Eastleigh removed his hands, glancing at his son. “Have we sold the plantation yet?”
“Unfortunately, no.”
Virginia almost cried out, and she covered her racing heart with her hand.
All three men looked at her. Then Devlin said, “I wish a word with you in private…my lord.”
Eastleigh continued to smile. “I am afraid we are late for a supper engagement. I suggest you call later in the week.”
Devlin now smiled and it was chilling. “I insist upon a moment of your time.”
Eastleigh seemed to be a statue until he spoke, so quickly that Virginia had to strain to hear. “I grow tired of your games,” he said softly. “I grow very tired, indeed.”
“Unless you wish for the entire world to know of the countess’s indiscretions, I suggest you give me the moment I am asking for.”
Virginia had no idea what Devlin spoke of, but William gasped, and she glanced at him and found him pale. Then she saw that Eastleigh was turning red, dangerously so, in an apoplexy of rage.
William came forward. “I will call the constable,” he cried. “This man cannot come into our home, flaunting an impostor and making accusations against the countess.”
“I have hardly made any accusations yet,” Devlin said. “I merely threatened to do so.”
“There will be no constable,” Eastleigh choked. “State your business, O’Neill, and leave—before I have you thrown out.”
And Devlin was clearly amused. “And just how would you do that?” He started to laugh.
Virginia saw the absurdity. As if this old man and his pampered son could defy a man like Devlin, a man who did not think twice of attacking and destroying innocent ships. She hurried to him. “We should go.”
But he didn’t hear her—no one did. He said, “Virginia wishes to be reunited with her family—with you. Your reputation for generosity precedes you, my lord, and I wish to discuss the nature of the reward you will want to bestow upon me.” He seemed to be laughing now.
Eastleigh just stood there, looking as if he wished to strangle Devlin but did not dare. He was crimson now.
“Reward?” William gasped. “Good God, the man thinks to ask a ransom! He wants a ransom!” he cried. Then, “Oh, ho, your head will roll for this! Even you cannot abduct a woman like my cousin and get away with ransoming her!” He had become gleeful.
Eastleigh and Devlin stared at each other, neither of them smiling, and if their eyes were daggers, they would both be dead.
“There will be no constable,” Eastleigh said finally. “And you will not, William, mention this to anyone! Not even your brother, do you hear me?”
“But…” William sputtered.
“I do not seek a ransom,” Devlin said far too softly. “I seek merely to have my expenses reimbursed, and we shall call it a reward. Fifteen thousand pounds should do.” He turned. “Let us go, Virginia, our business here is done—for now.”
He had taken her arm. She glanced back and saw Eastleigh in his impotent rage, and William, more stunned than anything else.Fifteen thousand pounds.It was a vast sum of money, a sum Eastleigh clearly did not have.
They were at the door when Eastleigh called out to them. “We are not paying it,” he said. “You have lost this time, O’Neill, for you see, I do not want the girl and I am not paying any ransom at all. You may keep her.” And he laughed.
VIRGINIA HUDDLED IN THE COACH.This time Devlin had the coachman tie his horse to the back of the carriage and he climbed in beside her. Closing the door, he settled back against the leather seat, knocking on the partition. The carriage took off, rumbling down the paved drive.
Virginia looked at him with wide eyes. His face was hard. So were his eyes. He seemed deeply thoughtful, but if he was dismayed about the interview—or Eastleigh’s refusal to pay her ransom—she could not tell. She shuddered. What would happen now? She had little doubt that Eastleigh had meant his every word. He did not care if she lived or died, was captive or freed. She had never seen such cold eyes—except for Devlin’s.
She shivered again. Somehow, Eastleigh’s eyes were worse. Two things now were clear. Devlin’s hatred knew no bounds—but Eastleigh hated him as ferociously. And both men were at an impasse, were they not? As Devlin was demanding a ransom that Eastleigh refused to pay.
If only she could make Devlin change his course. Would anything stop him from exacting his revenge on his enemy? She did not think so and she despaired. “Devlin…this has to stop.”
He looked at her. “This stops when I say so and not a moment before.”
She stiffened, as his gaze was chilling. “And are you pleased with yourself? Do you get pleasure from what you have done, and what you are doing? My uncle is destitute! You have clearly ruined him. Why continue? Who would choose to live this way—to live a life of hatred and revenge!” she cried.
Something in his gaze flickered. His mouth tightened. “I heard you once say that if someone had murdered your father, you would kill him yourself.”
