Sinjin

by J. A. Templeton

  Marilyn giggled and took a sip of punch, her assessing gaze taking in Lillith’s gown. Made of pale blue silk, it was of the latest fashion and hugged her slender form, showcasing her tiny waist. “You look different, Aunt Lillith.”

  Lillith frowned. “Whatever do you mean?”

  “You look younger, more radiant.”

  “You are too kind, my dear, but I assure you I look the same as I did yesterday.”

  “Perhaps being in a house full of gorgeous young men has brought back some of your spirit,” Marilyn said with a grin.

  “I bet you are right.” Katelyn kissed Aunt Lillith’s cheek. “You look beautiful, Aunt Lillith. Truly.”

  “As do you. I cannot tell you how proud I am of both of you. I have had the time of my life these past few days—well, aside from a few horrific moments—and I would not trade this time for anything.”

  “We have enjoyed our time with you, too, and I was just telling Katelyn that I do believe I will be staying in London for the summer.”

  Aunt Lillith clapped her hands together. “I am so happy to hear it.” She beamed, and making sure no one nearby could hear, said, “Katelyn, I do hope that you will stay as well.”

  “Absolutely. I am already looking forward to it.”

  “Oh, look at who is coming our way,” Marilyn said, glancing past Lillith and Katelyn.

  Aunt Lillith followed her gaze, and her eyes widened. Marilyn and Katelyn shared a smile.

  Victor looked extremely handsome in a dark suit with a contrasting pale gray waistcoat. His unruly hair had been brushed back and held with a band, showing his fine bone structure in a new light.

  “Ladies,” he said with a formal bow. “You all look enchanting this evening.”

  “And you look very handsome, Victor,” Katelyn said.

  “Indeed,” Marilyn added. “I didn’t realize you could get your hair to actually lay flat.”

  Victor winked. “Jeffries is a master with a brush and comb, and a mystery ingredient.”

  “Mystery ingredient?”

  He shrugged. “We quit asking years ago.”

  Katelyn noticed that her aunt had gone unusually quiet.

  “Lady Katelyn, may I be the first to offer my congratulations. My brother just told me the news, and we are all delighted to have you as part of the family.”

  “You are too kind,” Katelyn said, pleased to hear the family was happy by the news. “Speaking of your brother, where is he?”

  “He is momentarily detained.”

  “Nothing serious, I hope?” Katelyn asked.

  “Not at all. Rory needed his assistance. They will be down shortly.”

  Victor turned to Lillith. “Lady Nordland, could I have the next dance?”

  “I do not dance, Lord Graston. I am a chaperone, after all.”

  “Come, Aunt Lillith, there are other chaperones who dance,” Marilyn urged. “Go, have fun for once.”

  “Yes, have fun for once,” Victor said, a challenging grin on his lips.

  Katelyn nudged her toward Victor, who extended his arm.

  “Oh, very well,” she said, slipping her hand around his elbow. “I will be right back, girls.”

  Both Katelyn and Marilyn watched as Victor and Lillith approached the dance floor and the music began. Lillith looked like a radiant girl as she went through the steps, smiling and laughing.

  “It is lovely to see her so happy,” Katelyn said.

  Marilyn hugged Katelyn. “Yes, it is. She deserves to be happy. We all deserve to be happy.”

  “Hear, hear.”

  Lady Anna motioned for them to join her from across the room. “Should we?” Marilyn asked.

  “I will be right there. I am just going to get a breath of fresh air.”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  “No, go ahead. I will be right there,” Katelyn said. “I just want a moment alone, count my lucky stars and all that.”

  Marilyn nodded in understanding. “Very well. Hurry up now.”

  Katelyn stepped out onto the verandah and took a deep breath. It was a perfect night, the stars were out in force, the moon large and bright. She could hardly wait until they could tell everyone the news of their upcoming wedding. Then they would no longer have to hide their love.

  A brisk wind blew, and after saying a quick thank you to the heavens, she started back inside when from the corner of her eye, she saw a black figure approach from out of the darkness.

