Darkness In The Flames (19 page)

“An older gentleman, was he?” Sidney continued to maintain his “interested host” demeanor.

“Well. It all depends on your point of view, doesn’t it?” Arthur refused to answer directly. “What matters now, Sir Sidney, is the disposition of his estate.” He paused. “And his widow.”

“Ah yes. You would be acting in the capacity of executor?”

“I am.” Arthur straightened. “My cousin’s estate is deeded to me. Along with the property came his express wish that I take care of Katherine.” His eyes drifted over to where Katherine sat, partially hidden in the shadows at one side of the library. “I intend to honor Matthew’s last request.”

“A noble gesture.” Sidney nodded sagely. “How do you intend to accomplish it?”

Arthur raised his eyebrow. “By wedding her, of course. What else?”

“What else indeed.” Sidney pursed his lips. “It would appear, however, that the lady herself has other ideas.”

Arthur humphed a sour laugh. “That scarcely matters. She will do as she is told. She is a woman, a widow, and needs protection. I shall wed her and that will be the end of it.”

“I don’t
think
so.”

*~*~*~*

Katherine’s head jerked around as she heard the quiet words interrupt the conversation between Arthur Byerly and Sir Sidney.

He’s here. He’s come.
Her heart jumped and she couldn’t resist folding her hands tight to her breasts as if to keep that organ from leaping out and thundering its excitement for the entire room to witness.

Adrian stood tall in the doorway, his eyes hot and burning with an odd light. They crossed her face and lit with fury. He strode to her and ran a finger over the developing bruise on her cheek. “He did this?”

Katherine swallowed. “Yes. He has done it before. Often. It means nothing.”

“You are so wrong.” The tension all but radiated from Adrian’s body and Katherine sensed the fire rising within him.

She reached out a hand. “Be careful, Adrian. He is…not a gentleman.”

An odd smile crossed his handsome lips. “Perhaps we have something in common then. Because when it comes to you, my Kat, neither am I.” The smile faded. “But I have
never
struck a woman.”

He spun on his heel and fixed Arthur with a look from his unusual black eyes.  Katherine was amazed to see the larger man shift uncomfortably in his chair.

“Who are you?” Arthur’s bravado was still there, but tempered a little under that darkly threatening gaze.

“Adrian, this is Arthur Byerly, Katherine’s late husband’s cousin. He is here to claim her according to the conditions of the will.” Sidney stood, offering a formal introduction.

Katherine was grateful that Adrian responded to his father. Sidney’s calm words had tamped down the anger. Just a little.

“Really?” The word was a drawl, just inches shy of insulting. “How interesting that Katherine never mentioned you.”

Arthur stood, clearly trying to gain some confidence from his dominating size. It might have worked with Sir Sidney, mused Katherine, but it failed completely with Adrian.

“I’m not surprised she didn’t mention me. She’s lied her way through life thus far. Why should she change? I swear she betrayed my cousin during their marriage and drove him into an early grave.” Arthur’s color rose in his face as his list of grievances poured out.

Wrong time, wrong man, Arthur.
Katherine was guilty of many simple sins, and yes, lying was one of them. But she’d never cheated on Matthew Byerly and everybody in that household knew it. Something inside her told her that Adrian knew it too.

But foolishly, Arthur kept talking. “She owes her existence to the generosity of the Byerlys. She should be on her knees thanking Heaven Matthew wed her, and grateful I’d even consider taking on his leftovers. She’s vicious, got a nasty mouth on her and is nothing particular to look at with that whore’s hair.”

“And you want to marry her—why?” Sidney interposed the question in a flat tone.

“I will honor my promise to my cousin.” Arthur raised his chin, portraying the very image of noble sacrifice. “We Byerlys stand by our word.”

“I see. More for honor than to legally fulfill the terms of a will.”

The intensity of those words, spoken quietly and with great force, rocked Arthur back on his heels and he stared at Adrian as if surprised and not a little puzzled.

Quickly, he regrouped himself. “So you understand then. As men of the world, I would expect you to do no less.” Dragging his gaze away from Adrian he turned to Katherine. “Get your things. We’re leaving.”

