A Promise of Tomorrow (6 page)

After assuring herself that her son was none the worse for his adventures, Charlotte had launched into a lecture ofepic proportions, and James had taken the first opportunity to excuse himself, claiming exhaustion. Charlotte had mercifully let him go, barely breaking her tirade longenoughto nod inhis direction.

But though he hadn’t been exaggerating his claim, sleep simply would not come. As he lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind kept returning to the beautiful young man he’d collected with his nephew, his own unusual reaction, and the mystery surrounding Allen’s troubles.

He supposed it was understandable that the young man wouldn’t want to come inside and experience the wrath of Lady Ashton in full temper, but why had he been so pale and agitated? Charlotte wasn’t
that
frightening, after all. And why had the young men’s partingexchange beenso mysterious?

James had had the feeling there was a world of meaning in the few words the boys had exchanged that he was not privy to, and it worried him. What had happened? Why did Allen need to leave London?

The twins were being surprisingly circumspect about the whole affair, and it left himmore than a little concerned, and not just for the sake of his family. Allen had looked so lost and miserable across from him in the carriage that he’d wanted
badly
to reach out and gather him up, to cradle him in his arms until that lost look left his eyes.

That
thought, and the riot of emotions the young man inspired in him, had kept him scowling out the window of the carriage and at his nephew for far longer than he might ordinarily have done. But, realizing he was probably making the situation worse, he decided to lighten the mood and allow some of his natural good humor to show through. Teasing his nephew had put himback on familiar ground and eased the tensionwithinthe carriage a bit.

He was glad he’d made the effort when he saw both young men relax. However, though he’d coaxed a smile out of Andrew, Allen’s lips had remained pinched and his eyes worried. That had disappointed him more than he’d wanted to admit, even to himself. He’d reallywanted to see the youngmansmile.

Which, of course, brought his thoughts full circle, back to the feelings he’d been trying to push out of his head since the moment he’d met the man.

James rolled his eyes at himself and finally gave up trying to sleep. He’d brooded for hours, his mind going ’round in circles, to no avail. It was not his nature to spend hours in contemplation. His sister called him a man of action, just like their father, and he’d have to admit that most of the time, she was right. He didn’t know what it was aboutAllen that had gotten himso spun up, beyond the obvious, but he was damned sure he wasn’t going to keep on like this. Mooning around like some fool boy was just damned childish and beneathhim… and he’d done more ofit inthe past few weeks thanin allofthe past few years combined.

Pulling himself together, he washed and dressed, choosing not to wake his valet. He donned his coat and decided a brisk walk inthe pre-dawn air would be just the thing to put him in a better humor. There were a few servants about on the main floor, but he knew it would be hours before the family rose for the day. He would have plenty of time for a walk before he would be missed by anyone. Wilton let himout the front door without comment, and he set offat a brisk pace inno particular direction.

He was feeling immensely better by the time he returned to the square. The slightly cool, damp air and the exercise had helped him decide that the mysteries of last night simply weren’t his business. His niece and nephew were old and wise enough to be trusted to ask for help if they were in any real trouble, and their parents would likewise keep them safe, so there was really no reason for him to involve himself further. Allen would be leaving London soon; in fact, he was probably already on his way out of town, and there would be an end on it. Mystery or no mystery, there was absolutely no good reason for himto get involved.

He thought he’d convinced himself of this line of reasoning right up until the very moment he spotted Mr. Allen waiting outside their house, at which point his stomach flipped, his breath caught, and he named himselfa fool.

WhenAllen spotted himin the pre-dawn light, he visibly started as well, thenseemed to collect himselfand bowed formallyinJames’s direction.

“Good morning, my lord.” His voice still sounded weak and uncertain as James returned the bow with a nod, approaching the younger manslowly.

“Good morning, Mr. Allen,” James replied. “What can I do for you this fine morning?” He hoped he sounded more composed than he felt.

As the man was waiting outside their home when the sun had barely crested the horizon, James assumed his reasons were urgent enough that he would appreciate dispensing with the usual pleasantries.

“Please, my lord, I, that is.”Allen took a breath. “Would it be possible to speak to Mr. Ashtonfor a moment, do youthink? I know it’s early for a call, but I only need a moment of his time, and then I willnot trouble anyofyoufurther.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Allen, I fear my nephew will still be abed.

