“It was what Nora wanted,” Garrick signed to his uncle as he watched Nora perform the waltz with some gentleman he’d only met once. He didn’t like the way the man was grinning at his wife.
It was unfortunate that they were at a grand ball and not somewhere on the street, a dark corner of London where few would hear him make a scream.
It had been a terrible idea to come. With so much going on, Garrick wanted Nora somewhere safe and isolated from the world, but he doubted she’d remain still willingly. Therefore, he was distracting her. She wanted to see Johanna, but until they were sure the tiara belonged to the woman’s sister, it would be cruel to open old wounds.
Garrick was trying to keep himself distracted as well. He’d yet to hear anything about Luke. He wanted to search for the man himself, but that would mean returning to the brothel and Garrick had already vowed not to do so. He’d have to wait on Clive.
Currently, since Andreas was aware of his dealings with Lord Van Dero, he’d sent his assistant to watch over the man and make sure the duke did nothing he’d regret, like try and hurt Nora in the hopes of getting back at Garrick.
There was so much going on, it took him a moment to realize his uncle had said something that required a response.
“Your aunt and I worried you’d never come home.”
Garrick grunted.
Lord Paxen’s home was the last place he wished to be, but not because he hated his family for what they’d done to Nora. He was still upset, but he didn’t hate them. He was far too pleased with his wife for that emotion to ever arise.
Uncle Alex seemed troubled, which was not like him. Perhaps, the distance Garrick had placed between him and his family was getting to him.
“I want to apologize for what I’ve done,” Uncle Alex said.
“But you won’t.”
“No, I won’t.” Uncle Alex said. “Because you are far too happy for me to feel any regret. I always knew marriage would agree with you. I just didn’t know who the right woman was. So, I asked for Ebba’s help.”
Garrick didn’t look at Lord Paxen. He kept his eyes on his wife, the woman who could have easily been someone else if Ebba had decided it. Leaving his fate in his conniving cousin’s hands had been Uncle Alex’s worst decision yet. “Ebba chose Nora because it was convenient for her. She didn’t care about my happiness.”
“That’s not true. I told her the woman had to care for you. She was very sure that Lady Honora was in love with you.”
“How?” Garrick asked in surprise. “How could she have been sure?”
Uncle Alex shrugged. “I don’t know, but before I walked into that room, I knew what was on the other side; you and Lady Honora. I could have sent the party away, I thought to do so, but Ebba was certain.”
“She was certain she wanted to play Lady Macbeth.”
“Ebba cares for you, Garrick.”
Garrick lifted his hands, but then folded his arms and said no more. Ebba cared about Ebba. There was nothing else to say about it.
He looked for his self-seeking cousin then. She was dancing with another gentleman. By his expression, Garrick thought to man was presenting Ebba with his heart. The fool. Ebba didn’t love anything more than the stage.
“Ebba said you kissed Lady Honora long before she got involved.”
Garrick thought about that and recalled the kiss at Marley’s house. Ebba hadn’t been there, so it meant Nora must have told her about it. Why?”
His uncle went on. “She also said that not once did Nora protest the match on her own behalf. She never said she didn’t love you. She never said she didn’t wish to marry you. She only said you would never love her, and you would never fall for her.”
Garrick’s eyes found his wife again. She was still dancing, spinning around the ballroom, laughing with the gentleman Garrick was hating more and more as the seconds went by. He didn’t know who’d been charged with making Society’s rules, but if the person weren’t already dead, he would kill him. Who thought that letting women dance with strangers the height of propriety?
Nora was his and his alone. “She never told Ebba she didn’t want to marry me?”
“Not once,” Uncle Alex said. “According to Ebba, she only thought it impossible. So, she asked Nora to do nothing more than something she’d already done, kiss you.”
Garrick didn’t know what to think about that. He didn’t want to believe that Ebba had actually thought out her actions. “You should have asked us. You didn’t know if I wanted her.” Though he had; he simply hadn’t been worthy of her. Now his worthiness didn’t matter.
