by Meara Platt
“I like that plan.” John grinned. “The fewer men left to protect our marquis, the more likely he is to behave himself for the duration of his stay.”
“Are you going to mention this to Lady Nicola?”
He shrugged. “She doesn’t need to know just yet. She’s already overset.”
Jordan’s eyes rounded in surprise. “The lass ought to be told. This isn’t a question of boasting about your valor, but of her own safety and that of her family. Those men were sent to break bones. Namely yours. And mine, if I got in the way.”
“I know.” John sighed and ran a hand across the nape of his neck. “Let’s take care of these gentlemen first and then ride over to Somersby’s hunting lodge. If I sense danger, I’ll take Nicola and her aunt and uncle out of there at once.”
“If?”
John was still rubbing his neck, for he was angry and frustrated and worried about Nicola. “Somersby is the sort of snake who sends others to do his dirty work for him. He won’t get his hands soiled. If he truly wants to marry Nicola, he’ll behave himself for now. But knowing Nicola, she is making her own plans to leave as we speak. They have friends staying in the area. She’ll be safe enough with them. We’ll escort her and her family to those neighboring friends, if necessary. But that’s the extent of our involvement. We have rebel smugglers to catch. Oh, and we’d better find the two grooms, Bigwell and Larkins. I’m not sure what Somersby’s men did to them to get them out of the way.”
“Do you think they were bribed?”
“I don’t know.” But a quick search of the stable revealed the two men had been hit over the head and dumped into one of the rear stalls. John was relieved that they were alive and hadn’t suffered much worse than a lump on the head. They’d have a splitting headache for a week, but hopefully nothing worse.
It took most of the morning and into the early afternoon before Somersby’s men were taken into the magistrate’s custody and placed in confinement. The magistrate, a burly giant of a man with bushy, white hair and a heavy brogue that John had trouble following, took to his task with enthusiasm. Dougal MacLean was his name, and he was no lover of these “Sassenach invaders,” as he called Somersby and his ruffians. “Lord Bainbridge, I’ll hold these troublemakers for as long as ye need me to hold them,” he assured, giving John a hearty slap on his sore shoulder.
John suppressed a yowl. Perhaps the man swinging that shovel had landed more than a glancing blow. He’d have the bruises to show for it before the day was out.
He and Jordan rode back toward the tavern, taking a roundabout route that took them past Somersby’s hunting lodge. Although they were to return this evening, John still needed assurance that Nicola had not been harmed.
Somersby probably hadn’t touched her. He would not dare put a hand on her yet.
But what if he had?
John put the notion out of his head before it drove him mad.
However, a little twinge of worry kept creeping in. Nicola was defenseless. What could Darnley do to protect his niece? He wasn’t a young man.
Have I failed her?
“Be careful,” Jordan said when they reached the outskirts of the hunting lodge.
“I’m always careful.” John dismounted before Jordan could offer up another lecture. He cut through the hedgerows to steal closer. Dark thoughts continued to whirl in his head, and although he felt quite certain he’d put enough fear in Somersby to make him behave, John still needed to know that Nicola was safe and would remain so even after she refused to marry the man.
“Uh oh. I recognize that look.” Jordan groaned. “We’re merely on a scouting mission for now. Remember that, John. Ye can’t storm into the marquis’ hunting lodge like a wounded boar with a spray of porcupine quills up its arse and take off with the lass.”
“No, I’ll wait until the party. It’s the best time. Somersby can’t do anything about it while half of London Society is watching.”
Jordan groaned lightly. “This is a mess. Somersby’s going to come after you with a vengeance. A few broken bones won’t be enough. He’ll kill you this time.”
John was already feeling sore from the glancing blows he’d received to his shoulder, ribs, and hip from his earlier fight. But that only served to firm his resolve. “Let him try. I look forward to gutting the bastard.”
Jordan’s expression turned thoughtful. “Don’t do anything rash. Never forget that Lady Nicola will be caught in the middle of this fight.”
