by Robyn DeHart
In the cool light of morning, Gabe recognized that his lack of judgment the night before would have dire repercussions. Still, he’d made the choice, and now he’d have to live with it.
Had he defiled her? No, she hadn’t been a virgin—she was a widow, after all. Still, Gabe had spent his entire adult life adhering to a certain code. He’d made commitments to himself, and he’d promised to never violate them. The primary one being to never join the bed of a genteel woman; they came with too many duties and responsibilities.
“I will make certain to get the notices to the papers at once,” Gabe said.
“I beg your pardon. What notices?” she asked, sleep still clinging to her, making her voice sultry, her eyes dreamy. She rolled over to face him, and a seductive smile slid into place.
Lust roared though him, and he wanted nothing more than to push her back onto the mattress and make love to her the rest of the day. But he’d lost control the night before; he couldn’t allow it to happen again. Nothing good ever came from that. He had an investigation to attend to, and he’d solve nothing in this bed with Lilith.
“The notices of our impending nuptials.”
She sat up, clutching the bedcovers to her. Lines furrowed her brow, but his gaze settled on the curve of her neck that sloped into her bare shoulders. “I beg your pardon?”
“Last night, Lilith. We have lain together. You are a lady of good breeding. I am a gentleman. There are standards we adhere to. You know that. The rules of propriety demand we marry.”
“I don’t give a damn about the rules of propriety. I’m not marrying you or anyone else. Ever again!” She stood, still clutching the covers. She went about picking up the discarded pieces of her clothing.
“You’re being ridiculous.”
“I’m being ridiculous?” She put her hand to her chest. “I’m being—do you have any notion of what it was like to be married to that man for the past six years?” Her voice hitched with emotion, but she did not cry. “I have no desire to ever be saddled with another overbearing man to rule my life. I finally have my independence. I can do what I want, go where I want. Wear what I want. No more parents making decisions for me. No more cruel husband.”
Her words pierced him. She’d obviously endured more than he’d ever suspected. Had Thornton ever hit her, or had his cruelty stopped with his words? The thought of that bastard putting a hand on Lilith turned Gabe’s blood to ice. Still, in good conscience, he could not allow her to walk away from this.
“Lilith, you must know that I would never treat you the way Thornton did. You can retain some independence. I would, of course, take care of Isabel, too.”
“No.” Anger rolled off her in hot waves. She didn’t even seem to notice the tears now streaking down her cheeks.
“What of last night? We cannot pretend that it did not happen. I made a decision to bed you, and that choice comes with consequences. What if you are with child?”
“Don’t be daft, Gabriel. I know how you lived your life before Rafe died. You chased skirts all over this town. Are you telling me you proposed to every one of those women?”
The muscles in his jaw ached from the tension. “What I did back then was wrong. I have worked hard to live a different life. I am a man of high moral standards now.” Last night was the first night he’d lain with a woman since the night after his brother had died. He’d made a vow then and hadn’t broken it until Lilith. She had proved too damn hard to resist.
“I am not bound by your morals.” She spat out the last word as if the mere taste of it was unpleasant. “Last night was pleasurable, but that was it. It meant nothing.”
Her words sliced through him. A night in his arms had meant nothing. Perhaps this confirmed what he’d believed of her when they’d first met—that she used her body to get her way. Last night had meant nothing to her because she was incapable of having those types of tender feelings. He’d been nothing but the distraction she’d needed. Or perhaps it was merely that she didn’t want him. He’d been there last night, a warm body and nothing more.
“Lilith, this is not really a discussion. I’ve already made up my mind.”
“You will not—no, cannot force me to marry you. I will run away at the first opportunity.” With that she left the room, her clothes and the bedcover still clutched to her lovely curvaceous body.
Well, that had not gone as planned. Did she actually believe he’d force her? Precisely what sort of marriage had she endured with Thornton as her husband? He would not force her. He’d never forced a woman to do anything. But he would not be swayed on this matter, which meant he’d have to convince her.
