That Despicable Rogue (21 page)

‘My father had little to do with us when I was growing up. He was a forger and a drinker. When I was younger he turned up from time to time like a bad penny...’ she chuckled at his inadvertent pun ‘...but after my sister was born we saw him less and less. By then he was in with a very bad crowd. When he wasn’t drunk he gambled. Badly. Mum used to say that he would bet the shirt off his back if anybody would take it. He regularly lost the rent money, and more often than not we all had to sleep on the streets. When I was about fifteen, Mum kicked him out for good. Things improved then. She got a job serving in a tavern, and I was old enough to bring in some money too—that’s when I started to load cargo at the docks. I don’t think I saw him again for years.’

Those years had been tough but happy, he remembered.

‘Then one day he turned up again. We would have nothing to do with him but he kept loitering, kept asking for money. Sarah, my sister, was thirteen by then, and she always was a pretty thing. By then I was busy trying to better myself, and I did not spend as much time protecting my family as I should have.’

Prim snuggled against him and rested her hand on his heart. It made him feel a little better, but he would never truly forgive himself for his absence during that awful time.

‘My father was in a lot of trouble then—not that we fully understood it at the time. It turned out he had been passing counterfeit money to the particularly nasty owner of a gaming hell to pay the huge debts he had racked up there. The owner gave him a week to find real money to repay those debts or face death. He asked us for money and we sent him packing. One night Mum came to the docks in a state. Sarah had gone missing and somebody said that she had been seen with my father. I searched everywhere but couldn’t find her. But I found him. He was roaring drunk, as usual, and claimed he had not seen Sarah at all. I knew he was lying. He was happy. And he was never happy so I knew something wasn’t right. I got frightened. London can be a dreadful place for a young girl on her own.’

Ross wondered if he should censor the rest of the story but decided against it. It was best if she knew the whole truth.

‘I grabbed him and shook the bastard. I kept asking him where my sister was, but he just kept laughing and telling me that it was none of my concern. He repeated the same phrase over and over again. “She’ll be home tomorrow night—they’ve promised”. In the end my temper got the better of me and I beat it out of him.’

He felt bile rise at the memory. He had nearly killed his father when he had found out the truth.

‘He had sold Sarah to a brothel.’

Hannah’s eyes widened. ‘What happened?’ Without thinking she wrapped her arms around him. He looked so utterly distraught she wanted to protect him from the memory more than she wanted to hear the truth.

‘It was a special brothel. High-class. Any and all perversions were catered for—at a price. Fancy gents paid big money for virgins—the younger the better. My father had sold Sarah’s virginity for one hundred pounds.’

At her sharp intake of breath he kissed her.

‘It never happened, thank God. I broke in and stole her back. Fortunately the Viscount who had paid for her had not yet arrived, and the brothel keeper had locked her in one of the bedrooms.’

For the first time during the tale she saw a smile touch his lips.

‘My sister is blessed with a fine pair of lungs. I could hear her screaming and carrying on a mile away, so it was easy to find the room she was locked in. Sarah was shaken, but thankfully unharmed.’

‘Thank goodness you found her.’ Hannah kissed his cheek and he sighed.

‘After that I went to the magistrate. I couldn’t risk my father doing something like that again, but I didn’t want to drag Sarah’s name through the mud either. So I told them all about his forging. He was arrested and tried. I testified against him—so did Mum. We celebrated when he was sentenced to twelve years’ transportation. I can’t say I felt anything when I heard that he had died of typhus on the ship. If that makes me a bad person then so be it.’

Hannah kissed him hard. ‘You are the best man I have ever known. I am
glad
your father is dead.’ To think of that young girl, abducted, frightened and potentially violated, made her blood boil. ‘What sort of a man does that to his own daughter? Now I understand why you have them living in Kent.’

‘They are safe there,’ Ross said quietly, turning to face her. ‘It has made it easier to do what I’ve had to, knowing that they are safe. I always intended to make something of myself—right from a young lad. I did not want my entire life to be as hard as those early years were, but what happened gave me more of an incentive to do it quickly. And probably spurred me on to aspire to more. Bad things like that do not happen to people with money. Money gives you power and security. It gives you control over your own destiny. I started dabbling in buying and selling. I told you I have a knack with numbers—that helps—and I have an eye for things that sell well. It has taken about eight years to get where I am now. You don’t think badly of me?’

