Tempting Danger: Sinclair and Raven series

by Vella, Wendy

  She let Wolf say what he needed to. Understood his words were motivated by worry.

  “You say to me constantly you are the steady one of the three of us. Lately, I would dispute that fact.”

  “She is hurting, Wolf. Enough now.”

  Her brother’s mouth formed a thin, angry line at Nicholas’s words but he said nothing further, which she was grateful for.

  Guilt settled its heavy weight like a cloak around her shoulders.

  She looked at Nicholas, watched him flinch as he rotated his shoulder.

  “Are you hurt, Nicholas?”

  “What... pardon?” His eyes found hers.

  “Were you not thrown from your horse?”

  “Are you hurt, cousin?”

  “I am well.”

  “Yet the pallor in your cheeks and those clipped words would suggest otherwise,” James persisted.

  Dev slowed his horse to draw alongside Nicholas. His eyes flashed green. “Your color is also weaker. Where is your pain?”

  “I am well, don’t fuss. I have just aggravated my shoulder slightly.”

  Alice saw a carriage up ahead, and beside it stood Essie.

  “I had felt you needed me, so sent the others on.”

  “We do. Alice had a fall. Lilly healed her,” Dev said.

  “Get them inside,” Essie ordered. “I have some food from the picnic, and blankets.”

  “Nicholas is injured, Essie. But he won’t tell us where,” James said, dismounting.

  “I am not badly hurt,” he protested.

  Alice was lowered into Max’s arms and placed inside the carriage. She bit back the moan as he put her onto the seat and the pains in her body intensified. Dev helped Lilly inside. He pulled out a blanket and tucked it around her.

  “Here.” Essie thrust him a bundle wrapped in a napkin and a flask.

  He opened it and handed Lilly two sandwiches.

  “Eat it, love, and then sip the brandy.”

  Lilly nodded, but didn’t speak. Exhaustion radiated off her.

  I did this to her.

  Dev’s love was there in the way he smoothed Lilly’s hair off her face and kissed her cheek. Each gesture increased her guilt. She tried to never harm anyone but she had done so with her reckless behavior.

  “I must ride home, Lilly, but Essie will care for you, my love.”

  “I will be fine, Dev.”

  His face was filled with worry, but he nodded.

  “How are you feeling, Alice?”

  Dev tucked a blanket around her shoulders next, then took the brandy flask and uncapped it. He lifted it to her lips.

  “Just a few sips, cousin.”

  She did as he said, and the fiery warmth traveled through her body.

  “Good girl.”

  She was kissed also, and then Dev backed out of the carriage.

  Alice was aware what her risks had cost her family. Until today, they had affected no one but her. Yes, Wolf was worried, but she hadn’t until that moment harmed anyone.

  “In you get, Nicholas.”

  “I can ride.”

  “No, you cannot,” James stated calmly.

  “I can. My shoulder is a bit stiff, nothing more.”

  Essie took charge and got him into the carriage. Alice had noticed the gentle Sinclair sibling could be the toughest when required.

  “Is the pain only in your shoulder? And don’t lie to me.”

  “Yes,” he grunted.

  Essie slipped her hand under his jacket and touched his shoulder.

  “I don’t think it’s dislocated, just bruised or strained. You have possibly disturbed the last injury. But I shall know more when we return and examine it. Excuse me while I speak to my siblings. We shall leave soon.”

  He nodded, then looked across the carriage to Alice.

  “How do you feel?”

  “All right, thank you.”

  “Now that’s a lie. Your body must hurt like the devil from that fall.” His eyes moved from Alice to Lilly.

  “Lilly, are you all right?”

  “Better now I’ve had food, Nicholas. I’m just tired.” As she finished speaking, her eyes started to close.

  Alice watched as Nicholas took the food out of his sister’s hands. He then got off the seat with a grunt of pain.

  “Your shoulder—”

  “Is fine,” he replied to Alice. “My sister needs to sleep in comfort.”

  He bundled a blanket into a pillow and lowered Lilly onto it, then sat next to Alice.

  “Essie will ride with Max to give you more comfort,” Dev said from the doorway, his eyes resting on Lilly. “Excellent, she is sleeping. I know you have questions, Nicholas, and we will get to them, I promise.”

  Nicholas nodded.

  “If any of you need us, simply wave out the window. One of us will see and be with you in seconds.”

  “Thank you, Dev,” Nicholas said.

  The carriage was soon rolling away, and the silence inside was strained.

  “I’m sorry, Nicholas. My rash actions have caused you and those I love pain.”

  “The accident could have happened at any time, Alice.”

  “No, it happened because I was reckless. Thank you for telling me there was danger, had you not, I would not have slowed.”

  He wanted to say something but stopped.

  “I’m sorry, Nicholas, really.”

  “Kate told me you were the sensible Sinclair of the three of you.”

  Alice sighed, and even that hurt her. “I think she may be wrong.”

  “Alice—”

  “I’m sorry you learned about us in such a way.”

  “Us?”

  He turned his body slightly to face her. He took up a great deal of the space on the seat, his long legs stretched out before him.

  “There is so much more to tell you but not now.”

