Page 119 of Ruthless with a Rogue
“And that right there is why blackmail isn’t the answer.He tried to kill you, Livy, I’m sure of it.He knew things about last night he shouldn’t have.”Derek’s voice was tight.A hardness lingered that she hadn’t heard from him before.He pulled something from his coat pocket.“And you’re not the only one.”
She took the scroll, brows pinched.She glanced at him in question, but he just indicated toward the parchment.She unrolled and began scanning.It was…a request for payment.
Per our agreement, the balance of our arrangement is now due.However, it appears you failed to inform me of the full extent of the job.The agreed-upon payment is now insufficient for a task of this magnitude.
I expect triple the original sum by Thursday at the latest.It would be most unfortunate if letters detailing the tampering of a duke’s curricle were to find their way into the wrong hands…with your name clearly attached.
You know where to send it.
Livy’s hand flew to her mouth but did nothing to cover her gasp.“No.”She met Derek’s dark gaze.
Derek dipped his chin stiffly.
“How did you get this?”she breathed, her heart in her throat.This was…this was proof the man tried to have a duke murdered.Something that was still very much a possibility.
“His daughter.She found the original in his desk and transcribed this version.”He dusted his knuckles down her cheek.“Another clever woman.”Derek’s voice dropped to a whisper.“He beats her.I recognized the signs.”
Her chest seized.For Miss Wentworth.For Derek.Because she knew what that discovery would have done to him.He’d have felt the woman’s pain like it was his own.Would be determined to find a way to take it away.
“I have a plan.I’ll need to meet with Mr.Drake.We don’t have much time to carry it out.”
“If there’s anything I can do to help, just tell me.”
“Just watch over Rafe for me.Has he…?”
She pushed back the temperamental lock always falling over his forehead.“Yes.He awoke this morning,” she murmured.“He faded in and out for nearly thirty minutes, Derek.A whole cup of broth.”
He let out a slow breath.“That’s good.That has to be good, right?”
She smiled, but her lips trembled.“I think so, but he’s so weak, Derek.The doctor said three to four weeks without sustenance…” A body couldn’t survive on sips of broth.But it was the best they could do for now.
His gaze went flat.“Right.”
“I’m sorry, love.”She pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.When she pulled back, his eyes were closed, strain etched into the tightness of his features, dark shadows beneath his eyes.The foundling home.Pennington.Rafe’s accident.The fire.Any time they made any progress, they were thrust backward.
She’d come to London ready to wage a war.She never imagined how true that would be.They wouldn’t stop fighting though, not until they came out of this victorious.She could only pray that day would come soon.
She fluffed his cravat.It was hard to believe the world was full of such darkness.Apparently, that was what one discovered when they traveled away from their small country home.“It’s shocking Lord Wentworth would go to such lengths.”
Derek’s eyes flicked open.“I had the same thought, but today when I was discussing the arrangement, he mentioned that I’d be siring the future heir.”
Livy’s brows lifted.“A barony of writ then?That’s my father’s as well.I hadn’t known of such a thing until Papa told me recently.”She hummed.Interesting.“So, he was trying to hand-select his heir then.”
“Yes.He’s never kept it a secret that he was impressed with what I’ve done with the marquessate.He’s a businessman.His title is old, but his wealth is new, something he earned.That’s not something typically respected in our circles.Because most are idiots and prize sitting on their fat arses over protecting or building their fortunes.”
“Does his daughter know she inherits?”
“I’m not certain.But she just turned one-and-twenty, so she doesn’t need his consent any longer.I have a feeling that was why his actions have escalated.She’s fucking her footman.I think he might have found out.”
Livy’s jaw went slack.“Goodness.”
“I know.It’s completely unoriginal.”
That…wasn’t at all what she’d been thinking.She gnawed on her lip.Her mind turned over the information.This was interesting.If Miss Wentworth inherited…she had the necessary funds to build the new foundling home.
“Derek…I wonder…” Surely, they could appeal to the woman.“Miss Wentworth will be inheriting soon, yes?”She winced.What a nice way of asking if he was going to be murdering Lord Wentworth soon.
Derek’s gaze narrowed, his eyes flitting between hers.He nodded slowly.“What do you have up your sleeve, clever girl?”
