The Lady Gambles

by Carole Mortimer

  ‘Tell me how she died, Dominic,’ she urged.

  ‘What difference does the manner of her death make?’

  ‘It makes all the difference in the world,’ Caro said crossly. ‘Why did you tell me these things if you did not wish me to question you?’ Although she might take a guess on it having something to do with him thinking that he deserved to have people—women, most especially—feeling no affection for him.

  But also an indication, perhaps, that he might also fear that she was falling in love with him? Caro winced inside. That he was determined to foil any such softness of emotion, if it existed, was humiliating. Worse than humiliating, if he’d guessed her feelings correctly.

  In contrast, Dominic was a difficult man to read. That was deliberate, she felt sure. On the surface he was an arrogant, hard and uncompromising man, who outwardly scorned all the softer emotions. Yet, at the same time, he’d shown a deep concern over the attack on his friend, Lord Thorne. And instead of being furious earlier at the loss of his gambling club, as many gentlemen might have been, Dominic had instead only revealed a deep sorrow and anger at the death of poor Ben.

  And Dominic’s concern for Caro’s own safety and welfare was just as undeniable, even though he took great pains to claim he had been forced into saving her from her own reckless behaviour!

  He might give himself all sorts of reasons for his behaviour, but Caro had seen the man beneath and would have no part of it. ‘I will know the truth, Dominic, if you please!’

  He arched mocking brows. ‘And will you then reveal to me the truth about yourself?’

  Caro was in a quandary. No doubt he considered such an exchange of information fair. And it probably was. Except she could not confide her own situation to him, especially now when, having thought long and hard earlier this evening, Caro had decided that, guardian or not, she must return to Shoreley Hall as soon after Ben’s funeral as possible.

  Once back at Shoreley Hall she would assume the mantle of Lady Caroline Copeland. That being so, there was absolutely no reason for him to know anything further concerning Caro Morton, a woman who did not exist out of the small circle of acquaintances she had made in London.

  She drew in a deep breath. ‘I must refuse.’

  Dominic’s lip curled. ‘Then it would seem we are at an impasse.’

  ‘The two situations are completely different,’ Caro snapped her impatience with his stubbornness. ‘I have not just laid claim to killing someone!’

  ‘How do I know that you did not see off this “maiden aunt” or your father before making your escape to London?’ Dominic eyed her mockingly.

  Because there was no maiden aunt, and of course Caro had not been involved in her father’s death! But the second part of his statement, concerning her having made her escape to London, was too close to the truth for comfort…

  ‘I believe you are merely trying to fudge the issue by making ridiculous accusations,’ she said.

  ‘You may think what you please,’ Dominic retorted. ‘As far as the subject of my mother, and the manner of her death, is concerned, I have no wish to discuss the matter further. With you or anyone else.’ The finality in his tone did not allow for further argument. ‘I believe I will wish you goodnight now, Caro.’ He gave her a brief bow before striding across the room, pausing briefly when he reached the door. ‘If you wish it, I will have some supper brought up to you.’

  ‘That will not be necessary, thank you.’ Caro felt even less like eating now than she had earlier. Ben was still dead, and contemplating food after the intimacies she and Dominic had just shared was impossible. Also, his refusal to further discuss his mother’s death had left Caro with more questions than answers, especially as she now feared she might indeed have fallen in love with him!

  Dominic’s face darkened in fury when he returned to Brockle House late the following morning, accompanied by Drew, and was informed by a concerned Denby that Mrs Morton and Mr Brown were taking tea together in the Gold Salon.

  The fact that Nicholas Brown had come here at all was disquieting. That Caro had chosen to receive him, knowing all that she did about the other man, was more disturbing still in view of what Dominic knew to be her often reckless and impulsive nature!

  ‘Damn it, Denby.’ He glared at the man who had once been his batman in the army but was now, for the sake of expediency, posing as his butler. ‘What is the good of my installing you here to protect Caro when you then let the biggest threat to her calmly walk through the front door?’

