Page 78 of The Love Potion
“But why? And why did he write such awful things about me?”
He sighed. “That I do not know. I have been trying to find him to ask just those questions, but he has gone to ground.” Then he squeezed her hand where it rested on his arm. “I believe the danger to you is past, but pray be on your guard just in case.”
“I will,” she said. But she hardly needed to since he attended every event that she and Zoe did. Indeed, he’d escorted them on more than one occasion.
And that was the last thing of consequence they shared. She tried in private moments to ask about the details of where she would live, but he deferred, saying he was setting matters in order. She asked when she could see him again, when they might be alone together again. He answered with this ball or that rout and never arranged a private meeting. If it weren’t for a few lustful kisses in darkened corners, she would think he’d lost interest in her. But those few moments proved he was still very much interested. And the way he looked at her in public was equally explicit. He seemed to hang on her words, his gaze lingering on her face, and he continually asked about her welfare. Was she being treated well? Had she been snubbed by anyone?
And then came his casual comment the night before Zoe’s presentation at court. They were standing in the back garden of a ball. Though others stood nearby, they were private enough for his words to be just for her.
“I thought you would be interested to know that Vicar Chapman has been relieved of his parish. Indeed, an investigation into his actions regarding several young women has caused him to be excommunicated.”
Vicar Chapman? The one who had made such unseemly advances to her after her parents’ death? “He’s been… Been…” She couldn’t even ask the question.
“Drummed from the church in disgrace.” The duke’s eyes seemed to burn as he squeezed her hand. “He will never prey on defenseless young women again.”
She found that unlikely. Once a man had that inclination, he would likely always seek the vulnerable.
The duke must have read the doubt upon her face because he was quick to soften his statement. “He will never use an ecclesiastical position to find his victims. He is no longer a priest, no longer affiliated with the church—”
“Indeed, he will not be allowed into heaven,” she said. That was what excommunication meant. His eternal soul was forever damned to hell.
“Do not feel sorry for him,” the duke said. “He victimized several women in his parish, not just you. I am only grateful that you were strong enough to resist him.”
Only because she had a place to go. And because her brother had taught her how to punch a man where it hurt. “You did this?” she whispered.
“I initiated the inquiry,” he said. “The rest was up to the church.”
She didn’t know what to say. She hadn’t thought that wretched man still had any hold upon her life. But knowing he could no longer use his position to hurt anyone else lifted a weight off her that she hadn’t even known was there. And it was all thanks to Ras.
“You astound me,” she whispered.
“It was the least I could do,” he returned.
She would have given him anything at that moment. If he had wanted to whisk her away to his bedroom, she would havewillingly thrown herself into his arms. Indeed, she tried, but he held her off. “We are not alone,” he murmured.
“We are never alone,” she groused. “I must confess that I thought becoming your paramour would mean—”
“Hsst! Lower your voice.”
She huffed out a breath. How could she explain that she missed him? That though she had seen him nearly every day since their night together, they had always been surrounded by others and were forced to be circumspect. It wasn’t just her physical desires, which were plenty strong, but they couldn’t speak of anything meaningful. Not with people in earshot. She certainly could not demand to know what he planned with Zoe.
“I thought…” she tried, but she could not find the right words. “I wish…”
“I miss you,” he said as he lifted her hands to his lips. “But all will be settled soon. I swear it.”
They were suddenly interrupted by a gentleman who wanted to speak with him about politics. That was the interruption this time. The last time, another gentleman had wanted to speak to him about his horses. And yet another wanted his opinion on Ireland. He was a powerful man, and she must stand beside him and smile, knowing that everyone looked slyly at her and wondered at their relationship.
How desperate she was to have this charade over with! Couldn’t she hide in her room until he had found a place for her to live? Then she could declare to one and all that she was his mistress, and everyone would stop whispering behind her back.
But that was not to be and, truthfully, she was beginning to despise the gossips so much that her thoughts turned to contempt. Let them whisper! So long as Ras looked at her the way he did, she would be content.
At least, she tried to be content.
Just as she tried not to scream into her pillow at night while wondering what was in store for her.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Ican’t wearthat,” Kynthea gasped as the maid set a gown out before her.
