Chapter 27

All Is Lost

Rose coughed. Her head swam. The world seemed to be rocking from side to side. The sound of horses' hooves and carriage wheels broke through the fog in her mind.

A carriage?

Something sweet and unpleasant filled the air. There was something in her mouth. Something soft. She went to remove it but found she could not move her hands.

"Oh good, you're awake," a voice said.

Lord Verimoor.

Everything came flooding back to Rose in an instant, and her eyes flew open. She blinked, the light dazzlingly bright. She choked again on whatever was in her mouth.

"I shall remove the gag." Lord Verimoor reached towards her and then paused. "Screaming will do you little good. We are miles away from civilization."

Rose glared at him.

You vile, hateful beast.

Lord Verimoor stroked her cheek, and only the fabric in her mouth kept her from trying to bite him. Tears threatened to spill over, but she held them back.

"You are so very beautiful." Lord Verimoor sighed. "Now, as I said, it is unlikely that anyone will hear you scream, but I do not care for the sound. And I would hate to have to drug you again. It is rather tiresome, riding in a carriage with an unconscious woman."

He dug his fingers into her chin as he tilted her face up. His blue eyes were cold and icy.

How could I have ever thought him handsome? The man is a monster.

"Do you promise not to scream?" He smiled, showing his white teeth.

Rose nodded her head.

"Good girl." He removed the gag and leaned back in his seat. "I would apologize for the restraints, but it seemed only sensible. You are rather wilder than I had anticipated. No doubt some of that vile Duke's character has rubbed off on you. We shall have to purge it from your system." He smoothed back his hair absently and smiled at her. "No matter, I have broken far wilder creatures than you."

"Why are you doing this?" Rose's voice was hoarse, her throat dry and aching. "What can you possibly hope to achieve?"

"I have already told you. I wish to make you my wife."

"But why? You could have your pick of any woman of the ton."

"I could. But I want you. And I always get what I want." Lord Verimoor shrugged nonchalantly. "Of course, I would rather have had you unspoiled, but well. Even the best-laid plan is not foolproof."

Rose spat at him. A crack rang out, and she was flung against the side of the carriage. Her face stung. Her eyes filled with tears. Lord Verimoor shook out his right hand, cursing under his breath.

He slapped me.

Fury filled Rose. She wanted to bite him. To hurt him.

Stay calm.

The ropes around her wrists dug into her skin. Belatedly, she realized her legs and feet were also bound.

"If you so much as think of doing that again, I will inflict such pain on you that you will wish you were dead." His eyes were cold and empty, his voice dangerously calm. "You are restrained. Completely and utterly at my mercy. And I do not think you are a fool."

Rose swallowed. Something about his tone niggled at the corners of her mind. Her mother had taught her how to read people from a young age. Lord Verimoor may have been blessed with a cherubic face, but there was something dark and twisted in his soul.

This man enjoys the fact that I am powerless.

No, that was not quite right. It was not that Rose was powerless. It was that she was at the mercy of his power. The realization hit her like a bolt of lightning.

"This is all about power, isn't it?" she breathed.

Lord Verimoor laughed and clapped his hands together. "Oh, very good. I knew you weren't like the other simpering fools of the ton. Yes, it is about power. Power and status—the only two things that matter in this world."

Rose shook her head. "You want to marry me for my position and influence. But that will not work, not while Alexander lives."

Alexander will find me, and when he does, you shall rue the day your mother set eyes on your father.

"Your Duke is dead." Lord Verimoor glanced at his pocket watch. "My man will have killed him by now. Just like he killed his father."

Rose gasped.

Alexander cannot be dead. He cannot be dead. But wait. His father? How does he know?

"What?"

"Yes, that was my doing. I sent my men to retrieve the former Duke's seal and kill him and his heirs." Lord Verimoor scowled. "But the damned fools failed."

Rose's head swam. "You killed his father?"

"My men did, yes." Lord Verimoor smiled.

"Why? I'd only ever heard the former Duke was a most generous and benevolent man. What ill could you wish upon him?" Rose shook her head.

"Ahh, how na?ve you women are. I wished no ill upon them. I simply wanted more than I had." Lord Verimoor smoothed back his hair again and lounged in his seat. "You see, I always knew I was special."

Rose did not dare say anything. She did not trust herself to speak. She felt numb.

Alexander. Oh God, Alexander.

"You know I am the only son? I am the youngest in my family, yet the only boy. Before me, my mother birthed seven daughters. Seven. Can you imagine?" Lord Verimoor shook his head. "And, of course, when I was born, my parents wept with relief."

"I'm sure they did," Rose drawled, unable to stop herself.

Lord Verimoor pursed his lips. "And, of course, I soon came to understand my place in the world. My sisters, everyone in my life, all of them doted on me. But it was a hapless servant who taught me the true power I held."

"What do you mean?" Rose was not sure she wanted to know the answer, but talking seemed to keep him at bay.

