Rowena’s stomach dipped. Dear God.The eyes in the painting were Maudsley’s.Why would Harlowe depict them in a work of art? And why such a vile subject matter?
She gripped the familiar cloak of rancor tightly about her and strolled to the tea service. Biting back bile, she poured a cup with trembling fingers. “My, my. Lord Maudsley, what an unpleasant surprise.”
He slithered into the room, into the light.
She took in the cruel twist of his mouth, the deep creases in his face from the indulgent lifestyle he’d never seen fit to modify. He pulled a coin from his pocket, tossed it in the air, then caught it. She took a fortifying sip of her tea, but had to force the swallow. “I see time has not been kind to you, my lord.”
He laughed. A deep vibration that reverberated to and from the high ceilings. “As forthright as I recall.” He raked an appraising gaze over her that started at her toes, paused at her bosom, and lingered on her mouth before meeting her eyes. “You hid your sister well, I see.”
Stunned, she blurted, “My sister?”Oh God. He’d seen her with Corinne.A shudder racked her.
His eyes narrowed on her. She shivered again at the depths of such malice. So much at stake.
Up that coin flew. He snatched it from the air like a venomous snake. Then again. “Tell me,” he said, “howisthe prostitution business these days? No unexpected…childrenthrough the years? Perhaps you’ve”—he leered at her—“missed me.”
Somehow she suppressed a flinch at the direction this horrifying conversation had taken; keeping a cool head was imperative. He believed Corinne was herchild, just as Lady Kimpton believed. “I’d rather be dead,” she said flatly.
“That can be arranged,” he said softly, strolling within touching distance.
She would not be cowed by this bastard. She stood her ground, willed her hands steady.
He lifted a finger, grazing her cheek. “A shame. I must say, time has been extremely kind to you, my dear. Your body doesn’t look as if you suffered through bearing a child.”
The coin pitched up again, but this time she snatched it from the air. Hate infused her; disgust surged through her veins. “True. But must I remind you, Edward? You prefer them…muchyounger. Remember,darling? Surely you do. How old was I when you first took me—rapedme? Oh, yes. Fourteen, I believe.”
His fist landed across the cheek he’d brushed. The dainty cup tumbled from her grip, its contents scalding her fingers. Yet she clung to that coin.
Another violent lash sent her head snapping back.
He caught her up before she slid to the floor. Her eyes squinted against the pain. Yet she welcomed it. Pain scrubbed away the despicability of his touch. The salty copper taste of blood touched her tongue.
“Yes, and it seems you’ve kept a tasty morsel from me all these years. How old is she, Rowena?”
She clamped her swelling lips together, refusing to answer.
“She is mine, is she not?”
A toxic poison infiltrated her veins. An elixir of malevolence and utter loathing. “What of it? She is yet another girl,” she hissed.
“Ah, but she bore a son, did she not?” he said calmly. His hands dug deep into her arms. She was sure to bear the imprint on the morrow.What of it?She strove to drive his madness to the surface. The bruises would fade, but perhaps he would be exposed for the merciless rapist and murderer he was.
Coarse laughter filled the room, hers. She lifted her eyes. Two Maudsleys danced before her. She shut her eyes against the sight. “You!” she bated. “You thinkyoucould sire a son? Everyone knows what a failure you are.”
His breath touched her face. The effect was nauseating. “You are a most unwise woman.” His voice was soft, harsh, deadly.
His hand slid along the base of her skull and sunk into her hair as he grasped with all the cruelty she remembered from the past.
His fleshy lips brushed hers. She recoiled, gagged at the bile. “Ah, darling, no one would know if I took Corinne—is that her name? No one would know if I took Corinne in as mine and my long dead wife’s, and claimed her as legitimate.”
“No.” Horror clawed her. “No. no. no. no.” It was the only word she could seem to utter. Large dark spots swarmed her vision. Oh God. He was winning.
He stilled, and an evil light glinted from the four eyes before her. “Perhaps I’ve stumbled upon the truth after all.”
Shove him away.The words sounded like a mantra in her head. She tried lifting her arms, but her limbs refused to obey. She squeezed both fists tightly to hold on to the coin. She couldn’t be certain which hand it lay in. That damned coin would be his downfall, she vowed.
Maudsley jerked her head back and slammed her against the wall.
Voices reached her ears just before the blissful blackness overtook her. A moment too late to save herself and, worse, Corinne. Always a moment too late.
