A Scandalous Countess: A Novel of the Malloren World (49 page)

“Go
and have Jane pack what you need,” Perry said. “You won’t need much.”

Georgia burst out laughing, on the edge of tears again. “I’ve given her the day off!”

“I’m sure you’re capable of packing your own clothes if you try.”

“What challenges you’re setting me. I know where she is. I can send for her. Thank you, Perry.”

“I’ve failed you all around, but I’ll clear everything up now.”

“You can’t do that,” she said wearily. “If Sellerby hired Vance, there’s no proof of it, and Sellerby will never confess. Vance is far, far away. If by some miracle you found him and dragged him back, if he confessed all, I’d be little better off. The world would know the duel was all because of me, because of Lady May’s foolish, flirtatious ways, and many will choose to believe I was Sellerby’s whore.”

“Sometimes it would be easier if you were a wigeon. Yes, you will always have some of that story hanging over you. But you can dilute it every day by being yourself, especially if no one else stirs the pot. We can easily deal with Millicent and Eloisa, even though Pranks is scared to stand up to his wife. Soon Sellerby will trouble you no more.”

She clutched his arm. “No duel. Promise me, Perry. No duel!”

“It would be simplest, but I doubt I’d get him out, so I promise.”

“And make sure Dracy doesn’t take that route.”

“I will. You don’t intend to speak to him before you leave?”

“It’s better that way. I…I don’t know if I love him, Perry, but it will break my heart a little to cut him free. I have to do it, however.” She sadly turned the globe, thinking of all the places Dracy had been, all the women he’d pleasured, and would in the future. “We’re like creatures from different worlds, like night and day.”

“Perhaps,” he said, “but
a time to recover and think about it will do you no harm. He’s a good man.”

“Which is why I have to cut him free. Tell him that I thank him, for everything in the past and for any effort he makes in the future, but that I can’t see him again.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded and went to her room. She sent a note to Jane at the Three Cups at Clerkenwell, but she also sent for her smaller trunk and began to pack for herself.

Chapter 30

D
racy paced the drawing room until Perriam returned. It seemed a hour or more, though the ticking clock showed only ten minutes.

“She doesn’t want to see you,” Perriam said.

“The fate of the bearer of bad news.”

“Perhaps, but her main concern seems to be to protect you from her deadly effect.”

“That’s nonsense.”

Dracy stepped forward, but Perriam raised a hand. “All the same, you’ll do as she wishes.”

He could overpower the smaller man. “I’m tempted,” he said, “if only to see how good you are.”

“I’m sure it would amuse,” Perriam said, “but so distressing to get blood on the carpet.”

“Devil take it, but I don’t suppose I’ll further my cause with Georgia by breaking your bones. I have to watch over her.”

“Against her wishes? She wants to leave Town, to go to Brookhaven, the Torrismondes’ place. Lady Torrismonde is her dearest friend, and Torrismonde’s a good, dependable man.”

Dracy didn’t want Georgia more than a few yards from him, but she’d be better off away from the beau
monde and Sellerby. “Well escorted,” he said. “If I’m right, Sellerby’s literally mad for her.”

“Very well escorted, but we can spike his guns by letting him know we suspect his part in the letter. He’s sane enough to go carefully when under suspicion.”

Dracy turned to pace the room. “I wish he weren’t. I want to see him hang.”

“So do I—Dickon Maybury was a good fellow—but the evidence would have to be very solid to convict a peer, and thus far all we have is suppositions. I see no hope of more unless we first find Vance and then force him to incriminate himself.”

Dracy grimaced at that prospect. “He’ll get away with it? Apart from the injustice, will Georgia ever be safe?”

“He won’t get away with it,” Perriam said, in a tone that chilled the air. “And Georgia will be safe.”

“A duel?” Dracy said, studying him. “She—”

“She’s forbidden it. If necessary, I’ll kill him in cold blood, but only when I’m sure without doubt that he’s the monster we think he is.”

Dracy was shocked. He no longer thought the Honorable Peregrine Perriam a silly fop, but he’d met few men who could make such a statement and be believed. He believed in this case.

A twitch of Perriam’s lips showed he read these thoughts. “Are you willing to stay in Town and help pursue proof?”

“Of course,” Dracy said, though half of himself was with Georgia above stairs, longing to be closer, and stay closer.

“Then you’d best remove to my rooms. I’ll explain the two departures to my parents.”

“You’ll tell them all?”

Perriam laughed. “By no means! My father’s temper is chancy at best, and Mother can be a Gorgon when the family’s threatened. I will simply say that Georgia felt
the need for some country calm, and you don’t wish to impose any longer. Time to leave,” he prompted. “I’ll arrange for your belongings to be packed and—”

“No, dammit!” Dracy exploded. “It’s madness. She can’t travel without one of us. We’re the only ones who know the real threat.”

“We can warn the outriders.…”

“And if the Earl of Sellerby stops them and spins some story, they’ll deny him?”

Perriam glared at the obvious answer. “Devil take it. I’ll go.”

