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and unsuspecting for what was to come.
The Countess wasn't about to leave anything to chance.
Under no circumstances would she allow her niece to wed someone as honorable
as Lyon.
The reason was very simple. Patricia didn't want just a substantial portion of
her father's estate. She meant to have it all.
The plan she laid out for Splickler was shameful, even by a serpent's measure.
Emmett had blanched when she calmly told him he'd have to kidnap her niece,
haul her off to Gretna Green, and force her to marry him there. He could or
could not rape the girl before or after the marriage certificate was signed.
It made no matter to the Countess.
Emmett was more frightened of being found out than she was. When she told him
to include two or three other men to help restrain Christina, the stupid man
quit his complaining and grasped the plan wholeheartedly. She'd noticed the
bulge grow between his legs, knew his mind had returned to the picture of
bedding her niece, assumed then he'd be desperate enough to do what was
required.
The worries exhausted the Countess. There was always the remote possibility
that Emmett's cowardice was greater than his lust to bed Christina. The plan
could fail if there was any interference.
For that reason, Patricia knew she was going to have to get rid of Christina's
filthy Indian family. If her niece didn't marry Emmett, and she ended up with
someone as strong-willed as Lyon, the union couldn't possibly last long.
Christina's upbringing was bound to come out sooner or later. She wouldn't be
able to hide her savage instincts forever. And what normal husband would put
up with her disgusting ideas about love and honor? He'd be horrified by her
true nature, of course. Though it wouldn't be possible for him to set her
aside, for divorce was an unheard-of undertaking, he certainly would turn his
back on her and turn to another woman for his needs.
Such rejection might well send Christina scurrying back to the savages who'd
raised her. The stupid chit still insisted on returning home. The Countess
couldn't let that happen. Christina had become her means of getting back into
the ton. Even those who remembered her past indiscretions were so taken with
Christina that they forced themselves to include the Countess again.
Last of all her worries was Edward. Christina's father wasn't going to take it
kindly that she'd outwitted him. As goodnatured as she remembered him to be,
Edward would probably still try to get his hands on a share of the fortune.
Christina would certainly be able to control her father, the Countess
believed.
Oh, yes, it was imperative that the little bitch remain in England until the
Countess was finished with her. Imperative indeed.["chapter_7"]
Chapter Six
["#Contents"]Contents- ["#chapter_6"]Prev| ["#chapter_8"]Next
Edward kept his private quarters in a separate building adjacent to the main
wing of the palace. I decided not to wait to tell him what his men were doing.
You see, child, I couldn't believe my husband was responsible. 1 wanted to
place the blame on his officers.
When I entered Edward's office by the side door, 1 was too stunned by what 1
saw to make my presence known. My husband was with his lover. They'd shed
their clothes and were cavorting like animals on the floor. His mistress's
name was Nicolle. She rode Edward like a stallion. My husband was shouting
crude words of encouragement, his eyes tightly closed in ecstasy.
The woman must have sensed my presence. She suddenly turned her head to look
at me. I was sure she'd cry out my presence to Edward. She didn't. No, Nicolle
continued her obscene gyrations, but she was smiling at me all the while. I
thought it was a smile of victory.
I don't remember how long I stood there. When I returned to my own rooms, I
began to plan my escape.
Journal entry August 20, 1795
~
"Lyon, whatever is the matter with you? Why, you actually smiled at Matthews.
Didn't I hear you ask after his mother, too? You aren't feeling well, are
you?"
The questions were issued by Lyon's sister, Lady Diana, who was now chasing
her brother up the stairs to the bedrooms.
Lyon paused to turn back to Diana. "You aren't happy when I'm frowning, and
now you seem upset because I'm smiling. Make up your mind on the matter of my
disposition and I shall try to accommodate you."
Diana's eyes widened over the teasing tone in her brother's voice. "You are
sick, aren't you? Is your knee paining you again? Don't look at me as though
I've grown another head. It isn't at all usual for you to smile, especially
when you come to visit Mama. I know how tiring she can be. Remember, brother,
I live with her. You only have to visit her once a week. I know Mama can't
help the way she is, but there are times I wish you'd let me move into your
town-house. Is that shameful of me to admit?"
"Being honest with your brother is not shameful. You've had a time of it since
James died, haven't you?"
The sympathy in Lyon's voice made Diana's eyes fill with tears. Lyon hid his
exasperation. His sister was such an emotional whirlwind when it came to
matters of family. Lyon was quite the opposite. It was difficult for him to
show outward affection. He briefly considered putting his arm around his
sister's shoulders to offer her sympathy, then pushed the awkward notion
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