Her Secret Lover (Aphrodite's Club 2)

“I agreed, of course.”

“What do you want from me? A confession?”

Sir James made an impatient sound. “Gabriel, I know the man was you; what I don’t know is why you would do such a thing. Miss Dupre may be Appleby’s mistress but she doesn’t deserve to be molested—”

“She wasn’t molested!” he said, turning back to the room. “She had something hidden upon her person that I wanted. I asked her for it, politely, but she refused to hand it over. I offered her threats, although I had no intention of carrying them out, and she still refused. I was playing a part, remember. I suppose I wanted to frighten her into complying. I touched her and…once I began I…I couldn’t seem to stop.”

“Good God, man!”

Gabriel gave him a sickly smile. “Yes, a worrying development. But don’t fret, I didn’t hurt her, even though a woman who shares a bed with Appleby must be used to far worse than I dealt her. Anyway, we have made up now. I assure you, she is perfectly satisfied with the situation.”

“I did wonder…” Sir James cleared his throat. “I wondered whether she was less keen to have you arrested than she appeared. It was almost as if she saw incarceration as a way of removing a threat to her peace of mind. Are you disturbing the lady’s peace of mind, Gabriel?”

He laughed. “I hope so.”

Sir James shook his head and reached to pour them both a brandy. “I will make inquiries. That should satisfy her. And I’ll pay her a visit and see for myself that she is ‘perfectly satisfied,’ as you so intriguingly put it.”

Gabriel took the glass.

“I don’t suppose you are going to tell me what she was hiding on her person that you wanted so badly?” he went on. “Something to do with Appleby, I presume? And your father…?”

“I was given information that Miss Dupre was keeping something safe for Lord Appleby, and I’ve searched everywhere else. It seemed a reasonable bet that the evidence I was seeking—a letter—was with Appleby’s mistress. It would be just like him to use her like that, no matter what danger he put her in the way of.”

“Are you sure it isn’t a trap to catch you, Gabriel?” Sir James said mildly.

Antoinette as the bait in a trap? An interesting thought, but it didn’t make him want her any less. “If it is a trap, then I will take the risk.”

“I wouldn’t have thought Wexmoor Manor was Appleby’s type of place,” Sir James went on thoughtfully. “Not flash enough.”

“My father also owns a half share in Aphrodite’s Club in London. Appleby has appropriated that, too.”

“Aphrodite’s Club?” Sir James’s puzzlement cleared. “Yes, I see that would appeal to him.”

“As a business investment, do you mean? I don’t think that’s the full reason. From what Aphrodite says he’s a vengeful man. Years ago she slighted him in favor of my father, and he’s remembered it all this time. Now he finally has his chance of revenge.”

“Yes, I see. Take care, Gabriel,” Sir James said, leaning forward intently. “Appleby is not a man to take lightly. He is ambitious and ruthless, and he seems to feel a deep dislike for your family.”

“Could that be because I caressed his nose with my fist?” Gabriel spoke dryly.

“You joke about it,” Sir James warned, “but it is not a game. Appleby doesn’t play games, Gabriel. Be very careful.”

Gabriel smiled. “I intend to be.”

“With Miss Dupre, too. Intriguing as she is, I don’t think I would trust her entirely. There’s a great deal more to her than she’s letting us see.”

“I know. That’s part of her charm.”

Far away in London, Lord Appleby was strolling through Hyde Park and feeling well pleased with himself. He had just come from a meeting with Prince Albert. This time the prince consort made no mention of any scandal, although he must have heard the gossip, but it seemed that Antoinette’s speedy departure for the country had done the trick.

His factories were currently turning out cast-iron tubing as fast as they could, and still could not keep up with the orders. His name coupled with the Crystal Palace had done the trick. He knew he’d taken a terrible risk, borrowing so heavily and going deeply into debt so that he could tender for the contract of supplying the Great Exhibition with the cast iron needed in its construction. If he hadn’t won the contract…He shuddered to think of the consequences. He would have been abandoned like a sinking ship, until eventually his creditors tore him apart in the rush to get what was owed them.

But the gamble had worked. Oh yes, he still owed money, more than he could believe possible, but his creditors were showing signs of being willing to wait a little longer. At least until he married Antoinette Dupre and used the Dupre fortune to pay them off—and he’d certainly been dropping plenty of hints to that effect.

All was well with Appleby’s world. The prince had even complimented him at the opening of the Great Exhibition, in front of all his peers and so-called betters, and Antoinette herself.

“I like this very much,” he’d declared, gazing about him as they strolled through the vast interior of the Crystal Palace. “It is a miracle of glass and cast iron and steel. So beautiful and yet so strong. I am impressed, my lord. You must be very proud of your part in it.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”