by Laura Landon
Lorna’s answer was to reach up and wrap her arms around his neck. Then, she pulled his head downward until their lips touched.
CHAPTER 7
Other than Hugh asking when she came down for breakfast if she was all right, they hadn’t spoken about last night since they’d settled in the carriage to return to London. In fact, they hadn’t spoken much at all.
When Hugh tried to broach the subject, she stopped his words before they could discuss the night before. She didn’t want words to erase the magical night she’d spent in his bed. In his arms.
What they’d shared had been beautiful. He’d been a patient and considerate lover, making her first experience as breathtaking as possible. She had no intention of remembering any of the discomfort, only how wonderful it had been to lie with the man she loved for this first—and only—time.
This would be her most cherished memory. A memory she would only relive in her heart until eternity.
Lorna looked out the carriage window at the snow covered countryside. It was easier than looking at the frown etched across his forehead. She knew his thoughts were serious. Knew their actions last night forced him to consider something he never thought he’d be required to do. Rules of Society dictated that he do the honorable thing and marry her. But she wouldn’t allow that to happen. Marriage wasn’t the reason she’d gone to his bed.
She ventured a glance at the somber expression on his face, then breathed in a deep sigh. Although she’d avoided this conversation since they’d started their journey several hours ago, the deep furrows on his forehead told her she couldn’t avoid it any longer. She needed to get this discussion over with.
“I want to thank you for letting me turn twenty-one before taking me back to London.”
Her words seemed to interrupt him from his weighty thoughts. “I didn’t see that I had a choice. Once you explained your cousin’s plan, I knew it would be impossible to keep you safe. Chillbrooke would have devised some way to force a marriage. Now, I am the one who has done that.”
A heavy weight plummeted to the pit of her stomach. “Don’t even consider that I expect you to marry me. You do not want to marry. And neither do I.”
“It doesn’t matter what either of us want.”
“Of course it does. I am old enough that I cannot be forced to marry. I choose to remain single.”
“Then you are in more danger from your cousin than you were before you reached your majority.”
“You don’t know that.”
He leaned forward and rested his forearms on his knees. “How long do you think your cousin will allow you to live before you meet with an unfortunate accident that will make him three hundred thousand pounds wealthier?”
Lorna’s breath caught in her throat. His next words caused her stomach to roil until she feared she might be ill.
“The only way to keep your inheritance out of your cousin’s hands is to place it in your husband’s. The only way for you to remain safe is for you to marry.”
She built up a brave front and faced him squarely. “Then I will find someone to marry me. Someone who can stand up to my cousin and not let him intimidate him.”
“That someone is me.”
She shook her head. “No. I won’t force you to marry me.”
“After what happened between us last night, I don’t see where either of us has a choice.”
“What happened last night didn’t have any drastic consequences. No one need ever know.”
His eyebrows shot upward. “And if you are with child?”
“I’m not.”
“How can you know?”
“Because my mother tried repeatedly and was unable to conceive. When she did, she was unable to carry a babe more than a month or two at the outside. She lost so many before she finally had me that she had completely lost hope.”
“And you think you are the same?”
“I will assume I am until proven otherwise.”
Hugh leaned back against the squabs. “You have the next two days to accustom yourself to the idea of marrying. That’s how long it will take us to reach London. Once we arrive, the choice is out of your hands.”
Before she could argue further, he rested his head in the corner of the carriage and closed his eyes.
Lorna stared at his handsome features, at the strong cut of his jaw, and the unrelenting arch of his brows. He was a formidable adversary. She’d known that from the start. But she was a fierce opponent as well. She had no intention of forcing him to marry her. People would assume he married her for her money. Because a man as handsome as Hugh Baxter would never willingly choose anyone as plain as Lorna Willis.
. . .
The carriage stopped in front of Mack Wallace’s house on Bedford Street and Hugh dismounted. Although he’d always cherish the time he and Lorna had been alone, he was glad to be in London. Glad because he needed help protecting her, and there weren’t any better bodyguards than his fellow Bedford Street investigators.
He turned to help Lorna from the carriage.
“Where are we?” she asked, looking out her window at the unfamiliar area.
“The Bedford Street Brigade headquarters. Mack and Cora Wallace live here.” Hugh held out his arm and Lorna took it. They’d only taken a few steps before she asked her next question.
“Why are we here?”
“You’re going to stay here until I get this straightened out.”
She stopped just inside the gated yard. “I’d rather—”
Hugh didn’t give her a chance to complete her sentence, but put his hand beneath her elbow and ushered her to the front door. Mack opened the door before Hugh could lift the knocker.
“Welcome back.” Mack stepped back to let them in. He closed the door behind them.
“It’s good to be here.” Hugh placed his arm around Lorna’s waist. “Mack this is Lady Lorna Willis, the late Earl of Chillbrooke’s daughter. Lorna, this is Mack Wallace.”
“It’s a pleasure, Lady Lorna.”
“Mine as well. Hugh spoke of you often.”
“Only in complimentary terms, I hope.”
Lorna smiled. “Of course.”
“Is Cora in?” Hugh asked.
