Dangerous (32 page)

“Not even you?”

Drucilla flinched. “That is certainly none of your business, is it?”

“Perhaps not,” Prudence said. She was beginning to see the Fleetwood family feud in a whole new light. “Nevertheless, I cannot allow you to insult my husband’s side of the family simply because his father chose to marry his mother.”

“She was an
actress,”
Drucilla said in anguished fury. “He could have married me, but he chose someone who was no better than a professional courtesan. It was intolerable. He probably did it just to spite his family.”

“You go too far, Mrs. Fleetwood. If you cannot keep a civil tongue in your head, I will have to ask you to leave.”

Before Drucilla could respond, the library door slammed open.

Prudence nearly dropped her teacup. She spun around in her chair and stared as Sebastian, looking very much like Lucifer after the Fall, stormed into the room with an air of barely controlled violence.

“What the devil is going on here?” he asked in a deadly soft tone.

Prudence leaped to her feet and summoned up a smile. “Your aunt has very kindly come to visit.”

Sebastian gave Prudence a frozen glance. “Has she, indeed? How fortunate I arrived home early.” He inclined his head to Drucilla. “Good afternoon, madam. You should have sent word around that you intended to call.” His smile was as cold as his eyes. “I very nearly missed seeing you.”

“I wished to speak with your wife, Angelstone,” Drucilla said. “I did not particularly desire to see you.”

“I am devastated.” Sebastian stalked over to a table that held the crystal decanter of claret. “Did you think it might be easier to intimidate Prue without me around?”

Prudence raised her eyes to the ceiling and prayed for patience. “Angelstone, there is no need to be rude. Mrs. Fleetwood is very concerned about Jeremy’s predicament.”

“So he went straight to his mama, did he? I wondered if he would.” Sebastian sipped his claret and smiled his Fallen Angel smile. “I am deeply affected by this evidence of maternal concern. What’s the matter, Aunt? Afraid that if Jeremy is arrested for murder you will no longer be welcome in the best drawing rooms?”

“Angelstone,” Prudence began in a warning tone. She was cut off by Drucilla, who was watching Sebastian as if he were a demon from the Pit that had been set loose in the library.

“Do not think to amuse yourself by playing your devil’s games with my son,” Drucilla said. “I vow I do not know what you hope to accomplish by frightening Jeremy into thinking he will be arrested at any moment, but I insist you stop it at once.”

Sebastian swirled the claret in his glass. “What makes you think I’m playing a game?”

Drucilla glowered at him. “Surely even you would not let an innocent man hang for murder.”

Sebastian looked thoughtful. “I’m not certain about that. He is a Fleetwood, after all.”

“Good God, sir,” Drucilla whispered. “Have you no shame?”

Prudence tried to regain control of the situation. “Mrs. Fleetwood, I assure you Sebastian is not trying to terrify Jeremy. Nor does he intend to allow Jeremy to be arrested.” She frowned severely at Sebastian. “Do you, my lord?”

Sebastian took a sip of claret and pondered that carefully. “Well …”

Prudence smiled reassuringly at Mrs. Fleetwood. “Do not concern yourself, madam. He will take care of Jeremy.”

“You expect me to take your word for it?” Drucilla snapped.

Sebastian gave Prudence a dangerously amused look. “Mrs. Fleetwood is quite right to be skeptical, my dear. Why should I go out of my way to help a Fleetwood?”

“Stop it, Angelstone,” Prudence said. “Stop it right now. You are not to torment your aunt like this. She is deeply concerned.”

“And with good reason,” Sebastian said.

Mrs. Fleetwood’s nostrils were pinched with the strain of her rage. “I knew there was very little point trying to deal with you, Angelstone. That is why I made an effort to speak to Lady Angelstone in private.”

“An effort which has failed.” Sebastian sauntered across the room, sat down behind his desk, and propped his booted feet on the mahogany surface. “Tell me, Aunt, what did you expect to accomplish by pleading your case to my wife?”

