Darkest Valentine

by Leona Bushman

  A sly grin passed over his face, and Jarvis knew that Robert’s next words would be a lie. “I was shooting at the estate one night. Nothing else.”

  Jarvis grinned at him. “I am glad that you have practice at doing nothing. It will come in handy tonight.”

  The stopped at the townhouse and cleaned up, waiting for dark to fall. It would be an easy in and out, then they could plan how to give his brother a sad, sad accident. Jarvis puffed out his chest. Now that he didn’t have to answer to the masked man, he could do as he pleased with no one to stop him. And tonight would be the first of many shows of power to those under him. And when he got his hands on the one who betrayed him to his old boss, he’d make an example out of him, too. No one would dare defy him any longer.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Lillian clung to Clarence, pushing back the sobs as they walked. He’d come and brought Father. She’d worked her wrists bloody trying to get free, to get to Amber when she’d faced Clarence, and now they stung, particularly when hitting fabric, but walking hurt more, so she slung one arm came around his back and the other held onto his front.

  Every step sent shooting streaks of pain up her legs. The cuts and bites throbbed, and blood tricked down. Her arms ached and tingles of what felt like fire shrieked down them.

  As they moved down a thin stairwell, they both used the wall for support. Then her hand slipped as she stumbled. She caught herself with Clarence’s help, but not before she felt something sticky on his shirt. “You’re bleeding again!”

  “I likely ripped the stitches again,” he said, pain lacing his voice.

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “I’m the one who’s sorry. It’s all my fault.”

  “Do not let that woman’s words eat you up. She obviously belonged in bedlam or prison. Or both. Her father sounds even worse. None of that is your fault.” Pain lay etched on his face.

  “I should have seen it when she was at my house.”

  “Oh yes, because you are God himself to see into the hearts of all,” she said sarcastically, too tired and hurt to worry if she sounded ladylike or not.

  It elicited a laugh out of him which ended on a groan. “I hadn’t seen her in a long time before she came over with you.”

  “See? Then it’s all my fault.” She leaned on the wall as they moved down, trying to keep some weight off him with his bad side.

  He laughed again and held his wound. “It is not. And none of this is over. I’ve always known someone pulled Jarvis’ strings. It will take a long time to unravel.” He stopped her at the bottom of the stairs.

  She turned to him, her love there waiting to be expressed as she’d promised herself.

  “Are you sure you still want me,” he asked her. That sadness was back in his eyes.

  She reached her arm up and pushed a lock of red hair back, then let her hand rest on his cheek. She wanted to ease what she saw in the depths of those blue eyes. “You saved me, showed your bravery once again. How could I not?”

  She drew his head down for a kiss, and he gently met her lips with his. Poignant, tender, it moved her deeply. When it ended, she started to tell him she loved him, but Janice and Lucas came down around the corner. No way she wanted to tell him something that personal with an audience. Putting her arm around him again for support, they continued and hobbled their way down a hall and through a kitchen to the backdoor. She saw his ducal signa on the outside, and relief swarmed her. They’d easily all fit.

  She shivered, the rain drenching her thin robe. He wrapped his arm around her and drew her closer to him. Her feet ached with cold, but she blessed the numbness from it which pushed away the more acute agony from the rat bites. God, she never wanted to see another furry rodent for as long as she lived. Her chest tightened just thinking about it and flashes of the rats’ red eyes kept permeating her consciousness.

  Clarence helped her into the carriage first, then Janice and Lucas before he stepped in. A young man came running up. “Let me help, sir. Also, may I ride upfront again? You have my grandfather with you.”

  Clarence gave him a curt nod and allowed himself to be helped into the carriage. He sat next to her and drew her into him, much as they had their first night. She’d stiffened at first because they had an audience, but then allowed it, careful to put her weight away from his injury. There were perks to being betrothed to him.

  Warmth from his chest permeated through her thin gown, and that intense feeling of being safe in his presence began to spread through her. Her body relaxed into his. By the time the driver turned off the long lane from the house to the road, she’d become drowsy, lapping up the sensation of being protected, of being secure.

