Marquess of Fortune: A Lords of Fate Novel

by K. J. Jackson

  “I should?”

  “Yes. You should love me. That is exactly what you should do. That is exactly what you have been doing. Every moment that you have been in my life. My life is right because of you. I was in shambles—everything in shambles, and then you. For as much turmoil as there is around me, I have been happy. Happiness I did not want to admit to because everything else is in such a sorry state. It was the wrong time and I had no right to it. But there it was—is—happiness because of you.”

  Her hands slipped up his neck to cup his jawline, the prickle of his dark stubble rubbing along her palms. “I love you, Garek. I do. It is the one true thing that has come out of the monstrosity that has become my life. You. For all that I have lost—you—you are the salvation in all of it.”

  “Hell, Lily.” He grabbed her face, capturing her lips with barely restrained power nudging her senses. His breath warmed her face as his fingertips curled along her neck and under her hair, sending shivers down her arms.

  The wind, the cold, fell away as he enclosed her in a cocoon of warmth, his body hard against her softness. His mouth opened, tasting her, and Lily pressed into him, wanting to disappear into the safe haven of him, the space where her body began to tingle, throb at the smallest brush of his muscles moving against her. Disappear into him, into the wonder of it, if only for a moment.

  His hand slipped down her singular braid, wrapping the hair around his forefinger. “You found the ribbons.” The words against her mouth were low, his breath tickling her skin.

  “I did.” She kept her eyes closed, not wanting his kiss, his command of her senses to be over. “But they were not necessary.”

  His face edged away from hers, and Lily opened her eyes to see him smiling, his warm hazel eyes taking her in.

  “It is a small thing, the ribbons, but they are the one thing that has been on your body that has not been black in the time I have known you.” His hand went to her cheek, his palm replacing the heat his kiss had offered. “They were something I could not leave behind.”

  “I happily leave everything at Weadly Hall, Garek.” She brought her hands down from his shoulders, slipping them under the front edge of his great coat. “I have Bree. I have you. That is all that is important.”

  A horse neighed, pulling a cart and cresting into view along the road that ran along Widow Thompson’s property. Lily glanced over her shoulder to it, and then her gaze swung back to Garek.

  The shadows had returned to his eyes and he straightened, his hand drifting from her face. “You are freezing.”

  “I do not feel it.”

  “I feel it on you. You need to go back inside, Lily.” He took a step backward, grabbing her hands and pulling them from his chest. “I cannot stay here any longer without setting the town ablaze with gossip. This road is too well-travelled.”

  “I do not care what the townsfolk think of me.”

  He gave her a rational smile. “Yes, but not caring is something we cannot afford just yet. For now we are beholden to the kindness of these people, to the reputation of your father. Until we can determine where you can access the Silverton funds, I will give no one a reason to revoke your current residence.”

  Lily nodded. She didn’t like the logic, but she couldn’t argue against it. She would stroll upon whatever fine line the townsfolk wanted her to, as long as Brianna was somewhere warm and fed.

  “I will go in. But you will be back tomorrow?”

  A smile lifted his right cheek high. “First thing in the morning, Lils. First thing.”

  { Chapter 9 }

  “What are you doing?”

  Garek jumped, the paper in his hand crinkling as he set it onto the stack of documents in front of him. He turned in the wooden chair to see Brianna standing in the doorway to the bedroom, a robe stretched tight around her withered frame. Her fingers clutched the doorknob as she swayed slightly.

  He sprung to his feet, rushing across the room to her just in case she started to fall. “Brianna, you should be in bed.”

  His words were met with an instant glare. “I cannot bear to be in bed another moment.”

  With a nod, Garek grabbed her elbow, helping her hobble into the room. He gently set her on the chair he had occupied. “Are you feeling well—you must have more energy?”

  Brianna looked up to him, the glare not easing. “Where is Lily?”

  “She went to the Plawton’s cottage. She was hoping their youngest, Mable, had not left the area after Mr. Sneedly dismissed all of the servants. Lily hoped she could convince the girl to help here. But she did not want to leave you alone, so she asked me to stay.”

