Searching Hearts Box Set: Books 1-5

by St. Clair, Ellie

  A slow smile curved her lips as she thought of him, seeing him in her mind’s eye as the music started up again. She had to confess that she found him a deeply attractive man, admitting that her heart had fluttered when he had led her onto the floor. She would never forget his kiss, even if it was merely a cover for whoever else had been in the gardens.

  She felt quite changed after such an evening, as though she could never go back to who she had been before.

  6

  “Have you discovered anything?”

  Joshua looked up at his friend as he asked the question. As Taylor walked in, an air of expectancy filled the study. The masculine room with its rich forest green walls and russet draperies was where Joshua spent most of his time.

  “You may as well remove that hopeful look from your eyes, for no, I did not,” Taylor replied, sitting down heavily in a velour wingback chair beside the fireplace. “Is it too early for port?”

  Joshua could not help but chuckle, standing and making his way to the sideboard, pouring both himself and Taylor a measure. “It is not too early, I do not think. Not in these circumstances.”

  Accepting the glass with a murmur of thanks, Lord Taylor stared broodingly into the fire, evidently frustrated. Joshua, choosing not to sit back down behind his large mahogany desk, rather sat opposite his friend in another overstuffed chair.

  “At least your dear Lady Harrington will still be abed,” Taylor muttered into his drink. “I am just sorry that we did not manage to catch both of those ruffians last evening.”

  Joshua sighed heavily and took a large draught of his port, savoring the taste. He had been enjoying his dance with Lady Harrington last night, almost entirely forgetting that the reason he was doing so was so that he might protect her from the ruffians who had entered by the French doors. He was quite sure that the men in question had seen his sudden embrace with her in the gardens and had followed them both back to the ball.

  Of course, then they also would have heard Lady Harrington's name from the lips of Lady Beauforth, which left her entirely at risk. The men he was chasing were not inclined to leave any loose ends, and, even if Lady Harrington had not seen or heard a single thing, they would take her life regardless. They were ruthless and entirely without compassion. If there was even a chance that Lady Harrington had witnessed anything, they would end her life without a moment's thought. At least, however, his own identity had been kept from them, which meant that he was able to continue his investigations without concern.

  “She is still in danger, however,” he murmured, finishing his own thoughts aloud.

  Taylor sighed and rubbed at his brow. “I am sorry,” he said again. “By the time I got my hands on one of the men, the other man had seen me and took to his heels.”

  Joshua shook his head. “It is not your fault, Taylor.” He glanced over at his friend and saw the frustration on his face. “Where is the captive?”

  To his surprise, Taylor grinned. “Nursing a sore head, down at the constabulary,” he replied. “Of course, he was not coming quietly and I had no choice but to encourage him along.”

  “You hit him too hard, didn’t you?” Joshua chuckled, aware that Taylor could, at times, be quite heavy handed. The man was broad and very strong, and at least half a head taller than Joshua.

  Lord Taylor shrugged, a smile on his lips. “He struggled.”

  Joshua shook his head and laughed. “Then I presume we will not get much out of him for some time yet.”

  “Give it until this afternoon,” Taylor replied. “That should give us enough time to consider what we might do about Lady Harrington.”

  Unsettled at the thought of her in danger, Joshua nodded grimly. “If one of those two men from last evening is still about, then we are forced to consider that she is a target.”

  “They might not be aware of what she looks like, although they will know her name by now.” Taylor shook his head, his expression grim. “And, on top of all of this, we are still at a loss as to what they had over Sir Whitby.”

  “Or what he was meant to give to them,” Joshua added, growing more frustrated by the minute. This was steadily becoming more complicated. “How am I meant to protect Lady Harrington without making it more than obvious that I am involved in an investigation?”

  “You could assign someone to watch over her?”

  “She and her family would likely think something amiss and call the constabulary.”

  “You could explain to the family the necessity?”

  “I do not want them to know of my involvement in this.”

  “You could call upon her?”

  "You mean, court her?" Joshua did not dismiss the idea immediately, a sudden rush of desire filling him as he remembered how he had kissed her in the gardens. It had meant to be entirely for her protection, but even still, he had lost himself for a moment. She had been soft and sweet, and entirely unprepared for his kiss, which had made her all the more innocent in his eyes. Her response was slow but, gradually, she had begun to return his kiss. He could still see the mortification in her eyes when she realized that he had kissed her simply to shield her from view.

  “But then again, that would not allow you to see her very often,” Taylor added, interrupting his thoughts. “Just for an hour or so each day and I am not inclined to consider that this would be adequate. What if they came for her when she was out shopping somewhere?”

  “And I cannot be by her side every moment she is out of doors,” Joshua mumbled, trying to find a solution. “Nor at night, when someone might find a way inside when the house is abed.”

  Taylor suddenly snorted with laughter, throwing his head back. "It sounds as though you will have to wed her, Greville! For that is the only way she will be by your side every moment, and certainly all through the night!" His eyebrows wiggled as he grinned at Joshua, but his words sparked no humor in Joshua at all.

