Forbidden Angel

by Sandra Lea Rice

  “I’ll teach you not to speak to me in that fashion,” he snarled, raising his fist.

  At the sound of men’s voices and the pounding of feet, he lowered his clenched hand and stared into her face, then took her lips in a brutal kiss, further cutting the delicate skin inside her mouth. When his other hand found her breast and squeezed, she bit down on his lip and rammed her knee into his groin.

  Malcolm’s eyes bulged, his face contorted, then uttering an inhuman shriek, he dropped to his knees. He clutched himself and gagged. “You bitch,” he growled through clenched teeth. “You’ll regret this. You have no idea how much pain I can inflict on you.” He struggled to his feet and staggered through the trees.

  Adrian charged into the clearing. After one look at Angeline, he wrapped his arms protectively around her, then gently lifted her chin to see her face. When he touched her cheek, she grimaced. A tear spilled down her already swelling face as her eyes sought and found his. Her bottom lip quivered with the effort to keep from crying. Through a swollen and bloody mouth, she whimpered.

  White-hot rage shot through him. He wanted to find Malcolm and kill him. But hampered by the stronger desire to comfort her, he instead cradled her tightly.

  “Adrian, please. Take me back to the hotel. I don’t wish to be seen this way.” Angeline hid her battered face against his chest.

  Michael and Joel burst into the clearing and came to a sudden, shocked halt as they took note of her appearance.

  Adrian slipped her arm through his own. “Michael, would you extend our apologies to the wedding party?”

  Michael stepped closer to better see her. “My men and I will find him and make him pay for this.”

  “None of you have even asked for his name. But you already know, don’t you?” Her voice sounded resigned.

  “Angeline, I—” Michael started to speak, but was interrupted by Adrian.

  “I need to take her back to the hotel. Find Frank, Virginia, and Shirley and ask them to meet us at the carriage.”

  After a last, brief glance at Angeline, Michael went in search of the others.

  Adrian stayed in the shadows, walking slowly as she leaned heavily against him.

  “You knew he was here, didn’t you.” It was not a question. “And you chose not to tell me.”

  “I didn’t want to frighten you.” He recognized how lame the excuse now sounded.

  “Do you think his taking me by surprise didn’t frighten me? When will you ever learn?” With a swish of skirts, Angeline pulled away. After two staggering steps, she crumpled.

  “Little fool.” Adrian scooped her up. She made no other protest as he carried her to the carriage.

  Coach lights illuminated the interior of the carriage as they traveled back to Houston and the safety of the hotel.

  Adrian sat quietly in the corner and watched her. “What hold does he have?”

  Pain, sorrow, fear; all were visible in her eyes. If he’d had any doubts, they were quickly dispelled.

  “I will tell you, but later, please.”

  “As you wish.” He settled back and let Shirley and Virginia tend to her.

  When they arrived at the hotel, Adrian addressed Shirley. “See that your mistress is comfortable. I will check on her shortly.”

  “Yes, my lord.” Shirley bobbed.

  Angeline stepped out of her gown and handed it to Shirley. “I can’t believe Malcolm would follow me all this way.” Walking to the washbasin, she wet a towel and held it to her cheek.

  “That makes him all the more dangerous, miss. He’s no good, that one.”

  Angeline eyed her in surprise. “What do you know about him?”

  “Well, servants talk. An honorable man does not force himself on the women of his household. And if they’re very young . . .”

  Horrified, Angeline gasped.

  Shirley placed the gown in the wardrobe to be packed in the morning. “If you’ll lift your hair, I’ll undo the clasp on the necklace.”

  Angeline pulled her hair to the side. She couldn’t dispel the sickening picture that lodged in her mind. She now had firsthand knowledge of what Charles was capable of. Thankfully Adrian had arrived when he did, or it would have been far worse.

  “This also belonged to your mother.” Shirley handed her the locket. “Your father had all of her things packed away for you.”

  As Angeline traced the outline of the letter C engraved on the front, she thought of the words in her father’s letter.

