Seduced By A Devil

by Vella, Wendy

  “Thank you. I’m not sure who would deliver a note here for me.” She took the paper and stared at it. Unease trickled down her spine as she opened it.

  Miss Brown, there have been developments. If you will call upon us at your earliest convenience.

  It was signed Warwick Sinclair.

  “Not bad news, I hope?”

  “No. Thank you, Your Grace, all is well. Did you enjoy your day?”

  “I did and had no less than ten people comment on my dress.”

  “Out of pity, I’m sure, Your Grace,” Dimity tsked. “That is a horrid color on you.”

  “I happen to like this shade!”

  “It hurts my eyes,” Dimity said, looking at her employer. The dress was made of some stiff fabric that sat off the duchess’s body. The bonnet she’d chosen to wear with it had been black with an array of things sticking out of it, and her slippers were in matching pink.

  “Then don’t look!”

  “I know you deliberately like to annoy people, but surely a compliment that is genuinely offered is better than a lie?”

  The duchess chuckled. “But where would the fun be in that? I like to see who can come up with the most inventive compliment.”

  “You are a wicked woman,” Dimity said as Walter wandered over to lean on the duchess. Romulus followed.

  She liked it here, there was no getting around the fact. She liked her employer’s gruffness, and the way she spoke what she thought. Of course, her title allowed her to do so, but still, there was no subterfuge with this woman. Plus, she loved Walter.

  You never knew she was being kind or generous unless you knew where to look. It was there in the small tilt of her head and softening around her mouth.

  “Thank you. That is indeed a compliment, Dimity. And now I have a question for you.”

  “I can hardly wait.”

  “You have a smart mouth.”

  “One of my finer qualities, as you often tell me,” Dimity added. The duchess loved to banter and insult.

  “I do, because you remind me of the young woman I was.”

  “Thank you. That is a compliment I will take,” Dimity said.

  “I was quite the sensation when I entered society, you know. I was beautiful, wealthy, and spoke my mind. I was a breath of fresh air among all those simpering debutantes.”

  “Was it wonderful? Entering the ballroom for the first time, I mean. Were you nervous or excited?” Dimity asked.

  “Both. I walked in on my father’s arm, and everyone looked at me. He was a handsome man.”

  “I have seen his portrait; he was very handsome.”

  “He was a wonderful man. Now, I want to ask you a question.”

  “Very well,” Dimity said.

  “I’ve never asked about your life before coming to me. I know you worked for the Earl of Raine, but little else.”

  “There is little to tell, Your Grace. My father was a piano teacher. My mother died when I was young, and I have no recollection of her.”

  The duchess looked at her with steady eyes.

  “Did you like working for Raine?”

  “I liked his sister,” Dimity said, wondering where this line of questioning was going.

  “He is a good man.”

  She nodded, her heart suddenly thudding hard inside her chest.

  “But then so is Mr. Diard.”

  “I’m not sure why you are saying these things, Your Grace.”

  “Lord Raine cares for you, I see it in his eyes. But he is an earl, and there can never be anything between you unless he wishes to turn his back on society.”

  “And I repeat, why are you saying these things to me?”

  “Mr. Diard is a good man and would make an excellent match for you.”

  Dimity didn’t speak.

  “I think you should marry him.”

  “And leave you?” Dimity managed to get out around the lump in her throat. The duchess was merely saying what she already knew. She could never marry Gabriel Deville.

  “I fear you have feelings for Lord Raine, girl, and I need you to know nothing could ever come of them.” The duchess reached over and patted her hand. “So take Diard’s offer. I shall be sad to see you go, but it would be for the best. You would not want the earl or his family to face social ruin.”

  “I have no feelings for him, Your Grace. I was merely working with his sister. I assure you that I speak the truth,” Dimity lied. “And I will consider Mr. Diard’s suit if and when he offers for me.”

  The duchess smiled. “I am pleased with your words, even if they are not the truth.”

