Nora smiled and then signed, “You’re going to ruin me, aren’t you?”
Oh, yes. He planned to ruin every pale inch of her.
“I want Miriam to choose her own husband,” Nora whispered. “Please, don’t do this.”
“Kent,” Lucy called. “I know you mean well, but this is not the way.”
Garrick and Kent shared a look. Then Garrick turned to Nora and sighed. “Very well.”
His wife smiled. “Thank you for considering my wishes.”
Every time she signed to him, he wanted to take her. Why did they have to wait until night fell anyway? Who made such a rule? Likely a puritan, which Garrick was not.
He stood and had Andreas announce that he and Nora were leaving.
Miriam came to tell them goodbye. His heart constricted when she gave a kiss to her new papa.
Garrick helped Nora into the carriage and all the while, he could think of nothing but the fact that they’d have hours together without any distraction. The party wouldn’t happen until late and it was just past noon.
Nora moved to sit by him on the carriage seat. Her smile was lustful as she wrapped her fingers around the back of his neck. Her voice was that of a siren. “Don’t make me wait any longer.”
His body shook hard and then he grabbed for her. Garrick was unsure who led in their frenzied battle of need. His mind had become a thing of pure need and didn’t clear until he’d reached a place better than oblivion.
A state of holy satisfaction.
∫ ∫ ∫
3 6
* * *
Nora ran small circles around Garrick’s breech-covered knee and couldn’t stop the thrill of happiness that shot through her every time he shivered or his breath hitched and grew heavy. It was as though his entire body was now at her command.
The carriage rocked as they headed toward the party.
They’d spent the last few hours in bed. Neither had particularly wished to leave, but Nora had to meet with Lady Christina.
In the dark, there was little noise except for the susurration of Nora’s gown and Garrick’s shallow breathing.
Her fingers climbed up his thigh and his hand came to land on hers in an effort to stop her even as he groaned. The sound was nearly painful. She liked it. She craved his body’s obedience for some reason. She’d never felt such great power before.
Garrick took her hand and pressed it to his lips. “I’m e-exhausted.” He chuckled as though he couldn’t believe it himself.
His words were all the confirmation that she needed. She’d done her wifely duty. She’d laughed an hour ago as she’d watched Garrick get ready. His gait had lacked its usual sureness, but there had been a bold tilt on his lips as he turned to her and signed, “You’ve ruined me.”
She desperately hoped she had.
When she’d reached for Garrick earlier that evening, Johanna’s words had been ringing in her ears, but that ringing had quickly faded under the thumping of her heart. When Garrick settled her onto his lap, she’d no longer craved to have him as her husband for any other reason than to please herself.
And she had. Over and over again, she used him. Garrick’s physique was like a fine tool, and she’d been glad to find him most willing to let her take every liberty she sought.
Except for now.
And truly, Nora was just as exhausted as him at the moment, but she’d had to be certain he was thoroughly pleased.
As he continued to hold her hand to his chest in the quiet carriage, she thought he was.
She was glad he didn’t feel the urge to ravish her. Her gun was tucked into her skirts at the moment. It had been waiting in her new room at Garrick’s house upon her arrival. She hadn’t noticed it until she’d been getting ready. The package had been heavy, and Ebba’s name had been scrolled on the missive, along with her best wishes.
It pressed into her side, and she wondered if she should tell Garrick.
Likely not. He’d worry and she didn’t need him to be worried. She had little intention of actually pulling it out, much less shooting anyone.
They arrived at the house and Garrick squeezed her hand so tightly that she shouted at the sudden pain. He released her, and she snatched her hand away. Tears stung her eyes. What had made him so upset?
He cursed and reached for the lamp. Once there was light, his eyes showed an apology as he held his hand out to her.
She moved her fingers around and felt the pain begin to fade. There was only a slight pinch that made her wince. “It’s all right. No harm done.” Thankfully, she was wearing a glove. She didn’t want to see what her hand looked like at the moment. If injured, Garrick might make them return home and she could not avoid going home. She had to get into the party.
“I’m sorry.” He reached out and took her face in his hands. His expression was pained. “Sorry.” Then he pulled her forward and kissed her lips and her cheeks where tears had slipped over. “Sorry. Sorry.” He was so tender that it made her heart ache. She knew he hadn’t meant to hurt her.
She put on a smile. “I’m all right. Are you? What happened?”
He pulled his head back and frowned as he wiped at her tears. Then he shook his head and glanced out the window at the house.
“Is it Lord Van Dero?” Nora asked, referring to whose party they were attending. “Do you not like him? Is that why you’re upset?”
Garrick turned to her and nodded. Begrudgingly, he let her go. “He is not a good man.”
“Well, I’m not here to see him, really,” Nora said. “I don’t know him. Johanna procured us the invitation. I need to see someone else.”
“Who?” Garrick asked.
Nora shook her head. “Just a lady. It’s a personal matter.”
He frowned. “Does it have anything to do with your secret?”
Nora looked down at her hand and tried to flex it again. The shock of pain had her pull in another sharp breath. Garrick had done something to her hand.
He took her hand and began to remove her glove. Worried about the state of her limb, Nora didn’t protest.