  “I don’t know what I saw, or why I experienced what I did before you fell.”

  “What did you experience?”

  “I had a vision. You were lying on the ground covered in blood.”

  She saw the memory in his eyes. The fear it had caused him.

  “Oh, Nicholas, that must have been awful for you.”

  “All I could think about was reaching you, but I couldn’t find you, and when I did you wouldn’t listen to me.”

  “I did not want you beating me. I’m fiercely competitive.”

  “I already knew that about you.”

  “I don’t like myself very much at the moment, Nicholas.” Her words sounded small and pathetic, but it was how she felt. “I need to grow up and become responsible.”

  “I think you’ve likely done your growing, and I quite like your spirit. If I may suggest a little more thought before you leap in future, however?”

  His smile was far too gentle considering what she had put him through.

  “I shall try.” Alice yawned. “I feel extremely weary suddenly.”

  “Strong emotions can make you weary.”

  She felt strangely comforted to have him close. Yes, there was the awareness of him, but right at that moment she wanted no one else sitting there talking to her.

  “Have you noticed anything odd about the women in this family, Alice?”

  “Other than the myriad of obvious things, do you mean?”

  He smiled. “Yes, other than those. I’ve been approached by several of them who then take great pains to point out some woman to me and extol her virtues. My sister, I understand, as she’s been at me for years to marry, but I now suspect she is not the only one.”

  They both looked at the slumbering Lilly.

  “Today both Rose and Eden spoke to me.”

  “Ahhh” was all Alice said before yawning again.

  “Ahhh?”

  “Well, I really shouldn’t say.”

  “But you will, as you owe me.”

  His hair stood off his head, and once again his clothes were dirtied and mussed. She did owe him for today.

 
“If I tell you, you must promise not to say anything.”

  He placed his hand over his heart. “I promise.”

  “To anyone.”

  “To anyone.”

  “I would be run out of my family if you did.”

  “Just say the words, Alice.”

  “I really can’t, it would be disloyal to them.”

  “And yet you will.”

  “If you go into James’s study searching for a book—”

  “Which I never do but will make sure of it at my earliest convenience.”

  “On the third shelf from the bottom on the right, there is a large blue book. The title has gold lettering and is Housekeeping for Those in Need.”

  “And that is in James’s library?”

  “Eden put it there, assured he’d never open it.”

  “Clever.”

  “If you were in there browsing for a book and opened that one, you may have more of an understanding as to what is going on.”

  “That is all you are willing to say?”

  Alice nodded.

  “How cryptic.”

  “I will not be disloyal to them.”

  “Them being all the women in this family?”

  She nodded again, then yawned so loudly her jaw cracked. The aches in her body were now making themselves known. Every inch of her seemed to throb.

  “For pity’s sake, woman, sleep. You will displace your jaw if you keep that up.”

  “I can’t sleep in carriages. Besides, I am more comfortable sitting upright.”

  “Because you are in pain?”

  “No more than you, I am sure.”

  “Perhaps I can offer you my shoulder... the good one?”

  “No. I don’t think that would be appropriate.”

  “We are family, and friends also. Of course it’s appropriate. Come.” He reached for her gently. Angling his body more, he then pulled her onto his chest. “Forgive me,” he said as she hissed in pain. “But I am not in that much discomfort I cannot hold a beautiful woman while she sleeps.”

  The gesture surprised her so much she didn’t argue, and instead felt her eyelids grow heavy.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I know.” She felt a hand in her hair.

  “For everything.”

  “I’m fairly sure you weren’t responsible for Nigel’s horrendous portrayal of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

  “It was bad, but I’m sure he thinks it quite wonderful.”

  “I believe it is called an inflated ego.”

  “I believe so.” Alice yawned again. “But I am sorry for everything else.” He was stroking her hair; it felt wonderful on her sore head. Highly inappropriate, but wonderful.

  “Did you tell my valet to argue with me over my clothing choices today?”

  “I like your choice today.” Her words were slurred.

  “Mud brown and horse excrement green are all the rage this season, I believe?”

  “I believe it is time I grew up,” Alice said again, her words sounding slurred.

  “Sssh now, you sound drunk.”

  As the waves of slumber began to pull her under, Alice said what she now knew to be the absolute truth.

  “You are a very good man, Lord Braithwaite.”

  “I’m not, but I thank you just the same for saying otherwise. Now sleep, Alice Sinclair, and I will keep you safe for the journey back to London.”

  And just like that, she did.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Nicholas looked up as his butler appeared in the doorway of his breakfast room.

  “The Duke of Raven, Lord and Lady Sinclair, and Mr. Sinclair have called, my lord.”

  “All of them?”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  “Well then, have a fresh pot heated and more food prepared, thank you, Hopkins, as Mr. Sinclair is usually hungry.”

  “Very well, my lord.”

  “And what of Mrs. Potter, Hopkins. How is she?”

  His butler’s face creased in worry.

  “Well enough, my lord, but is still believing what she stated happened.”

  “Have you or any of the other staff heard any rumor about such things, Hopkins?”

