“Thank you,” Belle replied stiffly, “though how you even knew we were friends, I daren’t guess.”
Rafe flashed a smile that most females found to be devastatingly charming. It set Michael’s teeth on edge, but the fact Belle appeared completely immune to it somewhat mollified him. “I investigate things, Miss Winslow, people and events,” Rafe said, “and I’m very good at what I do.”
There was a moment of silence where Belle glanced between both men as if weighing something. “Excuse me, gentlemen,” she said abruptly. “I must pack. Duncan needs me and I can’t stay here any longer.”
“No!” Both men exclaimed at once.
“Gillian’s recovering, Belle, and he wants you to stay here where we can protect you,” Rafe added. “He plans to join us here as soon as he’s able.” Michael wasn’t certain whether it was his use of her name, or Rafe’s mention of protecting her that earned him such a glare.
“That’s out of the question,” she said imperiously. “I can’t remain here.” She turned in the direction of the servants entrance, but only managed to take one step before Michael seized her by the arm.
“You’re not leaving, Belle,” he commanded. “That’s precisely what Seaton wants you to do. You’ll be ripe for the picking if you go off to London.” He’d half expected her to turn on him like an angry cat, but instead she looked up at him with wounded eyes. “Let us protect you, Sweetheart. I’ll never let him hurt you again, I promise you.”
“Don’t you see? That is exactly why I have to go,” she said, her voice filled with resolve. “I can’t let him come here where you, Drew, or your people would be made to suffer because of me. You’re right. I can’t go to London. Duncan must stay away from me as well, but I still have to leave.” Michael shook his head. On this he would remain intractable, lock her up if need be. She saw the intention in his face and swung her gaze between the two men. “And what of Jules, Mari and their children? Will you put them at risk as well?”
“I stopped to see them on my way here from the train station,” Rafe said. “Jules and I have taken precautions. He’s put his people on alert and I brought some reinforcements with me from London.” At her look of uncertainty and explained. “Protecting people is part of my job too, Belle.”
“I don’t want your protection,” she hissed. “I don’t even wish to speak with you.”
Rafe shrugged, unaffected by her words. “Understandable. However, I think you should know that you have at best, a quarter hour before Mari descends on us in all her righteous fury.” He turned to Michael. “I’ve told her about Ambrose and his plots — at least what I know of them. You and I arepersonae non grataeand I’m afraid that Jules’ standing isn’t much better.”
Belle made a sound of disgust. Anything she would have added to it was halted by the sound of the Strathmore coach and several outriders rumbling up the drive at a rather fast clip. “If this keeps up,” she muttered, “we’ll spend all bloody morning going back and forth between here and the drive.”
“At least it will keep you occupied,” Michael said releasing her arm as they watched the duchess’ approach.
Rafe snorted. “Mari’s likely to wear us all out in her mood.” He spoke to Belle. “Have you ever seen her really in a temper?”
“Once,” Belle answered mildly. “She pulled out a handful of my hair.” Both men winced and she shrugged. “I had it coming.”
The coach had barely reached a stop when the door slammed open. Footmen scrambled to lower the steps as the duchess practically leapt to the ground. Jules followed behind her shaking his head as she charged across gravel.
“I know three men who’ll be sleeping in the stable come nightfall,” Belle said with no small amount of glee.
“She’s none to happy with you either at the moment,” Rafe returned darkly. “Behold, the avenging valkyrie.”
Mari swung an accusing finger between Michael and Rafe, her face reddened with anger. “How dare either one of you act in my name without consulting me!” Wisely, neither man said anything. What excuse could either of them offer? Mari and Drew, had both been outraged by their actions and rightly so. Not only had he acted against Belle, but he’d also turned a blind eye to the fates Ambrose chose for Lady Katherine and the former Miss Melbourne. In that moment he promised himself he would ensure Lady Katherine’s safety and that should the Contessa di Fattore, the former Miss Melbourne, ever need assistance he would give it to her without hesitation.
