Wicked Deception (14 page)

“
I think you need to quit
being an ass before you lose the only good thing in your life,
Nicholas,” he ground out, wanting to strike him for such an unkind
comment.

“
Save your denials. Admit
you’re pleased at this turn of events, Gabriel,” Nicholas scoffed
tiredly. “I won’t fight it anymore. She belongs with you. I should
have never married her. I tried to make her happy and it’s you she
wants. If you think I’ll play second to you the rest of my life,
I’m to disappoint you again. I’m out of the way. She’s
yours.”

“
I think you’re a fool,”
Gabriel muttered. “She had her chance to come back to me. You have
the gall to throw it in my face now? I went through hell thinking
her dead. I went through hell seeing her with you. I survived it.
And now you’d abandon her? Don’t ask me to console your wife for
you when you’re dead, Nicholas, for I won’t. I pity you when
Catherine gives up on you at last, for you never deserved her
love.”

“
Do you deny you have been
her lover these many weeks?” Nicholas argued and glared him into
silence. “I’m no fool! She’s made her choice finally!”

“
No choice was made,”
Gabriel reflected with a touch of sadness. “She’s your wife. She
loves you. She never intended to come back to me. It’s not at all
what you’re thinking.”

“
She loves you too,”
Nicholas snarled and shook his head. “I won’t do this anymore.
Something must give and I’m the one backing out of this. You both
have my blessing.”

“
I don’t think you’re
thinking clearly. Maybe when you pull your head out of your arse;
you’ll see you must give her time to figure this out. I warned you
not telling her everything would come back to haunt you one
day.”

Nicholas had no opportunity to answer
as the cheers and catcalls interrupted them. Dirty Dev entered the
arena are, surrounded by Dartmouth’s paid trainers. Gabriel’s eyes
widened as he saw the man who fought his way through Europe to be
here tonight, up against England’s champion, Jack Grant.

The Irishman was powerfully built with
rippling muscles that oozed strength. He passed them on his way to
the ring. He had glossy black hair, cut short. His narrow gaze
surveyed the crowd as he was led to the ring at last.

Catherine was trapped outside the
boxing saloon. She muttered a curse as she saw the throng of
coaches and carriages blocking her from getting near. She was
determined to speak with her husband. If she had to walk the rest
of the way she would. She rapped on the roof of the conveyance and
informed her driver she would walk. He obliged and got down to let
her out.

She walked across the cobblestone
street and entered the exclusively male saloon. She drew quite a
stir when she flung off her cloak and gave it to the door man.
Before his gaping look, she snatched up betting slips and went in
search of Nicholas.

It seemed having a woman at the bout
drew more attention than the fight. She stormed into the arena,
unaware of the notice she drew or how both fighters paused to stare
at the seductive creature in green that approached.

“
Oh Christ, what is she
doing here?”Gabriel snarled as he looked back to see what stopped
the fight. Seeing the vision of Catherine, he could do nothing but
stare.

Nicholas saw his wife and glowered as
she approached. His gaze gobbled her up like a starving man, noting
how seductive she looked with a frown. His heart fluttered madly as
she drew up before them, her kohl-lined green eyes filled with
anger, making them sparkle in her powdered face. The fight was
stalled for barely another second before Dev saw his opportunity
and sent a powerful punch to Grant’s midsection.

“
What are you doing here,
Catherine?” Nicholas snapped angrily, his blue eyes filled with
rage. “Go home! You don’t belong here!”

“
I belong wherever you’re.
I’m not leaving, Nicholas!” she shot back in a seething voice. “I
have been patient with you. I have held my tongue; but no more. You
will talk to me, or I’ll pursue you into every brothel and pub you
wind up in until you do.”

Gabriel smiled in admiration and drew
back to allow the sparring couple to talk, seeing Dartmouth’s
interested gaze upon them. He knew Catherine’s arrival didn’t bode
well for their mission. He frowned, his dark eyes fierce. “I
suggest you agree to talk to her because she is drawing much
unwanted attention right now, Nicholas,” Gabriel warned, eyeing him
with a glare. “Dartmouth watches. It appears they question all. I
told you that leaving her wasn’t going to convince them of
anything.”

