The Most to Lose

by Landon, Laura

Four ceiling-to-floor windows framed either side of a monstrous front door, and several servants waited in line to assist the earl’s guests. The only person she recognized was Jonah’s London butler, Bundy.

  “Are you terribly disappointed?” Jonah whispered before he released her hand.

  “Oh.” She breathed a deep sigh and gave him the warmest smile she could offer. “Not at all. I have just fallen in love with your home. As I fear I’m likely to do with its master.”

  He paused, then brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them. “You have no idea how happy you make me.”

  “That is my intention, my lord.”

  The gentle pressure of his fingers sent heated waves rushing to every part of her body. Hadleigh’s harsh voice, however, doused her emotions.

  “Cecelia, you are blocking the exit and I’m in desperate need of a breath of fresh air. I’ve spent enough time trading insults with your friend.”

  Celie and Jonah both laughed, then stepped away from the carriage to let her brother step down. Jonah moved to assist Amanda, probably because he was afraid Hadleigh wouldn’t perform the honors. But years of training came to the forefront and Hadleigh did the honors.

  “Welcome to Haywood Abbey,” Jonah said when they’d exited the carriage. “Much needs to be done to restore the Abbey to its former grandeur, but as you can see, it won’t be long before it will be a home of which I can once again be proud.”

  Another rush of warmth settled over her, but as before, her brother put a damper on her feelings.

  “All I can say, Haywood, is that it’s a good thing Hadleigh Manor is close by. I would hate to think of the four of us having to stay here overnight. With so many workmen making such incessant noise, I doubt it’s habitable.”

  “I agree it will likely be quite noisy, but I assure you it’s not so bad that we won’t be able to enjoy ourselves while we’re here.”

  A palpable tension arched between the two men, and Celie stepped forward in an attempt to ease the situation. “Well, I, for one, cannot wait to see your home. Will you take us inside?”

  She reached for Jonah’s arm and walked with him up the paved walkway that led to the steps. She assumed Hadleigh would escort Amanda, then thought better of her assumption and turned around to make sure.

  She wasn’t sure what happened next, but without warning, a muffed pop echoed behind her. Jonah pulled her to the ground as a sharp sound whistled past her ear. She heard a crackling thud against the bricks at the front of the house, then experienced a sharp bite, as if she’d just been stung by a bee.

  She tried to grab at her arm, but she couldn’t reach it. Jonah had her confined beneath him.

  “Are you all right?” he whispered in her ear.

  “Yes, I think so.”

  “Then get ready to move. When I release you, get up as quickly as you can. I’m going to pick you up and carry you into the house.”

  “I can run myself, Jonah.”

  “No. I need to keep you in front of me. It’s the only way I can protect you. Hadleigh,” Jonah ordered, “can you see to Lady Amanda?”

  “Yes.”

  “Ready?”

  “Yes.”

  “Now!”

  His weight lifted off her, and she rose to her feet as fast as her bulky skirts would allow. In one swift motion, Jonah swung her into his arms and ran with her up the steps and into the house. Hadleigh and Amanda followed on their heels. Before Jonah set her on the floor, Bundy slammed the door shut.

  “Did you see anything, Bundy?”

  “Some movement to your right, in those trees. But they weren’t close enough to see them clearly. There’s nothing moving there now. Looks like maybe they’re gone already.”

  “Take some men with you and see if you can find anything.”

  “Right, Cap’n.”

  Bundy and three workers raced through the door.

  Jonah slowly lowered Celie to the floor. The minute her feet hit the marble stone in the foyer, her knees buckled beneath her and everything went dark.

  “Celie!”

  Chapter 14

  Jonah sat close to the sofa where Celie lay and watched her eyes slowly open. He was never so relieved in his life as he was the moment she showed signs of regaining consciousness.

  “What happened?”

  He leaned forward and took her hands. “You fainted.”

  “That’s ridiculous. I never faint.”

  He wanted to laugh at her fierce denial, but knew laughter was a release for the terror he felt because she’d been shot. He feared if he started laughing, he’d never stop—at least not until he killed someone.

