by Amy Sandas
Glancing at her brother as they sat side by side on the burgundy sofa, Katherine noted that he appeared relaxed and confident. They’d retired to the drawing room after supper, having agreed to welcome Hale and his daughter together. Frederick wanted to ensure Claire wouldn’t be frightened by the unfamiliarity of the mansion.
Although she was pleased to see her brother so calm and accepting of the new circumstances, it made her own anxiety that much more apparent.
When she and Frederick had returned to the house a few hours ago, they’d been relieved to discover their carriage and driver had both returned safely. A quick interview with the coachman revealed that after he’d been thrown from the perch by their attackers, he’d resourcefully managed to catch a ride with a hack traveling in the same direction. They’d lost sight of the ducal carriage at one point, but eventually discovered it abandoned in the street. Though the coachman performed a search of the area, the Blackwells were nowhere to be found, nor were the two men who’d commandeered the vehicle.
The coachman was visibly relieved to find his employers had made it home safely on their own, and Katherine was equally pleased to find that, aside from a bump on the head, the man had not been unduly harmed.
After freshening herself up with a bath, Katherine had called a quick meeting with the household’s senior servants. She’d explained the circumstances regarding the current threat as best she could without going into detail. The servants had obviously known of Frederick’s disappearance, and with this latest incident, there was no reason to try to conceal what they were up against. The more the household staff understood of the situation, the better prepared they might be to observe and react to anything unusual.
There was also the matter of Hale.
She glanced to the clock over the mantel. It was getting late. Where on earth was the man?
Just as she had the thought, Foster stepped into the doorway.
“Mr. Hale and Miss Claire have arrived,” the butler intoned evenly. “Shall I send for Mrs. Wallace?”
Katherine and Frederick rose to their feet in unison. “That won’t be necessary. We shall see to them.”
“They await you in the hall.”
“Thank you. Please have their things brought to the rooms we’ve prepared.”
The butler nodded and turned to leave. When she would have followed, Frederick stopped her with a hand on her arm.
“Don’t worry, Kit. Mr. Hale will help us.”
Katherine offered her brother a smile. “What makes you think I’m worried?”
The boy rolled his eyes in answer.
She gave him a playful swat on his shoulder. He knew her far too well. “Let’s go welcome them. I imagine you’re anxious to show Claire her new room.”
It had been easy enough to place Hale’s daughter in one of the bedrooms on the third floor near the schoolroom, and her nurse was given the smaller room next door. Since Frederick had chosen a room on the same floor rather than take up residence in the master suite, he was just down the hall from the girl.
Figuring out where to put Hale, however, had been a much greater challenge.
Although she was tempted to place Hale in the servants’ quarters, which would position him as far from the main part of the house as possible, it seemed counterintuitive to his purpose in being there.
After a great deal of agonizing over propriety and practicality, she finally settled on giving him a bedroom on the second floor near the stairs that could take him up to the level containing the children’s rooms within a few short minutes if necessary.
Unfortunately, that meant he was located along the same hallway as Katherine’s bedroom, though on the opposite end.
Just the idea of him being so near had her stomach tightening.
Frederick could claim it was no different than having a butler or some such senior servant about, but Katherine knew it was so very different.
They found Mr. Hale standing in the center of the gleaming parquet floor of their grand hall in all his overmuscled glory. Somehow, the former boxer made the entryway—which had been designed to inspire awe and deference in those who visited the ducal mansion—a practically insignificant setting for his overwhelming presence.
The coat he wore was dark grey wool and in a simple style that flattered his broad-shouldered form. Apparently, he was averse to proper neckcloths since she’d yet to see him wear one. His buckskin-colored breeches shaped snug to his solid thighs, and his knee-high boots were scuffed and in need of a polish. His long hair was secured back in a loose queue, as usual.
He looked rugged and capable and more confident in his casual clothing than any man she’d ever known. If he were ever decked out in full formal attire, the man would undoubtedly be devastating to the female gaze.
As her attention lifted to his face, she realized with a swift jolt that he was watching her assess him. And his well-shaped lips were curled in amusement.
She quickly shifted her focus to the little girl held high in his arms. One of Claire’s arms was wrapped around her father’s thick neck, and her chin was tucked bashfully as she snuck curious little peeks at the room around her.
As soon as she saw Frederick, however, her blue eyes sparkled and a sweet smile dimpled her cheeks.
Katherine couldn’t help but smile as well. The child was adorable.
Having reached them, she came to a stop and looked to Hale again. Her smile slid away when she noted his glittering gaze. Clearing her throat, she addressed him in a firm tone. “Welcome, Mr. Hale. I was starting to wonder if you’d arrive this evening after all.”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “Pining for me, were you?”
The sharp retort that rose to her lips was cut off as Claire squirmed in her father’s hold.
“All right, sweet pea,” he said with a chuckle as he set her on the floor. Once there, however, she became shy again and wrapped her arm around her father’s leg even though her gaze kept darting between Frederick and Katherine.
