“If you will, send me a note later on as to the bishop’s word,” Cameron said.
“As you wish.” Jonathan lifted his glass of sherry and sipped.
Cameron left and went in search of Napier, who he found sitting alone near a window in one of the smaller parlors. As expected, the chair next to him was empty.
Cameron seated himself in the empty chair and said, “Everything is ready for the shipment in three days?”
Napier angled his head. “It is.”
“Once these girls arrive, we must discuss the next shipment,” Cameron said. “Too many missing women too close together will alert the authorities.”
“My client expects four more in three days.”
Cameron hesitated. He’d expected something like this. The man Bow Street had incarcerated for kidnapping women for the purpose of selling them to rich businessmen as sex slaves had told them that Napier often demanded that women be delivered on short notice.
Cameron hesitated, as if uncertain, then finally gave a curt nod. “Where shall we deliver this current shipment?”
Napier rose. “I will send you that information the morning the shipment is due.” Without another word, he strode away.
Cameron watched until he disappeared out the door. The man was as cold blooded as any he’d ever encountered.
Chapter Five
Alison stared out the window of the carriage and tried to ignore Henry’s stare. She well understood the necessity of a chaperone, but she had planned on taking Lily with her for the luncheon with the earl. If her mother was living, it might make sense for her to accompany Alison. A father would likely demand a meeting that didn’t include her, but that meeting would be with Cameron Hunter, demanding the marriage. Only then, if a gentleman refused to comply, would a father speak with the earl.
For Henry to accompany her drew into question whether the earl could be trusted to lunch with a young woman he believed to be his future daughter-in-law. Worse, Alison fully expected Henry to make a scene, most likely informing the earl that the marriage would not take place.
“I know you are not pleased with me.” Henry sighed. “I am not pleased with you, either. You may not understand why I am accompanying you, but after last night, I cannot trust you to know what is best.”
Alison kept her gaze on the passing homes.
“You think yourself a woman of the world. Perhaps, compared to Erin, you are. But you are still an innocent, and it is my duty to make certain no one takes advantage of you.”
“We discussed this, Henry. Even if the earl insisted I marry his son, that is not taking advantage of me.”
“Forgive me for saying so, Alison, but you have already made a mess of things. I know how much Robert means to you. I would hate to see this situation get in the way.”
She yanked her gaze onto him. “The earl cannot force me to marry his son.”
Henry didn’t flinch from her stare. “When you are safely wed to Robert, you will thank me.”
“I will thank you to mind your own affairs,” she snapped.
Anger flashed in his eyes. “You are my affair.”
They said nothing more until the carriage stopped in front of the earl’s home at exactly one p.m. Henry opened the door and leapt to the ground. Alison was forced to accept his hand as she stepped from the carriage. She ignored the arm he offered and started up the walk.
He lengthened his stride to catch up, then said under his breath, “You will not embarrass me. Do you understand?”
She looked at him in shock. “Me embarrass you? You are treating me like a child and are insulting the earl by attending a luncheon for which you received no invitation.”
“You are naïve if you think the earl doesn’t expect a guardian to accompany you.”
“You have known me all my life, yet you do not know me at all. I am no fool. We both know that Lily’s presence would have kept any tongues from wagging.”
He gave her a thin-lipped look. “It isn’t wagging tongues I am concerned with.”
She wanted to demand to know exactly what he was concerned with, but they reached the door and he lifted the knocker and knocked three times.
A moment later, a tall man with graying temples answered. “May I help you?”
“I am Lady Alison,” she said. “His lordship is expecting me for lunch.”
The man looked at Henry and waited.
“This is my cousin, Henry Hamilton.”
“I see.” The man stepped aside. “Please, come in.”
They entered and the man led them up the stairs to a parlor on the next floor where sat the Earl of Weston on the divan. He looked up from the newspaper on his lap. Surprise flickered in his eyes, then was gone.
He folded the paper and tucked it under his arm as he rose, then approached them, where they stood just inside the door. “Lady Alison, I am pleased to see you.”