“When have you ever known me to act without deliberate care? Protecting Nicola is my first priority. I’ll beat the stuffing out of Somersby if he dares threaten her. I’ll keep her safe.” John curled his hands into fists. “The thought of her under his roof for even another hour turns my stomach.”
Nicola came into view just then, strolling in the garden on the arm of the marquis. She seemed to be without a care in the world, her tears and heartbreak of last night all but forgotten.
Jordan continued to study him with concern. “The lass does not appear to be in any danger. Somersby’s vindictive, no doubt. But his anger seems aimed at you, not at his intended. Jealousy does things to a man that he might not ordinarily do.”
John grunted in frustration, for he’d taken the measure of the man and knew exactly what sort he was. “He’s a ruthless, possessive cur.”
“And you’re not?”
“There’s a difference. I’d never purposely hurt an innocent.”
Jordan sighed. “Just promise me that you’ll be careful. Assess the situation before you act.”
“I always do.”
“Och, but your senses are addled when it comes to the lass. And we have an assignment to finish.” He sighed again in the face of John’s silence. “Very well. If she truly is in danger, then do what you must. If it comes to that, we’ll escort her and Lord and Lady Darnley to my cousin’s estate in Moray. They’ll be safely out of the way with Graelem and Laurel.”
John nodded, for Graelem Dayne, known as Baron Moray, would protect them. Few men would ever dare cross him. His wife, Laurel, was a beautiful young woman, but just as fierce. “Then we’ll return here and pick up the trail of those smugglers again.”
“Assuming they’re still around.”
“That’s a risk we’ll have to take.” He’d deal with the consequences if his mission failed. Assuming there would be any consequences. In truth, there was little Prinny could do to him, for he was one of the Crown’s best agents. Likely nothing serious would happen.
Nicola and Somersby were now joined by Lord Darnley and his wife. While the two men walked ahead, their heads bowed in earnest conversation, Nicola and her aunt locked arms and leisurely strolled behind them as though neither had a care in the world.
This made no sense. Nicola was not the sort to be hysterical one moment and then happy as a cat in cream in the next.
What was happening?
What was he missing?
“NICOLA, I FORBID you to go through with your mad plan,” Lady Darnley said, moving to block Nicola from leaving her bedchamber once they’d returned from their walk. “We’re supposed to be resting before this evening’s party. What if you are caught? Pretending that you are searching for your lost locket will fool no one.”
“Do you have a better idea?” She attempted to dart around her aunt and scamper out the door, but her aunt proved to be an immovable barrier and Nicola was not about to forcibly push her out of the way. “Please, Aunt Bess. I must do this.”
“Child, you are attics-to-let. We shall speak to your uncle Darnley and make hasty preparations to leave. That’s all we shall do. Somersby won’t dare make a scene.”
“You’re wrong. He’d dare anything once he realizes I won’t marry him.”
Her aunt sighed. “Nicola, leave this matter to me and your uncle. Go about the rest of the day as planned. We may not be able to leave before tomorrow morning. So, I want you to act as though nothing unusual is going on. You must look your best for this evening’s party,
no matter what unfolds.”
“It isn’t enough,” she insisted. “I have to search his study. We must have something to hold over him or he’ll do his worst. Why won’t anyone believe me? Somersby is a wicked man who must be stopped. I think my plan is excellent. If I’m caught, what’s wrong with telling him that I’ve lost my locket and am hunting for it?”
Her aunt rolled her eyes in obvious dismay. “Everything is wrong with that excuse. Is he supposed to believe that you lost it in his private study? A room you’ve never entered before and have no right to be in now?”
Nicola stubbornly tipped her chin up. Perhaps her aunt was right, but she needed to do something. “I’ll tell him that I thought one of his servants might have found it and brought it to him for safekeeping. Please, Aunt Bess. We must find out why I’m the one he is determined to marry. We know it isn’t for love.”
She spoke the last with a hitch of pain that her aunt noticed at once. “Oh, my dear. I understand your feelings are hurt, but few couples ever marry for love. Your brother and Rose are the exception, not the rule.”
