A Scorching Dilemma

by Shereen Vedam

  DANIEL CAREFULLY backed both of them out of the stall. Once Morton shut the door, he hugged her tight.

  Thank heavens Morton had pointed to the two men with lanterns entering the stables. “That is exactly where anyone escaping is likely to go first,” he had said.

  “Toward a quick means of transportation,” Daniel had agreed. He had scrambled down the chestnut’s trunk and raced toward the stables. To his surprise, the duke had been hot on his heels.

  If he and Morton had waited any longer to come to the stable. . . . No, he must not think that way. They had been in time. He inhaled Faith’s beautiful scent overlaid with dust and fear. She was safe. No one would harm her again. Not while he still breathed.

  “You should leave,” Morton said

  Faith turned her head toward the duke. Her thick dark lashes were laden with tears. “Thank you for helping me.”

  Morton looked at his boots and shuffled. “I am sorry Granger was harsh with you. I hope he did not—”

  “No. He did not. Thanks to one of your mares. That one.” She indicted the bay that was observing them intently.

  “She is a gentle one.” Morton petted her, then he glanced at Faith. “You can have her, if you wish.”

  “Not as an engagement present,” Daniel said in a firm voice. “Lady Faith hereby revokes her father’s pledge that she will become your wife.”

  Morton looked from one to the other and then nodded. “Mother will not be pleased.”

  “Your mother can go to—”

  Faith touched his chest. “I want to leave, Daniel. Now.”

  “Take the mare,” Morton said, and made to leave.

  Daniel stopped him. He wanted to protect this lad. Morton might act weak, but he had tremendous courage. Without that, he would never have accompanied Daniel into this stable, never stood up to those guards while in the tree, nor stolen his mother’s emerald brooch. He had survived years under his mother’s tyrannical rule and Granger’s bullying. Daniel did not wish to leave Morton to confront his fanatical family’s wrath. “Come with us. Sir Phillip can help you with your family.”

  The duke hesitated and in his eyes, Daniel saw yearning, a cry for help that had never been voiced.

  Then Morton shook his head. “I cannot. She must be stopped, but I could never leave her. She despises me, but I love her. She is my mother. Go. I will distract my men so you can escape.”

  He ran off before Daniel could stop him.

  With a sigh, Daniel finished saddling the bay and helped Faith mount. He walked the horse around Granger’s prone form and up to the doorway. He checked outside and spotted Morton leading men toward the back of the house. Daniel mounted behind Faith and urged the mare outside and toward the gates.

  The wind whipped Faith’s hair against his neck. He held onto her waist and inhaled her scent, irrepressible joy trickling in his chest. If only he could take her somewhere they could be alone and forget the rest of the world existed.

  As they approached the open gates, two guards turned toward them. Daniel spurred his mount and lashed out at the nearest man with his booted foot and rode straight toward the other. The terrified guard jumped out of the barreling horse’s way.

  Miss Wood and the carriage were not in sight. He galloped down the road, his emotions veering from relief to worry. Had she been captured?

  “Will they come after us?” Faith asked.

  “There is an inn not far off. We can hire a carriage there to take us to London.” Not wanting to worry her, he did not say that he would have to leave her in the innkeeper’s custody while he returned to search for Miss Wood.

  The dirt road had a sharp bend ahead. As he slowed to take the corner, the cabriolet came into view. Miss Wood waved.

  Daniel laughed in utter relief and reined in the mare. “Well met, indeed, Miss Wood. You rightly noted the need to hide yourself.”

  She nodded. “Good evening, Lady Faith.”

  “Introductions must wait.” He dismounted and then helped Faith down. “We are not free yet.” He and Miss Wood worked together to quickly exchange the healthy bay for the bony old mare, which Faith tied to the back of the carriage.

  “Let us be off.” Daniel settled into a tight spot between the ladies. “We need all the lead time we can manage.”

  He snapped the whip. With a lurch, they sped forward.

