Dominic's Nemesis (25 page)

That
’
s when Ethan came. For some reason—a fine thread of
sanity left in her, the new baby—I don
’
t know but the ceremonies stopped for a while. She
even allowed me back into my old room. I took care not to look at
her though. Even still, things slowly went back to the way they
were. I was around ten or eleven. Ethan would always come…to heal
what they had done…sooth the pain. I was so afraid, despite
Gabriel
’
s guiding him,
that he
’
d get caught or
mama would somehow find out about his ability and do to him what
they
’
d done to me. By
then, you see she
’
d
begun locking Gabriel and Gideon in the cellar so I knew she was
capable of it. Gideon is phobic about enclosed places to this
day.”

“How did you-”
Her voice cracked.
“-finally escape?”

Dom collided with her tender expression, and
he longed to wipe away the tears streaming unchecked down her
face.

“When I manifest my traveling ability, I
gained a decisive advantage. It took me a few months to exercise a
higher level of control, but I was proficient enough to evade mama
and her coven of exorcists. We plotted, Ethan, the twins and I, but
by then we had a new complication. Cael…and Stephan, who was just
born. We all agreed that they shouldn’t be left with her, but we
could not think of a way to escape with them. Ethan brought up the
fact that she
’
d only
begun to act weirdly toward us once we were five or six years old,
so maybe Cael and the new baby would be safe until then. That
bought us two years. We went to England, to Ethan
’
s uncle who took us in. I was unwilling to
share what was done to me so it took us a while to convince
Ethan
’
s uncle of what
kind of woman our mother truly was.”

“Didn
’
t you have any family in Italy besides your
parents?”

“My grandmother, several aunts still in the
schoolroom and Uncle Fausto. Uncle did not endear himself to us so
we would not have sought refuge with him in any case. And the
women….You need to understand. The rights of women are severely
limited, even more so than in England. Even if they
’
d known, they could not have
interfered unless Lucca, Conte Ambrosi, allowed it.
Ethan
’
s uncle was a man
of rank and wealth and he backed our claims.

When we arrived to save Cael and
Stephan—almost exactly two years later—we found that Mama had
absconded with them and married their father. At the time, we knew
little about him. Lucca was a bitter drunk by then and could tell
us nothing. Several months later, we tracked down mama in Bedlam…a
raving madwoman. We did not see Cael again for another ten years.
All I remembered of him was a little blonde boy with a crooked
smile. Back then we still called him ‘
Michael
’
.
Stephan, we wouldn’t meet until he was twelve.”

* * *

“What happened to…the others, the ones who
helped your mother?” Eden knew she shouldn
’
t ask, but she had to know. Perhaps if
those monsters had gotten their comeuppance, the anger boiling in
her gut would dissipate. However, she was careful to keep her
expression passive, tender.

“I imagine they met fates similar to hers. I
have never returned to Italy, so I cannot say for certain. It must
seem selfish of me, but I did not wish for justice. I was content
merely to be safe from them. Ethan
’
s Uncle Quinn raised us. He has since retired to
his Scottish lands.”

A silence fell, during which she watched him
meander back to the window. He stood facing the wide square
aperture, as the new day broke, his shirt billowing around him in
the chilly breeze. Eden was glad of the covers around her and
licking warmth of the fireplace. The falcon at his shoulder fussed
and fluttered until he turned and whispered in that direction. She
wondered. Did he really have so much to say to the bird or was he
avoiding her. Dreading her reaction. Embarrassed, even.

“I love you.” The words came without thought,
but she knew they were true the instant they left her mouth.
“I
’
d love you even if
you had a third eye and webbed feet. It
’
s the way you touch me, that lofty arrogance you
use to hide your fears, the awe and longing I see in your eyes when
you look at me. Its those things that drew me to you, and no one
else.”

