The Viscount's Salvation (Honorable Rogue Book 3)

by Vikki Vaught

  “Oh, no,” she assured him. “I don’t believe that’s the case at all. The only reason I know is because of my friend’s intimate connection with your sister. I’m sorry I upset you. I should not have brought it up. I presumed too much. I based my assumption on how I would feel, and I should not have done that.”

  His demeanor softened as he met her gaze. “It’s to be expected. People will be curious and want to ask questions. I’m sure in time it will no longer bother me.” He hesitated. “I don’t like to recall my ordeal. I do enough of that in my dreams.”

  His voice sounded so anguished, and his handsome face looked flushed as if he was embarrassed. He probably regretted mentioning his dreams. She wished she could take them away, but only time would do that. If she had nightmares over what might happen, he must have terrible dreams of what he’d had to endure.

  She watched as he regained his composure, then he asked, “Would you be at home Monday? I would like to call on you.”

  Oh, good Lord, what would her father say? She had never had a gentleman caller before. She did not want him to grow suspicious and discover her plan. He could not find out she had overheard his vile offer to the marquess. Of course, why would he? She was being a ninny hammer, but it was better to be cautious.

  Perhaps she should make up an excuse and suggest they meet in the park. “I’m sorry. I have to go with my aunt to visit one of her friends that morning, but I do plan to take a walk around three that afternoon in Green Park. Perhaps, I could see you there?” Was she being too forward to suggest it? She had never done anything remotely like this before.

  He looked bemused, but then said, “Very good. I will look for you there so we can continue getting better acquainted. I would like that.”

  When the dance ended, he escorted her back to her friend’s side, bowed, then turned and went to join his sister’s husband. She watched as he walked away. He held himself so proud, yet he was not arrogant in the slightest. Could he possibly be interested in her?

  Kathleen leaned close and whispered, “How did you enjoy your dance with the captain? You seemed to have engaged his interest.”

  “I believe I may have,” she replied. “He wanted to call on me Monday, but I suggested we meet in Green Park in the afternoon, instead. At first he appeared to be taken aback, but then he agreed. Do you think I was too presumptuous in suggesting it? I dare not risk my father finding out what I have planned. He would definitely ask questions, since I have never had a gentleman call on me before.”

  “I think it’s a brilliant plan,” she enthused. “You will only have your maid with you so you can flirt with him.”

  The very thought sent her pulse racing. “Kathleen, I have never flirted with anyone before. I would not even know how to go about it. Oh, this is never going to work.”

  Her friend laughed. “Never fear, I shall teach you tomorrow when we return from church.”

  Mary sighed. “It will need to be a short lesson. I’m supposed to go driving with Mr. Mandrake at four o’clock.”

  “Oh, no,” Kathleen exclaimed, “not Mr. Mandrake. I hope he doesn’t plan to court you. I cannot like the man. Maybe it will rain and you can cry off.”

  She met her friend’s gaze. “I must say, I don’t care for him either, but as we already discussed, he would be better than the alternative.”

  “Don’t worry,” her friend assured her. “I shall not let that happen. If not Mr. Wallingford, we will find someone else.”

  “I hope so because time is of the essence.” A shiver raced up her spine.

  Oh, please, Lord, help me out of this mess.

  ****

  Cortland was surprised that he had enjoyed his dance with Lady Mary so much. What had possessed him to ask if he could call on her? That would definitely give the young lady the impression he wanted to court her. No matter how attractive he found her, he was not ready for anything like that. Albeit, taking a wife would benefit Gerrard and Aimee. Both children needed a mother’s love after what they had endured.

  Should I consider marriage after all?

  No, it was too soon. His aversion to being touched would not bode well if he were to wed. It would be much better for him to find a kindly, older woman to act as governess for Aimee.

  Lord, he longed for the quiet of his estate. Perhaps when he found the peace of being at home again, his nightmares would end.

