“He is not the first man to have been chosen second,” Cameron said.
“I have had enough of you, Weston. You kidnapped my cousin and forced her to marry you. It is no difficult matter to annul a marriage, particularly one that has not been consummated.”
Cameron finally lifted his gaze to Henry’s. “Whatever gave you the idea the marriage hasn’t been consummated?”
Henry’s eyes widened—then narrowed. “As this is the wedding breakfast, there has been no time.”
Cameron chuckled. He actually chuckled! Alison couldn’t believe it.
“Come now, Hamilton. You are a man of the world. Few betrothed couples in our modern times wait for the wedding day to consummate the marriage.”
Slight movement to Alison’s left yanked her attention onto Erin. Was she repressing laughter? Yes, that was a definite twitch at the corner of her mouth. Lady Caroline ducked her head. She, too, was laughing. The big man’s face reddened. When had women become so much more brazen than men?
“I ought to kill you,” Henry said in a low voice that sent a chill down Alison’s back.
Cameron’s stare turned chilly. “I am at your service, sir.”
“No duel,” Alison blurted.
Cameron regarded her. “You need not worry, my dear. I am a very good shot. James will act as my second. He knows weapons quite well. There will be no shenanigans.”
“There will be no duel.” She pushed her chair back and stood.
Cameron rose, as well, followed by Mister McIntyre and Mister Johnson.
Alison ignored their imposing presences and said to Henry, “I have married of my own choice. My husband and I will be moving into Eversley Place. I feel certain you will not want to live with us.”
Henry’s eyes widened. “You are evicting me from my own home?”
“My home, Henry,” she corrected. “Your home is the home you shared with Olivia.”
“You know I was devastated by her death. I cannot go back there.”
“That is a shame,” she said.
His expression went blank. She learned forward, as if she could reach him across the table and lay a gentle hand on his arm, for he looked as if he might swoon. Then his expression darkened and his mouth twisted into an almost frightening frown.
“You forget that I am your guardian.”
This time, she blinked in surprise. Cameron shifted, breaking her stupor, and she realized he intended to speak.
She laid a staying hand on his arm and said, “In fact, it is you who forget yourself. At three and twenty, I am free to marry whomever I choose. That deed is done. Therefore, you have no control over my finances.”
A strange light entered his eyes.
“Hamilton—” Cameron began.
“Robert would have been very disappointed in you,” he said in a low voice.
A cold finger touched the base of her spine.
Satisfaction lit his eyes.
“What do you mean ‘would have been’?” she whispered.
He gave a cold smile. “You should be thankful he didn’t live to see your betrayal.”
Chapter Seventeen
Nausea roiled in Alison’s gut. Cameron started around the table, then stilled when she said, “What do you mean, Henry?”
“He died at sea six months ago,” Henry spat.
“Dare I ask how you know this?” She knew the answer, but had to say, “I received a letter from him a little over a month ago, urging me to begin preparations for our wedding.”
“Another one came after that,” Henry said. “I did not want to upset you. He died at sea. Some sort of fever.”
Alison’s head reeled. “Get out, Henry.”
“Alison.” He took a step forward.
She whirled and raced from the room, down the hall and into the dressing room. She spotted a screen in the far corner and barely reached the chamber pot there before she emptied the contents of her stomach. Her throat tightened and tears burned behind her eyes. Could Henry truly be so despicable as to lie about Robert? He had to be lying. Robert had written. They had planned their wedding.
“Alison.” Erin appeared at her side and grasped her arm. “Come quickly.”
Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she turned to Erin. “It cannot be true.”
Erin’s gaze softened. She placed a gentle hand on Alison’s arm. “Your husband is ready to kill your guardian. You should come if you want answers.”
Did she really need to know more? Had she been betrothed to a ghost these last six months? She jumped to her feet and they hurried back to the dining room.