His green eyes were more vulnerable than she would have thought possible.

‘Never again,’ she promised, ignoring her niggling doubts about Tremley’s gambling marker and rolling on top of him to stare lovingly down into his face. ‘I have never met a man like you.’

This time it was she who made love to him. He needed her understanding and absolution and she wanted to give them to him. She kissed and explored every inch of his body with her hands and mouth while he watched her lazily through hooded eyes and let her do whatever she wanted. He taught her how to ride him and she did so shamelessly, feeling beautiful—buoyed up by the way his eyes devoured her and his body trembled under her touch.

When she felt him pulse inside her she cried out joyfully, not caring if she was heard. All that mattered was that she was in love and was loved in return.

Chapter Twenty-Three

W
ell after the sun went down the pair of them crept back into the house, giggling like naughty children, and rolled around in his big bed enthusiastically until just before dawn.

Exhausted, Hannah slept until mid-morning and the wretch let her. When she finally did awaken the late morning sun was streaming through the window.

She opened her eyes to find him propped on one elbow and smiling down at her with a very satisfied expression on his face. The tangled sheet barely covered her legs, and she realised with a start that she was displaying everything to him.

Instinctively she grabbed the sheet’s edge and dragged it over her naked body, only to have in unceremoniously snatched away.

‘Too late, Prim,’ he said with a triumphant smile. ‘I have already seen everything. If you recall, I think I have kissed most of it too. Just to be sure, I should probably do it again. It’s important to be thorough.’

Before she knew it his lips had descended on to hers.

‘Wait,’ she said, staying him with her hand. ‘There is something important I need to talk to you about. I wanted to tell you yesterday, but we got a little carried away.’

The distinct sounds of the maids going about their usual morning duties floated through the bedchamber door. It was like being doused with a bucket of ice water.

‘What time is it?’ Hannah sat bolt-upright in alarm. ‘Everybody is up and about! I should have been up hours ago.’ In a blind panic, she scrambled off the bed and scurried around the room, looking for her clothes.

‘Don’t worry about all that. I hear your employer is very lax about such things. Come back to bed.’ Ross was reclining against the pillows, his hands braced under his head, proudly displaying another impressive erection and looking like sin.

‘I can’t,’ she wailed tearing her eyes off him reluctantly. ‘I have to get to work. No matter what I do, everyone will know that I have spent the night in here with you!’ There were tears of anguish in her cornflower eyes. ‘What is everyone going to think?’

Seeing that she was genuinely upset, Ross groaned but sat up. She was hardly a fallen woman, after all, because he had already made up his mind to marry her. Assuming she would have him, of course. But after last night he was hoping that tiny detail was nothing more than a technicality. However, he did understand that she would not want their dirty linen washed in public.

‘If I create a diversion you should be able to sneak out and get back to your own room,’ he suggested calmly. ‘I’ll go downstairs and pretend to be looking for you. When you finally make an appearance you can claim to have been unwell. People will understand, especially as you were so obviously upset yesterday. Nobody needs to know that you have been thoroughly ravished and completely ruined.’

He could not help feeling smug about that.

This seemed to placate her, so he pulled on a fresh shirt and combed his hair while she dressed herself.

‘Will you come swimming with me later?’

Ross saw her lips curve at the question. ‘I would like that.’

He kissed her loudly and smiled down into her lovely face. ‘Come on, then—let’s break you out of jail.’

She hovered close by as he poked his head out of the bedchamber door. ‘The coast is clear.’ He turned and winked at her and watched, amused, as she dashed out of his bedroom and disappeared behind one of the servants’ doors while he engaged one of the maids in a rambling conversation about the weather.

He found Carstairs and Reggie at the kitchen table, eating. ‘Have you seen Prim?’ he asked as he carved off a huge slice of bread for himself. ‘I cannot find her anywhere.’

He should be on the stage, he thought smugly, so convincing was his delivery. Both men exchanged an amused look, which he ignored. It was only when Cook slammed a cup of tea down in front of him and sniffed her disapproval that he realised something was amiss.

Cook pinned him with her glare. ‘Well, as she is not in her room—which was the first place I checked this morning, when I wondered the very same thing—I was rather hoping you might be able to answer that question for me.’

She was looming over him with her hands planted solidly on her wide hips.

Ross acted ignorant and regarded the woman with concern. ‘Prim is missing? Where on earth can she be?’

