“I thought I heard something.” Gabe transferred his gaze to Nathbone. “Didn’t you take a tour with Cuthbert and Baker in the autumn, James? I recall you mentioning something.” He frowned. “Armstrong was one of the party, too, if memory serves.”
“We spent some time in one another’s company, it’s true.”
“At the time of the robberies?” Flick asked, sitting forward, no longer able to disguise her interest.
“Hardly. I’m sure I would remember if it had been.”
Nathbone became more and more uncomfortable and Flick knew she couldn’t ask him anything else without arousing suspicion, especially since Gabe had let slip that Darius was defending the case. Nathbone might not know who Darius was but if he reported the conversation to Armstrong, he certainly would and the connection—and the reason for her visit to Nathbone Court—would become apparent. Far from assisting Darius, it would probably only complicate matters for him.
Besides, Flick had already learned as much as she needed to know. Nathbone wasn’t Armstrong’s accomplice—he was too slightly built to bear even a passing resemblance to the description given of the robbers—and so it had to have been Peters. Although innocent of involvement, Flick sensed that Nathbone would never speak a word about what he knew, no matter how great the inducement. He was petrified of something.
Or someone.
They took their leave a short time later and Flick endured the freezing ride home mostly in silence. Gabe spoke enough for the pair of them, enthusing about the stallion. He had apparently agreed terms with Nathbone that merely required Hal’s approbation. Flick barely heard him. They were to return to London for the start of the season in a few days’ time. She would be hard pressed to see Darius alone when she got there and so must, somehow, contrive to do so while they were still in the country. He needed to be made aware that Nathbone hadn’t been Armstrong’s accomplice and that he should concentrate his efforts on Peters.
Although that probably wouldn’t help much, Flick thought, wrinkling her brow in frustration. If Peters had committed the crimes, he was hardly likely to confess, and he appeared perfectly content to allow his colleagues to suffer the consequences for something they hadn’t done.
Chapter Ten
“Damn it!” Darius thumped his thigh with his clenched fist. “You can be sure she’s gone charging off down there with the intention of questioning Nathbone. I’ll have to go after her.”
“No, don’t do that.” Hal looked furious and Darius knew he’d earned his annoyance by involving Flick in this business. “That will only make matters worse.”
“But we can’t just permit her to—”
“Leah said she was preoccupied. I should have taken more notice.”
“You’ve had other matters on your mind.”
“Even so.” Hal lapsed into thought. “Believe it or not, Flick can sometimes be subtle, and even she must realize that this situation calls for the gentle touch.”
“I wish I could believe that.”
“Besides, Gabe will be there. I doubt whether she’ll be left alone with Nathbone so she will have to be discreet.”
“I’m deeply sorry, Hal. The last thing I intended to do was endanger Flick.”
Hal clapped Darius’s shoulder. “You’re not the only person in the land enamoured of a hotheaded woman. Flick will continue to go her own way, if she possibly can, much as Leah does. The pleasure outweighs the anxiety, for the most part.” He managed a brief smile. “Take it from one who knows.”
“Even so, I must find a way to stop Flick from taking further unilateral action. If she accidentally stumbles upon anything important, she will endanger herself.” Darius frowned. “She might do that even if she doesn’t find anything out.”
“I’ll talk to her,” Hal said firmly.
“Probably better if I do it. If she knows we’ve spoken about this, she’ll want to know why.”
“Has it occurred to you that Pallister will know she’s been asking questions? Nathbone will lose no time in informing his son.”
“Perdition, so he will!”
“Well, there’s nothing we can do about that.” Hal strode about the study, reminding Darius of a caged lion thinking how best to protect its cubs. “I can see it would be best for you to talk to Flick and stop her tearing off on more harebrained schemes. Call early tomorrow morning, before she has the chance to slip away somewhere, and I’ll leave the two of you alone.”
“Thank you. I shall try to instil some sense into her.”
Hal barked a laugh. “Then hopefully you’ll be more successful than I’ve been.”
“It’s probably fortunate that she isn’t here now.” A combination of anxiety and anger at her clumsy attempts to help manifested themselves in a scorching anger that burned Darius’s insides like acid. “If she was, I wouldn’t be responsible for my actions.”
Hal flashed a wry grin. “Perhaps now you have a better understanding of what you plan to take on.”
“Perhaps I do, but Flick will discover that she isn’t the only one who likes to have her way.”
Hal wisely changed the subject. “When do you return to London?”
“At the beginning of next week.”
“As do we. It will be better if we are all in the same place.”
“I agree.”
Darius rose to take his leave. “Until tomorrow then.” He paused with his hand on the door handle. “But you will send word if, for any reason, Flick doesn’t arrive home safely.”
“Naturally, but she’s in Gabe’s care. He won’t let anything happen to her.”
Darius left, sincerely hoping that Hal was right. The following day he would finally have a few precious moments alone with Flick. He couldn’t decide whether he would kiss her senseless in gratitude for her inept efforts to help him or give her a tongue-lashing for being so impulsive.
