Intimate Deception (2 page)

The euphoria she felt was indescribable. She’d been so scared that she’d fail and he’d somehow get one of them.

She watched Anne and her new husband, focused on the loving way they looked at each other, their timid touch, their longing gazes. Her heart ached with a painful yearning
she thought she’d squelched long ago. She wouldn’t allow herself to dredge up all the regrets and disappointments, all the wasted years she’d sacrificed to save them. Today was a happy occasion. Anne’s marriage was the completion of the promise she’d given her mother on her deathbed—to make sure each of her girls found someone who loved them. Someone who would take care of them.

She’d fulfilled her promise, even though it had come at a price—a very high price.

She’d done everything she knew to do to keep
him
from getting them.

Even sold her own soul.

Grace pushed the gnawing terror aside and watched as, one by one, her sisters descended on Anne with congratulatory hugs. Only Caroline, Marchioness of Wedgewood, wasn’t there.

That didn’t surprise her. Caroline was in the family way again and had no doubt found a chair in which to rest.

Grace smiled. It wouldn’t be long before her sisters and their families would have trouble fitting into one house. That should throw their father into a fine stupor.

She shifted her gaze to where her father stood talking to a group of friends and neighbors. Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach when she saw the man standing next to him. Just the sight of him made her skin crawl.

“What is
he
doing here?” Caroline asked from beside her.

Grace gave a start. She hadn’t heard Caroline approach. She put a smile on her face and turned. “Father invited him. He’s a neighbor, after all.”

“He’s Satan masquerading as a messenger from God.”

Grace suppressed a shiver and forced herself to concentrate on anything other than Baron Fentington. He was as repulsive and vile as the threat he posed. Grace pulled her gaze from Fentington and focused on Anne and her new husband. “They make a lovely couple, don’t they?”

“Yes.” Caroline placed her hand on Grace’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Are you breathing a sigh of relief, Grace?”

Grace tried to look relaxed. “Yes, I’m glad it’s over. There are always a number of last-minute details to see to.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about. As well you know.”

A long silence stretched between them before Grace gave up her pretense of ignorance. “Yes, I’m glad.”

She forced her gaze to shift back to the man standing beside her father. The baron. The man who’d wanted Anne for his own. As well as Mary, the sister older than Anne, and Sarah, the one older than Mary.

Although Fentington gave the outward appearance of being an upstanding member of society and a righteous nobleman, Grace and all her sisters knew differently. The man was inherently evil.

There were no lengths to which Grace hadn’t gone to keep each of her sisters out of his reach.

Caroline leaned close. “You could almost hear a collective sigh from each one of us when Anne said
I do
. I had to grip the edge of the bench to keep from jumping to my feet and shouting for joy.”

“I know. Me too.”

“How did you do it, Grace? How did you keep our Annie out of his clutches?”

“It wasn’t that hard,” Grace lied. “I had a long talk with Father. Eventually he saw reason.”

“Why don’t I believe that?” Caroline said, her tone filled with skepticism.

Grace heard the obvious dislike in Caroline’s words. It was the same when any of her other sisters talked of their father.

“What promises did you have to make to keep her out of the lecher’s hands?” Caroline asked.

Grace looked around to make sure no one could overhear them. “Let’s just say Father found it financially more advantageous for Annie to marry Wexley, even though he wasn’t titled, than to marry Baron Fentington.”

Caroline chortled a humorless laugh. “Wouldn’t you know the weight of coins offered for Anne’s hand determined to whom Father would give his daughter. Heaven forbid he put any of his children’s well-being and happiness over his greed when making decisions that affected their futures.”

“You’re not being fair, Caroline.”

“How can you say that, Grace? After all he’s done to you.”

“He hasn’t done anything I haven’t allowed him to do. It was my choice to take care of the six of you. And I don’t regret a moment of it.”

“Only because of the promise you made Mama.”

“Stop talking as if I’m some sort of martyr who sacrificed her life.”

“But you did.”

“I did nothing of the kind. I was thankful to have someplace to go after I’d suffered through two miserable
Seasons without anyone offering for me. Taking care of my sisters was much more satisfying than the humiliation of being a permanent wallflower because no one would give me a second glance.”

