A Duke's Wicked Kiss (Entangled Select) (40 page)

She lifted her shoulders from the wall. “John?”

He bore down on her. Odd emotions he couldn’t decipher rolled through his anger like waves on a rough sea. “I just came from speaking with my brother.”

“How did he take things?” Her eyes searched his countenance. A frown creased her brows. “By the look on your face, I’d say not well.”

The blood pounding through his ears dimmed her words. She sounded as if she spoke through a thick layer of clouds. “I am going to ask you one question, Suri, and I want nothing less than the truth, do you understand?”

Her head leaned to one side, the crease in her brow furrowing deeper as if she was trying harder to hear him. “I think so.”

He wanted to grab her by the shoulders. Shake her. “Do you understand?”

She jolted and blinked as though he’d hit her. “You don’t have to yell, for pity’s sake. And yes, I will tell you the truth. What’s got into you?”

He moved closer until he saw the small striations in her emerald eyes. He fixed on her pupils, his heart beating a wild drum in his chest.
Please don’t let her be another Lady Elizabeth.
“Has Edward ever been in your bed?”

Her pupils dilated. The color drained from her face.
Bloody hell.
He didn’t need to hear her answer. Her eyes said it all. Even without years of spy training he would have seen the truth. He leaned into her until their breaths mingled. He hated her. He loved her. He wanted to kill her. He wanted her to deny what could not be denied.

He smacked his palms against the stable walls on either side of her head, caging her in. “God
damn
you for fucking my brother!”

Her eyes grew round as saucers. Her mouth dropped open. “What? Damn me for—”

He cuffed his hand over her mouth. “Don’t you
dare
repeat my words. Not this time.” He couldn’t bear to hear her say them. His heart just might stop.

Staring into her widened emerald eyes for a long moment, his jaw clenched and unclenched while visions of Edward and her in the same bed he’d shared with her last night swam in his head. He had to get out of here before his lungs collapsed and before he hit something, anything. He pushed off the wall and turned on his heel.

“John!” She rushed forward, grabbed at his arm, and snagged his sleeve. He yanked his arm away and turned to her with what must have been the scowl of Satan on his face because she stepped back. Just as quickly, she stepped forward again, the shock in her eyes giving way to blazing anger. “Obviously, we need to talk,” she said. “Where the devil do you think you’re going?”

He didn’t know. He didn’t care.

“Away from here. Away from you.”

Goddamn her.

C
HAPTER
T
WENTY-ONE

“The day I trot after you is the day I turn into a horse,” Suri muttered when John disappeared around the corner of the stable. She turned and ran to the sheep’s pen. “Marguerite!”

Her sister stood. “Good heavens, you look as though the sky just fell.”

“It may as well have.” Suri leaned into Marguerite’s ear. “We need to speak in private.”

Marguerite glanced at Suri’s trembling fingers, turned to Jeremy, and pointed to the far end of the pasture. “Darling, do you see that mother sheep and her babe over there?”

Jeremy squinted at the two white blotches staining the green landscape and nodded.

“Won’t you bring them in, darling? I doubt I’ve met those two.”

Jeremy regarded the sheep for a moment before turning to stare at his mother with all-knowing eyes far beyond his years. Then, without a word, he climbed the fence and headed for the outer pasture.

When he was out of earshot, Marguerite sat and folded her hands in her lap. “I haven’t seen you spewing so much fire in ages.”

Suri narrowed her eyes at Marguerite. “I am going to shoot Edward.”

“I see.”

“And then, maybe John.”

Marguerite patted the space beside her. “I think you had better tell me what happened before I offer to help you load the gun.”

Suri was in the middle of her tale when a horse thundered out of the stable with John astride, heading toward the woodlands.

When he disappeared from sight, Marguerite turned to Suri. “I wonder why Trent never mentioned something as crucial as arranging a marriage between you and Lord Edward when the three of us met up in London?” She waved a hand. “Never mind. Do go on.”

“Oh, Marguerite, when I awoke that night to find myself curled up against Edward—” Suri pressed her hands against her hot cheeks. “Oh, Lord. Now John accuses me—rather vehemently, I might add—of doing something to his brother, but I don’t know exactly what, since the word he used was foreign to my ears, although I can hazard a guess.”