There seemed to be no bruising, but it was red.
Garrick cursed again. He seemed to have no trouble getting foul words out of his mouth. He stroked her palm open gently and then placed it against his cheek. His expression reflected so much pain that she forgot her own. He was clearly distraught about what he’d done.
“It’s all right, Garrick,” she whispered. “I know you didn’t mean it. You’d never hurt me on purpose.”
His eyes shot away at her last words. Then he gently lowered her hand. “I should not have hurt you at all.”
“It as an accident,” she told him. “We all have accidents. Do not trouble yourself over it.”
“I should not have hurt you,” he said again. His brows were drawn low and tight. “I never want to hurt you.”
She smiled a real smile then. “I know, Garrick. Please, let this go. I couldn’t bear it if you torture yourself over this.”
“I feel terrible.” His eyes reflected as much. “You are mine. You are mine to protect, not cause pain.”
She moved closer and took his hard jaw between her hands. “Garrick, stop. It was an accident. I know you care for me. It would take more than this to make me think otherwise.”
He cupped the back of her head and pulled her against his chest. “Mine.”
“Yes.” She pressed her body against his. Their intimacy of earlier made her move without hesitation. “I’m yours,” she confirmed.
“D-don’t fear me.” His hand tightened in her hair but then loosened just as quickly. He was being mindful not to break her.
She wrapped an arm around his back. “I could never fear you.”
“You could,” he said with ease. He rubbed her back gently. “You should.”
She pulled away and stared at him and again wondered at his darkness. Just what was Garrick capable of? Well, he wasn’t capable of hurting her on purpose. That, she was certain of. “I won’t fea
r you, Garrick. I can’t. In fact, I’ve never felt safer than when I’m with you.”
He dropped his forehead to hers. He cupped her cheek with the other hand and then violently crushed her mouth with his.
Her feelings were erratic. It was as though whatever was going through him passed onto her. And a small flutter of fear did touch her. She cared for him. He seemed to care for her greatly and his protectiveness was winning her over.
Warning pressed sharply at the back of her mind. This was not a man to love and expect love and fidelity in return. Instead, it was best that Nora rein in her heart now or let Garrick strip what was left her of her sanity away.
She managed to pull away, likely only because her body was still sore from earlier yet was willing to suffer the consequences of anything Garrick did to her.
When she saw Garrick’s eyes again, the emotions and turmoil were gone. If she hadn’t witnessed it, felt it for herself, she could have almost believed it didn’t happen. His visage reflected false tranquility.
Yet even when he was wildly upset, she preferred the true Garrick.
She touched his shoulder. “If it would please you, we can return home.”
His expression shifted to reflect moderate disbelief. “You would go home right now if I asked?”
She nodded and continued her massage of his shoulder. “Whatever you want.” She could talk to Lady Christina another night. “We don’t have to stay.”
“But you want to.”
“At the moment, I want to do what would make you happy.” It would not always be this way, she knew. Sometimes, she would wish to have her way but not tonight. This was their wedding day. She wanted the fantastical day to end as it had begun, with laughter and smiles. It had been one of the best days of her life.
“I hurt you. Should I not be the one who tries to please you?”
She shrugged. “Please me by telling me what we shall do next.”
He sighed and looked away as the corner of his mouth lifted. The expression was close to juvenile and very attractive. She’d have paid a great sum to know his thoughts.
He looked at her. “We stay.”
She had to hold herself back from clapping. “Are you certain? I won’t be upset if you change your mind.”
He framed her face. “We stay.” He was calm, she realized. He was only able to speak so clearly when calm, when he didn’t force his mind to work so hard.
She tried to think of something to talk about, something that wouldn’t upset him, just so she could hear him speak some more. Suddenly, she didn’t wish to go to the party at all. Why would she allow her brother’s business to ruin her wedding day?
She wanted to stay with Garrick and speak with him.
His smile was ruthless. He’d read her thoughts. “Another time.”
“Yes,” she pleaded.
He kissed her and then tapped the carriage roof. It was time to get out.
∫ ∫ ∫
3 7
* * *
As Van Dero reached for Nora’s hand in greeting, it took everything within Garrick not to snatch it back and then kill the man where he stood. The old man hesitated as he kissed the air above Nora’s hand. “My lady. It is a pleasure to host you this evening.” He straightened on his cane and turned to Garrick. There was fear in Van Dero’s eyes. A question. Would his end come tonight?
Garrick wasn’t sure but thought it over as he took Nora away.
Andreas followed a short distance away. He’d come forward only if Garrick was approached by someone who couldn’t sign.
Nora glanced around the house. “I’ve never been inside Lowshire House.”
Lowshire was a beautiful Bath stone mansion. Like Devonshire House, it sat on a large plot of land in Piccadilly. It had been built for a duchess, yet somehow Van Dero had procured it for himself a few years ago.
“Let us find who you are looking for. Then we will leave.”
She placed a hand on his chest. “No, I must find her on my own. Once I’ve finished, I will find you.”
