Page 26

Moreland

I hadn’t been able to shake my concern from the moment I’d received word that Victoria had gone out with Mirabelle. But I’d tried to assure myself that she was properly escorted. After all, Mirabelle was harmless.

Then Rexford had come out of his study, and he, too, had received a report. I should have realized that he had men watching his father’s house. He’d learned that the duke had left his home, escorted by a veritable army of footmen and thugs. Mirabelle had betrayed Victoria.

Fear slid through my veins at Rexford’s grim expression. “Sherbourne left the house an hour ago.”

I saw the entire situation play out in my mind.

Mirabelle was leading Victoria to where Sherbourne and his men would be lying in wait.

I pulled out the note the butler had sent me and tossed it in Rexford’s direction before storming from the club.

There was no time to waste. I set out on horseback for the small backstreet in London, riding hard, my heart threatening to explode from my chest.

I didn’t know what Mirabelle had told Victoria, but it didn’t matter. She could say anything, and Victoria would believe her. Victoria was far too trusting. Despite spending her entire life as her father’s prisoner, she still liked to see the best in others.

I’d been the recipient of that faith, but now, so had Mirabelle.

Rexford had shouted that he would send men to assist, but I was desperate to get there first.

When I finally reached the street named in the note, I dismounted. Fear that I was too late consumed me. I wanted to storm into the small establishment where Mirabelle was taking Victoria.

Some instinct held me back. I’d come from the club, which was closer than the townhouse, and I’d been on horseback.

It would take the carriage longer to reach the shop.

If I rushed in and Sherbourne’s men were still lying in wait, they would dispatch me quickly.

Still, I couldn’t help picturing Victoria being forced out the back of the store.

My mind made up, I took a step toward the shop’s door.

Then a carriage pulled onto the street. It was impossible to be sure, but I thought it looked like Victoria’s carriage.

I waited, my muscles tense. My gaze swung between the storefront to the approaching carriage.

Like Madame Argent’s second store, this modiste shop lacked glass windows. A detail that worked in my favor.

I patted my horse’s shoulder and loosely tethered the reins before springing into action the moment the carriage came to a halt. My heart still pounded, the fear that had driven me through the streets of London transforming into something else. Anger. Not at Victoria, though. Never at her.

No, my fury burned for Mirabelle and for Sherbourne.

Kendrick’s former mistress would be wise to lie low for some time. Because if I saw her again… I shook my head. I wouldn’t harm her, but she would never come near Victoria again.

I flung open the carriage door and ordered a startled Mirabelle to leave. The guard who’d been with them wisely decided to exit the carriage as well. I gave him instructions to take care of my horse before turning to Victoria.

The carriage began to move and my heart pounded as I stared at her, emotion swamping my senses. Her lower lip quivered before she caught it between her teeth. She straightened her shoulders and met my gaze.

“I was properly escorted, and I told the butler where we were going.” She folded her hands in her lap but didn’t look away. “I didn’t realize I wasn’t allowed to leave the townhouse. I was only going to the modiste. We had a larger escort than when you and I made a similar trip.”

I forced myself to take a deep breath, but my heart refused to slow. “Do you know how close you came to falling under your father’s control again?”

The color drained from her face. “What?”

“Mirabelle was leading you straight to Sherbourne.” My voice was tight, barely containing the anger still churning inside me.

“That dressmaker? Rexford has men following your father. He’s waiting in there along with others.

I don’t think I need to tell you what they planned to do when you entered the shop. ”

Her face fell. “I didn’t know. Mirabelle was so nice to me.”

“Mirabelle cares only for power and money. If she could get them by returning you to your father…” I stopped when I saw the way she wrung her hands in her lap. “I’m sure he promised her a handsome reward.”

For one heart-stopping moment, I thought she would cry. Instead, she whispered a soft “Thank you.”

I exhaled and took several deep breaths.

“I should have known. Why would someone like Mirabelle want to befriend me?”

I cursed under my breath and moved to sit next to her.

“It has nothing to do with you. Mirabelle is used to being cast aside when men tire of her.” I hesitated, choosing my words carefully.

“For that reason, she has always had to put herself first. I’m sure she told herself she was doing you a favor.