Alison curtsied. “My lord.” She straightened and said, “May I introduce my cousin, Henry Hamilton.”
“Sir,” Henry said with a slight bow.
The earl angled his head in acknowledgement.
“My cousin didn’t explain my presence,” Henry said. “I am Alison’s guardian.”
“I see,” the earl said. “Shall we adjourn to the dining room?”
Henry hesitated.
Alison quickly said, “Yes, thank you.”
If Henry thought he was going to insult the earl, skip lunch, and promptly take their leave, he was mistaken. That would not please the earl.
“Cook gets very cranky if we keep her waiting.” A hint of humor lit the older man’s eyes, and Alison realized she liked him. He reminded her a bit of her father.
The earl offered his arm to Alison. “Shall we go?”
Alison accepted, and he started forward, leaving Henry to trail them. She hid a smile. She wasn’t sure if it was the earl’s intention, but the gesture was a snub to Henry. The earl led them down the hallway, around a corner and up a half flight of stairs to a modest dining room. Sunlight streamed through windows that overlooked a private garden. Manicured shrubs clustered together, flowers bloomed in the beds, and trees lined the west side of the estate, shading the grounds from afternoon sunshine.
“How lovely,” Alison said. “Do you lunch here every day, sir?”
“When I am here, yes.” He pulled out the chair located to the right of the seat at the head of the table.
She sat. Henry hesitated. Alison could easily guess that he wanted to sit to the earl’s left, but knew that was a position of honor that would have to be offered. He continued past her to the seat next to hers and sat down.
The earl lowered himself into the seat at the head of the table and set the paper he’d carried on the table beside his plate. As if on cue, a maid entered through a door on the left. Moments later, the table was laden with roasted chicken, pheasant, vegetables, meat pies, sweet meats and steaming bread. Wine glasses were filled and, at last, they were left to speak in private.
Henry downed half the contents of his wine glass. “This situation must be discussed. Alison does not wish to marry your son.”
The earl looked up from cutting his chicken and lifted a brow in question. “Indeed?”
“Indeed,” Henry said. “It is impossible. She is engaged to another gentleman.”
The earl forked carrots into his mouth and deliberately chewed, then washed the food down with a swallow of wine. “Lady Alison, you need not fear that Cameron will refuse to honor his obligation. He has pledged to marry you and will do so.”
Alison wasn’t certain how to respond. “Of course, sir, I never thought otherwise.”
He nodded. “Good. Then you need not concern yourself with contriving a husband.”
“You misunderstand, sir. I have no need to fabricate a fiancé. I truly am engaged. I have been for over three years, to Robert Thomson.”
“Three years?” Something flickered in his eyes. “That is a rather long engagement, my dear.”
Aliso
n stiffened. “Robert— Mister Thomson is in the navy. He is to return in six months. We will marry then.”
“What might he think when he discovers you were found with my son in his bedchambers?”
“He will believe me when I say that the meeting was innocent.”
“Society will not be so kind,” he said.
“I will not allow Society to dictate my life, sir.”
He gave her a gentle smile. “That is very brave of you. Will you be able to remain brave when Mister Thomson cannot find gainful employment as a result of your reputation?”
Alison blinked. “I—”
“That is overly harsh,” Henry cut in. “Even so, Robert need not remain in Inverness. He and Alison can go to Edinburgh or even London to find employment, if necessary.”
The earl nodded as if Henry had brought up a point he hadn’t considered. “May I ask what sort of employment Mister Thomson plans to obtain?”
Alison hesitated—even Henry hesitated—and she said, “He is a solicitor.”
The earl paused in lifting the wine glass to his lips. “Please eat, my lady. The pheasant is quite good.”
Alison started from her stare and reached for the plate of pheasant.
“I assume Mister Thomson would prefer to deal with a higher class of clientele?” he said.
Alison’s heart fell. The earl didn’t have to be specific for her to understand the veiled meaning of his words.
