head. “I’m disappointed in you, Moira. Perhaps I’ve been wrong about you all along and owe my son an apology.”
Roger said nothing. He didn’t need to. His gloating expression spoke volumes.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do about this,” Lord Justin said. “I can’t condone this kind of behavior in my household. ’Tis best I call the watch and let the authorities deal with you, Moira. You’re confined to your room until they arrive.”
“I’ll guard the door to make sure Moira doesn’t escape, Father,” Roger offered.
“I doubt she’ll go anywhere on a blustery night like this,” Lord Justin said, “but perhaps you’re right. It will take considerable time to summon the watch in this kind of weather, if they can be roused at all.”
After his father left, Roger shut the door and turned the key in the lock. “I told you I’d have you.” He sneered viciously.
“You planted your mother’s necklace in my room!” Moiraaccused, stunned at the lengths to which Roger was willing to go to get what he wanted.
“Of course. Did you doubt it?” Roger admitted remorselessly. He shoved her backward onto the bed. “On your back, wench. I’ll wager you’ve not spread your legs for an heir to an earldom. Accommodating me will be a treat from the usual riffraff you’ve bedded.”
Moira made a disgusted sound deep in her throat. “Don’t touch me! I’ll scream the house down if you do.”
“Don’t be foolish.” Roger snarled. “If you please me, I’ll persuade Father to drop the charges against you.”
“I’d rather go to prison,” Moira declared, scrambling off the bed to the other side.
Roger, disagreeable even in the best of times, turned downright ugly. “Do you think you’re too good for me? You’ve always put on airs above your station.” He grabbed for her. “Women are good for only one thing.”
She twisted out of his grasp. “If you don’t leave me alone, I’ll tell your father about your involvement with the Hellfire Club!”
Roger went still, his eyes as cold as death. “What do you know about the Hellfire Club?” His voice held a hint of menace, but Moira had gone too far to stop now.
“I know you’re a disciple of debauchery. I overheard you and a fellow member bragging about throwing some poor girl in the Thames after you’d kidnapped her off the street and used her in your evil rituals.”
Roger’s face twisted into a vengeful grimace. “You were eavesdropping!”
Moira’s chin rose fractionally. “I was cleaning outside the room. You didn’t know I was there. I overheard every word. And I’ll tell anyone who will listen about your depravities. Your reputation, such as it is, will be torn to shreds. Your entire family will be cut by society once your evil deeds are brought to light.”
“Too bad you’ll not get the chance to tell anyone,” Roger said, lunging for her. His move came so unexpectedly that Moira had scant time to elude him. He covered her mouth with one hand while pinning her arms to her sides with the other.
“Do you think I’ll let you go free now, when you know so much about my activities? Father would disinherit me for sure. You sealed your own fate, slut.” He pulled her toward the door. “I’ll tell Father I felt sorry for you and let you go. He’ll be angry and will probably file charges anyway, but no one will find you.”
Fear turned Moira’s eyes to luminous gold. Why had she goaded Roger with her knowledge of his secret activities? she lamented. Because he had driven her to it, she thought, answering her own question. She’d known the information was dangerous when she’d heard it and had not breathed a word of it to anyone. What a muddle she’d gotten herself into. If only she had held her tongue. She should have realized that threatening Roger was a foolish and dangerous thing to do.
Grabbing her cape from the nail, Roger tossed it over her head and dragged her from the room. No one was in the hallway,
Roger said nothing. He didn’t need to. His gloating expression spoke volumes.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do about this,” Lord Justin said. “I can’t condone this kind of behavior in my household. ’Tis best I call the watch and let the authorities deal with you, Moira. You’re confined to your room until they arrive.”
“I’ll guard the door to make sure Moira doesn’t escape, Father,” Roger offered.
“I doubt she’ll go anywhere on a blustery night like this,” Lord Justin said, “but perhaps you’re right. It will take considerable time to summon the watch in this kind of weather, if they can be roused at all.”
After his father left, Roger shut the door and turned the key in the lock. “I told you I’d have you.” He sneered viciously.
“You planted your mother’s necklace in my room!” Moiraaccused, stunned at the lengths to which Roger was willing to go to get what he wanted.
“Of course. Did you doubt it?” Roger admitted remorselessly. He shoved her backward onto the bed. “On your back, wench. I’ll wager you’ve not spread your legs for an heir to an earldom. Accommodating me will be a treat from the usual riffraff you’ve bedded.”
Moira made a disgusted sound deep in her throat. “Don’t touch me! I’ll scream the house down if you do.”
“Don’t be foolish.” Roger snarled. “If you please me, I’ll persuade Father to drop the charges against you.”
“I’d rather go to prison,” Moira declared, scrambling off the bed to the other side.
Roger, disagreeable even in the best of times, turned downright ugly. “Do you think you’re too good for me? You’ve always put on airs above your station.” He grabbed for her. “Women are good for only one thing.”
She twisted out of his grasp. “If you don’t leave me alone, I’ll tell your father about your involvement with the Hellfire Club!”
Roger went still, his eyes as cold as death. “What do you know about the Hellfire Club?” His voice held a hint of menace, but Moira had gone too far to stop now.
“I know you’re a disciple of debauchery. I overheard you and a fellow member bragging about throwing some poor girl in the Thames after you’d kidnapped her off the street and used her in your evil rituals.”
Roger’s face twisted into a vengeful grimace. “You were eavesdropping!”
Moira’s chin rose fractionally. “I was cleaning outside the room. You didn’t know I was there. I overheard every word. And I’ll tell anyone who will listen about your depravities. Your reputation, such as it is, will be torn to shreds. Your entire family will be cut by society once your evil deeds are brought to light.”
“Too bad you’ll not get the chance to tell anyone,” Roger said, lunging for her. His move came so unexpectedly that Moira had scant time to elude him. He covered her mouth with one hand while pinning her arms to her sides with the other.
“Do you think I’ll let you go free now, when you know so much about my activities? Father would disinherit me for sure. You sealed your own fate, slut.” He pulled her toward the door. “I’ll tell Father I felt sorry for you and let you go. He’ll be angry and will probably file charges anyway, but no one will find you.”
Fear turned Moira’s eyes to luminous gold. Why had she goaded Roger with her knowledge of his secret activities? she lamented. Because he had driven her to it, she thought, answering her own question. She’d known the information was dangerous when she’d heard it and had not breathed a word of it to anyone. What a muddle she’d gotten herself into. If only she had held her tongue. She should have realized that threatening Roger was a foolish and dangerous thing to do.
Grabbing her cape from the nail, Roger tossed it over her head and dragged her from the room. No one was in the hallway,
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