by Dawn Brower
"Ah, there you are Gemma, dear. We have some things to discuss."
Disgust filled her at the sight of her cousin invading her space. He smelled just as foul, like a night of overindulging in cheap liquor. Bloody hell, why couldn't he be in London at one of his clubs? They probably wouldn't admit him anymore. No doubt the whole ton had begun to realize the new Earl of Devon was headed to debtors' prison. It couldn't happen soon enough to satisfy her. The horrid man continued to harass her on a daily basis. She didn't know how much longer she could stand to put up with his unwanted advances.
Why did her father have to die and leave her in Alfie's care? She missed him every day. Living without him was hard enough, but to constantly have to defend herself rattled her to her very core.
"As far as I'm concerned we have talked more than I have ever liked. Go away Alfie I am not in the mood to fend off your licentious advances today," Gemma told him.
"I don't care what you want, dear. I came to inform you that your time is up. At the end of the week, we will wed. Just as soon as I can obtain a special license." His eyes leered over her bosom as he delivered the awful news. "You look especially lovely today. How about we seal the deal with a kiss?"
Lovely? Like that was going to work on her. She'd rather stand outside in a lightning storm and beg to be struck dead than marry her cousin. Kiss him? Not bloody going to happen.
Alfie reached for her. Gemma took a step back to prevent being held in his embrace. She knew it wouldn't stop at a kiss. No, her cousin wanted to do more than press his lips on hers. He wanted to ravish her until she no longer retained any shred of innocence.
Alfie believed she owed him because he allowed her to live with him after he moved in. As her guardian, he got a stipend to provide for her living expenses. He couldn't touch the majority of her inheritance without a valid reason.
Thankfully her mother had left her a large sum of money upon her death. Only marriage or reaching her majority would allow her access to it though.
It took her a while, but she finally understood why her best friend, Lily, had been so against marriage. It was unbelievably ironic that she succumbed to it as soon as she left England, but that didn't make her argument against matrimony any less valid.
"I'd rather kiss a dead fish than allow you anywhere near me." She gave him a scathing look and frowned at him.
Heat filled her cheeks at the idea of him touching her. Not in a good way either. She didn't desire him; rather she wanted never to lay eyes on him ever again. Alfie was the exact opposite of the man she truly wanted—or rather used to long for.
"No reason to be so vicious. You'll like it once I warm you up a bit," he said, an evil grin on his lips.
In her haste to get away from him she tripped and fell backward on the settee. She tried to get up before he could take advantage of the situation, but her efforts were futile. He pounced on her after her misfortunate collapse. His lips pressed hard against hers. When she tried to open her mouth to scream he pushed his tongue inside her mouth and squeezed her breast in the palm of his hand.
Pain shot through her and continued to spread through her nipple. Alfie pulled her onto him and grinded himself against her stomach. She could feel his hardness as he rubbed himself on her. She'd lose the contents of her stomach soon if she couldn't get him to let her go.
What could she do? Not a lot of options were making themselves known to her and she was fast running out of time. An idea came to her as Alfie pushed his tongue into her mouth again. Gemma bit down on his lip and drew blood. She could taste it as a small drop fell on her tongue, it was bitter and disgusting.
"You little bitch," he shouted with rage. "You're going to pay for that."
He yanked Gemma's dress and tore the side of her bodice. He reached forward and pinched her nipple between his forefinger and thumb. She screamed out as his nails dug into the sensitive tip. She had to put some distance between them before something she couldn’t escape from happened. It was clear Alfie planned on claiming her against her will.
Gemma grabbed his arm, her nails digging in and leaving half-moon imprints into his flesh. She yanked his arm away from her, ripping his hand off her bruised breast. She fought to get away from him, but it was a struggle she was losing. Her cousin was too strong, and she didn't have the ability to fight him. Tears started to fall from the corner of her eyes. This was wrong, so very wrong, and Gemma couldn't stop it from happening to her.
"Alfie, Ole' Chap, I do hope you are not doing what I think you are."
