by Meara Platt
“I don’t mind staying at my club until we’re married, Goose. I’ll be coming and going at all hours these next few days. It’ll be easier for all. Of course, my Bow Street runners will be watching over you whenever I’m not around.”
She nodded and settled on the emerald silk settee beside Matilda, not knowing what else to say. It all felt so rushed to her, not for herself. Being with Beast felt very right. But he was the one being pushed toward marriage, and she did not want him to regret his decision once it was too late to do anything about it.
If only they had more time.
But that was the one thing they lacked.
Beast took a matching chair opposite hers, not looking at all put upon or concerned. “You’ll get used to this place, Goose. And don’t think you’re kicking me out of my own home. I often stay over at my club. This is nothing unusual.”
“All that will change once you are married, of course,” Matilda said with a casual wave of her hand. “I’ll retire to the country–”
“Only if you wish to,” Olivia hurried to assure her. “I would love to have you with us. That is…” She should not have spoken without consulting Beast. This was his home to do with as he pleased. She cleared her throat. “What I mean is, if my opinion is sought, then I’d like to be clear that Matilda is most welcome to stay.”
“I hope I am as enthusiastically received,” Beast teased.
Olivia shook her head and laughed softly. “I’ll think about it.”
“You do that.” He took her hand in his and tossed her a private look that was quite wicked and full of promise. “In the meanwhile, I’ll attend to the business of securing the special license and paying a call on your guardian. I’ll see you later this evening.”
Her momentary merriment fled. “Oh, Beast. Do be careful.”
He caressed her cheek. “Don’t wait up for me. I may run late. If so, I’ll go straight to my club and come around to see you in the morning.”
“I’ll wait up for you. Stop by whenever you’ve finished.” She wanted to see him, needed to be certain no harm had come to him. She did not trust her guardian.
He drank the last of his tea and then rose to bid them both farewell. “Don’t see me to the door, Goose. And don’t fret if I fail to stop by this evening. I have plenty to do. I promise to come around first thing in the morning.”
Matilda turned to her once Beast had gone. “Honestly, the man must stop calling you Goose. It will slip out in public one day and we’ll never hear the end of it.”
Olivia managed a chuckle, but she could not hide her worry now or later when Beast did not return by suppertime. He’d warned her his duties would delay him.
Still, she’d hoped.
Supper was a quiet affair, she and Matilda dining in the summer parlor that overlooked a neatly maintained garden. The roses were in full splendor at this time of year and Olivia was enchanted.
She also enjoyed getting to know Matilda better and could see why Beast doted on her. She was fiercely protective and affectionate toward those she loved. Olivia wasn’t quite certain what she had done to gain Matilda’s favor, but was glad they got along well. The dowager would have been a formidable adversary had she taken a dislike to Beast’s intended bride.
When the grandfather clock in the drawing room chimed ten o’clock, Matilda could no longer hold off her exhaustion and excused herself. “Olivia, you ought to retire as well. Beast is not likely to stop by tonight. He’ll report any news to us in the morning.”
Olivia nodded, but was too much on edge to sleep. However, she took pity on the maid assigned to assist her. She accompanied Matilda upstairs, but only for the purpose of dismissing the girl for the evening.
Having changed out of her travel gown after tea earlier in the day and donned one of her simpler, formal gowns, a delicate ecru silk that had few buttons or laces, she had no need of assistance. Although she had not thought of it at the time, it would also offer little impediment should Beast return tonight and wish to… she dared not finish the thought.
Matilda cast her a knowing grin. “Sweet dreams, Olivia.”
Drat, she really ought to learn to hide her feelings. “Thank you for everything, Matilda.”
She hurried downstairs to the library to bury her nose in a book. If Beast did not return by midnight, she would go to bed.
But she hoped he would come before then.
As the midnight hour approached, Olivia gave up hope. She shut the book she had been reading, if one could call falling asleep in one’s chair before finishing the first page, reading. It hardly counted as that. Setting it aside, she muffled a yawn along with her disappointment.