Leaning forward, Katherine greeted the girl gently. “Hello, Claire. I am Lady Katherine, Frederick’s sister. Do you remember me?” The girl gave a little nod. “We’re very happy to have you here. I hope you’ll enjoy staying with us for a while.”
“You’ll have a lovely room all to yourself,” Frederick offered. “And I can visit with you every day.” He shifted his attention to Katherine. “Can I bring her upstairs?”
Before responding, she glanced to Hale. He gave a quick nod. “Claire’s nurse went up with our bags.” Then he crouched down next to his daughter. “Go on with Freddie. I’ll be up soon to tuck you in, sweet pea.”
As the children ascended the grand stairs, Katherine turned to Hale. “I can show you to your room, as well.”
“Lead the way, dove,” he said with a sweeping gesture.
She remained where she was. “You may call me Lady Katherine.”
He grinned. “I may...but I probably won’t.”
“You are going to be as difficult as possible, aren’t you?”
Green eyes flashed. “It’s part of my charm.”
“What charm?” she asked with a lifted brow.
His answer was a brash wink.
Her belly performed a delicate flip and she quickly turned toward the stairs.
Focusing on appearing not at all disturbed by the fact that she was actually welcoming this brute of a man into her home, she led the way to the second floor. His overwhelming presence hovered beyond her shoulder every step of the way. Reaching his door, she stopped and turned to let him pass.
“This shall be your room. The stairway just there will take you to the level above, where the children’s rooms are, as well as the schoolroom and nursery. Taking the stairs down will bring you to the back entrance of the house near the kitchen. If you’ve need of anything, you may ring the bell and a servant will see to your request.”
Hale gave a short grunt of acknowledgment as he stepped past her into the bedroom. The fire had been lit earlie
r and now glowed low in the grate, but plenty of candlelight illuminated the deep burgundy and pewter-grey decor. After taking only a few long strides into the room, he paused and planted his hands on his hips. He cast a quick glance over the mahogany armoire, the leather armchairs placed before the fire, and the huge four-poster bed.
The bed was another reason Katherine had chosen this room for him. It was likely the only bed in the house capable of accommodating his great size.
Experiencing a sudden rush of awkwardness at the thought of his body stretched out in repose on the rich velvet coverlet, she spoke quickly into the silence. “You have an hour to settle in and see to Claire’s comfort, then I’d like to see you in my study. Foster, our butler, can show you the way.”
“I’ll find you,” he replied without turning around.
Katherine backed away and started down the hall in long strides. She’d need the next hour to bring her reactions to the man firmly back under her control.
SIXTY-FIVE MINUTES later—just as Katherine’s impatience was starting to get the best of her—Hale appeared in the doorway to her small study located just off the entry hall. She’d chosen that room for this meeting specifically for the fact that it was designed with a purpose similar to the entry. The dark wood paneling, thick Aubusson carpet, and stately portraits covering the walls created a weighted atmosphere of purpose and reverence.
Hale, however, entered the room with a casual, rolling stride and a curious arch to his brow. Throwing his hands out to his sides, he stated boldly, “I’m all yours.”
“Please, have a seat, Mr. Hale,” Katherine replied in her most formal tone as she rose from her chair behind the desk to gesture toward the seating arrangement in front of the fire. It was important she set the expectations for their interactions right from the start.
She was in charge here. Whether he liked it or not.
She crossed to sit in the center of the small sofa and, as she’d expected, he lowered himself to one of the two oversized wingback chairs. Leaning back in the chair, he crossed one ankle over the opposite knee and rested his hands on his abdomen.
Katherine would have expected the ducal setting of their Mayfair mansion to inspire at least a hint of decorum in the man.
Apparently not.
The smile he offered was relaxed and only slightly suggestive.
Or was it Katherine’s hyperawareness that had her feeling like every glance and every smirk held some hidden meaning?
“I hope you and Claire are finding your accommodations to be satisfactory?”
His tawny brows arched. “Quite.”
She refused to blush at the way his relaxed manner highlighted her strained formality. She wasn’t typically so stiff. Of course, she was well-versed in the manners and graces expected of a duke’s daughter. There had just been so few occurrences to put such teachings into practice while in Lincolnshire and even fewer since coming to London.
Yet whenever she was in the same room with Hale, she simply didn’t know how else to behave. It was beyond frustrating to feel herself acting in a way so atypical to her natural inclinations.
“I realized after leaving your home earlier today that I should’ve taken a bit more time discussing what will be expected of you in this position.”
“Someone’s after the lad. Considering your obvious wealth,” he noted with a pointed glance about the room, “I’d guess their motive is money. My job is to make sure no one gets near enough to harm him. What’s to discuss?”
She frowned. “You don’t have any questions about what we’re up against? No concerns with the fact that you’d be putting yourself at risk? No inquiries on the daily movements of the household?”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “If you feel such things are important, by all means, go ahead.”
“The truth of the matter is that we don’t yet know who is behind these abduction attempts. We suspect ransom is one possible motive, but...we cannot discount a more violent intention.”
