Only Scandal Will Do (36 page)

Through a trick of the waning light from the window, Redmond’s eyes took on a fiendish glow. “Until the scandal. Then the golden boy wasn’t quite so golden. And as his luck ran out, mine came in. When he left for Italy, I suddenly had the ear of all the gossips. I became the pivot point of the social whirl.” He glanced at Amorina, who had been mute during the whole tirade, and smiled smugly. “I even got his mistress.”

Her breath hissed inward, and she again glared at the madam. Of course, the affair was ancient history, but the thought of Duncan being intimate with that woman still hurt unbearably.

“But then my father learned of my association with the notorious madam here and cut me off. Not a farthing until I had given up the ‘detestable vice.’” He turned mournful eyes on Kat. “My father is a moralistic prude and I will have my revenge on him yet, never fear.”

He continued his tirade against his father. Long shadows in the room indicated the day drew to a close. Was help on the way? Did Duncan even know she was gone?

A stinging slap made her jump. Tears welled. Redmond sat back down in his chair, once again fixing his hands in that odd position. “You were not attending me, my lady. That was rude of you. I am telling this tale at your request. Do not ignore me again.”

Rubbing her burning cheek against her shoulder, she fixed her attention on the dangerous popinjay behind the desk.

“Where was I? Oh, yes. So without funds I would certainly become a laughing-stock amongst my friends. Then, to heap coals on the flames, Duncan reappeared from Italy. I was about to lose everything–money, friends, mistress–when I met your brother. He talked about you, though I paid little attention until I happened to see you one day as we passed the milliner’s. You were there with your aunt. When Manning pointed you out, I finalized my plan. I had my eye on Miss Forsythe, but the Braetons always surrounded her, leaving me no opportunity to snatch her. Your brother happened to mention your outing that night, so I had a time and a route. Quite a simple matter, really.” He glared at her, then moved from the chair and stood over her.

“Until you upset the plan, my dear.” The fading light accentuated his now cruel face, lips twisted in a smirk, eyes narrowed as he stared down at her. There was nothing left of the likeable young man with whom she had dined after her wedding. Malice emanated from him in cold waves. “You managed to escape that night.” He shot a murderous glance at Nigel and Will, who squirmed under his attention. “So I lost my chance at blackmail. No one can be blackmailed without proof of wrongdoing. If I could have flaunted you in front of Duncan, a ruined lady, threatened to expose you both, I would be a wealthy man now.”

“And what would have kept him from just killing you, my lord? He’s quite capable of it, you know.” Despite her words, as darkness threatened, her bravado wore thin. The idea of being in this house after dark eroded her confidence, brought back the fear and humiliation, compounded now by the knowledge it had been part of a fiendish plot.

“He would never have known of my involvement, my lady. Dear Amorina would have appeared the blackmailer, a scorned woman bent on revenge. I think Duncan would have paid handsomely. I think he still will.”

The blackguard was still bent on blackmail. But what was his plan now? She needed to draw him out and stall for time. “What do you mean?”

“That is why you are here, Lady Dalbury. I have been waiting quite a while for you. Did you not wonder how I knew you were back in London?”

Her stomach lurched. The fact that this monster had lain in wait for her had not crossed her mind. A sense of dread crept up her spine like icy fingers, causing her to shiver.

“I’ve had you watched every day since your marriage, but Duncan, damn him, never let you out of his sight.” He grinned, the nastiest look she had ever seen. “Did you ever wonder why you saw me so often in Hyde Park, my lady? I would have grabbed you there, but even in the early mornings you had more escorts than a royal princess. And when you sailed for Italy, I lost all hope of gaining my fortune. But Nigel has friends down on the docks who promised to let me know when your ship returned.” His expression took on a faux innocence. “Imagine my astonishment, when word came that your five month absence had been reduced to a mere month or so. When the ship docked in early July with the information that you were returning overland from Cornwall, I was jubilant. I had your house watched every day since. Today was simply my lucky day. Not only did you return, but Duncan was so distraught about something, he left you alone for once. A fatal mistake, I fear.

