Page 16 of The Villain’s Vixen (Wanton Wastrels)

CHAPTER 16

D ominic entered the morgue with Amos at his side. It hadn’t been difficult to gain entry at such a late hour once the undertaker’s palm had been greased with enough coin to placate his interrupted sleep. It had taken longer than he’d wanted to learn the name of the man in charge of caring for the local bodies until family had been notified of the deceased and burial arrangements could be made, but the trouble had been worth it. As he looked into the bloated, pasty face of the man who had been pulled from the river, he realized that this wasn’t some simple drunken accident. The large, gaping hole in his chest where a knife had once protruded was evidence enough that he had been murdered.

And Dominic had a good idea who was responsible.

He handed the undertaker another guinea. “Ensure that he is not laid to rest until I can discover his assailant.”

The man quickly pocketed the coin, but he looked somewhat confused. “Whot business does a man like ye ’ave wit’ a man like Alfie Davidson?”

Dominic took a step closer. “That is for me to know and you not to speak about to others. Do I make myself clear? ”

The man’s face instantly paled and he nodded. “O’ course. Upon my word.”

“Good. You better make sure of it.”

As Dominic left the morgue, Amos started to chuckle as they entered the hired hackney.

“What?” Dominic asked darkly.

His companion shrugged. “Nothing. Merely that you are just as demanding as Avalon as you are as the Duke of Cuthbert.”

Dominic snorted. “What can I say? Old habits die hard. I was raised to ensure people listened to me. It’s only of late when I feel that I’ve lost some of that talent.”

“Ah. You are speaking of Miss Givenwald?”

“Indeed.” He shook his head, his lips quirking at the memory of the woman he was about to call his bride. “I cannot imagine how I survived this long without her guidance. At least, that is how she acts when I dare to mention any sort of danger.”

Amos crossed his arms. “It’s probably not wise to show her all of your scars then.”

Dominic gave a mock wince. “She would forbid me to leave the house after we are wed, no doubt.” He thought of her ripe breasts and the way her cheeks had flushed when he’d brought her to the heights of pleasure. “But then, I’m not sure I will want to venture very far once the vows are spoken.”

Amos laughed.

Wishing to change the subject, or else Dominic might be easily coerced to ride to his estate and join Lexie at his estate, he asked, “How is Devon getting along? I know it is nearly time for his son’s birth.”

“It could be a daughter,” Amos pointed out. “And I know he would be glad for either.” He exhaled heavily. “To answer your question, he has been quite distracted, so I have forbidden him to join any more exploits until the babe makes his or her appearance in the world.”

Dominic nodded. “I would say that’s wise. ”

“I can’t believe I am going to be a grandfather,” Amos said softly. “I never thought I would stop grieving my wife, but I admit that the thought of looking upon an innocent face and seeing those eyes shining with new wonder out in the world has lightened my heart more than anything else ever could.”

Tilting his head to the side, Dominic said, “I never took you for a poet, but that was quite eloquent.”

“Sod off,” Amos growled, although his lips twitched with amusement.

By the time they had returned to the Crown & Sceptre, dawn was starting to make a faint appearance. The red rays turning the horizon to fire causing Dominic’s chest to tighten suddenly. “Red skies in the morning, sailor’s warning,” he murmured.

Amos followed his gaze and said, “That might be true on the water, but we are on land.”

“Never discount the turn of the tide wherever it is,” Dominic returned evenly. “These superstitions have guided me well over the years. A powerful storm is brewing. We cannot discount it out of hand because we aren’t on board a ship in the ocean.”

Amos inclined his head, obviously adhering to the seriousness in Dominic’s tone.

As his successor departed, Dominic realized that although he was starting to feel the effects of a long night, he was a long way from sleep. His mind was whirling now that the sky had warned him of impending danger.

He thought of Lexie traveling alone, but he kept reminding himself that one of the best Runners in his employ had joined her on the journey. There should be no reason why she couldn’t make the trip without incident.

