Page 89 of A Kiss Of Lies

Hadley looked pointedly at Serena and said, “I can hazard a very good guess.” Serena glanced at the men and saw their reluctance to discuss the topic in front of her. But they had an idea about what they believed had happened at Wilton House all those years ago. Quite frankly, given her own experiences, she didn’t want to know.

“Christian, if you don’t mind, I think I’d like to lie down. I’m tired.”

He jumped to his feet, gathered her into his arms and, without another word, carried her back upstairs. As he laid her gently on the covers, she said, “You are not your father.” She could read the shame in his eyes and in the lines of his furrowed brow. “There are some evils in this world that, due to circumstances, can never be righted. You should not have to pay for your father’s sins.”

He kissed her. His lips were gentle, giving.

“I know you are right, but I have forever lived with the shame of my father. It hangs over me, a smothering cloud of disgrace.”

“Then once this is over, we shall blow the clouds away. Clear the air and never look back. Looking back will only hurt us. We need to make new memories and live a good, honest life. That’s how we can make up for the past.”

“God, I love you,” he whispered into her hair before departing back to his friends.

Once Christian had settled into the comfortable chair left vacant for him, Hadley began, “We need to identify the girl and what actually happened to her. Then we will be able to ascertain who is seeking retribution—her father, brother, or husband.”

Maitland spoke up. “You’re assuming it’s not the girl herself.”

“She’d need money and power to hatch this plan.”

Christian felt sick. “Christ, you don’t think she was a member of theton?”

Maitland shook his head, “No. That doesn’t make sense. Surely whoever was her guardian at the time would have sought revenge already.”

“Serena’s father didn’t guard her.”

Arend said, “If, like we all assume, they raped and toyed with a young innocent—all of them—she could be dead for all we know. They may have killed her to keep her quiet.”

Silence invaded the room.

Finally Christian spoke. “My father would have been perfectly capable of killing a young girl to stop her from talking.”

Hadley stood and, with the brandy decanter in his hand, walked around topping up their glasses. “So what do we do now? We have to get word to Sebastian. He needs to know, and his sisters need protection. I hope he’s on his way back from Jamaica by now. I hope word of his pardon, and our warning, has reached him. As for Grayson, we need to find him, urgently. He has no idea he may be in danger.”

Christian regarded him. “The first thing I’m going to do is get Lily and Serena back to Henslowe Court in Dorset. I’m marrying Serena as soon as she’s well. They will be safer in Dorset. Besides, I want to go through my father’s papers and journals in the attic. I might find a clue as to who our nemesis is.”

“Cracker idea,” said Maitland. “We should all do that. We can’t move Serena for a few more days. Let’s meet at Henslowe a se’nnight from Saturday and make a more precise plan.”

“Since Somerset borders Devon, I’m also going to ride to Devon and try to locate Grayson,” added Hadley. “We may actually have a small advantage.” Three pairs of eyes looked at him expectantly. “The villain thinks Serena and Christian are dead. The longer we can hide the fact she and Christian are still alive, the better.”

Christian pulled a face. “She’s alive, and she’s bloody well going to stay that way!” He looked at the men surrounding him. “I’ll do nothing to put her or Lily in danger.Nothing!”

Maitland quietly said. “She’s already in danger. All of us are. I suggest we ride to Dorset together and separate there.”

Arend offered a toast. “Here’s to setting our fathers’ ghosts to rest, and to enjoying a few more days of Christian’s hospitality.”

As the men drank, Christian reflected on the fact that Serena wasn’t safe yet. She’d escaped the frying pan only to step into the fire. Well, he’d been burned once and he was not about to let anyone, regardless of what his father had done, destroy the only true happiness he’d ever known.

He swallowed a large gulp of fiery liquid. If his enemy wanted a fight, a fight to the death, he’d give her one.

Epilogue

Serena’s wedding to Christian was held a week later, quietly on the Henslowe estate, in the small chapel. It had to be a quiet affair. The villain must not learn that she and Christian were still alive.

Peter Dennett’s death had been dealt with by the magistrate. Arend had not been charged, as they accepted that he’d acted to save Christian from Dennett’s dishonorable behavior. Dennett’s brother, the Marquis, had taken his body home to their estate. It appeared there was not much love lost between the brothers. In fact, not many people mourned Peter’s passing.

The men continued to hope the villain thought both Serena and Christian were dead. Jock Fanselow had been shipped quietly out of the country to Australia. However, Christian was being very protective of Serena, insisting on a very small and quiet wedding.

Serena didn’t care who was present as long as she married Christian. Besides, she had the most important people in her life present. Her stepdaughter, Lily—Christian had signed the adoption papers two days ago—and all of the Libertine Scholars, bar Grayson, who was still missing. That was the only damper on their special day. She knew the men were worried.

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