She gave him a tremulous smile. “I can see why so many ladies sought your counsel. You give a lady a chance to form her thoughts.
What he was trying to do was form his own. He moved until he was kneeling before her. Taking her hand, he squeezed it. His chest tightened into a painful knot. “I am so sorry. I didnt know Annie was your friend. I can never forgive myself for causing her to take her life
“I hold Quentin completely responsible.
“Then you do not know the whole tale.
“I know much more than you think. I know he abused her in bed. I know he sent her to you and told her if she did not seduce you, then he would make her life more miserable than it was.
His hand went limp around hers. “Sent her to me?
She nodded, her eyes reflecting her own horror at what Quentin had done.
“Why would he do that?
“He was a voyeur. Your rooms shared connecting walls. Annie said he could see into yours without being seen himself. Hed sent servants to you before, and he was bored with that distraction. He wanted to tempt you with an unforgivable sin.
Rhys lunged to his feet, his heart thundering, his stomach roiling. Hed been nineteen, only just beginning to experience the pleasures a womans body could offer.
“He watched, he rasped, unable to believe it, unable to get beyond the sense of violation he felt.
He spun around and pierced her with his gaze. “You are mistaken. He would not have sent her to me when it was his place to get her with an heir. He would not have risked my seed taking hold.
More tears spilled onto her cheeks. “She was already with child.
He staggered back, dropped into a chair, and bowed his head. It could not be.
“She had told him only that day. He wished to celebrate. Dear God, but he was the vilest of creatures. I dared not tell anyone because I did not wish to tarnish my dear friends memory. Following her death, I heard the rumors that it was the second son who had betrayed the first, but I alone knew it was the first who had betrayed the second. Although I suppose Lady Sachse knew as well.
Rhyss head came up. “Lady Sachse. How did she know of it?
“Im not exactly sure. I know only that Annie mentioned that Lady Sachse had sought to comfort her. But Annie maintained that all the comfort in the world could not lessen her disgrace, her abhorrence over what shed done. She was quite beside herself when she came to see me. That night she took her life. I lay the blame at your brothers feet.
Rhys scraped his fingers through his hair. “I knew he was demented, but this revelation sickens me. Youve mentioned it to no one?
“No. I would not have had the courage to come to you tonight except that you looked so unhappy at my ball. Unhappy and yet announcing your intention to marry Lady Sachsewhich is a marvelous pairing. You were both incredibly kind to me. I suppose once you are wed that she will cease to be as generous and will no longer share you with her lady friends. I am amazed she did so at all. If you were mine, I think I would keep you to myself.
Yes, there were many things he was beginning to think Lady Sachse had kept to herself.
“Rhys Rhodes. By God, we should have guessed, Reynolds said.
From within the shadowy confines of his carriage, Whithaven watched as his wife climbed into hers. He clutched the linen handkerchief while his anger boiled.
“At least now the monogram makes sense, Reynolds mused.
That Reynolds had found an identical handkerchief bearing the same crimson initial among his wifes things brought Whithaven no comfort.
“Some years back I remember there were whispers that hed betrayed his brother, Kingston told them. “I suppose we should not be surprised he would betray you as well.
“Dont sound so superior, Reynolds said. “Simply because you didnt find evidence of a handkerchief doesnt mean he hasnt bedded your wife.
“I keep my wife well pleasured. Make no mistake about it. I daresay she has no cause to look elsewhere for her satisfaction.
“Are you saying I have not your skills in bed?
“I am saying if the shoe fits, wear it.
“Ill have you know, of late my wife can scarcely keep her hands off me, so this fellow cannot be as talented as rumored.
“But at some point, obviously, it was not you she wished to put her hands on.
“Gentlemen, Whithaven growled. “Fighting among ourselves will hardly make this problem go away.
“What do you propose? Reynolds asked.
Whithaven narrowed his eyes as another carriage came around the corner. It bore the ducal crest.
“I say we find out where hes going.
It took Rhys less than ten minutes to find the first peephole in what had been Quentins bedchamber. It was hidden behind a painting of a fox hunt and looked in on the room where Rhys had slept when he was younger and in residence.
A room where hed lost his virginity to a seductive upstairs maid whod visited him in the middle of the night when he was sixteen. He thought he might be ill.
By the time he arrived at Camillas, hed remembered every sexual encounter hed experienced in that bed. Not a single one of them initiated by him.
He was shaking with such fury and a sense of violation when he walked through her door that it was all he could do to follow her butler into the solarium without smashing objects along the way.
Stretched out on a fainting couch, she smiled at him. “My dear Rhys, what brings you here so late at night?
“You never told me that you knew Annie.
“Annie?
“Quentins wife.
“Ah, yes. Annie. She gracefully glided a hand toward a nearby table. “Have some wine, Rhys.
“I believe Ill pass.
She shook her head with a tsk . “Suit yourself.
She poured herself some and gulped it down.
“How did you know Annie? he demanded.
“Does it matter?
