“Good God, surely you don’t believe him?” Isobel snapped glaring at Rupert in hatred. Fear clawed at her as the silence lengthened. “Dominic?” Her voice trembled with gnawing dread as she watched him re-read the document before moving towards the fireplace.
“Do you seriously think you can get away with this?” Isobel hissed, her gaze moving to Rupert and DeLisle.
“You are my wife, dear. I am only here to claim what is mine.” DeLisle’s voice was dispassionately bored as his gaze roamed up and down her slender form with blatant possessiveness.
“I would rather die than allow myself anywhere near either of you vile excuses for humanity,” Isobel’s voice rang with a cold finality that gave everyone within the room pause to consider her warily. She was vaguely aware of Edward and Sebastian watching from across the room but daren’t break her defiant gaze from the lecherous toad before her. She couldn’t lose sight of the risks they posed to her safety, and didn’t trust them not to do anything else equally as stupid.
“I can assure you, my dear, that the Vicar who married us will clarify on the certainty of the event, notwithstanding the entry in the Church register there for anyone to see.” Rupert’s voice oozed satisfaction as he meandered arrogantly around the room, fully aware, and pleased with, the consternation he had caused among the occupants of the room.
Isobel once again looked towards Dominic who had lapsed into silence at the far end of the fireplace, his gaze locked upon the document in his hand. She wished he would shout and throw these two out of the house, but knew as he stared blankly down at the words contained in the document that he was lost to her. Pain clenched in her chest as she gazed at his face. So severe and forbidding, she knew he had made his mind up on the truth of the documents set out before him. He made no attempt to look at her, and it broke her heart.
“Dominic?” Isobel gasped, horrified that he doubted her.
“What a touching display my dear, but you cannot escape the fact that you are a bigamist. You have married this man knowing very well you were already married to my good friend here,” Rupert’s voice dripped venom.
“I have never married, before Dominic. I would have to be insane to commit myself to DeLisle, or any of your associates. You are a liar and a fraud, and if you consider for one moment you will get away with this, then I can assure you that I shall use every resource available to me to prove your guilt, and ensure you swing for your crimes,” Isobel whispered, fighting the hurt that threatened to swamp her. She couldn’t believe how easy it had been for Rupert to make Dominic doubt her. Her voice dropped to a cold menace as her tears dried and a cold cloak of grief settled over her, numbing all of the tumultuous emotions swirling within her.
“Whatever.” Rupert stifled a yawn as he lurched to his feet. “Get your cloak, your husband wants you in your rightful place.” He made to move towards her, spurring her into action.
“Go to hell,” Isobel snapped, shoving him hard in his stomach. She was vaguely aware of Edward moving to hold her shoulders, and Sebastian moving to stand before her in a protective stance in case Rupert was stupid enough to try to lunge for her.
“Go near her again, and I will gut you where you stand,” Sebastian’s low growl held a hard edge of intent that gave everyone no doubt that he would carry through with his threat. Rupert’s bravado diminished considerably, and he remained quiet as he staggered to his feet.
“Wait!” Isobel threw Peter a quick glance, as he moved to stand between Sebastian and Rupert. “I am her legal guardian and was when this marriage, as you call it, happened. I haven’t ever given permission for her to wed anyone, except Lord Havistock.” Peter glared darkly at DeLisle. “Unless you two forced her into it, there is no way she was legally in a position to marry you.”
“Of course she was able,” Rupert began, only for Peter to step forwards menacing with a snarl.
“Shut up and listen to me,” Peter’s voice was deadly with intended threat. “She has been entailed into marriage to Dominic for some years. I have the papers previously drawn up and signed, with magistrate witnesses confirming her betrothal to Dominic some three years ago. Long before you raised your head above the parapet.” Peter glared at both men with hatred. “You have no place forcing anyone into matrimony, who was not free to wed.” He raised a hand when DeLisle drew in a breath to argue. “If indeed this marriage did take place, which I fully intend to investigate thoroughly before Isobel goes anywhere.”
“She is coming with us now.” DeLisle rose to stand before the younger man, reaching behind him to try to grasp Isobel’s arm only to find Edward’s meaty fist planted squarely in his face.
“Over my dead body,” Isobel snapped, watching dispassionately as the man tried to stem the flow of blood.
“It can be arranged my dear,” Rupert’s cold threat hung in the air.
“You claim to be married to my wife,” Dominic said, eyeing the squalid little man with disdain that he made no attempt to disguise.
Resting a casual arm upon the mantle, he turned a scornful gaze upon the now bleeding guest. Despite the casual pose, Dominic was armed and ready for anything Rupert or DeLisle could throw at him. The blade tucked away snugly in his boot was mere inches away. His sword was hidden beside the hearth and could be in his hand within a heartbeat. He just hoped the idiotic little man would be arrogant enough to make another threatening move.
He studied the shorter man carefully, and was fully aware of the knife carried within the hidden pocket of his waistcoat. There was also an intriguing bulge within his boot that Dominic surmised was a second knife of some sort. Making a mental note to relieve him of both the first chance he got, he watched the smug smile sweep over Rupert face and fought the urge to punch it off of him.
“I don’t claim to be married to Isobel. I am. Despite what the addle-brained chit says, we were wed. You have seen the certificate for yourself. You are a fool if you believe her lies,” DeLisle’s voice was contemptuous as he flicked a spiteful glance at Isobel.
“Did you really think I would just accept your claim without questioning the validity?” Dominic saw the venom in the look DeLisle had given Isobel and fought to keep hold of his temper. “With a reputation such as yours, one would be foolhardy indeed to believe anything you claim without investigating it thoroughly.”
Dominic noted neither man raised issue with his questioning their honesty. “My wife, her welfare and her fortune, are well out of your reach. Your reign of terror against my wife is well and truly over.” Dominic flicked the smaller man a contemptuous look of mocking pity.
“Rein of terror?” Rupert’s voice was incredulous as he turned with raised brows to glare at Isobel before trying to bluster his way through. “What has the stupid woman been telling you?”
Dominic clenched his fists, reminding himself that it would do no good to grab the little man by the throat. “My wife is far from stupid,” Dominic’s tone was languid. “Indeed, I think she is anything but stupid. She has after all managed to evade you for nigh on two months!” He shot her a warm smile of reassurance before continuing. “She clearly has far more intelligence than either of you. A young woman on the streets - all alone - with little money, and only the clothing on her back,” Dominic snorted cynically. “Despite the odds stacked against her, she still managed to evade the two of you. In fact she walked right under your nose two months ago and you still couldn’t see her. It strikes me that it isn’t her who is the stupid one.”
He watched dispassionately as sweat began to form on Rupert’s brow, and his face mottled with rage. Despite the clenching of his fists there was no further outburst from him. No blistering put down, or signs of the vicious temper he had revealed so readily to Isobel.
Still tension rose in Dominic as he eyed the rage boiling within the rotund toad before him. He reminded himself that this man was ruthless and he couldn’t be lulled into a false sense of security. There was still the element of surprise that could catch them all out, if either man chose to take it.
“Again, I put into question your wisdom should you seriously consider anybody would blithely accept your pro-offered documents of marriage, betrothal or anything else without calling their validity into question.” Dominic knew he had struck a chord when Rupert shot him a narrow eyed glare at the mention of betrothal documents.
“It was you!” He snarled. The truth dawned upon him that his deceit over the marriage had been revealed. “You broke into my house!”