Perhaps youcancallback later,”James answered honestly. “Oh. I….”Kyle seemed shaken but rallied once more. “I… w

would it be possible for you to give him a message for me? I would not impose on you like this, but I truly must speak with him as soon as possible.”

“Certainly, if you wish, though I’msure he won’t be kept from receiving or returning letters should you choose to send one,” James suggested.

“Thank you, my lord, but I fear I haven’t time for a letter, it’s just….” Allen stopped again, and when he didn’t continue, James decided to take pityonhim.

“Very well. You may give me the message and I will be happy to see that Andrew receives it,” James offered with an encouraging smile.

Allen, however, didn’t seemto know how to proceed, because he simply stared at James for a few moments before swallowing and lookingat his boots.

“Mr. Allen?”James coaxed.

The young man took a deep breath and, with flaming cheeks, said, “I fear I didn’t realize, when we parted last night, that Andrew still had my purse in his keeping. I wouldn’t have troubled any of you like this, but I fear it was all I had, and I am in need of it at the moment.”

“Ah, I see,” James responded. “Well, perhaps I can simplify the situationfor allofus. Ifyouwould tellme how muchAndrew was carryingfor you, I cansimplygive it to younow and have mynephew return it to me when he wakes. The purse itself can be sent to you whenyou’re settled. Would that be satisfactory?”

James doubted the young man was lying about the money, but evenifhe were, he looked so miserable that James wouldn’t mind the loss of a small sum of money if it helped the poor man out and sent himonhis waybefore James did somethinghe’d regret.

“Oh, thank you, my lord. That would be more than generous of you.” The look of gratitude in his eyes reaffirmed James’s conviction that this was the proper course, even ifit fueled a few less-than-noble thoughts inthe process.

“How muchwas he carryingfor you?”James prompted.

“Six guineas, my lord. Thank you, my lord,”Allen said, looking embarrassed again.
“Very well,” James said as he pulled out his purse and handed over the coins. “There youare. That should take care ofit.”
The exchange of monies between himself and a strange young man on the street in front of his sister’s house might have set a few tongues wagging had it not been for the relative quiet of the early hour. James was thankful for the privacy, for both their sakes, but to be onthe safe side, it would be best ifhe ended their exchange now.
“Good day to you, Mr. Allen,” James said with a nod. But the young man’s flinch let himknow it had come out a little more harshly thanhe’d intended, so he added, “And please do find time to write to my nephew, when you can. He and my niece both seemed most anxious for your welfare and willworryiftheydo not hear fromyou.”
“Oh, of course, my lord. Thank you, my lord,” Allen replied hurriedly, then bowed again as James turned to make his way up the stairs.

He’d just entered the hall and leaned his back against the door when his niece came running down the main stair, all fluttering pink ribbons and white muslin.

“Oh, good morning, Uncle! Excuse me, Uncle!” she gasped as she made her waytoward the back ofthe house.

“Good morning, Anna. Wait a moment, what’s the rush?” James asked, pushing himself away from the door and reaching for her hand.

“Sorry, Uncle, I need to talk to Mott about something. It can’t wait!”she said as she attempted to pullher hand fromhis.

“Anna, stop just one moment, young lady. Why is it so important for you to speak to your father’s coachman?” He was getting swallowed into the mystery again, he was sure of it, and he was also sure he wasn’t goingto like it.

Anna bit her lip, then answered in a rush, “I went to talk to Andrew first thing when I woke. Andrew was supposed to look out for Mr. Allen last night. He was supposed to help him, and it’s my fault that Mother and Father found out and Andrew got dragged back home. But at least Andrew could’ve made sure Mr. Allen had somewhere to stay before letting himgo off alone in the carriage, and I just want to make sure he made it somewhere safe and he’s going to be all right. And Mott can tell me where they let himoff. So that’s whyI need to speak withhim.”

“Take a breath, sweet. All is well, I assure you. I just this moment finished speaking with Mr. Allen right outside this house. He seemed well enough. There’s no reason for you to be so overwrought.” James spoke calmingly while stroking his thumb over the back ofher hand.

“Outside? Just now? Oh, thank heaven!” she cried before rushingaround himand out the front door before he could react.

