Page 16 of The Viscount's Daring Cinderella
Lady Beryl cast him a quick glance of surprise. “I lost my father within the last year, and it has been the single most painful experience of my life.”
“The death of a loved one is always heart-wrenching,” Theodore said gruffly, wishing he could do more to soothe her.
Lady Beryl glanced up at him, and he saw the pain in her eyes. She looked away as though to hide her vulnerability and took a sip of wine.
Theodore remembered how he felt when William passed away. Sad, angry, depressed, confused, and at times hopeless. What was the point of being reputable when such a good, favored son was ripped away for no reason? He did not want to admit that he was vulnerable and wanted to protect the most vulnerable parts of himself. He cringed at the thought of exposing his feelings to the world. Protecting those sentiments would keep him safe.
Perhaps his disreputable behavior was protecting him from the emotional pain. He had turned his nose up at many of society’s norms and challenged them on a regular basis. He became more impulsive and uninhibited.Fuck them! He would do as he damned well pleased. None of them would tell him what to do. As he stood there waiting for Lady Beryl to open up, he acknowledged that the emotional barriers that he set up were to keep the loneliness, unhappiness, and hopelessness at bay. “There is no one about,” Theodore murmured. “You can yell, curse, and do whatever you want to get those feelings out.”
A shaky laugh escaped her. “I should perhaps scream, shouldn’t I? I lost my childhood home, and I am at the mercy of my cousins. I can tell you they are a set of sharks that smell blood in the water. They are prepared to tear the injured to pieces without regret. Such pleasure in inflicting suffering when there is no need for it.”
Theodore felt as if he wanted to smash his first into something. The pain in her tone ravaged something unknown inside of him. “Once one is on a path of cruelty, it can be difficult to change one’s mind. What do you suppose is the reason for their ill treatment?”
“My diminished circumstances would be my guess. After all, I have no one to stand up for me, no one to protect me now that my father is gone.”
“They are being quite cruel to you. How do you think of crushing them?”
“Crushing them?” Lady Beryl asked.
“Yes. Do not tell me you have not fantasized about it?” Theodore said, as he waited, wondering what she would say.
Lady Beryl lightly laughed. “I suppose I am going about it rather slowly by elevating myself above such behavior. I’m a decent human being, and I will not stoop to this level of cruelty.”
In the face of cruelty, Lady Beryl took the high moral ground, and he admired her for it.
“Surely, you fantasize about perhaps putting a bucket of spiders under the sheets when they are asleep in bed. Or centipedes, perhaps?” Theodore asked.
Lady Beryl giggled. “You may think it is a good idea to crush your enemies, but may I remind you that I live among the sharks?”
“I take your point, but I have seen many examples of enemies that have been left alive only to end up returning for revengeful chaos. There is an advantage in crushing your enemies … totally.” Theodore said. “Or …”
Beryl raised her glass and finished her wine all the while holding Theodore’s gaze. “Or what?”
“I could slay them for you if you would let me.”
Her probing gaze caused his heart to pound in his chest.
“I will fight my own battles in my own way, thank you. I would like to return to the ballroom,” Lady Beryl said, standing.
Theodore escorted her inside and as soon as they entered, he saw the pirate approaching, and he could tell by the gait that it was a woman.
“A glass of wine for you, my lady?” Theodore asked.
“Thank you,” the pirate replied before reaching up to ensure her hat was secure.
Theodore walked away and rubbed his hands together. He went to the refreshment room to procure the wine, but when he returned to the drawing room the ladies were nowhere to be found.
What the hell!
His scanned the room, searching for an owl and a pirate, but he did not find them. Theodore felt rather foolish standing there staring with two glasses of wine in his hand.
Why the devil had they run off?
CHAPTER 7
Theodore pressed his lips tightly together. He was disappointed because he planned to ask Lady Beryl to dance with him again. He wondered if perhaps she discerned who he was, but he dismissed the notion. That could not be possible in the short time it took to fetch the wine. Theodore did not have time to consider it further. His partner in debauchery was approaching. Howard Carlton, the Duke of Moreland, joined him. He was dressed as the devil and quite enjoyed playing the part. The devil had notoriety even at a masquerade ball.
“There you are, Bowden. I wondered where you disappeared to,” Moreland said.
