Lady Vice by Wendy LaCapra Read Free Book Online Page A

his life.”
    “You said he did not beat you,” he whispered fiercely. “What happened, Lavinia?”
    “There is more than one way to ruin a woman’s spirit,” she replied.
    “Damnation. Why won’t you give an honest answer?”
    Lady Sophia slammed down the book, stepped behind Lavinia, and gripped her shoulders. “This conversation is at an end.”
    “Oh, do excuse me,” he said mockingly. “Lady Scandal and Her Grace, Duchess Decadence are certainly more qualified to protect Lady Vaile than I.” He rose and thrust his hand through his hair. “Is it not better that she confide in me now? Or would you all be happier if she were forced to speak her secrets to a stranger or in front of the court and spectators?”
    Lady Sophia’s expression remained fierce. “Excellent logic, Mr. Harrison, but you and I both know your motive, right now, is personal.”
    He squeezed his lips together. Damn Lady Sophia, damn the duchess, and damn Lavinia.
    Lavinia pulled away from Lady Sophia. She gripped the settee’s edge for support and stood. “Must every detail of my marriage be revealed and examined? Is there no other way to prove my innocence?”
    She dropped her show of indifference, and her skin began to whisper secrets. Every thought painted a distinct hue. Maddeningly, he’d lost the key to translation. Was she pale angel, suffering in innocence, or vengeful wraith, intent on destruction?
    He searched the face he knew so well—the embodiment of his greatest weakness—and felt lost on a continent of foreign tongue and poisonous endemic plants.
    He turned on his heel and went to the window. Concentrate on the task at hand.
    Examinations were almost entirely based on witness testimony and their reports of the accused’s history and character. Was there another way to prove her innocent?
    “When you threatened to shoot Vaile, what did you use?” he asked.
    “My lady’s flintlock.”
    He grimaced. Perhaps if the firearm had never been triggered, they could cut off that line of suspicion.
    Perhaps, but not likely.
    A large black carriage turned onto the drive. The glossed door sported the marquess of Elmbrooke’s gilded crest. He frowned. If the magistrate had come in the Elmbrooke carriage, the implication was clear: Vaile’s family was supplementing the prosecutorial funds. If the marquess became convinced of Lavinia’s guilt, proving her innocent would become even harder.
    Witnesses could, indeed, be bought.
    Keeping Lavinia out of harm’s way could turn out to be the greatest challenge in his career—and cost him his control.
    He sighed harshly. “I will make inquiries. I will try and uncover something that will work in your favor before the coroner’s court issues any warrants. If they find witnesses, false or not, a trial will be inevitable.”
    He turned back to face Lavinia and everything else in the room faded—Lady Sophia, the duchess, the books, and the fire. He noticed the dark circles gathering under her bloodshot eyes. She looked like a woman in mourning…or tormented by guilt.
    His breath grew short. You could have trusted me.
    He’d buried the buzzing, relentless pain of the truth deep and yet she had managed to unearth all he had wished to hide.
    He had known she did not betray him willingly but, hating helplessness, he’d held to believing her false and fickle. She had been in trouble and his hands had been tied—completely, irrevocably tied—by God’s law as well as man’s.
    His hands were not tied now. This time, to keep her safe, he would do whatever circumstance demanded. She was his duty.
    You could have trusted me.
    He could not mend the past, but he had the present. In three long strides, he closed the distance between them. He cupped her face.
    “For courage, love.” He placed a swift, firm kiss on her lips. “The magistrate is here.”

Chapter Six
    Warmth borne of the pleasant shock of Max’s hot, dry lips flared in Lavinia’s stomach, giving her strength she had not