“Good idea.” Cordelia nodded eagerly. “Let’s meet up with the rest of my family and we can break the property into sections.”
“How do you know they’re gone?” Minnie asked as they started across the party.
“No one has seen them for…” her voice dropped, “two hours at least.” Then Cordelia licked her lips.
“But it doesn’t make sense,” Minnie said as she walked just ahead of him. He was listening, but his eyes kept dropping to her behind. It was rounded in the most perfect way. He wanted to cup both cheeks with his hands. He forced himself to concentrate as she spoke again. “Their wedding is only a month away. Why would they leave now? They only need to wait a few weeks.” Minnie looked back at him, those green eyes capturing his as they sparkled in the sun.
“I haven’t a clue.” But a thought began to niggle through the rest. After what had happened, the couple had been on uncertain terms. Was leaving now their attempt to right their tilting ship?
But an hour of searching the property had yielded no results. Tag had quickly left to ride to Jack’s. He could only hope they were there.
Knocking on Jack’s door, the butler, Reeves, had answered. Surprise made the man’s eyes go wide. “Your Grace. I’m surprised to see you.”
“Why?” Tag asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.
The man blinked. “Lord Effington has left on a trip. I assumed you would be aware.”
“I’m not,” Tag answered, clenching and unclenching his fingers. “Where did my friend go?”
Reeves swallowed. “It’s not my place to say.”
Tag leaned against the doorframe, giving the man a hard stare. “And is it your place to clean up the mess that Lord Effington has made?”
“Your Grace,” the man croaked.
Tag gave a heavy sigh. It wasn’t Reeves’ fault. “Reeves, please tell me that Lady Emily was with him so that I at least know she is safe.”
Reeves had given an almost imperceptible nod. Tag’s shoulders had drooped but he’d turned and left again, debating whether he returned home or to Lord and Lady Winthrop’s house. He didn’t have any definite news for them and what he did know wasn’t good.
Then again, at least he could tell her parents with some definite assurances that their daughter was safe. Climbing onto his mount, he set off for the Bancroft residence.
He was going to kill Jack, he decided as pulled at the lapel of his coat. To be the bearer of such news…he groaned inwardly.
Would Minnie’s family consider him to be cut from the same cloth as Jack? A stealer of daughters? Then he shook his head. He was cut from the same cloth. They ran a secret gaming hell together and why should he care what her family thought of him?
In fact, men like him probably eloped just to prove a point. He was assuming that’s what had happened. Jack and Emily were in love.
He’d been in love once. He’d even proposed, thinking he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Lady Cristina. She was so much like Minnie, like his mother too. Strong, fiery, full of life, love, passion, and laughter. But just like his parents’ marriage, his had been doomed before it could even start.
First and foremost, he’d met Cristina after attending calling hours to visit her sister, but from the start, she’d stolen his attention and he’d spent every waking moment thinking about her, trying to find ways to see her again. By all appearances, she’d felt the same.
The moment he asked her to be his wife, she’d accepted and taken him into her bed. He’d realized she wasn’t a virgin then. Not that he’d cared. But soon, she began begging to move the wedding closer, worried she might be with child from their joining.
He’d relented, wanting his new bride protected. Then she’d pleaded for a spending account for the wedding. Which made sense, except he kept having to replenish the funds.
It wasn’t until a few weeks later that he’d overheard two servants gossiping when he’d arrived at her home for an unexpected afternoon visit. It had been three months since Cristina had bled. They’d only been engaged for a month.
Still, he’d refused to believe that she’d betrayed him. And servants liked to gossip, often embellishing the truth. All people did. He’d rushed into the garden to find her and ask her what they had meant, sure this was a mistake. They were in love. He’d found her soon enough but she hadn’t been alone. He’d found her in the arms of a lover.
He’d broken the engagement and refused to see her or even read her correspondence. To this day, he’d never heard a word of her explanation. Not that it mattered. What infuriated him most of all was that he’d nearly made the same mistake as his father. Married a strong-willed woman who used her power to make her husband miserable. He’d learned his lesson now.
Reaching the Bancroft townhouse, he dismounted and walked up the stairs. He raised his hand to knock when the door flung open. There he stood, fist in mid-air.
“Tag,” Minnie hissed, several strands of hair having fallen loose from her coif. They framed her face in the softest way and he had the urge to reach out and touch one lock of that glorious hair. “They ran away to get married.”
He dropped his fist. “My thoughts too.”
Minnie shook her head, stepping out onto the steps and closing the door behind her. “No, I don’t just think it. Emily’s trunk is gone and in its place was a note. They’ve boarded a ship to Gretna Green.”
“A ship?” Tag scrunched his brow, a deep frown creasing his face.
Minnie nodded, stepping closer, her hand resting on his chest. She’d smelled of fresh grass after a rain. He itched to wrap his hands about her waist and pull her closer. He wanted to taste those soft sweet lips again. She dropped her voice only adding to the intimacy of their position. “Emily doesn’t like long carriage rides.”
He nodded, his chin dropping toward hers. Hadn’t he just relived his past memories? Didn’t he know how this ended? Why was he so tempted by the sweet lips of Minerva Chase?
