Her cheeks suffused with color. “You led me to believe the latter would be the outcome between the two of us last night.” Her beautiful eyes flooded with tears before they overflowed unchecked over the darkness of her lashes. “I would not have returned here with you at all if I had not thought—not thought—”
“Victory.” Gabriel held the tops of her arms. “Please believe me when I tell you I want you, desire you, more than my next breath.”
She eyed him scathingly. “But I am only a poor sailor’s daughter, the granddaughter of a fisherman, and you are the grand and imposing Duke of Blackborne.”
“Victory, you will calm down and listen to me.”
“Oh, will I?” she challenged. Two bright spots of color burned in the pallor of her cheeks. “I believe I shall decide what I will and will not listen to.”
“Then I strongly advise you to decide to listen to me.”
Victory’s breasts quickly rose and fell as she stared up into Gabriel’s obviously angry face. His eyes glittered a piercing silver gray, his lips were thinned and his jaw tight.
She moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “What do you wish to say to me?” Her voice was steadier than she felt inside, where her emotions still roiled out of control.
He released her. “I do not want to say this to you. I have no choice when it is the truth.”
Victory looked stricken. “Do you want me to go? Have I gone too far? Overstepped the line beyond all politeness?”
He gave a shout of humorless laughter. “I do not believe you have ever established a line of politeness where I am concerned.”
She grimaced. “Maybe not, but it is not for want of trying. I honestly do not mean to be rude or impolite to you, it is only—only—”
“Yes?”
She breathed out deeply. “On this occasion, I am feeling…out of sorts.” She lowered her lashes. “My body aches and tingles with a need only you seem able to satisfy.”
“Only I will ever satisfy your physical needs.” His piercing gaze held hers captive. “Do you understand, Victory? You are mine. Only mine.”
She had no idea what he meant by making such a claim, but for the moment, she really didn’t care to ask for clarification. Gabriel wanted her now, and that was all that mattered to her. Everything else could be dealt with tomorrow.
She gazed up at him shyly. “Can we go to bed together now?”
Gabriel gave a weary sigh. “Unfortunately, no.”
“But—”
“Victory, you will thank me for refusing you when I tell you Jimmy was attacked during the night.”
She stared at him blankly. “I do not understand,” she finally managed to say.
“I received word first thing this morning from one of Jimmy’s cohorts to say he had been seriously injured, and asking if Winter might once again attend him,” he revealed grimly. “If you recall, I previously asked him to check on Jimmy and his friends after we had our disagreement in St Giles.”
She shook her head slowly, barely breathing, afraid of what Gabriel would say next. “Is he—is he—”
Gabriel shook his head. “Jimmy’s friends saw to his injuries as best they could, but Winter has had Jimmy moved to the small clinic he maintains for emergencies at the back of Winter House.”
“Then I need to go there immediately.” Victory was anxious to see for herself that Jimmy had not been fatally wounded.
“Not until I have explained his injuries to you,” Gabriel stated firmly. “Jimmy’s face is swollen and covered in cuts and bruises. Both his arms are broken and immobilized. There is a knife wound on his abdomen that required a dozen stitches, along with several more defensive wounds on his arms and legs.” He watched Victory’s face grow paler as he relayed all of Jimmy’s injuries in a cool and clinical voice.
Deliberately so, because he did not wish to alert Victory to how much seeing the injuries Jimmy had sustained but survived had disturbed Gabriel earlier this morning. Thankfully, Winter had promised to have the young Cockney clean and suitably bandaged by the time Gabriel returned with Victory.
“Who could have done such a thing?” Victory chewed on her bottom lip. “And why?”
Gabriel grimaced. “He lives in a precarious world. It might have been anyone.”
“Everyone in St Giles loves him,” she defended.
“Their own Robin Hood,” Gabriel recalled.
“Yes!” Victory’s eyes glittered with defensive anger. “No one in St Giles would ever hurt him.”
“Then it must have been someone from outside St Giles,” Gabriel dismissed. “For the moment, who is to blame is less important than ensuring he does not succumb to his injuries.”
Victory gasped. “Is that a possibility?”
“Let us hope not,” Gabriel comforted.
Victory felt less than assured of that once she had gazed upon Jimmy for the first time.
Gabriel had told her of Jimmy’s injuries, but she had not imagined the young man’s face would be so distorted and bruised, he was almost unrecognizable. His eyes were swollen shut, there were abrasions on his cheeks, his nose appeared to be broken, there was a split in his bottom lip that was still weeping blood, and his jaw looked as if that too might be broken.
The rest of his body appeared to be just as damaged. Both his arms were immobilized by splints above the bedcovers, and one of his knees seemed bigger than the other beneath the bedcovers, implying it was swollen.
Victory let out a choked cry as she ran across the room. She came to an abrupt halt at the bedside, too afraid to touch Jimmy for fear she might cause him even more pain.
He managed to separate one lid from the other enough to be able to look at her. “Ya can sits on the side of the bed,” he croaked. “The doc gave me summat, so I’m feelin’ no pain.” His words were slightly slurred, but he attempted an encouraging smile, which turned into a grimace as it obviously pulled on his split lip.
