Cameron started. “You little fool.” He gripped her arm and gave her a hard shake. “Remain here, be quiet, and I will cut short my business—”
“I know about your business,” she interrupted. “If you think I will remain here, you are very much mistaken. Is your father aware you deal in prostitution?”
His jaw clenched, but he forced a slow breath. Despite her attempt to entrap him, he couldn’t blame her for misinterpreting the conversation between him and James.
“Things are no’ what they seem, Lady Alison. I must have your word that you will not leave.” She didn’t reply, and he added, “You said you wouldn’t marry me if I were the last man alive. If that is true, then you will not want to be discovered here alone with me.” She hesitated, and he pressed his advantage. “Stay here. Once James is gone, I will see you safely home.”
“I will not remain silent on what I heard tonight.”
“If I were truly the nefarious fellow you believe me to be, that admission would get you killed,” he said.
She said nothing.
“I am not a kidnapper. I will explain when I return.” He lifted his brow in expectation.
Her gaze sharpened, but she gave a curt nod. He gave her no chance to say more, but turned and left, firmly closing the door behind him. Cameron hurried down the hall, then the stairs. Why couldn’t the noise he’d heard have been one of the servants returned home early, as he’d feared? What the bloody hell was Lady Alison Clarenton doing in his house? Cameron reached his study.
“All is well?” James sipped the earl’s twenty-year-old cognac from a snifter.
“Just as I thought, my valet returned early.” God, he was too good a liar.
James chuckled.
Cameron smiled and picked up his glass. “Back to the business at hand.”
“Napier wants six girls,” James said. “They must be blonde, between thirteen and sixteen and, of course, they must be virgins.”
“Six?” Cameron shook his head. “Six girls, virgins, regardless of their station, would be missed—particularly girls of that age. He must know that is impossible.”
“Quite a test, do you not agree?”
Cameron nodded. “Sallie could pass for sixteen, but we have no one who could pass for anything younger than fifteen.”
James’s brows dove downward. “We cannot actually involve women in this plan.”
Cameron snorted. “How do you suppose we will secure Napier’s trust if we cannot produce even one woman?”
“I just assumed we would arrange a meeting with his superior, then arrest them.”
Cameron liked James, but he’d worried that the Bow Street officer might not be experienced enough in infiltrating a crime organization like Napier’s. It seemed his fears were founded.
“You do no’ understand the law, James.” James opened his mouth to reply, but Cameron added, “Aye, you understand when a man breaks the law, but the law is not so clear when it comes to putting him in prison. It isn’t enough for Napier to discuss with us the kidnapping of women. We must catch him in the act. But, as you know, even that is not enough. We need to snare his superior. Napier has a great deal of power, but the man who runs this operation is far more dangerous. We must discover his identity.”
James released a breath. “Aye, ye are right, of course. ‘Tis just that they have stayed one step ahead of us. Damn it, Hunter, I want these bastards.”
A loud bang sounded at the front door. Cameron leapt to his feet. “Who the bloody hell could that be at this time of night?”
“Come on.” He dragged James to his feet and herded him toward the bookshelf on the left hand wall. “We will finish this later. You cannot be seen here.” His life was becoming more complicated by the hour.
They reached the bookcase and Cameron pulled the volume of Hamlet from its place on the fourth shelf and yanked down on the hidden lever. The shelf sprang open an inch.
“What’s this?” James exclaimed.
“This is your escape.” Cameron scooped up a small taper burning on the nearby desk and thrust it into his hands. “The passageway leads to the north side of the yard. The door is in the middle of the dead end. Simply press on the middle of the wall and release. The door will spring open.”
The pounding came again, this time loud enough to rattle the door.
Cameron shoved James inside, then pushed shut the shelf and whirled.
“Hunter, open the damn door,” a man shouted as Cameron hurried across the room.
Thank God, his father wasn’t due home for another night. The pounding continued. Cameron burst into the hallway and raced down the corridor. He flung open the door and stopped short at sight of Harrison Lennox standing at his threshold with Roger Selwick.