“I never asked you to do any of this! Do you think me so shallow and without feeling that I would delight in the sufferings of others?” Rafe opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again. “And you,” she said, rounding on Belle, “why didn’t you say something to me, Belle? Are we not friends now?” Tears glistened in Mari’s eyes, “Please, tell me you didn’t think I asked them to ruin your engagement.”
“I’ve never thought that, Mari and we are most assuredly friends,” Belle, said firmly. “Don’t blame Jules. He had nothing to do with any of it, save for trying to spare you distress. That worked well, didn’t it? Never mind. He’s just a man, after all and they don’t often think clearly.” She managed to look down her nose at the three men, though they all exceeded her height by a good six inches. “As for Michael and Rafe, well, they were complete swines at the time, but that shouldn’t surprise you.” Belle tucked Mari’s arm under her own and gave it a comforting pat as she led her friend towards the house. “Let’s go have some tea and I’ll tell you everything. Afterwards we’ll find Drew and then you can help me pack.”
“You’re not leaving!” Michael shouted at her retreating back.
“Oh, yes I am!” she called over her shoulder as she continued on her way.
“Perhaps I should get a set of irons,” Rafe remarked as they stood watching the retreating women.
“It wouldn’t do any good,” Michael growled. “She’d just pick the lock...with her teeth if necessary.” Rafe roared with laughter and a feeling of pride swelled through Michael. She was stubborn, dogmatic and a thousand other descriptive phrases that could be used for a determined and courageous woman. He hoped one day to be worthy of her. “There’s a reason they call her ‘Hell’s Belle,’ you know,” he said softly.
Chapter Twenty-six
“Where is Gussie with my laundry?” Belle asked for the third time that afternoon. She’d returned from the stillroom having packed her tinctures and medicinal herbs only to learn that Gussie, under Mrs. Babcock’s direction, had gathered up all of Belle’s linens for washing.
“Good starching takes time,” Mari said lightly from her seat by Belle’s window. “You wouldn’t want them rushing and putting scorch marks on your drawers.”
“I don’t need starch in my drawers,” Belle ground out.
Mari trilled out a laugh, “No, you certainly don’t.”
Belle narrowed her eyes at her friend. “I suspect the earl’s fine hand in this, but it won’t do him any good. If I have to leave my petticoats behind I’ll do it. I am not staying here and endangering this household.” She snatched open the door to the wardrobe. “Where the hell is my valise?”
Mari ignored her cursing and stood up watching Belle soberly. “I understand how you feel, but surely you realize that if you leave Michael and Rafe will go with you. Neither one of them would ever let you face Seaton alone, especially not after....” Mari looked at the floor.
“He almost killed me,” Belle finished for her. She sat on the bed, the chilling reality of her situation draining the fight from her. “I’m frightened, Mari,” she whispered. “I couldn’t protect my mother from him. What if he hurts someone else I care about? I couldn’t bear it. When you’re a child you believe there are monsters hiding under your bed, then the adults tell you that there are no monsters. No one teaches you what to do when the monster is real – when he never goes away, not even in the daylight. For all my brave talk about justice for my mother, I don’t know if I have the courage to face Seaton again.”
&nbs
p; Mari sat beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “He’s already hurt people you care about, Belle. Dr. Gillian’s injuries were unfortunate, but you being in London wouldn’t have prevented them, nor would it have prevented the attack on Michael. In all likelihood more people would have suffered.” Belle considered Mari’s words. They had merit. Nettie, Mrs. Tav, or Molly. Any one of them could have been hurt, or killed by Seaton. She would stay away from London, but she couldn’t remain at the Abbey. Mari sighed. “I can see the wheels turning in your head and let me remind you that Michael will never let you go haring off just to protect us all. Neither will Rafe. My brother wishes to make amends to you. Let him help you. When Sarah’s scandal broke I’d feared Rafe was behind it and when the names in the betting books came to light I had my answer. I didn’t speak to him for more than a year. Now to learn of what he did to you.” Mari shook her head as she dropped her arm from Belle’s shoulders.
“It’s not my forgiveness he needs,” Belle said, “it’s Sarah’s. In either case, you shouldn’t feel responsible for his actions. Rafe is a grown man – in theory.”