  “They are the truth,” Dimity said in a steady voice.

  “No. They’re not. But Raine will marry a woman of noble birth, as he should. Now, I wish for you to read to me.”

  Dimity picked up the book and forced a smile onto her face. She would not show that her heart was aching and that one day soon she would leave the man she loved and never see him again.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Gabe studied the boy standing in his kitchen doorway. A big lad, with a dirty face and look of hunger that so many about the streets of London had.

  “I was told to give you this.” He held out a note which Gabe took.

  Unfolding the paper, he read the words.

  I have something you hold dear, Raine. It would behoove you to find me with some expediency so we may finish what lies between us. It was signed, Ombrage.

  “Pay the boy,” he rasped, then ran through the kitchens and back up the stairs with Fairfax on his heels.

  “My lord, is all well?” Hogan was coming down.

  “Do you ride, Hogan?”

  “I do, my lord.”

  “I need you to get to my sister’s house as fast as you can. Take a horse and gallop there. Ensure both she and her husband are safe. Then tell them they must come here at once, but to bring footmen and be armed while doing so.”

  “At once, my lord.” Hogan ran to do his bidding.

  Gabe bellowed for his brothers as he headed to his study.

  “Dear God, Abby, please be safe.”

  “This had better be good. I was daydreaming about Miss Kent,” Zach muttered, flopping into a seat. Michael and Nathan arrived seconds later.

  “Fairfax told me a boy was at the kitchen door needing to speak with me urgently,” Gabe said, handing them the note.

  “Abby?” Nathan rose from his chair when he and the others had read what Ombrage had written.

  “Hogan is riding there as we speak. I have told him to tell Abby and Daniel to come here at once.”

  “I will go and meet them,” Michael said.

  “If he doesn’t have Abby or Daniel, he could take you. I cannot allow that to happen; we must stay together. We know Daniel will allow nothing to happen to her.”

  “The note states he already has something you hold dear,” Zach said.

  “It could be a trap. I will take no risks,” Gabe said.

  “My lord, a caller has arrived,” Fairfax said from the doorway.

  “At this hour?”

  “His name is Geraint.”

  “He never meets anywhere but the location,” Michael said, looking worried.

  “Bring him here, Fairfax,” Gabe said rising.

  “His news must be important,” Nathan said.

  Geraint appeared in the doorway minutes later, his face grave.

  “Forgive me for calling on you at such an hour, my lord, and at your residence.” Geraint bowed.

  “Please take a seat.”

  He did, then spoke.

  “I received word last night that Ombrage is able to move freely between France and England because he has created a believable facade,” Geraint said. “The informant I spoke with is close to him, closer than any we’ve spoken to before. But he failed to kill you when he had the chance, Lord Raine, and that incensed Ombrage, so he shot him. It was only a flesh wound, and the informant escaped. He then found his way to me. He is now seeking revenge.”
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br />   “In what form?” Zach asked.

  “He is telling me everything he knows in exchange for us helping him disappear. His fear of Ombrage is great.”

  “What did he tell you?” Nathan asked.

  “That Ombrage has been working as an assistant to a portrait artist. He is motivated by greed as well as power. He steals from the wealthy and infiltrates households where he can search through papers of a sensitive nature that will give him knowledge of our king and country.”

  “Allard,” Gabe whispered.

  “Who?” Zach asked.

  “Diard has an assistant. Innocuous sort, blends into the background,” Michael added.

  “You’ve met this man?” Geraint asked

  Gabe nodded. “Several times. He rarely speaks. I can see how he has been so successful now. If he is Ombrage.” And Dimity is in the duchess’s household. Surely he was not a threat to her? No one knew he cared for her, after all?

  Had he been in the same room with the man he’d thought he’d killed? A man who had ruthlessly murdered and tortured people all in the name of destroying the English monarchy. It seemed almost unbelievable.

  “I received word from Ombrage today,” Gabe said. He then handed Geraint the note.

