A Rogues Proposal c-4

by Stephanie Laurens

  Struggling to coordinate her wits, let alone her limbs, she helped as best she could. If they didn't reappear in the ballroom soon, Stratton would notice-and start to wonder.

  They returned downstairs, Demon holding her close against him. They reentered the ballroom, but didn't go far-propping his shoulders against the wall, Demon cradled her against him, her cheek against his chest, then bent his head and kissed her. Soothingly, calmingly.

  Distractingly. Despite that, as her senses returned, Flick heard catcalls, whistles, suggestions called out-clearly to some exhibition at the room's center. From the associated sounds, and some of the suggestions, it wasn't hard to imagine what that exhibition entailed. With Demon's arms around her, she couldn't see-she didn't try to look.

  After fifteen or so minutes, when their hearts had slowed to their normal pace, Demon glanced around the room, then looked down at her. "We've been seen and duly noted," he murmured. "Now we can leave."

  They did in short order, their bodies still thrumming, their spirits soaring, the evidence they'd sought for weeks at long last in their possession.

  Demon called in Berkeley Square at eight the next morning; Flick was waiting in the front hall, her packed bags at her feet, a glorious smile on her face. Within minutes, they were away, the bays pacing swiftly, Gillies up behind.

  "You were right about your mother stopping her scolding when I told her we'd rely on her and Helena to make all the wedding arrangements."

  Demon snorted. "That was a foregone conclusion-she could hardly scold while in alt. It's her dream come true-to organize a wedding."

  "I'm only glad, after all her worrying, that we could leave her so happy."

  Demon merely snorted-distinctly unfilially-again.

  Two minutes later, in a quiet street, he drew in to the curb, tossed the reins to Gillies, and jumped down. Flick looked around. "What?…

  Demon impatiently waved her to him; she shuffled along the seat and he lifted her down. "I want to show you something." Taking her hand, he led her up the steps of the nearest house-a gentleman's residence with a portico held aloft by two columns. In the portico, he pulled a set of keys from his pocket, selected one, opened the front door, and pushed it wide. With an elegant bow, he waved her in, merely lifting his brows at her questioning look.

  Wondering, Flick entered a pleasant rectangular hall-from the echoes and absence of furniture it was apparent the house stood empty. Pausing in the middle of the hall, she turned and raised her brows.

  Demon waved her on. "Look around."

  She did, starting with the reception rooms opening from the front hall, then on up the stairs, going faster and faster as excitement gripped her. The pleasant, welcoming aura that hung in the hall recurred throughout the rooms, all airy and gracious, the morning sun streaming in through large windows. The master bedroom was large, the other bedrooms more than adequate; she eventually reached the nursery, under the eaves.

  "Oh! This is wonderful!" She darted down the corridor that led to the small bedrooms, then crossed to peek into the nanny's domain. Then, her heart swelling so much she thought it would burst, she turned and looked at Demon, lounging, all rakish elegance, in the doorway, watching her. She met his gaze, smiling but watchful.

  He studied her face, then raised one brow. "Do you like it?"

  Flick let her heart fill her eyes; her smile was ecstatic. "It's wonderful-perfect!" Reining in her excitement, she asked, "How much is it? Could we possibly?…"

  His slow smile warmed her. Drawing his hand from his pocket, he held up the keys. "It's ours-we'll live here while in town."

  "Oh!" Flick flew at him, hugged him wildly, kissed him soundly-then raced off again. She didn't need further explanation-this would be their home-this the nursery they would fill with their children. After the last weeks, she knew family was a vital part of him, the central concept around which he was focused. Even if he didn't know it, she did-this, from him, was the ultimate declaration-she needed no further vows. This-the home, the family-would be theirs.

  Demon grinned and watched her. He still found her joy deeply refreshing, her open delight infectious. As he trailed her once more through the house, he wryly admitted he could now understand why so many generations of his forebears had found pleasure in indulging their wives.

  That had been an abiding mystery before-it no longer was. He-Demon by name, demon by nature-had been vanquished by an angel. He no longer viewed her as innocent and youthful in the sense of being less able than he. After last night, he knew she could match him in any venture, any challenge. She was the wife for him.

