Free The Offer by Catherine Coulter Page B

who?”
    â€œExactly my question to dear Elaine, which, of course, she tearfully refused to answer. It wasn’t very noble of me, but I waited patiently, then followed her. There is no doubt in my mind that the father of her child is her wastrel cousin, Roger.” Phillip paused a moment, his eyes turning hard. “Of course he will never know the sex of his child, for I am going to kill him.”
    Charles sucked in his breath. Of a certainty he had seen Elaine much in her cousin’s company, but he was, after all, part of her family. To the eyes of the polite world, there had been nothing questionable about her behavior.
    â€œWhat do you intend to do about Elaine?”
    â€œThat panting little bitch?” He began to laugh, furiously wild laughter. “If she is an ice maiden, Charles, I ask you, what is every other lady? Well, my friend, I’ll tell you what they are—sluts who have no honor, who will part their thighs to the closest male of their acquaintance. I thank God that I have seen the truth in time to escape. Never will I fall into such a trap again.”
    Charles shook the viscount’s shoulders. “You’re drunk as a loon, Phillip, and you don’t know what you’re saying. Come to bed. We’ll decide what is tobe done on the morrow, when you’ve a clear head and your wits about you.”
    â€œNo, Charles. What must be done will be done now, tonight. I am off to kill that bastard, Roger. You will act as my second?”
    â€œBut the scandal, Phillip. Have you thought of what this would do to your mother? To Elaine’s family? My God, man, you’re the Viscount Derencourt.”
    Phillip regarded Charles for a brief moment, then said softly, “If I do not have my honor, Charles, I have nothing. Most likely, all of society will damn me to hell.” He rose and shrugged into his greatcoat. “I’m not too drunk to get it done. Are you coming, Charles?”
    Margaret was shaking. That such a thing could happen appalled her.
    â€œThere’s more, isn’t there, Charlie? You’ve trusted me thus far, please, you must tell me the rest of it.”
    â€œNeedless to say, I accompanied Phillip to Roger Travers’s lodging. Both he and his valet were gone. I remember that his housekeeper, a nervous little scarecrow of a woman, showed Phillip a note written by Roger saying that he’d left on an extended visit to the Continent. As you know, Margaret, there was no scandal. As for Elaine, obviously, she rid herself of the child. It is my opinion that she must have harmed herself irrevocably, for she has never borne Bufford an heir. Phillip left immediately for the Peninsula. It was Elaine who inserted a retraction of their engagement in the Gazette. The following June, she married Bufford. The rest, my dear Margaret, you know.”
    â€œThat horrible bitch. Goodness, I should like to challenge her to a duel.”
    Charles took his sister’s small hand into his. “What’s really strange is that Elaine hates Phillip. She knows he has never said a word about what happened, but it seems that she can’t remain civil around him. I knowshe tells tales about things he’s supposedly done. Now, I know that you will guard this secret. Phillip would wring my neck if he knew I’d told you.”
    â€œIt’s because of Elaine that he’s never married?”
    Charles was silent for several moments, gazing toward Teresa, who had displayed herself charmingly at the pianoforte. “Perhaps such an experience would shape the lives of some men, embitter them, make them hate and distrust women, but not Phillip. He’s much too perceptive a man to allow Elaine’s despicable behavior to jade his view of the entire female sex. I at least hope to heaven that it’s true.”
    â€œBut why hasn’t he married?”
    â€œI’m not married either, Margaret, and Phillip and I are the same age,