  In fact, they gave him pause.

  "That may be, in fact, the very solution we have been looking for," he said, slowly. "Taylor, you are something of a genius!"

  All mirth left Taylor’s face, and he stared blankly at Joshua.

  “That is the only way I can protect Lady Harrington, is it not?” Joshua continued, thinking quite practically. “Besides, I have been thinking that I should wed very soon, mostly to keep Mother off my back!”

  His mother, of course, was more than desperate for her son to wed, given that he carried the title and would need to produce an heir at some point. Joshua had never particularly been inclined towards matrimony, finding the idea of a courtship and betrothal a rather long and drawn out process, where much would be expected of him. He had been far too busy with his investigations to give it any serious consideration.

  In addition, being a man with a high title meant that he had far too many fawning mamas with their daughters trailing after him, none of them appearing genuine in any way. For him to take a wife, he would require a lady with character, with strength and fortitude. Not some milk water miss, but rather a lady with her own mind. Perhaps one a little older than the new debutantes, given that he was not exactly in the first flush of youth himself.

  Lady Harrington might be the perfect choice.

  She was still young enough, but, from his knowledge of the family, had been out for some years. Why she was not married, let alone did not have her dance card filled, he was not quite sure, but she certainly was a beautiful woman and a wonderful dancer. In addition, her strength and ability to carry on after what she had witnessed told him that she possessed inner courage and resilience.

  He had kissed her and, under his kiss, she had softened once her surprise had lessened. Joshua considered that she would not be a cold wife, a slight smile on his face as he remembered how her hands had found their way around his neck as he’d kissed her.

  “You are not seriously considering this, Greville!”

  “Why not?” Joshua shrugged, grinning at the horror-struck expression on his friend’s face. “You know that I need
to marry at some point, and Lady Harrington is as good a choice as any. If I were to marry her quickly I would also rid myself of the process of a courtship, which I have been dreading.”

  Taylor stared at him for a moment longer before shaking his head. “That is the most ridiculous proposal I have ever heard, Greville. The lady might not even wish to wed you! She is the daughter of a duke after all and, as such, does not have to wed below her title.”

  “I am sure she will not mind marrying an earl,” Joshua replied, jauntily. “She responded quite well to me last evening, I must say.”

  A slight groan escaped from Taylor’s mouth as he rolled his eyes. “I will not ask what you mean by that, Greville.”

  “Best not to,” Joshua chuckled, getting up from his chair and walking over to his desk. “I’d best send a notice to the paper at once.”

  From behind him, he heard Taylor cough and splutter as he apparently choked on his port. “You do not intend to simply announce it without asking the lady — and her father, a duke?”

  “That is precisely what I intend to do,” Joshua replied, scribbling down a quick note on some parchment. “How else am I to ensure she accepts?”

  “That is quite underhanded, Greville,” Taylor replied, sounding more than a little shocked. “What if she refuses to go ahead with the marriage? You will bring shame on her and on yourself.”

  Joshua grinned, sanding the parchment, sealing it and walking over to ring the bell. “That is precisely why she will not refuse and, if she does have any inclination towards that kind of response, I shall simply ensure that I find a way to encourage her to accept.”

  Taylor shook his head, getting up to refill his port glass. “I do not think this wise, Greville. I know you have always been one to act on impulse, but marriage is not something you enter into lightly.”

  “I do not enter into it lightly,” Joshua replied, firmly. “I am quite sure that, once this business is sorted out in its entirety, I shall find Lady Harrington to be a most wonderful wife. She seems sensible, which is exactly the kind of lady I need by my side. You know as well as I do, Taylor, that the most important aspect of choosing a wife is finding someone tolerable enough to share your life with. Besides, I have my home in the country where she can reside while I am in London if we do not suit as well as I do believe we will.”

  It looked as though Taylor was going to argue for a moment longer, but instead, he simply sighed, throwing his hands up as he sat back down in his chair.

  “Take this at once,” Joshua said, handing his note to the butler who appeared in the doorway. “Tell them it is to make tomorrow’s paper.”

  “Of course, milord,” the butler intoned, walking out of the study and closing the door firmly behind him. Joshua looked at the closed door for a moment longer, a feeling of satisfaction growing in his chest. Despite Taylor’s concerns, he could see no way forward other than this. He had to protect Lady Harrington and, in marrying her, he could secure his own future in addition. It was quite the perfect solution.

  “I expect you shall have the lady in question battering down your door come the morning,” Taylor said, mildly. “You do not know what you have let yourself in for, Greville.”

  Joshua chuckled, sitting back down beside his friend. “Maybe she will, but that will just prove the fortitude of her character,” he replied, calmly. “Now, let us discuss what we must do as regards Sir Whitby. I mean to find those responsible and bring them to justice.”

  “So that you can then settle down into the happiness that matrimony is sure to bring,” Taylor said, drily.

  The grin did not leave Joshua’s face. “Indeed,” he answered, before turning his thoughts back towards Sir Whitby.

