The Devilish Duke, page 17
“I think you know me better than that.” He smiled briefly. “I have paid little attention to your derogatory comments about my father and myself over the years, but you cross the line when that tongue of yours starts speaking about Lady Sophie,” he warned. “If I even hear so much as a hint of any slanderous rumors concerning her, I shall assume they have come from you, and trust me, dear aunt, you would not like the consequences.”
“But…but I have no control over all of the gossips and rumor mongers in London,” Lady Brampton spluttered.
“Come, dear aunt, we both know that your opinion of a person’s character is a view society follows. Up until now, Sophie has enjoyed an impeccable reputation, and if that were to change, I would assume you to be responsible and would take suitable action.” He edged away from her. “You would do well to ensure that you and your cronies only speak of Lady Sophie in the highest and most glowing of terms.”
Lady Brampton went silent as she appeared to digest his words, then she peered at Sophie. “You will get your heart broken, as sure as the sun rises, for having anything to do with him. Come, girls, I have had enough of being a spectacle for one evening; let us go.”
The woman headed for the archway.
“I am sorry, Lady Sophie,” Lady Amelia said. “And my apologies again, cousin.” She twisted her hands together as she looked at Devlin. “Mama has never listened to reason over Papa’s death. She still grieves terribly, but I am sure she truly meant no offense.” The stricken girl turned and followed her mother and sisters out of the salon.
As they left, Devlin scowled at the crowd of onlookers gathered throughout the room. Nearly all had the grace to turn away, looking slightly abashed at being caught staring.
Sophie clenched her hands into fists, fairly vibrating with fury in the aftermath of the encounter. “I have a half a mind to follow that aunt of yours and call her out.”
He could not help but grin. “I can see I shall be well protected once we are married.”
“Married?” a voice growled from behind them. “Over my dead body will you ever marry my sister!”
Devlin spun around. “Thornton?” he exclaimed at the sight of Sophie’s brother.
“Huntington,” the Earl of Thornton acknowledged grimly, right before his fist slammed into Devlin’s jaw.
Chapter Twenty
“Daniel, how could you?” Sophie admonished her brother as she rushed to Devlin, who was now sitting on his backside gingerly rubbing the left side of his face. “Are you all right?” she asked him.
“Fine,” Devlin grunted, his eyes never straying from Daniel’s as he got to his feet.
Daniel reached for Sophie’s arm. “Come, we are leaving now.”
“Do not lay a hand on her,” Devlin growled. “You may have caught me by surprise with that hook, but touch her against her will, and you will be on the ground.”
“Try it, Huntington,” Daniel replied, “and we shall see who ends up on the ground again.”
“Stop it, both of you,” Sophie demanded in a harsh whisper. “This is neither the time nor the place for such a display. Have a care for the audience watching.” Though she cared little of Society’s thoughts, she hoped her words would cause one or both of them to back off.
“Your sister is right,” Devlin agreed. “You would not want her reputation tarnished any more with a further lack of control on your part, now would you, Thornton?”
“If anything has tarnished it, it was being seen with you. If you actually had a care of her reputation, you would not have been speaking with a respectable unmarried lady alone in the first place,” Daniel said.
“Daniel?” Mabel’s voice rang out through the crowd. “Oh, what a lovely surprise! I had not expected to see you in the city for quite some time.” She walked over to the three of them with a gentleman in tow, completely oblivious to the angry undercurrents. “Please do forgive me for taking so long. I bumped into Lord Hemingsworth again, and I just had to introduce him to you. How delightful it is that I can present him to all three of you!” Mabel pointed happily to the gentleman standing to her side.
Sophie glanced over at the handsome man who seemed somewhat uncomfortable at having been dragged into the midst of a clearly heated situation. She felt sorry for him and smiled reassuringly. “Lord Hemingsworth and I are already acquainted, Aunt. In fact, he often donates to the orphanage.”