“Robert has an education from the University at Edinburgh, as well as Oxford,” Henry said. “I assure you, Alison’s small mistake will not hinder his ability to secure gainful employment.”
“If that is what you have been telling Lady Alison, then you are not qualified to act as her guardian.”
“I beg your pardon,” Henry began, but the earl looked at Alison.
“Have you seen the paper, my lady?”
“The paper?” she repeated.
He picked up the newspaper and set it on the table to her left. Alison caught sight of the headline, A certain Lady A caught in the bedchambers of well-known rake Lord W. She drew a sharp breath and skimmed the remainder of the gossip column. A dress torn, a flush on her cheeks and a fumbling of excuses. She couldn’t tear her eyes from the last lines. Lord W proposed marriage. Will identities be revealed of these secret amours when church bells ring?
“I take it you now have a better understand of the situation?” the earl said. His gaze softened on Alison. “Your position is never easy, my dear. ‘Tis an unfortunate situation for you….and for Cameron.”
“What is it?” Henry reached across her and snatched up the paper. After four heartbeats, he snorted. “Meaningless gossip.”
The earl leaned back in his chair and locked gazes with Henry. “As I said, if you believe that, then you are not fit to be anyone’s guardian. You would be wise to speak the truth. The damage cannot be undone…except by marriage.”
Henry rose. “Alison has made her intentions clear. She will not marry your son.” He pushed back his chair and laid a hand on her shoulder. “Come, Alison.”
She stood, and the earl rose.
“There is no need to show us the way out,” Henry said. “We can find our way.” He grasped Alison’s arm and started away.
She halted and looked at the earl. “Thank you for having us, sir—and thank you for your concern.”
He held her gaze. “Of course. I hope to see you again soon.”
***
Three days later, Cameron’s carriage stopped in front of Lady Alison’s brick townhouse. He’d planned on waiting until tomorrow to see her, when he had the special license in hand, but his meeting with his father two hours ago had changed his mind.
“Her cousin is not to be trusted,” his father had said.
Cameron had long ago learned to trust his father’s judgement. But even without the earl’s insight, Cameron sensed something amiss. Her cousin’s steadfast insistence that she remain engaged to a military man who was ignorant of the scandal in which she’d become embroiled with one of Inverness’s most notorious rakes was not to be believed. The man had an ulterior motive. Nothing that would bode well for Alison.
Cameron opened the door and stepped from the coach. He shut the door, then nodded to the driver. “I will no’ be long, Bob.”
“Aye, sir,” Bob replied.
Cameron strode up the walkway to the front door, then lifted the knocker and knocked twice.
A moment later, a middle-aged man opened the door. “May I help you, sir?”
“Viscount Weston here to see Lady Alison.”
“I am sorry, but Lady Alison is not accepting visitors at this time.”
Cameron would wager she wasn’t. “Not even her fiancé?”
The man showed no surprise and Cameron felt certain he knew of the scandal and engagement.
“No one, sir,” the man said.
“Mister Hamilton, then,” Cameron said.
“Neither is Mister Hamilton receiving guests this afternoon.”
“I sent a note that I would be calling at three o’clock,” Cameron said. “And three o’clock it is.”
“I cannot—”
“Inform Mister Hamilton I am here, or I will inform him myself,” Cameron cut in.
Like any consummate butler, the man gave away none of what he was thinking. “As you wish, sir. If you will wait here.”
Cameron realized too late the man’s intention, and the door closed. He stared for three heartbeats, nonplussed. He hadn’t had a door slammed in his face since he’d been seventeen and Lord Carley had nearly taken off his fingers when he’d refused Cameron’s offer of marriage for his daughter. He smiled at the memory. That day had taught him to keep his fingers out of the way. He was no longer a teenage pup chasing his childhood friend.
