Authors: Lynsay Sands
“Now,” Lisa said, flashing him a smile as the next dance began.
“Then I am a fortunate man, indeed,” Lord Findlay said with a grin. “I shall leave you to ask your sisters if they wish to join us on the terrace while I fetch you that drink.”
“A
nd you say Mrs. Morgan was gone when you returned to the brothel?” Richard asked grimly, pacing his library.
Robert nodded solemnly. He’d just finished explaining the adventure he’d had to rescue Lisa, ending with how he’d returned to Morgan’s directly after stopping to collect and drop off Bet. Only he’d arrived at the brothel to find the woman had packed in a rush and fled.
“It would seem she discovered almost at once that Lisa and Bet were gone and decided a trip to the Continent might be in her best interest.” Robert explained what he’d learned that afternoon. “The cook said Morgan packed what she could as quickly as she could and left moments before I arrived.”
“I’ll say it was in her best interests,” Daniel said grimly.
“Hmmm.” Richard nodded. “Morgan never was a stupid woman. She must have realized the three of us would not be pleased. We might not have been able to have her arrested without damaging Lisa’s reputation and raising a scandal, but drugging and holding the maid could have been used against her. I doubt she’ll return anytime soon for fear of landing in shackles.” His mouth tightened and he glanced to Robert. “If she left only moments before you arrived—”
“I did have my driver take me around to try to catch up to her. I even went down to the docks, but there was no sign of her at all,” he said with displeasure. It still irked him that the woman had got away.
“She could have traveled up the coast to any number of places and caught a boat from there,” Daniel pointed out.
“Aye,” Robert nodded grimly. “Which is why I didn’t bother to search further on my own. I plan to hire a runner tomorrow morning to track the woman and either get her to reveal who the suitor was, or bring her back for charges. I suspect given that choice she’ll reveal who hired her to drug and hold Lisa for him.”
“No doubt,” Richard agreed. “I’m just surprised you didn’t hire the runner before coming here tonight.”
“I would have if there had been time,” Robert assured him. “But it was late when I gave up the search. And I knew Lisa was planning to attend this ball. I thought it best not to leave her on her own until we sort out who this ‘suitor’ was. He might make another attempt to get her.” He frowned and added, “In fact, I don’t like that she is out there right now without anyone to watch over her, but I didn’t dare speak of this out in the ballroom where someone might hear, and you two needed to be apprised of the situation so you could watch for trouble.”
“Christiana and Suzette will keep an eye on her,” Daniel said reassuringly, and then asked, “So the cook wouldn’t tell you who this supposed suitor was?”
Robert shook his head solemnly. “She didn’t know. Neither did any of the women I questioned. It seems it was a well-guarded secret.”
“Or the women are loyal,” Richard suggested dryly.
Robert gave a dry laugh. “Believe me, none of the women were feeling terribly loyal when I spoke to them. They were all furious with Morgan. It seems she gave them all only until tomorrow morning to get out of the brothel and find themselves a new situation, then someone is coming to close it down and sell it.”
“Hmmm,” Daniel muttered. “I don’t suppose they would feel very loyal then.”
Robert shook his head and pointed out to Richard, “You’ll have to hire someone to guard Lisa until this is over. She—”
“He can’t,” Daniel interrupted.
Robert blinked in surprise. “Of course he can.”
“No, he can’t. Christiana is with child and to hire someone he’ll have to explain what’s happened and Richard doesn’t want Christiana upset right now. We were just talking about that before you arrived,” Daniel said easily.
“What?” Robert’s eyes widened and swung to Richard. “Christiana’s with child?”
Richard didn’t respond at first. His gaze was on Daniel, but then he smiled faintly and nodded.
“Well, that’s brilliant!” Robert laughed and moved to slap his shoulder. “How far along is she? And why didn’t she tell me?” he added with a frown.
“She isn’t far along and doesn’t want anyone to know until it’s a little further on,” Daniel answered for Richard. “So, as you can see, he can’t hire guards and such and put her through all that stress and worry again.”
“Hmmm. No, Christiana tends to be a worrier. We don’t want her to lose another child,” Robert agreed with a frown. It was the second time Christiana had got with child since their marriage. Losing the first had crushed her, losing a second would devastate her. Glancing to Daniel, he suggested, “Well then perhaps you could have Lisa stay with you and Suzette and hire a guard . . .” His voice died away as Daniel began to shake his head.