“She’s in the kitchen with Roarke. I think he’s trying to talk her into allowing him to sample the pie she made for dessert.”
“That sounds like him.”
“I’ll get them. She’ll be glad that you’re back. Why don’t you take Lady Lorna into the morning room and I’ll tell Roarke and Cora you’re here.”
Hugh nodded, then escorted Lorna to the morning room. It felt as if he’d been gone for years, but the minute he stepped into the familiar surroundings, he felt as if he’d never left.
“Are you sure Mrs. Wallace won’t mind if I stay?”
“I’ll let you be the judge of that. If you think you’re not welcome, I’ll take you someplace else.”
That seemed to pacify her, but Hugh knew he didn’t have to worry. Cora would never turn her away.
Cora’s welcome was obvious when she entered the room.
“Hugh,” Cora said, walking across the room with extended arms in welcome. “I was beginning to worry about you.”
She reached Hugh and gave him a tight squeeze. As tight as her protruding stomach would allow.
“And what company have you brought for me?”
“Cora, this is Lady Lorna Willis. She needs a place to stay for a few days if you don’t mind.”
“Mind? I’d love to have another female to talk to.” She reached out and took Lorna’s hands in hers. “Welcome, Lady Lorna. I’m happy to meet you.”
“Likewise, Mrs. Wallace.”
“Cora. You must call me Cora.”
“And please, call me Lorna.”
“And this rascal,” she said turning as Roarke entered the room, “is Roarke Livingston. He’s one of Mack’s investigators.”
“How do you do, Lady Lorna,” he said, offering Lorna a smile and a bow.
&nbs
p; “Don’t be fooled by his charming good looks and innocent smile, Lorna,” Hugh said shaking his head in answer to Roarke’s roguish grin. “We have to warn all the ladies about his wicked ways.”
“Don’t believe a word of it,” Roarke answered. “Since I’m the youngest of the investigators, they expect me to be the most unruly. Instead, I’m the most sensible and well-disciplined of the lot.”
“Roarke has a point there,” Mack said. He helped Cora to a chair, then indicated that the rest of them sit. Before they were settled, Mrs. Ramesdale, Mack’s cook, entered with a tray of tea and biscuits. Mack poured and passed the biscuits, then sat back in his chair.
“Very well, Hugh, it’s time for you to tell us what this is all about.”
Hugh focused his gaze on Lorna, then turned back to Mack. “Lady Lorna and I need to marry as soon as possible.”
CHAPTER 8
Lorna woke up early the next morning and tiptoed down the stairs. She could smell baking, so she knew Mrs. Ramesdale was up, but she didn’t think anyone else was. She’d barely taken two steps toward the dining area when Roarke Livingston’s voice stopped her.
“You’re up mighty early,” he said, stepping into the foyer with a cup of coffee in his hand.
“It’s a bad habit of mine.”
“I wouldn’t say it’s bad.” He stepped to the side of the doorway and held out his arm to show her where to go.
She entered the dining area and noticed a small sideboard laden with several dishes of breakfast items, and two decanters.
“Coffee or tea?” he asked.
“Tea, please.” Lorna walked to the table and took a chair. “My father thought all industrious men rose early,” she said when she was seated. “I thought the same applied to women.”
“Ah,” he sighed in understanding.
He walked to the sideboard and poured her a cup of tea, then filled a plate with breakfast items, even though she hadn’t indicated what she wanted.
“Hugh said you were remarkably intelligent.” He placed the items in front of her.
Lorna paused. “Did he?”
“Yes. As well as possessing several other admirable traits.”
“And are you going to share what other traits he said I possess?”
Roarke shook his head. “I think I’ll let him tell you those. Perhaps he can pen them in a love poem.”
Lorna stopped with her cup midway to her mouth. “There will be no love poems, Mr. Livingston.”
“Roarke, please. Call me Roarke.”
“Yes,…Roarke. As I said, there will be no love poems, because the party writing the poem must consider himself in love in order for his verses to be called love poems.”
“And you don’t think Hugh is in love with you?”
“I not only think he is not in love with me, I know it.” Lorna picked up her fork and stabbed into a piece of ham. “I wish he hadn’t told everyone that we were going to marry.”
“Because you don’t think you are?”
“Of course not. I’m sure he explained my situation. He thinks marriage is the only recourse.”
“And you think there is another?”
“I’m not sure if there is or not. I only know I won’t let your friend sacrifice his future because of a misplaced sense of honor.”
“Whose honor is misplaced?” Hugh said from the doorway.
“Yours, my friend,” Roarke said on a chuckle. “The lady believes that your sense of honor is misplaced, but I was just about to explain that since you are in short supply of honor, it’s impossible for you to misplace it.”
“What have you misplaced, Roarke?” Cora asked as she and Mack entered the breakfast room.
“Nothing, Cora. I was just—”
“Are you finished eating?” Hugh interrupted Roarke before he could finish his sentence.
“Yes.”
“Good, then why don’t you go outside and make yourself useful? We should have guests in a few minutes.”
The smiled faded from Roarke’s face and he slid his chair back from the table. “You were followed?”
“There are two of them. They were outside my house when I woke. They followed me here.”
