In Pursuit of a Scottish Lady (Moonstone Magic Book 2)

by Hunt, Brenda

  Esacpe me?

  Never-----

  Beloved!

  While I am I, and you are you.

  So long as the world continues us both,

  Me the loving and you the loth,

  While the one eludes, must the other pursue.

  Life is a Love

  Robert Browning

  Worth entered Mannery House in a jovial mood. It had taken much longer than he thought, but he had finally tracked down Lili’s moonstone necklace. He was determined to bring it back to her. He had even been able to find a couple of pieces of her mother’s, as well. He knew of all the jewels he would give her, this small stone necklace meant the world to her. Returning this to her would set things right between them.

  After finding her necklace, he had made a call to the archbishop and pleaded his case for a special license to marry. Lynden had teased him about it but it had not deterred him in the least. He was planning on presenting her necklace as part of his wedding gift. Mother would know of a local vicar who could perform the ceremony. When he parted ways with Lynden, he had made certain Lynden was to keep his evening free and await his summons to be his witness, when and wherever. Lynden had been more than pleased to agree.

  Meyers met him at the door. “She’s gone, your Grace.”

  Worth stopped dead in his tracks and looked at Meyers as though, he had lost his mind. Surely, he had not heard Meyers right “What do you mean, she’s gone?”

  “She and the Duchess left for the docks a little over an hour ago. She is booked on the Morning Star that is heading for Edinburgh. The Duchess had Marie and Bennings accompany her.”

  Everything he had done had led to this. Lili was gone. “What in bloody hell is going on?” demanded Worth. He felt like all the air had been punched out of him. Lili was gone, again. How could that be? She was here when he left this morning.

  He heard a coach stop behind him on street. He turned and watched his mother being handed down. He strode purposely down the steps and walkway till he met up with her at the gate.

  “I’ll ask you what the bloody hell is going on,” Worth shouted. “Meyers tells me you escorted Lili to the docks to sail back to Scotland.”

  “Now, now son,” placated the Duchess. “We do not need to discuss this out in the street where everyone can hear. Let us go inside and speak of this.”

  “I don’t bloody well care who hears,” he replied. He looked about. Damn, that was one of the reasons he did not like London. Too many eyes always looking, with too many mouths willing to give their interpretations on what they had seen, never caring who they hurt in the process.

  There were several people strolling on the sidewalk. Those that did not stop and stare turned their heads to watch as they walked by.

  The Duchess continued walking up the steps to where Meyers stood with the door held open. She was pleased with her son’s reaction. Maybe, there was hope for him, yet.

  Worth followed his mother into the hall. He stood there seething as Meyers helped her off with her pelisse.

  “Mother!” Worth was beyond frustrated.

  The Duchess raised her eyebrows at him and pursed her lips. “Meyers, will you see to it tea is served in my drawing room,” stated the Duchess calmly and turned to see if her son was following her.

  “Make certain a bottle of whiskey accompanies that tea tray,” stated Worth tersely, as he followed his mother up the stairs to her drawing room.

  Once in her drawing room, Worth turned to his mother, “What were you thinking of in letting her leave? I thought you approved of Lili. You said you liked Lili. Mother, why?” He was bewildered. He had expected to come home and put all the plans he had made into motion.

  The Duchess sat in her chair and gazed up at her son. “She was very determined to go home. I was afraid she would try something desperate on her own. I could not let that happen. I thought this was safest all around. Besides, I sent word to you. I hoped you would come back in time to stop her,” she admonished. “Where were you?”

  Worth let out a deep sigh of frustration. Lili would be that determined once her mind was made up. But after her visit to his room last night like she used to at Glendenning, he thought, she had accepted the fact he was a duke.

  He ran his fingers through his hair in agitation. He pulled out a small moonstone pendant on a small leather cord from his inside coat pocket. “I was searching for this. Edward took this from her. Her father gave it to her just before he died. It is more precious to her than all the queen’s jewels.” He rubbed the moonstone between his fingers. He knew he could never buy her any jewel that would ever compare to this.

