Duchess Beware (Secrets & Scandals Book 2) (21 page)

As his eyes lifted to hers, the corners of his mouth curved.  “I missed you,” he said, raising three dark red roses to his nose.  He inhaled deeply and held the roses out to her.  But before she had the chance to bat the flowers away, he pulled her into his arms and dropped his lips down onto hers.

Daniel jerked to a halt, the note he’d found on the path clutched tight in his fist.  Seeing the two of them locked in a passionate embrace made him sick.  It brought back painful memories of his mother’s betrayal and his father’s suicide.  Now he knew the truth.  Silver was exactly like his mother.  Shoving the note into his pocket, he spun around and marched back to the stables to retrieve his horse.  He had returned for nothing.

No, not nothing, he amended, his heart twisting in disgust.  An unfaithful wife who liked to spout lies about love.  Just like his mother.

Several horses nickered a greeting as Daniel stepped into the cool interior of the stables.  He snapped his fingers at Tilby, a groom, throwing hay into a stall.  “I just arrived on Zeus.  Where is he?”

Tilby pointed at the end of the building.  “Mr. Somersby has him, Your Grace.”

With a nod to the man, Daniel went to retrieve his horse and found Garrett about to unbuckle the saddle.  “Wait.”

Startled, Garrett looked up and straightened.  “Daniel?”  He glanced around.  “I thought you were going to straighten things out with Silver.  Where is she?”

The last thing he wanted to hear was her name.  Reaching for the reins, Daniel pulled himself up into the saddle.  “She has made her wishes clear.  I will not be a part of her life.”  Then he snapped the reins and the horse flew past Garrett’s stunned face.

Several miles from the estate, he slowed Zeus to a halt to allow the horse to catch his breath.  They had already traveled from London and the poor animal needed some rest.  But Daniel hadn’t wanted to take the time to have another horse saddled.  He had to get the hell out of there.

Seeing Silver wrapped in her ex-fiancé’s arms not only sickened him, it made him realize his feelings for his wife went even deeper than he realized.  He pressed a gloved hand to his chest as a sharp pain tore into to his heart, and he heard the crunch of paper.

With a deep breath, he removed the note, disgusted to see his hand tremble as he unfolded the thing and read it once more.

My Dearest Silver,

I shall be waiting at the usual place and time.  Wear something pretty for me, my dear, but something that can easily be removed this time.  I’m anxious to spend another day in your arms.

                                                                      Your loving Victor

Clenching his jaw, Daniel refolded the parchment and slid it back into his coat pocket.  It seemed to burn a hole through the material, right into his skin.  But he wouldn’t destroy the thing.  No, he’d keep it.  The note would serve as a constant reminder of his wife’s treachery and of his own stupidity.

Wishing to get as far away from Silver as possible, along with all thoughts of her betrayal, he signaled Zeus to move.  What if Claremont, Fielding, and the others continued to plague him over his wife’s absence?  A slow smile spread across his lips.  He knew exactly how to silence them.

With all the strength she could summon, Silver pushed at Victor’s chest.  When that failed to work, she bit down hard on his lip until she tasted the metallic saltiness of blood.

He roared in pain, loosening his hold.

As she attempted to scramble away, Victor’s hand shot out, his long fingers wrapping around her wrist.  He pulled her back down on the seat beside him.

“Release me,” she said, trying to wrench her arm free.  Raw fear gnawed her insides.  She had to get away.

With the back of his free hand, Victor swiped the blood that trickled down his chin.  The expression on his face altered so drastically, she hardly recognized him.  His near colorless eyes glinted with rage, his bloody lips twisted menacingly, and a hiss sounded through his gritted teeth. 

Her fear hitched up to terror, and she could hardly breathe.  “I said to release me,” she whispered.

His fingers sank deeper into the skin at her wrist, making her wince from the pain.  “Absolutely not.”  He rose, pulling her up with him.  “You are coming with me.”

When he turned and took a step toward the forest, Silver could only panic.  Where would he take her?  She dug her heels into the ground, pulling at her arm.  “You are insane if you think I am going anywhere with you.”

