by Lara Temple
‘What are you going to do? About Percy?’
‘As you suggested, send him, and Libbet, to Barbados. I will tell him today when he comes.’
She sighed.
‘I’m glad.’
He looked back at her with a wry smile.
‘You are incorrigible.’
‘So I am. However, this doesn’t solve our problem, does it? Now we have no idea who is behind the attacks and we have no apparent motive for them. We might as well be back with my theory of a Delacort-hating madman.’
‘Perhaps. But it is not our problem, but mine. Is there anywhere you could go and stay for a couple weeks outside of Mowbray? Perhaps with your sister or brother?’
‘What?’ she gasped, too surprised to hide it. ‘Why?’
‘Because Percy is a known quantity. If we take him out of the equation, we have to introduce an unknown quantity. And so far none of our other enquiries has borne fruit. Which makes me think we are dealing with someone a great deal cleverer than I had originally thought. I would be much easier if you were out of the line of fire for the moment.’
‘I am sorry I am so much in the way, Lord Delacort,’ she said coldly, moving ahead. They had reached the cottage gate and she opened it, but he reached out, stopping her.
‘You are not… Well, yes, you are, but don’t make it sound as if I am being ungrateful. I am very grateful for everything you have done for me, but I need to be focused on this problem completely and I can’t be if I have to worry about your welfare.’
‘No one asked you to worry about me.’
‘Don’t be facetious,’ he replied. ‘Of course I worry about you being hurt because of me. It would only be for a week or so. Please.’
‘Asking prettily does not make it any more acceptable, Lord Delacort!’
‘Just think about it for the moment. I will come to you after I speak with Percy and we will see what is to be done, all right?’
* * *
She looked up at him, her green eyes full of suspicion, and he wished she would smile at him again. That open, accepting, enfolding smile she had flashed up at him before he had ruined it. It had caught him off guard, like a soft warm hand reaching through a thicket of brambles. He had been unarmed and unprepared for the burst of emotion it had evoked. He could still feel its aftermath, like a sharp, bitter thorn lodged at his centre, unwilling to be ignored.
He wanted to say something else to her, but she promptly stepped through the gate, closing it behind her with a snap, and strode off towards the cottage without another word.
Adam watched her disappear and then swung on to Thunder’s back, turning him towards the Hall. He rubbed his chest as if that could dispel the stabbing ache, resisting the urge to go back to her and…and what?
He had no idea what had just happened, just that her smile had prised open a Pandora’s Box and there was no going back. He had no idea how this need had come to dominate everything else. It was ludicrous and irrational. And undeniable. And irrelevant. Because if he was not safe, there was no point in even considering any of this. If he could not lift this cloud that hung over him, there was no way he could drag her under it even if she was willing. And he had no real idea if she was. The wild girl might enjoy his seduction and the little crusader enjoy championing him, but he knew there was much more to her than those two extremes of her nature.
He wanted the warm, generous woman who had just smiled up at him on the lane with a powerful need he could hardly believe was something that existed inside him. He leaned forward, stroking Thunder’s neck, as if that could calm the rush of heat and desire that struck him, leaving him mute and confused under its control.
He wanted to go back and force himself, and her, to deal with what was happening, but he knew he couldn’t, not yet. Right now he just had to make certain she was protected from what he was about to set in motion. She was obviously hurt and angry at him, but he could not let that weigh with him at the moment. Once she calmed down, she would see he was right.
In any case, if his suspicion was correct, which was doubtful, he might know within the week. And until then he had to have her safe, away from Mowbray. Because every time he let his fear for her dominate him, he made mistakes. Like that night in the woods. Even this afternoon when he had come to call on her and Betsy had innocently revealed Percy had come looking for her as well. He had made that short ride into town in record time and, until he had seen her safe and sound at Milsom’s, he had been possessed by sharp clawing fear he’d never experienced before. No matter what he told himself, that it made no sense that she should be in any danger, he could not stamp out the fear that something would happen to her, because of him. And that was not acceptable.
It had never been so imperative to resolve this issue. Permanently. Because for the first time he admitted he had no intention of leaving Mowbray. Even with all the madness and the absurdity of his situation, he felt comfortable here, a completely unfamiliar sensation. At home in a way he could not remember ever feeling, not even as a child. Because of her. He had to fix this. And then, once it was over, he had to find out how she felt.
He knew that aside from often being exasperated with him, she did like him, was even attracted to him, but perhaps she knew him too well to feel anything more profound. Sometimes he thought she regarded him as no more than the object of her latest quest, a useful distraction from reality. He would have to make certain he was more than that. Because he now knew he wanted everything from her. Whatever it took.
He must have tightened his hands on the reins for Thunder whinnied in protest. Adam leaned forward and patted his neck apologetically.
‘Sorry, old boy. You wouldn’t mind if we stayed here, would you? It would be a relief not to be moved about all the time. I’d find you a nice mare and we’d see if you can sire anything half as fast as you.’
