Scoundrel With A Noble Heart (sequel of Disgraceful)

Chapter 19

Disclaimer!
This content contains sexual abuse.

As he lay in his bed waiting for the clock to strike ten, Matthew finally got to understand the full extent of suffering experienced by a man sitting in the dock awaiting a sentence. The past several hours had been a torment and he didn't think he could endure it for another hour.

He could only pray that he'd be given a second chance. He'd made a fatal mistake, and whatever the lady had in store for him, he had no choice but to accept it. Though he couldn't begin to imagine how he would live the rest of his days without Arabella. He had no idea how he would manage to go on with his life if he never got to see her again.

The distant clock struck ten somewhere in the house, indicating the end of the wait. As he jumped to his feet and sneaked out of the room, he resolved that even if the worst happened and he got banished, he would find a way to see Arabella, as long as she wanted him around.

The house was quiet at this hour. Silence echoed across its empty passages, only stirred by the sound of his own footsteps. He navigated through the dark down endless corridors, passing salon after salon, until finally he caught a glimmer of light underneath a closed door in the other end of the hallway.

He came to a halt, hesitating as he felt the back of his neck prickled. Some wild instinct told him to run while he had the chance but he dismissed the silly thought. There was nothing to be afraid of. What's the worst that could happen anyway?

He forced himself to move, until only a scant foot left between him and the door. Swallowing back his fear, he raised his hand and knocked.

"Do come in."
Came the answer from the other side of the door. Swallowing back his uneasiness, he put his hand on the cool brass knob and turned it.

The door opened to a firelit room decorated in a blue palette. Reclining in a chaise-lounge with a goblet of wine in her hand, Lady Virginia Winthrop turned her head slightly toward him. Her dark, untamable hair cascaded down her shoulders. She wore a silk dressing gown the color of red wine. The robe fell open to reveal her deep cleavage, and parted under the sash, giving away a generous portion of her naked legs. Immediately his mind formed an impression that the woman wore nothing underneath it, and he dismissed the blasted thought at once.

"Take a seat."
The woman motioned to a chair across from her.

Lowering his head, he crossed over to the chair and settled himself there. He dropped his eyes to the thick Aubusson carpet below and wiped his sweaty palms on his clad thighs.

"So Matthew, I should think you would want to explain the reasons why you stole the letter I sent to Arabella's father?"

"I apologize, Milady. That was wrong of me." He stammered. Though he'd spent hours thinking of some sensible reasons, he couldn't find one.

"Let me guess. Are you afraid her father might take her away if he knows she is here?"

When he couldn't bring himself to answer that question, the woman continued,
"I see you care a lot about my niece, Matthew. Tell me, do you like her?"

"I... I dare not, Milady."

"You must know that I do care about her, Matthew, but right now she doesn't know what she wants. God knows how many times her recklessness has gotten her into trouble, and I can't begin to imagine how her parents can put up with that."
She paused to take another sip of wine.
"Have you told Bella about the letter?"

"I haven't told her anything, Milady."

"Good, because you should understand the reason why I need to tell her father that she has arrived in my place, none the worse from any ordeal."