“Quite so. Presumably you have a plan. If so, I’d like to hear it.’
“Yes, actually I do.” Grim-faced, Sebastian flexed his jaw and paused to sip at his brandy. “Since whoever wishes her harm is someone whom she trusts, it will be difficult to keep her out of harm’s way for every second of the day. So, with your permission, I propose to set a trap to draw the culprits out.”
“You keep saying they, Denver. Do you suspect more than one person?”
“I do.” Sebastian explained how difficult it would have been for one individual to stage all the accidents without drawing unnecessary attention to himself. “It would be near impossible to achieve, even if he does have servants assisting him.”
“And presumably you now have an idea who those people are?” Anger and steely determination underscored Lord Bevan’s tone, affording Sebastian a telling glimpse of the real man lurking beneath the congenial façade. “Be good enough to share that information with me.”
“I will happily do so, but you must prepare yourself for a shock.”
Lord Bevan grunted. “I can hardly be more shocked than I am at present. Just tell me and be done with it. Stop trying to protect my feelings. The only person under this roof who requires your protection is Abbey.”
“Quite.” Sebastian cleared his throat. “I believe Charles Wilsden and your own daughter-in-law Mary are in this together.”
“Good heavens, why?”
“Part evidence and part intuition.”
He told Bevan everything he had learned and surmised to back up his theory. Lord Bevan took these revelations more calmly than Sebastian had imagined he would, pondering upon them for some moments without speaking.
“You could be in the right of it,” he eventually said. “Much as I hate to admit it, your logic appears irrefutable. But how do you intend to prove it?”
“The scheme is riskier than I would like, but I can think of no other. It also requires absolute secrecy. With your permission we will put it into play at once but no one, no one at all apart from the two of us and Lady Abigail herself must be aware of what we’re doing. If I’m wrong about the identity of the perpetrators we could unwittingly alert the true villains.”
“Before I agree to anything perhaps you had better tell me your plan.”
Sebastian did so, his explanation succinct. Lord Bevan, grim faced, nodded his agreement, adding a few conditions of his own.
“Evans will likely become suspicious and attempt to intervene,” Sebastian said.
“He won’t care for it, but if he tries to put a stop to it I’ll warn him off. He will not go against my wishes, whatever the provocation,” he said with a significant glance at Sebastian.
“Well, just so long as he’s out of the way at the crucial juncture.”
“I give you my assurance he won’t interfere.”
“Thank you.” Sebastian stood up and kicked absently at a log that had fallen to the front of the fire. “Let’s just hope it works.”
“Come along then, Denver.” Lord Bevan stood also and drained his glass again in one economical movement. “Let’s see if Abbey’s still awake and acquaint her with your suggestion. Obviously, the final decision is hers alone to make.”
Chapter Fourteen
While the men enjoyed their port, the ladies descended en-masse upon Abbey. Their company was the last thing she wanted, especially since one of them might have been responsible for her fall. It was some time before she was able to convince them that with the exception of a swollen ankle she was perfectly well. Shaking their heads and clucking with sympathy they eventually filed from the room, leaving her with just Sally for company.
Abbey enjoyed the ensuring silence and was reluctant to break it. Sally’s mother had been Abbey’s own mother’s maid and Sally, just a few years older than Abbey herself, had been a great comfort to her when her parents were killed. She had moved to Castleray with her and remained the one constant link to her past. Abbey didn’t doubt Sally’s abiding loyalty and hadn’t hesitated to seek her assistance when she first hatched the scheme to approach Sebastian.
“It was fortunate Lord Denver was there to aid you when you fell, my lady,” Sally said, removing the tray from the small table she had placed at Abbey’s side. “I must say I think he’s rather dashing, but he absolutely terrifies me. He has such presence. Such command, such…well, everything.”
Abbey harrumphed and didn’t dignify that comment with a response. “What have you to tell me regarding your own behaviour, Sally?” she asked instead.