  “Also this.” He pulled the special dispensation out of his pocket. “I had hopes you would help me find a vicar to marry us tonight.” He felt like every plan he had made with Lili was falling apart. His well laid plans never fell apart. This was strange and new territory to him

  The Duchess watched the expression on her son’s face. She had never seen him so distraught. She smiled knowingly. She had always hoped one day he would find a woman who would capture his heart and melt the wall he had built around him. She couldn’t be more pleased, it was Lili. Lili would not surrender to his overbearing attitude.

  “Did you let her know of your plans?”

  Worth shook his head. He was not in the habit of discussing his plans. It was ingrained in him, one only discussed what needed to be known when it became time to be known.

  “Don’t you think you should have discussed your plans with her? Did they not involve her as well?” the Duchess asked

  “I thought she understood. I told her, I had something to tend to this morning. I would be back and I wanted to talk,” explained Worth. In his mind, surely that was enough.

  Meyers knocked and entered with the Duchess’s tea tray and Worth’s bottle of whiskey. He placed the tray on the table at the Duchess’s side.

  “Will there be anything else, your Grace?” asked Meyers.

  “No, thank you, Meyers. That will be all.”

  Worth went to the table and poured himself a liberal glass of whiskey and downed most of it. It appeared since his return to London, he was imbibing much more than usual.

  The Duchess gave him a long hard look. “Have you spoken to Lili about any of this? Lili is not one who is used to being told what to do. She has taken care of herself and her siblings. She needs to be included. She was very frightened that they were left alone.”

  Worth knew that best of all. If his mother knew how he met her, protecting her family, becoming a highway man, it would only prove her point. She was right.

  “Shall I give you a word of advice, my son?” asked the Duchess.

  Worth stopped his pacing. A part of him was angry with his mother for assisting Lili in her departure. He did understand her fear. Lili was stubborn enough to go home on her own. That was too dangerous to even contemplate.

  “Yes, mother?”

  “Lili came to know Colin Wells. It is he, she fell in love with. Now, you need to make her fall in love with Colin Hallwell, the fifth duke of Worthingston. It is he, she does not know. It is he, she is unsure of. Make her understand they are one and the same,” explained the Duchess.

  Worth gazed at his mother thoughtfully. She was right. Lili needed to come to know Worth, the Duke of Worthingston. He had gotten her to love Colin Wells. Certainly, it would not pose to be a problem to make her fall in love with Worth, as well. He could, no, he would make that happen.

  Worth smiled hopeful for the first time since he learned of her departure. Mother was right. It was the Duke that had her scurrying back to Glendenning. He bent and kissed her cheek. “You are right, Mother. How did you get to be so wise?”

  His mother smiled and touched his cheek lovingly. “Now go on with you. Bring my new daughter back. I don’t think she will care for London, but I believe she will like Stoneybrook. Bring her and the twins back to Stoneybrook.”

  Worth nodded and began to walk out when a thought stopped him. He t
urned and asked, “Mother come with me? I would very much like you there when we wed. Glendenning is not elaborate, but it is comfortable.” The more he thought about it, the more it made sense to him. Besides mother could help him with Lili, if she proved to be difficult.

  The Duchess was surprised by his request. She did not like traveling by ship but she did so want to see her only son wed. Besides, she could offer some assistance with Lili.

  “Are you certain?” she asked.

  Worth smiled. For the first time since he heard Lili was gone, he felt hope in his heart. “Yes. The more I think about it, the better it sounds. How quickly can you be packed and ready to leave? I will go down to the docks. I will check when one of our ships is leaving for Edinburgh and make certain we are on it.”

  The Duchess called for her maid Gina as Worth walked out of her door.

  “Gina, good. There is much for us to do and not much time. We are going to Scotland to see my son wed,” stated the Duchess as she began her preparations.