Victor stiffened.  He turned slowly, and Silver stood paralyzed as she watched him remove a knife from his coat.  The long blade glinted sharply in the sunlight as he pulled it free.

“Never call me insane.”  He brought the tip up to her face, nearly touching her cheek.  “Now come quietly.”

She gave a slight nod, her gaze fixed on the deadly object so close to her.  He turned and began in the direction of the forest, one hand still curled around her wrist, the other still held the deadly weapon.

Silver had just taken a step when something whirled past her.  Victor grunted and released her.  Seeing the hilt of a dirk protruding out of Victor’s right shoulder, she gasped.

Taken by surprise, he spun around, his face twisted in both fury and pain.

Her mind screamed out in danger. She lifted her skirts and ran on trembling legs.

“No!” Victor lunged for her.

But she managed to elude him and didn’t stop until she saw Connor rushing toward her.  His face just as forbidding as Victor’s had been.  She halted, her breathing choppy, and glanced over her shoulder.  Thankfully, she saw no signs of that horrible man.

“Silver, are ye all right, lass?”

She nodded, trying to catch her breath.

“Goud.  Now get inside.”  He started to move past her.  “I’m going tae find tha’ man and…”  He stopped, his eyes going wide.  “Silver!  He rushed back to her side.  “You’re bleedin’, lassie.”

She blinked, not understanding his meaning at first, then looked down at her right arm.  Blood drenched the ivory material, seeping from a diagonal slice at the top of her arm.  As she watched the bright red liquid drip onto the ground from the tips of her two middle fingers, an intense pain exploded in her arm, making her head spin.  Her legs weakened.  A crash sounded in her ears.  Then the world melted into darkness around her.

****

Daniel ran a hand down his face as he staggered into the house.  Why did his right cheek feel so numb?  With a shrug, he headed for the stairs, but the sound of heavy footsteps caught his attention.  He turned, wobbled, caught himself from falling, and tried to focus on the man rushing up to him.

“I have been waiting all night for you.  Where in God’s name have you been?”

“Garrett,” Daniel said, his liquor-numbed brain slowly absorbing the fact his friend stood before him, looking ready to throttle him.  Then he recalled what Garrett had asked and smiled.  “Why, I’ve been having a grand time with…”  He stopped and frowned, having forgotten her name.

“Are you drunk?”

Daniel nodded, but the movement made him unsteady and he reeled to the side.  Garrett reached out and kept him from falling.  “Thank you,” he said, trying not to slur his words so badly.  “You should have been there tonight.  Susanna and I…”  He halted and blinked, realizing he now remembered her name.  “Yes, Susanna is her name.  How silly of me to have forgot—”

“You have been seeing another woman?”

He winced.  “God’s teeth, Garrett, you don’t have to shout.”  He turned around and began up the stairs, holding on tight to the railing.  Had the stairs always been so crooked?  He would definitely have to speak to Jenkins about that.  In the morning, though.  Sleep first, he thought with a yawn and nearly missed the next step.

“Daniel, I must have a word with you.”

What the devil?  Oh, it was Garrett behind him.  With a sigh, he hastened up the last few steps, tripping just once.  Good thing he had such a tight grip on the stair rail.  “Go away.”

“This is important.”

“I need some rest first.” He turned down the long corridor where his nice, soft bed awaited.  His head began to pound—no thanks to his loud friend—and he needed to sleep.

“Something serious has happened.”

Daniel halted and turned, swaying just a bit.  “Is it Grandmother or Victoria?” He tried to focus on his friend without getting dizzy.

Garrett shook his head.  “No, it’s—”

“Andrew?”

“No.  It’s your—”

“Then I don’t want to hear about it,” Daniel snapped and hurried the remaining few feet.

“Wait.  Daniel, stop.”

Ignoring his friend, he stumbled into the anteroom of his private chambers, nearly falling to the floor in his haste.  Catching himself just in time, he turned and closed the door on his stunned friend’s face.  With a relieved breath, he rotated the brass filigree key in the lock until he heard the snap, then hobbled away.

The knob jiggled a second later, followed by an insistent banging.  “Damn it, Daniel!”  Garrett’s voice sounded muffled through the thick oak.  “Open this door.  Why are you acting this way?  There is something important I have to tell you.”

