A Taste of Seduction (13 page)

“Augustus wants me to marry Lady Claire. However, nothing is set in stone, and I only agreed because—”

“Because you'd lost me.”

He looked away into the dark night. He could barely get words past the lump in his throat. “I acceded to the match because you'd broken my heart. If I had known you had been abducted and that you would come back to me, I never would have agreed.”

“I understand. What I need to know is what you plan to do moving forward. Will you go through with a marriage to Claire?”

“No. Not if there is a chance that you and I could recapture what we lost. Do you think you could forgive me enough to let me love you once again?”

“There is nothing to forgive, my love. It's a shame we don't have more time to learn how we both feel after all these years. I don't know if I'm in love with the dream of you, a dream I've held on to for so long, or with the honorable man who stands before me.”

He pulled her close. “People change. Circumstances and experiences all affect us.” So much had happened since she'd been torn from him. He wasn't even sure he was the same man. “Do you still love me?”

“That's a bit unfair. You want me to declare my heart when you are keeping yours hidden.”

He pulled her back into his arms. “I know that my world lights up when I see you, that my heart races when I hear your laugh, and that when any other man comes near you I feel a fierce need to mark you as mine.” He leaned toward her, his lips nuzzling her neck, her earlobe. He simply needed to taste her.

“If only we had the luxury of sneaking away for a few days with no distractions, to see if it is possible to rekindle what we once shared.”

“I think we deserve the chance to see what is still between us. I've already made the decision—even if we cannot go back, I know I cannot marry Lady Claire. I want more for my life. I want happiness.”

“God knows we both deserve a chance at happiness.”

“We could go to Lathero,” he declared.

He felt her breath catch. At last she said, “Aren't you needed here to help capture Victoria?”

“Damn. You make me forget everything when you're here in my arms.” He thought hard. “Arend is still working on Isobel. I don't think a few days will make much difference. We have been after Victoria for months as it is.”

“It would give us more time to go through all the journals—together. I must warn you, you won't like some of things you read.”

Bloody hell,
he thought. “If you survived your captivity, then I can survive reading about it.”

“I don't want you to feel any further guilt. I know you want to help and protect everyone, and sometimes that just isn't possible.”

He felt the anger and guilt build again, but tempered them by inwardly swearing to himself that he'd never let anything happen to her—or her son—ever again.

“What about your son?” he asked.

“Of course I don't want to leave him even for a few days. But I can't help but think he would be safer if you and I are away from him. I'm sure you'll make certain that he is well guarded.”

“We could send him to stay with Sebastian and Beatrice. He is a similar age to young Henry.”

He felt her stiffen in his arms, but she simply nodded.

Reluctantly he kissed the top of her head and hooked her arm in his. “We should get back. I suspect we have been away from the ballroom too long already.”

“I don't care about the gossip except insofar as it provides Victoria with a weapon she may use against us…and Sealey. I also saw Augustus looking pretty angry when he watched you dance with me earlier. You'll need to inform him of your change of heart.”

“Leave Augustus to me. I'll organize some of the Runners to depart for Lathero tomorrow. We can leave the following day. It would be better if we were not seen leaving together, however. I'll ride, and you take your carriage. Is that enough time for you to make your arrangements?”

She pressed a kiss to his lips. “Yes. I cannot believe I will be staying at Lathero, in your bed—it's a dream come true. But please, promise me one thing?”

“Anything, my darling.”

“I have been in one loveless marriage already, and while I know you would never treat me as Dougal did, I can't be with a man who can't fully commit to me. If your feelings for me have changed, if you no longer can give me your heart, then we part as friends.”

He had loved her once before, and when he looked at her, when he held her in his arms, it was as if it was five years ago. Not only did he desire her physically, but he wanted her by his side to share his life, to be the mother of his children. No other woman made him want those things or stirred his heart so.

He stopped at the base of the steps leading up to the terrace. “Let's make no promises and have no expectations. All that does is put pressure on us from the start.”

She looked at him for a moment and finally nodded. “As you wish.” But her tone made him realize he had disappointed her with his answer.

He let her slip into the ballroom behind two other couples who had been taking the air. He remained outside and lit a cheroot. He took a long drag, trying to get his rioting emotions under control. Elation filled him. Evangeline was coming to Lathero. They could at least pretend that the past had not happened.

“If Victoria was unsure of your relationship with Lady Evangeline, she isn't now. You've made a social faux pas, staying in the garden so long.”

Arend. Hadley blew out a lungful of smoke, not even acknowledging the comment. Finally he said, “Evangeline and I are going to Lathero. If Victoria follows, we've got proof of her involvement.”