  “Were you at Ashley Manor when my mother was still alive?” She twisted to allow Shirley to unlace her corset.

  “Yes, miss. I was just a young maid, but I had the pleasure of knowing her.”

  Angeline dropped her petticoat to the floor. “Would you tell me about her?”

  “I don’t know much, my lady. ‘Tis Bunny you should speak to. She was closer to your mother than anyone.”

  Suddenly exhausted, Angeline sighed and nodded. Retrieving her wrapper from the foot of the bed, she slid her arms carefully into the long sleeves. “Go along, Shirley, and do what needs to be done.”

  “If you’re sure, my lady.”

  Angeline followed Shirley to the door and glanced down the hall to see the men talking quietly. Adrian broke from the group and strode toward her.

  “Go ahead, Shirley. Lord Adrian will only be a moment,” Angeline assured her maid, as Adrian stepped inside the room.

  “Yes, miss.” The door shut softly behind Shirley.

  “How are you?” Adrian guided her toward the light to better see her face.

  Angeline knew her cheek was swollen and most likely turning color. She must look a fright. His gaze dropped to her wrapper and the bluish mark revealed above the edge of her chemise.

  “What did he do?” His voice hardened.

  “Nothing.” She pulled the wrapper closed.

  “Let me see.” His voice gentled as he tugged the silk from between her fingers.

  Angeline’s face heated as he pulled the chemise down to reveal the bruising. Leaning forward, he tenderly placed his lips against the purple mark.

  “Oh God, darling, I am so sorry.”

  She saw pain in his eyes. “I’m all right, Adrian.” She brushed a wayward lock of hair from his forehead. “He is probably the worst for wear.”

  Adrian lifted a brow in question.

  “I remembered what some of the stable lads once told me. I lifted my knee and got him in the . . .”

  Adrian laughed and pulled her against him. “Sweetheart, you are a rare prize.” Taking her hand, he led her to the door. “Lock it behind me.”

  Angeline slid the bolt in place and finished preparing for bed. Picking up the locket, she looked more closely.

  What is it that no one is telling me? More importantly, what was the promise?

  Angeline awoke at first light and dressed quickly. At a light tap followed by Shirley’s whispered, “Are you up, my lady?” she slid the bolt and opened the door.

  “I’m almost ready.” Angeline gave a quick glance down the hall and noticed it was empty. Apparently, there had been no further problems.

  Within minutes, everything was packed, and Adrian appeared at the door. After a cursory look around, he led them downstairs to join the others.

  The luggage, including a basket of bread, cheese, sliced beef, and fruit, was loaded quickly. Two additional horses were tied to the back of the carriage and two others were led. Halfway to the ranch they would switch teams and continue on.

  When at last they drew up in front of the house, there was a collective sigh of relief. Adrian called the men together and set up patrols to guard the house and surrounding area.

  There didn’t seem to be a doubt in Adrian’s mind that Malcolm would come for her.

  Chapter 16

  A few days had passed without a sign of Malcolm. Two men talked quietly under a nearby tree, their rifles leaning against the trunk. Although Angeline knew they were trying to be as unobtrusive as possible, it was still disconcert
ing to realize they were needed for her protection.

  Adrian had asked to meet with her, and she waited expectantly for him to appear. What was she to say? How could she possibly tell him his sister had been responsible for this situation? She didn’t want to hurt him or the others, but she feared there was no other choice. Neither would her father’s inability to control Elizabeth make him look good in Adrian’s eyes.

  As Angeline took a sip of her morning tea, she caught Virginia surveying her face.

  “How are you feeling this morning? Is it still very sore?” Virginia looked pointedly at the bruising. “This business with Charles Malcolm is quite distressing, and his following you here, reprehensible.”

