Page 9 of Brutal Serpent

They’ve fallen into my trap just like I knew they would, all the greedy, sniveling Wendovers.

It’s expected that I, as a man of honor, soon to be allied with the family, will feel obligated to pay off all their debts. Every dressmaker’s credit, every gambling debt, even Wendover House itself.

But I’m no man of honor.

And I plan to take their last remaining source of income.

Wendover House.

It’ll be mine once I breed Catherine.

But I say none of this to Sir Philip.

“Of course,” her father told me. “Some of the livings and accounts are. . . slightly awkwardly situated. . .Wendover House is entailed in quite a numpty-headed way, due to some disagreements I had with my pig-headed father. The details of the entailment are. . .rather convoluted, I’m afraid.”

I said nothing, merely looking at my future father-in-law fixedly.

I knew exactly what the details of the entailment were.

In a desperate attempt to curb Sir Philip’s reckless spending, his father had entailed Wendover House so that it was only under Sir Philip’s control until his first grandchild was born.

And that grandchild was going to be born in 9 months to Catherine Wendover.

Of course, the terms of the entailmentcouldbe waived.

IfCatherine Wendover’s husband agreed.

But Catherine Wendover’s husband would not agree.

How many times had I seen Sir Philip enter my mother’s rooms as a child? Tall, arrogant, taking what he wanted and then leaving when he was done.

I was always told to go away, hide, not let him see me. One time he had, though. Kicked me with his boot and told me to get out of the way. I had taken a little knife from my belt and launched myself at him, scouring a line down the fine fabric and lace of his sleeves. But he was bigger and he clouted me upside the head until my ears rung. By the time I had shaken my hearing back, he was gone, into the big room for what he had come for, taking the only thing he wanted from my sweet, kind mother.

And I had gone to the stables and slashed the bridles and ropes of his horses, causing him to have an accident on the way back home to his wife and children.

It didn’t kill him, though.

And I hadn’t forgotten.

“If you would just sign these documents,” Sir Philip said, pushing them over the table at me, and I had to restrain myself from laughing, short and bitter.

“I will sign nothing,” I said. “And the wedding will take place tomorrow. I have already purchased a special license for it. I have a dress for Catherine to wear. That is all I require.”

Sir Philip attempted to protest. The wedding clothes. The friends and family who would want to attend.

I waved all the objections away with my hand, the fire burning in my gut.

“Tomorrow or never,” I said.

It was a bluff, but I knew Sir Philip was too weak and desperate to call me on it, so he bowed stiffly and acquiesced.

I knew the exact state of the Wendover finances. I knew the exact entailment he was referring to, and I would never sign my rights away in it.

Because as soon as Catherine delivered a baby, Sir Philip’s life as he knew it was over. I could squeeze the noose as tight around his neck as I wanted.

And all that stood between me and completing my revenge was the untouched cunt of Sir Philip’s only daughter.

And that would be no challenge at all.

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