“She might not follow personally. She might simply send someone else.”

“True,” Hadley acknowledged.

“I've been thinking…,” Arend began.

“That could be dangerous,” Hadley tossed out with a laugh, but Arend ignored him.

“What if we let slip that we know it's Victoria behind our troubles? It might force her into making a mistake.”

Hadley stubbed the cheroot out under his shoe. “It would also make her very dangerous. A cornered bull charges.”

Arend nodded. “But if she loses control, she won't be thinking carefully or rationally, and she may well make a mistake. At any rate, we need to try something.” He slapped the railing of the terrace. “The others are still not convinced it's her, and that wastes time.”

“Christian will demand proof before we target her. Publicly confronting her is risky. And you're not known for subtlety. What do you propose?”

Arend swung to face him. “I intend to converse with her. Here. Tonight.”

“Are you going to ask the others about this approach first?”

“They would likely say no, so I shall tell them afterward. Do you have a problem with that?”

“They will not be pleased. You
will
have to tell them what you have done, because it puts each of them in even more danger. However, I agree that we should try something.”

As the two men entered the ballroom, Arend nudged him in the ribs and nodded to their right. Hadley looked in the direction he was indicating and saw Victoria across the room. She was looking directly at them with an expression that could only be called smug.

“Christ, she already knows we know,” muttered Arend. “Bloody Isobel.”

“That's not fair. We've not confirmed that she is in league with her stepmother.”

“How else would Victoria have any idea that we know about her, unless…
Salaud!
What did we say in front of the man we interrogated? We let him leave. He might have gone straight back to Victoria.”

“I can't recall,” Hadley muttered. “We might have mentioned Isobel's name, if not hers.”

Arend's scowl deepened. He looked directly at Victoria and raised his glass to her in a mock salute. To Hadley he said in a low voice, “Get Evangeline out of London. Go and work out if there is anything between you that is worth fighting for.” At Hadley's stunned look, Arend added, “Life is short. Make sure you bend it to your will so you have no regrets when it ends. I'll ensure Victoria is kept busy here. I intend to up the pressure on her.”

“And how do you plan to do that?”

“You don't want to know,” Arend said, and slipped away into the crowd, heading in Victoria's direction.

The door to Claymore House opened just as Hadley reached the top step. It was surprising to see Thurston still up at this late hour, the lamps still blazing in the entryway behind him. Most unusual at three in the morning.

Bugger,
he thought. It could only mean Augustus had waited up for him.

Thurston's words confirmed it. “His Grace asks if you would join him in his study.”

Hadley knew it was not an invitation but an order.

He handed his hat and gloves to the tired-looking butler. “Has he been waiting long?”

“No, my lord.”

“And his mood?”

“That is not for me to say.”

“Of course.” Hadley sighed, wishing he'd already bought his own London residence. But it had seemed pointless to do so given that Augustus and the rest of the family rarely came to town. He wished he could leave Augustus to run the family and estates and simply settle at Lathero. Thanks to Maitland's financial expertise, he'd developed his small winery at Lathero, and he loved working with the grapes. There was something about rolling up his sleeves and working with nature. Often in London he longed for the Surrey Hills and his vines. He employed a good vintner to create the wine, of course, but he took pride in helping him shape the final product. The vines were now producing quality grapes, and they'd developed an excellent sparkling wine to rival anything the French could make.

Maitland and Christian both believed in and applauded his plan to make sparkling wine. He'd gotten the idea from Charles Hamilton, also based in Surrey, who'd had great luck in producing sparkling wine that could compete with French champagne. Given the heavy duty placed on the French products, the Surrey-made wine was becoming more popular, and Hadley needed to spend more time on that venture. But he hadn't counted on how much of his time and energy he'd need to devote to propping up his brother and managing the family's financial matters. He could put his hand on his heart and categorically say he'd never envied Augustus his role as Duke of Claymore. It just annoyed him that Augustus never performed the role.

He stopped outside Augustus's study and composed himself before knocking on the door and entering.

Augustus was half asleep in the chair by the fire. He looked tired. Hadley hesitated, wondering if he shouldn't simply withdraw, but at that moment Augustus stretched and saw him.

“At last. I wondered if you would come home at all. Then I remembered you'd given me your word that you have parted ways with your mistress. And I doubt Lady Evangeline would condone your staying at her house, given that her son is in residence.”

Hadley sank into the chair next to him. “It's late. What do you want?”

“I'd like to continue our conversation from the other morning. I don't think we came to an agreement.”