“Garrick, do give me some credit,” Lord Paxen said with some heat. “If you hadn’t loved her before, then you fell the moment Honora stepped into our home a few weeks ago. I could see it in your eyes.” His uncle was a complete romantic. A ruined rake.
“What did you see in my eyes?” The words were accompanied by a condescending look.
“Your eyes had found their reason for existence. There was awe and desire and completeness in that one look.”
“All in one look?” Garrick asked aloud, giving a laugh. “You saw it all in the one look?” He doubted it, though Garrick could not deny that he’d been captivated with Nora that evening. She’d been different. She’d wanted his desire. She’d set out to get it from him, to kiss him.
Surely, if she hadn’t wanted to kiss him, she would have found other means of getting a gun.
“It was the perfect match,” his uncle said. “Otherwise, I would have marched the entire party back to dinner and left you and Lady Honora alone.”
Garrick said nothing.
Uncle Alex sighed. “You’re right. Ebba doesn’t care for much else but herself. However, it was that selfishness that gave you Lady Honora to wife. Naturally, there was a deadline to the declaration of who would play Lady Macbeth. Ebba had doubted she would find someone in time. However, she said that once she found Honora, it was easy, because the lady already had feelings for you and all she had to do was manipulate the situation enough to get you two together. So, tell me, does that not sound like Ebba?”
That sounded like Ebba.
Had Ebba been right? Had Nora cared for him? Garrick knew from Nora’s own confession that she had. There had been pity and attraction from the beginning. Nora was also naturally nurturing and her need to show kindness had been extended to him, even in the final seconds before he gave her the kiss that set the rest of their lives into motion. She couldn’t kiss him without him knowing the consequences. She’d thought only Ebba would come, but Garrick had felt the truth deep within his bones.
Perhaps, he’d also known that Nora cared for him. This morning, he’d made love to her and she’d held him for hours afterward. He never had night terrors when she was near. He wondered if it was her scent or the softness of her skin that held the horrors back.
He was scarred from Mr. Goody’s treatment of him and instead of being frightened by them, she all but purred when she rubbed her body against his.
He wanted her now. Was there ever a moment in the day when he didn’t want her?
“So, am I forgiven?” Lord Paxen asked. “And if you can’t forgive me, forgive your aunt. She loves you as well and she’s hurt by this distance.”
He didn’t like thinking that his aunt was in pain. He looked around the room for her. “Where is she?”
“I believe Noah took her to get something to drink.”
He sighed. “I’ll go get Nora one as well.” Naturally, he’d run into his aunt and give her a kiss. She’d understand she was forgiven after that.
Uncle Alex patted Garrick on the back and smiled.
∫ ∫ ∫
4 9
* * *
“Lady Coalwater. I should have expected you to be here,” Lord Gregory Hiller said as he cornered Nora by the refreshments table. The gentleman who’d been paying her a great amount of attention for the last half hour disappeared the moment Lord Gregory approached.
Nora studi
ed his eyes. “You’re acquainted with Lord Paxen and his family?”
“I’m acquainted with everyone of any importance,” the man said with a smile. “My father is a wealthy man with many business ventures. For instance, have you heard of nitrous airs?”
“You mean Mr. Davy’s laughing gas?” She had heard of it. It had been used for medicinal purposes for nearly twenty years now. When Nathan had fallen ill, she’d read everything she could about the various medicines available, but nothing could save him. “I’ve heard of it, yes.”
“It numbs the body,” he said, as though she hadn’t just spoken. “It leaves one limp and vulnerable to anything and everyone around them. I’ve never used it myself, but the very thought of being at anyone’s mercy frightens me.”
He frightened her. “Yes, well, excuse me—”
“How strange it is that at the last party, I went to the refreshment table to get you something, but you vanished, and now here we are.”
