by Meara Platt
“What makes you think I don’t feel the same way about you?”
Her smile turned sardonic. “Because you have yet to declare it. If you truly love me, then why not just say so? I’ve just told you how I feel about you. What stopped you from simply responding with I love you, too? Or from taking me in your arms and kissing me passionately. You look like you want to run away.”
He raked a hand through his hair. “I don’t.”
“Don’t what? Don’t love me? Or don’t want to run away?”
His response was cut short when he heard Pip clamber into the house and stomp up the stairs calling for Goose. Penelope and Poppy must have accompanied the boy because cries of “Olivia” filled the air.
Thad and Nathaniel joined them, calling out his name.
Beast wasn’t certain whether he was frustrated or relieved. Perhaps relieved. Goose was right. Had he been ready to make the commitment, he would have simply told her that he loved her.
He knew he loved her, so why hold back?
It wasn’t a matter of falling under one of the spells in The Book of Love. It was her working her magic on him. The book only helped him to understand the science behind his response. But it did not make him respond to her in any way that was not of his own choosing.
“We’re up here,” Goose called out, hurrying from her bedchamber and running down the hall to the landing.
Pip was the first to make it up the stairs. He hugged her fiercely. “Olivia, I shouldn’t have let you go alone. Your horrible guardian might have abducted you or killed you.”
She laughed and looked over his head in bemusement as the others joined them on the now crowded landing. “Oh, Pip. Thank you for worrying about me. But I’m quite safe. My guardian is afraid of Beast. He won’t go near him for fear Beast will bite his head off.”
Pip laughed and turned to grin at Beast. “You do look like an angry lion. Are you afraid of him, Olivia?”
“Of Beast? Good heavens, no. He’s my friend, as are all of you. Would any of you ever hurt me?”
Pip shook his head. “No.”
“Neither would Beast. So, you see, I’m quite safe.”
Nathaniel grinned and then cleared his throat. “Have you looked your fill?”
She nodded. “Yes, I’m quite finished here. Thank you for looking after the place, Nathaniel. I know it was you, so don’t bother to deny it. Shall we return to Sherbourne?”
The girls and Pip strolled on ahead, but Beast held back his friends. “What’s wrong?” Nathaniel asked.
“I’m going to have another look around the grounds of Gosling Hall. Something is out of place, but I can’t figure out what it is. It’s just a feeling I have.”
Thad arched an eyebrow. “Do ye think Gosling’s here?”
“I’ll tell my staff to be on the lookout for any strangers,” Nathaniel said with deepening concern.
Beast nodded. “Don’t let Goose go anywhere unattended.”
Nathaniel glanced toward his sister and her friends. “Shall we mention something to the girls? They ought to be made aware of any lurking danger.”
“Yes, but try not to scare them. It may be nothing at all. I’m only going by the stiffening hairs at the back of my neck.”
Thad grunted. “Good enough for me. Those instincts of yours kept ye alive on the field of battle. I’m not about to dismiss them. I’ll search with ye.”
Nathaniel sighed, obviously not liking to be left behind. “I’ll keep watch over the girls. They’ll probably regroup in Penelope’s room anyway to study that idiotic book. Well, Beast. What do you think? Are Olivia’s spells working on you?”
“What are you, an old hen? Come on, Thad.”
“Bloody hell, you didn’t deny it.” Nathaniel threw his head back and laughed. “That’s rich. The war hero brought to his knees by Little Goose. And you even bought her the damn book.”
*
The men had been particularly serious all day, Goose realized. Did it have something to do with her? Of course it did. She saw it in the fiercely protective way Beast looked at her.
He’d sat next to her at church.
And stood beside her while she chatted with Wellesford’s new vicar, Adam Carstairs, who had received the living about six months ago and seemed to be fitting in quite nicely. She thought she’d detected a note of jealousy in Beast, for the vicar was a young man and reasonably good looking. He had dark hair and striking blue-gray eyes that every woman noticed.
