by Laura Landon
Josie spun around and clamped her hand over her mouth to stifle the scream that wanted to escape.
“Did I frighten you?”
Josie gasped. “You could have at least made some sound to warn me you were here.”
“So sorry, my dear. Didn’t occur to me.”
Josie hung the lantern she’d brought with her on a peg stuck in the wall and walked to where Lindville stood. She wished he’d come out of the shadows. She didn’t like talking to him in the dark. He gave her no choice.
“I’m not sure why you wanted to meet here, and at this time of night. Surely you could have come to Clythebrook, or at least to the orphanage.”
“I didn’t want to chance we might be overheard. Talking about smuggling and illegal contraband is not exactly appropriate parlor conversation.”
Josie hated it when Lindville referred to the goods they brought in as illegal contraband. She tried not to think of it that way. There was nothing illegal about what they were bringing in, only cheaper. Because of their remote location, they were unable to buy the items they needed without paying a tremendous freight charge. Captain Levy offered to ship in what they needed for half the cost, but only if they told no one what he was doing. That had seemed simple enough to Josie and she’d never had reason to question what they were doing until now.
“Why did you need to see me?”
“To see if you think there is any chance Rainforth will abandon his plan.”
Josie shook her head. “He won’t abandon it. The plan’s a good one and he’s getting too much support from everyone not to go ahead with it. I doubt he’d give up even if he received no support. He’s a very determined man.”
“That’s too bad.”
Baron Lindville took a step closer and Josie countered his maneuver by inching back. He followed until they were both out of the shadows.
She could finally see his face and the first thing she noticed was the vacant look in his eyes. She hated when he stared at her as if he were looking through her. There was something frightening about him. “Did you shoot at Rainforth last week?”
“Someone shot at Rainforth?”
There was a genuine look of surprise on Lindville’s face and although she should be relieved it hadn’t been him, his denial created another question—one even more disturbing. “If not you, then who would try to frighten him away?”
“Oh, there are many people who might have shot at the man, my dear. But I doubt they were simply trying to frighten him away. Too bad they missed.”
Josie felt an unmistakable wave of fear. “You don’t mean that.”
“Don’t I?”
Lindville took a flask from inside his jacket and pulled out the stopper. After he’d taken a swallow, he tucked it away and looked up. “So, what do you suggest we do now?”
Josie faced him squarely. “It’s getting too dangerous to continue. The next shipment of goods should arrive in approximately two weeks. It’ll be the last one we can chance bringing in.”
He clicked his tongue while shaking his head. “Not the right answer, Josephine. Not the right answer at all.”
She studied his reaction as another niggling of concern sprouted inside her. She moved back another step. “I’ve convinced Lady Clythebrook to keep the marquess from bringing in the cattle for one month, but after that this whole area will be covered with cattle and the men taking care of them. It’ll only be a matter of time before we’re discovered.”
“Then we’ll have to think of something else.”
“What?”
“I have the solution. A solution that’s perfect.”
Baron Lindville uncorked his flask again and drank deeply. Josie wondered how much he’d already had to drink tonight. If the slur of his words and the glassy look in his eyes were any indication, it had been quite a bit. And yet he didn’t seem drunk to her. Just … different.
“What solution?” she asked, knowing she wasn’t going to like the answer.
“Marriage.”
“Whose marriage?”
“Our marriage. Yours and mine. To each other.”
Josie wanted to reach out to steady herself against something but there wasn’t anything within reach to grab hold of. “What are you saying?”
“We’ll marry. We’re already partners of a sort. It only seems natural that we extend our arrangement to include personal aspects of our lives, too.”
Josie couldn’t breathe. “It’s preposterous. I can’t marry you. I—”
“Don’t refuse so quickly. Just think of the benefits. Getting my hands on the inheritance my father left me has always been a problem, but once I’m married, Mother won’t have a reason to withhold the money any longer. I’ll need a great deal of ready cash to set up my own household as any newly married husband must, and if Mother doesn’t part with some of the reserve she’s been hoarding, she’ll be seen as a miserly tyrant. Which, of course, I’ll convince her Society will discover.”
Josie took a shaky step away from him. The blood rushed against her ears and she couldn’t think. “You can’t be serious.”
He smiled. “But I am. It’s a known fact that one day you’ll inherit Clythebrook Estate. As the future owner, I’ll forbid Lady Clythebrook to have anything to do with Rainforth’s scheme. It’ll solve all our problems.”
He closed the distance between them and brushed the back of his fingers down her cheek. Josie jerked her head away from him.
“Don’t look so horrified, my dear. Our marriage will be especially beneficial for you. Just imagine what you’ll gain from marrying me. You’ll go from being Miss Josephine Foley to Baroness Lindville.”
“I’m not interested in your title.”
“Of course you’re not. But you are interested in providing for the children. Once the smuggling stops, where will the resources come from to feed and clothe the children? Marrying me will ensure that none of your precious charges ever go without.” He laughed. “Your generosity will put the meager gifts my mother donates to Sacred Heart to shame.”
“Your mother will never allow you to marry me.”
