“Let’s all calm down,” Rollo said.
William looked at Rollo and scoffed. “Yes, listen to Rollo. He only cripples his victims.”
Rollo had crippled the man who’d been stealing from his family for years, leaving Mr. Matthew Caney walking with a cane for the rest of his life.
“We left him alive,” Julius said in his defense. When the Brothers went after someone, they never went alone.
Hugh massaged his temples. “Listen, Morris spoke to the boy and Calvin bribed him. We can think of a permanent solution later, but this is why I won’t let my brother join. Raymond has no clue who we are or what I’ve done, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
“I think your brother suspects,” Francis said.
“Everyone suspects,” William cut in. “No one is supposed to have a clue. We agreed to marry for duty, to take women we’d never love. The Brotherhood came first.”
Rollo slowly turned toward William and smiled. “What do you want? We’re married. It happened. We can’t go back. What do you want from us?”
“Fix it,” William said.
“You fix it,” Frank shot back, speaking for the first time since William’s approach. He held his hands behind his back, looking ever the scholar with his spectacles hiding his hazel green eyes. “From what I gather, the women of the beau monde are only obsessed with us because four of us remain bachelors. So the easy solution is to marry, thus diminishing our popularity amongst the ton.”
William stiffened. “Marry?”
Aaron smiled. He liked Frank’s solution. “Yes, William. You, Frank, Julius, and me should marry. I’m already engaged.”
“Really?” Francis asked with a smile.
Emmett hit him on the shoulder. “Congratulations—”
“No,” William cut his hand through the air. “There will be no congratulations. Not while we speak of murder.”
Aaron rolled his eyes.
Frank sighed. “Fine, then we’ll speak of solutions. Since you’re of the mind to not marry for love, allow us to pick you a bride right now.”
The challenge changed the air.
Aaron smiled along with a few others. They were all pretty glad for the distraction.
William paused and then shrugged. “Very well, choose.”
“Oh.” Emmett grinned. “Pick Maura.”
“Oh, yes,” Francis agreed greedily.
William’s eyes widened and he stumbled over his words. “Well… Maura is… beautiful.”
“Gorgeous,” Francis agreed. “And I can say so, since she is my cousin.”
“Yes.” William nodded. “Breathtaking.”
There was no argument there.
Julius cut in. “William can’t marry Maura. She’s crazy.”
Francis narrowed his eyes at Julius. “She’s not crazy.”
“She believes in ghosts,” Julius said. “She’s mad.”
“Yes,” a feminine voice said from behind him. “I’m quite out of my mind.”
Aaron felt the back of his hair stand on end and turned around.
Maura had been leaning against a tree but slowly emerged from the spot and stepped into the light of the day. Her beguiling blue eyes played over every man present before landing on Julius. She smiled sweetly, gently even, giving no true emotion away.
She was a lithe beauty and a strangely calming air seemed to surround her.
Always.
She stopped before Julius and bit her lip.
Julius’ face went blank, but his lavender eyes watched her closely. His body was stiff.
She reached out and danced her hand in the air as though she were casting a spell over Julius. Then she poked his side.
He laughed with a start but then straightened and pressed his lips together. She’d obviously found a very sensitive place on his body.
She laughed, a light bewitching melody, and then sighed heavily before gliding away and crossing the lawn to the Spinsters, throwing a parasol over her head as she went.
It seemed like half an hour before anyone spoke.
“What do you think she heard?” William asked.
“If she heard anything, it’s your fault,” Rollo said.
“And we’ll not do a thing about it,” Francis cut in. “No one touches or threatens my cousin.”
“We wouldn’t think of doing so,” Julius said. “She’s mad. Who knows what she’s capable of?” he finished before striding away.
Francis watched his retreating back and commented, “I’d call him out if he didn’t…”
“Suffer from demons from his past?” Emmett went on. “After growing up in the home he did, he probably thinks all women are mad.”
“I didn’t mean to come over here about all this,” William said.
“Then what was your plan?” Emmett asked.
William frowned and looked over at Aaron. Color touched his cheeks. “I meant to tell you that Hiram was here.”
“What?” everyone exclaimed.
Aaron went on alert and looked over the garden for sight of his cousin. “How did he get in?”
“He had an invitation. Likely, your mother invited him,” William said. “What are you going to do about it?”
Aaron glared. “Kill him and willingly add him to my list of victims.”
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CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
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Christin barely let Maura reach the table before she stood and offered the gorgeous woman kisses upon each of her cheeks. “I’m so glad to see you.” Lorena, Taygete, Genie, and Florence all stood as well to join the circle.
Maura pulled away with a ready smile. The sun reflecting from her hair gave her a celestial glow and dazzled her blue eyes. The pale pink muslin she’d chosen to wear made her look soft. “You’re looking well, and I heard the wonderful news. Congratulations on your engagement.”
“Aaron told you?” Christin was surprised.