…
Fury swirled through Lilith until she thought she would go mad from it. Of all the pompous men! What could possibly have made him think she’d want to marry him?
She slammed the door to the bedchamber she was borrowing and slung the bedcovers across the room. She was pleased to find the basin filled with water and even more so to discover it was still slightly warm. After washing herself, she redressed, and then sat at the small dressing table to ready herself. She yanked the brush through her hair, then stood to pace as she pulled at tangles. The knots in her tresses were a reminder of their lovemaking. Gabe had plunged his fingers into her hair more than once. It had been a perfect evening in his bed, and then he’d gone and ruined everything with his stupid rules and moral obligations. She’d gone to bed with Gabriel and woken up with the Priest.
Last night he’d been passionate, oh so passionate, and gentle and fierce. Everything she’d ever wanted from a man. Everything that her damned husband hadn’t been. Why couldn’t she have received that proposal from Gabe seven years ago before she’d been forced to marry Thornton?
Nothing about Gabe’s proposal had been tender or full of romantic promise. He didn’t love her. She didn’t even think he respected her. But she knew he’d certainly be a better husband than Thornton. She’d belonged to one man after another since her birth, and she refused to do so any longer. She knew that while Gabe might not be cruel as Thornton had, he also would be constantly embarrassed by her behavior, and that seemed even more hurtful than Thornton’s cruel rants.
The worst part of this entire situation, damned if part of her hadn’t wanted to accept his lackluster proposal. She doubted if real professions of love could sway her decision now. Thornton died, and she was finally free. Well, she would be as soon as she ensured Isabel was safe. As soon as Ellis returned her. Please God, let Ellis find Isabel!
And then she’d be damned if she’d send that girl off to her own loveless marriage to a brute of a man who would use her body for his own perverted pleasure. No, Isabel would have choices. She’d have the luxury to select a partner based on her own desires. But first they had to find her from whoever had kidnapped her.
Lilith had slept and eaten and was feeling slightly better since her last conversation with Gabe, but they still had matters to discuss. She found him in the study. With one knuckle, she rapped lightly on the already-opened door.
He was likely sitting there regretting taking her to bed and the fact that he was now honor-bound to marry her. But she’d settled that misguided issue, and now she could focus her attention on Isabel. He looked up from reading whatever was on the parchment in his hand. “A message from Ellis. He has already found and rescued Isabel. They are staying somewhere tonight and then will return here tomorrow.”
Relief nearly buckled her knees. She closed her eyes as the tears stung at them.
“I told you that you could trust him,” he said, his tone sharper than usual. “But since you don’t even trust me, that was wasted advice.”
Fury reared its head dissolving her relief. Damnation.
She had wanted Gabriel to be different from everyone else, but ultimately he was just one more person who wanted something from her. Why couldn’t he be the one who simply gave, instead of demanding more and more from her? Trust was difficult for her, and rightfully so. It wasn’t him. It was eve
ryone. No one had ever done right by her. Instead of wallowing in that, she’d decided that if she wanted something to happen, she had to do it herself, else she’d be constantly disappointed. But for him to toss that into her face…
She leaned forward, planted her hands on the desk, and glared at him. “How dare you! You barge into my life, insist that I not only go along with you but trust you in the process. You assure me that we’ll be safer with you, yet Isabel got kidnapped right out from under your nose!”
“Do you have any notion how desirable you are when you’re angry?” he said. “Honestly, Lilith, the passion rolls off you in waves. It’s palpable, and I’d like nothing more than to take you over to that expensive rug and make love to you the rest of the day.”
Her breath caught. She met his gaze, watched as his hazel eyes warmed to the color of liquid chocolate. Desire tumbled through her, and she took a deep breath. That was the very worst thing that she could do right now. Fall back under his spell and completely forget what she was about and what she needed to do. So instead she ignored his comments.