"Well, when I was young, I made a foolish mistake and broke a priceless family heirloom. I knew my father would be furious. I had a servant who cared for me, and I confessed to her. She told me that with a face like mine, no one would ever think ill of me."

He laughed. "Indeed, she herself did not believe I could have done such a thing. So I blamed it on the stable boy. And then I decided to see just what my pretty face could accomplish." He rubbed his hands together in glee. "You see, people are only too willing to believe the best of a pretty face. They think beauty is the same as morality."

"Not all of us think this way," Rose murmured.

"No, indeed. You and I… we know the truth of the world." Lord Verimoor laughed. "You know, you are the only woman who has ever told me no? And more than once, mind you."

Rose scowled. "I can continue to tell you no. You seem to rather enjoy it."

Lord Verimoor slapped his hands on his thighs and guffawed in delight. "You see, this is why I knew I had to have you. There is something special about you. You… You are a challenge. And I do love a challenge."

"Then why did you not stop me from marrying the Duke?" Rose asked as she risked a glance out the window, hoping to see where he was taking her.

Not that escape will be possible with my hands and feet bound as they are.

"I could not. Your scandal made you a most unwelcome prospect." Lord Verimoor shrugged. "I was furious, of course. The damned man had bested me yet again, but I was wrong. His marrying you was the best thing I could have hoped for."

"I do not understand." Rose frowned.

"You see, while the Duke was a recluse, there was no way I could possibly get my man close enough to him to do him harm. Yet, you, you beautiful gift…" Lord Verimoor stroked her face. "You got the fool to open up his castle. All I had to do was wait and watch. After all, what were a few more months, when I have been waiting nearly eight years?"

Rose felt sick. Her stomach churned.

It is my fault that Alexander is dead. Oh God, I shall never forgive myself.

"And then I saw you at the ball. Saw you with him. And I knew I had to have you." Lord Verimoor gestured around them. "It was as though God himself was giving me a sign. So, I made the arrangements, and set my plan in motion. My man has been following your dear late husband for days." The words were like a knife to Rose's heart. "Learning his habits, his weaknesses. And on the day of the ball, I gave him instructions. He was to kill the Duke the next day."

"Why wait?" Rose asked, disgusted.

"I did not want to risk you coming to harm. I needed to ensure you were not at Emberly Castle when the Duke was killed." Lord Verimoor smiled. "You see, my man is a simple creature. He likes violence and rather doesn't discriminate. He had told me that you often walked in the park on Thursdays. And even if you had not journeyed there today, I had plans in place to lure you out of the castle."

"You are a monster." Rose was horrified.

"No, I am just one of the few men in this world who is willing to do what needs to be done. Some of us were not born dukes. Why should someone like him have such riches and power?" Lord Verimoor's face was contorted with rage. "It should be mine. He has done nothing with them. Done nothing to earn them. It should be me."

Rose shook her head. "His wealth will not be yours. He has a brother. I am just his wife. Marrying me will not confer his title upon you."

"Oh, I know that." Lord Verimoor grinned wickedly. "But marrying his wife who is carrying his child almost certainly would. I would be regent until the child comes of age."

"What? I am not with child." Rose was horrified.

"Not yet." Lord Verimoor's eyes were cold. "But we shall soon remedy that. And who would question whether the child is mine or his? After all, I am a kind soul. Of course, I would take in a poor, innocent widow and her unborn child. Of course, it would need to be a boy. But no matter, I am sure I will think of something."

"I will not let you do this. You will not get away with it." Rose's eyes filled with tears.

"My dear, I already have." Lord Verimoor laughed. "Within the hour, we shall be at the inn, where I have arranged a room for us."

Rose's heart stopped. "A room?"

"Yes, one single room, for you and I to share." Lord Verimoor held her gaze. "After tonight, you shall be shamed throughout the land. No one will believe a word you say. And though the scandal will merely brush me, everyone will believe that I have won your heart and stolen you in the name of true love."

"You are despicable." Rose shook her head. "I hate you. I will always hate you."

"You say this now, but rest assured, you will come to love me. In time."

"You are delusional." Rose turned away from him.

She thought of her sisters, of her mother. Her new family at Emberly. Olivia and the twins and Marie. They had already lost their father, and now the same man had stolen their brother from them.

Her life was over. As soon as Lord Verimoor took her into the inn, there would be nothing left. Her family would be ruined. Alexander's family would be bereft. And there was nothing she could do.

Darkness crept over her.

I would rather die than let him have me.

She looked at Lord Verimoor, searching for some kind of weapon. She would have to be quick. But what did it matter if she got a little bit bruised? It would all be over soon.

She saw the hilt of a dagger sticking out of his boot, and took a deep breath.

At least I will be with Alexander again.

The thought calmed her. Gave her hope.

Something huge and heavy slammed against the carriage. Lord Verimoor and Rose were flung from their seats. The horses neighed, and a man yelled. Desperately, Rose tried to free herself, but she could not escape her restraints.

The door of the carriage swung open. A figure towered over them. The scent of the first frost of winter washed over her.

Alexander.