She stood with her hands on her hips over the painting that had resulted in the downfall of two men she had considered her friends. There was a low flame in the fireplace, giving Olivia a way to remove some memories of the past few weeks. The canvas burned quickly, replacing the coppery smell of blood in the room with smoke. All that was left was ash. The portrait was gone, as if all her sittings had never happened. If only she could erase her feelings for Gabriel that easily.
Thinking about him was making her head hurt along with her heart. She needed to find something to occupy herself until morning. Then she would direct Colette to pack her things and she and Nicholas would leave for Victoria’s.
* * *
It was difficult for Gabriel to open his eyes to the sound of Bennett’s voice and the soft patter of rain. He stretched his legs under the piles of blankets and went to turn onto his right side. That’s when the shooting pain ripped through his shoulder.
‘Easy, sir,’ his butler said in a soft whisper. ‘Your injury is fresh.’
It was as if his mind had blocked out the events of the last few hours except for the image of Olivia at his bedside. He struggled to sit up with the aid of Bennett. ‘Where is my wife?’ He knew he sounded a bit panic-stricken, but at the moment he didn’t care.
A terrible sense of foreboding gripped him. The pain in his heart outweighed that of his wound. He no longer believed love was purely sentimental drivel reserved for schoolboys and poets. He knew in his heart he loved Olivia. He probably always had. And she needed to know. It didn’t matter the hour. He would go to Victoria’s and demand to speak with her. Throwing back the covers, he swung his legs around to stand. The sudden movement made him dizzy.
‘Sir, please,’ Bennett begged, ‘you will open your wound if you persist in moving so.’
Nothing was going to stop him from going to her. He grabbed Bennett by the arm and realised his servant was in his banyan. Bennett’s astonishment at being grabbed by his employer was obvious.
‘Forgive me,’ Gabriel said, releasing his grip. ‘Fetch Hodges, I need to get dressed.’
‘But, sir, she is over there.’ Bennett pointed to Olivia’s huddled form, curled up in one of the chairs by the fireplace.
She was asleep—in his room—on his chair. She hadn’t left him. Relief flooded his body in a rush and he was grateful he wasn’t standing.
‘I woke you because this letter arrived.’
Gabriel took the folded paper from Bennett, taking note of his brother’s seal. ‘What time is it?’
‘Five o’clock. May I offer you anything? Shall we check your bandage?’
The dressing was still pristine. That was a good sign. ‘No, that will be all for the night.’
His butler hesitated before leaving the room. The minute the door closed, Gabriel rubbed away tears that had been waiting to fall. She hadn’t left him—yet.
He read the note from Andrew and tossed it into the fire. As the paper curled and burned away, Gabriel took a few deep breaths. It was finally over. Prinny was safe and no one had died to ensure it.
At some point during the night Olivia had changed into her nightclothes. Now she was curled up fast asleep in her dressing gown. The day had been physically and emotionally draining for both of them. Caressing her check gently, he took comfort in the warmth of her skin before heaviness settled around his heart.
Olivia blinked up at him through sleepy eyes. ‘You should be in bed.’
A sad smile tugged his lips at the sound of her voice. ‘I thought you had left,’ he said.
‘I told you, I would stay.’
* * *
Olivia rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and studied Gabriel. There was life back in his eyes and he was standing tall, not hunched in pain. She could leave him now. He was on the mend.
‘When I awoke, and did not see you...’ He took a deep, shaky breath, and lowered himself into the chair next to her. ‘I thought you would want to know I received a note from Andrew. Both Janvier and his accomplice have been questioned. I’m certain they will be tried for treason and both hanged in the next few days.’
She sat up straighter at the news. ‘What did they learn?’
‘The woman who shot me has no wish to hang alone. She confessed to trying to kill Prinny and identified Janvier as the man who’d promised to pay for her passage home to France if she helped him with his plot. She shadowed the man who tried to kill Prinny the day we were returning from Mr Owen’s and traced him to the Tower. At the Tower, she seduced a guard and convinced him to let her see the gunman. While there, unbeknownst to him, she poisoned that gunman’s food. I’m certain in the coming days we will learn more.’
‘Do they know anything of her?’
‘She’s an impoverished French aristocrat who has no love of the British Crown or the ton. Apparently she met Janvier at a coffee house, where they shared similar views.’
‘Does this mean Prinny is safe?’
‘For now,’ he said on a sigh. ‘However, a man in his position will always be a target.’
She walked to a table near the window and poured herself a glass of port. As she brought the glass to her lips, the warm rich smell held no appeal and she lowered it to the table.
‘Will you not have some?’ he asked with confusion. ‘After this evening, I would think you might want the entire bottle.’
‘I find I no longer have a taste for port.’ She walked back to her chair and did not miss the sombre turn of his lips. ‘I burned the portrait.’
His eyes widened and he followed Olivia’s gaze to his bed.
‘I found it while you were sleeping,’ she explained. ‘The canvas was visible from here. I burned it for you.’
‘But I had no intention of destroying it.’
‘You hated it.’