Gabriel turned to Winter as the other man observed his patient through narrowed lids. “Does he have any idea who did this to him?” he prompted quietly, at the same time leaving Victory and Jimmy a little privacy to talk.
Winter’s top lip curled back. “The only thing he seems sure of is that it was none of his associates from St Giles.”
He nodded. “Victory said as much too.”
The other man smiled. “It is true thieves do stick together, then.”
“Victory is not a thief—”
“I was not referring to your protégé,” Winter drawled.
“Victory is not my protégé,” Gabriel snapped, not at all liking being referred to in a role that was usually filled by an older person than him.
“Ward?”
“No!”
“Mistress?”
“Emphatically no!”
Winter gave him a probing glance before his eyebrows rose at the answer he saw in Gabriel’s eyes. “You will ruin yourself in Society if you do what you are contemplating doing.”
“To hell with Society.” Gabriel’s gaze remained on Victory. She was gently holding one of Jimmy’s hands as the two of them talked softly together.
“Oh, I agree with you, but will you still feel that way when you are no longer welcome in many of the homes of the ton?”
“You are referring to the half now left open to me after the rest decided they did not want a whoremaster in their salons?” Gabriel derided.
“Yes.”
“Will I still be welcome in your home?”
“Of course.”
“Shaftesbury’s?”
“Without a doubt.”
“Andover’s?”
“I am sure so, yes.”
Gabriel shrugged. “Then to hell with all the others,” he repeated. “I have lived my life so far by my own set of rules, and I shall continue to do so.” His heart swelled with love as he gazed at Victory. “I would far rather find happiness with the woman I love than have the approval of a Society that more often than not disgusts me.”
>
Benedict placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Proud of you.”
“If she will have me, of course,” Gabriel added dryly, by no means certain, knowing how contrary Victory could be, of her answer.
“I wish you luck with that!” Benedict gave a warm smile before sobering. “In the meantime, what are we going to do about this attack on young Jimmy?”
It was a dilemma Gabriel was at a loss how to deal with. Perhaps if he were to talk again with Jimmy’s close associates and see if they had any idea who might have done this… Gabriel still refused to believe Bastian was involved.
“Jimmy has told me that the earl was mentioned again last night when he was being kicked and beaten.” Victory spoke loudly enough for both Gabriel and Winter to hear as she turned to them. “In light of that, I have concluded that one of the three gentlemen in the red salon last night must be responsible for this attack on Jimmy, at least, and no doubt also the ones outside your club.”
Gabriel frowned. “You are referring to Bruno, Evesham, and Gordon?”
“Yes.”
“But that cannot be so.” Gabriel shook his head. “I trust Bruno implicitly, and the other men are two of the three people who have been attacked.”
She nodded. “But they were also the only other people in the room last night, besides ourselves, who heard me say that Jimmy would know who had hired those men. I am so sorry, Jimmy, I did not mean for this to happen to you.” She gave the battered young man a tearful and apologetic grimace before once again looking at Gabriel. “If, as you say, you trust Bruno, then I believe you need to question Lord Gordon and Lord Evesham on this matter.”
“Her logic has merit, old boy,” Winter acknowledged admiringly.
It did indeed…
Chapter Thirteen
“Are you meaning to be insulting?” Evesham demanded indignantly as he stood up to pace in front of the desk in Gabriel’s study at Club Venus.
“I am merely asking—”
“Because it certainly sounds as if you are by implying I arranged to have myself set upon by ruffians!” There was none of the usual good humor in the younger man’s countenance as he scowled darkly.
Gabriel had decided to talk to Evesham here rather than at Blackborne House, having taken Victory back there after leaving Winter House. He had no wish to involve her in any further violence.
The more Gabriel had considered Victory’s suggestion of Bruno, Gordon, or Evesham as the perpetrator of the attacks, and possibly also the incidents at Club Venus, the more he began to appreciate her conclusion could be the correct one.
He had no doubts Bruno was not involved. The other man had once been his sergeant in the army and had saved Gabriel’s life more than once.
Evesham and Gordon were a different matter.
Neither of those gentlemen were an earl, of course, but that did not prevent them from having used that title in their dealings with these ruffians. They would not have wished to use their own name or title. There was also the possibility that Shaftesbury’s resentment toward the two men was reciprocated by one of them, hence this attempt to frame him with these crimes.
Winter had offered to ask Gordon some probing questions during his professional visit to check on the older man at his home today. The other man had promised to come here afterward and report the findings of that conversation to Gabriel.
Having arrived at Club Venus a short time ago to find Peregrine Evesham already in the main salon chatting with several of the ladies—the younger man really did seem to have almost taken up residence here—Gabriel had taken the opportunity to invite the younger man to his study so that he might talk with him regarding these attacks. Questions Evesham was obviously taking exception to.
Because he was guilty?
Or because he was innocent?
Both were likely to garner such a response.
“There have also been several incidents here at Club Venus,” he persisted despite the younger man’s indignation.
“Which the ladies have told me they believe can be attributed to the actions of Carlotta after you dismissed her before Christmas.”
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. Was Evesham’s increasing closeness to the ladies who resided here deliberate? So that he might hear and know of all the goings on here?
