Two Shades of Seduction

by Monica Burns

  He’d always claimed his reason for denying her another season had been his inability to pay for it, but Sophie had quickly seen through the lie. The sudden death of her father’s long-time accountant and her failed season had coincided too easily for her to think her father hadn’t taken advantage of the situation. It became even more clear when she’s actually grasped the extent of her father’s holdings.

  Blindly, Sophie tugged off her gray gloves then dropped them on her dressing table. She bent her head slightly and removed the hatpins from her hair before piercing the hat’s stiff wool with the pins. The hat landed next to her gloves. She frowned as she realized more than twenty years had passed, since she’d taken on the role of her father’s bookkeeper.

  Now she was about to escape the pain of her current life. She was to be married. Her heart sank. Once before she’d thought she would marry, but her father had destroyed that chance. If he discovered her plans to marry Devlyn, he would prevent this marriage as well, and not without painful consequences. Determination swelled inside her. No. Not this time. She wouldn’t let her father discover her plan until it was too late. A knock on her door made Sophie jump nervously with guilt.

  With a slight tremor of fear, she crossed the floor to open her bedroom door. The sight of Spencer standing in the doorway made her shoulders sag in relief. She’d not really expected her father to be on the other side of the door. He would have sent a servant to fetch her. Still, it hadn’t lessened her guilt or fear.

  “You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Phee,” her brother said with concern.

  “It’s your face,” she lied, hoping her brother wouldn’t realize she was lying. Gently, she tilted his chin with her fingers. “This is much worse than when I saw you earlier. Have you had Mrs. Hobarth look at it?”

  “Yes, she made me put a cold slab of beef on it earlier,” he said with a grimace of disgust as he strode into the room and walked toward her bed.

  Although they had different mothers, she could not love him more if he were her real brother. It had been more than a year since his last visit to Townsend Hall, and she’d missed him. As she watched Spencer plop down onto the mattress, he reminded her of the little boy who’d always found his way to her room after being punished by their father. The baron had never dealt as harshly with Spencer as he had with Sophie, but their father’s cruelty had still left its mark on her much younger brother.

  “The blood from the damn piece of beef ruined my new coat.”

  “From what I could tell, your coat was ruined before you entered the house,” she said with a wry laugh as she recalled Devlyn’s appearance a short time after her brother’s brawl with the earl.

  Despite his missing coat, Devlyn had seemed to have emerged from the fight unscathed. The memory of the Earl minus his coat sent a wave of heat streaking through her. Devlyn’s relaxed state of undress had made it easier to discern the powerful muscles and heat through his white linen shirt when he held her close.

  Sophie tried to ignore the way her pulse quickened at the memory. It was more than possible the earl’s coat had been damaged in the brawl. Although something made her think any damage to Devlyn’s coat had been minor. Yet Spencer, despite the bruise on his face, seemed little the worse for wear. Had the Earl restrained himself from doing more damage to Spencer than he could have? She eyed her brother with amusement.

  “I’m wondering how well the Earl fared.”

  “I managed to land a few blows that no doubt will leave the man sore enough.”

  “I’m sure you did.” She laughed knowing better. The Earl had indicated no sign of pain when he’d pulled her into his arm. A frisson of heat skimmed across her skin at the memory.

  “It’s not funny, Phee.” Her brother glared at her, and she arched her eyebrows at him. With a snort of disgust, Spencer shrugged. “All right, don’t tell Father, but Devlyn is an excellent pugilist. He beat me fair and square.”

  There was something close to admiration in her brother’s voice, and it didn’t surprise her. Like her brother, she’d been surprised by the Earl as well. The man her father had ruined had not been what she’d expected either.

  “I take that to mean the Earl remained unscratched? Sophie bit back a smile as her brother glared at her.

  “Not completely, but the few blows I landed were well worth the effort.”

  “Fighting has never solved anything. It’s unacceptable behavior,” she chastised him in a quiet voice.

  “Not when it comes to protecting the honor of one of my sisters it isn’t.”

