Because he had lied to Amy about the age of maturity, he now had to lie to Sicily and his mother as well.
He poured himself a drink and sat down by the fire. He wondered if Uncle John would start tossing books at him now, for his uncle had specifically designated Amy would receive her inheritance upon the age of eighteen.
Nicolas shook his head in disgust. Not only had he lost Amy’s money to Allen, but as far as he could tell, Sicily never had a dowry. Her father lived off a fraudulent investment scheme in which he would use new investor’s money to pay earlier investors. Rarely would he have to pay earlier investors, for greed convinced them to leave their investment in his care, presumably growing larger.
To prevent a scandal, Nicolas had to make good the investments of several powerful gentlemen, or Sicily would have been blacklisted from the ton. To obtain the money he had to sell not just two properties, but all his father’s properties and six of the Soundberry estates.
He struggled to keep their expenses in line with the income from his two profitable estates: Soundberry and the Winery. Yet, despite her promises, Sicily failed to stay within her allowance. Her overruns were even more outrageous than Nicolas had realized. Yesterday, Mr. Elliot confronted him and inquired when he would repay the monies Sicily had borrowed from Elliot’s wife. The sum was substantial and naturally, Elliot wanted interest paid as well.
He knew if he lost the winery now, this delicate shuffle of debt would collapse. Thus, he lied to Amy about her age of maturity. He dared not send Amy to her home, if matters continued to worsen, he might have to sell the winery to cover his debt. Besides, Sicily would be outraged if he sent Amy to live there. She had taken a liking to the villa during their honeymoon stay.
Nicolas wished he had someone that could provide him guidance. That someone used to be Uncle John. Now the only response he could expect from that corner was a tossed book.
His thoughts turned to Antonio. He wondered if Antonio might have some reasonable advice. Given the house he leased, the young man appeared to have some penchant for making money.
Nicolas groaned. This was what his life had fallen to? Lying to young girls and seeking advice from his valet? This was not the future he foresaw once he became the Earl of Soundberry.
Chapter 7
Dressed in boys’ pants, Amy and Domnika climbed down the tree outside their room and headed into the backyard. Just as Amy climbed upon the fence between Antonio’s and Nicolas’ properties, Sam spoke up, “There’s a gate further down.”
Amy sighed in exasperation, dropped to the ground and thanked him as Sam led her to the gate.
Now in Antonio’s yard, all three huddled behind a bush and evaluated the house. “What do you think, Domnika? Should we climb and enter through that second story window, or through the wine cellar door?”
They discussed the merits of each. Just as they were about to settle on the second story window, Antonio’s voice spoke up behind them. “May I suggest the kitchen door? While there are three fierce men behind it, eating their dinners, it still appears to be your best choice. The window upstairs will be devilishly hard to reach and could be a trap. Same for that cellar door. It looks almost too easy. God only knows what happens if you enter that way.”
Amy smiled and asked him in a whisper if there really were traps behind the door and window.
“I will show them to you if you can enter through that kitchen door without being seen.”
Amy considered his challenge. “I accept, under the following conditions: It is only Domnika and I that must enter unseen and you and Sam will do exactly as we say.”
She could see Antonio’s eye’s sparkling with delight. “I am willing. How about you, Sam?”
Sam sighed. “I suppose this will be a good lesson for you.”
Chapter 8
The conversation in the house focused on Nicolas, and none of the men looked happy.
Gunter leaned forward in his chair and massaged his knees. “He’s changed, and none for the better.”
Brick and Tomas nodded in grim agreement.
Antonio entered through the kitchen door, his arms filled with firewood. “I hope you weren’t talking about me just now,” he teased as he carried the wood towards the kitchen grate but tripped, spilling the wood upon the floor.
All three men assisted in collecting the pieces.
“It’s not a good idea to gather wood when you are watching the girls,” Tomas warned him.
“They’ve headed off to sleep. Sam’s got it in hand,” he assured them as he stacked the wood.
Brick sighed. “I’ll go out and keep watch.”
“Brick…stay, finish your dinner. I’ll go right back out if you wish. I just wanted to bring in enough firewood, so it will be dry in the morning.”
“We appreciate that, Antonio, but you still don’t understand how crafty Lil Bit can be. Half the time we don’t know how she does what she does. She’s a lot like you were.”
Gunter agreed. “Probably shouldn’t have told her all those Antonio Bandito stories. You became her hero.”
Antonio smiled as he searched the room for the two girls. While he had not actually seen them enter, by the fact that Sam now stood at the window looking in, Antonio assumed there were inside.
“Glad to be some young lady’s hero.”
“Well, let’s be clear on that matter. She didn’t want you to come rescue her; she wanted to be you.” Gunter frowned as he saw Sam at the window.
“Damn it, Antonio,” he cursed and stormed to the door. “What happened?” he asked Sam.
“The girls escaped from their window,” Sam explained.
Gunter released a heavy sigh. “Well, let’s go find them. Any idea which way they headed out?”
“They came in this direction,” Sam assured them. “In fact, they are somewhere in this room, but I can’t for the life of me see where.”
In response, a giggle sounded from behind the door.
