Chapter 4 4

IV. A Lady Scorned

Once upon in Town...

Popsy and Poppy Prewitt were nice friends to little Belinda. But they were proving to be shallower than she had first thought when they were little! Belinda had to endure the sisters while she they were in Madam Pearson's School for Ladies. And as she stayed longer at school with the two sisters, she was hoping she was somewhere else.

Not that Belinda didn't like school, for she quite liked most of the lessons, but she wished that they taught them more about science, history and arithmetic like they did in schools for boys.

But a lady ought to learn more about proper decorum than anything else. Belinda kept that in mind and tried to learn the other things she was curious about on her own, secretly keeping the books from Popsy and Poppy. Well, as though they would actually be interested in a book as much as they were at gossiping about uninteresting things, which was a daily agony for Belinda.

*****

Belinda saw Mr. Jacob and she groaned inwardly. She merely had her gloves to fight him this time. She ought to have gotten another cup of coffee! Ah, but no matter, she would be prepared this time.

"Hello, darling," Mr. Jacob called out menacingly. She could not hide the smile that appeared on her face upon seeing the plaster on his nose. McKenzie Haverston sure did a tremendous job with that single blow.

"I ought to have known you would want to see me again," she said dryly, reaching him. Her eyes went to his car. He had his driver with him. Would the man fight with Mr. Jacob if she boxed him? Like right now?

Which she definitely did before the bloody bastard could make another move. Her arm expertly bent back, fist at the ready, and with full speed she pushed it forward with her knuckles landing squarely on the same spot McKenzie Haverston hit earlier.

And before the door of the driver opened, Belinda took the remaining steps toward Mr. Jacob, raising her right leg. Before the bastard blocked her attack, she kicked his crotch and immediately took a step to the side to avoid a possible counterattack. None came for the man was bent on his knees, howling in pain. His hands obviously did not know whether to soothe his nose or his crotch, but they ended up soothing both, each on each injured parts.

"I would very much appreciate if you stay away, Mr. Jacob," she told him, flipping her red waves back over her shoulder. "It was good though that I had to finally apply what I learned from that expensive class in the gym."

As the man groaned in pain, groaning expletives obviously directed toward her, a sound of struggle erupted from the other side of the car. Her eyes widened when she saw McKenzie Haverston fighting with the driver who had belatedly climbed out of the car. The driver was bigger than his boss and Belinda was grateful she had to end up fighting the weakling of the two after all.

McKenzie had a little struggle winning over the driver but soon managed to take the man down. And when he was finally certain it was safe to leave the man be, McKenzie left him slumped over the hood of the vehicle and stormed toward her. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the man kneeling in agony before her. "How the bloody hell did you manage that?"

Belinda shrugged. "I learned." She returned her attention to Mr. Jacob and uttered, "I shall call 911 if you and your useless driver are not out of my street in five minutes, sir. Good night."

And with that she turned and walked up her apartment building.

"Where the bloody hell do you think you are going?" McKenzie asked behind her.

"I am going to lock myself inside my apartment and then I shall think about my decision."

"The hell you-"

Belinda stopped and looked over her shoulder to stare at him. "The hell I will. Thank you for taking down the driver, Mr. Haverston. I would not have managed him, honestly. I shall see you on the morrow."

"There will be more of these fools aboveground, Lady Belinda," he uttered in a low voice only for her to hear.

She got his meaning. "I know. But in my experience, Mr. Haverston, they are a tad safer than the people who will be more evil upon my return underground." She turned and disappeared inside her building.

And once she was finally alone in her apartment, she let her limbs shake. She stumbled to her bedroom and curled in bed. She could have gotten hurt tonight if McKenzie did not fight the driver. The man was huge even for her to fight. She had learned how to defend herself, paid for the lessons, but she could not take down such giant.

Ah, fate was still good to her then.

*****

McKenzie was utterly astounded at what happened earlier that he could not sleep. The lady had taken down the man all on her own. How in tarnation she was able to do that he could not ken for he had been distracted by the driver before he could reach her when he ran outside.

He paced around his room, thinking about the woman. He ought not to, but he was. Bloody hell, he was thinking about Belinda Carrington.

He could, but he ought to be thinking about how he had made the lives of his two sister-in-laws a living hell when they were in Madam Pearson's and even after when they were attending balls and parties. She had insulted and condemned Cressida many times. She had stolen secrets from Mary and threatened the lady with them, even exposing one for the Town Herald to publish on its gossip columns, and tried to extort money from her when she could not have enough.

He had not met one single lady in the Town who were not happy she was gone. Not one of them, apart from Mary who was too good to think badly of anyone, and lady Trilby, wished her return.

He never bothered with the tedious and vile things women in the Town, specifically those in Willowfair, did. But he was inclined to judge when his family had been wronged. Cressida and Mary were family and he would not wish for them to be, in any way, bothered by one such as Belinda Carrington. His brothers would not be happy and he would in turn be miserable that they weren't for Calan and Adrien would surely express their frustrations to their unmarried brother.

