Seduced By A Devil

by Vella, Wendy

  “Who was at the meeting?” Gabe asked.

  “Most were loyal to France.”

  “And yet live in England?”

  “They cannot go back.”

  “As they have committed crimes that stop their return?”

  The man nodded.

  “Why have you approached us with this information?”

  Nix gave what Gabe guessed passed as a smile.

  “You’ll match what was offered and more, or you don’t get the rest of the information.”

  “Such loyalty, Nix. I’m touched,” Gabe said.

  “I have six children, my lord.”

  “Say no more.” Gabe pulled out money. “How much?”

  A sum was named, and he handed it over, then Nix nodded for his companion to speak.

  “Someone is to be killed, and it will be done a certain way.”

  “Stiletto, presumably? Handkerchief over the face, body on its back, arms folded?” Gabe asked.

  The man nodded.

  “And I am that man?”

  The man nodded again.

  “Clearly he is too busy to kill me himself.”

  “There’s more,” Nix said.

  “That’s good. I was concerned my brother’s death would not be enough for me to worry about,” Michael muttered.

  “He’s planning to kidnap the king.”

  “Are you absolutely certain of this information?” Gabe asked.

  The men nodded again.

  That would certainly be an efficient way to get everybody’s attention, Gabe thought. Geraint did not have this information.

  “Why would he do that?” Michael asked.

  “Because they will ask for a king’s ransom for his return,” Gabe said.

  “And when they have that, they’ll disappear,” Michael said.

  “Very likely. It is an audacious plan, but if anyone can carry it out, it is our French acquaintance,” Gabe said. “Where did you come by this information?”

  “At the docks.”

  “Is that all you heard?”

  “It is. I don’t kill nobles or kidnap kings,” the man with Nix said.

  “Excellent standards to set,” Michael added.

  “We are grateful for your loyalty, Nix, and would ask you both to keep your ear to the ground. Please report immediately to us if you hear or see anything else, and we will reimburse you for your time.”

  “Take care, Lord Raine. He’s a right mean one.”

  “I can be mean also when required, Nix, but thank you for the warning.”

  The men disappeared down the lane, and the brothers started walking.

  “Christ, Gabe.”

  “We are further forewarned, Michael. All will go well,” Gabe said, thinking about what he’d just learned. Ombrage wanted revenge for the bullet he’d put in his body.

  “Do not treat this lightly, brother. This threat is real, and Ombrage a cunning and dangerous man.”

  “I know.”

  “Damnation,” Michael muttered. “We’ve dealt with a great deal over the years, but this is by far the worst. A plot to kill you and kidnap the king. I’m not sure which one scares me the most.”

  “We know Ombrage is intelligent, cunning, and has the money to support his causes,” Gabe said.

  “It could be a grudge also. Did our king do something to anger whoever is behind the entire thing?” Michael asked.

  “Hell of a grudge,” Gabe muttered.

  “Just like the one Ombrage holds against you for shooting him.”

  “Just like that one,” Gabe said, heading into a coffeehouse.

  They discussed what they’d learned, what they should do, and Gabe gnawed on the problem that someone wanted him dead.

  If he was honest, the death part didn’t worry him too much. He wouldn’t know it had happened… because he’d be dead. What worried him was leaving his family behind. He wouldn’t watch his nieces and nephews grow up. He wouldn’t meet the women his brothers married.

  “I’m not dying,” he said in a steady voice.

  “Excellent choice,” Michael agreed. “Let’s see if we can make that happen.”

  They decided to walk home, and he found his eyes scanning every face they passed. From what direction would Ombrage strike?

  “You can’t go out alone, Gabe.”

  “Yes, I can, and I will. I know there is no point in asking you to keep this from the others, but I’m going to tell them what I’m telling you. I am not changing my life because of this threat. He will come at me no matter the precautions I take.”

  Michael exhaled loudly through his teeth, which was a particularly annoying habit he’d had since childhood, but thankfully remained silent.

  They cut through the park that would take them on a more direct route to their town house. Two children ran past, shrieking as they chased each other.

  Did he want those? Children were a burden, but surely if you loved or at least respected the woman you had them with, you would love your children?

  Their parents had loved them, but Gabe wasn’t sure he wanted to put the responsibilities he’d had from a young age on any son he had. But if did not sire a son, then one of his nephews would have the burden.

  “Lost your horse, Raine?”

  “I like to walk, Ryder. It ensures I do not grow flabby,” he said to the man trotting by.

  “Are you suggesting I’m flabby?” Lord Ryder asked. “I’ll tell my wife on you.” Lifting his hat, he rode off.

  “Good God, is that Walter?”

  Gabe searched and found the large dog. He was running away from them with what looked to be a bonnet in his mouth.

  “God’s blood, when is that woman going to control that bloody dog?” Gabe muttered. Resigned, he started in the dog’s direction.

  Michael was laughing as he followed. They heard shrieks and found a group of young ladies twittering seconds later.

  “You’ll pardon him, ladies, he has no manners.” Gabe gave them a wide smile as he sprinted by.

  “They will think you are interested in them now,” Michael wheezed from beside him.

  “Because I smiled?”