  “My face is healing.” Angeline touched her cheek carefully. “I cannot comprehend why Malcolm would go to this extreme. I have a nice dowry and a house in London, but Ashley Manor and everything else goes to James.” She moved to avoid seeing the men. “My father invested in shipping and trading in the East Indies, but the details are things my father’s solicitor, Edward Thornby, would know. Again, it would belong to James. There was not enough time to discuss it all before I left.”

  “You’re a beautiful woman. Perhaps it’s as simple as that,” Virginia offered.

  “Somehow, I doubt that. From what I’ve heard of him, he has little regard for women past what he can gain. I’m also aware of his treatment of them.” She sipped her tea.

  Virginia’s head snapped up. “That is not something which should have been discussed in your presence.”

  Angeline smirked. “It wasn’t, at least not intentionally. You would be surprised what one small girl can learn if she happens to be seated at the top of the stairs, or in the pantry just outside the kitchen.”

  “You were eavesdropping?” Virginia asked, somewhat aghast.

  “But of course. There were things I wanted to know and they would not have told me otherwise.” Angeline lowered her voice to a whisper. “I once heard two of the maids talking about a handsome young footman, who had the largest—”

  Virginia laughed. “Now you are teasing me.”

  Angeline shrugged. “Perhaps, but they always blushed and giggled when he was around.”

  Adrian was about to step onto the porch when he heard the women talking. Although ungentlemanly to stop and listen, he’d heard enough to find their conversation amusing. The minx had led them all a merry chase. William, he knew, had encouraged her to speak her mind, which she had on more than a few occasions. He had also opened his library to her and made even the most scandalous of books available to her lively curiosity.

  On one of Adrian’s visits to Ashley Manor, William confided he’d found her studying the pictures in A Book of Advice for Gentlemen. He’d hidden the book on the top shelf behind some very large tomes and assumed it beyond her reach. Far from being embarrassed at being caught, Angeline had shown him a picture and asked if it were humanly possible to do such a thing. At the time, Adrian had found himself more than a little intrigued.

  Now, he smiled at the memory. But Angeline’s next words wiped the smile from his face.

  “Perhaps the next time Charles confronts me, and we both know he will, I should just shoot him and be done with it.”

  Enough!

  At the shocked gasp from his sister, Adrian stepped through the door. “You will do no such thing.” He addressed Angeline more forcefully than he’d intended.

  Both women turned to look at him; one in surprise and one lavender-eyed chit in merriment. One would almost think she’d been aware of his presence.

  “Adrian, of course she won’t,” Virginia said.

  Angeline casually picked up her cup and smiled at him over the rim.

  “Imp.” He chuckled. “I came to ask if you would care to ride with me.”

  “I would love to.” She came to her feet. “When?”

  “As soon as you’re ready.”

  Angeline turned to Virginia. “I hope you won’t think me rude?”

  “Of course not. I’m not quite myself today and I think I’ll just rest a while.”

  “If you’re not well, I would be happy to stay with you.” Angeline moved to retake her seat.

  Virginia shooed her away. “I’ll be fine. Now go along and get ready before my brother goes without you.”

  While Angeline hurried upstairs to change, Adrian sat in the chair nearest Virginia. “What is it? Shall I call a doctor to come out here?” He studied Virginia’s face.

  She beamed at him. “We might consider that in a few months time.”

  He smiled as he enveloped his sister in a hug. “Joel never said anything when we spoke this morning.”

  “I asked him to let me tell you. It has been such a long time that I wasn’t certain I would have another child.” Virginia’s face glowed.

  “I see she’s told you our good news,” Joel said proudly, as he stepped onto the porch.

  Adrian rose and clasped Joel’s hand. “Congratulations.” Unbidden, he felt a pang of envy.

  Angeline reappeared wearing a tan riding skirt and yellow blouse. Her eyes held a sparkle of anticipation.

  “I’ve just told my brother that Joel and I are going to have another child,” Virginia informed her.

  “How wonderful.” Angeline bent to kiss the other woman on the cheek. “When is the baby due?”

  “Just before Christmas. Now be off with you, but please be careful.”