“Give me one good reason why I should trust you,” she said.
He exhaled slowly. “Yes, she was taken on our watch, but I believe the only reason she was found, and found safely, was because of Ellis. He’s very good at what he does,” he said, his tone even and calm.
“Now that she’s safe, as soon as she returns we’ll be leaving. I’ll take her somewhere not dangerous,” Lilith said. “If I had done that originally, none of this would have happened.” She stood and walked away to stand in front of the fireplace.
“Perhaps, but what is far more likely is that you both would have been taken. Or you would have been killed in the process.”
He came to stand behind her; though he did not touch her, his warm breath feathered across her neck. She closed her eyes.
“Obviously we are dealing with skilled individuals who are after her. Otherwise, they would never have gotten their hands on her with Ellis here. The first rule of protecting someone is to recognize your opponent. We can’t ignore that, Lilith.”
“I can’t rely on you and your colleagues to keep us safe. We’ll go somewhere else. Change our names, our appearances if we have to. We’ll find a way to stay safe.” She was quiet a moment then said, “I am truly grateful that Isabel is safe.”
“Safe, now, yes, but you must ask yourself why someone would kill a man to get their hands on her?” Gabe asked.
Lilith’s stomach soured at the thought.
He gripped her arms, pulling her back so that she rested against him. “I recognize that you are loath to ask for help, but now is not the time to be prideful. We’d be foolish not to recognize that you shall never be able to completely protect her unless you know who she truly is. Knowing the truth of her birth will certainly shed light on why people are after her.”
“It could simply be to punish Thornton,” she said.
“Of course it could. He was a bastard. But this goes beyond him. These people were after Isabel for a specific reason. Certainly you recognized that as well. You’re far too intelligent to have not seen that.”
Her body warmed at his compliment. It meant something for Gabe to think her intelligent. She turned to face him; he dropped his hands from her so that he no longer touched her, but they stood so close together. His expression was unreadable with his tight features and stern brow.
“I don’t know how we’re supposed to uncover the truth of Isabel’s identity.”
“I think I might.”
“How?”
“You left Isabel’s books in here when we returned from Saint Bartholomew’s, and I was flipping through them. I came across a name and village in several of them. I thought we could start there. Does the name Mary McCord mean anything to you?”
Hope bloomed in Lilith’s chest. She could not suppress a smile. “Yes! She was the woman whom Isabel lived with for the first few years of her life. Before she was sent to live with Thornton. I had forgotten about her completely.”
“Her name was written in several of the books. I thought perhaps she might have sent them to Isabel.”
“Yes, that would make sense,” Lilith said.
“The village is not the same as an address, but perhaps it will get us close to her. Perhaps the people near there will know where we can find her.”
“I just hope she’s still alive. She was rather old, I believe.”
“So you will stay with me awhile longer? Until we solve this mystery, so Isabel can remain safe?” he asked.
He was asking her to trust him. She wanted to; she couldn’t ignore that, but damnation if that wasn’t terrifying. She believed him, though, about Isabel. Knowing why someone was after her was the only way to truly protect her. So for Isabel, she’d trust him one more time.
Chapter Ten
It had taken longer than Lilith expected for them to locate the house of Mary McCord, primarily because the woman had moved two villages over. The good news was she was still living. The bad news, no one in town believed she still spoke. Whether that meant she was incapable of speaking or simply had nothing left to say, only time would tell.
The village was small, containing only a cobbler’s shop, an inn and tavern, and a few cottages scattered about the hillsides. The rig stopped, and Gabe wasted no time in getting down, then assisting Lilith. They approached the small thatched-roof cottage; it was a cheery place with brightly colored flowers everywhere.
They walked up the dirt path to the front door, and he tapped his knuckles on the door. Several minutes passed after his knock, and Gabe raised his hand to rap on the door again when they heard shuffling from inside. Lilith nodded and soon the door opened.
