Authors: Linda Daly
Glancing at her husband, she glared at him with hate in her eyes.
Enjoy
yourself now, you miserable bastard, pretending to be decent to win that
little tart’s affection, because when I’m through, you will wish to God you
were never born. How dare the likes of you think yourself superior over a
Bailey-Smythe!
Watching James kiss Felicity’s hand, a plan for revenge
against her husband began to form in her mind.
Although she had been socially excommunicated from the elite of
society in England, Lavinia knew that her sister and Rupert would come to
her rescue if they believed she had learned the errors of her ways. Also
aware that Rupert would do anything to protect his cousin, Felicity,
recalling the night of the ball when he had gone against his own kind to
protect her, decided to play on both their weaknesses.
What a splendid idea!
She congratulated herself.
Surely they couldn’t
refuse a letter of apology, begging for their forgiveness. Especially when I
tell them my fears about James trying to sabotage Felicity and Benjamin’s
marriage out of revenge and old jealousies
. As if she no longer had
anything to fear, knowing that by using James’ threat against her, and
Rupert’s weakness for Felicity to win access back into their good graces,
she glanced at Felicity and Benjamin.
As inviting as it might be to see you
suffer Benjamin, losing another wife to James, I’m afraid I will have to
prevent my wayward husband from winning Felicity’s heart for the time
being.
A sinister smile crossed her lips, as her eyes remained focused on
Benjamin.
But mark my words you stupid fool, the day will come when I no
longer will have a use for James, and then he and that harlot wife of yours
will rip your heart out, right under your own nose! And that is precisely
what you deserve, you boring sniveling swine.
Preoccupied by the thought of Benjamin suffering, Lavinia hadn’t
realized James was returning, and as the coach door opened, she gasped.
“Oh it’s you. Finished making a fool of yourself, gushing over the
Myles’?”
“Felicity wanted me to be sure and let you know she hopes you’re
feeling better by the morning. Wasn’t that thoughtful of her?” James
snidely commented.
Glaring back at him, she responded curtly, “Most thoughtful indeed!
And Benjamin, the unsuspecting naive swine, as you so eloquently called
him earlier--did he wish me well too?”
Hearing no response, Lavinia looked out the window in silence. As
hard as she tried to remain focused on her plan of winning back Rupert and
Annabelle’s trust, Lavinia’s mind wandered. The similarities of James’
behavior to her’s years before when he was wed to Rebecca, and the way
he was now with Felicity was uncanny. Glancing at the man she once
believed she loved, she wondered if Rebecca had felt the same humiliation
when James had actively flaunted his desires for her back in England years
ago.
You pathetic bastard, always wanting what you cannot have
. For an
instant, Lavinia felt sorry for Rebecca Sterling, and a cold chill ran up her
spine as the haunting voice of Rebecca Sterling mocked her.
Serves you
right, Lavinia!
Doubting her own sanity, she scolded herself,
Stop this at
once or you will end up in a sanitarium.
As the carriage pulled up to the couple’s home, Lavinia waited for
James to assist her. However, when he stepped out of the coach and called
to the hired driver to assist his wife instead, sheepishly Lavinia stepped out
of the coach on her own.
“That won’t be necessary. I can make it on my own.”
Upon entering her home, Lavinia hastily dismissed the butler and
followed her husband up the stairs to their private suite. Anger had
replaced her earlier fear and humiliation and she glared at him staring out
the window, his back to her. Slamming the door as she entered their room,
she asked vehemently, “Just so I understand the new rules that you and
Alfred have apparently set for me, what precisely am I to expect in return
for my obedience?”
Hearing no response, she continued. “Shall I now be required to fill
your glass with the drink like some peasant servant and then watch you
pass out? Or, perhaps you would prefer me to soak myself in mud, reduced
to painting a picture in your mind so you can perform as a man? Although,
I would be hard pressed to consider that pathetic attempt last evening as an
act of a virile man!”
Turning on his heels to face her, James spouted, “There is not enough
mud in all of New York to disguise who I’m actually bedding. Has it
occurred to you Lavinia, that my sudden lack of enthusiasm in having you
is that I’m not the least bit aroused by you any longer?”
Hearing his derogatory comment, Lavinia immediately lunged forward
with her hand in the air to strike him, which James grasped firmly before
she made contact.
