The Right One (One and Only Series)

by Samanthya Wyatt

  He scanned the stairway again. With determined steps, he silently strode to the entrance of the manifesting light, his shoulder even with the doorway so not to be seen. A fire cast shadows throughout the room. Kat sat on a chair with her arms pulled behind her back. Her head hung down as if in despair. Blood pounded his temples. He needed to blink, but his lids refused to close. His lips pulled back with malicious intent while his jaw locked so tight it threatened to crack.

  Falling back on instincts skilled into his bones, he willed the blood in his veins to slow—the beat of his heart to quit pounding like rolling thunder. He could not fall victim to rage. No matter how much he wanted to kill the witch who held his love, he had to remain calm and follow the plan. His palms prickled in want.

  Be strong, my sweet.

  From this position, his view was limited. He took one step forward.

  “I see you decided to join us.” A woman’s voice came from the blackened corner. She stepped into the light.

  Juliana.

  If he could have incinerated her with his eyes, she would already be in flames. A blur of Kat jerking her head, moved at the side of his vision—he dare not look.

  Vibrant red hair piled on top of Juliana’s head with a few stray curls dangling around her ears. Adorned in gems, she wore a silk gown that skimmed her curves. The bodice cut low to show off the swells of her full breasts. Once he’d thought her beautiful.

  “Come now, Whetherford. Don’t fret. You’re upset with me.”

  “I’m here,” he growled.

  Juliana gave a triumphant smile. “It would be rude of me not to invite you, since I already have a certain guest.” She gestured to Kat.

  Only by sheer will, he kept his gaze forward. “You have me. Let Miss Radbourn go.”

  “Miss Radbourn is it?” Juliana tilted her head as if she focused on the ceiling while one finger lightly tapped her chin. “I got the impression you two were . . . shall we say closer than that.” Then her eyes locked with his. “Your mistress, perhaps?”

  Morgan took a fortifying breath. “I’m in no mood for games.”

  Her lips lifted at the corners, a smile that didn’t reach her malicious eyes. “A man of your reputation surely has a weapon. Please remove it.”

  When Morgan did not immediately comply, a form moved from the shadows. At first he thought it was Stephen, until his eyes locked on gray steel. Blood and the devil! Another brute the same size.

  “You don’t want my man to have his pistol go off by accident.” Others may have been taken in by her smile and winsome ways, but Juliana’s sweet voice sickened him.

  Seeing the gun aimed toward Kat filled him with dread. He lifted his jacket and removed his gun from his belt. With a cold stare at the other man, Morgan lowered his gun to the floor. “Harm a hair on her head, I will kill you.”

  “There’s no need to be dramatic,” Juliana said as she gave a slight wave of her hand.

  He saw her hand shake. So Juliana wasn’t so sure of herself, after all. “What do you want?”

  “Is that any way to speak to me after everything we have shared?” She glanced at Kat, her meaning clear.

  His gut ached at the thoughts going through Kat’s mind. “That was over long ago.”

  “Not that long ago.” She gave a slight chuckle. “Seems like yesterday when your breath on my neck alone would send tingles down my spine. But your touch . . .

  “Enough,” Morgan interrupted before she could expand on their sexual meaning.

  “Does my speaking of our intimacy cause you unease? Does the memory of our heated kisses make you burn?”

  Dammit. He could not stand here and allow Juliana to spew such rubbish. Her intention clear, every word aimed with precision. Stab Kat’s mind, shoot daggers into her heart. It was bad enough the things Juliana said were true. But she would twist everything to her satisfaction, making it seem the two were star-crossed lovers.

  Kat would not understand.

  Juliana swayed with each step as if she were dancing at a ball instead of holding a hostage at gunpoint. The closer she got to Kat, the more he feared the woman’s unpredictability. She lifted a strand of Kat’s hair. “I thought I was the only woman with hair this particular shade. Obviously you still want me. You took a woman who resembles me. How is that?”

  “She is nothing like you.”

