And Nora tucked her head before he could witness her indignation. She made sure her expression was clear when she lifted her chin and smiled. “Yes, every room I’ve seen thus far is a masterpiece in itself.” She’d spent years hiding her true emotions, especially at parties where Meri was in attendance. So far, she hadn’t seen her brother tonight and was grateful for that.
She swallowed down her hate as she held Lord Gregory’s eyes for another moment. All the while, her hand caressed her gun through the skirt. She wouldn’t take it out in such a crowd, but it felt good to have.
He studied her for a while longer and then relaxed. “Perhaps I can show you the other common rooms. I have extensive knowledge about the home’s construct and all the art it contains.”
Was he trying to get her alone? Perhaps she’d grown more suspicious as of late, but suspicion had kept her alive. “Perhaps another time.”
“Shall I go and get you something to drink?”
She would never drink anything this man gave her. “Thank you. That would be kind.” The moment he turned away, she set out for Lady Christina. If she were lucky, she would be able to deliver her message, find Garrick, and leave before Lord Gregory could find her.
She had not enjoyed having the man’s eyes on her. Where she’d sensed darkness in Garrick, there was something foul about Lord Van Dero’s son. Perhaps she was being unfair and blaming the son for the acts of the father, but she couldn’t help but do so. There was something not right about Lord Gregory.
Luck was on her side, because Lady Christina excused herself and began to leave the room. Nora followed the lady into the hall and before she could think better of her actions, she shouted, “Lady Christina.”
The woman turned around, narrowed her eyes, but then smiled. “Oh, Lady Honora. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.” She approached Nora. Her expression was kind and warm. “Your brother speaks of you often. It is strange that we’ve never met before. You may very well be his favorite person in the world.”
Nora’s mouth parted, ready to reveal her brother’s deviousness, but the words wouldn’t come. Was she truly Meri’s favorite person in the world? Maybe she’d done wrong by her brother. Perhaps instead of ruining his life, she should be trying to help him.
But how? She’d confronted Meri about what he’d done a hundred times, but he wouldn’t admit it, not in any straightforward manner. He wouldn’t get help. He didn’t want help. He simply wished to continue hurting people, women with blond hair as bright at Christina’s. As bright as their mother’s. “It is wonderful to meet you, my lady. Is my brother here?”
“Not tonight,” she said. “He apologized for being unable to attend. He’s at his club.” The words let Nora know that the two were very serious.
“You’re very beautiful,” Nora said. Once Lady Christina thanked her, she added, “Has anyone told you that look like my mother?”
Her smile lost some of its liveliness. “A few, but usually I am told that I look like you, especially when I am standing by your brother.” She forced a laugh. “I am honored to look like the women Meri adores.”
Nora stared at her and could see the similarities in them, she supposed.
“But, it makes you uncomfortable, I imagine,” Nora said, helping the woman along. “To be compared to my mother.”
Christina nodded. “Yes, it does.”
“My brother was very fond of my mother,” Nora said as she worked her words around in her mind. “They were very close. He spent all his time with her. It was only when she sent him away that I ever saw him at all.” And that was when Meri would hurt her friends. It could not be a coincidence that her friends were only ever hurt when Meri played hide and seek with them.
Christina nodded. Her smile was barely hanging onto her lips. “Yes, he speaks of his mother often as well. He…” Her color rose, and she looked away.
“Loved her?”
She looked at Nora and nodded. “Greatly. He misses her.” Her brows pinched with pain. Pain for Meri.
Nora sighed. “I miss my mother as well, but Meri was closer. Tell me,” she moved closer, “is my brother one of the people who compare you to Mama?” She wanted to scare the woman away, but she didn’t want Meri to suspect she’d done it on purpose.
But it was too late. Christina paled. “Sometimes,” she whispered. “Sometimes he…” She pressed her lips together.
But Nora needed to know. She took Christina’s arm and said, “Come this way.” She led the woman through the house and into the garden that had been lit for those who wished to breathe in the crisp air.
She took Christina down a less occupied path and said, “What does my brother do that makes you uncomfortable?”
“Nothing.” Christina’s voice was light again. She laughed, and again, it was forced. “Meri is wonderful to me. We’ll soon be engaged. We’re only waiting for my father to return from Paris. Once Meri asks for my hand, it will be done.”
Nora stopped and turned to her. “My lady, I sense you have true feelings for my brother, but… if there is anything in you that warns you against this match, do not ignore it.” Nora could hear Christina’s every breath in the dark.
Christina narrowed her eyes. “Is there something I should know about your brother, Lady Honora? Because, if not, then I shall marry him.”
It was as though she were giving Nora all the say on the match. Christina clearly didn’t wish to be the one to make the choice, but what was also clear was Christina’s need for a reason to walk away.
Nora wasn’t sure what all she should say. Then, she knew she had no choice. “My brother likes blondes, Lady Christina. In fact, he has always had an affinity for them. In the past, he has hurt them.”
Christina gasped and shook. “Did anyone call the authorities?”