It was worth a try, but he could tell by her disgusted snort that she did not believe him. All thoughts of a career on the stage vaporised when she swatted him around the head with a towel.

The ghost of a smile played on John’s lips as he tapped his chin thoughtfully. ‘You saw her last night, Reggie. Where
was
that again?’

Reggie did not bother reciprocating with subtlety. ‘I believe, Captain, I last saw her kissing Ross on the landing—just before he carried her into his bedroom.’

Oh, dear, thought Ross guiltily, Prim was not going to like that. By the ferocious look on her face, neither did Cook.

‘Don’t look at me like that.’ He gave her his best roguish grin and held up his hands to ward off another threatened swat. The towel hung poised in Cook’s chubby fingers. ‘We both lost our heads.’

And all of their clothes. That thought made the corners of his mouth turn up.

Ross lowered his hands in defeat and grinned at her boyishly. ‘There is no need for you to be so protective. I promise. For once my intentions are completely honourable.’

‘You mean to marry her?’ Carstairs dropped his cup with a clatter and blinked. ‘Good grief! I never thought I would see the day. Congratulations, old boy.’

‘It is as much of a surprise to me as it is to you, I can assure you, but I find myself rather smitten.’ Ross inadvertently rubbed the spot on his ribcage that refused to feel normal. ‘But I have not asked her yet. I know women like a man to do that properly.’

He wrapped one arm around Cook’s stiff shoulders cajolingly.

‘I don’t suppose you would rustle up a delicious evening picnic for me? Think how romantic that would be. The sunset, meadow flowers, your lovely food...’

The towel bludgeon dropped and she began to smile a little. ‘Don’t think that I have completely forgiven you, you scoundrel, but if you are going to make it right... Well, I suppose I
could
make a nice picnic.’

Ross grinned soppily at John and Reggie. ‘I would be grateful if you two refrain from telling Prim that you know about last night. She would be mortified. She likes things to be proper.’

‘Mum’s the word,’ said Reggie, rising.

As soon as he had shuffled off John spoke softly. ‘Are you completely sure that she is not up to no good?’

Ross sighed and sat down opposite his friend. ‘Prim is no spy, John. We both know that. I think that I am a pretty good judge of a person’s character, and Prim is kind and caring. She is not capable of true deception. I just know it.’

‘Good grief!’ John glared at him in disgust. ‘You are just smiling to yourself—all wistful and sighing—it is quite nauseating to witness. You look positively lovesick.’

Ross smiled sheepishly in return and heaved a winsome sigh for comic effect.

‘You’ve got a visitor, Ross,’ Reggie said, poking his head back into the kitchen. ‘He’s waiting for you in the hallway.’

Both Ross and John stood and followed the big man out, intrigued.

‘Tremley!’ Ross strode towards him with his hand outstretched. ‘What are you doing here?’

Viscount Tremley met him halfway and returned his friendly handshake enthusiastically. ‘I did write to you and tell you I would come—but as I am on my way to London I thought I might beg lunch from you rather than going to an inn. Especially as you were so gushing about this place when I last saw you in town. It has been very lax of you not to offer me an invitation to visit sooner. I thought we were friends.’

His amused eyes scanned the newly decorated hallway before they rested back on Ross.

‘I must say, it does look very impressive.’

Ross beamed back with pride. Thanks to Prim, the hallway did now look impressive. So did the morning room and a goodly number of the upstairs bedrooms. It was just as well that he had had the good sense to delegate all of that to her—especially as she would soon be the mistress of this house.

‘I shall give you the guided tour later. Come into my fancy new morning room. Reggie—get some tea, would you?’

A sixth sense made Ross turn around. He just knew that she was nearby, and saw the back of her golden head at the top of the staircase.

‘Prim! Come here. I have somebody that I would like you to meet.’

She glided down the stairs, smiling, looking lovelier than he had ever seen her in a pretty pink dress that he knew she had donned just for him.

‘Viscount Tremley, may I present...’ His voice trailed off as Hannah’s jaw dropped and she stopped mid-step, halfway down the stairs.

Tremley grinned and rushed up the stairs to greet her. ‘There are no need for introductions. We are already acquainted.’ Tremley grasped Prim’s limp hand and pressed it to his lips. ‘It is lovely to see you again, Lady Hannah.’