Nora’s grin was tight. She gripped her cup more firmly. “Forgive me. Someone caught my attention and I needed to speak to them.” She began to walk away from the buffet and over to the fireplace.
He gave her a nod and followed. “Lady Christina Quinton, I know. Your brother was all but engaged to her, but I hear she is no longer to become your sister-in-law. Is that so?”
She stopped and blinked, surprised by his rudeness. First, he called her out on walking away at the other party and now he questioned her on a matter that had nothing to do with him. And how did he know anything about her brother?
He seemed to catch his discourteousness. “Forgive me for my crassness.”
“Do you know my brother?”
He took a glass of punch and then sipped liberally. “I’m acquainted with him, but I don’t know him intimately, no.”
“Lady Christina then?”
“No.” He looked into his cup and then at her. “Just you, my lady. I looked into you after we met.”
She knew there was something odd about the man. “What for?”
He didn’t get a chance to answer. Garrick approached. “Tell him to stay away from you.” He turned to Lord Gregory then.
It took a second for Nora to realize that Garrick meant for her to deliver the message. She’d never been so blunt to a man before, well, no man but Garrick, but she recalled how livid he’d become when she’d failed to deliver his message to his aunt weeks ago.
Nora turned to Lord Gregory, who happened to be waiting for a response. He smiled, clearly knowing what was going on. “Lord Coalwater advises that you leave me alone.”
“Does he?” Gregory smiled at her husband. “Forgive me, my lord. I was only speaking to your wife. The subjects were above reproach. Surely, you are not offended by such a small act.”
Garrick turned to Nora. “Tell him that to speak to you again would warrant his death.” He turned his menacing gaze to Lord Gregory as he placed a hand on Nora’s lower back.
Nora stiffened. “I’m not saying that.”
Lord Gregory chuckled. “Don’t worry. I believe I understand what he was saying. Please, have a good evening.” He bowed and then walked away.
Garrick stepped in front of her. “What did he say to you?”
Nora put down her cup. “He asked me about my brother. Why?”
“Have you spoken to him before?”
She nodded. “We spoke at his father’s party. I met him there.”
“Is everything all right?” Lady Paxen came over and offered them a charming, yet hesitant smile.
Garrick grabbed his aunt’s shoulders, leaned in, and kissed the woman on the cheek.
Nora’s heart skipped at the warm gesture.
Lady Paxen blushed. “Oh! Well, all I care for is your happiness.”
Garrick turned to Nora. “Tell her I forgive her and that I am very happy.”
“He forgives you,” Nora said gladly to the woman. “And he’s happy. We’re both happy.”
There were tears in Lady Paxen’s eyes. “That’s the best thing I’ve heard all year.” She hugged Garrick to her and then pulled away. “I’m so very pleased.”
Garrick glowed like a young man would at his mother’s praise. “Tell her I love her.”
“He loves you,” Nora whispered. Her chest swelled with pride.
Unable to take much more, Lady Paxen returned Garrick’s kiss before she wandered away.
Nora turned to her husband. There were moments when Garrick was absolutely irresistible to her. This was one of them.
He smiled down at her. She wanted to ask him if he were truly happy or if he’d only said what he wanted his aunt to hear.
“Are you truly happy?” he asked her.
That they were thinking the same question and that he even bothered to ask surprised her. “Yes, I’m happy.”
He looked troubled. “What if I’m never able to speak to you as easily as I do with Miriam or Clive?”
She stopped and thought of an honest answer. “It will sadden me, but…” She stopped, too afraid to reveal her heart. She wouldn’t regret marrying him. No matter what.
“But?” He lifted a brow.
She picked back up her cup and took a sip of her punch in order to gain more time. “I accept whatever may or may not come.”
He nodded. “That’s good to know, because we’re leaving, and I’ll need you and Miriam to stay home for a few days.”
“Stay home?”
“It’s too dangerous to go out, and I don’t like that Lord Gregory has taken interest in you.”