  And so here he was, trailing in her wake. She led-he followed, with his hand oh-so-lightly on her reins. What he'd found with her he'd found with no other-she was his and he was hers, and that was how it had to be. It was that simple. This was love-he was long past denying it.

  Regaining the drawing room, she stopped at its center. "We'll have to shop for furniture."

  Demon quelled a shudder. He followed her in, slid one arm around her waist, drew her against him, paused for one instant to watch the sudden flaring of awareness in her eyes, then kissed her.

  She sank into his embrace; he tightened it about her. The kiss deepened-and they said all they needed with their lips, their bodies, their hearts. For one long moment, they clung, then he lifted his head.

  The evidence he carried in his pocket crackled.

  His chest swelled as he drew in a breath; she looked up-he met her eyes. "Let's take these to Newmarket." So they could get on with the rest of their lives.

  She nodded briskly. They disengaged, straightened their clothes, then hurried out to the curricle.

  By ten o'clock, they were bowling northward, the enclosed spaces of London far behind. Joyfully, Flick breathed deep, then turned her face to the sun. "We'll have to go to Hillgate End first-to tell the General and Dillon."

  "I'll drive to the farm. We can leave your things there for the moment, ride to the cottage and collect Dillon, ride on to the manor and tell the General, then go straight on to the Jockey Club. I want to get that information before the Committee as soon as possible." His face hardened; he reached for the whip.

  Flick wondered if his grim urgency stemmed from concern for the industry he'd so long been a part of, or from the nebulous feeling that they hadn't, yet, defeated Stratton. That feeling hadn't left her since Stratton had walked in on them last night-like a specter, it hovered at her shoulder, growing blacker, weightier. As they rounded a curve, she looked back, but there was no one there.

  They drove through Newmarket in the early afternoon and headed straight for the farm. While Demon organized their horses, Flick hurried upstairs and changed into her riding habit. In less than half an hour, they were riding into the clearing behind the ruined cottage.

  "It's us, Dillon," Flick called as she slid from the saddle. "Me and Demon. We're back!"

  Her excitement rang in her voice. Dillon appeared through the lean-to, struggling to contain the hope lightening his haggard features.

  One glance was enough to tell Demon that Dillon had changed-somewhere, somehow, he'd found some backbone. He said nothing, however, but joined Flick as she headed for the cottage.

  Even before she reached him, Dillon stiffened. Demon had never seen him stand so tall, so determined. Fists clenched at his sides, he met Flick's gaze directly. "I've been to see the General."

  She blinked and stopped before him. "You have?"

  "I told him all about it-the whole story-so you don't need to lie for me-cover up for me-any more. I should have done that at the start."

  He looked Demon straight in the eyes. "Papa and I decided to wait until tomorrow in case you found anything, but we'll be going to see the Committee regardless."

  Demon met his eyes and nodded, his approval sincere.

  "But we have found something." Flick gripped Dillon's arm. "We've learned who the syndicate is and we've enough proof to show the Committee!"

  One hand at her back, Dem
on urged her in. "Let's take our revelations indoors."

  Neither Dillon nor Flick argued. If they had, Demon couldn't have explained who he thought might overhear. But he was edgy, and had been since he'd looked into Stratton's cold eyes the previous evening.

  That Stratton had noticed them the instant they'd regained the ballroom had him worried. Stratton was known as cold and detached-he might well prove a formidable enemy. If there had been any way to safely leave Flick somewhere well out of the action, he'd have snatched the opportunity. But there wasn't. That being so, the safest place for her was with him.

  In the cottage, Dillon faced them. "I've written a detailed account of my involvement, first to last-just the bare facts." He looked grim. "It's hardly pleasant reading, but at least it's honest."

  Flick smiled. Her inner happiness radiated from her, all but lighting up the cottage. She laid a hand on Dillon's arm. "We've proof of the syndicate."

  Dillon looked at her, then at Demon; his expression said he hardly dared hope. "Who are they?"

  "Not they-that was our error. It's a syndicate of one." Briefly, Demon explained. "I have to hand it to him-his execution was almost flawless. Only his greed-the fact he fixed too many races-brought the scheme to light. If he'd been content with the money from one or two major races a year…" He shrugged. "But Stratton's lifestyle calls for rather more blunt than that."