“True. But why is a discussion of Lady Claire so urgent that you stayed up so late to talk to me?”

“Because of Lady Evangeline Stuart.”

Anger spiked in Hadley's gut. “I no longer wish to marry Lady Claire, and it has nothing to do with Evangeline. Well, that is not true—it has something to do with her. She showed me that I no longer wish to settle. I want a marriage based on love, like my fellow Libertine Scholars. If that upsets you, I'm sorry. But
you
could always marry Claire.”

Augustus's eyes narrowed. Hadley guessed that he too wanted more in a wife than a woman such as Lady Claire could give.

“It was not I who gave my word that I would marry her. Two years ago you appeared quite pleased with the match.”

Hadley squirmed in his chair. Augustus was right—he
had
agreed to the match. “At that time I didn't know the truth about Evangeline's abduction.” He leaned forward in his chair, almost pleading. “I have a chance at happiness, a real chance. If I promise to continue to run the estates, would that make a difference?”

His brother's face twisted in agony. “You don't understand. I hoped it wouldn't come to this. I need you to marry Claire.”

Hadley stared long and hard at his brother. “I don't understand. Why is it so important that I marry her?”

His brother sighed and looked away, staring at the flames in the fireplace and fiddling with the Claymore ring he wore on his little finger. The silence lengthened until Hadley's pulse began to pound. Christ, what had happened? He watched his brother swallow several times.

When Augustus started speaking, his tone was filled with bitterness and fear. “I'm being blackmailed.”

Hadley's mouth gaped. “I beg your pardon? That can't be. I can't think of anything you have done in your life that could see you put in this position. Father…he's another story.” Hadley sat forward. “My God, it's not something that Father did, is it?”

“No. It is not about Father.” Augustus beat his chest. “It is my mistake.”

“Then what, for God's sake?” He could see Augustus was shaking. “Come, it can't be as bad as anything Father did,” he offered with a laugh, which petered out when he saw Augustus's face.

“I can't bear this—you'll hate me. Please don't make me tell you.”

Hadley hated seeing his brother on the verge of breaking down. Gently he said, “If you don't tell me, I can't help you.”

“The only help I need—and the need is urgent—is for you to marry Lady Claire as agreed.”

“I can't do that. No, I
won't
do that. So you had best tell me what the hell is going on.”

Augustus's face paled even further. “Bloody love. It has a lot to answer for.”

Suddenly it all became clear. “Is it the Marquis of Corby who is blackmailing you? What on earth with? I thought he was your friend!”

Augustus jumped to his feet and began to pace the room, his hands curled into fists. “He heard of Evangeline's return, and he suspected you would withdraw from our agreement to marry his sister. He has a weapon against me, and if you do not go along as planned, he will use it.”

“If he's blackmailing you, why on earth would he not insist that
you
marry Claire? Why must it be me?” None of this was making sense.

Augustus spun about to face Hadley. “Because he knows I never intend to have children and that the dukedom will fall to you.”

Hadley shook his head, not sure he had heard correctly. “Why would you not marry?”

“I've told you before. I do not wish to father children.”

“That is just something you say.” Again Hadley was momentarily speechless. “I know I am not stupid, but this is making my eyes cross, so can you please explain? I don't wish to be the next duke. I know what that role entails. I want a much simpler life.”

“We can't always get what we want.” He flopped back into his chair. “I can't explain further. All you need to know is that you or your son will be the next Duke of Claymore, and that is why Corby insists on you marrying Claire.”

He could tell he'd pushed Augustus as far as was wise, but it rankled that he was being asked to give up his freedom without knowing if there was any other way he might be able to help his brother. “Who's to say the marquis won't continue to blackmail you?”

Augustus dropped his head into his hands. “I don't know that he won't. But there is nothing more he needs from me, and nothing more I have to give.”

Hadley didn't know what to say. At last he uttered, “I think I deserve a bit more if I am to make the sacrifice for this blackmail.” Internally he vowed that he would not make such a sacrifice, not if he could bloody help it. There was no way a weasel like Corby was going to blackmail his brother and ruin Hadley's chance at happiness. He and Evangeline deserved more.

His brother hesitated, as if on the brink of confession. “My situation is dire. It could destroy the family totally. Think of our sisters. If it became known…”

“If what became known? Please, tell me. You're asking a lot of me.”

“You agreed to the betrothal before.”

“As I said, that was years ago. And now that Evangeline—”

“She left you to marry another.”

Why should he have to explain himself? “Evangeline's marriage was not what it seemed.”

Augustus shrugged. “I've heard that she was abducted.”

“Heard? From whom?”

