They Sought love

PROLOGUE - PARIS 1865

PROLOGUE

- PARIS 1865There was a buzz in the court as the handsome Earl of Torrington entered the witness box. Here, in Paris, he was well known for his free-spending ways and his love of beautiful women.

The more the merrier, as a look at the body of the court would confirm.

There they all sat, his current mistress, his past mistress and two hopeful women who were probably earmarked for the future.

They were splendid, buxom and magnificently dressed. Two of them were married to government ministers.

The accused was a huge, powerful man, sullen looking, in his thirties, with a slack mouth and a bitter look in his eyes. His name was Pierre Vallon.

He had stolen jewels from his mistress. Unfortunately for him the jewels had been given to her by Lord Torrington, another of her admirers.

When the jewels had been offered to his Lordship by a dealer, he recognised them and laid a trap for the thief.

Without betraying his inner rage, he had shown interest and said that he would also like to purchase any other jewels that the man could bring him.

Then he had lain in wait. The police were present as well, but it was Lord Torrington who had tackled the thief personally. Vallon had responded by drawing a knife and for a while the two men had fought.

In the end Lord Torrington had prevailed. Although not as large as his opponent, he was fitter after spending many mornings in the gymnasium, practising martial arts.

It was also whispered that the exercise he received in a multitude of different beds had left his body fine-tuned and powerful.

The newspapers made a huge fuss, praising Lord Torrington for his courage and his devotion to justice.

But the real reason, as everyone knew, was his jealous rage over the man who had dared to sleep with a woman the Earl regarded as his private property.

A hum of approval went round the court as the onlookers considered the Earl’s appearance.

Thirty, tall, broad shouldered, handsome, with dark looks and brooding eyes, he was a sight to draw any woman’s admiration.

At last the verdict of guilty was pronounced and Vallon was sentenced to ten years in prison. He had stood impassive until then, but now he turned his venom on the man he blamed for his imprisonment.

“Curse you!” he screamed. “Curse you!”

The next moment he had leapt out of the dock and hurled himself at the Earl, his hands outstretched to his throat.

It took three men to pull him off and even when they succeeded Vallon did not give up. He was still howling curses as they hauled him away.

“I will come back,” he shrieked. “You haven’t heard the last of me. I’ll be a step behind you every moment, and one day I’ll make you regret what you’ve done. I’ll get my revenge and it will break your heart.”

“Nonsense!” came a female voice. “He has no heart. Everyone knows that.”

There was laughter as Vallon was dragged from the court. Lord Torrington felt his throat and gave a conspiratorial grin at the lady who had spoken.

“How well you know me, my dear,” he called.

“But of course! If you had a heart you would not be Lord Torrington and how disappointing that would be.”

More laughter and the merry party left the court. Nobody gave another thought to Pierre Vallon.