He was barely aware that he was holding his breath as he turned to face the door. He breathed again in a rush of disappointment at the sight of the narrow countenance of Lord Bidwell.
“Good God. Biddies.”
With a sardonic smile, Biddles offered him an elaborate bow. “Good evening, Mumford.”
“What the devil are you doing here?”
“Returning something I believe you have misplaced.”
Stepping to one side of the door, the small gentleman waved to someone still in the hallway. Luke gave a startled exclamation as a hulking servant entered carrying a furious Miss Stanholte.
“Unhand me, you . . . beast,” she demanded, her small countenance red with fury.
A fierce surge of relief raced through Luke even as he regarded the uncontrollable minx with mounting anger.
This infuriating woman was going to land him in Bedlam.
“Where did you find her?” Luke demanded.
“Her groom possessed the good sense to leave word that Miss Stanholte had demanded her carriage, and my own groom came to warn me,” Biddles said. “We decided to follow.” He turned to meet the glittering gaze of Miss Stanholte. “Imagine my prise when we traveled directly to Toby’s nasty little theater.”
Her chin only tilted. “You had no right to interfere.”
With a shrug, Biddles returned his attention to Luke. “She unfortunately refused to be rescued without a struggle.”
Caught between the desire to throttle the young lady and kiss her senseless, Luke stabbed her with a narrowed gaze.
“You went to that neighborhood in the middle of the night? Alone?” He gave a disbelieving shake of his head. “Why do you not simply slit your own throat and save Toby the trouble?”
Predictably, she refused to show an ounce of remorse for her illogical behavior.
“I went to that theater because I caught a young boy in the garden tonight waiting with a note for Lord Bidwell,” she retorted in furious tones. “A note from Nell Maggert.”
“Egad, Miss Stanholte.” With a languid motion, Biddles lifted his quizzing glass. “Do you always go about reading private notes?”
“I suspected you were hiding information from me.” Her accusing gaze shifted from Biddles to Luke. “How long have you known where she lives?”
Luke was forced to smother a ridiculous prick of guilt. Why should he feel as if he were in the wrong when he was merely attempting to save her from her own stupidity? Tonight’s absurd performance had only proven he had been correct to keep the information to himself. This foolish chit could not be trusted not to get herself killed.
“Only a few days.”
“Why did you not tell me?”
“Because I suspected that you would behave in precisely this absurd fashion.”
Wrapping her arms about her waist, she regarded him with a condemning expression.
“I should have been told.”
His anger returned as he regarded the tiny frame and pale face surrounded by the golden curls that had tumbled free. Why couldn’t she understand? The mere thought of allowing her to place herself in danger was enough to keep him lying awake at night. He had to protect her, even if it was from herself.
“This is no game, Miss Stanholte, even if you are determined to treat it as if it is.”
“I am well aware this is no game, Lord Mumford. I am the one who has been forced from her home and in danger of losing everything I hold dear.”
“And you think risking your neck at every opportunity is going to change that?”
Her eyes widened with fury, but even as her mouth opened to slay him with her decidedly wicked tongue, Biddles was interrupting. A wise man, he realized that it was time to make a strategic retreat.
“Yes, this is all quite charming, but I believe I shall toddle off to my club. I limit myself to rescuing one damsel per evening, don’t you know.” He performed a deep bow. “Your servant.”
They watched in silence as the slender gentleman swept from the room closely guarded by the large servant. Then, with a jerky motion, Miss Stanholte turned to regard Luke with a frown.
“Why are you even here? I should think you would be at the ball.”
“When I discovered you had left, I feared that you had become ill,” he smoothly retorted, not bothering to mention his hope that it was her softening emotions toward him that had been responsible for her abrupt flight.
If she did possess a change of heart in regard to him, it was not evident in her rigid expression.
“So you risk a scandal by arriving at such an hour?”
“Hardly as scandalous as a young lady trotting about London at this hour,” he retorted, his frayed nerves not improved by the thought of what might have occurred if Biddles had not followed the carriage.
“I would not need to . . . trot about London at this hour if you had simply told me the truth.”
“Biddies is perfectly capable of discovering whatever information Nell might possess. Indeed, he has made remarkable progress with the actress. The last thing he needs is you rushing in and startling the nervous woman into flight. Did you ever think of that?”
Clearly unable to argue the logic of his argument, Cassandra abruptly turned away from his piercing scrutiny.
“I am in no mood to argue with you further. It is late and I am tired. So, if you will excuse me—”
“No.” Luke strode forward to grasp her elbow and turn her back to face him. Did she expect him to meekly stand aside while she courted danger with such blatant disregard? “We are not finished with this, Cassie.”
Not seeming to notice his familiar manner of speech, she met his burning gaze with stubborn courage. “It is, as far as I am concerned.”
“I will not allow you to place yourself at risk again. If you are too foolish to protect yourself, then I will.”
“Really? And how do you propose to do that?”
“I will lock you in a dungeon if necessary.”
“Indeed.” The gray eyes darkened with a dangerous light. “I should like to see you try.”