That voice—Gemma knew that voice. Her heart raced in her chest and tingles of fire danced across her stomach. It haunted her dreams and made her want things she knew she'd never have. Alfie let her go, and she fell back on the settee. She jerked her bodice over her exposed breast, embarrassment settling in the bottom of her stomach like a dead weight.
Gemma looked over and straight into the stormy blue eyes of the only man she had ever wanted—ever allowed herself to love. His pale blond hair hung loosely over his collar making her want to run her fingers through it. She knew that the fine blond strands would be silky if she'd were to touch them.
At one time, she believed he would be her everything, the one person she was meant to spend the rest of her life with.
Too bad he didn't return her feelings.
No man had ever compared to him—no one ever would. This man standing in front of her, glaring at her cousin, filled her with desire and longing. Liam Marsden had ruined her for anyone else.
"I don't know why you feel comfortable waltzing in, but Gemma and I were in the middle of something. You can show yourself out the same way you came in," Alfie said.
Fool. Liam Marsden didn't take orders.
Gemma didn't know why her cousin even thought that nonsense had a possibility of working. She was simultaneously irritated and relieved Liam had showed up. She didn't know why he came out to the country, but he had saved her from ruin. She might be perpetually angry with him—but now, she'd have to set that annoyance aside to thank him. Gemma owed him a debt she didn't think she'd ever be able to repay.
"Well, I came to see my fiancée. I have to say I don't like that I walked into you getting rough with her. Explain yourself, man, before I commit murder."
Fiancée? She stood up her gaze whipping toward Liam’s. A blaze of longing rushed through her with that one word. What the bloody hell was Liam talking about? The only place he had ever asked her to marry him had been in her dreams.
Sadly, in reality he ignored her whenever she came near him.
So this little announcement of his baffled her. What was the man up to? Did he know something about her situation and decided to come and save her? It wouldn't work as much as she wanted it to. Claiming to be her fiancé wouldn’t make Alfie let go of her. He'd fight Liam every step of the way unless there was proof of his prior claim.
"Gemma is not your fiancée," Alfie said. He sneered, evil apparent in his gaze. "I think I'd know if I had approved of someone for her to marry."
"That's because you didn't approve it." Liam folded his arms across his chest. He oozed smugness as he looked Alfie in the eye.
Gemma hid a smile. That had to goad her cousin a bit.
"Then you can leave. I'm the only one who can approve who Gemma marries." Alfie waved his hand attempting to dismiss Liam.
Liam ignored him and stalked forward. "Her father signed the contract before he died." He turned and gave her a glance that scorched her from the inside out. Gemma only barely restrained from fanning herself. "I have waited patiently for her mourning to end so we can be married. I think it's time that we proceeded with our plans."
"What contract? Why wasn't I made aware of this?" Alfie asked as he glared at Gemma.
Gemma just shrugged her shoulders in his general direction. She didn't have the answers he sought. She didn't have any idea what Liam was talking about. Surely her father would have told her if he had signed a contract for her to marry someone. This had to be some ruse
on Liam's part. Whatever he planned she had every intention of following along with it. Anything to help her get away from her cousin would be very much preferable to submitting to his licentious groping.
"I have it right here," Liam said as he shoved the contract at Alfie. "The old earl's signature is at the bottom giving permission for me to marry his daughter, Lady Gemma Kemsley."
"I don't understand. Why didn't the solicitors tell me about this?" Alfie asked, his face turning three different shades of red.
Liam had the contract in his hands and Alfie attempted to snatch it from him. Liam just shook his head and folded it back up, placing it back in the safety of his inside pocket. Cool, calm, and collected—that was Liam.
"Possibly because they didn't know. This document has been in my father's keeping since I was fourteen years old. They decided to betroth us several years ago." Confidence intertwined with each word he spoke. "Good for business you know. We had no idea Gemma's father would die so tragically before he could tell her about it. It's sad, but well I think it's time we move on."
