Her question made Kell frown. “Why does it matter?”

“Because he should be made to face his crimes. What sort of coward is he to behave so viciously and then run away, leaving you to deal with the aftermath?”

“He didn’t run. I sent him away.”

She closed her hands into fists, obviously working herself into an outrage. “Well, I can assure you, he won’t escape punishment. He should be hanged for what he did to me.”

Kell felt every muscle in his body go rigid. He’d known the situation would eventually come to this. That Miss Raven Kendrick would likely want retribution. And that if he were honest, she deserved retribution. His brother’s treatment of her sickened him. Even so, he’d spent much of the night stewing over how to extricate Sean from this debacle.

Even if Raven Kendrick were not as vicious as purported-which was seeming more likely by the moment-the danger to Sean was acute. He might not hang for enacting his revenge, but with her family’s powerful connections, he could very well go to prison.

Bloody hell. Sean deserved punishment, certainly, but prison would destroy him.

Kell felt his resolve harden. He couldn’t allow his brother to suffer that fate. If Raven Kendrick intended to bring charges…well, he would simply have to persuade her to reconsider. And that meant determining what possible recompense he could offer her.

When he remained silent, she eyed him mutinously. “I should like to go home now.”

Kell hesitated only an instant. “I’m afraid I cannot allow you to leave just yet.”

She stared. “Why not? My family will be worried sick for me.”

“I can’t return you to your family, looking like something the cat dragged in.”

“Your brother dragged in, you mean.”

“Perhaps, but I’m still not convinced you’re the victim in this case.”

“Your opinion is entirely beside the point.”

“Even so, you’ll remain here for the time being.”

“Why, so you can molest me again?”

“Molest you, Miss Kendrick?” Kell eyed her measuringly. “That is all the gratitude I get for my trouble last night?”

Her cheeks flushed at the reminder. “I hardly think I owe you gratitude.”

“No? I seem to recall you begging me to soothe your needs.”

“I was clearly not in my right mind.”

He flashed her a mocking smile, now intent on drawing her fire. If she was angry at him, she would be less likely to focus her outrage on his brother. “Well, have no fear. I don’t mean to touch you again. Does that disappoint you?”

He was deliberately provoking her, and she rose to the bait. Her eyes flashed with revolt. “If I were a man…”

Kell raised an eyebrow. “What would you do?”

“I would challenge you on a field of honor.”

“You would lose.”

She rose to her feet, passionate fury in every line of her body. “You cannot keep me here!”

“I think I can. You obviously need time for your hot temper to cool.”

It was a measure of how raw her nerves were that Raven reacted to his arrogant tone as irrationally as she did-drawing back her arm to slap the mockery off his handsome face. He caught her hand before she could do any damage, his grasp a velvet manacle on her wrist.

Raven winced reflexively at the pressure on her bruised flesh. Instantly she saw a softening in the hard intensity of his eyes. She was suddenly aware of a new tension that charged the air. His gaze felt unbearably intimate, while his touch seemed to burn her bare skin.

She drew a sharp breath. How could he remind her so much of her pirate lover? Her gaze dropped to his sensual, hard-looking mouth. How could she be feeling this yearning to have him kiss her again?

Forcibly she dragged her gaze from his mouth. She wanted to hate him, not to feel a powerful surge of desire.

As if he could see the sudden flare of need in her eyes, he released her hand abruptly and turned away.

Without speaking, he went to the side door and locked it, then pocketed the key. Moving to the other door, he paused. “Finish your breakfast and have a bath first. Then we’ll talk.” When he had let himself from the room, she heard the key turn as he locked that door as well.

Raven stared after him, wanting to scream with frustration while at the same time fighting down rising panic. She was trapped here, at the mercy of a blackguard. Perhaps he had saved her from his brother, but there was a very real sense of danger about Kell Lasseter. She didn’t believe he would simply release her to return to her family unscathed.

And once she did return?

She raised a hand to her temple as the disastrous events of the past hours struck her anew. Even if her ailing grandfather hadn’t expired from shock, the consequences of last night would be unavoidable. She had been thoroughly compromised, her sterling reputation destroyed. Halford would doubtless shun her. Indeed, any chance of marrying well had been totally shattered. Her life was ruined, as were her mother’s dreams for her.

