Desire Wears Diamonds by Renee Bernard

Author:Renee Bernard
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: thriller, mystery, sexy, victorian, hot, soldier, jaded, final book in series

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Damn it!

“You heard me! Unhand my sister, you vile excuse of a man!” Sterling shouted.

Michael lifted his head and surveyed the theatrical nightmare in all its full glory. He’d never heard footsteps on the gravel path approaching them, and it took one glance to ascertain that Sterling was standing on the opposite side of the lavender off the walkway and had strode on the wet grass to make a quieter approach.

Not that this detail made any difference now that Sterling’s twisted displeasure and scathing judgment was conveniently illuminated by the hand lantern that Sterling so gallantly was holding aloft to make sure that his sister’s state of dishevelment was impossible to hide.

He shifted to gently set her off of his knee, struggling to make sure he adjusted his evening coat before he stood up but the instant Grace gained her feet she moved toward Sterling, desperate to reach brother and make her case.

“It was an innocent kiss!” Grace cried out. “I…Mr. Rutherford…is very honorable and…he did nothing wrong! It was my fault! He wanted to…go back…but I…”

Michael winced. With her golden hair tumbling down her back and missing hairpins, lips swollen from his kisses and cheeks flushed—Michael was fairly certain that there wasn’t a phrase of denial in existence to overcome the image of ruin she presented.

“Shut up, Grace!” Sterling barked.

“Don’t speak to her like that again, Sterling,” Michael warned him, a strange calm overtaking him. It was the Jackal’s orchestrated performance but Michael knew his role.

“I’ll speak to my slut of a sister however I wish! What kind of “innocent kiss” requires the darkest corner of the garden?” Sterling growled. “You were on the ground like animals!”

“Hardly,” Michael muttered under his breath and did his best to gently pull Grace back against him, instinctively wanting to shield and protect her. “And lower your voice. I don’t see the need to bring out the entire party for this, do you?”

Sterling glanced back at the house and Michael groaned at the realization that his words were apparently prophetic as the verandah was already lined with spectators ogling their gathering near the garden’s farthest wall.

Shit!

Michael took a deep breath and tried another tact. “Sterling,” he began, his voice low enough not to carry, “this is a private matter and I don’t see how it aids anyone to ensure your sister’s humiliation. I would not hurt her for the world and—“

“Come to my house tomorrow morning and we will settle this as gentlemen. Unless you are dishonorable cad and refuse to come to terms!” Sterling deliberately spoke with the projection and elocution of a stage actor and Michael came within two heartbeats of striking him for it.

“Terms?” Michael had the sinking feeling he’d stepped into a trap.

“You can’t do this, Sterling!” Grace stepped away from Michael, recovering her voice. “It was my fault! He would have walked me back and—“

“That’s enough, Grace.” Sterling held up a hand to silence her and then grabbed her elbow to prepare to go. “Tomorrow, Rutherford.”

“I won’t

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