A Lord's Kiss

by Mary Lancaster et al.

  Would she appreciate Cameron’s qualities over the years?

  “Are we going to discuss the secret mission that Mister McIntyre and Lord Weston are working on for the king?” Erin asked.

  Alison blinked. “What do you mean?”

  “You mean he did not tell you?” Erin leaned closer. “Oh, Alison, it is all so exciting. They have been commissioned by the king to capture a criminal. Mister McIntyre couldn’t reveal who the criminal is, of course.” She whispered, “It’s all hush hush, you know,” then straightened and said in her normal voice, “and Mister McIntyre believes a gentleman my father is doing business with is involved.”

  “Your father? Are you certain?” Alison’s thoughts raced. The criminal had to be Mister Napier. What had Erin’s father to do with sex traders?

  “Can you imagine?” Erin went on. “Mister McIntyre is a Bow Street Runner.”

  A Bow Street Runner? Alison’s head spun. Cameron had said nothing of this to her. “How did you come to know all this?” she asked.

  “Well, I knew something was afoot. I do not know Mister McIntyre, but it was clear he was acting oddly. So, I pretended I knew what was going on.” She clasped Alison’s hand. “He asked me to tell him all I knew about my father’s acquaintance, for he said your life depended upon my telling him all. I am so relieved you are here. What happened?”

  Alison hesitated. She loved Erin, but Erin wasn’t known for her ability to keep a secret. “Lord Weston has asked me not to tell anyone just yet. I did not know it was the king who has commissioned him, but I did know he was on a special mission.”

  Erin’s expression clouded.

  “What is wrong?” Alison demanded.

  Erin gave a tiny shrug. “I do not know for certain, but Father may be involved in this mess.”

  Dread coiled in Alison’s stomach. “What do you mean?”

  “It seems he is doing business with a man who may be disreputable.”

  “Oh, Erin.” Alison grasped her hand and squeezed. “It cannot be. Uncle Harrison has been stern with you these last years, but, surely, there is a mistake?”

  “Perhaps. Mister McIntyre has assured me that I will be looked after if— Well, never mind that. I want to hear your story.”

  Alison hesitated. Erin was too blasé. Should she press her cousin?

  “Come.” Erin looked so hopeful.

  Alison released a breath. “Do you mind terribly waiting until Lord Weston has finished before I tell you?” Erin frowned and Alison added, “I do so want to try and do as he asks.”

  Erin’s expression cleared. “I suppose there are some things a woman must do for her husband—or husband to be.” She smiled. “I cannot believe you are really going to marry him this morning.”

  Alison’s stomach did a somersault. God have mercy.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Seton entered the library. Camron set his coffee cup on its saucer before him on his desk and leaned back. “How are preparations coming for my wedding breakfast, Seton?”

  His father’s normally unflappable butler actually swallowed before saying in a neutral voice, “Mrs. Ingram is a bit more testy than usual, my lord.”

  Cameron grimaced. “You have my sympathies, Seton.”

  “Thank you, sir. You have a visitor. Mister McIntyre.”

  “James, so early?” He wasn’t certain if that was good or bad. “Show him in.”

  Minutes later, James entered the library. “I was relieved to receive your note that you and Lady Alison reached home safely,” he said once Seton had closed the door. “You cannot imagine what happened in your absence.”

  Cameron tensed. “What happened?”

  “I believe I have a lead on another man in Napier’s organization, perhaps even his partner.”

  Cameron stared in surprise. “How? Who?”

  “Believe it not, Miss Lennox provided the missing key piece of information.”

  “Erin Lennox?” Cameron demanded.

  James nodded. “Last night, I did as you asked, and checked first here for Lady Alison. Seton told me she hadn’t returned, so I went to Miss Lennox’s home and waited. What should happen, but a little after midnight, she leaves her home and begins walking toward town.”

  “Alone?” Cameron asked.

  “Alone. I mistook her for Lady Alison. I have never met either lady, you know.”

  “Good God, James, what did you do?”

