She discovered a closed door and barreled through it, startled when she found both Mr. Winters in heated debate with each other. They paused, their gazes narrowing upon her. That was when she realized she had thought of Mr. Dominic Winter asherMr. Winter. And that was also when she realized she was doomed.
She saw keenly the differences between the two men now—Dominic Winter exuded an aura of absolute danger. His dark hair was too long for fashion. His body appeared perpetually coiled, as if to strike at any moment. Her host, on the other hand, possessed a calm demeanor of command. It was plain to see neither Mister Winter liked the other.
“Lady Adele, this is a private matter,” Mr. Devereaux Winter told her, breaking the silent exchange of stares.
“Forgive me for the interruption,” she said, her cheeks going hot as she realized she was being despicably rude. Presumptuous too, to believe Dominic Winter would come here specifically for her. “I…mistook this chamber for another.”
She turned to flee.
“Wait.”
The deep, commanding voice of Dominic Winter stopped her when she would have flown from the room. Adele paused, looking back to the two men. His gaze clashed with hers, stealing all the breath from her lungs.
“As this is a matter which concerns you, Lady Adele,” he elaborated smoothly, “you may as well stay.”
“What can this possibly have to do with Lady Adele?” Mr. Devereaux Winter growled. “She is under my protection here at Abingdon Hall. Leave her out of whatever grievances you claim to have against my family.”
“Your family?” Dominic Winter’s lip curled. “I thought it wasourfamily, brother. Always so goddamn selfish, are you not?”
So it was true, then. The two men before her shared blood.
“I am not your brother,” Devereaux Winter snapped.
“Half brother, brother, same difference, is it not?” Dominic Winter flashed a feral grin. “Our father liked to keep his prick wet, and he did not give a damn who was doing the wetting. Twelve children to show for his efforts. Quite impressive, I say.”
Devereaux Winter’s hands balled into fists. “You are speaking in the presence of a lady, you blackguard.”
Dominic Winter’s gaze returned to Adele, who had been watching the dialogue between the two men unfold, in shock at the revelations. “Is she a lady? Might be open to discussion, that.”
She flinched at the insult he paid her. Yes, he was angry with her. She had spent the time since she had slipped from his chamber and his gaming hell fearing he would find out her true identity. That he would come looking for her. And that if he located her, all would be lost…
“Leave us, Lady Adele,” Devereaux Winter told her gently. “There is no need to subject yourself to his wrath.”
“I fear there is.” Adele took a deep breath. “I need to speak to Mr. Winter. Alone.”
Her host looked dumbfounded by her abrupt announcement. He frowned at her, his brow furrowed. “I beg your pardon, my lady?”
He was going to make her repeat herself.
Her ears went hot, and the churning in her stomach increased, the knot there tightening with almost painful intensity. “I must have an audience with Mr. Winter.”
Mr. Devereaux Winter continued to frown, her repetition of her request apparently doing nothing to quell his concern.
Dominic Winter was quicker to respond. “There now, you did not believe I came all this way to lick your boots, did you, brother? I hate to be the bearer of ill tidings, but I did not travel to Oxfordshire to watch you playing duke with your new wife and all your fancy cove friends. I came here forher.”
His confirmation of her fears did nothing to soothe her inner turmoil.
“What business can an East End rat like you have with the daughter of a duke?” Devereaux Winter asked, his tone biting as the lash of a whip.
Her ordinarily genial host’s bitterness was not lost upon Adele. The two men before her did not just dislike each other. They hated each other. And yet, if what Dominic Winter said was to be believed, they had the same father. Half brothers, so different and yet so much the same.
“Would you care to answer that question, love?” Dominic Winter taunted her.
For a searing moment, she remembered the way his lips felt against hers. The way he had brought her to life. The pleasure he had given her. How tender his touch had been. As if she had been fashioned of the finest porcelain. But where he once would have protected her from shattering, he was now on the path of imminent destruction, and it was Adele he meant to ruin.
“Mr. Winter was kind enough to aid my brother,” Adele said, pleased with herself for keeping the tremble from her voice.
“See that, brother?” Dominic taunted. “The lady says I was kind. Now shove off so I can speak with her. She has something of mine, and I mean to get it back.”
