A Thin Line (36 page)

She felt disappointed when he pulled away and refastened his clothing.
 
Her back against the wall provided her only support.
 
“So how did you manage to break free love?”

“The butler sent me to let the stable master know that Her Grace would need the curricle for a trip to the park this afternoon.
 
Then I skipped my break to come see you,” she whispered coyly, her fingers walking a path up his chest.

“What did you say?” He asked somewhat violently not hearing anything she said past her first sentence.

“Which part?”

“About the duchess.”
 
His lover repeated herself.
 
“Who is she going with?”

“I believe the duke’s grandmother.
 
They were going upstairs to pick out what they should wear.”

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” He grabbed her shoulders and shook her as he questioned her.

“What does it matter?” His grip felt punishing.
 
“Stop, you’re hurting me.”

“You silly bitch.”

“What did you just call me?” She asked, her voice coming out in a high-pitched squeal.

“Shut up,” he slapped her across the face.
 
The violence caused desire to well in him once again.

“Stop,” the little maid whimpered pummeling his chest with her fists.

“Yes, fight me,” he growled as he savagely ravished her mouth.
 

“What’s happened to you?” The maid cried after she ripped her mouth from his.

He quickly undid his pants again, this time taking her with force and no apologies.
 
She did not enjoy the love-play this time and fought him.
 
This was not the same attentive lover she had fallen in love with over two weeks ago.
 
What had happened to the man she spent her nights dreaming of?
 
She tried to push him away, but he was stronger and pinned her arms to the wall beside her head.

“I’ll tell you what has happened to me.
 
You have given me the perfect opportunity to kill your mistress.”
 
He watched her eyes widen in horror and he felt himself grow even harder within her.
 
“Yes,” he continued stroking.
 
“She knows too much and she will be out from under her husband’s watchful eye.
 
But, my dear, now you know too much as well.”

“No!
 
I won’t tell!
 
I promise!”
 
She whimpered as he ravaged her body.
 
“I’ll go away!”
 
Even as she pleaded, she knew it was useless.
 
Her mother had always warned her about being a dreamer, that it would get her in trouble.
 
“Mama, I’m sorry,” she cried, tears coursing down her cheeks.

“Yes, you know what’s going to happen don’t you, love?” He whispered in her ear.
 
At just that moment, when he reached one of his most satisfying climaxes ever, he twisted his lover’s head until he heard the unmistakable snap that told him her neck had broken.
 
He felt her life’s breath sigh out of her body and tickle his ear.
 
Her body fell to the ground and he quickly straightened his attire.
 
It took a few minutes for him to gather control of himself.
 
He dragged the body over to a refuse pile and kicked some hay and trash over it.
 
Tugging the rough hat over his brow, he whistled on the short stroll to Hyde Park.

Chapter 26

Kala held herself stiffly next to her husband in the open curricle.
 
The sun shone warmly on her face, which happened to be a rare feat on autumn days.
 
She found herself thinking about all the revelations Gabriel had shared with her the night before.
 
Anger suffused her at all he had been put through.
 
How could a mother do that to her child, regardless of his age?
 
Did Sarah not realize the anguish Gabe lived with?

“Stop.”

“What?” Mikala asked, confused.

“We are supposed to be enjoying the day.
 
You are not to think about anything that will cause you to get angry or brood.”

“How did you know?”

“You might have lost your sight, but I have not.
 
Your eyebrows scrunch together and you get this look about your face when you are angry.”

“I
am
angry, Gabriel James Hawke.
 
I don’t know how you can even refer to that woman as your mother after all she has done.
 
And to blame you!
 
I don’t care that she blames me, but you are her son!”

“Mikala,” he broke in calmly, “now is not the place to vent your spleen.
 
I will not have the family troubles aired in public for all to hear.”

“Fine.”

He sighed heavily, “Mikala, we will deal with Mother later, I promise.
 
Please, can’t we just try to enjoy the day and each other’s company for a change?
 
Believe it or not, I am as tired of this fighting as you are.”
 
She felt herself relaxing slightly as he turned the curricle.
 
“You look quite beautiful today.”

“Thank you.
 
Judith picked out the outfit for me.”

“She did an outstanding job.”
 
Mikala wished very much she knew what colors she wore.
 
She had gotten so tired of asking people to describe the colors of her clothes or things about her that she just quit asking.
 
She did know she wore a walking dress and a pelisse as well as a bonnet, which she kept adjusting.
 
“Stop fidgeting with your bonnet.
 
It looks delightful.”

“I hate bonnets.
 
I would rather go about with my hair down or pulled back with a ribbon.”

“I would prefer it as well,” he said huskily.
 
Mikala wished he would quit saying things like that.
 
Words like that made it difficult to remind herself that she hated him more often than not, well, disliked him at least.
 
She felt the gig come to a halt and dip as he jumped to the ground.
 
Before she knew it, she felt his strong arms at her waist, lifting her down.
 
