Chapter 16

16

He had just seduced his best friend’s little sister.

Lord help him.

Riding back to the manor through the woods, Chastity at his side, Lucien was torn between the foolish delight that threatened to burst through his rib cage like a bird taking flight, and the dread that settled heavily upon his shoulders.

He had done exactly what Dorian had forbidden him to do. He had gazed upon her in a very improper manner. He had touched her. So, so many times. And in doing so, he had violated several credos of the brotherhood. Only marrying her would break more.

Chastity’s horse was calm now as they passed by the dark branches, black against the backdrop of the gray sky. Occasional raindrops fell from the leaves as the wind was still strong.

From her steed’s back, Chastity kept throwing glances his way, full of a special meaning, and those soft, pretty smiles were just for him. Completely disarming.

Lucifer, what in the world was he going to do? And what was this lightness, this damned tingling in his heart, and this sense that no matter how wrong it was to lie with Chastity, it felt more right than anything else in his entire life?

It had taken a few hours for the storm to die down…a few of the most delicious and torturous hours he had ever endured. They must have been halfway through the woods and hurrying, as the light was quickly fading, when he heard hooves drumming towards them on the path.

Lucien glanced at Chastity. Someone was going to see them, and she could be compromised.

“Do not fret, Lucien,” she said. “I will just say you found me and rescued me after the storm passed.”

He nodded. He had just dishonored her…and she was going to protect him? But he didn’t have time to reply because the drum of hooves became very loud, and Dorian and Constantine appeared on the path, riding hard.

Worry was evident in Dorian’s grim expression. When his gaze landed on Chastity, relief made his face go slack. “Chastity!” he cried as he reined his horse to a stop. “Lucien!”

Pryde also brought his mount to a stop; Chastity and Lucien did the same. “Thank heavens!” cried Pryde, who descended to the ground, his dark navy coat black in the dull light of evening, his pristine riding boots glistening. “There are several search parties looking for both of you. Almost everyone was back in the mansion, save you two. We also rescued Miss Anne Rose, who was in quite a state.”

Dorian frowned as he descended. So did Lucien. “Sister, are you all right?” Dorian asked, striding to her side and looking her over while she remained in the saddle. “Are you not hurt?”

Chastity chuckled. Her clothes were still slightly damp, as were Lucien’s. Even the heat from the fire hadn’t been sufficient to dry them completely. Her hair was disheveled, with twigs and little pieces of dry leaves, and even a tiny piece of hay, stuck among the dark locks under her bonnet. Smudges of dirt marred her skirt. “I’m perfectly all right,” she said. “I did almost have a fall. My horse became terrified during the thunder and lightning and galloped through the woods in a panic. I would have broken my neck if not for Lucien. He found me and calmed the poor beast down.”

Dorian’s pale face turned to Lucien with an expression of horror, and then relief. Exhaling sharply, he squeezed Lucien’s shoulder. “Oh, thank you, old friend. Thank you for saving her.”

Lucien nodded, flinching inwardly. He wished that was the only thing that had happened. He wished he could accept Dorian’s thanks wholeheartedly… He had honored the principle of protecting his friend’s family…at least from the storm.

But he’d broke several principles of their friendship and of the brotherhood. Loyalty—he had betrayed his best friend’s trust by doing something he had been forbidden. Secrets shared—he was certainly not going to share this secret.And even though he had helped Chastity, he had also seduced her and dishonored her without any intention to marry her…

And he wanted to do more of that.

All desires were natural…no matter how wicked.Except for the desire to take his pleasure with his best friend’s sister.

“Of course,” Lucien said, avoiding Dorian’s eyes. “She’s your sister.”

Frowning, Dorian let go of Lucien’s shoulder. “Where were you exactly?”

“Theold groundkeeper’s cottage,” Lucien answered. Lord help me look into Dorian’s eyes again with a light heart. He’d know. Surely, he’d know something was wrong.

“Of course,” said Pryde. “I forgot all about it. Good thinking, Lucien.”

“We waited out the storm there,” said Chastity. “We simply couldn’t ride through the storm with my horse being so panicked. And Lucien’s horse started to get uneasy, too. It was very dangerous, with lightning striking all around and trees falling.”

“Of course,” said Pryde carefully. “Of course. Your safety is paramount.”

“But you two were alone?” asked Dorian slowly, narrowing his eyes. “For hours…”

“Yes, Dorian,” Chastity cried out in vexation, “we were. Or, forgive me, would you have preferred Lucien take me back to the manor right away and risk my breaking my neck because both horses panicked?”

