Angel Rogue (44 page)

Desdemona sipped more coffee, then sighed. "This is an awkward topic, and probably an auntly one, but I cannot help but be concerned for your reputation." She glanced at Lord Robert. "Doubtless things are somewhat different in America, but surely you are aware of the English proprieties?" The lift at the end of her sentence was accompanied by a pious hope that she would not have to become more specific.

"If you mean what I think you mean," Maxie said in a tone whose frostiness would have done credit to a patroness of Almack's, "I assure you that Lord Robert has behaved as a perfect gentleman." The effect was spoiled when she added something under her breath that sounded like, "I was the one who didn't."

Desdemona stared at her niece, sure that she had misheard. Giles, who was closer to the girl, suddenly had a fit of coughing that sounded like a doomed attempt to stifle hilarity.

Deciding that abandoning the topic was the better part of wisdom, Desdemona asked, "Where are you staying? I would be delighted to have you here."

"That is very kind of you, but we are staying at Candover House. The duke and duchess have been most hospitable."

The marquess straightened, startled. "You're staying with Candover and his wife?"

"Yes." It was Lord Robert who answered, a hint of challenge in his voice. "And why not?"

"Why not indeed?" Giles murmured.

Desdemona wondered what that was about. She would make Giles explain later when they were private Turning back to her niece, she asked, "Did you leave Chanleigh so suddenly because Althea was plaguing you? She never could abide anyone disagreeing with her."

Her niece hesitated, weighing her answer. "That was part of the reason," she said finally. "I also wanted to meet you before returning to America."

"You're leaving England?" It was a possibility that had never occurred to Desdemona, though it should have.

An opaque look came into the girl's rich brown eyes. "My plans are somewhat uncertain."

In a way, the news that Maxie might go back to America was welcome. Any indiscretions that had occurred would not have scandalous repercussions. Then again, Desdemona thought with a return to gloom, nature being what it was, perhaps there would be other kinds of repercussions.

Maxie set her coffee aside and leaned forward, her hands clasped tensely in her lap. "Please, Desdemona, if you don't mind, could… could you tell me about the times you saw Max before he died?"

Looking at her niece's earnest face, Desdemona guessed the true reason the girl had come to London. Max had been devoted to his daughter, and obviously the feeling had been mutual. It must be very hard to know that her father had died alone and far away.

"Of course I don't mind talking about him," she said, settling back in the sofa with a nostalgic smile. "It was so good to see Max again. I was just a child when he left for America, but he wrote the most wonderful letters." She grinned. "Incidentally, I have his gold watch for you. It was taken from the body of a dead highwayman."

Her statement caused a lively set of explanations on both sides. After the incident had been discussed, the marquess got to his feet. "You ladies will have a great deal to say to each other. If you like, Robin, you can leave your carriage for Miss Collins, and I'll give you a ride to wherever you want to go."

Robin exchanged a glance with Maxie, who nodded. After a flurry of farewells, the two men left the house and climbed into the Wolverton town carriage.

Giles asked, "Where do you want to go?"

"Whitehall, please. Since I have the afternoon free, I might as well pay a visit to some of my old colleagues." Robin settled in the backwardfacing seat opposite his brother. "It sounds as if Lady Ross led you a merry dance."

"No more so than her niece did you. Since her ladyship was threatening all and sundry Andrevilles, I decided that it behooved me to find you first, in the hopes of heading off scandal or your incarceration." Giles set his hat on the seat beside him. "Did Simmons ever catch up with you?"

Robin's brows rose. "Yes, in Market Harborough. How do you know about him?"

"I gave the fellow a ride near Blyth. He was nursing his injuries and plotting revenge on the 'yallerheaded fancy man' who had jumped him from behind."

"Of course I jumped him from behind. The fellow is twice my size," Robin said with irrefutable logic. "If there is one thing I've learned over the years, it's that 'fighting fairly' is a dangerous luxury."

"I assume he's the fellow Lord Collingwood sent after Miss Collins?"

"Exactly." Robin shrugged. "She didn't want to go."

"Apparently not. Simmons said she held a pistol on him."

"Life in the forests of the New World is rather different from a London drawing room, so she is in the habit of solving problems with a certain directness. In Market Harborough, for example, she had to be restrained from sliding a knife between Simmons's ribs," Robin explained. "When we first met, I had difficulty persuading her to accept my escort because she thought I looked useless."

