‘I have a couple of ex-soldiers working for me at the estate. They know how to handle themselves and will prove handy in a fight. We must nip this in the bud tonight, Justin, or none of us will sleep soundly in our beds until it is done.’
* * *
‘I am sorry that you had such a fright,’ Andrew said to Mariah later. They were walking alone in the gallery on the upper floor of the east wing since he had judged it best to stay inside the house for the moment. ‘I doubt there are more rogues waiting to attack you, but it is best to be safe until we have settled this thing.’
‘It is such a nuisance and I do not intend to be intimidated, Andrew. I was startled at the time,’ Mariah admitted, ‘but truly it was all over so swiftly that I hardly knew what was happening.’ She looked at him, her eyes dark with anxiety. ‘Do you truly think it was your enemy, Andrew?’
‘I fear it must be so,’ he said and looked grave. ‘Had I been certain of it, I should not have spoken, Mariah. I would rather you had not been involved in this sordid business. Indeed, I spoke only because I meant to protect you.’
What did that mean? Was he regretting his haste? Mariah felt a stab of hurt in the vicinity of her heart. It was not easy to love someone who felt only mild affection in return. However, it would avail her nothing to let her hurt feelings show. She turned away as she asked, ‘Have they discovered what happened to the missing silver?’
Andrew frowned. ‘I fear it is far from solved—though I may know who sent the letter accusing me. I called on Lieutenant Gordon’s mother and sister. I was unable to see them both, but his mother received me. She was hostile at first and swore that she did not know where her son was. However, when I asked if she needed help, she thawed a little. She told me that she had not heard from her son for months, though she believed him to be in England. She clearly blamed me for his disgrace and hasty departure from the army. However, I do not think she wrote the letter. Something she said makes me suspect it may have been his sister.’
‘She wrote to discredit you in the hope of bringing you to ruin?’
‘Or perhaps because she wished to deflect blame from her brother.’
‘You think he may have taken it?’
‘It is possible that he did so and his sister knew. What she hoped to gain by pushing the blame on to me I do not know, but I think she may be responsible.’
‘Surely she is not behind the attempts on your life—or the shot at me?’
‘Perhaps that was Gordon himself.’
‘Oh, Andrew…’ Mariah shuddered. ‘He must truly hate you to do something like that.’
‘Yes—or he fears that I know he took the silver and will expose him.’
‘He is already disgraced…’ Mariah shook her head. ‘Something does not quite add up. He may be your thief and his sister may have sent the letter—but would he follow you to Italy to murder you? Why not kill you here before you left? Why try to shoot or frighten me?’
‘What are you suggesting?’ Andrew’s gaze narrowed. ‘Why else would this person attack you other than to strike at me? I have not yet been disgraced—they or he may have been driven to desperate action in search of revenge.’
‘If they are one and the same person,’ Mariah mused. ‘Might there not be some other reason for that shot, Andrew? I do truly think Count Paolo capable of something of the sort.’
‘Well, we must hope that the perpetrator is caught tonight,’ Andrew said and turned to her with a smile. ‘This is distressing for both you and Lucinda, my dearest. You should be enjoying yourselves, looking forward to the wedding and having fittings for new clothes, not worrying your pretty heads about who is trying to shoot you.’
‘Fudge,’ Mariah said and pouted at him. ‘New clothes become boring if one has too many fittings. It is exciting to be shot at—providing one is not harmed, of course. Life can be too dull at times, especially if one is a woman.’
‘I do not think Lucinda felt the same way.’ Andrew gave her a severe look. ‘Neither of you is to follow us this evening. I will not have you risk yourself out of a desire for some adventure, Mariah. Do you hear me? I mean what I say.’
‘Are you scolding me?’ Mariah’s eyes sparkled, because she enjoyed seeing him aroused this way. It pleased her that he was concerned for her welfare, yet she could not resist the urge to provoke him a little. ‘It would be vastly amusing. Could I not dress in a man’s clothing and come with you to watch the fun?’
