have known better, but I did love her, do love her.” He turned his head in exasperated with himself and with her.
“If it is any consolation, you were not the first. She has been doing this for some time. How much did she get out of you?” Brandon wanted to know.
Charles exhaled with self-disdain. “A few hundred pounds for new dresses she claimed her brother refused to buy her, and I gave her a sapphire necklace as a token of my love. “
“I will see to it you are reimbursed and the necklace returned.”
“It is of no consequence.” Charles waved away Brandon’s offer. “I deserve the loss for being so easily fooled.” His good disposition saw the humor in his circumstances. He learned his lesson and there was no point in letting it ruin his positive view of life. He would find another woman to love, one who would love him in return. Looking back, there were signs of Joselyn’s duplicity and he should have seen them. Charles had let her beauty cloud his judgment. He wouldn’t let it happen again. Maybe he should find an ugly woman to make his wife, he grinned to himself.