Nora didn’t like that either. “Do you think…” She looked around to make sure no one could hear them. “Do you think he had anything to do with—”
“Yes,” Garrick said. “You’ll need to stay close to home while I deal with this once and for all.”
Nora nervously tapped her fingers on her cup. “W-what do you mean?”
“I believe you know.”
She swallowed and put her cup back down on a small table. She pressed her hands to her middle and prayed her assumptions of her husband were wrong. “No, Garrick, I don’t know what you mean. Perhaps, you should say it.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I’m going to kill him and his father.”
Kill? Murder? She thought he’d meant to hurt them, maybe even in a permanent way, only as much as he’d been injured. She would rather he simply alerted the authorities, however.
Was he capable of murder? Had he murdered anyone before? She’d asked if he’d hurt people in the past. She hadn’t been brave enough to ask anything more. She wasn’t sure she wished to know the truth. She didn’t know if she could survive having such information.
Garrick grabbed her arm and helped her from the room. Her legs were unsteady as she tried to fight what she had suspected all along. The darkness that resided in her husband had been formed by a terrible sin.
∫ ∫ ∫
5 0
* * *
Garrick was unsure why he’d been so blunt with Nora. He could have lied. He could have kept the truth to himself, but a part of him needed to test her. The darkness in him needed her acceptance, to completely corrupt her once and for all.
Yet he could tell she wouldn’t even before she spoke the words.
He’d barely closed the door to his aunt and uncle’s private receiving room— the one that’d been caught alone in before— when Nora spoke.
“Don’t do it.”
“I must,” he said, surprised she wasn’t screaming and weeping. Weren’t gently bred women supposed to faint at such words?
Nora was trembling.
Her blue eyes held dolefulness that hurt. “Garrick, you can’t do this.”
“I must.”
“It is a sin,” she hissed.
“And one I have committed in the past. Repeatedly.”
Nora took a step back and then another. Fear rounded her eyes.
He’d expected the look and the separation the truth would cause, but he’d been unprepared for the l
oss of her.
This time, when the door to the receiving room opened, they were far from a compromising position.
Yet the person who opened the door was the very same one who’d done so just weeks ago.
Nora straightened as Ebba walked into the room and Garrick was further surprised when she moved closer to him. Was she no longer afraid of him? Perhaps, Ebba’s presence, or the presence of a witness, made her courageous.
Ebba smiled. “Papa believes I should apologize for what I have done, but he also told me that I should stop lying, so I’m afraid I cannot do both.” She looked between them. “I’ll accept any form of gratitude you have to offer.”
“Gratitude?” Nora asked. “You manipulated me. You manipulated both of us.”
“I did.” Ebba shrugged and folded her hands. “Someone had to do it and here you are, once again slipping away from the crowd as lovers are wont to do. The least you can do is say thank you.”
“Thank you,” Nora said. “Now, please leave.”
Garrick was shocked.
As was Ebba, but she quickly recovered and said, “I’ve also secured you both tickets to the play. There is no need to thank me for that. You’re more than welcome.” She left after that.
Nora turned to Garrick. She even took his hand. “You can’t do this. I’ll not let Miriam lose another papa.”
Was that her only concern? Of course, it wasn’t. She’d mentioned sin. “You would still want me as Miriam’s father? Even after knowing what I’ve done? I have taken lives and I am not sorry for my actions. I am not a good man.”
She looked away. She couldn’t handle the truth of it. His Nora tried to be strong, but he was clearly too much for her. She wrapped her arms around herself. “There is no taking back the choices we made.”
Garrick waited for more though he wasn’t sure how much he could take.
She turned back to him. “Besides, it wasn’t like I didn’t know. I knew, in my heart, even though you never said it outright.”
“Why me?” Why did she care for him? Why had she married him?
“Because, you’re the strongest man in the world, and you’re exactly what we need.”
Wounds of A Viscount: (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) Page 25