“Considering the fact that I’ve not had a drink all evening--all day for
that matter--and my reflexes are no longer hampered, it hardly seems
worth
the bother
now, does it Lavinia?”
Gasping, realizing those were nearly the exact words she had used after
pushing James from her last night, she asked suspiciously, “What is that
supposed to mean?” There was no need for James to make eye contact--she
felt his eyes bore a hole that penetrated her soul.
“When you try to seduce your next victim, you delusional little bitch,
perhaps it would be wise to make sure he’s actually passed out before
insulting him.” Although James wasn’t certain what she had actually said,
only remembering bits and pieces of last evening’s events, he acted as if he
had total recall.
“I don’t know what you’re speaking of!” She spat indignantly. “And
you call me delusional? I think not! Your brain must be pickled from all the
brandy you’ve consumed over the years. Now let me go! You’re hurting
me,” she squealed, trying to free herself from his grip.
Realizing what force he was using to refrain her, he released her arm
and said, “Oh you haven’t begun to experience pain. Be forewarned, you
will! The exact hurt you have inflicted on me and others over the years.
And don’t think for a minute that I’ve forgotten what you said about
Rebecca last evening. As God as my witness, you will rue the day you ever
said something so vile.”
Rather than apologize for her earlier remarks, undaunted by his
comment, Lavinia stated coolly, “You know James, I always knew you had
a dark side to your character, but never had I dreamt you were capable of
being so naive. Do you honestly believe for one moment that your precious
little tart will ever leave Benjamin for the likes of you? Take it from
someone who knows first hand, Benjamin may be weak, but what he lacks
in character, he well makes up for in other areas. I can assure you that little
alley cat you desire, is well taken care of by her well endowed husband!”
Seeing the hurt in James’s eyes, Lavinia quickly added. “Come to think
on it, no wonder Felicity always has that annoying smile pasted on her
lips.”
James raised his hand this time to strike her. Without backing away
from him, Lavinia stood defiantly and calmly said, “Go ahead, James, hit
me! And I’ll be forced to let your precious Felicity know what kind of
bastard you really are. Even if you try to lock me up, eventually I’ll get
word to her and don’t you think for one instant I wouldn’t.”
Seeing him back down, Lavinia realized she had regained the upper
hand for the time being, with James having no way of receiving coaching
from Alfred. Taking advantage of his weakness, and his obvious jealousy
over Benjamin, she said, “Rather than threaten one another further and
cause each other such unnecessary pain, why don’t we make a deal?”
“A deal?” he asked. “And what would you have to offer, Lavinia?
Need I remind you we are no longer in England and more specific, you are
no longer the heir to the Squire’s fortune? What possibly could you have to
offer me here in New York, being only the wife of a successful business
man who has already proven that his wife is unstable at best?”
As hurtful as his words were to hear, Lavinia knew her husband’s
strengths and weaknesses. James needed to feel vindicated for her hurting
him as she had last evening, but more importantly, he needed to prove he
was superior to Benjamin, of whom he was insanely jealous. Suddenly his
desire for Felicity became clear to her. By having what Benjamin desired
most, it satisfied James’s need to prove his superiority. Not only to the man
he despised, but also to Lavinia.
She understood such an obsession, having once had the same desire in
proving herself superior over Rebecca, and exactly why she no longer had
any interest in James now. With Rebecca dead, James was no longer a
token that proved her superiority. The only thing Lavinia currently desired
from her husband was his money.
Forgoing her previous plan to be the poor helpless victim, another
scheme began to form in her mind--one that would enable her the freedom
to come and go as she pleased until she had worked on Rupert and
Annabelle. That plan was to win James back by arousing his jealousy and
insecurities through his manly desires.
Hastily recalling those from the party and canceling Alfred, Tad and
Michael, not wanting Vivian as an enemy, she set her sight on the only
available man in their set.
“Well for starters, Alfred is not the only man in New York who is
prominent. Have you forgotten that Lucas Brown is a friend of the new
president? Which makes him not only a powerful man to have on your side
in Washington, but rather influential here in New York as well, I would
imagine. And since it’s obvious you want to prove your manhood by
having the only thing Benjamin has, and that’s his wife, what better way
for you to get closer to your little tart than to have her husband away? Now
what would it be worth to you if I persuaded Lucas that Benjamin should
go to Washington? I mean wouldn’t the most powerful man in all the
nation help his old friend?”