“He was young when it started and no could put it together until I did. Neither the authorities nor my parents believed me. My lady, please, stay away from my brother. End the match as quickly as possible and when you do, please, don’t tell him anything I told you.”
“No.” She touched her throat. “I wouldn’t want to anger him.” Her eyes twitched slightly.
Nora stared closely at the woman. “Has he hurt you before?”
“By accident. Always by accident.”
So more than once.
Christina took a breath, but it was choked with a sob. “Oh, I can’t believe I almost—”
Nora grabbed her arms. “My lady, you must calm yourself.”
“I almost married a monster.” She broke from Nora’s hold. She was angry, but Nora could sense her pain. “I won’t mention you when I end the courtship. Thank you for warning me.” She rushed away then, and Nora was forced to take the path on her own.
Or at least she’d thought herself to be alone until someone in the shadows reached out and grabbed her.
∫ ∫ ∫
3 9
* * *
Garrick stiffened as hard metal touched his chest. He kept his hand on Nora’s arm and glanced down at the gun between them, before meeting her wild eyes again.
She shook and then she lowered her weapon. “Oh! Garrick, you scared me.”
He watched as she returned the gun to her skirts. The shadows only left half of her movements visible. No one had seen her gun but Garrick since he was right on her. When she was done, she looked up at him again. This time, there was a wariness in her gaze.
His hand still on her arm, he ushered her back into the light of the terrace.
“You won’t take it from me, will you?” she asked.
“No.” He didn’t stop as they continued through the house and toward the front door to collect her shawl and his hat.
“Are you angry with me?”
“No.”
They left the house without speaking to their host.
“Will you tell me what you are thinking?” she asked once they were in the carriage.
In the lamplight he signed, “Do you know how to use it?”
“No, not really. I have no intentions of shooting anyone. I only bought it to scare away anyone who meant to hurt me.”
“You’d do better with a knife and training. If someone gets as close to you as I did, they can take the gun and kill you with ease.”
Her face blanched. “I didn’t think of that.”
Why would she have? It was not something ladies of good breeding should have to think about.
“Clive is better with knives, but I will train you.”
“You will?”
“Yes.”
She scoffed and crossed her arms before she narrowed her gaze. “How wonderful. We’re in this trouble over this gun and now you’re telling me it won’t serve my purpose.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I was in Covent Garden that night so that I could purchase the gun.” She pulled out the weapon and placed it on her lap. “I suspected someone was watching me, and Lucy and Kent believed me to be without a great amount of money, so there was no way I could walk into a normal shop.”
The double-barrel pistol was a rather expensive weapon. It would have raised a few brows if she’d suddenly had the means to buy it. As for the man watching her, she’d been correct on her assumption. She sighed. “Then, the next morning, Ebba saw it, took it from me, and threatened to tell Lucy unless I earned it back.”
He nodded in understanding. “The kiss.” She regretted it. She regretted everything, including becoming his wife.
“Yes.” She sighed and smiled sadly. “I’m sorry. I hate that I’ve inconvenienced you and all for nothing.”
Inconvenience?
He wanted to refute the words.
There was no sign for ‘inconvenience’, and it was far too long a word to sign every letter. Did he tell her that he wasn’t embarrassed by her? That she hadn’t caused him too great an amount of trouble? Nothing sounded right. This was one of those moments when Garrick’s anger rose like fire, barely a spark before it grew to a strength that burned down entire villages in minutes.
“If only I had known before,” she went on. Then she laughed, but there was disquiet in her eyes. “I’ve likely caused you nothing but trouble these last few weeks and all for this.” She pointed at the gun. “I’ve disrupted your life, taken your status as a bachelor from you. It must be quite vexing when you think about it?”
“No,” he growled.
“No?”
He moved to sit beside her. “You’re no trouble.”
“Garrick, it’s all right. It was unexpected for both of us.”
“Not entirely.”
She tilted her chin up. “What do you mean?”
“I knew my cousin was up to something, I just didn’t know what.”
She nodded slowly. “Yes, I did as well. You know, when she first took the gun, marriage was her price, but eventually, she had mercy and said all I had to do is kiss you in order to earn my pistol. I should have known Ebba would get what she wanted in the end, and all so she would be Lady Macbeth.”
They were silent for a while. Though they’d been all but forced to wed, Garrick thought they were doing rather well thus far. He enjoyed her in and out of bed. He’d never thought to have companionship.
“Perhaps, Clive should teach me,” she said quietly. “You said he was better. You…”
He put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. She may regret their marriage all she wished, but that would not stop her from being his. “No.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’d have to be close to you.”
She narrowed her eyes. “And you don’t want him getting close to me?”
Was she mad? “I’d hurt anyone who touched you.”
“Surely, not anyone,” she asked,
He said nothing more, simply stared at her.
Nora blew out a breath and looked away. “Well, I can’t have you hurting your friends over me. It’s best I don’t ruin anything else in your life.”
He turned her chin back to him. “You r-ruin nothing.” Though he feared what could happen to her when he wasn’t at her side, so far he was very pleased with how his life was changing. He liked Nora. He adored Miriam. He was filling fuller than he had in years.