  “Exactly. You know better than to show interest.”

  “Silly me.” Gabe looked for the dog.

  “Which way did he go?” Michael asked.

  “I don’t know. You take the left path, and I’ll take the right.”

  Gabe hurried along the path that led through the bushes and came out beside a pond. Walter was in the water swimming. Gabe also found Dimity. She was on the ground pulling off her boots.

  “What the hell are you about, woman?”

  “I’m getting him out,” she snapped, not even sparing him a glance.

  He admired the length of the stocking-clad leg she flashed him briefly, and then she was removing that also.

  “You are not going into the water. And why has he no lead on him?” His voice was testy. “You know he runs off; you need to take more care that he cannot do so.”

  “I do take care!” She got to her feet glaring at him. “He was riding in the carriage and saw a bird. It flew off, and he leapt from it to chase it.”

  “If you had a lead on him, he wouldn’t have been able to,” Gabe ground out.

  “Go away,” she muttered, walking to the water.

  “I beg your pardon. Do not speak to me that way, you little baggage, and get out here now!”

  “I’ve thanked you for this morning and have no wish to continue insulting you, considering how you behaved in my defense, but if you continue speaking like that, I will do so.”

  Before he could reach her, she’d lifted her skirts and waded deeper into the water. Michael arrived, still laughing.

  “Shut up.” He glared at his brother, who simply bent at the waist and laughed harder. “Get out of there at once.”

  “Go away, Lord Raine. Walter is my concern, not yours.”

  “I will tell the duchess all is well,” Michael said, still snorting with laughter. “And
ensure her little beast has not fled in pursuit of her love.”

  “All is not bloody well though, is it,” Gabe snapped after his brother had left.

  Sitting, he began to tug off his own boots.

  “What are you doing? Don’t you dare join us,” Dimity said, walking to where Walter still swam around as if he had all the time in the world. “Besides, those boots are forced on by your valet; I doubt you even know how to remove them.”

  “Insulting is like speaking to you, isn’t it,” Gabe grunted, tugging.

  “The truth is rarely an insult,” she said, tiptoeing her way closer to her dog.

  “I take off my own boots,” Gabe lied.

  She laughed, making his teeth snap together. The woman could annoy him like no other.

  “Stop, Dimity. You have no idea how deep that gets.”

  “It’s a pond,” she said. Then she took a step and disappeared.

  With one boot on and the other off, Gabe ran into the water.

  “Stop,” she spluttered. “I am all right; I simply tripped.” Water dripped off her body, and her bonnet had lost its shape and sagged, now framing her face.

  “I am going to kill you… both of you,” Gabe said. “Walter, come here at once!”

  The dog gave him the side eye but swam to where he stood. Dimity was now up to her waist, and her dress clung to her body. He’d have had to be a eunuch not to notice how lovely her breasts were. The curve of her hip or waist. All of her had his body hard, even standing in the cold water with one boot off.

  He grabbed her hand as she drew closer and tugged. The force had her crashing into his body.

  “You continually cause me trouble,” he said, looking at her lovely face. “What were you thinking?”

  “I-I was trying to get my dog.”

  “He needs training.” Gabe couldn’t seem to make himself release her.

  “I know. I will see to it. Now let me go.”

  His eyes ran over her face, taking in her spiky lashes and lovely lips. “You’re a beautiful woman, Dimity Brown, and extremely disturbing.”

  “Don’t—”

  He kissed whatever else she was going to say from her lips. The feel of that wet body pressed to him was beyond anything he’d ever felt before. Tightening his grip, he pulled her closer, angling her head so he could deepen the kiss. She responded, pressing into him, raising her face for more. Gabe devoured her mouth. He wanted more, so much more. Lust rampaged through him as he trailed a hand down her back, caressing the curves her dress clung to.

  “I want you.” He whispered the words against her lips, no longer able to deny his need for this woman.

  “No.” She eased back. “That can never be.”

  “It could be,” he rasped, aroused and desperate to have her.

  “No. We will never do that. Your sister…” Her words fell away. “There is much turmoil in my life at the moment. This would only add to that.”

  He’d felt her response, knew that she wanted him as he did her.

  “What turmoil? What are you not telling me, Dimity?”

  “My father passed away and I was thrown from my home; of course I’m in turmoil. I am also standing in a public setting, in your arms, soaking wet. Should the duchess see me, you will be responsible for the loss of yet another position I have just recently found.”

  She pushed out of his arms and waded from the water. Gabe followed.

  “Go away, my lord.”

  He stomped his foot back into the boot he’d managed to pull off and then had to run to catch up with her. Gabe couldn’t remember ever running after a woman.

  Taking off his jacket, he reached her and lowered it around her shoulders.

  “Let me help you, Dimity. Let me take care of you.”

  “I need no help.” Her words were solemn. “Thank you, Lord Raine, f-for everything, but I think it best I don’t see you anymore.”

  “Dimity—”

  She stopped, then looked at him.

  “I know in what form your help would come, and the problem is, I want you too, so it would be easy to take what you offer, but I have my pride, Lord Raine. So it is best we don’t see each other again.”