“By God Lavinia, you are mad! Not only are you insinuating that you
would assist me to have an affair with your ex-husband’s wife, but you’re
offering to help by openly admitting that you would compromise your
principles for a price. Have you no shame?”
By his reaction, Lavinia knew he didn’t suspect her motivation and she
continued cautiously trying not to appear too obvious.
“Shame? Oh please James, let’s stop all this foolishness. You know
neither of us has an ounce of shame or virtues when something comes
between us and what we desire. Hasn’t that always been what attracted us
to one another in the first place? Unfortunately, it would appear you no
longer desire me, so what would you have me do? Passively watch you
have all the fun, while I’m miserable? I think not!”
“Not that I agree with you, but for the sake of argument, from all
accounts Lucas Brown doesn’t even like you. So pray tell, why would he
listen to you?”
“Lucas is a man, is he not? And by all accounts a lonely one at that.”
Giving him her most alluring smile, Lavinia raised her eyebrow and began
to unfasten her bodice buttons by taking great pains to be provocative
while wetting her lips to paint a picture of Lucas in James mind.
“Although you may no longer find me sexually appetizing, I’m sure
someone as lonely as Lucas would find my charms inviting. Even
exhilarating, I’d hazard to venture. So I ask you James, do you honestly
think I couldn’t find a way to get his attention?” she said smugly.
“Jesus, Lavinia, are you suggesting you would allow that old man
favors, in exchange for a romp in the sack?” Sensing his jealousy peak, she
looked at him helplessly.
“I didn’t say I would allow him the pleasure of my company, James.
Although come to think on it, having a man desire me again and shower
me with attention might be enjoyable. And considering he probably hasn’t
been with a real woman for years, I’m sure Lucas Brown would be very
attentive to my every need. There must be something behind that saying,
‘There's no fool like an old fool’.”
Waiting for the right moment, she allowed her dress to fall to the floor.
Pausing long enough for his eyes to trace her petite frame, she seductively
began loosening the cords that held her corset, paying special attention to
caress the cleavage of her breasts as they became loosened from their
restraint. Inching her hand inside her corset, exposing more of her pert
breast to him, she seductively whispered, “Except for perhaps a man who
would fantasize over someone as boring as Felicity to me.”
Realizing that his manhood was enlarging, she continued to disrobe,
sultrily gliding her hands over her midriff, and she gazed into his eyes
wontedly. Seeing his desire for her increase she added. “You do recall how
good we were together, don’t you James?”
Shaking his head, he whispered huskily, “This changes nothing
between us, Lavinia. On occasion, I may still find you erotically appealing.
However, living with you has proven to be pure hell. I cannot bear the way
it’s been between us and I refuse to live my life like this any longer.”
“I agree wholeheartedly with you, darling. It’s been hell for me too!
Watching you lust after that woman when all I ever wanted was you. Why I
gave up my reputation, my standing in society, even my inheritance to be
with you . . . Not just to have your name . . .” She paused to discard her
camisole to her feet, revealing her bare breasts to him completely before
continuing. “. . . But all of you, James, including your love and devotion.”
Slipping out of her pantaloons with only her stockings on, she looked over
at him, pleadingly. “Without your love James, I react badly and do such
foolish things. Oh please, James, why can’t you love me like you once
did?”
Unable to resist her charms any longer, he reached for her and huskily
pulled her naked body next to him. “Heaven help me, but I do love you,
only you . . .” His words garbled between his ravenous kisses to her mouth
while groping at her breasts.
As his mouth trailed down her neck to her nipples, feeling his urgency
heighten, she moaned, “Darling, take me to our bed so I can truly please
you.”
As James swooped her into his arms, Lavinia smiled victoriously,
knowing she still had more power over him than Alfred did. Lying on their
bed, Lavinia began caressing her inner thighs to entice him further and
watched as he quickly undressed. Once his trousers were removed, James
immediately, thrust his manhood deep inside her. While James satisfied his
desires, Lavinia moaned periodically as if she were enjoying their oneness.
Certain that he wanted Felicity now, since he never denied it, she callously
planned her next move to destroy him, before he had a chance to destroy
her.