“I have just dispatched a ransom note to him. Ostensibly from Amorina, for I’m sure Duncan suspected her involvement in the original kidnapping. He is to bring five thousand pounds to Hyde Park at nine tonight. You will be waiting there for him. When he sees you across the pond, he has been instructed to drop the satchel with the money and run around the pond to affect your rescue. Meanwhile, Nigel will retrieve the satchel, and I shall be on my way to America on the morning tide.”

“What makes you think he won’t come after you?” She tried to keep her voice from rising, as fear clutched at her.

Redmond chortled, spreading his fingers wide. “I don’t plan to leave any loose ends. If he regained you, you would certainly inform him of my identity and he would, as you have so graciously pointed out twice now, kill me. I do not intend for that to happen.” He shook his head in mock sadness. “No, you will be tied to a tree, bound and gagged. In the darkness he won’t be able to see that you are dead until it is too late.”

Despite the devilish whirling in her mind those chilling words provoked, she forced herself to focus on Redmond alone. The emergence of the cool objectivity that always cleared her head when she faced an opponent with a sword steadied her. She would only win the coming battle by retaining her wits and awaiting an opportunity. Pray God, one would present itself in time.

Chapter 33

As the minutes ticked by, Kat considered her options. She had to get free or get word to Duncan. Who of the people here would be most willing to help her? Redmond, of course, was a lost cause. Nigel and Will were too afraid of their master to even try to bribe. That left Redmond’s mistress. She had remained silent the entire time they had been in the room. Was there a reason for that? Either she was loyal to this monster or cowed by him. But he’d said nothing of taking her with him to America. Perhaps there was little between them except a business arrangement. What if she could persuade the woman she could make a better offer? At this moment she would clutch at any idea at all. The madam must know how wealthy Duncan was, that he would pay any sum she cared to name if she helped her. It was worth a chance because there was no other chance. But how to get her alone?

“Excuse me, Mr. Redmond,” Kat said, with only a touch of her true aversion, “but I need use the necessary.”

He stared at her as though she had lost her mind. “You think I will untie you, my lady, and give you another chance to escape me?” He nodded to Nigel and Will. “They can take you and watch to see you have no tricks to try.”

“I’ll piss right here on the floor before I let them do any such thing,” she shot back. “And you will have to deal with the stench.”

Redmond narrowed his eyes. “I’ll wager you have made Duncan’s life a merry hell these past months. I’ll be doing him a favor to rid him of you.” He stared at her, as if gauging her mettle. “Then do your worst, Lady Dalbury.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ll not let you slip through my hands again.”

“For God’s sake, I’ll take her.” Amorina spoke for the first time that night. “I’ll keep her hands bound so she can’t escape.” She glanced at her partner, a tightness about her lips voicing her displeasure. “I know she would do it and I will not have a mess to clean when this is all over. Come, Lady Dalbury, but be quick about it. I must go tend to my business soon.”

Amorina untied her legs and pulled her up out of the chair, Kat wincing at the pain in her shoulders from her bound arms. Taking the candelabrum from the mantle, the madam grasped her arm and trotted her down the hallway to the small room that brought more fearful memories. As soon as the door closed, Kat opened her mouth, only to find Amorina’s hand clamped firmly over it.

“Speak low, my lady, for my two henchmen have followed us.” Amorina eased her hand away. “I would have you know that I have not been a willing participant in any of this.” She stared meaningfully at Kat. “Not tonight’s work, nor that in March.”

Kat met her eyes but said nothing, a flicker of hope springing up in her chest.

“I had hoped to renew my association with Lord Dalbury when he returned from Italy,” Amorina said. “I did not wish to continue with Mr. Redmond as my protector.” She seemed to choke on the word. “He, however, had other ideas and I had no power to change them, as women so often do not. I am sorry to have been party to your ruin, and even sorrier to have involved Lord Dalbury.” Her look was hard, but true regret lurked deep within her eyes. She had some affection for Duncan, then. Pray God, that would work to their advantage now.