And yet…

Dominic knew he couldn’t ignore the warning in his gut. However, if something had happened in London regarding the Duke of Cuthbert, he had a messenger boy he trusted who would deliver a message to him. Since there was no new correspondence on his desk, he had to content himself that Lexie was safe and unharmed.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he decided that if he was going to have a clear head to continue this investigation into the earl, he needed to try and get a few hours rest.

However, the moment he had the thought to leave, there was a brisk knock at his office door. Bloody hell.

When he strode across the room and spied the young boy in his employ, his stomach sank as he accepted a sealed missive before the boy scampered off again.

Dominic ripped open the letter and read the few hastily penned lines from the Runner he’d assigned to travel with Lexie.

Set upon by bandits. Fight ensued. Lady escaped. Believed to be unharmed.

Bloody fucking hell.

He crumpled the note in his fist. Was it too much to ask that Lexie be kept out of harm’s way? Or was he meant to endure this crushing weight of guilt for not escorting her himself when Avalon needed to be present to end this blasted nightmare?

Wasting no time, Dominic slammed the door shut behind him as he rushed to leave. He wasn’t sure where he intended to go, but hopefully his gut would lead him in the right direction.

Lexie awoke to a single ray of sunshine burning her eyelid before it was hidden by heavy clouds. The window she was staring at did not immediately look familiar, and as memory began to resurface, she sat up with a gasp.

She was in a small bed with a straw mattress and a worn, patched coverlet that appeared to have been lovingly handmade at one point. She lifted a hand to her bodice and found that she was still fully clothed, to her everlasting gratitude. Whoever must have taken her in was honorable and not of a mind to cause further havoc.

Setting her legs over the side of the bed, she tested her strength and found that after a moment of uncertainty, her weight easily held. Taking a deep breath, she smoothed the hair from her face. However, a quick glance at a mirror on a modest dressing table showed that she looked as terrible as she’d feared. Her gown was ripped in several places from her late-night escape through the forest, and her hair was in terrible disarray. She couldn’t attempt to repair it since several of the pins she’d used to secure it were missing.

At least her pelisse was still mostly intact and would protect her from the worst of the elements. Taking down the rest of the pins, she let her blond hair fall around her shoulders. While it wasn’t proper for ladies to go about in such a state, it was better than the mess it was when she’d first risen.

Combing her fingers through the mass, she decided that she was presentable enough to greet her hostess without looking as though she’d fled Bedlam.

Opening the bedchamber door, five pairs of eyes looked up when she appeared. The small dining room held four children and a woman who looked vaguely familiar. They were seated around a crude, wooden table and eating something out of a bowl, likely porridge. It smelled heavenly. But then, with hunger gnawing at her stomach, Lexie would have been happy with gruel.

“It’s good to see you up and about, miss.” The lady rose to her feet and walked over with a warm smile. “Won’t you join us for some breakfast?” She waved a hand toward the empty chair, and Lexie tentatively walked over.

“Do you not want to save this spot for your husband?” she asked.

The lady gave a kindly smile, and Lexie decided she was correct in thinking that she was as nice as she’d hoped. “No need for that. I’ve been a widow these five years past.” She retrieved another bowl from the cupboard, as well as a spoon and set it before Lexie.

As she waited for the woman to ladle her out some of the porridge, she realized that all the children, none of whom looked to be over ten years of age, were looking at her curiously, as if she were a deer out in the forest and they were afraid to move for fear of spooking it.

“Good morning,” she offered, making sure that she caught the eye of each of the two boys and girls who sat there. She also thought of how inconsequential her current situation was compared to what this lady had to endure, raising four small children on her own. All Lexie had to worry about was marrying a wealthy duke and spending the rest of her life in luxury.

As the porridge was set before her, her hostess added, “My name is Margaret Michaels. These are Frank, Jeremy, Anne, and Mary.” Each of the children nodded when their name was mentioned.

As Mrs. Michaels resumed her seat, Lexie said, “My name is Alexandra Givenwald.”

