Andrea Kane (39 page)

With a furtive glance at the closed door, Alex began. “Sammy, everything I am going to tell you must remain in confidence. Is that understood?”

“Of course.”

Alex nodded, trusting Samantha implicitly. “There are two issues involved here, one very wonderful, the other very ugly. As far as my illness is concerned, there is a physical reason for it.” She paused, savoring her news. “Drake and I are going to have a baby.”

The words were barely out when Samantha flung her arms around Alex’s neck. “Oh, Alex, that is so exciting! A baby! I cannot believe it; my brother … a father. He must be elated! Tell me, how did he take the news?”

Silence.

“Oh, Alex, don’t tell me you haven’t told him?” Her youthful voice was filled with dismay.

“No, I haven’t,” Alex admitted in a tiny voice. “There hasn’t been a chance. I only just realized it myself. I was going to tell him the night of the ball, but …” Her voice trailed off.

Samantha knew something had happened the night of the ball to precipitate Drake’s departure and Alex’s melancholy, but she had made the firm resolution not to interfere.

“When will the baby be born?” she asked instead.

Alex smiled. “In mid-April, I think.”

“I am so happy for you.” Samantha took both of Alex’s hands in hers. “Rest assured I will not divulge the news to anyone.”

“I know.” Alex paused, her lovely face clouding. “The second revelation is terrifying. I never wanted to involve you, but I know how much you love Drake, and I need your help.”

“My goodness, this sounds so mysterious!”

“It is more than mysterious, Sammy. It’s horrifying.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Drake’s riding accident was no coincidence. It was a deliberate attempt to harm him, just as the sinking of
La Belle Illusion
was no accident but a calculated plot to kill Drake.”

Samantha’s face drained of color, and she remained silent for a moment, digesting the information that Alex had just given her. “Are you saying that someone is trying to
murder
Drake?” she managed.

“Shhh.” Alex put her finger to her lips. “Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. I have tried every way I know to figure out who it is, with no success.”

“Did Drake tell you this?” Samantha demanded.

“I overheard him talking with Smitty. They have no idea that I heard them, nor do they have any intention of telling me. So I took matters into my own hands.” Now that Alex had begun, the words tumbled over themselves in an effort to be said. “Drake’s saddle strap was deliberately cut, and it occurred to me that a guest at the house party might have done it. I questioned every person at the ball … without their understanding why, of course.”

“And?” Samantha asked eagerly.

Alex sagged back against the settee, looking bleak. “And … nothing. I gained no information as to who might be responsible.”

“But, Alex, who would want Drake dead?” Samantha demanded in a fierce whisper.

“I honestly don’t know. But perhaps between the two of us we can figure it out.”

“My God,” Samantha breathed, staring at Alex with awe and respect. “You have been shouldering all of this by yourself, dealing with it alone, these past days?”

“I didn’t want to frighten you.”

Samantha shook her head. “You will find that I am stronger than you think, Alex. I’ve had to be. And if it means protecting Drake, there is nothing I won’t do.”

Alex squeezed Samantha’s hand, feeling relieved and proud. Sammy had all of Drake’s strength of character and fierce loyalty to those she loved. Alex was honored that they were friends and sisters.

Sebastian paused outside the closed drawing room door, frowning. So this was where his sister and Drake’s little wife were hiding. He had searched everywhere else, but to no avail. Having left Allonshire on the morning after the ball, Sebastian had expected to return from London to find a houseful of guests still enjoying the lazy days in the country. He had been surprised and a bit uneasy at Humphreys’s explanation that the guests had all departed and his grace had left three days ago on a sea voyage of indeterminate length. Something was definitely amiss … and he intended to discover what it was.

He could hear Alex and Samantha whispering in the drawing room, but he could not make out the words. Whatever they were saying, it set off a warning bell in his head. Forcing himself to relax, he knocked.

For a moment there was silence, and then he heard Alex’s voice call, “Yes?”

He opened the door, the usual charming smile pasted upon his face. “Hello, ladies, I suspected you were in here.”

Samantha looked surprised. “Sebastian, I thought you were still in London.”

