He nearly laughed. “You aren’t stupid, Lucinda. You know what you ask is impossible, even if I still wanted you.”
Her mouth rounded in an O of shock. “But...”
“You should go now and stop playing your silly games.”
Her face reddened, then fury flashed in her eyes. “You’ll regret this,” she hissed.
“I already do.”
She flounced by him her hands gripping her skirts. He watched as she stalked into the hall and toward the front door. Moreland would see her out.
His teeth ached from the tension in his jaw. What was the woman up to with her theatrics? He could no more marry her now than he could become king, and he wasn’t in the market for a mistress. He’d sooner bed a viper.
Robby. Where was Robby in all of this? He strode from the drawing room to call for his carriage. “Moreland,” he said, as he gripped the handle of the front door. “Inform Miss Ashton that I shall return shortly.”
###
India’s hand ached from the speed in which she scribbled. But finally she was through with the translation. She tamped down any excitement she felt and quickly folded the papers in front of her into a tiny square. She shoved them into the waistband of her breeches and returned her attention to the writing before her.
Only she would have the true translation. Her father’s life depended on it. Her fingers smoothed over the crinkled paper she had written the misleading directions on. There was enough information to make it appear genuine, but certainly not enough to lead anyone to the city.
She leaned back in her seat, stretching her tired muscles. She glanced up at the clock, surprised that so many hours had passed since she’d begun the task of deciphering the text. Where was the viscount? She couldn’t imagine him not eager to see the final result.
Again, she felt an unwanted pang of guilt at her deception. She pinched the bridge of her nose between two fingers and rubbed absently.Stop being weak. Weakness was for victims.
Pressing her palms down on the polished surface of the mahogany desk, she pushed herself up. She needed to stretch her legs and her cramped back muscles.
She walked over to the window and stared out at the small garden in the back courtyard. Neatly kept, but not overly generous with blooms, it spoke volumes about the viscount’s character. Modest and not overly cluttered.
The door clicked behind her, and she turned, expecting to see the viscount. Before she could register who was entering, pain speared through her head with lightning speed. Rough hands grasped her arms and dragged her across the room.
She struggled wildly, the pain nearly making her retch. What had struck her? The large armoire loomed before her, and before she could react, she was thrown inside. The door slammed behind her and she tried to sit up inside the cramped space.
Oh God. Not the dark. She felt the already small space closing in around her. Panic rose in her chest, swelling in her throat until she feared she’d stop breathing. Her hands pounded against the doors, hoping to budge them, but they remained tightly closed.
No. No.No. Her brain hummed a desperate litany. Anything but this. She wouldn’t survive it.
Chapter Five
Ridge walked into White’s, his eyes scanning the interior for his brother. Did Robby know about Lucinda’s change of heart? Dread thrummed through his veins at the prospect of facing his brother with what he knew.
His gaze took in Lord Clarence slouched in a corner nursing a drink. With any luck, Lord Clarence was in too much of a stupor to take note of Ridge.
He found Robby eating alone at one of the dining tables, and he slid into the chair across from him.
Robby looked up in surprise. “Ridge! What are you doing here?”
“How are you, Robby?” He couldn’t keep the affection from his voice. No matter the past, Robby was his little brother.
“I’m well,” he said around a mouthful of food. He swallowed rapidly and took a long drink from his glass of wine.
Ridge raised an eyebrow. “Good?” He stared intently at Robby, probing him with his eyes. It was like looking a miniature of himself. Same dark hair, same dark eyes, only Robby’s eyes were usually alight with mischief. Today they were dull.
Robby flushed and his eyes dropped to his plate. “Maybe not so good,” he mumbled.
“Care to tell me about it?”
Robby wiped his mouth with his table napkin and shoved his plate aside. “It’s deuced embarrassing to be telling you this, but the fact of the matter is my marriage is in ruins.”