  Reaching into his pocket, Demon drew out their evidence. "This was the key." He smoothed out a sheet on the table. Flick hadn't seen it before; together with Dillon, she crowded close.

  "I gathered all the details I could about the betting on the fixed races, and my agent, Montague, worked out the amounts cleared from each one. He's a wizard. If he hadn't got it right-very close to exact-I would never have recognized the figures in Stratton's ledger."

  Unfolding the sheets he'd torn from Stratton's account book, Demon laid them alongside Montague's sheet. "See?" Tapping various figures in Stratton's income column, he pointed to similar figures on the other sheet. "The dates match, too." Both Dillon and Flick glanced from one sheet to the others, nodding as they took it in.

  "Can we prove these are Stratton's accounts?" Dillon looked up.

  Demon pointed to certain entries in the expenditure column. "These purchases of a phaeton, and here the pair to go with it-and even more these-lost wagers paid to gentlemen of the ton-can be proved to have been Stratton. With virtually the exact money from the races listed as income on the same pages, it's hard to argue any case other than it was Stratton behind the race-fixing. These"-he gestured to the papers-"are all the evidence we need."

  Heeeee-crash!

  With a tearing scream, the main door flew in, kicked off its rusting hinges to slam down on the floor. The whole cottage shook. Demon grabbed Flick as they backed up, eyes watering, coughing as dust reared and washed over them.

  "How exceedingly foolish of you."

  The words, clipped, precise and totally devoid of all feeling, came from the man silhouetted in the doorway.

  The bright sunlight outside haloed him; they couldn't see his features. Flick and Demon recognized him instantly.

  Eyes on the long barrelled pistol in Stratton's right hand, Demon tried to push Flick behind him. Unfortunately, they'd backed up against the hearth with its low chimney coping.

  "Just remain where you are." Stratton stepped over the threshold. He barely glanced at the papers lying scattered on the table, evidence enough to put him in Newgate, a long way from the luxury to which he was accustomed.

  Demon tensed, praying Stratton would look at the papers-take his eye off him just for an instant…

  Stratton hesitated, but didn't. "You've been far too clever. Much too clever for your own good. If I didn't have such a suspicious nature, you might even have succeeded, but I checked my ledger at four o'clock this morning. By six, I was on the road to Newmarket. I knew you wouldn't dally. It was just a matter of time before you appeared."

  "And if we'd gone directly to the Jockey Club?"

  "That," Stratton admitted, "would have been exceedingly messy. Luckily, you drove straight through. It was easy to follow you on horseback. Equally easy to guess that, if I was patient, you'd lead me to the one player still eluding me." He inclined his head toward Dillon, but the pistol, aimed directly at Flick's chest, didn't waver. He studied her for a moment, then sighed. "Such a pity, but after that little exposition, I fear I'll have to make away with you all."

  "And how," Demon asked, "do you imagine explaining that?"

  Stratton raised a brow. "Explaining? Why should I explain anything?"

  "Others know I've been investigating you in connection with the race-fixing."

  "Do they now?" Stratton remained very still, his eyes steady on Demon's face, his aim never faltering from Flick's chest. Then his thin lips eased. "How unfortunate-for Bletchley."

  Stratton's jaw set. He lifted his arm, straightening it, aiming the pistol at Demon-

  Flick screamed.

  She flung herself at Demon, clinging to his chest, shoving him back against the chimney.

  Stratton's eyes widened-his finger had already tightened about the trigger.

  Dillon stepped across Flick-the pistol discharged. The explosion echoed deafeningly between the cottage walls.

  Demon and Flick froze, locked together before the chimney. Demon had frenziedly tried to wrestle Flick to the side, knowing he'd be too late-

  They both continued to breathe, each searingly conscious the other was still alive. They turned their heads and looked-

  Dillon slowly crumpled to the floor.

  "Damn!" Stratton dropped the pistol.

  Demon released Flick. She dropped to the floor beside Dillon. His face a mask of vengeance, Demon went for Stratton and nearly fell as his boots tangled in Flick's skirts. He grabbed the table to steady himself and saw Stratton pull another, smaller pistol from his greatcoat pocket, saw him aim at him-

  "Here! Wait a minute!" Ducking through the lean-to, Bletchley lumbered in. "What's this about things being unfortunate for me?"

