A Daring Passion

“Ah.”

“You do not seem especially surprised,” Philippe said sardonically. He could not truly blame his friend for being pleased that he was being punished for his sins. It was no doubt a long-overdue punishment.

Carlos shrugged. “Raine is not like most women.”

“I am well aware of that.” Philippe settled deeper in the leather chair. “If she were like most women, then she would have committed murder for the opportunity to land a wealthy husband.”

“She might have been content to wed you for the sake of your wealth if you had not had the bad taste to make her fall in love with you.”

Philippe flinched. The thought of Raine loving him brought with it a confusion of emotions. Elation that he had managed to win her heart, and an agonizing realization that he had treated her with such a selfish lack of concern for her tender emotions that she might never forgive him.

Dark, biting pain clenched his heart before he was firmly thrusting aside his defeatist thoughts. No. It could not be too late. He would not allow it to be too late.

“Then obviously I must discover another means to tempt her to become my wife,” he said softly.

“And what would that be?”

“If she will not have my wealth, then perhaps she will have my heart.”

“Meu Deus.” With a jerky motion, Carlos reached for the nearby brandy and drained the bottle in one large swallow.

Philippe could not halt a small laugh at his friend’s astonishment. “My thoughts precisely.”

Carlos’s dark features momentarily hardened. His own feelings for Raine were still raw enough for him to resent the thought of Philippe taking the woman as his bride. Then with an obvious effort, he forced a smile to his lips.

“I suppose I have nothing left to do but offer my congratulations.”

With an effort, Philippe pushed himself to his feet and held his hands toward the fire. As weary as his body might be, his mind was restless and anxious to complete his tasks in London. The sooner he was done, the sooner he could leave for Knightsbridge.

“Ah, if only it were that simple.”

“What do you mean?”

“I possess an uncomfortable feeling that Raine will not be as willing as you to believe my love for her.” He gave a shake of his head. “She has convinced herself that I consider her as no more than a possession that I intend to stow away on Madeira while I supposedly enjoy a string of mistresses around the world.”

“Was that not what you intended to do?” Carlos demanded.

Philippe sighed. “In truth, I gave little thought to the future beyond ensuring that Raine was irrevocably mine. I suppose I assumed that once she was my wife she would suddenly be content with whatever I was willing to offer her. It was not until she was gone that I accepted just what a bastard I had been.”

“Yes.”

With a short, humorless laugh, Philippe turned to meet Carlos’s accusing gaze. “You cannot make me feel worse than I already do, amigo. I kidnapped her, seduced her and treated her as a meaningless courtesan that I intended to toss aside when I tired of her. The only thing she ever asked of me was that I open my heart to her, and it was the one thing I refused to offer. If there were justice in the world then I would no doubt be forced to spend the rest of my days alone, longing for the one woman I can never have.”

Carlos’s stark expression faintly eased at Philippe’s obvious pain. “I have noted that there is rarely justice in this world,” he said wryly.

“Thank God, because I have no intention of allowing Raine to slip away from me,” he said, his voice rough.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Carlos paced toward the heavy walnut desk. He perched on a corner as he regarded Philippe with a hint of curiosity.

“You still have not explained why you are in London rather than Knightsbridge.”

“First I must know what happened to Seurat.”

“Did you not receive my letter?”

Philippe gave an impatient wave of his hand. “Yes, I know that Seurat was forced to confess and that Jean-Pierre was released from prison, but where is Seurat now?”

Carlos’s curiosity deepened as a faint smile played about his lips. “I requested that the king hold him captive until you could arrive and personally punish him for his sins against your family.”