  “Had she been Lady Alison, I knew you would have wanted me to get her home at all costs.”

  Cameron groaned.

  James continued, “I forced her into my carriage and brought her here.”

  Forced her into his carriage? Cameron glanced at the clock—twenty minutes past eight—then eyed the decanter of brandy on the table against the left wall.

  “She told me she wasn’t Lady Alison,” James went on. “But, really, I would have been a fool to have believed her.”

  “Indeed?” Cameron said in a dry tone.

  James clearly didn’t catch the sarcasm, or didn’t care. “Long story short, it turns out a particular man has visited Lennox twice that Miss Lennox is aware of, Taylor Montgomery.”

  Cameron frowned. “Why is that strange?”

  James took a step closer. “Because he spoke to Lennox about you delivering ‘the merchandise’ and said that perhaps they needn’t worry about your wedding.”

  “Lennox is involved in the sex trade?” he said in surprise. ”Wait, my wedding?”

  James nodded. “Odd, is it not?”

  “What stake has Napier in my marriage?” he said more to himself than to James.

  “None, I wager,” James said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Hunter, at Lady Leask’s party a few nights ago, I couldn’t help but notice Miss Lennox’s attention toward you.”

  “Many ladies pay me attention,” he said.

  Leave it to James to miss nothing. Erin Lennox was a foolish, spoiled young lady, but Cameron had no wish to sully her name—not even to James—by revealing that she had tried to trap him in the gardens that night. He was the foolish one, however. There was a time and place for discretion. James knew that as well as did he.

  “She has had a particular interest in me,” Cameron said, “but I believe that is more her father’s doing than hers.”

  “Exactly,” James said.

  “You think Lennox is involved in Napier’s business,” Cameron said slowly.

  “More than believe it, I know it. Miss Lennox also said that Taylor told Lennox that if they got caught they could hang—and,” he added before Cameron could comment, “Taylor told Lennox to get you in line.”

  Cameron recalled Lennox barging in the night Alison had entered his room. Lennox was the reason they’d been caught. He’d even brought a witness…because he expected his daughter to be there, not Alison.

  “The fool believes that if I’m married to his daughter, I will work with him in his business, or our marriage will buy my silence—perhaps even lend respectability to his business dealings.” Cameron focused on James. “But why me?”

  “That question might be answered by asking what his role is in Napier’s organization.”

  “Montgomery’s organization, you mean.”

  James nodded.

  “I do not like Lennox,” Cameron muttered. “The man is dishonest and power hungry.”

  “Two essential elements for a criminal.”

  “Aye,” Cameron said. “But he has neither the connections nor the courage to be a skilled criminal.”

  “I quite agree, which is where you come in.”

  “Bloody hell.” Cameron turned and raked a hand through his hair. “I’ve honed my reputation well if he thought I would do his dirty work.”

  James stepped closer. “Here is the thing, we might be able to use him to catch Montgomery.”

  Cameron nodded. “I must visit Lennox today—after my wedding.”

  “You are to marry today?” James said in surprise.


  “I must, if I am to keep my sanity intact.”

  James snorted. “Good luck, my friend. By-the-by, in case you haven’t seen her, Miss Lennox spent the night here.”

  Cameron barked a laugh. “That is your doing.”

  James shot him a narrow-eyed look. “No need to remind me of my blunder.”

  Despite James’s obvious frustration, Cameron detected something in his voice that made him think James didn’t quite consider his kidnapping of Miss Lennox a blunder.

  “Lennox will hold you responsible for his daughter’s disappearance,” James said.

  He was right, of course. But was he right enough for Lennox to feel he held real leverage over Cameron?

  “I can hardly marry his daughter if I am already wed.”

  “True, but you can still allow him to believe he has power over you,” James said.

  Yes, he could.

  ***

  The parson would arrive within half an hour. The house smelled of bread, pies, cakes, ham and more. So much comfort and warmth. Yet Cameron paced the library. When a knock sounded on his door and Seton informed him that Will Johnson was there to see him, Cameron was glad for the distraction and relieved Will had returned to Inverness so quickly. At least, he hoped his quick return was a good sign.