The woman who stood on the other side was indeed old, but she didn’t appear as if she were on death’s door. A pipe hung from her lips, and she held a large gray tomcat under one of her arms. Her messy white eyebrows rose, but her eyes were kind and alert.
“Mrs. McCord?” Lilith asked.
When the woman said nothing, Gabe held out his hand and scratched beneath the cat’s chin. Loud purring erupted from the creature’s throat. “I am the Duke of Lynford. We have a few questions and hope you can spare some time to assist us.” His voice, not unlike the cat’s purring, had a rhythmic calming effect.
The old woman grinned and gave them entrance. A puff of smoke shuddered out of it as she led them through a darkened foyer and into what passed as the woman’s sitting room. She plopped herself into an old upholstered chair and set the cat on her lap. He stood and turned a circle, then lowered himself into a furry ball with a contented meow.
Mary held up her teacup with a questioning glance.
“No, thank you, we don’t require refreshments,” Lilith said. It would seem that the villagers had been correct in saying that Mary no longer spoke. It would make getting information from her all the more difficult. Lilith sat on the edge of the sofa, certain that when she rose, her bottom would be covered in cat hair. Gabe sat beside her. “I’m Lilith Crisp, Lord Thornton’s wife. I believe you knew our niece, Isabel.”
Mary’s eyes widened, the wrinkles around them diminished, and then she shook her head. The big gray tom flicked his ears and jumped off Mary’s lap.
“Are you certain? Because I know that Isabel lived with a woman by your name before she came to be under Thornton’s care.” Lilith asked.
Again Mary shook her head, then she pinched tobacco out of the small wooden pot and poked it into the pipe. Every jerky movement she made radiated with fear—a fear Lilith was all too familiar with.
She leaned forward and placed her hand on the woman’s knee. “I understand. He was a mean, cruel bastard,” Lilith said plainly.
Mary met her gaze, her wrinkled face full of surprise, and then a grin settled in. “That he was. Dead, is he?” The hoarse quality of her voice spoke to many years with that pipe.
“You can speak,” Gabe said.
“I can. I often find I have nothing to say.�
� She took a puff on her pipe. “Besides, most of the time people don’t listen.”
Gabe grinned at her, and Lilith fought to ignore the flip her heart made at the sight of his smile. “I have found that to be true as well,” he said.
Mary’s shoulders relaxed. She took a long draw on her pipe and exhaled. “Of course I remember sweet Isabel. She lived with me for a while before I took her to the school when she came of age. Pretty little thing.”
“She still is, though she is nearing her nineteenth year,” Lilith said. “What can you tell us about her from the time you had her? How did you come about caring for her?”
Mary set her pipe down and took a thoughtful sip of her tea. “I don’t know much. They wouldn’t tell me. Only that she was in danger and needed hiding, needed protection,” Mary said.
“Who is ‘they’?” Gabe asked.
“Lord Thornton and some other men.”
“Who is she?” Gabe asked. “She’s quite obviously not Thornton’s relation.”
“She is related to him, distantly. I’m not certain how, precisely.”
“Do you know who she truly is?” Lilith asked.
“I don’t know anything official, but I have my theories,” Mary said. “She has a very distinct birthmark on her hip. It is said to be the mark of the royal family of Saldania.”
“Where is that?” Lilith asked.
Gabe stood and wiped his hand down his face. “It is a small island nation off the coast of Monaco. Nearly twenty years ago the entire royal family was killed, but there have always been those who have speculated…”
“What?” Lilith asked, impatience gnawing at her.
Gabe turned to face her. “That someone got the baby princess out, rescued her,” he said. “But there’s never been any evidence of her surviving. The Saldanians would have been in line for the Crown of England, but without any survivors it hasn’t been a concern.”
Lilith’s world seemed to stop moving, as if everything had frozen into place. She stared at Gabe, willing him to say something else, but no words came. Finally she asked, “You believe Isabel to be this lost princess?”