Shayla Black (26 page)

“
Lord Belwick, I am pleased to make your acquaintance—”

“
Thank you for seeing me.” He took her hand and bowed over it. “These are highly unusual circumstances, and I can only apologize for my breech of conduct. Please know that only my genuine desire to help you has led me to your door, despite not having a former acquaintance. I merely came today to give you a bit of information, my lady. Something I suspect you will find quite... enlightening.”

Help her?
Maddie stared at the man in puzzlement. How could he have any information that would be of interest to her? “I am flattered that you should take so keen an interest in a stranger.”

“
I feel as we’ve met. I am well acquainted with your sister-in-law, Lady Dudley. We’ve spoken of you often.”

That Belwick had aligned himself with Roberta made Maddie wary instantly.

“
My lord, I lead a simple widow’s life. I can hardly imagine what interests you enough to travel all the way to Hampstead.”

“
I’ve come to talk to you about Brock Taylor.”

A little jolt of surprise ran through her. Though she did her best to hide it, Belwick indeed had her attention now. “I see. I did not know you were acquainted.”

“
Quite, yes. Through business and financial circles, of course,” Belwick said, as if Brock wasn’t worth knowing otherwise.

Maddie still could not fathom why the man had come here or what he knew that might pique her interest. “Of course.”

Belwick hesitated, his pale blue gaze sharp as a freshly-stropped razor. He drew in a deep breath, as if reluctant. Maddie knew better. She watched him, quite certain he paused only to make sure he had her undivided attention.

“
Lord Belwick?” she prompted, then baited him. “If you are reluctant to share your information with me, I understand.”

Belwick’s faded mouth twisted up in a smile. “I am not so much reluctant as cautious. I want to be certain I tell you the information that will best serve you.” Finally, he said, “I believe you are acquainted with Mr. Chiltam, Mr. Taylor’s secretary?”

The odious man who had let Aimee roam an unfamiliar building and city by herself. How could she forget him?

“
Yes.”

“
It seems that Mr. Taylor released Mr. Chiltam from his duties this morning.”

Maddie stared at Belwick, mouth agape. Brock had
fired
the man for his negligence last night? Startling, indeed.

“
Understandably, Mr. Chiltam is now seeking employment. He came to me to inquire about a possible position early this morning. I hired him; he is an impeccable secretary. Anyway, he told me some very interesting information.”

“
Indeed,” she murmured, still not certain what he wanted.

Did Belwick now know of her marriage wager with Brock? Did he know she owed Brock huge sums of money? Panic began to gnaw at her gut. It was entirely possible Chiltam had heard her and Brock arguing yesterday afternoon.

“
Mr. Chiltam happened to overhear that his former employer has extended an offer of marriage to you. Is that so?”

Maddie met Belwick’s clever gaze. He was watching her every move, every reaction. She felt as if he knew everything that had taken place between her and Brock, and it unnerved her.

Belwick was like a bored cat with a mouse; it wasn’t a matter of if he would pounce, merely a matter of when. Maddie knew she had to speak carefully to avoid scandal.

“
I think that matter is between Mr. Taylor and myself,” she answered in her frostiest tone.

Suddenly Belwick became all consideration. “Indeed. I meant no offense. I did not come here to pry. I merely thought you might wish to know the reason behind Mr. Taylor’s proposal.”

Did Belwick mean to tell her of her own debt? Or did he imagine that Brock had not yet informed her that he had purchased all of her outstanding notes?

Drawing herself to her feet, Maddie stared down at her guest. “Reasons? If he had proposed, I should assume his reasons are like any other suitor’s.”

“
Not so. Has he told you about the railroad?”

Railroad?
What on earth...?

Belwick gave a shallow laugh. “I thought not. Shall we start over?”

Uneasy now, Maddie nodded and sank to the sofa once more. What did Brock have to do with a railroad?

“
About two years ago, I first heard of railroads. I felt certain they would be the transportation mode of the future. If one could reach their destination in the fraction of the time without enduring England’s ill-kept roads, certainly they’d pay a few pounds for the convenience. The first party to establish such a line in any populated area is sure to make a fortune.”

Though Maddie had heard little about railroads, if what she had heard about the speed of the transportation was true, Belwick was indeed correct. She nodded and urged him to continue, though the knot in her stomach clenched tighter.

“
Mr. Taylor had the same realization, it seems. We began competing to form the same route, London to Birmingham. I purchased necessary land, as did he. I bought a particularly large chunk in one rural area, bordered by a river on one side and a mountain to the east of that. To the west lay a piece of land not for sale. In doing so, I thought for certain I had Mr. Taylor beat at this game.

“
Then recently he hired a new engineer and brought on some investors. One of which is your cousin, the Duke of Cropthorne.”

Maddie stared, wondering what she had to do with all of this. Did he mean to have her save Cropthorne from a bad investment? Surely not. She had seen little of the man in years.

“
Mr. Chiltam informed me this very morning of the reason for Mr. Taylor’s optimism about the railroad he would like to build. That, my dear, is you.”

Maddie blinked in surprise. “Me? I know nothing of railroads. I cannot imagine how I might help him in the least.”

Belwick smiled, as if he were relishing the moment. “The location of the last piece of land Mr. Taylor needs is in Warwickshire. As I understand from Mr. Chiltam, your father left you such a piece of land, in right of your next husband.”

She stared at Belwick with dawning horror. The jolt of his words reverberated in her gut. Her thoughts whirled, her chest lurched.

Had Brock offered her marriage for her land, rather than social placement, as he claimed?

