“You’ve already been to see her?” Bella asked, tone shrill.
“Yes.”
“And she left you like this?”
“She didn’t see, Bell. It wasn’t as though I could show her my back and ask her to play nursemaid while she was laying my sins at my feet.” Benedict took another swig of scotch.
“She did not appreciate all that you’ve done for her?”
“What have I done for her? Seduced and humiliated her? Brought danger to her doorstep? She’d have been better off if I’d never set eyes on her.”
Bella opened her mouth to retort, but West interrupted. “Whoever your father sent is in the wind. But I’ve men on it.”
“Men?”
“Prizefighters always know the goings-on in the lower gaming hells. I already sent word to the saloons. Someone starts asking questions, I’ll know it.”
“Thank you,” Benedict said. “Don’t suppose my things were dropped off earlier?”
“No…”
“Damn,” Benedict sighed. “That driver is going to be thoroughly disappointed when he opens the case and discovers how utterly uninspiring the contents are.”
“You can have one of my shirts,” West offered. He rose, making for the staircase.
“You’re staying here?”
“I’ll not leave your sister here alone. Not with whoever your father sent lurking about,” he called back as he strode up the creaking steps.
“I should order you two wed,” Benedict threatened half-heartedly.
“If that threat is meant to deter me, you’ll have to try harder!”
“As if any force on earth could tempt me into matrimony with you! There is no greater hell in this life or the next,” Bella shouted.
“So charming!” West yelled from the landing. “Give me five minutes, and you’ll sing a different tune.”
“You couldn’t manage it if you had five years!” Bella rebutted.
“Be a pleasant five years, though.”
“Oh, good, the bickering. West, I’ll need you to knock me out. I cannot listen to more of this.”
West returned with a bundle of clothing. “I know you mean that in jest, but you might wish it. I’ll need to disinfect your wounds.”
“Tempting.” Benedict took another swig of his scotch before handing the bottle back to West.
The man handed him a strip of cloth to bite down on, and Benedict took it gratefully.
Fire flooded his veins, burning him from the inside out as West poured the spirit across his back. The flames of hell licked at his skin. This,thiswas his eternal torment for his sins.
Eons later, when the pain subsided, his face was damp with tears and mucus.
“Sorry, sorry.” West pulled the cloth from his mouth and offered him a clean handkerchief.
“I knew what was coming.”
Benedict glanced toward Bella, who was uncharacteristically silent. He found her standing beside him, one arm wrapped around her waist, the other at her lips, teeth gnashing at her cuticles.