  Now that the fear of discovery and recapture was over, his nights were again plagued by horrific dreams. Each night, he woke up bathed in sweat and fighting his bed sheets. He had even taken to drinking whiskey, hoping to pass out to avoid them. So far, it had not helped. All the liquor did was give him a sore head in the morning.

  Early Monday morning, he had to be at the war office to meet with several officers and the director, so they could question him on what he had seen in Calais. He dreaded that, because they would also drill him on what he may have overheard while in captivity. He doubted he had any information that would help the war effort. After all, he’d been more intent on surviving than listening in on conversations, not that he’d had much of an opportunity. Of course, he could tell them about his last set of captors’ belief that he was Le Raven. Perhaps the director would even know who this man could be.

  At last, the evening was winding down and his party could take their leave. As they donned their outerwear, he noticed Lady Mary going up the stairs. Her gentle nature and shy smiles had been a balm to his tattered soul. He had sensed a desperate air about her though, especially when he watched her talking to her friend. Her eyes had looked deeply troubled.

  She definitely intrigued him. While it was best that she had denied his call, he still wanted to see her again. Perhaps he would meet her in the park Monday afternoon as she had suggested. After all, he had quite enjoyed her company. A meeting in public would not mean he wanted to court her as much as a visit to her home would.

  His party made their way to their coach and entered. He took the seat next to his sister. Anissa turned to him once she had settled. “Did you enjoy the ball?”

  He smiled, trying to present a composed face, even though his guts were churning inside. “I enjoyed talking to your sister-in-law’s husband. He’s asked me to meet him for a fencing match on Monday morning at eleven. I look forward to that.”

  “I’m sure you will have an enjoyable time. Andrew is vastly amusing.” She hesitated a moment, then continued. “I was surprised to see you dancing. Lady Mary is a lovely young woman and is quite close to Kathleen.”

  He should have realized Anissa would mention the dance. “Your sister-in-law introduced us, and since a dance was starting up, I felt it was the polite thing to do. I actually enjoyed myself. Lady Mary is a lovely young lady.”

  Anissa sighed. “She is, but she does not have an easy time of it. Many of the matrons and dragons of the ton give her a difficult time.”

  “Why is that?” he asked.

  “Her mother ran off with her lover when she was still a child,” she explained, “and society shuns her for it.”

  He raised a brow. “I shall never understand why the sins of a parent should affect their offspring. I see the ton has not changed while I was away.”

  “That’s one of the reasons we spend very little time in London. Poor Lady Mary’s father treats her horribly too.” She leaned in close, lowering her voice, “In fact, Kathleen told me he has nefarious plans to marry her off to the Marquess of Worthington. The man is a notorious rogue.”

  “How appalling.” How could any parent even consider marrying an innocent young miss to someone like that? “Does her father know of the dastardly man’s reputation?”

  Anissa sighed. “Her father is a close friend of the marquess. In fact, from what I’ve heard, he’s just as bad.”

  He clenched his fists at the thought of that sweet young woman in such a villain’s clutches. “When I saw her talking to Kathleen, I thought I saw fear in her eyes. Surely, something can be done to keep her safe.”

  Up t
o this point, his sister’s husband had not taken part in their conversation, but then Alex interjected, “I did not know of this. When I was with Barrington at our club, I overheard a conversation regarding Worthington. There are troubling rumors concerning his late wife’s death. Evidently, she did not die of natural causes. Lady Mary could be in grave danger.”

  “I greatly fear you are right.” His sister turned back to Cortland and met his gaze. “This is why Kathleen wants to help her find a husband, a man the earl could possibly approve of, but time is of the essence. The detestable man is supposed to return the middle of November.”

  A frisson of concern ran down his spine for Lady Mary. “Do you believe her father would consider another suitor? After all, a marquess is only one step away from a duke. Even though he has a terrible reputation, most fathers would consider him a great prize, especially if Lady Mary’s father is indeed good friends with the man.”