She was about to rise when the library door opened and Beast strode in. “Collingsworth said I’d find you in here,” he said, referring to his valet. Olivia had met the man earlier this evening when introduced to the staff.
Beast came to her side and cast her an appealing grin. “I’m glad you waited up for me. Although you look as though I just woke you from a dead sleep.”
She laughed and rose to meet his outstretched arms. “These elegant leather chairs are quite comfortable. It took me less than a paragraph to fall into oblivion. But I hoped you’d stop by. I missed you, Beast. It’s silly, isn’t it? We were together all week and only apart for an evening.”
“Not silly. I felt the same. My news could have waited until tomorrow. But I was eager to look upon your lovely face. The Book of Love exerting its force on me again, I suppose.”
“Ah, the higher brain function at work. Do you recall the words? You don’t have to be beautiful, just beautiful to the one you love.”
“You are beautiful by any measure. But you grow even lovelier every time I see you.” He lowered his mouth to hers and gave her a long, lingering kiss that turned her legs to pudding. “I’ll never grow tired of this,” she said in a breathless whisper.
“Nor will I.” He eased back and patted his breast pocket. “I have the special license.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, my goodness. Now this feels very real.”
He frowned. “And it didn’t before? Did you think I’d beg off?”
“No, but can you blame me for having to pinch myself? Look at you, England’s most sought-after bachelor.” She waved her hand. “And this place. It’s magnificent and elegant and perfect. Within the span of a week, I’ve gone from a living nightmare into this dream.”
She sighed and continued. “What did Lord Gosling say to you? Did you have the chance to speak to him?”
“No, he wasn’t at home.”
“Oh.” She did not bother to hide her disappointment since Beast always knew what she was thinking anyway. “Did the bounder slip out the back way to avoid you? I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“No, he was already out of the house. I’ve had my Bow Street runners watching him.” He nudged her back into her chair and took the one beside her as they continued their discussion. “They weren’t there either, so they must have followed him when he stepped out.”
“I wonder where he went.”
“Nowhere sinister, I expect. Gentlemen usually stop by their clubs in the evening.” He ran a hand through his thick mane. “I won’t have time to see him tomorrow before Lord Forster’s ball. Prinny has summoned me.”
“Again?”
Beast nodded. “He’ll keep summoning me until I apologize for refusing to marry the Austrian princess, no matter that he now realizes it was a mistake and no one ever thought it was a good idea in the first place. Still, he wants me to kiss his royal arse. I’m not going to do it. So, I expect I’ll be stuck at St. James’s all day.”
“Like an errant schoolboy forced to stay after class.”
He shrugged and stretched his long legs before him. “I’ll pay your guardian a call the day after tomorrow. It will also give me time to speak to Homer Barrow, my Bow Street man. He’ll give me a full report. I’ll also arrange to meet your father’s solicitor. Might as well gather as much information as I can
if I’m to wait a few more days before confronting Lord Gosling.”
“Do be careful, Beast. He’s a wicked and desperate man.”
He grinned. “So am I. While I may appear calm on the outside, I am a volcano about to erupt. I’m aching to have my way with you, Goose. You look delicious.”
She shook her head and laughed. “You must be hungry, indeed. Have you eaten since we stopped at the Black Swan at midday?”
He nodded. “I dined with Prinny. He served a succulent breast of goose. Made me think of you. I savored every bite.”
She laughed again. “I hope you were not as obvious as Pip was that night at Sherbourne Manor. He slobbered over his bite of goose.”
“I was much worse. I licked every bit of it off my fork. Made overt love to my fork.”
Olivia emitted a snorting chuckle, but after a moment, she turned serious. “Beast, I appreciate everything you’re doing. But I feel so useless. What can I do to help?”
“Nothing yet. Just stay safe. Remain here with Matilda. Don’t go out. I’ll come by tomorrow evening to escort you both to the ball.”