  “Yes. I can see that. She is a child. What was your plan, Morgan? To train her? If you couldn’t have me, use her as a temporary replacement?” Kat’s gasp was one of surprised recognition which emboldened Juliana. “Now that I am here, you have no need of a substitute.”

  Kat’s eyes pierced him and he knew Juliana’s words had hit their mark. Pain, rejection, agony, defeat—all the signs that Kat believed Juliana’s hateful slurs. Fire burned his chest. If he denied her accusations, he risked endangering Kat.

  Blood and the devil!

  “What do you want?”

  Juliana ran her fingers across the back of the chair as she ambled to the side. “You’re the Earl of Whetherford now. The title you told me you did not want.”

  Morgan wanted this business over with and Kat out of here. “I will ask you again. What do you want?”

  “Simply to share a bit of your wealth.” She straightened her back as if gaining courage. The smile on her face cold and cunning. “You have so much. Surely you would not begrudge me. You shared more than that with me, once. You owe me.”

  “Owe you?” Morgan asked incredulously.

  “I am family.”

  “The relations of my mother’s great-great-grandfather are but a listing on the pages of family records. I owe you nothing.” He aimed for a heated stare that had on many occasions reduced men to ashes.

  The composed self-assured woman suddenly became a mean spirited shrew. “If you’d stayed dead, I would not have had to flee Whetherford Manor.”

  From the corner of his eye, Morgan saw her bodyguard slump and Stephen quickly take his place. Both men being the same size—and Juliana on her harangue—didn’t even notice.

  “Now the truth comes out,” he said.

  “You were gone so long, we thought you dead. Of course, I planted the idea. But once my father and I moved to Whetherford Manor, he thrived. He became the man he used to be. Full of life. Full of power. I actually think the title meant more to him than the wealth.”

  “But not to you. What happened? Did he not spoil you enough? Did he not give you your every whim?”

  “The titled lord decided his daughter needed a husband,” she gritted through her teeth.

  “That doesn’t seem too much to ask.” Now that her guard had been replaced, Morgan relaxed his shoulders and placated her. Appeasing her into a false perception of sureness.

  “He didn’t ask. He demanded.”

  “And you object to his taking the upper hand.”

  “He watched me closer.”

  “A father’s right.” Morgan shrugged.

  She bristled. “He was determined to make me a proper lady with a proper match.”

  “Surely you could not object to that.” Morgan spread his hands in supplication. “Was there no duke or king available?” Then his voice lowered. “Or did he find the task of evolving his daughter a proper lady nigh impossible?”

  “Careful Whetherford.” Juliana pulled a dagger from her skirts. “I was good enough for you.”

  Air constricted in his lungs while his body temperature rose ten degrees. “I profusely apologize.”

  By her smile, she knew she had Morgan just where she wanted him. By the ballocks.

  “Oh, yes. I heard you were alive.” Her evil smile grew wider. “I’d also heard of your mother’s jewels, and once I saw what was in that safe, I couldn’t resist.”

  A movement to the right
caught his eye. This time it was Giles. Thank God. Now, if Morgan could just keep her busy. Give Giles enough time to sneak up on Juliana without detection.

  “Why didn’t you just take the blasted jewels and keep on going,” Morgan asked. “Why did you come back?”

  Juliana gave a brittle laugh. “I knew you’d follow me without end.”

  “You have the necklace. What do you think you’ll gain by taking Miss Radbourn?”

  “Miss Radbourn, again,” she echoed in a sing-song voice. She made to turn and he knew he had to keep her attention on him.

  “You mentioned a trade.”

  Juliana faced him and crossed her arms.

  Now, Giles. Now.

  “I find it interesting Miss Radbourn is a replica of me.”

  “Pure coincidence,” Giles stated close to her ear.

  Juliana’s eyes flew open in shock. She whirled to the voice behind her, but Giles had anticipated her movements. He grabbed both her arms and slammed them by her side. Then, he jerked her around and smashed her against his chest, knocking the breath from her.

