“An excellent actress,” Damien said, turning to face his brother. “She always has been.”
“You have five minutes, Damien.”
“Very well, Rafael. You haven’t married a shrinking little virgin. Indeed, it’s true I wanted her, but I love my wife. It was Victoria who did the seducing. Why do you think she married you? It is because you are my imprint. But I digress. I bedded her, yes indeed. She wanted it so much I couldn’t have stopped her if I had been a saint, which I’m not. She is a slut and a wanton, Rafael. Her passion exhausted me, I admit it. She escaped when I refused to divorce my wife and marry her. Her disappointment has become hatred, her hatred her revenge, using you. Against me.”
He had no time to say anything more. He saw his brother’s arm, then felt a searing pain in his jaw when Rafael’s fist connected. He fell back, hitting his hip against the large desk.
“You damnable liar. God, I can’t believe that even you would sink so low.”
Damien stroked his jaw. It wasn’t broken. He wanted to smile, but he didn’t. He forced himself to shrug. “I just wanted to spare you a horrendous surprise this night. You remember David Esterbridge? I told you he cried off. It’s true. He discovered that Victoria was my mistress. He was struck down, poor boy, but considered himself well free of her. I myself wondered if perhaps Victoria weren’t pregnant and that was why she even considered Esterbridge. You must ask her. I tried to be careful, but as I said, she is so very passionate, so very eager. I sometimes forgot myself. Do you know that once she followed me into the old portrait gallery? I took her just beneath the portrait of Grandfather, against the wall.” Those words were scarcely out of his mouth before Damien quickly skirted the desk, making it a barrier between him and his furious brother.
“Get out,” Rafael said. “Your lying filth has taken you beyond your five minutes.”
“Certainly, brother. I only wanted to spare you, it’s true. Now that I’ve done my duty, I will return to Cornwall. Do you also plan to bring your bride there?”
“Get out.”
Damien shrugged. “Au revoir, then, Rafael. Perhaps I shall see you at Drago Hall?”
Rafael said nothing. He was trembling with a rage so violent he didn’t trust himself to speak.
Damien smiled. “If only Grandfather could tell you now what he saw. Well, you will discover the truth soon enough.”
“Get out before I kill you.”
Damien’s smile grew wider. “You must ask her which of us she believes the better lover. Brothers in all things . . . share and share alike, hmmm?” Since he wasn’t a
man bent upon his own death, Damien quickly removed himself from his brother’s presence, leaving his damning words in the silent room.
Rafael watched his brother stride to the library door, open it, and leave.
He closed his eyes a moment, trying to regain his control. Poor Victoria. That sweet, innocent girl, having to defend herself against a man like Damien. The filthy, lying sod.
He forced himself to walk to the library door, open it, and pass into the entrance hall. Damien was gone, the bastard.
“You’ve been so kind to me,” Rafael heard Victoria saying to Lucia. “Not at all a tartar.”
“My dear,” Lucia said in high good humor, “you didn’t give me the right circumstance. Now, if you could but remain with me to do a proper come-out, you would see me fly my tartar colors quickly enough. When and if you meet Diana, she will tell you that I’m an impossible old lady.”
“Somehow I don’t think so,” Rafael said, taking Lucia’s hand between his two large brown ones. “Thank you, more than I can say, for helping us.” He leaned down and kissed her. He grinned at the light flush on her parchment cheek.
“Laying it on a bit strong, aren’t you, my boy?”
“Not I, sir,” Rafael said to the Marquess of Chandos.
“Lucia has been a bothersome old busybody for as long as I can remember, and that is more years than I care to count.”
“Unfortunately, you old goat,” Lucia said, “I have yet to equal your ploy with Frances and Hawk. Masterful. You see, I am the soul of generosity. I’m willing to give you your due.”
The marquess chuckled. “It’s true. I will also admit that you weren’t guaranteed the opportunity to truly test your own doubtless ruthless abilities. Rafael and Victoria were all too easy to match up.”
“That we were,” said Rafael, pulling Victoria’s hand through the crook of his arm. He said quietly to her, “Did I tell you that you look quite lovely? The gown becomes you, but I can’t say much about that wretched veil.”
“I believe the purpose of a veil is to keep the bridegroom from expiring from shock and fleeing through the nearest door before the vows are finalized.”
Rafael briefly thought of Damien’s damning accusation. He tightened his hold on Victoria’s hand. A pity that Damien was his brother. He hoped that when he struck him he at least loosened some of his teeth.
“Whatever is the matter? Are you just now realizing the enormity of your situation?”