  “Did someone shoot at me?”

  “No, Celie. It was an accident. No one would try to hurt you.”

  “It took me by surprise.”

  “It took us all by surprise. Are you in pain?”

  “No. No. I hardly feel anything.” She looked down at the bandage on her arm. “Did you do this?”

  He nodded. “It wasn’t much more than a scratch, but I wrapped it with a sizable bandage so you could boast about it to Lady Amanda.”

  She gave him a pained grimace. “How considerate of you.”

  He wasn’t sure how he was able to keep a smile on his face while he looked at her, but even the fake humor he wore evaporated the minute he cast a glance at Hadleigh.

  The duke sat on the other side of the room in the same spot where he’d been since Jonah had finished dressing Celie’s wound. Amanda busied herself at the tea tray one of the servants brought in along with some pastries. She’d been uncommonly quiet since the shooting.

  Jonah was glad she’d taken over the role of hostess, although he didn’t know if she kept busy because she was too nervous to sit quietly or if occupying herself was the most inconspicuous way to avoid Hadleigh.

  Whatever the reason, Jonah considered her decision to stay far away from the volatile duke a wise choice. The fierce scowl on his face matched a volcanic temper Jonah feared might erupt at any moment.

  “I’d like to sit up,” Celie said.

  “No!” they all shouted at the same time.

  “I think you should lie still a little longer.” Jonah kept his voice soft. His gentle suggestion was an attempt to mollify everyone’s explosive reaction. “You don’t want to get up too quickly. You might faint again.”

  “Oh, for pity’s sake.” She lowered her head back to the pillow and dropped her hands to either side of her body. “It’s nothing more than a scratch. You said so yourself. Besides, I feel fine now.”

  Jonah sat in the chair beside the sofa and took her hand. “But you fainted. That scared several years off my life.”

  “There’s nothing to worry about now, though. I’m fine.”

  “Just lie there a few more minutes. Then you can get up.”

  “Oh, very well. Amanda!” Celie said her friend’s name loud enough that Amanda put down the pot of tea and came to the sofa. “Watch the clock. I’ll act the part of an invalid exactly five more minutes. Not one second more. I’m counting on you to tell me when my sentence is up.”

  “Very well, Celie. I’ll begin—now.”

  As if Amanda’s countdown were more than Hadleigh could tolerate, he bolted from the chair and stormed toward the door.

  “Haywood, we need to talk. Now!”

  Jonah knew this was coming. He expected Hadleigh to explode like a lit powder keg and couldn’t blame him for his reaction. He’d feel just as angry if the roles were reversed. Unfortunately, Jonah didn’t have any answers to calm the duke’s anger.

  He lowered his gaze to Celie’s worried expression and smiled. “I’ll be right back.”

  “He’s angry, Jonah. Don’t let him—”

  “It’s all right, Celie. Everything will be fine.”

  He followed Hadleigh out of the room, then gently closed the door behind him.

  The two made their way down the hallway, and when Jonah reached a room far enough away from where Celie was, he stopped. H
is hope was that if—no, his hope was that when—Hadleigh raised his voice, the anger wouldn’t reach where Celie was resting.

  Jonah opened a door to the room his father had used as a study and entered. He barely had the door shut before Hadleigh’s booming voice bellowed his first accusation.

  “What the hell have you gotten yourself into? Do you realize that Cecelia could have been killed! So help me, if you’re involved in something illegal, you won’t have to worry about your enemies killing you. I’ll do it myself!”

  Jonah tried not to let the fury raging inside him get out of control but knew it wouldn’t take much to lose his temper. He had to remind himself that Hadleigh was angry out of concern for Celie. He decided it was best to let him get the rage out of his system so they could sit down and rationally discuss who might be responsible for shooting at them.

  He walked past Hadleigh to the side table and poured two generous glasses of whiskey. When he finished, he placed one on the fireplace mantel near Hadleigh’s tightly clenched fist and took the other one with him. Without answering Hadleigh’s accusations, he sat in one of the dark leather wing chairs in front of the mammoth desk that had been his father’s and lifted his glass to his mouth.