Dorian’s eyebrow arched. “No. Of course not.”

“And it’s Lucien,” said Pryde. “Go on, Rath, you know you can trust him as you would yourself. As you would the rest of us.”

Dorian’s chest was rising and falling quickly as he studied Lucien for a long while. “I know. But I also know Lucien. All desires are natural, no matter how wicked, right, Lucien?”

Lucien’s throat clenched. “Yes. For all of us,” he managed.

Dorian nodded, his jaw working. “Do I have your word nothing happened? My sister’s honor is intact?”

Lucien’s heart dropped to his heels.

Dorian’s eyes were two narrow slits on him, piercing straight into his wicked, corrupt soul. “Look me in the eye and give me your word of honor.”

Lucien was a despicable, ghastly man. He had no choice. He had to protect Chastity’s reputation. And his friendship with Dorian. His belonging to the brotherhood. His place in Dorian’s and Chastity’s lives. What would become of him without them?

Damnation!

He looked into Dorian’s eyes—the eyes of the man who had always been like a brother to him—and told him the first lie in their lifelong friendship. “I give you my word of honor.”

Dorian exhaled sharply and nodded. “Thank you. I knew I could trust you.”

Chastity raised her eyebrows. “You could have also asked me.”

“Of course,” said Dorian. “Lucien’s word is enough for me. But do let me know if he made you uncomfortable.”

“Besides his typical jests,” Chastity scoffed, “and strange opinions on female fashion, he didn’t make me uncomfortable at all.”

Lucien felt like his skin was clammy, dirty, like his very heart was becoming corrupted. What a terrible friend he was. Both to Dorian and to Chastity.

And yet, he had never experienced such happiness as he’d felt during those forbidden hours with Chastity—in that small bubble, in that little world of their own, protected by the storm and sheltered by the rain.

“And you’re all right to ride?” Dorian asked Chastity.

“Perfectly fine,” she said, her back straight, looking like a goddess on a hunt. “Stop fretting about me.”

“There’s an urgent letter for you, Lucien,” said Pryde as he remounted his horse. “There was a rider an hour ago, not long after the storm ended. He would have come earlier, but he was delayed by the weather.”

Lucien’s eyebrows snapped together. “For me?”

Pryde reached into the inner pocket of his coat and retrieved a folded paper. Then he handed it to Lucien.

“Let’s go and you can open it back at the house,” said Pryde.

But Lucien had already broken the seal and unfolded the letter. He read it aloud.

“London, 10 August, 1814

To His Grace, the Duke of Luhst

Your Grace,

It hath come to my knowledge that Your Grace is the sire of a natural child. I beseech Your Grace to deliver the sum of two thousand pounds sterling to the address noted below, precisely one sennight hence. Your Grace is advised to come unaccompanied.

Should Your Grace fail to comply with this entreaty, the identity of Your Grace’s natural offspring shall be made known to society at large. I counsel Your Grace not to endeavor to discover my person, as such efforts shall prove fruitless.

I assure Your Grace that acquiescing to this request is not only in Your Grace’s best interest but also in that of the child in question.

I remain Your Grace’s most humble and obedient servant,

A Friend

Address for delivery:

17 Leman Street, Whitechapel

London”

Cold dread ran down Lucien’s spine. The words swayed before him.

A child? He was being blackmailed?

He muttered a vile curse as sweat broke through his skin. Could this be real?

“A child?” asked Chastity softly.

Lucien glanced up at her. “Complete nonsense. Just someone trying to get the best of a duke.”

“Are you certain you don’t have a child?” asked Dorian. “You may not know if you have sired one. It’s not as if you’ve been stopping yourself from conquests.”

Lucien glanced at Chastity, suddenly feeling sheepish. He didn’t want to talk about other women in front of her. “I’ve always been careful.”

She put on her cold mask, back to the Chastity with walls built around her. Her face betrayed nothing, but her eyes were slightly wet.

“There is not the slightest possibility of this being true?” inquired Pryde, his brow furrowed with concern. “Are you quite certain?”

Lucien’s mind reeled. Of course there was a chance he could have fathered a child…his precautions could have failed. But even if he had done so accidentally, he had no intention of acknowledging it. A letter didn’t prove anything, especially one with no evidence or details.

“It can’t be true,” he said. “They just want money. This letter is nothing. I am not worried in the slightest.”

Except a heavy boulder weighed in his gut…