His gaze abruptly dropped to the stubborn line of her mouth. Lord, how he longed to press her against his body, to wrap her in his arms and never let her go.
“Or perhaps I will simply marry you,” he threatened in husky tones.
Cassandra’s soft gasp was muffled as a loud cry sounded in the doorway. With a sense of shock, Luke slowly raised his head to discover his Aunt Sophia and Miss Stowe standing just inside the room. And judging from the delighted expression on Sophia’s countenance, she had clearly heard the words intended only for Cassandra.
“Marriage. Did you hear that, Anne? Our two lovebirds have at last decided to wed. What glorious news. I must return to the carriage at once to tell Lord Pembroke.”
Uncertain why he felt nothing but satisfaction, Luke made no effort to halt the retreating form of his aunt. Indeed, he was quite certain a battalion of French soldiers could not have halted her at the moment. Instead, he glanced down at Cassandra’s horrified countenance with a slow smile.
Fourteen
Feeling much like one of the poor beasts caged at the Tower of London, Cassie paced through the salon with a simmering panic.
What the devil was she going to do?
Last night she had dared to hope that she would at last discover Nell Maggert and put this whole horrible situation behind her. Instead, she had been arrogantly kidnapped by Lord Bidwell and then chastised as if she were a particularly dim-witted child by Lord Mumford.
And to make matters worse, Lady Pembroke now believed she was actually engaged to marry the arrogant earl.
It was . . . absurd.
She turned about to head in the other direction when the uniformed butler silently glided into the room.
“Lady Pembroke to see you, Miss Stanholte.”
Cassie felt the color drain from her face at the quiet announcement. She couldn’t face Lady Pembroke. Not until Luke had managed to straighten out the horribl
e muddle he had created. But even as she sorted through her foggy mind for a reasonable excuse to fob the woman off, Lady Pembroke swept into the room with a beaming smile.
“My dearest Cassandra,” she purred, determinedly planting a kiss on her cheek before pulling back to admire her pale yellow muslin gown.
Cassie flushed with discomfort. “Lady Pembroke.”
“I realize that you must have any number of things to attend to today, but I had to speak with you.”
“Oh?”
“First, you must know how sincerely delighted I am that you are to wed Luke.”
Cassie longed to sink beneath the floorboards. She had never felt more embarrassed in her life. She steeled her nerves to confess the truth.
“But, my lady—”
“Tut, tut, Aunt Sophia now,” she interrupted with a smile.
Cassie swallowed a sigh of exasperation. “Very well, Aunt Sophia. The truth of the matter is—”
“Please, let me finish, my dear,” Aunt Sophia once again interrupted, clearly unaware of Cassie’s growing discomfort. “For the past few years I have become increasingly concerned about Luke. He seemed unable to settle himself. Even after receiving his inheritance, he was restless and dissatisfied with life. It was as if he were searching for something he could not find. But now he has found what he was searching for. You.”
A peculiar pang twisted Cassie’s heart. Almost as if she regretted that Sophia’s words were not true. That she wanted to be what Luke needed in his life.
“Oh.”
“You know, you remind me very much of Luke’s mother. The same kindness and natural graciousness, and certainly the same spirited nature.” Ignoring the painful heat staining Cassie’s cheeks, Sophia opened her reticule to withdraw a small box, which she slowly opened. “Which is why she would have wanted me to give you this.”
With a sinking heart, Cassie regarded the delicate pearl necklace lying on a bed of satin. It was exquisite, with each pearl perfectly matching the next and the clasp made of silver and small diamonds. Cassie gave a hasty shake of her head.
“Oh, please, I cannot accept such a gift.”
“Do not be a goose. It is what Bella would have wanted,” Sophia gently chastised. “Now, I shall leave it to Luke to discuss the marriage settlement, but be assured that I have already made the announcement for the newspaper. And since you have no close family member to assist you, I hope very much you will do me the honor and allow me to act in your mother’s stead.”
A ridiculous surge of tears filled Cassie’s eyes at the kind offer. She wished the noblewoman had stormed in with a furious refusal to approve of the marriage of her precious nephew to a country nobody. At least then it would have been a simple matter to deny that she had any intentions of wedding the aggravating lord. Now she felt like a thorough villain as she prepared to disappoint the older lady.
“I ... Aunt Sophia—”
“Just think upon it, my dear,” Sophia said, clearly misreading her embarrassment. “Now I must go. I have an endless number of calls to make this morning. Such wonderful news.”
Reaching out her hand, Sophia thrust the box into Cassie’s nerveless fingers. Then, with a last smile, she turned to march from the room as abruptly as she had entered.
Left on her own, Cassie muttered an inelegant curse. How could she have been such a coward? She should have insisted that Sophia listen to her. Now the lady was off to announce a wedding that was never going to occur.
Against her will, Cassie’s gaze dropped to the delicate pearls glowing in the lined box. The necklace was lovely. Unlike many older necklaces, it was simply designed, with no added sets to distract from the elegant style. A necklace her own mother would have chosen.
It also belonged to the lady whom Lord Mumford would eventually claim as his bride.
