The Postilion (The Masqueraders #2) - S.M. LaViolette Page 0,121
martyr.”
Jago swallowed his disgust and fury. “Why are you telling me this now, Ria?”
“Because I know who was blackmailing Cadan. And they are not finished.”
“Are you saying that whoever was blackmailing my brother now thinks to try that on me?”
“I know he does.”
He snorted. “I had nothing to do with any of it.”
“If that story got out, would it really matter if it were you or your brother who’d been involved with selling secrets to the French? Would the government care if it had been you or your brother who agreed to the killing of a British agent? It’s treason, Jago, and you—and what remains of your family—will suffer greatly by association.”
“And you know who this person is? How?”
“I made it my business to find out. With enough money, all information is accessible.” She smirked. “But that is not the point.”
“What is the bloody point, Ria?”
“The point is, I can make it all go away, Jago—the blackmailing, the danger of exposure, the constant, slow bleeding.”
Jago looked into her beautiful, but hard, green eyes. “How?”
“Because I have my own information against him.”
“Ha! Blackmailing the blackmailer? How … appropriate. Who is it?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“How long have you had this information?”
She shrugged. “Perhaps six years.”
“Are you telling me that you could have stopped what was happening to Cadan?”
Her lips curled into an unpleasant smile. “Your brother thought I was lower than dirt. Even after I married Henry and could have bought your wretched Lenshurst Park fifty times over he lifted his nose at me. Why in the world would I ever do anything to help him? Besides, I did help him, and more than once. Why do you think there is even anything left of your family’s land or possessions?”
“Are you saying you are responsible for slowing—but not stopping—the blackmailer’s demands?”
“I convinced him that a dead goose could lay no golden eggs.” When Jago just stared in disgust she continued, “I also helped Cadan immensely that summer when Brian was preparing to go to his parents and confess everything.”
“You helped?” His stomach had been roiling almost since the moment Ria had opened her mouth. Now, his dread almost choked him.
“I convinced the fool he would bring nothing but suffering on his family—and yours—which was no more than the truth. I painted him a picture of himself tried for treason and his parents losing everything they had. And before you spout some sanctimonious claptrap about how I’m the one who killed him, just think about his choices for a moment. Hanging himself was the only solution for him, and, in the end, he knew it. So did your brother.”
Jago shot to his feet, staring at her with open-mouthed revulsion. “You actually believe you helped him. You heartless monster. And you think I would marry you?”
“I won’t raise a finger to help you if you don’t,” she said, unperturbed by his insults.
“I wouldn’t take your help—or anything else—for any amount of money. As for facing such a scandal, I have some faith in our leadership. I’m not a betting man, but I’ll wager on the truth winning out, Ria. Even if it means we lose Lenshurst Park, so be it. I can live somewhere else quite happily. But being shackled to you for the rest of my days? No, thank you. I shall pass on a lifetime of hell.” He strode toward the door and flung it open.
“She won’t get her hands on her money until it’s too late for you, Jago.”
Jago stopped and spun around. “What did you say?”
She smiled. “The girl—your stable master.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh darling, you’re such a dreadful liar. It’s a good thing you never had a taste for cards like Cadan.”
Jago didn’t stop until he was right in front of her. He leaned over, his hands on the arms of her chair, his face inches from hers. “Where did you learn this?”
She gave him an amused look. “Don’t worry, Jago. If you enjoy pretending that you are with a boy you needn’t give up such entertainments once we are married. I quite enjoy sharing—or even just observing. Indeed, if you decide that you’d like to try a real boy—”
“Shut up.” Jago had never been so close to striking a woman in his life; he took a step back, removing himself from temptation. “Stay away from her, Ria.”
She gave an exaggerated shiver. “So possessive and primitive. But it’s not me you have to worry about, darling. Your faithful little stable master has been a bad,