Maura wrinkled her nose. “In a way.” She sighed and then looked around the group. Something passed in her eyes before she whispered, “I believe… we need to speak.”
“What’s the matter?” Lorena touched her cousin’s shoulder. “Is it one of the women in the Home?”
Maura shook her head. “No. Well, there is one woman in particular that I wish you to meet, but besides her—”
“Ladies.” Lady Jeanshire rushed over to them with a slight frown. “Have any of you seen the girls? They were playing just a moment ago, but they seem to have run off.” She looked at Christin. “I hate to bother you—”
“No, I’m glad you did.” Christin immediately began to look around for Tina, but with so many adults, it was hard to see just where the children were.
“Perhaps I’m much ado about nothing,” the countess said. “Aaron is gone as well.”
Christin settled down and smiled at the countess. “Then I’m sure that is where they’ve gone. Perhaps they’re in the house.”
“Yes, let’s all go,” Lorena said. “For I don’t see Emmett or the other Brothers out here either.”
They all started for the gardens, which was a slow progression, because even Christin was pulled into a conversation or two. Many of the ladies and gentlemen knew of her expertise on the manners and etiquette of servants. She lent her opinion before moving through the garden and toward the house.
The moment she crossed the threshold, she heard shouting and a child’s scream.
“Oh, dear,” Lady Jeanshire whispered.
They all started down the hall and came to a stop at the edge of the foyer just in time to see Aaron dragging a bloodied man by the neck into the sitting room. He was followed by Julius and Francis. The door was closed behind them, Mary, Lily, and Tina were crying in the corner with Patsy, Hugh, Rollo, and Emmett comforting them.
William was speaking with a pair of footmen and the butler.
A tall man with spectacles blocked the door to the sitting room.
A thump came from behind him and then there was the rattling of furniture. Christin didn’t know the full story, but neither did she have to guess at what was going on behind that door. She moved over to the girls first, making sure each of them was whole and unharmed before heading in the direction of the sitting room. She stopped before the gentleman who stood like a centurion with wide shoulders and gleaming blond curls that were kept neat.
“Pardon me,” she said to him just as Lorena and a few of the others joined her.
Hazel eyes looked down at her through his gold framed glasses. “You’re not getting in here.”
The sound of flesh hitting flesh and then a groan made Christin stiffen. “I have to get in there.”
The man crossed his arms. “No one is getting through this door.”
Lorena stepped forward. “Franklin, let us through.”
Franklin? Christin supposed this was Frank Lockwood, the only member of the Brotherhood she’d yet to meet.
“No,” Frank said.
“Please.” Christin moved closer. “Aaron could kill him.”
“Then he’d deserve it.” Frank looked past them. “Get them out of here.”
Christin turned to see Rollo nod before he picked up Tina and carried her out of the room. Tina’s arms went around him.
Hugh and Emmett did the same with the other girls, leaving the foyer in the direction that Rollo had gone.
“What is going on?” Genie asked. “And how did Hiram get into the house?”
Hiram?
Another hit from the other side of the room forced Christin to cover her mouth.
Lady Jeanshire gasped. “Was Hiram banned from the house?”
Everyone turned to look at her.
Lorena frowned at the countess. “Of course he was. The man has been trying to take Mary and Lily for nearly a year now. He claimed to be their next of kin, but the courts said otherwise. He wants their father’s title.”
Genie cut in. “Aaron’s already pummeled him once. He should have known better than to come here.”
Christin hadn’t known someone had tried to take the girls from Aaron, and for reasons other than love. Her own anger bloomed just as Lady Jeanshire paled.
“I didn’t know,” the countess said. “We ran into him at the park. He’s a distant cousin. I didn’t know not to invite him to the party, but surely he wouldn’t cause trouble here.”
William grunted as he came over followed by the footman and the butler, Simms. “He tried to run off with them just moments ago. These footmen saw him heading toward the garden with Lily and stopped him.”
Simms sighed heavily. “I knew Mr. Newport wasn’t allowed in the house, but when he showed me his invitation…”
Lady Jeanshire’s eyes filled with tears and then they spilled over. “Oh, no, Mr. Simms. This isn’t your fault. This is all mine. I put the girls in danger.” She covered her face and whispered, “He’ll never forgive me now.” She choked. “I’ve lost him forever. My son. I...”
Christin’s heart broke for the woman, and she looked around to find that some of the other Spinsters’ expressions had softened.
“If you would… excuse me.” The countess ran from the foyer.
Simms said, “I’ll make sure the guests keep to the gardens for now.”
“I’ll go with you,” Florence said. “Someone must keep the party going.”
Taygete took Florence’s arm. “I’ll help as well.” They followed the butler.
Christin wanted to follow the countess, but she wanted to be near Aaron more.
“I’ll go to her,” Lorena whispered.
Emmett returned and wrapped an arm around his wife. “I’ll take you.”
Lorena smiled up at her husband then moved in the direction that Lady Jeanshire had fled.
