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Ian froze, his fork half-raised to his mouth. He better had heard wrong. With deadly calm he asked, “What did you say?”
“Her ladyship has been locked in the south turret with barely enough food to survive on. No fire, no candles, no comforts whatsoever. Except those which Mrs. Tanssen, Ailsa, and I have smuggled to her whenever she,”Jasper sent Lucinda another fleeting look, this one indisputably defiant, “wasn’t watching.”
Ian fisted his hands under the table. The urge to wrap them around his stepmother’s neck and strangle the life from her was overwhelming. Never had he felt such burning hatred toward another human.
At Jasper’s triumphant revelation, her face paled with shock. She swiftly masked her astonishment and attempted a light-hearted laugh. The smile faded from her lips when Ian shoved to his feet, regarding her with unmitigated fury.
She speared Jasper with a deadly glower. Had it been a sword, Ian had no doubt the butler would’ve been skewered or eviscerated. Face twisted with hatred, she demanded, “You dared to defy me?”
“I did and would do so again.” Jasper met her glare straight on, regarding her with such open revulsion, she might have been dung on his shoe. He pointedly turned his back to her and faced Ian.
“My wife is locked in the tower?” Each carefully enunciated word dripped with rancor.
“Indeed, my lord.”
“Come, Ian, surely you’re not going to listen to a hireling.” Waving a hand dismissively at Jasper, Lucinda tittered again. The sound emerged half-strangled, and her skin assumed a grayish pallor which couldn’t be attributed to her black dress.
Head pounding, ire throttling through his veins, Ian scowled too furious to speak.
She changed tactics. “That uncivilized gypsy was causing all manner of problems.” Her black-eyed gaze darted between him and Jasper. “I…I had to do something to keep the household in order.”
“She lies, sir.” Jasper didn’t spare her a glance.
Ian curled his lips in derision. “I’ve no doubt she does.”
She shot Jasper another deadly glare. “I was afraid. That uncivilized chit, she threatened me.” Lucinda raised a hand to her throat and contrived to appear frightened.
“Not bloody-well likely.” My God. What must Vangie think? How could she trust him after this?
“What else was I to do?” the dowager whined.
“What else? Are you utterly addled?” Ian banged a fist on the table rattling the china and silverware. “Nothing, and I do mean nothing, justifies you imprisoning my wife!” Fire blazed in his blood and cold fury in his mind. “You have no idea how close I am to doing you harm, Lucinda. You’ve gone too far. I should have charges brought against you,” he gritted between clenched teeth.
“You…you wouldn’t.” She gasped and clutched at her throat with her spindly fingers.
Satisfaction surged through him. Good, now she’s truly frightened. “The only thing preventing me from doing so is my affection for Charlotte. However, since she saw fit to deceive you in order to run off and marry Monroe, I doubt she’ll fret overly much about you.”
A whimpering noise escaped her.
He turned to Jasper. “Have the dowager’s possessions and person moved to the dower house within the hour by whatever means necessary. Hog tie and gag her if needed.”
“It will be my utmost pleasure, my lord.” A satisfied smile wreathed Jasper’s face. “Am I to assume her ladyship is no longer welcome in the manor?”
“You are.”
“Excellent, my lord.”
Marching to the room’s entrance, Ian halted beside the butler. Laying a hand on the man’s shoulder he said, “Thank you.”
Jasper replied with a slight, regal nod of his head.
“Wait, Ian.” Lucinda jumped to her feet, rapidly shoving her chair backward. It tottered before toppling to the floor with a loud bang. “What of Charlotte? She’s wed?”
At the double French windows, Ian paused, half-turning to glance over his shoulder. Lucinda’s gaze faltered, sinking to her plate. She toyed absently with a piece of bun lying there.
He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror above the sideboard. The harsh features of the man reflected were nothing compared to the endless ire in his eyes. He looked like a man possessed.
He was. Half-crazed with worry and wrath.