Whatever the outcome of this conversation, Gabriel knew that his budding friendship with Evesham was over. He had once heard it said that one did not make close friends beyond childhood, and it was certainly true that his three closest friends were from his school days. Pity, because he was becoming genuinely fond of the younger man.
He sighed deeply. “You—” He broke off and rose to his feet at the sound of raised voices out in the hallway.
It was still only late afternoon, and the club did not open its doors to patrons until eight o’clock in the evening.
Gabriel wrenched open the door. “What on earth is going on—” Gabriel found himself rendered speechless as he stared at the two women scrapping and shouting in the hallway.
Both were dark-haired. One had green eyes. The other had eyes so dark, they shone like malevolent onyx. Both wore bonnets, and cloaks over their gowns, but the green-eyed lady’s clothing was obviously of much finer quality than the other woman’s. The expressions on both their faces were fierce, but there was also a snarl of pleasure on that of the dark-eyed woman.
“Victory!” Gabriel reached out to grasp the back of her cloak as he pulled her away from the other woman. “Touch her again, Carlotta, and you will find yourself tied and gagged before being carted off by the authorities, accused of assault,” he warned in a cold voice as the Spanish woman rushed at Victory, hands up and clenched into vicious claws.
“I caught her trying to sneak in the back door of the club,” Victory told Gabriel triumphantly once he had pulled both ladies into the study before he released her.
Carlotta’s eyes glittered darkly. “And, as I told her, I was only trying to help myself to some food.”
Victory snorted. “After which you would no doubt have set about carrying out some other viciousness toward Gabriel and the ladies who live here.”
“Gabriel, is it?” Carlotta scorned. “Not so high and mighty after all, are you, Your Grace,” she taunted.
He knew Carlotta was referring to the fact he had repulsed her advances toward him when she first came here. As he had done with all the ladies who lived and worked here; it would have been most unethical for him to take advantage of them when they simply had no other choice of profession.
His jaw tightened. “Miss Jones does not reside here.”
Carlotta’s mouth twisted with derision. “Keep her tucked away for yourself in some cozy little love nest, do you?”
This was the second person in as many days who had dared to imply his intentions toward Victory were less than honorable.
He gave a scathing snort. “Does it look as if she is kept tucked away anywhere?” As Gabriel had left Victory safely ensconced at Blackborne House two hours ago, he was not best pleased that she had once again disobeyed his instructions to come here.
Earning Victory another smacked bottom?
Possibly, although on the last occasion, the two of them had enjoyed the enterprise far too much.
The stirring of Gabriel’s cock merely at the thought of stroking and then spanking that delectable bottom told him his own response, at least, would be the same as before.
He scowled at Victory. “Why could you not, for once, have done as you were told?”
Her eyes flashed the color of emeralds. “Possibly because I am not someone you can tell to ‘stay’ or ‘go.’ Besides…” Her chin rose. “I am sure I have caught the person responsible for the malicious acts inside the club.” She eyed Evesham. “Can you say the same in regard to the beatings outside?”
Evesham bristled. “Now look here—”
“Did you do it?” Victory demanded of him. She was tired of this conversation, if Gabriel was not. “And
if you did, why did you?”
Evesham’s expression darkened. “I do not have to answer questions from the likes of you, madam!”
“The likes of me,” Victory repeated in a dangerously soft voice that caused Gabriel to give a knowing wince. “And what might you be implying by that remark, my lord?” the last she bit out with complete contempt for the title.
Evesham looked down the length of his nose at her. “That you are nothing but a guttersnipe, ready to spread your legs for any man who has the coin to pay you, whereas I am a member of the aristocracy. One, moreover, who does not have to remain here any longer to listen to these insults.” He marched toward the door.
“If you think you’re leaving me here to take the blame alone, then you’re mistaken,” Carlotta scorned, causing Evesham to come to a halt before slowly turning to look at her through narrowed lids. “He’s your man, Your Grace.” Carlotta pointed at Evesham. “The one they call the earl. He offered to pay me a pretty penny after I moved in here, to start making trouble for you.”
Gabriel looked taken aback. “Did that include tying Shaftesbury to a bed?”
“Oh no.” Carlotta’s smile was feral. “I did that completely for my own pleasure. But, because you dismissed me afterward, this one”—her expression hardened as she looked at Evesham—“decided not to pay me what he already owed me.”
“Because you had removed yourself from a position where you would be able to carry out the duty for which you were to be paid—” Evesham broke off abruptly as he realized he had just incriminated himself.
“And what duty might that have been?” Gabriel prompted softly.
Victory wished she might go to him and offer her support during what she knew must be a difficult conversation for him. On the few occasions she had seen him with Evesham, the two men appeared to be friends.
But there was now an air of cold disdain about Gabriel which did not encourage her or anyone else to so much as attempt to touch him. “Well?” he prompted at the other man’s silence.
Evesham’s chest puffed up as he now made no attempt to hide his contempt for the older man. “Your ruination, of course,” he bit out with a sneer. “Both socially and professionally.”
Gabriel's Torment (Regency Club Venus 2) Page 11