Page 11 of Lady Louisa and the Carriage Clock (The Rogue’s Alliance #3)

B last! Lady Louisa was too clever for her own good. Cecil thought quickly, arranging his features into a blank mask.

“The objective is to keep you safe, Lady Louisa, not to expose you to additional risk,” he replied smoothly.

“You have heard my terms, Lord Wycliffe,” the lady replied with a shrug, settling back against the cushions of the settee.

Lady Edith smiled softly and took a sip of her tea, not weighing in on the matter. He couldn’t think of any way out of his dilemma.

“Lady Louisa, you’re being unreasonable.”

The lady bit her lip a moment before replying with a sigh, “Am I? How badly do you want my clock?”

He stared into Louisa’s eyes, the dark shade of green reminding him of a lush field in spring. “This isn’t a game.”

“No, it’s not.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I guess there is nothing else to say. Good day, Lord Wycliffe.”

Cecil shook his head. “I’ve never met a woman more stubborn.”

Louisa did not reply. Edith groaned.

He looked at Edith. “Shall we go?”

The lady nodded, placed her teacup on a side table near her chair, stood up, and said irritably, “You both need to learn to compromise.”

Lady Louisa rose to her feet as well. “I will see you both at dinner tomorrow evening.”

“Perhaps you can come to some sort of agreement then,” Edith replied quietly.

As he walked the lady back to her home, Edith said, “Louisa won’t give in, you know. I’m sure you don’t want to approach Leopold for his assistance.”

He did not. “I have a lot to think about.”

“So Louisa was correct. You have the other clock.”

He replied grimly, “Oh yes, she was right. Please keep that information to yourself.”

“Nathaniel?”

“He knows.”

“He does? I imagine my husband wanted to protect me.” She paused. “The best way for us all to be safe is for you to bring down the Rogue’s Alliance once and for all.”

“I agree, Lady Edith.”

Several minutes later, he was in his own home, or what amounted to one for the time being. He looked around him, satisfied with his efforts in the space. What he was no longer happy with was his living arrangements.

“Ashford and Nathaniel have large homes and families. I’m nearly thirty years old and live like a young blade.”

Did he want a family? He already had one. Perhaps it was time to reopen the townhouse in Hanover Square and invite his mother to London. No, not yet. He needed to make sure the RA was disbanded first. Then he could set about strengthening his relationship with his family and meet his infant nephew.

Thoughts of family reminded him to send the gift to David for his son. He’d had the rattle engraved with the boys’ name and birthdate. His brother might well have an apoplexy when he received the package.

Cecil was restless. Since he couldn’t be assured of a decent meal until Edith’s dinner party tomorrow, he would take himself off to his club.

As he rode in his carriage to St. James’s Street, the vision of a stubborn copper-colored haired lady invaded his mind. Cecil shook himself. Even if she did have lovely eyes, he had plenty of other things to think about.

* * * * *

L ouisa wasn’t sure how she’d known Lord Wycliffe had the other carriage clock, but her instincts were proven correct by his behavior.

She’d returned the clock to her bedchamber and was thinking about the riddle and the enigmatic Lord Wycliffe when her maid knocked on the door.

“My lady?”

“Come.”

Lucy smiled weakly as she stood in the doorway, wringing her hands. “Your brother Leopold wishes to speak to you in the drawing room.”

Leopold? He must have heard about the viscount’s visit. There was nothing for it. She would speak with him now rather than have a scene over dinner.

“Please tell him I will be down directly.”

When the maid had departed, Louisa wandered into her dressing room to check her appearance in the Cheval mirror in the corner of the room. She looked as presentable as she had for Cecil and Edith not an hour before.

“Good afternoon, Sister.” Leopold rose from his place in a stuffed chair near the hearth. “Sit with me.”

Louisa sat on a matching chair, folded her hands in her lap, and gave him a dutiful smile. “You wished to speak with me?”

“The butler, I don’t recall his name- he told me Cecil Wycliffe came to the house today. To see you.”

The words weren’t many, but his tone suggested feelings of dismay and irritation.

“In the company of my friend Lady Edith,” she pointed out. “And the new butler is named Jones.”

“Lord Wycliffe was here for what purpose?”

She took a breath. If she said too much, she could well lose her clock.

“The viscount wanted to know if I would sell him the carriage clock. Edith was our chaperone.”

Leopold knitted his brows. “You only recently acquired the clock.”

“I had mentioned to Edith that the rumored riddle must be a myth as there are no clues to any riddle on or in the clock. She supposed I might be willing to part with it.”

Her brother’s brow cleared, but he stared at her closely. “And what did you decide?”

“If I do decide to get rid of the clock, I shan’t make it so easy for the viscount to acquire.” She smiled grimly. “Everything seems to come to him too easily as it is.”

“A fact I know first-hand,” her brother said under his breath.

“Sidmouth’s daughter?” she asked innocently.

“What do you know about Sophie?” he asked, frowning.

She shrugged. “There are rumors you were enamored of her at one time.”

“That was a long time ago.”

“And you still hold a grudge against Lord Wycliffe?”

“You know more than you’re letting on.” Leopold shook his head. “The viscount collects women without even trying.”

“Brother, not to sound indelicate, but you have no trouble attracting ladies as well. I’m surprised someone of your elevated rank would let an incident so long ago affect his adult life.”

For a moment, she thought she’d said too much.

Leopold nodded. “I’m surprised at myself for doing so. The blame for my embarrassment lies with my thin skin, not Lord Wycliffe. As I no longer have any feelings for Sophie, I should be able to accept that.”

She was speechless. For her brother to share such introspection with her was unheard of. She remained silent, afraid to break whatever spell Leopold was under.

“For Lady Harbury to be in his company...” Leopold stood up. “That lady’s reputation is above reproach. Perhaps I’ve been too hard on the viscount. And the rumors of his being without funds are just that, unfounded rumors. He is an eligible bachelor, after all.”

He strode from the room, again leaving her speechless. Unless she was mistaken, her brother had softened his opinion of Lord Wycliffe merely because he considered the man a marriage prospect. Her family was so eager to marry her off that he would put aside any negative feelings he had for the viscount.

Her first thought was to dissuade Leopold from including Lord Wycliffe in his list of eligible suitors, but she changed her mind. She might have to meet with the viscount again. Let her family think he was a possible admirer. She would help decipher the riddle of the carriage clocks, and Leopold would be none the wiser.

Tomorrow, she and Lord Wycliffe would both attend Edith’s dinner. By then, she was sure he would capitulate and allow her to examine the other clock.

Louisa jumped to her feet, thinking of what she would wear to the dinner. Not that the viscount would notice her appearance or that she wanted to look nice for him. She knew that if she looked good, she would feel more confident.