“I didn’t know what else to do!” Burke blubbered.“The night we dined at your home she told me you didn’t want her as a wife.She said her opinions put you off and you wanted a woman more biddable. Ijust made her biddable!“
“She was toying with you! She hatesyou.” He swung the cane again, enjoying the pounding sound it made as it hitthe wood of Burke’s desk.
Burke swatted away the bits of woodflying at his face as he tried to squeeze his corpulent form underneath thedesk.
“You’ve made her an addict! Shebarely knows what is going on around her.” He clutched the cane in hishand. He wanted to beat Burke until the man’s head split open likea pumpkin.
“Wait!” Burke held up a fathand. “Please! Don’t you see I’ve done you a favor? Alexandrais the most tiresome twit. She won’t break easy. She’sstubborn. But now,” Burke sputtered, “you have leverage. You can threatento take away her tea. Use it to control her. Won’t you likethat?” Burke’s brows lifted up to his greasy pate, in an expression ofhope.
Archie stopped swinging his cane.The suggestion had merit. Her addiction could prove useful.
“Think what she’ll do for her tea.Think how Alexandra pleading for the tea will entertain you. She’ll letyou do anything. The laudanum will always give you control, especiallyonce she finds out I’ve sold Helmsby Abbey.”
Runyon stroked his chin. A visionflashed through his mind of a naked Alexandra handing him the cuffs, allowinghim to do anything if she could have her tea. Anything. He pursedhis lips, tapping one finger against them. A begging Alexandrawouldamusehim.
He would give the fat man a reprieve.Pointing the cane at Burke he warned, “Tilda is not to increase the dose,do you understand? If Alexandra’s given any more she’s likely to become ablithering idiot, and she’ll be of no use to me. I want her to still havethe presence of mind to fight me. Or beg.”
Burke nodded effusively. “I swear,Runyon. No more than she already takes. I don’t wish to be the manto spoil your fun.”
“No, I don’t expect you do.” Runyonlooked at Burke, wishing he could just gut the man like a fish. Hecouldn’twaitto rid the world of Oliver Burke.
ELEVEN
“Tell Miss Dunforth the DowagerMarchioness of Cambourne and Lady Miranda Reynolds have arrived to call onher.” Donata commanded the snide butler of Oliver Burke’s town house. Howdare he refuse her entry! The man smelled of onions and his clothing wasdisheveled. Atrocious! Donata did not care for his insolence onebit. She put her cane against the door.
“Madam, Lord Burke is not home. Heleft specific instructions for Miss Dunforth to rest, with no visitors.”The butler put his hands in desperation against the door attempting to politelyshut it.
“I am not justanyvisitor.I am the Dowager Marchioness of Cambourne. If you wish to find gainfulemployment after Lord Burke falls into poverty, which is likely at any momentgiven the state of your uniform, you will step aside this instant. Or Ishall have you removed.” The silvery head gestured to the large Cambournefootman hovering protectively over Donata. “Do I make myself clear?” Hertone brooked no disobedience.
The butler eyed the muscular youngfootman and moved aside, muttering to himself he’d be fired for sure.
Donata was not impressed nor was shesurprised. Few peopleeverdefied her.
“Grandmother, are you sure? PerhapsAlexandra is ill or –“
“Absolutely! Harry,” Donata smiledat the footman. “Please stay here.” The Dowager gestured to a space just underthe stoop of the door. She turned to Miranda. “If she is ill, all the morereason to see her. And Harry, should you hear me raise my voice, I am inneed of your assistance.” Donata stared down the Lord Burke’s butler asshe walked through the door.
“Yes, my lady. I shall comerunning.” Harry nodded, his dark eyes never leaving the butler.
Donata thought Harry a good boy and a verycapable footman. He adored Donata.
Burke’s butler nodded to Donata, leadingshe and Miranda down a dark entryway. “This way, milady.”
“This visit is most overdue.Mostoverdue. Several invitations have been sent to Miss Dunforth inviting herto join us for tea,andan outing to Thrumbadge’sanda drive inHyde Park. She refused them all. Strange behavior from a woman withMiss Dunforth’s lively and curious mind. I refuse to believe she means tokeep herself sequestered in this....house.” Donata choked on the word as shetook in the state of the hallway the butler lead them down. She stared inhorror at the garish decorations of Burke’s home. It was enough to makeher run screaming back to her carriage.
“Good Lord! What a hideous displayof poor taste,” she said out loud to the butler’s back, as he shuffled ahead ofthem.
Miranda’s eyes widened, taking in the dimcorners of hall. One gloved finger touched a side table. She gasped as it cameback black with dust.
“And filthy to boot,” Donata muttered,seeing Miranda’s ruined glove. “Does Lord Burke not employ ahousekeeper?”
The butler ignored her question. Heopened the door to a small salon. He studiously avoided Donata’squestion, only nodding as he stepped aside.
Donata’s eyes widened at the state of thesalon. The entryway and hallway, while horridly decorated, were inrelatively good repair. This room, however, spoke of neglect anddesperation. She could not help but notice the chipped paint around thedoorway, nor the way the corners of the wallpaper peeled away from the windowedges. She could clearly see the oval and square shapes left behind onthe walls that bespoke of pictures sold long ago. The rug underneath Donata’s feetwas worn and threadbare. The design of the rug so faded it was impossible toguess the original design.So, Lord Burke is on his way to the poor house.The pompous ass was no doubt busy selling everything within his reach,including Miss Dunforth. Alexandra’s association with that depraved cur, ArchieRunyon, started to make sense.
Donata shivered, not from the room’sdampness, but at the thought of Archie Runyon once again on the loose inLondon. She prayed fervently that he would never return, but Miranda’snear hysterical arrival from Thrumbadge’s two weeks ago crushed Donata’s fragilehope that he was gone from their lives.
“Grandmother, he’s back!” Miranda sobbed thatday. She collapsed against her grandmother, hugging Donata tightly.
