Page 102 of The Rogue's Last Scandal
Chapter 26
Charley’s heart cheered, and he came close to laughing. She was threatening to kill him, so all was not lost. He held her gaze as long as possible. “I do love you,” he said.
Lord Bakeley approached. “The coaches are ready.”
She shook her head. “I am not finished.” Her voice was far stronger than he would have expected and she drew herself up like a queen in her silver gown. The two villains turned from his father, faces taut, at what Father had been saying.
“Duque. Or shall I call you,El Tlahuelpuchi?”
The Duque barely blinked at being called a vampire, but she had struck a nerve.
She nodded to Father. “My lord.”
The two villains looked over her head.
Shaldon nodded back, his face an enigma. Their world had just collapsed, and Father looked as serenely satisfied as he had at dinner. The thought angered him.
“Pray, your Excellency, whereisyour dukedom?” she asked.
The Spaniard eyed her, the only sound the shuffle of dresses. The orchestra had even ceased playing.
“San Sebastiano.” The Duquesa said.
A liveried footman eased closer, and he recognized one of her guards.
His heart eased. He had used the lady, it was true, as she had used him, an interlude made more exciting for both of them by the danger. And she had risked much to pass notes and whisper secrets, including the one she had shared tonight.
“Yes.” Graciela nodded. “You are the one. San Sebastiano. Gray eyes like a frozen river.Gordo, your stomach as big as Napoleon’s. I have heard the tales.” Gracie pulled herself higher on a cord of tension.
He squeezed her hand, transmitting strength, courage, love.
She glanced at him a moment and turned back. “So clever you are, Duque. You are right that my husband is looking for a traitor. And I have the key to one.” Her lips stretched in a thin smile directed at Kingsley. “You are not so clever in naming him, however.Heisnotmy father.”
She pulled her hand free and reached for Shaldon’s arm. “Andcousin.” She spat the word out like it was poisoned. “After you embezzled my trust, beat me, and tried to force me to marry your wife’s pirate cousin, there was no question I would flee, but you might wish to ponder why I sought sanctuary with the lord who set his son to seek out a traitor.”
A red glaze was creeping over Kingsley’s face. His eyes fixed on her.
She looked up at Father. “May we go now?”
“Yes, my dear. But let Charles take you out.”
“See here,” Kingsley thundered, and reached for her.
Shaldon stepped between them, Bink backing him up.
Pushed up behind the Duque, Llewellyn looked on, and whispering in his ear was the fellow he’d met at the club: Payne-Elsdon.
Interesting, that.
To their left, the Duquesa was fleeing, flanked by her guards, her survival instincts as excellent as ever.
Charley hooked an arm around Gracie, sweeping her along, through the buzzing crowd, down the stairs, through the ranks of footmen and Shaldon’s men to the waiting coach. He spotted Llewellyn in the crowd tracking them, Elsdon following nearby. Were they together?
“Get in, love,” he said.
When she balked, he tossed her into the coach and climbed in behind her.
She was shaking, and from the thunderous look on her face, fear was only a part of it. Never mind. They would weather this storm.
