Masked Promises (Unmasking Prometheus, #2) Read online

  “You can’t tell me what to do,” she cried, pulling out of his grasp. “You gave up that right a long time ago.”

  “No,” he said, his voice laden with frustration. “I didn’t give you up! That’s what I’m trying to say. I didn’t... I would never have given you up willingly!”

  They stared at each for another long moment, and a thousand thoughts raced through her head. She didn’t know how what he was saying could be true, but how could she walk away from him without at least listening to his side of the story? She’d just been fired, for pity’s sake; it wasn’t like she had many options.

  “All right,” she whispered. “I’ll go with you.”

  AFTER PRESSING ROGER’S housekeeper until she told him everything she knew, Lucien waited impatiently for Serenity to gather her things. He’d wanted to go with her, just to ensure she didn’t disappear again but had somehow restrained himself. When she returned, with a pitifully small bag that obviously held all her worldly belongings, he breathed a sigh of relief and once again took her hand, needing this physical connection to reassure himself he hadn’t imagined her.

  Once outside, he assisted her up into his coach, his pulse still hammering in his veins at her nearness. He swung up after her, seating himself across from her in the vehicle’s plush interior, relaxing back in the padded seat as he eyed her from head to toe.

  The girlish softness he’d once known had given way to the lovely, sculpted features of a woman. Her green eyes were large and rimmed with dark golden lashes, her nose small and her mouth full and still a little swollen from his kisses. Her blond hair, still coiled tightly on her head, was the pale, silky color of moonbeams. He’d always thought her brave, but he sensed she’d hardened at her core.

  The coach jolted forward, and she gripped the side with her hands, her knuckles turning white under the strain. Her poor delicate hands, which were chapped and rough from hard work. He hated to see that, would have given his entire fortune to have spared her the life she’d lived.

  The old Serenity would have thrown her arms around him and sobbed with happiness at the fact that they’d found each other again, but this woman, of the chapped hands and damaged heart, wouldn’t even look at him.

  “I don’t know what you mean by this,” she said at last when the silence between them became unbearable. “I don’t know why I agreed to come with you.”

  “Because you want the truth as badly as I do,” he said quietly. “If I didn’t send you away, and you didn’t leave me, then what the hell happened?”

  She stared at him, her pale cheeks flushing with hectic color. Was that anger or grief? “Your mother told me that you didn’t want me anymore. She said you’d arranged a place for me with the earl, and I should be thankful for it.”

  His breath caught, and the truth suddenly became all too clear to him. “My mother sent you away?” The ice in his voice frightened even him.

  She nodded abruptly, and the pain in her expressive green eyes cut into the heart of him.

  He wanted to hit something, destroy the world, scream at the top of his lungs for all the time lost. He’d loved this woman, loved her so deeply and passionately it had fairly killed him when she’d disappeared with no word. And now, all these years later, to find out that it had been his mother who had come between them, his mother who had ruined the best thing that had ever happened to him?

  He should have known. The countess had been the cause of so much pain and misery in her sons’ lives. Of course, she wouldn’t have wanted him to be happy.

  “I’m sorry,” he managed. “I had no idea. Surely, you realize that I would never have agreed to that if I’d known? Serenity... didn’t you know how much you meant to me?”

  She merely shrugged, dropping her gaze. “Does it matter? So much time has passed now... It is good to see you, Lord Hawkesmere, but this doesn’t change anything.”

  “Doesn’t it?” he asked incredulously. “Was I that easy for you to forget?”

  “I knew there was no room for me in your life,” she said, changing the subject. “Perhaps what your mother did was actually a blessing for both of us. You would have asked me to be your mistress, and then you would have married someone else. That would have destroyed me, to watch you build a life with someone, have children with her, so I’m glad things ended with a minimum of fuss.”

