by Ella Quinn
A throat being cleared made them step apart. “My lady,” Coyne said. “The decorator you hired is here.”
Alex heaved a sigh. “Do you want me to come with you?”
“If you wish.” She was not going to deny him, but he would probably be bored.
“I’ll come for a bit.” He sounded as if he was doing her a favor and she bit back a smile.
As Dorie predicted, Alex was bored and soon left her to look at fabrics and sketches with the decorator, an extremely talented young woman who was becoming well known in the ton.
After she and Mrs. Wooton discussed Mr. Sterling’s apartments and inspected them, Dorie decided to speak to Miss Holliwell, but discovered she had taken the girls to a museum. Dorie left a message with one of the nursemaids informing the governess that she would like a short meeting after breakfast tomorrow. As there was nothing else she had to do, she was going to find Alex.
“My lady.” Rogers, one of the footmen, came up to her. “Your mother requests that you return home.”
Well, drat. That ended that idea. “Thank you, Rogers. I shall go directly.”
“Yes, my lady. Shall I escort you?”
“Yes, please.” The next two weeks were going to be very long if she was going to be summoned by her mother every time she wanted to be alone with Alex. Yet that could not be the reason. After all, Mama could not possibly …but she could. This was going to require careful planning. In a matter of three minutes, she was at the door of her parents’ house. “When you return, tell his lordship that I shall see him this evening, and I did not have an opportunity to speak with Miss Holliwell.”
“I shall, my lady.”
That was all Dorie could do for now. She would attempt to be at Exeter House after breakfast tomorrow.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
After Alex had given Dorie what he considered more than sufficient time with the decorator, he went looking for her only to be informed that she had been called back to Huntingdon House. He had ceased to think of it as her home. This was her home now, and he wanted her with him. This evening they were attending the theater with her parents, brother, and sister-in-law, giving him no opportunity to get her alone. Although, as they were betrothed, she might be allowed in his box with him, but that would be rude to her parents, and he truly did want to have good relations with his future in-laws.
But maybe she would be allowed to travel in his town coach to the theater. Not wanting to wait he fetched his own hat, gloves, and cane, and strode the two houses down to Huntingdon House. As always, the door opened.
“My lord.” The butler bowed. “Her ladyship and Lady Dorie are in the morning room. Please allow me to announce you.” Fortunately, the servant moved at a smart pace. “My ladies, Lord Exeter.”
Dorie had been frowning at something her mother was holding, but when he entered the room she was there, taking his hands. “I am glad you came. I was just getting ready to send for you. Mama has something you should see.”
“What is it?” He prayed it was something to do with the wedding breakfast, but, by the look on his beloved’s face, it was not.
Dorie’s brows were drawn down and her beautiful lips were pressed together. This was not good. “A letter from your mother.”
What the hell was Mama up to now? “What does it say?”
“She is planning to come to Town to collect Penelope and Phillida when we go on our honeymoon so the girls will not be alone.”
He’d had enough of this insanity. “She should have thought of that before she decided to fall in love, become enceinte, and rush off to marry.”
“Enceinte!” Dorie and her ladyship said at the same time and in exactly the same tone.
Alex dragged a hand down his face. “That is what Mrs. Wooton believes is the reason they wed so quickly.”
Holding the letter, Lady Huntington sat back in her chair. “How utterly brainless of her.”
Dorie’s lips were still pressed together, but a militant look entered her amber eyes. “I shall not allow her to destroy our family by her irresponsible behavior. We will take the knocker off the door. She will not be allowed admittance, and the girls will come with us.”
“I’ll write to her forbidding her to come to Town.” Alex couldn’t think of anything else to do.
“She will not listen to you,” Lady Huntingdon said kindly. “She writes that you have no right to keep her daughters from her.”
“That’s a bit rich, considering she left them here because I am their guardian.” But was he their only guardian? He hadn’t addressed it with Mr. Sawyer. “I must consult my lawyer.”
“Immediately.” Dorie wrapped her arms around Alex. “You will make this right.”
“We’ll make it right.” He held her tightly for a few long moments. “I need paper and pen.”
He sat at the small burl lady’s desk in the morning room and wrote a message to Mr. Sawyer requesting his presence at Huntingdon House forthwith along with anything concerning the guardianship of his sisters. “I don’t know his direction but my butler does.”
Dorie took the sealed missive to the door and spoke to the footman in the corridor. “Go to Exeter House and ask Mr. Coyne for the direction or have one of their footmen accompany you. Wait for an answer. Better yet, take the town coach and bring Mr. Sawyer back with you.”
“What I’d like to know”—Alex took Dorie’s hand—“is how she knew we were marrying. There hasn’t been time for a letter to get to her.”
“The mail coach?” her mother suggested.
Dorie shook her head. “According to Lady Portmore, Lord Portmore’s estate is in the Highlands. Even if they are at their house in Edinburgh, a message could not possibly reach them in time for her to have sent this letter.” She took the note from her mother. “It is sealed, but that is not Lord Portmore’s crest.”