  “Toby, the stable lad, told me he believed it does happen and blames the nobles for it... if you’ll beg my pardon, my lord.”

  “Of course. What did he see or hear to make him believe what he said?”

  “Toby said his cousin had a child and it was taken away by a man. He had been outside awaiting news of the baby’s arrival, you see, my lord. He saw a man arrive, then take the child away.”

  “Just like in Mrs. Potter’s case?”

  “Yes. Toby is also sure he heard the baby crying.”

  “Thank you, Hopkins, please show our guests up, and tell Mrs. Potter I will alert her when I receive any news from the investigative service I have employed.”

  “Very well, my lord.”

  It was four days after the picnic. Four days of contemplation as Nicholas tried to grapple with what had happened that day. He was no closer today than he was yesterday with finding an answer.

  He’d traveled back to London with Alice in his arms. She’d slumbered deeply, her face turned and resting on his chest, and he’d had a ball of warmth lodged inside his chest the entire time. Not lust, not awareness; all that was there between them but not at that moment, what he’d felt was more than that. Luckily, he too had fallen asleep before he’d identified it.

  “Good morning, Nicholas.” Lilly entered the room first, looking nothing like the pale, exhausted woman of four days ago.

  “Good morning, sister. What has you here at such an hour?”

  “I think you know why we are visiting, brother. We gave you a few days of contemplation and recovery, now we have come to explain what you saw.”

  He did know but was strangely reluctant to delve any deeper into what had occurred, even though it had been occupying his thoughts. When Alice wasn’t.

  “We wish to discuss what took place the other day and thought to catch you before you left the house,” Cam said, sniffing the air as he made for the sideboard. “Which I add yet again, you should not be doing without one of us or a footman.”

  “I have asked for the food to be replenished, please sit, and I am more than capable of looking after myself.”

  “Excellent.” Cam slapped his hands together.

  “You just ate at my place after eating at yours.” James looked disgusted.

  “I’m a growing lad.”

  “You’re a fully grown man.”

  “I like to think of myself as a racehorse. Sleek lines, with endless energy that needs fuel.”

  “And who brays like an ass?” Dev added.

  “Please, all of you, sit,” Nicholas said before the argument escalated.

  Lilly pulled out a chair and sat beside him, her hand covering the one he held in front of him on the table. Suddenly he could feel her tension.

  “Is Alice all right?” He took her fingers in his.

  “She is fine. Quiet, staying in her room, but she will recover given time,” Dev said, sitting in the empty seat beside his wife. “I would like to discuss the matter of your visions, Nicholas.”

  “Dreams,” Nicholas found himself saying, even though he called them visions.

  “And yet your dreams are always steeped in fact?” James asked him.

  “I told them about the incident when you were young, where you knew a local girl had been murdered by a nobleman.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I believe it is relevant to what we are about to discuss, and I also believe there have been other visions but you kept those to yourself,” Lilly said.

  He’d seen Alice lying in a pool of blood; the image still chilled him.

  “We are your family, and this is something I think we need to discuss further, Nicholas. Just as we’re sure you have questions about what took place the other day.”

  “I do have visions,” Nicholas made himself say.
“I saw Alice that day, just before she fell. Lying in a pool of blood.”

  Silence greeted his words.

  “I tried to get to her, stop her, but only managed in slowing her as she heard me roar ‘Danger.’”

  Cam whistled softly.

  “I thought you only had them in your sleep?” Lilly asked.

  “I do. This is the first one I’ve had while awake. I have no wish to experience it again.”

  “With Alice,” Dev said slowly. “That’s interesting, don’t you think?” He was looking at Lilly.

  “Very,” she agreed.

  “And now we shall explain what you saw the other day,” Dev added.

  “I’m not entirely sure I want to know.”

  “You want to know; it just scares you because it doesn’t seem possible... but let me assure you that it is.”

  “We are going to tell you something now, Nicholas, and it will sound incredulous to you. But as you saw what Lilly did, you will begin to understand quicker than I. In fact, you will think them mad... more mad than they are, I mean,” James added with a small smile. “When first I heard I didn’t believe them, but I need you to believe them, Nicholas. Because every word they speak is true.”

  Lilly must have felt his tension, as her grip tightened on his fingers. Something told him his life was about to take another turn, but as yet he did not know in which direction.

  “Go on.”

  “First of all, we’ll start with us, my siblings and me,” Cam said, lowering his fork with reluctance. “We have heightened senses. Dev has the gift of sight, Eden hearing, Essex taste, and I can smell.”

  Nicholas felt the hair on the back of his neck rise as he looked from Dev to Cam, then lastly James.

  “You can’t expect me to believe—”

  “Pick up the newspaper folded beside you and walk down the room to the end wall,” James said to him. “Now, Nicholas. Trust me and do this.”

  “Do it, brother, and trust us... me, that I would never lie to you, as they would not. You saw what I did the other day?”

  Nicholas nodded.

  “Then try to understand this also.”

  He saw only honesty in her eyes.

  Nicholas did as he was told, carrying the newspaper to the end of the room with his mind reeling. These men were not the type to lie... nor make a fool of him for no apparent reason.