  Before she could scream, a cloak was thrown over her head.

  * * *

  Katelyn was tossed unceremoniously into a waiting carriage. Her hands had been tied, and she struggled to push the cloak off of her. When she looked up, a chill raced up her spine.

  Ronald sat across from her, fury in his eyes.

  Katelyn screamed at the top of her lungs.

  He slapped her hard and she screamed again.

  He grabbed her roughly by the back of the neck and brought her face close to his. “Scream one more time and I’ll kill you. Your lover will find your cold, lifeless body in a ditch.”

  “Will you at least untie my hands?” she asked, trembling with fear and anger.

  “I will only untie you when we are a safe distance from Claymoore Hall and your lover.”

  Katelyn dug her nails into her palms and panicked as the lights from Claymoore Hall disappeared. She should have known that Ronald wouldn’t give up without a fight.

  A lump formed in her throat as she thought about the three people she loved most in this world—all oblivious to the fact she had been kidnapped right from under their noses. “They will come after me.”

  “And it will be too late.”

  “Too late?” Her pulse skittered. “What do you mean?”

  “You will be married to me. By the time we reach Rose Alley, the priest will be there and the vows read. You will never see your family again.”

  “I will not marry you. I am in love with Sinjin.”

  Ronald reached out and grabbed her chin with cold fingers. “I want you to understand that from this moment on, you shall never again speak of Sinjin Rayborne. Is that clear?”

  Giving any response proved difficult since his fingers continued to tighten on her chin.

  When she remained silent, he released her and sat back in his seat. She closed her eyes, not wanting him to see her tears.

  The rest of the trip was made in silence, and thankfully Katelyn fell asleep, awaking the following morning just as they pulled into Rose Alley.

  Ronald’s sister met them at the door, looking elated to see her brother. Her gaze settled on Katelyn for a moment, lingering on the bruises on her face, before she blinked a couple of times and looked at her brother with a bright smile. “Welcome home, my lord. How was your journey?”

  “Long.”

  “You traveled all night?” she asked, her brows furrowing.

  “Yes, we traveled all night,” Ronald said with increasing irritation.

  His sister recognized his foul mood and glanced nervously at Katelyn. “You both must be tired.”

  Ronald removed his coat and tossed it at his valet. The poor man barely had time to catch it, the buttons hitting him full in the face. “Did the priest arrive yet?”

  “The priest?” Meredith asked, brows furrowed.

  “Yes, Meredith, the priest. I sent George ahead for that very reason.”

  “George arrived in the early morning hours, but I know nothing about a priest. I do not understand. Your marriage is set for later in the summer. Why—”

  Ronald backtracked toward her. “It is not your affair, do you understand?”

  She swallowed hard. “Yes, Ronald. I mean, my lord.”

  Ronald’s face turned bright red. He removed his hat and gloves and set them on the sideboard as they entered the house. “Meredith, please see that Katelyn is taken to her room, and she is not to leave there.”

  Meredith nodded, her expression turning concerned. Katelyn hoped she would be helpful to her. “Very well
.” She motioned for Katelyn to lead the way up the stairs.

  “I shall see you both at dinner this evening, five o’clock sharp.” Ronald’s study door slammed shut behind him, and Meredith flinched as though she’d been struck.

  She looked confused and upset, nearly on the verge of tears.

  As they entered Katelyn’s chamber, Meredith watched Katelyn closely. She closed the door behind them. “How did you come by the bruises, Katelyn?”

  “Your brother. He kidnapped me from Claymoore Hall.”

  “He would not do anything of the sort,” Meredith said in disbelief.

  “Where are my bags, then? Why am I dressed this way to travel?”

  Clearing her throat, Meredith shook her head. “Ronald’s anger sometimes gets the better of him.”

  “Do not try to make amends for his behavior.”

  “I wasn’t. I merely—” She clamped her mouth shut and quickly looked away, toward the window.

  “I told him I did not want to marry him, and he kidnapped me and brought me back here. My aunt will come with the authorities.”