“You know Suzette can’t keep a secret to save her soul,” he pointed out dryly. “We can’t possibly tell her either. Christiana would know at once. Besides, how would we explain moving Lisa? Christiana would want to know why.”
Robert rubbed his forehead unhappily. “Well, what are we going to do then? We can’t just leave her unguarded. This suitor might try to get his hands on her again using another method.”
“Yes, he could,” Richard agreed grimly, for some reason glaring at Daniel.
“Well, we can’t bring in an outsider without the whole situation getting out and Christiana and Suzette knowing,” Daniel said resolutely.
“I realize that,” Robert said unhappily. “But she needs watching until we can sort out who the suitor is and ensure he won’t try again.”
“The three of us will have to do the watching then,” Daniel said with a shrug.
“How the hell are we supposed to—” Robert began with frustration.
“You don’t mind house guests for a bit, do you, Richard?” Daniel interrupted him.
“House guests?” Richard asked with surprise.
“Robert, Suzette and I,” he explained. “You can say Robert is having renovations done to his London home and you offered him a room while it’s under way, and . . . Well, actually, I suppose there’s really no good excuse for Suzette and I to stay there,” he said with a frown. “But if you and Robert are there to watch Lisa at night, we don’t need to sleep there too. We shall just visit a lot during the day. That won’t be considered unusual at all since Lisa is newly up from the country. The girls spent the first day doing nothing but natter and catch-up and would have done the same today had Christiana and Suzette not already been roped into that tea.”
“Aren’t you clever,” Richard said slowly, and then added, “Of course, Robert is welcome to stay at Radnor and spend all his time looking out for Lisa.”
The two men exchanged a strange smile, but Robert hardly noticed; he was more concerned with the logistics of keeping Lisa safe. Nodding, he muttered, “That would work. I can help keep an eye on her and between the three of us we can assure she isn’t left alone until this is all done and dusted.”
“It’s settled then,” Daniel said beaming brightly as he slapped Robert on the back. “You can move into Radnor tonight after the ball.”
Robert nodded and then frowned. “Speaking of which, we’ve been in here a while. I’d better go out and check on Lisa. It’s not likely someone would try to snatch her away from the ball with so many people around, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
“Yes. It’s probably best to stick close to her for the next little while,” Daniel said solemnly. “None of us would forgive ourselves if anything happened to her. Not to mention Christiana and Suzette would never forgive us either.”
“Hmm.” Robert headed for the door with a nod, leaving the men to chatter quietly.
“I
t’s a beautiful night,” Lisa said on a sigh, leaning on the terrace rail and peering up at the star-studded sky. The stars somehow didn’t seem as bright here as they were in the country, but it was still lovely.
“Is it?” Lord Findlay asked with disinterest.
Lisa glanced sideways with surprise to find him peering down at her with hooded eyes. Suzette and Christiana hadn’t been interested in a walk on the terrace. They were alone. Or as alone as one could get at the busiest ball of the season, where even the terrace tended to be crowded. It wasn’t too bad right now though, she noted. There were only two other couples on the terrace besides themselves, and they had spaced themselves out, seeking the shadows and privacy.
“I shall have to take your word for it that it’s beautiful. I’m afraid I cannot be bothered to check for myself with you here to look at.”
Turning back to Lord Findlay, Lisa grinned at the compliment and shook her head. “Then you’re missing out, my lord. The sky really is lovely.”
“As are you,” he assured her solemnly. “Your beauty challenges the stars.”
“Oh.” She widened her eyes, fighting an irresistible urge to giggle at his flattery. The drink Mrs. Morgan had given her was obviously still affecting her, she decided, but said, “I suspect you are a dangerous man to innocent young debutantes, Lord Findlay.”
“Call me Charles,” he suggested, his voice seductive.
“Charles then,” she said on a laugh, and then asked, “How many girls have you charmed with such flowery words?”
Even as the words left her lips, Lisa wondered where they had come from. It was just so unlikely a thing for her to say. She simply wasn’t this laissez faire about men and their attentions. On the other hand, she suspected if Robert had said those words to her, she wouldn’t be nearly so relaxed and amused.
