Noble Scoundrel (Peril & Persuasion Book 1)

by Amy Sandas

  She wasn’t altogether surprised when she’d received his note cancelling their lesson scheduled for that day, though she was certainly annoyed he hadn’t bothered to provide a reason. She’d gone to her study instead to read through her father’s journals yet another time. The talk about Emsworth’s possible involvement and the missing journals had her mind whirling in all directions as she struggled to pinpoint how any of it pertained to her brother.

  As the clock struck the hour, she rose to her feet with a twist of unease in her stomach and smoothed her hands down the silk of her gown. It was just a party. Amongst a crowd of strangers.

  No problem.

  At the bottom of the stairs, she collected her cloak from Foster, who informed her the carriage had already been brought round from the mews and was waiting outside. She was just about to head out the door when she heard a familiar foot tread behind her. A rush of tingling sparks erupted in her belly as she turned to see Hale stalking purposefully down the stairs. He’d dressed in dark clothing and no cravat. His hair fell to his shoulders. When she took a brave glance at his face, it was to see a heavy scowl darkening his brow.

  “Don’t tell me you were thinking to leave without me.”

  She frowned as her brain struggled to catch up to the riotous reaction in her body. “And why wouldn’t I?”

  He came to a stop in front of her. Close enough she had to tip her chin to look into his face. His hard stare swept over her appearance from head to toe before coming back up to meet her gaze.

  Then—finally—he smiled and his voice dropped to a husky timbre. “You dress up rather nicely, dove.”

  Ignoring the way his voice made her melt, she pressed her lips together and lifted a brow. “You are not coming with me tonight.”

  Arriving without a chaperone was one thing. Arriving with a brutish bodyguard was quite another.

  “Oh, yes I am,” he replied as he took her hand and slid it into the bend of his elbow before guiding her down the front steps.

  “There is no cause for you to join me,” she argued, though she already suspected it was futile. “Your job is to protect Frederick. He is staying here; therefore, you must stay here.”

  Reaching the carriage, Hale held her hand firmly to assist her into the vehicle. “I have four well-trained men guarding this house and your brother tonight.”

  She settled into the seat and before she could even draw her skirts out of the way, his great form climbed in after her to take the seat across. “You, on the other hand, shall have me.”

  “I don’t need you,” she lied. “Frederick does.”

  There was a pause after her words as he stared intently at her through the darkened carriage. “I’m gonna protect you, duchess, whether you like it or not. But don’t worry, I’ll find a nice dark spot to keep myself away from the fancy guests and their delicate sensibilities.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as his intense eyes flickered. “But I will be there. In case you decide you do need me, after all.”

  Then he leaned back more comfortably in the seat and rapped sharply on the ceiling to signal the coachman to drive.

  As the carriage rolled along the lamplit streets, Katherine accepted Hale’s company with contrary emotions of worry and relief. Worry for her brother’s security while his bodyguard was with her. And relief to have him at her side. She hadn’t realized how nervous she was about tonight’s foray into London society until he’d managed to provide a bit of confidence by the simple nature of his presence.

  It was just a party. She’d make it through the next few hours and then she’d be on her way home again. With Hale across from her.

  And then what?

  Would he escort her up to her bedroom? Would he want to go inside? Heat swept through her at the thought. She forcefully switched direction of her thoughts.

  “I doubt I’ll be in any danger at a small gathering of the ton.”

  His visage darkened. “Have you considered the possibility that whoever’s after Freddie might try to use you to get to him? The foolish boy would give himself up in a second if he knew you were in peril.”

  “As I would for him,” she noted, though the thought of Frederick doing anything of the sort terrified her.

  His mouth tilted. “Like I said...foolish.”

  “Are you telling me you wouldn’t do the same?” she asked.

  His gaze found hers in the darkened carriage. “I’m not a skinny lad still learning how to throw a proper punch.”