"I don't care." Alfie stomped his foot like a small child. "I don't approve and Gemma isn't going to marry you."
Gemma had to restrain herself from laughing at the ridiculous situation she found herself in. The only man she had ever loved demanded she marry him and her libertine cousin thought he had a chance of denying it. Not for a minute did she believe the contract had any validity to it. Lily had to have put Liam up to the scheme to help her escape. Gemma knew that Liam didn't want her. She’d learned it the hard way two years ago. It didn't matter though; he was here to save her. She knew Liam would do anything his twin sister asked him. They'd always been close. If she demanded he save her best friend he'd do it without blinking. Liam wouldn't be in her ancestral home stepping in between her and Alfie otherwise.
"Seems like you don't have any say in the matter, Alfie," Gemma said solemnly. "Papa signed the contract. That supersedes your wishes. I have no choice, but to marry Liam Marsden."
This was surely a dream. Marry him? A flutter of hope started to ignite within her. She squashed it before it could take root. Liam wasn't going to marry her. Gemma refused to give in to something surely destined to destroy her. Hope was an evil four letter word, designed to bring a person to their knees and wrap them up in despair.
"You could refuse him."
"I don't want to." Gemma laughed.
Alfie clenched his fists at his side. His hand flew up and stopped in midair as if he rethought the action he'd been about to take. He glanced over at Liam and Gemma did as well. He was in a position to strike. Alfie would never have gotten the slap across Gemma's cheek.
Gemma grinned with relief. Alfie would have to find some other heiress to get him out of debt. She had no intention of letting him touch her or her money.
"Good. Go pack a small bag, whatever you deem necessary to take today. We can send for your other belongings later," Liam instructed her. "Oh and Gemma, change your gown too. Something pretty, perhaps green to match your eyes."
"I'm to leave today? Isn't that sudden?"
Assuagement filled her at the idea of escaping Alfie. Her hand flew to her chest as she allowed herself to believe it was going to happen. Liam worked fast, not that she was complaining, but she thought it'd take more time for him to extract her from her cousin’s clutches.
"Yes. I have a special license. We're to be married today."
"Give me fifteen minutes. I don't have a lot that needs to be packed immediately. I will instruct the housekeeper to pack the rest of my trunks for delivery to Marsden House."
"I will wait for you here. I need to have a private word with Alfie on how a woman in his care should be treated."
Liam's mouth crunched up into a firm line. Displeasure filled his eyes as he turned to pin Alfie with his gaze. They darkened to a stormy blue, one Gemma had never seen before. She wanted to tell Liam not to hurt her cousin for altruistic reasons, but if she were honest she wanted him beaten.
He would have forced himself on her if Liam hadn't walked in. Her skin still crawled with revulsion from the places he'd put his hands. She shuddered at the memory, disgusted she'd had to endure his groping. Gemma loathed the man as much as she adored Liam. They were two different men and each invoked a different feeling in her. Sadly, she wasn't at all happy with either emotion.
Living with unrequited love was horrible—dealing with Alfie's nasty disposition, however, was a far worse ordeal.
"Liam, don't hurt him—much." Gemma paused and waved her hand dismissively. "I'd hate for this to come back to haunt us."
He looked at her with a devilish smile. That carefree smile so full of sin had always been her undoing. Her heart skipped a beat, and her stomach started to tingle.
"Darling, I promise you he'll be hurting far more than it will show on the outside. He'll feel a pain that will haunt him long after we are gone from his life. Now scoot so I can inflict all those deep seated wounds he fully deserves."
Gemma nodded and ran out of the room. She skipped the steps and walked into her bedroom. She grabbed a valise and put a change of clothes in it. Then she took her jewelry case and a stack of letters. She placed them inside and tied it closed. Gemma didn't need much and everything necessary had been enclosed in the satchel. She found a green gown in her armoire and changed as fast as she could. Thankfully she followed Lily's advice and had had gowns made she could put on herself. She picked up the bag and with much haste went back to the sitting room.
