One
London, March 4, 1818
“No!” Her decision was final and brooked no argument.
“I told you she hated me,” Mr. Benedick Valentine reminded Dr. Xavier Sinclair.
“Lady Victoria is independent, which can sometimes lead to foolish decisions,” Sinclair, husband of her twin sister, observed.
Anger and indignation flared and Lady Victoria glared at her brother-in-law. “Do not try to evaluate the status of my mind. I am not your patient.” Sinclair was a man of medicine and his area of study had been the diagnosis and treatment of troubled minds and melancholy states. “I do not need a man to protect or even rescue me.”
She then scowled at Benedick. “It is not hate.” She whipped around and stomped to the sideboard where she poured herself a brandy and kept her back to Benedick and Sinclair.
At one time Victoria thought herself to be in love with Benedick, and assumed he returned the emotion, but when he saw her face, the horror in his silver eyes was not something that she would ever forget.
She should never have accepted the invitation to Lady Grisham’s house party last summer. She had only gone out of curiosity because everyone knew that there was one held every year, but no one who had ever attended discussed what occurred. Not even the slightest bit of gossip or rumor was whispered behind fans, which of course had everyone intrigued.
What occurred at Lady Grisham’s house parties were likely the best and only kept secret in London Society, and Victoria should have allowed herself to remain curious.
Her first warning that the holiday would not be normal was when the invitation instructed that she was not to bring along a guest, nor were any servants to accompany her while being assured that a maid would be available during her stay. Further, she was to arrive at a coaching inn where an unmarked carriage would take her the rest of the way to Lady Grisham’s estate. It was all rather mysterious, especially after she entered the dark carriage to find a selection of purple masks on the seat with a note that stated, “When not alone, a mask must be worn. You must don it before your carriage arrives at my home. You are prohibited from revealing your identity to my guests, nor will they reveal theirs to you. Everyone will reveal themselves at the stroke of midnight during the ball held at the end of the sennight. Until then, you will only be known as Valerie.”
“Are you in agreement, Lady Victoria?” the footman had asked and it was only then that she realized the carriage had not yet left the coaching yard.
“Unless you promise to acquiesce to the stipulations, we cannot deliver you to Grisham Hall.”
A nervousness had engulfed Victoria, but she had also been intrigued and reminded herself that it had been some time since she had enjoyed any adventure and therefore, she promised to abide by the rules.
Had she not already known Lady Grisham, Victoria may have declined and returned home, but her curiosity would not allow it.
That had been her final mistake.
Had she not attended, her heart would not have been broken.
Several times Victoria had wondered if Benedick had shown her attention and affection because she had been a willing participant in near seduction and he had been nothing but a rogue. Matters did not go so far as to actually ruin her, but there had been heated moments. Her heart also became involved. As for Benedick, he behaved no differently from any other rake invited to a house party.
And now, the very man who had stared at her in horror when her mask had been removed had been asked to protect her.
“Your presence is not necessary. I need no protection.” At least not from Benedick who probably did not want to be here anymore than she had wanted to see him again.
“It appears that you do,” Benedick offered.
At his reminder, Victoria rubbed a hand over her bruised arm. It had come from a man who wanted his property back—a woman who had taken up residence at Westbrook House to escape her unpleasant situation.
Victoria and her sister had established Westbrook House a few years earlier when they began taking in orphans and thought to run a foundling home. But desperate women in need of shelter also started to arrive and it also became a haven for those who had nowhere to go.
As for the man who accosted her, he had gotten away because he hadn’t attacked her here, where there were guards, but on the street in front of her home. Had he not been chased off by others…she shuddered to think what else he might have done.
“It was one incident and will not happen again,” she assured both Benedick and Sinclair as she turned to face them again.
Why did Benedick have to be so blasted handsome with his thick brown hair and sharp silver eyes, sculpted jaw and cheek bones and firm lips.
Oh, she did miss his talented mouth.
Her face heated and she turned her attention to Sinclair and tried to ignore the man who had introduced her to passion and pleasure without taking her virginity.
“He knows where you live,” Sinclair insisted.
“That does not mean that he will return.”