“It wasn’t you, Grace. Father made sure you didn’t get a match. I know he did. Although I don’t know what any of us would have done if you had married and left us. You saved each of us from the disastrous marriage Father would have chosen for us.”

“I just helped him realize it was in his best interest to let each of his daughters follow her heart.”

“No you didn’t. You convinced Thomas’s father to give up that stretch of land to the east of Father’s estate for my hand. And you bartered that prize racehorse Josie’s father-in-law owned in exchange for her hand. And you haggled the Earl of Morningway out of the money that was to go to Francine on her wedding day and gave it to Father. And you—”

“Enough, Linny.”

“Face it, Grace. Father would have sold every one of us into slavery if the price was right. But I thought this time we’d lost our Annie to the baron. I’m not sure I could have stood it if Father had forced her to marry him.”

“You didn’t have to worry,” Grace said, still having to reassure herself that Annie was safely out of the baron’s clutches. “I’d never have let him have her. Never.”

“Oh, Grace. I don’t know how Mama survived Father as long as she did. Seven babies in less than ten years. And all because he was desperate for an heir. Maybe that’s why he resented us so. Do you think? Because not one of us was the son he wanted so desperately?”

“Could be, Linny. Every man with a title and land wants a son to pass it down to. Father is no different.”

“Yes. But not every man will kill his wife in order to get it. I know even if Thomas didn’t already have two sons, he wouldn’t force me to bear another child if he thought it might kill me.”

Grace focused on her sister’s slightly pale face. “Do you still suffer from sickness each morning?”

“Not as much as I used to.”

“I want you to know you nearly cost me that beautiful burgundy ribbon I bought to go with this gown,” Grace said with a glint in her eyes.

“How so?”

“Anne and I wagered as to whether or not you’d make it through her wedding ceremony without having to leave because you were ill.”

Caroline lifted her dainty brows. “Which side of the wager did you come down on?”

“That you’d have to leave during the ceremony, of course.”

“What?”

Grace laughed. “That shouldn’t surprise you, Linny. You handle the early months of pregnancy worse than any of your sisters.”

“That’s because my babes are half grown when they decide to make an appearance. At least Anne gave me a little more credit.”

“No,” Grace said with a smile. “Anne wagered that you wouldn’t even make it to the wedding.”

Caroline tried to look affronted. She failed, and Grace laughed again.

“Remind me to throw her words back in her face when she’s suffering with her first babe.”

“I remember Thomas’s announcement after your last birth,” Grace said. “He told us quite emphatically that little Robin was going to be your last.”

“And if it were up to Thomas, Robin would be. But I’m giving him little choice in this matter. I want to try once more for my daughter.”

Grace laughed. “And if this next one is a son too?”

“I will cross that bridge when I come to it. Besides, Josie already has three. And if the gazes she and her viscount exchange are any indicator, number four won’t be long in coming.” Caroline gave Grace a pat on the arm. “Face it, Grace. Not one of us seems to have any trouble providing our husbands with offspring. You are going to have to hurry and find a husband if you intend to catch up with us.”

“I have no intention of keeping up with any of you. You are all too proficient at getting yourselves in the family way. I have no doubt in a year’s time our Annie will prove she’s equally capable.”

There was a long silence before Caroline asked the question she knew her other sisters were too shy to ask. “What are you going to do now, Grace? Surely you don’t intend to go back to the country and live out your life taking care of Father?”

“Perhaps. Living in the country wouldn’t be so bad,” Grace mumbled, pretending interest in the first of the guests bidding Anne and her husband farewell.

“Yes it would. You’d be nothing more than Father’s slave.” Caroline turned Grace to face her. “Stay in London with me for a while. I’ll have need of you once I near my
time. And who knows? Perhaps you will meet someone while you’re here. Someone who will steal your heart and fall madly in love with you.”

Grace shook her head. “That’s a dream I’ve long given up. Falling madly in love isn’t possible when you’re an aging spinster.”

“You’re not that old, Grace. You’re not yet thirty.”

Grace smiled. “I will be next month.”

