Chapter 24

I pray my children are nothing like their parents. I pray they know real love.

~The Duchess of A

W hen faced with curling into a ball and weeping until she broke or finding a well-placed outlet for her anger and resentment, Raina opted for the latter.

If she allowed herself to relive all the hard, cruel, statements Severin had flung earlier, she'd break into a thousand million pieces.

Instead, while her maid attended Raina's hair, Raina stared at her ravaged reflection and seethed.

How dare he? How dare her brother destroy Severin's life and saddle him with that which he'd never wanted—Raina as his wife.

Along the way, Gregory had become so obsessed with his gaming empire, Raina and Millie had become an afterthought. Even then, however, Raina never doubted his love or his desire to protect her.

Until he'd trapped her and Severin and revealed the treacherous lengths, he'd go to achieve his end, by whatever means possible.

Gregory's work, the life he lived—a depraved one like their late parents—had changed him—and in no way for the better.

She pulled in a breath.

Inversely, Raina wanted a man who loved and desired her and only her—but Severin would never be that man.

But, how, I wish he was.

Raina bit the inside of her lower lip to keep it from trembling.

The irony was not lost on her. In the ultimate fraternal ultimate betrayal, Gregory had both joined her with the only man she'd ever love, but also a man who'd hate her forever.

Except, silently raging over Gregory's duplicity, reminded her all over again, of Severin's disdain for her .

She squeezed her eyes shut, and willed thoughts of her recent exchange with Severin away—to no avail.

"…Have I ever been anything but clear my only interest in you is of a carnal nature?"

However, that hadn't been entirely true. He'd also seen her as a business assignment.

Tears formed in her throat. Whether he'd spoken about his lust for her or obligation to watch over her, both realities of how he felt—or rather, didn't feel—about Raina, nearly crippled her with grief.

"There you are, my lady," Lucy announced.

Yet another irony, she'd spent so many years worrying she possessed her mother's wicked streak. Only to find she was just like the late duchess, after all, in the worst possible way. Raina loved a man who'd never love her.

That had been the greatest tragedy surrounding her mother's life. Not the things she'd done , but what she'd not had in her marriage to the duke.

Raina let the sob building in her chest, free, as an ugly, pain-filled laugh.

"My lady?" Lucy spoke, haltingly. "I've finished…w-with your hair."

Her hair.

Raina blinked at her reflection. "Yes, thank you, Lucy." She pushed back her vanity chair and stood, when a firm knock landed on her door.

The maid rushed over and drew the solid oak panel open enough to duck her head out.

"Her Ladyship's carriage is waiting," the gentleman said to Lucy.

Ah, yes. The servant she'd been greeted by on her wedding day: Mauley. Not a servant, but a guard.

Whatever the charmer said next, drew a giggle from a smitten Lucy.

A sour taste filled Raina's mouth. How glib of tongue these agents were. They knew just what to say to attain whatever information it was they sought.

As Raina made her way to the quietly conversing pair, she detected the minion's muted words.

"Where should I direct the countess's driver, fair Lucy?"

Raina coolly interrupted before the young girl could speak. "The countess is more than capable of advising my driver of my destination, Mr. Mauley."

Lucy jumped, dropped a curtsy, and stepped aside so Raina could exit.

"Fair Lucy," she said drolly, as she fell into step; Mauley kept pace beside her. "I must confess, you might speak to your superior, Mr. Cadogan, about more inspiring endearments. I'd suggest you use a bit more tact if you'd like to ascertain my movements."

Mauley's mouth tightened—only for a moment. "Pardon me, my lady. I did not mean to upset you."

"Mr. Mauley?" Raina stopped so abruptly, Cadogan's minion had to double back. "How long have you known my husband?"

He kept tightlipped.

"Oh, come now," she scoffed. "He is my husband," No matter how much Severin despised the fact. "I'm aware of his history."

Surprise lighted the handsome guard's eyes.

"My brother, the duke, shared some," she reluctantly confessed. "Mr. Cadogan shared more."

Mauley hesitated. "I was appointed Mr. Cadogan's secretary with the Home Office the moment I left university. I've been with him since. Eleven years come June."

She detected something in his tone but could not make it out. "You are loyal to my husband."

A muscle spasmed at the corner of his right eye.

