The Masked Heart - By Karla Darcy Page 0,96

now to keep Lord Stoddard from making it known."

"Would you really have become his mistress?" Drew asked. His voice sounded politely curious but his green eyes were angry.

"Yes." Blaine held his gaze, refusing to feel ashamed.

"I wonder with what he threatened you? Scandal? Bodily injury? I think not. You would never have weakened under such a threat. Dear God, it was Fleur." In his fury, he shook her. "It was Fleur, wasn't it?"

"Yes," she whispered.

Blaine staggered when he released her and stormed across the room. He grabbed Stoddard by his bloody cravat, dragging him to his feet. He shook him like a terrier with a rat. Stoddard's head bobbed like a rag doll's but he finally came to his senses. His eyes were glazed, staring groggily around the room and Drew waited until Stoddard's eyes focused and before he spoke.

"Listen well, you scum," he said in a voice far more chilling for its softness. "If you ever say one word about La Solitaire, Lady Yates or any of the Meriweathers, you will rue the day you were born. If one hint, one rumor, comes to my ears, I will strip you of every penny you possess and make your name anathema in London. Then, Lord Stoddard, I will kill you."

Without another word, Drew pushed him toward the door. He shoved Stoddard outside and followed him, leaving Blaine alone in the empty room. She sniffed back a tear as she surveyed the wreckage of the room. She wondered how soon they could leave for she was weary to death of this pitiful place. After they returned to London, she, Val and Fleur would pack up and return to Wiltshire. Perhaps there she could find some measure of peace, before she left them forever.

Sarge stamped into the room, giving her a sour smile before he reached down for Remus. Like his brother, the enormous giant was dragged across the floor and out the door.

"Tate made us all tea," Val chirped as he wobbled through the door with a tray of mugs.

Blaine looked around the scene of devastation, then raced across to the table and removed the lamp. "Set it here," she said as she placed the lamp on the mantel.

Manfully navigating through the piles of debris, Val plunked the tray down with a grin of triumph. Blaine removed her mittens and shoved them into the pocket of her skirt. Picking up a mug, she sipped slowly and reveled in the warmth that radiated through her body. She had her back to the door but she was aware of Drew's presence, the moment he entered the room. She stiffened as he crossed the floor to join them but she could not resist one quick look to assure herself he had taken no terrible injury.

He had taken time to wash the worst of his injuries. There was a cut on his eyebrow but it was no longer bleeding. His cheek was red and swollen beneath one eye. Aside from a lump on his forehead, near his temple, he was blessedly free of marks. He moved stiffly as he picked up a mug and went to lean against the mantel. She caught her breath at sight of the cut and swollen knuckles of his hand as he raised the tea to his lips. She would have cried out, if Val hadn't spoken.

"Did Lord Farrington tell you about Fleur?"

"If you recall, halfling, I have been rather too occupied to make polite conversation," Drew said .

"Right, sir," Val said, then turned to his sister, smiling broadly. "Robbie came up to scratch!"

"That's a perfectly dreadful expression." It took her a moment to take in the significance of his words but when she did, she smiled warmly. "What incredibly splendid news. What did Fleur say?" she asked Drew.

"I do believe, madam, that your sister will be an extremely damp bride. After a substantial bout of tears, she went on a bit about what an idiot she had been not to have realized that she was in love with Robbie. It would seem that the visit to London was instructive. The frivolous dandy set did not come off well when compared to the solid worth of the landed gentry. She said, and I quote, 'Robbie is the kindest, sweetest and best of friends.' Then she burst into tears. How can she possibly cry so much and still look so lovely?"

He looked totally bemused and, knowing their sister well, Val and Blaine laughed.

"Through it all, Robbie stared at her with a