But tonight he was not thinking too deeply about those things as much as he was about how her flaming red hair swayed behind her shoulders, of her freckled high cheekbones and the layers of thick lashes surrounding her deep blue eyes.

Frustrated beyond belief, McKenzie ran his fingers through his hair and groaned. No, he had simply gone too long without a woman that he could now imagine Belinda Carrington's soft skin against his hands or how her legs would feel around his hips and her sound when...

"Tarnation!" he cried out, almost punching the paned window beside him. And he could not bloody believe he had brought a chair to sit beside the window and watch her building from across the street. The bastard and his driver had long gone, but no one could be sure if they opted to go back to extract revenge.

And he did so with agony and mortification for hours until his sleepy eyes saw the same red-head bounding down the steps of the building wearing a short black coat over a short dress that reached her knees. He frowned and checked the clock mounted on the wall across the room. It was merely three in the morning and she was going out again?

Where the hell would she go now?

He ground his teeth and his jaw tightened. Was she meeting another client?

Before he knew it, he had grabbed his frock coat and stormed out the room. He was bloody sleep-deprived and too angry to reconsider his actions.

She ought to give him an answer now so he could finally go back home whether with or without her.

*****

"Where the bloody hell are you going?"

Belinda jumped to her feet in surprise. Her heart was still racing as she glared at McKenzie Haverston. "Somewhere. Why?"

His eyes narrowed at her with suspicion. "Are you meeting a client?"

She ignored the annoyance brought about by his question. "No. I am going to the beach."

"The beach?"

"Sea, sand, wind, waves...I know you know of a beach."

"Of course I do," he snapped. And as though to remain calm, he pushed his hands deep into the pockets of his coat and she had a moment to study him. His hair was a mess of black waves and his chin was showing signs of days of unshaved stubbles. He looked utterly delicious, she thought, surprising herself for having thought of such term.

She turned away from him and stood beside the street, waiting for the bus.

"Have you made your decision?"

"No," she absently replied, looking down the street. A bus was coming.

"Then when will you give me one?"

"Later."

"Now would be much appreciated."

"Now would be too late for the bus is here. Are you coming?"

"To the beach?"

"I believe I already told you where I am going."

He hesitated and turned to look at the bus that stopped before them. The door opened and Belinda climbed inside. "Make up your mind, Mr. Haverston. The bus won't wait all day."

She smiled to herself when he hurriedly climbed after her. She greeted John, the driver, and paid for the both them. She sat on her usual seat by the window while McKenzie silently took the one behind her which was good enough for her.

The beach she frequented was almost an hour away and she spent the time sleeping.

*****

McKenzie did not realize he had fallen asleep until the bus stopped and the driver called out, "Belinda, hey! This is your stop! Are you hopping out or what?"

He blinked a few times and was a little lightheaded when Belinda snatched the collar of his coat and dragged him to the front of the bus. "Thanks, John," Belinda said to the driver. "How are the kids?"

"Doing great at home, bad at school!" the driver replied with a laugh. "Will you be riding back later?"

"Yes!" Belinda answered, finally hopping out of the bus.

"You know the bloke?" McKenzie asked her with a frown.

"I like going to the beach. He's always the driver." She turned on her heels and he did too. And then he caught his breath. He had not realized they had climbed down the side of the beach and it would only take two steps and he could literally walk on sand.

Belinda bent down to untie her shoes and McKenzie immediately stood behind her. He grabbed the edges of his coat and spread them wide with his arms stretched out, an effective curtain. She was wearing a bloody dress too short for her and she did not care what she exposed. He looked around to see if anyone was witnessing her display and when he turned back to reprimand her for her carelessness, she had already walked away, shoes in hand and barefoot on the sand.

Her red hair flew behind her, her printed dress dancing the same to the side. For the second time, McKenzie caught his breath. The sun had not risen yet, but it felt as though he was seeing light before him.

Following close behind, he looked around the beach. There was not a soul in sight save for the two of them.

"Why are we here?" he finally asked, his voice barely audible at the sound of the waves. He had never imagined he would find himself in such a place. Hell, he had never even thought he could go aboveground until a week ago!

And yet he was here in the presence of the most scandalized woman underground, witnessing this side of her that loved the sea.

She did not answer until she found a spot in the sand near the water that gently lapped on the ground. Without warning, Belinda Carrington dropped on the sand and sat down, her legs stretched out before her. The foamy waves teased her bare feet, too near yet not enough to reach her. "The first time I found this place, I cried all night."

Her voice was soft and even. He remained standing beside her, his coat flapping against the wind. The smell was weird, the air salty to the taste, yet it was at the same time refreshing and soothing. He looked down at her sitting beside him, her shoes beside her hip. Her hands were at her back, supporting her weight on the sand. He did not comment or voiced a question for he did not know what to say.

"I shouted at first. I told the wind how much I hated my father, my mother and even Julia. I shouted at how unfair life was to me."

McKenzie turned his head to face the sea and was surprised that light had started to appear as the sun began to rise beyond the horizon, creating a wonderful mix of hues of orange, lavender and blue and many more. For a moment he was utterly awed but Belinda's bitter chuckle drew him back to the present.