The lady seemed hesitant to speak, but then she asked, “Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but was there a reason you appeared in such distress last evening?”

Lexie wasn’t sure how much to reveal, so she told a partial truth. “My carriage was set upon my bandits.”

The woman shook her head sadly. “How dreadful for you.”

“It was… regrettable,” Lexie hedged. “Is there anyone who might be able to give me a ride to London?” She had already decided that she couldn’t arrive at the duke’s estate looking like she did. She would only give her future mother-in-law the wrong impression, that she was trouble, and that was the last thing she wanted. Not only that, but she had no idea what might have happened to her trunks.

“I could inquire at the local pub?— ”

“No!” Lexie softened her tone when the lady fell abruptly silent. “I mean to say, I don’t wish to alert anyone to my presence here if it can be helped, in case the bandits are after me.”

Margaret nodded. “I understand your unease. I will ensure that any inquiries I make are discreet.”

Lexie relaxed slightly. “Thank you. I do appreciate your assistance. You will be compensated for your trouble.”

“There is no need for that. It shall be a blessing to assist you. I consider it my Christian duty.”

Lexie inclined her head respectfully and then turned her focus to her breakfast while Mrs. Michaels ushered her children to gather their things and head out to school. All except for the youngest girl, Mary, who was not yet of an age. However, she joined her mother as they departed for the village nearby.

While they were gone, Lexie paced the small parlor and finally perched on a chair to await Margaret’s return.

When the door opened a short time later, a gentleman in simple clothing was behind her. “This is Angus Johns, a… personal friend.”

Lexie was a bit surprised when the widow glanced at the comely middle-aged man and smiled. But it was the favor in her eyes that told Lexie more than words might regarding how close their friendship actually was. It seemed that he held the same regard, for the way he worried his cap in his hands told of his uncertainty.

“He has to go to Merton to visit a sick relative and said he could give you a ride in his wagon that far if it suits you.”

Relief flooded Lexie’s chest. “That would be wonderful. Thank you so much for your consideration.”

Mr. Johns looked particularly uncomfortable with the compliment. He ducked his head and then glanced at Margaret. “I’ll just be outside when you’re ready.”

As he left, Lexie moved to Margaret and removed the reticule that had been tucked into her skirts. She removed a few coins and set them into her palm. The lady gasped and tried to refuse the offering, but Lexie clasped her hand around them. “Please. I would not have known what to do without your hospitality.”

Torn between her pride and the gift, the lady finally relented with a heavy sigh. “Thank you, Miss Givenwald. Safe journey. Rest assured that Angus is an honorable man.”

“I had no doubt of it.” Before she left, she turned back to her hostess. “If it isn’t too bold of me to say, I can tell he thinks a lot of you. Perhaps it might be time to consider taking on another husband?”

The woman’s face bloomed with red as she clenched her apron. “I appreciate the council, Miss Givenwald. Perhaps I will give it some thought.”

It had been months since Dominic had set foot on Cuthbert property. As he rounded a bend and the familiar limestone estate came into view, all he could think of was the way his heart pounded. It was as if his father was still alive and he would soon cross words with the older man. Time had changed many things, but not the insecurities that still ran rampant throughout his chest. It was one of the reasons that he eschewed walking through the familiar front doors and crossing the black and white tiled floor. He abruptly turned into a younger man at home from school and trying to prove his worth to someone who would never approve of the man he was struggling to become.

Another reason it was difficult to come back here was the reminder that he was never supposed to hold the age-old title that had been passed down through generations. While Dominic was a rightful member of the family, he wasn’t the true duke. That honor had belonged to his brother, Edmund, but with his death the duty had fallen to him. It had taken Dominic a long time to finally concede to the cruel hand that fate had dealt to both of them.

It wasn’t until he’d matured that all the uncertainty and guilt he’d felt over being the Duke of Cuthbert had waned and he’d accepted the inevitable outcome. However, it still pained him whenever he thought of his mother, the shell of the woman she had once been. Before her marriage to Dominic’s father, he’d heard stories of the vibrant and lively lady she had been in her youth. But after so much time under the domineering thumb of her husband, her spirit had finally broken and she’d turned into the subservient and docile woman she now was.