Sally blushed scarlet. “Whatever can you mean?”
“I know it isn’t true but you ought to know what’s being said. I’m sorry if this offends you, but some would have it you behaved inappropriately with Lord Denver’s man.”
“Not inappropriately exactly, my lady,” Sally replied with a giggle.
“Are you telling me it’s true?” Abbey was astounded. “Sally, how could you? I defended you when Lord Denver made the suggestion.”
“Well, you did ask me to deliver food to him,” Sally said defensively. “Mr. Hodges begged me to stay and talk to him while he ate. He said he was tired of being alone.”
Abbey gaped at her maid. “While he was in his bed?”
“Where else could he be? He was feigning illness and as we were the only two who knew it, it was pleasant for him to be able to speak of it. Besides, Mr. Hodges is charming and very virile,” she added with a dramatic sigh. “He’s seen and done so many things and his accounts of his exploits were most entertaining. Besides, he knows precisely how to treat a girl.”
“I can understand how an attractive man might turn your head.” You can have no idea how much I understand. “But have a care, Sally. You wouldn’t wish to end up in an unfortunate condition.”
“Oh, there’s no need to concern yourself on that score, my lady. He took the greatest care and withdrew—”
“Yes, thank you, Sally, spare me the details, if you please.” Abbey was actually bursting with curiosity but even with a friendship as close as theirs, there were still some boundaries that ought not to be crossed.
“Sorry.”
Sally giggled again, leaving Abbey to lapse into another brooding silence. If she asked, she felt sure Sally would give her chapter and verse regarding her scandalous liaison with Hodges, but she couldn’t bring herself to actually ask. If Sally felt comfortable offering herself to Hodges then what right did Abbey have to censure her, especially after the way she had…but no! Colour flooded her cheeks as she recalled the shameless way in which she had begged Sebastian to kiss her. Dear lord, she had actually flung herself at him. How could she have been so brazen? No wonder he had looked upon her with such disdain afterwards.
Full of self-recriminations, she turned her mind to this latest attempt on her life. Renewed fear cascaded through her, banishing her salacious thoughts most effectively. She had spent so many hours contemplating the matter from every conceivable angle without reaching any firm conclusions and could see little profit in continuing to dwell upon it. She could only hope Sebastian had been more successful. She suspected he might have been, but hadn’t chosen to share his thoughts with her. She straightened her spine, wincing as pain jolted through her ankle. In spite of her incapacity she didn’t intend for him to arbitrarily decide upon the best course of action. Just like everyone else who had anything to do with her life, he was far too ready to take matters into his own hands in a misguided effort to protect her, arrogantly assuming he knew what was best for her.
Dash it all, why did she have to think about his hands? It conjured up an image of those capable fingers of his, gentling probing and caressing—and she wasn’t referring to his examination of her ankle—seductive though even that innocent event had seemed to her in her current emotional state.
It simply wouldn’t do! Furious with herself, and with him, she determined anew to consider his amorous advances, if she had to think about them at all, is the same casual manner as he did. He
was a man unaccustomed to being idle—a man who now had time on his hands. Hands again, it always seemed to come back to his wretched hands. She just would not think about them.
She bolstered her flailing self-esteem by relishing anew the expression on his face as he observed her descending the stairs. He might well proclaim indifference towards her but no one could feign the incandescent desire she had detected in his eyes, not even a man as experienced in such matters as he. His features had softened, and there had been a wealth of emotional investment in his expression. Better yet, just for one unguarded second, she thought she saw raw, unadulterated passion in the depth of his eyes.
It had been an empowering moment. She had directed a collusive smile somewhere over his head, letting him know she now understood just what influence she could wield over him if she felt so inclined. She’d exploited the moment to its full, surprising herself by knowing how to go about it. She became aware she had got it exactly right as she observed the fluctuating expressions dancing across his features.
And then she had ruined it all by falling.