"I have spent five years aboveground and I had never shared these things to anyone. I never had anyone to tell until you came but even until now I do not get a single word of reply." He found that she was looking up at him with a smile. "I was jesting, do not feel you ought to defend yourself."

McKenzie looked into her eyes. He was certain that if he looked closer he would see the reflection of the sky in them. "You could choose to go home and you can tell your sister of such things."

Her smile immediately went away. "I do not wish to bother her."

"Lady Trilby sent for you. She has plans for you. I have told you as much."

"Trilby?"

"Did I not tell you? She married Noah Trilby."

"Noah..." she slowly said and then her eyes widened with horror, "but he is a monster! How could father marry her off to-" she stopped herself and shook her head. "Of course, he would. He banished his other daughter. Why not marry the other to one of the most despicable blokes in Willowfair?"

Once more, McKenzie could not find the right words. Although he could not deny that lady Belinda was right about Noah Trilby. The man was too arrogant and had too many mistresses all over the Town. He had heard rumors that he hurt some of them, but they were merely that-rumors.

"They had ruined my life and now they had ruined Julia's as well." Her voice shook with anger as she stared at the new waves coming to the surface.

McKenzie could not understand why she believed her parents ruined her life when it was her own actions that drove the man to banish her. It was her own carelessness that brought her here. Everyone underground believed she deserved what she got after having spent years reviling others whom she saw as weak and below her status.

She was like the sea-untamed, unstoppable and wild. It was her nature to be break and ruin those around her. If one would be foolish enough to be near her, Belinda Carrington could very well cause wreckage if she opted to. Had she not caused enough for herself underground? And even here, aboveground, she still found trouble.

*****

Her anger had become too great that even she was surprised the hatred was still too strong. To have found that Julia was married to Noah Trilby unleashed the fury. That monster had never been good to anyone, even Belinda. She knew he hurt women, gambled until the wee hours and he had committed minor crimes but was never caught for the Trilbys were filthy rich. Money could achieve anything. She had spent countless balls avoiding his advances. And now Julia was married to him.

Because he was rich and his family was powerful. Just like what her father wanted.

She had allowed them to turn her into a monster, into someone she never wanted, and yet it was never enough for them. She had been na茂ve and foolish for them. Yet she was never enough when she ought to have been.

Everything came crashing back like the waves before her. She could not stop them for they would always be at the horizon, waiting for their turn.

She reigned in on her anger before she finally spoke and asked the first question that came to her mind. "Will my father go to prison if it is proven that he has made an illegal transaction to banish me?"

"Yes," his voice answered above her. "But the case has already been taken by the League. Do not think that I or anyone-even you-could do anything for the League has their own way of doing things. We could merely wait."

Belinda knew her father was not foolish. He would not have banished her if he would ever get caught. He may be careless on a game of cards, but his reputation, his status, was too great for him to ruin. He'll never get caught, she thought.

But I can ruin him as he had ruined me.

"Your sister was very adamant that I find you and that if I do not bring you back, or even attempt to do so, she will expose the secrets of the passages."

"And you believe I care about that?" she asked. "I do not care about the secrets of the Town."

"Of course, for you merely care about yourself."

Belinda was too numb with her own hatred toward her father, and her mother, to even allow his words to affect her.

She bent her head in frustration. Her sister had been married off to a horrible man! Even now she could not stomach the thought of her sister being abused by that bloody bastard.

They remained silent, allowing the wind and the sea to make the sound for them.

"Why did you do it?" he asked after a very long time, breaking the silence. The sun had turned the sky into yellow and orange. Soon, daylight would reign once more. "Why did you risk ruining your reputation with Nigel Godfrey, a man who was twice your age?"

It was the first time that someone had asked her that. No one had asked her before. They simply skipped that part and judged.

"Lord Nigel Godfrey was not my lover." She had said the same thing too many times five years ago. She had sworn her life on the truth.

"Mayhap he was not for he died before something happened." He was trying to make her remember everything she had done, make her believe that she had been at fault and that her anger was unfounded.

The hell with him!

She was tired of trying to tell everyone the truth. She was tired of making them believe that she did not cause Godfrey's death, that she was not his lover.

She had told them the truth. No one believed then, so why would she try to force one man to do so now? A man who had judged her simply because she was the Belinda Carrington, the vile, shallow chit who used her beauty to trick and enchant men and give the ladies a thorough lashing with her talented, sharp tongue.

She was that chit. She was that vixen. She was that she devil.

Who would believe someone like her?

Men from the Town like McKenzie Haverston were no different from Mr. Jacob and the others like him aboveground.

They all judged him for what she did, not why she did them.

Belinda pulled her feet toward her and stood up. Her eyes were fixed on the sea and the wonderful gradation of the sky. She took one last deep breath of the salty air and closed her eyes to feel the breeze. The sea had been her refuge many times in the five years she was here. It was sad to leave it behind.

"I'll come back," she finally spoke without looking at McKenzie.

"And you are coming back because?"

She heard the hesitation in his voice, the doubt. Ah, when would someone ever be sure of her?

She turned to face him, a secretive smile on her face. "Is revenge not reason enough?"