Mari looked as if she’d like to say more on the subject of Sarah, but she didn’t. Instead, she took hold of Belle’s hand. “You’ve forgiven Michael, haven’t you?” Belle nodded not trusting herself to speak dispassionately about the man. Mari looked at her shrewdly and Belle knew with a sinking sensation that she wasn’t fooling the woman. “Ah, so that’s the way it is between the two of you,” she said with a smile. “He loves you and you love him.” Belle felt her cheeks turn to flame as Mari chuckled. “This is good news, you dunce. Now there’s no earthly reason for you to take on Seaton alone.
Belle sprang up from the bed and began pacing around the narrow confines of her room. “There’s every reason. I’ve caused this family enough pain. I’ll not add to it by bringing my troubles to their door.” She stopped walking and turned to face her friend, her expression both desperate and pleading. “Mari, I don’t even know what love means. I doubt I ever really did. As a debutante it meant finding a young man of character and breeding, one who doted on me. I saw love through the eyes of a romantic schoolgirl. I waited like a naive child to be rescued, prayed to be rescued and the entire time I never understood that in the end the only person we can depend upon to rescue us is ourselves.”
“And admitting you love Michael will somehow make you weaker? That’s not how it works, Belle. When the right two people fall in love they join as one. Their union makes them strong enough to weather the coldest storms life can throw at them.” Mari rose from her seat and took hold of Belle by her shoulders. “You reminded me of that when you spoke to me about Rose. I was not stronger for shutting Jules and the boys out of my life. I’d forgotten that I didn’t have to face my pain and my fears alone until you showed me the way back to my family.”
Someone knocked on Belle’s door – someone timid and unsure of their welcome. Belle opened the door to find one of the parlor maids nervously twisting her hands in her apron. She bobbed a curtesy at Mari and then one at Belle. “If you please, Your Grace, his lordship requests that you and Miss Winslow join him and His Grace, along with Mr. Kingsford and Mr. Andrew in the Rose Salon.”
“Tell his lordship we’ll be along presently,” Mari answered. The maid bobbed again and hurried away. “Come, Belle. I’m certain they’ve spent the all day hatching a plot, bless their hearts. The least we can do is hear them out.”
Belle noted the tension in the air soon as soon as she entered the room. The men rose to greet them, Drew struggling to his feet proudly as he used the canes for support and with minimal assistance from Paddy. Belle beamed with pride and he gave her a sheepish grin in return. Mari glared at her brother as she sailed by him, pointedly ignoring his chuckle as she chose a seat on the settee where her husband stood patiently waiting for her. She sniffed her displeasure at him as well as she sat down. Rafe tipped his fingers in Belle’s direction in a mock salute while Michael regarded her with immovable stubbornness. She ignored both men and claimed a chair by the window at a slight distance from them all. Michael muttered something that sounded suspiciously like, ‘Damed stubborn female.’
“We’ve taken measures to secure the house and grounds both here and at Strathmore,” Michael stated firmly.
“Then it is vital that I leave,” Belle said firmly. “I won’t bring harm to your doorstep, my lord.”
Michael shook his head. “You haven’t brought harm here. He’d still come whether you are here or not. He wants revenge on Rafe and me, as well as on Drew. Apparently, someone broke into Branfel’s house in London. Luckily, the family had left town for their estate in Scotland.”
“They fished Elkhorn out of the Thames last week,” Rafe added. “Beaten, throat slit, ears cut off.” The duchess gasped earning Rafe a glare from her husband. The other man ignored it. “I’m not going to dress this up prettily,” he said. “Belle wouldn’t believe it for one, and for another, no one should mistake how dangerous his man is. I received information from abroad just before leaving London. Seaton, or rather his alias, Geoffrey Kenton, has left a string of victims from Italy to France. Mostly women.”
“Italy.” One word, with a wealth of meaning. Belle stared at him, stricken, a question she dare not ask in front of everyone frozen behind her lips.
Rafe noted it. “She’s safe,” he said quietly, but his eyes held hers long enough to convey a silent message,Yes, I know. Belle’s heart hammered in her chest. How much did he know and what would he do with his knowledge?