  Brianna nodded, and then her eyes swept over the mess of papers strewn across the square table.

  “These—these are all my father’s documents.” She leaned forward, fingers lifting up a few papers to see further into the piles. “What are you doing with my father’s papers?”

  Garek pulled out the wooden chair closest to him and sat. “Lily asked me to help her go through them. They were in complete disarray, and she is having trouble piecing it all back together.”

  Picking up the paper closest to her, she scanned the writing. “But these are all his finances.” She quickly picked up two more pieces, eyes whipping across them. “All about the Silverton estate.”

  “Yes?”

  Her blue eyes, an exact match with Lily’s, narrowed on him. “So what do you mean to do with them?”

  “Do with them?” Garek shrugged. “Nothing. Lily is not sure where to access funds so that she can pay Widow Thompson for this place. Pay for food.”

  “Pay you?”

  Garek’s head tilted, his brow furrowed. “Pay me? Is that what you are worried on?”

  “Of course it is.” Brianna leaned forward, her lips set in a hard line. “You do not think I have seen how you have wormed your way into our lives? Seen how you have entranced my sister?”

  “Entranced—”

  “Is it our money you are after? You have the look about you—the look of desperation.”

  “Money?” Garek shook his head. “No. Lily was the one that asked for my help—both originally with you, and then with this.” His hand swept over the papers on the table.

  “And what did you make her promise you for your help? Money? Her body?” She coughed, having to stop and take a deep breath. Both of her palms went to the table to steady herself. Her head down, her eyes came up to him. “Have you compromised my sister, Dr. Harrison?”

  Garek stood.

  His conversations with Brianna had been very limited, as she was usually sleeping, and he had truly only talked to her about her leg and the infection. But he had never expected any of this from her. She had been most docile until now.

  “I do not think I will stand for these accusations, Miss Silverton.”

  Her glare deepened. “Then leave.”

  “I told your sister I would stay and watch over you. I am only here, apparently, for her peace of mind.”

  “Is that not sweet—sweet and convenient.” Brianna’s lip went into a snarl. “You will get nothing of the Silverton estate, Dr. Harrison.”

  Garek sighed, his hand tightening on the top bar of the wooden chair. “Again, I have asked for nothing from Lily.”

  “No? How did you even get into our house, Dr. Harrison? How did she even find you? What was wrong with Dr. Rugbert?”

  A sarcastic chuckle escaped before Garek could stop it. “You would be dead right now if you were still in the hands of Dr. Rugbert—that was what was wrong with him. Lily saved your life by bringing me here, Miss Silverton.”

  “Did she? Or is that what you have convinced her of?”

  Garek took a deep breath. “I think this is a conversation better had with Lily present.”

  Brianna pushed herself to standing. “I am having it with you, Dr. Harrison. How in the hell did you swindle your way into our lives?”

  Her hands were shaking, the muscles on her neck straining. Garek could see the immense effo
rt it took for Brianna to stand.

  His lips pursed. “I do think I will take your suggestion and leave you for the moment, Miss Silverton. Lily should arrive soon. Please tell her I will return to check on you, on your leg, when she is present.”

  “You need not bother Dr. Harrison.”

  “Be that as it may, Lily will still want me to check in. Please tell her I will be back later in the day.” He walked to the outside door and paused, turning back to her, his voice genuine. “It is encouraging to see you upright, Miss Silverton. To see you with more…spirit.”

