“You
swear?” Her dark lashes were now spiked with tears.
“Upon my word.” He smiled fondly at the woman he
loved like a sister. “But as your friend, I would warn
you to think again before you take a lover. True, it’s
what Edward deserves, but you have children to consider. You
wouldn’t want the scandal—”
“Hush!” She waved him quiet.
Footsteps clamored in the hallway and scurried toward Helen’s
door.
“Blast it all,” he muttered. Flouting convention
was one thing, but to be caught in a lady’s chambers by
her husband was quite another. The last thing he needed was
to be called out to a bloody duel. As his father so often reminded
him, he was to be the next Marquis of Bradum and had a reputation
to uphold. He couldn’t add shooting a jealous husband
to his list of transgressions, especially Helen’s husband.
“Hide quickly!” Helen dived onto her bed and tossed
the satin sheets over her shoulders.
Adam barely had time to slip unnoticed behind the silk dressing
screen before the door burst open. A dark-cloaked personage
much too small to be Helen’s husband sprinted across the
room directly to Helen’s bedside.
“Aunt Helen, wake up,” the intruder panted.
“Elizabeth!” Helen rustled the satin bedding. “What
are you doing here? I thought you were staying at Rawlings with
your parents.”
“I was.” The girl’s nervous voice floated
past as she paced across the thick Persian rug. “The first
moment I could, I commandeered Papa’s mount and rode back
to London.”
“My goodness, you could have been killed!”
“A more desirable fate than what Papa has planned.”
The girl’s footsteps finally stopped.
“What could be so dire?”
Adam had to admit, Helen manufactured a soothing voice, but
being trapped behind a screen at dawn was a trifle unsettling.
Blast, the chit was crying now.
“Hush,” Helen consoled. “Tell me what he said.
You know I will do anything I can to help you.”
The girl sniffled. “I can barely speak of Papa’s
latest demand.”
“Dry your eyes. That’s right.”
Adam detected that put-out tone in Helen’s voice. She
tolerated no besmirching of her brother Horace Randolph even
though she on occasion ranted about his fondness for drink and
gaming.
“He wants me to wed.”
Helen’s calming laugh only grated on Adam’s nerves.
“Of course he does. He always has.”
“I mean now!”
“You are twenty years old and have dozens of young men
falling over you,” Helen pointed out. “Say yes to
the one you like best.”
“Dozens?” she asked dubiously. “According
to whom?”
A velvet cloak landed at Adam’s feet, momentarily enshrouding
him with the scent of jasmine.
“Elizabeth!”
Helen’s gasp brought Adam’s eye to the slit in the
screen. The girl wore only a paper thin chemise. The soft glow
of the fireplace behind her revealed curves belonging to no
child. His deuced body was responding to the chit.
“Papa didn’t leave me much to wear when I told him
I’d run away before being forced into wedlock.”
“Apparently not.”
Adam dearly wanted to peek over the screen for a better view,
but he dared not risk exposure. With her darling niece in the
room, Helen would likely feel forced to have him shot as an
intruder.
“Besides, Papa has already made the choice.”
“And you don’t care for the young gentleman?”
Helen sounded sympathetic but did not take the initiative to
remove her niece from the room.
“Young gentleman!” Elizabeth ranted. Her footsteps
stalked near, giving Adam a glimpse of her scuffed slippers
near the foot of the screen. “Old lecher is more apt.”
The faint scent of her jasmine perfume reminded him of an exotic
breeze sweeping across the Mediterranean, and her low voice
teased his senses. Something soft hit the screen, and a tasseled
pillow skidded into his view. From his crouched position, Adam
held out a steadying hand to keep the partition from toppling
over.
“Oh, dear.” Helen grabbed the girl’s shoulders.
“Please tell me Lady Maybole hasn’t passed on and
Horace is trying to force that match.”
“I’m not certain which would be worse.” The
revulsion in Elizabeth’s voice echoed across the room.
“Instead of an aged viscount, Papa has picked the most
reprehensible rake in all London. Adam Hastings, the Viscount
of Kettering!”
Saints watch over him, another fortune-seeking papa after him.
With his interest now piqued, Adam cocked his head not to miss
a word.
“No matter. I can hardly believe he insists I wed that
reprobate!”
Reprobate! Adam rapped his head against the partition.
“What was that?”
The spitfire did have to notice.
“It must be one of the servants awakening,” Helen
lied coolly. “Right now you need to compose yourself and
rest. Come, let me take you to your room.”
“No.” Elizabeth’s footsteps trailed away.
“Papa will come here as soon as he realizes I’ve
run away. I can’t stay.”
“It’s the middle of the night, my dear. I can’t
allow you to go anywhere else alone and especially dressed like
that,” Helen said with authority. “And no matter
how much you object, we must send word to your parents to let
them know you are safe.”
“No, please don’t tell them I was here.” The
young woman’s pacing steps neared the screen instead of
the door. “Besides, Papa is apt to be on his way. I told
him I would rather die than marry the bounder, but I do need
clothes and money.” She eased a ring from her finger.