  His hands stroked her hair, adding to her contentment. “I wish I’d let my need for vengeance go a long time ago,” he whispered into her ear. “I will protect you to the best of my ability from any who would wish you harm. I promise and swear this on my life.”

  The solemn words spoken so intimately and heartfelt, held more strength, more power to her than anything provided by law or ceremony. “And I you,” she responded sleepily, and after placing a chaste kiss on the side of his mouth, settled down and dozed off.

  She awoke to his gentle hands on her face while he spoke. “Lillian, wake up. We’re at your home. The doctor is standing in the doorway. Come now, darling.”

  It took a moment to orient herself, but it all came flooding back from one heartbeat to the next, and along with it, the pain in her feet and legs rushed back full on, and she cried out. His gaze met hers, the worry in them evident as he searched her face for answers. “It’s…I…”

  Her throat closed off and heart raced. “It’s the rats,” she finally pushed out past the pressure in her chest. “Jarvis cut my ankles and rats came and and—” Panic slammed her. She couldn’t finish.

  His eyes widened in horror. “He what? No, don’t repeat it. I will have that yellow-livered rot bellied swine up on so many charges, he’ll never see the light of day.”

  His fierce tones settled her panic. Yes, he’d protect her. She sat up and allowed a footman to help her out of the carriage, but she waited for Clarence who was the last to descend. She threaded her arm through his and slowly shuffled next to her hero. She kept giving him sidelong glances and biting her lip. Even through the agony and pain, her heart lifted at his fierce protectiveness of her. Between Father and Clarence both coming to rescue her and Janice, she felt at peace for the first time in a long while. She refused to be seen until the doctor checked Janice and Lucas.

  Janice had some bruising around her wrists and ankles, as well as some tiredness and dehydration.

  “You’re a lucky woman,” the doctor said. “The length of time you’ve been missing, I’d have expected more fatigue and severe dehydration.”

  “Lucas brought us water,” Lillian told him. “He also brought us a light.”

  The doctor’s frowned, and beside her Clarence stiffened. “They left you in the dark?”

  Lillian tightened her hold on Clarence, trying to find her tongue around the memories of what happened in the dark. She’d need a light for a long time to come to sleep, she was sure.

  “Yes,” Janice said. “With promises of torture to come. When Jarvis came back, Lillian protected me and took his wrath. He left us before he started. I sincerely believe he’d had…bad things in store for us.”

  When their gazes met, Lillian nodded at her in thanks for answering when she’d been too anxious to think past the rats. “Lucas helped us live through it at great risk to himself. They threatened his family. Jarvis and Amber threatened to kill their loved ones if they didn’t stay and do as they were told.”

  “They did more than threatened, my lady,” Lucas reminded her. “They killed poor Gina and her whole family to prove to us they would and could. The Dark Duke held us under his—no her thumb, begging your pardon, Your Grace,” he added hastily while staring at Clarence.

  “You are forgiven. It was an imposter, which had no reason to k
now different about as you’d never met me.”

  “Quite right, my lord. As soon as Lillian here set us to rights, we sent word to you proper like, we did. That would be young Howard, my grandson.” Lucas proudly pontificated as the doctor checked him over.

  “Arthritis and malnourished, is what I see. I suggest you ease up on your duties and try to eat healthier foods.”

  “My duties?” Silence imbued the sitting room they’d set up for the doctor to see them all in as it hit that he had no employer, and worse, no references. In fact, when gossip hit the ton, no one who worked there would be able to find a job.

  She turned to Clarence to beg him to help until she came into her own money, but before she said anything, he spoke.

  “If I understand things correctly, Amber used my name to buy the property. If that is the case, you can stay on there and we will fix it up and sell it, or tear it down, or give it to the crown. I can’t stand it myself. Anyone who wants to leave can come to my country estates and work for me.”