“I believe it does. The night you and I met, Id just left my brother. He was in residence here in London. I was walking away from the house when you happened by in your carriage. You knew who I was. I did not think to wonder at the time how you knew, when Id never before set eyes on you. How did you know who I was?
“I am certain our paths must have crossed at some time.
He banged his fist on the table, and she jerked.
“I want answers. We made a bargain back then. You took me to your smaller town house. You offered me shelter, food, anything I wanted if I would make myself available to you. I was desperate and accepted your offer. Only you never came to me. Never. You sent other women to me.
“You were young, virile. I was generous to share you.
“How did you know I was virile? he growled.
“Rhys
“I found peepholes in my brothers room. So I ask you again. How did you know I was virile?
“Because I watched you!
He felt as though someone had just bludgeoned his heart.
She drank greedily, her hand shaking so badly that the wine spilled onto her gown.
“Why? he rasped.
“The old Sachse, my dear departed husbandmay he rest in hellwas a cruel man. He and Quentin were friends, two sides of the same bad penny, as it were. They had an appetite for voyeurism, and a young man still in his prime could provide them with quite a bit of entertainment.
A shudder rippled through Rhys that he thought would fracture him in half. He walked to the table, poured himself a full glass of wine, and swallowed it down in one long gulp before daring to look at Camilla. “Have you nothing stronger to drink?
“In the cabinet.
Caring only that its contents were as dark as his thoughts, he grabbed a decanter, splashed the liquid liberally into the glass, and quickly downed it. “How many times did you watch with them?
“Only once. I could tell you that they forced me to watch youhe could see her blinking back tears, striving to maintain her composure“but I wanted to reassure myself that thehellip;ac
thellip;was as disagreeable for every other woman as it was for me.
She sat up on the chaise. “My God, Rhys, the care with which you touched Annie. She shook her head, her tears brimming. “It was the first time I ever wept.
“And in your smaller town house, where you allowed me to livehellip;how many times did you watch me there?
She lowered her gaze.
“Damnation! He swiped his hand across the table, sending the contents spilling and crashing to the floor. “You are well and truly sick of mind and revolting of heart!
“I know, she whispered plaintively.
He wanted to double over from the pain of it. “Did your ladies know we were being watched?
She jerked her head up, a horrified expression on her face. “No, of course not.
“Why, for Gods sake why?
“Because I discovered old Sachse wasnt the only man who had no finesse when it came to bedding his wife. I believed that at least once, a woman should be with a man who didnt plow into her as though she were a field to be furrowed. She came to her feet. “And because my husband was a sadist. I was sixteen when we married, and by the time I was knowledgeable enough to realize that what hed convinced me was the way of things was only his wayhellip;it was too late for me. Even your skilled touch would not carry me to the heights Ive seen you carry others. And so I found my satisfaction in giving you to other ladies.
He turned his back on her.
“I dont expect you to forgive me
“Thats damned good of you, because I wont.
“I do hope that you might understand
He spun around with such force that she staggered back and fell across the chaise.
“Understand? he demanded. “I was a damned whore! I knew that, I accepted that. But to also know that I was on exhibition for your amusement. My God, if you were a man Id beat you to within an inch of your life.
She straightened, wiped away her tears, and met his gaze. “At least now you know why we will have a chaste marriage.
“We wont have a marriage at all.
She sniffed and angled her head. “You cant cry off. I shall sue you for breach of contract, breach of faith. And I shall not play nicely.
“Are you threatening to expose my past?
“Im not threatening, Im promising. You have much more to lose than I, and if I learned one thing from your abhorrent brother, it was how to spin a yarn so that I come away the victim. I shall have everyones sympathy while you shall have nothing but their disdain.
“I dont give a damn what anyone thinks.
“Perhaps not. But I do believe you care what Lydia thinks. She has stayed in your house. Who would think she has not been part of our games?
“Dont even contemplate harming her with innuendo.
“Then dont consider crying off. I wish to be a duchess. Its all thats left to me.
“Do you not fathom that I prefer not to ever set eyes on you again?
The familiar scheming look came into her eyes. “All I want is the title. After were wed, you may go to the far corners of the earth and I wont care. She gave him a sad smile. “Protect your little dreamer, Rhys. You know I have sharp claws and no heart.
He turned and strode from the room. Let her make of his departure what she would.
He didnt much care for threats or bullies, but Camilla had read him right. He did care about Lydia and was willing to do whatever was necessary to see her happy.
He hurried down the outer steps only because he wished to be away from Camilla as quickly as possible, but once he reached the pavement, he had no desire to go anywhere. His footman opened the carriage door, and Rhys merely shook his head, surprised by the effort that simple action took.
“Take the carriage home. I wish to walk.
He stood there a moment, listening to the clatter of the horses hooves, the whir of the wheels. Fog had settled in, and he quickly found himself alone in the muggy air.
How in Gods name had he brought himself to this moment? Hed been so eager with the first woman, so grateful for her attentions, but she hadnt returned to his bed the next night. Hed thought the fault had rested with him. So hed begun searching for answers in obscure books that he could find only on the darker side of London, books that revealed various positions for lovemaking, writings that described ways to increase pleasure.
