Roderick’s eyes widened. “A poacher shot me? Now, if that isn’t the stupidest story I have ever heard”
Jared laughed. “We needed an alibi. I thought it was rather good myself.”
Roderick swore. He limped toward the window. “What the devil is this about a she?”
Jared shrugged. “Don’t get your hopes up, because the lady in question is not Jane. As to the stupid story to explain your affliction, we had to have one. So mind your tongue.”
Roderick glanced over his shoulder. “Mind my tongue? It seems your mouth has been flapping like a fish!”
Jared shook his finger at him. “Temper, temper, my dear duke. You will need it when I let her see you.”
“Who the devil is this mysterious lady? Because if it is my mother, I shall strangled you! And if it is Agatha, you are a dead man.”
Jared laughed. “It is not your dear mother. And if it were Agatha, we would not need an alibi. Now, control yourself. It is Lady Trayton. You do remember her, do you not?”
Roderick stiffened. “Ha. Very amusing. It seems you had a history with her as well. She was a Miss Susan Wimble then.”
Jared shrugged. “I was stupid. She was nasty. I finally found your sister before I married the chit.”
Roderick frowned. A sinking suspicion began to gnaw at his brain. “How the devil did the lady find me here?”
Jared straightened his coat. “The thing is, I thought it better if someone from home saw that our little story was true. It was obvious you were ill. The doctors were coming and going wherever we stayed. We didn’t need any more of Devereaux’s minions following us after our little fiasco. Lady Trayton provides our other alibi, so-to-speak. It’s perfect. Met her in Paris last week at Lord Humphrey’s soiree.”
Roderick sank into a nearby chair. “I am not even going to ask why you were at some soiree in the middle of Paris.”
Jared pursed his lips, but the flicker of amusement in his gaze bothered Roderick to no end. “I found it rather boring sitting by your side day after day, Your Grace. Had to do something interesting.”
Roderick scowled.
Jared’s laughter was without remorse. “I was looking for someone to carry the gossip, you fool. Thunderation, Roderick, your brain is turning to mush. One would think you were shot in the temple rather than the back.”
“I am so glad you find my state of health amusing.”
Jared snorted. “Hell’s bells, Roderick. You are rather easy to tease, and too weak to do anything about it. I daresay, your brothers would find this hilarious. Now that you are up and moving, I no longer have to walk on eggshells around you. I’m deuced bored, if you want to know.”
Roderick wanted to take Jared by the collar and fling him across the room. The man was having a little too much enjoyment at his expense.
Being together in such close quarters was making them both crazy. Jared was without Emily, and Roderick was without Jane, not to mention the disadvantage of ill health. It was a devil of a mess.
“I fail to see what Lady Trayton will do for us,” Roderick snapped, thinking the woman was the last person he wanted to see. “She may be beautiful, but her tongue is as sharp as a knife.”
“That’s exactly the point,” Jared replied, laughing. “Uh, point?”
Roderick lifted two black brows. “Have you been dipping into the laudanum? Because that is not amusing either.”
Jared sobered. “Never mind. Anyway, she will enjoy telling all of London about your injury. Stories about your little accident will be wildly exaggerated. Everything will fall nicely into place. No one will ever suspect we were here to find an assassin. The king has enough on his shoulders with his marriage, his extravagant spending, and his coronation.”
Roderick’s heart squeezed when he thought about Jane. How could he have been so stupid to let her go without marrying her? But to be honest, the king had seemed a little too interested in the state of his marriage. The entire scenario had been rather strange, now that he thought about it.
“Truthfully,” Roderick replied, frowning. “I believe he knows more about the misfortunate happenings with my marriage license than he lets on.”
Jared pulled back the curtain to peek outside. “I have been thinking the same. But right now, we have to slip out of Paris without anyone the wiser.”
Roderick drummed his fingers nervously against his knee. “Very well. I see how Lady Trayton can add to our story.” He peered up at his friend, a certain vulnerability in his gaze. “Of course, when I see the her, you will be with me?”
