She nodded, and tears fell onto her gloved hands. She swiped ineffectually at it. “He pulled me into the arboretum, ripped at the top of my new gown and grabbed my breasts. I screamed, which seemed to shock him. While he stood there searching for witnesses, I kicked him in...well same as before but harder than when I was twelve. While he was doubled over, I shoved him down into one of the garden boxes, and left.”
Her hands were shaking just at the retelling. At the time, fear and revulsion had made her sick, and she’d left the party after retching on her mother’s prize roses. Her stomach hurt now, and she pressed her hands against it. “I never told Father. Janice came into my room, saw me, and knew who had done it. She threatened to tell, but I reminded her what would happen to my reputation. No one would believe me. Or worse, they would, and I would be ruined with Jarvis free and unpunished. So instead, we changed me out of my dress. Janice had it burned.”
Clarence reached over and took one of her hands and covered it with both of his. “He will never be allowed into my home,” he swore to her.
She blinked back tears. He was the first person she’d trusted with the story outside of Janice. She couldn’t speak so simply nodded.
“I appreciate your trust in me, however, why did you tell me this now?”
She stared at their joined hands. She should have insisted he let go, but it felt so good to finally be comforted for what happened, for the years of abuse by her uncle and brother.
To feel safe.
Safe. For a moment, the want to have that protection for the rest of her life nearly caused her to plead with him to make the engagement real. Who knew that the feeling of safety could be so enticing and such a powerful emotion? She finally found her voice. “Because you saved my life last night. You’ve not judged me unfairly over being there alone. And, you did not betray me to Father. And more, you did not take advantage of me when I threw myself at you.” Heat crept up her neck to her ears.
“As to that, you had a close call with life and death situation, and I was the one who shared it with you. As to the rest, why would I judge you for being alone? It is your brother’s fault, and he whom I will judge for putting a woman in danger like that.”
A watery laugh escaped her, and even Janice snorted before covering her mouth.
“My lord, Clarence,” she corrected when he opened his mouth, “everyone always judges the women.”
“Not everyone, it would seem, since I do not. I have always believed that men must protect those in their care.”
“And I have always believed that I should protect those in my care,” she said fiercely, with her whole heart.
He smiled, and she blinked. Those tingles started down her spine again, and her stomach tumbled like water over a cliff. After years of being so strict and proper to protect herself from judgement, to keep her overbearing father from coming down on her, finding a kindred spirit amongst the ton was heady business, and she fancied that this was falling in love. Something she’d not believed one of her station would ever get to have.
His eyes softened as he stared at her. She became mesmerized, wishing to fall into them, to uncover the mysteries in them. The moment seared into her soul, her being open to him, wanting him.
Janice cleared her throat. “My lady, I would be remiss in my duties of chaperone if I did not point out that your hands have been touching for an unseemly amount of time.”
Lillian jerked her hand back, but Clarence squeezed it a moment before letting go. She couldn’t stop staring though.
“Quite right, Janice,” he said. “Breathe, Lillian.”
Lillian sucked in air, surprised to find she had been holding her breath.
He gave a low laugh then asked, “Would you like to step out and stroll on the promenade?”
Lillian gasped. “By doing so, you have as good as declared your intentions amongst the ton. You may as well have put an announcement in the Times. It will make it difficult to retract.”
He smiled again, and her heart melted. “Exactly.” He thumped twice to have his man stop.
A flush of pleasure rose within her. Even after she’d told him her secret, he still wanted to court her, to make their engagement public, if not official. For the first time since coming out, the prospect of being married didn’t seem so bad.
Chapter Five
A deep anger pulsed at his throat.
With great self-will, he held it under control. Lillian’s pain at the retelling had kicked him in the gut, and he wanted to exact revenge immediately. In a short time, Lillian had come to mean a lot to him, his future. She was everything he wanted in a woman, despite who her family was.
Clarence pushed his anger to the background and held Lillian’s hand as she emerged from his carriage. He tucked it under his arm as they strolled, Janice following at a discreet distance. He would walk one round with Lillian, slowly, to give time for all the gawkers to take it in, before taking her home again. He wanted everyone to see that she belonged to him. Within twenty-four hours, there would be few households who wouldn’t know that The Dark Duke had chosen his wife.
They talked of mutual acquaintances, ton happenings, then fell silent. Then she asked him, “Since you have warehouses by the docks, I assume you have shipping ventures. Father has been in a few of them. Most successful. Jarvis led him on the most unsuccessful one. I almost told Father not to do business with him, but then I’d have had to explain why I stuck my nose in. He doesn’t approve of women being interested in business matters.” Her voice cracked, as if unsure of his response.
He put his hand over hers and walked a few steps, trying to formulate his response. He found himself loath to lie to her, yet, he couldn’t reveal certain things. “I also have shipping ventures. There is always a risk. Mother Nature does not care a farthing for our wealth and high and mighty status. Then, of course, you have to know whom you’re dealing with.” And isn’t that at the root of my revenge? Father trusted the wrong person.
“True enough. I still feel guilty over not saying anything.”
