“Let go of her, Minerva.”A deep masculine voice came from the doorway.“And tell her what she wants to know.”
The lady let go of her, and Violet swung around.Mr.Seaton’s tall, lean form filled the open doorway.He leaned casually against the doorjamb, his arms crossed at his chest, but his eyes were narrowed and glinted with danger.
“Mr.Seaton, I did not expect to see you here,” Violet said.
“Got your note.”He prowled into the room, stopping at the edge of the desk.“Answer her questions.You know I would not have offered a penny.”
Mrs.Lowell pursed her lips into a thin line, her eyes narrowed.
Violet pushed the fifty pounds toward the woman.“A deal’s a deal.”Then she sat again, Mr.Seaton’s presence large and comforting next to her.
Mrs.Lowell sighed.She scooped up the money and stuffed it into the top drawer.“Only because it’s you, boy.”She turned her shrewd gaze back to Violet.“The duke has certain sexual proclivities.Are you sure you want to hear this, dear?”
Violet gripped her gloved hands together.She nodded.
“He likes to hurt his bed partners.Not just spanking and flogging, though.He has a taste for blood play.”
Violet gasped.She couldn’t help herself.She had extremely limited knowledge of sexual practices.Her husband never spent much time on their lovemaking, if one could even call it that.Stuart would come in, order her to undress, and then push her face down on the bed before rutting into her.It was generally all over in under ten minutes.The first few times, on their honeymoon, he had held her afterward, and that had been nice.But overall, his rough, quick fucking left her sore and underwhelmed.But blood play?Perhaps she should be grateful for her husband’s disinterest.
“The trouble is that he does not have the self-control necessary for this type of play.”Her brows lowered.“He dumped the last girl back here practically dead.She will bear the scars for the rest of her life.Never again will I deal with that man.And I’m not the only one.”
Violet sucked in a deep breath, feeling nauseous again.Dear Lord.Surprise was not a strong enough word for what she felt.But also disappointment.She could never speak with her father-in-law about his sexual proclivities.Never in a million years.There had to be something else.A man who would harm women thusly was a bad person.And bad people did bad things.She just had to find the right bad thing to use against him.
Violet rose.“Thank you, Mrs.Lowell, for sharing.Good day.”Then she turned and walked out to the hallway, where Jim waited stoically.“I am done.Let’s go.”
The smell was just as foul as she walked down the long hallway as it had been coming in.Thankfully, the couple fucking against the wall was gone, and she was only accosted by the sex sounds through closed doors.She had to get out of this place.Picking up her pace, she raced down the stairs.Tripping on the hem of her skirt, she almost tumbled down the last couple of stairs, but a strong hand grasped her arm, steadying her.
“Be careful,” Seaton said.
“I have to get outside.I’m going to be sick.”
*
Rhys opened thedoor for Lady Sommerset, and she rushed past him out into the cold evening.Not surprised by her shock, he watched her take deep gulps of air.This was no place for a sheltered lady of the ton.What the hell had she been thinking coming down here by herself?
Then Lady Sommerset turned, leaned over the railing to the basement stairs, and vomited.Some of his annoyance dissipated at the loud heaving sounds coming from the lady.He sighed and turned to her footman.“Go find your carriage.I will stay with her.”
The man gave him a wary look of indecision.
“Go.I promise she will be safe with me.”Then Rhys walked over to where she leaned against the wrought iron railing.He handed her a handkerchief.“Poor thing.It always smells like garbage down here by the river.”
“It’s not the smell.Well, it certainly isn’t helping.”She wiped her mouth.“I’m pregnant.And sick all the damned day.”
Pregnant?He stared down at the petite beauty.Sweat dampened the blonde hair at her temple, and despite the cold, her cheeks were flushed.The smell of refuse and fish permeated the air.He clenched his hands into fists.She didn’t belong here.Rhys’s temper roared to life.“What the hell were you thinking coming down to a brothel by the docks when you should be at home abed?”He gripped her arm so that she had to face him.“Why would you risk yourself and your babe?”
She flinched.Fear flashed bright in her eyes.He dropped his hand to his side.Composing his tone, he said, “You should have waited for me to respond to your note.I could’ve come by myself.I know Minerva.”
“I am willing to take any risk to protect this babe.”She shook her head.“You wouldn’t understand.”
“What won’t I understand?”
Violet tugged at the wool scarf around her neck.“I am so overheated.”She pulled it open, and her cape fell back over her shoulders.She sighed as cool air hit her neck.That’s when he saw the greenish-yellow bruise.Alarmed, he closed the small distance between them and brushed at the layer of powder along her collarbone that only partially covered the mark.She jerked away, but he grasped her chin between his fingers.Using his thumb, he gently rubbed away more powder, uncovering another large, fading bruise along her jaw.What the bloody hell?
“Who hurt you?”he demanded to know.
Her deep chocolate eyes widened at his tone and then closed on a sigh.“My husband.”
Rhys’s temper went white-hot.He took a large step back so as not to frighten her further.“That bastard.”
