Footsteps approached, echoing from the marble floor to the high plaster ceiling, and thenClaybourne'stall, thin frame and horse-like face appeared. "My dear Lady Stanbury. So nice to see you." His lustful gaze crept down her body and up again, lingering on her breasts. "May I call you Calla?"
Her stomach turned. "Nay. I want a signed contract from you. And the deed forCramby."
His thin brown brows shot up. "What sort of signed contract?"
"Detailing what you've promised me if I keep my end of the bargain."
"I see." He flashed a wide, unnerving grin. "So, you've come to pay the debt." He placed his hands together, just shy of rubbing them together eagerly.
"If you do all you promised in the missive."
"Of course. Would you care to step into my office?" He motioned toward an open doorway off to the side of the entry hall. She was shocked he hadn't already thrown her over his shoulder and carried her upstairs.
Once inside the office, he indicated a chair before the large oak desk. "Please make yourself comfortable. Can I offer you wine or something to drink?"
"Nay." She chose to remain standing, and would surely retch if she drank anything.
"Did you tell anyone you were coming here? Rebbinglen?"
The mere mention ofRebbie'sname made her chest and throat ache. "Nay."
"Good." Smirking, Claybourne dropped into the chair behind the desk, pulled a clean sheet of parchment from a drawer and placed it before him. "Because if anything bad should happen to me, my steward will send missives, which I've already scribed and addressed, to several members of parliament, detailing everything I've learned about you and your son."
"You have no proof," she charged.
Claybourne shrugged. "I have two witnesses.'Tisthe only proof I need. Besides, with proof or without, the members of parliament would scrutinize you and your son intensely if they kenned of your secret, would they not? And what if the Kirk should learn of your shocking adultery?" He smirked. "'Twouldnot be pleasant to be shamed before the large congregation, now would it?"
The very thought of it made her break out into a cold sweat, but she couldn't let him know that. "I would like to speak to Betty Kerns."
"Nay, 'tis not possible," he said in a hard tone.
"Why? Did you kill her?"
"Of course not. I sent her and her husband to theCrambyEstate, temporarily, while you're working for me." He smiled. "The work is easy and the food is good." He watched her with unnerving interest. "I find out what people want, and I give it to them… providing they give me what I want."
Aye, but would he give her what she wanted when this was all done? "I told no one, but I've scribed a missive which will be sent to the Earl ofDraughonafter two weeks if you do not release me." She forced her voice to be stronger than she felt at the moment.
Claybourne'seyes narrowed on her for a long moment. Had she surprised him?
"You'd best hope the missive isn't sent too early or all of your nasty secrets will be revealed," he said.
"It won't be."
"Who did you entrust with this duty?"
"That is none of your concern." Did he honestly think she would reveal that? He was more senseless than she'd realized. "You ken what I want from this agreement. Spell it out in the contract."
He lifted a brow. "We are going to have some fun." His glee and lust were palpable within the high-ceilinged room. Her stomach ached and knotted, nausea pressing in upon her again.
You can endure it. You endured worse at the hands of Stanbury.At least she could tell herself that. She didn't yet know whether it was true or not. Claybourne might well be an unimaginable monster for all she knew.
"What was it I said in that missive?" he asked.
Though she'd burned the paper, she remembered every word. "You promised to keep my secret about my son, forget the debt Stanbury owed you, and give me back my dower property,Cramby, if I work for you for a fortnight. Fourteen days only."
"Ah, yes. I remember now." He grinned, dipped the quill into the ink and started writing. "By the way, I enjoy demanding women. Or should I say, I enjoy taming demanding women."
She glared at him. What would he do, beat her? "I'll have your oath that you will leave me and my son alone after these two weeks. And I want you to sign theCrambyEstate over to me now."