Cameron held Henry by the collar. He raised his fist as Alison reached the door. James seized Cameron’s arm and swung him around. Cameron’s eyes caught on her. The pain and fear she saw there twisted her heart. Alison yanked her gaze from his and crossed to Henry.
“Do you see what your husband is, Cousin?” Henry demanded.
“Silence,” she snapped.
His eyes widened. “Alison, you—”
“How could you?” Alison cut in. “I trusted you. My father and mother trusted you. You are my family.” Had she really shared her home with a man she never really knew?
“I have lost everything. You were all I had left. I wanted to protect you…love you. We would suit.”
“I would have shared everything I have with you.” She blinked away tears. “You knew I loved him. Why would you let me go on planning a wedding?” She swallowed hard. “The letters. Were they from Robert? Or was that part of your deception?”
“Nae. I only hid the one letter. Do you not understand? I wanted to save you from the pain.”
“You wanted my money,” she snapped. “You said so yourself. You’d lost everything. Do not contact me, Henry. We are nothing to each other.”
She fled the room, rushed upstairs to her quarters. She slammed the door, collapsed onto her bed and let the tears fall. Robert had no siblings and his mother had died before he’d left for the navy. Alison should have been able to mourn him. Did his father know? He, too, was a navy man, an admiral. Like Robert, he was at sea. It was possible even he didn’t yet know of his son’s death.
She curled into a ball and closed her eyes. Silent tears streaked down her cheeks as she recalled her innocent youth, falling for a dashing young man, and promising to be true until his return…
Alison started awake at the click of the door latch. The drapes had been drawn, but sunlight streamed through the gap. Had she fallen asleep?
“Alison?” Cameron came into view and stopped beside the bed. “Are you hungry?”
She shook her head, unable to speak for fear she would cry again. She longed for him to hold her, but needing him was a betrayal of Robert. He sat on the mattress next to her and she couldn’t halt the tears. He pulled her against him and traced circles on her back while making gentle shushing sounds. She wasn’t supposed to find comfort in his arms. She was supposed to marry Robert. He’d died, and she had gone blithely into another man’s bed.
“I have loved him my whole life,” she said through sobs.
Cameron stilled.
Fear sent her heart into a wild rhythm. She suddenly wished he would leave, yet feared he would leave and never return.
“Shall I send Erin to you?” he asked.
He didn’t want her. Why would he? Had he ever truly wanted her?
She nodded and when he pressed a kiss to the top of her forehead, she feared her heart was truly breaking.
He rose and she glimpsed his strange, sad smile. “I will send her directly,” he said.
Then he left.
Chapter Eighteen
At the light knock on her bedchamber door, Alison looked up from the book she’d been trying to read for the last hour. The door opened and Cameron entered. To her surprise, he was dressed in evening wear. Hurt stabbed. He had been gone when she rose that morning, and she’d left her room only once, when Erin badgered her into coming down for breakfast. He hadn’t sought her out.
Now he stood before her, more handsome than he had a right to be. His dark coat was pressed to perfection. His cravat had been tied in a simple knot, and his hair…she couldn’t let herself think of that soft, thick hair.
He hadn’t known Robert, but he should have the decency to understand her loss, and perhaps stay in, at least tonight, in deference to her upset. But why should he? No words of love had passed between them. The concern that appeared in his eyes only angered her. Rubbish. How concerned could he be if he was going out this evening?
“I see you are going out,” she said.
He nodded. “Forgive me, but I must go. It’s the business with Napier.”
Guilt stabbed. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—ask him to let down the women who had put themselves in danger to bring this nefarious man to justice.
“No worries. As you can imagine, I am in no mood for a ball. Are the women, your friends, safe?”
“They are. My men intervened, as planned. The man who bought them is currently under arrest, but we need the head of the serpent. In order to bring them to trial and assure their convictions, we must finish this business with Napier and his partner.”
“His partner?”
“We believe his partner is the driving force behind the sex trade ring, and hope to trap him tonight.”