  A minimum of fuss? He thought of those dark days, when he’d thought her kidnapped or dead, the months spent searching, the slow acceptance that he was never going to find her. The grief... He shook his head, trying to wrap his mind around the words she was saying. How was it possible that she hadn’t known how much he cared? That she’d thought he’d dishonor her by asking her to be his mistress? All these years, and he’d never given his heart to anyone else because she still owned it completely.

  “Why are you in such a panic to find Lady Allison?” she asked, once again trying to change the subject. “Winters frequently hosts her in his home.”

  He bit down his frustration, wanting to force her to speak about their past, but reluctantly realizing that her stubbornness had not changed. If anything, it seemed to have gotten worse. Perhaps she just needed a little time to accept that things were not as she’d thought them to be. That he’d never have hurt her purposely.

  Running a hand through his hair, he made himself tear his gaze away from her, staring out the window instead. The events of the past two days crashed over him, and he found himself very grateful to have regained his confidante. It had been very difficult to be the one to stay strong, keeping his family from falling apart, and he badly needed to talk about the hell Roger had put them all through.

  “You remember I told you about Prometheus?” he said at last. He and his younger brothers, the twins, Morgan and Adrian, had invented a masked vigilante when they were children, to deal with their stepfather and Roger’s abuse. He’d long ago told Serenity some of the events that had led up to that; she’d been the only one he’d ever trusted with that information.

  “Of course,” she said softly. “When the newspapers started reporting about Prometheus, how he destroyed brothels and rescued the unfortunate children pressed into service there, I wondered if it was you.”

  “Not me,” he said, shaking his head. “Adrian was the one who dusted off that cursed mask. My stepfather and Roger tormented him the worst. Morgan and I were away at school.... In any event, he’s been targeting Roger’s businesses for some time now. I should have put a stop to it, but he was doing so much good, and he needed something in his life. He’s been so alone.”

  “I think he’s a hero,” she said, her voice ringing with sincerity.

  “So do I,” he agreed. “But recently Adrian met a rather wonderful woman named Vanessa. He married her, and Roger saw that as a weakness he could exploit. He hired some thugs to kidnap her, and the fools took Morgan’s wife, Anne, as well.”

  He swallowed thickly, fighting a rush of anger and sadness. “They took the two women to a warehouse on the riverfront. They pushed Anne down the stairs, and she was more than eight months pregnant...” He closed his eyes, unable to continue.

  “Oh, my god,” Serenity murmured, suddenly switching to his side of the coach, settling beside him and taking his hand. “What happened?”

  The scent of lavender washed over him, shaking him to the core, reminding him of the first time they’d met, in the ruins of Hawkesmere House as children, when she’d offered him such comfort. “Vanessa somehow managed to deliver the baby, and she and the child are going to be all right. Adrian rescued them,” he said in a choked voice, inundated with the memory of Anne’s blood and Morgan’s grief. “Anne didn’t make it though. After the baby was born, Vanessa couldn’t stop Anne’s bleeding. Roger got away,” he finished darkly.

  “And he took Lady Allison with him,” she said in dawning understanding. “He dotes upon the girl. You don’t think he’d really hurt her, do you?”

  He reached into his pocket with his free hand and pulled out the lette
r his mother had brought him first thing this morning. He watched as she read the words already seared into his brain.

  Stepmama,

  Allison and I will be taking a little journey. Your sons have pushed me too far this time. It will be quite a while before I’m able to bring her home but don’t worry, I’ll keep her safe. Tell them that if they come after me, however, she might meet the same fate as Anne.

  Roger

  Serenity bit her lip and handed the letter back. “I’m so sorry, Luke. And then you arrived at Winters’ house, only to find me...”

  He met her worried green gaze, seeing the honest care and concern there. No matter what happened in his life, he always had to be the one who stayed strong, who did what needed to be done, but Serenity had always given him permission to feel things. To be human. He couldn’t resist pulling her into his arms and burying his face in her hair, allowing himself to be weak for just a moment.