“Give me what you think this is worth.”
“The ring Evan gave you?” Helen’s voice rose
incredulously. “I could never take that from you. You
know I would give you anything, but I won’t allow you
to leave tonight. You must calm down and think clearly. Besides,
Elizabeth, your solution is obvious. Simply refuse.”
Ah, the obvious solution if the chit honestly felt so repulsed
by him.
“Were it so easy.”
“Why isn’t it?”
From Adam’s experience it never was when someone was out
to gain access to his family’s fortune.
“Well.” The hellion hesitated for a moment. “Remember
the last time you and Uncle Edward took me to the country?”
“Last month.”
Ah yes, Adam recalled. Helen had begged him to stop by before
he headed off to the Continent for a holiday.
“You’ll recall Uncle Edward let me ride one of his
thoroughbred mares. When I dismounted near the stream, I twisted
my ankle, so I took off my boot to soak my foot in the cool
water. This apparent gentleman was riding by. When he saw me,
he stopped. He simply asked if I needed assistance. I told him
‘no,’ and he left. I vow that’s all there
was to it. But Papa heard this preposterous rumor that I was
caught half-dressed with this miserable rake.
“The only truthful thing about the rumor is that we were
alone. Perhaps Hastings judged me by my unfashionable apparel
and thought I was a servant’s daughter of no consequence
instead of your niece. I can only guess he must have exaggerated
and bragged about the incident later. But I never gave him my
name. How would he know who I was? Nothing about this makes
any sense. Upon my word, I didn’t even know who the miserable
sod was until yesterday when his father arrived on our doorstep.”
“Oh, dear.” Helen heaved a sigh.
If someone had started the rumor, it certainly hadn’t
been him. Bloody hell. How could he start a rumor about her
when he hadn’t even known her name? He would lay odds
it was one of the girl’s relatives out for a portion of
the Hastings’s fortune—probably old man Randolph
himself. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time a young
woman tried to snare him into marriage by foul means.
“Papa completely ignored everything I had to say. He and
the Marquis of Bradum have decided to match us up like a brood
mare and stud.”
“Elizabeth!” Helen chastised.
Adam clamped his hand over his mouth to silence a burst of laughter,
wondering if Helen’s niece was always so entertaining.
“What was that?”
“Don’t try to distract me,” Helen warned.
“Your father would slap your face. Wherever did you learn
such disgraceful language?”
The young woman sniffed. “Please don’t scold me
now. I refuse to marry that reprobate. The rumors about him
are so outrageous I’ve even heard that he keeps a dozen
mistresses. Uncle Edward swears he’s set his cap for you.”
Helen gasped though Adam didn’t know why. Her husband
had accused them of being lovers on more than one occasion.
Helen did nothing to discourage his beliefs, her way of getting
even for his most recent mistress.
“I know Uncle Edward is just being spiteful,” Elizabeth
said apologetically. “And I shouldn’t have been
listening. I didn’t mean to.”
Adam peered over the top of the screen. He could barely make
out the pair across the room. Helen’s gown glimmered beyond
Elizabeth’s slender silhouette. Even in the dim firelight,
Helen’s usually pale complexion flamed with color.
“What Edward believes isn’t important,” Helen
said. “It’s the rumor about you that concerns us.
Since you obviously don’t want to marry Lord Kettering,
is there anyone else you would care to wed before this rumor
gets out of hand?”
Elizabeth turned toward him. Adam ducked behind the screen.
A sensible solution. Adam would give the happy couple a very
generous wedding gift.
Elizabeth snorted at the suggestion. “Apparently the tale
is already running rampant. And with these ludicrous rumors,
who would have me? If Papa’s finances weren’t so
dire, I’d have time to find myself an amusing groom willing
to save my reputation.”
“Elizabeth.” Helen used her name like an admonishment.
“Your father would disown you if you wed beneath you.”
Silence.
“You would never see your sisters again,” Helen
pointed out.
Elizabeth heaved a heavy sigh. “I suppose you’re
right about Papa. But he doesn’t have much to do with
Celeste and Caroline these days. Besides he’s not trying
to force either one of them to marry a rogue… yet.”
“I doubt marriage to Lord Kettering will be so terrible.”
What was she saying? Of course it would be. He’d be bloody
miserable! Let her marry this groom, for pity’s sake.
Adam shook his head to clear his thoughts. What was he thinking?
There couldn’t be a bit of truth to her ludicrous tale.
His father wouldn’t give his word about something like
this without consulting him first. The girl had become unwound,
that was all.
“What about children?” Helen added.
Had Helen gone daft? He was too young to be chasing his own
offspring.
“You barely see yours once a month.” Elizabeth pointed
out as her steps neared the screen.
“Perhaps your husband won’t be so cruel.”
“Lord Kettering,” she spat his name as if too vile
to say. “I’ll be lucky if he doesn’t do me
in for trapping him into this muddle.”
“He’ll know you didn’t trap him.”
“Ha!” Another pillow tumbled over the screen and
hit his head. “It’s practically the latest rage.”