“Go away,” Daniel shouted over his shoulder.

“No, listen.  It’s Silver…”

Grimacing at the mention of her name, Daniel quickened his pace.  He didn’t want to hear another word.  Spilling into his bedchamber, he closed and locked that door as well, barring the sound of Garrett’s voice completely.  Shuffling to his bed, he tore away the suffocating cravat from his neck and fell onto the soft blankets.  Through the gin-soaked fog clouding his mind, one thought arose.  He had to get away for a while.  Some place no one would likely find him.  If he remembered the idea when he woke in a few hours, he would consider where to go. 

With a contented sigh for his new plan, he embraced his drunken fatigue.

Chapter Nineteen

Silver should not have been surprised. 
Not at all
.  She watched Molly arrange her hair through the large, oval mirror, and tried to ignore how pale she was.  Although she had been practicing her serene look, as she called it, she couldn’t quite keep all the shadows from haunting her eyes.  Arriving at the stately Huntington town house with Torie, Anne, and Prudence yesterday afternoon, intentionally procrastinating until the last minute because she didn’t have enough courage to face her husband, she had been terrified as she stepped through the front door.  But she should have known what to expect from that rotten man.  Even though a note had been forwarded telling him to expect their arrival, he hadn’t been in residence.

And he still hadn’t come home.

A knock sounded at the door and Silver tensed.  She had to clear her throat in order to speak.  “Come in.”

Torie cascaded into the room, looking gorgeous in ivory silk.  “Are you nervous about tonight?”

Silver turned in her chair to look up at her sister-in-law.  “Immensely,” she admitted as Molly slid the last hair pin into place.

Smiling a bit too brightly, Torie revealed the worry she was trying pitifully to conceal.  “Don’t be.  Everyone is going to love you.”

Despite her own apprehension, Silver smiled in return, trying to ease the girl’s disquiet.  Daniel no longer cared for her.  The day Garrett returned to Huntington alone proved that.  But Torie’s reaction had been a surprise.  Instead of distancing herself, the sweet dear made an effort to spend more time with Silver, resulting in a closer friendship between them.

“You are very kind to say so, Torie,” she said, rising to her feet, trying not to clutch the sides of her sapphire blue gown.  “Now let’s get this debut of mine over and done with.”

With a deep breath for courage, she left her bed chamber and walked with Torie down the stairs where everyone waited for them in the entry hall.  She halted, her heart sinking despite her best efforts to keep it from happening.  Daniel still hadn’t showed.

Silver turned to her aunt, whose dark eyes sparkled with fury.  The woman’s high cheeks had even bloomed red and her lips were twisted in a menacing scowl.  Not a good sign, that. 

“What has happened?” she asked.

Before Prudence could reply, the front door opened.  Silver stiffened, then relaxed when she realized the man wasn’t her husband.

Lord Andrew paused before her and gave a deep bow.  “May I have the pleasure of escorting you tonight, Your Grace?”

At that moment, she knew the reason for Prudence’s anger.  Daniel would not come.  Hurt warred with relief within her, but she pushed aside both feelings.  Forcing a smile, trying to keep her chin from wobbling, she nodded.  “I would be delighted, Lord Andrew.”  Then she turned away.  She couldn’t stand to see the pity in his eyes.  Eyes that too closely resembled her husband’s.

A movement caught Silver’s attention, and she glanced toward the stairs.  She could only stand there and gape as the dowager duchess—dressed in an elegant mint green ball gown—approached.

“Grandmamma,” Victoria said, her face lighting up with a genuine smile.  “You are coming with us?”

Prudence sniffed and stepped forward.  “If you’re planning to ruin—”

“Do be quiet, Prudence.  I have no intention of ruining Silver’s debut.”  The dowager turned to her.  “I thought it would be better if you didn’t have to face the entire
ton
alone.  Are you ready?”

Numbly, Silver nodded.  “Thank you, Your Grace,” she said, gripping the sides of her dress. 

What just happened, she wondered as she made her way to the coach?  Did Anne Claiborne pity her now?  Just before she stepped in behind Torie, Silver heard the dowager address Jenkins.  “Have this note delivered with the utmost haste to the Davenport house in Promenade Street.”

