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I smiled, though it held little in the way of warmth or friendliness. “What do you expect me to say?”
“Nothing, I guess. But I find the fact you haven’t even asked who Clayton Marlowe is rather odd.”
“I simply gathered he is somehow related to the missing woman.”
“He’s her second cousin, and also her husband.”
“Was she abducted or something?”
“Or something.” Her smile was every bit as cool as my own. “Thank you for your time, Ms. Grace.”
She rose and left. I closed my eyes and clenched my fists against the scream that broke past the calm and threatened to erupt.
Damn her. Damn her to hell…
Hell is too damn good for her, came Belle’s comment.
A cup of coffee appeared in front of my nose. The rich scents that teased my nostrils suggested it was heavily laced with whiskey. I accepted it gratefully and took a sip. If I kept this up, I thought glumly, I’d be well on the way to becoming a lush.
Belle plonked down beside me. Monty took Daniela’s seat, his expression grim. “You could take this fight up to him, you know. You could approach the courts and ask for an annulment. The records might be hidden, but they do exist.”
“He won’t give me an annulment. He wants revenge. He wants what we’ve denied him for twelve years.”
“There’s no doubt in my mind that Clayton can hold a grudge with the best of them, but I doubt even he would step beyond the boundaries of the law—”
“Except this is about more than the loss of face he suffered that night,” Belle cut in. “It’s about revenge. It’s about the fact he probably hasn’t been able to get an erection for the last twelve years thanks to a spell I might have cast in anger as we fled that night.”
Monty blinked, and then something close to awe entered his expression. “You did that? To a blueblood possessing ten times your power?”
“I was a little angry at the time.”
“Then I shall endeavor never to make you angry enough to cast such a spell my way.” His amusement fell away. “That does put a more dangerous spin on things, however.”
“Yes.” I drank some more coffee. “Both my father and he broke the law when they forced that marriage on me, Monty. What makes you think they won’t do so again to get me back?”
He grimaced. “That means it’s perhaps even more vital you take the fight to him. If knowledge of what happened that night becomes public—”
“It’s my word against two of the most powerful witches on the council,” I cut in. “Who do you think they’re going to believe?”
“Yes, but if the marriage at least became public knowledge, his actions over the last twelve years will come under some scrutiny. He’ll also have to watch what he says and does in regard to you.”
“I don’t think it’ll help—”
“But it can’t hurt,” Belle said. “Not now that the tracer’s report is about to be filed. The minute he sees us, he’ll know the truth of our identities. At least if the marriage is outed before that happens, there’ll be questions about why we disappeared and why he and your father went to such lengths to hide it.”
It went against every instinct; went against the need for self-preservation, and the desire to grab the few precious moments of life and love I had left to me before it went to hell.
And yet, it made utter sense. To hold on to secrecy now would be playing into Clayton’s hands.
I glanced at Monty. “I don’t suppose you know anyone up there who might have the pull to get the marriage certificate released?”
He hesitated. “I could perhaps ask my father. He and Clayton have what can only be described as a rocky relationship, and I have no doubt he’d jump at the prospect of causing Clayton a little embarrassment.”
“It’s a start. I’ll also ask Ashworth—he already has people up there keeping an eye on Clayton’s movements.”
And if the Black Lantern Society was as powerful and as righteous as he implied, then two of the most powerful witches in Canberra forcing an unwanted marriage on a minor was something they’d surely want to investigate.
Monty reached across the table and caught my hand. “You know I’ll do everything in my power to protect you, don’t you?”
