Page 116 of Ruthless with a Rogue
“I have some information I need to impart.About my father.”
Derek’s ears perked up at that.
She reached into her skirt pocket and pulled out a scroll.“I found this in my father’s desk.”
Derek frowned but took the rolled-up parchment.“You often snoop through your father’s things?”
Her gaze flitted to the footman and back to Derek.“I knew he kept spare bank notes there.I was planning…” She hesitated.“My father is not a nice man, my lord.”
The chit had been planning to run.To flee her father.He studied her carefully.That’s when he noticed it—how awkwardly she held herself, the arm she hadn’t used to obtain the scroll hung rigid at her side, as though she feared moving it.Or couldn’t.
“He always seemed rather…timid,” Derek said slowly.
The smile twisting her lips was sardonic.“Don’t let that fool you.It’s nothing more than a front.”
“Why run now?”
Her gaze dropped to the floor.“He seemed to think our nuptials were imminent.”Her gaze flicked up to his.“I don’t want to marry you.I won’t.”
“So, he caught you rifling through his desk.Discovered your plans.Is that when he gave you that?”He jerked his chin in the direction of her arm.
A low growl came from behind her.Derek’s eyebrows shot to his hairline.And he recognized the expression on the man’s face.It was vitriol; it was a promise of pain—one a man instilled on another for harming his woman.Well, well, well.
“Are you fucking your footman, Miss Wentworth?”
A blush washed over her cheeks, and the footman flinched at the wall.Derek’s gaze dropped to the man’s clenching and unclenching fists.Interesting.Though a bit unoriginal.It was always a footman.
She swallowed hard.“I turned one-and-twenty last month.I had wanted more time to save up funds.But then…”
“Something happened to make your father think we were marrying.Even though I’ve told him repeatedly I wasn’t interested.”He began unraveling the parchment she’d given him.
“I believe my father has been trying to force your hand for some time, my lord,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Derek scanned the paper.His eyes went wide, and his gaze flew to Miss Wentworth.He’d thought it’d be something to tie Wentworth to the events of last night.But this?Fury whipped through his veins, and his teeth slammed together, their audible clack echoing in the room.Thefucking bastard.
Miss Wentworth took a quick step backward.“H-he doesn’t know I found that, Lord Dunmore.He can’t know.I fear what he’d do if he found out.”
Derek took a deep breath and forced his muscles to relax.That wasn’t something she needed to concern herself with.Her father wouldn’t be able to hurt anyone, let alone his daughter, once Derek was done with him.
“I couldn’t in good conscience not tell you.I hadn’t known how I’d find the chance, but then this morning…”
He’d called.Thank bloody hell he’d called.He went to hand the note back to her, but she shook her head.“It’s been transcribed.I put the original back, though I’m sure it’s been destroyed by now.”
His brows lifted.Impressive.“I need you to do something for me, Miss Wentworth.”
She bit her bottom lip, her features tight.Everything about her screamed distrust.Nervousness.
“Don’t run away.”
Her mouth popped open, her attention flying to her footman.
“I mean it.I need you to trust me.”He turned to her lover, and the man’s jaw tightened.“I’ll take care of this.”He glanced between them.“At least give me a couple days.”
The two shared a look, and then she met Derek’s gaze.“We can wait a few days,” she acquiesced.
He nodded.Excellent.His mind spun with what needed to be done.For right now, he just needed to act as if he’d called to discuss betrothal arrangements.His stomach roiled.
Then it looked like Ryker was getting his wish.
