Slave to the Night (The Brotherhood Series, Book 2) (19 page)

A bolt of fear shot through her and she glanced at the closed door. "But you know that is not the case. You know we are kin. We are sisters. You know I am not Caroline."

He shrugged. "What does it matter? You look the same." His beady black eyes fell to the neckline of her gown. "Although you appear to have an advantage over your sister. Still, you behave in the same free and easy manner. Else why would you rush into a dark room to reclaim your gloves? You do know once Markham has taken what he wants he will discard you without thought or care."

"You make it sound as though I am a pawn to be used and discarded. I am not ignorant to the tactics employed by men. But I am bound to no one."

Lord Barrington took a step closer and Grace shuffled two steps back.

"But you could be. I shall make you the same proposition I made Caroline." Like a man suffering from a serious lack of sustenance, his hungry gaze devoured her. "Indeed, I may be inclined to increase my original offer as I fear I shall be getting rather more for my money."

It took a tremendous amount of effort not to slap him.

"And what did you offer?" Grace took another step back. The aisle between the rows of chairs was the only means of escape. She would have no option but to barge past Lord Barrington's large frame.

Lord Barrington gave a sly grin. "A house, fully staffed and equipped, which I will maintain for as long as you maintain me."

Repulsed by his comment, Grace shivered. Had he not accosted her when he believed her to be Caroline, Lord Barrington would be the prime suspect on her list of gentlemen capable of doing serious harm to a lady.

"Of course, there would be a substantial monthly income," he continued with an indolent wave. "The use of a carriage and an account at a modiste of your choosing."

"So, essentially you are asking me to be your mistress?" Grace's only thought was to keep the man talking in the hope of escaping. Her options were limited. She could attempt to run past him. She could climb across the chairs or pick one up and hit him with it.

Then another option struck her. Elliot had said he could feel her passion. He had said their connection made it possible to hear one another's thoughts.

Elliot
.
Come quickly.

She poured every ounce of affection she had for him into the silent plea.

"Yes, I suppose a mistress is the appropriate term. Although I prefer to think of it as a form of friendship where we barter and exchange services. A mutually satisfying arrangement."

Mutually satisfying? The man was delusional.

Grace raised her chin in an attempt to stave off her anxiety. "And what exactly would you require in return?"

Elliot. Hurry. I need you.

"I think you know," Barrington said with a chuckle and her stomach churned at the thought.

"I … I shall need time to consider your proposal."

Barrington's expression darkened and he clenched his jaw. "You will bloody well tell me now. I have spent weeks chasing after your sister, and I'll be damned if I'll do the same again."

The cold blade of fear traced a line down her back. "And if my answer is no?"

The gentleman's face twisted into an ugly scowl as he stepped forward. Grace found she couldn't take another step without the edge of the pianoforte digging into her back.

"Then you will leave me no choice," came the frustrated reply. "I shall have to find a way to persuade you."

It was now or never, Grace thought.

The man held his elbow awkwardly against his ribs. Gathering every ounce of courage she had, she darted towards his weakest side.

Initially, the shock caused Barrington to stumble. But he was a large man with long strides and like that first fateful night, he caught her with ease.

"God damn you. Why will you not yield to me?" Barrington dragged her back to face him, his pincer-like grip digging into her upper arm. "Would you rather be used by the likes of Markham and his ilk? I'm offering you a home and money. You never need worry again."

"You have lost your mind if you believe I would choose to spend another moment in your company. You disgust me."

"Do not forget your place, girl." A drop of saliva hit her cheek. "You'll speak to me with more respect."

"Get your rotten hands off me." She tried to keep calm but images of Henry flooded her vision. Lord Barrington appeared similar in many ways: his height, his breadth, the stench of stale tobacco lingering on his clothes. His breath smelt sickly sweet from drinking copious amounts of brandy.

Part of her wanted to sag to the floor in surrender — just as she had always done. Part of her wanted to punch and kick him for every horrid, unbearable moment she had been forced to endure.

When Barrington lowered his head and attempted to claim her mouth, she kicked him in the shin. The flimsy slipper barely made contact and he cried out in anger as opposed to pain.

"Why you little whore. I should whip you where you stand."

A deep growl permeated the air, the sound threatening, possessive.

As her gaze flew to Barrington's horrified face, she knew Elliot was standing behind her and she closed her eyes in silent prayer.

"Let her go, Barrington." Elliot's tone sounded calm, measured. Yet she could feel his rage pulse through her. "Step away. Else there'll be hell to pay."

Barrington let go of her arm and made the mistake of stepping back. Elliot flew past her in an instant and from the look of sheer terror on Barrington's face, Grace knew Elliot's eyes were coal black, that the sharp points of his teeth overhung his bottom lip.

"Leave me alone … stay away I say," Barrington spluttered as he stumbled over his own feet, grabbing onto the empty chairs to steady his balance. "What sort of m-monster are you?"

"One capable of ripping your throat from your measly body." Elliot kicked at the wooden chair legs sending them scattering as he drove his quarry further back. "One who'll make you pay for your lecherous ways."

Barrington held his hands up to shield his face as he came to an abrupt halt in front of the pianoforte. "What … what are you going to do to me?"

Grace could not see the expression on Elliot's face, but she heard him snarl. The sound was vicious, unforgiving.

"Elliot. Wait." Grace almost choked in her eagerness to get the words out. "You've frightened him that's enough."

Elliot grabbed the lapels of Barrington's coat. "I don't trust him. What if I'm not here to protect you next time?"

A commotion erupted behind them as Leo, Alexander and Evelyn burst in through the door.