Darius couldn’t settle to anything for the rest of the day. He had papers to study regarding cases he was due to try as soon as he returned to London. Facts refused to lodge in his brain and he found himself reading the same passage three times over without taking in a single word. In the end he gave up and went for a fast ride round his estate instead. He came back chilled to the bone and as restless as he’d been before he went out.
He and his mother dined alone but he was a poor companion, often not hearing her when she addressed a remark to him. Only one aspect of the day’s events cheered him. No word had come from Hal and so he must assume that Flick had returned home safely.
“What ails you, Darius dear?” his mother asked at one point.
“I apologize, Mother,” he said. “I have things on my mind that have no place at your dinner table.”
“Nonsense, you can say anything you wish to me. Presumably, you’re worried about those young men you have undertaken to defend?”
Darius didn’t realize his mother even knew about the case and couldn’t hide his surprise. She was becoming increasingly vague but anything he did to enhance his career appeared to remain crystal clear in her brain.
“I have yet to conjecture how best to present their case, it’s true.” Better she thought he was preoccupied with that, rather than dwelling upon Flick’s welfare. His mother’s dearest wish was to see him married, and he had no intention of exciting her expectations until matters were settled.
“You can’t be all things to all people, Darius. If the young men are innocent, and presumably you think they are or you wouldn’t have taken the case, then there must be a way to prove it.” She beamed at him. “I know you will find it eventually.”
Darius stood when his mother pushed her chair back and helped her to her feet. At least she had confidence in his abilities, which was more than could be said for him.
He presented himself at the Hall the following morning and was immediately conducted to the morning room by Potter. He didn’t see Hal but he was clearly expected. Presumably instructions had been left for him to be given access to Flick since she awaited
him in that room.
“Darius!” She looked up from the book she was reading and her face lit up.
Darius didn’t immediately respond. Instead he took a moment to study the woman who had stolen his heart many years since. He was overwhelmed by the now familiar torrent of fiercely protective feelings that assailed him whenever he was in her company. She tilted her head and smiled so radiantly that he was temporarily deflected from his purpose. In spite of his determination to talk some sense into her and not be swayed by recollections of their last episode alone, his groin still responded in the time-honoured fashion. The invisible bond that held them together more permanently than any marriage contract ever could took a tighter hold.
Perdition, this was not an auspicious start!
The ember that had simmered between them these several years had ignited that infamous day in his chambers, and there was no stepping back from her now. Not that he had any wish to turn away from his infuriatingly determined little sparrow. She was the love of his life and for him there would never be another. How to convince her to be more careful was the problem he had yet to resolve.
Her eyes sparkled as she cast her book aside and stood to greet him. Her undisguised delight robbed him of the ability to scold her, and the opening salvo he’d practiced on the ride over died on his lips.
She ran to him and he caught her in his arms.
“How are you?” he asked, kissing her chastely.
“Delighted to see you.”
When he didn’t deepen the kiss, instead setting her aside, her smile faltered.
“What is it? Have you neglected me all this time, only to come and frown at me? If so, you might as well have saved yourself the trouble since I’m in no mood to be bullied.”
“Bullied?” Darius elevated both brows. “I have never bullied you.”
“Only because I don’t allow it. Otherwise you’d be as bad as my brothers.”
She’d gone on the offensive because she felt guilty, that much was immediately apparent.
“Sit down, Flick. We need to talk.”
“Indeed we do.” Her face was alight with mischief as she resumed her place on a settee beside the fire. Darius resisted sitting beside her and took a chair directly across from her. “I am so glad you called. I planned to visit you today but you’ve saved me the trouble. I have such news. I accompanied Gabe to Nathbone Court yesterday. He went to look at a stallion and it was too good an opportunity to pass up.”
“Flick!” Darius shook his head. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
“I fail to see why not.” She opened her eyes very wide and sent him a look of mild rebuke. “I did it for your sake and almost froze to death since Gabe insisted on going in a curricle. You might display a little more gratitude.”
“I’d be infinitely more grateful if you would stay at home where I know you’re safe.”
“I was perfectly safe,” she said, tossing her head. “It was the most natural thing in the world for me to accompany my brother.”
“No, it wasn’t. Horse trading is men’s business.” He sighed when she regarded him with incomprehension in her eyes. It was feigned, of course. She knew very well that he was right but he still felt like a cad for scolding her when all he really wanted to do was pull her into his arms and kiss her into submission. “Presumably you cross-questioned Nathbone on his involvement with Cuthbert?”
“Well, of course I did, but I was very discreet.”
Darius struggled to suppress a smile. “That I doubt.”
“Don’t treat me like a child, Darius.”
“Then don’t behave like one.”
“I was merely trying to help. Your investigations appear to have got you nowhere and so you need me.” She paused. “At least, if you have made progress, you haven’t chosen to inform me and so I thought I might be able to at least eliminate Nathbone as a possible perpetrator.”
Darius ran a hand through his hair. “I still maintain that you ought not to have gone.”
“Well I did go, so it’s too late for scoldings. Don’t you wish to know what I discovered?”
