Beyond a Reasonable Duke (Half Moon House Series: Novellas Book 5) by Deb Marlowe

Author:Deb Marlowe [Marlowe, Deb]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-10-20T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

Laura came awake on a narrow settee. Her boots had been removed and her ankle wrapped. Next to her sat a tea tray, with a beautiful blonde woman presiding over it.

“Hello,” the lady said as Laura struggled to sit up. “Welcome to Half Moon House.”

“Miss Wright? I need to talk to you—”

“Just Hestia, dear.” The stunning woman handed her a cup of tea. “I hope you like it with a bit of brandy.”

“Yes, of course. Thank you. I’m sorry for making such an entrance—”

“Don’t think a thing about it. You are hardly the first girl to faint away on our doorstep. But do drink up. I suspect you’ll need the strength and this,” she indicated Laura’s male clothes, “is a story I must hear.”

Laura obeyed on both counts, warming up with each sip of the tea and spilling her tale in a hurry. Not until she reached her sister’s part did Hestia interrupt.

“Did your sister meet this gentleman in Bath?” Her expression was grim.

“Yes.”

“Under an assumed name?”

“We might never have discovered him, had the scandal not put his image in the papers.”

“You don’t have to say anymore. I know your sister must have come home bruised and battered. I know she hasn’t been the same, since.”

“How do you know that?” Laura whispered.

“Because the same thing happened to me, long ago.”

“Marstoke?”

Hestia nodded.

Laura swung her feet to the floor. “He’s been at this so long?”

“I’ve kept him busy fighting on other fronts when I could.”

“Still, you know that he must be stopped. You see why I must kill him. This identity is well established. Lawrence McConnell must kill him. And then he can disappear, with no one the wiser.”

“On the contrary, he must not.”

“How can you—?”

“Killing is far too good for Marstoke, my dear. He doesn’t deserve an easy death. He must be made to suffer. I have great plans for it, in fact.” She sat quietly for a moment in contemplation. “You bring several delicious new elements to the table, Laura. You say your sister is a skilled artist?”

She nodded.

“Good. That’s given me a lovely idea. We can begin the torment even earlier than I’d planned. Do write her, will you, and ask if she’ll work with us? She might as well use her time as she waits.” She pursed her lips. “Incidentally, where does your mother believe you to be right now?”

“I . . . ah . . . At a friend’s in Wiltshire.”

“Regular posts going out from there, I assume?”

Laura hung her head. “My hired maid’s brother lives there.”

“Excellent. She sounds as if she knows how to get things done. I really must have the both of you, I think.”

“But, but . . .” Laura looked down at herself and then back at Hestia.

“Oh, don’t despair! You did exactly the right thing, coming here. You wanted to avenge your sister, did you not?”

“Yes!”

“Now you can allow her to get a bit of vengeance back herself. So much more satisfying for her—and healing.” Hestia sat back. Laura squirmed a little as she watched her through narrowed eyes.

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