He sat the falcon aside on the perch and came
back to her, eyes brimming with an emotion she
’
d ached to see reflected back at her.
Hope. As he drew to a stop at the side of the bed, new tears
swelled at the site. His scars were visible, beautiful and
heartbreaking at once. She scooted to the curved edge of the
bed.

“I hide them using my ability. It
’
s a complex illusion that radiates
off my body like heat, creating a fine layer around my skin.
I
’
ve done so for so
long, it
’
s like
breathing. I
’
ve tried,
but the illusion does n
o
t work on my eyes.”

Eden felt a tremor run through him at her
first touch to the side of his stomach, she bent to kiss the series
of parallel slash marks running from taunt muscles to the sides of
his torso.

“Eden…”

“Come back to bed now, Dom.” She stood on her
knees to push the shirt off his shoulders.

“
We
don’
t have to…do that again, if you
’
d rather not.”

“What makes you think I
’
d rather not?” She kissed her way up his
chest, stopping only to pay tender loving attention to an
especially jagged patch of skin below his nipple.

“I hurt you before.”

“
Not
much.
”

He grasped her and pulled her against his
body, cradling her close. She kissed her way up his throat until
she reached the tempting lobe of his ear. She soon found herself
swept up in his arms.

He moved onto the bed, and laid her down amid
the rumbled sheets. A moment later he joined her, naked and
scarred. Her arms twined around him when he lay half atop her,
pillowing his head on her chemise-d bosom. She fingered the variety
of textures and puckers dotting his back.

“Didn
’
t you…like it?” Her face colored pink waiting for
his answer.

“I was unprepared for the bliss of being with
you. It was heaven…and hell. But yes, cara, I liked it.” He propped
himself on his elbows to gaze at her with mix-matched jewels. “I
would like to enjoy such feelings again.”

“I would like to as well…” She smiled, quite
certain she was beet red. All embarrassment abated when his lips
touched hers.

Eden tried to ignore Kathleen
’
s shrewd gaze as she tore into the
breakfast feast Dominic had no doubt instructed the maid to bring
to her room. The hot porridge, sticky bun, and heavenly cup of
chocolate melted in her mouth. In her greed, she choked on a warm
bite of the honey-sweetened bun when the older woman aired her
thoughts.

“Aye, so ya waited until tha babe had brought
me low and ya let’ im have his way wit ya.” Kathleen halted any
reply with a quelling hand, and a shake of her head. “No use
denying it, lass. You
’
ve
a glow dat would send St. Mary to tha gallows.”

Eden forced the morsel down the wrong leg of
her throat, just to be able to breath again.

“What ‘ave ya ta say for yourself, then?”

With a churlish sigh, she sat the tray aside
and stood to face the stanch chaperon whom she
’
d come to regard as more of a friend.
Nevertheless, she needed to set the Scotswoman straight about the
previous evening
’
s
activities. She was, after all, a grown woman, responsible for
herself and her own small fortune…though admittedly she
’
d neglected both dreadfully.

“
I
don’
t know that there is anything to say…or do for that
matter. The deed cannot be undone and what
’
s more I wouldn
’
t wish it reversed even if I could. There
now, I have said my peace. Are you…very disappointed in me?” She
knew a moment of unease.

“Heavens no. Dominic would’ve had ya sooner
or later. I would rather it were later…say, after tha wedding.
Ethan, I do no
’
think he
cares dis way or dat. He
’
s been over tha moon ever since Cael fished ya
water-logged bones out of tha bog. Hush, now, ya mustn
’
t cry.”

Oh! She felt the tears burst forth. Kathleen
pulled her into a tight hug she didn’t realize she needed. Much as
she
’
d been prepared to
go toe to toe, she was glad a battle hadn
’
t been necessary. Kathleen
’
s good opinion meant the world to
her.

“Now, ya mustn
’
t let him dawdle too long in gettin’ ya to tha
alter.”

“Certainly.” Eden nodded, sniffling into her
shoulder. “But, he hasn
’
t mentioned marriage. I must wait until he asks
me.”