Darius arranged his limbs into a more comfortable position and took his time responding. “Naturally.”
“Nathbone was very evasive when I raised the subject of Cuthbert and Peters over luncheon. Gabe jumped in and asked lots of innocent questions, which was most obliging of him, about his friendship with Armstrong and the others. He said he couldn’t imagine why they committed the crimes and knew nothing about them. But he did admit to being in the vicinity when they happened.”
“We already knew that.” Darius attempted to sound severe, mainly because the impulse to pull her into his arms was growing more demanding by the minute. “He could hardly deny it.”
“Yes, but what we didn’t know was who accompanied Armstrong when he committed the robberies. I’m convinced now that it wasn’t Nathbone because he lacks backbone, so it must have been Peters.”
Darius rolled his eyes. “Ah well, that settles it then.”
“You already knew that?” Her glum expression was almost his undoing but he disciplined himself to look at her too harshly.
“Yes.”
“Since you’ve been avoiding me and we haven’t exchanged a single word in private, since...” She faltered and a rosy blush crept up her cheeks. “Well, since forever, how was I supposed to know that?”
“My investigations are not yet complete so there was little that I could have told you, even if we’d been at leisure to discuss the matter.” Darius focused his gaze squarely on her face, causing her blush to deepen. Being alone with her but not being able to do and say all the things he most wished to was almost worse than not seeing her at all.
Almost.
He caressed her face with his eyes, taking a moment to recover his wits before speaking again.
“I hope to learn more when I return to London next week,” he eventually said.
“Perhaps I should slip away and come to your chambers, where we can discuss them in private,” she suggested with a saucy smile.
“Absolutely not!”
“Do you so very much regret what occurred between us?” she asked in an injured tone.
“Flick, you know that isn’t so.” She couldn’t possibly believe that. “The season will be in full swing when we return to town. It’s too risky. We’ll be seen together, you can be sure of that, and your reputation will suffer.”
She offered him a brittle smile. “It’s a little late for that.”
He reached across the space that separated them and smoothed the back of her hand with the pads of her fingers. “You know what’s in my heart, little one,” he said softly. “You also know that until this business with Cuthbert is brought to a conclusion, there’s nothing we can do about our feelings.”
“Yes, I’m sorry.” She shook her head, setting her curls dancing. “It’s just the waiting, the not knowing. Sometimes I think it will go on forever.”
“Patience never was your strong point.”
She flashed an impudent smile. “That’s undeniably true.”
“You will have Hal and the rest of your family with you in town. With all the excitement of a new season you’ll hardly miss me.”
“Have it your way.” She paused, laughter replacing the momentary melancholy that had inhabited her eyes. “For now.”
“Flick, this isn’t a game.”
“No, Darius, it’s merely the key to our entire future together.”
He lowered his gaze. “Quite.”
“How did you know that Nathbone wasn’t Armstrong’s accomplice, apart from his want of backbone?”
“The victims said that both villains were large and—”
“And Nathbone, even decked out in a greatcoat, wouldn’t fit that description.”
“No, he wouldn’t.”
She pouted. “I haven’t been much help, have I?”
“You’ve confirmed my suspicions.” Darius expelled a long breath. “Armstrong make
s a point of gathering weak people around him. All bullies behave in that way, in my experience. Their carefully chosen sycophantic companions boost their egos.”
“But all of Armstrong’s cronies are titled gentlemen from good families. Why would they kowtow to Armstrong? Oh, I know his father has power and influence, but the gentlemen in question aren’t exactly insignificant nobodies.”
“That’s true, but Nathbone’s family are short of blunt—”
“Yes, I noticed how rundown the estate was yesterday. And that stallion Gabe is so excited about is worth a lot more than Nathbone’s prepared to take for it, apparently. They must really need the money because Gabe told me that until recently Nathbone’s father had refused all offers for it.”
“Precisely. Nathbone is limited by financial restraints but if he mixes in Armstrong’s circle, he’s guaranteed a free ride.”
“What of the others?”
“Cuthbert and Baker are the least vulnerable. As far as I can ascertain, their families aren’t in dun territory but both young men have been given a lot of freedom. The wild aspects to their characters emerged as a consequence, which would have brought them to Armstrong’s attention. They enjoyed mixing in the elevated circles that Armstrong’s father’s influence introduced them to, but when Lord Edward pushed them too far, they had the good sense to say no.”
“Not so sensible. Look where it landed them.”
“It shows they’re basically decent people who know where to draw the line.”
“What of Peters then?”
“Ah, now he’s another story. You’re right, he must have been Armstrong’s accomplice. His family is well established but Peters himself...have you met him?”
Flick wrinkled her brow. “Actually, I don’t believe I have. I don’t recall.”
“You would if you’d been introduced. He’s a bear of a man and ugly as sin. He has a pocked face, the result of a childhood illness, and a rather unfortunate squint. People with physical imperfections are prime targets for the likes of Armstrong too. They will do absolutely anything to be accepted.”
Beguiling the Barrister Page 13