A sliver of fear wound through her. Might Cameron be in danger from these men?
“You are dressed for a ball, not clandestine encounters and danger,” she said.
Cameron cracked a small smile. “Napier is hosting a party. We are to talk business. And I feel certain his partner will be there.”
“Where is the party being held?” she asked.
He lifted a brow. “Alison, his party is not for you.”
She frowned. “As I said, I am in no mood to attend a ball.”
He smiled gently. “I know, and I am truly sorry.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead.
She closed her eyes and reveled in the warmth of his lips against her skin, then dropped her gaze when he straightened.
“For leaving you tonight—and the loss of your Robert,” he murmured.
She snapped her head up but he had started for the door. Alison sat up, extended a hand, but stopped short of asking him to wait. Robert had been her friend, but he was no longer ‘her Robert.’
“I may be late, so there is no need to wait up for me,” he said, and she allowed her hand to drop onto her lap. At the door, he paused, hand on the knob, and looked at her over his shoulder. “Shall I send Mrs. Cummings in to sit with you?” he asked.
She swallowed. “Nae. I am reading.” She lifted the book to show him.
“Perhaps we shouldn’t have sent Miss Lennox home with her father,” he said, as if speaking to himself.
Anxiety tightened in her belly. Her uncle had been furious when he learned that Erin had been at Welbourne. Alison had never considered herself a believable liar, but she had sworn that Erin had spent the entire night in her company. Alison didn’t want to consider his fury had he known the truth. She still couldn’t believe that Mister McIntyre had kidnapped Erin, thinking she was Alison—nor could she believe her Uncle Harrison might be involved in the crimes. How she wished Erin had done as she’d asked and stayed with her. But Erin had insisted that it was best for her father not to suspect he was under suspicion.
Alison searched Cameron’s face. “Do you fear that he will harm her?”
Something flickered in his eyes, but he said, “I wouldn’t have sent her home with him if I believed he would harm her.”
“I suspect you told him that if he did, he would face a dawn appointment with you.”
His brows rose. “Duels are illegal, my dear, not to mention, I am not that civilized.”
She couldn’t contain a small laugh. “Never say you threatened simply to shoot him?” She wished that she could shoot him. “It would be worth the consequences.”
“Would you mind terribly if we had to flee to the colonies?” he asked softly.
“Not if Erin came with us.”
He gave a slow nod.” Anything you wish, my love.”
A flash of intimacy shivered over her flesh. Robert had never evoked such reactions. Suddenly, she truly feared for him.
“Must you really go?” The plea was stupid. Of course, he had to go.
His expression softened. “For anything else—anything at all—I would never leave your side. But I cannot abandon the ladies who risked their lives to help bring Napier and his partner to justice. They have…suffered.”
She nodded. “Of course. But promise to be careful.”
“I am in little danger. I will be at a ball, surrounded by people.”
She tilted her head and narrowed her gaze. “Yet, you will not allow me to go.”
“You did say you are in no mood to attend a ball.”
She wanted to tell him that she’d changed her mind, that she, his wife, should be at his side. Instead, she nodded and said, “So I did.”
He hesitated and she thought he might say more, but he returned her nod and left.
Alison leaned her head against the back of the chaise lounge and closed her eyes. Cameron was a capable man. He would deal with these criminals then return. But return to what? Her heart twisted. He deserved a better wife than her.
She turned her attention to the window. Stars twinkled in the distance. The creak of carriage wheels sounded from the street. She returned to the familiar fantasy of Robert’s return, their marriage, and children. Robert would never know the joys of fatherhood.
She swiped away a tear that trickled down her cheek. She should be mourning Robert as his betrothed, not as the woman who betrayed him. She’d fallen in love with someone else.