  “This has given you the means to find him, Lord Raine,” he said after reading it. “There is not a moment to lose. His thirst for vengeance against you will be his weakness,” Geraint rose. “I will pass word to the others of what has transpired. Bring him to me alive, I wish to question him.”

  “My brother’s life is in danger,” Zach snapped. “If we need to kill Ombrage to ensure he is safe we will do so.”

  “It’s all right, Zach,” Gabe said softly.

  “Your loyalty to your brother is commendable, but there is no life more important than our King’s,” Geraint said calm in the face of Zach’s anger.

  “What of the plan to kidnap the king? What have you heard about that?” Nathan said before Zach could speak again.

  “Ombrage has everything ready. Explosives, men, but has not given a location. My guess is a week from today, at the Gala held at Buckingham Palace.”

  “Yes, that would make sense. We are to attend also,” Gabe said.

  “We can put every man at our disposal there to guard the palace, but as we don’t know who he has on his side, we cannot be sure our king will be safe. The only way that can be assured is to catch Ombrage. With him gone, the threat will cease, as he is the leader.”

  “Then that is our job.” Nathan’s face was grim. “My brother and the king will be safe with Ombrage captured or dead.”

  “I’ll take my leave. Good health, and good luck; our king is counting on you,” Geraint said. “Beritas scutum tibi erit.” He bowed and left the room.

  “And blithely unaware of his impending peril,” Nathan muttered.

  “He is our king,” Gabe censured his brother.

  Nathan did not reply.

  “I don’t suppose there is any chance I’m having a nightmare?” Zach asked.

  Gabe looked to the clock on the wall. Hogan had been gone for forty minutes. Surely they would hear something soon.

  “Let’s go,” Gabe said. “I can no longer sit here waiting. We will ride to Abby’s, and then to the Duchess of Yardly’s.”

  They were soon mounted and heading through the London streets at speed.

  “Is that our footman?” Nathan pointed a finger.

  “Yes.” Gabe urged his mount toward the horse coming their way.

  “All is well with Lady Abigail and Mr. Dillinger, my Lord,” Hogan sounded breathless. “They will be at your house shortly.”

  Relief surged through him. Ombrage had not got to any of the people he loved.

  Dimity.

  “Tell my sister we shall return soon. For now we must go to the Duchess of Yardly’s.”

  “You are thinking he is aware how you feel about her?” Nathan said from beside him as they galloped through London.

  “What?”

  “You love Dimity Brown, Gabe. Stop being a fool and admit it.”

  Could he admit it?

  “For the love of God, brother, just admit it,” Michael demanded.

  “I do,” he managed to get out.

  “Excellent,” Nathan said. “We’ll deal with what to do about that once we know she’s safe.”

  “Of course she’s safe,” Gabe said. “There is no reason for her not to be.” His chest felt tight with the prospect of Dimity anywhere near danger.

  “Gabe, we, your brothers, know you love her. And there are at least two among us who are not considered observant.”

  “I hope I’m not one of those two,” Zach added.

  Gabe’s answer was to urge his horse faster.

  …

  “You let her drive out with Diard?” Gabe glared at the duchess. “Surely she is your employee and meant to serve you? Not gad about with men!”

  “Diard is a good man. I have found no reason to believe otherwise,” the duchess said calmly. Too calmly, when inside Gabe was filled with ice-cold fear. He did not know if Diard was involved with Ombrage or a pawn in his game. “But I must admit she should have been back by now.”

  “How long has she been gone?”

  “Several hours,” the duchess said.

  “Where is Mr. Allard?”

  “How should I know? He is only here when Mr. Diard is. What are you not telling me? You and your brothers are not here to run an impromptu salon, I’m sure.”

  “I would rather have pins stuck in my eyes,” Nathan muttered from behind him.

  “I heard that!”

  Nathan did not apologize.

  “Where did Diard take Dimity?” Gabe asked.

