by Ari Thatcher
Ewan grabbed her hand. “We appreciate all you’re doing for us. And your discretion. You have every right not to trust us. You should send Oscar out here with food rather than deliver it yourself, for your safety.”
Jerking her hand free, she stood straight. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
He took her by the wrist and pulled her closer. Pulled her onto his lap. She didn’t fight him. Didn’t want to fight him. Her insides were quivering and hot and needy. Needing something, but she wasn’t certain what.
When she was nose to nose with him, breathing quickly and unable to move, he winked. “You can never tell which man you might need to protect yourself from.”
Agnes jumped from his lap and rushed out of the folly.
Chapter Four
Ewan regained his strength more quickly than his brother. Tavish still had headaches and dizzy spells, but the shot had only grazed his scalp so he would recover fully.
Pacing the small room, Ewan discussed their plans. “I’ll tell Lennox what happened and where we are. He’ll have someone watch our home, since Walters is likely living there still. It would be too obvious if he were to disappear at the same time we did.”
“Unless he wished ta appear the victim, himself.” Tavish lay on his side on the mattress, his head resting on his arm.
“That’s unlikely. Walters would never want ta appear weak. No, I believe he’s carrying on as usual, spendin’ even more money than before.”
Ten years ago, Ewan’s father had married a pretty young miss half his age. She was pleasant enough and didn’t try to replace their mother. She offered love and affection to him, his brother and his sister. Even after Jamie was born, she showed no favoritism.
Seven years later, their father died quite suddenly of apoplexy. That was when everything changed. Not only did Ewan take over the duties as Earl of Ravenscliffe, but shortly thereafter, Ben Walters arrived. He was everything his sister was not.
The man was a glutton in all things, and used Ewan’s money to enjoy the excesses.
“Cecily must be heartbroken,” Tavish said, pulling Ewan back from his thoughts.
“Your wife will be distraught, but we can’t let her know where we are. It would put her in danger.”
“Other than knowing our whereabouts, what danger would she be in? She’s nothing to Walters.”
Ewan scratched the whiskers he’d been unable to shave. “Jamie would still inherit, but Cecily would be in Walters’ way until our bodies were found.”
“Which they aren’t going to be. We need ta finish this quickly, ta end her suffering.”
“Agreed. I’ve sent word to Lennox. We can set our plans in motion after speaking to him.”
Unable to remain in the room any longer, Ewan peered out from behind a curtain to be sure no one was close by. Feeling safe, he jogged the short distance that brought him to the shelter of the woods.
His shoulder hurt less with the exercise than it had the day before. For that he was grateful. He needed to stop Walters before he could completely drain the estate funds into his own accounts.
The fresh air should have cleared Ewan’s head, but his thoughts continued to race with what wasn’t being done while he was there at the folly.
Then he saw a site that calmed him instantly. Agnes walked alone farther down the path, lost so deeply in the book in her hands that she hadn’t noticed him. He waited until she was close to speak.
“I begin to wonder if it’s puir chance that keeps bringin’ us together on this path.”
Her gaze came up with a start. She smiled. “Might it have to do with the fact it leads to each of our homes? I assume you live nearby or you wouldn’t worry that someone would recognize you.”
He clenched his fist to his heart. “And here I thought it was fate.”
“You are different out here than in the folly.”
Winking, he said, “This is our own little world. The folly is your grandmother’s world. What would she think if she knew you were meeting a strange man in the woods?”
Her eyes grew round. “We aren’t meeting. My intent when I left the house was not to find you. Grandmama has nothing to fear on my part.”
Slowly, deliberately he inched closer. “She’d not be worried about your intentions. Mine, on the other hand…aren’t ye worried a wee bit?”
One of her feet shifted backward. “N-no. Should I be?”
“That depends.”
“On…on what?”
Plucking at one of the curls framing her face, he spoke seductively. “On whether or not you approve of this.” He brought his lips to her cheek, pressing the gentlest of kisses on her soft skin.