Adrian ignored him and in his turn looked at Katherine. “Are you promised to this man?”

“No.” The word was out of her mouth in a split second, and spoken from the heart.

“Did he make you an offer of marriage?”

“Yes. Many times. I refused each one. Even those that were accompanied by…physical threats.”

“And…?” Adrian’s mind was tickling around the edges of Katherine’s. She could sense him, feel him stroking her thoughts, reading her soul.

“And when those offers failed to achieve his desired results, he attempted to rape me.”

“That’s utter nonsense.” Arthur blustered his way into the exchange. “I did no such thing. Your wanton ways led me to believe my attentions would be welcomed. It’s not as if I was intending to throw you by the wayside. I will marry you, wench. By God I shall.”

The last statement was roared into the room with the full force of Arthur’s anger behind it.

“You will not. She is already married. To
me
.”

Adrian’s calm response stopped Arthur dead in his tracks. His jaw dropped and Katherine could see the pulse throbbing furiously in his neck. She tensed, knowing that symptom of old.

“You wanton whoring
bitch
.” Arthur lunged at her, hand raised to strike her, but this time he was intercepted.

Adrian was between them in a blur of movement, his hand grasping Arthur’s arm in a grip that seemed as if it could easily break it. “Do not move a step closer to her if you ever want to use this arm again.”

Arthur seemed confused. He looked at Adrian and tried to wrench free, but found himself unable to do so.

Katherine watched, her heart in her mouth. There was little difference in height between the two men, but Arthur had a good deal more bulk. On the face of it, he would be the victor in a trial of strength.

Apparently, Adrian had hidden resources. Slowly, inexorably, he forced Arthur backwards, pressuring his arm into an unnatural position above his shoulder until the larger man whimpered.

“I can snap this bone like a dry twig. And your neck the same way.” Now there was no mistaking the fury in Adrian’s voice. He never raised it, never shouted or cursed or betrayed his emotions with anything other than his eyes.

But it was enough.

“Perhaps I should do just that.” He pushed a little more and Arthur paled. “Perhaps I should end your pitiful existence right at this moment. What use to the world are you? A man who brutalizes helpless women in the name of honor. I’m not surprised you attempted to force Katherine. How else could you get a woman in your bed?”

Arthur was now up against a large bookshelf, staring fearfully at Adrian as if confronted by a dangerous animal. Which, realized Katherine, was very close to the true state of affairs.

“Adrian. Please do not kill him.” Sidney’s voice crossed the room, staying Adrian’s inexorable progress.

“Why not?”

Arthur gasped and whimpered once more. “No.”

“I say again, sir. Why not?”

“Because he is an ill-mannered fool. Not worth the effort.” Katherine came to stand by Adrian, feeling the waves of anger shimmering from him like heat from a roaring fire. “He is nothing to me, Adrian. I am your—
wife
.” She emphasized the word deliberately, and was pleased to notice Adrian’s grip ease a little.

“I am yours, Adrian. Heart and soul. He has no claim on me and never will.” She snapped her fingers in Arthur’s face. “You. Arthur Byerly. You desire Matthew’s estate and all that goes with it. Well, it’s yours. Run it into the ground, burn it, do what you will with it. I care not.”

“I-what-you-“ Arthur stuttered.

“I realize you cannot conceive of somebody wanting something more than money, more than property. Especially a woman.” Katherine moved away from him towards Sir Sidney. “He has always been envious of Matthew’s holdings. He waited patiently for Matthew to die, believing
he
was the heir. Something he still believes. In this, he was incorrect.”

She spun on her heel and stared at him in distaste. “Contrary to your allegations, I never cheated on Matthew Byerly. And in exchange Matthew named
me
his heir. I was saddened by his passing and grateful for the legacy. But he was thirty years older than me. It was inevitable.”

She sat quietly next to Sir Sidney and arranged her skirts. “I have found the husband of my heart now, Arthur. I shall ask my new father-in-law—“ She laid one hand on Sidney’s arm. “If he will be kind enough to advise me on how to legally deed that legacy to you. I never wish to see it
or
you again.”

“I shall be happy to assist you, my dear.” Sidney covered her hand with his own. “And may I say how happy I am to have you in our family.” He squeezed her fingers, telling her he understood what she was implying.