  Minutes later, Cameron reached the parlor where Seton had left Will. Will turned from staring at the hearth fire.

  Cameron crossed the room and extended his hand. “I am relieved to see you, Will.”

  Will clasped his hand. “I came as quickly as I could, sir.”

  Cameron nodded to one of the chairs before the fireplace. Will sat and Cameron took the chair on the other side of the small table that separated the chairs.

  “What happened?” Cameron asked.

  “We followed the carriage to an estate outside of Kildary. Belongs to Viscount Andross.”

  “I know him,” Cameron said.

  “A nasty bastard, if you ask me. He and his companions intended to rape the women over the course of their two-week party. Seems their biggest complaint was that the women were too old.”

  Anger tightened Cameron’s insides. “They all look to be fifteen and sixteen.”

  Will nodded, face grim. “Sallie said they declared that they would order girls of twelve and thirteen next time.”

  “Next time,” Cameron murmured.

  “We entered the mansion undetected immediately after the women were taken in. No easy feat, that. The house is a bloody fortress.”

  Cameron grunted. “They have much to hide.”

  Will’s mouth twisted into a grimace. “One of the rooms they use for their parties is nothing short of a torture chamber. Shackles, wall manacles, a table with—” He broke off, his face green.

  “I get the idea,” Cameron said.

  “We didnae have long to wait. Andross and his comrades were nigh uncontrollable. They put the women in chambers where they were to change into shifts and lacy lingerie. We wanted to take the women out then, but the lasses insisted the men had to expose themselves beyond question. They are a courageous lot.”

  His mouth thinned. “We didn’t have long to wait. The women were delivered into the torture room where the naked men were waiting. Sallie had instructed us not to burst in until she screamed. I was sure we would get caught, but Andross has few servants: a butler who is more like a henchman, and one woman to deal with the women. No doubt, the viscount understands that not many would keep silent about his orgies. We incapacitated the butler and locked the woman in one of the wardrobes. She was a wee thing herself, but lethal. No better than the men.”

  Anger flashed in the big man’s eyes. “There were eight men to the four women. Damn bastards. I wager they would have killed one of them by night’s end, and all of them within the fortnight. We locked ‘em up on their own torture machines.”

  Cameron smiled. “A fitting use for the contraptions.”

  “Felt good to strike a bit of fear into them. They feared we planned to kill them. I can tell you, I willnae shed a tear to see them hang. I stayed while Miles went for the constable.”

  “What had he to say?” Cameron demanded.

  “Miles had a devil of a time getting the man to agree to come to Andross’s estate. But when he mentioned you and, er, well, your father, he agreed.”

  Cameron nodded. “My father will understand.”

  “When they arrived, the constable was as shocked as we had been. He said he would hold the men for two days, but we then had to bring charges against them, and if we didn’t, he couldnae guarantee Andross wouldn’t come after us.”

  “I will speak to Lucas Drummond. I know him well. He will go to Kildary and speak with the magistrate. As a magistrate here in Inverness, Lucas carries a great deal of weight. I will—”

  A knock on the door interrupted him. Cameron shifted as the door opened and Seton entered.

  “Forgive the intrusion, sir, but the parson has arrived.”

  Cameron nodded. “Thank you, Seton. Please show him to the Gold parlor. I will inform Alison and we shall be there directly. Also, have any of the guests arrived?”

  Mister Macintyre is here. Miss Lennox, of course, and Lady Caroline.”

  Three of the five he’d invited. “I may need you to stand in as a witness, Seton.”

  The butler bowed. “I would be honored, my lord.”

  Cameron nodded, then faced Will. “Will, would you stay for the wedding as a witness?”

  “I am no’ dressed for so fine an occasion, sir.”

  “You are dressed fine. I do not want any complications later.”

