AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You bitch!”
They stared at each other in furious silence, before he nodded tersely. She lowered her sword. With speed and shocking strength, he lashed out and slapped her across the face. Livvie stumbled, a faint ringing sound buzzing in her head. A hand gripped her wrist and squeezed with such strength she feared her bones would be crushed. With a sharp cry, she dropped the sword, unprepared for the way he tumbled her to the sofa.
“I would have treated you with gentleness before, I would have, Livvie. I wanted you for years. I even asked Father for your hand in marriage and he stupidly told me we were brother and sister when we share no blood.”
A sharp rip sounded as he tore the neckline of her riding habit. He kissed her and she shredded his lips with her teeth. His yowl of pain filled her with savage satisfaction. He reared up above her and backhanded her. A coppery taste entered her mouth. She jerked both her knees up, swift and sure. He groaned and rolled off her, and she dived to the floor and grabbed her foil.
“I should have known you had no honor,” she said, her heart breaking. Livvie had wanted to avoid devastating her father, but there was no hope for any other outcome now. William would not give up, and he would not recognize her defending her honor. “You have broken my heart…and you will destroy Father’s.”
Before he could respond, raised voices filtered through the door of the drawing room.
“I was given strict orders they are not to be disturbed, my lord!”
William’s eyes widened, there was another shout in the hallway, and confident footsteps echoed before the doorknob twisted. Livvie did not want to risk taking her attention from her stepbrother, not even following the noise of several powerful slams. The door crashed open and her husband walked in, as calm as if he had not just kicked down the door.
She almost fainted.
With a sweeping glance, he took in the shambles of the drawing rooms, the cushions on the floor, and the glasses and liquor stain on the carpet. His piercing regard on her brother, a faint smile edged the grimness of Tobias’s mouth. “Countess, I trust there is a reasonable explanation?” he asked calmly, never taking his predatory stare from William.
Alarm and relief filled her in equal measure at Tobias’s presence.
William swallowed. “This is outrageous, I…”
He spluttered when she pressed the foil to his throat.
“Wife…” Tobias said warningly. “You are in enough trouble as it is, best not to add murder to your repertoire.”
“I had a nagging problem and instead of troubling you with my histrionics, I decided to handle the matter myself,” she drawled smoothly.
A shadow passed over her earl’s face. “I see.”
William grimaced. “My lord, the countess—”
“Quiet.” Tobias’s voice cracked like a whip. “Olivia?”
“He has assaulted me twice now. Shortly before I met you, and earlier this morning, when I visited Mother and Father. He…he…cornered me in the library, kissed me, and tried to push his hands beneath my dress!”
“She wanted it! We are lovers…” William trailed away at the surge of fury that lit Tobias’s eyes before he lowered his lashes.
Her stepbrother rallied quickly. “I swear on my honor, Lord Blade, Livvie and I have been lovers—”
She gasped, jerking back and lowering the blade. “He lies!”
Painful silence enveloped the room.
“Tobias?” The word seemed to get caught somewhere in her throat.
“Sheath your sword, wife. We will bid your father good-bye and depart.”
She tried to pull her disjointed thoughts into some semblance of order. What was he thinking? Surely he did not believe this bounder?
Her stomach went hollow.
William tugged at his cravat and ran a hand through his hair. “I am sure we can sort this unpleasantness, Blade, as men. Livvie has been hounding me, before I even wed Louisa. Today, when I told her I was no longer interested in an affair, for my wife is increasing, she threw a tantrum. I, too, share a similar distaste for female vapors and machinations and told her so.” He frowned convincingly and waved a hand. “I did not expect this.”
She gaped.
Tobias’s lips twitched, barely, and it chilled her. He walked farther into the room, not once glancing her way. Was it possible he believed her stepbrother and was too disgusted to look at her? A surge of fury sliced through her veins.
