“But my sister…”
There was no need to answer that particular remark, Catherine realized. Miss Hyde had not behaved as Lady Serena had. She had given in to Lord Rutherford, even though she was already betrothed, but Catherine knew all too well just how persuasive a rake could be. There was no guarantee that, in the end, Lady Serena would not have given in as well, accepting the sweet words and the gentle touches that would, no doubt, have come from him.
“I have not behaved well,” Lord Rutherford finished, reaching out one hand toward Catherine, who, after a moment, took it. “But I shall be that rogue no longer. I have found a second chance and I intend to grasp it with both hands.” His fingers pressed hers and Catherine’s breath hitched, even though she was not looking at Lord Rutherford. Just what did he mean by such a remark?
Lord Nottingham and Lord Chesterton exchanged a meaningful glance, only for Lord Nottingham to turn around and snatch up the poker that was sitting by the fireplace. He brandished it at Lord Rutherford before swiping at him, the air swishing as he did so.
“Enough!” Catherine cried as Lady Serena let out a small scream. “You cannot take his blood. I understand that you are angry but his death will not bring you gratification.”
“It will,” Lord Nottingham grated as Lord Rutherford let go of Catherine’s hand, moving back quickly, his face set. “I have always hated you, Rutherford, and seeing your disregard for me in your attentions toward my sister, I…” He trailed off, his jaw working, the poker now pointed directly at Lord Rutherford’s heart. “How glad I was to meet Lord Chesterton, who was deeply upset about his sister’s indelicate behavior—and the cad who was pursuing her.” His eyes burned with rage and, as Catherine ran to the door, Lord Rutherford was slammed back hard against the wall, nowhere to go now, no way to easily escape the poker that would soon pierce through his heart. “Society will not mourn you, Rutherford.”
“I think that some of us might.”
Slumping back against the wall in relief, Catherine heaved in great gulps of air as the other Shadows and their husbands flooded the room. Lord Bentham, seeing the poker in Lord Nottingham’s hand, took the opportunity to deftly tug it from his hand, whilst Catherine hurried to stand directly in front of Lord Rutherford, desperate to protect him.
“He is a rogue, yes,” Lady Haddington said sharply, her hands on her hips and her chin lifted, “but that does not give you the right to murder him.”
Catherine noted how Lord Chesterton flinched at this, realizing slowly that it was Lord Nottingham who had planned and organized the vendetta against Lord Rutherford. Lord Chesterton had been willing to help, yes, but perhaps he was a little less eager to be embroiled in such a dark thing as murder.
“That is what you would be, Lord Chesterton,” she said as Lord Rutherford caught her fingers in his. “A murderer. Is that what you wish to be hanging over your head for the rest of your days? Do you want that knowledge forever on your conscience?”
“He could have ruined my sister,” Lord Chesterton growled, only for Lady Bentham to step forward and look him directly in the eye.
“But he has not done so, as yet,” she said firmly. “There has been impropriety, yes, but none of the ton know of it. Your sister has been told by Lord Rutherford to marry Lord Swiftson, and that matters between them are now at a close.” She tilted her head, a questioning look in her eyes. “But if you bring harm to Lord Rutherford now, then is there not a danger of such a thing becoming exposed for all to see?” Catherine took a small step closer to him, aware of how Lord Rutherford put out his hand to her, as if trying to protect her. “What shall you do then, Lord Chesterton?”
He said nothing, his eyes narrowing and such a look of anger burning in his eyes that for a moment, she caught her breath, only for Lord Chesterton to drop his head and let out a long breath.
“And as for you, Lord Nottingham,” Lord Haddington interrupted, his voice low and his expression grave. “Whilst your anger may be justified, your eagerness for blood is not.” Lowering his brows, his voice became nothing more than a low growl. “They may not hang gentlemen yet, Lord Nottingham, but you can be assured that there will be consequences if you continue with your vendetta.”
“Please.” Lady Serena rose to her feet, her hands outstretched toward her brother. “Please, Nottingham, do not continue on so. I cannot lose you, not when we only have each other.”
Catherine watched closely as the darkness began to fade from Lord Nottingham’s face. He lowered his head, not looking at any of them, swiping the air with his hand.
“Get out of my house,” he spat, not lifting his eyes to look at any of them. “Leave me, now.”
Catherine saw Lord Rutherford incline his head then turn toward the door. When he held his hand out to her, she took it without hesitation, walking out of the room first, with the rest of The Shadows behind her. Relief poured into her veins as they stepped outside, the others behind them with Lady Ann in their wake.
“It all worked out very well,” Lady Bentham murmured, pressing one hand to Catherine’s shoulder. “Whilst I think, Lord Rutherford, that you might be a little wary still of Lord Nottingham, I believe the threat of death is gone from you.”
Lord Rutherford let out a long, slow breath, closing his eyes for a moment as he squeezed her hand. “I do not know how to thank you all,” he said as the other Shadows merely smiled. “I do not deserve your kindness.”
Lord Bentham chuckled. “You will have to prove that we have not worked hard in vain, Lord Rutherford,” he said as Lord Rutherford opened his eyes to look at him. “Prove to society that you are indeed a changed gentleman.”
“I have every intention of doing so,” Lord Rutherford answered firmly. “I state that before you all now, so that you can each hold me to account.” His eyes fixed to Catherine’s and her heart quickened, her fingers pressing his all the more. “I will never be the rogue I once was,” he promised, his words etching themselves on her heart. “I am reformed. I am renewed, and I intend to prove that to you all, each and every day.”
“Lady Ann is not to join us?”
Catherine’s cheeks heated as she shook her head, aware that it was most improper to sit alone in the carriage with Lord Rutherford but grateful for the opportunity her sister had given her.
“I see,” Lord Rutherford murmured, immediately reaching across to grasp her hands in his as the carriage rolled away. The curtains on the windows were pulled half closed, keeping their conversation secret. “Might it be because she knows that there are some things that I wish to say to you?”
“Or that I wish to say to you,” Catherine murmured, looking deeply into Lord Rutherford’s eyes and finding herself a little lost for words. There were so many things that she wanted to express to him, aware of just how much her feelings toward him had changed, how she had begun to see the gentleman he could become rather than the one he had been. Swallowing hard, she drew in a long breath and then tried to speak. “Lord Rutherford, I…” Closing her eyes, she tried again. “I feel as though I—”
“Lady Catherine.” Lord Rutherford’s voice was soft and tender, his fingers brushing across the backs of her hands. “I admire you greatly. You are the most wonderful creature I have ever met. You have not held back from telling me the truth about myself and thus have forced me to reconsider my character and my behavior. Without you, I might very well have been lying in a grave now, my life cut short. Instead, you have given me back my life, but it is now renewed and brighter than ever before.”