Free Wicked Deception by Karolyn Cairns

Iverleigh?”
    “ Of course, she was a pretty
piece of fluff, if you recall. Why do you ask?”
    “ I believe I can make that
happen, my dear boy, but on one condition,” the Duke offered with a
predatory smile that made Gabriel grit his teeth ever so slightly,
feeling unclean just sitting next to the man.
    “ Certainly, I long to have
her back in my bed and the child misses her dreadfully. He cries
for her incessantly. If I had her back now, she could take the boy
off my hands. What is this condition you speak of?”Gabriel asked, a
wry grin on his face as Rudd sat back and eyed him with cold
deliberation.
    “ I can almost guarantee
getting her back for you if you gain Van Ryker’s trust once more.
He holds some vowels against Dartmouth, among other things. If you
but get back into his good graces, he may reveal where he’s hidden
these things,” Lord Rudd said with a gleam in his eyes. “I can
almost promise if you regain these items for me, she will most
certainly be yours.”
    Gabriel acted like he considered his
offer, seeing Rudd’s plan all too clearly. Should he get the
blackmail list from Nicholas, his friend was a dead man. So, Rudd
worried about such evidence falling into the wrong hands, did
he?
    He made a mental note to call upon
Chumley. He looked as jubilant as he felt as he raised his glass to
Rudd. “Consider it done, Your Grace. I can almost guarantee these
items returned to you at once. I learned only recently Nicholas and
his wife are out of the country,” he lied smoothly, eyeing the man
closely. “I shall draw him out upon his return and work on your
matter at once.”
    “ Thank you, my boy. Your
father was a close friend of mine, as you know. I have a personal
interest in seeing that you’re happy,” Rudd replied, grinning
broadly, preening in his pleasure to have Gabriel snooping for
him.
    “ I can only hope my former
mistress is as kind to me when she returns,” Gabriel said with a
chuckle, and allowed Rudd to clap him on the back without cringing.
“However do you plan to wrest the woman away from him, Your Grace?
Do you plan to offer her money to leave him?”
    “ No, I think Van Ryker has
upset enough people in this town with his lack of discretion. You
needn’t worry what brings her back, Iverleigh,” Rudd said with a
slight sneer and he rose and shook his hand warmly before he took
his leave. Gabriel rose and immediately wiped off his hands with a
rag upon his desk, disgusted by the whole interview, but sure Lord
Rudd believed him.
    ~ ~ ~
    Nicholas and Catherine were too shocked
to do more than gape when they arrived at their home to find it in
a shambles. Nicholas made her and the children remain outside while
he and his crew checked the house.
    The servants were released by Gabriel
for a much needed holiday when Nicholas left for Dublin. None of
them were to return until the following week. In the meantime,
their home was ransacked thoroughly while the house was closed up
in their absence. He ushered them all inside. The boys were
dismayed to discover their rooms were turned upside
down.
    Catherine left her children with their
nurses as she ushered her brothers to put their rooms in some
semblance of order. Her face was pale as she joined her husband in
what was left of his study.
    “ They were in our house,
Nicholas,” she whispered tightly with a faint note of hysteria in
her voice. He drew her close to his side, an angry light in his
eyes as he saw his safe was opened as well. The contents on the
floor told him they had not been here to rob the place, for nothing
of value was taken.
    “ Easy now, my love, don’t
get upset,” Nicholas soothed softly, rubbing her shoulder and
glaring at the mess. “I expected it long before now. I’m glad they
waited for us to be gone to do it. They won’t be back. They didn’t
find what they seek.”
    Catherine was feeling too violated by
the destruction of her home to hear his other words as she slipped
from his side to