Page 42 of Dangerous Games of a Broken Lady
Mr. Sawyer shook violently. “When does Lord Rowntree desire these dossiers by?”
Ephraim smiled. “Now.”
“But—”
“Do not try to argue, Mr. Sawyer. Lord Rowntree cannot have you running off to the rest of parliament, sounding the proverbial alarm.” A stony expression fell across Ephraim’s face. “And do not forget the unfortunate circumstance that Lord Rowntree hauled your sorry self out of. You have a wife, do you not?”
Mr. Sawyer froze.
“Ah, I am pleased to see thatsomethingis able to find its way into that addled mind of yours,” Ephraim continued, barely recognizing himself. “It must be all those years of brandy—two bottles a day sometimes, was it not?”
“You would not hurt her.” He did not sound certain.
“Lord Rowntree is a patient man, Mr. Sawyer. He has not asked you for any favors prior to this. Now, it is your turn to repay him.” Ephraim gritted his teeth. “You showed him disrespect when you sought to have him removed from the House of Lords. You already know how he felt about that. Regardless, he spared your life once. Do not make him reconsider his act of kindness.”
Mr. Sawyer shuddered. “It was not kindness, it was an intentional act. He spared me so he could blackmail me.”
“Perhaps you are cleverer than you appear.”
“He would truly hurt my wife?” Mr. Sawyer’s lip trembled.
Ephraim could hardly look at the man. “He will tell her how you have betrayed her first, and then he will exact his revenge.” He felt sick saying every single word. “Indeed, he has asked me to tell you that Bianca sends her regards. One misstep, and she will visit your wife directly.”
Ephraim was not entirely sure who this Bianca was, but he had a feeling she was linked to the inference of Mr. Sawyer’s infidelity. Lord Rowntree had many ties to the brothels of the city, and it seemed that Mr. Sawyer had dabbled in the wrong one. Lord Rowntree had people working for him everywhere, gathering information for precisely this purpose. Blackmail.
Tears tumbled from the poor man’s eyes, bringing Ephraim to the brink of despair. This was not in his nature. He had never raised his voice to anyone, and now he was responsible for another man’s tears. Hatred burned in his soul for Lord Rowntree.
You will pay for this, one way or another,he promised silently.If it is the last thing I do, I will see you brought to justice. You have destroyed one too many lives. I will not let you destroy more.
“I will be ruined,” Mr. Sawyer murmured.
“Then you had best co-operate with us.”
His face crumpled. “I will do as you ask. Might I have a moment to search the archives and gather the information you require?”
“You may, but my associate will be watching your every move.”
“I will do as you ask. I will do as you ask,” Mr. Sawyer whimpered. “But please, don’t hurt my wife.”
“That all depends on you, Mr. Sawyer.” Ephraim saw himself reflected in the terrified eyes of the stout gentleman. It all depended on him, too. His home, his life, his reputation, his daughter—it all depended on him playing Lord Rowntree’s game. Never had he felt such an immediate bond to a complete stranger. Truly, he wished he could reach out and comfort the man.
But that is not part of the plan.
As Mr. Sawyer stood and Jasper followed him out of the room, Ephraim leaned forward and rested his head in his hands. This was all too much. He had not anticipated such cruelty in himself. Never in his life had he thought himself capable of such callous behavior. Somehow, a survival instinct had emerged; an urge to protect his family above all else.
Sitting there, looking out at a gray sky, he only prayed that he would not be pushed to the very edges of what he was capable of.
What can these hands, this voice, this mind, be made to inflict, for the sake of those I love?As bitter tears filled his eyes, he wondered if he might be better off dead after all. Would that satisfy Lord Rowntree? Would that give him his pound of flesh? Or would that rotten scoundrel haunt him past the grave and beyond?
He could have risked his own life to discover the answer, but he could not risk Adelaide.
Damn you, Rowntree. Damn you straight to hell.
Chapter 15
How oblivious you are, wandering the streets without a care in the world. And how beautiful your Mama is—what a rare bird. You share in her exquisiteness, dear girl, although you have youth on your side.He smirked to himself.Can you feel my eyes upon you? Do you feel how they singe into your sweet skin? What would you say if you could see me now, watching you from so close? Would it frighten you? Would it thrill you? You mix with unsavory sorts, perhaps you enjoy the titillation of voyeurism—or, perhaps, you do not know the extent of your fiancé’s past? How deliciously unscrupulous it is. A man after my own heart. Oh, what he shall do with your innocence, dear child. You shall emerge a butterfly from this dreary chrysalis.
Lord Rowntree stood in the shadows of the India exhibit, and continued to watch Adelaide through the glass pane of a display box. He had received confirmation that Ephraim and Jasper had left their quaint square of grand townhouses not an hour ago. Everything was slotting rather marvelously into place.
