Page 91 of The Seduction of an English Scoundrel

He knew.

She had been the unwitting pawn in his diabolical scheme. But for how long? For what purpose?

He knew.

She surged out of the tub, Venus on the warpath as scented water sloshed all over his plush Axminster carpet.

“Oh, the fiend,” she muttered, standing stark naked and dripping in front of the dressing table. “That scheming son of Satan! Playing with me like a lion would”—her eyes lit on the diamond brooch—“a mouse!”

The fact it was her scheming that had caused this imbroglio did surface in her thoughts, but she promptly buried it under a blanket of righteous indignation. Turn her into a high-class courtesan, would he? Parade her in diamonds and pink silk, eh? Never in a thousand years with her strait-laced Papa have agreed to such a thing without a compelling reason.

Well, it would take a Boscastle to best a Boscastle, and Jane had no doubt where to find the weakest link in the family line.

She dressed and marched barefooted straight down the hall to Chloe’s room, chasing out the maid who was trying to return the room to a semblance of order. Chloe apparently had plunged back into her passion for social reform after learning that her cavalry officer William had been sent to a new barracks in Devon. Now she lay curled up on the chaise, her lap heaped with letters to friends in Parliament, a box of half-nibbled chocolates, and a list of works she intended to tackle. The blinds were closed to emphasize the aura of solemnity, and Chloe merely raised her brow when Jane stormed into the room.

“Ah.” She tossed back her thick black hair, her voice sympathetic. “Your first fight with my beastly brother, is it? I don’t know what you see in him anyway. Chocolates for the lovelorn?”

“I want the truth, Chloe.”

“Truth?” Chloe put down her pen, her attention caught. “He’s a tyrant, a destroyer of all one holds dear. That is the truth. He went over William’s head and had him sent to Devon to deal with smugglers. My brother ruined any chance that I would ever see him again. Not that I should have, mind you, but it would have been nice to say good-bye.”

“I am sorry for your loss, Chloe, but I must know something. Why did Grayson bring me here?”

“I should think that was obvious,” Chloe said, not unkindly. “Poor Jane. I held such high hopes that you would resist him.”

“Answer me.”

Chloe appraised her in silence, her blue eyes bright with conflicting emotions. “I have never, never, ever in my life betrayed a Boscastle secret, but as you are practically a Boscastle and a member of my sex, I am honor bound to do so.”

Jane sank down on the chaise, her skin tingling at the vengeful note in Chloe’s voice. “What are you saying?”

“Grayson and Heath don’t know that I know,” Chloe said in hesitation.

“That you know what?”

“They didn’t tell me.”

“Didn’t tell you what?”

“I eavesdropped, you see. I was hiding in the library when Grayson sent for the solicitors.”

“Chloe, if you do not give me a straight answer this instant, I shall dangle you out the window by your hair until you do.”

Chloe’s soft pink mouth pursed in disapproval. “You already sound like a Boscastle.”

“Why did Grayson send for his solicitors?”

Chloe leaned forward. “Will you protect me from his wrath when he finds out I was the one to peach on him?”

Jane straightened in alarm. What horrendous thing had Grayson done behind her back? “I shall do my best.”

“Nigel told Heath everything, everything, Jane, about how the pair of you conspired to thwart your parents so that he could marry Esther, about the generous wedding gift you gave them, about the months of plotting.”

“Nigel, who swore to me he would never reveal our pact even if he were put to torture,” Jane cried in outrage, although she really ought not to be surprised. “Oh, the spineless coward. I shall throttle him for this. If Esther has not already done so.”

“Heath can be very intimidating when he wants to,” Chloe said.

“So can Grayson.”