That odd pang once again twisted her heart as she studied the delicate pearls. Somehow the thought was uncannily disturbing, as if the knowledge that Lord Mumford would one day choose a beautiful young bride were a source of pain.
Angered by her queer reaction, Cassie frowned down at the box, attempting to decide what she should do with the unwelcome gift. She was still undecided when she was once more interrupted by the entrance of her stoic-faced butler.
Good Lord, what now?
“Lord Mumford.”
So ... at last he had decided to make an appearance, she seethed. Too late to confront his aunt. Well, this entire disaster was his fault. He could bloody well make it right.
“Please show him in.”
“Very good.”
The butler bowed his way out and within the blink of an eye returned with her visitor. Just for a moment Cassie allowed her gaze to linger on the handsome countenance and the well-defined form so faithfully revealed by the fitted coat and breeches. Even though she had met a hundred gentlemen since arriving in London, not one could compare with this man. Somehow they all seemed a pale shadow when he was near.
No doubt because he was always managing to infuriate her, she sternly reminded herself.
Titling her chin to a militant angle, she eyed him with a frown.
“Where have you been?”
With a lazy smile, Luke strolled into the room.
“Is that any way to greet your soon-to-be husband?”
“This is no jesting manner, sir,” she retorted in sour tones.
“No?”
The annoying . . . toad, she simmered. How could he stand there with smug amusement as if there were nothing at all the matter?
Hoping to shake that indomitable composure, she thrust out her hand to reveal the small box.
“Your aunt just brought me this.”
He lifted his quizzing glass to regard the pearl necklace. “Ah, my mother’s necklace.”
“Precisely.”
“It is only a small token.” He gave a faint shrug. “There are any number of jewels among my mother’s things, as well as the Mumford diamonds that will be yours upon our marriage. Unless, of course, you wish to have something else commissioned? Emeralds, perhaps?”
She stamped a tiny foot as her frustration became too much.
“Stop this foolishness at once.”
He possessed the arrogance to give a low chuckle. “What do you wish me to do?”
Several delightfully rude comments floated through her mind.
“Speak with your aunt and tell her this is all a terrible mistake,” she demanded.
“Unfortunately, things have gone too far for that.”
“What?”
“My aunt has already managed to spread the announcement of our impending wedding throughout the greater part of London.” He lifted his slender hands in a helpless motion. “By this evening it should be well on its way through Europe. If we claim there is no wedding, then we shall all appear to be fools.”
She gave a disbelieving shake of her head.
“What are you suggesting?”
“That we allow this engagement to continue,” he smoothly responded.
Cassie widened her eyes in shock, quite certain that he could not be completely sane. Surely he was not actually suggesting that they go through with this ridiculous engagement?
“Have you taken a blow to the head?”
His lips twitched at her sharp accusation. “Not recently.”
“Then you must realize that it is absurd.”
An undeniable emotion flickered through the dark blue eyes before he was lifting a negligent shoulder.
“Actually, after some consideration, I realized that it is a perfect means of allowing me to be at your side.” His smile twisted as a flare of panic rippled over her expressive countenance. “At least until we have captured the villain attempting to steal your inheritance.”
Quite certain that she must still be abed and in the midst of a terrible nightmare, Cassie pressed a hand to her uneven heart.
“And then?”
“Then you return to Devonshire, and in due time I announce that you have had
second thoughts.”
Cassie shivered. As he had with all his ludicrous suggestions, he made it all sound so reasonable. Just a harmless ploy for the next few days. But she was swiftly learning that nothing was as simple as it appeared with this man.
With every seemingly innocent gesture, he had managed to wiggle his way more firmly into her life. Into her every thought. Even now she feared that she would never be truly free of his memory.
She shivered again as she took a hasty step back.
“No, I cannot.”
He lifted his brows at her fierce tone, but an oddly satisfied smile curved his mouth.
“Why?”
She swiftly searched for a logical excuse. “I cannot lie to your aunt.”
“You have been lying since you arrived in London,” he pointed out in reasonable tones.
“This is different,” she muttered.
He stepped forward, his hand unexpectedly reaching out to cup her chin in a gentle grasp.
“It is only for a few days.”
A dizzying heat spread through her body.
“Oh,” she breathed, her gaze locking with his darkened eyes.
Just for a moment, they regarded one another in silence. A breathless excitement clutched at Cassie. Almost against her will, her body swayed forward, her lips parting. With a husky murmur, Luke slowly lowered his head to capture her mouth in a soft, lingering kiss. Cassie’s knees quivered as sweet sensations trembled through her body. She wanted to press herself even closer. To have his arms wrap about her and never let her go.
Never let her go ...
A flare of panic sliced through her mounting passion, and with a tiny moan, she abruptly pulled away from his enticing kiss.
What was happening to her?
She felt . . . bewitched. Unable to think of anything beyond her growing need to be with this man.
As if sensing the chaotic emotions battling within her heart, with a rueful smile Luke reached out to stroke her cheek.
“Do not fear, Cassandra,” he said in low tones. “Everything will be well.”
She could say nothing as he gave a bow, then turned to move out of the room.
Lord Mumford's Minx Page 16