But any resentment Beast might have felt slipped away the moment the talk turned to war. “You served on the Peninsula? At Salamanca?” Beast asked him, responding to the vicar’s mention of one of the bloodier battles.
“I did, Your Grace. I was there to lend solace to the soldiers, but there were times when the enemy got too close and I had to fight beside our men… on the side of right, of course, and always for our Lord.”
Beast shook the vicar’s hand and gave a grudging nod of approval. “Welcome to Wellesford,” he said, at the same time taking her arm and locking it in his so that she had to go with him as they moved on.
Surprisingly, he remained by her side as she bid farewell to Lord and Lady Plimpton, and the many locals who came forward to bid her good travels, for everyone knew she was returning to London and no one liked Lord Gosling. The fact that they’d never met her guardian was no obstacle to their disliking him. “Any man who cannot appreciate the beauty of these surroundings is a scurvy knave and not to be trusted, if you ask me,” Mr. Baldridge, the local magistrate said with a harrumph.
Of course, no one had asked him. But he was the authority there and quite proud of his status in the community. “Good thing Lord Welles has been caring for your house. Quite a shame it has been left empty these past two years.”
Olivia turned to Beast as they walked on. “I’ll have to thank Nathaniel properly. He never said anything to me. Wouldn’t even acknowledge it when I thanked him this morning. Of course, he had to be the one watching over Gosling Hall or it would have been ruined by now.”
“You have many friends here, Goose. You are like family to many, especially the Sherbournes. Even Pip adores you. You’ve been very kind to him.”
She shook her head and laughed lightly. “So have you. You’ve taken the time to read to him, making him feel as though he matters. Not that he doesn’t love Nathaniel or Penelope or Lavinia. He obviously does, but you are England’s hero. And you took the time to notice him. Did you see the way he walked to church? He strode like you. He crossed his arms over his chest and stood like you. I think when I see him next, he’ll be wearing an eyepatch just like yours.”
Beast laughed. “Lord, I hope not.”
While Lavinia and Matilda returned to Sherbourne Manor in Nathaniel’s carriage, the rest of them chose to walk back. It was a beautiful day and Olivia had the sense that none of them wished to leave and were already feeling nostalgic of their time spent together. But the men had duties that required their attention in London, and the ladies were to return to the whirlwind balls and other entertainments designed to have them married by the end of the Season.
The day had passed quietly, but Beast, Thad, and Nathaniel continued to pay her particular attention, casting protective looks and watching her every movement to the point of exasperating her.
They watched over Poppy and Penelope as well, but she was their main objective and they were quite oppressive at times. If she sneezed, they jumped to their feet. If she sighed, they were immediately beside her, asking what was wrong.
She could not wait until they finished supper for a reprieve, for the men customarily remained at the table to share a glass of port and talk business while the ladies retired to the drawing room. She eagerly rose along with the ladies and sauntered into the drawing room for tea and coffee. “At last, a moment alone.”
But the men immediately joined them.
Olivia frowned at the three of them. “Stop following me everywhere I go. I can’t even clear my throat without th
e three of you jumping to my side in alarm. You’re being quite ridiculous.”
Matilda frowned. “Indeed, you boys are behaving as though a battle is imminent. Is there something more we should know? Did you find out who was lurking about Gosling Hall?”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “I’m sure no one was lurking there. I think I would have sensed it had there been someone.”
“Perhaps.” Beast crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her. “But this is our last night here and this would be the perfect time for Lord Gosling to attempt something if–”
“Assuming he means to do anything,” Olivia retorted, digging into the sugar cone set out with their tea and scraping off more than she intended. She scooped it into her tea anyway.
Beast arched an eyebrow and grinned, apparently amused she was taking out her frustration on the innocent sugar cone. “There’s no harm in being cautious.”
“Besides, Beast is never wrong,” Thad said.
Lavinia cast him a worried look. “Oh, dear. Then you believe it, too, Thad? Our Olivia is in danger?”