  Alex drew his brows together. “I suspect you have the right of it.” He touched Anissa’s hand. “I highly doubt my sister’s plan will work, even if she manages to find a gentleman for Lady Mary. I agree with Cortland; her father will deny anyone else’s suit.”

  Anissa frowned. “I believe you’re both correct, but what can we do? She’s only nineteen so her father can marry her off to whomever he chooses. Her only chance would be to find a man willing to elope with her to Gretna Green.”

  The carriage pulled to a halt in front of the house, ending their conversation. After bidding Alex and Anissa goodnight, Cortland climbed the stairs to his bedchamber. Once he stripped off his clothes and donned his banyan, he poured himself a snifter of brandy and took a seat in front of the hearth. His mind returned to the conversation he’d had with his sister and her husband regarding Lady Mary.

  It was so hard to imagine a father so willing to give over his daughter to a known reprobate, but that seemed very likely. No wonder he had seen fear in Lady Mary’s eyes, and that she had refused his call. She could be afraid of her father, and what he would do if someone started paying court to her. She must want to keep him from knowing. That was probably why she suggested they meet in the park. Now he had an even stronger reason to meet her. He would try to gain her confidence. Of course, there was not much he could do…or was there?

  The girl desperately needed to marry and soon. The thought of her with another man caused his stomach to clench. Obviously, his attraction to her was stronger than he had realized if it generated this kind of a reaction in him.

  Could he offer Lady Mary marriage? Should he? There was no denying he was physically attracted to her, and just from their short time together, he saw quite a bit about her he could admire. Gerrard and Aimee did need a mother. Someone who would love them and not just look after them out of a sense of duty, which was how a governess would see them.

  He would think on this for a while. Monday, he would meet her as she had suggested. Try to learn more about her. There was still some time before that villainous marquess returned. If she proved to be as pleasant as he suspected, he would consider wedding her himself. While he had not expected to marry until he had dealt with his issues, he could not bear to see anything happen to that sweet young woman. If he did decide to offer for her hand, he would not have to sleep with her. It was common practice for husbands and wives to have separate bedchambers. She need never know how tormented he was by his night terrors.

  Realizing he was getting ahead of himself, he decided to try and find his rest. Finishing off his brandy, he sat the glass on the table beside him and stood, then crawled into bed. He just prayed his nightmares would stay away.

  Lash after lash cut into his upper torso as the man welding the whip cursed at him. His mind had grown so sluggish; he was having a hard time translating what they said into English. This was surely the end. His body could not take much more.

  Blood poured from the deep lacerations across his back and shoulders. The officer in charge moved around to stand nose to nose with him. “You will tell us what you know, mon ami. We know you are l'infâme espion, Le Raven.”

  Pulling on what little energy he had left, he sneered, “I know nothing!” And he spat in the leader’s face. For his insolence, he received a punishing blow across his face, so hard, his head jerked back. Blood immediately poured from his nose and mouth.

  The officer in charge folded his arms across his chest and motioned for one of his compatriots. “We shall give him more time to contemplate. String him up, but not tight enough to kill him, just tight enough to slowly squeeze his neck. We will leave him hanging from the tree while we meet with the rest of our comrades. I’m sure le général will want to question him further.”

  His head dropped forward. The pressure around his neck pulled tighter and tighter the more he struggled to try to take a breath. Spots appeared before his eyes, then all went black as he lost his tenacious hold on his consciousness.

  Cortland jerked awake bathed in sweat, his hand tugging on the neck of his nightshirt. He sat up and wiped his brow with a trembling hand. His throat hurt, and he could barely swallow.

  Dear Lord, when will these nightmares end?

  He slipped from his bed and went to the table and poured a glass of water, drinking it down in three gulps. Each swallow shot searing pain through him, and he fell into the chair he had vacated earlier. Resting his elbows on his knees, he dropped his head into his hands. Tears pricked at his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He would not let those captors win. In time, he would overcome his fears.

  Safe, I’m safe. They can never hurt me again.