The ride to the Claremont town house passed in a haze.  Silver did not recall much of the short journey nor of entering the palatial mansion, but now she stood before a sea of colorful gowns and black evening suits, her heart clattering about in her chest.  She tried not to cringe as the under-butler called out her name and title, hers alone.  The din of conversation came to an abrupt halt and everyone glanced up in unison.

The silence stretched out.  Silver swallowed, feeling thousands of eyes on her, boring into her.  Then the man announced Lord Andrew and loud whispers broke out.  Now everyone realized Daniel wasn’t coming.  She clasped her trembling hands together and seriously considered the idea of turning around and fleeing this wretched debut.  But Andrew was holding out his hand, waiting to escort her down the steps.

“Silver, welcome.”

Forcing her rigid shoulders to relax a bit, Silver reached the ballroom as Megan came toward her with a warm smile, looking exceptionally beautiful in lavender silk.

Megan grasped her icy hands.  “Don’t look so terrified.  Everything will be all right.”

“Ah, how wonderful it is to see you again, Silver,” Nicholas stated as he reached his wife’s side.  Then he gave the most respectful bow Silver had ever witnessed, took her hand, and tenderly kissed the top.

A tight knot of emotion rose up her throat, and she could only whisper some sort of absurd response.  God only knew why the duke and duchess were so nice to her, but she was incredibly grateful for the kindness.

After greeting the others who had arrived with Silver, Megan introduced her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Kenbrook.  Somehow Silver managed a curtsey.

Leaving Silver in her parents’ company, Megan turned to her husband and grabbed his arm.  “Come, Nicholas, we must talk.”

When they found an isolated alcove, she allowed the fury she had been suppressing to show.  “How dare that man not escort his wife to her own debut!  I don’t care what you have to do, Nicholas, I want you to find Daniel.  Find him and bring him here.”

He lifted his hand and grazed her cheek.  “Not to worry, love.  I’ve been on it the moment Silver walked through the door without him.”

Megan relaxed and closed her eyes.  “Oh, Nicholas, whatever would I do without you?”

She felt his warm, minty breath caress her lips.  “That is something you really needn’t worry over,” he whispered, then closed the small distance separating them.

“Careful, you two, lest you forget what part of the house you’re occupying.”

Megan felt her cheeks heat when Nicholas broke off the kiss and turned.  Lord Fielding stood before them with a sardonically raised brow.  She very much wanted to box his ears, she did.

“Jeremy, your timing is, as always, about twenty yards off the mark,” Nicholas said.

“Actually, old friend, my timing couldn’t have been any better.”

Her husband sighed.  “Have you found him?”

Snapping to attention, she realized he must be referring to Daniel.

Jeremy hesitated, then nodded.

That did not look good at all.  “Where is that blasted man?”  Her knuckles rose to her hips.

Instead of answering her question, Jeremy glanced to her husband.  “Perhaps you and I should speak in private.”

She couldn’t believe her ears?  Just as Megan opened her mouth to give the no-good cad what for, Nicholas shook his head.  “Believe me, Jeremy, that wouldn’t do a bit of good.”

Megan folded her arms over her chest and nodded in agreement.

Pressing his lips together, Jeremy sighed.  His expression turned grim.  “Daniel will be arriving in a few minutes.”

She slid her arms down to her sides with relief.

“Where did you find him?” Nicholas asked.

“With Susanna Davenport.”

Silver almost smiled as she listened to Evie and Torie recite the disasters of their debuts.  They made most of it up, surely, but it brought about a swell of happiness that they would go to such lengths in order to make her feel better.

Evie had just explained how the punch bowl happened to land on top of the dowager Countess of Langston’s head, turning the poor woman’s silvery locks pink, when a ripple of murmurs rang through the crowd.  Silver saw everyone tip their heads up just as the under-butler made the announcement she hadn’t thought to hear.

“The Duke of Huntington.”

Her breath caught, and a hush swept through the room.  All eyes swiveled in her direction, undoubtedly to assess her reaction.  The air left her lungs as she observed Daniel take each step down the staircase.  Even though he dressed in evening black as all the other men, he had to be the most handsome, and she smiled, near dizzy with relief that he had come after all.  Perhaps he wouldn’t abandon her.