“So are you and Uncle Henry. You love him.”
“I do now, but I detested him at first.” She shook her head and chuckled. “He was handsome as sin when he was younger, but insufferably arrogant. I cried for days when told I was to marry him. I even ran away. Fortunately, he was as stubborn as a donkey and would not give up on me. That same sort of man will come along for you. Just be patient, Nicola. He’s out there waiting to open his heart to you.”
Nicola gave her aunt a hug. “Thank you.”
If only it were true, but she doubted anyone would ever care for her that deeply. Certainly not John.
“He is out there, Nicola. Just be patient,” her aunt repeated.
Nicola shook her head and laughed. “Patient? We all know that will never happen.” But her laughter quickly faded. “Aunt Bess, Somersby means to hurt someone we love. What if it’s Uncle Henry? Or Julian? We can’t allow them to come to harm. We must uncover his plan and fight back.”
Her aunt and uncle were loving guardians. They had taken her and her siblings in with open hearts after their parents had died. She knew they would risk their own lives to protect any of their nieces and nephews, which was why Nicola had wanted to search Somersby’s private papers on her own. But her aunt was too sharp and had caught on to her plan immediately.
Her aunt gave her an affectionate pat on the shoulder. “Very well. If we’re to steal into Somersby’s study, then I had better get my pistols. We may have to shoot our way out if we’re caught.”
Nicola’s eyes rounded in surprise. “You carry loaded pistols?”
“Always. And they are at your service. Your uncle keeps two hidden on his person at all times, too. Just say the word.”
“Thank you. I hadn’t expected…”
“We may be old, but there’s life left in us yet. In truth, your uncle has been feeling out of sorts lately. This adventure is just the thing to revive his spirit.” There was a twinkle of determination in her aunt’s eyes, almost as though she were looking forward to a fight. Nicola had heard tales of her aunt and uncle’s exploits in their youth, but it was hard to imagine any of it was true. They were a sweet, white-haired couple who doted on their nephews and nieces, hardly the sort to fight bare-fisted, or clash swords, or shoot anyone.
Yet, her aunt had just told her that she’d run away from her own wedding and had fought her uncle as he’d dragged her to the altar. They had also been complicit in her plot to abduct Julian… for her brother’s own good, of course. He had married Rose because of it, so all had ended happily. No one was ever meant to get hurt.
Nor did anyone get hurt.
But this was different.
Her aunt stepped away from the door. “Stay close to me, Nicola. We’ll grab my pistols and then make our way to Somersby’s study.”
Nicola was eager to start the search. The man was hiding some deep, dark secret, but what was it? Finding that out would give her the upper hand in their dealings, which were bound to be unpleasant. If he had concocted a plot against someone close to her, she was going to foil it.
But who was the object of his loathing? Her uncle? Her brother? Someone not related to her?
She did not like being used as a pawn, and if he thought she’d meekly accept her role, he was sorely mistaken. Proof had to be in here somewhere and she was going to find it. Then she’d hand it over to John. He’d know what to do with it.
Yes, John would help.
He’d take over and keep them out of the nasty affair as best he could. Despite her aunt’s bravado, she and her uncle were no longer young and spry. They might be injured if any shooting was involved. “If we do find something,” Nicola said in a whisper as they stepped out of her bedchamber and peered down the empty hall, “we shall quietly hand it over to John and let him do what is needed. Agreed?”
Her aunt frowned.
“Say yes, Aunt Bess. This is as daring as we ought to get. I don’t want a direct confrontation with Somersby, not while we’re in his home. If that means I must agree to the betrothal to throw him off the scent, I’ll do it. Once his sordid dealings are brought to light, we’ll be able to end the betrothal with little consequence to my reputation or uncle’s purse.”
After what seemed an interminable length of time, her aunt gave in and nodded. “Agreed. Do you have any idea what we’re searching for?”