“I did not come here today to plead with anyone. I came here to insist that your cat-and-mouse game be stopped immediately. I thought it just barely possible that Lady Angelstone might have some small influence on you.”

“Really?” Sebastian’s brows rose. “Whatever gave you the notion that she would take your side in all this? She is my wife, after all. Her loyalty lies with me.”

“Angelstone, behave yourself.” Prudence looked at Drucilla. “Rest assured, madam, that Angelstone is not plotting against your family. The evidence that he kept out of the hands of the authorities is quite damning, however. I must
tell you that it is necessary to find out why it was left at the scene of the deaths.”

“I have heard that Ringcross was killed in an accidental fall and that Oxenham was the victim of suicide,” Drucilla said. “There is no talk of murder. Except by Angelstone.”

“There has been no talk of murder because the evidence implicating Jeremy was concealed by Angelstone,” Prudence said. “He took a great risk for the sake of the family, madam.”

Sebastian smiled his most wicked smile and sipped his claret. “My devotion to my family knows no bounds.”

Drucilla slanted him a narrow glance. “Bah. I do not believe there ever was any evidence implicating Jeremy at the scene of the deaths. Angelstone has fabricated the entire business.”

“No, he did not.” Prudence was beginning to get angry again.

“Yes, he did,” Drucilla said. “I can see it all quite clearly. He obviously heard that those two unfortunate souls had departed this earth. He then created his own evidence implicating my son, claimed it was found at the scene, and presented it to Jeremy as proof. He intends to hold the so-called evidence over our heads as a threat.”

“A very logical conclusion,” Sebastian said approvingly. “You surprise me, Aunt. I would not have expected such clever reasoning from you. There is just one tiny flaw in it. I did not create the evidence. It was very real and it was indeed found at the scenes of the deaths. And there may be more evidence if there are more of these odd deaths.”

“Nonsense. This whole thing is some sort of scheme designed solely to torment your family.” Drucilla rose to her feet. “Even I, who know what sort of behavior to expect from your side of the family, cannot bring myself to believe that you would actually present your false evidence to the authorities.”

“You think not?” Sebastian smiled. “But it would be so
very amusing, would it not? Just imagine what the papers would say if a Fleetwood went on trial for murder. Just imagine what the
ton
would say.”

“Sebastian
.” Prudence wanted to strangle him.

Drucilla looked at Sebastian. “I do not think you would allow an innocent young man to die simply in order to amuse yourself, sir. Not even you would stoop so low for the sake of revenge.”

“What if he is not so innocent?” Sebastian asked softly.

Drucilla started for the door. “Do not be a complete ass, Angelstone. My son had no reason to kill those two men.”

Prudence realized that Sebastian was about to argue. She sent him a warning look as she frantically yanked the bell rope to summon Flowers. “Good day to you, Mrs. Fleetwood. I know this has been an unpleasant experience. I want to assure you once again that Angelstone will take care of the situation.”

“See to it.” Drucilla peered at Prudence’s gown as Flowers opened the door. “By the way, lavender is utterly atrocious on you, madam. It makes you look quite drab.”

Prudence saw Sebastian take his booted feet down off the desk. “Thank you for your opinion, Mrs. Fleetwood,” she said hurriedly. “I shall keep it in mind when I shop.”

“And you had best get a new modiste.” Drucilla swept toward the open door. “That gown you wore to the Hollington ball last night was positively indecent. Not at all suitable to your station. You were hanging out of it like a demirep dressed for the opera.”

Sebastian was on his feet now. “Goddamn it, my wife can wear what she bloody well wants to wear.”

“Angelstone, please,” Prudence said, “last night you held the same opinion of my gown, if you will but recall.”

“That’s different.” He strode swiftly across the room, his expression lethal as he bore down on his aunt. “Have you anything else to say about my wife’s clothes, madam?”

