In Bed With the Devil(73)
He gave one brusque nod.
“Will you be able to live with it?”
With his thumb, he wiped the tears from her cheek. “That’s for me to worry about.”
“You said I was asking you to give up the last of your soul.”
“There’s only a small bit left. Giving it up will be no hardship.”
But she feared it would be a great hardship, that it would change him irrevocably into a man she could no longer love. Oh, dear Lord, when had she fallen in love with him? Had there been a precise moment or had it been simply an accumulation of many?
“It was easier for me to ask you do this before I knew you,” she said.
“And it’s easier for me to do now because I know you better.”
The bedchamber door opened. A somber Dr. Graves and Frannie stepped out. Catherine came to her feet, expecting the worst.
“She’s going to recover, but she’s going to require a lot of care,” Dr. Graves said. “She’s been terribly abused in very personal ways.”
Catherine nodded. Winnie had been conscious for a while, in pain, suffering, weeping over the atrocities her husband had made her endure: raping her, beating her, striving to break her spirit. She feared he’d succeeded with the last. “I can see after her.”
Claybourne urged everyone closer. “Can she travel?”
Dr. Graves widened his eyes. “Not far, not far at all.”
“She doesn’t have to go far.” Claybourne sighed. “Avendale has been having Catherine followed. He’s also responsible for the attack on us that night.”
“What?” Catherine asked. “How do you know all this?”
“Jim caught one of the ruffians he hired to follow you. We were discussing the matter with him when I received your missive. Avendale must be dealt with but not here, not in London, where he may have resources of which I’m not aware. My plan is this. We will lead people to believe that we are taking the duchess to my country estate. You should come with us, Catherine. Avendale will come to you first, searching for his wife.”
“But my father—”
“He’ll be watched. No harm will come to him.”
She believed him, absolutely without question.
“We’ll do a switch,” he continued, “take the ladies to your residence, Bill, where you and Lady Catherine can look after the duchess. I shall travel on to Heatherwood. Avendale is sure to follow me there if we leave enough clues. At which time, I shall put the matter to rights.”
“What about Whit?” Catherine asked.
Graves looked at her. “Who’s Whit?”
“Avendale’s heir,” Claybourne responded before she could. “We’ll bring the lad with us. I suggest we move quickly. Bill, can you help me prepare the duchess for travel?”
“Yes, certainly.”
“Catherine, you get the lad,” Claybourne said. “Remember, we want it to look as though we’re all going to the country.”
Catherine nodded, her mind racing.
“Good girl,” he said, just before he quickly disappeared into Winnie’s bedchamber with the doctor.
“I’ll help you get the lad,” Frannie said. “We want to talk loudly as we move through the house about our going to Heatherwood.”
Catherine grabbed her arm. “Claybourne is going to face Avendale alone.”
“It would seem so, yes.”
“I can’t let him go alone, Frannie. I brought him into this mess.”
“He’s not going to put others at risk. It’s not his way. He won’t let you go with him if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“I’ll not give him a choice. Will you look after Winnie for me?”
“Catherine—”
“I’ve come to care for him, Frannie. I’m no threat to you. I know you hold his heart, but I can’t bear the thought of him facing Avendale alone. I know there will be little I can do except to stand by him, but stand by him I must. Can you understand?”
“Have you considered your reputation if you go through with this madness? If you travel with him alone?”
“Who will know that I have gone if we simply say that I am with you and Winnie? His servants shan’t know who I am. They’ll think I’m some trollop. My name need never be associated with him.” Reaching out, she squeezed Frannie’s hand. “Do you really want him to face this alone?”
Frannie shook her head. “No, I’d planned to go with him, actually. But you’re right. You’re the better choice. I’ll take care of Winnie and you take care of Luke.” She squeezed Catherine’s hand so hard that Catherine nearly cried out. “Don’t leave him alone, especially at night. For some reason, he doesn’t do well at Heatherwood. Avendale won’t be the only demon he’ll face.”