The Viscount's Tempting Seductress (PM #2) (Completed)

Chapter 7. 1813 

WARNING: this chapter contains a scene of assault.
***
Gregory felt his anger beginning to rise. "Why do you prefer to inflict pain on women rather than pleasure?"
Victor crossed his arms over his chest. "I enjoy it."
Gregory. "So you enjoy being a sadist?"
Victor's eyes began to twinkle. "I do indeed. I will say that some women liked my roughness more than others. One of them in particular did not."
Delilah glared at him. "You would be correct Lord Darcy, I did not enjoy what you did to me."
Gregory turned to look at her, his eyes wide. "What did he do to you?"
Delilah took a shaking breath. "I was whipped countless times, chained to his bed for hours. I was used until I was broken."
Gregory's blood sizzled with fury. How dare the bastard before him used Delilah in such a way? He turned to Victor, raising his fist and punching the gentleman Square in the face.
Victor staggered back, surprise flickering in his eyes. Then he raised his fist, intent on returning the punch, but was thrown to the ground by Gregory. Within minutes, he had a broken nose, a bloody lip, two black eyes, and a broken jaw.
Gregory stood up, his entire body shaking with rage. He glared down at Victor. "I suggest you stay away from her Darcy. She is mine, and will forever be mine. If you try to put one more hand on her, I will not let you live."
Whimpering like a puppy who had just been kicked, Victor staggered to his feet and stumbled away. He climbed into his carriage and slumped back against the seat. He wouldn't bother Delilah Martin or Viscount Lennox ever again.
Delilah took Gregory's hand. "Are you hurt my Lord?"
Gregory shook his head. "No, I am all right. Darcy was the one who received pain."
Delilah nodded. "Shall we return to the opera?"
Gregory. "Do you wish to return?"
Delilah hesitated. Before Victor's encounter, she was enjoying her evening very much. Now however, she wasn't sure she could continue to enjoy it. She shook her head slowly. "I should like to go back to Lenox Park."
Gregory squeezed her hand. "Then we will go home."
Within five minutes, they were nestled inside the carriage, returning to Lenox Park. Neither of them spoke a word, but their fingers remained intertwined. In that moment, they knew a few things needed to be discussed in detail.
***
30 minutes later, Delilah had bathed and changed into a powder blue silk nightgown. She was sitting on the bed of her bedroom, staring out the window. She couldn't believe her evening had been ruined.
Hearing the sound of someone knocking at the door, Delilah turned her head. "Enter."
The door opened, and Gregory stepped into her room, holding two steaming mugs of chocolate. He looked at her with concern. "How are you?"
Delilah took a breath. "I'm feeling feeling quite guilty."
Gregory closed the door with his foot before making his way toward her. Sitting down on the bed, he gave her one of the mugs. "Why do you feel guilty?"
Delilah held the hot mug between her cold hands, her eyes cast downward toward the delicious smelling chocolate. "I should have told you what happened to me, in better detail. I was simply wanting to spare you the pain, but I know that was foolish."
Gregory took her face between his hands, his eyes fixed with hers. "My dear, you weren't ready to tell me what happened between you and Victor. I am not angry with you for doing so, I would have done the same. However, I would like to know now, since we are alone."
Delilah took a breath before telling him everything. She recounted the night Victor ruined her, told him how she was forced to perform sexual acts that didn't feel right. She told him how Victor would chain her to the bed for hours, only to come back in the morning and have his way with her again.
Gregory listened intently, his body tense, coiled to spring. He couldn't believe the pain Delilah had gone through at the hands of Baron Darcy. The nerve of that bastard, he thought.
Delilah broke into pieces as her story came to an end. Her carefully concealed tears flowed freely down her cheeks, her body shaking with sobs. At last, the pain and torment she had endured was revealed.
Placing both cups of chocolate onto the nightstand, Gregory took Delilah into his arms and held her tight against him. His heart splintered into pieces as he felt her cry into his chest. He said nothing, simply held her to him.
After several minutes, Delilah sniffled and came away, her glistening eyes fixed with his. "You may do what you wish with me my Lord."
Gregory blinked, staring at her with confusion. "What do you mean?"
Delilah. "I am damaged. I am sure you do not wish to have me as your mistress now. You deserve someone better."