Jared looked over his shoulder and laughed. “Coward?”
Roderick’s eyes drilled into to his. “I vow, Jared, I am going to drown you in a moat when we return.”
Jared smothered his chuckle. “Of course, I will be with you. The lady has claws that dig deep, and we have no wish for our little duke to get hurt, now, would we?”
Roderick pitched a book at him and Jared ducked.
“Now, now,” Jared laughed. “Curb your temper, Your Grace. You are going to need every bit of stamina for other things as well.”
“And why is that?”
Jared walked toward the door, his eyes alight with mischief. “I have a strong feeling Lady Trayton will be asking us to escort her back to London.”
Roderick shot from his chair, grimacing at the pain. “What?”
Jared shrugged. “Seems her man-of-affairs is quite ill, and she needs an escort back to London.”
“Well, confound it! Let her wait until her man-of-affairs is well! She has a lady’s maid, does she not? The very idea is preposterous.”
“I thought about that,” Jared said, pursing his lips.
Roderick crossed his arms over his chest. “Then what is the problem?”
“Her man-of-affairs has asked us to take her along. He has information that we were not looking for land in France.”
Roderick blinked. “Is this some jest? Or are you telling me he knows we were searching for Devereaux’s son?”
“I am not trying to be amusing. It’s true. Looking to buy land was a lame excuse anyway, if you ask me.”
“So, it’s blackmail then?” Roderick asked.
Jared nodded. “Precisely.”
“Then what do you suggest? Do away with the man-of-affairs?” Roderick asked sarcastically.
Jared sighed. “I think the man may be secretly in love with Lady Trayton. But as a good Englishman, he will not say a word if his condition is met. As you well know, love can make one do strange things. I believe the man only wants the lady seen safely home. But if anyone in this country discovers our ploy, we may be detained. Indefinitely.”
Roderick’s lips thinned. “I see. He must be ill indeed if he is love with her. And good Englishman is debatable.”
“I thought you would understand. Even though Napoleon is gone, there are people who would take the law into their own hands. Greed and power still live in France, as well as England. I have no wish to see the guillotine, my friend.”
Roderick scowled. “You do know, you are worse than a maggot in a wound.”
“I do have that way with people,” Jared said, chuckling. “But have no worries, Your Grace. Between the two of us, we can keep Lady Trayton occupied.”
“That’s exactly what I am afraid of.” Roderick combed a frustrated hand through his disheveled black hair and glowered at Jared. “You do know occupied means many things to many people, do you not? And if that word means something else to Lady Trayton, you, my good man, can visit with the female in question, for I will not be in the vicinity at all!”
Chapter Seventeen
It had been three weeks since Jane had given birth, and now she was off to Lady Vexfield’s ball, thirty miles from London, where she would see Roderick for the first time since he had left for France.
The clatter of carriage wheels along the cobblestone street mimicked her rattling heart. The destination made it almost mandatory for the guests to stay at Vexfield Hall during the weeke
nd festivities. But the thought of being with Roderick, after everything that had happened between them, made her hands sweat.
As the carriage approached the mansion, she stared at the shadows cast along the road and felt a prickle of alarm. The moon gave off a strange glow, only adding to her nervousness. Did Roderick still love her? Did he still want her? What would he think of the baby?
She would have preferred to meet with him privately, but the king had insisted Roderick and Jared attend the house party because the king would be a guest as well. Hopefully, George IV’s presence and his added demand that she attend the ball would outweigh anything Society had to say.
She had left the baby with Mr. and Mrs. Baskers who lived in a quaint little cottage in the country. The kind, older couple was friends of both Stephen and Elizabeth, and Jane had been staying at the cottage for a much-needed rest. Agatha had thought it best for her to relax far away from everything. Although Hemmingly Hall had been nice, the cottage was heaven. Jane had to admit, the clean country air had revived her senses. In fact, Emily had been staying with some nearby friends as well.