“I believe you, Miss...” Embarrassed at not having a last name for the woman who stood between her and disaster, she stopped short.

“Vestry. It is as good a name for you to use as any other.”

“Miss Vestry. Can you help my husband and me? Is there some way you can get word to him? Or, better, to Mr. Reginald Matthews at Bow Street?”

A strange smile played over Amorina Vestry’s face. “You know Mr. Matthews?”

“He rescued me the night I left here. He was kind to me when I needed kindness.”

Amorina placed a hand on Kat’s shoulder, a tentative touch. “I am glad he helped you that night, my lady. If you can believe me, I am not unaware of the trials of your ordeal. I only hope life has been kinder to you since then.” Then she seemed to recall herself, resulting in a brisk change in manner. “If you need to use that chair, you should do it now. They will think we are plotting or you are trying to overpower me.”

With assistance from Miss Vestry, she managed to relieve herself.

When she stood up, Amorina leaned close and whispered in her ear, “I will do what I can to send for Mr. Matthews. I dare not send to Lord Dalbury. If he does not come in time, I...” For once, the small woman seemed at a loss for what to say.

“Thank you for your kindness, Miss Vestry. I pray God this ends well.” Sudden tears stung her eyes, and Amorina turned away, perhaps affected, perhaps just for privacy’s sake.

“What the hell’s the hold-up in there?” Nigel boomed behind the door. Pounding ensued, loud enough to deafen everyone in earshot. “It don’t take a racehorse this long to piss.”

“Nigel, if you don’t back away from that door I will make you wish you had.” Amorina’s icy voice sent a chill down Kat’s spine. Not a woman to cross. How had she ever fallen into the clutches of Tommy Redmond?

They left the room, Nigel giving Amorina a wide berth. After Amorina returned her to the chair in the office and Will obediently retied her legs, the woman faced Redmond. “I fear I must be about my business. The gentlemen will arrive at any moment and the girls cannot go unsupervised. They have no concept of time and, as you know, time is money. Will I see you later, my lord?” There was a hopeful lift in her voice Kat would have wagered was contrived.

“I fear not, my dear. Once the events have played out I will be off to America. I wish I could take you with me, but I will need to present a respectable front. I could hardly do that with you in tow, now, could I?”

He reached out to give Amorina’s breast a familiar squeeze, causing Kat to look away, disgusted at the man’s lack of decency. The sound of a rather sloppy kiss followed. Thinking of the other indignities Madam Vestry probably suffered from this vile man, her stomach heaved. And what had she endured with Duncan? The ache of jealousy shot through her; she doubted suffering had entered into that relationship.

Resolutely she got herself in hand, refusing to dwell on such images. Men were not expected to be virgins in their marriage beds, and her husband patently had not been. The vague, general knowledge that he had taken other lovers, however, was quite different from meeting a former mistress face to face.

Before Kat could continue down that road to Bedlam, she was jerked back from her brooding by the sound of the door closing. Amorina had gone to attend to the business of the House of Pleasure, leaving her alone in the company of Nigel, Will, and Tommy Redmond.

* * * *

Duncan left Dunham House with no clear idea where to look for Lord Manning. Trying to be methodical, he started at the earl’s house, hoping the butler would be more forthcoming than he had been with Grayson. He swung down from Saxon, ran up to the door and beat upon it with a clenched fist.

Simons opened it and, after one shocked glance, hid his surprise. His lordship was indeed from home, although he was in town, having just returned from the country. He believed that the earl could be found at Angelo’s this afternoon, though he had said something about Barberry’s as well. With a nod of thanks, Duncan returned to Saxon and quickly set out for the heart of London’s Soho district.

He reached the familiar establishment in good time, and scanned the many familiar faces as he entered. Several men stopped him to express surprise at his abrupt return to London. Rather than ignore them, he gave an abbreviated version of the story, all the while searching the fencers for Manning. He was rewarded at last with the sight of the earl, damp hair plastered to his head, defending a skillful thrust to his right flank. The bout seemed never to end, and he restrained the urge to snatch up a weapon and leap upon his brother-in-law.