  He drew in several shaky breaths, while his heart raced, and he tried to relax against the back of his chair. He stared at the embers of the dying fire in the hearth, trying to regain his composure. In his mind, he saw Lady Mary’s lovely face. His breathing and his heartbeat slowed. His hands stopped shaking. The memory of her calm demeanor blanketed his tortured soul.

  Monday afternoon could not come fast enough. He would rescue her from the machinations of her father if it was the last thing he ever did. And by rescuing her, he could possibly find his salvation.

  CHAPTER SIX

  After church service the following morning, Mary dined on cold meats, cheeses, and fresh fruit with Kathleen and her husband. Once they had eaten their fill, her friend hurried her upstairs to her sitting room.

  As they entered the room, Kathleen grinned. “Now, it’s time for your lesson on flirting.”

  Mary sighed. “I’m hopeless. I don’t have the first clue on how to do that. In fact, I think your plan is doomed to failure. Perhaps I should run away instead.”

  “It’s too soon to be talking that nonsense,” her friend stated, with determination in her voice. “Now sit. This is what you must do. I promise if you do as I say, you will find a husband. First, when a gentleman talks, listen and nod your head. Smile at them whenever they meet your gaze. As I told you earlier, men love to talk about themselves. When they offer you their arm to help you, let them think you couldn’t manage without their assistance.”

  When her friend made up her mind, there was no changing it. Mary listened as Kathleen continued to share her wisdom. Most of it did not sound difficult. She never realized such simple things would make a man find her alluring. Perhaps, she would try some of these techniques out this afternoon when Mr. Mandrake took her for their drive, not that she wanted him to court her.

  Of course, she did not have the option to pick and choose a husband. While the man irritated her and something about him unsettled her, at least he was a wealthy peer and that could help pacify her father.

  Her friend’s next comment pulled her wayward thoughts back. “Goodness, you need to freshen up and change your gown before Mr. Mandrake arrives. I certainly do not want you to wed him, but you can practice your charms on him. Sharpen them up, so when you see the captain tomorrow afternoon you’ll be more comfortable using them. I do hope you can gain Mr. Wallingford’s attentions. The poor man needs a wife, and I think you wil
l suit him perfectly.”

  Mary clasped her hands together. “I hope you’re right. I truly enjoyed meeting the captain. I felt so comfortable and safe with him. Although, I doubt he is ready to leap into matrimony after all he has endured.”

  “Fiddle-de-dee.” Patting her hand, Kathleen said, “Marriage is just what the man needs. Now, go and try to enjoy your drive.”

  Mary had very little chance to practice flirting with Mr. Mandrake because the wind grew blustery, and it started to rain ten minutes into their drive. By the time they returned to Kathleen’s, she was drenched. Kathleen clucked over her like a mother hen, sending her upstairs with the promise to order a bath for her.

  Her maid bustled around, helping her out of her soaked garments and into her dressing gown. When the water arrived for her bath, Ella added lavender bathing salts, and soon the soothing aroma wafted around her as she settled into the tub.

  That evening, she enjoyed a relaxing evening of delicious food and divine music performed by Kathleen and her husband. Her friend was a superb violinist and Lord Billingsley had a wonderful singing voice.

  As she settled into her plump pillows, once she dismissed her maid, Mary mused over the possibility of meeting Mr. Wallingford in the park the next day. There was no guarantee that he would be there, but she greatly desired to see him again. Her interest was engaged, and she thought he was interested as well.

  Of course, nothing ever went her way, so he probably would not show, or the weather would drive them inside as it did this afternoon on her drive with Mr. Mandrake. One never knew how a day would turn out this time of the year. Eventually, her eyes grew heavy, and she fell asleep.

  The next morning, Mary returned to her father’s house to learn he had departed town for his estate and would return to town later in the week. Evidently, he had received word from his steward and had to go attend to something there. She spent the morning praying the weather would clear so she could take her walk that afternoon in the park.