Debra Mullins (11 page)

“Just being in your presence is enough to cheer me,” he said, completely sincere. “It’s just some business matters that need decisions. Don’t fret.”

“How can I not fret when you won’t confide in me? I’m a grown woman, Rome.” She patted her belly. “Or had you forgotten?”

“Vin!” His face flushed. “You are far too outspoken for a lady.”

“So I’ve been told. But I’m a married woman now, and once in a while I will speak my mind. I do wish you would talk to me honestly.”

He shook his head slowly. “I’m sorry, Vin.”

Hurt flickered across her face. “Very well. By the way, Anna Rosewood sent a note around that she would be calling today.”

He couldn’t mask his surprise. “Really?”

“She asked if I would invite you as well. Rome, what’s going on?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Vin pounded the cushion of the settee with one small, clenched fist. “There you go again, keeping secrets! Just tell me this isn’t what it looks like.”

He stiffened. “That depends on what it looks like.”

Concern shadowed her hazel eyes. “An affair.”

“You know better than that.”

“I should, but I also know other things. Such as the way you closeted yourself in the library with her the other day. The fact that she asked questions about you the last time she visited me. And now she is coming to call and asked me specifically to invite you here.”

He let out a deep sigh. “I am not intent on stealing Haverford’s bride, Vin.”

“Then what
are
you doing? Because whatever it is, Marc will think the worst if he gets wind of it. You know how he is about loyalty.”

“I know.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Anna has information I need for an investigation I am conducting. And no, sweet sister, I am not going to tell you about it.”

“How can Anna be involved in an investigation? I thought her reputation was impeccable?”

Rome sent her a look. “Didn’t I just say I am not going to tell you about it?”

“It’s my house, and if Anna is involved with something that could possibly hurt Marc—”

“It’s nothing like that. Her brother was in
volved, not Anna. She is a perfectly acceptable female. And that is all I am going to tell you, brat.”

Lavinia pouted, but only for a moment. “Very well. Just take note that I have no intention of playing Friar Lawrence for you, dear brother.”

“I understand. But since this is the only place Anna and I can meet to discuss our business that would cause no gossip…”

She sighed. “Oh, very well, as long as this is not a romantic rendezvous, you may meet here.”

“Of course it’s not.” Unable to look her in the eye, he said, “I have no romantic interest in Anna Rosewood.”

Before Lavinia could say anything more, Bagsley entered the room. Rome and Lavinia looked up expectantly.

“The Earl of Haverford,” Bagsley said, then stepped aside.

Marc entered, his polite smile widening. “Good afternoon, Lavinia. Rome, a pleasant surprise.”

“Good afternoon,” Rome echoed, stunned. What was Marc doing here, when Anna was due any moment? He turned away, staring out the window until he could get his guilt under control.

“Good afternoon, Marc.” Lavinia flicked a concerned glance at Rome, then turned a wan smile on her cousin. “Do sit down.”

A frown wrinkled the earl’s brow as he settled into a chair. “Lavinia, you seem rather pale. Are you ill?”

She cleared her throat. “I must look worse than I had imagined.”

“Don’t let her fool you,” Rome remarked from the window. “She’s not feeling well at all.”

“I’m very sorry to hear that.” Marc tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair, lips pursed in thought.

“Is something wrong?” Lavinia asked. “It’s unusual for you to call unannounced, though I am always happy to see you, of course.”

“I have been summoned to Leicestershire to assist with a business matter for Mr. Fellhopper. I had thought to have you come with me, Lavinia, as you are acquainted with Mr. Fellhopper’s sister.”

Lavinia brightened. “Dear Charlotte? I recall her well. She had barely made her debut when her parents died.”

“A tragedy, that,” Rome remarked. “Old Fellhopper had gotten himself into some deep waters financially.”

“I remember.” Vin shook her head. “Charlotte had to cut her Season short and return home while her brother tried to recoup the family fortunes.”

“Which he has done admirably,” Marc reminded them.

“Quite so,” Rome said. He came away from the window, comfortable that he had recovered from the surprise of Marc’s visit. “I thought they were in Town for the marriage mart. Isn’t that right, Marc?”

Haverford cleared his throat. “Mr. Fellhopper has indeed brought his sister to London for the purpose of finding a husband for her.”

“I imagine she would have any number of suitors already,” Lavinia said, reaching for her tea.

“I have no doubt of it,” Rome agreed. “Miss Fellhopper is a lovely woman.”

Marc shot him a quick glance. “Do you have interests there, cousin?”

Rome blinked at the edge behind the polite words. “Not at all.”

“Oh. Very well then.” Marc turned his attention back to Lavinia, once more his usual urbane self. “Fellhopper has requested my assistance with this matter, and I thought you and Emberly might want to join the party to keep Miss Fellhopper entertained. I am certain she will miss the delights of London.”

“That’s very kind of you,” Lavinia said. “However, I must decline the invitation. Henry’s schedule is quite full, and I cannot believe the motion of a carriage for all that time will improve my state.”

Marc flushed from neck to brow. “Of course. I apologize for being so insensitive to your condition.”

“What about Miss Rosewood?” Even as he said the words, Rome could hardly believe it. But if Anna were with Marc in the country, she would be protected, and he could see to the Black Rose Society without having to worry about her safety. “As I recall, she and Miss Fellhopper are acquainted.”

“Ah…I had thought of that.” Marc’s eyes darted away. “But it is improper for her to accompany me alone, and I know her parents have many engagements in the city.”

“Nothing they would not cancel for an earl’s request,” Rome said, his lips twisting in a brief, cynical smile.