  Gina’s eyes grew wide with surprise as she looked at the Duchess. Quickly, she recovered and began pulling out the Duchess’s clothes. She walked into the hall and instructed one of the footmen to down her Graces trunks.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Worth walked into White’s. He was not in the best of moods. He had just left the docks only to be told by his cargo master that all his ships were out. The Morning Star that had taken Lili to Edinburgh would be back in three days’ time. Even with the delay, it would be faster than going by coach. He had sent word to his mother of the delay and another to Lynden to meet him here. He could not face going back to Mannery House knowing Lili was no longer there.

  He sat as his usual table, a bottle of Scotch in front of him, his glass filled but untouched. He felt like he had drunk more whiskey, scotch in the past few days than any time in the past year. He twirled the scotch in his glass staring unseeingly.

  It appeared, he had made a mess of the situation. As astute as he believed himself to be, he did not know much about women, especially a certain woman. Dulcey’s voice kept repeating in his head, hair of red, will lead you on a merry chase. How he had dismissed those words of wisdom! Yes, Lili had led him on a merry chase. He would chase her wherever she led, until he convinced her of his love. He thought he had, but maybe his mother was right. He would tell her when next they met. He would tell over and over again until he convinced her so. He would tell her every day for the rest of his life.

  Worth looked up when he felt someone stood at the front of his table. Atwoode stood there. Why did the hackles on the back of his neck go up? There was something nefarious about the man. He had only crossed paths with a couple of times but those times had been chance encounters. To meet him, two days in a row was curious, puzzling.

  “It seems you stole something from a good friend of mine,” stated Atwoode. He said it loud enough that others around heard his accusation. Several of the patrons looked to Worth.

  Worth cocked an eyebrow in question. “I have no reason to steal anything from anyone.”

  “Did you not visit Madame Demey night before last?” Atwoode demanded.

  Worth sat up abruptly and narrowed his eyes. What had that damn woman said? He should have followed up with that woman. “And if I did?”

  “You know you did. You even threatened her and took-----.”

  “And what business is it of yours, Atwoode?” Worth could see several were listening to their conversation. He did not want Lili’s name bantered about.

  “It is my business,” answered Atwoode.

  Worth realized what he was saying. So he was the influence she talked about. They were about to see what influence truly was. “I suggest you get into another business.”

  Atwoode stared at Worth through narrowed eyes. “I do not allow anyone to interfere with my business, Worthingston. I want what you took from Madame Demey’s house.”

  Lynden walked in and saw Atwoode in front of Worth’s table. Surely this fool was not arguing with Worth. He walked up just in time to hear Atwoode’s demand. One look at Worth’s face, Lynden knew he had to step in.

  “Atwoode, Worth.”

  Atwoode turned to Lynden. He should have known Lynden would not be far away.

  “Worthingston and I were discussing what he stole from Madame Demey. I am told you were there too, assisting him.”

  Lynden saw the tick in Worth’s jaw. Damn, he thought. Atwoode was trying to get himself killed if he continued on in this manner. This should not be discussed in the middle of White’s.

  “Gentlemen, this needs to be discussed privately,” suggested Lynden. “I suggest we all retire to one of the private parlors.”

  Atwoode looked about. There were several patrons very interested in their exchange. He rather enjoyed putting Worthingston on the defense. “Discussing it here or it a private room does not change the fact that Worthingston stole something from Madame Demey, from me.”

  Lynden raised his eyebrows. The fact that Worth had gotten very quiet did not bode well.

  “What I removed from Madame Demey house did not belong to her. If she says differently, she is lying. I only retrieved what was mine.”

  “Madame Demey bought and paid for the lady,” sneered Atwoode.

  Worth had been very careful not to mention a who. Atwoode was getting too close to mentioning Lili’s name. That would not happen.

  “Then Madame Demey needs to speak with the sellar,” replied Worth.

  “He cannot be found. I am asking you. You took her.”

  “Again, I only took what was mine,” stating Worth emphatically.

  Atwoode slammed his fist on the table in front of Worth. “I want her back.”