Grace shifted her gaze to where her father stood. Baron Fentington was still there, watching them. Watching her. Her skin crawled and she wanted to hide from his probing gaze, from the way he had of undressing her with his eyes. She rubbed her hands against her arms, unconsciously trying to rub away the unclean feeling.

“Why is that repulsive man staring at us, Grace? I can hardly abide knowing he’s in the same room with us, let alone ogling us.”

“Ignore him, Linny.”

“That’s impossible. Have you heard? One of Josie’s upstairs maids is related to one of the baron’s servants.” Linny paused. “She’s with child. Fentington’s child.”

A cold chill shot the length of Grace’s spine. The hairs at the back of her neck pinched painfully.

“Josie said the poor girl is only thirteen and that the baron nearly killed her when he forced himself on her. Then he beat her within an inch of her life when she threatened to go to Reverend Perry for help. Everyone’s hiding the girl’s condition as long as possible because they know as soon as he finds out she’s carrying, he’ll punish her.”

Grace felt sick to her stomach. “We can’t let her go through that alone, Linny. Someone has to—”

Caroline reached for Grace’s hand. “I’ve already sent for her. I’ll take her in as soon as she turns up on my doorstep.”

“Oh, thank God. I should have known you wouldn’t let someone that young suffer alone.”

“What I’d like to do, though,” Caroline said, glaring at the baron, “could get me hanged. Look how pious he wants people to think he is.” Caroline’s tone dripped with contempt. “He’s dressed in all white, as if his outward appearance will hide the rot and maggot-ridden soul inside.”

Grace gave her sister’s fingers a gentle squeeze. Of all her sisters, Caroline was the most aware of Fentington’s evil penchants.

“I wonder how righteous he’d try to appear if we informed the
ton
that he played a role in his first wife’s death. Or that his second wife took her own life rather than submit to his cruelty and sexual depravity one day longer.”

Grace breathed a trembling sigh. “He’d escape society’s censure as he always has. People are always fooled by a person’s outward appearance.”

“Look at how he hangs at Father’s side. I’d love to know what Father has that he wants.”

Grace’s blood ran cold. “I’m sure it’s nothing.” She turned her head and forced herself to breathe. “Look. Anne and her Mr. Wexley are about to leave. Let’s hurry or we’ll miss telling them good-bye.”

Grace and Caroline made their way across the foyer to wish the bride and groom farewell. Caroline stepped into her waiting husband’s arms, and Grace squeezed through the crowd just as Anne and her husband reached the door. Anne turned around one last time and, upon seeing Grace, raced back to give her a tight hug.

“I love you, Grace.”

“I love you too, Annie. Always be happy.”

“I will. Oh, I will.”

Grace wiped a tear from her sister’s cheek, then stepped away from the crush of people as her sister stepped back into her husband’s arms and raced out the door and down the steps.

“How touching,” Baron Fentington whispered from close behind her.

Grace fought the shudder that racked her body, the lurching of her stomach.

“Just think, Lady Grace. In only a few weeks you and I will be the focus of this same attention. Our friends and family will offer us the same congratulations, then wish us well as we race out the door to enter a lifetime of wedded bliss. I can hardly wait to have you all to myself.”

Grace feared she would be ill. Baron Fentington looked at her as if he could see through her cool facade and gave her a sinister smile.

“Although I hesitate to admit you were not my first choice of a bride, I can now see you were right when you offered yourself in your sister’s place. It is ever so much more rewarding to realize I am getting the better prize in you. You are, after all, a woman who’s kept herself pure and untouched her entire lifetime. A woman above reproach and without a spot on her character. What more could a man who demands perfection want in a bride?”

Grace tried to step away from him, but he followed, closing the gap that separated them until he was so close she could feel his breath against her neck.

“I had my reservations, you know. But then realized I was indeed blessed. To have found someone of your years and maturity, still untouched by the sins of the flesh. To know I am the first.”

Grace felt the pressure of Baron Fentington’s fingers as he rubbed them against the bare flesh at the inside of her upper arm and fought the urge to jerk away from him. Instead, she turned to boldly face him. She lifted her chin and gave him her most haughty air. “If I recall correctly, you gave your word you would not press your suit until the wedding festivities were long over. They are far from over, my lord, and already you have broken your word.”