Catherine was stunned to hear his
words. It was like a slap that woke her up. Her green eyes narrowed
with anger. Before she considered what she did, she launched
herself upon her husband. She kicked, slapped and bit at him,
making several gentlemen chuckle delightedly as they saw Van
Ryker’s wife attack him.

Soon, more people were watching. By the
time he thought to try to restrain his fiery wife, more were
watching them than the bout. Even the fighters took note, grinning
broadly. Dev stepped near the edge of the ring. The fighter frowned
darkly as he looked down at the raven-haired girl swinging upon the
man and stared in shock.

“
Cat, is that you, lassie?”
he shouted down to her in dumbfounded shock, allowing Grant the
upper hand for only a moment before he sent the man sprawling at
last. Grant didn’t move from where he lay prone. Dirty Dev jumped
down from the ring, glaring at the girl who interrupted his match.
He spit out blood onto the floor as he saw her and cursed. “Ye
better have an explanation, Cat! What in God’s name are ye doin’
here dressed like that? Yer lady mother will have a fit! Yer Da
will take ye over his knee for sure!”

Catherine paused in smacking her
husband to turn and see her Uncle glowering down at her. Gabriel
and Nicholas were open-mouthed as they saw the boxer pick her up
and swing her about.

“
Uncle Devlin, what are you
doing here?” she asked breathlessly as he set her down at
last.

Gabriel barely digested the fighter
known as Dirty Dev was none other than the long lost Viscount
Devlin Dunleavy. The man turned glaring at both men with such
anger, Gabriel grinned and clapped Nicholas on the back and walked
away. He was chuckling in amusement. He didn’t see a thrashing in
his future.

“
What is the meaning of
this, girl? What are ye doin’ in London, and who is this
man?”Devlin growled with fury evident in his green eyes. Nicholas
stared at the man with no expression, all too aware he deserved
whatever the prize fighter met out.

“
He is my husband, Uncle
Devlin. For the moment, that is!” she snapped at him before she
looked up at her father’s younger brother with delight. “We thought
you were in New York! How is it you’re here?”

“
I’ll tell ye later, girl!
Ye have a lot to answer for Cat. I have to collect my purse first,”
he fumed and glowered at Nicholas. “I wouldn’t be goin’ anywhere,
lad. I’ll be wantin’ to know why my niece is in such a place when I
return and lookin’ like a damned lightskirt too.” He kissed
Catherine fleetingly upon the cheek before he sent Nicholas another
scowl and stomped away.

“
Dirty Dev is your uncle?
Why am I not surprised?” Nicholas asked with a caustic tone as he
waited to get thrashed while she sent him a withering glance. “Now
I know where you get the left hook,” he mused as he met her angry
gaze. While he waited to get beaten to a pulp, Catherine’s Uncle
returned in short order, grabbing his niece and ushering her out of
the saloon. Nicholas had no choice but to follow them.

Devlin was shrugging into his shirt and
coat when they reached the lot outside. His green eyes were livid
as he looked down at his niece and glared at the man known to be
her husband. Nicholas met his gaze unflinching. Devlin muttered a
curse and would have dropped him right there had Gabriel not
arrived to intervene.

“
I wouldn’t bother if I were
you. His head is much harder than Grant’s,” the Earl said dryly and
Nicholas sent him a look of dislike.

“
Go ahead and get it over
with!” Nicholas demanded with a scowl. “You will surely do it
later!”

Catherine gasped as her Uncle’s one
punch to her husband’s chin sent him sprawling in a heap at their
feet. She hurriedly went to see to him as the Earl chuckled and
eyed Devlin with a grin.

“
I should have put my money
on the Irish,” Gabriel lamented and shook his head, holding out his
hand to the man to shake it as he looked down at his unconscious
friend. “Well, maybe his head is not quite as hard as
Grant’s.”