“Good hell, Lennox, what are you doing here at this time of night?” Cameron demanded
“Out of my way.” Lennox shoved past him. “Where is she?”
She? Lady Alison.
“Lennox, if you’ll give me a minute to explain—” he began, but the man charged up the stairs.
“As I am sure you can explain what happened in the garden two nights ago.”
“Garden?” Cameron followed Lennox, taking the stairs two at a time, but the man was a demon.
Lennox reached the third floor. “Erin,” he bellowed, storming down the hall.
Cameron caught up to him with Selwick close behind.
***
Alison placed a small log on the fire then sat in the chair before the hearth. The longer she waited, the angrier she became. She rose, unclasped her cloak and tossed it over the back of the chair, then dropped into the seat again. The viscount had appeared surprised to see her, but he had to know she was there because of his note to her cousin. She was glad he had discovered her presence. When he returned, she was going to have it out with him. He would never again come near Erin.
It seemed forever before she heard heavy bootfalls in the hallway again…and raised voices. Had someone shouted Erin’s name? That voice. The door burst open and she shot to her feet. Alison stared at her Uncle Harrison and Lord Selwick.
“Uncle? What—”
“Alison?” He scanned the room, his brows drawn down in a ferocious frown. “What are you doing here? Where is Erin?”
Fear stabbed through Alison. He must have learned of Erin’s intended rendezvous with the viscount and came to deal with the rogue.
She started toward him. “All is well, Uncle Harrison. You need not worry.”
“Need not worry? I asked where my daughter is. I know she is here.”
Her heart sank. “My hope is that she is home safe in her bed.”
“It seems you have the wrong girl,” Lord Selwick said. “Tis your niece you should have been concerned with.”
Alison didn’t like the smirk on Lord Selwick’s face. “There is no reason to be concerned. I came here—”
“No explanation is needed, my lady,” Lord Selwick said.
“I would like an explanation,” Viscount Weston interrupted, an odd expression on his face.
“You hardly have room to make demands when we find Alison here in your bedchamber.” Selwick rested a hand on Lennox’s shoulder. “It seems you were misinformed. You can rest easy that your daughter is not involved in this scandal.”
Redness crept along her uncle’s neck, and his mouth formed a rigid line.
“I, er, I—” Alison knew her explanations would tarnish Erin if she were to confess her reason for sneaking into the viscount’s home.
All was not yet lost. She just needed to think fast. Somewhere there was an explanation that would not only protect Erin, but also deliver her from this unfortunate situation.
“You play loose and fast, eh, Hunter?” Selwick said.
“That doesna make sense,” her uncle said. “Alison is a sensible girl. I am sure there’s a good explanation.”
“For her being in Hunter’s bedchambers?” Selwick laughed.
“My uncle is correct,” Alison said. “
Things are not as they seem.” Think. “I…I had a meeting with the Viscount Weston.”
“Indeed?” Selwick said. “What was the purpose of this meeting?”
“Business, but you know how it would appear if I were to meet with him in public.”
“What type of business?” her uncle demanded.
Her gaze snapped to the viscount.
He stepped up beside her. “She is interested in the arts and thought I might be of assistance.”
“It is well known that Lord Weston is acquainted with women of the stage,” Alison said. His reputation had him acquainted with women from just about every profession…and now she could include prostitution.
He cocked a brow in her direction.
“Then, I suppose you are in disguise to avoid detection but, what, for a part in a play, perhaps—and”—Lord Selwick arched a brow—“your dress ripped during rehearsal.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to her sleeve. Alison glanced at the sleeve and gasped. She’d forgotten. She tore the sleeve when fleeing upstairs. If she hadn’t grown warm by the fire and removed her cloak, no one would have seen the tear.
She looked at the men. “Surely, you cannot believe the viscount tore my dress. He is not an animal.”
Just a criminal.
“I am gratified to hear you hold me in such high esteem,” he murmured.