"Hell and damnation," Alexander growled as Elliot glanced over his shoulder. "We cannot let anyone in here. We cannot let anyone see him like this."

Just a glimpse of Elliot's countenance confirmed what she suspected; the beast inside was primed and ready for attack.

Leo put his hand on Alexander's arm. "Take Evelyn outside. Block the door and don't let anyone in. Be persuasive if you have to."

"Get him the hell off me." Barrington's voice conveyed his fear.

"I don't give a damn what he does to you, Barrington," Leo said marching towards them as Alexander and Evelyn slipped outside. "But I do give a damn what happens to him."

Grace's heart thumped so hard she could feel it in her throat. In truth, she wanted Elliot to hurt Lord Barrington. To teach him a lesson. She wanted to punish the lord for hounding her sister, for being a self-absorbed prig, for reminding her of Henry.

But another feeling overpowered all others.

Hurting Barrington would only bring Elliot more pain, more regrets, more memories to bury behind a false facade.

Grace rushed forward, touching Leo on the arm. "Let me try. Just give me one chance. Please."

Leo's gaze searched her face and he sighed. "One chance. But hurry."

She came to stand beside Elliot.

"Can't you bring your dog to heel?" Barrington scoffed finding an ounce of courage. But Elliot flexed his jaw causing the man to whimper.

"Be quiet." Grace turned to Elliot. "Let him go, Elliot. You're the one who's always so calm, so in control. I need you to be calm now. I need you to listen to me."

"He needs to pay for what he's done." When Elliot's gaze met hers, she sucked in a breath. Yet while his countenance conveyed the horror of his affliction, she saw a hint of sorrow in his black eyes. "I need to know he can never hurt you again."

A well of emotion erupted inside.

Barrington writhed as he tried to shake himself free. Despite being smaller and leaner in frame, Elliot seemed to have the strength of ten men and he tightened his grip on his prey.

Grace cupped Elliot's cheek and he turned to look at her. "If you hurt him, you will only be hurting yourself. I won't let that happen." She swallowed deeply, stood on the tips of her toes and placed a soft, chaste kiss on his terrifying teeth. "I love you."

Her throat felt tight as tears welled and threatened to fall. As he stared into her eyes, flickers of green invaded the darkness. The red veins dissipating, retreating, surrendering to the light.

Relief coursed through her.

It didn't matter that she had bared her soul to him. Vulnerability was a feeling she had dealt with many times before.

"I love you," she repeated, determined that no matter what happened between them in the future he would never forget it. He would always know someone loved him for who he was, regardless of his affliction.

Leo stepped forward and covered Elliot's hands. "Let me deal with Barrington. He'll remember none of this. I'll convince him to change his ways so you never need worry."

Elliot let go of Barrington's coat and the man sagged against the pianoforte.

"You will stay where you are." Leo's command carried a certain power, a gravity that could not be denied or disobeyed. "There is much to discuss, Lord Barrington."

Grace took Elliot's hand and led him to the opposite end of the room. While he remained quiet, a little subdued, the look of longing in his eyes was all she needed to bring her comfort.

"I have the information we need," Leo called back over his shoulder. "If you feel able, we could make a call tonight."

Grace turned to Elliot. "If you want to go home, I can go with Leo. I'll come and—"

"I'm going with you," he said, his tone somewhat solemn. "I'll not leave you. Not until I know you've got the answers you need. Not until I know you're happy and back home safely in Cobham."

Back home in Cobham?

She tried to listen to his thoughts. She tried to feel the emotion she could hear infused within his words. Confusion was the only thing she felt. Did he really want to send her back to Cobham? Was there no part of him that wanted her to stay?

Once she had discovered the mystery surrounding Caroline's disappearance, her work would be far from over. Somehow, she had the impression that unravelling the mystery of Elliot Markham's complex emotions would be a far greater task.

Chapter 17

With his carriage still stationary, Elliot lounged back in the seat, his intense gaze focused on the lady sitting opposite him. Grace looked up from her lap, her weak smiling revealing her apprehension.

He had been ready to end Barrington's life.

In the same way Alexander had been ready to end Mr. Sutherby's at Mytton Grange.

But what did it mean?

"You're sure you want to go tonight?" Evelyn asked, breaking the heavy silence. She sat next to Grace, leaving a space at the end for Leo — when he finally arrived. "I'm assuming Mr. Henshaw's house is somewhere in London."

"I suppose we will know more when Leo joins us." Alexander shuffled in the seat next to him, his impatience evident in his tone. "How long does it take to rid a man of his memory?"

"No doubt some woman has delayed his departure." Elliot was in need of a distraction. Prolonging the conversation forced him to abandon all memories of Grace's amorous declarations. "We'll know the answer if the air suddenly becomes choked with the smell of cheap perfume."

"It will be a wasted journey. It's unlikely we'll find anything of interest there?" Alexander threw his hands up when Evelyn flashed him an irate glare. "What? I am just being honest."

"Lord Hale is right," Grace said with a sigh. "I'm sure there'll be no one home, and it will all have been a complete waste of time."

Elliot was determined to find some useful piece of information this evening. His emotions felt like the over-tightened strings of a viola. One more, small incident and he would most likely snap. "Whether there's anyone home or not, I shall insist on searching inside the property."

Alexander snorted. "Well, if you smash the window don't think you're using my coat to muffle the sound. Not after the last time. I itch every time I wear it yet still can't find the source of my irritation."

"I have a discovered a new technique." Elliot couldn't help but grin as he imagined the scenario. "This time, I'll just need to borrow your hat."