“I’ve put Mr. Ferris on alert at the inn,” Michael said to Belle. “He’ll watch for strangers in the village and notify us at once. I’ve also dispatched two men to watch the train station in Fairly as well. Until Seaton is apprehended, no one from this estate goes anywhere alone.”
Belle looked around the salon at the people who trained their determined gazes on her. She sighed.”You must surely understand why I can’t remain here. I won’t go to London, but I can go to Scotland to a place remote enough that Seaton will be hard pressed to find me.”
“No,” Michael said, all cold authority. Belle glared at him.
“Scotland could work,” Rafe mused, completely ignoring Michael’s furious look. “I have a cottage in the Hebrides. It’s always damp and cold and stormy more often than not, but it should work. It will be cramped for space with two of us, but...we should be able to manage,” he finished suggestively. Belle jumped up from her seat as Mari sputtered with indignation on her friend’s behalf. Jules stayed his wife’s protests by a gentle touch on her arm. Belle glanced at Drew. He and Paddy both tried to hide smiles. Only Michael stood there glaring at Rafe. Belle made a sound of disgust.
“Nicely done,” she said. “All of you know I wouldn’t accompany this man willingly to the nearest hog pen, let alone the Hebrides.”
“I’m wounded,” Rafe said drily.
“Don’t tempt me,” Belle shot back.
Rafe laughed and stood up. “Now this rebellion has been laid to rest, I’m off to consult with my men. Ladies.” He bowed slightly, winked at Belle and left the room.
“You were right,” Drew said, handing Paddy something that looked suspiciously like a folded five-pound-note. “I was sure she’d grab the poker and cosh him on the head.” The Irishman silently pocketed the money.
Belle studied the people around her and allowed herself a few brief moments to bask in the glorious feeling of belonging. Months ago she’d arrived at a hostile household and squared off against Michael, Jules and Mari, three people who had every reason to despise her. Belle folded her arms across her chest, her favored protective stance. Her hands hugged onto her upper arms for all they were worth lest she burst into tears of gratitude for the concern and affection she saw in the faces around her. She had her friends, true, but for the most part, hers was a solitary existence. It was better that way, because sooner or later something happened to drive home the point that she was no longer fish, nor fowl and that
outside of a sick room, there was no place she truly belonged.
Michael crossed to her side, his manner still guarded as though he anticipated more trouble. Good. She liked intelligent men. “You think you’re terribly clever, don’t you?” she demanded.
“In what way?” he asked smoothly.
Belle leaned closer and dropped her voice to avoid being overheard. “By stealing my undergarments, you cad.”
“Actually, that was Mrs. Babcock’s idea. I merely approved it. Mari had the dangerous task of keeping you occupied until they’d gotten everything out of your room.”
She felt tears start at the back of her eyes and blinked rapidly to clear them away. “I don’t stand a chance against all of you, so I’ll stay, but I hate the thought of endangering any of you.”
Michael shook his head and clenched his fist in an attempt to hide the fact he’d been about to reach out and stroke her cheek. Although no one could overhear their conversation, they were certainly visible to everyone. Belle risked a furtive glance at Mari and Jules and to her chagrin they both smiled at her in a knowing fashion.
“You heard Rafe,” Michael said. “Seaton wants revenge on all of us. We’re safer the closer we remain to one another. Besides, I’ll not risk him getting his hands on you again. I have my heirs to consider.” His tender words filled her heart and for a moment she almost relented and spoke the words he wanted to hear. As if he sensed a softness in her he whispered, “What day is it?”
Belle took a steadying breath and replied saucily, “Still Tuesday, my lord. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d best go find my knickers. I doubt you’d want me catching cold.”
“No chance of that,ma Belle,” he murmured. “If I have my way tonight you’ll be anything but cold.” Belle felt heat rush into her face as well as into more southern areas of her anatomy. She bobbed a quick curtsey towards Mari and Jules and hurried from the room, Michael’s chuckle following her.
A Terrible Beauty (Season of the Furies Book 1) Page 38