  “Sorry to spoil your plans, my dear.” His arms tightened, imprisoning her resisting body.

  Juliana screamed. “Let me go, damn you.”

  Giles glared down his nose. “You best shut your lovely mouth, or I will shut it for you.”

  Morgan’s eyes darted to Kat, but Stephen was already there, pulling the ropes free. Kat hurled herself into her brother’s arms, tears flowing freely down her cheeks.

  “Kitten,” Stephen whispered.

  “Stephen. Oh, Stephen. Thank God you’re alive,” Kat cried. She buried her face in his chest while his chin rested on top of her head. His hands stroked her back, assuring her she was safe.

  Leaning back, Kat placed a palm on her brother’s cheek. “Oh, Stephen. You’re here. You’re really here.”

  Just like his Kat. They rescue her, but she’s worried about her damned brother. And, he’s getting all the attention.

  Stephen’s eyes snapped fire. “Are you hurt? Has anyone harmed you in any way?”

  “I’m fine, now that you’re here.” She hugged him tighter. Stephen grabbed her and held her in a bear hug while she laughed and cried at the same time. Then her cries turned into whaling sobs.

  A sting smarted in the middle of Morgan’s chest. God’s Teeth! He wanted to hold her. He turned back to the struggling Juliana with hatred. He jerked her to him. She yelped in alarm. The fingers of one hand bit into her arm while the others closed around her throat. Her breathing grew ragged and labored.

  “I could snap your pretty little neck like the wing of a delicate bird,” Morgan grated through his teeth. “Or I suppose I could lock you in a room in the East-wing where no one would ever find you.” His fingers caressed, and then tightened with purpose.

  Her eyes bulged. Soft choking sounds escaped her throat. A power struggle ensued—squeeze, squeeze, his mind kept saying. In the old days, he would not have used restraint. In the old days he would not have cared. He would have broken her like a twig and felt no guilt about it. The days when his dark soul commanded his movements were gone. He was no longer the dark devil.

  Knowing Kat watched, Morgan flung Juliana aside. The spiteful bitch wasn’t worth it.

  “Damn you! And damn her!” Juliana croaked.

  “I’ll take care of this,” Giles said. “Why don’t you two go on?”

  Morgan glanced at Kat and her brother. “In case you haven’t noticed, there are three of us. You know what they say.” He shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t care. But the pain in his heart confirmed otherwise.

  “Are you going to play the sacrificial lamb,” Giles asked. “You and I have already been round the bend.”

  “For God’s sake, Giles. Look at her. That’s the first time she’s seen her brother in two years.”

  Giles glanced at the couple embracing, then back to Morgan. “As long as I don’t get another note to pull your sorry arse out of a damned bottle.”

  Morgan’s lip inclined at the corner. “Learned my lesson the last time.”

  “I’m taking her home.” Stephen’s voice penetrated Morgan’s brain.

  When he looked at Kat, her head was buried against her brother’s chest. Her cheeks were flushed, her nose red from crying. She clung to her brother like a child would cling to its mother after a terrible fright. “Kat?”

  “She’s been through enough,” Stephen continued.

  Morgan silently agreed. Why wouldn’t she look at him? “Kat?”

  Her fingers tightened on Stephen’s coat. “Please, Stephen. Take me home.”

  Her rebuff struck Morgan harder than any blow. Stephen caught his gaze above her head. In silence, he gave a negative shake as he mouthed the words, Not now.

  With everything in him, Morgan controlled his actions. He wanted to yank her away. He wanted to pull her against him and hold her in his arms until the end of time. He wanted to kiss her senseless and hear her cries of pleasure.

  Fear of rejection made him powerless to do any of those things.

  I may have to let you go, for now.

  But, I’ll get you back.