He caught up to her at the bottomofthe stairs and followed her gaze to Allen’s retreating back. The young man was almost to the corner when a tall blond man grabbed his arm and started dragging himacross the street. In the dimlight it was hard to see his face, but James was fairlycertainit was Weir.

“Ohno!”Anna exclaimed, and she started to rushafter them.

James managed to catch her armbefore she’d gone more than a step. “Hold on, younglady. What do youthink you’re doing?”
“Uncle James, please, we have to help him! That man is going to hurt him again. I just know it. Please, please hurry!” she cried, tryingto pullawayand follow the two menas theydisappeared down a side street.
“Stay here!” he commanded. “Promise me you won’t move fromthis spot or neither one ofus is goinganywhere.”

Her anxietyhad infected him, and he was a bit startled whenhis heart lurched at the thought that Allen might be in danger. But no matter how strongly he wished to rush after him, his first responsibility was to his family, and he certainly wasn’t going to allow his niece to be inanykind ofdanger, either.

“I promise! Just, please hurry, Uncle!”she pleaded.

“Go back inside,” he ordered, before charging off down the street.
He caught up with them in a dark alley leading to the stables behind the houses. As he closed in on them, the taller man pushed Allenhard against the brick wallnext to themand pinned himthere by the shoulders.
“You little shit!” Weir hissed. “How dare you disappear on me like that? Obviously you didn’t learn your lesson last night and you’re in need of another. Did you actually think you could simply walk away fromme? After all I’ve done for you? After all I’ve given you? Stupid, ungratefullittle tart.”
James’s anger and concern quickly turned to confusion.
What the hell is going on?
Weir was a
gentleman
, for God’s sake
.
Though James had never liked the man, bullyinga youngmaninanalleyonlya few yards away fromthe prying eyes and ears of the servants in the stables just didn’t fit withanythinghe’d heard ofhim.

“It was embarrassingly easy to find you, you know,” Weir continued, almost casually.

He was now holdingAllen’s wrists above his head in one hand while running the other down the front of his coat. “All I had to do was ask a footman if they’d seen you leave and who you’d left with. It took no time at all to find the home of your little friend, and lo and behold, there you were, right out in front ofthe house, just waiting for me. What did you offer the boy to get him to take you in, hmmm? Did you get on your knees for him? Did you let him ride you? He must not have been particularly satisfied with you since he cast you out before dawn. Not surprising.”

As James listened in shocked disbelief at what he was hearing, he saw Allen’s face fade from pale to completely white. James had heard enough. Money and connections or no,
this
man was no gentleman. His rage returned fullforce.

“Let him go, Weir!” James shouted down the alley as he walked toward them.

Weir whipped around, face set in fury, only to have his eyes wideninrecognition.
“Lord Warren!”He recovered quickly, his scowlrelaxinginto a bland smile as he released Allen’s wrists and bowed. “My apologies, my lord. I hadn’t seen you there. I… oh goodness, I suppose this does look rather queer, doesn’t it? I assure you, my lord, you need not have troubled yourself. This is simply a small misunderstanding between my young friend here and I. Isn’t that right, Allen?” Weir hadn’t stepped away from him, and Allen remained silent, his wide eyes darting between the two ofthem. The only reaction James could see were two spots ofbright red that appeared onhis white cheeks.
“I heard enough, Weir,” James growled. “I say again. Let him go.”Part ofhimhoped that Weir would defyhimso he could give the man a good thrashing, but a more rational part of his mind feared, as angryas he was, that once he began, he might not be able to stop.
“Oh, of course, my lord, as I said, there’s no call for any concern. We were simply having a small misunderstanding. We can of course discuss it some other time, as my lord wishes.” Turning to Allen, he said, “We’llfinishour little chat another time, myboy. Good dayto youboth.”
Weir practically scurried past him out of the alley, bowing to James as he passed.
Wise choice, coward!
Allen remained frozen for a moment but for the heavy rise and fall of his chest, then straightened and dropped his eyes. He was still deathly pale, and James feared he might crumple to the ground at any moment, but he made no move toward him. The desire to hold him was swamping his senses again, and he feared if he got any closer he wouldn’t be able to control himself. The lad was obviously mortified, and James wanted to spare himsome dignity.