‘Fun? Good grief, girl! Do you not know how dangerous it might be for all concerned? If this rogue is fighting for his life, he may shoot to kill. If I am worried for your sake I may become careless and give him the opportunity he needs.’
‘Please do not, Andrew,’ Mariah said, the smile leaving her eyes. ‘I was merely teasing you. I want you to promise me that you will not take unnecessary risks.’
‘I shall do nothing to endanger myself foolishly,’ he said. ‘Please give me your word not to sneak out and follow us. If I have to worry about you, my mind will not be on the business in hand.’
‘I promise. I was merely teasing,’ she said, chastened. ‘Surely you know me by now, Andrew? I may say very foolish things, but I am sensible most of the time. I should do nothing that might place you or the others in an awkward situation, believe me. All I want is for us to be married and comfortable together. I looked for adventure once, but now I wish for children and marriage.’
‘Do you, my dear?’ Andrew gazed down into her face. ‘Sometimes I fear that you may grow bored with marriage and wish for your freedom again. I want you to know that I should not hold you against your will, Mariah. If you ever decide that you wish to resume your old life, please tell me and we will come to an amicable arrangement. All I shall require is discretion.’
‘Truly? You will make a very comfortable husband, Andrew.’ Mariah laughed, though her heart was close to breaking. He seemed to imagine her a heartless flirt who could not be constant for more than a few days. ‘You will not mind if I flirt a little?’
‘Shall I not?’ He frowned and for a moment she thought he would say something meaningful. Would he drag her into his arms and show her who was the master in no uncertain way? Excitement filled her at the thought of being dominated by him. Her heart raced, but he smiled suddenly and reached out to flick her cheek lightly with his fingertips. ‘You do like to tease, Mariah. I must accustom myself to it, for it means nothing, I dare say. I meant what I said, however. If you wish to be free, you have only to say, but if you choose to remain my wife I shall expect you to be faithful to me.’
So he cared enough to dislike the idea of her taking a lover! It was some consolation for a sore heart. Earlier, when he’d learned of the shooting, his concern had been first for Lucinda. Was he still in love with her? Was he marrying Mariah to keep her safe from fortune hunters or in the hope of having an heir? She could not quite decide. At times he seemed to care for her and at others he almost seemed to raise a barrier between them.
‘I do not think you need worry that I shall take a lover,’ she told him. ‘My constancy is in your hands, Andrew. If you give me no cause to wish for another’s kisses…’
‘Minx! I see you will push me to the limit.’ Andrew caught her about the waist, pulling her in close. Her heart jerked and raced madly as he lowered his head, his mouth taking hungry possession of hers. His tongue probed as she opened her lips, his tongue touching hers delicately, exploring and tantalising as she was pressed into his body. For a long moment his sensual exploration of her mouth seemed to draw her into him so that they seemed melded together, a part of one another—melting in a mutual fire.
Mariah had thought Count Paolo an attractive man, feeling the pull of his physical appeal, but she had not dreamed that she could feel such desire. Her body was heating, her pulses pounding as Andrew continued to kiss her. He slid his right hand into her hair at the nape of her neck, his fingers caressing the delicate skin, sending a shower of tingling sensation through her entire body. For a long time she ha
d wanted to know what it felt like to be loved, truly loved, by a man who wanted and needed her. As Andrew held her clasped against his body she could feel the hardness of his masculinity and the urgent need in him. Her whole being burned with need and longing, a feeling so sweet and enthralling that she had never imagined it could be half as good.
She gurgled with laughter, looking at him with delight. Some of the shadow of hurt that his careless attitude had inflicted melted away as she saw the heat in his eyes. At least he wanted her in a physical way. She might be a virgin, but she was worldly wise in other ways and she recognised need when she saw it.
‘Love me, Andrew,’ she suggested on a sudden impulse. ‘Take me to bed now and make love to me.’