  The other man gave a pained frown. ‘Mrs Morton had been for a walk in the park across the way—she was accompanied by my wife,’ he added quickly as Dominic looked set for another explosion. ‘It was apparently as she was returning to the house that she saw Mr Brown stepping down from his coach and stopped to engage him in conversation.’

  Which sounded exactly the sort of thing Caro would do, Dominic realised frustratedly. He also realised that Brown must have had the two of them followed yesterday to know to find Caro at Brockle House at all. ‘That still does not explain why you allowed the man to accompany her into the house?’

  ‘I tried to prevent it from happening—’

  ‘Obviously you did not try hard enough!’

  ‘My wife is in the Gold Salon with them, my lord.’

  ‘I am relieved to see that you have not completely lost your senses!’ Dominic barked.

  ‘We are wasting time here, my lord.’ Drew put a steadying hand upon Dominic’s arm. ‘Brown can be a wily cur at the best of times, and I really don’t think we should leave Caro to deal with him alone any longer. She is also likely to say more than she ought to him.’

  ‘Caro has no more sense than a—’

  ‘She is merely idealistically young,’ the older man interrupted diplomatically.

  ‘Nothing a sound beating would not cure!’ Dominic assured the other man grimly as he strode across the entrance hall to thrust open the door to the Gold Salon, taking in at a glance the determined expression on Caro’s face as she sat on the sofa looking up at a relaxed and nonchalant Nicholas Brown as he stood beside the unlit fireplace.

  ‘I apologise for you having to receive our guest alone, Caro.’

  She gave a self-conscious start at the icy coldness of Dominic’s tone, one glance at the fury so clearly evident upon his face enough to show her how displeased he was at having returned to Brockle House to find that, despite all his warnings, she had chosen to invite Nicholas Brown inside when he’d had the audacity to arrive outside in his carriage some minutes earlier.

  Dominic was no doubt perfectly aware that her sole purpose for inviting the other man to join her for tea, knowing him to be responsible for both Ben’s death and the attack upon Lord Thorne, was to confront him with his perfidy! Something she had been just about to do when Dominic had arrived accompanied by Drew Butler.

  In truth, Caro knew a certain relief in the timely arrival of the two men. Every attempt on her part to challenge the villain with his terrible deeds had been smoothly and charmingly foiled by him as he had kept up a stream of polite gossip and inanities from the moment they had entered the Gold Salon. Caro had even begun to doubt both her own and Dominic’s conviction that Brown was responsible for anything more than having the misfortune to have gained a bad reputation!

  ‘To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit, Brown?’ Dominic obviously felt no such doubts as he kept the icy coldness of his gaze firmly fixed upon the older man.

  Brown raised dark and mocking brows. ‘I merely called to pay my respects to Mrs Morton.’

  ‘Indeed?’ Dominic’s teeth showed in a predatory smile.

  ‘I understand she was present when the fire occurred yesterday afternoon?’ Brown said smoothly.

  Dominic’s jaw clenched. ‘What of it?’

  ‘I, of course, wished to assure myself of her good health.’ Brown’s smile was lazily confident. ‘Women are such fragile creatures, are they not?’

  It was impossible for Dominic
to miss the underlying threat in that single remark. For him not to feel an icy chill in his veins at the thought of this man harming one golden hair upon Caro’s head. His mouth thinned. ‘Which is why men were, presumably, put on the earth to protect them.’ Two could engage in this particular game of veiled threats. And when that game now so obviously involved Caro it was one that Dominic had every intention of winning.

  As was to be expected, Caro was unable to stop herself from commenting on Dominic’s remark. ‘I am sure I am perfectly capable of protecting myself, Dominic.’

  ‘All evidence to the contrary, my dear,’ he said grimly.

  Her cheeks flushed prettily. ‘You—’

  ‘I, too, am pleased to see that you are quite recovered from yesterday’s ordeal, Mrs Morton,’ Drew cut in tactfully.

  Caro gave him a grateful smile. ‘And I you.’

  ‘Oh, I believe you will find that it’s going to take more than a fire to be rid of me,’ he said, at the same time shooting a telling glance in Brown’s direction.

  ‘My compliments on your lucky escape, Drew,’ the other man taunted.