  Leaving him standing there reeling, she squelched away.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Five days later, Gabe had woken aroused and annoyed again. Dimity Brown was playing hell with his moods. The woman seemed to have planted herself firmly inside his head, and he couldn’t dislodge her.

  I want you too.

  She’d said those words to him, and in doing so had thrust herself deeper inside his head. Damn her.

  He dreamed about her lovely legs wrapped round his waist while he drove into her. Was she happy with the duchess? She’d said she was, but had he believed her? Now, with distance, it seemed unlikely.

  Looking out the carriage window, he wondered what she was doing, then cursed himself for that.

  “So, what are we to say to this brother who threw his sister, our very own Miss Brown, out of the house?” Zach asked from the seat across from him.

  “Nothing. Let me do the talking.”

  Gabe had gone back to the house Dimity had shared with her father and brother and left his card with the boy he’d spoken to that first night. He’d asked him to send word if the brother returned. This morning, he’d received a note stating he had.

  His brothers were with him. He didn’t need their support, Gabe could have handled this himself, but he also knew they would have followed had he denied them. The Deville brothers were worried, Gabe included. Ombrage was indeed a shadow, as no one seemed to have knowledge of his location or movements. They’d sent word they would pay for any information about him, but so far nothing had surfaced.

  “And what will you say to him?” Zach asked.

  “I will ask him to explain his behavior and see if we can find some answers to the questions I have.”

  “What questions?”

  “Something is off with her, and I think it’s about that note she found.”

  “Why are you so interested in Dimity, Gabe?”

  “I’ve told you that she has no one else to look out for her, Michael.”

  “I understand that, and it’s very good of you to watch out for her, but this is going above and beyond that.”

  He looked at his brothers, who sat across from him wearing matching expressions.

  “Why don’t you take her as your mistress?” Zach asked, rather unwisely to Gabe’s mind.

  “You do realize that your sister would likely maim you if she heard you speaking that way?” Even though that is exactly what I want and offered her. “Plus, I have no wish to make her my mistress, even if she should wish it, which I assure you she would not,” he lied. He wanted it above all things. Wanted to feel her pressed to him again and his lips on hers.

  “So you do want her? We have discussed this at length and are divided,” Zach said.

  “For the love of God, shut up, Zach,” Nathan moaned.

  “You discussed it?” Gabe’s words came out coated in ice.

  “I wonder if you will ever grow up.” Nathan looked disgusted. “We have discussed it only in passing, I assure you, Gabe. I mean, she is a beautiful woman, and clearly there is that—”

  “That?” Gabe snapped.

  “Certain spark between you.”

  “There is no spark. She was my employee, therefore I feel a certain responsibility for her, as I would for any of them. Plus, our sister calls her friend.”

  “That must be it then.” Michael jabbed Zach in the ribs with his elbow as he snorted. “And clearly nothing to do with the look you get in your eyes when she’s near, or the fact you both appeared after her impromptu swim in the lake, looking flushed.”

  “Shut up.” Gabe followed those words with a glare. Thankfully, they obeyed. “If you can manage to keep your mouths shut and simply look menacing, I would be grateful,” he added as the carriage stopped. “Try not to look witless.”

  “A particu
lar skill he’s perfected,” Michael added, looking at Zach.

  “I’ll have you know, there are many who think me extremely intelligent.” Zach did not look insulted.

  “Name me one,” Gabe said, opening the door.

  “Thompson.”

  “Please. That man can’t get out of bed without falling flat on his face. He’s an imbecile. If you are keeping company with him, it is hardly surprising you behave as you do,” Gabe said.

  Michael and Nathan chuckled. Brothers especially enjoyed it when another was under fire.

  Gabe knocked on the front door of Dimity’s father’s home with his brothers flanking him. When it opened, he looked at the man framed in the doorway. Not overly tall, he had a large belly and ruddy complexion. There was no resemblance to Dimity at all.

  “How may I help you?” he asked, his gaze moving along the line of imposing Devilles before him.

  “Mr. Brown?”

  “I am he.”

  “I would like to discuss Miss Dimity Brown with you,” Gabe said. The mention of her name changed the expression to anger.

  “I have nothing to say about her.”

  “She is your sister.”

  “She is nothing to me,” he spat out.

  “And yet she shared this house with you and your father before you tried to pay your debts with her!” Gabe snarled out the last word. “I want answers as to why you threw her out of the only home she’d ever known!”

  “Gabe,” Michael cautioned.

  He inhaled, realizing he was roaring.

  “I owe you no explanation.” Dimity’s brother attempted to shut the door in his face and failed. Placing a palm on the wood, he pushed it and the man back into the house.

  “I will not ask so politely next time,” Gabe said.

  The man paled.

  “Get out!”

  “Not until we have answers.”

  The entrance was small and dark. A set of stairs rose to the right. Dimity had lived here and slept somewhere above him.

  “What is she to you?” her brother demanded. “Is she your whore?”

  “Imbecile.” Nathan sighed as Gabe lunged forward and grabbed Brown, shaking him like an old rag.

  “Never speak of her in such terms again. Dimity Brown is an honorable and courageous woman, something I doubt you would ever understand.”