‘I hated the fact that it would be seen by all of London. I never hated the portrait. For all his faults, Manning is a talented artist.’
‘What would you have done with it?’
‘I don’t know, but I knew I needed to take it.’ He lowered his head, noticing the scrap of embroidery near her feet. ‘Is that a cat?’
‘No, it’s not a cat,’ she replied defensively. ‘It’s a bouquet of flowers.’
‘Oh, of course.’ He looked back at the tangle of string on silk. ‘I see it now.’
She stared at the mess of needlework and picked it up. With barely a glance, she tossed it over her shoulder. ‘I intended to stitch flowers. I think it looks more like a dog, but I suppose a cat would be accurate as well.’
‘Don’t leave me, Olivia.’ There was a catch to his voice.
She let out a deep breath not wanting to talk with him about her decision. ‘I cannot stay.’
He leaned forward. ‘You can. I can fix this between us.’
‘You do not want me. There is no reason for us to live together. There is nothing to fix. I will honour my word not to reveal your secrets, but we are finished. Prinny needs you and I need you to keep him safe. You will do that for me, won’t you? Make sure no harm comes to him? He may be foolish at times, but he is a sweet man.’
He reached over to take her hand, but she stood and stepped away.
‘I will do all in my power to ensure his safety.’
‘Do not get shot again. This should be the last time.’
‘I will try my best.’
She walked to the door, needing to put distance between them or she would never leave. The sad look in his eyes had tugged too strongly at her heart. Or what was left of her heart now.
‘I love you.’ His voice was clear and deep.
She swung back around and stared at him. For years she had wanted him to say that to her. For years she’d wanted to say it back. But now it was too late. He didn’t know how to speak the truth. And she loved
him too much to be able to bear to hear him say it again.
‘You don’t get to say that to me,’ she snapped, pointing her finger at him. ‘You lost that privilege years ago when you went to that harlot’s bed. That isn’t love. Going back to her when you promised you’d remain faithful isn’t love either. My mother and sister warned me about you. They said you would never remain faithful. Imagine my surprise when they knew you better than I did!’
He hadn’t moved. He was motionless in his chair, save for his heavy breathing. ‘Throw something.’
‘What?’
‘You know you want to. Throw something at me. Do what you must, but after you do I will have my say.’
He just didn’t understand. Olivia shook her head. ‘I have nothing left to give you, Gabriel. Not even my anger.’
It was as if her words had slapped him the way he reared his head back. He scrubbed his hand over his face and stood. Her husband did not want her. Couldn’t he spare what was left of her heart and just let her go?
* * *
Gabriel was losing her. He could hear it in her voice and see it in her eyes. Once she walked out of his room, she would remove him from her life forever. He could not let that happen. He loved her too much to live without her.
He needed to tell her everything. His blood ran cold and his palms were sweating, but he knew there was no other way. He only prayed it wasn’t too late.
‘I never slept with Madame LaGrange.’
She had turned towards the door, but at his words she froze. ‘Gabriel, please.’
‘Hear me out. Yesterday I received a note from her, indicating that she had valuable intelligence regarding Prinny’s safety. That is the only reason I went to her. She is an informant of mine. And she trusts no one else but me with the intelligence she collects.’
She turned fully to face him. ‘You expect me to believe this.’
‘It is the truth. Madame LaGrange provided me with the information on Janvier. That is how I knew he was behind the assassination attempt. It was an exchange of information that took place, nothing more. I never told you because I never trusted you, but I do now. I love you.’ It came out as a rush, as if his soul had been waiting to say it for so long.
There was no response. Olivia just stared at him. It was gut wrenching, and he stopped breathing. It was too late. Even with his declaration she could not forgive his deception and his lack of faith in her.
He had a strong urge to rub at the stone of his ring, but his right arm was bandaged to his chest. She hadn’t walked out yet. Maybe he could still reach her. ‘I couldn’t tell you about her years ago. We were newly married. We barely knew each other and from the time I was a small boy my father had taught me to trust no one.’
‘What did you think I would do?’
‘I was betrayed once by someone I held dear. That trust cost someone their life. It’s not easy to trust again when your friend’s life slips away in your arms because they were shot by someone you trusted.’
‘Did you receive the scar Nicholas found from the person who betrayed you?’
‘I did. He intended to kill me. Fortunately he did not.’
As if it were yesterday he could feel the bullet rip into his torso again and see Peter aiming the second shot at his head. Olivia would never know that his brother had murdered their uncle to save Gabriel. She would always believe that he was killed in a robbery. Andrew didn’t deserve to be looked at differently.
‘Trust does not come easily to me, Olivia. I am responsible for the men and women who risk their lives every day to protect the Crown. On the night Nicholas was born, Madame LaGrange sent me a letter saying she needed to speak with me. She had worked for my father before he died so I knew this was not a social request. There was a threat against the King and she recounted what she had heard. You see, men go to her establishment and, under the influence of drink and a welcoming female, they will say things they never would in the light of day. If any of those men found out that she tells their tales her life would be in danger. A man with interest in harming the Crown would think nothing of slitting the throat of a woman who provides her services or any of the girls that work there for that matter.’
