“Don’t be smart, wench,” he snapped.
“Then start making sense,” she shot back.
He narrowed his eyes. Worse, his fingers twitched. Did he think to hit her? He would find her a harder woman to beat than his untrained wife.
But far from being angry, he seemed pleased. “Yes,” he mused. “You’ve got a strong spirit. You’ll bear me a son.”
She shook her head. “You mean to divorce your wife? She’s done nothing to hurt you.”
“She hasn’t borne me a son! That’s reason enough.” Sadly, he was probably right about that, legally speaking.
“Then you think to marry me?” Sadie asked, honestly confused. “So I will bear you a son?”
He barked out a harsh laugh. It was loud enough that he might draw the attention of someone strolling through the garden. A hasty look didn’t reveal anyone, but the shadows were thick. Meanwhile, the man calmed himself enough to answer her question.
“I’m not going to marry you. You’re Scottish!” He made it sound like she was a dock rat.
“Then how will I give you a son?” The moment she asked the question, she knew the answer.
“You’ll be my mistress, you daft wench,” he said, not even bothering to lower his voice. “But your son—my son!—will be—”
“A bastard.”
“True, but I’ll acknowledge him. You may be Scottish, but your blood is sturdy. And I need a sturdy heir.”
He needed a clomp about the head. “And what do I get for the privilege of bearing your son?” Her tone was sarcastic, but heseemed to take the question at face value, grinning as he leaned forward.
“You know what you want.”
She did, and it wasn’t to be his mistress. She’d grown up caring for her wild younger brothers after her father disappeared, then caring for her ailing mother who was a bitter shrew no one could please. And now she was in London because the head of her clan thought he was offering her a bright future by sending her to find a husband.
She’d found a cause instead. From the moment her name had been attached to—and cleared of—the horrid Mr. Carr’s murder, the downtrodden women of thetonhad come to her for help. They named her Lady Vengeance and asked her to save them. She did what she could for them, but she longed for a day when no one needed her aid, and she could live without anyone watching her.
She wanted a home of her own where no soul could tell her what to do. She wanted enough money to live quietly. Maybe she’d help out in a girls’ school somewhere. She wanted to teach them to read, to understand numbers, and to not allow any man to touch them without consent.
But first she had to deal with Liddican. “What exactly do you think I want?”
“The thing I do. The thing that makes women scream.”
She hadn’t the foggiest idea what he meant.
He flicked his tongue at her. Up and down like a snake, and almost as fast. When she stared at him in revulsion, he squeezed her arm.
“Never mind, my dear. You’ll know soon enough. And once my son is in your belly, you’ll have everything you want.”
He meant everythinghewanted. “And if I don’t?” she asked. “If I don’t want this wonderful thing you do with your tongue?”
His gaze darkened and his mouth pulled wide in a leer. “Too late, my dear,” he drawled.
“What?”
“Look about you. It’s dark now, and we’re far removed from the ball.” He chuckled. “Your reputation is ruined.”
“Really?” she gasped as she looked around her. It did appear quite deserted, but then, she knew it wasn’t. “Actually, I believe it is your reputation, my lord, that is in danger.”
Of all the men she’d taken on, Lord Liddican was one of the worst. He was young, large, and prone to temper tantrums when he didn’t get his way. He might hold himself in check when around men he respected, but once in private, he turned his rancor on his wife.
It was his mother-in-law who had sought out Sadie. She was afraid for her daughter and grandchild. And now, Sadie stood in front of him, ready to mete out Lady Vengeance’s punishment. Sadly, even this had to be explained to the stupid man.
