Page 38 of Broken

“Lilly, what was that? What are you doing? Come out of there,” Giles ordered, but she was sipping her drink and the burn in her throat would not allow her to answer, even if she’d cared to.

When she’d consumed the first glass, she grimly kept drinking. The laudanum had kept her blissfully numb, and she longed for that peace once again. Strong emotions were too much to handle alone.

The door rattled in the frame again, but then thumping footsteps confirmed he’d gone away.

Lilly tried to be pleased by that fact, but was saddened by his quick withdrawal. Was she truly worth so little effort? Barty had always said so.

She paused with her glass pressed against her lips and tried to remember who Barty was.

The brandy did not aid her memory in any helpful way, but she drank it down and refilled her glass again. In the warmth of the window seat, a light draft stirred the dust motes and she found them more fascinating to study than trying to remember details of an old memory.

When the decanter level dropped low, Lilly frowned at it and wondered how she might acquire more. If her memory could be relied upon, and that was always doubtful, there might be a bottle in the drawing room, dining room, or even Giles’ bedchamber.

Lilly dragged herself upright and weaved her way around the table. Getting there unfortunately seemed to require more effort that she currently possessed. The room dipped and swayed beneath her feet. She smiled, happier to dance among the dust motes instead.

Dancing was thirsty work, so Lilly attempted to pour the last of the brandy, but the dashed glass kept moving and she spilled most of it on the tabletop.

The door behind her crashed open and footsteps rushed toward her. Her sudden turn made the room rock alarmingly, but strong arms caught her before she landed on the floor.

“Ah, Lord Wicked, come to finish me off have you? Perhaps a quick dive off the bridge would save you from my company. Barty said I should have learned to swim.”

Lilly giggled as the dust motes swirled around the earl’s head like a divine halo. How absurd.

Even so, she let her heavy head fall against his shoulder.

“My God, how did you get this drunk so fast?”

She struggled to pull herself away from him. “What do you care? I’m none of your concern.”

“Lilly, please try to understand.”

Giles did not want her friendship. He didn’t want to know her anymore. She shoved against him as hard as she could, but he was always going to be stronger.

The sudden movement was not a good idea, however. Her stomach roiled. Since Giles held her still, Lilly had no choice but to heave up the contents of her stomach—mostly brandy—all over him.

A long moment of silence reigned after her vulgar display and she spun away from the earl. At last, he was quiet. No more hurtful words passed his lips. Somehow, she found the bed and dragged herself across it.

* * *

A proper lady should never overindulge in stronger spirits. That one would be his first lesson for Lillian Winter, and his cautionary tale for his fellow man. Giles pulled the last of his soiled clothing from his body by the time Dithers answered his hastily rung summons.

Unfortunately, the butler inhaled sharply at the scent of the chamber then started gagging. Had Giles understood why Lilly fought against him, he might not have behaved like a complete barbarian. Nevertheless, he still would not have let her go.

Dumping his soiled clothes on top of the ruined carpet, Giles surveyed the consequences of their conversation. Lilly had not taken the discussion well, after all. He’d been a fool to think that his way was best.

Clearly, Lilly hadn’t agreed. As Giles gazed at her, slumped crookedly over the bed and oblivious to the world around her, he cursed his poor judgment yet again. He’d caused her more pain, but he especially didn’t like that she had tried to drown her sorrows in hard spirits.

Flicking her hair from her cheek, his heart ached at the sight of Lilly’s beautiful face splotched red from crying. He’d done that to her. Bastard that he was.

And the woman would have more misery to come from the aftereffects of the brandy later. She would ache like the very devil if she stayed in that position too. He rolled her so she lay straight on her back, tugging her gown to her ankles for modesty.

Dithers regained his composure and crossed to open the window, but gasped as he realized that the master of the house was naked. He hurried back to shut the bedchamber door. “Milord?”

“Don’t say it, Dithers. I know how bad this looks.” He pointed to the rug. “Grab that end, will you?”

Together they rolled the ruined carpet and clothes up into a log. Despite Dithers’ scowling assistance, they dumped the whole lot out the window, removing the majority of the smell in the process. Still naked, Giles crossed to the dressing table to search for Lilly’s perfume. He sprayed some into the air.

He could feel Dithers’ scowl lancing his bare backside. “Dithers, go fetch me a pair of fresh trousers, a robe, and arrange to burn that carpet and everything with it, will you? I think they are beyond repair.”