“And a great pleasure I take in doing so,” Lord Hemingsworth returned graciously. “It is lovely to see you again, Lady Sophie.”
She held her hand out to him while he placed a perfunctory kiss on the back of her glove. “Good to see you again too, my lord.”
“Oh, I had forgotten you knew each other.” Mabel continued, “But never mind, let me introduce you to my nephew, the Earl of Thornton. And this,” she pointed across to Devlin, “is the Duke of Huntington.”
Lord Hemingsworth bowed. “It is a great honor to meet such esteemed company.”
Both the Duke and the Earl nodded briefly, their focus still clearly directed toward each other.
“How fortunate that both of them were here to meet you,” Mabel said, delighted. She then turned her attention upon Daniel. “But dear nephew, what are you doing here? I thought you were still at Cranbrook Lodge? And why,” she continued as she looked furtively around the room, “is everyone staring at us?”
Sophie saw her aunt look between them, rife speculation in her gaze. “I shall explain in the carriage, Aunt, but I think it is time we leave. It was nice to see you again, my lord,” Sophie said to Lord Hemingsworth, who seemed slightly bewildered. “But if you will excuse us, we really must depart.” She then turned to Devlin. “I think it best if I speak with my family alone.”
“That is right, Huntington,” Daniel concurred. “Leave my sister the hell alone.”
“Daniel!” Mabel clutched her hands to her chest. “Where are your manners? You must apologize to the Duke.”
“The devil I will,” Daniel roared. He spun around to Sophie and pointed at her. “You are not marrying him, and that is final.”
“She damn well is marrying me,” Devlin shot back, shifting his body toward him.
“Stop it, both of you!” Sophie admonished, stepping between them, a move that was starting to feel rather familiar when she was in Devlin’s presence.
“Marrying?” Mabel exclaimed, her voice echoing throughout the room. “What is this news, Sophie? You are to marry the Duke?”
Sophie sighed as the murmur of voices around them grew louder. “It would seem the notice you placed in the Times was not needed,” she said to Devlin. “I dare say this little farce has surely been heard throughout the building, if not the entire city.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Sophie stalked through the front door to the town house and ripped off her gloves. “I cannot believe you behaved like such a madman tonight!” She directed the statement toward her brother as he strode through the door just behind her, Mabel following closely on his heels.
“Please,” Daniel sneered as they all walked down the corridor toward the library. “You are the one apparently engaged to marry the Devil Duke. Surely it is I who should be considering sending you to an asylum for such madness.”
“Do you honestly think to scare me with such asinine threats?” Sophie crossed through the doorway to the library and walked up to the blazing hearth. “And what are you doing in London anyhow, when you are meant to be at Cranbrook?”
Daniel’s eyes narrowed. “How unfortunate for you that I received an urgent missive from the War Office requesting my presence here in London immediately. Otherwise, I would still be overseeing the repairs to Cranbrook, none the wiser over what has been transpiring here. When I arrived this evening, I was informed that you had already left for the opera; hence, I thought to surprise you. However, it appears it was I that received the unexpected surprise.”
“Well, if you had not been eavesdropping, you would not have received such news.”
“Somewhat of an understatement, sister,” Daniel replied. “Just what in hell is going on between you and the Duke of Huntington? You are normally of sound mind, yet here you are engaged to the most notorious man in London. Have you completely lost your wits?”
Sophie placed her hands on her hips. “Do not lecture me, Daniel Christopher Wolcott! I am not some young miss fresh from the school room. I am well past the age where you have any say in what I do or do not do.”
“The hell you are,” he growled. “I am the head of this household, and you will do as you are told.”
“My dears, my dears,” Mabel placated as she, too, walked into the library. “Please stop bickering. Actually, Daniel, this news of Sophie’s engagement to the Duke is wonderful. Just think of it: your sister will no longer be an old maid. She will be a duchess.”