Christin smiled, knowing that she was finally seeing the Lorena she knew.
The door opened, and Francis slipped out before it was closed again.
He’d lost his jacket and cravat. His shirt sleeves were rolled back, and the top buttons undone. He moved to Genie and Christin noticed the blood on his shirt just as soon as everyone else did.
Genie’s eyes widened as she stared up at him. “Are you hurt?”
Francis didn’t speak, just shook his head. His blue gaze was hard.
Genie reached up to try and straighten his dark hair, her gaze worried. “Are you bleeding?”
“It’s not my blood,” he said without emotion.
It was Hiram’s.
The noise in the sitting room had quieted.
Genie’s lips trembled. Then she pressed them together and took his hand, leading him away.
Francis followed without comment.
Christin turned to Frank. “Let me see Aaron, please.”
“This is his fiancée,” Maura told him. “He may need her.”
Frank stared at Christin for a moment and then turned his back to them and cracked the door just enough for him to see anything. “Your fiancée would like entrance.”
“Let her in,” Aaron called.
Frank moved to the side and allowed Christin in before shutting the door behind her.
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CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
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Aaron knew exactly what Christin saw when she came into the room.
Hiram lay in a heap in the center of the room. His blood darkened the yellow and beige design of the rug. His suit was in tatters.
Aaron himself was crouched over him. There was blood on his knuckles and possibly his clothes.
Julius was in the corner and though his hands were clean, his clothes were likely not. He and Francis had held Hiram while Aaron had done his worst. The Brotherhood never made a move alone.
Christin stood by the door taking the entirety of the scene in and once again, Aaron found himself waiting for her to walk out the door, running in terror, never to return to him again.
If he’d wished it, he could have forbidden her entrance. He could have gone to his rooms, cleaned himself up, and presented her the face of an earl.
But at heart, he was Welsh. He came from a line of violent men who’d often hid their barbaric tendencies from the ton.
He wasn’t like the others who fit in to the roles that Society dictated they play, only venturing to lift the veil to the dark side of their souls when the wind blew just so. Aaron had no veil. Even at Oxford, he was known as a man not to be trifled with. He didn’t need to give a man the cut direct in a ballroom. His enemies knew better than to look his way. He could be civil but then he could be this.
He looked down at Hiram and noticed the man was still breathing. His breath was more a wheeze than anything else.
Christin moved, and his eyes went up. She stopped, holding his gaze, and then moved closer. She skirted around Hiram and knelt at Aaron’s side. She looked him over slowly, settled at his hands, and then turned to Julius. “Would you please ask a servant to bring water and clean linen?”
Julius nodded before moving to the bell pull.
“There’s no need to clean me.” Aaron turned back to Hiram. “I’m not done here.”
“I think you are,” Christin whispered.
He looked at her. “You can leave.” It pained him to have said the words, but he thought it best to offer to release her from their engagement if it was her wish.
She tilted her head. “Where would I go?”
He shrugged and sat down, resting his arms on his knees. “Wherever you wish to be. You’re safe. You can return to your old life.”
She touched his cheek and he closed his eyes. “I’m right where I want to be.”
Aaron opened his eyes and found Julius watching them closely.
A knock sounded on the door, and Frank came in with the requested items befo
re departing.
Julius brought the water over to Christin.
“Thank you.” She offered him a smile.
Julius nodded and went back to the window.
Christin reached for his hands and uncurled them. The pressure of her fingers was light, yet he could still feel their trembling. Did she fear him? He’d never hurt her.
“He tried to take the girls,” Aaron said in his defense.
Christin inhaled and then the sound of water filled the room as she soaked the linen and began to wipe his hands clean of the blood. “I know.”
Hiram’s breath caught again.
“You disapprove,” Aaron asked.
She shook her head and gripped his hand more firmly. “No, but I would much enjoy it if we didn’t spend our wedding night in Newgate.”
Julius laughed from his corner in the room.
Aaron smiled.
Christin glared and then submerged the cloth in the water again, turning it pink before attacking his knuckles once more. “And you shouldn’t blame your mother for what your cousin has done. She was obviously tricked into giving the invite. She’d never have done it had she known what sort of villain Hiram was.”
The man in question tried to speak. “I—”
“You don’t want to test me at the moment, sir,” Christin hissed.
Hiram started and then stiffened back into silence.
Aaron bit his lip.
Christin straightened and then stood before walking across the room. “Your mother has been doing everything she can in order to earn your love. You should have seen the way she fell apart when she realized her part in this scheme.” She poured a glass of brandy from the sideboard and returned to him. She grabbed his hand and liberally poured the expensive drink over his broken skin.
Aaron held in his hiss of pain.
“Your mother loves you,” Christin went on. “And I know that she abandoned you all those years ago, but she’s here.”
Christin's Splendid Spinster's Society (The Spinster’s Society) (A Regency Romance Book) Page 19