Masked Intentions by Diana Bold

Author:Diana Bold
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: romance
Publisher: 0
Published: 2016-07-18T23:00:00+00:00

* * * *

When Adrian stepped out into the hall, both of his brothers were grimly waiting for him. Lucien stepped forward, shaking his head in apology. “I’m sorry. I don’t know how the bastard got in. He knows he’s not welcome here.”

Adrian cleared his throat, still shaken by all that had happened since he arrived. He couldn’t look either of them in the eyes. “It’s all right,” he assured his brother grimly. “I know it wasn’t your fault. It was Mother. He still has her wrapped around his little finger, even after all these years.”

Since the day his father had died, his mother had hated her scarred youngest son. Whenever she was forced to be in the same room with him, she stared at him with a mixture of pity and revulsion. She was ashamed that her perfect family had been touched by tragedy and ugliness, and she blamed Adrian. If the earl had not gone back for Adrian, he’d still be alive.

Roger had always known how to capitalize upon that. Adrian wondered if the bastard had told the countess about his previous relationship with Vanessa, if this whole thing had been an attempt on her part to destroy his marriage, but quickly discarded the notion. The last thing she’d want was more scandal.

No, this was Roger’s doing. One way or another, Adrian intended to make his stepbrother pay for what he’d done to Vanessa.

Morgan cleared his throat. “Do you want me to go down and tell everyone that the wedding is off?”

Adrian focused on his twin, realizing for the first time that Gabriel was not with him. “Where’s Gabriel?” he asked, ignoring his brother’s question. “He’s probably upset. I need to go to him.”

“The child?” Morgan frowned. “I left him with Anne and the children. Who is he to you?”

“He’s my…son.” The word felt strange on his tongue. Strange but surprisingly pleasant. “I adopted him.”

“You did what?” Lucien’s voice rose in obvious confusion. “Why would you do something like that without telling us? What do you even know about him?”

“I know enough,” Adrian answered stubbornly. He took a deep breath and met Lucien’s concerned gaze. “I’m still marrying Vanessa.”

Morgan made a sound of angry frustration. “After everything she’s done? The blackmail? Finding out she was Roger’s wh—”

“Shut up.” Adrian pinned his brother with a furious glare. “Don’t say it. You know nothing about it. Roger…he hurt her. That’s all you need to know. She was just a child, and he…hurt her.”

Lucien sighed, and even Morgan had the good grace to look away.

“You’re not Robin Hood,” Lucien told him quietly. “You can’t save everyone. I know you have strong feelings for this girl, but perhaps you could at least postpone the wedding? You’re not thinking clearly right now. I’ve never seen you this way.”

Adrian ran his hand through his hair, wondering if he looked as distraught as he felt. No wonder they were worried about him. He didn’t know how to explain it to them. He didn’t fully understand it himself.

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