Lindville swiped his hand through the air in an angry arc. “My mother has no say in this.”
Josie was frantic to come up with reasons to squash Lindville’s idea. “This is ludicrous. Your mother will faint dead away when you tell her you intend to take someone of my station as your wife.”
He laughed. “One can only hope.”
She shook her head and stumbled back. He didn’t let her put any distance between them.
“I agree the circumstances surrounding your birth are regrettable, but once Mother realizes the benefits, she’ll be forced to welcome you with open arms.”
Josie spun away from him. He was daft. Completely insane. “What benefit? I know what the goods bring in. Surely your share of the money we receive isn’t worth what you’re suggesting?”
He laughed. “You have no idea what our little venture is worth to me. What I gain affords me at least a small amount of independence from my mother and keeps me from toadying to her at every turn.”
She stepped back another foot. The torches cast shooting shadows against the stone walls, making the room seem frighteningly confining. “No, I won’t—”
He grabbed her by the shoulders. “Is it a show of affection you want? Do you need some proof that we will fit together on the physical side of our marriage?”
Before she could protect herself, he backed her up against the wall and brought his mouth down over hers.
Lindville’s abhorrent kiss was nothing like Rainforth’s. Lindville’s lips were cold and lifeless atop hers—completely without passion. And when he stopped, she was left with nothing but a disgusting emptiness followed by a resurgence of the confining panic.
Josie clamped her hand over her mouth and fought a sensation that bordered on revulsion.
“I’ll call on Lady Clythebrook tom—”
“No! I need time. Until the end of the month.”
&n
bsp; “We don’t have until the end of the month!”
“Two weeks, then.”
“Procrastination won’t save you, Miss Foley. Nothing will. Neither of us has a choice, really. You will marry me to save the children. And I will marry you to save myself.”
He brushed the backs of his fingers down her cheek and turned away from her. He took a few steps into the shadows, then stopped. “The smuggling will not cease. Don’t think for a minute you have the power to make it stop. And when you speak to Rainforth next, you might explain to him that he was lucky to escape with his life. He might not be so fortunate next time.”
Josie stared into the shadows and listened to the soft padding of his footsteps against the packed ground of the cave. She couldn’t believe Lindville had just suggested they marry, although his words had been closer to a demand than a proposal. She was sure he hadn’t meant them. He’d been drinking. That had to explain his ludicrous idea. And even if he had been serious, his mother would never allow it. Not in a million years. An uncomfortable knot settled in the pit of her stomach.
What if he wanted access to the caves so badly he would do anything to get it, even marry someone for whom he didn’t care a whit?
She hugged her arms around her middle. Marrying Lindville was a sacrifice she could not imagine making, even for the children’s sake. No, she’d chosen her path. The next shipment would be the last one to which she would be a part.
Surely she was reading more into Lindville’s demand that they marry than he intended. When he woke in the morning, he more than likely wouldn’t even remember that he’d foisted the idea upon her.
Yet, she couldn’t forget the threatening tone in his voice when he’d told her the smuggling would not stop.
Or the threat he’d made against the Marquess of Rainforth.
…
Ross dismounted from the carriage and strode up the short walkway. He couldn’t help but smile when the door opened before he reached it. His visits with Josephine over the past ten days had been well noted by everyone in the area. Even Ross’s steward had commented on it this morning.
“Good afternoon, Banks.”
“Good afternoon, my lord.”
Ross handed the butler his hat and gloves. The weather was splendidly warm today and he hadn’t bothered with a coat. “Is Miss Josephine at home?”
Banks smiled. “She’s waiting in the drawing room. If you’ll follow me.”
“I know my way, Banks.”
“Very good. Will my services be required later, do you think?”
Ross shook his head. “No. Perhaps Lady Clythebrook needs your assistance in the other part of the house.”
“I’m sure she does,” Banks answered with a smile he quickly hid.
Maybe he could cajole Josephine into taking a ride with him today. He hadn’t been able to talk her into leaving the house on his last visit. Even though she’d assured him nothing was the matter, he knew that wasn’t true. Dark circles rimmed her eyes as if she hadn’t slept well for nights, and the last two times they’d met she’d been uncommonly subdued.
Ross walked down the hall until he reached the room where he always met her and looked inside. The door was open and she stood on the other side of the room looking out onto the terrace and beyond.
She was so lovely, small and petite, her golden hair pulled atop her head to expose her long, graceful neck. She wore a pale blue gown today that fastened high at the neck with a ruffle of white lace. Ivory buttons pulled the dress tight around her narrow waist and Ross remembered how perfectly she’d fit against him. He wanted to walk up behind her and put his arms around her and pull her into his embrace. Instead, he cleared his throat and waited until she turned around to face him.
The breath caught in his throat. She had the most stunning blue eyes. Every time she looked at him they sparked with a vibrancy that warned him she was prepared to challenge his attempt to raise the number of rules he’d accused her of breaking. Today, though, it was obvious that something was wrong. The circles he’d noticed days ago were even darker and the smile that lifted the corners of her mouth didn’t reach her eyes.