  Warmth of love and affection poured through her. Her Dark Duke had a soft side for more than just her when not busy on vengeance. His honor would always be intact, though his reputation would likely take another hit from the events of last couple of days.

  Oh God. Her reputation. The heat drained from her face. “How many people know I’ve been kidnapped?”

  The doctor jumped up and helped Clarence hold her up as every pain made itself known again. “You’ve gone right pale, my lady. Please, come sit down.”

  He looked her over, noting the lump on her head, and poured brandy then slathered something on her ankles. As he wrapped them, he finally answered the question she’d asked. “Few people know, Lady Lillian. And those people know Janice was with you.”

  “Should I be thankful, then, that I got her into this mess, too, injured and terrorized so that my bloody reputation has a chance to be saved?”

  “Lady Lillian, I have been your doctor since you were but a child. I am sorry to see you in such pain. As you are engaged to be married, and purportedly at a house owned by The Dark Duke, your betrothed, I have a feeling gossip can be spun to reflect nothing untoward, if that is your wish. Also, marrying the Duke of Canterbury will fix it anyway. People will think twice before snubbing a duchess.”

  Anger bit through the pain. “I hate the way society views women. If I were a man, I’d be living on my own, not worrying about a rapacious uncle or overzealous suitors.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. Clarence stood behind her and put his hands on her shoulders.

  “It is for your protection from the likes of ‘rapacious uncles’ and ‘overzealous suitors’ that we have the rules we do,” the doctor said, not unkindly as he slathered more of something on her feet and wrapped them the way he had her ankles. “Unfortunately, there are far too many bad men in the world who would take advantage of naïve or unprotected women.”

  She swallowed back the protests she wanted to berate him with. He obviously did not blame her for her ordeal and was not deserving of her wrath. She raised her hand to Clarence’s to seek comfort, but she winced as she moved. The doctor, of course, noticed and tsked.

  “Here, my lady. Rub it in anywhere you hurt. I don’t know how much the medicinal herbs will help your abused muscles, but it will behoove you to use it and help ease the pain of the sores as they heal.”

  “Thank you, Doctor.”

  “My pleasure, my lady, but we’re not through. Janice mentioned that you’d been hit on the head multiple times. I will need to check it, if you will allow it.”

  With a short nod, she held still as he gently pushed around her head. It wasn’t as bad as the first night, but still tender and bruised. She sucked in as he hit on the spot Jarvis had connected with.

  “Nasty knot and some dried blood in your hair, but you should be fine. Will your father be needing my services?”

  “I—” She hadn’t noticed, just that he was alive. For which she’d be eternally grateful to Lucas. When she had her own money worked out, she’d send him to one of her estates.

  “I’m not sure, but he seemed unharmed when I saw him last, but I was a bit muddled myself.”

  “I understand.” The kindness in the doctor’s eyes nearly broke the dam of tears again. “Now, you need bedrest, you and Janice. Jacob has come to help her upstairs, and I’ve instructed the cook to make both of you some broth and light cuts of meat to eat before bed. Don’t overdo it. I can tell by his hovering that His Grace will be helping you to your room and seeing for himself that you are settled. After you have finished, Duke Canterbury, come back so I can attend to your side.”

  She whipped her head too fast to see how the doctor knew and groaned against the throbbing in her head. Holding a hand to her temple, she did an appraisal of Clarence’s appearance. His hair and clothing disheveled, his face pinched together as if fighting off the pain, he stood hunched. Dried blood spattered in areas, and in the center, fresh blood seeped through. In the light of the room, it showed starkly against his beige shirt.

  “Perhaps, Your Grace, you should be seen first. I can have one of the other maids take me to my room. You’ve been through a lot.”

  A gleam of something feral entered his blue eyes, and she thrilled to it, her blood singing, pushing warmth which started at her core.

  “I will take you there and make sure you are safe before allowing anyone to treat me. Are we clear on that?” His commanding tone made her knees weak. Her protector, her hero.