"I am not questioning your loyalty," she said matter-of-factly. "I'm pointing out that given your relationship, given the fact you witnessed our wedding, you're likely also aware of the circumstances surrounding our marriage. As such, it is no secret to you, that my husband did not want this u-union." Her voice broke and tears pricked behind her eyes.

She increased her strides.

Mr. Mauley cleared his throat. "Be that may, Mr. Cadogan pro—"

"Protects what is his?" she volunteered.

"Yes, my lady."

They reached the foyer, where the second butler, Falston, stood in wait.

She flashed Mauley a smile. "Well, that is splendid, but I belong to no man."

Color skimmed along the skin just above the line of Mauley's beard.

To Mr. Falston's credit, he didn't seek his superior's permission and went ahead opening the front door.

With a word of thanks to the tow-headed servant, she headed outside.

"His Lordship will be displeased," Mr. Mauley called after her.

"Ah, but His Lordship isn't here," Raina rejoined, without glancing back. "As such, he isn't around to be displeased."

Raina reached the gleaming black carriage. The surly driver looked as thrilled by Raina's apparent show of defiance as Mauley.

When he made no attempt to help her inside, Raina firmed her jaw.

They could all go to hell. "Men, you'd rather order women about and tie us on leading strings like children based on nothing more than an assumption that your lord and master will be displeased."

"Oh, I assure you," Mauley drawled, "make no doubt about it, Cadogan will be displeased."

"You spend a good deal of time worrying about displeasing Mr. Cadogan," she mused.

"You'd be wise to do so, as well."

"Ah," Raina patted his arm, "I don't scare easily. And fortunately, as I'm not a small child, I'm entirely capable of opening my own door."

With that, she let herself inside and pulled the door shut behind her.

Once seated, she drew the black velvet curtain back.

Mauley looked to the driver and when he didn't find any help there, he glanced back at Falston.

The second butler returned inside and shut the black-painted doors.

Raina laughed.

Severin's right-hand man swung his focus back to where Raina sat and glared.

She waved; then thumped her fist on the roof. "If you'll please, Mr. Barlowe. To Forbidden Pleasures ."

The two men exchanged a few words, and then her driver nodded, and climbed atop his box.

The moment the expansive conveyance dipped, she glanced over to find Mauley climbing inside.

"I'm going with you, my lady."

"You needn't—"

"It's not a request. Cadogan will have my head if I do not follow you."

"Then you can either get in the carriage, Mauley, or get the hell out of my way," she said tersely, tired to her soul of being manipulated and treated like a pawn on a chessboard.

It wasn't long before Raina and Mr. Mauley arrived at Forbidden Pleasures . The carriage just completed a full stop, when Raina tossed the door open, and jumped down.

She faltered, her left ankle shifting slightly from that uneven leap.

Squaring her jaw, Raina righted herself.

Ignoring Mauley's shouts behind her, Raina took off running for the front doors of Gregory's beloved establishment.

She ground her teeth.

It was all Gregory was capable of loving. Not she. Not Millie. No one.

"My lady," Mauley shouted, more insistently.

The guards stationed outside didn't bother to mask their surprise at finding the duke's sister storming the club. Also in their favor, they drew the doors as wide and welcoming as if she were herself a patron.

The moment she stepped inside, they shut the door, locking Mauley out.

The guard's muffled shouts penetrated the heavy panels.

Raina ignored them.

Seething, she did a sweep of the nearly empty gaming floors.

Stationed on a small dais, Rex DuMond caught sight of Raina first.

The handful of gentlemen playing cards throughout seemed to notice her the same time as the dealers and serving women did.

DuMond said something to the other partner, head of security, Lachlan Latimer, who stole a quick glance at Raina.

"My brother," she called. "The duke. I want a meeting. Now ."

She needn't have bothered finishing her demand. The towering guard, and third partner, Latimer, had already let himself out through a paneled door behind the dais.

While she waited, gentlemen continued to stare.

Let them.

Severin had taught her that. None of them mattered. The one man who did, however, hated her for perceived crimes—because of her brother.

"Gregory," she thundered. By God, she'd find him herself.

She headed for those not-so-secret doors. As she did, DuMond shouted orders to his staff.

Within just a handful of moments, the marques had dispensed of all the revelers and the staff.

"My brother will be displeased with your sending the patrons away," she noted when she'd reached him.

"Yes," DuMond acknowledged gently. "But that's not more important than you. I know Argyll agrees."