Nathaniel added to the conversation. “Someone was there last night. Perhaps it was an innocent traveler seeking shelter for the night.”
Beast nodded. “Nothing appeared to be stolen, but one of the bedchambers had been disturbed. I still want Goose to be careful. No sleeping with your balcony doors open this evening.”
“The room will be stifling. I always sleep with them open.” But her protest was mild, for she understood the danger. “Betsy can spend the night with me.”
Beast leaned forward and frowned at her. “Your maid can’t protect you. Those doors stay closed. Promise me, Goose.”
She sighed. “Very well. I promise. But don’t be surprised if you find nothing but a puddle of melted ginger in a pool on my bed in the morning.”
“I have a better idea. I think you should sleep in my bed,” Penelope said. “You too, Poppy. It will be our last night together. We can snuggle as we used to do when we were younger.”
Lavinia cast them an indulgent look. “I think it’s a wonderful idea. Don’t you think so, Nathaniel? The girls will be easier to watch if they’re together.”
“And maybe we can keep my windows open since all three of us will be together and would hear any intruder,” Penelope added hopefully. “You’d only need to post a watch outside my bedchamber.”
Poppy clasped Olivia’s hand. “It will be fun. Please don’t fret, Olivia. I’m glad the truth is finally coming out. Beast, Nathaniel, and Thad will keep you safe. Of course, Penelope and I will do our best as well, but it isn’t quite the same as being protected by experienced soldiers.”
Olivia nodded, but her stomach was still in knots. Why would Lord Gosling send someone to harm her now? Why at all? Unless Lord Plimpton had been right about her father providing for her. It would mean Lord Gosling had been stealing from her all the while. If he’d found out Bow Street runners were starting to ask questions, that would account for his panic.
“What happens when we return to London tomorrow?” Poppy asked, nibbling her lip. “Olivia obviously can’t return to Lord Gosling.”
Everyone responded at once.
“She’ll stay with us,” Nathaniel said, sparing a glance at his sister who was nodding emphatically.
At the same time Matilda intoned, “She’ll stay with me.”
Beast responded similarly. “She’ll stay with Matilda.”
Poppy grinned. “Olivia, you have all the choices before you. Add mine, too. You can stay with me.”
Beast folded his arms across his chest. “No choices. It’s settled. She will remain with Matilda while we investigate her guardian.”
Olivia frowned. “But your aunt lives with you. I can’t reside under the same roof as you.”
He turned to her, his expression as determined as she’d ever seen him. “I’ll stay at one of my clubs. Once we return to London, you are not to go near the Gosling townhouse on your own. Understood?”
She nodded. “I’ll need to retrieve my clothes. And Beast, don’t you dare suggest I don’t need them because you’ll buy me a new wardrobe. I will not accept it.”
Beast was prowling back and forth in front of her now. “Then I’ll send the Bow Street runners to collect your gowns. You won’t go near that place.”
She rose to stand in front of him. “This is turning into precisely the mess I wished to avoid.”
He stopped and assumed his usual crossed-arm-over-chest stance. “No mess. You are not going back to him. Ever. Are we clear?”
“I am not one of your soldiers to order around.” She folded her arms to mimic him, but that only drew his gaze to her chest and he grinned in appreciation. She sighed and dropped her arms to her sides. “We’re clear. But you are still overbearing.”
“Are you packed?”
“Yes. Just about done. A few last items to stow away in the morning and then my trunk can be loaded onto one of the carriages.”
“My carriage,” Beast corrected. “I’ll be escorting you and my aunt to our townhouse.”
She glanced at Penelope. “Then I had better take my book and pack it away now. I don’t want to forget it in your bedchamber.”
Penelope drew back her chair. “I’ll get it. Where did you leave it?”
Olivia waved her down. “On your bureau, I think. I’ll run up and take care of it now.” She did not wait for a response, for she needed to be away from everyone’s prying eyes. She was on edge because of a lurking stranger who quite possibly did not exist, but everyone believed he did because of Beast’s intuition.
