“That skinny bitch!” she snarled, throwing the box of marzipan to the floor. “I can’t believe it!”
“What is it, my love? What is the matter?” he asked, rushing to her side.
“Why didn’t you kill her?”
“Kill who?”
“The Latham chit! She’s all over the Tattler—parading about London, going to balls, attending the theater. I wanted her gone so the perfect Viscount Thomas Latham and his precious Viscountess, Frankie, would suffer,” she spat. “What woman goes by a man’s name? Frankie!” she said the name again with a sneer. “If only I could have done away with her—then Latham would have lost his mind for certain.” She flung the newspaper aside. “The next best solution was to do away with Latham’s sister. And you failed!”
Rosco sighed. This was not the first time his lady love lost her temper over the botched robbery last year. For months, he’d managed to mollify her with regular reports of the young woman’s self-imposed imprisonment. He’d kept watch on the Latham’s townhouse and only ever saw her venture into the garden, her face a mask of pain and sorrow. Endora had loved hearing him describe how the girl sat on a bench under a tree and sobbed for hours.
“Why oh, why didn’t you kill that simpering twit when you had the chance?” Endora shouted, bringing his attention back into focus. “It was meant to be a robbery gone wrong. The perfect crime and completely unconnected to me. How many times do you have to be told things? And now, everything is all ruined!”
“I told you. The Latham chit screamed, and men came running to help her. I didn’t have time to do it, my love…” Roscoe said, trying to appease her.
“Nonsense! You messed it up. Admit it. When I get out of here, I will have my vengeance. They will all feel my wrath. I will see to their demise—Latham, his wife, and the Dowager Duchess of Clarence,” she muttered with a scowl.
“Yes, my love,” he soothed, plumping up the pillows and easing her back against them.
“Why didn’t you want to kill her?”
How did she know he had hesitated? When he saw Miss Latham, a familiar feeling took over but ended just as quickly. She wasn’t his type. The chit had dark hair and he had only ever liked blondes until Endora. When he remembered what Endora wanted, it was too late. Help was coming and he had to run. By the time he was sufficiently on his way home to Endora, he no longer felt that need. She was all he needed.
“I want you to contact your two buffoons and have them return to London. We need another plan to do away with her.”
“I promise, my love. I will do it right away,” he said, running his hand down over her naked flesh.
She moaned and pulled him down on top of her. “Tell me again how you felt when you killed Colborne.”
“It was like a bolt of lightning surged through me…” he rasped in her ear.
Only I know what she needs, what she craves. Only I can make her happy.
How he wished he had killed the Latham girl. Letting her live was disturbing his life, causing him more trouble than he’d imagined.
“You love me, don’t you?” he asked, gazing into her eyes.
“Yes, my darling,” she said, driving her nails down his back and smiling with wanton pleasure. “You know how I feel. You’ve always known.”
Yes, always…
Sebastian arrived at the dowager duchess’ promptly at ten o’clock. His curiosity was piqued by the dowager’s request to meet with him.
“Your Grace, Lord Soren, is here to see you,” Franklin intoned, stepping into the drawing room doorway where the dowager duchess and her two charges were having tea.
“Lord Soren, thank you for paying me a call,” the dowager said and then nodded to the two young ladies. “You know Miss Latham and Miss Gowans.”
“It’s a pleasure to see you both this morning,” Sebastian said, giving a deferential nod of his head.
His gaze riveted to the brunette beauty in an olive-green dress to the right of the duchess. Her smile was warm and welcoming and made him wish they were alone.
“Good morning, Lord Soren,” Katie said, followed by Paula.
Paula was there, which offered a good opportunity to bring up the sketching idea. He made a mental note to mention it.
The duchess smiled. “We were just having tea. May I offer you some? It’ll warm you up.”
“I’d like that, Duchess.”
