If You Deceive

Chapter Eight

An hour later, after having run into Hugh—and engaging in yet another brotherly row—Ethan made his way to Quin's. This morning, Ethan was more acutely aware of how people on the street stared at him. In return, he gave them his most menacing glower.

When he reached Quin's home, he found himself anxious. Hell, the girl would likely spurn him for his behavior last night anyway. He supposed it didn't matter as long as he got this settled with her, for good or ill.

Quin scowled when Ethan strode uninvited and unannounced into his study. "Excellent, another MacCarrick to deal with. Already this morning, I've had to haul your brother away from a fight with another man over Jane."

"I saw Hugh just a short while ago—he dinna tell me there was a fight."So much for loving her secretly from afar, Hugh.

"In reality, I wouldn't so much call it afight —that would imply two contenders," Quin amended. "Needless to say, after witnessing Hugh in a rage like that, Jane's reluctant to be near him, much less to go into hiding with him."

Going into hiding.And that had been the subject of the brothers' dispute. Hugh had actually agreed to take Jane out of the city—just the two of them.Disaster awaits….

"What are you doing here?" Quin asked. "I thought you were going after Grey."

"I combed his haunts last night. I doona believe he's made London from the Continent yet."

"Then what do you want?"

"To talk to the lass staying with your sisters."

"Madeleine? Is this about Grey? How could she know anything?"

Madeleine. Ethan liked the name. But then he frowned as some memory tugged at his consciousness. "This is no' about Grey. It's…personal."

"What in the hell could you have to say to her? How do you even know her?"

"I met her last night, at the masquerade."

"I wondered what had spooked her!" Quin rose and paced to the window. "I should have known only one man in London could terrorize the poor girl like that."

"Terrorize? Oh, aye, such a sweet, innocent girl. Did you know she's been trying to trap you into marriage?"

Quin turned back. "I might have suspected something when she told me she'd dreamed of being my wife since she was a girl and then asked me if I would ever consider marrying her. So devious—how does she sleep nights?"

Dreamed of marrying Quin.Ethan ground his teeth, suddenly needing to pummel Quin's unscarred face.

"Here's the thing, MacCarrick. I did consider it. She's secretive, occasionally dishonest, and inordinately concerned with money, but she's also kind and winsome and intelligent. Any man would be proud to call her his wife."

"Then why did you no' keep her?"

"Youknow why." Quin's role in the Network required him to seduce women, often traveling the world to do it. "Besides, she has a proposal in hand," Quin said as he returned to his desk. "She's going to accept him directly."

The hell she was. "Who?"

"You don't expect me to tell you that?"

"You know I can have that information in a day." Ethan's job wasn't only to deal the blows that no one else wanted to deal. He also brokered information.

"Why are you so bloody interested in her? She's a lady and a virgin, not your usual fare of jaded whore."

"Do youwant me to hit you?"

"Just stay the hell away from her, MacCarrick. I don't know what dire thing happened at the masquerade—she refused to talk about it even to Claudia—but when I saw her this morning, she looked as if she'd cried all night."

Criedall night ? Had it beenthat bad? "Aye, Quin, something dire happened. She made a play to get me to marry her. One that failed."

"A play to wedyou ?" Quin gave a harsh laugh. "You've some nerve. The girl is utterly lovely. Yes, that's clearly what she wanted, as evidenced by the fact that she fled London this morning."

Ethan froze. "What did you say?"

"She's gone, couldn't get out of here fast enough."

Goddamn it!Ethan would have to kill Grey before he could go after her. "Tell me the chit's name and how to find her." He stalked around the desk, and Quin shot to his feet.

"Throw her to the wolf? I don't know why you've suddenly taken an interest in a well-bred girl, much less someone who's a friend of my sister's, but you won't get the information from me."

"She does no' get much say in the matter, no' after I relieved her of her virtue last night."

Quin's eyes widened, and he lunged at Ethan, throwing a punch. Ethan caught his fist, crushing it with his hand. "Doona fuck with me, Quin. My patience wears thin."

Quin gritted his teeth in pain. "Ethan, I know you're not a man concerned with morals. But I didn't think you'd despoil an innocent more than a decade younger than you are." When Ethan released Quin, he sank to his chair, shaking feeling back into his hand. "My God, she's ruined. I know you will never do the honorable thing, and her betrothed won't want her now. I must go offer for her at once."

"Stay away from her," Ethan grated. "She'smine ." When Quin still looked to argue, Ethan made things simple. "Marry her, and I'll kill you."

"You don't even know who she is!" Quin snapped. "And you won't marry her yourself."

"No, I will no'."

"Then why are you here? What had you planned to do with her?"

"After I've taken care of Grey, I'll bloody figure it out then. I'm going off to save your cousin's life, so you ken why there's a time element here." Ethan couldn't care less about Jane, other than the fact that his brother was in love with her to an unspeakable degree and would be devastated if she died. "The sooner I get my mind on killing, the better for everyone. So tell me the girl's name. Then we'll talk about her betrothed."

Quin got an analytical air about him, studying Ethan for a long moment. Then he flashed an expression of realization. "Little Madeleine got under your skin, didn't she? She has that way about her. I knew to be on guard, but you…you were probably blindsided." He nodded, giving Ethan a smug grin. "I'm going to give you her information because Grey must be stopped at all costs—and unfortunately, you are the best hope we have. But I'm also assisting you because in this kind of arena, you're no match for her. She'll have you not knowing up from down."

Ethan gave a humorless laugh. "That so?"

Quin met his eyes. "Ethan, I could almost feel sorry for you."

"Just tell me her bloody name."

"Very well. Her name is Madeleine Van Rowen."