“And if she’s alone? If she needs a brother?”
“I’ll offer my services for that position, as well,” Nicholas replied. And he would. He had no siblings—after his birth, his mother had been unable to carry a child—so he grew up alone and understood how lonely such a life could be.
A serenity replaced his father’s anxiety as he drew his last breath.
Nicholas had kept that promise, making inquiries into Lord Florington. As it so happened, the man was a newly titled baron, which explained why Nicholas had never heard of him. But at least he had a place to start.
Upon arrival at the home of Lord Florington, however, he had learned from a maid that Eliza had been sent to another estate. From there, she took on a new position in another house and then another.
It was what happened next that set Nicholas on his current path of retaliation. According to one of the footmen with whom Nicholas had inquired, Eliza had been sold to a bordello in London, where she died in a tragic accident shortly after her twentieth birthday.
Nicholas had never been so angry in all his life. No woman should be treated like chattel. If she wanted to engage in solicitous behavior, the decision was hers, but from Nicholas’s understanding, Eliza was not given the choice.
At least his father never learned the truth about Eliza’s demise.
After that, Nicholas swore to uncover the truth about who put his sister in such a despicable position in the first place as well as learn who else had been involved. Then he would ruin every single one of them!
With the help of Tibbons, he set out to learn the names of the men who had exploited his sister for their carnal pleasures. But as the days became months, Nicholas realized he may never discover who they were. What he did learn was that those involved in such appalling enterprises were tight-lipped and watched out for one another.
When he was close to abandoning his quest, however, a letter arrived. Mr. Thompson had certain information concerning a Miss Eliza Trillings. How this mysterious man knew about Nicholas’s search for his sister, Nicholas had yet to learn, but he needed all the help he could get.
At first, Nicholas considered ignoring what the man had said. What if it was a trap? What if this Mr. Thompson had a nefarious motive? Yet, he risked taking that first bit of advice, and he was glad he did. For it had sent him to Lord Stickler, the first man Nicholas had ruined.
“I’m nearly there, Father,” he whispered to the room. “Not much longer, and our revenge will be complete.”
With a sigh, Nicholas descended the staircase, stopping to sit on the third step. Their revenge would be exacted once he trapped Lord Tulk. But to do that, he needed a fiancée. The marquess had not said so outright, but Nicholas had a feeling he would scoff if Nicholas did not produce his mysterious new bride-to-be. The last thing Nicholas needed was to lose what little footing he had gained with Lord Tulk.
Which brought about his current predicament—using Miss Clifton for his own needs.
Nicholas rubbed his temples. His head ached. Why did trying to do right feel so wrong?
Because using someone is wrong!One could utilize corrupt practices in the pursuit of doing good. The question was, should he?
A sudden knock at the door made Nicholas frown. He was not expecting company. Osborne had gone into the village to run errands and was not due back for at least another hour.
Not that the butler would be knocking at the front door.
When Nicholas opened the door, he was greeted with a smile from a lady he had not seen in many years.
“Hello, Nicholas. It’s been a long time.” Jane, Lady Ayles smiled at him. “Forgive me for calling unannounced.”
Nicholas stared in disbelief at the marchioness. It had indeed been a very long time, five years in fact, since he had seen the dark-haired woman. The very same who had hurt him and thus caused him to take a vow of bachelorhood for the rest of his life. He would never allow another woman to break his heart as she had.
“What do you want?” His tone could have pricked her skin, but he did not care.
“Well, that was not the greeting I was expecting,” she said with a small laugh. “Won’t you invite me in, or must I stand outside to freeze to death?”
Nicholas gripped the door. “My friends are welcome in my home, certainly. But seeing as we are not friends, I must ask you to leave.”
As he went to close the door, Lady Ayles stuck out her hand to stop it from shutting. “Lord Tulk invited me to your masquerade ball.”
“Lord Tulk?” Nicholas asked, shocked beyond belief. “And why would he do that?”
“Father worries my social standing is declining and wishes me to remarry.”
“Remarry? And what of your husband?”
Lady Ayles shrugged. “He died last year at our Yorkshire estate.”