Page 41 of Beneath the Devil's Mask
A muscle twitched in Mandell’s cheek. His fingers tightened so convulsively about the crystal, he nearly shattered it. Keeping the taut smile fixed to his lips, he said, “And you, sir, I find are not worth the waste of this fine madeira after all.
As he drained his glass and rose to his feet, Sir Lucien breathed easier, apparently believing the conversation to have reached its conclusion.
But that was before Mandell began stripping off his glove with a deadly calm.
Fairhaven went ash white. As Mandell stood there, towering over Sir Lucien, the hubbub in the room became quieter. Heads turned, necks craned as the realization spread that something of great interest was transpiring between the marquis of Mandell and Sir Lucien Fairhaven.
Mandell was only vaguely aware of the gathering silence, of Sir Lancelot gaping, of Nick inching closer. Mandell focused onSir Lucien’s bloodshot eyes. The man tried to sneer, but failed, fear creeping unbidden into the hazed blue depths.
How many times had this bastard inflicted a similar torment upon Anne? Mandell wondered. Sir Lucien mocking her and threatening, making her afraid, not for herself, but for her child.
As beads of perspiration dotted Sir Lucien’s brow, Mandell stroked his glove between his fingers, relishing the moment, prolonging it.
“Don’t!” Fairhaven rasped hoarsely, his eyes darting about as wildly as a cornered rat’s. “I will return the girl.”
Mandell scarce heeded him. All he seemed able to think of was Anne. Anne’s blue eyes drowning in sorrow, Anne describing her agony at finding her child missing, Anne desperate enough to brave the night, clutching that misloaded pistol.
Slowly Mandell began to draw back his arm.
Sir Lucien shrank back, saying louder, “Stop! Damn you, I said that Anne shall have the child back. By noon tomorrow.”
Mandell became aware of Nick’s grip upon his sleeve. “He has yielded, Mandell,” Nick murmured.
Exercising every bit of his self-control, Mandell lowered his hand, releasing his breath. Sir Lucien got shakily to his feet. But before he could bolt away, Mandell said, “Noon tomorrow. I trust you will remember. I should not care to have to remind you.”
Fairhaven gave a jerky nod. His eyes glittered with all the hatred of a whipped cur, then he brushed past Nick and was gone. Apparently, he had lost his taste for gaming, for he made directly for the door.
The room at large seemed to draw a collective breath. The excitement over, interest returned to the cards and dice once more. Only Nick dared to make any sort of remark upon therecent proceedings. “Damn it, Mandell. For a moment there, I thought I was going to end up being your second after all.”
“I told you there was little chance of that at the outset.” Mandell eased his glove back onto his hand. “Sir Lucien was no more than I ever thought him, both a fool and a coward.”
“Forgive me,” Nick said. “But I overheard a lot of what passed between you. Why did you not tell me earlier what was amiss? That villain actually took away Lady Anne’s child. I vow I was ready to smash his teeth down his throat. But you were so cool. I never saw anything to equal it. You cowed him without striking a single blow.”
“Yes,” Mandell said, conscious of a bitter disappointment that this was so. Anne’s tormentor had escaped too lightly. How very much he would have enjoyed holding the bastard at pistol point and slowly cocking the hammer.
Mandell checked the savage thought, wondering what was wrong with him. He had achieved what he set out to do. Nothing else should matter. Yet he felt annoyed when Nick caught up his hand, wringing it in a hearty congratulation.
“What you did tonight was wonderful,” Nick said. “One of the most noble, unselfish things I have ever seen you do. I do believe there is hope for you yet, coz.”
Mandell wrenched his hand away. His voice held a sharp edge as he replied, “Noble? Unselfish? And just what do you suppose my motives were?”
“To help Anne recover her child. What other reason could there be?”
“It never occurred to you, my idealistic young fool, that there are many ways to seduce a woman. Some want diamonds. Anne wanted her child back. It was that simple.”
Nick’s smile faded. “You mean you only did this to lure Anne Fairhaven into your bed?”
“How very astute of you to finally figure it out.” Mandell waited for Nick’s explosion of outrage, feeling that he would be glad of it. Anything would be better than having Nick stare at him like he was some sort of blasted hero when they both knew better.
Nick’s expected burst of temper was not forthcoming. He did look more subdued, the light dying from his eyes. But he shook his head slowly.
“No, Mandell. I don’t think even you fully comprehend the reasons for what you did tonight.”
“You pretend to know me better than I do myself?”
“Perhaps this once I do.”
Mandell drew himself up coldly. “I suggest you save your insights of character for your opponents in Parliament, Drummond. You may have need of such brilliance come next election.”
