Read Online The Revenge of Lord Eberlin by Julia London - Free Book Online Page A

said, the light dawning. “We have constructed a temporary dam,” he said with an insouciant shrug.
    “ Un-dam it. ”
    Tobin chuckled. She was bloody beguiling with her sparkling eyes and high color, but if she thought she could command him to anything—“When we have caught enough to stock the lake, we will release the dam. Rest assured, I do not mean to make a lake of Tiber Park.”
    “That is unacceptable.”
    “But true nonetheless. You may go now.”
    “You think I have no means to stop you. Yet I do have means.”
    “And what would that be?”
    Her eyes narrowed. “You will see.”
    Tobin grinned. “Madam, I have sat around many gaming tables in my time, and I know when someone is bluffing. And you do it very badly. But you may do as you please, it is of little consequence to me. Now do be a good neighbor and go back to your side of the fence.”
    If looks could kill, he’d be laid out on the floor. “Oh, no,” Lily said, her voice shaking with anger. “You will not turn your back on me. I marvel at the depth of your cruelty, Tobin. I’ve done nothing to warrant such vile treatment.”
    “You mean other than put a rope around my father’s neck?”
    Lily gasped, and the color in her cheeks suddenly faded.
    “I beg your pardon, does that offend you?” He hardly cared if it did.
    “By all that is holy, your father put that rope around his own neck. I did not put him at Ashwood that night— he did that. I merely saw him and said that I had—no matter how badly you want to believe otherwise.”
    Tobin had to look away from her and move to the door. He opened it, ignoring the lashing rain. “I do not intend to debate the past with you.”
    “Your desire to punish me is shameless revenge, nothing more. But can you not see past your hatred of me to the people of Ashwood? Can you not see that when you take Ashwood from me, you take their livelihood? You can’t possibly bring them all to Tiber Park.”
    “Why not? My estate is rather large. There is always room for more staff.”
    “Is that so? Will you bring Lucy Taft to Ashwood, too? She is an orphan, and I assure you, she has no useful purpose for you. But where else will she go?”
    “To Ireland,” he said shortly. “She told me she was on her way. Is that not so?”
    Lily made a sound of frustration. “Then what of Linford? He is as old as Father Time! What will he do, serve as underbutler to your man? What about our gamekeeper, Mr. Bevers? He was born and raised in the cottage where he still lives with his family. Do you intend to destroy their lives because of your wretched need for revenge?”
    Tobin said nothing.
    “That’s what I suspected,” she said, her voicedripping with rancor. “You have nothing to say for yourself.”
    She was staring daggers now; the color had returned to her cheeks. God, but her beauty was astounding. She enticed him to carnal desire like no other woman ever had. He could imagine her gown sliding down her voluptuous figure, pooling at her feet. He could imagine breasts plump with dark nipples, her belly softly round. Dammit, but he was hardening just thinking such thoughts. What was it about this woman that had the power to do that to him? He was dead inside. He did not want, he did not need . . . yet there was something about her that made him feel as if he did.
    “You are right,” he said tightly. “It is not fair.”
    Lily looked entirely taken aback. And then absurdly pleased, as if she believed she had won, had somehow touched humanity in him. Alas, the humanity in him had been choked out of him as the air had been choked out of his father. “But I do not care,” he added.
    She blinked, her bright eyes clouding with confusion.
    “However, in the interest of giving you a slight chance at redemption, I shall propose a deal of sorts.” He casually walked forward, admiring her.
    “A deal,” she said dismissively. “What have I left? You’ve taken my land, my tenants, my mill, my fish —what more