  Belligerent as a bull, he made straight for Stratton.

  Without a blink, Stratton swung his arm farther and shot Bletchley.

  Demon vaulted the table.

  Stratton swung to face him, raising his riding quirt-

  Demon's right cross snapped his head back with a satisfying scrunch. He followed up with a left, but Stratton was already on his way down. His head hit the flags with a thud. After one glance at Bletchley's slumped form, Demon leaned over Stratton.

  He was unconscious, his aristocratic jaw at an odd, very painful-looking angle. Demon considered, but restrained himself from rearranging any more of his features. Wrecking Stratton's cravat without the slightest compunction, he dumped him on his face, hauled his arms back, secured them, then tied them to his ankles. Satisfied Stratton was no longer a threat, Demon glanced over the table. Flick was staunching a wound on Dillon's shoulder.

  Turning to Bletchley, Demon eased him onto his back. Stratton had been rushed, his aim fractionally off. Bletchley would live, hopefully to sing of his master's infamy. Right now, all he could do was moan.

  Demon left him to it-he wasn't bleeding badly enough to be in any real danger.

  From what little he'd glimpsed, Dillon was.

  Rounding the table, Demon joined Flick, on her knees beside Dillon. She'd eased him onto his back. Her face white as a sheet, she struggled to contain her trembling as she pressed her wadded petticoat down hard on his wound. Demon glanced at her face, then looked at Dillon. "Ease back-let me see the wound."

  Relaxing her arms, she leaned back. Demon lifted the wad and quickly looked, then replaced it. His face easing, he looked at Flick as she reapplied pressure to the wound.

  "It's bad, but he'll live."

  Blank-faced, she looked at him. Demon put his arm around her shoulders and hugged. "Stratton was aiming for me. Dillon's shorter than I am-the ball's in his shoulder; it hasn't even touched his lung. He
'll be all right once we get the doctor to him."

  She searched his eyes; some of the cold blankness left her face. She looked down at Dillon. "He's been such a fool, but I don't want to lose him-not now."

  Demon hugged her tighter and pressed a kiss into her curls. He wasn't all that calm himself, but he knew what she meant. If Dillon hadn't come good at the last-hadn't become man enough to, for once, shield Flick rather than expecting the reverse, Flick would have died.

  His arm still about her, his cheek against her golden curls, Demon closed his eyes tight and again told himself-the being who dwelled deep inside-that it really was all right, that Flick was still with him, that he hadn't lost his angel so soon after finding her. Flick was a lot shorter than he was-if Dillon hadn't shielded her, Stratton's bullet would have hit her in the back of her beautiful head.

  He really couldn't think of it-not without coming apart-so he pushed the image away, locked it deep inside. Lifting his head, he looked down at Dillon, to whom he now owed more than his life. Flick was still staunching the flow of blood, but it seemed to be easing. Demon considered, then looked into her face. She was still pale, but composed.

  Part of him wanted to shake her-to swear and rant at her for throwing herself across him; the saner part realized there really was no point. She would simply set her little chin and get that stubborn look on her face and refuse to pay the slightest attention. And she'd do it again in a blink.

  The realization only made him want to hug her, hold her tight, keep her forever safe in his arms.

  Drawing a deep breath, he reached out and gently tugged her hands from the bloody pad. "Come." She turned to him; he met her gaze. "Leave that to me-you're going to have to ride for help."

  Sorting it out took the rest of the day. Flick rode to the farm-Gillies and the Shephards took over from there, summoning the doctor, the magistrate and constable while Flick rode to Hillgate End. She stayed with the General, soothing and reassuring, until the doctor's gig arrived from the cottage with Demon driving and Dillon in the back.

  They got Dillon inside-the doctor, a veteran of the Peninsula Wars, had extracted the bullet at the cottage, so Dillon was quickly made comfortable. He was still unconscious-the doctor warned he probably wouldn't wake until the next day. Mrs. Fogarty installed herself at his bedside; the General, after seeing his son still breathing, and hearing from both Flick and Demon of Dillon's bravery, finally consented to retire to the library.