  “I am unsure. But he is a good match for her, Lord Raine,” the duchess said, driving a stake into Gabe’s chest. “Mr. Diard holds no title and walks only on the fringes of society. This business between you can serve no one well.”

  “Business?” Gabe said softly.

  “I may be old, but I am not stupid.”

  “Business?” Gabe asked again.

  “She cares deeply for you, and we both know nothing can come of it.” The duchess thumped her cane. “You must not toy with the gal.”

  “I love her,” Gabe said. “Deeply, and I will take her as my wife, and to hell with society.”

  “Did he just say what I thought he did?” Nathan asked.

  “He’s always been like that. Suddenly decides on something, and there is no going back,” Michael added.

  “I find I quite like the idea of Dimity as my sister,” Zach said.

  “Don’t be foolish. A man such as you cannot wed a woman like her,” the duchess scoffed.

  “Why?”

  “She is beneath you!”

  “I thought you liked her,” Gabe said.

  “I do! But… well…” The duchess frowned. “It is not done.” Her tone held no strength now.

  “I care little about the right and wrong way of doing things, only about Dimity. And as you rarely care about proprietary, I am surprised by your vehemence in this matter. Now I need to find her and ensure she is no danger.”

  “That’s new,” Zach said. “He usually always cares about the right and wrong way of doing things.”

  “Why would she be in danger?” the duchess demanded. They all ignored her.

  The door opened, and in walked the butler. Walter and Romulus bounded in too. The former made for Gabe, stopping to sit against his thigh. He patted the large head.

  “You love her, Raine?”

  “I believe I have said I do, Duchess.”

  “Then perhaps I was wrong in believing there should be no union between you,” the duchess said, picking up a book. Having changed her mind about his union with Dimity, she was now ready to settle down and read it seemed.

  “We are not having an impromptu literary salon,” he gritted out. “I must find her.”

  “What danger is she in?”

  “I am not sure she i
s until I find her, and I’m not reading that,” Gabe said flatly.

  “But you read so well.” The duchess’s smile was sickly, and if a child had been present, they would be weeping about now. Walter turned his face and buried it in Gabe’s thigh.

  “You are scaring the dogs, Duchess.”

  “Nonsense. Reading is good for you. It broadens the mind and gives one a healthy perspective on life.”

  “It is not a sport, Duchess,” Gabe added, preparing to leave. He had dallied long enough; he had to find Dimity.

  “It should be!” She thumped her cane.

  “A Mr. Warwick Sinclair has called, Your Grace. He said he needs to speak with Miss Brown with some urgency,” the butler said, returning.

  “How strange. Very well, send him up. I will see what he wants and pass it on to her,” the duchess said. “Perhaps he has his brother’s reading voice. That Cambridge Sinclair may be excessively vexing upon occasion, and let us not forget some of the utter rubbish he publishes in The Trumpeter, but he can certainly read well.”

  “I’m sure that will help him sleep at night,” Gabe muttered.

  His brothers snorted.

  “Mr. Warwick Sinclair,” Chibbers said from the doorway.

  “Good day, Duchess.” He entered and bowed deeply. “Lord Raine,” he acknowledged Gabe and his brothers.

  He looked like his eldest brother now, Gabe thought. He’d grown into the man he’d promised to be all those years ago when the Devilles had first met him. Tall, well built, he had the Sinclair green eyes and easy smile.

  “Mr. Sinclair, what has you here today, and wanting to speak with my companion?” The duchess thumped down her cane. Warwick Sinclair didn’t flinch, which said a great deal for the man’s character.

  “I would rather give that information to Miss Brown, Duchess,” he said with an easy smile. Gabe had seen that particular one on Cambridge Sinclair. “I have sent word for her to contact me, but I’m afraid the matter is needing attention urgently, so I called.”

  “She should have been back by now,” the duchess said, looking at the door. “She and Mr. Diard should have returned.”

  “Mr. Diard?” Warwick Sinclair interrupted the duchess. “Is she with him?”