  Meredith’s eyes widened. “Why did you break the engagement? I thought you loved Ronald. Your mother told him as much. In fact, she said you cared very deeply for him and were anxious to wed.”

  “My mother lied.”

  Meredith licked her thin lips. “So you will not marry.”

  “No, I am in love with another man, and I told Ronald as much.”

  “But the contract has been signed, and he paid your mother a fortune.”

  “My aunt will repay him every shilling and interest, too.” Katelyn reached out and took Meredith’s hand. “Meredith, I was at the ball with my sister and aunt, and left for only a second, and the next thing I know, I was being shoved into a carriage and taken away from my family and the man I love. Help me.”

  She pulled away from Katelyn. “I am sorry, I can’t.”

  “Meredith, please, I need your help,” Katelyn pleaded.

  “Ronald is stubborn. When he wants something, he will stop at nothing to have it.” She lifted her chin. “And he wants you, Katelyn.”

  “Meredith!” Ronald bellowed from downstairs, and she jumped.

  “I must go and see what he wants.”

  “Help me, Meredith,” Katelyn said one more time before the other woman shut the door.

  * * *

  Sinjin made another pass of the ballroom and the nearby rooms. His brothers were each taking a floor, Jeffries and a few footmen were checking the grounds, and Lillith and Marilyn were searching their chambers in the hope Katelyn would surface.

  His heart sank to his toes when he saw Lillith and Marilyn without Katelyn. “I checked both our chambers, and she’s not there.”

  “What about her belongings?”

  “Everything is how we left it,” Marilyn said, her worried expression mirroring her aunt’s.

  “He took her. I know it,” Lillith said, tears welling in her eyes. “She told Marilyn she was going outside for just an instant, and that is the last she saw of her.” She put her hands together in prayer and pressed them to her lips. “I should have stayed with her.”

  “We will find her, Lillith,” Sinjin said with conviction. “Victor is speaking with Jeffries and the other servants to see who has left the manor this evening.”

  Marilyn shook her head. “I should have known that bastard would do something like this.”

  21

  Someone was pounding on the front door.

  Katelyn’s heart slammed against her ribs. She couldn’t get out of the room. She had already searched every drawer for the key, to no avail.

  Please God, let it be Sinjin or the police, and not a priest.

  The knocking stopped and she heard voices, but she couldn’t make them out.

  She pounded on the door, shouting for someone to open it.

  Silence met her plea.

  Rushing toward the window, she tried to open it. The ledge was not very deep—one wrong move and she would slip and fall, and perhaps even kill herself.

  From her bedchamber she could see only into the back garden, so she had no idea who was visiting. Perhaps it was only a neighbor come to visit now that Lord Balliford had returned.

  She seriously doubted Ronald would allow anyone past the front door, though.

  Please let it be, she silently pleaded as she tried the window again.

  She stopped when she heard Ronald’s voice raised in anger, and then another man’s voice, calling out her name, demanding to see her.

  Sinjin!

  * * *

  Sinjin stared down the barrel of Ronald’s pistol and did his best to not flinch or show fear. Not the easiest task when the man holding the pistol had a wild look in his eyes.

  “Lord Balliford, please,” Lillith said, keeping her voice level as she stepped in front of Sinjin.

  “Lady Nordland, if you think for one moment your presence will stop me from blowing Lord Mawbry’s head off, then you are sadly mistaken. I will take this shot, with you in the way or not.”

  Sinjin gently pushed Lillith aside. “Thank you, Lillith, but I do not need your protection.”

  “Ronald, are you okay?” came the woman’s voice from the other side of the study door.

  It was the same middle-aged woman who had answered the front door. Sinjin had walked straight past her into the hallway, asking for Lord Balliford, and he had found him in the small study. Ronald’s fingers were stained black, and there were ink smudges on his face.

  And now they all stood in the small study where Balliford had been writing a letter.

  No doubt to Katelyn’s mother.

  “Will you please tell Katelyn that Sinjin is here to take her home?” he said to the woman standing in the doorway.

