Page 35 of The Last Chance
The thought ignited a fire in Aaron’s blood. He barged into his study and found Rothley relaxing in the leather fireside chair. “No one enters my house without an appointment.”
Rothley stood, his gaze moving past Aaron to the beautiful woman in the doorway. “Get your things, Joanna. We’re leaving.” He had something of a wolf about him: dark, penetratingeyes, prominent cheekbones, and a stare that could make weak men tremble.
Aaron clenched his jaw. “As an independent woman, she can make her own decisions. I would never force her to do anything against her will.”
Rothley prowled closer, his voice low and gravelly when he warned, “If you’ve laid a hand on her, you’ll meet me at dawn.”
“Only a libertine would make that assumption. Miss Lovelace is here as my guest.”
Rothley bared his teeth and thumped the desk. “She’s here because you killed a man in her house and need her to take the blame.”
What the devil?
“That’s not true.” Miss Lovelace came to stand beside Aaron.
Aaron used anger to disguise his panic. He refused to let Rothley take her. “You’d better tell me what you know and who thebloody helltold you.”
Rothley reached into his coat pocket, retrieved a letter and slapped it on the desk. “Someone who knew I would rescue Joanna from this iniquitous den and keep her from the scaffold.”
Snatching the letter, Aaron read it quickly, shocked the sender had identified Howard as the victim. “How do I know you didn’t write this?” He handed it to Miss Lovelace. “How do I know you didn’t kill Howard to force Miss Lovelace to marry you?”
“Despite what thetonbelieves, I’m not a murderer. The letter was delivered to my home this morning. I visited Howard, but he has not been seen for days. Then I hear The Burnished Jade has been closed since Thursday.”
“I called here when I found the body,” Miss Lovelace said. “With the magistrate’s support, Mr Chance is doing everything he can to help me find the culprit.”
“Of course he is,” came Rothley’s cynical reply. “Has itoccurred to you that he has a motive for murder? That this is all part of a carefully constructed plan?”
“Ihave a motive for murder,” she confessed.
“What motive could you have for killing a family friend?”
“You don’t need to explain,” Aaron said.
Miss Lovelace remained defiant. “No. It’s time Gabriel heard the truth.” She gathered herself. “Lord Howard ruined me ten years ago. The night he returned to London to say they had called off the search for Justin.” She looked at Aaron, her gratitude evident. “Mr Chance is the only person who knows. I told him after I found Lord Howard dead.”
Rothley paled. “Ruined you how? What the blazes did he do?”
Tears filled her eyes. “He took my virtue. Ignored my protests. I’m sure you’re able to picture the scene.”
The need to hold her in a tight embrace had Aaron flexing his fingers. This woman always made him feel so helpless.
Rothley turned away, his muttered curses conveying a desire to murder Howard himself. The thought of failing to protect his friend’s sister would hound him to the grave.
It was why he swung around and said, “Fetch your things, Joanna. I’m the only person who can save you. I’ll have a special license by the morning, and we’ll marry tomorrow night.”
Like hell they would.
Fury twisted inside Aaron. He’d always known he would lose her, but not like this. Few women refused a man of Rothley’s notoriety. Fewer refused to marry a marquess.
“She doesn’t want to marry you,” he said darkly.
“She has no choice,” Rothley barked. “I couldn’t save Justin, but I will give Joanna the life she deserves.”
Stop using her damned name!
“You’re too late,” Miss Lovelace said, clutching at the last vestiges of hope. “Should we fail to find the culprit, I’ve agreed to marry Mr Chance. In my opinion, there’s no finer gentleman.”
He was no gentleman. And though she had invented the marriage tale to buy herself time, he could never make her his.
