Wicked Deception (35 page)

He was likely to be mocked by his peers
for it, despite what wealth he would gain. He didn’t give a damn
what anyone thought, but the young girl he was marrying would be
hurt to learn she would be the source of scorn.

Tieghan was delighted to learn he would
marry soon. The giant promised to be on his best behavior when they
went to the Atwell’s residence for dinner that night. Gabriel would
be introduced to the girl tonight. They would wed in one week’s
time.

Gabriel didn’t look forward to it at
all. The thought of marrying a demure, convent-raised girl had no
appeal to him. He was sure she was as pale and unremarkable as her
sister Eunice. He was present at Dartmouth’s wedding years before.
He vaguely recalled Lady Eunice was a blonde, withdrawn young woman
with little spark in her pale features.

Considering who she was married was
obviously the cause for her lack of happiness at the nuptials. He
wondered if Lady Gillian learned of the circumstances surrounding
her brother’s death and her sister’s disappearance.

He expected nothing from this marriage.
In light of Catherine’s defection, he could only hope he had a
civil relationship with the girl who would be his wife. Passion had
to be found elsewhere, no doubt. He realized he was becoming bitter
again.

The woman who owned his heart was
leaving him forever and his pride would allow it. He was resigned
that happiness was to be forever out of his reach. He would make
the best of it now. Lady Gillian would make him a fitting wife. He
vowed to think of the past no more.

~ ~ ~

Lady Atwell was pleased with the girl.
She took in her considerable beauty and spirit with surprise. A
slight smile curved her lips, knowing Gabriel would be pleased.
Gillian looked much like her mother, Lady Cassandra, with her
vibrant red hair, and wide-set aqua green eyes. Her perfect
heart-shaped features were filled with suspicion now, reminding her
of her errand.

Gillian sat uncomfortably in the salon
as the introductions were made. She rather detected a look of
irritation from the girl to be handled so secretly. Lady Atwell
knew she had no idea that her brother and Dartmouth were likened to
monsters in the press now. Clarissa was disgusted she would be the
one to have to tell her of Francis’s crimes, as well as her
sister’s purported death.

Dartmouth refused to admit he killed
his wife. Eunice’s fate was only speculated in the days following
his arrest.

She was hardly able to contain her
delight to see Lady Gillian for the first time when she arrived at
the townhouse the following day, Mr. Barrows hot on her heels. The
solicitor was obviously grateful to be dumping his newest client,
fearful of the stigma his firm would draw with her relationship to
the notorious Lord Rudd.

Lord Iverleigh’s man-of-affairs
delivered the agreement signed the day before and she was grateful
to be dumping her husband’s cousin as well, though she was
sorrowful for it. The young woman hardly deserved it. She knew the
taint of any association with her would doom her daughter Eugenia’s
debut into society.

She would see Gillian married and the
matter would be resolved. Gabriel would take her off their hands
and would be rewarded handsomely for it. She stifled a smile of
delight as she imagined his reaction when he saw Lady
Gillian.

Gillian would suit the handsome
nobleman. Her conscience would release her of guilt to be
distancing herself from Francis’s only living family member.
Gillian would learn only too soon why she was to be
shunned.

Lady Atwell felt sorry for her as
Barrows went over the will with the young woman, careful to leave
the telling of Eunice’s disappearance to her when he took his
leave. He was eager to be done with the reading. Lady Atwell could
see the girl was shocked to realize Francis was so inordinately
wealthy.

Judging from the modest wool gown she
wore, he’d not seen fit to pass such wealth onto his sisters. She
was too stunned to speak to learn she had wealth now beyond her
wildest dreams. Barrows informed her of the betrothal to Lord
Iverleigh and earned a glare from Lady Atwell.

He rushed through that agreement as
well, only to scurry to retrieve his satchel and leave as fast as
he could. Gillian glared at her now. Lady Atwell cleared her throat
in obvious discomfort.

