A Devil Named DeVere (The Devil DeVere)(30)

His gaze narrowed. He abruptly sat up and seized her arm, squeezing as if it were clamped in a vice. "Do you now?" His eyes glittered dangerously. "And just where might that be?"

"Must I say it aloud?"

He paled at the realization she had discovered his well-guarded secret. "You have no proof of anything," he spat. "Besides, where I bed and with whom is my own damned business."

"Your own business? But I am your wife! You made vows to me!"

"As did you, Diana. No man likes to be made a fool. So I ask again—where were you last night?

"I already told you."

"Don't bother lying again as I already have all the proof I need of your iniquity. I only marvel that any man could stir you to passion. Or were you simply moved by desperation? Did you hope to bargain with him by playing his whore? Did you please him well, Diana? I truly hope so, as your tight little quim might be the only way to regain what was lost."

His words stunned her. She regarded him with a blank stare. "Bargain? Wh-what are you talking about?"

"That DeVere has the deed to Palmerston Hall. Did you not realize?"

Her mind reeled. "How can that be? You lost it in gaming at Clay Hill."

"I do not know precisely how it came about. I can only conclude that DeVere bought my vowels from O'Kelly."

"You lie! Why would he do such a thing?"

"How the bloody hell would I know? I first thought he intended to ruin me to claim the estate, but what is a meager five hundred acres and rundown manor house to such a man? I can only presume then that he desired the stud, but whatever his motives, all seems now to have miraculously worked to my advantage."

"How do you mean? How can any of this be to your advantage?" she asked, her heart racing.

"Simple, my dear heart. You are lawfully my wife, my legal property, whether I choose to use you as such or not. If DeVere desires that which is mine, he must pay for the privilege."

"You would pimp me like a whoremonger? You bastard!" she screamed.

He smiled. "Needs must when the devil drives and all that rot. I have needs, and that devil DeVere happens to be an exceedingly wealthy man. Don't look so put out, my dear. After all, it was you who provided the perfect solution to our little problem."

"And what is that? Your perfect little solution? Extortion?" she asked between clenched teeth.

"Such an unpalatable word. I would rather call it a discreet and amicable arrangement. But if DeVere does not wish to come to such an agreement, he can pay much more dearly in the courts of law. If I recall correctly, Lord Grosvenor received compensation to the tune of ten thousand pounds when Lady Grosvenor bestowed her favors on the Duke of Cumberland. By my calculation," Reggie continued nonchalantly, "your betrayal should be worth at least that much, mayhap even twenty thousand."

"You have no proof of anything."

"But there you are wrong. I have sworn statements from two witnesses who have seen you alone with DeVere. That is all the proof I need for a court of law. You may as well go back to his bed, Diana, for I swear you will both pay dearly for it either way. As for his possession of the deed, if you still don't believe me, just ask DeVere yourself." He gave her a blithe shrug and pulled out his timepiece. "Although your little tête-a-tête may need to wait until a more opportune time. The races begin in less than two hours. I must say I am much relieved to know my fate no longer rests on the horserace. Damned unpredictable, those animals can be."

Reggie rang for the maid. "You really must do something about your appearance, Diana." His face devoid of expression, he reached a hand to her neck, tracing the evidence of DeVere's passion with his fingertip. "Might I suggest you wear your hair down today?"

"Shut up, Reggie! Just shut up!" Diana jerked away with a look of abhorrence. "Leave me now," she commanded. "We have nothing more to say."

"For the moment," he agreed. His laughter rang with a hellish echo as he departed through the connecting door.

Diana was trembling, shaken to the depths of her being. She bathed and dressed in a speechless daze, myriad questions searing her brain. How did DeVere come by the deed to Palmerston Hall and why? Was he confederated with O'Kelly all along to ruin Reggie? But why, when they were barely acquainted with each other? If he had acquired the deed, what did he intend to do with it? Was it for the stud, as Reggie suggested? Their horses were the only thing she could think of that might hold the slightest appeal to DeVere, the stud being the only thing of value.

Unless? Diana recalled their very first meeting but immediately shook the notion away. It was outrageously vain to think he might have intended to use the deed to get her into his bed. If that was his intent, would he not have mentioned it when she first sought his help?

Now Reggie thought to turn the tables. Although he believed he had the upper hand, his avarice would surely be his undoing. Diana knew DeVere would never submit to blackmail, yet there was nothing she could do to prevent a legal action. A judgment could help her secure a separation and thus freedom from the travesty of her marriage...but at what cost?

She descended to breakfast with a feeling of dread at the thought of meeting DeVere so soon after sharing his bed. Although only knowing each other a matter of days, they had parted that morning on terms of intimacy she had never experienced with anyone. It was both breathtaking and terrifying. They had become lovers, but then Reggie's revelations had followed. Diana still wasn't sure what to think or how to react.