Roarke left the room and Cora and Mack went to the sideboard to fill their plates.
Lorna fought the waves of panic that washed over her, but no matter how many times she told herself she was safe, she didn’t feel like it. Until Hugh sat beside her and placed his hand over hers.
“Do you think it’s my cousin?” she asked.
Hugh nodded. “Probably. He’s no doubt had someone watching my house to inform him when I returned.”
“Don’t worry, Lorna,” Cora said when she sat at the table. “The brigadesmen are very good at their jobs. They’ll handle your cousin.”
Lorna tried to put on a brave front but it was difficult.
“Finish your breakfast before it gets cold,” Hugh said, eating the food on his plate.
Lorna tried to eat, but all she could think about was how angry her cousin would be when he arrived. She could do little more than shove the food around on her plate. Finally, Hugh finished eating, then sat back in his chair and took her hand in his.
“Be brave,” he said, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze. “You’re safe here.”
Before she could thank him for his thoughtfulness, the front door opened and booted footsteps thundered across the foyer and into the breakfast room.
Roarke entered first. “You have a guest, Lady Lorna. It’s your—”
“She knows damn good and well who I am.”
Lorna looked at her cousin as he stepped into the room. The anger in his eyes blazed with a fury as intense as she’d ever seen from him. His hands fisted at his sides indicated a rage he struggled to control.
She turned toward Hugh, but he was already on his feet, as was Mack.
Chillbrooke took a menacing step toward her. “So, you’ve finally returned. And after your twenty-first birthday.”
Lorna lifted her chin. “Yes, I’ve returned. And as you pointed out, after I reached my majority.”
“Do you think that you have outfoxed me?”
“I think that I have avoided marriage to Lord Burlingdon. Do you think I don’t know about your scheme to share my inheritance with Burlingdon?”
Lorna enjoyed seeing the look of surprise on her cousin’s face. “Yes, Randolph. I know about how you planned to get my inheritance, with Lord Burlingdon’s help, and how you planned my death to assure Burlingdon that he’ll be free to marry the woman he loves. With my wealth, of course.”
“You’re…delusional, Lorna. You’re overwrought with…with—”
“With what, cousin? With concern over escaping your plan to murder me?”
“Mind your tongue, my lady,” her cousin said. “Words like those only confirm that you are demented. I was the one who was so concerned with your safety that I sent Mr. Baxter to find you.”
“Only so I would be returned to you before I turned twenty-one.”
Chillbrooke lifted his gaze to Hugh. “I see she fooled you, too,” he said.
“No, it was the other way around. Only a fool could miss how determined she was to escape you. And how terrified she was of you.”
“It’s the money, isn’t it, Baxter. You discovered how much my cousin was worth and you want it. Or is it the fact that she’s titled and you want to elevate your standing by marrying into Society?”
“I think you’ve said enough,” Hugh said in a threatening tone Lorna had only heard him use once before—the time when he’d found her after she’d run away from him.
Chillbrook barked a hostile laugh. “You intend to marry her, don’t you? Three hundred thousand pounds is worth marrying a woman as unattractive as my cousin.”
Hugh bolted across the room with such force the chair nearest him crashed to the floor. He reached Chillbrook in two angry strides and grabbed him by his neatly-tied cravat, then slammed him against the nearest wall.
&nbs
p; “Yes, I want her. And I intend to marry her. But I have asked her to be my wife because I love her. Do you hear me? I love her! An emotion you are incapable of feeling.”
Hugh slammed Chillbrooke against the wall again, then Roarke stepped in to intervene. “That’s enough, friend.”
Hugh released Chillbrooke, and the man dropped to the floor. He staggered before he found his footing.
“Get him out of here before I do something I’ll regret.”
. . .
It had been two days since the scene with her cousin, and Lorna took a certain amount of comfort in the hope that she’d never see him again. She also spent endless hours contemplating what she had to do to not only keep her inheritance safe, but to protect herself from her cousin’s plan to kill her.
There was only one answer.
It was the answer that Hugh had repeated again yesterday and the day before. An answer that was precisely what she desired, too. That was to marry. He was the only person on the face of the earth that she trusted enough with her wealth, and her heart.
She simply couldn’t believe that a man as enthralling as Hugh Baxter could fall in love with someone as plain as she. But he had.
A bubble of happiness expanded inside her chest and she smiled to herself.
That bubble burst when Mack opened the door and announced that her cousin was here to see her.
“Lord Chillbrooke is here. He insists on seeing you alone, but I won’t allow it if you don’t want to see him.”
Lorna dreaded meeting with him, but knew he’d only return if she turned him away. “It’s all right. I’ll see him for a few minutes.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Very good, but I’ll be right outside the door if you need me.”
“Thank you.”
Lorna breathed in a deep breath, then watched as her cousin’s menacing form darkened the doorway.
“Thank you for seeing me, Lorna,” he said, in a tone much more conciliatory than his words had been two days ago. He stepped into the room, then closed the door behind him.
“I prefer the door stay open,” she said.
Her cousin’s eyes narrowed. “I prefer what we say remains private between us.”