Twenty-Four
The next morning when Aurora walked out of the bedroom after leaving an exhausted and morose Dona Jimena sitting with a drowsy but recovering Juliana, Apollo was waiting by the door.
“There’s no fever,” Aurora reassured him, holding herself stiffly, avoiding his gaze.
“Because of you,” he told her, and reached for a curl that had come loose and tucked it behind her ear. The look of pride and awe on his face made her wish the ground would swallow her. He had no idea it was her cowardice which put his cousin in harm’s way. She had to tell him the truth, and once she did, he would never want to see her again. Then she could put Apollo and all of this behind her and go back to her work.
At least now she knew who was responsible for all the women they’d had turning up at the clinic with terrible infections. Juliana remembered every detail of the place Philip had taken her to. That so-called doctor would not be in business much longer, but there was the matter of the man who had caused so much destruction. Philip had ensnared Juliana. Like he’d done with Aurora, he’d made the girl promises he’d never intended to fulfill. Seduced her, and then when the consequences arrived at his door, he took the easy way out.
“I’m taking you home,” Apollo told her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, right there in front of the maid and his butler.
“I’m not going home,” she informed him haughtily, to which he simply raised an eyebrow. As though she were a petulant child he was attempting to appease. She was not in the mood for Apollo’s highhandedness. “I’m perfectly capable of seeing myself to Claudine’s.”
She stood there, tightening her muscles to the tremors coursing through her and looking right into those flashing dark eyes. He was furious. Anyone facing the righteous anger of the Duke of Annan would run for cover, but she was not afraid. Never of him.
“I’m not taking you to Claudine’s.”
“Apollo, you should stay here, with your family.” She tried to reason with him. “You should get some rest.”
“ You need rest,” he retorted, swiping a thumb under her eyes, which she was certain were bruised from lack of sleep.
“I’m used to it.” She shrugged, which only seemed to make him angrier. “Your aunt and your cousin need you. I’ll be all right on my own.”
“They’re taken care of.” Something about the set of his jaw sent an uneasy shiver down her spine. There was no reasoning with Apollo when he got like this, overprotective, determined to save her from herself. “Now I’m going to take care of you.” He pointed at the carriage, leading her down the steps to the street. “Don’t fight me on this, Fiera.”
“I—” She began to make more excuses, but the anger on his face made the words die in her throat.
“I think it’s time you told me about Philip Carlyle.” She only nodded, then climbed into the carriage.
The silence in the conveyance was oppressive, but she didn’t know what to say. Apollo looked dangerous, his eyes stony as he looked out the window.
She’d known the moment she’d seen Philip that he was likely up to his old tricks. Juliana would be all right, the infection had not spread. But Aurora knew from experience, the emotional scars would take much longer to heal.
“She should be back to normal in a few days,” she said into the silence. Apollo only nodded, his gaze still on the passing street.
“I have arranged for a solicitor to change the deed of the building for the clinic into your name.” He’d been quiet for so long, she jumped at the sound of his voice. “I’m sorry I never got to show you the plans.” She almost didn’t know how to react to this cooler version of him. It was what she’d said she wanted, but after merely minutes of this distant man, she was already crumbling. Because despite everything she knew, she’d allowed herself to rely on him.
“It should not be in my name.” He turned to her then, his face harder than she’d ever seen it.
“The building is for you.” He was harsh with her, his words cutting, and she deserved it. He’d done what he promised and she’d repaid him by keeping secrets that could’ve cost his cousin her life.
“It was Philip,” she told him, and he stiffened, as though he’d expected those words but was still surprised to hear them. She could hear his questions in the silence that followed. “It’s true what he said at the salon, we knew each other when he was stationed in Mexico.” The words landed like an explosion in the small space between them. A taut silence stretched for what felt like hours until he finally spoke.
“Did he do the same thing to you?” She knew the question would come and it was still a punch in the gut. The impact of it so swift she almost doubled over. When she didn’t answer, his face turned dark with rage.