Gunter pulled the door back and studied the rack of coats. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He stepped back so Antonio could look for himself. “You see anything?”
“No, but the last time I checked: my coat does not giggle,” Antonio declared and patted his coat. Instantly feet dropped to the floor and Domnika revealed herself.
He frisked the remaining coats but found no Amy. Now even Sam was worried, and the men searched the kitchen. Finding nothing, they spread out and searched the remainder of the house.
Antonio ran to the cellar, taking the steps two at a time. “Amy, if you are in here, do not move. I was not joking about a trap down here. Amy please, if you are down here, speak to me. This is no longer a game.”
“I’m right here,” she said, standing behind him on the steps.
He turned and pulled her into his arms. “Dear God, you just gave me a fright.”
***
Her Uncle John had hugged Amy all her life. She liked hugs. She found them warm and comforting. Yet, Antonio’s hug was something entirely different. Everywhere he touched her, her body burned with pleasurable heat.
Antonio called out that he had found her. With his arm firmly about her waist, they returned to the kitchen. Soon Gunter and the Silent Three joined them. They demanded she tell them how she had eluded them.
Amy first had them guess. She had learned many useful tricks from their prior guesses.
“You entered through the cellar,” Brick suggested.
“No, she knew not to do that, I had told her there was a trap,” Antonio replied.
Tomas snorted. “That would only challenge her to do it. Did you enter through the cellar?”
Instead of answering, Amy looked at Antonio. “May we see the trap in your basement?”
He led them downstairs and carefully pointed out the trap. Amy was impressed. It truly did look fool proof, even if the thief knew exactly what was in store for them.
She stepped closer to the trap and Antonio’s hand curled about her waist, preventing her from a c
loser investigation. Again, his hand burned into her skin. It was both wonderful and terribly distracting.
“This is brilliant,” she declared. “I’m glad I took you at your word.”
His hand squeezed gently upon her waist. “So am I. You look better with your head on your shoulders.”
Amy frowned. “Why did you make it lethal? What if a poor starving pick-pocket decided to sneak in?”
“I thought of that,” he assured her. “It’s only lethal to people taller than five feet. It never occurred to me someday a charming tall young lady might try and break in.”
“Well, it was never my first choice. To be honest, it looked too easy. May I see the upstairs window now?”
“Are we never going to learn how you got in?” Brick demanded.
“Window first. There was really nothing special about my entrance.”
As they headed upstairs to the second floor, Amy laughed as she stepped on the third step, for all three had squeaked. “You have very noisy stairs.”
“For those that don’t know how to walk on them, yes I do.”
She watched his own steps more closely and stepped exactly behind him. Domnika followed in her steps. Never one to miss a challenge, Gunter and the Silent Three became silent as well.
At the top of the steps, Antonio praised them all for their fine stealth.
The innocent half-opened window was a guillotine. Amy blinked in shock and stared at Domnika. “It is a good thing you found us before we tried this.”
His hands caressed her arms as he stood behind her. “Perhaps I should show you the remainder of my traps,” he suggested and led them all through the house. His bedroom was the most protected. God help anyone trying to sneak into that room.
When they returned to the kitchen, the men were all sober indeed. No doubt, each of them was thinking of how easily Amy and Domnika could have died tonight. Antonio retrieved a bottle of wine from his cellar and poured them all a drink. “Amy, Domnika, I hope this drives home that London is an altogether different level of danger than that to which you are accustomed. Running away from your protection, or simply sneaking into an open window could very well get you killed.”
Amy felt an inexplicable pull to this somber handsome young man lecturing her on her safety.
“Listen to him, Amy. He knows the streets of London better than any man alive,” Uncle John insisted. “He is not lecturing you because he thinks you are a foolish girl, but because he believes you have the good sense to accept excellent advice.”
In an attempt to prove him right, she turned to Sam. “In the future, the only tricks Domnika and I will play are controlled games sanctioned by all involved. We will no longer attempt to evade you when we go out in public. However, with that said, there will be times that we may wish to go somewhere that you would prefer we do not. We will require a compromise on these matters. If it is truly unsafe, then we will give way. If it is simply unsuitable for a young lady to do, then you will give way.”
Sam looked as if he were going to refuse the compromise.
“I am six months from being an adult, Sam. It is time to stop treating me like a child.”
“Then it is time you stop acting like one,” Sam countered.
Antonio interceded before she could reply. “I believe that is precisely what Amy suggests. It’s a fair compromise, Sam. I’ve always thought ladies far too protected for their own good. Ignorance is never helpful, and in some cases can lead to disaster.”
Sam sighed. “If we say it is too dangerous, then that will be the end of the discussion?”
Amy hesitated. “I may wish to discuss it further if I don’t agree, but I will not try and escape your protection.”
“Sounds good to me,” Gunter declared. “Tomas, Brick?”
Both men nodded.
“Domnika?” Gunter added.
Domnika smiled at being included. She had once complained to Amy that the protectors didn’t pay the slightest bit of attention to her.
“I think it a very good solution. Very adult like,” she added with great satisfaction.