Thunder ignored the suggestion but allowed Adam to urge him into a canter.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Adam glanced up from the papers on his desk at the knock on his door.
‘Come in,’ he called and Stebbins opened the door.
‘Mr Somerton, Lord Delacort,’ he said with a slight bow. Standing, he stood back to let Percy in.
Adam stood and motioned Percy towards two armchairs placed by the large fireplace. He appeared to have sobered up and looked as neat as always, but there was a still a slight flush on his face, making him look younger and less urbane than usual. Adam noted he was also wearing a much more subdued waistcoat than normal. He sat down and Percy rushed to speak.
‘Listen, I wanted to apologise for this morning. I was a bit under the hatches, you know, Dutch courage and all that. I hope I didn’t offend Miss Drake. Never meant to do that.’
Adam did not particularly want to discuss Alyssa with Percy. He sat down on the other armchair.
‘I don’t think she was offended, Percy. Shall we get down to business?’
Percy laughed uncomfortably and rubbed his palms over his pale yellow pantaloons.
‘You always were direct. Very well. It’s up to you anyway. I told you I don’t need much, just enough to get me started. Will you do it?’
‘I will. I will provide you with enough blunt to get you and Libbet to Barbados and set up there. In addition, I own a property in Jamaica which is currently under the management of a local agent and yields an income of around eight hundred pounds a year. I will sign this income over to you on condition that neither you nor Libbet ever return to England without my express permission. If you do, the deal is off. Understood?’
Percy stared at him.
‘That’s more than I expected,’ he said with unusual honesty.
‘Do you want it or not?’
‘Yes. Of course I do.’
‘And you accept my condition? About you and Libbet?’
&nb
sp; ‘Of course!’ he repeated with growing enthusiasm. Adam scanned the good-looking, eager face across from him.
‘It must have been a sore disappointment when you realised I had come into the title and estate,’ he stated abruptly and Percy’s eagerness dimmed under the weight of a bemused frown.
‘A disappointment? But I always knew you would inherit. You were next in line, so it stands to reason. In fact, I always thought you were the most likely of the lot of us to settle down and have a brood of brats, whatever everyone thought. You always were the serious, bookish one. And I was right, too, in the end, wasn’t I?’
‘So you didn’t want the title yourself?’
‘Me? Not to say I wouldn’t have liked the money, if it didn’t mean doing all the work. But the place was a shambles and costing more than it gave out, so it would only have meant a lot of headaches and having to deal with things I know nothing about. Timothy and Ivor always complained everyone was always after them to take care of this or that…crop rotations and livestock and tenants hounding them with grievances. I like not having to think about things like that. Not in my line at all. I just wanted things back the way they were…’
Adam considered this ingenious attitude. He was not surprised at Percy’s combination of modesty and venality. It suited his understanding of his cousin much more than the image he had tried to construct of a clever, patient plotter. He changed the subject.
‘Will Libbet want to go with you?’
Percy looked surprised.
‘I should think so. Been with us for ever.’
‘He was your father’s valet, as well?’
Percy grimaced.
‘He was. Took over from his own father when old Libbet passed. Don’t think my father was very fond of him, or vice versa. He abused Libbet roundly, but he knew his worth, especially since we couldn’t afford many servants. Well, he abused everyone. Mama most of all. Don’t know if you remember her.’
‘I do, vaguely. We came to the Hall one Christmas long before we moved to Mowbray. I remember thinking she looked like an angel.’
‘She did, didn’t she? Never should have married my father, but she was barely seventeen when they handed her over to him. He had these moods. She knew when they were coming and she’d take me up to Libbet’s room and tell him to keep me safe until it was over. I suppose it became a habit with him, looking after me. Or maybe because Mama was always kind to him. Never treated him like he was beneath her. She was a good woman.’
He rubbed one finger moodily along the silver stem of his quizzing glass.
‘I remember her telling me about Barbados. How much she missed it. Said she would take me there one day.’
‘And now you’re going.’ Adam said quietly and Percy’s expression lifted.
‘So I am. Strange world. So what do I do now?’
‘Now I will have Thorpe draw up and deliver a draft on my bank in Oxford. He will also accompany you and Libbet to Bristol and will book you on a ship to the West Indies. Be ready to go by the end of the week.’
‘So soon?’ Percy gaped at him and Adam nodded.
‘So soon. Any objection?’
‘No…no.’ He grinned suddenly. ‘Dash it all, I’m looking forward to this! I’ve never been further than London. What an adventure! I think I’ll like it much better than being married!’
Adam almost smiled at Percy’s ingenious take on his offer. He stood up and extended his hand.
‘You had better go and tell Libbet, then, and start packing.’
‘I will.’ He shook Adam’s hand and wandered out, looking slightly stunned. Adam closed the door behind him. He had a great deal to take care of in a short amount of time. Perhaps he should have waited until the following day, but he could not count on his antagonist waiting on his pleasure.