Alison frowned. “As you see, Uncle Harrison, ‘tis only a misunderstanding. I now understand how foolish it was for me to come here at this hour. But I feared my cousin wouldn’t approve of my acting and, you see, it has become a passion of mine.”
Her uncle heaved a sigh. “Aye, this is all a misunderstanding. If all that has transpired remains within this room, then nothing more need be said.”
Selwick cleared his throat. “I do not see how you can so easily dismiss the situation.” He turned to Lord Weston. “There are already rumors regarding your association with Miss Lennox. How else do you explain the note to his daughter?”
“What note?”
“Ignorance does not suit you,” Selwick said. “To discover Alison here tonight… Well, you have gone too far.”
“You know nothing of the situation,” her uncle said to Selwick. “His lordship has a tendré for Erin.”
The viscount’s eyes narrowed.
“There is no reason to deny it, my lord.” Alison touched his arm. His flesh was warm, the strong muscle beneath hard and flexed. His gaze dropped to her hand. She snatched her hand back. “Erin has expressed the tenderness she feels for you. What harm can come from the truth now?”
“Aside from being trapped?” he gritted out.
“Trapped—” she began.
“You have brought that upon yourself,” her uncle cut in. “Erin has told me about your time with her.”
“What is the meaning of this?”
Alison jumped at the loud male demand and whirled. The 7th Earl of Weston stood in the doorway staring at them.
“Oh dear,” Alison said.
“You have a knack for understatement,” Cameron Hunter said.
Chapter Three
They adjourned to his father’s library. Lennox stood to Cameron’s left, Selwick to his right. Cameron half wondered if the two men had corralled him in an effort to keep him from running. No doubt, Lennox still hoped to wrangle him into marrying his daughter. He would rather commit himself to the cloth than be saddled with her for a wife.
To Cameron’s surprise, the snippets of information he managed to piece together told him one thing: Lady Alison had had no notion of trapping him when she’d entered his room. Nonetheless, her actions had cost them both dearly. Though, perhaps, not as much as might have been paid had Lennox accomplished his plan—and Lennox’s plan it must have been, for his daughter Erin hadn’t forged the note Lady Alison had produced. For weeks, Miss Lennox had shadowed him. Once, he even suspected she’d followed him out of his club. Lennox must have helped her then, as well.
Cameron studied Lady Alison, who sat on the far side of the divan opposite his father. Perhaps he’d looked at this situation in the wrong way. She sat, hands folded in her lap, her attention squarely on his father. She’d been foolish to confront him, but she didn’t flinch from his father’s scowl. He could do far worse than the dark-haired beauty. Her green eyes sparked with daring. She was probably too opinionated, too stubborn, but he sensed a pragmatic mind behind that bravado.
Cameron addressed his father. “I am afraid my carelessness has once again caused harm.”
His father locked gazes with him. “That much is obvious by the fact that we found you in your bedchamber with a half clothed young lady.”
“I am fully dressed and nothing has happened but a misunderstanding,” Alison said in a matter-of-fact voice.
“‘Tis too late to deny the obvious, Alison,” Cameron said.
Her head snapped in his direction. Good hell, her eyes flamed with scorching heat.
Cameron turned his attention to his father. “Father, my transgression has placed me in the fortunate position of fulfilling my obligation to both you and our family. I will have this woman as my wife.”
Alison jumped to her feet. “What?”
“Just a moment,” Lennox interrupted. “What are you saying?”
“Marriage is the most honorable solution,” Cameron said. “We will wed as soon as I can acquire a special license.”
Lady Alison shook her head. “Nae.”
“You have no choice in the matter,” Selwick stated. “I will speak to your cousin tomorrow.”
Cameron’s father arched a brow. “I cannot imagine what you have to say in this matter, Selwick.”
Selwick blinked in surprise.
Lennox stepped forward. “What of my daughter?”
“What of her?” Cameron asked. “Our association has always adhered to the strictest propriety, regardless of what you have heard.”
Or the lies you have been spreading.