  “No.” A smile softened her mouth as she openly appraised his muscled form. “You’re definitely not that.”

  He shifted in his seat and his voice lowered. “Don’t be looking at me like that, dove.”

  A pause.

  “How am I looking at you?”

  “Like you’re thinking of climbing into my lap to get a feel for just how big I am.”

  She hadn’t actually been thinking of that, but she sure as hell was now.

  “And that’s a bad idea?” she whispered.

  He growled. “If you don’t want to arrive at your party looking like a well-pleasured woman, it is.”

  The raw hum of his voice went straight through her with a tingling effect, arousing every nerve. She held his gaze as rising desire made her bold. “Perhaps we could...be discreet?”

  He gave a rough laugh. “I don’t do discreet, luv. The second I got my hands on you, I’d be tearing that gown from your body.”

  His words made her breathless.

  But then his tone shifted as he added, “Don’t ever mistake me for a gentleman, duchess. I’m a bounder from the East End and always will be.”

  “That may be true,” she replied earnestly. “But you’re also a great deal more.”

  He scoffed. “Right. I’m a man who likes to swing his fists and run stakes for illegal fights.”

  The self-deprecation in his tone had Katherine adding, “You’re also a man who inspires loyalty and confidence in a twelve-year-old boy who has good cause to trust no one. A man who walked away from the life he knew to take in two children who needed him. A man who loves and protects his young daughter in a way he was not.”

  There was a long pause.

  His voice was low and graveled when he finally spoke. “I’ve done a lot in my life that would make you shudder in horror.”

  “You’ve done what you needed to do.” She lowered her chin and smiled. “And I don’t frighten that easily.”

  He chuckled. “I’m starting to believe that.”

  She lifted her brows. “What more must I do to prove it?”

  “You don’t have to prove anything to me,” he answered in a gruff tone as his expression hardened.

  She wouldn’t allow herself to glance away. “I want to.”

  “Why?”

  Her heart was suddenly beating terribly fast. So fast, her breath became shallow. She’d just claimed to be fearless. Was she going to falter when it was most important? “I’d like to know what it feels like to be valued...by a man like you.”

  He didn’t reply right away, and in the silence that followed her confession, his manner changed. Hardened. It wasn’t exactly anger she saw flashing in his eyes, but it held a similar intensity. Then he tilted his head to a cocky angle as a smirk twisted his lips.

  “Valued?” he asked in a slightly mocking tone. “Don’t you mean fucked?”

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Katherine’s heart dropped. She would never have thought he’d throw her words from last night back at her—words she’d spoken in passion and vulnerability and need. As she stared at him—hurt and shock tightening her chest—she noted the tension in his body and the way he fisted his hands as though preparing to fight. “Is that what you think?” she asked quietly.

  “What else is there?”

  Stunned by his suddenly surly manner and dismissive tone, she couldn’t form an answer.

  Then the carriage rolled to a stop and a footman appeared almost immediately to open the door.


  Katherine hesitated. Staring at Hale, she opened her mouth to speak, though she had no idea what she intended to say. But then she didn’t get a chance to say anything as he spoke first.

  “Go to your party, duchess. Your fine friends are waiting.”

  He was right.

  She wasn’t sure what had caused him to become crude and mocking, but she knew him well enough now to see it for the deflection it was. Though she had every intention of finishing this conversation, the things she truly wished to say to him required more time—deserved more time—and a far more intimate setting.

  Turning away, she took the footman’s hand and stepped to the pavement in front of Lord Shelbourne’s well-lit and elegant townhouse. Though she thought she might have heard Hale murmur her name, she ignored it. She just had to get through this evening, then she could return to what was important.

  God! She hated parties. Or maybe it was just the idea of being surrounded by strangers that made her so ill at ease. Unfortunately, nearly everyone in London was a stranger, but she was determined to start changing that. For Frederick’s sake.

  With a straight spine and long strides, she walked toward the house, where another footman waited beside the open door.