* * *

The hallway became a blur. But she could recall with great clarity Ross’s shock at hearing her honorific. Captain Carstairs gaped in stunned silence, and then stood rigidly and glared at her in accusation. At that moment she knew that he had also recognised her. Then an oblivious Tremley made it all even worse, if such a thing was possible.

‘Your generosity continues to surprise me, Ross. It is so kind of you to let Runcorn’s sister live in this house.’

Pain flashed briefly in his green eyes before they hardened to sharp emeralds. Other than that, his face was a flat mask. ‘Indeed. If you will excuse us for a moment? I need a brief word with
Lady
Hannah.’

Hannah watched Ross stalk from the hallway to his study and could do nothing but scurry after him, feeling sick to her stomach. She had wanted to tell him the truth this morning, but once she’d realised the time she had not. It had been a cowardly decision, she realised now.

He held the door open stiffly and she trailed into the room behind him. Then he slammed the door shut with more force than was necessary. Anger shimmered off him although he held his body rigid when he finally turned to face her.

‘
Lady
Hannah? Runcorn’s sister? I think you owe me an explanation.’

‘I know that this looks bad—’ she started, and then shook her head. This was not the time for excuses. ‘This
is
bad—I realise that—and I have wanted to tell you but I could never seem to find the right words to explain—’

He interrupted her with a snarl, his face inches from her and his breathing heavy as he fought to control his emotions. ‘You have lied to me. Every step of the way you have lied to me. Why, Prim?’

‘You must know that we were desperate. My aunts and I were left with nothing, initially, and I wanted to make everything that George had done right again. I wanted to fix it all. I did not know that you had offered this house back to the family, I swear it.’

There was a hint of hysterical desperation in her voice.

‘The solicitor kept it from me. Why he did that I have yet to find out—but he took it upon himself to inform you that the family did not want the house. Had I known that, I never would have deceived you. I thought that you had taken the house by foul means. I believed all the lies printed about you in the newspapers and I suppose that I hoped you were a villain. It made my brother’s betrayal so much easier to bear.

‘I came here hoping to find some evidence to prove that George had been duped or pressured into handing over the deeds. I was trying to get Barchester Hall back, and perhaps a little piece of my pride as well. You have no idea what it is like to be exiled in the middle of nowhere for something that was a complete lie. Please believe me when I tell you that my opinions began to change rapidly as I got to know you... Everything that has happened between us since—’

‘Stop!’ He turned his back on her and stalked to the window. ‘So you
were
spying on me? I should have trusted my instincts and thrown you out when I first suspected it.’ Bracing his arms on the frame, he stared unseeingly into the garden. ‘When you accused me of stealing Barchester Hall I should have thrown you out. What did you hope to find, Prim? Evidence of blackmail or fraud? You think so very highly of me?’

She came up behind him and touched his shoulder gently. He snatched his body away as if he had been burned.

‘It started like that, but for a long time I have realised that you are not capable of being that devious. I know that I was mistaken. When I found a letter from my brother’s solicitor I realised that you had tried to give me my home back, even though you did not have to. You had tried to be decent. Had I known that...’

She touched him again and he did not pull away. Emboldened, she slid her arms around his waist and rested her cheek on his shoulder.

‘I fell in love with you, Ross. You are the best man I have ever known.’

The taut muscles in his abdomen relaxed a little before they bunched again under his fine lawn shirt. ‘Just to be clear—’ his voice became clipped ‘—you came here to find enough evidence to have me thrown in jail in your attempt to regain Barchester Hall and when you could not find that evidence you simply gave up? Just like that? You expect me to believe that?’

Hannah breathed in his comforting masculine scent and nodded against his back. ‘I stopped looking. As time went on my feelings for you grew.’

Callously he prised her arms from around his waist and stepped out of them. ‘You’re a liar, Prim. And I’m a fool.’

He laughed bitterly and dragged a hand through his black hair in agitation.

‘You expect me to believe that what has happened between us is a coincidence? That it never entered that pretty, scheming little head of yours that you could have more? That there was another way of getting your house back? As my wife you would have complete control over it—and I can afford to keep you in
such
comfort. You would get your home back and become a wealthy woman overnight. Don’t you think your sudden change of heart is just a little too suspicious to be believed? One minute you sniff and look down your oh-so-proper nose at me—the next you go out of your way to seduce me? It is all just a little too convenient.’