“I assure you I don’t make a habit of saying such things to debutantes,” Charles said solemnly, moving closer to take the drink from her hand. He set it carefully on the rail and then caught her by the arms, drawing her forward as he murmured, “In fact, I generally bypass these gatherings to avoid being hunted down and leg shackled.”
“Do you?” Lisa asked with mild interest as she watched his head lower toward hers. “Then why are you here tonight?”
“I had heard you were back in town and was hoping to see you again,” he whispered, his lips a hair’s breadth from hers.
“Why?” she asked. Her eyes sliding from his eyes to his lips and back, her mind wondering what it would be like when he kissed her.
“Because I have been endlessly fascinated by you since this same ball two years ago. Your smile and beauty have haunted me ever since, and all I’ve thought about since then was taking you in my arms and kissing—”
“There you are!”
Lisa pulled back with a start, her head swiveling to find Robert bearing down on them like an annoyed parent. Vaguely aware that Charles was releasing her and stepping back, Lisa frowned with annoyance at Robert for interrupting what would have been her first kiss. Not that he noticed, he was too busy giving her a disapproving scowl.
“What are you doing out here alone?” Robert asked, catching her arm and dragging her toward the terrace doors.
“I’m not alone, Robert,” Lisa snapped, tugging at her arm. “I am with Lord Findlay.”
“But without Christiana or Suzette,” Robert countered, not releasing her arm. “Proper young ladies do not step out with strange men to—”
“He is not strange,” Lisa hissed, lowering her voice to avoid drawing attention their way as he dragged her through the terrace doors and back inside. “And do stop pulling me about like a recalcitrant child. You are acting like a jealous ass and causing a scene.”
Robert eased his hold and slowed so that it looked less like he was dragging her and more like he was walking her. He then paused and turned to eye her solemnly. “I am not jealous, Lisa. But after what happened today, you should not be wandering outside with anyone. For all we know, Lord Findlay is the suitor Mrs. Morgan was procuring you for. Any one of the men here tonight could be. You must be careful.”
Lisa blinked in surprise at the reminder of her narrow escape that day. Not that she’d forgotten it, but it hadn’t occurred to her that she might still be in danger. She’d just assumed that with that day’s plot foiled, it was done. Perhaps that had been naïve, but . . . Grimacing, she nodded reluctantly in understanding. “Very well. I shall be more cautious, Robert.”
“Yes, you will. Because I shall ensure it,” he said firmly, starting to walk again.
“What do you mean, you shall ensure it?” she asked warily, keeping her voice low as he led her through the ball attendees.
“I had a talk with Richard and Daniel and we have made arrangements to keep you safe until we find this so-called suitor.”
“You told Richard and Daniel about today?” Lisa asked in almost a squeal of horror.
“They had to be made aware of the situation to help keep you safe,” he said firmly.
“Christ,” she muttered with disgust and thought that the last of the drugged drink must be finally wearing off. She was definitely feeling her emotions again, mostly mortification at her sisters’ husbands knowing about her ordeal that day.
“Did you just cuss?”
Lisa blinked and noted that Robert had stopped walking and was now staring down at her with shock. Lifting her chin, she glared back at him defiantly. “And what if I did? I am not a child, Robert. I may cuss if I wish. And I will go out on the terrace with who I wish, and—what arrangements?” she interrupted herself to ask suddenly as those words sank through her brain.
“I shall be staying at the Radnor townhouse and watching over you day and night to help keep you safe until this situation is resolved,” he announced calmly.
Lisa simply stared at him. It occurred to her that right up until that afternoon in his carriage, this news would have put her over the moon. The very idea of his being so close would have been like a Christmas and birthday gift all rolled into one and would have had her beaming and dancing with excitement. Right now though, after his breaking of her heart in the carriage, it seemed like a nightmare. Robert’s presence day and night. Having to be in his presence at all times when he felt nothing for her but filial emotions. She wasn’t having that!
“Miss Madison?”
Relieved to have the excuse to do so, Lisa turned away from Robert to face Lord Findlay with a smile that was wider and warmer than it would have normally been. “Aye, my lord?”