Daniel paused as he reached the polished marble floor of the ballroom and looked up.  Silver’s heart leaped with hope, then plummeted to her toes.  Her smile fled.  His gaze had gone through her as though she didn’t even exist.  And a small part of her died inside.

Gripping the sides of her dress, she was uncertain what to do.  However, the years spent with her cruel aunt and uncle had taught her how to hide the hurt.  And hide it well.  She learned early that showing any form of weakness would entice them to even more cruelty.  So Silver released the material from her fists, slid the blank expression she had perfected over the years into place, and turned her back on the sight of her insufferable husband.  She did not look directly at those around her.  Seeing pity in their eyes would be unbearable.

Evie placed a comforting hand on her arm.  “Can I get you something to drink, Silver?”

She nodded absently, finding it difficult keep the mask in place.  Searing, white-hot pain clawed up her chest, threatening to explode, and she had no idea what she’d say or do if it did.

The musicians began playing a waltz.  People moved to the sides of the room and gawked.  Terror struck, snatching the very breath from her body and made her weak.  Standing there as Torie and her aunt moved back a few feet, she thought she might just swoon.  The first dance had been reserved for her.  Her and Daniel.

Jeremy rested a shoulder on one of the room’s columns and watched her for a minute.  So this was the new Duchess of Huntington.  Hmmmm.  As an experienced connoisseur of women, he automatically inspected every detail, not surprised the horse-faced giant rumored throughout the
ton
did not exist.  Indeed, this woman was quite beautiful.

Tall, but lush, her curves expertly revealed by the snug tailoring of the gown she wore, no doubt Madame Devereux’s creation.  Her hair was glorious.  Glossy red, striking against her pale skin.  Flawless skin that glowed alabaster beneath the rich sapphire color of her gown.

Jeremy lifted his eyes to her face, targeting the sensual lushness of her lips.  Then he took note of her expression.  Expecting to see tears or anger as she stood there all alone, it amazed him to find such a deadpan expression.  He had no idea what she thought or felt.  A first, that. 

The crowd nearest the duchess drew his attention.  They snickered and sneered to each other, like vultures ready to pick her bones clean.  And as the music continued on and Huntington made no move toward his wife, the snickers grew.

Jeremy narrowed his eyes and pushed away from the column.  He walked directly up to the Duchess of Huntington, gave his most charming smile, and said, “Hello, I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.”

Silver focused on the man before her, grateful for the distraction.  He stood a few inches taller than her with sandy blond hair and attractive eyes an interesting melding of green and gold.

“I am Jeremy Longwell, the Marquess of Fielding,” he continued, giving a bow.  “And you are Sylvia Claiborne, the Duchess of Huntington.”  He took her hand, slowly raised it to his lips, and pressed a lingering kiss to her knuckles.

Silver concealed her surprise, taken aback by the man’s cordial, if somewhat flirtatious, manner.  “It’s good to meet you, my lord.”

He grinned.  “I prefer Jeremy.”

Ignoring Torie’s gasp several feet away, Silver raised her chin, deciding she liked this man already.  “Then you must call me Silver,” she said, her curiosity piqued.  Perhaps an enemy of Daniel’s?

She most certainly hoped so.

Suddenly, an idea formed.  An outrageous idea, to be sure.  She squared her shoulders.  She refused even a peek in the dowager duchess’ direction, certain the woman glared daggers at her.  “It seems my dance partner has forgotten we were to dance,” she said, wondering if he would take the hint.

Surprise flared in his eyes, then his grin turned wolfish.  “How terribly fortunate for me, my dear,” he said and held out his hand.  “Would you care to dance?”

Chatter broke out from the crowd, then died back down to see if she would accept.  That ignited a bit of her anger.  How dare those idiots be so callous?  She welcomed the slow burn as it spread throughout her body, helping to chase away the anguish of her husband’s appalling behavior.  Curving her lips up, she inclined her head.  “It will be my pleasure to dance with you.”  She paused, her smile widening.  “Jeremy.”