  He and Alison would sign the marriage registry, but Hamilton was being too quiet for Cameron’s liking. He’d fully expected the man to show up on his doorstep in the middle of the night. Thus far, nothing. Cameron wasn’t taking any chances.

  ***

  When Alison stood before the parson, her hands clasping Cameron’s, and listened to the parson read, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony,” she trembled.

  When Cameron slipped the ruby wedding ring onto her finger, the cool band felt out of place against the warmth of his fingers.

  When the parson said, “I pronounce that they be man and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen,” her knees buckled.

  Cameron hugged her to his side, lending her his strength. He led her to the open registry. As the parson watched, she signed first, then Cameron signed. Without warning, he kissed her—hard—then hugged her so tightly the breath whooshed from her lungs.

  They faced their few guests. Lady Caroline, a friend of Cameron’s, wished her well. A large man who Cameron introduced as Will Johnson bowed and offered his congratulations. Mister McIntyre bowed over her hands and murmured his happiness for them both. Mrs. Cummings cried into her hanky and said she had never been prouder as she embraced Alison in a warm hug. Even Erin shed a few tears, and Alison’s heart squeezed at the loneliness she saw in her friend’s eyes. She wouldn’t let Erin be lonely.

  They adjourned to the dining room. Alison linked her arm with Erin’s.

  “You are married,” Erin whispered. “Does not seem real, does it?”

  Only it was real. She was officially Viscountess Weston. She was well aware of her husband, who followed a few paces behind. She could feel his gaze upon her as she walked.

  In the dining room, Cameron sat at the head of the table, Alison sat to his right, and Erin took the seat next to her. Delicious aromas wafted through the room, but she was too nervous to eat. She commanded the butterflies in her stomach into submission, but they ignored her.

  The table was laden with enough food to feed five times the number of seated guests. She dared not look at Cameron for fear she would blush. She kept her attention on her plate, Erin and the other guests. Still, she could feel his glances. Did last night live as vividly in his mem
ory as it did hers? His warm hands caressing her flesh had made her feel treasured. His body on top of hers had promised security…protection. She still couldn’t believe that she was his wife.

  Hard bootfalls approached from the hallway.

  “I am sorry, sir, but I must insist that you leave,” Seton’s voice held an edge that Alison hadn’t heard in the short time she’d been at Welbourne Hall.

  Everyone went silent. Alison cast a sideways glance at Cameron. He sipped his wine as if he hadn’t a care in the world. The bootfalls drew closer and, an instant later, the door burst open. Her cousin burst into the room, Seton close behind.

  “I am sorry, my lord,” Seton said. “Mister Hamilton refused to leave.”

  Henry’s eyes locked onto Cameron. “I am here to take my cousin home.”

  Cameron set his wine glass on the table. “You are just in time, Hamilton.”

  Henry blinked in surprise.

  “Have a seat.” Cameron forked potatoes into his mouth and nodded at an empty seat at the far end of the table.

  Henry stared, clearly taken aback by Cameron’s genial manner. He looked at Alison. “Come, Alison. It is time you return home.”

  Alison opened her mouth to reply, but Cameron said, “Perhaps she can visit, but not today.”

  Henry’s face reddened. “You have nothing to say about the matter. As her guardian, I can take her from this place.”

  “Why would you want to do that?” Cameron asked. “We are having such a pleasant wedding breakfast.”

  Henry paled. “Wedding breakfast?” His gaze whipped back onto Alison. “Say it isn’t true, Cousin.”

  “My marriage should not come as a surprise. You knew we were betrothed,” she said.

  “On the contrary, you maintained you were engaged to Robert. “

  “Lady Alison has made another choice,” Cameron said, as if he discussed what sort of wine he might serve with supper.

  “I doubt the marriage is legal,” he snapped.

  “Oh, ‘tis legal,” the parson said. “I performed the ceremony myself.”

  “Who the devil are you?” Henry demanded.

  “Reverend George Fister,” he said.

  Henry’s mouth thinned, then he addressed Alison, “We can annul the marriage. Think of Robert. He will be devastated.”