  Her scowl worsened. “Leave. Dr. Harrison. Just leave. You are needed here no more.”

  ~~~

  Turning into the space behind Widow Thompson’s barn, Lily tugged on the leather reins, slowing the white speckled horse pulling the curricle.

  She slipped the reins around the hook at the front of the curricle, and her fingernail caught her eye. Spreading her fingers wide, she sighed. Three fingertips popped out of the top seams of the leather gloves Mrs. Plawton had offered to her. Generous, even if they were half falling apart. Partially warm hands were better than fully freezing ones.

  At least young Mable was still available and would be coming by daily until Lily could move with Brianna to a permanent home where Mable could have her own quarters. That the girl was just as relieved to see her, as Lily was to find her unemployed, was evidence of the turmoil Mr. Sneedly had caused not only with her and Brianna, but also with so many of the displaced servants.

  Lily turned, stepping backward and down from the curricle. A hand suddenly on the small of her back sent an instant smile onto her face. Garek.

  She found her footing on the ground, spinning around, and choked, falling backward into the carriage step.

  Mr. Sneedly was smiling at her.

  The metal step dug into her backside as her hands went out wide, guiding her along the curricle as she tried to dodge around him.

  He sidestepped to remain directly in front of her.

  Grabbing her forearm, he continued to offer what she presumed he thought was a charming smile. “Please, Lily, there is no need to escape me.”

  Lily’s feet froze as she met his eyes, challenging. “What are you doing here, Mr. Sneedly?”

  “I came to retrieve what you stole from the estate.”

  “What I stole? I did no such thing.”

  “The curricle. The horse.” His head inclined toward the horse as though she was a simpleton.

  “Take it. Take it and leave here, Mr. Sneedly.” She twisted the arm he held, flipping her wrist as she tried to free herself. No success.

  “Garek,” she screamed, hoping he could hear her from the cottage.

  “He is not here. He left an hour ago. Do you truly think I would approach you with him nearby? The man is a monster.”

  Lily shook her head, the first shivers of fear shooting down her spine.

  “I am sorry, Lily.”

  She stopped squirming, shock crossing her face. “You are what?”

  “I have said it once.” The pasted smile slipped from his face. “I will not say it again. I may have acted hastily the other night. Asking you to leave Weadly Hall was not what I had intended.”

  “Asking? Not what you intended?” She blinked hard, dumbstruck. “Mr. Sneedly, you kicked us out of Weadly Hall in the middle of the night. In a snowstorm.”

  “A mere blunder,” he said flippantly, the repulsive smile reappearing. “I did not think you would leave.”

  “You did not think we would leave? What did you think I would do?” She glanced down at his hand wrapping her arm, her words pointed and eyes harsh as she looked back at him. “You drugged my sister, Mr. Sneedly. Brianna almost died. She nearly froze to death. And you call it a blunder?”

  “Come, now, Lily, there is no need to be so dramatic.” His fingers tightened around her arm, his too-long nails digging through the wool dress into her muscle.

  “Dramatic—you kicked me in the gut—stole my breath, Mr. Sneedly, and you dare to call me dramatic?” Lily yanked her arm, freeing it.

  But before she could move away, he snatched her left arm in the same hold. “Be still, Lily. If you will recall, you attacked me first. Did you not expect there would be retribution?” He recaptured her right arm, his face now close—far too close to hers.

  How to get away? The image of kicking him flashed through her mind, of slamming her knee up at his gut. Her right foot lifted, tensed, but then she stamped it to the ground.

  Attacking him had done her no favors the other night. Words. She needed to get out of this with words. “I did not expect to be thrown from Weadly Hall in the first place, Mr. Sneedly. I did not expect to see Brianna abandoned to the frozen ground outside.”

  “And I did not expect to find you fornicating with that doctor.” His thin lips pulled back, almost disappearing as he leaned in, his breath breaching her pores. “You must understand, Lily, it was jarring for me to see my future wife with another man. But I do not imagine you will make that mistake again after this lesson.”

  “All this was a lesson for your future wife—me?” Her voice incredulous, she wedged her hands up, fingers stretching backward to gain a grip on his arms and trying to push his body from hers. “You are mad, Mr. Sneedly. Truly and utterly mad if you think I want anything to do with you. Now kindly remove your hands from my body.”