In her warped mind, she would have justified her actions.

She wouldn’t see it as a betrayal. No doubt she thought she was returning you to your proper position in society. ”

A shudder went through Victoria’s body. Her chest rose as she took a deep breath and released it. “I won’t make the same mistake again.”

A strange sensation twisted inside me. I felt like a monster who’d just kicked a small kitten. The fire had gone out of her, and she deflated so completely. It nearly undid me when she looked away.

“This isn’t your fault, Victoria. You see the best in people, and I admire that.

But it is also true that you aren’t used to the machinations of powerful men.

You’ve only seen how Sherbourne behaves as a father.

” I took her hand. “You haven’t seen how he behaves toward others, the ruthlessness with which he pursues his interests. ”

She was unnaturally still. I waited until she turned to look at me. I still held her hand, and our knees touched.

Her voice was barely above a whisper when she spoke. “If Father had succeeded today, I would be taken back to our house in Mayfair. Then…” She took another deep breath. “Dr. Mullins would be waiting to check the state of my maidenhead.”

A savage curse tore from my lips as I pictured the scene.

The way the man would spread her legs apart, examine her, then pronounce judgment.

Her father would be delighted. Then he would lock her away.

There would be no servants like Lily to bring her even a modicum of human comfort, no second chances.

I tightened my grip on her hand and forced myself to relax. “We stopped that from happening. And now that you know the lengths to which he will go, it won’t happen again.”

She stared wordlessly at me, her expression unreadable. Then something flickered within the depths of her eyes.

“Tell me what you’re thinking.”

Her lips pressed together, as though she meant to refuse. Then, finally, she placed her other hand over mine, where I held hers.

“You need to take my maidenhead.”

Despite the fact that Victoria’s voice was low, barely audible, her words seemed to echo through the carriage.

Or perhaps they merely echoed inside my head.

From the moment our eyes met across the billiard room at King’s, we were always headed here.

I had tried to convince myself that I wouldn’t touch her because she was Rexford’s sister, but that had always been a lie.

I wasn’t noble. I took what I wanted. And I wanted Victoria.

Still, I couldn’t forget my promise to Rexford that I wouldn’t hurt her. I’d initiated her into the world of passion last night, showing a restraint I’d never managed with any other woman. But I needed to be sure she wouldn’t regret it.

I brought our joined hands to my lips and dropped a kiss there. “There’s no going back from that.”

Her gaze softened. “I know.”

I searched her eyes for even a hint of trepidation. “If at any point you want me to stop, just say the word.”

She smiled. “I trust you, and I do want this. Last night showed me that I want to be with you more than I could have imagined.”

I swallowed hard and tried to curb the lust that raged inside me.

It was almost impossible to keep from plucking her off the bench and spreading her thighs over my lap.

But we weren’t out of danger yet. I had to keep my wits about me in case we were being followed.

I knew Rexford sent additional men, but his father was equally determined to retrieve his daughter.

It was not the time for distractions. We sat next to each other, me holding one of her hands on my lap while I forced myself to look out the window for any indication that we were being pursued.

We made it to the townhouse safely, and I escorted Victoria inside. My tension didn’t ease until the door was locked behind us.

“Go upstairs. I’ll meet you there in a few minutes.”

She nodded and turned away.

I watched her climb the stairs to her bedroom before finally turning to the butler. “We might have trouble tonight. Sherbourne attempted to regain control of his daughter, and he now knows where she’s staying.”

The man nodded, his expression grave. “I understand. I will ensure everyone is awake and alert for any signs of difficulty.”

I nodded. “Thank you. Do you know if Rexford has any pistols in the townhouse?”

“A set of dueling pistols are locked in the bottom drawer of the library desk, my lord.”

He reached for a set of keys in his coat pocket and separated one from the bunch. I nodded my thanks and headed to the library. The cool, logical side of my brain told me that no one would make it through the front door of the townhouse.

Still, the sun would set soon enough, and they might attempt by stealth what they weren’t brave enough to do during daylight hours. Sherbourne wouldn’t want to cause further scandal, but that didn’t mean he would give up.

And if someone did manage to enter the house, I would be prepared.