Page 77 of A Kiss Of Lies

The butler went to find her. Christian stood looking out the window at the garden, contemplating the unpleasant task before him. Fear snaked down his spine. He wouldn’t lose, for if he did, he would have failed her.

Serena’s scent filled the room as soon as she entered, and his body started to hum in recognition. He turned to face her, and as she drew near, he pulled her into his arms.

She rested her head on his chest. “Is it true? Peter’s alive? Marisa told me.” She trembled like a slender willow tree on a windy day. When Christian didn’t respond, she shuddered and added, “Thank God. At least I’m no longer a murderess, merely an adulteress.”

“No. You did not know he was alive.”

“But he’s still my husband.”

“Yes, he made that perfectly clear.”

“He’s met with you? What did he want?”

He raised an eyebrow at her question. “You cannot guess?”

Her face paled further. “He knows about us? God, he’ll kill me. I’m his property.”

“He’d have to take you over my dead body.”

Her breath exhaled sharply at the shock of his words.

She stepped back out of his arms and straightened her shoulders, as if her posture could ward off what was to come. “How long do I have before he comes for me?”

“You’re not going anywhere with him.”

Serena let his vehement statement lift her spirits, even though she knew he lied. Peter Dennett owned her just as he owned his slaves back on the plantation. No law in England could stop him from reclaiming her. No one would let the brother of a marquis be charged with cruelty. Dennett would find a way to silence her before he’d let that happen.

In the eyes of theton, Peter was the hardworking younger son of a good family, a pillar of English society. He was handsome and charming. He had thetonfooled. Nobody saw his dark side. And those that did, hid like ghosts in the night, scared of the power his family wielded.

She crossed to the desk, conscious the large piece of furniture was not the only barrier that now lay between them. She could never be Christian’s wife. Not now.

Softly she said, “You can’t save me, Christian. I won’t let you.”

He followed her and pulled her back against his chest, his arms wrapped around her waist. “I can and I will.”

“It will be less painful if you let me go.” She knew he’d never agree to that. He was far too honorable. She’d have to leave—run. Forever running.

His eyelids lowered, shielding his gaze. “I love you. You put yourself in danger to clear my name and I cannot forget it.” He placed his hand over her stomach. “Besides, you might be carrying our child. I want you by my side, to be my family. I won’t let Dennett get his hands on you or our baby.” He kissed her cheek. “We belong together. Two wounded souls who found love. I won’t walk away from that. Not when I know you’re better off with me.”

“I’ll have to leave here. I can’t bring a man like Peter Dennett into the Coldhurst sisters’ lives. Think of what could happen to Marisa and Helen. It’s not safe. To get to me, he’d destroy anyone who stood in his way.”

Christian hugged her tighter. “Dennett doesn’t know you’re here. We have time to plan how to defeat him. I suspect he thinks I’ve hidden you away at Henslowe. Hadley’s discovered Dennett has dispatched his men to Dorset. I’ve alerted the staff.”

She turned in his arms and looked at him. “What do I do? Tell me. It’s hopeless. I’m trapped. He’s never going to leave me alone. I wish Ihadkilled him.” Her sob escaped before she could stop it, and she hated herself more when she saw the pain in Christian’s eyes.

Picking her up, Christian walked to the settee and sat, pulling her onto his lap. He stroked her face with his finger, wiping the tears off her cheeks while she cried. She couldn’t stop. All the tension of the past few months seemed to flow out with her tears. The relief of not being a murderess was like a rebirth, but now reborn, she was still not free.

“We have come up with a way to free you.”

She sniffed. “The only way I’d ever be free is if Dennett was to die.” She paused and cried, “God, how awful to wish another person dead. Look at what I’ve become.”

He kissed her head. “I love you, and you’re correct. Dennett dead is the only way to know you’d be truly safe and free of that monster.”

Serena went stiff in his arms, not quite believing what she heard. She pushed out of his hold and sat up. “Tell me you aren’t going to kill him.”

“You said it yourself. It’s the only way.”

She shook her head. “No! You, a murderer? You’d never live with yourself. You despise violence. For you it’s a last resort and a matter of honor. You can’t kill him. You’d come to resent me for turning you into someone you’re not.” She stood and paced the floor. “No. I can’t let you do it.”

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