She nibbled her lip, fretting again. “What if the prince keeps you too late?”
Beast tucked his finger under her chin and drew her gaze to his. “You are going to chew a hole in that very pretty lip of yours if you don’t stop worrying. If I’m late, I’ll send word to Thad to escort you. He plans to meet me here anyway.”
“I suppose I’ll be occupied with the modiste most of the day. She’s coming around noontime with cloth samples and an entourage of workers. I’m told nothing less than the best will do for a new duchess.”
“You don’t seem pleased.”
“It feels odd, that’s all. Matilda wants me to wear one of your family heirloom necklaces, her way of announcing to the world I’m about to marry you. I’m not the Duchess of Hartford yet. It feels presumptuous. And what if the Prince Regent refuses to give his permission? My guardian isn’t the only one we have to worry about.”
“We’ll compromise. I’ll buy you a new necklace to wear to the ball.”
She did not know whether to laugh or groan. “Oh, excellent. Then they’ll believe I’m your mistress.”
“Nothing of the sort. You’ll walk in with Matilda even if I’m not there to escort you. She’ll lend respectability to your status.” He drew her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her. “Goose…”
She melted into his embrace. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine, no matter what happens.”
“What will happen is you will become my wife. No one is going to stop me.”
“I could stop you.” Although his arms were as solid as iron bands, he held her gently. “You know I won’t allow you to be ruined over me.”
“Women are ruined. Men are always forgiven their vices.” He bent his head to hers and kissed her with ravenous longing, his lips warm and crushing against hers.
She returned his kiss with equal ardor, for there was no other way she would ever respond to him.
He had her heart.
Always and forever.
To her surprise, he ended the kiss with a whispered groan. “You are too much temptation. I had better go.”
“Must you? So soon?”
“Yes.” He still held her in his embrace, but eased his hold on her. “I will not have you outside of marriage. When I claim you, it shall be in our marriage bed and you shall be my wife.”
She smothered her disappointment. “Is it because you’re worried our marriage might never take place?”
He kissed her again, cupping her cheek and gently running his thumb along it. “Not worried. It will happen. Even if we have to make a run for it and elope to Gretna Green. Are you up for the mad dash north?”
She smiled and rested her head against his shoulder, loving his strength and the masculine heat of him. “A Scottish wedding. I hear they’re the best.”
*
Beast was a member of many clubs, but his favorite was Whitcomb’s in St. Giles, not far from Holborn and Chancery Lane. It was an elegant club and well maintained, but there were only a few guest chambers available for members who wished to stay overnight. Those accommodations usually remained empty in the summer, for most members were in residence with their families during the Season, and those who had no daughters of age to make their come-out usually spent their summers in the country.
So, it came as no surprise to Beast that he was the only one staying overnight.
He enjoyed the privacy, especially since he’d arranged to meet Homer Barrow there this morning to hear his report. Depending on what the man told him, he would either meet next with Goose’s family attorney or head straight to the Gosling’s townhouse to confront her guardian.
“Mr. Barrow, do come in,” he said, motioning for the runner to enter the private meeting room he had reserved for them. “Would you care for a cup of coffee?”
“Thank you, Your Grace. That would be quite welcome.” The man took the offered seat across the table from Beast and accepted the cup handed to him by one of the club’s stewards.
Beast waited for the steward to leave and then turned to his investigator. “What have you found out, Mr. Barrow?”
“There’s dodgy business going on for certain, Your Grace. I’m not certain yet whether the solicitor, Sir Winston Aubrey, is involved or if he’s another victim. He failed to show up at his office yesterday. His clerks are concerned. He had appointments that he missed and they say it isn’t like him to forget. I sent my associate, Mick, around to his home to question his family. They’re gone as well.”
The man paused to sip his coffee. “I doubt they were all abducted. There would be some trace. But they might have gone into hiding. The question is, are they hiding from you or from Lord Gosling?”
“What do you think, Mr. Barrow?”