Her mouth opened slightly when she inhaled.
“Or this.” Kissing a trail across her face, he found her lips, still parted. There he turned up the heat. She tasted sweet and innocent. He held her just below her ripe breasts sliding his thumbs up the curves. Her hesitant response made him wonder if she’d been kissed before.
Made him realize what he was doing.
Forcing himself to step back, he turned his head away. “Forgive me. I do na have the right to kiss you like that.”
“I—I should have stopped you.”
“Ye shouldn’t have had to. You needn’t worry, though. It won’t happen again.” Ewan turned on his heels and stormed back to the folly. He must learn to control himself before he landed in an unforgiveable situation.
Lennox arrived not long afterward when Ewan was safely back in the folly. He clasped Ewan’s hand and patted him on the shoulder. “I’m relieved to see you still live.”
Ewan flinched. “That’s the shoulder where I was shot.” He’d been given clean clothes so there was no visible hint of his injury.
“Sorry about that. Well then…” Lennox nodded at Tavish in greeting and steepled his hands in thought. “I agree with your assumption that Walters is behind this. You have no other enemies, am I correct?”
“That’s right Walters is the only one aside from Jamie who stands to gain anything if Tavish and I die. Given Jamie’s age, I’m certain he’s not involved.”
“Aye.” Tavish sat up slowly. “I’ve suspected for a long time Walters wants the earldom fer himself. Jamie’s such a sweet child he’d be easily molded into a puppet under his uncle’s control. What’s the plan, then? We have no proof, only suspicions.”
Lennox nodded. “I propose we let it be known you are alive. That will force Walters to act again. This time we’ll be watching him.”
“I don’t like the idea of being a target,” Tavish said. “I have my wife to consider. What if Walters succeeds this time? Once I return to Ravenscliffe, I plan to take my wife to London. Walters might follow, but I can hire someone from Bow Street to watch for trouble.”
“Are you questioning the ability of me and my men to keep you safe?” Lennox looked like a curr with his hackles up.
Ewan didn’t wish to insult his friend, but he sided with Tavish on the situation. “This isn’t the first time Walters has attempted to kill us. I’m not even certain this is only the second. There are a few odd occurrences that might have been crude attempts at killing one or the other of us.”
“I still think having you reappear is the best plan.” Lennox held up one finger. “First, it lets your loved ones know you are safe. Second, it forces Walters out into the open. He’ll have to contact his men with another plan.”
“What if we found a pair of bodies and claimed they were us?” Tavish asked. “Pretend Walters succeeded? He’d contact his men to pay them, wouldn’t he?”
“Walters would likely be the one to identify the bodies. It would never succeed.” Ewan raked his fingers through his hair, longing for a good bath and a shave as soon as he returned home. He couldn’t stand being holed up in the small room for much longer. “I think you’re right, Lennox. We need to reappear. Once you have some men in place to watch Walters, we’ll go back to Ravenscliffe.”
***
Ag
nes stood outside a window listening to the men inside the folly. She wasn’t exactly eavesdropping. She’d merely stopped when she realized there was another man with them, to allow them their privacy.
The brothers were leaving. She hadn’t had the chance to get to know Ewan as much as she wanted to. How could she arrange to cross paths in the village? She didn’t know his full name, or if he was someone her grandmama might associate with.
All her excitement drained from her body. Her adventure was at an end. Her hopes of kissing him again, of him falling in love with her were gone.
She must speak to him alone. She couldn’t suggest anything scandalous, but if she knew what circles he ran in, she might arrange to attend the same assemblies. From his speech and the fine fabric and tailoring of his clothing, she knew he was a gentleman.
He must be a grand dancer. His long muscled limbs moved gracefully when he walked. He’d not be a dull partner either. What would Matilda say if she heard Ewan flirting with her? She would be undeniably jealous.