He stood and faced her, his hands on her shoulders. “Do not. He likely would not have listened, and Jarvis would have found a way to hurt you more.” He should know. He’d not listened to his instincts about her and her father, the ones which told him they were likely honorable bore out by everything his research found. Her brother, on the other hand…
It occurred to him that Jarvis may have helped young Robert in his scheme to hurt her. All the more reason to make it public that she was under his protection. When had she become so important to her? He decided not to mention his thoughts to her, yet, until he’d had time to investigate how Robert managed to pay for the abduction. From all accounts, he gambled money away as fast as it came in.
Clarence patted her hand on his arm and made sure he nodded at everyone as they passed. Many had business dealings with him. Many more knew his reputation. Ruthless had been thrown at him more than once. It mattered not. He refused to be another vapid lord, resting on the laurels of those before him, but he also refused to let other nobles, those like Jarvis and Robert, abuse their ranks with him.
He gave no quarter.
If they made a promise, he took great pains to make sure they kept it.
Then he saw something that had the predator in him ready to go in for the kill. “Good day, Oxford,” he remarked.
Lillian stiffened beside him, the grasp on his arm tightening. And well she should. Another woman threaded her hands through on Oxford’s arm. Clarence took in a breath to say something when Lillian spoke up.
“Father told me today about your negotiations with him. They will be unsuccessful.”
Clarence nearly applauded. Not one word about the context of the negotiations. His little debutante was turning into quite the minx for her second season. Perhaps it was her recent life or death situation which made her bolder. Whatever caused it, he found himself enamored of her for it. A pang of guilt hit him. What if his revenge on Jarvis ended smearing her name
too? He put the thought away. He had to find a way to have both. His honor demanded it of him.
“I’ve explained to him that Lady Lillian is taken,” Clarence said mildly into the silence, watching the marquess’ face pale even more. The woman on the marquess’ arm withdrew her hand, her own color a sickly green.
“What do you mean, Lillian is taken, and moreover, why would it need to be explained? How is the marquess involved,” she asked, her voice seething with unconcealed rage.
Clarence almost felt sorry for her, but he remembered her from last season. She’d tried to get him trapped into a situation where he’d be forced to offer for her hand or be branded dishonorable. As far as he was concerned, the two made the perfect pair.
“Sophia, was it,” Clarence asked, deliberately leaving off her title and saying the wrong name.
She bristled. “It is the Lady Stephanie Breyers. My father is the Earl of Worthington.”
“And I am the Duke of Canterbury. How dare you question me like that,” he snapped. His title had its uses.
Lillian squeezed on his arm.
“But…you addressed us first,” she exclaimed.
“No, I addressed the marquess. You disrespected Lady Lillian first. Even if you don’t know her—which you do—I made her title clear. She is the daughter of the Earl of Lamberth.”
“I’m—I’m,” Lady Stephanie stuttered and then wisely shut her mouth.
“Now,” he said silkily, turning back to the marquess, “I suggest the two of you make a go of it. You are a matched pair, both lacking true honor. However,” he said when he caught Oxford’s look at Lillian, “if I catch either of you anywhere near Lady Lillian or cause her any harm, I will see to it you are not allowed on another shipping venture I am involved with now or in the future, and henceforth, I will also ensure that neither of you are welcome in Polite Society. You will be a pariah. Do we understand one another?”
“You wouldn’t.” Lady Stephanie gasped, her hand clutching at her throat.
The marquess’ gaze had snapped to his with pleasing speed once he realized what was being said. “You wouldn’t. How would I ever…” He went positively gray around the cheeks. Clarence wondered if, perhaps, they should call an apothecary.
“Precisely. One would think that you needed the ventures to regain what your father squandered. I suggest you move on from Lady Lillian. Lady Stephanie seems perfectly suited to you and has the money required for the reparation of your estates.”
Lady Stephanie’s eyes narrowed at his sarcastic emphasis on “Lady” when he spoke her name, and he gave her a scathing glare of his own before dismissing them without so much as a nod.
He stared down into Lillian’s beautiful eyes which changed color. They were currently a bright green, like fresh grass in the spring. “Shall we move on?” he suggested and walked past the Marquess of Oxford as if he and the Lady Stephanie were of no consequence.
When Lillian looked at him as if he were her hero, they were of no consequence. Only her. He reined in his emotions. Damn it. He’d not even known her personally a full day yet. A season of pining for her and wishing things were different did not count. However, marriages amongst those of their rank were often made on less than what they’d shared. Besides, he trusted his instincts. If only he’d listened to them sooner. He could already have her secured to him and not worry about what would happen when he exacted his revenge on Jarvis and his ilk.
Once back in the carriage, Lillian turned her penetrating gaze on him. “Could you really ruin the Marquess of Oxford like that? Would you?”
He settled back into the leather seats and studied her. The intenseness with which she spoke told him it wasn’t an idle question. She leaned forward, and her eyes held a spark of life which made him want to undo all her proper pins and buttons and let them fly while she moaned under him. He crossed his legs to hide the erection springing forth from that thought.
“I could and would if he crossed me over this matter. You deserve better than the marquess after what your family has put you through.”