And he planned to keep it that way.
His talk with Van Dero had been rather uneventful. The duke said he’d invited Garrick as a peace offering. He’d thought his wife’s wish to be put on the guest list had come from Garrick. Garrick had made it clear that the only thing he wanted was the final name.
He’d asked about Gregory again to Van Dero’s great disappointment and once again, the father had defended the son.
The carriage stopped in front of their townhouse and Garrick walked Nora inside but stopped at the stairs.
Nora turned to him. “Aren’t you coming?”
He shook his head. He had to go to the brothel. He needed to find a way to get out of his agreement with Luke, though for the last two nights, Luke had not been there. Garrick thought it odd since Luke was there every night.
Mrs. Leeland was just days away from asking for her husband again. Garrick could see her breaking. She’d nearly crumbled at the sight of Garrick’s wedding ring. She wanted her husband. It was her pride that kept her from admitting it.
“I have business to attend to.”
“Don’t go.” Nora grabbed his hand. Her eyes flashed with panic. “Stay.”
He narrowed his eyes. Was she scared to be here alone? “Are you scared?”
“No, I just want you here.”
He shook his head and took his hand back. “I must go.”
She grabbed his cheeks, stood on her toes, and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Stay.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist and was hard before her soft body crashed into his.
Her fingers played in his hair. Her eyes darkened. “Stay.”
He nodded. He had no choice. He’d talk to Mrs. Leeland tomorrow or next week. He wasn’t sure. His mind had already emptied of anything that wasn’t Nora.
Had he known there could be such happiness for him with her, he’d have married her years ago.
He picked her up and carried her up the stairs. He would stay with her until the end of time.
∫ ∫ ∫
4 0
* * *
Nora’s head felt light as she slowly opened her eyes. She was in Garrick’s bed. She tried to move, and the pain that shot through her made her gasp.
Garrick grabbed for her and turned her toward him. He was up on an elbow. He was concerned, but it was hard to concentrate when his chest was bare. The rest of him was covered with the sheet.
Instinctively, she reached out and covered her own body, yet even that small move made her gasp again.
She’d been too zealous last night. She’d pushed herself beyond her natural limits, especially considering what they’d done yesterday afternoon. She’d been foolish because now she wouldn’t be able to handle Garrick at all. Where would he go tonight to fulfill his needs when she turned him away?
She’d have to push through the pain, she decided. Whatever it took.
He cupped her chin. “You’re hurt.”
She nodded. She was in pain, yet his words— deeper with sleep— sent tingling to her taxed and swollen places. Her mind and body were clearly in disagreement with what was best for her at the moment. “I’m fine.” But she’d take her breakfast on a tray. She didn’t see herself venturing downstairs at all today.
Garrick narrowed his eyes and dropped his hand. “We did too much yesterday. Your body is not used to me.”
Her cheeks heated, and she smiled. “I’ll get used to you.”
He grinned, bent, and kissed her gently. Then he pulled away. “Another day. Today, you rest.”
Fear struck her. “No.” She reached out and took his arm. “I can do it… if you want to.” She prayed he didn’t.
He tilted her head and studied her. “No. You will rest today.”
She let him go and fell agai
nst the pillow. She’d lost her husband already.
It had been a pointless fight. He was younger. More virile. More… everything.
He got out of bed and rang the bell for a maid as he dressed.
Nora didn’t look at him. Failure made her eyes burn.
He went and opened the door to allow the maid in. She came with another, and they set out trays of food on the table by the window. When had he ordered it to be brought up? He must have been awake for some time.
When the maids left, Nora sat up but wasn’t sure if she could make it to the table.
Garrick came over and picked her up, sheets and all, and carried her toward the food. She smiled softly as she wrapped her arms around his neck and was surprised when he didn’t settle her in the chair across from him. Instead, he sat with her on his lap so that she was on her side, able to see the food and him.
The day was gray, yet she was not made sad by the clouds that filled the sky for endless miles. Garrick’s eyes were striking against the gray, a vibrant blue that the sky wished to intimidate.
Nora reached out to pour them tea, but Garrick took her hands and placed them on her lap. Then he reached out, made her tea the way she preferred, and held it to her lips.
She laughed. “Garrick, what are you doing?”
“Open,” he commanded.
“I’m not a child.” She turned away.
He pulled the cup away. The moment she faced him again, his mouth pulled her into a wet kiss that struck her tender core. She was breathless when he broke the kiss.
“I know,” he whispered.
When her mind righted itself, she caught his eyes and understood his meaning.
He wasn’t treating her like a child. He was treating her like a woman and one he cared for. The last made her heart flutter. She lowered her lashes to force back the emotion and tears that tried to come forth. No one had ever taken care of her like this.
When he offered her the cup again, she took it and then touched his hand when she was finished.
He continued their pleasant and quiet meal in the same manner, him offering something up to her mouth and her accepting it. Their eyes rarely strayed from either other. Smiles rarely left their faces, and Nora could almost believe them in love.
Wounds of A Viscount: (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) Page 20