Her eyes blurred. "You think, do you?" If her brother felt the same way his friend did, then she and Severin would not be in this quagmire.

There came the thundering of footfalls.

Her barefoot brother, dressed in nothing more than his trousers and untucked lawn shirt, crashed through the doors. Just like their father, he was.

His frantic gaze immediately found her. "Raina!"

"My apologies." Curling her lip, she gave him a scathing once over. "By the look of it, I've taken you away from your busy afternoon of whoring."

Flummoxed, Gregory staggered.

From the corner of her eye, she caught DuMond and Latimer exchange a look. Together, they took their leave.

When his partners had gone, Gregory found his voice. "Raina, you shouldn't—"

"What?" She cut him off. "Say ‘you were off whoring?' Be inside your…" She ran a caustic eye over his beloved institution. " Gauche club. Nothing at all like Craven's."

She returned her focus to Gregory and found his frown had deepened.

"You went to Craven's?" he asked, his voice sharp.

In mock surprise, Raina pressed a hand to her breast. "Never tell me you weren't aware of my visit?"

"I wasn't," he snapped.

"Tsk. Tsk. And here, I'd believed you'd neatly planned all of this. How heartening to know the minute Severin was in our household, you ceased to worry about where I went or what I did."

He flinched.

"Hmm. If I didn't know better, big brother, I'd believe you have a conscience buried somewhere deep inside your ruthless being."

Gregory didn't let her incite him.

His hard lips went white at the corners. "Going forward, Raina, you are not to go anywhere near Crav—"

She tossed her head back and roared with hilarity.

"My God," she rasped, between great, big, heaving fits of laughter. "One could almost be convinced you care about me, Your Grace."

"I do ." There crept a faint thread of desperation into Gregory's usually imperturbable voice.

She clasped her hands before her and made her gaze adoring. "What a devoted, loving, considerate, big brother."

Raina dropped the melodramatic act. "Only you would be able to speak that so convincingly, Your Grace," she said coolly. "You needn't worry. I'm no longer your problem. Remember? You whored me out so you could—"

Gregory went ashen-faced, and she followed his frantic gaze over to the door his partners and friends exited through moments ago.

Raina lowered her voice. "You whored me out, trapping Severin in a marriage he did not want."

Gregory dragged a hand through his loose, angel-like golden curls. "I didn't."

More like the Devil.

"How am I wrong?"

"Raina," he beseeched. "I didn't want…What I thought…"

She clicked her tongue. "I never thought I'd see the day; the glib-tongued, Duke of Argyll finds himself unable to speak."

Her brother rubbed a palm over his haggard face.

Then, it dawned.

"Oh, my God." A quiet laugh, built this time. "He wasn't supposed to just fuck me, he was supposed to fall in love with me."

His features twisted. " Raina !"

"Ah, how could I forget? A lady mustn't curse, but when it comes to gentlemen, whoring about, and selling a sister, that is very much aboveboard."

Fire blazed to life in Gregory's eyes. " Stop ." He strode angrily the rest of the way towards her. "You are no whore."

"No, I'm not." Raina knew that now.

She considered her brother for a long moment. "Do you know, I spent my entire life worrying I was a whore: wicked and immoral, like mother and father and you?"

He flinched.

"I realize now, our mother was a good woman," Raina said, more to herself. "She deeply loved a man who didn't love her. At least, not the way she wanted or deserved."

She gave him a pitying look. "I feel badly for you, Gregory. For you, in every way, are cut of his cloth. My only prayer is whichever unfortunate woman you wed, doesn't have her heart broken as our father did to our mother."

He stayed uncharacteristically silent through her address.

Raina gave her head a clearing shake. "This isn't why I've come. I want something from you, Your Grace."

"Anything," he instantly vowed.

"I want what you promised my husband."

"Anything except that."

"Do not tell me you lied," she whispered.

His eyes darkened. "You are my sister, Raina. I love you, but do not call a gentleman a liar."

If she could manage a laugh, this would have been the moment.

"Yes, well when I see a gentleman, Your Grace, I will take care."

A flush climbed his neck and splotched the rugged line of his cheekbones.

Frustrated at her inability to get another rise out of him, she sighed.

"Forgive me, Gregory," she said softly.

He inclined his head like a benevolent lord.

"I did not expect a man with so little honor to draw a moral line at flat-out lying. Are you more comfortable with lies of omission, hmm?"