“You smell as good as you look.”

How she wished she had her sight and could see his expression.
 
Did he tease her?
 
Did he mean it?
 
Damn her sightless eyes!
 
She felt his leather covered thumb caress her cheek.

“If we weren’t in public, I would kiss that frown off those beautiful lips.”

“Gabe,” she said breathlessly.

“Come, let’s take a turn about the Serpentine.”

“Are there many people here?”

“More so than usual at this time of year.
 
Many men want to remain close for news of the war; therefore, many families are staying in town for the holidays.
 
Speaking of the holidays, they are coming up in a few weeks.”

“Yes, they are.
 
I had almost forgotten with everything that has been going on.”

“The Countess has invited us to Blackburn Hall for Christmas.”

“Why don’t you call her Tessa?”

“When I have earned her respect, I will.”

“I would love to go to Blackburn Hall for the holidays.
 
I know we can’t spend much time there, but it would be nice to be with my family.
 
Judith could come with us.”
 
She refused to allow his wretched mother anywhere near her family.

“I will ask her.”

“Do you know what I learned last night?”

“I thought I asked you not to discuss this here.”

“What I discovered,” she continued as if he hadn’t said a word, “is that I am no longer love-struck over you, thinking you some sort of hero.
 
Now, you are only a man with faults just like any other.”

“Kala, that is all I have ever wanted to be.
 
I am no hero to be worshipped.”
 
They walked on in silence for quite some time.
 
He chuckled.

“Did you just laugh?” Kala queried, fearing she might now be losing her hearing.

“Perhaps.”

“About?”

“Just thinking about our future children.
 
They will be smart, robust, and strong of character with the two of us as parents.
 
And most definitely stubborn.”

“Ahhh,” she drew out, not prepared for this conversation.
 
“The requisite heir.
 
Already thinking about keeping me with child and tucked away in the country?
 
Tell me, will you get tired of me and if you do, will you employ a mistress?”

“I don’t know,” he replied.
 
“Perhaps if she promises to be more biddable than you,” he fought back, angry at her attack on his character.

“If you find your pleasure elsewhere, I will do the same.
 
After the required heir and spare have been produced of course,” she clarified.

“Bloody hell if you will.”

“I see my life very clearly now.
 
You know I’ve always dreamed of being a brood mare.”
 

“Kala, do you truly think so little of me?
 
Why does everything have to be a fight with you?
 
I had merely been thinking about how the future might be.
 
Hell, I can’t make one woman happy, and you expect me to keep two women happy?”
 

She looked towards him and fought not to inhale sharply.
 
His image looked like muted colors washed together, but she could make out his form.
 
A halo of light shone around him.
 
She turned her face away from him, not wanting him to see the nervous excitement on her face.
 
For the first time during their stroll, she tried to make images come into focus.
 
She could only see the play of light and shadows intermingling, albeit brighter than ever before.
 
They almost looked grotesque the way one swayed into the other.
 

“Are you going to answer me?”

“I don’t believe so,” she replied softly.
 
“So the only reason you want to keep me around is because you need a son?”

“Oh, bloody hell.”

***

What in Hell is Hawkescliffe doing here?
 
The maid had told him she would be here with his grandmother.
 
He was supposed to still be out of town.
 
Damn!
 
He leaned against the rail of the walking bridge and stared sightlessly at the water.
 
He had two options, walk away and try later, or he could attempt to see it finished here and now.
 
He risked being seen.
 
Was it worth the chance?

He unobtrusively observed the area, looking for what he wasn’t sure.
 
Then he saw it.
 
Oh how ironic that the weapon that would aid him in Lady Hawkescliffe’s demise was her husband’s own equipage.
 
As he began to stroll toward the curricle, he regretted that he would never taste Kala’s sweet flesh as he had so often longed to do.
 

***

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing,” he muttered.

“Do not give me that answer.
 
What do you mean?” She stomped her foot and subconsciously heard the wood of the footbridge beneath her foot.

“You want to know what I think?
 
All right.
 
I think you attempt to act like you are not afraid of anything, but in fact you are afraid of quite a lot.”

“You’re a bloody idiot.”
 
She hoped her face showed nothing.

“Kala, lower your voice and watch your language.”

“Now who is afraid?
 
Afraid of what society might think about your wife?
 
Do you fear someone might think you married a hoyden?
 
Well, guess what Gabe, they would be correct!
 
What is that going to do to your precious title?”

“Perhaps this argument is better left for home,” he said, unsure how they even began arguing in the first place.

“Are you afraid to hear the truth, or afraid someone else might?
 
Gabe, have you not yet realized that the members of the
ton
couldn’t give a damn about you?
 
All they see us as is more fuel for their gossip.
 
Who cares?
 
Let them gossip.
 
For once since you have inherited the title do what you want to do and ignore them.”
 
She felt his mouth over hers in that instant.
 
She pulled back in shock.
 
“What are you doing?”