“That hijo de puta,” Apollo seethed, looking around the carriage as if considering simply leaping out of the conveyance to go hunt down the man. “I will kill him.”
“It’s my fault,” she blurted, relieved in a way to finally voice the truth that had been eating at her for the past week.
“What are you talking about?” Apollo asked, his voice laden with frustration when she would not let him hold her.
“I could’ve stopped him, instead of letting my family hide my secret,” she said, her voice barely a rasp. “I should’ve accepted my fate, faced the consequences of my mistakes and married him.” If possible, her words seemed to make him even angrier. She could hear his molars grind as he turned to face her.
“The only one responsible for what happened to Juliana is that bastard,” he said, moving closer to her. “If you think I’m going to be sorry for the fact you aren’t married to that fucking monster, then you really don’t know me.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her to him, his eyes boring into hers. “And one thing I can promise you, Juliana will be the last person he ever does this to.”
“I’m sorry.” She didn’t know for what. For not speaking out, for giving him more things to worry about.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.”
Unlike her brothers and her father, Apollo didn’t think that she deserved to lose everything for falling in love with the wrong man. His fury was mighty, but it was not directed at her. Until that moment, she didn’t realize how terribly she’d needed this.
“Your cousin would not be in the situation she’s in if I hadn’t…” she began, but he took her chin between his fingers and leaned down, so their faces were close enough to touch.
“Stop this, Aurora.” His eyes locked with hers as he took her hands in his. “I will not tolerate this self-pitying mierda from you.” Even when he berated her, he was a comfort. “We’re not playing this game. You’re sorry that you didn’t throw your life away? You are no one’s tribute. And I’m glad you didn’t fall in that bastard’s trap.” She’d always seen it that way. Even when it meant being an outcast, she’d never regretted her choices. She knew doing what she did saved her from a life that would’ve felt like death. But for many, what she’d done was a travesty. No one other than the Leonas ever gave her that validation, or even saw the value in the life she’d been able to build for herself. “Now, stop being so damned contrite. You saved my cousin’s life yesterday. I should be the one thanking you.”
“No, you shouldn’t,” she insisted, feeling lighter despite the tension of the last few hours. “Do you know where he is?” she asked, hoping Apollo hadn’t stained his hands with that desgraciado’s blood.
“He’s gone,” Apollo admitted, with his head in his hands. “While you were tending to Juli, I went with Jean-Louis and Evan to find him.” She was half-relieved he hadn’t. “He’s disappeared.” She could see the frustration written across his face. “But he couldn’t have gone far, and I have one of my men after him. We’ll find him and he’ll pay, I’ll make sure of that.”
“Philip is ruthless, Apollo.” And now he was likely desperate. “He would not hesitate in trying to spread rumors about you.”
Apollo scoffed at that. “I ruined my own father, Fiera,” he reminded her with a chilling grin on his face. “Lord Forsyth has no idea what he’s just brought down on himself.”
“My brothers might know where to find him.” She knew Octavio would help her at least. Maybe even Sebastian. In that way, she could do something to fix all this.
“I will go see them,” he informed her, with a scowl.
“They won’t be happy to see you .” Ramón would probably try to shoot him on sight. But Apollo’s face was like stone.
“You let me worry about that,” he said in a tone that brooked no argument. “You’re going to the den of iniquity to rest, and you will stay there with me, safe.”
“I need to get clothes at Claudine,” she told him, and he promptly shouted the instructions to the coach. “I should be helping you find him,” she said weakly. But he simply scoffed and sat back with an arm firmly around her.
“Absolutely not, and don’t argue with me, Aurora. I’m weary of you fighting me.” He sounded tired and worried. He was restless, his fingers pressing into her as if he was afraid to let her go.
“You can’t be associated with me anymore.” He only shook his head at her, like every word out of her mouth was ridiculous. “I’m serious, Apollo. I’m a liability to you,” she pleaded, but he was utterly impassive.