“Lord Markham and His Grace paid me a visit the day I returned to town. They suggested that I—how did they put it?—start acting like a duke and stop leaving everything to you. They said you should be free to pursue Evangeline if you so wished. They explained what had happened to her.”

A warm glow infused him, while at the same time his pride stung. “They should not have done that.” He could fight his own battles.

“I agree. This is family business. My business. My life,” Augustus muttered. He looked up at Hadley. “The return of a woman you may have loved five years ago…I'm sorry, but this is far more important.” At Hadley's look he added, “I can't tell you—it's too mortifying.”

“You expect me to give up the life I've always dreamed of, yet you won't provide me with a good reason? That's not fair.”

“Since when has life ever been fair? You of all people should know that. Do you still love her?”

Did he? She appeared to be the same warm, beautiful woman he'd fallen in love with. But what if her ordeal had changed her? He knew he'd changed. He'd become colder, bitter…He longed for the chance to see if they could recapture the love they'd once shared. Yes, he longed for a home and family of his own, which was why he'd agreed when Augustus approached him with the plan to marry Claire. But what he really wanted to make that dream of his own family come true was a woman who would love him unconditionally. It was an ache that had only grown with time. Hadley remained silent.

“I see,” Augustus said at last.

He was scared to try again—he had to admit that, at least to himself. It was as if Evangeline had cut off one of his limbs, and now she was trying to make it grow back. What if he could not find what they'd once shared? Or what if she decided that he was not what she really wanted? If she walked away a second time, the rejection would kill him and he would have upset the plans he'd agreed to with his brother for nothing.

Augustus sighed, a sound of despair. “Then I must tell you. Corby set a honey trap and caught me in bed with…” Augustus closed his eyes, and to Hadley's horror a tear slid down his brother's face. “Don't make me say this.”

Being caught in bed with a woman was not blackmail material, Hadley thought. Then a revelation struck Hadley with the force of a lightning bolt.
How could he not have known?

Hadley had not even known of his brother's tastes until this moment—that was how well Augustus had hidden it—had had to hide it. Now he understood his brother's fear.

He gripped the edge of the chair, anger filling every inch of his gut. That such a harmless man as Augustus would be put in this position, just because his predilections were not for the female form….But what Augustus had done was punishable by death. The family would be disgraced, their lands and title would be stripped from them, and their sisters would be tainted as having bad blood.

Was that why Augustus didn't want children—because he thought they would be like him? His heart bled for his brother. What must it be like not to be able to love openly?

“I can see the disgust in your eyes.” Augustus's voice was full of sadness and resignation.

Hadley rose and crouched at his brother's feet. “Not disgust for you! No, never. What I feel is anger and hatred for bloody Corby. How could a so-called friend do this to you? I'll kill him.”

“You're not disgusted?”

Hadley hugged his brother. “Man or woman, we cannot choose whom we love.” With a small laugh he added, “Believe me, I've tried to forget one woman for years, hating that I still wanted her back after what I thought she'd done to me.”

He pulled back and looked directly in his brother's eyes. “I'm proud to be your brother. I always will be, and I think I respect you even more given the fear you must live with every day.”

Augustus wiped his face with his hands. “I…thank you.”

Hadley retook his seat. “Still, we're in a bit of a pickle.”

“I'm sorry. When I heard of Evangeline's situation, I thought you'd likely want to rekindle your relationship. And so did Corby. That is why he's now blackmailing me. He has a maid who will come forward to say she witnessed me…with a man. I'm sure she's been paid, but even so…I can't see any way out of this.”

One solution flew into Hadley's mind: Corby six feet under. “You do realize you'll have this problem all your life. Every man you're with could blackmail you.”

“I've met someone. There won't be any other men.”

Hadley tried to think who his lover might be. It must be someone on the estate, as Augustus was very reluctant to come to town these days. He was happy for Augustus but also fearful.

“Still, wouldn't it be better to marry so that you can deny any allegations? You are a duke, after all. They would have to have irrefutable proof.”

His brother shifted uneasily in the chair. “What of my children?”

Hadley understood what Augustus was worried about. “You mean will they be like you?”

“Yes. I wouldn't wish my condition on any man, let alone my son.”

Hadley thought long and hard about how to answer this. He had no idea if this sort of predilection was passed by blood. He'd never heard of anyone else in his ancestry being like Augustus, but he also realized that had there been someone like that, it would likely have been hushed up. “Well, you didn't turn out like our father. He more than loved women. And I hope I'm also nothing like Father. Perhaps we don't all take after our fathers.”

“I'm not sure I can risk it. This affliction should die with me.”