Page 9

Moreland

F earing that Sherbourne might have discovered where his daughter was staying, I rose to my feet and positioned myself between her and the front door. It was already opening, and I had no time to send her upstairs.

Victoria also rose, but she remained behind me. Rexford could trust his men here. The same guard who’d intercepted my arrival was moving past the drawing room door to see who had come. I tensed, preparing to join him if Sherbourne had sent his men.

Rexford paused in the doorway, taking in the scene.

Victoria peered around me and let out a soft laugh. I could hear the relief in her voice when she spoke.

“I think we both expected that Father had discovered where I’m staying.”

Rexford raised a brow. “Is that why Moreland looks ready to tear me apart?”

I shrugged. “You asked me to keep her safe.”

“Indeed.”

The dry note in his voice told me that he suspected more was happening here than I was willing to acknowledge. But his timely interruption had shaken some sense back into me.

Rexford stepped into the room, and I took the opportunity to move to one of the armchairs. We waited for Victoria to sit before doing the same. This time, Rexford sat next to his sister.

“I take it that the two of you heard about the article in The Mayfair Chronicle ?”

Victoria made a soft sound of distress. “Father will have seen it, then. Was I named?”

Rexford looked at me. “Did you see it?”

I shook my head. “No. But Kendrick told me.”

Rexford turned to his sister. “No names were mentioned, of course, but enough details were given as well as first initials. It won’t take the duke long to realize the article is about you and Moreland.”

“What do we do now?” Victoria asked. “Should we hide?”

I hated the panic in her eyes. A protective instinct that urged me to draw her close, to do everything in my power to comfort her, welled up in me. Fortunately, I was too far away to succumb. Instead, I watched her reach for her brother’s hand.

“I think we need to continue with the plan you discussed with Rexford. This article came sooner than we expected, but it works in our favor.”

Victoria nodded, and I could see the way she called on all her training to be the perfect wife for another duke or marquess. Her shoulders straightened, and she took a deep breath, clasping her hands in her lap.

Rexford frowned. “If you’ve changed your mind?—”

She shook her head. “No, absolutely not. This is the only way to keep Father from giving me to Heddington. When this is over, I can take another name, perhaps pretend to be a widow, and retire somewhere in the country.”

“You’ll have our protection,” I said.

Rexford met my gaze, and I realized he could see that I wasn’t detached about this situation.

“Yes, as Moreland says, we will always be here to protect you.”

She smiled at him, then at me, and the power of her gratitude affected me in a way I refused to dwell on.

Rexford leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. “So, you have a choice. You can stay here and wait, or we can escalate our plan.”

Victoria’s brows drew together. Rexford glanced at me, and I nodded. I knew exactly what he was thinking.

“There is a ball,” I said. “It’s held monthly and?—”

“A ball?” Victoria drew back as if I’d struck her. “I can’t attend a ball. Everyone I know will be there.”

I leaned forward, hating the distance that separated us. “No, you misunderstand. This is a ball for members of the demimonde. Some of the gentlemen you know might be there, but it is a masked ball. Even if they recognize you, they won’t approach you as long as I’m at your side.”

She nodded. “But they will talk about it afterward. News will spread.”

I waited as she considered my suggestion.

I couldn’t sway her final decision, but I wanted to see this through with her.

I couldn’t say why, but something about Victoria, who had just come out in society, affected me more than any other woman I’d known.

I couldn’t act on my interest, of course.

She was Rexford’s sister. But that didn’t mean I wanted to see anyone else ruin her.

“We can do this,” I said. “I give you my word that nothing untoward will happen to you.” I could promise her nothing less. Not with her brother sitting right there, watching me carefully.

Victoria let out a soft breath. “I could try to hide, but as you reminded me before Rexford arrived, Father would tear the country apart looking for me. And I can’t just hide in here. People need to see me. I must make myself wholly unsuitable as a wife for one of Father’s friends.”

I met Rexford’s gaze, and I could tell that he wass thinking the exact same thing as me.

Victoria would never really be safe. She might be ruined as a wife, but if Sherbourne was as ruthless as his reputation painted him, nothing would prevent him from selling his daughter as a mistress.

Even after she was ruined, she would always need to hide.

“I’ll see to the plans.” Rexford stood, his visit clearly at an end.

Victoria and I also stood.

Rexford took both her hands in his. “I’ll arrange for you to visit a modiste who can see that you are properly attired for the ball.”

Inappropriate images filtered through my head. I was a regular attendee at those balls, and usually, the women showed a great deal of skin. I sincerely hoped that Victoria’s dress would be on the more modest side.

I offered her what I hoped was a reassuring smile. “I know that Rexford will see to your safety, but I’d feel better if I went with you.”

Victoria wrapped her arms around her middle. “Is it safe for me to remain here, so close to Father’s house?”

“I’ll stay here until you feel more comfortable.”

I didn’t know what possessed me to make that offer, but her obvious relief was reward in itself.

“Since the matter is settled…” Rexford said, interrupting the moment that passed between me and his sister. “Walk me outside, Moreland.”

Chastened, I gave Victoria another reassuring nod and followed Rexford from the house. He took precisely three steps away from the front door, then turned to face me.

“I don’t want to know any details, but if you hurt her, I’ll kill you myself.”

My first instinct was to reassure him that nothing would ever happen between me and his sister, but I couldn’t make myself say the words. They would be a lie, after all. I’d been alone with Victoria for only a few minutes, and I’d almost kissed her.

I nodded. “She is safe with me.”

I only prayed that I could keep my word.