Until the night Quentins wife had come to him. Sweet Annie, who had simply asked him to love her, and even though hed known it was wrong, hed heard her crying in the room next to his too many nights not to invite her into his bed. Theyd made love so tenderly, slowly, gently that when they were finished, theyd clung to each other and wept for what might have been. For what shouldnt have been.
Quentin had sent her to him. Three nights later shed taken her own life and left him a note of apologya note Quentin had discovered. A note that had ignited Quentins temper and drawn both his parents into the room. A note that revealed that Rhys had bedded his brothers wife, was responsible for her death. That shamed him into running.
What sort of sick and twisted mind had his brother possessed?
Rhys was brought back to the present by the sound of footsteps. He hadnt realized how far hed walked.
He glanced over his shoulder. Three shadows emerged from the fog. Before he could react, pain arced through his jaw. And he realized that his darkest nightmare was about to descend on him.
Chapter 23
L ydia awoke to a tapping. She opened her eyes to the darkness, disoriented and confused. What had made that sound?
Click . Clink .
She eased out from beneath the covers, shivered, and scurried to the window. Parting the drapes slightly, she peered out.
William stood outside, tossing little pebbles against the house. She opened the window. “William?
“I didnt know where else to go, he called up in a hushed whisper.
“Wait there.
She grabbed her night wrapper from the foot of the bed and slipped it on as she hurried down the stairs. She opened the front door to find him waiting for her. He looked as though someone had died.
“Whats wrong? she asked.
“Its His Grace. Said hed flay me back if I sent for a doctor, but he needs one bad. He likes you. Thought maybe you could convince him to come to his senses.
“Is he sick?
“Worse than that. He grabbed her arm. “Come on, please.
Horrible visions rushed through her head. Perhaps his appendix had burst. Or hed come down with some disease: cholera, the plague. Did they still get the plague in England? Hadnt it wiped out most of the population of Europe at some time?
Rhys would no doubt scold her for not knowing the specifics.
“How did you get here? she asked.
“I ran. That day you came to live here, I came to say good-bye to Colton. He showed me which room was yours. Didnt think Id ever have need of knowing.
“Let me get dressed, and Ill have a servant bring a carriage around.
He nodded, and she retreated back inside. All she could think was that shed be lost if Rhys died. How could she even contemplate marrying Sachse when her heart so totally and completely belonged to Rhys?
At Rhyss home, William led her inside and dashed into the library. Lydia went in after him and immediately spotted Rhys slumped in a chair beside the fireplace.
“Oh, my dear God, she rasped, as she rushed across the room and knelt before him.
His beautiful face was cut, bruised, and scraped. One eye was nearly swollen shut. “My God, what happened?
Through his one good eye, he glared at William. “I told you to go to bed.
“Figured you didnt really know your own mind. Thought shed do you some good, Guv.
Lydia gently touched her fingers to his bleeding cheek. His torn clothes were further ruined where flecks of blood had splattered on them. “What happened?
“I stumbled when stepping out of my carriage, he muttered through clenched teeth.
“Im not stupid, Rhys. I
have three brothers. I know what the results of a fight look like when I see it.
“To say it was a fight would imply Id taken part, had a chance to defend myself. It was more of a thrashing.
“Why?
Shaking his head, he looked away.
Stubborn man. She prodded his chest, and he issued a low moan before slapping her hand away.
She gave him a pointed look. “Your ribs are probably broken. Let me send for a physician.
“No. I can tend to myself.
“I dont know why men think sending for a doctor is a sign of weakness. My brothers have a tendency to avoid doctors as well. If you wont let me get you a physician, then youll have to let me tend to you.
He snorted. “Go back to Ravenleighs, Lydia.
“A doctor isnt always available in Fortune. I know quite a bit about tending injuries.
“Bring me a bottle and leave me be.
She turned to William. “Get him a bottle from the liquor cabinet and a glass.
“No glass. Tonight I have no wish to be refined.
“Fine, but I think youll find it easier to drink with a glass. While William fetched the alcohol, Lydia tried to assess Rhyss injuries. She lifted his hair off his brow and grimaced. “How many men?
“Three.
“I hope you gave as good as you got.
“Under the circumstances, I decided to take what I had coming like a man.
“So you didnt resist?
He barely shook his head.
“Here you go, Guv.
Rhys lifted the bottle to his mouth, grimacing and moaning as he tipped it up. Lydia put her hand beneath it to hold it steady while he gulped the brew, no doubt hoping for quick oblivion.
“Surely youre gonna do more than that for him, William said.
“Yes. Go to the kitchen and see if you can find me a cut of beef, the larger the better. Also well need warm water, towels, scraps of linen.
“Ill find em all. He scampered off.
Lydia let go of the bottle and sat back on her heels.
“Dont look so worried, Lydia.
“I cant play these games, Rhys. I cant pretend not to feel something that I feel.
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