  Chapter Fifteen

  DANIEL, WITH FAITH and Miss Wood huddled on either side of him, left the county of Lincolnshire in silence. As they drove, the horizon began to lighten, forewarning daybreak.

  They passed the western edge of Rockingham Forest. Numerous narrow paths led off to small villages where, now and then, a slate roof reflected the morning rays. At an inn by the River Nene, Daniel drew their conveyance to a halt.

  It was time to change horses. But this time, because it was patently too crowded inside the Cabriolet, Daniel hired a post chaise and arranged for the Cabriolet to be returned later.

  The ladies retired inside the inn to freshen themselves.

  After seeing to his personal needs, Daniel returned to the front of the inn and paced at the edge of the wide front yard, weaving in and out of a row of trees in the early morning light.

  Faith had not said a word since they left Morton’s estate. Nor had she shed a single tear. But her bruised and bloody wrists told of the harrowing experience she had endured the day before. Granger’s assault on her in the stable did not bear thinking. Only Morton’s hand on Daniel’s arm had stopped him from killing the man after he had inflicted that first blow. He had wanted to smash the bounder’s head open like a melon.

  He flexed his arms, trying to relieve some pent-up rage. Then he smashed his fist into a tree trunk. Wood cracked. A nearby horse neighed. The ostler looked over at him with worry.

  Daniel waved him off and then shook his right throbbing hand. He took off his glove and checked—his knuckles were bleeding, but both the act of slamming the trunk and the pain helped to alleviate his tension. His bunched shoulders dropped and he rolled his neck to loosen the muscles.

  The ladies stepped out of the inn. With his bruised right hand hidden inside his glove, Daniel joined them.

  Miss Wood gave Faith an encouraging smile. “I believe now is the time for formal introductions.”

  While Daniel obliged, Faith glanced from him to the librarian, a tiny frown marring her forehead. She seemed to be fighting back her emotions, and his heart went out to her. Lost for words, he opened his arms and she ran to him. Relieved to hold her close, he wished he could make her forget this entire ordeal, but it was likely to mar her for the rest of her life.

  “Thank you for coming to my rescue,” she said, choking on the last word.

  “It is over.” He kissed the top of her head.

  “Oh, Daniel.” Faith clutched at his coat. “You cannot imagine what Granger planned. He wanted to . . . he . . .”

  “You no longer need worry about that man. He will not touch you again. I swear it.”

  Miss Wood’s concerned gaze met his determined one. “I hope those words do not mean what I think, sir.”

  Faith pulled away from him. “If you intend to call Granger out, I forbid it. I will not have him kill you.”

  Jaws clenched, he bowed his head and tucked his arms behind his back. “Thank you for your confidence.”

  “Daniel, he is a blackguard. He will have someone hidden in the field who will shoot you in the back.”

  “I can guard against that.” How could he make her understand that this was now a matter of honor? Such an insult to her must not go unchallenged. “By morn, you shall be safely home and your father will be apprised of what has happened. Trust me, Lady Faith, it is better that I, rather than your father, face Granger.”

  “Neither of you need do so,” Miss Wood said. “Mr. Grange
r broke the law. We should inform the London Bow Street Office so they may send a runner to arrest him.”

  “If word of this gets out,” Daniel said with great patience, “Lady Faith’s character would be tarnished beyond repair.”

  “I would rather that happen, than see you or my father injured or killed,” Faith said.

  “This discussion is over.” Daniel gazed over at a postboy leading a team of fresh horses from the stables, their hot breaths creating a mist in the cool early morning air. He would arrange for someone to retrieve the two mares once Faith was safely at home.

  “Daniel.” Faith clasped his shoulders, drawing his attention back to her. She looked delicate and vulnerable.

  Though she had recently tidied her fiery hair, wisps flew in the wind. The temptation to bury his face in those locks was overwhelming. He settled for gently smoothing a strand behind her ear.

  Her lips trembled. “I could not bear it if you were hurt.”

  Her anxiety was clear in her teary green gaze. He wished he had the right to kiss her fears to perdition.