Blast the man, where was he? Why had he not called so they could discuss this latest attack? He was bound to have reasoned it through by now.
Exhausted, Abbey settled against her pillows and closed her eyes. She would sleep, just for half-an-hour. Then, when her strength was restored to her, she would send Sally in search of Sebastian; protocol be damned!
A light tap on the door roused Abbey. She opened her eyes just as Sally bobbed a curtsey and stood back to admit her uncle. Sebastian followed him into the room. Abbey was furious with her heart for appearing to beat faster at the sight of him and disciplined her features into a neutral expression. He smiled that wretchedly disconcerting smile of his—the one that made the rest of the world disappear. She summoned up a smile of her own for her uncle, excluding Sebastian from it.
“How do you feel?” Uncle Bertram asked, seating himself beside her and taking her hand in his.
“I’m perfectly comfortable, thank you.”
“That’s good.” Uncle Bertram cleared his throat. “Abbey, after your terrible ordeal this evening Lord Denver, very properly in my view, told me about your troubles.”
“You spoke to my uncle without first consulting me?” Abbey felt betrayed, and fixed Sebastian with an angry scowl. “You had no right to do that. I trusted you.”
“Don’t blame Lord Denver. He has extensive experience in such matters and did what he thought was right.”
“I’m sure he picks up fallen women all the time,” she said sullenly.
“You should have told me yourself, Abbey,” her uncle said in a tone of mild admonishment.
“Oh, Uncle Bertram, I wanted to, really I did. But I wasn’t entirely sure, you see, and I didn’t know—”
“Hush, child, don’t overset yourself. I know now and that’s what matters. What I don’t know is how you contrived to make contact with Lord Denver in the first place, and perhaps it’s better if I remain ignorant on that score. His lordship has given me his word as a gentleman that nothing of an improper nature took place and with that I shall force myself to be content.”
“What happened to cause my fall?” Abbey asked, directing her remark to Sebastian. “I asked Sally but she didn’t seem to know.”
“She does know but I asked her not to upset you by telling you,” Sebastian replied. “I wanted you to hear it from me.”
She tutted. “I do wish you would stop protecting me!”
“Isn’t that what I’m here to do?”
“To protect me yes, but not to stifle me.”
Sebastian had the audacity to laugh. “Do you want to know what happened tonight or not?”
“Well of course I do.”
She listened in total astonishment as he explained the heel of her shoe had been loosened. “Did you not notice anything amiss when you put the shoe on?’
Abbey wrinkled her brow, endeavouring to curb her oscillating anger and think the matter through in a rational manner. “Yes, actually it did feel a little strange, now you mention it. But I had been delayed by little Ellen and feared being late for dinner, so I imagined I was at fault for dashing about and didn’t spare it another thought.”
Sebastian and her uncle exchanged a significant glance.
“Abbey, Lord Denver feels your antagonists won’t stop until they achieve their objective and, from what he’s told me, I tend to agree with him.”
“Yes, I agree as well,” she said glumly. “I hoped I was wrong, but even I can no longer explain away these accidents I keep having.”
“Lord Denver has come up with a somewhat unconventional plan to draw the culprits out which, in the circumstances, I have no option but to sanction.” Uncle Bertram looked grim and Abbey felt a moment’s concern on his behalf. He was no longer a young man and she was placing yet more strain upon him. “He will outline it to you now and if you are brave enough to agree we will put it into place without delay.”
“Oh, Uncle, I must be a dreadful trial to you.”
“Abbey,” he replied, patting her hand and looking quite emotional. “You’re one of the few things in my life that gives me true pleasure. I’m inordinately proud of your courage and want only, eventually, to see you happily established with a family of your own on the Penrith estate.”
“I know that, uncle, and I can’t begin to express my thanks for all the sacrifices you’ve made to get me to this point.” She turned her tear-stained face in Sebastian’s direction. “What is your plan? I’m ready to hear it.”