“God damn it, Mabel,” Daniel exclaimed as he strode over to the side table and poured himself a brandy. “You more than anyone know of all of the gossip concerning the Duke over the years. And yet now you think him to be a saint because he is marrying Sophie, simply because he is a Duke. Have you lost all sense, too?”
“I have sense enough to know,” Mabel began, “that this offer from the Duke is most likely the best one Sophie will ever receive. It will ensure that she lives in luxury in her own household for the rest of her life. Surely when you calm down, you will recognize the benefits of such a match.”
“Being married to the Devil a benefit? Never will I look at such a match in that light,” Daniel said. “You have lost your marbles.”
“Daniel,” Sophie admonished. “Do not take your frustrations out on Aunt Mabel.”
“Well, where in the hell was she when all this was going on?” Daniel pointed toward Mabel. “She was supposed to be your chaperone.”
Mabel gasped and put her hand to her chest. “I was…well, of course I was chaperoning Sophie… At least, I was doing my utmost to. I would never let anything besmirch her name.”
“Of course not, Aunt Mabel.” Sophie walked over to where her aunt stood by the door and reached out to take her hand. “Nothing has besmirched my name. Pay no heed to Daniel’s words.”
“I fear this is simply too much for my delicate nerves.” Her brow furrowed. “I had best retire before I faint from the worry.”
“Of course you must,” Sophie said, watching as Mabel walked to the doorway.
“Please do not bicker with each other for too much longer,” Mabel begged as she reached the door. “My nerves could not stand there being ill blood between my two dearest family members.”
“Of course not, Aunt,” Sophie said. “Goodnight.”
Mabel wished them both a good night as she departed.
“God help us from Mabel’s nerves,” Daniel said.
Sophie turned to scowl at her brother, who was leaning against the desk sipping on his brandy. “I hope you are happy with yourself. You have hurt Aunt Mabel’s feelings.”
“Hard to keep track of her delicate sensibilities all the time.”
“Stop being so flippant,” Sophie warned as she walked over to the hearth and warmed her hands by the fire. “You know she means well.”
Daniel rose and moved to the lounge, where he sat and settled himself against the cushions, nursing the glass of brandy in his hand. “Well, where was she when all of this was going on?”
“For goodness sakes, Daniel, I am well past the age of needing a constant chaperone,” Sophie replied. “Besides which, it is my life and hence my decision to make. You have no say in the matter.”
“The hell I do not!” Daniel growled as he stood and strode over to her. “You still live under my roof, sister.”
“Something that can easily be rectified,” Sophie said, squaring up to him. “The Duke wishes for a speedy wedding, and I have no doubt that if I suggested we marry next week, he would accommodate the request.”
“Why the need for a speedy wedding?” His voice was dangerously soft.
She stamped her foot down. “Oh, for goodness sakes, he has not compromised me, if that is what you are thinking.”
“Then why the rush?”
Her brother’s perceptiveness was bothersome at times. “I believe he has decided it is time to settle down and is impatient to do so.”
“Bullocks,” Daniel cursed. “You are far too good and decent for that scoundrel, sister. The man never does anything without a reason. Trust me, there is more to his offer than meets the eye.”
“Why must he have a nefarious purpose to want to marry me? Is it so far-fetched to think a man like Devlin might want me to be his wife?”
“God damn it, Sophie, you know you are beautiful inside and out. But Devlin is not just any man; he is ruthless. It is a well-known fact that all that man could ever love is making money, and he does not care whom he destroys on his path to success.”
“That is a very unfair thing to say of him.” Sophie stalked over to the lounge, effectively swapping places with him since she was too upset to be near him. Her brother had always been overly protective of her. Mostly, she accepted it with equanimity, but at this moment, his interference was beyond maddening. “I am under no illusion of it being a love match. Devlin and I understand each other in that regard. But what of me, Daniel? Have you considered why I have agreed to his proposal? Perhaps I have some cleverly calculated purpose and reason for marrying him, too.”