“ You are precious to me,” he countered, making her heart break all over again. He gathered her close and though she knew she should fight him, she let him hold her. Desperate for the safety of his arms, if only for the last time. “You let me concern myself with liabilities and assets in my own damned life.”
“You’re only making this harder.” He emitted a harsh laugh and turned to look at her with narrowed eyes.
“I am?” He almost sounded amused. “I’m not the one who keeps running.”
“It’s not running, it’s self-preservation.” He softened at that and sighed.
“You’re the most difficult woman I’ve ever met, Fiera.”
“I have to be,” she said, and he seemed to understand her meaning, because he only leaned over and kissed her cheek, then took her chin in his hand and turned her face toward him.
“From the first moment I saw you, I’ve wondered what went into the making of your grit, and now that I know, I want to burn the world down and rebuild it for you.” His words made that place inside that had been dry and barren since that night she’d left home stir to life. “Let me take care of you now,” he said as they came up to the top of her street.
And what would happen after? Her past would still be there. Her secrets always lurking in the shadows. She should stop this now, but how could she walk away from this man?
“All right, I’ll come to your rooms,” she relented. “But tell him to stop here. I’ll walk the rest of the way.”
“I would like to take you to your door and wait for you.”
“I’m still attempting some kind of semirespectable life, Apollo.” He stared back at her as if she was speaking in another language. “It is one thing to leave with you if you come fetch me for dinner, it is quite another to turn up here at dawn and have you waiting for me in your carriage while I go fetch some clothes.”
“You’re in a former courtesan’s house, five doors down from a tavern of sapphists,” he pointed out drolly.
But this was a boundary that she would not allow him to cross.
“If you can’t respect this one request, then I can’t come back with you.” He sighed in defeat and rapped on the door of the carriage.
In truth, she needed some distance from him. It was much too hard to think clearly with Apollo looking at her like he’d slay dragons for her. Entirely too seductive to believe he was all-powerful, that those shoulders could weather anything that came her way. But the truth was that he was just a man. A man who would eventually grow tired of the whispers about her. Who would ultimately realize she was not worth the trouble.
“Wait here,” she told him, moving to the door. But as always, he didn’t listen and began to help her down.
“I can climb the damned steps, Annan,” she protested in vain.
“Your legs are very short.”
“You are an oversized cabrón, but you don’t hear me pointing that out.” He flashed her one of his toothy grins, making her smile despite her somber mood.
It was a few hundred yards down a steep hill to Claudine’s. As she briskly made her way to the house, the crisp morning air helped clear some of the cobwebs from her head. She was so deep in her thoughts about the previous night and the consequences that might come, she almost didn’t hear the voice calling for her.
“Doctor Montalban.” A familiar male voice coming from the alley between the boardinghouse and Claudine’s tavern stopped her before she reached her door. It was early, but births happened at all hours, and Claudine told everyone in the neighborhood Aurora was a physician.
“Yes, can I help you?” she asked the figure coming out of the shadows. Something about the man’s fast movements, made her take a step back. Had she not been exhausted from the evening before, she might have caught on to the threat sooner.
“I’ve got a message for you from Lord Ackworth.” Ackworth? That was Sandra’s husband. When the man lunged for her, she tried to run, but he was already pulling her by the front of her dress.
“Let me go,” she cried out, before he backhanded her.
“Where did you hide her?” the man yelled in her face, shaking her hard enough to make her teeth rattle.
When he moved, a sliver of light cut across his face and she recognized him as Collins, Sandra’s impertinent footman.
“My lord knows you took the mistress and the bairns,” he shouted and hit her again. The back of his hand connected with such force on her cheek her head slammed into the wall.
“Hel—” she began to scream, but he covered her mouth with his hand.
“Shut up, you whore!” The man seethed while she tried to free herself from his clutches. “If you don’t tell me where you hid the mistress, I’ll make you sorry.”