Though her heart screamed in denial, Maddie released a shaky breath. She had wondered if Brock sought to bind her to him as some method of revenge, perhaps, because she had not pined for him forever. Who knew the man’s mind? But for her land...?

“
I see I’ve surprised you,” Belwick said, breaking into the rush of her tangled thoughts.

“
How would Brock know about my land?”

Belwick merely laughed. “Mr. Taylor may come from less than sterling beginnings, but he is very crafty and very thorough. And he has enough money to find out anything he wishes to know.”

Numbly, Maddie nodded, acknowledging Belwick’s assessment. Brock
was
both crafty and thorough. And the implications—so many of them—barraged her in the next silent moments. She hardly knew what to think, much less what to say.

“
I believe I’ve given you plenty to think about,” Belwick said, rising. “I’ll show myself out. Good day.” He bowed his head politely and left with a casual stride, as if he had not completely destroyed her state of mind.

Alone now, she rose to pace. Did Brock only seek to marry her for her land? It would explain his insistence that only she, and not another impoverished widow, would be an acceptable bride. It explained why he had never succumbed to the temptation of sexual congress she had offered during their midnight trysts. He had a huge fortune at risk! But last night... Was he so manipulative that he would help her find Aimee and make love to her with such tender care in the hopes she would agree to marry him? The same man who had taken her virginity one hour, then a thousand pounds from her father in the next to abandon her?

Yes, Brock Taylor was indeed capable of the most dastardly manipulation. She had merely forgotten that fact amid his solicitous gestures and imploring green eyes.

The insidious ache of betrayal crept through her, making her bleed pain. In the past day, Brock had made her believe that he still cared. She had believed him worthy, possessed of an innate goodness beneath his ruthless tycoon façade.

Tears stung her eyes. She’d been a damn fool!

Maddie’s anger surged. It rolled over her relentlessly, reminding her that Brock had nearly fooled her again—and she had almost let him. God, how he was probably laughing, certain that a few kind words and an orgasm would be enough to make her his rattlebrain for life.

A violent heaving of fury fast became a combusting inferno. She was done playing into his schemes. If Mr. Brock Taylor thought to deceive her again for the purpose of making money, Maddie was willing—no, eager—to set him straight.

#

Three hours later, Maddie tapped her toe impatiently in Cropthorne’s parlor and awaited the man’s presence. She’d seen little of her cousin Gavin since her father and his had suffered a falling out. Avesbury had done his best to alienate everyone with his cantankerous nature. And her branch of the family had suffered for it. The wealth evident in Cropthorne’s Aubusson carpets, crystal fixtures, and abounding servants proved the feud had not hurt him one whit.

“
Dear cousin Madeline,” boomed a deep male voice from across the room.

Maddie spun around to find Cropthorne standing in the door, wearing an immaculate burgundy coat and biscuit breeches.

Despite her anger, Maddie noticed that Gavin’s face looked much the same, wide forehead, dark eyes, slashing nose, firm jaw. Still, she sensed a change since their childhood. Nothing about this man could be considered warm.

“
Cousin Gavin.” She inclined her head in greeting. “How good of you to see me.”

“
I’m glad you’ve come. We haven’t spoken more than a handful of words since our nursery days.”

“
Indeed. We have my father to thank for that.”

All trace of expression vanished from Gavin’s face. “Your father spoke the truth about my esteemed sire’s scandals, and my father simply refused to hear it. And as duke, he had the power to ruin your father, so he did.”

Taken aback, Maddie stared at her cousin. He painted a black picture of his sire, indeed. But family history did not occupy her today. “It’s the past. I’ve actually come to talk to you about something more recent.”

Gavin cocked a brow at her, and she knew she had roused his curiosity. Now she could get on with ruining that manipulative blackguard Brock Taylor. She very much hoped that in less than five minutes, revenge would be hers.

“
Shall we sit?” Gavin asked.

Keen to get on to the matter at hand, Maddie sank into a thick cream velvet-covered chair and watched as Gavin did the same with an innate grace few men possessed, especially those of his unusual height.

Once they were settled, Gavin peered at her as if dissecting her. “I mean no offense, but you look out of sorts.”

Squaring her shoulders, Maddie put on a regal face. “Indeed. I’m given to understand you plan to invest in a London to Birmingham railroad with Brock Taylor.”

He sat back in his chair and studied her further. “And that distresses you? I’m only doing so because Taylor has proven he’s capable of making large sums of money nearly overnight. I know he was once your father’s servant, but—”

“
Has Brock Taylor told you that every necessary parcel of land for the railroad is secured?”

Now keenly interested, Gavin leaned forward in his chair and placed his elbows on his knees. “He is due to provide me an update in a few days, but at last discussion, no. There is one, he said, that was left to a woman by her father. If we could buy it outright we would, but apparently it was left in right of any husband this woman might take.”

“
That is true. Has he given you the identity of this woman?”

Gavin scowled. “Does it matter? Taylor said a man was courting the woman and that she should be soon wed. Why all this interest in my investments?”

At her cousin’s revelation, Maddie felt a scream tear up her throat. How like Brock to arrogantly assume she would succumb to his proposal. He had been so confident of his persuasion and her stupidity that he had even lied to his partner.

Clenching her fists, Maddie reined herself in. She must remain calm. “The woman’s identity matters very much because I am that woman.”

Cropthorne bolted to his feet and stared down at her with nothing short of shock on his face. “You? Your father had land in Warwickshire?”

“
He bought it before I was born, apparently. He wished to keep it in the family, but did not think I was capable to seeing to its upkeep on my own.”