  Spencer’s emphatic declaration made Sophie look away from him to hide her anger. She’d never shared Eleanor’s shameful, scandalous behavior with Spencer, so her brother’s loyalty was understandable.

  “I think you judge the Earl too harshly, Spencer,” she said. The conviction in her voice made her brother direct an irritated frown in her direction.

  “Not harsh enough.”

  Sophie scowled back at Spencer. There was little love lost between Sophie and her much younger stepsister, but she knew her brother loved Eleanor. Even if Eleanor had never seen the back of their father’s hand, she knew Spencer had always felt helpless as a child when their father had beaten Sophie. It had instilled in him the desire to protect those he loved. His affection might be greater for Sophie, but she understood his need to protect both of his sisters.

  But Spencer had been away at Eton when their father had destroyed Devlyn financially. Sophie had no doubt her brother’s perceptions would have been much more different if he’d been at Townsend Hall. Based on nothing but Eleanor’s word that the earl had been the one to ruin her for any other man, Baron Townsend had made it his mission to financially destroy the Earl. Her father had stolen Devlyn’s money through underhanded dealings and crushed the Earl’s financial reputation.

  But Sophie had known Eleanor was lying. Devlyn and Eleanor had not even met before Sophie had gone to London to visit her mother’s sick aunt. Her stepsister had been ruined long before that. Even if Devlyn had not been the first to lay with Eleanor, something deep inside Sophie told her the Earl would not have shirked his responsibility to protect Eleanor’s reputation. Despite the short time she’d spent in the Earl’s presence, Devlyn had revealed himself to be an honorable man. He’d been the one to think of Sophie’s reputation by creating the image of a quick courtship.

  “Are you listening to me, Phee?”

  “What?” Startled, she realized her thoughts had made her deaf to her brother’s words.

  “I said, what in God’s name would make you even think somewhat kindly about that bastard, Devlyn.”

  “Because there are always two sides to every story. I know Father far too well to believe the Earl is solely to blame for what transpired between him and Eleanor.” The acerbic tone of her voice made Spencer wince.

  “I’m sorry Phee, I know you’re right. And I know Eleanor has many faults. But Devlyn failed to do right by her. He ruined her and refused to make things right.” Spencer’s words aroused the urge to come to Devlyn’s defense, but she didn’t.

  “None of that excuses your behavior.” she said without emotion.

  Sophie experienced a strong desire to tell Spencer the truth. Just as she owed no allegiance to her father, she owed no loyalty to Eleanor. But, if she told the truth, it would destroy Spencer’s illusions about Eleanor completely. She didn’t want to be the one to do that. It made it even harder to explain why her brother’s behavior appalled her so deeply. Spencer and Eleanor’s mother had died when they were both young, and Sophie had raised him. Eleanor, who was older, had resented Sophie’s attempt to offer guidance.

  Instead, her stepsister had sought the ear of their father and had sealed her ability to do as she pleased. The one contradictory thing about her father had been the love he’d carried for his second wife. It was why he’d spoiled Eleanor so terribly. A virtual copy of her mother, Eleanor had been a constant reminder of his beloved wife, while Sophie had served only as a rem
inder that his first wife had betrayed him.

  “I know I’ve let you down, Phee, but the family’s honor had to be avenged.” A chastened look swept across his face before he grimaced. “How they kept the truth from Andrew is a miracle. The man would never have had her if he’d known the truth.”

  A harsh, caustic laugh stuck in Sophie’s throat. Their father had ruined the Earl based on nothing but Eleanor’s word, while at the same time obliterating any hope of Sophie’s own happiness. Other than the few obscure details Sophie had shared in her letters, most of Spencer’s knowledge about the entire incident had come from the letters Eleanor had sent their brother. Based on her brother’s comments, it was obvious Eleanor’s explanation of events had been well-fabricated lies.

  Lying was something her stepsister excelled at. It was how Eleanor had convinced their father that the Earl, not a stable hand, was the one to ruin her. Once Eleanor had convinced their father of Devlyn’s guilt, it had been only one more step to convince the baron to destroy not just the Earl, but Sophie’s chance of happiness as well. Their father had made Eleanor’s dowry three times Sophie’s in his efforts to persuade Andrew to abandon Sophie and marry her stepsister.