She hoped Apollo heard her and wished she’d just let him walk her to the door like he wanted. As she tried to dislodge the man’s hand from her mouth, she remembered she’d learned some things from Apollo and Gilberto. She didn’t have her pistol or her gloves, but she could defend herself.
She bit down on the man’s hand hard enough to hear something crack, he pushed her away, and she slipped on the wet cobblestones. When she tried to break the fall with her hand, she landed on a jagged rock, which made her cry out in pain.
“Now you’ve really done it,” Collins roared, lunging in her direction.
“Help me!” she cried out as she scrambled away from him. But he was fast and grabbed for her again, this time using his feet to try to kick her. Her head throbbed and her hand was bleeding, but she fought with all her might. She managed to make contact with his shin, making him cry out in pain and stumble, then she went for a kick on the man’s crotch. The pendejo managed to avoid it and shoved her so hard she crashed to the ground.
“Tell me where she is,” he demanded, lifting a boot she knew he intended to aim at her head.
“I won’t ever tell you where she is,” she told Collins, as she crab-walked on the wet ground.
“My lord will make you pay,” he shouted, looming over her.
“Hijo de puta, te voy a matar.” The cry came from behind Collins, a bloodcurdling roar that made her attacker whip around. Before the manservant could react, he was being lifted from the ground like a rag doll by the Duke of Annan, who appeared to be in the grips of a murderous rage.
* * *
He was already running toward her when she cried for help. He watched as she walked down to the boardinghouse and saw her stop to talk to someone before being dragged into an alley. It took but a second before he was running to her.
Apollo had spent his life bent on revenge, spent half of it orchestrating the downfall of his own father, but he had never thought of himself as a killer. Watching Aurora be snatched in plain sight and hearing her cry out for help was the moment when he truly understood he could kill in cold blood.
By the time he reached her he was in a blind rage. Nothing but snapping bones and drawing blood would do. He lifted the hijo de puta who had dared touch his woman, backhanded him until he bled, then flung him against a row of rubbish bins. The man’s head cracked loudly against the wall, but Apollo had to resist the urge to go for him again.
“Get up, Fiera.” She winced as she sat up with her hand clutched to her chest.
“I’m all right,” she said weakly. “It’s just a cut.” Her lip was bloody, and she already had a bruise darkening her cheek.
“You’re bleeding,” he told her. His hands shook from fury and there was something wrong with his breath, which came out harsh and loud.
“I’m fine.” She shakily pressed her hand to her face and made an effort to smile at him. “But you’re scaring me with that sound you’re making.” He frowned, unsure what she was referring to, then realized he’d been growling.
He’d scared Aurora’s attacker too, because by the time he’d finished helping her up the man had crawled away, and gotten into a waiting carriage.
“Did you know that man?” he asked, as he inspected the scratches on her face. She hesitated, then sighed, looking in the direction where he’d escaped.
“I think he works for my patient’s husband.” Apollo had to bite his tongue. He’d known something like this would happen since that first night. She took too many damned risks, running around all of creation like she was invincible with no damned sense of the danger she put herself in.
“What’s the husband’s name, Aurora?” he asked, as calmly as he could, while passing her a handkerchief. When she didn’t answer, he attempted to scoop her up, but she batted him away.
“I’m fine,” she insisted, though he could see she was in pain. “I did fight him, you know,” she told him defiantly, and if he wasn’t seconds from throttling her, he would’ve kissed her bloody lip right then. But he was not letting her keep anything else from him.
He was done with Aurora’s need to protect everyone but herself.
“I need you to give me the man’s name.”
“You’re doing it again,” she told him, with a frown. “That noise.” He was surprised he was not foaming at the mouth with the state he was in.
“Aurora, so help me, I’m not in the mood to play this game with you.” She didn’t like his tone, but he was not conceding on this. “My observance of all your rules and all your secrets ended the moment you were almost killed in an alley.”
“I was defending myself.” She had the gall to look offended. “This is a sensitive situation,” she said.
“What happened?” he pushed.