  He’d barely taken a sip when there was a knock on the door. Bundy entered.

  “What did you find?” Jonah asked.

  “You can see where the blackguard kept his horse. The grass is eaten short as if whoever it was waited a long time for you to arrive.”

  “So it had to be someone who knew we were coming?”

  “Yes, Cap’n. That would be my guess.”

  “But we only decided to make the trip ourselves two days ago. That’s hardly time for too many to find out about it. And I didn’t see anyone last night to tell them. Did you, Hadleigh?”

  “Of course not! What are you accusing me of?”

  “Nothing. I’m simply trying to discover who might have known we were coming.”

  “That’s easy to answer,” Hadleigh said. “Gossip travels from one house to the next through the servants. Any number of people could have discovered we were traveling today, both here and in London. The greater question is, what enemies have you made who are desperate enough to see you dead and are willing to take the lives of anyone who associates with you?”

  Jonah’s temper snapped. “I don’t know! I can’t think of anyone—except you!”

  “You bloody bastard!” Hadleigh rushed from where he stood by the fireplace toward Jonah.

  Jonah jumped to his feet. He readied himself for the fight he’d looked forward to having for more than three years.

  He anticipated any excuse to beat Hadleigh to a bloody pulp. He ached for an excuse to release the years of pent-up anger and frustration he’d endured for the hell Hadleigh had put him through. He was finally going to get his wish.

  He rushed toward Hadleigh with his fists ready to smash into Hadleigh’s face. He would enjoy the feel of his knuckles grinding against the duke’s soft flesh. Of the crunching of Hadleigh’s bones, of cartilage shifting in Hadleigh’s face. He pulled back his fist in anticipation and—

  “Stop it right now! Both of you!”

  Hadleigh stopped before he came close enough for Jonah to strike him with the leverage it required to do any damage.

  With a sigh of frustration, Jonah lowered his fist.

  “How dare you both behave like candidates for Bedlam! How dare you try to solve anything with violence! How dare you—”

  Before Celie could get her final sentence out, she staggered and reached out a hand to steady herself.

  Jonah and Hadleigh raced to her, but Jonah reached her first and swept her in his arms. Once he had her safely in his grasp, he carried her to the sofa and laid her down.

  “What are you doing up?” Jonah reached for the cover on the back of the sofa and draped it over her.

  “How could I stay down when the two of you were getting ready to kill each other?”

  “What kind of friend are you to let her up?” Hadleigh bellowed at Amanda.

  “You try to stop her from doing something when she’s made up her mind to do it! She’s as obstinate, bullheaded, and stubborn as you are, Your Grace!”

  Hadleigh looked at Lady Amanda as if she’d sprouted three heads. It was obvious that she was the only one of them who’d struck a stunning blow.

  The expression on Hadleigh’s face was so filled with disbelief that Jonah wanted to laugh. He looked at Celie and saw that she had her hand over her mouth, no doubt to stifle a giggle that wanted to escape.

  Unfortunately, they were the only two who found humor in the situation.

  “Sit down, Hadleigh,” Jonah ordered. “Bundy, bring the ladies some tea and something to eat.”

  Jonah waited until everyone sat, then gathered Hadleigh’s glass as well as his own and refilled them. He handed Hadleigh’s glass back to him, then sat in the unoccupied chair next to Celie. The four of them comprised what would have, under normal circumstances, been an intimate setting.

  Considering the anger and hostility still emitting from Hadleigh, Jonah thought such close proximity might be dangerous. Especially for Hadleigh and Lady Amanda Radburn.

  It didn’t take long before the servants brought in a tea tray as well as a variety of small pastries and cakes. Lady Amanda poured, and they ate in relative silence.

  When Jonah couldn’t take the tension any longer, he set his plate down with a determined thud. “For as much as I hate to admit this, you make an excellent point, Hadleigh. The shot that was fired was more than likely intended for me.”

  “We don’t know that,” Celie stared to argue, but Jonah held up his hand to stop her.