“Goodness, who told ya
dat
?” Kathleen
pulled back and trained an eagle
’
s eye on her. “‘Member what I warned tha marriage
bed leads ta, lass…Has he spilled himself inside ya?”

Wiping at a wayward tear, she nodded. “Yes, I
dare say I cherish it, the tiny part of him that he
’
s left with me.”

“Aye, if it takes root, he
or she
will
no
’
remain tiny.”

Try as she might, Eden could not drudge up an
inkling of worry or regret. If a child resulted from being with
Dominic…the thought alone warmed her, filling her with visions of a
raven-haired boy with haunted eyes and a serious mien she would
love to tease a giggle from.

“Where is Dominic?” She asked, suddenly
longing to see him.

“He an’ tha brothers have gathered in tha
library. Can no
’
be good
news. Whenever dat many men come together ta discuss anythin’,
there are ill tidings afoot. Rest assured.”

* * *

Dominic shuffled his feet, the urge to bolt
nagging at him. Without his spectacles in place, he suffered
anxiety being the focus of so many faces at once…that they were
those of his brothers eased him some. Cael
’
s expression dogged him, a constant source
of reassurance and support. For now his brother truly knew the
reason for his solitary existence, realized the difficulty of
enduring strangers and their staring eyes.

Stephan languished on the sofa, a wrinkled
mess from the previous night spent atop the cushy three-seater. The
relaxed pose belied the keen interest leveled from him. Dom noted
that his youngest brother looked more himself, still quiet but no
longer a dispirited shell. He probably had Eden to thank for that
as well. A few steps away Ethan stood, a booted foot resting on the
cornered edge of the ottoman. He hummed with approval.

Dom endeavored to concentrate, ease his
nerves with the one image capable of gentling his anxiety…Eden. Her
visage came easily to his mind, assuaging his uncertainties. He
conjured her voice
…’
They
’re
beautiful, Dom’
. With her by his side, even in thought only,
he stood straighter, cleared his throat and looked each of his
three brothers square in the face. Dom had their undivided
attention.

“Ahem. Last evening, I received a message
from Davide Greyson requesting an audience with me. For what, the
letter does not specify. It does, however, also inform me that
during an inspection of St. Ciaran Isis Asylum, owned by one
Matthias Montgomery, a suspected blackmail log was discovered.
According to Greyson, the newest entry reads Conte Dominic Ambrosi.
So, I think it safe to say that our Mr. Montgomery is well
informed.”

“
I
don’
t suppose there was any mention of the blackmail
material to be used against you.” Ethan asked.

“None, but I think we can all guess what
advantage Montgomery intends to press. Here, read for yourself.”
Dominic extracted the crumpled communiqué from his lapel pocket,
and handed it off to Ethan.

“Do you plan to receive Greyson?”

“I would rather not.” Dominic saw in Cael
that he did not agree with the decision but he seemed to both
expect and accept it. “This warning of blackmail could be a ruse on
Greyson
’
s part to press
a meeting with me. He obviously knows something of
Stephan
’
s ability.
Perhaps he suspects that all of us are equally endowed. How he
discovered we are related is another concern. I take it you did not
inform him of our connection.”

Cael shook his head, a frown formed over
troubled amber at the thought.

“Would you care for my opinion, big
brother?”

All three brothers eyed the youngest.
Stephan
’
s attention
never left Dominic. “It isn
’
t me he
’
s after. If Greyson really wants to see me, he need
only ask. I would not refuse, even if Cael forbade it. He has never
asked.”

“That is true.”
Cael confirmed.
“I met with Greyson on several
occasions. He spoke of it, alluded that he would be interested in
helping Stephan, but he has never issued a specific request.”

“Perhaps he has some passing interest in me,
but what he really wants is an audience with you, Dom. He
approached Cael about me as an incentive for you to initiate a
conversation with him.”

“But that would mean that he’s known our
family background for some time.” Cael pointed out.