  While Andrew’s desertion had stung, her father’s betrayal had been the cruelest she’d ever known. Even his physical abuse had not been as painful as his savage destruction of every last bit of hope she’d possessed. Her desire to strike out and hurt her father as badly as he’d hurt her had prompted her to begin keeping a duplicate record of his illicit financial transactions. In the beginning, she’d done it with the intent to destroy her father, much in the same way he’d destroyed her.

  But over time, despair and fury had given way to resignation. While she’d been given no choice but to be her father’s partner in crime, the private records she kept helped to ease the guilt weighing on her shoulders. Eventually, the second bound ledger had even come to represent hope. Deep inside she’d known those hopes were futile, but the green, cloth-bound ledgers had nurtured the idea she would one day use the information to escape her father’s brutal tyranny. Her hand instinctively rose to touch her cheek at the fleeting memory of the baron’s physical blows.

  “Phee, you really do look unwell.” The concern in Spencer’s voice made her shake her head.

  “I’m simply tired. Augustus was more contentious than usual today,” she said as she grasped at the first excuse she could think of. Another lie. Her agreement with Devlyn seemed to have taught her the ability to speak falsehoods without hesitation.

  “Blast it, Phee. You shouldn’t be riding that stallion. He’s dangerous.” Spencer glared at her. “I wish Father would sell the bloody animal.”

  “It would not be difficult to convince Father to do so,” she snapped. “Simply tell him Augustus is my favorite horse in the stable. The horse will be gone within the week.”

  Sophie didn’t bother to keep her bitterness locked away. Remorse twisted her brother’s features into a frown of regret.

  “You know I wouldn’t say anything, Phee.”

  “I know,” she said with a sigh. “But we both know Father would do that very thing if he knew how much I loved Augustus. I only wish he didn’t hate me so.”

  “He doesn’t hate you Phee.”

  “No?” The incredulity in her voice made Spencer look away from her in uncomfortable silence as she stared at his profile in disbelief. “We both know why he loathes the sight of me.”

  “He’s never said it Phee,” Spencer said firmly as he looked back at her.

  Even now, her brother found it difficult to believe she was a bastard child. Several days before he’d left for Eton, her brother had found her crying with her mother’s locket in her hands. Without great difficulty, he’d pulled the truth from her, but he’d always had trouble believing her story. She shook her head.

  “Not to you, he hasn’t. But I know I’m a constant reminder of my mother’s infidelity. I am not his child, and he can never forgive that,” she said quietly as she thought of the locket hidden away in the dark recesses of her chifforobe. “Father has always been a tyrant, but at least your mother produced an heir and a daughter that looked exactly like his wife. I’m the bastard he’s forced to accept rather than have society know he was cuckold by his first wife.”

  Sophie flinched as she remembered the one and only time her father had ever admitted she wasn’t of his loins. The baron had been furious with her over a miscalculation in his books, and he’d lashed out in the cruelest way possible. Her father’s brutally hateful words had clarified everything for Sophie. It explained his antipathy for her and why her features were undeniably the same as the man’s portrait inside a locket her mother had given her. All of it had come together in one moment of sharp, agonizing clarity. She pushed her thoughts aside as she met Spencer’s worried gaze.

  “It doesn’t matter,” she said with a shrug. “I don’t intend to…”

  Sophie stopped speaking as she realized she’d almost revealed her secret. She trusted Spencer with her life, but he despised Devlyn. It her brother learned she was to marry the Earl, he might tell their father simply out of love and concern for her well-being.

  “What, Phee?”

  “Nothing.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “I was simply…” Once again, her voice faded away as she frantically tried to think of an answer with which to appease her brother. “I’ve been keeping a second set of Father’s business transactions.”

  The moment the words slipped from her mouth, Sophie suppressed a groan of dismay. What was she thinking? Now Spencer would be even more determined to learn her secret.