Though nervous to leave her young baby, Jane decided she would only be away for one night. Tomorrow, she would be back with her son. Hopefully, Roderick would agree to marry her, then return with her and see his son as well.
“Do you think I should attend?” Jane asked Emily. Her nervousness was evident. “You do know that Lady Vexfield only invited me because the king insisted. But I am a black sheep because of that marriage license.”
Emily’s violet eyes sparkled with concern. “If the king insisted, that is enough to get you back into the ton’s good graces. So stop your fretting. The biggest scandal now is Lady Vexfield’s daughter who ran off with Lord Dripwood.”
Jane sat up as the vehicle past through the gates. “Lord Dripwood?” She burst out laughing. “Is that truly his name?”
Emily sighed. “Indeed, it is. It seems Lord Dripwood enticed Rebecca, Lady Vexfield’s daughter, to fly away to Gretna Green. But Lord Vexfield stopped them in time, before they married that is, but not in time to stop the gossips. I believe poor Rebecca is now engaged to Lord Hackley.”
Jane gasped. “Roderick would never let me talk to the man. I have heard things that would burn your ears, Em.”
Emily’s violet gaze narrowed. “I know Rebecca. She is young, but a good girl. I wish there was some way we could help her.”
Jane picked at her skirt. “If I were not in such dire straits myself, I could help. But I fear, any help from my direction would only hurt the girl.”
She swallowed past the lump in her throat and lifted a hesitant gaze. She did not want to face Society. She was not as courageous as Emily thought. “Will there be anyone else we will know?
“Captain Argyle will be attending the party.”
Jane’s face brightened. “That is comforting. I will have one more friend to talk to until Roderick arrives.”
She chewed her bottom lip. Thoughts of Roderick giving her the cut-direct flashed through her mind. Her heart seemed to stop. “To tell you the truth, I am quite fearful your brother will not want me anymore.”
Emily laughed. “Impossible. But I would worry about Roderick making a spectacle of himself.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Oh, Jane,” Emily said, grasping her hand. “He is going to sweep you into his arms, hasten to the nearest room, bolt the door, and make mad love to you.”
Jane blinked back tears. “I think you are recalling a different Roderick. I just hope he does not completely avoid me.” Her bottom lip trembled. “For if he does, I think I will not be able to endure it.”
The rattle of wheels came to a halt. Jane froze.
“We are here, dearest,” Emily said gently. “Now, do not worry about a thing. Roderick still loves you. And that new gown will make his eyes fall out of his head.”
Jane gave a little laugh, adjusting her bodice. Things were not fitting the same after she had the baby. “I hope you are right. I have never worn something as daring as this since we were first married. In fact, had I known it would fit like this, I would never have worn it. But I had nothing else to wear because this was all last minute.”
Emily smiled. “You look lovely. Now, hold your head high and act like a duchess and everything will be fine.”
Roderick could not believe Lady Trayton had hooked herself to his arm the minute he had walked into Vexfield Hall. It seemed she thought she would be the next duchess. Her French perfume overwhelmed him. She must have used the entire bottle. It was nothing like the dab of rosewater that Jane used. And even when Jane had used French perfume, she only used a drop or two.
Not only that, Lady Trayton’s bosom was almost falling out of her ruby red gown. It was shameful. She was nothing like his sweet little Jane, who kept her gowns on the simple and modest side.
“You were my knight in shining armor, Your Grace,” Lady Trayton replied, batting her long lashes. “La, I do not know what I would have done without you. A woman does need a chaperone in such a situation, and since my man-of-affairs was ill, what was poor little me to do?”
Roderick’s keen gaze drifted over the crowd. The notes from a light country dance filled his ears, reminding him of Jane. Anticipation ran through his veins. Where was she?
“I believe Lord Stonebridge did help in the scheme of things,” he said, wishing the lady would move on. And where the devil had Jared gone? Probably looking for Emily, no doubt.
Lady Trayton squeezed his arm in a vice-like grip. “I did hate to bring up the subject on our journey because I know you were still recuperating from your injury, but if you are seeking Miss Jane Greenwell, I believe you should first look to Captain Argyle.”