  A grunt escaped her as she used the carriage to flatten herself against and then shoved at him with all her strength.

  He only fell one small step backward. A step he reclaimed instantly, closer than ever.

  “You need time to forgive my transgression, Lily? I understand.” The words casual, he set his cheek next to hers, his voice in her ear. She cringed away as the grease from his brown hair smeared against her temple. “In the meantime, you may do so in comfort. Come back to Weadly Hall, Lily. You and your sister.”

  She craned her head to the side, trying to avoid his breath as she lost control of her voice. “What? Why do you insist, Mr. Sneedly? Do you not understand the simple words I say? Of course we will not come back to Weadly Hall. Of course I will never—ever—be your wife. Of course I never want to see your face again.”

  His hand whipped up, grabbing a fistful of her hair, stilling her head. His mouth went to her ear. “Do not say such things, Lily.”

  She shoved again, one hand now free as she started to kick at him. But he was too close now to make hard contact, his body shoving her up against the curricle. “Take your damn horse and curricle and go, Mr. Sneedly.”

  “Or what? You will attack me again? I think you know how that ends, Lily.”

  Sneedly twisted the hair on her head, shoving the side of her face onto the black wood of the carriage. “This only ends one way, Lily. You are mine. And I tried to be kind. But no more. No more waiting for your sister to die. Waiting for you to come to me broken.” His hand holding her arm captive shifted to snatch her wrist, twisting it behind her back as his tongue went into her ear.

  Repulsion swept through her, curdling her body and sending bile into her throat. She swung as hard as possible with her free hand, but the awkward angle negated all her power, her fist landing harmlessly, again and again on his shoulder, his head.

  His tongue went deeper into her ear.

  “Yes. Fight me, Lily.” He pulled away, but only to smack her head into the carriage. “Fight it.”

  Pain shot through her skull, her eyes cringing closed, but she welcomed it. Anything that would take his tongue off of her body. Anything.

  She swung again, only hitting air.

  Hitting air because Sneedly was gone. His hands off her body.

  Slumping against the curricle, her eyes opened to see Sneedly flying through the air, slamming into the grey weathered timbers of the barn.

  Garek’s hand clamped around Sneedly’s neck, pinning him high to the wall, his legs flopping in futile kicks.

  “I let you escape death once, Sneedly, and that was my mistake. A mist
ake I will not repeat.” The growl that came from Garek was so savage, so brutal, it petrified Lily.

  A gurgle escaped from Sneedly, his body flailing.

  It was just enough horror to break Lily from her shock.

  “Garek.” Her scream echoed across the surrounding fields as she pushed off from the carriage.

  A second before she touched him, she saw Garek’s body tense, then shudder.

  She reached Garek’s back, her hands grasping onto his shoulders just as his hold on Sneedly loosened. She could feel the rage straining his muscles, along with the immense jolt of restraint that coursed through him as he let Sneedly drop from his crushing grip.

  Clutching his neck, Sneedly slid down the wall, falling to the ground.

  “Get the hell out of here before I come to my senses and destroy you, Sneedly.” Garek said the words calmly, belittling the anger Lily still felt surging along his shoulders.

  His boots slipping in the hay until he gained footing, Mr. Sneedly finally found his way to stand, and he ran away from the barn without a glance at Garek or Lily.

  Heaving, Lily’s forehead dropped onto Garek’s back. She couldn’t move for long seconds—she could only clutch Garek’s shoulders, using his strength to hold onto so she wouldn’t fall, wouldn’t crumble into a sobbing heap.

  She was fine. Fine. No harm.

  No harm except Sneedly’s tongue in her ear.

  Bile rose to her throat as the feel of his tongue flooded her mind, and Lily ran from Garek, stumbling into the barn, aiming for the wooden bucket by the front stall.

  No matter that the water was putrid and stale. It would do. She skidded onto her knees, ripping off her gloves as she set her head above the bucket and splashed freezing water up into her ear, cleaning, scrubbing it, again and again.

  Garek followed her, his feet stopping next to the bucket. He stood silent, watching her, waiting.

  The water sloshed over the edge of the bucket, splashing onto his dark boots. But Lily couldn’t stop. Couldn’t stop the scrubbing, the water rinsing and rinsing and not quite able to clean the filth of Sneedly off her skin.