Post by Meomi on Jun 6, 2012 16:37:56 GMT -7
A WICKED PROPOSITION
..::Chapter 9::..
Gabriel was in a foul mood as he left his barrister's office. He thought of Catherine. Clearly the girl was not grateful he had bargained for her release from Clarice. He didn't know what madness possessed him to take the girl with him. He could not leave her in the end. Gabriel was eager to get back to her now. With the proper persuasion, she would get used to the idea of being his mistress. Catherine was stubborn, but he was far more determined.
Gabriel entered his home and nodded to Higgins. The butler assured him the girl was still locked in his room resting. He retreated to his study. There was a knock at his door.
He rose as Higgins led in the detective. Mr. Vickers was a very ordinary-looking man.
Vickers: Lord Iverleigh, I regret to say I can find nothing at all to suggest your wife has a lover. She is either more clever than I thought, or I missed something in my initial investigation.
Gabriel: Then you missed something, because my wife is exceedingly clever and she always has a lover, and it is quite obvious she knows you watch her. You may try to not be so bloody obvious, Vickers! Can you not be so visible? If I can see you sitting at the curb, it is obvious, so too, can she!
Vickers: She has had numerous visitors over the last weeks, but non male.
Gabriel: She is not stupid, Vickers! She likely meets the man outside the residence. She snuck by you, but you must stay on her. Hire more men if need be. Just find something I can use.
Vickers nodded and went over his weekly report then. Nothing was new. He looked apologetic as he was shown out.
He retreated from his study in time to see Catherine coming down the stairs. She was looking refreshed and as lovely as ever. When he drew near, she avoided his gaze. He gritted his teeth, feeling like a d**ned heel for having locked her in his room.
Gabriel: You go to dinner, not the gallows.
Catherine: The gallows would be preferable, I think. They have bars instead of doors, my lord. The prison there is far more obvious.
Gabriel: You regard our arrangement like a prison? The way I see it, you have improved your lot. You have but one man to please, instead of hundreds. I am not that difficult to get on with. I ask nothing of you but your charming presence.
Catherine: What is to become of me when you tire of me? Will you send me back to Clarice when your game is at an end?
Gabriel: Who said this is a game, my dear? I see it as an opportunity to better your situation. You will learn very quickly, I do not play games. I am not in the habit of rescuing troubled women either. I did you a favorable turn. You treat me as though I am the villain. You are here as long as I wish it. When that is no longer the case, I will deal with you fairly. Until then, I would not like to force the issue and lock you in my room.
Catherine: You have made your point. Your servants only let me out when they knew you to be home. Is this how I am to live until you allow me to leave?
Gabriel: If you give me your word that you will not run, I see no need to lock you up. You can have free run of the house, even have my driver take you wherever you wish to go.
Catherine: I wish to go home!
Gabriel: You owe me three thousand pounds, Catherine.
Catherine was fuming. She looked at him like he was a loathsome insect.
Gabriel: I have found myself in dire need of a secretary. My last one up and left me. I can find nothing among my own papers. I assume you can read and write?
Catherine: As well as you, I'm sure.
Gabriel: Good, perhaps giving you some task now will keep you from sulking.
Catherine could hardly eat. She felt nauseated as she realized she was now forced into this situation now.
Catherine begged to be excused, complaining of a headache.
Gabriel: You don't feel well? I will send Mrs. Whitley up to you. If you need anything, you may ask her.
Catherine rose and fled the dining room.
Catherine may have committed a most grievous error in judgment believing all her sister's tales about her husband. She had been quick to assume the worst of Gabriel without knowing all of the facts.
Clarice didn't wait to be announced as she pushed past Dunstan. She barged into the Countess's salon.
Lilly: It is alright, Dunstan, I will handle this.
Clarice: You have not paid me, Lady Iverleigh. I have come to collect the money you owe me.
Lilly: I cannot just go to my husband's bank and withdraw that amount, Clarice. In fact, I find it very unlikely His Lordship would ever approve such a transaction. Had you chose you mark better, you might have taken the time to have learned he has filed a writ of divorcement against me. So it appears you have no coffers in which to leech off. You made three thousand pounds from my husband's desire to acquire my sister. Do not bother to deny it. I have learned he took her with him when he left this morning. That is your payment for services rendered. Our current association is over, Clarice. You will not get another payment from me.
Clarice: You have tricked me! You knew all along you had no funds to pay me with. I will go to Lord Iverleigh. I swear I will.
Lilly: Do you really think Gabriel will believe you after he discovers you blackmail me and half the gentlemen who frequent your establishment? It is you who will pay, Clarice. Blackmail is such an ugly business. Secrets can and often do kill, Clarice. Be warned, for they circle you now.
Clarice: You would dare to threaten me, Lady Iverleigh?
Lilly: I am but warning you, Clarice. Your fate was sealed when you made that incriminating list of yours. The others were quite sympathetic to my plight naturally. They all wish to be free of you as well.
Clarice: I will tell Lord Iverleigh that Catherine is your sister! I will tell him all I know of you as well, Lady Iverleigh. You have forgotten what I hold in my possession. That diary has d**ning evidence in it! Think well before you cross me.
Lilly: My husband knows me at my very worst, Clarice. Nothing in that diary threatens me, I assure you. As for my poor little sister, she sadly died and is burried in our family crypt. You have nothing but that diary to hold over my head. The ramblings of a madwoman who took her own life prove nothing. Was there anything else you wished, Madame Devereaux, before you leave here?
Clarice: You will rue the day you betrayed me, Lady Iverleigh! I will go to your husband! Just see if I don't!
Clarice stormed out of the salon and charged past Dunstan, who held the door aloft as she sailed out.
Samuel Vickers took note of the woman seen leaving Iverleigh Manor before. She seemed obviously out of place. He called out orders to follow the woman.
Lilly: Darling, we have such little time together. Come back to bed.
As always, Lilly showed up when she wanted to. Lilly and he had been lovers for nearly five years, and still refused to tell him her real name. She feared she couldn't trust him. Nicholas was finding it difficult to trust this noblewoman who came in and out of his life when it suited her. Returning home from his ship tonight to find her in his bed was not unusual. Lilly was obviously just some bored noblewoman looking for a lark behind her husband's back, nothing more. She never stayed the night.
Nicholas: How is it you have not been caught yet?
Lilly: You would be surprised how little people notice, my love. Why do you do this every time I must leave? You spoil our time together.
Nicholas: I know little next to nothing about you, Lilly. You can trust me. I would never betray you.
She smiled and turned and showed herself out.
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Nicholas had hoped his evening with Lilly would stop his growing obsession with a certain blue-eyed temptress. It had not stopped his thoughts of her, however. Catherine belonged to Gabriel. she was out of his reach. Those thoughts aside, he more than suspected she was involved in something. The desire to protect his friend was not new to him. His growing desire for Gabriel's new mistress disturbed him enough to question the direction he now went.
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To be continued...
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