by Wendy Vella
“Just go, Leo,” Beth said, exasperated.
“No, and I like it when you call me Leo, by the way.”
Before she could stop him, he’d lifted the children onto his horse once more, and started back the way they had come.
“Are you coming?” He looked over his shoulder to where she still stood.
She wanted to shake her head and say no, but it would be childish to do so, even if right at that moment she felt just that. Raising her chin, she made herself join him, but this time she did not take his arm, as she was holding the food. Thankfully.
They walked, he conversed, she listened, and found herself relaxing slightly. At least if she walked with him, she was safe. A strange thought, but for a few brief moments she could let her worries go and simply breathe. No one would harm her with Leo at her side.
Looking around them, she recognized no faces, but had not thought she would, as it was too early for many to leave their beds.
Nibbling on her bun, she picked out a currant and enjoyed the sweet burst of flavor as she popped into her mouth.
“My sister used to do that.”
“Do what?” Beth looked at Leo.
“Pick out the currants before eating the bun.”
“I have always done so, and it allows one to savor the bun, as it lasts longer.”
“I have another should you wish to consume it faster.”
“I’m sure you have more need of it than I.”
He didn’t reply, just took another large bite of his bun and made a humming noise that told her he was enjoying it.
Beth sucked on another currant and looked around her. She saw a man standing in a doorway; it was set back slightly from the shop’s façade. He stood with his face averted, and yet she was sure he was watching her. A trickle of fear slithered down her spine.
“What?”
“What?” She pulled her eyes away to look at Leo.
“You made a noise.”
“No, I didn’t.” Beth looked back at the man. He was still there, and still watching her, she was sure of it.
It couldn’t be him… could it? Had he come back? Why would he risk exposure? She started walking in his direction. The man had dark hair, but she could see little else as he was hunched in the shadows with his collar up. Surely that in itself was suspicious?
“Beth!”
The man turned away as Leo called her name. He threw a last look over his shoulder at her before he walked away.
“Beth, what is wrong?”
It was the hand on her shoulder that shook her out of her trance. With a last glance at the retreating figure, she looked up into the worried face of Lord Vereton.
“’Tis nothing, I just thought I saw someone.”
“You are the color of gruel. Don’t lie to me, there is something worrying you, and whoever you saw is connected.”
“No, it was not whom I had first believed. Now we must return to the children, they will be worried.”
He didn’t argue with her, but Beth knew he wanted to. She was grateful when he merely took her arm and led her back to his horse.
She didn’t look again, hoping the man had gone. She was certain he had been watching her… and equally certain that whoever he was, he meant her harm.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The premises on Night Street where he and the other Lords of Night Street ran their investigative service from was an innocuous gray building. Using his key to open the front door, he let himself inside with his mind still on Beth. Something was off with her… very off. He was sure she’d believed that man was a threat of some kind, but she’d denied it. Leo had been unable to follow whoever it was, as his first concern had been for her and the children.
The narrow hallway soon opened into a reception area that held chairs and a desk, behind which sat Perkins. He was their front man, the face of the Lords of Night Street Investigative Services.
“Good morning to you, Perkins. Would you care for a currant bun?”
The man wore round spectacles, and his appearance was always neat and calm, which was an asset when dealing with overwrought clients.
“Thank you, Lord Vereton, that is very kind of you, but I have eaten this morning already.”
“So have I, Perkins, but there is always room for more.”
The man smiled, and Leo guessed the conversation was over, so he moved deeper into the building. They had set up two rooms for clients in need of private consultation. He passed them, and opened another door that led downstairs. His friends’ voices greeted him as he reached the bottom.
“Hail, Noble!”
He lifted a hand by way of acknowledgement, and then placed the package of buns in the middle of the round table the other three men sat at. They pounced on it.
They were each noblemen, and had grown up together playing on estates. That was when they had decided upon their names they now used to work undercover.
Beth’s cousin, Nick, Earl of Attwood, was Gallant. Valiant, was Marcus, Viscount Needly. He was tallest of their group, with blond curls and bright blue eyes. Like Nick, he had a serious nature and was slow to anger. Lastly came Valorous, Jacob, Viscount Hatherton. With dark hair and green eyes, he was the gentlest among them, and appeared to have an inexhaustible supply of calm. Leo was Noble, although sometimes he struggled to live up to the name.
“I shall keep you on as a friend if you arrive with these more often, Leo.”
“I live to serve, Valorous.”
Between them they’d closed many cases, from kidnapping to blackmail. They had exposed noblemen who were intent on forcing innocent women into sexual slavery, and taken down a ring of Russian fraudsters. Trained by their country to spy and work behind enemy lines, those skills were now in use to help others.
“We have another case,” Nick said as he finished his last bite. “It seems there is another blackmailer at work in London society.”
“I think it likely there are a great deal more than one, but it is rare anyone actually speaks out about them,” Leo said, reaching for the last bun, just beating Marcus, who glared at him. Sighing, he broke it in half and threw it at his friend, who caught it smoothly, now smiling.
“True, but we can only deal with what is before us.”
“Which is?” Jacob asked.