  He’d wanted nothing more than to closet himself in his room last night and grieve for his beautiful sister-in-law, but instead, he’d summoned the authorities and dealt with the questions and Anne’s body. Then he’d taken the baby girl his brother couldn’t even bear to look at to Fiona, the young woman who ran the orphanage Adrian funded. Fiona had access to a wet nurse and would see the baby was taken care of until Morgan was ready. Lastly, he’d taken Morgan home, worrying about his little brother’s icy calm and anger. He’d gone home and fallen into bed near dawn, only to be awakened two hours later by his hysterical mother. Now he was haring off across the country to find his fifteen-year-old sister, fearing the worst.

  But Serenity was back in his arms, after all this time. And with her at his side, he knew he could handle anything.

  Chapter Two

  Serenity settled next to Lucien in a private compartment of a train headed to Dover, still stunned and confused by his reappearance in her life. This morning, she’d been going about her business as usual, and now she’d been fired and was traveling across the country with no idea where she’d end up!

  She hated having to depend on him but had no choice. She had less than ten pounds to her name, and she’d been let go without references. Even if she’d wanted to work as a maid again, she’d have a hard time finding a position. Perhaps she could find some sort of factory job, but she didn’t even know where to begin.

  Once the porter had taken their tickets and closed the door behind him, she turned to look at the man who had once been the center of her world, wondering if she could bear talking further about what had happened to tear them apart all those years ago.

  He hadn’t known of his mother’s actions. He hadn’t sent her away.

  She’d been so hurt and angry for so long. How could she wrap her mind around this new information? And what use would it be to forgive him? All the reasons why they couldn’t be together in the past remained. If she let him back into her heart, he’d just destroy her all over, and she didn’t think she had the strength to survive such heartbreak again.

  He shifted under her regard, turning to look at her with so many questions in his beautiful blue eyes. His scent, that familiar medley of sandalwood and leather, surrounded her, and she wanted nothing more than to bury her head against his chest and let him soothe all the loneliness and pain of the last eight years away. His warmth and strength, the magic of those elegant hands, his drugging kisses... She could almost convince herself that the inevitable heartbreak would be worth it if only she could know those things for even a moment.

  “I’ve never ridden on a train before,” she admitted, a bit nervous about the way the huge steel beast shivered and swayed beneath them as they pulled away from the station.

  His eyes widened, and then he shook his head. “I love to travel by train. I’ve invested heavily in railroad stock. I’ve also invested in my friend Harry Lawson’s company, which is building automobiles. Have you ridden in one yet?”

  She shook her head and gave a little laugh at the thought of having the chance to ride in one of those expensive vehicles. “You own one of those dangerous things, don’t you?”

  “Of course,” he said with a sheepish smile. “I would love to take you for a ride. And it’s not that dangerous; you can walk faster than my Daimler. But we are working on faster engines; who knows how fast we’ll one day be able to go? Just think of it! To me, the automobile represents freedom. Once a decent road system is in place, you’ll be able to go wherever you want, whenever you want.”

  The passion in his voice made her smile. “That sounds wonderful. Especially to someone like me, who’s never been anywhere except London and your estate in Kent.”

  He sat back with a frown. “It kills me to think of you in service to someone like Roger all these years. I wanted so much more for you, angel. I would have given you the world.”

  She blinked against the sting of tears, remembering all the plans they’d had. But even then, she’d known they’d never come true. His talk of investing in railroads and automobiles only served to remind her that he was one of the wealthiest, most well-respected men in Great Britain. Even when they’d met, she’d been his gamekeeper’s daughter, not someone remotely suitable for him to marry.

  Not that he’d ever mentioned marriage. He’d never said he loved her, never made any promises to her whatsoever. She’d been such a fool to give herself to him.

  Clearing her throat, she struggled to compose herself. She couldn’t let him lead her down the path of those beautiful memories they’d shared. Those days were long gone, and she was no longer that starry-eyed girl. “All I need from you is a reference,” she told him, dropping her gaze. “Would you do that for me, Luke? Can you help me find another position?”