~ ~ ~

The tension in the coach was tangible.
Catherine eyed her Uncle glowering at Nicholas and the Earl. She
looked rather pleased as she gazed between the two, seeing Nicholas
would suffer for his abominable actions the last weeks. Her own
gave her pause. He wasn’t the only one who deserved a good
thrashing.

Devlin looked delighted to meet such
punishment as he listened to how she came to be in London during
the journey back to her residence. Learning his brother and his
wife were dead was a terrible blow. He didn’t speak for some
time.

Catherine could see he was grieving his
eldest brother sorely as he patted her hand, his bruised knuckles
showing starkly against her smaller one. When the story was
concluded, he sighed once more and gazed at Catherine
sadly.

“
I’m sorry I wasn’t there
for you and the children, Cat, truly I’m,” he whispered softly and
his green eyes looked fierce once more as they turned on
Gabriel.

“
This man who threatens my
niece’s husband financed the bout. He is known to me. What does he
want with him? What’s he done?”Devlin growled sourly as he eyed the
silent dark- haired man across from him in accusation, putting a
protective arm around his niece and scowling again down at her
attire.

“
It’s a rather long story
and can wait for another time. It appears we are all three of us at
risk now. Catherine showing up to find Nicholas tonight doesn’t
match the story we’ve put out. He is doubtless suspicious. My guess
is he will go after Nicholas first,” Gabriel told him, ignoring
Catherine’s gasp of horror.

“
I’m stayin’ with my niece.
I’ll not be leavin’ them alone, not like some other has!”Devlin
snarled and looked like he wanted to hit Nicholas once
more.

Catherine was delighted to hear her
Uncle would be staying with her, finding comfort from it as they
approached the residence. Devlin got down and helped his niece and
glared up at the two men.

“
I want the whole accounting
tomorrow, lads, and if I don’t like it, ye won’t be likin’ it
either! Come, Cat, I’d like to take a peek in at my name sake and
soak my hands in ice,” he said as he drew her to his side
protectively and the pair walked towards the door.

Gabriel chuckled as he saw how
miserable Nicholas looked to learn Dirty Dev was Catherine’s Uncle,
still reeling from the punch that damn near knocked him
out.

“
I’ll make sure he hears
some rather damning things about you tomorrow as well, Lord
Iverleigh, so I wouldn’t laugh so hard if I were you,” Nicholas
promised, rubbing his chin. Gabriel’s smile faded and he cursed
under his breath as the coach drew away from the curb.

~ ~ ~

Catherine watched as her brawny Uncle
held Devlin with as smile, seeing his tender expression as he
remarked on how much the child looked like her at that age. He
recalled her birth, and they laughed over amusing stories from the
past. For the first time since her parent’s deaths, she felt
secure.

“
What have ye done, Cat?” he
asked with a tired look after she told him everything, soaking his
hand in an ice bucket. “Ye belonged at Dunleavy Hall! What were ye
thinkin’ traipsin’ off to London? Ye should have written to me
then.”

She bit her lip. “We didn’t know how to
find you then. Father’s papers were in disorder. The situation
merited me going.”

“
Lilly is responsible for
all of this?” he asked and rolled his eyes. “The chit was always a
mite touched. I could’ve told you not to trust her.”

“
Where is Uncle Aidan?” she
demanded as she poured him a whiskey. “Brian has heard nothing from
him in over a year.”

Devlin couldn’t meet his niece’s gaze.
“I don’t know, lass. We had a difference of opinion. We fought. He
left. I haven’t seen him since.”

Catherine knew he wouldn’t tell her
about the rift between them. Only fourteen months apart, they had
always had differences. Aidan resented the fact he was the younger
son and bore no title as his elder brothers. “Maybe he will get
over it and come home?” she ventured hopefully and her Uncle
laughed and shook his head.

“
Aidan was always as
stubborn as a mule. He’s determined to make his own way. He’d never
step foot upon Dunleavy until he makes his mark.”

“
I wished I had some way of
sending word when father and my mother died,” she whispered softly.
“Maybe that would have brought him home.”

“
Ye can’t blame yourself for
what happened, Cat. By the sound of it, ye had yer hands full
keeping Dunleavy afloat.”