  Chapter 30

  Twilight had fallen and rain pelted against the windowpane. Kat couldn’t make out if the bleary droplets were water running down the glass or tears that were a constant in her eyes. The dismal weather outside reflected the gloomy atmosphere inside the room as well as inside her soul. Her body numb with cold, the flames of the crackling fire in the hearth were the only source of warmth in her bedchamber.

  “Will there be anything else, Miss?” Alice sniffed and rubbed the back of her hand across her red nose.

  Kat turned to the young girl. “No. Thank you. Go get some rest.”

  She wished Charity were here. She ached and needed her friend. She wanted to unburden her soul, pour her heart out. Instead, Kat relied on the strength of spirit she had left. That and her pride would get her through this.

  Turning back to the pouring rain, she let the pinging sound of raindrops against her windowpane soothe her. It hadn’t taken much convincing for Stephen to spirit her away. Kat barely remembered those last moments of that dreaded scene. When Morgan walked into Juliana’s trap, she feared losing him forever. She thought Juliana meant to kill them both.

  She hated to admit how her heart soared at just the sight of him. How her breathing constricted when his eyes met hers. How tingling awareness returned with remembered passion.

  She hated the devil. He used her.

  During the short time Kat had become familiar with Morgan, she knew enough not to believe the balderdash Juliana spouted. Declaring the two of them were lovers and he wanted to pick up right where they left off. But, then she repeated the lie in his presence. Pain knifed Kat again, as fresh as when Morgan made no denial and she realized the damning words were true.

  Juliana offered a trade—Kat. She must have mistakenly thought Kat of some importance to Morgan. Then again, he must have some feeling for her if he allowed Juliana that leverage. Guilt? Him and his blasted guilt.

  Merciful Heavens, she loved him.

  The days were bad enough, but then the nights came, bringing such misery Kat thought she would die. She lost count of the days. Had it been weeks? For her family, she must continue to go on while she mourned her love for Morgan.

  With a sigh, she released the curtain and walked over to the bed. The click of the latch bought her from her feverish thoughts. She turned to the voice that softly spoke her name. Aunt Liz held her arms open wide and Kat ran into them.

  “Now, now child,” crooned Elizabeth.

  Aunt Liz held Kat tight against her ample bosom, while the grief in Kat’s heart poured out through her tears.

  “Child, you cannot go on this way
.” Heartbreaking sobs slowed as Aunt Liz soothingly stroked her hair. “Dear, you must not aggrieve yourself so.”

  After a few more moments, Aunt Liz turned Kat, leading her to the four-posted bed. “Come sit, my dear.”

  Kat held her aunt’s hand, blindly following as she swiped her other hand across her eyes. Aunt Liz studied Kat’s face, raised her kerchief and dabbed at the moisture on her cheeks.

  “Darling, you know Albert and I love you very much. I haven’t pressed you since your return. We were so thankful to have you back unharmed.”

  “I’m sorry, Aunt Liz.”

  She grasped her niece’s hands and breathed a heavy sigh as her aging eyes searched Kat’s green ones. “It’s been weeks. Now it’s time you told me everything.”

  “Oh, Aunt Liz.” How she wanted to pour her heart out. The pain was so great. How could she speak of the pain in her heart? Morgan’s betrayal. And how, after everything, she still loved him.

  “You’ve gone around long enough in mourning. It’s the same look you had when you first came to us as a haunted young girl. You’ve lost your spirit. The vibrant girl you were before this incident.”

  I am no longer a girl.

  Kat straightened, dabbed her tears, and stared into the kindest eyes she’d ever seen. The gentlest woman she’d ever known. The woman who’d given her unconditional love. “I’m so sorry I have worried you so.”

  “We love you, dear. Allow me to help. I will not judge. Just listen.”

  Kat looked down at their joined hands and felt renewed strength flow from her aunt. She knew in that moment she had to share her burden, and Aunt Liz would understand. Getting her tears under control, she slowly disentangled her fingers and rose from the bed. She put a finger to her lips as if to chew on her fingernail and walked over to the dreary window where she’d been standing earlier, before her aunt came in.