Netherby Halls

“What the deuce?” he said as he went towards her.

His first thoughts were confused. He had asked for a fresh young beauty with experience be sent to him, and they sent him Sassy? How could this be? Sassy? Sassy was a part of this?

It was as though she had ripped the heart from his chest, and all he could do was stand there and watch as a beast devoured it. His reaction was an angry sneer. “I see. Well, well, Sassy, I was not expecting you.”

“Who were you expecting then? Were you expecting someone from Netherby?” she demanded. She didn’t wait for a response. “I feel as though I have never known you.”

His eyes lashed her fiercely, wanting to hurt her as he was hurt. “I was expecting a whore or perhaps some young thing about to embark upon the worthy old profession! I know I professed a preference for you, but never thought …”

Sassy’s hand went to her heart. She held onto a nearby chair back, looking as though she were about to collapse.

He saw the moment she started to use her magic to engulf herself in a circle of protection. “How … how could you?”

It infuriated him. With a flick of his finger he dispelled the protection mana. In one stride he had her arm in his grip. Shaking her, he demanded, “How could I?” He sneered at her. “Do you know what you have lost this night? I was going to offer you everything—my heart, my life, my devotion …”

His lips tore at her own brutally. He wanted her to feel his agony, and he poured it into that kiss as he pressed her hard against him. He wore only his shirtsleeves and breeches, and he set her aside to remove even those.

“Stop!” she cried.

“Oh no, madam. We are in too deep to one another to stop now,” he said, feeling the heart she had reassembled over the last few weeks break beyond repair. “Tell me, Sassy—how many have you had before me?”

* * *

“What? What is wrong with you? What are you saying?” It dawned on her. He thought she was the girl they had sent over. “Oh! You odious scoundrel—it is not what you think.”

He laughed mirthlessly. “Oh, but you are every bit of what I think you are! I was going to ask you to be my wife—imagine that? Egad what a fool I turned out to be.”

“You were going to ask me?” Sassy shook her head. “Yet, you were hiring a girl for the evening? It is I that am saved, not you, my lord.”

He frowned. “What the deuce is wrong with you?”

He scooped her into his arms, and she pushed with all her strength. When that did not work, she closed her eyes and used her mana. She was able to thrust him across the room, and he stumbled.

As he righted himself he said, “Ah, do we use our powers then?”

“I am leaving, and do not ever cross my path again, for I shall never look your way again. And I am reporting Netherby, Sallstone, you—everything—to the authorities!”

* * *

“Justin!” Percy shouted as he entered the room. “What in thunder are you doing?”

The marquis turned to find Percy and Dobbs standing in the doorway looking astonished. He said to them as he ran a hand through his hair, “Where the devil have you two been?”

“We were delayed, but never mind that now—he is outside in the courtyard with the girl,” Percy said, going to Sassy to bow. “My dear, I do not know why you are here, but you must make haste and leave!”

“I-I … what is going on? You cannot all mean to … to—she is only fifteen!” Sassy said.

Dawning lit in the marquis’s eyes, dawning and a quixotic strangulation of emotions: joy, relief, and instant remorse.

Sassy had come to his lodgings to protect the girl. Somehow she had found out, and either she knew the girl was coming to him, or she had come to him to ask for help.

The marquis took Sassy’s arm and hurried her through an adjoining door to a small anteroom. “Remain here and be quiet.”

* * *

Dobbs and Percy were blabbering at him, both at the same time. He put up his hand and ordered them to sit. “Just sit.”

Dissatisfied, Percy sat, though he was visibly worried about Miss Winthrop’s presence in the next room. He cast his glance between the adjoining door and the marquis’s grim expression.