“My plans changed,” came the short reply. He leaned casually against the wall, his gaze, in contrast to his stance, as alert as a hawk’s. “What is this I hear about Drake being away?” His eyes were on Alex.

“He is testing our new ship.” It was Samantha who answered, regarding her brother coolly, with none of the tenderness or sparkle that lit her face when she looked at Drake. “He should be home any day now.”

“And our guests?”

“They departed yesterday.”

Sebastian’s expression grew predatory. “Am I to understand that you ladies have been here unattended?”

Even Samantha could not miss the obvious gleam in her brother’s eyes. She frowned. “We have a houseful of servants, Sebastian. We were hardly alone.”

“Just the same, I am glad that my business concluded sooner than expected. This way I am here, should you need me.”

Alex felt sickened by his innuendos. “What I need now is some warm food and a good night’s sleep.” She rose, averting her gaze. “If you will both excuse me, I will go to my chambers and dress for dinner.”

Samantha watched Alex’s pale face with concern. “Are you all right now?” she asked anxiously.

“Why? Were you ill, Alexandria?” Sebastian jumped on his sister’s words.

“I am fine. Only a bit tired.” Alex shot Samantha a warning look, which the younger girl understood immediately.

“Good.” Samantha stood also, her tone cheery. “Then let us go and dress for dinner.”

Any opportunity the women might have had to continue their talk was thwarted by Sebastian, who insisted on accompanying them to their rooms. He was undaunted by the clear message Alex conveyed by shutting her door firmly in his face, for he could sense victory … and it was close at hand.

Dinner was torture for Alex.

She wondered how long she could tolerate Sebastian’s presence without Drake at her side to put a damper on his brother’s lewd comments and suggestive leers. Even Samantha’s chatter could not ease Alex’s discomfort. She spent most of the meal staring indifferently at her food and pushing it around on her plate. Pregnancy had already diminished her usual hearty appetite, and Sebastian eliminated what little she had left. The evening could not end soon enough.

They were still savoring their apricot tarts when Alex pushed back her chair and stood.

“I hope you will both forgive me, but I am truly exhausted.” The apology in her eyes was for Samantha, who nodded her understanding at once. “I am going to retire for the night.” She gathered up her skirts and headed for the door.

“Sleep well, Alex,” Samantha called after her. “Perhaps Drake will return with the new day.”

Alex met her gaze with silent understanding. “I hope so,” she replied in a wistful voice. She climbed the stairs to her room, praying that Samantha’s words would become reality. Now that she carried Drake’s child, Alex found that she needed her husband more than ever—needed him and wanted him by her side.

The night deepened. Gradually all activity at Allonshire ceased, and the lights were doused as the great house settled into slumber.

Alone in his chambers, Sebastian paced back and forth across the room, pausing only to take frequent gulps of brandy. He was frustrated and angry, for his plans had been thwarted at every turn. In truth, he had left for London on the morning after the ball because he had been unable to feign brotherly love for Drake any longer. The blasted man led a charmed life. Instead of being dead, he was very much alive … and being treated like an injured hero.

Sebastian lifted his glass and blazed a fiery trail of the dulling liquid down his throat. Things had been progressing so nicely; he had come so close to having it all. And then Drake had returned from the dead, just in time to assume his title—a title he had no use for and did not even want. Damn him to hell.

Sebastian raked his fingers through his hair, his mind searching for a new alternative. He sensed that Drake and Smitty already suspected something sinister. He could not afford to arouse their suspicions any further. But there had to be a way. A way to have Drake’s title, Drake’s power … Drake’s wife.

Sebastian’s head shot up as the reality of the situation struck him. Drake was away. It was very late at night, and the entire household was asleep. No one would hear him or try to stop him. A slow, satanic smile spread across his face. He might have to wait a bit longer for the title and the power, but tonight Drake’s wife would be his. …

Alex welcomed her solitude with a great sense of relief. Anxious to be alone with her thoughts, she had dismissed Molly early, insisting that she could tend to herself this one night. She stood at her curtained window, staring out at the moonlit gardens below. Idly she drew her brush through her thick hair, which hung in loose waves down the back of her lemon yellow night rail. Her thoughts were of Drake and of their future together.