She tilted her head to the side then shared a look with Janice that he couldn’t read. He caught the subtle nod from the maid. The two of them acted more like best friends than servant and mistress from his point of view. He held back his questions, though. Whatever it was, she needed to come to him about the matter in her own way. Their unconventional beginnings had forged an immediate intimacy between them, one that he had no intentions of ruining. He’d watched as minute by minute, she lost the reserve she held around everyone else and didn’t want to get her back up now by pushing too hard.
“Before I tell you something,” she finally said, “I need to ask you. Are you in need of money? Technically, I am an heiress. However, as many a suitor has found to their chagrin, I will retain control over my money, even if we decided to follow through and marry.”
He nodded, not surprised. She held a lot of the confidence which money can buy, and, after seeing her family’s dynamics, it didn’t seem to fit. This piece of the puzzle made the others clearer. “It’s definitely rare,” he conceded when she seemed to be waiting for a verbal response.
“My grandmother didn’t like Father’s family, so she put a considerable fortune into a trust for me before she died, and the rest came to me after she died. The estates are mine as well, but I can’t claim anything but a minor allowance until I’m twenty-one. Hence, I’m still living with Father. I have no need to get married. I only know of two other women who have a trust such as mine. Were I to marry, my husband could not touch it. I plan to leave it to any daughters I have, so they have the same freedoms which I have enjoyed.”
“I am not only a duke of a strong, established family, but a successful businessman. I have no need of your money, and, I promise you, I will take care of you so well that the bulk of your monies can be left to any daughters we may have.” He emphasized the we to push his cause. He wanted to marry this woman so different than the rest of his acquaintance.
He watched in fascination as her face pinked up at the talk of them having daughters. It caused him to want to pull her into his arms for a kiss, but he held back. It might break the emotional bond they were still forming.
“That’s a surprisingly forward outlook, if you don’t mind my saying, my lord.”
“Clarence. Call me Clarence when we are alone, or as good as. I had a favorite aunt who was fleeced then abandoned by a man she married.” Even the memory evoked a residual anger at his uncle by marriage. “I vowed never to do that to any woman. As a child of ten, I felt it unfair that she had to give him all her money, especially when he was mean to her. He slapped her. Once in front of me. I told Father. I never saw him do it again.
“As I grew older, I realized two things. One, that my uncle probably still hit her, but only when I wasn’t watching, and that it truly was unfair for her to have no way to stop it, not legally, and to have to give him all her money while he did it. I work in my own way to make sure the women of my family are protected from fortune hunters and abusers. I have set up a trust much like the one you speak of for my mother and sisters. It gives them the power that the law usually does not.”
“Well.” She sat back, obviously nonplussed.
“Many a man has tried to cross me on this and failed to their everlasting regret.” And some to their everlasting pain. No one double crossed him or his family without paying for it, even if it took him years to extract his revenge. He believed honor and title a privilege that one must hold up to, and a standard it was his duty to ensure and defend against miscreants who would take advantage.
“My sister is about your age and unmarried,” he continued. “Speaking of married, what has all of this to do with the Marquess of Oxford?”
She opened her mouth then snapped it shut. Her hands were wringing, twisting her gloves.
She’d shown less nerves when speaking of the attack by Jarvis. In his estimation of her, the matter must be as personal and also current for this level of anxi
ety. “Have I not proven you could trust me, even in the short time we’ve known each other?” he asked quietly.
She nodded then took a deep breath. “Will you, as a personal favor, destroy the marquess in business?”
Well, that flummoxed him. So, his righteous beauty, defender of the innocent, had a mean streak. He wondered what it took to pull it out of her? “I take it you don’t want me to ask why?” he asked when she said no more.
She stared down at her hands, all the earlier color lost. Her sudden frailty made him want to take her in his arms like he had last night and comfort her. “Please, do not. It is not my tale to tell,” she said simply.
A wave of affection washed over him. Brave and true with her own story, and honorable when it was for someone else. He’d be willing to bet this had to do with her “protecting those who couldn’t do for themselves” that she believed in. He wished now that he’d offered for her last season and devil be damned about who her family was. She was obviously a cut above the rest of them. He’d help her help her friend in need. Maybe one day, she could tell him why. For now, he nodded, then realized she couldn’t see him since she still hadn’t looked up. “Consider it done.”
Her head snapped up, and she stared at him as if he were a conquering hero returning home. Last night’s kiss had been about saving her with no time to savor her taste. The second kiss had whet his appetite, and now, he wished he had the luxury to explore it.
“Thank you,” she cried out happily, leaning forward and clasping his hand. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“Consider it an early wedding present. Make no mistake, I plan to marry you, trust or no trust. I plan to convince you to make our fake engagement real.”
The flush on her face washed away the earlier paleness, and she gave him a huge smile. “I may just allow it, my lord,” she answered with more than a little sass.
He loved seeing these sparks of boldness from her. The carriage rolled to a stop. He hated that he had to let her go back into a home where he didn’t feel she was safe, more, where she didn’t feel totally safe. He helped Lillian out and accompanied her inside.
Darkest Valentine Page 5