Chapter Seven
Minnie held her breath as his mouth drifted closer. This was a mistake. She needed a husband and everyone understood that Tag was not interested in the position.
If her mother walked out now and caught them kissing, there would be no stopping her matchmaking attempts. “I should…go inside.” She didn’t move. Her limbs refused to obey.
“I’ll come with you. Your uncle will want to know what I’ve discovered.”
She shook her head. “Don’t. He’s furious and threatening violence against Jack. The last thing we need is for him to decide you’d make an adequate scapegoat.”
He coughed. “I can handle your uncle.”
“Of course you can. You manage unruly men as a hobby. It’s him I’m concerned about. There’ll be no saving this situation if you hurt him.” She stepped back then, reason clearing her head a bit.
But he didn’t let her waist go and suddenly pulled her tight to his chest. “Save what situation?”
What did he mean? “Jack and Emily being accepted back into the family? What else? I wish she’d told us why she’s chosen to run away. It would be much easier to help her if I knew.”
He stared down into her eyes, his fingers relaxing. “Of course.” But he didn’t let her go. “You’re protecting Emily’s future.”
She nodded. “Yours too. I don’t know how your club could be brought up but there’s so many threads tying you to Jack and Emily, I think it best for your secret’s sake you stay out of this as much as possible.”
One of his hands slid up her back, to cup her face. “Thank you, Minnie.”
She nodded. “Now you really need to go. I came out before you rang the bell, but if we’re discovered out here…”
His mouth turned down but his hands slipped away from her and he took a step back. “Tell me if you learn anything new.”
She shrugged. “I’ll try. But trust me, you don’t want my mother to know we correspond.”
He gave his head a small shake. “I don’t…”
&
nbsp; Minnie wasn’t certain if he was making a statement or asking a question the way his voice rose at the end. “Am I correct in assuming that you are not interested in marriage?”
He swallowed. “You are.”
Regret niggled down her spine. “And in particular, not interested in me. Because I’ve been open about the fact that I need to wed.”
“I’m…not,” he said taking a backwards step down the stairs. He grimaced, his brow furrowing.
“Then why do you sound uncertain?” she asked, crossing her arms about her waist. She wished she hadn’t asked. She was afraid of what his answer might be. After their kiss, or perhaps even before that, she’d stopped thinking of him as the worst sort of man and had begun to consider him rather interesting.
He shook his head. “I’m not. It’s just…” And then he took another step back. This time, however, he slipped and in sickening slow motion, she watched him fall backwards, his head just missing a stone pillar. His shoulder glanced off the structure instead and he fell to the ground, his skull bouncing off the cobblestone. He curled on his side, letting out an agonizing groan.
“Oh dear,” she cried racing down the steps. Minnie dropped to the ground, reaching for his face. “Let me look,” she said her breath ragged. She didn’t see anything but then she slid her fingers into his hair, a lump already forming by the base of his skull.
“I’m all right,” he ground out. “It’s my shoulder more than anything.”
Minnie looked lower to realize that his arm was at an odd angle. “Oh dear,” she whispered more to herself. “Don’t move.”
“I couldn’t if I tried,” he grunted between clenched teeth.
“If they ask, I came out and found you like this,” she said close to his ear. The last thing she needed was for her family to try and force a match. She was not interested in trapping a man in marriage. She was many things, but manipulative wasn’t one of them.
She didn’t wait for his reply as she jumped from the ground and, lifting her skirts, sprinted back up the steps. “Come quickly,” she yelled as she opened the door. “I’ve found the Duke of Darlington injured on our drive.”
Without waiting for a response, she hurried back to his side and plopped on the ground next to him to cradle his head in her lap. Smoothing back his hair, she curled her body around his. “Try not to worry. I’ve got you. I’ll not let anything happen to you, I swear.”
“Somehow,” he groaned. “I believe you.”
She smiled a little at that. “You should, I’m practically holding your life in my hands.”
“There’s the Minnie I know and love.”
“Wait,” she cried, her mouth going dry and her body freezing. “Did you just tell me you love me?”
Tag swore softly under his breath as he turned his head to look up at Minnie. Pain shot down his side. He should lie and tell her that he meant affectionately, not romantically. But he wasn’t certain he was capable of the lie in this moment. “You know what I meant.”
She didn’t answer as people began to flood out the door from the house. In fact, she didn’t meet his gaze at all. He wished Minnie would tell him what she was thinking.
Her mother dashed to the front of the pack. “Your Grace!” she yelled, stopping within a breath of him, her hands crossing over her heart. “Your arm.”
Minnie stared up at her mother, her brows drawing together. “I’m sure he hadn’t noticed until you mentioned it.”
A single bark of laughter erupted from his throat and then he spasmed in pain.
Several gasps erupted around him. “Is he going to be all right, Minnie?” one female voice asked.
“Yes, Ada, but go and tell Mr. Hoffsman to fetch the doctor. Hurry.” Minnie stroked his face as she cradled his head in her lap. If not for the searing pain in his arm and throbbing in his head, he might actually enjoy this. She’d curled around him, her bosom pressing against his ear.