As she hinted at their fear that someone might be trying to truly harm or even kill Frederick, Hale’s eyes flashed with a dangerous light.
“Who’d have such cause?” His question was uttered with somber tension, making her suspect his previous flippancy had been nothing but an act.
“The person who’d most benefit if something were to happen to Frederick would be his heir, our great-uncle the Marquess of Warfield. But he is on the Continent and has been for many years.”
Hale frowned. “There’s no one else?”
“Not that we’ve been able to determine. If the kidnapper’s goal is to demand a ransom, the culprit could be anybody.”
Hale said nothing for a long moment before he spoke again. “It’s obvious the two of you’ve got the blunt to hire an army of guards. You could have the Bow Street Runners at your beck and call, I’d wager.”
Katherine met his challenging gaze with an answering one of her own. “Are you trying to convince me I made a mistake in hiring you, Mr. Hale?”
“I didn’t say that at all,” he noted with a slow shake of his tawny head. “I’d just like to know why you did.”
Katherine considered her answer carefully and decided to provide the easiest honest response. “Because Frederick trusts you.”
It was clear he’d noticed how she’d left herself out of the answer when amusement flickered once again in his gaze. “You put a lot of stock in the boy’s opinion.”
She lifted her chin. “Of course I do. Frederick is not a typical child. His genius started to show at a very young age and has continued to mature and progress. His cleverness is matched only by his compassion. My brother is destined for great things. It is generally best not to underestimate him.”
Hale eyed her with a slightly dubious expression. “How much can the boy understand of a world he rarely sees?”
Katherine stiffened at the subtle censure in his words. “Our lives have been rather unconventional, I’ll admit. For various reasons, such an existence suited us quite well. But it has become obvious since coming to London that a broader wealth of experience would be of great value to my brother.” She pinned him with a poignant stare. “Which brings us back to your purpose. Keep him safe until we can eliminate the threat against him. All I want is for him to have every opportunity to reach his greatest potential.”
The corner of his mouth twisted upward. “And I’ve a feeling you tend to get what you want.”
She narrowed her gaze, wondering if he was criticizing again. “I don’t see why I shouldn’t. Within reason.”
He chuckled. “Of course. Cannot abandon reason.”
Feeling uncomfortable with the turn the conversation had taken, she shifted back to her brother. “Frederick has the ability to retain everything he reads, sees, or hears, down to the most specific detail. If you wish to know more about either of the previous attacks in order to better guard against future attempts, I’m sure he could provide you with a wealth of helpful information. You’re welcome to take your meals with the senior staff or have them brought to you room, whichever you prefer, just notify our housekeeper Mrs. Wallace of your choice. Frederick can apprise you of his personal routine. For now, I doubt we’ll be leaving the house much unless it becomes absolutely necessary.”
“Voluntary captivity?”
“Until I know more about the threat, it’s the best way to keep him safe.”
His response to that was a short grunt, suggesting he didn’t agree.
She ignored him. It wasn’t required that he agree, just that he do his job.
“I’ll need a tour of the house and a list of the staff. Tonight.”
Hale rose to his feet as he spoke and Katherine stood as well. “Is that necessary?”
He arched a brow as he looked down at her from his towering height. “Questioning my methods already, dove?”
The man was trying to rile her up by using the too-familiar term, but she had no intention of falling into the obvious trap. “Of course not.”
/> “Since I can’t be in more than one place at a time, I’ll be needing a few men under my direction. If you can’t spare your current staff, more’ll need to be hired.”
“We’ll work something out,” she replied with a stiff smile.
“I’m also gonna need space for training.” He lifted his brows. “I assume a place like this has a ballroom.”
“It does. Foster will be more than happy to show you around the house and can also provide a staff list for you. We should be able to spare a footman or two for your purposes. You may discuss that issue with Foster, as well, as he is in charge of the male servants.”
It didn’t escape her how quickly he was taking the reins of control. She reminded herself that his competence was a good thing.
As though sensing her discomfort, the man flashed a cocky grin. “Too late for regrets now, dove.”
Tipping her head, she met his gaze square and steady. “I may not trust you as implicitly as Frederick, Mr. Hale, but I’d never have placed my brother’s life in your hands if I didn’t know with full certainty that you’d do the job and do it well.”
It was true. Her misgivings in regard to the man were entirely personal in nature and had nothing to do with his role as bodyguard.
When his eyes darkened at her words, triggering another of those internal flutters, she quickly looked away. “I’ll ring for Foster.”
Chapter Twelve
The next day, Mason met with all the household footmen in the ballroom. There were five in total. He didn’t know much about the ways of the wealthy, but he’d worked the door at enough bawdy houses in his younger years to figure out that the Blackwells did not keep nearly as much staff as they could.
The five men in front of him ranged in age from seventeen to late twenties. Every one of them was tall, as was customary for footmen, but their builds varied from there. For the most part, they looked back at him with mild curiosity as he stood with his back to the large fireplace at the far end of the open room.