“Where’s the sense in that? You’re the one who knows Town waters, so you’ll get to the bottom of the forgery far quicker than I. Georgia’s wishes should be respected, but not beyond reason. Tell her that I will accompany her. I won’t bother her—I won’t even speak to her if that is her wish—but I will guard her with my life. I insist on it. And if Sellerby gives me an excuse to kill him, I’ll do that too. On my honor, I will. “

After a moment, Perriam nodded and went out.

“No, Perry, no!”

Georgia turned away, refusing to allow any persuasion. She wouldn’t endanger Dracy further, his life or his heart.

“Shall I leave, milady?”

At Jane’s voice, Georgia turned, seeing her maid in the doorway, still in cloak and hat.

“No, Jane. I’m sorry to drag you away from your friend, but I’ve decided to visit Brookhaven. I’ve begun to pack.” She waved vaguely at the open trunk, half full of clothing and other items.

Jane opened her mouth, then shut it again. Hardly surprising. Packing was not as easy as it seemed.

“Very well, milady. You leave it to me. How long will we stay?”

“I don’t
know, but I leave soon, so don’t pack much. I can send for more.” Georgia looked at her brother. “Adieu, Perry.”

He didn’t move. “Someone who knows the situation must be with you, but I’m needed here. This can’t entirely be your decision, Georgia. Dracy won’t distress you.”

At those words, she put her hand to her mouth and turned away, fighting tears. And losing.

“Milady?” Jane said, rising from her knees by the trunk.

“This doesn’t concern you,” Perry snapped, and he’d never normally speak so sharply to Jane. “Georgia, you will do as I say.”

He’d never normally give her such an order.

She turned on him. “Damn you! You don’t know what you ask.”

“I’m concerned for your safety. Dracy goes with you.”

“Very well, then. He may ride escort.”

“He’s not a practiced rider and you’ll be traveling at speed.”

“Then he can sit on the box!”

“You’re afraid to be alone with him?” Perry asked, and she read a host of new problems in his tone.

“No,” she said quickly. “I don’t fear him at all.”
Only my own weak folly.
“Oh, very well, let him come. Let him travel in the carriage with me. Let it all be as you say. I’m sure you know best.”

He stepped toward her as if to comfort her, and then halted.

Very wise. She was ready to scratch him, or worse.

He turned and left without another word.

“What’s going on, milady?” Jane asked quietly.

Georgia turned from her too. “I’m going to Brookhaven, and Lord Dracy will accompany me. Finish the packing, for the coach could be ready at any moment.”

Indeed, a footman came only ten minutes later to say that her
father’s traveling chariot awaited. He carried down the small trunk, and Georgia followed with Jane. She’d realized only at the last minute that she still wore the dull gown, but she wouldn’t delay to change.

Dracy awaited in the hall, and she felt his concern press on her. A part of her longed to rush into his arms, but she passed him without a word. She didn’t deserve him, she wanted to protect him, but she was also angry at being forced to have his escort.

At sight of the equipage, she gave a short laugh. Six horses in the traces, and four armed riders alongside. People would think royalty went by.

She settled herself on the thickly stuffed carriage seat, and Jane sat opposite, eyes wide with curiosity. Dracy entered and sat beside Jane, and then the coach rolled down Piccadilly, on its way out of Town.

They traveled in silence, and Georgia looked outside to avoid looking at Dracy. When she flickered a glance, he was doing the same thing. Jane was pretending to doze. Georgia knew it was pretence because her maid’s mouth always fell open if she truly slept.

They didn’t stop for a change, for the six prime horses could do the thirty miles if handled well, and there’d not been time to send others ahead, as the family normally did when traveling.

She’d been blessed with a life of luxury, in which everything was arranged for her comfort and pleasure, and only see what she’d done with it. One man dead and another mad, and another too devoted for his own good.

She saw a finger-post and realized they were approaching the place where the road to Hammersmith went off. Perhaps she should go to Thretford, confess her sins to Winnie and Eloisa, and endure their smug condemnation as penance.

No, she wasn’t saintly enough for that. She wanted sanctuary, not confessional, and she wanted Lizzie. She’d sent a message to Brookhaven as soon as she’d made the
decision, so the Torrismondes would have some warning. She’d given no details, but she was sure her tone had betrayed distress and urgency.

The first touch of evening was softening the ivy-clad house with gold when the coach slowed and Georgia saw Lizzie and her husband come out to greet them. She scrambled out of the coach and into her friend’s arms.

“Georgia! You know you’re welcome, but what’s amiss?”

“Everything. But I can’t speak here.”

“Then, come inside. Come, love. I’m sure nothing can be as bad as it seems.”

Chapter 31

D
racy watched the two women go into the house, preparing to explain the situation to Lord Torrismonde, who was remarkably unreadable. On slight acquaintance, Dracy would have said the very ordinary viscount was easygoing and amiable, but he knew the signs. Torrismonde was assessing what danger had come to his home and his family and was ready to eviscerate the culprit.

“As you’ll have guessed,” Dracy said, “Lady Maybury is in some trouble, and possibly in some danger. Should I have some of the Perriam men stay?”

“Danger? You’re serious?”

“Very serious. Most likely of abduction.”

“Then perhaps you should. I have only the normal complement of servants.” Clearly he wished normality could be maintained.

Dracy spoke to the armed outriders. Two were chosen to stay and sent round to the stables. Once the horses had been cared for, the rest would return to Town with the coach.