"Bloody hell, Raina," he said, exasperatedly.

The fight within her began to fade. She couldn't stand to look at this man she'd called friend. He'd been her hero for so long; the adoring older brother who'd wiped her tears and welcomed her in his life.

Her throat moved spasmodically.

"In addition to your trustworthiness," she said softly, without any of her earlier acrimony, "given the recent events, even your claims of loving me, are also highly doubtable."

His body jolted. "Raina," he implored, his voice ragged.

Raina made herself take several breaths. "As I said, it's done. Our relationship," she motioned between them. "is over, but I can try and salvage a future with my husband. If you give me what Severin so desperately seeks."

A flush climbed his neck and splotched the rugged line of his cheekbones. "I can't," he finally said, his voice agonized.

Her frustration mounted all over again. "You can't? Or you won't ."

Gregory touched a hand to her shoulder. " Ray ."

Raina shrugged off his touch. "Do not touch me and do not call me by that name."

In a rare display of desperation, Gregory scrubbed both hands over his face. He let his arms fall uselessly at his side.

"Raina," he said, and when he spoke, this time he was back in full control of his emotions. "The earl intends to hunt down the ones who betrayed him. His quest would put you in danger."

She snorted. "It's a little bit late to be worrying about my safety, isn't it?"

Then, what he'd said, registered.

"You never intended to fulfill your end of the arrangement," she breathed.

Gregory's hesitation served as his confirmation.

"You bastard," Raina hissed.

Curling her hand into a fist, she brought her arm back and punched him with enough force to snap his head back.

Excruciating pain radiated from her fingertips to the length of her palm. She cried out. Sucking in sharp, jagged, breaths, Raina drew her injured appendage close.

Even with the crimson mark she'd left upon his cheek, her brother gave no indication of any physical hurt.

"DuMond," he thundered.

The marquess and Mr. Latimer came racing in so quickly, there could never be a doubt they'd been just on the other side of that doorway, waiting for their partner and friend.

Friend. Pfft.

Gregory didn't know a thing about truly loving or caring for anyone other than himself.

"Summon the surgeon," he barked, in full ducal command.

Lachlan was the first to move.

"Do not, Mr. Latimer." She stayed the enigmatic head guard. Not because she didn't need a doctor, per se. "I'm not staying. This will be the last you see of me."

Giving Gregory her shoulder completely, Raina continued to hold her smarting hand and looked to the two gentlemen.

"Rex," she said softly. "Thank you for everything." She would miss Rex. He'd always been hard, dark, and cynical, but with her he'd been patient and kindly towards.

He winked. "No need to thank me, Mopsy."

Mopsy. It'd been years.

His eyes bore the sadness of one who knew this was goodbye.

Raina turned next to Latimer. "You came into my life, far later, and I am grateful you were in it, at all."

"Aye, you're still a sister to us," the towering guard promised, his meaning clear.

She could always rely upon he and DuMond.

Not so much as looking Gregory's way, Raina straightened her shoulders and headed for the door.

"Raina!" her brother called out, stopping her when she'd neared the front of his precious club.

"You say I trapped Cadogan in a marriage he did not want. Perhaps I can take that to mean, it was a marriage you wanted, and you have feelings for the earl."

Feelings for Severin? She loved him, madly, deeply, and beyond all reason.

It was the only marriage she'd wanted.

Raina squeezed her eyes shut to keep the tears falling, and when she had them in check, she faced Gregory. "Unfortunately, what didn't occur to you was in using me to entrap Severin, you've ensured he will never love me."

Pain ravaged his features. "Raina, I've seen the way Cadogan watches y—"

"Stop!" she cried. Her voice pinged around the vast, high-ceilinged gaming hell floors. Raina stretched an unsteady hand. " Just stop . You couldn't possibly see anything, Gregory, because you were never around."

Latimer headed for the opposite doorway, to take his leave.

Gregory swung a frantic gaze between the heard guard who'd been a best friend to him, and Raina.

Ah, a choice: between friend and business partner, or sister who no longer served a purpose.

The moment he took a step toward Latimer's retreating figure, Raina started for the exit.

" Raina !"

She didn't stop this time, quickening her pace, lengthening her strides.

"Hold that door, Knight," Gregory barked to the guard when she reached the front entrance.

An unfamiliar, younger, dark-haired, man positioned himself between Raina and her exit.