Amy smiled at her friend. There was a key difference between them. Domnika wanted to become an adult and take control of her life. Amy enjoyed being a child: running through the woods, trying to circle back on the Silent Three. She doubted adulthood would be half so rewarding.
“Then the agreement is made, not to be broken under any conditions,” Gunter declared. “Now, Amy, tell us how you came to be in the basement?”
“It was very simple. When Antonio dropped the wood, Domnika and I entered through the door, remaining low to the floor. Domnika went behind the door and I under the table. When Domnika giggled, bringing everyone’s focus onto her, I left the table and hid behind the cellar door. When Antonio went down the steps, I followed.”
Gunter nodded and looked at Domnika. “That was excellent hiding, Miss Domnika. And your giggle sounded exactly like Amy’s. You fooled us completely. While Antonio’s clumsiness assisted, you were the critical player in the deception. Without you, Amy would have been discovered beneath the table within seconds of us seeing Sam.”
Domnika preened under Gunter’s praises.
Chapter 9
That night, Amy and Domnika slept in Domnika’s bed, as Amy confessed the strange sensations that Antonio’s touch stirred inside her and how it was very different from Uncle John’s hugs.
Domnika suggested it might be love, but since neither of them had any experience with the topic, they could only guess at the matter. However, she did recommend Amy keep her feelings towards Antonio close to the chest.
“Given that the Boot is already questioning your right to be considered a lady, it is very important that she does not suspect any affection on your part to her husbands’ valet. She would use it against you.”
Amy nodded in agreement. “But you do not think less of me for feeling so strongly about him, do you?”
Domnika sighed. “I will think highly of you no matter what you do. As for him, I have no idea what to think. He is clearly not a valet or any type of servant, but what he is I’ve no clue. However, your protectors seem to trust him and that is strongly in his favor. My greatest concern is how easy seduction comes to him. He need only look at a woman and her legs go weak. Men rarely value anything so easily achieved. I worry his pretty face and charm has taught him to see women as something of low value.”
“When he looks at me, I feel just the opposite,” Amy protested. “It’s as if suddenly I’m the brightest ray of sunshine in the world.”
Domnika smiled and kissed her friend. “You are the brightest ray of sunshine in the whole world. My concern is that perhaps he makes all women feel that way. For when he looks at me, I feel special as well.”
“Do you like him then?” Amy asked suddenly feeling ill to her stomach.
“Not nearly as much as you. Nor would I wish him for a husband.”
“Why?”
“He is too good looking and charming. I would spend my entire day threatening away women.”
Amy laughed at the thought of Domnika smacking Sicilys away from her husband. For some reason, probably protectiveness over Antonio, her friend’s ‘husband’ in the imagined scene had not been Antonio, but rather Nicolas.
Poor Nicolas! Domnika would make him a far better wife than his perfect ‘boot’. He would be better off had he remained a bachelor—as would she. She had no doubt that had Nicolas not married Sicily, Amy’s money would still exist, and Nicolas would not struggle to pay his bills. One look at his garish house told her where all his money went.
Yes, Domnika would have made him a very fine wife. She could have offered him the blood of royalty instead of a thieving father. She would have been sensible in her purchases and found a nice balance between what society wanted and what they could afford.
“It is a shame Nicolas could not have married you.”
Domnika glared at her in shock. “What have I done to deserve such a punishment?”
> “It would not have been a punishment. Nicolas is a good man. At least he was before Sicily dug her claws into him. With you, he would have become the man he was meant to be, the man Uncle John expected him to be.”
“Well, don’t kill her off for my benefit, because I’m not likely to marry a man I detest, no matter how wonderful he was when you barely knew him long ago.”
Chapter 10
At breakfast in the morning, Amy asked Nicolas if they could have the carriage to go into town. Sicily spoke before Nicolas had a chance to reply.
“That is not possible, my dear. First of all, Nicolas has need of his carriage today, and secondly it is inappropriate for young ladies to go about town unescorted.”
“We won’t be unescorted. We’ll be escorted by four gentlemen.”
That declaration sent both the mother and Sicily into coughing fits.
Sicily looked at Nicolas. “Darling, I fear you were swindled by that school. Tell me its name again. I will be certain to let everyone know not to use it.”
“The school was quite excellent,” Amy snapped. “Nicolas, if you are going out today, will you please drop us off at the library. Domnika and I wish to continue our education on wines.”
“Good heavens, if you wish an education on wine, then our butler will do far better,” Sicily said.
Amy was about to explain the difference when she noticed a quick shake of Nicolas’ head. Why didn’t he want her mentioning the winery? The answer came as she noticed the fear in his eyes. Sicily must not know the winery was hers.
Hopefully hers, she reminded herself.
But the fact he wished it a secret gave her hope that it truly was in her name.
“I see no reason not to allow the girls a few hours at the library,” Nicolas said.
Sicily said no more at the table but followed him into his library.
Having nothing to do, Domnika and Amy escaped to the garden. Soon Nicolas followed.
“Amy, I apologize, but on further thought, I realized that it would not be possible for me to take you to the library today.”
Love's Betrayals (The Extraordinary Life of Amy Winston Book 2) Page 3
