“And once I start with you, you won’t remember any other man, let alone my worthless brother. You are far more to my taste than his.” He licked his lips as though to emphasize the point, tilting his head as he considered her now. “Did you really think I was so weak as to need such help? I’ve been laying here for days just to keep you near me. Just to show Harry that I can charm any woman I wish, even if it takes months. And I have charmed you, Adelaide, so very well. I’ve convinced you there is hope for me. And you kept my secrets from Harry. Have you ever wondered why?”

She continued to back away, wishing the door were closer to her than to him. She’d never make it in this condition if she ran for it, and if he had his full strength…

Richard took another step, beckoning to her. “Come on, then. Let’s play this little game.”

Adelaide screamed as though he had touched her again. “Help!” she cried, sobs beginning to rise and rack her lungs. “Please, someone help!”

“Ooh,” Richard said with a shudder. “I do love a good scream from a woman. Now my brother will come to your rescue. But will you be blameless, I wonder? Secret letters from a would-be lover are so scandalous.” His grin bordered on the feral, and no hint of the man she had thought she knew was evident in any respect.

She had fallen right into his trap.

A pounding on the stairs made Adelaide’s heart skip, and then Harrison was in the room, disheveled and wild, taking in their positions in an instant. He roared wordlessly and grabbed his brother by the arm and neck, tossing him away as though he were a rag doll.

“Out!” he bellowed, picking up a laughing Richard from the floor and forcing him out of the door. “Out, out, out!”

“But we were having such fun!” Richard protested without shame, his laughter that of madness. “Now that I’ve touched her, you can hardly expect—”

Adelaide heard a fist hit flesh, followed by repeated thumping down the stairs.

“Throw him out!” Harrison shouted. “Just as he is and without a farthing! He is never to be admitted to this house again. Never!”

Tremors of horror and fear began to shake Adelaide’s frame, and she gripped the wingback chair next to her for support. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks, and she found herself whispering apologies that Harrison would not hear.

Footsteps in the room brought her head up and she looked at her husband in agony. He did not seem calm, but he said nothing as he stared at her, his breathing unsteady.

“Are you all right?” he finally asked, his voice low and stiff.

She managed a shaky nod. “He grabbed me. He said… he said…”