  When he would have spoken, Faith held up her hand. “I have considered what I want for my future. I do not wish to marry a duke or any other titled gentleman. I only want you, Daniel. But alive . . . because I love you.” And she embraced him.

  His heart overflowed with joy. Daniel held her close. She loved him! Over her shoulder, his gaze met Miss Wood’s. The librarian smiled back, looking as thrilled as he felt. And then he remembered his offer of marriage. But he had spoken knowing he had no future with Faith. Before Faith had revealed her feelings. Miss Wood had laughed at his proposal, but he had been sincere.

  Despite the commotion of a stagecoach entering the yard, chattering patrons rushing out of the inn, horses being strapped to their vehicle, and stablehands obeying orders, the air grew silent and still. Full of despair, he returned his gaze to Faith enfolded safely within his arms. Did her admission of love change anything? Any relationship with him would ruin her life. Despite Morton’s revelations, Daniel had no proof that he was related in any way to the Duke of Morton. And even if he was, he could easily be a bastard born about the same time as that kidnapped child.

  He closed his eyes and rested his chin gently over Faith’s head. She deserved a better life, one in which her parents could be proud participants. She belonged to a society that hired servants, not married them. Bringing her to his level would not be an honorable reflection of his love for her.

  Convincing Faith of his sound reasoning would not be easy. He needed help. His gaze wandered to Miss Wood, who was practically brimming with pleasure. He had never seen the librarian quite this animated.

  Even as Daniel contemplated a move that would break all of their hearts, he could not help appreciating Miss Wood’s infectious happiness. Her elation so transformed the staid librarian that if he were asked who was the most beautiful woman he knew, for this one moment, he would have to say that Miss Nevara Wood was the fairest of them all.

  Hardening his heart to both bewitching women, Daniel set Faith back. “Would you excuse us a moment, Lady Faith? I must speak with Miss Wood about our return trip.”

  Faith began to protest, but Daniel forestalled her. “You will be safe here. We will not be long.”

  Miss Wood readily followed him inside the inn. There, he led her to a window from where he could keep an eye on Faith. A few servants were going about their duties, but, now that the coach had left, there were fewer customers.

  “Oh, Mr. Trenton, this is so exciting,” Miss Wood said.

  “I need your help.”

  “Of course. Anything, sir. Simply ask.”

  “We must convince Lady Faith that you and I are to be wed.”

  The librarian’s eyes widened. “No! I will not do that. We discussed this before. I assure you, I am in no need of a husband and besides, Lady Faith loves you, sir, and you, her.”

  “And what if we do? I cannot marry her. She has gone through a harrowing experience. Granger frightened her and that is why she clings to me.”

  “No, sir. Lady Faith loves you. You must believe it.”

  “Think, Miss Wood!” In a bid to appeal to this beauty’s vaunted logic, he laid out his case as starkly as possible. “What would be the consequences if Lady Faith and I were to wed?”

  The librarian frowned, apparently not liking the question.

  He spelled it out for her. “She would meet ladies she grew up with who would look upon her with pity. Servants would not know how to treat a duke’s daughter who had married someone from their ranks. Even if we moved away, there would be inevitable jealousies or snide comments from new neighbors who do not love or know her. Little hurts she would have to bear every day, all for the sake of loving me. How could I put her through that?”

  Miss Wood’s eyes filled with tears. They spilled over, streaking her pale cheeks, but Daniel hardened his heart. He was fighting for Faith’s happiness. Only that mattered. “Help me set her free.”

  After a few moments, she nodded her acquiescence.

  They returned to Faith’s side in silence. She greeted them with a smile. “Did you arrange what you needed?”

  “Yes. The innkeeper is going to have a basket of food prepared and some other sundries we will need on the way.”

  “Oh, good.” She took his hand, as if laying her claim.

  He let out a harsh breath as he firmly withdrew from her hold. “Lady Faith, I must tell you . . . I have offered for Miss Wood.”

  Faith’s face blanched.

