“What secrets?” Even as Seth asked the question, he felt reality settling over him. There was a darkness in Luke’s inquiry, despite the easy tone. He stepped into the room and kicked the door shut behind him, his arms folded.
“What in God’s name are you thinking?” Luke hissed and walked around the billiards table, marching toward Seth. “You have the daughter of the Earl of Holmwood in your house? Have you taken leave of your senses, man?” He threw his arms madly in the air and gestured at Seth’s temple. “She hardlylooks abducted, does she? She is in there making Christmas decorations for heaven’s sake!”
Abducted? Why would I abduct her? I gave her refuge!
Yet, Seth said nothing. His anger was boiling in his stomach, like simmering water on a fire, it was spitting and getting very close to being dangerous. He glared at Luke, finding that anger bubbling out of control.
Was it Charity making changes that had caused this anger? Luke discovering his secret? Or the accusation now?
“What happened to your priorities?” Luke walked around the billiards table and slammed a hand down onto the felt. “I thought you were in this to avenge my brother. Not to find yourself a wife!”
Something inside of Seth snapped. He dropped the papers and marched toward Luke, taking him by the collar of his coat and marching him back so far that he collided with the wall. Luke stood frozen, wide-eyed, and gawping in shock, though he did not move to get out of Seth’s grasp, nor did he call for the help of Monty.
“Yourbrother?Who, too, was a dear friend of mine? Not to mention how you conveniently forget my father? Which one of us suffered more in that fire? Eh?” Seth barked under his grasp. “Which one of us walked back in and tried to pull your brother and my father out? Which one of us walks around every day in self-exile with the scars of that night to remember them, whilstyou stand outside and breathe fresh air like you had done all those years ago?”
Luke pressed his lips together, his face suddenly impassive.
“Don’t you dare question my intentions again,” Seth seethed and abruptly released Luke. “I bear the scars of that night at Aldenbury deeper than you do, and we both know it.” Luke staggered against the wall, in danger of falling over as Seth walked away and returned to the billiards table. “It was not planned, but she is here now. Don’t ask me why she is here, it is just the way things are.”
“Are you affectionate for her?”
Seth chose not to answer. He could not explain what he felt for Charity to Luke, though he knew how he wished to answer.
I desire her. By Jove, more than I have ever desired another woman in my life.
He lay awake at night, thinking of just how close she was and longing to touch her, to make love to her, to see her writhe in pleasure and moan his name. God, how he wanted her, but he could not take her. This place was her refuge! And her father… her father was the devil to him.
“Wait, Seth… no, no, I was being foolish. No, this is perfect. You wise, wise man. We could make it work to our advantage.”Luke’s words broke the silence between them as he recovered himself.
“What on earth are you speaking of now?” Seth looked up from the papers strewn across the table to see Luke’s face stretching into a smile.
“Perhaps you are a genius after all,” he murmured with his wolfish grin growing even wider still. “We can use her against her father. Seth, under your own roof, you have the perfect way to get to him.”
Seth’s hands tightened around the top rail of the billiards table. Charity had nothing to do with the fire. Using her as a pawn against her father was wrong.
Something in Seth’s gut curled dramatically against the idea. For a moment, he thought of sending Charity out of the house, to keep her safe from both himself and Luke. Then he realized how absurd that idea was. He could not get rid of her. It was an impossible thought.
At least this way, it would make the best out of a bad situation. She despised her own father too. For long, Seth had thought it, but never truly voiced it in his mind.
Luke is right about one thing… she could be useful.
Charity had to be important to her father. That in itself could prove useful, and she might yet know things, things thatSeth longed to know about all those years ago when the fire happened. If he could at least learn part of the truth of that night from her, and receive a little closure, surely it would not be so bad?
He had to keep her here anyway, so for now, he would entertain the plan.
For the moment. And never at her expense.
The thought came through strongly, giving himself the chance to back out if he wished for it.
“Let the three of us have dinner tonight,” Luke insisted, walking toward Seth once more.
“Why?” Seth asked warily.
“Trust me. If we are to uncover the truth about Lord Holmwood, then we need to know more about her first.”
CHAPTER 10
Seth gripped his claret glass hard as he stared across the table at Charity and Luke talking to one another. He could not bear it. There was something so wrong about the situation, seeing them talk with such ease whilst he sat there in silence. But neither could he find a wish to join in.