Nick went on to outline the details while they all listened and discussed the matter, until all parties were clear on the direction the investigation would take.
“Right, now that is sorted, care to tell us how it is that Marcus and I arrive back from his hunting lodge to find you engaged to none other than Nick’s cousin? A woman, if memory serves, you usually argue with,” Jacob said.
“It’s a long story,” Leo said, looking at Nick, who replied with a shrug.
“Excellent, I shall tell Perkins to bring down the whiskey instead of tea.”
Leo did not have secrets from these men. They knew his good and bad traits, and the things he’d done he wished he hadn’t—and the same was true in reverse.
“The evil breaker of hearts is back,” Leo said.
“Harriet Hyndmarsh?” Jacob whistled. “What does that bitch want?”
“A husband is my guess,” Marcus replied. “And as Leo has all his teeth, and doesn’t lisp or spit up his food, I would also guess she has… or should I say, had, him in her sights.”
“Yes.” Leo exhaled. “I overreacted at the Tottingham ball, when she came up to me, and as Miss Whitlow was at my side and for once we were conversing as normal people do, I rashly said she was my fiancée.”
“It was not his finest moment,” Nick said.
“No, and I have caused a great deal of trouble for both you and Beth, and for that I am sorry, but—”
“Beth?” Nick said softly. “Since when is she Beth to you?”
“Since she became my betrothed.”
Speculation narrowed his friend’s eyes, but they didn’t appear annoyed; in fact to Leo they looked as if he had come to some kind of understanding, and
why that unsettled him he had no idea.
“Ten days was all we were gone, and we left you in Nick’s care, and this is what happened.” Jacob tsked. “It’s a good match, it has to be noted.”
“No it isn’t!” Leo snapped. His necktie felt suddenly tight. “I’ve told you why it happened, and that I reacted to seeing the evil breaker of hearts without thinking. Don’t read anything else into it.”
“I’m not so sure,” Nick drawled, much to his horror. “It could be a good match.”
Leo stood and braced his hands on the table, glaring each of his friends to silence. Of course they merely smiled back at him, not the least intimidated.
“The betrothal will end with the season, and I will take full responsibility. I want to hear no more on the matter.”
“That’s still a few weeks away. A great deal can happen before then.” Marcus smiled up at him. “Besides, you’re the last of us to marry, and of course it is our fondest wish you do so, so you too can understand this wedded bliss we are all living.”
Leo growled softly, then picked up his half-eaten half bun, and threw it at Marcus, before storming from the room with the sound of his friends’ laughter following him. All thoughts of discussing his concerns about Beth with her cousin had fled.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Beth walked into the Brookvale reading with Grace and Nick. She loathed and detested these nights, being forced to sit on a hard chair while some bore read poetry in a terrible voice. Not that she disliked poetry, far from it, but it was all in the delivery.
“You look lovely, Beth, but tired. Is something wrong?”
“No indeed, just as you say, weary.” She smiled at her cousin’s wife, trying to appear as she always did.
So different from the woman she had first encountered on the day of their wedding, Grace had blossomed in her marriage to Nick. Then, she had been timid, badly dressed, and scared of the life she was now forced to live. All that had soon changed.
“And you, Grace. I did not want to start a discussion with Nick near about your health,” Beth said, shooting her cousin a look. “But now he’s talking to someone else, I can ask how you are feeling?”
“He is quite tiresome in his protectiveness.” Grace sighed. “But I cannot take him to task as he gets so hurt.”
The Countess of Attwood wore cream with emerald trim. Thick lace covered a satin underskirt, the dress was loose at the front, falling from the bodice, and Beth could barely see signs of her pregnancy. Her hair was in a soft style, an emerald bow at the back, and she looked beautiful.
“It is gratifying to see my cousin brought to his knees by the prospect of his first progeny, Grace. But I will thank you not to tell him that.”
“I always find it amusing how much siblings and cousins enjoy seeing each other brought low by something.” Grace laughed. “Nothing serious,” she added, “but there is usually great delight in it.”
“Having no siblings or cousins close, you have yet to experience it. Also there is the fact Nick and I have not always been close, so allow me this now that we are.”
“Of course, and secretly I am enjoying him being off-balance also. The mighty earl is humbled by the thought of his unborn child.”
“I think it fair to say it is not just the prospect of the child, Grace; there is also the fact that he worries about you.”
“I know, and I have tried to explain that I am fine, but you know Nick.”
“That I do.” Beth looked at her cousin. “If he is worrying about you, however, he is not worrying about me, which is a nice change. For so long we were strangers, and now that we are not he is extremely diligent in his duties toward me.”
“You mean he is bossy and nosy.”
“That also.” Beth laughed. “But it is nice that he cares.”
“Nice for you both to have each other,” Grace said, patting her hand. “And I do feel a great deal better now the nausea has passed, Beth, and had to come tonight to support you, as Nick said you have been inundated with morning callers since the betrothal.”
“It is not real, Grace, you know that also, don’t you?”
“Yes, but I must admit that I think you and Leo would be happy together, and you certainly make a lovely couple.”
Shock held Beth momentarily speechless.
