Chapter 19

Endings

V ictor woke with a start, sensing movement within his house. It was far too early for servants to be stirring. His instincts warned of an intruder, and given the prior robbery, he would take no chances. He glanced at the woman sleeping peacefully in his arms, his heart skipping a beat. His sole thought was for her safety.

With utmost care, he extricated himself from the bed, mindful not to wake Briana. Donning his trousers and retrieving the dagger he kept close at hand, he ventured into the hallway. Upon inspection, he found the floor deserted and the windows secure.

Soon he heard the servants rousing below, and his tension eased, knowing their presence would deter any would-be intruders. He realized it was also time to return Briana home.

"Briana, love, wake up. I need to return you home before the ton awakens."

Briana slowly opened her eyes, still heavy with sleep. "Victor?" she whispered. "What hour is it?"

"Just gone six. We must depart within the hour to avoid scandal."

Briana, though drowsy, nodded, rubbed her eyes and sat up, clutching the bedlinens to her bosom. Before she could move further, Victor brushed his lips across hers. "Good morning, beauty."

A becoming flush spread across her features, both from his compliment and the rush of memories from their wickedly delicious activities throughout the night. She noticed Victor's knowing smirk and blushed deeper still. "Good morning, Victor," she rasped.

His smile widened, and Briana found herself captivated. She rarely witnessed him smile in public, making it feel like something precious, meant only for her. Though darkness still cloaked the room, the pre-dawn light crept through the curtains, spurring her to action. She could ill afford to be caught departing his home by any member of the ton.

Yet she caught the worry lurking behind his smile. "What’s wrong?" she asked. "Something is amiss, I can sense it."

"I do not wish to alarm you, but I believe we may have had an intruder earlier."

"When?" Briana asked, already moving from the bed with newfound urgency.

"Be calm, my love. They are gone. I have checked every chamber."

"Alone? Why did you not wake me?"

Victor regarded her with puzzlement. "Why should I have done so?"

"Because, you contrary man, someone tried to end your life mere days ago! What if they had attacked you while you were alone and unarmed? I could have helped protect you!"

Victor's expression softened. Good Lord, she was unlike any woman he had ever known. "Then 'tis fortunate I let you sleep. The last thing we need is a shoot-out indoors." He smirked, earning a quelling look from Briana. "Trust me, love. I'm certain I imagined the disturbance. I confess I've been rather vigilant since the robbery."

"Oh?" Briana inquired, feigning ignorance.

"Indeed. Some weeks past, an intruder breached my home and stole valuable jewels. The authorities have yet to apprehend the culprit, but the mere fact they invaded my home weighs heavily upon me. If there is one thing I cannot abide, it’s a liar and a thief. I shall not rest until this miscreant faces justice."

Briana struggled not to flinch. Being the very perpetrator in question, his words had a sobering effect. She swallowed hard, suddenly desperate to depart. His declaration reminded her that Victor knew nothing of her true nature. She harbored far too many secrets, and no relationship could last if built upon such deception. Guilt gnawed at her conscience, for she had stolen from him. No, she needed to leave immediately. This fanciful dream, their time together—it was a fallacy that would end in disaster. He would never understand her role as an investigator nor condone it. A future between them would be disastrous.

"I am sorry to hear it. I best leave so you can attend to pressing matters. Though if you would be so kind as to locate my masquerade costume? I appear to find myself without proper clothes."

Victor's lips curved into a roguish smile. "Hmm, the prospect of you remaining unclothed in my bed is most tempting indeed. I shall have a maid furnish you with suitable garments. My staff is generously compensated for their discretion, so you need not fret."

"You have my gratitude. Will you call upon Lord Sebastian this morning?"

"Aye, but first I must meet with a warden at the Fleet to question Sebastian's shooter. Lucas and the duke shall attend as well." He paused before adding, "I shall also be applying for a special marriage license."

Briana's head snapped up. "For whom?"

"For us, of course. Who else? I have every intention of marrying you, especially after the night we just shared."

"I beg your pardon. No, you cannot!"

Victor stiffened. "Why ever not?"

"We... we cannot marry, my lord! We scarcely know one another."

"Then what was last night all about, Briana? Why do you suddenly address me as 'my lord'? You called me Victor before."

Briana leapt from the bed, clutching the sheet about her form like armor. Her agitation apparent as Victor's frustration increased.

"Last night was... it was a mistake."