Unbidden, a sob rose to her throat. She felt cold, sick inside-

Shaking herself fiercely, Raven lifted her chin and steeled her spine. She couldn’t afford to indulge in despair. Her first priority was to escape. She would not remain here as Kell Lasseter’s prisoner.

She went to one of the windows and peered down. Two stories was not too far a drop if she fashioned a rope out of the bedsheets. But then what? She had no clothing or shoes or money to pay a hackney. And she could hardly traipse through Mayfair dressed as she was and totally defenseless…

Trying desperately to think, Raven turned to pace the room and caught a glimpse of herself in the cheval glass. Merciful heaven. She hardly recognized the woman standing there. She looked wild and wanton, her hair a tousled mane around her shoulders, her cheeks and mouth flushed with color as if she’d just passed a passionate night engaged in lovemaking-as indeed she had. With Kell Lasseter.

She groaned again. No wonder he thought she’d seduced his brother for sport. This brazen creature appeared perfectly capable of such cruelty.

Reminded of Lasseter, Raven gritted her teeth. His behavior had been far from gentlemanly. He’d not only treated her with disdain, but he seemed to be almost deliberately goading her-and enjoying her bristling response. How she would have liked to wipe that mocking smile off his compelling face. But at the moment she was powerless. She glanced around the room. What she needed was protection of some kind, a weapon…

She searched the armoire first and then the bureau drawers. When she encountered a pistol, she almost shouted in triumph. It looked very much like the one Sean had threatened her with yesterday. And it was primed and loaded. A tight smile compressed Raven’s mouth. She still might not have the means to return home, but she felt less helpless armed. And now she would have the upper hand with Lasseter. She could force him to accede to her demands.

Buoyed by a surge of hope, Raven grew calmer. By the time two footmen carried in a copper hip bath and numerous pails of hot water, she had her emotions passably under control. Still, it was difficult to remain composed. Although the servants politely averted their gazes, she had to suffer the mortification of being seen in these iniquitous circumstances. And it vexed her when they locked the door behind them upon leaving, calling attention to her imprisonment.

The bath felt soothing to her aches and bruises but stung her various scrapes and raw patches, a fresh reminder of the outrages perpetrated against her yesterday. Beginning to stew again, she gingerly washed her body and then her hair. She spent the next half hour brushing it out and letting it dry before the fire, all the while nursing her anger at Kell Lasseter and his villainous brother. Having a target for her wrath at least kept despair from overwhelming her.

She could find no hairpins, so she plaited her long tresses and fashioned them into a knot at her nape. When she finished, however, there was still no sign of Mr. Lasseter or any clothing for her. Her temper started to simmer. When at last he appeared, she was seated in the chair, facing the door, with the pistol hidden beneath the folds of her robe.

“Finally you deign to show yourself,” Raven said with no little asperity. “Perhaps I neglected to inform you, sir, that I don’t relish being held prisoner.”

“You are not a prisoner, Miss Kendrick. You are availing yourself of my hospitality.”

“Indeed?” Her voice dripped with disbelief. “Your hospitality leaves much to be desired. First you lock me in, then you keep me waiting for hours.”

“It has been but an hour.”

“An hour longer than necessary. And I have nothing to wear. Miss Walsh promised ages ago to find me some decent clothing.”

“I told her to delay. I didn’t want you disappearing before we had a chance to discuss your situation.”

“We have nothing to discuss. I wish to go home immediately.”

His midnight eyes regarded her speculatively. “I hoped I could prevail on your better nature.”

“At this moment, sir, I have no better nature.”

The half smile he gave her held a wry charm that might or might not have been deliberate. “I have a name, Miss Kendrick.”

“I don’t doubt it. Blackguard, knave, miscreant…”

The smile became a wince. “I can understand your sense of ill-usage-”

“Ill-usage! Is that what you call what you and your brother did to me?”

He went on as if she hadn’t interrupted. “But you seem intelligent enough. You must comprehend the predicament you are in.”