He hoped Nicholas would return soon; he would need him at his back now. He headed out towards the stables. He needed to see Jem. And then he needed to convince Alyssa to leave as soon as possible. It would be too late for her to set out today, but tomorrow morning would have to do. He would send her in the Delacort carriage. There would be nothing unusual about that, since they were engaged. That way he could have Jem go with her and keep an eye on her until she was safely away. Just in case.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Half an hour later he hitched Thunder up in his favourite corner in the orchard and headed towards the cottage. Alyssa answered his knock.
‘Have you seen Percy already?’ she asked immediately.
‘May I come in or shall we do this on the doorstep?’ he enquired politely.
She stood back, her dimple flashing. Apparently she had recovered from her annoyance, or at least it was subordinate to her curiosity for the moment.
‘Do, pray come in, sir,’ she said graciously and led the way into her back parlour. ‘Well? Did you?’
She sat down and clasped her hands, looking up at him as expectantly as a little girl awaiting a gift. He looked down at her, wishing he could just forget everything and sit down next to her, take her hands and convince her she needed to be with him. He intended to do whatever it took to make it clear to her this engagement was no longer a sham. But right now the most important thing was to keep her safe.
‘I did,’ he replied.
‘And?’
‘And he has agreed to go to Barbados. With Libbet.’
‘For a price.’
‘Of course.’
‘I see. And you are quite convinced it isn’t him?’
‘Yes.’
Her shoulders sagged slightly.
‘So…what now?’
He took a deep breath. There was no way around this.
‘Now you go somewhere for a few days until I can figure out what is to be done next.’
Her reaction was as he’d expected. Her eyes darkened to forest green and her mouth flattened ominously.
‘No. I told you, you can’t just pack me off somewhere. I am not your property.’
‘I am not packing you off. I am asking you, as a favour, to please go and stay with your brother or sister, just for a few days. Please.’
Her glare didn’t lighten, but when she did not answer he pressed forward, keeping his voice calm.
‘This has nothing to do with not wanting you here, or not wanting you to interfere. Whether you accept it or not, the fact that you are at risk because of me is a distraction. And when I am distracted I might make mistakes. I don’t want to make a mistake that might put you at further risk—’
He broke off at the sound of the squealing gate and footsteps hurrying up the path to the house.
‘For heaven’s sake, can’t we have one conversation without someone interrupting?’ he said, exasperated.
Alyssa didn’t answer but stood up and went to the door just as Betsy knocked and opened it. She glanced in and seeing Adam she flushed and bobbed a curtsy, handing Alyssa a sealed letter.
‘Mr Curtis said you hurried out so quickly this morning he did not get a chance to give you this letter, miss. It’s been franked! By a lord!’ She giggled and backed out rapidly.
Alyssa, who had taken it from her with a puzzled frown, smiled suddenly.
‘It’s from Charlie! It was franked by…I can’t quite make out the name… Lord Barsford? Oh, could you wait just one moment? I must see if everything is all right.’
She didn’t wait for his approval and Adam smiled ruefully. Clearly he would not get any attention from her until she found out if her little brother was well. Perhaps the interruption was well timed. It would give a chance for her temper to cool and for her to absorb what he’d said.
She broke the seal and frowned at the scrawled lines. He watched her face—the soft parting of her lips as she smiled at something in the letter, the way her thick lashes met and t
hen finally swept upwards, revealing her amazing eyes, liquid and inviting in a way she was completely unconscious of.
‘He’s writing in response to my letter about Mary,’ she explained, her eyes twinkling with amusement. ‘He says he hopes Mary will have a fine time up at the Lake District and that he hopes she meets “a fellow worthy of her” and then he proceeds to tell me what a marvellous time he is having with the Barsfords who live near Ely. He thinks that I would like them and particularly Miss Barsford, who knows Greek and Aramaic and is a “devilish good horsewoman, too”. Which explains all, I suppose. Must I admit you were right about my foolishness in trying to endow poor Charlie with my silly notions of love?’
She folded the letter and sighed, but the dimple was still there. Again he stopped himself from reaching out to touch her. Under the amusement she looked more vulnerable than ever, as if in discarding his first love so easily, Charlie had somehow betrayed her rather than Mary. He moved towards her.
‘Simply because he is enjoying a series of infatuations doesn’t mean he is suddenly the authority on whether you ought to believe in love or not.’
She fingered the folded letter and laughed slightly.
‘That, coming from you? But you are right again, I suppose. And it is too late for me anyway…’
She spoke lightly, but there was something in her voice which sharpened his senses, as if the danger was present right there in the room with them. When he spoke, his voice was harsher than he intended.
‘What do you mean?’
She looked up, surprised.
‘Nothing.’
‘Not nothing. What did you mean? Are you in love with someone?’
She blinked and looked down, but he had seen the sudden glaze of tears.
‘It was years ago,’ she said simply, but her voice was husky and everything changed. He felt very far away, as if the room had suddenly expanded and he could see everything at a distance. He saw her, whom he had ridiculed for wanting to love, who did love… And there was an echoing, childish denial that spoke in him.
