Heartless by Jaimey Grant Read Free Book Online

lowered lids. “Who is he, I wonder,” he murmured almost to himself. He watched her. He wanted to know which man he was dealing with before he murdered him.
    Derringer did not tolerate unfaithfulness in his mistress. He’d never been married before now but he was sure he wouldn’t tolerate it in his wife either. He saw red at the mere thought of Leandra taking a lover. Rather than wonder at the whys of such a feeling, he ignored it.
    “Perhaps it is Lord Sotherby.” Her expression didn’t change. She was controlling her reaction, he thought with some amusement. Very well.
    “Maybe Viscount Meiers,” he suggested calmly. He crossed his arms over his chest and continued to study her lovely face. “Archie Haverford?” Still no reaction. That was three. The last he knew she had only four other lovers beside himself.
    “Hmm,” he said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. “That only leaves Gerald Greaves, the young Earl of Cheshire.” Ah-ha, he thought in satisfaction. Her hand clutched the sheet tighter and she held her breath. Cheshire it is.
    Derringer stood and took a turn about the room. “So, young Cheshire is in this room somewhere. I wonder where. He couldn’t be such a coward as to hide from a thrashing he deserves, would he?” He again faced the woman on the bed, assuming an inquiring expression as if he might actually care about her opinion.
    Nicolette remained silent. She knew that if she said anything he might actually kill her along with Gerald. Lord Derringer was a monster. He was... heartless.
    Derringer grew tired of the game. He crossed the room in three long strides and threw open the door of the armoire. Huddled inside was the very young Earl of Cheshire. How the lad had managed to catch Nicolette’s eye was a mystery to Derringer. The boy was under twenty with dull sandy hair and a skinny body. He stood taller than Derringer, though, which was unusual.
    “Get out,” the duke commanded harshly.
    The boy swiftly complied with Derringer’s orders. He stood before him in nothing but his pantaloons and an expression of terror on his long face.
    “I must have been misinformed. How much are you worth?” Derringer asked more out of curiosity than any real reason to have that particular piece of information.
    Cheshire’s eyes widened at the question. He opened his mouth and stuttered something but Derringer waved him to silence. “Never mind,” he said. “You do realize I have to hit you now? My reputation and all that rot?”
    The earl closed his eyes briefly then opened them again and nodded. Nicolette got up from the bed with the sheet wrapped around her naked body. “Hart, he didn’t know I was with you,” she tried to explain.
    “I did,” the young man answered. “I knew about the others, too.” He seemed quite calm now, Derringer mused.
    “You all knew?” the woman demanded in outrage.
    Derringer laughed. “You are a terrible liar, my dear.”
    A second later, the earl lay on the floor with blood pouring from his nose and mouth and the duke was on his way out the door. He paused next to Sheffield where he waited like a statue in the foyer and told him to call off the guard.
    “Have Nicki’s maid pack all her belongings. I want her out of this house by tomorrow morning.”
    The butler bowed. “Very good, your grace.”

 

    5
     
    Golden sunlight poured through the east facing windows, streaming over the thick Aubusson carpet and Leandra’s still fingers. She sat in a little used morning room, situated on the castle’s east side to allow the most from the early morning sun. Staring out into the bare gardens, her eyes focused on nothing, her fingers not nimble enough to embroider without looking.
    This room was Leandra’s haven, her sanctuary. She’d instructed the new indoor servants to remove the heavy, dark furnishings and replace them with light and airy Hepplewhite. With Stark’s help, she’d replaced the barbaric hunt scenes with bright tapestries of nymphs and