"A mistake?" His eyes blazed with fury.

"No, I mean it was wonderful, but surely you must see we are ill-suited. Besides, we did not do the actual act that would warrant us marrying."

"Briana Walsh, regardless of whether we coupled fully or not, I have engaged in highly improper intimacies that no gentleman should share with an innocent young lady of the ton. There are codes and rules of conduct to be followed. I cannot abandon my sense of duty now. What we shared should only transpire between two people who intend to wed."

"That is simply not true! Your reputation precedes you. Surely you have engaged in such acts with countless women. I suspect you merely trifle with me, perhaps intending to establish me as your next paramour and nothing more!" Briana knew instantly she had erred, for Victor's countenance transformed into that of a gathering storm.

"After all we just shared, that is your opinion of me?"

"No, I mean... I merely suggest that if you wed me, you shall come to rue it some day."

"Why?"

"Because you have no notion of who I truly am. I do you a favor. Trust in this, if nothing else."

"Is there another? Did you seek to grace my bed and learn the pleasures of the flesh to gift those skills to him?"

"I beg your pardon. No! I would not use you so abominably. I merely suggest we cannot wed until we know one another better."

Victor grasped her arms, and gently shook her. "I have tasted every inch of you. I doubt any could know you better at present."

Briana felt heat pool within her at the mere thought, but she shook her head. Nay, she could not. Imagine his reaction should he discover her true profession and all her secret life entailed. He would escort her to Newgate himself.

"My lord, please consider this for a moment. We cannot wed. I appreciate your attempt at gentlemanly behavior, but it is unnecessary. No one need ever know our indiscretion and we can continue as if nothing happened."

Victor released her and stepped away, his demeanor turning to ice. "I see, madam. You wish to proceed as if last night meant absolutely nothing to you? Your intentions are quite clear. The thought of marriage to me is so abhorrent, you would rather risk ruination. I shall not renew my offer. If you'll excuse me, I shall fetch a maid to assist you and arrange transportation. I promise we shall never speak of this again."

As he turned to leave, Briana moved toward him. "My lord, please let us not part like this. I did not mean—"

Victor spun around, his features twisted with loathing and anger. "I heard you quite clearly, Miss Walsh. I wish you a happy life. I pray only that whatever secrets have you racing about London at ungodly hours, you at least have the sense to stay safe!"

With those parting words, he quit the room, the door slamming in his wake.

Twenty minutes later, Briana found herself attired in an ornately embroidered empire waist, ankle length, light blue day dress with a hooded, dark blue, satin panelled surcoat and matching slippers. It was exquisite and felt luxurious against her skin. She was ushered into the carriage through the servants' entrance and conveyed home. To her disappointment she saw nothing more of Victor. Though she had ended it herself, her heart lay in pieces.

Victor watched Briana's departure from his study window. He could scarce credit that she had refused his offer of marriage. Though he conceded his proposal had been far from conventional, it galled him that she wished the finest night of his life, bar none, struck from memory.

He paced the chamber restlessly. Briana Walsh was the only woman he had ever permitted to sleep beside him through the night. The only woman to whom he had proposed or envisioned a life alongside. The only woman who had captured his heart, yet her behavior suggested the sentiment was not reciprocated. He growled out loud, "Good God, man, collect yourself! There are countless women in the world. Briana Walsh is nothing."

Victor determined that if he repeated that lie often enough, perhaps one day he might believe it.

LATER THAT MORNING , Victor accompanied his father and Lucas to Fleet Prison. Though their intention had been to question Sebastian's assailant, they discovered upon arrival that, owing to the wardens' gross negligence, the villain had been murdered in his cell during the night. Victor was livid to learn that such occurrences were commonplace, and more distressing still, that innocent children were often imprisoned alongside their parents, exposed to unconscionable dangers. The wardens, being thoroughly corrupt, would extend their protection only to those who could furnish a substantial sum.

Victor recalled with particular clarity Briana's impassioned speech on the injustice of legal proceedings for those of modest means who had no voice to champion their cause. He had to admit she was right all along. He found himself absently rubbing his chest, puzzled by how frequently his thoughts turned to her. He knew he needed to steel himself against such ruminations. The memory of their passionate night together coupled with the humiliation of her rejection cause him no small measure of distress. With great determination, Victor banished thoughts of that most vexing woman from his mind, resolving from now on to direct his attentions solely to his duties to the Crown and the protection of his family.