“You cannot be serious. We can barely be in the same room without yelling at each other.”
“Yes, that is odd, don’t you think? I wonder why that occurs.” Grace looked at Beth.
“Pardon?”
“Why do you and Leo always argue? There has to be a reason, surely.”
“Well… ah, of course.”
“And?”
“Why does my cousin look like a cornered rabbit, Grace?” Nick joined the conversation.
“I was just asking her why she and Leo always argued, and that I thought they would make a wonderful married couple should they choose to remain betrothed.”
“Good lord, stop, Grace!” Beth could not believe her ears. “I will never choose to stay betrothed to him, nor he to me.”
“And yet you are betrothed,” Nick said, “and I could not handpick a better man to be your husband, were I being honest. Even considering the history between you.”
“I cannot believe you said that,” Beth managed to get out. “Leo and I could never…. Dear Lord, just the prospect makes me shudder.”
Surely it made her shudder… didn’t it?
“If you truly feel that, then why did you agree to be his betrothed?” Grace asked.
“Because I do not like that woman Harriet Hyndmarsh, and seeing the shock on her face when Leo said we were betrothed was something I enjoyed far more than I should have, which possibly makes me a bad person, but is the truth. Then there is the small matter of men leaving me alone. Mr. Humperdingle has been sending me wounded looks, but has not approached. To say it is a relief I do not have to smell his foul breath and smile until my mouth aches, is an understatement.”
“Leo? When did he become Leo?” Nick questioned her.
“You heard that one word out of all the others I have just spoken?”
“Well, he is calling you Beth, and I asked him when that familiarity had occurred; it is only fair I do so to you.”
“This conversation is silly, and over. Excuse me, someone is signaling me.”
“Who?”
Ignoring Nick’s question, Beth left, deciding she needed a few minutes alone in the cool evening air. Time away from her family so she did not give in to the urge to box their ears.
Stepping through the open doors to the terrace, she strolled in the company of a few other guests who sought the air before taking their seats for the readings. Wandering along the deck she looked at the night sky, and wondered when she would receive another note. Anything would be better than this intolerable waiting. It was playing havoc with her nerves.
Is it him?
“Miss Whitlow?”
Beth nodded as a footman approached.
“A note arrived for you.”
She looked at the silver tray that held the missive with dread. Surely he would not know her whereabouts. Surely it was… what? Had her aunt taken ill? Reaching for it, she nodded to the servant, and then when he left, she moved to the railing and opened it.
I know where you go, Miss Whitlow. I have eyes all over London, and all are focused on you. You will pay for your behavior, WHORE! And if you do not do as I say, then your cousin or his wife will be made to pay. Or perhaps I shall kill your fiancé?
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“Who are you looking for?”
“No one,” Leo said, letting his eyes circle the room.
“No,” Grace said, “you are definitely looking for someone, and if it is Beth, she went that way.”
Leo looked down at his best friend’s wife. He saw that pregnancy had Grace glowing.
“Why would I want to find Miss Whitlow?”
“Because you are betrothed, and surely that is reason enough. Or perhaps
now that you have spent more time together you actually like her… very much. In fact, it’s my belief that whatever animosity once lay between you has gone, and now you are friends, very good friends.”
“Grace,” he warned. “It has been four days and in that time I have hardly seen Miss Whitlow, so please stop whatever this is.”
“It’s called matchmaking, Leo.”
“And you can stop it right now.”
“Yes, Leo.” She smiled sweetly up at him.
“Don’t meddle,” he added.
“You are betrothed, and while it is a fake one, I believe she will make you a wonderful wife.”
“And I repeat, don’t meddle.”
“Leo, you told society she was yours, it is not I who is meddling.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re a devilishly clever woman. Tell me again why you married that idiot.”
“Because he is quite simply the best man I have ever known.”
“Carrying that baby has made you soft.”
“Very likely.” She patted his arm. “But I am right, Leo. Beth would make you a perfect wife.”
“I’m sure she would disagree with you.”
“However, you do not?”
“Lord save me,” he groaned.
“Go and find her.” Grace made a shooing gesture.
He gave up and simply left, heading away from the meddling woman, and in the direction Grace had indicated. Of course she’d been right, and he was looking for Beth. The woman was, as always, in the forefront of his thoughts.
Circling the room, he came up empty-handed, so Leo made his way through the open balcony doors. Nodding as he walked, he circled the house, and found her alone, staring out into the night. As he drew near Leo saw the paper crushed into one gloved fist.
“Beth?”
He startled her, forcing her to turn before hiding her thoughts. He’d seen that look a few times lately on her.
“My lord. Have you come to tell me the readings are about to begin?”
“No. Was it bad news?” He could not stop his eyes running over her. She was stunning in the moonlight. Her flaxen hair was bundled high, exposing the elegant line of her neck and shoulders. The dress had an overskirt of soft ivory lace, separated down the middle to reveal an underskirt of rose satin. A band of matching satin also trimmed the bodice, and drew his eyes to the curves of her lovely breasts. She wore ivory gloves and slippers, and Leo thought beautiful was too simple a word to describe how she looked tonight.