He shook his head. “It isn’t safe here.” He didn’t trust Van Dero not to try and seek revenge through his wife. When Garrick’s hand had crushed Nora’s earlier, it hadn’t only been anger he’d felt, but fear.
What if Van Dero tried to take Nora away from him? What if he’d placed her in danger by marrying her? Van Dero knew Garrick wanted the last name. What if that final name was his son, Gregory Hiller? Van Dero could make Nora disappear and, from experience, Garrett knew he wasn’t overreacting.
“Garrick, what is it that Lord Van Dero has done?” Nora asked.
“He is responsible for what happened to me.”
Nora stiffened and paled, and Garrick regretted telling her the truth.
He moved her around a crowd, ignoring the well wishes they received from those who’d read the paper. In the upstairs gallery, there were few others.
The moment they stopped, she gripped his arms. “Tell me that you don’t mean he is responsible for your kidnapping.”
“He is.”
She blinked. “If he is the one who hurt you, why have we come here?” Her eyes were brimming with tears. “Garrick, why didn’t you tell me?”
He placed a finger over her lips. “It’s f-fine.”
She grabbed his hand and glared. “It isn’t. I’ve forced you to face the man who hurt you all so I could speak to a lady that I could easily find elsewhere. It must be so hard for you, being in his presence.”
He shook his head. “It’s not.” For some reason, her gentle tears cooled his temper. She wept for him, for his past, yet he didn’t see pity, only anger. “It’s not.” He lifted his hands. “I’ve been here before.”
“You have?”
He nodded. “Many times.”
“Why?”
“To talk to Van Dero.”
She straightened her neck. “You talk to him?”
He nodded slowly.
“Why haven’t you called the authorities?” Her eyes searched his. “He hurt you. Is he responsible for the others as well?”
“I will deal with him on my own.”
“How?” she asked. Then her eyes widened. “You’re not going to…”
He touched her cheek and her hair. She didn’t shy away, but her body was trembling. “One day. Soon.”
She held his eyes and then slowly her lids closed. “Garrick, since we’ve met, I always sensed something… dark in you.”
Yet still, she’d married him. He couldn’t stop touching her.
“Don’t do anything that will get you hurt.” She opened her eyes then. “Please.”
“I won’t.”
She swallowed and her color rose. “Have you ever… hurt someone before?”
The lives of his many victims passed through his mind.
Nora pulled in a breath and took a step back. He didn’t like the distance, but he didn’t close in on her either. He could give her space and if she wished to send for the authorities to arrest him, then he would not stop her.
“I’ll find Lady… the lady I'm looking for and then we will leave.” She looked at him. “Together.”
The last squeezed at his heart. She wouldn’t run from him. He nodded. “To… gether.”
“Don’t... do anything while I’m gone,” she warned.
He couldn’t keep that promise. If Van Dero tried anything, Garrick would be left with no other choice but to break the man’s neck.
She saw the disputation in his eyes and frowned before she walked away.
He followed her from the gallery and down the stairs but stood when he caught Van Dero’s eyes. The man gestured with his head for Garrick to follow him.
Garrick turned and saw Andreas walking toward him. His assistant approached and then both men went to meet the enemy.
∫ ∫ ∫
3 8
* * *
Nora saw Lady Christina standing across the room with a young woman who spoke bolder and far louder than anyone else present. She
was surrounded by a group of women, who stood like attendants to the brash lady who could be no one else but Lady Irene Hiller, the Duke of Van Dero’s daughter. She had Van Dero’s pointed features and dark eyes. Her gown— a plum and green gown made of fine silk— made Nora think that no expense had been spared for the woman’s wardrobe.
She turned back to Christina and couldn’t help but notice how much she looked like Nora’s mother. Nora’s mother had been wonderful, but it had been clear from a young age that she preferred Meri. It had saddened Nora for years how often Nora was sent away while Meri was allowed to stay. Their mother had treated Meri as though he were younger than Nora, always cuddling him as though he were but a babe and Meri had basked in their mother’s glow.
Until the day she’d suddenly stopped. She’d grown distant with Meri as well and wouldn’t comfort him no matter how much he begged.
Was that why Meri liked Lady Christina? Did he see the woman or just another opportunity to be loved by his mother?
“Is it my sister who has caught your attention? I can introduce you if you wish.”
Nora, startled, turned and looked up into the eyes of a gentleman she’d never met.
His dark eyes were cool even though his mouth offered her a smile. “Of course, before I can introduce you to my sister, I will have to be introduced to you. Seeing as you are a married woman, I don’t believe Society will mind too greatly that I have sought you out, especially seeing as you stand in my father’s house.” He bowed. “I am Lord Gregory Hiller.”
Gregory Hiller. He was Van Dero’s son.
Nora blinked and then dropped into a curtsey. “My lord. Your father has a lovely home.”
“Isn’t it wonderful?” Lord Gregory looked about. “I don’t believe I’ll change a thing once my father is gone. It shall remain just as it is. My father always made the finest choices.”
The finest choices. Was Lord Gregory was aware of what his father had done to Garrick and the others? Had he been implying that he saw nothing wrong with his father’s vile nature?
His gaze snapped back to her and narrowed.
Wounds of A Viscount: (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) Page 19