“I still need to get my things,” she told him, in place of answering.
“Aurora.” His control was hanging on by a very thin thread, and whatever she saw in his face seemed to finally apprise her of that fact.
“It’s the patient you helped me with that night.” He sighed, sorry for the poor woman, because he would come after her husband with everything he had. “I was at her house yesterday to remove the stitches from her procedure and…” She paused there, clearly struggling with what to say, and he knew whatever it was he would not like it. “She needed help getting away from him, so I did.” Apollo closed his eyes and tried to conjure up any remaining reserves of patience before he spoke again.
“If she’s gotten away from him and is safe, then all I care about is you.” He knew that protecting her clients was important, but if the woman had escaped the brute, then Apollo would make it his business to ensure the man was never tempted to touch another hair on any woman’s head.
“I don’t want to make things harder for her,” she said, as he put his jacket over her shoulders. She was shaking, and even in the muted light of the darkened street, he could see the bruise on her cheek. “Apparently he hid their marriage, he wouldn’t even let her leave the house alone, so it might be to her benefit when it comes to escaping him.”
He was going to personally dismember that mal nacido, whoever he was.
“I promise to make sure he can’t hurt her. Please, Aurora,” he begged. Needing to vanquish at least this villain from her life.
“He’s a lord,” she told him, which only infuriated him more. Of course he bloody was.
“His name, Aurora,” he insisted, as he pulled her out of the alley and turned her toward his carriage.
“I need clean clothes,” she retorted, attempting to veer back in the direction of her building. That was when he gave up all pretense at civility and scooped her up. “Not this again,” she protested, but he did not care.
“I’m not letting you out of my sight until you’re safe, in my house. I can send a note to Luz or Manuela to get you clothes,” he informed her even as she attempted to fling herself out of his hold.
“No, Apollo, your aunt has enough to deal with today.”
Her words confused him, then he realized what she meant. “I already told you, I’m taking you to our rooms,” he clarified, tightening his grip on her.
The moment he said the words, she relaxed in his arms. It was the truth. That small set of rooms was one of the few things from his old life that still brought him comfort. Her presence there made it a haven.
“Our rooms?” she asked, and he nodded, brushing a kiss to her brow as they arrived at the carriage.
“I’ll never be able to get the smell of carbolic out of it,” he told her with a smile. “You might as well claim it.” Her eyes went liquid as she looked up at him, and a little tremor passed through her jaw.
“Let me see your hand,” he whispered when they were back in the carriage. The white linen of his handkerchief was soaked with blood. His stomach turned at the sight of it. Her blood had been spilled, and someone would pay for that. “He made you bleed.” He could not keep the rage from coming out in his voice.
“It’s not so bad.”
“Tell me who this desgraciado is,” he demanded, and hoped she could hear how close he was to losing the reins on his control.
She delayed doing it for as long as she could. She insisted on getting herself settled on the bench. They were almost halfway to their rooms when she finally relented.
“You cannot leave those children as orphans.” He knew if he didn’t agree, she wouldn’t tell him. He could not promise anything other than making the man sorry for his very ex istence, but he nodded. “His name is Ackworth, Lord Ackworth,” she said, utterly unaware of the stick of dynamite she’d just tossed at him.
Ackworth, the man who had made it his business to voice his repulsion at the idea of a person with African blood being part of the aristocracy had kept secret that he was married to one. That he had children with her.
There it was, finally, something about Ackworth that could help Apollo end the man’s efforts to discredit him. It would take no more than a few letters and the whispers would start. He could destroy Ackworth with this, but in doing so, he’d expose a woman he would never harm.
A year ago, hell, three months ago, there was nothing that would’ve stopped him from using something like this to his advantage. He wouldn’t have even thought twice about it. But now things were different. He was different. Well, not so much he would not go looking for the man and beat the pulp out of him once he had his Fiera safely tucked away.
“Let’s get you home,” he said, pulling her to him. “Then I’ll deal with Lord Ackworth.”