“
Before you rush to the
conclusion I’m so lacking in concern for your future as your
guardian, my dear, there’s much you need to hear. It’s not at all
pleasant. Once you hear me out, you will agree that marriage to
Lord Iverleigh is quite preferable for you now,” Lady Atwell
informed her quietly, seeing the hurt and look of betrayal in the
girl’s eyes. “I hope you don’t sicken easily, my dear, for what I’m
about to tell you is most horrific.”

Gillian said nothing as she listened to
the crimes levied against her half-brother, only paled when she
heard of the many children he killed over the years. She looked
sick when Lady Atwell told her of Dartmouth’s involvement and
recent arrest. And finally, her sister’s disappearance was
disclosed. Lady Eunice was believed dead.

~ ~ ~

Gillian looked dazed and couldn’t
comprehend it all at once. She felt like she’d awoken into a
nightmare, her look of disbelief profound. Lady Atwell was
obviously distressed to tell her such grisly details. She could see
her guardian’s wife was hardly unaffected by the retelling of
it.

Both women sat in silence now. Gillian
was reeling in shock. Her eyes met Lady Atwell’s in sudden
understanding why she’d been kept at arm’s length now. She was very
much a pariah because of what her half-brother and brother-in-law
had done. It explained why she wouldn’t be staying with Lord and
Lady Atwell now and why she was being hastily married
off.

“
That explains why you
wouldn’t receive me in your home, Lady Atwell,” Gillian said
quietly, her eyes filling with undisguised hurt. “I’m very much
labeled by Francis’s crimes. I see that now. You fear it will
affect your family negatively. I appreciate you telling me in
person.”

“
Gillian, I know you’re
nothing like Francis! I know you feel we abandon you now. I don’t
blame you for feeling hurt. I have no choice! If not for my
daughter Eugenia, I wouldn’t be doing this. You must distance
yourself from the Wingate name now. Only through marriage can you
do this. You have no choice, my dear. Like it or not, you’re
related to a monster and people will not be kind to you for it,”
Lady Atwell reaffirmed and was unable to hold Gillian’s gaze. “You
think me cruel, do you not? Your mother was one of my dearest
friends! Even she had the insight to send you girls away when you
were young. She knew what he was! It’s not easy for me to make this
decision, but George is ill and the choice is mine to make.
Marriage to Iverleigh will protect you to some degree from public
scorn.”

“
Why would he wish to marry
me?” Gillian asked coolly, careful to keep her temper in check at
Lady Atwell’s honest admission she feared to be associated with her
now. “Is he so poorly received as I’m now? What manner of a man
would you wed me too? I would know!”

“
He’s had a bit of scandal
attached to him these last few years, but it was none of his doing,
but his former wife’s. Gabriel is in much the same position as
you’re, Gillian. He is also a victim of association. You will be
pleased, for he is quite handsome, and young. I don’t wed you to an
old man, or one you will find displeasing,” Lady Atwell reassured
in a rush. “It is for your own good. Your mother would agree if she
were alive.”

“
You didn’t answer my
question, Lady Atwell,” Gillian reminded her stiffly, her eyes
narrowing now. “I asked why the man would wish to wed the sister of
such a monster as Francis. What are you not telling me about Lord
Iverleigh? If you wish my compliance; I would ask for more
information about him. Dartmouth wasn’t the best choice for my
sister. You can understand my asking.”

Lady Atwell sighed in irritation.
Gillian was no ninny. She explained all she knew of Gillian’s
intended. The tale made the girl’s eyes widen. She started with his
duplicitous Countess Lilly, his lost-love Catherine, and finished
with his former mistress murdered by Dartmouth as well. She made
casual mention he had an illegitimate child with Mrs. Van Ryker.
Her face was burning as the lady finished her summary.

“
It doesn’t sound as though
Lord Iverleigh has the best luck where women are concerned, Lady
Atwell,” Gillian mused tightly and found she was clenching her
hands in her lap. “I hardly think adding a monster’s sister to such
an inglorious list will endear him to anyone.”

“
Gabriel is quite aware his
reputation is ruined, my dear,” Lady Atwell replied with a sniff.
“What is one more mark against him? Truly, you help each other in
this. He needs a wife. You need the protection of his
name.”