  Ronald’s eyes narrowed. “She will most certainly not. You are not welcome on my property, and I would ask you kindly to leave. If you do not, I shall remove you with force.”

  “Do you think I fear you?” Sinjin asked, fury of what Balliford might have done to Katelyn nearly choking him.

  Ronald’s smile thinned. “I doubt you fear anyone.” He lifted the bell and rang it. A tall, bald-headed, barrel-chested man about a decade older than Sinjin arrived at the study door. “Yes, my lord.”

  “Please escort my guests out and see that they leave the property.”

  The servant moved toward Sinjin, but Lillith stopped him by grabbing his arm. “We will leave…once I have my niece, and not before.”

  The servant did not take another step and surprisingly walked out of the room a second later. “Your niece is not leaving here, Lady Nordland. She is to be my bride…by the end of the day. Indeed, the priest will be here at any moment.”

  “She does not want to marry you, Balliford,” Sinjin said, trying to ignore the fact that a pistol was trained on him. “She is going to marry me.”

  The sound of knocking came from a distance, and the faintest sound of a woman’s voice could be heard. White-hot anger raced through Sinjin. “What have you done with her?”

  “That is Katelyn,” Lillith said, rushing for the door, but she was met on the other side by Ronald’s sister, who blocked her.

  “Move out of my way,” Lillith said, pushing the woman with force, but she didn’t budge. “Katelyn! Where are you?”

  “Here!” came the cry from directly above.

  Sinjin was following after Lillith when he heard the distinct clicking sound.

  “Do not move another step.” Balliford had another pistol, this one trained on Lillith’s back.

  Lillith turned, her eyes wide. “Do not do something you will surely regret.”

  “I already regret allowing Katelyn to attend a party with her sister where she was seduced by a scoundrel. Clearly, she needed a chaperone herself. I shall regret letting her attend that party for the rest of my life.”

  “Ronald, perhaps you should listen to them,” Meredith said, trembling. “Katelyn is not happy, and she told me that she loves S
injin. She is going to marry him. You are not in your right—”

  “Be quiet!” Ronald yelled, and Meredith jumped.

  “My niece is in love with Sinjin, and she is going to marry him,” Lillith said. “Let her go, Lord Balliford.”

  “If you wish, we can finish this outside, away from the ladies,” Sinjin said with a calm he didn’t feel.

  “Why don’t you leave and never return. What is the name they call you and your brothers—the Rakehells of Rochester,” he said, a lascivious smile on his face. “Soon you shall grow tired of her…just as you have grown tired of every other woman you have possessed. Why do you not just walk away, and count your blessings that you will no longer have to worry about her? You fucked her and got what you wanted. Be grateful no more is required of you.”

  Infuriated by his words, Sinjin said, “I want to marry Katelyn. She could very well be carrying my child.”

  Ronald’s face turned bright red. “You seduced her. Soon she will forget about you, and I will make her happy. If there is a child, I shall raise it as my own.”

  Sinjin’s eyes narrowed.

  Meredith had moved slightly, giving just enough room for Lillith to slide past her.

  Seeing the movement, Ronald fired the gun.

  Lillith felt the swoosh of air pass by and then heard the other woman gasp.

  When she turned, Meredith had fallen to her knees, a bright red circle of blood growing on her belly.

  “Oh my God,” Ronald yelled. “What have I done?”

  * * *

  Katelyn heard the gun blast and immediately after, the sound of footsteps coming her way.

  A chill rushed up her spine.

  “I do not have a key,” Sinjin said from the other side, and she nearly fainted with relief, so happy to hear his voice. “Stand back. I will kick the door in.”

  Katelyn did as he asked. “I am standing clear!”

  The door burst open and Sinjin appeared. Katelyn rushed into his arms. “I heard a shot. What happened?”

  “Ronald shot Meredith.”

  “Oh my God.”

  “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” He touched her cheek tenderly, his blue eyes full of fury upon seeing the bruises. “That son of a bitch. I will kill him.”