  ‘Would that Ben had been so lucky,’ Drew said pointedly.

  Hard brown eyes glittered with satisfaction. ‘Such a waste of a young life…’

  ‘A needless waste,’ Drew agreed harshly.

  ‘It would appear that you have had a busy morning, Brown?’ Dominic felt it was time to intercede, before Drew’s anger became such that he spoke or acted incautiously and this situation deteriorated whilst Caro was still present. Dominic and Drew had talked of this earlier and had agreed it must not be allowed to happen; if she were not present now, the conversation would no doubt have ceased being polite long ago!

  Even the thought of Caro being anywhere near when that veneer of politeness was stripped from this situation, to reveal the ugly truth they all knew lurked beneath, was enough to send a cold rivulet of fear down Dominic’s spine; he had no doubt, for all Brown looked so elegant in his perfectly tailored clothes, that the other man had a knife, or possibly even a small pistol, concealed somewhere about his person. Just as Dominic also believed that Caro would be Brown’s target if this situation were to explode into violence now…

  ‘Indeed?’ Brown drawled.

  Dominic nodded. ‘I am informed by Ben’s sister, Mrs Grey, that you have assisted her by financing tomorrow’s funeral arrangements.’

  He gave a dismissive shrug. ‘It seemed the least I could do in the circumstances.’

  ‘And what circumstances might they be?’ Dominic asked.

  Nicholas Brown met his gaze unblinkingly. ‘Ben was my employee, and as such was loyal to me, for far longer than he was to you.’

  It was tantamount to a declaration that it had been this change of loyalty on Ben’s part—and no doubt on Drew’s, too—which had ultimately brought about the young man’s demise. That Brown would have been more than happy if both Drew and Ben had perished in yesterday’s fire, as retribution for the fact that they had chosen to continue being employed by the new owner of Nick’s rather than leave.

  Just as Brown’s visit to Caro was yet another veiled threat? That the villain had so clearly shown that he was fully aware of exactly where Caro resided now was, to Dominic’s way of thinking, tangible evidence of that threat…

  ‘I believe it is time you took your leave, Brown.’ Dominic had had quite enough of even attempting to be polite to this man. ‘Caro is looking a little pale. No doubt she is in need of rest following the events of yesterday and all this talk of death and funerals today.’ He rang the bell for Denby.

  Caro knew she might look less than perfect, but she had not, as yet, had the opportunity to say all that she wished to say to Mr Nicholas Brown! Added to which, she had been rendered almost speechless by the politeness—at least on the surface—of the conversation between the three men. Why did Dominic or Drew not just confront the man? Tell him of their suspicions and demand an explanation? It was what she had intended doing until she had found herself rendered tongue-tied by the man’s smooth charm!

  ‘Having now assured myself as to your welfare, Caro, I believe I will also take my leave,’ Drew said smoothly.

  But not smoothly enough that Caro was not aware of the hard edge beneath the blandness of his tone. ‘No doubt I will see you again at Ben’s funeral tomorrow.’

  Brown raised surprised brows. ‘You will be attending?’

  Caro looked at him coldly. ‘But of course I shall—’

  ‘It has yet to be decided.’ Dominic was the one to cut in as he stepped forwards to lift one of Caro’s hands and place it firmly in the crook of his arm so that the two of them now stood side by side as they faced Brown.

  The gesture was so obviously one of possession that Caro could not help but be aware of it. Just as she was aware of the warning of Dominic’s fingers firmly gripping her own as he kept her hand anchored in the crook of his arm. ‘Dominic—’

  ‘It is time to say goodbye to Mr Brown and Drew now, Caro,’ he instructed her tautly.

  Just as if she were a child who needed reminding of her manners! Or as if Dominic meant to silence her before she had the chance to do or say something that would totally strip away even this tense veneer of social politeness. Her mouth firmed determinedly. ‘Perhaps before he leaves, I might ask Mr Brown—’

  ‘I am sure, Caro, that whatever queries you might have for Mr Brown, they can surely wait until another day.’ Those long fingers again pressed down on Caro’s.

  ‘Perhaps tomorrow at Ben’s funeral?’ she persevered.