“
Lord Iverleigh stands to
gain much. You’ve been careful to not mention the money, Lady
Atwell. Why is that?” Gillian asked sourly, wanting nothing to do
with the whole affair. Iverleigh sounded like a philandering cad
with deplorable taste in women. She loathed the man
already.

“
He is an Earl, my dear. The
man is quite wealthy.” Lady Atwell shrugged at her obvious concern.
“If you worry he marries you for your money, you needn’t. He has
plenty of his own. Barrows has already set up the trust for you and
your future heirs, so it is not as though he has control of all of
it, Gillian. You must trust me in this. I know this all has been
quite a shock to you, but once you sit with this, you will see the
sense of it. You must marry Iverleigh. He is the only one who will
have you.”

Gillian swallowed hard at this, knowing
the lady was right. She was lucky to have an offer at all. Tears
filled her eyes to be brought so low, for something she’d not even
done. She refused to cry in front of Lady Atwell. She would mourn
her sister and her present situation in privacy.

“
I have little choice in
this, do I?” Gillian asked suddenly, and cringed at Lady Atwell’s
obviously pleased look. “You will force the marriage, won’t
you?”

“
Yes, my dear, I will assert
my rights as your guardian in this,” Lady Atwell affirmed softly,
sipping her tea and eyeing the girl’s distress with some sympathy.
“I know you’re upset and angry now, but you will realize it is all
for the best.”

“
I’m being swept under the
rug here, Lady Atwell. Forgive me if I think what I want would be
considered here at all. You’re now spared the embarrassment of
claiming me as your ward for the sake of your social position. Lord
Iverleigh gains a veritable fortune. What might I ask, is in this
for me, besides the questionable name I will dutifully hide
behind?” Gillian snapped harshly, running out of patience with the
woman fast.

“
That is all, I’m afraid. If
you’re smart, my dear, you’d realize it is enough,” Lady Atwell
said in equal harshness, all genteel manners discarded now. “I
won’t allow my family to be ruined because of what Francis did. I
won’t look a gift horse like Iverleigh in the mouth to find you
such a sound solution either. You will marry him, Gillian; one week
from today. I will hear no more of it. My coach will be here to
pick you and your maid up at seven. I have invited Iverleigh to a
private supper to introduce you both. It would behoove you to
change your attitude. Iverleigh does you a service here, girl. Even
all your money can’t buy you out of what Francis has done here.
Accept it!” The lady set down her cup and glared at her, daring her
to argue further.

Gillian had no choice but to remain
silent as Lady Atwell took her leave, assuring her that her
household would be set up by the end of the day. The door shut and
she flinched, knowing she angered Lady Atwell.

She was bristling as she rose to seek
out Imogene and tell her the news of Eunice. The maid was with them
both since they was sent away. Imogene would grieve as deeply as
she did for her sister’s apparent murder at the hands of her
husband. She was too over wrought to dwell upon what Francis did
and knew if she thought too long upon it, she would become
hysterical.

Lady Atwell was good for her word. A
staff of servants arrived and house money was provided to see to
their needs. Lady Atwell also sent a number of dresses she could
assume were her daughter’s, knowing she had nothing to wear for the
private engagement dinner that evening.

Gillian stared down at them in disdain,
knowing they wanted her to marry Iverleigh to hide the family’s
shame and disgrace, and for no other reason. She cursed being too
young to walk away from this place and start anew somewhere
else.

She was trembling in horror to think of
what Francis did, prayed he was in hell for it now. Eunice never
recovered from his defilement of her when she was young. Her mother
wept when it was discovered he was raping her since she was
five.

Eunice finally told her when their
father was on his deathbed. It was a secret Lady Rudd took to her
grave five years later and they were never allowed to speak of it
again. She’d not told her husband of what his son did to his own
sister.

She warned them to never tell of it.
Their father was much older than their mother and he died when they
were young. Francis became the Duke then and was furious when they
were packed off to the convent.