The sound of her bedroom door opening made Alex’s heart leap with joy. She spun about, making no attempt to conceal her pleasure. “Drake?”

“No, Alexandria, not Drake.”

A chill of dread replaced her joy. “What do you want, Sebastian?” Instinctively she backed against the wall.

“Need you ask?” He gave a harsh laugh and closed the door behind him, pausing to light a small lamp on the nightstand. He wanted there to be no chance of her escaping him.

Hands on hips, clad only in his breeches, Sebastian turned to face her … and waited.

Their gazes locked across the room—his, hungry; hers, alarmed.

Weaving slightly, he moved toward her. “There is no need to look like a frightened doe,” he taunted. “I have no intention of harming you.”

Alex swallowed. “Then what do you intend to do?”

He grinned, his eyes glassy. “Surely even you are not
that
naive, my dear. I intend to give you pleasure … and to pleasure myself in return.”

Alex pressed herself more firmly against the wall, as if it could somehow protect her from Sebastian’s onslaught. “You are foxed, Sebastian.” She struggled to keep her voice from trembling. “And you are not thinking clearly. Go now, and I will say nothing of this incident to Drake.”

He threw back his head and gave an eerie, hollow laugh. “Do you think I give a damn what you tell Drake?” he demanded, moving closer. “After the enticing spectacle you made of yourself on the evening of the ball, do you honestly think he will believe you did not invite me to your room tonight?” He loomed before her, fury and lust blazing in his drunken gaze. “In truth, your actions were a puzzle to me as well. My attentions are not good enough for you, but a roomful of strangers will suffice?” He placed his hands on the wall on either side of her head, his foul breath touching her lips.

In a flash Alex ducked beneath his arm and sprinted toward the door. She was two steps from her goal when Sebastian’s powerful arms closed about her waist, dragging her back into the room. She struggled, kicking and fighting frantically, but to no avail. With an unnatural strength born of hatred, Sebastian flung her onto the bed, his body shaking with rage.

“You defiant little bitch!” he ground out, pinning her down with his body. “So this is the way you want it? Fine. So be it.”

In one quick motion he tore her night rail down the front, flinging the remnants of material to the floor. Waves of revulsion racked Alex’s body as she found herself naked and helpless beneath Sebastian’s bitter, hungry scrutiny, utterly exposed to his violent assault. Tears of rage and humiliation burned behind her eyes. Until now, her only experience of lying completely unclothed before a man had been with Drake in tenderness and mutual desire. Nothing had prepared her for the horror of this moment, the sense of despair at this ultimate violation of her self. Everything inside her turned cold.

Seeing the full force of Sebastian’s hatred, Alex began to shake, sheer terror streaking through her blood. More determined than ever to fight him with every fiber of her being, she resumed her struggle, digging her nails into his flesh and kicking him.

“You really are a little hellcat, aren’t you?” Sebastian growled. He caught her arms with his hands and held them over her head, triumph gleaming in his eyes. Then he lowered his head and took her mouth in a brutal, punishing kiss.

Instantly, and without thinking, Alex sank her teeth into his lower lip.

Sebastian tore his mouth away, cursing violently. While he licked the blood away, Alex made one last desperate attempt to escape. But Sebastian’s grip was iron-hard. She was going nowhere.

“Try that again and I will make you sorry you were born,” he ground out, tightening his hold until Alex thought her wrists would snap. She whimpered with pain, feeling Sebastian cruelly prying her legs apart with his knees. In a frantic effort to escape his final invasion, she brought her knee up, attempting to catch him off guard and make contact with his groin. But Sebastian anticipated the move and caught her leg, forcing it cruelly down, then out, opening her farther to him. Hysteria bubbled up inside her and she cried out in pain. Sebastian leaned forward, momentarily pressing his full weight against her.

“For that, you will pay,” he snarled.

Alex winced, knowing that her action had cost her dearly. Now Sebastian meant not only to rape her but to hurt her as much as possible in the process.
The baby,
she thought to herself helplessly.
Please, God, don’t let him hurt my baby.
She felt the pressure on her wrists ease slightly and opened her eyes to see Sebastian kneeling above her, his hot gaze raking her as he reached for the buttons on his breeches.