  They’d ridden for a while before the grouping of trees surrounding the falls appeared. Adrian replaced the bridles with halters to allow the horses to graze freely. He found Angeline sitting quietly on the edge of the boulder facing the pond. As she raised her face toward the sun, the bruising on her cheek revealed shades of green and yellow.

  Malcolm would pay for that, too.

  Although Adrian hoped she would tell him the truth, he sensed her discomfort. He dropped down beside her and remained silent, watching the falls. Just as before, a shimmering, elusive rainbow danced above the spray.

  “One could almost forget everything else,” she mused.

  “I come here as often as I can. This place always gives me a sense of peace.” Adrian tossed a pebble into the pond, and tracked the ripples as they fanned out and disappeared.

  She turned and laid a slim hand on his arm. “You must believe I have done nothing to encourage Sir Malcolm.”

  “I know you haven’t.” Adrian took a deep breath. “Sometimes you think you’ve left things of the past behind. Then, life has a way of bringing them back again. Malcolm and I have a past which would seem to be unfinished.”

  Although she didn’t speak, Adrian sensed Angeline’s attention. He picked up another pebble and sent in skimming across the surface of the water.

  “Malcolm was involved in the death of . . .” He hesitated.

  “Your fiancée?” she filled in softly.

  He glanced at her. “So you know of that?” When she nodded, he glanced back at the pond. “I was very young, barely one-and-twenty. When Malcolm accused me of the very crime he had committed, my father grew anxious for me.”

  Her hand slid down to his, and he laced his fingers through hers as it lay on his thigh.

  His grip tightened. “I didn’t kill her.”

  Her head swung in his direction. “Of course you didn’t. I never for one instant thought you guilty. You are not capable of such a thing.”

  Adrian blinked and swallowed. “That is more than I can say for others. I’ll never forget the look of suspicion in her father’s eyes, and those of my friends, men I’d grown up with.”

  “Some people will always believe the worst in others, but surely not everyone thought you guilty.” She lifted an arched brow in question.

  He shrugged, uncomfortable with the conversation.

  “Why didn’t you return, Adrian? Did you love her so much you couldn’t bear being in England without her?”

  He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “You are a romantic, my sweet. Although I cared deeply fo
r her—”

  “You cared deeply?” She frowned.

  “Very good marriages have been based on less. As I said, we were very young, but because I was my father’s only son and heir, I was in a hurry to safeguard the family line. Everything in my life was planned to the last detail.”

  “Adrian, why haven’t you returned to England?” Angeline repeated her earlier question.

  “It’s complicated.” What could he say? He loved the freedom here and hated the looks he’d received there? He sounded like a bloody coward. “Angeline, as your guardian—”

  She interrupted. “But you are not my guardian.”

  “Yes, Angel, I am, and as your guardian I can try and protect you by refusing Malcolm’s request, but having no knowledge of what he holds over you, my rejection might not be enough.” He faced her, squarely. “Tell me what he has.”

  She took a deep breath, let it out slowly. “He holds a promissory note for a very large sum.”

  “What? How large? I will simply pay him and—”

  Angeline held up a hand to stay his response. When she whispered the amount and who had signed the note, he felt as if he’d had the air knocked from him.

  “I offered to pay him but he refused. He says he wants me instead. As I told Virginia, my dowry is quite satisfactory and I was given a house in London from my mother, but neither of those things would account for his determination to marry me.”

  “Marry me, Angeline.” This was it. Her answer would determine what he did next.

  She stared at him for a moment. A frisson of dread rippled up his spine. He could guess what she was about to ask.

  “How do you feel about me, Adrian? Tell me the truth.”

  He knew she wanted to hear sweet words of love, words to send her young heart fluttering.

  Sweet lies.

  He’d whispered such words before to women he’d held in his arms, women who knew those words were false and, like him, were only interested in the moment and the pleasure they gave each other. Words that neither of them would remember in the light of day. But he had never told any woman he loved her. Angeline deserved better from him than a lie.