She cast desperately about the ballroom, but Rawden had not returned. ‘What do you want, Lord Sharp?’ she said.
‘What I have always wanted - you.’
‘That will never happen, for I want to be as far away from you as possible.’
‘I do not relish being denied that which I covet, Grace. And deep down, you know you want me in return. Just because you are married doesn’t mean you can’t have your pleasures, as Rawden has his.’
Grace frowned up at him.
‘Ah, I see I have your attention. How much do you know about Romola Bianchi?’
‘What?’
Grace could not hide her dismay, and Caville saw it. A smile spread across his face, and it was a handsome, open and disarming one, but to Grace, it was the face of a snake about to sink his fangs into her flesh. Her legs almost buckled, but Caville held her up.
Her tormentor’s voice softened to a conspiratorial whisper. ‘You will have heard that Romola and Rawden are old friends and more. Rawden has been seen visiting that lady’s abode of late. For what purpose, one can only imagine?’ Caville steered her to the edge of the dancers, and for a moment, Grace thought he would let her go. ‘I will tell you more once we are alone,’ he breathed. Before she could protest, he dragged her by the hand through the throng and out of the ballroom. Grace found herself in a corridor beyond the music, candlelight, and safety. She wrenched at his hand, but Caville held her fast and dragged her into the gathering darkness of a long corridor.
A door opened, light spilt out, and suddenly Grace was face to face with James Hardy and Rawden, her hand still held tightly by Caville Sharp.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Rawden took one look at Grace with Caville Sharp and snapped. ‘What the devil is this, a tryst?’ cried Rawden, plucking their hands apart and shoving Caville violently against the wall by his lapels, sending a painting askew and almost crashing to the floor.
‘Hold, Rawden. Calm yourself,’ cried Hardy, but his rage would not be contained.
‘Rawden, no,’ cried Grace. ‘Stop it.’
‘How dare you put hands on my wife,’ spat Rawden.
‘She likes me to put hands on her, and it is not the first time,’ snarled Sharp.
‘You liar,’ cried Grace.
Caville ignored her. ‘I have tasted your wife, Voss, and I am not afraid to tell the truth, though she may be, given your violent nature,’ hissed Caville.
Rawden drew back his arm and hurled a savage punch at Caville’s face, sending him crashing to the floor. He would have followed it with a rib-breaking kick, save for Hardy, who stepped between them and hauled Caville to his feet.
‘We cannot have a scandal here at my family’s house,’ he cried, dragging the senseless Caville through the open doorway. Rawden followed, grabbing Grace and sweeping her into the room.
For a moment, there was horrified silence, punctuated by moaning as Caville came to his senses. The sound of his own enraged breathing filled Rawden’s head. A red mist came down, and Rawden wanted only to tear, punch, and break every bone in Caville’s body. He could not even look at Grace lest he explode with jealousy.
‘I’ll kill you for this insult,’ spat Rawden at the stunned man.
Hardy put out his hand. ‘No, you will not. You will calm down this instant. Rawden. You must return to the ballroom and ascertain if anyone is aware of what has occurred. Act as if all is well. If we have been overheard, say it was a servants’ squabble that got out of hand. And when you can, send my father’s butler here.’
‘I will not. I will stay and finish this worm.’
‘That is the last thing you will do in my parents’ house,’ hissed Hardy.
Caville started to come around and find his feet. Hardy leant him on the edge of a desk to steady him. The wretch wiped blood from his nose and glared at Rawden.
‘You are an animal,’ he snarled.
‘Another word, and I will end you,’ said Rawden, looming over him.
‘Please, stop,’ cried Grace. She put a hand on his arm. Was she actually defending the bastard? He rounded on her. ‘You best say nothing when my blood is up. I will deal with you later.’
‘Deal with me? How will you do that, by hitting me too?’ she cried.