" Argyll ," DuMond censured.

Behind her, a quarrel broke out between the men.

Raina tilted her chin. "Mr. Knight, are you aware of who my husband is?"

His large Adam's apple bobbed.

He nodded jerkily. "Aye, m-my lady."

Heady at witnessing the fear her husband's name evoked, Raina became more emboldened.

"I can promise, if you keep me here against my will, Mr. Cadogan will return, and you'll regret ever having followed a single one of His Grace's—"

She didn't even need to finish.

The darkly clad, uniformed servant yanked one of the panels wide, allowing the sunlight to come streaming through.

Squinting, Raina blinked several times. When her eyes adjusted to the change in setting, she found Mauley pacing alongside Severin's carriage.

Her husband's secretary stopped in his tracks.

She hurried to meet him.

"Please, Raina," Gregory entreated from the doorway.

The moment Raina drew close, Mauley withdrew a firearm from under his jacket.

Her heart lurched.

A barefoot, half-naked, Gregory, staggered to a stop. Even though he raised his palms, the flint in his eyes oozed with violence.

"Mauley," she said sharply. "Put your weapon down."

All around them, passersby took in the titillating display unfolding.

"Now," she snapped when the guard didn't move fast enough.

With a palpable reluctance, Severin's man returned his gun to its holster.

Gregory immediately rushed over. When he reached Raina, he opened his mouth to speak, and then stopped.

"I'm speaking with my sister, Mauley ." Ducal authority rang in her brother's. "Get the hell out."

Mauley remained steadfast. " The countess is also my employer's wife and that supersedes any authority you think you may have over Her Ladyship."

Snarling, Gregory charged.

Bloody hell. Raina placed herself between them, preventing the battle each craved.

"That will be all, Mauley," she said swiftly before the two obstinate men came to blows. "I would like a moment with His Grace."

When he'd retreated, giving Raina and Gregory some distance, she looked to her brother.

"I'm sorry, Gregory." As angry as she would forever be with him, she loved him still. "I would never allow him or any of Severin's men—"

"Do not apologize," he interrupted, gruffly. "Severin's job is to protect you, and his man did just that today."

Silence fell; the calls of vendors hawking goods and the steady clip-clop of horses highlighted the quiet between them.

"I never wanted to hurt you," he said simply. "I decided Cadogan would be a good protector and husband to you long before I even considered how that union could and would benefit me."

Gregory skimmed regret-filled eyes over her face. "I don't expect your forgiveness, but I would have you understand, the feud between Craven and I—" His mouth tightened. "You weren't safe. Now you are." Pain ravaged his features. "Even if that means I'm never permitted to see you."

Her eyes burned. She'd always love her brother, but he'd betrayed Raina's husband, and there was no going back from that.

He took her hands in his and lightly squeezed. "I promise, I will not allow Killburn to keep you and Millie apart."

"He wouldn't." Just as Gregory would be no match for Severin.

Several tears fell.

Releasing her, he wiped those tears away with the pads of his thumbs.

"Hmph." Gregory wore a bemused expression. "Seems to me, you have hope for Cadogan, after all."

With that reminder of his perfidiousness, the tender moment was cut quick.

"Goodbye, Gregory," she said hoarsely.

He unexpectedly hauled her into his arms and held her just as he'd done the day, he shared the news of their parents' deaths.

Fighting back a sob, she hugged him back.

"I didn't want to give this over for a host of reasons," he said, even against her temple, his voice scarcely audible. "One being a desire for your husband to put his fraught career behind him, for your sake—"

"And yours," she drolly reminded.

"Fair enough." His chest shook with quiet laughter. "And mine."

His mirth faded. "The other because I believed there couldn't be anything good to come from him knowing what's in here."

He pressed something into Raina's palm, and deftly guided her fingers closed around a scrap of paper. "I realize now, that isn't my place to decide."

Raina attempted to draw back and see what he'd shared.

"Not here," he whispered. "When you're alone."

Then, dropping a kiss against her temple, he set her from his arms.

Only after she'd asked Mauley to ride with the driver and sat alone on the carriage bench, did she do as her brother instructed.

With the steady sway of the carriage, she carefully unfolded the tiny scrap and froze.

Her breath lodged painfully in her chest, and she stared at the information written there, willing it to change.

But it didn't.

Raina's eyes slid shut.

No.