Marguerite picked bits of straw off her skirt. “What was the word you didn’t understand?”

Suri repeated John’s sentence exactly.

Marguerite’s eyes widened. “Oh my!” She pressed her hand to her mouth. “Did anything occur other than Edward crawling into your bed and you kicking him out?”

Suri shook her head. “That’s all.”

Marguerite sighed and then lowered her voice, as if someone might hear. “The word John used means participating in sexual congress.”

Suri gasped. “A filthy word, then.”

“When used in that particular context—quite. However…” Marguerite paused with cheeks flushed.

Suri glanced at her and scowled. “What?”

A low kind of gurgle escaped Marguerite’s lips. “When two people love one another… when there is a certain moment…” She tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ears. “Oh, Suri, it can be a remarkable word when used right. I’d never heard it either until Harry and I…”

Suri raised a hand. “Don’t bother. I am not
that
dense.”

Marguerite flapped her hand in the air, her cheeks scarlet now. “Of course not. So, Edward lied to John?”

“In spades.” Suri frowned again. “But why would he have done such a terrible thing?”

Marguerite shrugged. “Because he was foxed?”

Suri shook her head. “Crass as his words are at times, I have not known them to be untrue. Until now.”

Marguerite went back to picking at her skirt. “I’d say he
was
truthful but calculating. If he managed to get John to ask you the one question, succinctly put, then what he said was no lie. Edward
has
been in your bed. Maybe he wasn’t so much foxed as
clever as a fox
.”

Fury cut deep into Suri’s bones. “I told you, I’m going to shoot the blasted fool.”

“First you had better find John before he leaves Ravenswood Park. He does have a temper.”

“So I’ve noticed. His blow of rage just now could’ve challenged the eruption of Vesuvius.”

“John cares deeply for you, Suri. Which makes it doubly hard for him to bear such brutal gossip.” Marguerite pursed her lips. “I just had a curious thought.”

“What?”

“Perhaps Edward feels the same as well.”

Suri let out a bark of laughter. “Why, that can’t—”

“And why not? You fell into Edward’s life quite unexpectedly. He thought his brother dead. So why wouldn’t he feel free to fall for a perfectly lovely creature such as yourself? If lying got rid of John and left you here, Edward could have you to himself.”

“But his drinking got worse when I told him I wouldn’t marry him until he stopped.”

Marguerite shrugged. “Perhaps because he wanted you, but knew you wanted his deceased brother and not him. Think on that awhile.”

Those were the very words John had used. A sudden fear that Marguerite was right burst into flames, and burned away Suri’s anger, leaving a residue of panic. Her fingers trembled again. “Which would only serve to make things far worse.”

“Decidedly so,” Marguerite answered. “Two brothers want to make the same woman their wife, and suddenly all three are living under the same roof? I wouldn’t care to be in your shoes.”

Suri wrung her hands—a feeble attempt to stop their shaking.
Dear Lord, please don’t let this be true.
“What if…what if John means what he said about going away? What if he were to go off on another assignment as an excuse to leave me here with Edward?” Desperation flowed alongside fear and panic. Tears gathered and she looked to Marguerite.

Marguerite leaned forward as if to emphasize her words. “That’s exactly why you had better go after him. This is the first time the two of you have been at odds, and they are terrible odds for a man to come home to. And cease your pacing, I’m dizzy.”

Suri kicked at the dirt once more. “You may be right, but I am not particularly fond of John’s method of dealing with serious conflict.” She set to pacing again.

“Oh my. Forget about finding John just now,” Marguerite said. “Edward is headed this way.”

Suri came to a dead halt. Her heart jumped to her throat. “Tell me you are seeing things.”

Marguerite lifted her chin only to drop it to hide her words. “He has a very serious look about him.”

Renewed anger waved a red flag and charged at Suri again. Her jaw clenched. “Heaven help me, I doubt I have the fortitude to be civil.”

“If you value your relationship with John, you had better find a measure of some.” Marguerite peeked around Suri’s skirts. “I’d like to say he’s making a beeline toward us, but there isn’t a straight line to be had in his footsteps.”