He greeted her with a smile and walked across the room to take her hands in his. They were icy cold.
“Good afternoon, Miss Foley. How lovely you look today.”
“Thank you, Lord Rainforth. How kind of you to say so.”
Ross laughed at her perfect execution of drawing room manners and gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. “How exquisitely you’ve mastered rule number two.”
She played her part to perfection and smiled. “I believe rule number one concerned the gracious manner in which to accept a compliment. Rule number two was that a single woman of gentle breeding must never entertain a male visitor alone without a chaperone present, preferably a lady of unquestionable character.” She pulled her hands out of his grasp. “I’ll ring for Lady Clythebrook to join us. She’s conveniently occupied herself at another part of the house again this afternoon.”
“No,” Ross said with a laugh. “Don’t bother her. It’s the middle of the afternoon and I’m sure we can count on Banks to hover nearby to protect your reputation. I promise to conduct myself with exemplary decorum so there’s no need for you to concern yourself.”
“Very well. I’ll ring for tea.”
“Would you mind very much if we walked through the garden? The day is unusually mild and I’ve been locked indoors all morning working on water estimates and cattle prices. I prefer to feel the sun on my face, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.”
Ross couldn’t help but notice the look of relief on her face. It was as if she didn’t want to be confined to the house any more than he did. Or, perhaps her nerves were so tightly wound she needed to walk off the strain she was under.
Ross opened the door and followed her across the patio, then down the narrow steps. When they reached the bottom, he held out his arm and she placed her hand atop it. Perhaps it was his imagination, but her hand seemed to tremble upon his and the involuntary grip on his arm was much harder than the relaxed touch to which he was accustomed.
“Did Mrs. Lambert tell you I went to the orphanage yesterday?”
“Yes. She said you took the boys fishing. I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you returned but I was called away.”
She turned her head, making it impossible for Ross to look at her face. Her cheeks, however, seemed flushed. Something was wrong. If he didn’t know her better, he’d almost accuse her of lying. He wondered what was so important to take her away from the children, but knew she probably wouldn’t tell him.
“Thank you for spending the day with the boys. They’re almost always around women and it’s good for them to be around a man.”
“I’d like to say I did it out of the goodness of my heart, but I have to admit my motives were more selfish than that. I wanted to spend time with my son.”
“It doesn’t matter why you did it. The boys had a wonderful time. They were still talking about it at dinner.”
“Next time I’ll have to do something that includes the girls, too. They felt left out, but Vicar Chadwick saved the day by giving them each a gumdrop.”
“He keeps a jar of them on his desk for just such occasions.” The smile slid from her face and she looked at him. “Are you going to tell Charlie you’re his father?”
“Not yet. Not until I know it’s safe to take him home with me.”
“You’re not going to be safe until you give up your plan to bring in cattle.”
Ross could hear the water in the fountain just ahead of them and led her to the same bench where they’d sat before. “Are you saying someone might try again to shoot me?”
She pulled her hand from his arm. “Don’t make sport of what happened. You could have been killed.”
“Do you know who shot me?”
Her face paled but she didn’t answer. He wouldn’t give up. “Do you, Josie?”
“Rule number seven, Lord Rainforth.
A gentleman may not call a lady by her first name until she gives him permission.”
“Then may I ask your permission, Miss Foley?”
She shook her head. “That wouldn’t be wise.”
“Wouldn’t it?”
“You know it wouldn’t.”
“You haven’t answered my question. Do you know who shot me?”
“Of course not.”
“But you have an idea.”
“No, I don’t. But I do know whoever shot you wanted you dead.”
“And you’re concerned for me?”
She came to a halt and glared at him. “Of course I’m concerned. Isn’t it enough that your son is going to grow up without a mother? Do you want him to go without a father, too? Give up your cattle venture. If you truly want to be a father to the boy, don’t put yourself in danger.”
Ross opened his mouth to explain that making St. Stephen’s profitable was the only way he could provide for his son. St. Stephen’s would someday be Charlie’s and the cattle were the assurance that he would be provided for. But none of that mattered if his son wasn’t proud of who he was. Discovering who was behind the smuggling was one small step in redeeming the Rainforth name. Not until he saw the smugglers hang would he finally feel like he’d done something good to make up for all the lives his father had destroyed.
“I can’t give up. There are reasons the cattle venture must go forward.”
“No.”
Ross wasn’t surprised by Josephine’s negative response. There’d always been a combative fierceness to her stand against bringing in the cattle. But for the first time, as she sank onto a nearby bench, he saw an emotion that hinted at desperation. Or perhaps it was fear. He slid onto the bench and clasped her hands in her lap.
“Something’s wrong, Josephine. Let me help.”
She didn’t pull away as he was afraid she would but held on with a grip that sent waves of concern racing through him. The simple holding of hands was a bond that connected them. The clasp it had on his heart was more powerful than the tightening of her fingers or any of the kisses they’d shared.
A squirrel scampered across the lawn and raced up a tree, but he could tell she never saw it. Her eyes were focused on an empty patch of ground, and the way she worried her lower lip said something else occupied her mind.