“As has ours,” Lady Alison cried. “Marriage is impossible. I am already engaged.”
He looked at her in surprise. “A fact that conveniently slipped your mind when you entered my bedchamber.”
“I wish to speak to you in private,” she said through clenched teeth.
“Speaking to me privately is what landed you in trouble, my dear.” Cameron strode to the open door. “Coleman,” he hollered into the dim hallway. “Please have my carriage brought around. Wake Davis immediately.” He faced Alison. “My driver will deliver you home.”
“But, I—”
“I will see my niece safely home,” Lennox stated.
“I think not. She is now my responsibility,” Cameron said.
“Rest easy, Hunter,” Selwick said. “We will see her home.”
“Oh, never mind,” Alison said in an exasperated voice. “I have a carriage.”
“What?” Lennox said in unison with his father’s, “Of course, you do.”
“Where is it parked?” Cameron asked.
“Two blocks over,” she said. “I wasn’t hairbrained enough to park on your lane.”
“Of course not,” he murmured.
She shot him a narrow-eyed look. “My lord.” She curtsied to his father, then turned toward the door.
“I will expect you tomorrow for lunch, Lady Alison,” the earl said.
Everyone froze, Cameron included.
Alison slowly turned. “I beg your pardon, my lord?”
“Lunch is served at one. Please be punctual.”
She looked at Cameron. He shrugged. This was new territory for him. His father had never requested a meal with a lady of Cameron’s acquaintance. But then, Cameron had never said he was going to marry one of them.
“Forgive me, my lord, but I am not free for lunch,” she said.
“Another luncheon engagement?” he asked.
She slightly bowed her head in his direction. “With my cousin Erin, sir.”
Cameron kept his expression neutral. She was lying.
&nbs
p; “Surely, she will understand,” his father said.
“They are very close,” Lennox said.
The earl turned a cool look on him. “Is your daughter ill?”
Lennox’s mouth thinned, but he said, “Nae. It is simply that they are the best of friends. You understand how girls are at this age. Erin is impressionable. She would be hurt if Alison broke their luncheon engagement at this late date.”
Lennox was clearly determined that Alison not meet with his father. Cameron’s conviction that Lennox was behind Erin’s attention toward him intensified. Lennox had no reason to oppose the lunch between Alison and the earl.
“Please give her my apologies and explain that it wasn’t Lady Alison’s doing, but mine,” the earl said.
Alison hesitated, then said, “As you wish, sir.” She turned and hurried out the door with Lennox and Selwick close behind.
Cameron released a frustrated breath. He couldn’t allow her to leave with that viper. He glanced at the clock. Two thirty. He had another appointment, but Lennox was desperate enough that Cameron didn’t trust him to deliver her safely home.
Coleman entered with the footman, Davis. A thought struck. He could allow no doubt in Lennox or Selwick’s minds of his intentions.
Cameron addressed his father, “Trust me, Father.”
“It is a bit late for that,” he replied.
“Perhaps,” Cameron said. “But it will have to do.” He hurried to the door. “Come with me,” he ordered the two servants.
They hurried after him into the hallway, his footsteps landing hard on the carpet. They reached the door and Cameron pushed outside. Lennox grasped Alison’s hand as she reached for the handle on the carriage’s open door.
“Wait,” Cameron called.
Alison turned as he passed Selwick and reached her side. Cameron pulled her from Lennox’s grasp and into his arms. He cupped her cheek and her eyes widened in the instant before he closed his mouth over hers. Her feminine gasp of surprise caused his bollocks to tighten. Cameron crushed her full yet small breasts against him. She pushed at his chest.
“Trust me,” he whispered against her mouth.
Her brow dove down in a fierce frown. He feared she might balk, but thankfully, she only glared. Her head tilted and her arms hung limp at her sides, but her mouth came alive. Tongue floated against tongue. Unexpected heat flared in his gut and radiated into his groin. Her slight form aligned with his thickening cock. He shifted his hips and she snuggly cradled his shaft in the apex of her thighs.
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