Duke of Desire (Maiden Lane #12)(85)

“He killed Ubertino,” she said, and sobbed. “Oh, poor, poor Ubertino!”

He stroked her hair. He didn’t know what to say, so he said nothing.

Valente suddenly appeared. He had a nasty gash on the cheek and he still favored his wounded arm, but his coat bulged as if he hid something inside.

The young Corsican knelt in front of Iris and smiled tentatively. “Your Grace.”

He opened the top of his coat and the puppy’s head popped out.

“Oh!” Iris said. “Oh, Tansy. Thank you, Valente.” Iris tried to wipe her cheeks. She merely smeared the gore and her tears around with a bit of mud, but Raphael wasn’t going to tell her that. She reached for the puppy. “She ran when she heard the gunshot. Thank you for finding her. She would have been lost if you hadn’t. Tansy might have died.”

She hugged the puppy to her bosom and sobbed anew as the tiny animal licked her face.

Valente looked at Raphael, his eyes wide with alarm.

Raphael shook his head to reassure him. “The duchess is fine. You did well in finding her little dog. She is very appreciative, but she is also tired and frightened from her ordeal. Gather the men and we will return to London and Chartres House.”

“Yes, Your Excellency,” Valente replied, and for a moment Raphael’s chest seized.

He was used to giving Ubertino these orders. Soon he would have to decide which of his men to put in Ubertino’s place.

Raphael rose and helped Iris to stand.

Kyle saw him rise and walked swiftly over. “Are you all right, Iris?”

She nodded shakily. “I will be, I think. Thank you, Hugh.”

He smiled at her and then looked at Raphael. “We have them all rounded up, I think.” He glanced at the pile on the ground. “The Dionysus?”

“Yes.” Raphael didn’t bother to look.

Kyle crouched to pull off the mask.

Andrew Grant lay with his right ear blown off and his eyes half-lidded. He was quite obviously dead.

Kyle looked up at Raphael. “What about his brother?”

Before Raphael could reply, Iris said, “I think you should look in the trunk, Hugh.”

Kyle glanced sharply at her and then moved to the trunk and opened the lid. “God’s blood!”

He knelt and put his hand inside.

Raphael walked over to look, shielding Iris from seeing inside.

Viscount Royce lay naked in the trunk. Judging by his state, he’d been in there for many hours. Blood was clotted in his hair and bruises covered his body.

“Is he alive?”

“Barely.” Kyle stood and waved one of the soldiers over. “Get my man—the one with the gray hair.”

The soldier nodded and jogged away. Kyle turned back to the trunk. “This is the brother?”

“Yes,” Raphael said grimly.

“Were they leading the Lords of Chaos together?”

“No, only Andrew led the Lords,” Iris said. She had her face buried in Tansy’s fur. “And … and Lord Royce had abused Andrew when they were younger, along with his father. I think Andrew hated him. Lord Royce was probably not even aware of it.”

“How do you know this?” Raphael asked softly.

“He talked a lot,” Iris answered. “On the way here.” She looked up suddenly. “Donna Pieri! Is she all right?”

“Yes,” Raphael said. “She’s fine, though in a temper.” He examined Iris. She was pale and swaying in his arms. He needed to get her home.

Raphael looked at Kyle. “Will you and your men be able to handle this?”

“Yes.” Kyle nodded and then sighed. “Now that we know who the Dionysus is, I’ll need to search his house and begin finding the rest of the Lords of Chaos.” He glanced warily at Raphael. “I expect you’ll want to help with that.”

“Yes.” Raphael looked down at Andrew, realizing that his sense of urgency had diminished now that he’d destroyed the Dionysus. Still. It was important to clean out all the Lords of Chaos. “Thank you.”

Kyle’s eyes darted to Iris, who was half-asleep, her head on Raphael’s shoulder. He smiled. “No thanks are necessary.”

Raphael opened his mouth to argue … and then simply nodded.

Perhaps he didn’t entirely dislike Kyle.

With a nod Raphael swung his wife into his arms and headed for the carriage.





Chapter Nineteen




One day a man knocked upon the tower door. He told a desperate tale of a mangled soul and shale demons. He vowed he’d give the Rock King all his worldly possessions if only the Rock King would kill these demons and bring back the torn soul.

Ann watched as her husband donned his stone armor and strode off into the wasteland. The Rock King was gone a fortnight, and when he returned, his arm hung broken and bloody.…

—From The Rock King





Iris woke early the next morning in the duchess’s bedroom at Chartres House. She held herself very still, trying to think what she’d heard to wake her. Raindrops pattered against the windows, but that wasn’t loud enough to alarm her.

There was another crash.

She jumped up from the bed at the same time that Tansy whined. Iris ignored the puppy to run into the dressing room.