Agnes was making too much of a rake’s actions. There was nothing to make Matilda jealous. Nothing to encourage Agnes there was any affection between them. He’d merely kissed her twice.
The creaking of the door made Agnes jump. A stranger walked out the door. She adjusted her bonnet. “Hello. I was coming to see how the men fared.”
The slender man nodded. “They are well. We have you to thank for that, do we not? I’m Lennox.”
She chewed her lip. That was the magistrate’s name. He wasn’t leading the brothers out under restraint, but one of his men might be binding their hands inside. “I’m Lady Agnes Wentworth, Mrs. Thomson’s granddaughter. These men. Are they—are they dangerous? Are you here to arrest them?”
Lennox chuckled. “If Ravenscliffe hasn’t compromised you by now, you are safe.”
His response left her too confused to be embarrassed. Ravenscliffe was the earldom to the north. One of these men must be the earl. “We were never formally introduced. I didn’t realize one of the brothers was the earl.”
Her handsome rake filled the doorway. “That was for your safety. I’m Ravenscliffe. You canna let anyone know we were here.”
That went without saying regardless of who he was. Grandmama would be no less outraged at having an earl recuperating in her folly than she would a robber. She would have demanded an earl be brought to the main house, at the very least, or taken to his own home. A robber would be left on his own until the magistrate’s men could collect him.
Agnes had kissed an earl. A handsome rogue of an earl, to be truthful, but an earl would be an acceptable beau as far as her father was concerned.
Assuming that earl had an attraction to her. Assuming Father never learned of that kiss in the woods. He’d never find out, since the only person she’d told was her dearest friend in a letter she’d posted yesterday.
With the magistrate here, some decisions must have been made. “Will you be leaving now that your brother is strong enough to travel?”
Ewan nodded. “We’ll leave in the morning. We’ve been grateful for your care. You saved our lives.”
A giant fist squeezed her heart painfully. He was leaving. She wouldn’t have the chance to know him better, to let him realize he should fall in love with her.
“While we’re pleased you are well enough to be on your way, we’ll miss you.” Seeing his eyes heat with what she hoped was passion, she quickly added, “Both of you. I’ll leave you to your business. Oscar will bring you more food shortly.”
She hurried away before she did something stupid like throw herself at him and burst into tears.
Agnes visited the folly once more that day with the pretense of asking if they needed anything for their journey home.
Ewan laughed. “It’s less than an hour’s ride. We’ll not starve. Lennox will meet us in the woods with a pair of horses. You’ve more than seen to our needs and safety.”
“I did nothing more than anyone would have done.”
He shrugged, then looked back at Lennox.
Realizing he wished to speak to the man alone, she took her leave.
Originally she’d believed knowing his name would allow her to meet Ewan again socially. If he spent more time with her, they might discover a true attraction, not the trifling words they’d exchanged. Somehow the knowledge he was an earl and not a mere gentleman made her accept the foolishness of her fantasy. Yes, she was the daughter of an earl so she was Ewan’s equal. But a member of the noble class must take so much more into consideration when choosing a wife than mere physical attraction.
The fact she and Matilda were returning to Fenwick Abbey in two weeks limited the chance Ewan might speak of a betrothal. From there, they were off to London for another Season. As much as she loved dancing, she dreaded the thought of the never-ending string of morning calls, afternoon walks in Hyde Park, and the musicales and other activities that fell in between.
There she was again, dreaming up an entire life with a man she’d known for a week. She truly was a foolish gel.
Chapter Five
After three fruitless trips into Invernochty with the hope of seeing Ewan in passing, Agnes was able to convince Grandmama to accept the invitation to a picnic at a grand home between Grandmama’s and Ravenscliffe. Surely he’d be there.
He must. She had no other opportunity available before she left Scotland.
She changed her gown twice before Matilda appeared at her bedchamber door. “If you do not hurry, we’ll miss half the picnic. What has you in such a state? You are normally the first one dressed.”