If only she had met Cameron under different circumstances. How possible might that have been? He’d been right about Henry. The ugly twist of his lips when he told her that Robert had died was an image she could never forget. Had he really thought she would marry him? Cameron had said that her protests would have been to no avail. He might be right. Her stomach turned at the thought of Henry forcing himself upon her. She’d grown up with him. Not in a thousand years would she have thought him capable of such deceit and treachery.
Alison closed her book and straightened. She couldn’t allow these thoughts to consume her. There had to be something she could do, something worthwhile. She could visit her cousin and make sure she was safe. Were Cameron’s threats enough protection? Would her uncle really harm Erin? Erin had never confessed incidents of abuse. But Alison was well aware that he kept a tight rein on Erin. His fury when he came to fetch Erin had been unmistakable.
Alison hurried to the bell pull near the bed and gave it a tug. She quickly changed into a long-sleeved dress, and was pulling on a pelisse when the door opened and Mrs. Cummings entered.
“Mrs. Cummings, forgive me,” Alison said. “I expected one of the maids. It’s after nine o’clock. You should be resting.”
Mrs. Cummings’ gaze sharpened. “Where are you going, my lady?”
“To see Erin. Would you mind asking to have the carriage brought around, please?”
Mrs. Cummings nodded. “I will come with you.”
Erin knew better than to argue. “As you wish. Just a short visit. I want to be certain Erin is well.”
Forty minutes later, they arrived outside Erin’s home. The driver helped Alison and Mrs. Cummings from the carriage and watched as they walked to the door. She knocked, and a moment later a footman opened the door.
“We are here to see Miss Lennox,” Alison said. “Please tell her that lady Alison is here to see her.”
“I am sorry, my lady, but Miss Lennox is not at home. She and her father went out for the evening.”
“Out for the evening?” Alison glanced at Mrs. Cummings. “Oh dear, Erin has forgotten our appointment.” Without waiting for a response from Mrs. Cummings, she said to the footman, “It is urgent I speak with my cousin. Have you any idea where she has gone?”
Without hes
itation, he answered, “To a ball, my lady.”
“Do you by chance know which one?”
He shook his head. “I do not.”
“Might I speak with her maid?” Alison gave him a dazzling smile. “I would so appreciate the favor.”
A blush crept up his cheeks. “Aye, well, my lady, I will try.”
He stepped aside and waved them in. Alison smiled thanks as he closed the door. He hurried down the hallway, then ducked up the servants’ stairs. Moments later, he reappeared, a young maid with him.
Alison recognized the girl and smiled. “Leslie, how nice to see you.”
The girl curtsied. “Jamie says you wish to talk to me.”
“Yes, but do not worry.” Alison read the anxiety in the girl’s eyes and smiled. “You need not worry, Leslie. I was supposed to see my cousin tonight, but she must have forgotten. Do you know which ball she attended?”
“Aye, ma’am. She and Mister Lennox went to Mister Napier’s ball.”
“Mister Napier’s?” Alison blurted, then gentled her expression. “Ah, I remember now. She told me she had been invited. I must have mixed up the dates. Thank you.” She turned to Mrs. Cummings. “I suppose we should be going.”
They returned to the carriage.
Mrs. Cummings folded her hands in her lap, and said, “You plan to go to that ball, I suspect.”
Alison nodded. “My cousin has no idea what danger awaits her.” Uneasiness churned in her belly. If her uncle was attending Mister Napier’s party, did that confirm he was a party to the man’s crimes?
An hour later, dressed in blue silk for the ball, Alison arrived at Mister Napier’s mansion, glad for the footman’s steady hand as she descended from the carriage. Had anyone asked if she would ever again visit this accursed place, she would have said never. Yet, here she was, attending a party, two days after having been kidnapped from this estate.
She ascended the half dozen stairs to the porch, where a footman opened the door and allowed her to enter. Music from the orchestra wafted into the foyer, where another footman bowed and bade her follow him. He escorted her up to the next level and stepped aside at the ballroom door.
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