"She's hardly the first to make that mistake." The marquess smiled reminiscently. "Miss Collins is not at all what I expected. On the overwrought occasion when I met Lady Ross, I countered her charge that you were a vile seducer with the suggestion that she and her niece were deliberately plotting to entrap you."

Robin laughed. "No one who knows Maxie could think such a thing. There isn't a duplicitous bone in her delightful body. Full frontal assault in broad daylight is her style, not sneak attack." He gave his brother a slanting glance. "I've asked Maxie to marry me. Will you have any objections if she agrees?"

Giles raised his brows. "Would it matter if I did? You're both of age."

"If you mean would your disapproval stop me, the answer is no. But I would very much prefer that you welcome her into the family. She has not always been accepted as she deserves." Robin glanced down and made a minute adjustment to his elegantly tailored sleeve. "I thought it was time I settled down."

Giles laughed. "I'm not sure that marriage to a pocketsized hoyden with the courage to cross England on foot, attack a professional bruiser, and dine with a duchess is what I would call 'settling down,' but for what's it's worth, you have my blessing. The two of you should suit very well. Is the lady reluctant?"

"She has her doubts." Robin chuckled. "But I'm using every bit of my fabled charm to persuade her."

As Giles set Robin down outside Whitehall, he uttered a fervent mental prayer that the girl would accept his brother's proposal. It had been obvious as soon as the pair of them had entered Lady Ross's drawing room that Robin had recovered from the blackness of soul that had afflicted him. If it took a dark eyed dazzler with a temper to make Robin laugh again, Giles was more than willing to welcome her as a sister-in-law.

When Maxie returned to Candover House, she was relieved to find that Robin had not yet returned. That meant their visit to the inn where her father died must be postponed until the next day.

More and more she was concerned about what they would find. According to Desdemona, Max had seemed tense during his stay in London. As Maxie had listened, she had felt the hovering shadow of anxiety. It seemed all too probable that he had been involved in some nefarious project that had brought disaster on his head.

But Desdemona had been a delight. Finally Maxie had found an English relation that she actually felt related to. Her father had said several times that his daughter reminded him of his little sister. Now Maxie understood why: Under their superficial differences, the two women were very similar. Her aunt might be a strong willed eccentric by the narrow standards of English society, but Maxie didn't doubt that Desdemona would manage splendidly in the American backwoods.

Robin's brother had also been a pleasant surprise. Though there was little family resemblance, the marquess had a lurking smile and tolerant attitude much like Robin's. He had also been amiable to her, in spite of her irregular background. Perhaps he might not object to her joining the aristocratic Andrevilles.

When she reached her bedroom, Maxie went to hang up her cloak. She swung open the wardrobe doors, then gasped with surprise. In the brief hours since Robin had suggested augmenting her supply of clothing, four gowns had appeared, with matching slippers neatly lined up below. In addition, accessories such as gloves, stockings, and shawls were folded on the shelves that ran down one side of the wardrobe.

She hung up the bonnet, then pulled out the most elaborate garment. It was a lovely silk evening gown in a shade of crimson that would suit her coloring admirably. She didn't bother trying on any of the dresses. Given the combined talents of Robin and Maggie, everything was bound to fit perfectly. They must have been a formidable team in their spying days.

As she closed the doors of the wardrobe, she smiled wryly. Robin didn't even have to be present to distract her from brooding about her father. Now she could brood about
him
.

It was incredibly tempting to grab his offer of marriage with both hands, before he changed his mind. But she could not escape the belief that her principal virtue was that she was available while the woman who was Robin's first choice was not. If Maxie weren't in love with Robin, they might have been able to make a comfortable marriage, enjoying each other's company and bodies without major conflicts. Though they might not reach the highs of a love match, they would also avoid the lows.

But since she did love him, the imbalance of emotion would be disastrous. It would be slow poison to live with Robin, always knowing that he had chosen her largely because she had been there when he had been having a bad night.

Wearily she rubbed her temples. Unless Robin really and truly wanted to marry
her
, Maxima Collins, halfbreed American and not at all a lady, she would be a fool to accept him. Once she went back to America, he would forget her soon enough.

With a growl, she decided to find a distraction before she started chewing on the furniture. She was willing to be wise and noble about turning Robin down, but being gracious as well was too blasted much to ask of herself.

Unclenching her jaw, she went down to the library. When she had seen it the night before, Candover had noticed the naked lust on her face and invited her to browse to her heart's content.

The enormous chamber was unoccupied except for a fuzzy black ball on one chair. Maxie studied it a moment before deciding that it was either a misplaced fur muff or a sleeping cat.