Roderick’s head snapped to hers. His back had healed faster than he thought. He was almost normal now. But what was she saying about Jane?
He regarded her in silence as her eyes sparkled with delight. “Your Grace…Roderick, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there is gossip the man visited Miss Greenwell at Hemmingly Hall. In fact, if my sources are correct, he was there quite a bit since you were gone. Of course, the king has made it known Miss Greenwell was not to be ostracized because of the license situation. But la, she probably will not come tonight. That is, unless the captain is in attendance.”
The lady’s light laugh did nothing to calm Roderick’s thumping heart.
She sighed, tapping his arm in sympathy. “Your little problem with the marriage license has given the lady carte blanche, if you know what I mean. And it seems the king approves.”
Roderick stiffened. Her story sounded quite warped, but it was the mere thought of the captain with Jane that made him jealous.
Lady Trayton leaned toward him, whispering. “Of course, you have no need to worry about me, Your Grace. I would never run to someone else if you were there.”
Roderick’s lips thinned. He would not want this lady in a hundred years!
“Oh, my,” Lady Trayton cackled. “There is your dear sister with the lady in question. Miss Greenwell looks a bit plump, don’t you think?”
Roderick’s gaze fell on the creamy expanse of white skin below Jane’s neckline. His heart banged against his brain. She appeared plumper, but in all the right places. Devil take it! His eyes narrowed. That gown was too…too confounded tight. Too confounded low. Too confounded beautiful. And too cursed blue! Her eyes were like two sparkling sapphires, drawing him in and every other man within ten feet of her.
He thought this meeting would be simple. He thought she would fly into his arms, and he would kiss her senseless. He thought wrong.
Suddenly their eyes met. Her beauty made his chest tighten. Every nerve in his body was on edge.
“My, my, they are coming our way.” Lady Trayton clenched Roderick’s arm in a tighter hold. “How quaint. The captain is looking quite debonair, don’t you think?”
Roderick’s gaze instantly shifted to the side of the room where Captain Argyle was making
a direct path toward Jane. And thunderation, the hungry look on the man’s face was not brotherly at all.
It took all Roderick’s self control not to box the captain’s ears. Jane was his wife! It may not be correct on paper. But their marriage was sealed in his soul. And by Jove, no man on earth was going to take her away from him, including the debonair captain!
“Roderick.” Jane’s sweet voice met his ears like bells from heaven. He had dreamed of her. He watched as Emily ran into Jared’s arms, and they quickly disappeared from the room.
“Jane.” Roderick took her hand and kissed it. “It has been too long, my dear.”
He paused, thinking he smelled French perfume. It was more than Jane usually used. It was a different scent too. It was just like Lady Trayton’s. He scowled as Captain Argyle walked up to them. Had the man bought it for her?
Jane nodded to Lady Trayton. “I did not realize you were in attendance. What a pleasure, Lady Trayton.”
The lady stroked Roderick’s arm. “It is a pleasure, is it not?”
Captain Argyle cleared his throat, glaring at Roderick. “Jane, would you like to dance? It appears they are going to play a waltz.”
Jane?
Roderick wanted to grab the man by his cravat. When the devil did his wife become Jane to this man?
No, she does not want to dance, Roderick wanted to say. And certainly not a waltz! He looked over her gown and grimaced. She needed to cover up. He wished to throw his jacket over her and haul her out of the place to somewhere safe…like his arms.
Roderick’s blood raced as he stared at her. She was lovelier than he remembered. His gaze drilled into hers, begging her to look at him. Those beautiful blue eyes hardened as she took in the lady attached to his arm.
Then Jane turned her face toward the captain, lifting her chin. “A waltz would be wonderful. It was so nice seeing you again, Your Grace.”
Roderick froze as Jane moved onto the dance floor. His stunned gaze followed them. What in the blazes had just happened?
The Duke's Bride: Book 5 (The Clearbrooks) Page 17