  She was greeted in the entry by a properly stoic butler. After taking her cloak, he led her to the drawing room, where nearly two dozen people had already gathered. As her arrival was announced, Lord Shelbourne stepped forward with a charming smile to bow elegantly over her hand.

  “My dear Lady Katherine, how delightful to have you with us this evening.”

  Despite the strain she struggled to contain beneath a poised façade, Katherine smiled back. “Thank you so much for the invitation, my lord. It has been a long time since I’ve had an opportunity to enjoy a little social discourse.”

  The gentleman scanned over her shoulder with a look of concern. “Have you no escort, Lady Katherine?”

  She lifted a brow. “I hope that isn’t a problem.”

  “No worries, my dear. We are all friends here,” Shelbourne replied smoothly as he turned her toward his guests. “I shall introduce you around. Everyone is anxious to make your acquaintance.”

  Apparently, her drive through the park with Hale and the subsequent mention in the gossip pages had garnered more attention than she’d expected. After almost an hour, Katherine felt overwhelmed by the names and faces she’d need to remember, and she realized she was starting to run out of small talk.

  As though sensing her fatigue, Shelbourne leaned close to whisper gently, “Just a few more introductions, my dear, then you’ll be free to mingle as you wish.” He led her toward an older gentleman who awaited their approach with an open smile. “Lady Katherine, may I present a dear friend, Lord Emsworth. He has been especially anxious to meet you,” Shelbourne added with a smile.

  It was all Katherine could do not to tense and flinch at the name. Lord Emsworth proved to be a man of later years with silver hair and heavy brows who wore small round spectacles over eyes so dark they appeared black. As he gave a respectful bow, Katherine gathered her composure enough to offer a polite smile and nod. “A pleasure to meet you, my lord.”

  The words nearly stuck in her throat.

  “A delight, Lady Katherine,” Emsworth replied smoothly. His voice was measured and soft. Almost oddly soft. “Although I never met your father, we conversed a few times through the post. His death was a tragic loss of a great mind.”

  Alarm sparked hot along her nerves, but she forced herself to recall that they had no proof this man had any connection to their father’s death or the kidnappings. Only speculation. If he was behind it, she could not risk giving away their suspicion now.

  “Thank you, my lord,” she answered. “Have you great interest in herbalism?”

  His pale lips spread into a controlled smile. “My interests are directed more toward exploration, but a few of your father’s studies on rare flora made their way to my attention.”

  “Lord Emsworth has been a patron to a great many of our age’s recent discoveries,” Shelbourne offered.

  Katherine forced a smile. “How admirable.”

  Emsworth gave a shallow bow of his head in a gesture of humility that made Katherine’s stomach turn. When a footman appeared at her elbow with a tray of champagne, she accepted a glass gratefully.

  “It helps to be truly passionate about the work,” he replied. “I imagine you witnessed the same in your father’s dedication.”

  “Yes. Father was quite devoted.”

  “If you’ll excuse us, Lord Emsworth, I must introduce my young guest to the Lord and Lady Drennan.”

  “Of course. Enjoy your evening, Lady Katherine.”

  “And you, my lord,” she replied as Lord Shelbourne escorted her toward a nearby couple.

  Nearly twenty minutes later, her anxiety and awareness of Lord Emsworth’s presence had not eased. Though she stood talking with an effervescent trio of ladies near her age, she could not keep herself from throwing wary glances toward the man. Not that she expected him to do anything, even if he was their anonymous enemy. They were in the middle of a party, after all.

  Despite the fact that his behavior appeared utterly common, the frisson of alarm he’d inspired never left her. In fact, it continued to expand until she started to feel watched from every angle. As though she was a sheep surrounded by unseen wolves slowly closing in. Part of her acknowledged she might be overreacting, but another part of her—the quietly adamant voice in her head—insisted she was in danger.