Continuing to tuck flowers into the ribbon in the elegant hairdo her maid had styled, Agnes avoided the true answer. “I’m not in any state. I merely wish to appear at my best.”
“Humph.” Matilda marched to the bed and picked up Agnes’s reticule and bonnet. “Grandmama is waiting.”
“Very well.” Agnes rose, but before turning away from her mirror, she placed one last flower above her ear.
To say the garden where they visited was grand understated the description. A maze was in the center of a large lawn. To one side, yew and boxwood topiary animals gave interest to a long walkway.
“I understood topiary to be out of fashion,” Matilda said as she and Agnes waited for their hostess and Grandmama to finish chatting.
“When one has an estate as large as this, I imagine one doesn’t care what others find fashionable.” Agnes sought something more interesting than horticulture. She sought the broad shoulders and muscular limbs of Ewan.
“I would care.”
“Yes, you would, but I prefer a garden that has been growing for many generations, such as this. It has an air of tradition I find pleasing.”
What she’d find more pleasing was to hear the deep burr of a certain musical voice.
“Come, girls, we will sit at the table with Mrs. Hardie and Lady Donella. They are near your age and quite mature. It would do you good to behave more like them.” Grandmama eyed Agnes as she spoke.
Mrs. Hardie was indeed young, a pretty woman with rich auburn hair and friendly smile. She greeted each of the sisters when introductions were made. “Are you enjoying your stay? I would have invited you to call, had I known you were visiting.”
“We’ve had a pleasant time. The weather has been very agreeable,” Matilda said.
Lady Donella smiled sweetly but didn’t speak.
Agnes continued to watch the people wandering about.
“I heard your husband recently returned after some time away.” Grandmama poured tea from the pot on their table.
Her face pale, Mrs. Hardie nodded. “He…he and his brother made an unexpected trip. We’re happy to have them home safe again.”
Safe. The word piqued Agnes’s attention. Combined with unexpected, the statement could easily apply to Ewan and his brother.
“That brother of his…” Grandmama sniffed aristocratically. “Is he truly as wild as Society would have it? I scarcely believe such a m
an would be invited into the homes of his peers.”
Agnes coughed on a biscuit crumb. “Peers? Who is your brother-in-law? I must make certain to avoid him.” If he was the man she believed him to be, she’d do nothing of the sort.
“Lord Ravenscliffe. And the rumors are excessive. He’s a very good man. Kind, and generous.” Mrs. Hardie’s face brightened at something she saw behind Agnes. “There is my husband. I shall introduce you.”
Unsurprisingly, Tavish approached, his eyes on his wife.
“May I present Lady Matilda Wentworth, and her sister Lady Agnes?”
He caught Agnes’s gaze and held it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both. Mrs. Thomson, you look well.”
“My grandmother was just telling us about your brother. I understand he has a somewhat scandalous reputation?” Agnes hoped her smile didn’t reveal her prior acquaintance with the brothers.
“Really, Agnes. You mustn’t say such things,” Grandmama snapped.
“As is usually the case, a few minor incidents have grown in description each time they are discussed.”
Matilda pinched Agnes’s leg under the table. “I find there is often a grain of truth behind rumors.”
Nodding toward the pathway, Grandmama said sharply, “I suggest you do not ask the gentleman himself.” She turned her glaring expression on Agnes.
Butterflies stirred in Agnes’s belly. He was here. He noticed her just before he reached his brother.
“Good day, Mrs. Thomson. Are these your granddaughters about whom I’ve heard so much?”
“I do hope they’ve done nothing to draw attention to themselves.” Grandmama introduce the girls.
“On the contrary,” Ewan said. “I believe their beauty was the general topic of discussion.”
Grandmama shook her head. “Still the rakehell, I see. Your father was much the same, and I daresay he grew out of it. You must find a strong woman like your mother to tame you.”
Ewan raised an eyebrow and grinned. “Indeed. Only a strong woman such as Mrs. Hardie will do.”