Now she was moving in with Matilda.
It felt awkward.
It all felt sudden and ill-conceived.
She turned on her heels and scurried upstairs, deciding to put the book under her reticule and take it in the carriage with her to read during tomorrow’s ride. Was there a section in it dedicated to stubborn men? Or how one got over a stubborn man who did not love her but insisted on keeping her under his roof?
Well, she’d be residing there as a guest of Matilda’s, but her home was Beast’s since he was now duke and had inherited all the wealth and entailed properties. As dowager, Matilda would have received a comfortable settlement and could have maintained her own residence, but Beast doted on his aunt and was not going to move her out of the lavish ducal home she had lived in for decades.
But if she was to move in there for weeks, perhaps for months, what would Beast do? He could not take up residence at one of his clubs indefinitely. She shook her head and sighed. They would figure it out once back in London and his Bow Street runners discovered more about her situation.
Shaking off her distraction, Olivia entered Penelope’s chamber and easily found the book. “You’d better have answers for me,” she muttered, giving it a pat before tucking it under her arm and walking next door to her room.
Penelope’s chamber had been sealed up and stifling, but there was a light breeze blowing through hers. “Betsy?” The room was dark, and since she was merely dropping the book on the chair where she’d left her reticule, she did not bother to light a candle.
But she paused by the door to glance around first and then frowned. The girl must have run off on an errand and would certainly be back shortly to finish up. Her trunk was still open and a few clothes remained strewn on her bed.
But she did not like that her balcony doors had been left open. After Beast’s stern lecture to everyone, Betsy should not have been so scatterbrained as to ignore the warning.
She hesitated another moment.
Then, worried the girl might get in trouble, she set down her book and crossed the room to shut them. She was about to do so when a large figure suddenly loomed in front of her. She tried to scream, but the villain reached out and covered her mouth with his filthy hand. He drew her hard up against him. “Lud! Ye’re not–”
She stomped on his foot and when he loosened his grip and howled, she poked her finger in his eye and then sla
mmed her elbow into his belly. “Beast! Beast! Help!”
The man released her and raced off, leaping down from her balcony and heading into the darkness.
She was scared witless and her heart felt as though it might burst, but she had to think clearly. She heard the thunder of footsteps coming up the stairs and knew Beast would be there within moments, so she hurried back toward the balcony to peer out of it, hoping to get a sense of the intruder’s direction as he ran off.
Her legs began to give way as soon as she reached it. She tried to lean on a nearby side table, but lost her balance and fell against it instead, spilling its contents, a vase, clock, and a charming ceramic dish, onto the floor.
The table made a soft thud as it toppled, and the delicate vase and dish merely dropped onto the carpet and fortunately did not shatter. The clock began to chime and would not stop.
As she bent to pick it up, her door slammed open so hard it flew off its hinges. Beast burst in. Thad and Nathaniel were right behind him. “Goose, what happened?”
“There was a man in here, but he ran off in the direction of Wellesford.” She pointed into the distance.
“We’ll get him,” Nathaniel said, and in the next moment, he and Thad leaped off her balcony to chase after the man.
“Did he hurt you?” Beast remained behind, hastily running his hands down her arms and taking a moment to study her to make certain she hadn’t been harmed. Then he searched her bedchamber to make certain no one else was lurking about.
“I’m all right.” But the violent shaking of her hands told otherwise.
“Let’s get you out of here.” He lifted her into his arms and carried her to Penelope’s room, setting her on the bed and then kneeling beside her. “You’re trembling. Can you tell me what happened?”
It took her a moment to gather her thoughts and find her voice, but she nodded. “He was on my balcony and must have pried open the doors.” She was afraid to mention that Betsy might have neglected to properly close them. “I thought I might have forgotten… when I went to close them, he clamped his hand over my mouth to quiet me. I managed to step on his foot and then I poked him in the eye.”