Cameron waited a full three minutes, then went around to the side of the house to the seven-foot wall and vaulted onto the ledge. He dropped down onto the other side and strode around the house to half a dozen stairs leading to a rear entrance. He descended the stairs and, as expected, the door was unlocked. He opened the door to the kitchen. The servants’ chatter came to an abrupt halt. One maid cried out and took a step back. An older woman with a cap that barely covered graying curls drew herself up.
“Forgive the intrusion, ladies. I am Viscount Weston, Lady Alison’s fiancé.”
Murmurs went up, along with knowing glances. Of course, they’d all heard the scandalous news that their mistress had been caught in his bedchambers.
“I had an appointment to see Lady Alison, but was turned away at the door.” He gave them his most charming smile. “I believe I have displeased my future bride, so…” He shrugged. “Well, I climbed the wall, and here I am.”
He wasn’t surprised when some of the younger maids nodded and one even cast him a wistful look. Cook, however, gave him an appraising glance, and said, “Lady Alison has a right to stay in her room, if she wishes.”
He gave a low bow. “Indeed, madam. I respect her wishes, but my note requesting a three o’clock call has also gone unanswered. I fear I am at a loss and would appeal to your good nature to allow me an audience with Mister Hamilton.”
A speculative light appeared in her eyes. Cameron wondered if she, too, didn’t care for Lady Alison’s cousin.
“I believe Mister Hamilton is in the library. If you will follow me, I will take you to him.”
“I much appreciate your assistance,” he said, then to the other women, “Ladies.”
They curtsied and he followed the cook from the kitchen. They ascended the stairs to the first floor and, in the hallway, he said, “May I ask your name, madam?”
“Mrs. Cummings.”
“I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Cummings.”
“A pleasure to meet you, sir,” she said. “Even if our meeting was unconventional.”
He noted the hint of humor in her voice, but said with mock gravity, “Again, forgive me. I am anxious to see Lady Alison.” She looked sharply
at him, and he added, “Once she agrees to see me, of course.”
“I will see to it that she is informed of your arrival.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Cummings,” he said with genuine gratitude.
They turned a corner in the hallway and ascended a set of stairs to another hallway. Voices sounded up ahead and Mrs. Cummings slowed.
A woman said, “I will not have it, do you understand?”
Lady Alison.
“You will do as I say,” a man who could only be Lady Alison’s cousin replied. “The decision is final. You will marry whomever I say you will marry.”
“We shall see,” Alison replied. She emerged from the open doorway and turned right, in the opposite direction from their approach, and hurried away.
Mrs. Cummings slowed even more.
Cameron grasped her arm and pulled her to a stop. “Perhaps we should wait just a moment, then go on. That way, we will not embarrass Mister Hamilton.”
She glanced toward the room, then whispered, “Thank you, sir.”
He nodded. Cameron counted to twenty, then gave her an encouraging smile. They started forward again and, when they reached the room, she stopped, knocked, then stepped inside. The man standing before the hearth turned, a half filled tumbler in hand. Tall, though not quite as tall as Cameron, with dark eyes. His coat was impeccably tailored and his boots shown to a high polish. He looked past Mrs. Cummings at Cameron and frowned.
“Forgive me, sir, but this is Viscount Weston here to see you.”
“What the devil?” he muttered. “Did you let him in? I am not receiving guests today.”
“Mrs. Cummings did not admit me,” Cameron said. “As a matter of fact, your butler turned me away. But as this meeting is of utmost importance, I took liberty and used the rear entrance.”
The man’s frown deepened. “You climbed over the wall into my garden?”
Cameron shrugged. He’d point out that the gardens did not belong to Henry Hamilton, but the situation was already tense. The investigation Cameron had conducted into Lady Alison’s family told him that the townhouse had gone to Alison after her parents’ deaths. They had adopted Henry—Lady Hamilton’s sister’s son—when his parents died fifteen years ago. Hamilton’s wife died nine months ago, leaving him in poverty when her estate went to her only child from her first marriage. He received a meager monthly stipend from Alison’s parents, but had no other money to speak of. Lady Alison, on the other hand, was an heiress to the sum of seven thousand pounds a year.
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