For a second Alex could only stare at her. “How do you know that?”
“Because that is the Earl of Airth’s seal.” Striding to a bookshelf she took out one of the books and opened it. “Look.”
Alex compared the seal on the letter and the crest in the book. “You’re right. But how did you know?”
Dorie grinned. “I have in interest in crests. I doubt there is one I do not know.”
“Have I ever told you how immensely clever you are?” He wrapped his arms around her. “But how did he know to send the message?”
“Homing pigeons.” Despite her mother’s presence, she kissed him lightly on his lips. “Many people use them.”
He’d never thought of birds. “She plans to be here when we are married. She cannot fly, but we cannot stop her from coming. It will take them at least five days, if they are in Southern Scotland, to arrive.”
“She will cause a scene,” Dorie said in a flat voice. “If you share guardianship, that is, she will create a scene.”
He almost asked if she would be that careless of her daughters’ reputations, but the answer was yes. She had already shown that she cared about nothing but what she wanted. He moved to the sofa and sat. “I don’t suppose it would help to talk to Lord Airth and ask him to send a message telling my mother not to come?”
“Probably not,” Lady Huntingdon said. “The Scots do not think the same way we do.”
“And Portmore and Airth are most likely friends,” Dorie added.
“Then what do we do?” Alex knew what he would like to have happen: marry Dorie within the next week.
“We wait to see what your solicitor has to say,” Lady Huntingdon said. “Then we make a decision.”
They waited an hour. During that time, he and Dorie strolled the gardens and talked about what they would do if his mother shared guardianship and if she did not. She took him to a bower along the wall at the back corner of the garden.
“If she does not, we could travel to France first.” She drew
his head down and kissed him.
“That would not solve the problem in the long term.” Alex stroked her back and cupped one breast. “I want you.”
“I want you too. I was going to look for you when the message came from my mother.” Her fingers moved down and stroked his cock. She was going to be the death of him.
The walls were covered with roses. Good for anyone trying to climb the wall, but not for making love. But each stroke was driving him mad for her. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. You will have to lead the way.”
He gathered her skirts and stroked. She was already wet and ready for him. “Unfasten me.” As the buttons released, his cock sprang free, and he backed up to the bench and sat, positioning her over him. “You will have to guide me into you.”
Dorie looked confused. “I don’t know how.”
“Rise up on your knees.” It had been a very long time since he’d done this and never with an almost virgin.
Dorie did as Alex asked, then she felt his member rubbing there—she really must learn the terms for everything—then the ache between her legs increased, and she knew where he belonged. Slowly she lowered herself on to him, and this time it did not hurt at all. He let out a gasp and she kissed him, sweeping her tongue into his mouth as he had done with her. She held on tight with her knees as he plunged deeper, filling her as she’d never thought possible. The tension she wanted rose and he rubbed his finger over the place that felt so good.
“Come for me.” His voice was rough as if he could barely speak.
Then she splintered and could do nothing else but hang on to him.
“My love.” Alex pressed kisses over her face as he held her close.
“I love you.” They would fight their battles together no matter what they were.
When they finally stood, Dorie’s skirts were wrinkled despite vigorously shaking them out. Her mother would probably know what they had been doing, but she could not find it in her to care. She and Alex would be wed soon.
“We had better go back.” She took his arm.
“Yes.” He slid his arm around her waist. “What if we told my sisters?”
She was about to say no, but even at fourteen and sixteen she would have wanted to know about something this important. “I think that is an excellent idea.”
Mr. Sawyer was being shown in when she and Alex entered the family room.
“My ladies.” Alex turned to her mother. “Allow me to introduce my solicitor, Mr. Sawyer. Mr. Sawyer, Lady Huntingdon. You have already met my betrothed, Lady Dorie Calthorp.”
“My lady.” He bowed. “It is an honor to meet you.”
“And you, Mr. Sawyer,” Mama said. “Please have some tea.”
Mama poured while Dorie handed the cups to Alex and his lawyer.
Once they all had tea and biscuits, Alex said, “I need to know how the guardianships for my sisters stand. Am I the sole guardian or does my mother share guardianship?”
“You are the sole guardian, my lord. As you can imagine, the split between your parents was significant. She has no legal claim on Ladies Penelope and Phillida, and she knows it, my lord. If I may say, she did not take the news well.”
“My lord.” Banwell appeared in the doorway. “You must come immediately. There has been some difficulty at Exeter House. Men have tried to kidnap your sisters.”
Alex leapt to his feet.
Dorie grabbed his arm. “The back will be faster.”
Together they ran to the back gate then down the mews to his house and into his garden. His grooms and gardeners were standing in a line barring the way of two men. One of the men had his hand over a bleeding shoulder. “Grab them and don’t let them go.”
“He’s got a gun,” an older groom said.
Suddenly a report sounded from behind them, and the ruffian who was uninjured dropped to the ground. Dorie turned and froze. Her mother stood as calmly as could be holding a pistol. “Mama?”