“What should we do?” another female asked.
“He’s friends with Effington, isn’t he?” A gruff male voice grumbled from his right.
“He fell on our property,” someone else answered.
Minnie cleared her throat. “He’s been searching for Emily and came back to tell us what he’d discovered, Uncle. He’s here to help.” She began rhythmically stroking his hair as she crooned nonsensical words of comfort. Everyone else quieted and he closed his eyes. The whole thing was rather lovely.
“Are you with me?” She stopped stroking and her voice rose, worry making it high and tight.
“I’m here,” he answered without opening his eyes. “And I’m not going anywhere.” He wanted to beg her to start petting him again. He’d nearly forgot about the pain at her touch. What was happening to him? He was going soft over Minnie Chase. He knew deep in his gut that it was a mistake, but he couldn’t help himself in this moment. Not only was she attractive, breathtakingly so, but her touch was so warm, so giving and inviting. Made a man ache.
“They’re on the way to fetch the doctor,” Ada called.
“Good,” Minnie answered. “Collect up some servants so that we can lift him with without harm.”
Tag relaxed more deeply into her lap. Minnie was a woman who had the situation well under control.
Funny, he’d never considered how helpful a strong partner might be. He’d only seen the downside of a woman with an iron will. “How do you think I’m going to get home?” he asked as her hand started its rhythmic movements again. He wanted to sigh with contentment.
“You’re not,” she replied close to his ear. “You’re staying here.”
“All right,” he said, trusting her to know what was best. “Where will you be?”
“I’ll be here too,” she said even more quietly. “I’ll not leave you now.”
“Good,” he answered. So good. He had the sudden feeling that he could stay wrapped in her arms forever.
“Lord Darlington.” She continued stroking.
He frowned when she called him by his real name. He liked the way Tag rolled off her tongue. It shouldn’t be Lord Darlington.
“Yes?” he asked trying to open his heavy eyelids.
“I wanted to tell you that…” She stopped and her hand stilled too. “That I like you. A great deal more than I thought I would. Despite how we met…I think you’re…well…you’re a good man.”
He opened his eyes and shifted his head so that he might look into the emerald green of hers. “I like you too. A great deal more than I thought I would.”
She smiled down at him, a brilliant grin that lit her face. “We’re friends then?”
“Friends.” The word left a bitter taste in his mouth. Why was the idea of being friends so dissatisfying and what could he do about it?
Chapter Eight
Minnie stared down at the injured man in her lap, her insides as soft as churned butter. Even with his shoulder hanging low and the sleepy expression on his face, he looked every bit the powerful man that made her heartbeat quicken. More so, with the intimacy of their position. His large chest spilled from her lap and his muscular legs stretched way out, near reaching the steps. Her family stood staring at them and yet she had the urge to lower her mouth to taste his mouth again.
She licked her lips, trying to gain control of her thoughts. But his eyes honed-in on the gesture and her insides tightened.
She was looking for a husband. She repeated that fact several times until it became a chant in her head. Don’t go all mushy, you’re looking for a husband. Don’t stare at his lips, you’re looking for a husband. See, he caused her brain to go soft as well, she was never this redundant.
Several servants hustled out the door and quickly lifted Tag from the ground. They managed to set him on his feet as Minnie stood too, her own legs wobbly.
He stumbled but caught himself and one of the servants positioned himself under Tag’s good arm to help him into the house.
Minnie did not see Tag for the next several hours as the doctor attended him and t
hen dinnertime began.
She excused herself early and went to her room, then readied herself for bed. Her family had discussed Emily and Jack’s situation in circles for hours and she needed quiet to sift through her jumbled thoughts.
Not that she wasn’t concerned for her cousin but Minnie knew in her heart that Jack and Emily had made a decision together and likely for good reason. They loved one another and must have thought this the best choice for their future.
It was her own situation that plagued her now. She liked the duke a great deal, but she had been tasked with finding a husband and she could not dwell on a man who did not want a wife like her: strong-willed and opinionated.
A knock sounded at the door. “Come in,” she called, turning to see who it might be.
Her mother opened the door, gently closing it behind her. “Are you feeling all right?” she asked as she crossed the room where Minnie had been staying at her aunt and uncle’s. She supposed now that Emily had run away, she should return home.
“I’m fine. Just thinking.” Minnie stood and crossed to her mother, kissing her cheek.
“I’ve just been to visit His Grace. They’ve reset his shoulder and he should be fine to return home in the morning.” Her mother reached for her hand and then led her toward the bed.
“Thank you for the update, Mother.” She let her mother pull her along, relief making her a little weak.
“I want to discuss your relationship with him,” her mother said when they reached the bed.
Minnie inwardly groaned. “Not tonight, Mother. I’m tired.”
Her mother shook her head. “Today I won’t remind you that you need to find a husband. That Ada has to have a season. You made it clear at the party that you weren’t interested in the duke.”
Minnie shrugged. Something was raw inside her and she couldn’t lie. “That isn’t what I was trying to say. There is no future with the duke.”
Duke of Daring: Regency Romance (Lords of Scandal Book 1) Page 5