  Silver eyes glittered down at her in warning. ‘Perhaps.’

  Caro’s cheeks flushed in temper. ‘This is utterly ridiculous—’

  ‘Ah, Denby.’ Dominic turned to the butler as he quietly entered the room. ‘Mr Brown and Mr Butler are leaving.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘Say goodbye to our guests, Caro.’ The dangerous glitter in Dominic’s eyes dared her to do anything more than that.

  Much as she longed to accuse Nicholas Brown, Caro had enough wisdom to know when Dominic had been pushed to the limit of his patience. And the hard tension of his body as he stood next to her informed her that he had reached that limit some time ago.

  Her parting comments to the other two men were made distractedly, her agitation now such that she could barely restrain herself.

  It was a lack of restraint that Dominic clearly echoed, as he waited only long enough for Denby to close the door firmly behind himself, his wife and their departing visitors, before releasing Caro’s hand and rounding on her furiously. ‘What did you think you were doing by calmly inviting Brown in here? No, do not tell me, I know exactly what your intentions were!’

  ‘Someone must confront Mr Brown—’

  ‘And someone will,’ Dominic assured her fiercely. ‘But not you, Caro. Never you! And if you dare—so much as dare,’ he grated, ‘accuse me of behaving in a cowardly manner by not confronting him myself just now, then I must warn you, Caro, that I really will have no recourse but to administer the beating someone should have given you long ago!’

  Her cheeks were pale. ‘I had no intention of accusing you of being cowardly!’

  ‘That is something, I suppose,’ Dominic muttered darkly.

  Caro knew him well enough now to know that he could be every bit as dangerous as Nicholas Brown if he chose to be. Nor had she missed the lethal purpose in the gaze Dominic had directed at Brown when he entered the salon a few minutes ago.

  The difference between the two men was, of course, that Dominic was undoubtedly a man of honour. Of integrity. A gentleman. A gentleman who had caused her to behave as less than the lady she was from the moment they had first met!

  Which thought had absolutely no place in their present conversation! ‘That is not to say I understand why neither you nor Mr Butler did not challenge Mr Brown, both over the attack on Lord Thorne, and the setting of the fire that resulted in Ben’s death.’ A frown creased the creaminess of her br
ow.

  ‘Perhaps because we were both endeavouring to protect you?’

  ‘Me?’

  Dominic gave a rueful shake of his head at the surprise in Caro’s expression. Despite the week she had spent singing in a gentlemen’s gambling club, and after all that had happened these past few days—including their lovemaking—she remained an innocent. She could not conceive, it seemed, that Nicholas Brown was more than capable of killing her where she stood, and to hell with the consequences.

  Yet Dominic now feared that Brown’s visit here today meant that he had decided, by implication, if not yet deed, to now turn the focus of his malevolent attentions upon Caro herself…

  Chapter Seventeen

  It was a threat Dominic intended taking very seriously indeed. ‘I have decided, now that Brown has made it so obvious he knows of your whereabouts, that for your own safety it would be a good idea if I were to remove you immediately from London and place you at my estate in Berkshire.’

  Caro’s eyes widened, initially in shock, quickly followed by indignation. She had already spent a night at Blackstone House, followed by another in Brockle House, both properties owned by the Earl of Blackstone; for her to now be seen to move into his estate in Berkshire was unacceptable. Besides which, there was the added insult that Dominic had not even bothered to consult her before making this decision.

  She gave a firm shake of her head. ‘No.’

  He became very still, his eyes narrowed to silver slits. ‘No?’

  Caro shrugged her slender shoulders. ‘No, Dominic. I must have a say in where I go and what I do—and this makes me feel like an unwanted relative you must needs move from house to house in order to avoid their company.’

  If Caro really were a relative of his then Dominic would have put her over his knee and spanked her pretty bottom days ago. For the sheer stupidity, her complete lack of caution, in coming alone to London at all, and therefore placing herself firmly in the midst of this highly volatile situation. As it was, Dominic was currently perceived—by Brown, if by no other—as being Caro’s protector. ‘When it comes to the subject of your safety, Caro, I feel you must do as I ask.’