“Do not just stand there. We must see to the girls.” She strode through the grooms, most of whom had their jaws on the ground, to the door of the morning room.
Dorie and Alex hurried after her.
He took her hand. “That was unexpected.”
She was still too shocked to speak. When they reached the schoolroom, Miss Holliwell was cuddling both his sisters. A pistol lay on the bookshelf along the wall.
“What happened?” Alex asked.
The governess straightened. “A note came from your mother, my lord, saying that she would be fetching the girls. Shortly afterward, a man entered the schoolroom demanding that Penelope and Phillida come with them. Naturally, I refused. When he insisted, I shot him. One of the footmen rushed into the room and after that I cannot tell you what occurred as I was busy reassuring the girls.”
“You were absolutely correct in recommending Miss Holliwell, my dear,” Lady Huntingdon said. “An excellent choice.”
Dorie took a deep breath. If her mother could act as if this was just another day, so could she. “Thank you, Mama.”
Alex held his arms out to his sisters, and they ran into them. “Are you all right?”
They both nodded, and Penelope said, “Yes. We would not have gone with those men. Or Mama. Ophelia and Eloisa Rutherford told us how horrible Mama behaved.” Penelope looked up at him. “It is true, isn’t it?”
“I’m afraid so, sweetheart.” Alex exchanged a look with Dorie. He had never believed anything like this could happen. What the devil had his mother been thinking? Did she have no understanding of how damaging this would be for her daughters?
“I think you should all stay at my house for the next few days.” Dorie took Phillida’s hand. “It will be fun.” She looked at Miss Holliwell. “You too, if you please.”
“If you do not mind, my lady, I will ensure everything we require is packed and come then.”
“As you wish.” Dorie started to leave and stopped. “You are an astounding lady. I am privileged to know you.”
A small smile appeared on the lady’s face. “Thank you. However, I was merely protecting my charges.”
“I should go back to see what is happening.” Dorie nodded, and Alex kissed both the girls on the forehead, then strode out of the schoolroom.
“Penelope”—Mama held out her hand—“will you come with me?”
“Yes, my lady.” The girl took her hand, and they too left.
“Miss Holliwell is stupendous,” Phillida said as she and Dorie strolled through the house.
“I agree. She is an extremely talented lady.” And Dorie was more relieved than she could say. How grateful she was to the woman. If anything had happened to those girls, they would have all been devastated.
“May I learn how to shoot a pistol?” Phillida performed a little skip, reminding Dorie how young she was.
She had been thinking the same thing ever since her mother had shot the one blackguard. “I believe it is time we all take lessons in using a weapon.”
The criminals had been removed when they got to the garden, for which she was thankful, but two constables were speaking with Alex.
“We’ll try to get them to tell us who hired them, my lord, but it’s not likely.” A short man with light brown hair had a doubtful look on his face. “Those sort either don’t know who done it or won’t peach.”
“Tell them I will recommend transportation instead of hanging if they give you the information.” That might get the curs to talk.
“We’ll try, my lord.” The man glanced at his colleague. “You don’t mind if we question your staff, do you?”
“Not at all. I want to discover as much about this as we are able.” Such as how the men had gained access to his house.
“I take it you’ll prosecute?” the officer asked.
“Without a doubt.” Fortunately, the blackguards hadn’
t got their hands on his sisters.
“Very good, my lord.” The man bowed. “I’ll get as much information as I can.”
Alex didn’t actually know much about how criminals were handled, other than that the victim had to bear the charges of the prosecution. But his solicitor would advise him.
He was about to leave for Exeter House with Dorie when Mrs. Wooton marched out, holding a young maid by one ear. “You tell them what you told me, Sukey, and don’t leave anything out.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
The maid slid a fearful glance at Mrs. Wooton, looked down at the ground, and started to cry. Alex glanced at Dorie, begging her to do something.
“Sukey,” Dorie said in a soft tone, “do you like working here?” Hiccupping, the woman nodded. “I shall speak to Mrs. Wooton about keeping your position if you tell us what you told her.”
His housekeeper gave Dorie an approving look, and they waited while she handed the maid a handkerchief and led her over to a bench a few feet away.
“Now tell me what happened.”
“Hammond, one of the footmen who used to work here before he went off with her ladyship and her new husband, was sweet on me. And I was sweet on him. When I went to run an errand for Mrs. W. yesterday he came up to me and said her ladyship was here for your wedding with his lordship and wanted to see her daughters, quiet like.” Alex supposed it didn’t occur to the young woman to wonder why his mother wasn’t staying at Exeter House. “He said he’d come to the back door around five.” Right when they would usually be at the Park. He wondered if the message to Lady Huntingdon was sent to ensure he wasn’t home. “I heard a knock on the door and opened it—” Sukey started to weep again.
Dorie rubbed the maid’s shoulder. “You never imagined those two ruffians would be there?”
“No, my lady. I-I thought it would be her l-l-ladyship.”
“You must understand that if you remain at Exeter House your complete loyalty must be to his lordship and Ladies Penelope and Phillida?”