‘Temptress,’ he murmured huskily. ‘How much I should like to oblige you, my lady, but I fear now is not the time. If I took you at your word, I should not wish to leave your bed this night.’
‘Why should you? Justin and his men could manage alone. Why should you risk your life when others can take care of this stupid business?’
Andrew released her, an expression of disapproval in his eyes. ‘I know you do not mean that, Mariah. You spoke without thinking. You would not expect me to leave Justin to deal with a man who wishes to kill me?’
Mariah sighed and moved away from him. ‘Men and their stupid sense of honour. I cannot bear it if you are killed, Andrew. What shall I do if your enemy shoots you dead? You might have some consideration for my feelings.’
He looked at her severely. ‘You will conduct yourself with dignity and in time you will marry someone else. You must excuse me now. I have arrangements to make for this evening.’
‘Don’t be cross with me,’ Mariah cried as he turned and walked away, leaving her staring after him. ‘You don’t understand. I didn’t mean it that way…’
She felt the sting of tears. Bother! He had made her feel guilty, as if she were being selfish—but it would hurt her so much if he died. Why couldn’t the foolish man understand that she loved him?
Mariah dashed the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. She wouldn’t cry for him. He said he cared and his kisses told of a need for physical passion. She suspected that he might even be lonely—perhaps because he was still in love with a woman he could never have. A part of her wanted to take him in her arms and kiss away his sadness, but a part of her protested that he must love her as she loved him.
Mariah raised her head. Everyone said she was spoiled. They envied her, envied her life and her wealth, but all she truly wanted was to be loved—loved in a way she had never known. Winston had treated her like a little girl, spoiling her and indulging her every whim, but Mariah was no longer a girl. She was a woman, a passionate, healthy woman who needed the love of a man in every way. Andrew was the man who could give her all she needed. In his arms she had wanted to surrender her body, her very being, but he still saw her as a spoiled child.
How could she make him see her for what she truly was?
* * *
Dressing in the plain dark clothes he intended to wear that night, Andrew frowned at his reflection in the dressing mirror. He knew he should concentrate his mind on what was about to happen, because a lot might depend on his being alert. Justin seemed to imagine it would all be easy and straightforward, but Andrew was not certain. As yet he could not be certain who was behind all the unpleasant happenings of the past few months. The most obvious seemed Lieutenant Gordon and his sister, but somehow he could not think they were behind the attempts on his life—or that outrageous attempt to either harm or frighten Mariah.
She had suggested that he might have not one, but two enemies—but who else might wish him harm?
He had won a large sum from one or two gentlemen over the past couple of years, but on other occasions he had lost to the same men. Gambling usually evened itself out when it was fair and no one cheated, unless one was desperately unlucky. He had known men to have a losing streak that drove them to the verge of suicide, but to his knowledge he had not contributed to anyone’s death—except the man who had abducted Lucinda, of course. He had certainly played his part in bringing Royston down, and so had Mariah, of course, though it was doubtful if anyone knew of her part since they had agreed amongst themselves to keep it private.
Could Royston have a friend or relative who wanted revenge? It was another possibility. Andrew cursed. He wanted the business over and done so he could attend to something far more important—his courtship of Mariah. That kiss had lit a conflagration that had almost raged out of control. He must not think of the reactions she had roused in him, for he had dangerous work that night.
A thoughtful smile entered his eyes as he glanced at his reflection once more and nodded, satisfied that he looked suitably nondescript and could blend into the background of the inn at which he hoped to discover the perpetrator of this foul attempt to frighten Mariah and Lucinda.
Lucinda had looked pale and shaken when Justin told him what had happened in the conservatory, but Mariah had shown no sign of nerves. He suspected that she was quite an actress, for he was beginning to realise that she often disguised her feelings. For a while he had mistakenly imagined her to be shallow, a woman who cared only for her own pleasures but recently he had come to realise that Mariah was adept at hiding her true emotions. However, she had held nothing back when he kissed her. There was fire in her, something that pleased Andrew, because he was a very physical man himself, but he would expect her to be faithful to him in marriage, even though he had hinted otherwise to test her.