It hurt Dominic to think of Lexie forced to give up the fiery passion that was prevalent in her heart. If he thought there was the slightest chance that he would turn into his father and make her suffer after their marriage, he would never approve of their union. But while his parents had wed for convenience, he believed that his union with Lexie would be vastly different.

He would do everything in his power to prove that it was.

As he handed his riding gloves over to the butler, he asked curtly, “My mother?”

“The duchess is in the drawing room,” came the equally cool reply. Until now, Dominic hadn’t considered replacing any of the servants, but the butler had served his father and if he hoped to make any changes to the stiff atmosphere in the house, some things would have to change. Since this wasn’t his main priority for visiting this moment, he strode down the hall.

He took a deep breath before he turned the corner and entered his mother’s sanctuary. She had always spent an exorbitant amount of time in the green and yellow drawing room. Although she hadn’t entertained guests in years, preferring the company of her own solitude, he wondered if perhaps she stayed here to remind herself of good times now past, and perhaps wish that they could be so again.

When he set his eyes on the petite woman with dark hair mixed with varying shades of gray and pushing a needle through an embroidery hoop with a neutral expression on her face, he realized that his hopes might be rather farfetched. She looked just as she had the last time he had left her.

“Hello, Mother.”

She paused and looked up, her dark eyes crinkling in the corners when she spied him. “Cuthbert. How lovely to see you.”

It was always so formal in this place. His father had been gone for twenty years, and she still refused to call him by his Christian name, determined to refer to his title, as his father would have demanded.

Clenching his jaw, he walked over and kissed her lightly on the cheek. He wasn’t surprised to see a few more wrinkles than before and he was not ignorant of the fact she had lost another stone. He realized in that moment he’d been so intent on his own devices as Avalon, he had failed to give his mother the recognition she deserved. She needed the love and attentiveness that her only surviving son could provide and he intended to right this wrong, along with so many others, very soon.

She set aside her embroidery. “Shall I ring for some tea?”

He shook his head as he sat down across from her in one of the matching wingback chairs close to the hearth, in which a cheery fire burned. It was the only bit of happiness he could find the moment he’d entered these hallowed walls. Pushing aside such unforgiving thoughts, he said, “No, thank you. I am afraid I cannot stay long.”

“Of course not, dear. You are a busy man. I shouldn’t expect you to entertain me any longer than necessary.”

There was no sarcasm or hatred in her tone, just a calm acceptance. He hated it. “I would spend more time if I could,” he felt compelled to add. “But I’m afraid there is a bit of trouble in London that draws me back to the city.”

“I’m sure you can handle whatever it is. The Eastland line is known for its fortitude and courage. ”

“Indeed.” He ground his jaw. “I had hoped that someone might have arrived before me, but I see that she has not.”

She tilted her head curiously. It was the only sign thus far to prove that she wasn’t an automaton, wound up every now and then with the same responses. “Who, dear?”

“Someone who means a great deal to me and who I intend to make the next duchess.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “You are betrothed?”

He loved the slight tinge of hope in her voice, however stilted, as if it had been too long since she’d felt the emotion. “I am. The first of the banns are to be read this Sunday. However, I feel she might be in danger. She was due to arrive last night with a note to you explaining who she was, but my coach was set upon by bandits. I fear for her safety.”

“Of course you do.” She reached out a hand and laid it gently on top of his. It was so slight that for a moment, he couldn’t comprehend what she was saying, his focus on that small show of affection he’d thought had disappeared. “I will be overjoyed to meet her when you can be assured that all is well.”

He squeezed her hand in reciprocation and reluctantly got to his feet. “I will return as soon as I’m able. Sooner, rather than later, I hope.”

“God speed, my son.”

Dominic was back on his horse and heading back to London before he felt he could properly breathe again. Even then, he allowed a few tears to fall unchecked.