  7

  A sudden screech had Violet dropping her china cup to the carpeted floor, barely stopping to pick it up as she rushed from the dining room out into the hallway, panicking that her mother had somehow fallen ill.

  "Mama?" she called, hearing yet another squeal. "Mama!" Rushing into the drawing room, she saw her mother sitting in a high-backed armchair by the hearth, one hand covering her mouth with the other holding the society papers.

  “Whatever is the matter, Mama?” she asked, coming to kneel by her mother’s knee so that she might look into her face. “Are you ill? Can I fetch you some tea?”

  Her mother’s eyes stared down at her as though she was a ghost, making Violet panic all the more.

  “How dare you not tell me such wonderful news?” her mother breathed eventually, looking at Violet with daggers in her eyes, causing her to rise and take a step back. “How dare you?”

  Nonplussed, Violet stared at her mother, completely confused over what she was being asked. She hardly noticed her father enter the room, apparently concerned enough at her mother’s shrieks to leave his study to see what was the matter.

  “You are not going to stand there and pretend you have no knowledge of what I speak, are you?”

  "In truth, Mama, I have no worldly idea of what you are talking about," Violet replied, sitting down opposite her and leaning forward, still concerned for her mother's wellbeing.

  “Whatever is the matter, Marie?” the Duke finally asked as he looked from one of them to the other.

  Marie sighed and tossed her head, a smile now crossing her lips. “Violet is to be wed! Why did you not tell me of your engagement?” Her eyes met Violet’s, a crazy gleam to her expression now. “A secret, no doubt, but still! You should have admitted as much to me when I spoke to you the other evening about the man.”

  Violet simply stared. A chill spread into her veins, making its way through all of her limbs until she felt completely frozen to her chair. Betrothed? She was betrothed? But that was impossible. She hadn’t had a suitor make a proposal to her for months now, and any she had received she had turned down. She looked at her father to see if he knew anything of what her mother spoke, but he seemed as perplexed as she. There must be some mistake. Her mother said she had spoken to her about the man. That meant — oh dear.

  “Lord Greville will make a wonderful husband,” her mother sighed, looking almost dreamy with delight. “An earl, of course, so you will be more than comfortable. Oh, Lionel, isn’t it wonderful?”

  Reaching forward, she patted Violet’s hand. “I suppose I must forgive you for keeping such a thing to yourself. I know how private you can be about these things.”

  Violet stared at her, unbelieving, her body frozen in place.

  “Might I see the paper, Mama?” Violet finally managed to say, wondering if, perhaps, she was in some kind of dream and was about to wake up at any moment. The shock of what she had witnessed barely two days before had not yet quite worn off and now she could barely comprehend what her mother was saying.

  The paper shook as she held it with trembling fingers, her eyes falling on the notice that yes, just as her mother had said, declared her betrothal to the Earl of Wanfield, Lord Greville. It was there in black and white, giving his address at the very bottom so that no one would be in doubt as to who he was. Violet felt cold, steel bars shutter themselves around her. She was tied to him now, no matter how much she protested. To break herself from this betrothal would bring scandal and shame on her family, and, with younger siblings, Violet knew that such an act would affect them also. She could not do it.

  Her mother, still lost in a plethora of delightful feelings, barely noticed when Violet excused herself. Her father smiled to himself at the terrific match his daughter had made, and mumbled about when Lord Greville might be calling on him. Violet’s heart beat fast as she made her way blindly to her room, only stopping to ask the butler to have the carriage brought around.

  What had Lord Greville been thinking? What had possessed him to announce their betrothal in such a manner, without even discussing it with her, and her father. This could not be because of that particular evening, for a single kiss did not amount to anything. Gentlemen of standing stole kisses whenever they could, did they not? And an earl could have any woman he w
ished as his wife, so why had he chosen her? She was in no doubt that it was the Earl himself responsible for sending in the notice.

  She threw a pelisse over her white sprigged muslin dress, printed with delicate rosebuds, and with trembling fingers she tied her bonnet ribbons, hurriedly making her way from the house and into the waiting carriage. She was not about to wait for Lord Greville to visit her during the correct visiting hours, as a lady ought. No, she was determined to find out the truth from him, whether he was ready to receive her or not.

  As the carriage rattled through the cobbled streets, Violet struggled to think clearly, changing from white-hot rage to a sudden urge to break down in tears. It was not that she wasn’t attracted to the man — she would be lying to herself if she said she was not. However, this was not at all what she had expected to happen, thinking only that Lord Greville might call upon her to ensure that she was well, as he had promised. She had not expected to discover her betrothal to him from the society papers!

  Violet had never wanted to marry a man simply because of his title or wealth, for she was quite sure that would not make her happy. She sought affection and love, an acceptance of all that she was, which included her bluestocking tendencies. As yet, she had not met a single gentleman willing to offer all that she sought, and she was not at all certain that Lord Greville would come up to scratch either. She did not appreciate her life being dictated by another, and the Earl would soon have to realize this for himself.