Free Pursued By The Viscount by Carole Mortimer

visiting her at her home in this way?
    Whatever his reason, Rachel did not fool herself into thinking it was because he had relented in his torment of her.
    She waited until William and Becky had disappeared down the hallway before turning back to where Alder now presented her with a silver tray on which her tormentor’s card lay.
    “The gentleman insists on speaking with you, my lady.” Alder’s disapproval was evident in the stiffness of his tone.
    Rachel looked up at the butler searchingly. Alder had been with James for many years before he and Rachel were married. Was it possible that James’s lover had been to the house before? That James might have brought his lover here before—and perhaps also after—he had taken a wife? The two men had to meet somewhere, and Lucien had confirmed that there had never been any gossip regarding the affair. Recalling James’s arrogance, Rachel considered it a distinct possibility that he and his lover had met in the privacy of his home.
    Would her humiliations never end?
    Rachel made no effort to take the card, her earlier happiness completely forgotten as she answered Alder. “Give me a few minutes.” To calm and suitably compose herself, as the mistress of the house. “Then show him into the blue salon.”
    “Yes, my lady.” There was no change in the butler’s expression, but nevertheless, Rachel sensed he did not approve of her decision.
    What choice did she have? If she turned this man away, she had no doubt he would only accost her again publicly, as he had yesterday evening. Far better they talk in private than she suffer through that again.
    She remained standing as Alder showed him into the salon a few minutes later, nor did she instruct the butler to bring them refreshment before he quietly left the room. She did not intend for this to be a long visit.
    “James’s son is as handsome as he was.”
    Rachel tensed, her eyes narrowing to warning slits. “You will not so much as comment on my son.”
    Her visitor appeared unperturbed as he sank into an armchair without being invited to do so. No doubt as another sign of his disrespect for her.
    He shrugged. “As I said, he is very like James to look at.”
    Rachel’s gloved hands were clenched at her sides, and she breathed through her mouth in an effort not to take in the smell of this man’s overwhelming cologne. “And as I said, you will not discuss William.”
    “Then what shall we talk about?” He crossed one knee over the other, eyes cold as he studied her. “The fact that you and Brooketon are now lovers?”
    Color instantly warmed her cheeks, though she had nothing to feel uncomfortable about. She was free to make those choices, if she wished.
    “I can see the guilt in your eyes,” he told her scornfully. “A knowledge and a wantonness that was not there yesterday evening.”
    Rachel was surprised he could see anything in her eyes other than her dislike of him and her apprehension as to why he was here at all.  
    His jaw hardened, mouth thinning. “Does Brooketon know about me?”
    “There is nothing for him to know.” Rachel prudently decided not to reveal that she had confided in Brooketon regarding her letters and blackmailer. The less this man knew about her or her efforts to thwart him, the better.
    “You will send him a note today ending the affair. In fact, I shall stand over you as you write it,” he instructed coldly.
    “How dare you!” Rachel frowned her outrage. “You have no right to come into my home, making accusations and issuing orders.”
    “I dare because of these.” He reached into the breast pocket of his jacket and pulled out a stack of letters tied up neatly with a red ribbon.
    Rachel’s letters. Those letters she had written to him in complete ignorance of who he really was. Of his plan to keep them and use them against her.
    For him to now use as leverage to make her give up her friendship with Lucien? Because this man sought to control and belittle her before he