“You, sister, do not have a nasty bone in your body; a bleeding heart, perhaps, but you are not cold and calculating like the Duke. And if you must know,” Daniel continued, clearing his throat slightly, “my concern stems from the fact that… Well, I… Damn it, Sophie, I do not wish for you to be hurt.”
“But I shall not be hurt. I can handle the Duke.” She sank down onto the cushions of the lounge.
“You have no experience with men such as he.” Daniel ran a hand through his darkly golden hair. “Do you not see, sister? He is just like our father was. He cares naught for anything or anyone bar himself and his own pleasures.”
“That is not true,” she defended. “You do not know him as you think you do. Much of the gossip about him is false.” At least she was coming to believe it was. It had to be.
“And much of it is true. Why do you always see only the best in people? It makes my job protecting you a great deal more difficult.”
“But that is not your job.”
“Of course it is. I am your brother.” He sighed softly. “He goes through women like most men go through brandy. I could not stand to see you go through what Mother did.”
There was concern and worry etched into his expression, and she felt some of her anger at him diminish. Daniel had always, only ever, had her best interests at heart. She lowered her voice. “I have no intention of going down the path that Mother did. You must trust my decision.”
He leaned forward and placed his glass on the side table. “You know I have always trusted your decisions, but the Duke of Huntington is unlike any man of your acquaintance. You have no idea how ruthless he can be in the pursuit of attaining what he wants.”
Actually, I do know. But there was no way she would admit the true reason behind her agreement to marry. If Daniel knew the Duke had used the orphanage to entice her into marriage, he would do something stupid and call Devlin out, something she would not allow to happen. “I admit he is a lot more complicated than most men.”
“Which is why this choice of yours to marry him has me at a complete loss. Particularly when you have been so averse to marrying in the first place.” He examined her thoughtfully. “He did not threaten you in any way, did he?”
“No, of course not,” Sophie said. “Daniel, I have given my word to marry Devlin, and marry him is what I shall do.” She got up and approached him, taking his hand in hers. “Brother, I promise you it shall be all right. Devlin will make sure that I never want for anything.”
He sighed in resignation, though the cold, hard look in his eyes was not encouraging. “And I promise you, sister, that if he hurts you in any way or breaks your heart, he will be visiting his maker in hell.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Please, sir, please don’t hurt me again,” Tina begged him as she scooted her naked body back against the hard wood floor, the chain attached to her ankle grinding against the surface.
The man always found their pleas so satisfying, especially when accompanied by blind terror, as was the case with this girl Tina. Mesmerizing.
She whimpered as he advanced closer. “I won’t tell no one nothing. I swear I won’t,” she wailed as her back came up against the wall. “Please, I won’t. Please just let me go. I beg you!”
“Why is it that I do not believe you, hmm?” he said as he tugged on the chain that was attached to the iron manacle encircling her right ankle. All women were liars. All of them. “Now back you come,” he crooned softly as he began pulling on the chain, dragging her body back toward him, unheeding as splinters from the wooden floor tore into the exposed flesh of her buttocks and back. Her skin was surprisingly delicate, some would even say delightfully soft and supple, at least for a servant in any event.
Tina whimpered as her body slowly dragged inch by inch closer to him. “It was Robbie’s idea to blackmail you. I tried to talk him out of it.”
He paid no heed to her words. Instead, his eyes were riveted on the trail of blood being dragged behind her as he pulled her closer. The sight of the deep crimson against the pale porcelain of her skin was entrancing.
He dropped the chain to the floor and moved to the side table, where he picked up his dagger.
The little thing tried once again to scurry backward to the corner of the room, even though she knew she was trapped and had nowhere to go.
As he approached her, he ensured that the small amount of light streaming in from the window caught the edge of the blade. She started to pray aloud as huge trembles wracked her entire body.
“I’m…I’m so sorry,” she sobbed. “Please, don’t be hurting me no more. Please let me go. I beg you to.”
