Page 35 of A Sense of Injustice
Felicity had been furious and it was at her urging that he’d forced himself on the girl. He regretted it almost immediately. It was low behaviour—even by his own questionable standards. He had never despoiled a virgin before and in retrospect it seemed like the worst possible way to make his case. But Felicity had been adamant that she would have to marry him once he’d acted or risk being ostracised when the truth emerged. She didn’t care if the marriage was brought about by rape, or that Louise would never look at him with anything other than hatred and contempt in her eyes. In fact, Felicity would probably prefer it that way. She disliked competition and probably sensed that Darius had become very fond of Louise, which is why she had suggested such drastic action to bring her to heel.
And Darius had allowed himself to be browbeaten into compliance. What sort of man did that make him? Certainly not one that he was especially anxious to see reflected back at him in the mirror.
The moment Felicity heard that Louise had left London, she insisted that he follow her to Wiltshire and press her to commit. She had decided to tag along to keep Darius, as she put it, from losing focus. She had an uncle and a sister in the district; the uncle being a familiar figure in local society and a man upon whose good opinion and open purse she depended.
‘We are bound to run into your tiresome little tease when we are out and about with my uncle,’ Felicity said for the tenth time as the train rumbled over the tracks and the scenery became increasingly rural. Darius hated the country. There was never enough to do. Good games of cards were hard to find and it was even more difficult to lose himself in a crowd.
‘Let me do this my way,’ Darius replied curtly.
He glanced at Felicity’s face and no longer felt quite so captivated by her beauty. Her reticence had been an elaborate hoax to ensure his devotion. He was seeing a very different side of her now, and was not nearly so fascinated by the view. But there could be no backing out for him at this late stage. He had gone that extra mile for her, done things he wasn’t proud of, and couldn’t risk her talking out of turn if he threw her over. She was, he knew, still very much infatuated with him and a woman scorned, in possession of sensitive information that could bring disgrace to the entire Cleethorp clan, was not to be trifled with.
It was the most dreadful bore. Such a shame that he didn’t have a pot to piss in, otherwise he would take himself off overseas for a while and leave Felicity to sink her attractive claws into a new victim.
‘The Earl of Swindon and his family are the principal aristocrats in the district,’ she said. ‘My uncle regularly socialises with them. Perhaps they will have seen your Louise.’
‘I know Swindon. We were at school together.’
‘Then you have an excuse to call on him.’
‘Why? Don’t see the need myself. Besides, we were never close. He probably wouldn’t receive me. And we’d have nothing to say to one another even if he did. I knew Hardwick rather better for a while, but he was close to Swindon and we drifted apart. Besides, Hardwick’s dead.’
‘The Marquess of Felsham’s heir?’ Felicity asked.
‘Yes.’
She appeared amused. ‘I wouldn’t be so sure.’
Darius smiled. ‘I attended his funeral. Saw his coffin lowered into the ground myself.’
‘You sawacoffin. My friend Magda Simpson—you are acquainted with her. I introduced you.’
Darius smothered a smile. They were a little more than acquaintances, or had been before Darius met Felicity, but she didn’t need to know that. ‘I vaguely recall her.’
‘No one forgets Magda. She’s is exquisite.’
‘Not compared to you, my love.’
Felicity preened. ‘Well anyway, Magda and Hardwick were romantically involved, which is how he supposedly died. He fell from her window and broke his back; or so everyone assumed. Simpson was out for satisfaction but it was denied him when Hardwick was pronounced dead. Then, out of the blue, a crippled French nephew of Felsham’s appears on the scene ten years later. Convenient timing, given that Felsham’s health is failing and he needs an heir to take over the reins.’
‘A coincidence,’ Darius said with a shrug.
‘Magda is convinced otherwise. She tried to call at Felsham Hall but was not granted entry. She is biding her time until the old marquess dies. She tells me it won’t be long. He’s ailing. Then she will find a way to get to the man she is convinced is Archie Hardwick. He was the love of her life, but she felt his passions cooling.’ Felicity sent Darius a significant look. ‘She senses a second opportunity, which she is determined not to squander. She and I are two of a kind. Neither of us take rejection well. Perhaps now you understand why I wouldn’t let you into my bed while Brigstock was alive, tempted though I was. I learned my lesson from Magda. You are too precious to me to risk your being hurt. Or worse.’
‘I didn’t think it had much to do with your Christian beliefs,’ Darius responded mildly.
‘Yes well, appearances are important. We are close to achieving our hearts’ desire, my love.’ Felicity leaned her head on his shoulder and grasped his bicep—a stark reminder that she held the power to destroy him. ‘I just know it. If all else fails, abduct the silly girl, then everyone will think that she chose to elope with you and will have no choice but to marry you.’
Darius wondered about that. Louise Pearson had more strength of character than he had originally given her credit for. She also had considerable wealth, which gave her the freedom to do as she pleased. She could disappear for a while until the scandal blew over and her fortune would persuade people to overlook her transgression. He sighed, wishing heartily that he had never been taken in by Felicity’s wild schemes.
‘Her weakness will be her sister’s reputation,’ he said, regretting the words the moment they slipped past his lips.
‘Will it indeed?’ Felicity eyes glistened as she pounced on the remark. ‘Perhaps my own sister will have come across her in local society and will be able to tell me something to help us gain the advantage. Not that you should need one, my love. I simply don’t understand Miss Pearson’s behaviour. I don’t understand it at all. Doesn’t she realise how fortunate she is? She ought to be falling over herself to accept your proposal. You are one of the catches of the season. Everyone says as much. She is very lucky to have been noticed by you.’
Darius wasn’t so sure about that. He was still invited everywhere as a single gentleman to make up the numbers and amuse the ladies. But his reputation preceded him and most chaperones didn’t let him anywhere near their charges. A few husbands were equally wary of him and kept a closer than usual watch over their wives at social occasions that Darius attended.
He had only managed to get anywhere near Louise because Felicity had suggested approaching her aunt first. Felicity did her research and knew the aunt was dependent upon the girl, who was shortly to come of age, and that their relationship was fraught with tension. The aunt, Felicity assured him, would be thinking about her own future. And that had proved to be the case. For a healthy consideration once the marriage went ahead, she was more than willing to encourage Louise’s interest in Darius.
It was the sort of situation at which Darius excelled. He adored women, enjoyed a challenge and set about charming Louise with every expectation of succeeding. He enjoyed this chase more than most. She was surprisingly well read and talked about more than balls and the latest fashions. He decided that marriage to Louise, with the inventive Felicity waiting on the sidelines to satisfy his wilder appetites, would not be so very bad.