Elizabeth stalked into his view.
Rigorously keeping his presence a secret, Adam crouched perfectly
still in the shadows as his gaze traveled over the soft curve
of her hips. The window framed her slender silhouette. She turned
and the early morning glow afforded him her profile. Actually,
she was quite stunning. Her dark, mussed waist-length curls
emphasized her slender waist. Even with her dark brows pulled
together in a frown, her amber eyes glowed in the dim morning
light.
Oh, yes, he remembered the miss. Lovely indeed. But her chemise
was too demure. Her childish neckline would have covered her
well enough, except her voluptuous breasts tugged open the white
linen exposing a tempting cleavage.
A delightful display, Adam decided, amused. He would be the
last to condemn her for her lack of propriety. In fact, an inkling
of respect ignited. She must be a bold little thing to ride
half the night wearing nothing but a cloak and chemise. Suddenly
Helen blocked his enchanting view and draped a silk robe over
Elizabeth’s shoulders.
“Please, Aunt Helen, let me borrow some clothes and leave
before Papa arrives. Just a few simple gowns.” She pressed
her hands together. “Please.”
“Come along, my dear.” Helen wrapped the silk robe
around Elizabeth’s waist. “No more talk of this
tonight. You need your rest.”
“I don’t have time to rest.” Elizabeth paced
away out of his view.
“Of course you do,” Helen said. “Where else
will you go dressed as you are?”
“I’ll write to you when I’m safely away.”
She sighed. “Besides anything would be better than marriage
to Lord Kettering.”
“Think about your poor mama.”
Elizabeth paced back into view and leaned her forehead against
the window. Her warm breath fogged the pane. “Even Mama
sees no way out of this fix.”
“If you disappear, she’ll be sick with worry.”
Helen moved to stand between him and the girl. “And what
of Caroline and Celeste? Are they never to see their sister
again?”
“They’re not the ones being forced to marry a lecher.”
“We’ll work something out with your papa in the
morning, but now you need your rest.”
“All right.” Elizabeth gave in with a resigned sigh
as she tried to move past Helen.
Adam held his breath as Elizabeth’s slender hand reached,
groping for the velvet wrap at his feet.
“Come along,” Helen urged her away from the screen.
“My cloak.”
Helen guided her away. “Will remain with me for the night.
Now, off to your room and stay there.”
Their steps padded away.
Thank the heavens!
“Goodnight.” Elizabeth’s velvety voice faded
down the hall.
Finally the door closed and Helen’s light steps returned.
Adam peeked around the screen. “Has the little termagant
left?”
Venom fairly leapt from Helen’s eyes. “Elizabeth
does not find this the least bit amusing.”
“And I enjoyed being called a lecher, a blackguard, an
old man, a bounder and a reprobate?”
“You forgot rake.”
“The truth is acceptable.” He grinned. “What’s
upsetting you? Nothing will come of it. In a few days, the whole
matter will blow over.”
“Usually you’re a better listener.” She sent
him a rare frown. “Your fathers have come to an agreement.
You can’t wiggle out of this one, Adam.”
“You heard her. It was nothing. If you could believe her,
one would blame me for starting the ludicrous rumor. Bloody
hell, you know me better than that.” Scowling, he folded
his arms. “She’s doing a rather good show to make
you believe that she doesn’t want to marry me.”
“She doesn’t.” Helen worried her lower lip.
“Don’t look so indignant.”
“I’m not.” But he was, not that he wanted
to marry her. He certainly didn’t. Even when the time
came to marry, young maidens wouldn’t be in the running.
“Honestly, Helen, would her adoring father marry her off
to a lecherous reprobate who’s a reprehensible bounder
besides?”
“Her father isn’t so adoring. Horace is in debt
so this rumor has to be a Godsend to him. He’s always
wanted a rich son-in-law, the sooner the better.”
“So, I’ll buy him off,” Adam offered.
“And leave Elizabeth’s reputation to be shredded
by the ton?” She fumed. “You really are a bounder.
Now leave.”
“It is late, or early as the case may be.” He started
toward her door.
Helen tugged his wrist and pointed the direction behind him.
“Through the window.”
“And break my neck?” This was becoming quite ridiculous,
especially when he was here at her request.
“It would make Elizabeth happy.”
Straightening his shoulders, Adam stared at Helen’s stiff
back. Why would such a silly thing as the girl’s ludicrous
story send Helen up in arms? Then something about the desperation
in Elizabeth’s voice struck him. She had calmed herself
far too quickly. “Don’t you think you should see
your niece settled for the night? I wouldn’t put it past
her to raid the servants’ closets.”
Without a backward glance Helen raced out of her chamber.
Adam peered down the hallway as Helen hurried inside a room.
A moment later, she reappeared and rushed down the stairs.
“Elizabeth!” She threw open the front door.
Bloody hell, the girl had escaped. He couldn’t very well
allow Helen’s beloved niece to run through the streets
of London dressed in a chemise. If she didn’t catch her
death, some miscreant would surely accost her.
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