He cleared his throat and told her. She was so astonished that her mouth fell open in an unladylike manner. God’s beard, had the entire world run completely mad?
“Let me see if I understand you a’right,” she said, sitting up straighter, disregarding the pain in her ankle as she allowed her indignation full rein. “You want me to imply that you are remaining beneath this roof, even though the snow’s thawing rapidly and the roads should be passable again tomorrow, at my specific request? We are to spend all of our time together and pretend a tendre exists between us.” She bit off the words as though they had stung her. “Once we have aroused suspicions, or jealousies, or whatever, Hodges will casually mention in the senior servants’ hall that you’re taking me for a clandestine luncheon in the folly on the furthest edge of the estate.”
“That’s about the size of it,” Sebastian agreed, having the nerve to wink at her when her uncle wasn’t looking.
“And what good do you suppose that will achieve?”
Sebastian’s smug grin fuelled her anger. His quite disgusting charm and confidence bordered on conceit. Even so, she reluctantly admired his coercive powers in persuading her uncle even to consider such a scandalous suggestion.
“Whoever’s behind these attacks will hear of my intentions from his man. You know how servants’ gossip always finds its way upstairs. They’re desperate and won’t be able to resist such a prime opportunity to eliminate us both, especially if they think you have developed feelings for me. I will make it my business to ensure they have reason to believe those feelings are reciprocated.” His smile possessed definite wolfish qualities. “What do you say?”
If her uncle hadn’t been present she would have told him precisely what she thought of his arrogance, even though she privately conceded his plan was a good one. But could she play her part? Just the thought of being held in his arms again, even if it was only being done to mislead her attackers, had the most disconcerting affect upon her. He had only suggested the scheme to help her out of her difficulties, she was willing to concede that much. She also knew it wasn’t a stratagem and he had no ulterior motive. She had already let him know just how keen she was to further her erotic education at his hands and he’d had the gall to turn her down. So why did he find her embarrassment so amusing? Really, the man was insufferable and deserved to be taken down a peg or two.
“It’s the most ridiculous plan I have ever heard and will never work,”
she said, aware it most likely would.
“I believe it will, Abbey,” her uncle said, introducing the first sensible words into what was rapidly developing into a battle of wills between her and Sebastian. “But it will require courage, and if you don’t feel ready to play your part after your fall then no one will think the less of you. We shall find another way.”
Botheration, by calling her courage into question her uncle had said the one thing guaranteed to change her mind. Anyway, there was never any serious possibility of her refusing. Had she not been complaining about the restrictions placed on her freedom? Well, now she had the chance for more adventure than perhaps she could handle. No, declining wasn’t an option. Her uncle seemed to realise it. Sebastian most definitely did.
“Very well,” she said with a reluctant nod. “But you should know, uncle, I am only doing this because you deem it wise. I think the whole scheme is ridiculous and can’t persuade myself it has the remotest possibility of success.”
“Oh, it has a fair chance of exposing the villains.” Sebastian offered her a smouldering grin that softened his eyes and lit up his rugged features so compellingly she was forced to avert her eyes. “But only if we put on a convincing performance.”
“I ought to warn you my acting skills are on a par with my singing.”
He cocked a brow. “That bad, huh?”
“I am afraid so.”
“Well, we shall just have to do the best we can. I will leave you to rest this evening but first thing tomorrow you must start looking upon me with love in your eyes.”
She smothered a hoot of laughter. “Now you are asking too much.”
“I have every confidence in your ability to rise to the occasion,” he said, chuckling as he bent to kiss her hand and left the room in her uncle’s wake.
Chapter Fifteen
Clear skies and a rise in the temperature lifted everyone’s spirits the following morning. The snow in the garden was reduced to a watery slush and the girls’ snowman had almost melted completely away. At breakfast the gentlemen were cheered to learn a neighbouring hunt would be going ahead that day.
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