‘But I smelled her on you that day. You cannot deny that.’
‘She has an eye for fashionable clothes and admires my taste. In her profession she is accustomed to touching men. Her perfume might have rubbed off on me when she touched my coat or played with my cravat when she takes note of a new way to tie it. Over the years she has refused to give her information to anyone but me.’ He rubbed his hand on his trousers. ‘Know this—from the time I have courted you, I have never been intimate with another woman.’
‘I wish I could believe you.’
The fact that she was listening to him gave him hope. ‘I speak the truth, Olivia. My desire for other women stopped the moment I set eyes on you. I never strayed from our marriage vows. But my people like Madame LaGrange put their trust in me to keep their identities secret. Should I have told you and she had been killed, I somehow would have found a way to blame myself and maybe even you.’ He searched her gaze. ‘I never meant to hurt you, Livy. I am so sorry.’
She glared at him with angry reproachful eyes and stormed across the room, stopping in front of him. Her hands were balled into fists and he braced himself.
‘For years I hated you. Years! So many times I wanted to burn the letters you wrote to me. For years I wanted to sell the jewellery you had given me. And for years I wanted to remove every scrap and shred that reminded me of a time I thought you cared for me.’ She looked like she was fighting the urge to kick him. ‘You let me believe all those lies. You let me hate you.’
‘I had no choice.’
‘But I loved you...’ It came out as the faintest whisper as tears rimmed her eyes.
He closed the distance between them and with his one good arm he pulled her gently to him. She rested her head lightly against his left shoulder and he held her there, never wanting to let her go.
‘It has always been you, Livy. I’ve never wanted anyone else.’
‘Say it again.’
He looked down into her watery eyes. ‘There never has or ever will be another woman for me. I have wanted only you from the moment I saw you dancing with Lyonsdale and nothing and no one will ever change how I feel about you.’
She let out a small choked sob.
‘Dear God, I didn’t mean to make you cry. Please, Livy, don’t cry.’ He was pleading with her. She was the only one in the world he would lower himself to beg. Looking into her eyes, he no longer saw anger. There was something else.
‘Will you stay? I couldn’t bear it if you left me,’ he said.
‘Will you promise to always be honest with me?’
‘I will. I love you, Livy, with all my heart and all that I am, I love you.’
‘And I love you. I always have.’
He had been so afraid he would never convince her to stay. Leaning closer, he kissed her. It was a soft, gentle kiss because he was afraid she would disappear before his eyes. They would start over again and this time nothing would tear them apart.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Waking up next to his wife placed Gabriel in an exceptional mood, in spite of being shot. The morning light filtered through the window of his bedchamber, casting a warm glow on Olivia’s bare back. The soft, white sheet skimmed the top of her enticing backside as she slept on her stomach next to him. Her breathing was deep and steady, telling him she was sound asleep, which allowed him to look his fill.
Unable to resist, he skimmed the fingers of his left hand over her bottom. Her low groan made him chuckle.
‘I pray you, I can no longer feel my legs,’ Olivia mumbled into her pillow.
‘I am simply touching you.’
She turned he
r sleepy head towards him and opened one eye. ‘That was what you said last night when you somehow coaxed me to straddle you.’
‘My injury prevented me from using any other position. In addition, I do not recall you complaining at the time.’
‘I was being polite.’
Gabriel laughed. ‘My love, last night you were everything but polite.’
‘If I could move, I would smother you with this pillow. How is your shoulder?’
Thank goodness the dressing was still intact. ‘Sore, but there is no blood on the bandage. That is a good indication all is well.’
She rolled onto her side, pulling the sheet up. ‘You seem pleased with yourself.’
‘I have a confession. I’m more pleased with you. I had forgotten that thing you are able to do with your tongue when you—’
‘Yes, yes, well, we don’t need to have such details this early in the morning.’
‘You’re becoming flushed.’
‘No, I’m not.’
‘Yes, you are. Let’s suppose we find out how far that lovely colour travels.’
Her bare shoulders were much too tempting and the need to taste her was too great. Gabriel kissed her soft skin, trailing his tongue in circles. Within seconds he was hard.
He needed to sink into her and remind himself she would be at his side till the end of his days. Coaxing her to straddle him yet again, he claimed her lips with a searing kiss.
Yes, waking up beside his wife had its advantages.
‘Tell me that you want me inside you,’ he groaned against her mouth.
The crash by the door made them jump. There in the doorway, Hodges stood frozen in place with the remains of a coffee cup at his feet.
Olivia scrambled off Gabriel and took a good portion of the blanket with her.
‘Does no one bloody knock in this house?’ bellowed Gabriel. ‘We have a new rule. No one enters any room without knocking first!’
‘I...I...I did not know. Your injury...I assumed...’
Gabriel counted to five. ‘Hodges, I think it best if you left Her Grace and me alone now.’
UNCOMMON DUKE, AN Page 23
