Page 24 of The Beast of Beswick
His smile had been predatory. “But you are, sweet. Mine to do with as I wish, when I wish,howeverI wish. We are to be married, after all.”
“We are not married yet.” Astrid had shaken her head, stunned at the side of him she’d never seen. The truth was his kisses repulsed her, and she’d endured them, but the thought of him touching her in any intimate way made her feel ill.
“Now, in a few months, what does it matter?”
He’d lunged for her, his wet lips slavering over hers, and Astrid had ripped herself away, wiping her mouth with the back of her glove.
“It does matter, Edmund. Oh God, I don’t want any of this. I simply don’t feel the same as you do. I thought I could, but I cannot do this.”
“Who are you to refuse me?” he’d said to her, eyes blazing. “You’re nothing but a silly country girl who’s lucky to have an offer from me. I’m the heir to an earldom.”
Trembling at his hostility, she’d held her ground. “That may be, but I am a woman of sound mind. I don’t wish to marry you, Edmund. More than ever, now I see how ill-suited we are. Surely you know it as well.”
He’d glared at her for so long, her legs had cramped, but after what seemed like forever, he’d nodded, his face unreadable. “Fine, if that’s what you want.”
“It’s for the best.”
It was only the next day that Astrid had learned what he’d done.
Edmund Cain had taken it upon himself to ruin her good name…sayinghehad broken the engagement on account of her not being a virgin. Astrid had laughed it off, certain that the truth would prevail—she’d never been intimate with a man. But in the end, she had never stood a chance against the poisonous gossip that had raced like wildfire…to her parents, to the entireton.
Despite Astrid’s claims, she’d been judged as guilty. After all, how could one prove one’s innocence, especially when impugned by a male peer? Such was the power of a man’s word versus a woman’s. And like that, without any defense whatsoever, she’d fallen from grace, her life over.Finished.
Never again, Astrid had sworn.
Never again would any man have that kind of power over her.
And yet, here she was, nine years later and considerably wiser, and beholden to one. Though from the little she knew of him, the Duke of Beswick was a man who answered to no one…yielded to no one.
Astrid plucked a nearby rose from its bush and held the delicate blossom between her fingers. The blushing pink petals felt like velvet. If fate had been different—and she’d met a different gentleman—Isobel would have been safe.
If she, Astrid, hadn’t been naive…
If Edmund hadn’t been such a bastard…
If anyone had believed her over a scorned, small-minded man…
If…if…if…
Her life could be a constellation ofifs.
She discarded the flower and kept walking. None of that mattered anymore. It was all in the past. To take care of Isobel, Astrid needed to look forward, not backward. But a part of her couldn’t help worrying that when the duke found out the truth—and it was only a matter of time before he would—he might turn out to be just like everyone else in theton.
Chapter Seven
In dumbfounded silence, Thane sat at the massive mahogany desk, staring at the neatly rendered parchment pages and then up at Fletcher. “What in the hell is the meaning of this? Is this supposed to be a joke?”
“You asked for a report, Your Grace.”
Thane read the preposterous text again. And then a fourth and fifth time for good measure. According to Fletcher’s notes, Astrid had been affianced—to one Edmund Cain, that lily-livered bastard of a traitor. However, the engagement had been called off because of some scandal, and after that, she and her family had left London.
Thane blinked, his thoughts racing. Had she given herself to Cain? Was that why it’d been so easy for her to barter herself for his protection? Offer herself in marriage to the Beast of Beswick? His chest clenched in a nauseating combination of bitterness and fury. What else had she withheld or lied about?
God, she must have taken him for a desperate fool.
Didn’t she?
In the short time he’d known her, he could tell Astrid had many secrets, but she didn’t strike him as a liar. A small thread of reason pushed through the haze, reminding him that she’d been ousted from society because of bad judgment. Had she meant in men? Thane frowned. Cain was a snake. A deserter and a blackguard. Had he been the one behind her fall from grace?