She paused inside the doorway. Her eyes flew to Liam as he lounged on a nearby chair. His legs were crossed in an easy manner as he tapped restlessly on the arm. Alfie sat stiffly on the settee and held his stomach in a tight embrace. Not a mark showed anywhere on him as Liam had promised.
"I'm ready to go."
Liam turned and looked at her. He nodded in her direction and started to walk over to her side.
"You're both going to regret you've crossed me," Alfie spat out.
Liam stopped and turned back to Alfie before they exited the room.
"Alfie, don't do anything stupid." His voice was hard and commanding as he issued the reminder. "As long as you leave us be we will leave you alone. Make one wrong move towards me or Gemma and you will regret it. That isn't a threat. It's a promise. I take care of what's mine."
Gemma snorted. Liam had claimed her. She didn't believe he meant it. Whatever his reasons for helping her, it had nothing to do with wanting her. Still, a part of her couldn't help wishing it were true. When she'd first heard the words, her whole body lit up with an uncontrollable longing.
Liam turned back to Gemma and placed her hand in the crook of his arm.
"Ready to go, love?" he asked, his tone softening just for her ears.
"Oh yes. Let's go and never look back."
She let him lead her out the door and to his awaiting carriage. Liam helped her as she entered the carriage and followed her inside. He took her bag and placed it under one of the seats and then sat across from her. The carriage started to move, and it jerked her forward causing her to collapse into his arms. She hadn't been prepared for it to depart.
"You always did fall into my arms." Liam laughed as he set her next to him on the seat.
"Don't go ruining a good rescue by turning into an arse," Gemma scolded him. "I know that was a farce. Did Lily put you up to it?"
"Not at all. Well, not entirely. She did ask for my father to help you out of the situation. He placed the particulars in my hands."
"And this is the solution you came up with?" Gemma paused with a sigh. "I'm sorry. I should be thanking you. Instead, I'm harping on how you did it." She stared at him. "I don't mind really. It worked to get Alfie to let me go without a fight—well not much of one anyway. I truly do appreciate your assistance. I don't want to think about what he'd have done if you hadn't arrived in time." Gemma shuddered at the memory of her cousin’s hands on her bosom. "I take it you are going to help me get to America so I can stay wit
h your sister until I reach my majority?"
"No."
"What do you mean no?" she asked. "How am I going to escape from Alfie if I don't leave the country?"
"I thought that had already been settled. You're marrying me. Today. Nothing else is going to deter him."
"I don’t want to marry you. I'd much rather go to South Carolina."
"We will do that. It is probably best we leave for a short period anyway. On our wedding trip can go visit Lily," he said.
"Why are you being obstinate? I am not going to marry you."
"Yes, you are." Liam emphasized each word as he looked her directly in the eyes. Gemma’s lips pursed, disbelief filling her as he spoke. "Your father gave his permission. You are stuck with me. You just told Alfie you didn't want to refuse me."
Were they actually getting married? The infernal flutter of hope sprung to life. Gemma didn't know if she could eradicate it again. Did her father truly want her to marry Liam? She bit her lip and once again wished he was still around to ask. He'd know what to do. But if the contract Liam had was legit, it was clear her father had wanted her to marry him. She already had her answer.
Warmth pooled in her cheeks. She clenched her fists in her lap.
Gemma wanted to scream with outrage. Damn her rotten luck. She knew Liam didn't love her, and she didn't want to find herself stuck in a loveless marriage. Worse yet he knew she loved him once; maybe he counted on her still having those feelings for him. No matter what she said, she was far from over him. A one-sided love—married to him for the rest of her life—would be hell. She had to make him see that it wouldn’t work.
"Can't we just pretend?" Gemma asked. "You don’t want to marry me, Liam. Don't make me hate you."
"You are not going to talk me out of this, Gemma. It's decided. I've accepted it, and now you need to as well."
"Like hell I do,"
Gemma pushed him back and scooted across to the other side of the carriage. She didn't need to sit next to him while he dictated to her.