“I do not know why you have taken offense, Angelstone.”
Drucilla glanced back from the doorway. “That dress was a disgrace. One could almost see your wife’s nipples. It was the sort of gown an actress would wear.”

Sebastian’s eyes gleamed like hellfire.

Prudence threw herself into his path. “Perhaps you had better take your leave, Mrs. Fleetwood,” she called over her shoulder.

“I certainly have no reason to stay here.” Drucilla went past Flowers and out into the hall. She seemed oblivious of the danger.

Flowers took one look at his master’s face and discreetly pulled the door closed with a quick jerk.

“That damned bitch.” Sebastian shook off Prudence’s clinging hands. “I’ll see her and her whole brood in hell. Jeremy can swing, for all I care. They can all swing.”

“Sebastian, no, wait, you don’t mean that. Stop.” Prudence dashed ahead of him and flung herself in front of the door. She stood with her back to it, arms stretched out to form a barricade.

“Get out of my way, Prue.”

“Listen to me. The reason she resents you so much is because she was in love with your father.”

“Have you lost your wits? She hated my father.”

“Because he married another. Don’t you understand? She was in love with him and he ran off with another woman. Then you come along and claim the title. No wonder she has never forgiven him. Or you.”

e reasonable, Sebastian,”
Prudence panted as she braced herself in front of the door. “What would you do to her if you went after her? She’s a woman and she’s at least twenty years your senior. You cannot touch her and you know it.”

“I am not going to put a hand on her.” Sebastian was seething with anger. “I am merely going to inform the old bitch that I intend to cut off most of her income from the Angelstone fortune. I may also cut off the allowances of the rest of the family while I’m at it, for good measure.”

“Because of her comments on my clothes?” Prudence looked at him in disbelief.

“She insulted you.”

“She did not insult me. She was kind enough to offer her expert advice.”

“Advice?”

“She is considered highly fashionable. Hester told me so. She knows what she’s talking about,” Prudence said.

“She insulted you to your face. In front of me, no less.”

“Yes, well, as it happens, I agree with her about this particular gown.” Prudence shook out the skirts of her dress. “I have never particularly cared for lavender. I only ordered this shade because I was told it was all the rage. And I did
wonder about all these flounces. Your aunt is quite right. I shall have to change my modiste.”

“Bloody hell” Sebastian heard the sound of Drucilla’s carriage wheels in the street outside the front door. It was too late to go after her, even if he managed to peel Prudence out of the doorway. He turned on his heel and stalked back to his desk. “The woman is a bitch.”

“I will not allow you to use a few petty remarks about my attire as an excuse to take your revenge, Sebastian.”

“No?” He dropped into his chair and put his feet back on the desk.

“No.” Prudence moved slowly away from the door. She pushed her spectacles higher on her nose, blinked several times, and swallowed hard. She focused intently on the fireplace. “I told you that I do not want to be used in that fashion. It is unworthy of you, my lord.”

Sebastian eyed her with a sense of savage frustration. Then he frowned as she took a hankie out of her pocket and dabbed at the corner of her eye.

“Devil take it, Prue, are you crying again?”

“No, of course not.” She shoved the hankie back into her pocket. “I just had something in my eye. I believe it’s gone now.”

Sebastian knew she was lying. “You don’t understand,” he said roughly. He did not look at her. He was afraid he would see more tears.

Prudence sniffed. “What don’t I understand?”

Sebastian struggled to find a way to explain what he was only now just beginning to comprehend himself. “It was not revenge for the past that was on my mind a few minutes ago when I tried to go after my aunt.”

“If you were not looking for an excuse to punish her because of what happened in the past, why were you so upset by her comments on my gowns?” Prudence’s voice sounded steadier now.

Sebastian decided it was safe to look at her again. He did
so cautiously, hoping against hope that he would find her dry-eyed.

She was. She stood watching him solemnly, her hands clasped in front of her. Her eyes were clear and intent behind the lenses of her spectacles.

Sebastian was vastly relieved. “I was angry simply because of the insult to you.”