  She grinned at him, and he blinked back at her as if confused. “Yes, Your Grace.” Her reply came out cheeky, but she couldn’t help it. Since learning his true feelings while he lay feverish, something had grown within her, something which found comfort in his caring, even if it was as commanding as a general. Plus, it had given her some insight to how Father’s brusque and overbearing ways may just be his way of showing he cared. For that alone, she would love the duke. The kisses… Her smile widened.

  His eyes darkened, and abruptly, he pulled her to him. “You are truly amazing. After the ordeal you’ve been through, you’re still worried about others first.” Then his mouth softly passing past her ear, he whispered, “And I can’t wait for our wedding night,” before leading her upstairs.

  With her face flaming from his words, they slowly made their way to the stairs, her hobbling on the bandages and carrying the salve for later and the doctor calling after her to take care.

  They arrived at her room without incident, and she gratefully sank into her chair in front of the vanity. She needed to change her clothes. It hit her a little late how en déshabillé she was.

  “The scandal!” she said in a mock horrified voice then broke into hysterical laughter.

  Clarence raised a brow at her, but refrained from speaking, which had her laughing harder.

  “To think, just a week ago, I worried about being left alone at a soiree, and today, I sat in front of servants and a doctor, dressed like this!” The tears came over the laughter. Her life really was in shambles. Maybe one day she and Sarah and Hermione could laugh about it. Right now, she couldn’t cope anymore.

  He stooped and caught her arm and guided her to the bed where he could hold her and soothe her. “I’m sorry. I will find a way to make this right for you, I swear it. But you can’t have hysterics just now. It’s not over.”

  A hiccup escaped when she tried to rein in her crying jag. “What? But…Amber and Jarvis…”

  “The peelers will be busy rounding up all the men—and women—who worked for them, but that’s not all. Your brother. How did we end up meeting?”

  “Because my brother… God help me. Because my brother sold me to the ruffians. And he’s not shown his face here in days.”

  “The last time he was here, he was covering for Jarvis while he kidnapped you and Janice.” The grim tones seemed all the worst now, now when they’d just been rescued.

  “What will I do?” she said, going numb inside. How could she have forgotten about her brother’s
perfidy, even for a minute?

  “I think…I think we need to make up your bed to give the appearance that you are sleeping. That way, if someone peeks in, they’ll assume you’re in bed. Tell the servants you’re not to be disturbed. Then have you and Janice moved to my mother’s place. I will talk over it with your father tomorrow. But I don’t want to chance Robert finding out you’re not dead as planned and trying to finish it himself.”

  All the earlier warmth left her, and in its place, a bone deep chill. She changed, making Clarence turn around until she had a simple gown on with one of her cloaks. He helped her gather and pack more appropriate clothing, then they snuck to the servant’s quarters. With Jacob’s help, they found items for Janice, and stole out the back. Once she and Janice were ensconced within the carriage, Clarence went back in to see the doctor to keep up their cover. Silent tears fell, which she ignored. She stared at the grand house of her childhood. Though not horrible, there’d always been Robert’s bullying and the specter of Jarvis. Robert had helped Amber and their uncle to hurt her and one under their protection.

  When would she ever be safe?

  Moreover, would Father choose her or Robert?

  Chapter Nineteen

  Clarence stole back into the Lamberth’s mansion, and back upstairs so he’d be seen coming from the general direction of Lillian’s bedroom. Everything seemed duller to him than the first time he’d come here to greet Lillian formally and make his intentions to wed her known to the earl. Then, he’d had hope, and though he hadn’t known it, joy, as well as the prospect of having found justice for his father’s death.

  Now, he hurt everywhere, not just in the area of the wound. He’d protect Lillian at all costs, but that didn’t change that he’d failed her by pursuing his agenda with Jarvis. That was something he’d have to come to terms with and hope that Lillian would forgive him for.

  The doctor forced him to sit on the makeshift space he’d commandeered for the wounded. “You’ve had this stitched already, my lord.”