“Then he does not know you as well as he thinks, if he believed you would be a passive participant in your family’s demise.”
Judith finally took a sip of the now lukewarm tea. “Apparently not.” She set down the cup. “You do know I will check your information.”
“I expected no less. I will be glad to provide the name of the shipping—”
“I have it.” When his eyebrows arched, she shrugged one shoulder. “Edmund did not realize I would tear into our accounts with the fury of a panther. He had not thought to hide anything before I ripped into his study. Invoices. Duplicates of his wagers. Receipts of payments. Invoices. All in his desk and not in the least hidden.”
“Then I suspect he is fortunate that those ships went down carrying only crops and rum on their return to England instead of their cargo out of Africa.”
Judith tasted bile again, but looked up at the unexpected awareness, oddly pleased that he had recognized that. “Indeed. His father had fought in the colonies. He had seen slavery up close. And despised it. Spoke out against it. If he had known his son would ever be involved, he would have disowned him.” She took a nibble of a small biscuit, her gaze on her plate again. “I am a dowager with no legal power in any of this, and he took comfort in that as he deceived me. Edmund may not have realized exactly how miserable I could make his and Margaret’s lives.” She swallowed, the lump hard in her throat.
“But he is finding out.”
“I suspect so.” She gave a slight smile. “He keeps looking at me as if I have grown two heads.” She pushed her teacup away and looked into Rydell’s eyes. Even laced with obvious pain, those blue eyes entranced her. “Why is it men always underestimate women? Treat them as if they are part of the furniture?”
The smirk returned. “Because they are fools who do not recognize how truly remarkable women can be. How strong and powerful. How determined.”
“And you do?”
“You will find, Lady Sculthorpe,thatis an advantage rakehells and rogues have over other men. Most of us adore women. We not only take great pleasure in their sweet scents and soft skin but their conversations, the power they wield when their husbands are not paying attention. It is part of our charm.”
“And how you managed to seduce so many.”
“Enjoying the physical company of the fairer sex is only the beginning.”
“I really do despise that phrase.”
He tilted his head. “‘The fairer sex’?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“It implies we are kinder and weaker than men. We are not.”
“Are you saying women are cruel?”
“We can be, even more so than men at times. And you are about to witness exactly how cruel I can be.”
“How so?”
“You may be less to blame in this than Edmund implied, but others are not. And if I have to go to war to save my family, I will gladly do so, no matter the consequences.”
*
Mark hesitated, studyingJudith, the set of her jaw, the dark expression that clouded her face. He had no doubt how seriously she took her own declaration—and at first, he thought she intended to turn her cruel streak toward him. Now, not so much. “Exactly what do you have planned, my cruel lady?”
Her mouth jerked, an attempted smile that failed miserably. “In all your worldly travels, have you ever come across a female wolf with cubs?”
Mark’s eyebrows arched at the image. “I have. In one of my journeys to the American colonies. Do you see yourself in that way?”
She gave a quick nod. “Do you remember me telling you I believe all children to be precious?”
“It is seared into my mind.” An image of Olivia flashed through his thoughts, but he pushed it away.
“That includes Edmund. And Daniel. Although we both have referred to Edmund as my stepson, I do not, in truth, see him as my husband’s son alone. Nor Daniel. They aremysons as well. I married their father when Edmund had barely turnedfour. Daniel not even a year old. I am the only mother they remember, and I could not care more about them had I birthed them. And someone has tried to ruin them, ruin my family.” Her eyes narrowed. “And if I have it in my power, I will destroy them, make them suffer until the day they die.”
Mark believed her, every word. “So what is your plan?”