Nicola sighed in relief. “No, not specifically. A clue as to the identity of the person he means to hurt. Anything that smells illegal. Anything, really. Just promise me that you’ll be careful, Aunt Bess. This is a dangerous undertaking and we aren’t even certain what we’ll find or what we’re up against.”
“I’ll behave. But I want the same promise from you, Nicola. And if we’re going to pretend to be searching for a lost locket, then you had better not have it dangling about your neck. It’s the lamest excuse you’ve ever concocted, but I can’t think of any better at the moment.” Her aunt turned her around and unfastened the clasp to the necklace she was wearing. “I’ll hold on to it for now. This way, if you’re caught, I can pretend I’ve found it.” She tucked it into the sleeve of her gown.
They walked downstairs and made their way toward Somersby’s study without incident. No one was about. The servants were in the front rooms busily preparing for this evening’s party. The other guests were resting in their chambers.
Nicola was about to enter the study, but her aunt held her back a moment. “Child, must I teach you everything? Knock first. If he’s in there, he’ll know immediately that we are up to something if we steal in unannounced.”
Her aunt was right.
Nicola sighed and knocked on the door. “No answer.” She knocked a little louder, just to be cautious. “I think we are clear. Let’s go in. Search through all his business papers first. It seems a logical place to start. But be careful to put everything back in its proper order. He mustn’t know we’ve been going through them.”
Her aunt followed her in. “What a shame about the marquis. He’s such a nice-looking man. Too bad he turned out to be such a toad.”
Nicola cast her a mirthless smile. “Let’s hope he is nothing worse.”
“Indeed.” Her aunt pulled out one of her hairpins and straightened it flat. “You sort through his papers. I’m going to look for a locked drawer. Or a secret drawer. Or a locked secret drawer. Those are the best. They always contain the dirtiest secrets.”
Nicola’s eyes rounded in surprise. “Aunt Bess, tell me truly. Were you a spy in your younger days?”
Her aunt ignored her, too busy searching under Somersby’s desk. “Aha, what do we have here?”
Nicola heard the click of a lock and then a soft thud as something fell to the floor. She crawled under the desk with her aunt. “It’s a book. No, a diary of some sort. Maybe more of a ledger, for these appear to be financial entries of a sort.”
“A diary and a ledger all in one? We’ve just str
uck gold.” Her aunt’s eyes brightened and she had a satisfied grin on her face. “Those always hold the best secrets.”
“But I can’t make out any of the words. It’s in a code of some sort.” Nicola’s expression turned thoughtful. “What do you think he’s hiding?”
CHAPTER 4
THICK CLOUDS OBSCURED the stars, and the night held the crisp chill of impending snow as John rode to the Somersby lodge. The glow of lanterns in the distance and the scent of smoke from a hickory fire helped guide him toward the imposing house. He and Jordan rode in silence, the leathery creak of their saddles and the soft clip-clop of their horses’ hooves upon the cold, hard earth being the only sounds to fill the air. But as they approached the lodge, the sound of laughter and general revelry reached their ears.
“We won’t be staying long,” John told the young groom who had run up to attend to their horses when they reached the lodge. “Keep our mounts at the ready.”
Jordan cast him a frown. “Och, I’m still not certain I like this plan.”
“Why are you grumbling? We’ve put Somersby’s ruffians out of commission. If I know Nicola, she’s already made plans to leave. We are only here to make certain Somersby doesn’t attempt to stop her. We may have nothing to do but enjoy the party.”
“I’m not grumbling,” Jordan muttered. “Scots never grumble.”
John laughed.
He tossed the lad a coin to make certain their horses would be at hand if they needed to make a fast escape, and although he may have appeared casual, he was busy taking everything in. Only two footmen stood beside the front door to attend to guests arriving in carriages. The carriages, he noted, were then taken by their drivers to a rough-hewn building just down the road. No doubt it was the lodge’s own carriage house. The conveyances would be held out of the way until their owners called for them.
“Only two footmen,” John muttered as he and Jordan entered the lodge.
“I noticed. I’ll scout the card room,” Jordan said. “You take the salon. I’ll join you in there shortly.”