  He took her hand and squeezed gently. “Serenity... You don’t have to go back into service. After we’ve sorted out this mess with Allison, I can take you back to Hawkesmere. I restored the old cottage. You can live there. Just take some time to figure out what you want.”

  She closed her eyes, the thought of returning to Hawkesmere filling her with longing. She missed the woods and stream, the old cottage where she’d been raised. Living in London for all these years had killed her spirit. She couldn’t breathe in the smoke-filled polluted air.

  “I don’t know,” she said, pulling her hand back. “It wouldn’t be right. What would people say?”

  “People can go hang,” he snapped. “Damn it, Serenity! Please, let me do this for you. Let me do something.”

  She understood his frustration. So many years lost. And to find out that it could have all been prevented... Would he have stood by her if his mother hadn’t interfered? Would he have been there when she’d needed him so badly?

  All she’d lost that spring morning so long ago came back to her in a rush, and she couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. Sobs racked her body, and she wrapped her arms around her waist, leaning forward as she struggled to gain some semblance of control. She couldn’t do this in front of him, couldn’t let him see her weakness.

  “Angel, please,” he muttered, pulling her into his arms though she resisted. “Don’t cry. I can’t bear it.”

  His words just made her cry harder. He had no idea! He didn’t know what she’d been through. She’d been left alone to deal with the worst thing that could possibly happen to a woman.

  She didn’t know how long she sobbed against him. He just held her, whispering soft, loving words, stroking her back and hair, occasionally pressing his lips to her temple. For so long she’d been strong, kept the emotions at bay, pretended that none of it had happened. Crying in Luke’s arms was cathartic, and she realized she was finally grieving for all that had been taken from her.

  At last, she pulled away, hiding her face in the crook of her arm, knowing she must look a fright. “I have to lie down,” she whispered hoarsely. “I’m so tired.”

  Before she even knew what was happening, he had lifted her in his arms and laid her upon the padded bench across the aisle, wrapping her in a blanket that smelled fa
intly of cigar smoke and putting a soft pillow beneath her cheek.

  “Sleep, my love,” he whispered. “But when you wake, we are going to talk.”

  His words sounded vaguely ominous, and she knew she couldn’t keep what had happened from him forever. The piper must be paid. Not yet, though. For now, she could sleep, safe in the knowledge that the man she loved was watching over her once again.

  LUCIEN STRETCHED OUT on the bench across from Serenity, trying to relax, even sleep perhaps. How could he though, given the tragedy and upheavals his world had gone through during the past few days? He worried about both his brothers and even little Allison, who was a bit too much like their mother and had never been his favorite person.

  His mother... The thought of what she’d done to him still filled him with a murderous rage. He hadn’t even realized she’d known about his relationship with Serenity. He’d been so isolated that summer at Hawkesmere, having left the stress and fast pace of London far behind him. He had not been the earl. He’d simply been Luke. He’d spent his days rebuilding his inheritance, with Serenity by his side. She’d understood him, known him, the way no one else ever had.

  The countess had probably hated that. For the first time, he’d been out from under her control, and she’d doubtless sent someone to spy upon him. Then, once she’d found out that he was happy, truly happy, she’d no doubt felt threatened. Oh, he was sure she’d claim that she’d done it for his own good—a son of hers could never lower himself to wed a gamekeeper’s daughter—but he knew the truth. She had no love for him, only the need to bend him to her will.

  He cracked one eye, gazing at Serenity, half afraid that his exhausted brain had imagined it all. No, she was still there, sleeping peacefully beside him. He traced her features lovingly with his gaze, lingering at her puffy eyes, swollen from crying over nightmares and hardships he was afraid to discover.

  Roger! All this time, she’d been with Roger. Given his stepbrother’s perverted tendencies, he couldn’t bear to think what might have happened to her when she had been pressed into service at Roger’s London house. He’d heard stories of the parties thrown there, the scum who frequented them.