  “During our ride to rescue you,” Daniel said, “her reputation was compromised. There will be no scandal attached to your name. No one saw you in public yesterday, and we can say you were visiting family, freeing you to marry as you wish.”

  “But—” Faith argued.

  “You would not be so unkind, I hope,” he said, his eyes trained on Faith, “as to deny Miss Wood a secure future?”

  Faith clamped her trembling lips shut.

  Daniel wrapped an arm around Miss Wood’s stiff shoulders. The librarian pulled away, but he held her in place. “Miss Wood and I had a long discussion on the way here and discovered we have much in common. We work together.”

  Seeing Faith’s stubborn look, he fished desperately for another reason and found one. “We also have a common interest.”

  “What interest?” Faith folded her arms beneath her delectable bosom.

  “Yes,” Miss Wood said. “What interest?”

  “We seek the origins of the Rue Alliance.” As soon as the words spilled out, he regretted them.

  Faith looked from one to the other. “The Rue Alliance? What, pray tell, is that?”

  He should not have mentioned the alliance, but in scrambling for a way to connect Miss Wood to him, he had blurted out the first thing that crossed his mind. “Suffice it to say that we both belong to the alliance,” he said, hoping to get off that taboo subject. “Once we have deposited you safely at your home, I intend to help Miss Wood with her research.”

  “But you have never paid any attention to my research before,” Miss Wood said.

  “It may seem as if I have not,” he said through clenched teeth, wishing she would just play along, “but I pay attention to everything you do and say, my dear.”

  Miss Wood’s eyes widened. He was uncertain if she was reacting to the blatant lie or his endearment.

  Faith’s gaze, however, filled with sorrow, which made his heart ache even more.

  “Lady Faith, do not worry,” he said gently. “Granger will never harm you again. Believe that.”

  “What do I care for the Grangers of this world?” Faith asked in a broken voice. “I thought you loved me!” She held up her palm when he would have spoken. “No, Daniel, I am not mistaken. You would not have come to my rescue if you did not care fo
r me. Nor would you plan to endanger your life by threatening to duel a madman. You most certainly would not have kissed me as you did by the lakeshore.”

  She turned to the librarian. “I am sorry if my words are hurtful, Miss Wood, but if you truly wish to marry this man, it is best you know what lies in his heart.”

  “Lady Faith,” Miss Wood said, with great sympathy, “I am fully cognizant of what lies in Mr. Trenton’s confused heart.”

  “Oh, Miss Wood.” Faith took the librarian’s hands in hers. “I am so glad we understand each other. I believe he is merely frightened of my love for him.”

  “He has been burned once before,” Miss Wood said, with a sage nod. “By his unrequited love for Lady Roselyn.”

  Faith hugged Miss Wood, forcing Daniel to step back.

  “Kindly allow me to decide whom I love,” Daniel said. Here he was, trying to save Faith from future heartbreak and she ruined it all by guessing how he felt. And Miss Wood, despite their earlier discussion, was being completely unhelpful. “I do indeed hold Miss Wood in high regard.”

  “Is that so?” Faith asked in a challenging tone. She abruptly turned her back to him and forced Miss Wood to do the same. “Then tell us, sir, what is the color of our eyes?”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “Our eyes, Daniel,” Faith said. “You have spent many hours in our company. Surely you know the color of our eyes?”

  Daniel stared at the two ladies’ backs in exasperation. What game did they play? He knew that Faith’s eyes were like the deep green of the ocean. As for Miss Wood, he dug deep to the time when she had taken off her spectacles to display her talent for shifting her sight. Her eyes had been a beautiful dark brown, like a hot chocolate drink before milk is added.

  “Your eyes, Miss Wood,” he said, swallowing an evil grin, “are brown, like the horse dung the stableboy cleans over there.”

  The librarian swung around, an expression of anger crossing her face. He could not help grinning at her pique, but she deserved it for being difficult. “As for you, Lady Faith,” he said, releasing a soft regretful sigh, “why they are the color of the sky on a sunny day.”