“Haven’t quite made up my mind yet, Your Grace. Right now, I’m inclined to believe he is hiding from Lord Gosling, afraid the viscount means to kill him in order to silence him. His clerks mentioned his office had been broken into several days ago, but they don’t think the culprits found what they were after.”
Beast arched an eyebrow. “The old Viscount Gosling’s testament? Or perhaps certain trust documents or financial records?”
His companion nodded. “They were forthcoming when I mentioned your name and were eager to assist in clearing up this mystery. They like their employer. They don’t believe he was involved in anything underhanded. But I’ve been around too long to accept their word for it. Some men can appear pious as saints, but they’re up to their elbows in dirt.”
Beast nodded.
“They gave me the name of the bank where Lady Olivia’s trust account is established and the banker in charge.”
Beast quirked an eyebrow. “She has a trust account?”
“With the Royal Bank of London. That’s what Sir Winston’s clerks say. What’s more, they claim the income from her investments is deposited monthly into that trust account. It is managed by the solicitor, not Lord Gosling. However, as her guardian, Lord Gosling has access to the funds and frequently dips into it. More so this year, but they all believed the income was spent on Lady Olivia’s entrance into Society.”
Beast grunted. “It wasn’t.”
“I’ll be speaking with the bank manager this morning to confirm all this. However, if you were to join me, I’m certain the gentleman would be far more forthcoming with the details.”
“I’ll make the time for it.” Beast checked his pocket watch. “The bank should open within the hour. We’ll stop by my townhouse and pick up Lady Olivia, then ride straight there. I think she’ll be interested in speaking with the manager.”
“Very well, Your Grace.”
Mr. Barrow did not appear at all concerned about bringing Goose along, nor did Beast feel apprehensive about it. She’d felt frustrated about being unable to help him, and this was a perfect way to expedite the investigation and safely bring her in on their progress. He wanted h
er to know what had been going on with her assets. In truth, he’d never been the sort to shield anyone, male or female, from the truth.
Information was power, and he wanted Goose to have all the power necessary to protect herself against her guardian. Of course, he intended to be at her side to protect her. But nothing in life was ever certain. “She has an appointment with her modiste at midday, so we’ll drop her back home and then I’d like us to stop by Sir Winston’s office to review the trust documents. A cursory review. I’ll have my own solicitors look over her father’s affairs in greater depth. His testament, his investments, the assets comprising his estate, those entailed and those he was free to give to Lady Olivia. Now tell me, what have you learned about Lord Gosling himself?”
Mr. Barrow shook his head sadly. “The man ran up significant debts from a string of bad investments, but he’s been paying them off suddenly. However, they’re massive, and Lord Marston holds the bulk of the debt vouchers.”
“Marston?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“That’s why he’s been visiting the Gosling townhouse recently.”
“Lord Marston’s been talking at the gaming tables, as well. I had one of my men follow him yesterday.” Mr. Barrow ran a hand across the nape of his neck. “He’s a recently widowed gentleman, and…”
Beast leaned forward, scowling. “And he wants Olivia.”
“Aye, he’ll forgive Lord Gosling’s debts if he gives her over to him.”
“Bastard. And Gosling will do it, too. We can’t give him the opportunity.” He’d take her to Gretna Green, if necessary. He hoped it wouldn’t be. The special license was burning a hole in his pocket. All he needed was Prinny’s consent and that would override any objections Gosling might express.
He swallowed hard, knowing what he needed to do. Apologize to Prinny. Get down on his damn knees and beg for this favor.
Kiss his pasty, royal arse.
“Let’s go, Mr. Barrow. We have much to accomplish this morning.”
Chapter Seventeen
Olivia’s heart fluttered when she heard Beast’s voice in the entry hall. She was seated alone in the summer salon, Matilda’s intimate reception room, having a cup of hot chocolate and enjoying a quiet moment before diving into the day’s activities. The ball was this evening. Madame de Bressard, London’s most sought after modiste, was coming to see her at noon.