  When Shelbourne announced that one of the guests—a young lady talented with the harpsichord—had offered to provide an impromptu performance in the conservatory, Katherine decided to take advantage of the people flowing out of the drawing room to leave the house altogether. Though she realized it would be rude to leave without saying good-bye to her host, her rising anxiety convinced her to forego the convention.

  Hanging back as the others went on ahead, she took the first opportunity to change direction and head toward the front door. Maybe later, she’d acknowledge that she’d allowed irrational fear to overcome good sense, but right now, all she could think of was getting outside to where Hale was waiting for her.

  The entry hall of the townhouse was blessedly empty. Unfortunately, not even the butler was about to fetch her cloak.

  “Lady Katherine. Where are you going?”

  She spun around at the sound of the deep voice and saw a middle-aged gentleman with ink-black hair and a heavy gaze stepping into the hall.

  Calming her breath, she smiled as she searched her memory for his name. “Lord Lowndes. You startled me.”

  The lord’s expression darkened with apparent concern as he continued toward her. “Do tell me you are not leaving us so soon.”

  Doing her best to disguise the anxiety buzzing through her, she replied, “I’m afraid I’m not feeling very well. If you would please extend my apologies to Lord Shelbourne—”

  “No need, my dear,” Shelbourne interrupted as he entered the hall behind Lowndes. “You may offer them to me yourself.”

  As he came to stand beside her, she offered a weak smile. “I apologize for leaving early, my lord. But I must be going.”

  Worry was evident in the older gentleman’s gaze as he slid a curious glance toward Lowndes. “My dear Lady Katherine. You do look quite unwell, indeed. I cannot, in good conscience, allow you to leave unescorted. I will take you home myself.”

  “That is unnecessary. It will only take a moment for my carriage to be brought round.”

  Lord Shelbourne smiled gently as he shifted his attention to Lord Lowndes. “I shall see to the lady. Please rejoin the party, my lord.”

  Lowndes gave a shallow bow, then turned and strode away. For a moment, Katherine considered calling him back, feeling suddenly uneasy.

  Shelbourne stepped toward her to take her elbow in his hand as he opened the front door to reveal a carriage painted all black already pulled up. “See, my carriage already await
s, my dear.”

  Panic flared as she glanced at the man beside her to see his grey eyes had gone frighteningly flat as his hand tightened around her arm. Panic turned to anger as she spoke in clipped tones. “I’d thank you to release me, my lord. This instant.”

  Shelbourne sighed and the look of gentle concern slid easily from his face to be replaced by a sharp expression of censure. “Are you frequently so demanding and contentious, Lady Katherine?”

  “Always,” she retorted, realizing she was seeing Shelbourne’s true nature for the first time. And he was a deceptive bastard.

  “Well, we haven’t the time for it. Get in the carriage.”

  “I will not,” she replied through clenched teeth.

  Shelbourne released another suffering sigh as he glanced over her head to his butler, who’d seemed to appear out of nowhere. Shelbourne gave a short nod and the servant’s fist shot out, connecting with Katherine’s temple. The explosion of pain caused her legs to give out and her vision to blur with stars. Pain and heavy confusion blocked her ability to resist as the butler lifted her in his arms and carried her swiftly down the front steps.

  While she struggled to regain her wits, a sound like that of an enraged lion’s roar cut through the quiet night, and Shelbourne’s voice held a note of unease for the first time. “Into the carriage. Now.”

  The butler tossed Katherine into the waiting vehicle. She immediately righted herself on the seat as Shelbourne climbed quickly in behind her. The door was barely shut before the vehicle took off at a frantic pace.

  Another shout of pure fury echoed through the air.

  “What the hell was that?” Shelbourne muttered.

  Katherine blinked away the shadowed haze from her vision to see him staring intently out the window.

  She knew what the sound had been. And she had no doubt Hale would not be far behind them. For a moment, she considered telling Shelbourne just so she could watch as his fear was justified. But there would be time for that later.