  “Why in god’s name would you do that?” Slowly rising from the bed, her brother eyed her with displeasure.

  “Because he’s been cheating his customers and shareholders for years.”

  “I don’t believe you.” Spencer exclaimed with disbelief.

  “Shall I show you the proof?” she snapped, angered at the thought her brother would think her a liar. But wasn’t she? Hadn’t she already lied to him more than once today?

  “No,” he said with a grimace of resignation. “I’ve suspected something like this for a long time. I just didn’t want to think it could be true.”

  “I’m sorry, Spencer. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “No, you were right to do so. If something happens to Father…wait, you said you were keeping a second set of books.” A frown darkened her younger brother’s face.

  “Yes,” she said with a quiet nod.

  “Do you mean to tell me you’ve been keeping a separate record of Father’s books without the falsified lines?” Spencer asked in a grim voice. Sophie nodded again, and his face paled. “Have you gone mad, Sophie?”

  “I’ve been very cautious,” she said defiantly. “If he’s not discovered my secret in the last five years, it is unlikely he will now.”

  “Five…sweet Jesus,” Spencer rasped. “Now I know you’re mad. What in god’s name would make you do such a thing? Father will…Christ almighty, Phee, he’s apt to hurt you badly this time.”

  The manner in which Spencer’s voice dropped to an ominous whisper made Sophie’s throat close with trepidation. Spencer was right. The last time her father had beaten her, she’d not been able to stand for almost a week. If he discovered her treachery…no, she would be even more cautious now that she had a way to escape this house. She took a quick step forward to grab her brother’s hands.

  “It’s only for a few more days. I promise I will be very careful, and you must guard your tongue well or Father will suspect something.”

  “Fuck. You know me better than that,” Spencer bit out fiercely. Sophie frowned with disapproval at the coarseness of his speech, and a grimace tugged at his mouth. “Forgive me, Phee, but I’m afraid for your safety. Exactly what are you planning to do?”

  “I cannot tell you,” she said. When he appeared ready to argue, she shook her head with vigorous determination. “I ask
you to trust me on this, Spencer. I know what I’m doing.”

  The conviction in her voice changed her brother’s expression from adamant protest to reluctant acceptance. She understood his fear for her safety. She’d lived with that fear for more than five years. But she had no intention of abandoning the path she’d chosen to follow this morning.

  Her father’s destruction of her happiness and his deliberate ruination of Devlyn had been a turning point in her life. It didn’t matter that she was a reluctant participant in the Earl’s destruction. The fact remained that she was the one who kept her father’s books and had not possessed the courage to prevent Devlyn’s downfall. It made her just as guilty as her father.

  “Why did you do it, Phee? Why would you take such a risk?”

  “Because Father bribed Andrew into marrying Eleanor,” she said in a pained voice. “Andrew had been courting me, but when Eleanor—.”

  “Andrew was courting you?” Spencer exclaimed as he stared at her in amazement. “Eleanor said he’d been quite persistent in his determination to marry her.”

  “Father persuaded Andrew to marry Eleanor with a dowry three times the size of mine,” Sophie said tightly as she remembered her father’s cold announcement that Andrew had offered for Eleanor.

  “I’m sorry, Phee.” The sorrow in her brother’s simple statement made Sophie squeeze his hands before she glanced at the mantle clock.

  “It’s almost time for lunch, and I need to change. Father will be furious if we’re late.”

  “Very well. I’ll see you downstairs,” Spencer said as he kissed her cheek then left her alone.

  As the door closed behind her brother, Sophie quickly slipped out of her riding habit. If her father learned Spencer had previous knowledge of her impending betrayal, her brother would suffer the consequences. She gritted her teeth in determination. She had no intention of her father finding out about her betrayal until it was too late for him to do anything about it.

  If Spencer hadn’t come home this morning in a disheveled state and announced Devlyn’s return, Sophie’s outlandish idea would never have occurred to her while on her morning ride. It was only when the keep had come into view that the idea of how to stop her father had occurred to her.