  Worth stood up, knocking over the chair he sat in. Being a head taller than Atwoode, he stared down at the man.

  Lynden put a hand on Worth’s arm. “Don’t do it.”

  Worth hesitated. “Do not push me, Atwoode. You do not want me for an enemy.”

  Atwoode mocked. “Are you threatening me? I do not like threats.”

  “I do not threat, Atwoode. I do make promises that I keep,” stated Worth.

  “I am not afraid of your threats or your promises,” answered Atwoode. He was enjoying this verbal altercation with Worth especially here at White’s.

  Lynden shook his head. “Atwoode, I think it time for you to leave.”

  Atwoode looked at Lynden. “I do not listen to Worth’s lackey. This is between myself and Worthingston.”

  Lynden shrugged. “Worth, I tried to warn him. He seems he is hell bent on self- destruction.” He could hear the mumbling about them of bets being made. He needed to keep Worth from striking the fool in front of theses witnesses. It appeared Atwoode was pushing for a fight. “Shall we go back to my home, where the riff raff cannot follow? I don’t know about you, but I have had enough of this harassment.”

  Worth looked from Lynden to Atwoode then looked about him at the attention Atwoode was causing. It dawned on him, Atwoode was baiting him for a reaction, a reaction that cast dispersions on him. If he hadn’t been so concerned about Lili, he would have realized it earlier.

  Worth laughed. Every head in the place turned to look at him. Atwoode looked at him as though he belonged in Bedlam. Maybe he did, thought Worth. But Lili was safely tucked away in Glendenning. There was no way Atwoode could do anything to hurt her. But he, Worth, could do much to make Atwoode regret this confrontation. Something to do while waiting for the Morning Star to return.

  Worth sat down in the chair he had vacated earlier, the valet had righted. He grabbed his glass of Scotch, raised it in salute to Atwoode and took a long swallow. Worth motioned to Lynden to sit, and poured him a glass.

  Atwoode stared at Worth. What was he about? “What about my stolen property?” he demanded.

  Worth shrugged. “What about it? You say it’s stolen, I say I was retrieving what is mine. It is finished as far as I’m concerned.” Worth leaned back in his chair and stared up at Atwoode
daring him to continue.

  Atwoode fumed. If he continued on, it would look like he is wanted this argument. Worthingston was making him look like a fool. He stared at Worthingston for a long moment. “This is not finished.”

  Worth shrugged again. “If I say it is, it is.” He poured himself another shot and filled Lynden’s glass on the table dismissing Atwoode. From the corner of his eyes, he watched Atwoode stride angrily out the door. He smiled. It seemed he needed to pay Oxley another visit.

  Lynden watched Atwoode stride out and turned to his friend. “That one will give you trouble, my friend.”

  Worth laughed. “No, he will wish he never had this conversation.” Already, his mind was thinking of what he wanted to do.

  “I was very surprised to receive your note to meet you here. I thought I’d meeting you at one of the churches here for a wedding.”

  “Lili sailed with the Morning Star earlier. She is on her way to Edinburgh, then on to Glendenning.”

  Lynden looked at his friend in shock.

  Worth smiled. “It appears my lady is leading me on a very merry chase. I am forced to cool my heels here in London. All my ships are out. The Morning Star will return in three days’ time. I have convinced mother to come with me. Can I convince you to come, as well?”

  “Your mother is sailing with you to Edinburgh?” Lynden smiled. “I have never been to Scotland. It appears I will be taking a trip.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Several days later, Atwoode returned to his home to find it and all of his markers were now in the hands of Worthingston. Madame Demey’s house was being converted into a girls home. Whatever connections he had with other members of the ton were now nonexistent. Worthingston had not left him completely broke but had left him with a very strict allowance. Atwoode curses echoed through the house as he watched his things packed and moved to a small apartment across town.

  Oxley stood on the street and watched the transfer. He smiled. He would write to the Duke and inform him all had gone just as he had planned.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~