Deathstalker 02 - Deathstalker Rebellion

matter. He never loved them. Not the way he loved me. I'm just surprised you admit to having lovers, too. I wouldn't have thought love was your style."
    "Oh, I've had my moments, dear. You'd be surprised how many men have a secret yen for a good tongue-lashing. In more ways than one."
    "Why have you come here, Adrienne?"
    "I… need to talk to you. About Finlay. Before the Wolfes declared vendetta and ambushed us at a Family meeting, I would have sworn Finlay cared no more for me than I did for him. But when I was injured and near to death, he put his own life at risk to save mine. He even brought me here, to you, to find the protection I needed. I just wondered… if you knew why."

    Evangeline nodded slowly. "He said you were very brave. That you were wounded fighting to protect the Clan. He admired that."
    "The Finlay I knew was a fop and a dandy," said Adrienne. "He wore a sword, but I never once saw him draw it. He never took me to the Arena. Said the sight of blood made him feel faint. But when the Wolfes came howling into Tower Campbell, he tore into them with sword and gun like he'd been doing it all his life. To save me, he outran and outfought a dozen pursuers, all trained fighting men. And now I hear he's on the run, after killing the notorious Lord St. John, despite all the Lord's guards. I can't help feeling there must be another Finlay, one I never knew."
    "You're right. There was."
    "Can you tell me about him?"
    "I don't think it's my secret to tell. You'd have to ask Finlay yourself. But I will say he was the bravest, finest man I ever knew. The fop and the dandy were just masks he wore, to keep people like you at bay. To keep you from seeing the real him."
    "Married all these years, and I never knew the real him." Adrienne smiled briefly. "But, then, I never looked."
    "You never cared."
    "That, too. I care now."
    Evangeline looked at her steadily. "Why? What's changed? What's happened to bring you here, to me, asking questions about Finlay?"
    For the first time Adrienne looked away, but her voice remained steady. "I need help, and there's nowhere else to go. Do you really think I'd be here if I didn't have to be? Robert was protecting me and the children, but he's being
    sent offplanet. Your father helped arrange it. He's been putting the pressure on. Threats to me, to my children. I can look after myself, but the children must be protected. I need help; some weapon I can use to defend me and mine.
    That I ended up here should give you some idea of how desperate I am. You loved Finlay, and I married him. He's been a part of both our lives and put us both through a lot, one way and another. Perhaps we can find something in common. I'm sorry you had to hear about your father's part in this. I know you and he are close, but…"
    "No," said Evangeline abruptly. "We're not… close."
    Adrienne raised an eyebrow. There had been something in Evangeline's voice… "In public and at Court, you're always together. You certainly give the appearance…"
    "Appearances can be deceptive. Please, you must go now. He'll be here soon, and he mustn't find you here. I want you to leave now."
    "Why? What's so important about a father visiting his daughter?" Adrienne's eyes narrowed. "There's a secret here. I can smell it, like I can smell your fear.
    What is it? Has he been hurting you? The Shreck's a bully and a bastard, like most men, but I never knew he was violent to his own Family," Adrienne stopped, silenced for a moment by the sudden rush of misery suffusing Evangeline's face.
    Tears ran down her jerking cheeks as she gasped for breath. Adrienne leaned forward and took Evangeline's hands in hers. "Now, now, don't take on so, pet.
    Whatever it is, I'll fix it. I'm good at fixing things. And there never was a man born that was worth tears like this. Is it your father? Has he been beating you? I can talk to some people at Court…"
    "No. He's not… violent. He…" Evangeline's throat clamped shut suddenly, cutting off her words. She could feel the heat in her cheeks as her face flushed with shame. Her father's words thundered in her head. You can't tell anyone. Ever. Or
    they'll find out you're a clone. And you know what they'll do to you, then. And you know what I'll do to you if YOU ever so much as hint to anyone else. They wouldn't believe you, anyway. But if you ever do, I'll hurt you, Evie, little Evie. I'll hurt you till your throat goes raw from screaming. Don't you ever dare tell!
    She held Adrienne's hands