  “Yes, we do, Celie. There is no reason for anyone to want to harm any of you. If there were, they wouldn’t have needed to come here to find you. I’m the only one they could be certain would be here.”

  No one could argue with him.

  “So what do you suggest?” Hadleigh set his glass on the table next to Jonah’s. “We can hardly sit around and wait for whoever it was to try again.”

  “My guess is that there won’t be another attempt. Not here, anyway.”

  “How can you say that?”

  Jonah released a heavy sigh. “The only reason the shooter got so close was because they had the element of surprise on their side. If we’d been watching for them, they’d never have risked coming so near the house. They know we’re watching now.

  “In case I’m wrong, though, I’ll have Bundy post guards to keep watch. Someone will make rounds from now on to make sure nothing looks suspicious.”

  He was relieved that Hadleigh, at least outwardly, seemed satisfied with his reasoning. “In the meantime, I think it would be best if you took the ladies to Hadleigh Manor as soon as possible.”

  “I’m sure we’re perfectly safe here, Jonah,” Celie started to argue.

  He stopped her again. “I’m not. Even though I have no idea why someone would want to shoot at me, I can’t pretend it was a mistake. And I can’t take the chance that they won’t try again. Until I know what this is about, I won’t risk either your safety or Lady Amanda’s.”

  He studied the determined look in her eyes and knew she thought his precautions were unnecessary, but he didn’t care. He wouldn’t risk anything happening to her. He’d come to care for her entirely too much to risk losing her. If something happened to her, he’d lose someone who’d become very important to him. He didn’t want to have to find out if he could live the rest of his life with such a loss.

  “Don’t worry, my lady. I won’t make any major decisions on the house without first consulting you. Hadleigh can bring you over every day to check the workmen’s progress and make sure everything is proceeding as you think it should.”

  Before Celie had time to argue, Hadleigh intervened. “I think Haywood’s plan is excellent. I won’t take any risks with your safety, either. You’ve already given me enough of a scare. I refuse to relive this afternoon’s even
ts.”

  “Very well. But you will not eat your evening meals here, Jonah. It is only a ten-minute ride to Hadleigh Manor. Dinner will be served at eight each evening. We will set a place for you.”

  Jonah smiled. “How kind of you, my lady. It will be my pleasure to dine with you and your gracious company.”

  They visited a little while longer; then Hadleigh indicated it was time to go. “Are you sure you’re well enough to travel?” her brother asked.

  “Would you allow me to stay if I said I weren’t?”

  “Absolutely not. And don’t even mention that Lady Amanda would stay with you. Your friend hardly qualifies as a chaperone.”

  Lady Amanda’s eyes narrowed before she answered. “I appreciate your confidence, Your Grace. It’s ever so reassuring to realize you hold me in such high regard.”

  With a lift of her chin, Amanda rose to her feet and walked to the door. “I’ll wait for you in the foyer, Celie.”

  Without taking time for anyone to come to open the door, she exited the room with a lift of her chin and a swish of her skirts.

  Hadleigh made a sound Jonah couldn’t quite distinguish. If he were asked to describe it, though, he’d have to say it sounded strangely like a growl.

  “Your brother is right to be concerned,” he said as he helped Celie to her feet. “Are you sure you’re well enough to travel?”

  “Of course. You know what I received is hardly worth even being called a scratch.” She lifted her arm to prove she wasn’t minimizing her injury, then smiled at him. “Thank you for your concern, though. Your attention is very flattering.”

  Jonah presented her with a slight bow. “You’re very welcome, my lady. The pleasure is mine.”

  He held out his arm, and she took it. When they reached the front door, Lady Amanda was waiting with her cloak on.

  Jonah draped Celie’s cloak over her shoulders, then clasped the loop beneath her chin. He couldn’t bring himself to release her for a moment or two but looked into her eyes and held her gaze.

  “If I were you, Lord Haywood, I wouldn’t make your feelings so obvious. Celie’s likely to become used to such fawning and will expect it forever.”

  “Then it will be my pleasure to provide it. I can think of nothing I’d rather do.”