How many lovers had she taken since her marriage ended? The knowledge that a woman of her temperament must have had lovers made him grit his teeth. He wanted her to be untouched, to have known only him, to be an innocent in love, but of course that was ridiculous. Andrew dismissed the stupid jealousy that seared through him when he thought of Count Paolo. Had she flirted with the man to such an extent that he thought he had rights over her? Had she allowed him to kiss her, touch her intimately?
Andrew felt a sudden spurt of rage. In that moment he would willingly have taken the count’s neck in his bare hands and choked the life out of him. Mariah was his. He would allow no other man to touch her. She belonged to him.
He glanced at his reflection once more before picking up his pistols and leaving the room. The fury in his eyes shocked him. Where had that violence of feeling come from? He had thought himself in complete control of his emotions. Mariah was beautiful and a charming companion. She would be an excellent wife for a man in his situation and a good mother for his children—but he had never expected to feel such turbulence at the thought of her in another man’s arms. Andrew had never considered himself a jealous man.
Walking down the stairs, Andrew realised that he had never truly had a serious love affair with any woman. He had been touched by Lucinda’s plight when she and Justin had suffered a series of misunderstandings that made her terribly unhappy. Yes, he had loved her truly, but in a gentle protective way that made him want to knock her husband down for hurting her—but had he ever felt such violent rage when he saw her smile and kiss Justin?
The answer was no: hurt, a little envious and wistful—but not this searing rage that made him want to tear Count Paolo limb from limb. Andrew was puzzled, because he had believed he was in love with his friend’s wife. She was a lovely, generous and sweet girl, whereas Mariah was beautiful, capricious and…he would be damned if he would let the count near her again. If the man came sniffing round after they were married, he would send him packing in good order.
A smile on his lips at the thought, Andrew went outside to where Justin was gathering the men they were to take with them that night. Andrew’s own men were already in place in the inn, where they could watch what was going on and take note of anyone who seemed to be hanging around waiting for someone to arrive.
Andrew would need to remain in the shadows and wait, because if his enemy saw him the game would be up and he would make a quick exit.
‘
Are you ready?’ Justin asked as he reached him. ‘Jacobs knows that if he plays his part well I shall do my best to keep him out of prison.’
‘The damned rogue needs to be taught a lesson, Justin. He might have killed your wife or Mariah.’
‘I think he has learned his lesson and his story has been checked. He did lose his job and he’s had a hard time of it.’
‘Doesn’t excuse what he did,’ Andrew ground out. ‘If he’d harmed Mariah, I should have killed him.’
‘I know how you feel.’ Justin smiled oddly. ‘I was so angry that I could have broken his neck, but I’ve calmed down now. The man we need is the man who planned this and paid him.’
‘Yes.’ Andrew nodded grimly. ‘I pray to God that we get him tonight, because only then can I be sure that she is safe.’
In that moment he knew that the woman he was speaking of was Mariah—the woman he wanted as his wife.
Chapter Eight
Mariah stood at the landing window and watched the men gathering in the courtyard below. She felt a clutching sensation in her stomach and knew that it was fear. It took all her will power not to run down to Andrew and beg him not to go, but she knew that such an action would make him angry. She had given her word that she would do nothing foolish, but she longed to mount her own horse and follow them. Andrew need not have been anxious for her, because she believed she was more than capable of defending herself should the need arise.
It was so much harder to be left behind than to be there and watch! Yet she had given her word and must keep it.
‘Could you not rest, either?’
Mariah turned as Lucinda came towards her. They had parted earlier on the pretext of wanting an early night with a book, but neither of them was interested in reading.
‘I wish they had sent someone else in their place,’ Mariah said. ‘Why must they do everything themselves? Surely what was done here warrants an arrest being made by the local militia? Justin need only have sent for them and they would have been glad to oblige.’
The Scandalous Lord Lanchester Page 13
