Ecstasy (Notorious 4)

When Mr. Fenton asked what trade Nate might be best fitted for, Kell answered thoughtfully. “He can’t read a word, but he shows an aptitude for mathematics. He can accurately tally the counters at my gaming tables.” Kell gave a wry smile. “He also has a vocabulary that would make a sailor blush. And I should warn you, he isn’t partial to bathing. With some decent food, his scrawny form should fill out in time, but I doubt he will ever be cut out for heavy physical labor.”

“We’ll do our best to make him prosper, sir, God love you,” Mrs. Fenton said.

“I’m certain you will,” Kell replied. “You’ve managed to work miracles with the other poor wretches I’ve brought here.”

The healing miracles had already begun for Nate, Raven realized. When he came running back, his eyes shone with the delights he had seen at this, the first real home he had ever had known. His happiness was so palpable, he might have been in heaven-a happiness that only dimmed a bit when Kell and Raven took their leave.

Kell remained silent until they were seated in the coach on their way back to London. “Well, are you satisfied he isn’t being condemned to a life of cruelty?”

“Yes,” she said softly. “I cannot imagine a better place for him.”

It was true, Raven reflected, thinking of the terrible life the boy had led. Recalling that he was a bastard, she felt rather humbled and ashamed of herself for bemoaning her own origins all these years. She had been so much better off than poor Nate. At least she’d had a loving mother, but Nate had had no one until Kell literally hauled him off the streets.

Kell cared a great deal for the boy, that much was obvious. “It was exceedingly good of you to save him,” Raven added.

Kell’s mouth twisted as he shook his head. “I am no saint, if that is what you are thinking.”

“No, I would hardly call you a saint. But certainly a guardian angel. Tell me…” She regarded Kell seriously. “Why would you go to so much effort for a boy you don’t even know?”

He was silent for a long moment. “I suppose because his plight strikes too close to home. I know what it’s like to be helpless. To be on the streets. To be alone and have nothing and no one to turn to.”

She heard the pain in his voice, the loneliness he let her glimpse, the man behind the mask. Regretting having probed such a raw wound, Raven mentally berated herself. “Surely you were never so wretched as Nate.”

“No, but for a time I was just as powerless. I came to despise that feeling. And Nate reminds me of my brother. Sean was his age when we were delivered to the tender mercies of my uncle. I admit it became a compulsion of mine, to rescue any helpless creature that crosses my path.”

“Including me? Is that why you came to my rescue and wed me?”

Kell frowned at her, deliberately trying to discompose her, she suspected. “You are an extremely nosy wife.”

“I suppose I am.”

“I thought you promised not to make a nuisance of yourself.”

“But sometimes I cannot help myself. You may beat me and restrict me to bread and water if that will make you feel better.”

“Don’t tempt me,” he warned, although his wry smile took the sting out of his words. He leaned back against the leather squabs then, shutting his eyes and effectively dismissing her.

Raven watched him for a moment, marveling at the compassion she’d seen in him. Kell was a hard man, with a brusque temper and unforgiving manner, especially toward her. But she was beginning to suspect that inside, he was closer to melted wax than granite. Clearly he couldn’t bear to see anyone helpless and downtrodden.

It had been Nate’s good fortune to be rescued by Kell. Was she as fortunate?

Uneasily, Raven banished the thought, unwilling to admit that wedding Kell had been anything but misfortune for her.

Tearing her gaze from him, she stared out the window. She would do better to heed the warning voices in her head. If she didn’t take care, she could grow to like Kell far too much, but it was folly to entertain feelings of warmth and admiration toward her unwanted husband.

Kell’s genuine kindness, however, made Raven even more determined to see that he didn’t suffer for her sake. Yet judging by the daily accounts she received from her friends, the progress was not encouraging.

She had hoped that with the Marquess of Wolverton and the Earl of Wycliff promoting her husband’s acceptance into the elite ranks of the ton, Kell at least stood a chance of living down his notoriety. Reportedly, he attended several events with Dare and rubbed shoulders with the prime social leaders, including the Prince Regent himself. Dare also related that the Hellfire League members were patronizing the club regularly.

And yet, as Raven had feared, her friends’ earnest efforts to rally around him were in vain. According to Emma, attendance at the club had fallen to record lows. And the spurious rumors about his gaming hell only worsened.

By the following week, Raven concluded there was only one course open to her-to confront the source of the slander directly.

It took some maneuvering, but she managed to discover through the servants’ grapevine that the Duke of Halford was expected to attend Drury Lane Theater that evening. When she expressed an interest in seeing the play there, both Brynn and Lucian dropped their plans in order to accompany her.

She dressed carefully in an empire waist gown of royal blue velvet that was Halford’s favorite shade, knowing it brought out the vivid color of her eyes, while the low, square neckline showed her bosom to advantage.

Halford was already at the theater when they arrived, seated in a box opposite the Wycliffs’. But he refused even to look at Raven-a deliberate cut, she knew. Half the opera glasses in the theater were trained on her, but she paid no attention to the spectators or to the play. She could not even have said what she saw, her attention was focused so intently on her task.