“So basically, you’re telling me I can’t kill him?” Adrian sounded almost wistful.

“I’m afraid not, darling.” Katherine felt the absurd urge to giggle. She was now the declared—if unofficial—wife of Adrian Chesswell, and possibly free from the shadows of the Byerlys forever.

This was turning out to be quite a night.

Chapter Sixteen

Adrian wanted to kill Arthur Byerly. He wanted to let his fangs loose and for once in his curiously twisted existence just
kill
for the sheer and simple pleasure of it. To avenge the wrongs this bastard had done to Katherine, and prevent such wrongs from ever happening again.

Apparently, Arthur could read
that
particular goal quite clearly, since he was now sweating, and Adrian could smell his fear.

“Well, Mr. Byerly. It seems you are to live through the night.” He smiled, knowing his expression did nothing to reassure the man now trembling in his grasp.

He could have snapped those bones as easily as he’d promised, and would have taken pleasure in doing so. He fought the urge to do just that.

But when he thought of this oaf attempting to rape Katherine—to even
think
about him touching her body—the fury rose in him once more. He would
not
allow Arthur to escape unscathed. He simply couldn’t live with himself if he did.

Gently, and with great deliberation, he peeled his lips into a snarl and allowed his fangs to emerge.

Arthur sobbed out a gasp and turned ghost-white. “What
are
you?”

It was a strangled sound of horror, and gave Adrian the utmost pleasure.

He barely heard Katherine as she spoke. “Adrian—don’t—“

Sidney’s voice was a mere murmur in his ears. “Control yourself, my son.”

His entire focus was on the quivering mass of ugliness he held with his gaze. He knew what the man was looking at. He knew there would now be fiery lights dancing in his eyes—he could feel the energy himself.

He shifted so that the light could catch his fangs. He wanted there to be no doubt in this man’s mind about what he was seeing.

“Listen to me and listen well, Arthur Byerly.” He neared his prey, fangs hard against his lips but his words crystal clear in the silence that now surrounded him. “I could kill you but I won’t. However, if you ever come near my wife or my family again, I shall not be so merciful. Do you understand?”

Arthur’s mouth worked but no sound came out.

Adrian shook him slightly. “Nod if you understand me.”

That, Arthur could manage. He nodded, eyes wide enough to show the whites all around his pupils, mouth lax, a drop of spittle oozing from one corner.

“Very good. You will also never raise your hand to a woman again.
Ever
. If you do, I shall know. Do you believe me when I say this, Arthur?”

Once more the terrified man nodded.

“Just so that we are absolutely clear here, I’m going to show you how I shall kill you if you violate your word to me.”

Adrian leaned in to the man’s neck as a vague sound choked from Arthur’s throat.

“This is how I shall kill you, scum. This is how you will die. In agony. Thrashing on the ground like a gutted fish. And I shall enjoy every minute of your demise.”

The blood hunger thrummed through Adrian’s veins like a musical symphony, blinding him to everything but the throbbing pulse of his victim. He was filled with an overwhelming fury, but it was tempered by something—something bright and clear. Something a part of him knew came from his Kat. Yes, he
would
feed from Arthur Byerly. But he
would
not
kill him.

He sank his fangs deeply into the skin and pierced the fountain of life’s essence, letting it flow over his tongue and down his throat. It was sharp and bitter, a little unpleasant to the taste, making it no hardship for Adrian to pull away after a very short time.

“
Euuuccch
. The sourness of your disposition is echoed by the sourness of your blood.” Adrian wiped his hand across his mouth, stepping back as Arthur’s eyes rolled wildly and he slid unconscious to the floor.

“Oh dear.” Adrian considered him. “You didn’t mention he had a weak bladder, Katherine.” He stared at the dark stain on the front of the limp man’s breeches.

Sidney sighed. “Dammit, Adrian. Did you kill him?”

“Of course not. He’s unconscious. All he’ll remember is a horrible nightmare. At least I think that’s all he’ll remember.”

Katherine came to his side and reached for his hand. “Thank you. Thank you for not killing him. He’s a bad man, but you showed mercy.”