Taking Suri’s hand, she gave it a quick squeeze. “Meet him halfway, dear. If he’s come to apologize, don’t make things any harder on him or you could end up losing your only chance to right this wrong. If he indeed intends to set things straight, don’t destroy him in the process or, I promise you, there will be scars.”

Suri fought to keep frustration from turning into tears. With a short nod, and a quick breath to bolster her sagging reserves, Suri faced Edward.
At least the sot has found his jacket.
She stepped forward. “Edward.”

He halted, his hands resting on his hips. “I know where John has gone.” When Suri didn’t answer, he walked toward her and rooted himself within a few feet from where she stood. “I’ll find him and make things right.”

A fierce urge to reach out and slap his face gripped her. Heeding Marguerite’s warning, she crossed her arms and buried her clenched fists beneath them. “Why did you do it?”

He lifted his face to the sky for a moment, and then studied the landscape for so long, Suri thought he might have forgotten the question. Finally, he shoved a wayward lock off his forehead and his eyes, dark as storm clouds, pinned her. Suri flinched inwardly at the pain—and at what else she saw in those gray depths. Good Lord, there was no denying it—Edward did care for her.

“I don’t expect you to understand,” he said. “But the last thing I ever wanted was to spend my days yoked to Ravenswood Park. The only leave I ever got was when I went off to school. But afterward, here I was, back looking after what didn’t rightfully belong to me while my brothers took off for parts unknown and for escapades I wanted to experience.” He paused. “And to meet up with what I did not.”

Suri unfolded her arms and slid them to her waist, where she wrapped them tightly around her. As if that offered her any comfort. “What does that have to do with me?”

He studied her for what seemed an eternity, his gaze roaming her person. He glanced away, as if to keep his reserve intact. “My brothers have lied to me for years. I always knew they’d done so, but I had no proof until now. Since John was the only one to return, I gave back a little of what he dished out.” The muscles along his clenched jaw rippled. “Forgive me for using you as a pawn.” He turned on his heel and headed toward the stable.

Marguerite studied Suri. “If it were me, I’d go after him. I’d want to know exactly what he intends to make right with his brother.”

Suri groaned and buried her face in her hands. She, too, could not deny what she’d seen in Edward’s countenance.
Why hadn’t I acknowledged this sooner?
“What the devil should I do?”

“Don’t ask me to make your decisions. Do what must be done.”

“Oh, Marguerite, how is it you can think straight when I cannot?”

“Because this is not my predicament, dear. If you’ll recall, there were occasions when I was in dire straits and you were the one with your wits about you.”

“I am ever so grateful we are sisters.” Suri exhaled with a blow of her cheeks and marched toward the stables.

As she reached the open doors, Edward emerged atop a horse. She gasped. He was on the animal all right, but listing to one side at a decidedly dangerous angle.

“Edward, you cannot get on that horse.”

He attempted to right himself only to end up sliding across his saddle and leaning to the other side. “In case you haven’t noticed, madam, I am already atop the beast.” He adjusted his seat again.

“Well…” she sputtered. “You cannot think of riding out of here in your condition.”

He regarded her briefly and then sank his heels into the horse’s belly. “I have to ride. I’m too damn drunk to walk.”

…

The morning sun splintered through the clouds, putting Suri’s bleak night behind her. She climbed out of bed, weary and wondering if John or Edward had returned once she’d managed to find sleep.

Was it her imagination, or did the house feel empty as a church on Tuesday? Even Becky tended to Suri in utter silence. Just as well, since she didn’t feel much like listening to the maid’s usual chatter. Besides, the gossip below stairs was likely rife with tales of Suri and the two brothers, so Becky couldn’t very well bring any talk back to Suri’s chambers.

Her toilette complete, Suri headed downstairs in a blue riding habit. With no appetite to speak of and an empty breakfast room, she sought out Eades. “Have you seen His Grace or Lord Edward this morning?”

“No, milady, but the duchess is in the library awaiting their return.”

Suri started for the elaborately carved double doors and then paused. “Tell her I’ve gone to the apple tree before my ride should she care to join me.”

“Do you know the one she frequents, milady?”

“Yes, I’ve seen her and Lord Edward there on occasion.”