“Rome!” Lavinia gave a sigh of exasperation.

Marc frowned. “Even if that were true, I would never ask such a thing.”

“Of course not,” Lavinia agreed, with a quelling glance at her brother. “It’s a lovely idea, Marc, but surely Miss Fellhopper has friends in the country. After all, she has only arrived in Town quite recently.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“When do you leave?” Rome asked.

“In the morning. I don’t expect the matter to take more than a day or two.”

“Oh, then dear Charlotte will be fine,” Lavinia asserted with a dismissive wave of her hand. “Certainly there are activities to keep her entertained—riding, visiting with friends?”

“True.” Marc’s smile reached his eyes. “She’s a very skilled rider from what I understand.”

“Then everything is settled.”

“Quite.” Marc stood. “I have other appointments today, so I had best take my leave.”

They all looked up as Bagsley stepped into the room. “Miss Rosewood,” he announced.

A
nna stepped into Lavinia’s parlor, her focus on Rome. She almost didn’t notice Lord Haverford until he turned toward her. “Miss Rosewood, how unexpected!” He came over, took her hand, and brushed a kiss across her knuckles.

Shocked at his presence, she slowly lowered her hand to her side, her fingers secretly clenching. “Good afternoon, Lord Haverford.” Confused, her eyes sought her hostess’s. Vin gave a nearly imperceptible shrug. She glanced at Rome, met his fierce gaze for one blistering moment, and hurriedly turned her attention back to her suitor. “Ah…are you joining us for tea?”

“Unfortunately, no. Though had I known you
were coming to visit Lavinia, I would certainly have changed my schedule. Alas, I am leaving for Leicestershire tomorrow.”

“Oh?”

“Mr. Fellhopper needs my assistance with a business matter. I should only be gone two days or so.”

“I’m sorry you cannot stay.” Anna forced a smile, more than aware of Rome’s intense regard from across the room. “Do have a good trip, my lord.”

“Thank you. I expect I shall see you at Severley’s ball.” He gave a little bow, then turned to his cousins. “Lavinia, I shall call on you when I get back. Rome, are you staying?”

“Yes, for a while.”

Something flickered across Haverford’s face— confusion or distress, Anna wasn’t sure. “Very well then. I’ll bid you all good afternoon.”

He left the parlor. His muffled voice echoed back to them from the hall as he spoke to Bagsley. The three of them stayed frozen in place— Lavinia on the sofa, Rome standing just to the side of her, Anna just inside the room—until they heard the front door close behind the earl.

Lavinia let out a huge breath. “I am not of the proper disposition for such dramatics!”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Rome quipped.

“Hush, you wicked thing. Anna, do sit down.”

Anna gratefully took a seat beside Lavinia, her
knees weak from the bone-thrumming tension. “I had not expected to see his lordship here.”

“Leave it to Marc to choose today of all days to call unexpectedly,” Lavinia said. “I thought I would succumb to the vapors when he walked in.”

“Not dramatic?” Rome teased with a grin.

“Be quiet, Rome.”

Anna watched the byplay between the two. A bittersweet smile touched her lips as she recalled similar banter with her own brother. “Thank you for allowing me to invite myself here,” Anna said. “I realize it was somewhat rude…”

“Not at all.” Lavinia waved a hand. “Do not think on it for another moment.”

“But certainly you must wonder why I did such a thing—”

“I’ve explained that we have a business matter to discuss,” Rome interrupted, his green eyes so intently focused on her that it stole her breath. “That is why you’ve come here?”

“Yes.” The word slipped from her lips before she’d barely formulated the answer.

“Good. Vin—”

“I’m not leaving.”

He let out a huge sigh. “Lavinia…”

“No.” She set her chin stubbornly. “This whole situation is already too close to scandalous. I will sit right here on the sofa, and you can discuss your business on the other side of the room, where I can see you.” She gave him a saucy grin. “You can whisper.”

“Fine.” Rome stood and gestured for Anna to precede him. They walked together to the far side of the room and stopped in a corner.

“I cannot stay long,” Anna said, pitching her voice low. “Mama has confined me to the house.”

“How is it that you are here, then?”

Anna wrinkled her nose. “She sent her maid with me, but Bliss is a stickler for the proprieties and will come fetch me when the proper time for tea has passed. She’s a veritable dragon of a chaperone.”

Her exasperated tone brought a smile to his face. “Why are you confined to the house?”

Unnerved by the warmth in his eyes, she dropped her gaze. “Mama found out about my investigation.”

She had expected him to laugh at her. Instead, he said, very seriously, “I’m glad to hear you will no longer be putting yourself in danger.”

She didn’t bother to hide her annoyance. “I did what was necessary, and I would do it again if given the choice.”

“So fierce.” His smile grew tender. “I admire your loyalty, Anna. Your brother is lucky to have you standing up for him.”

Something in the vicinity of her heart seemed to melt. “Thank you.”

“But I doubt he would be happy about some of the things you have done in his name. Vauxhall for one. The Cock and Crown for another.”

“No one else would do it.”

“If it were Lavinia,” he said, his voice taking on a stern edge, “I know I would be most displeased.”

“And if it were you,” she shot back, “would you leave her murder unavenged?”

His face settled into the hard lines of a warrior. “Never.”

His sudden transformation startled her, and she nearly retreated a step. This, then, must be the Roman Devereaux the enemy had seen on the battlefield. “So you understand.”

“I do understand. But you don’t.” His expression eased, but the echo of the soldier remained in his eyes. “The world you need to walk in to discover the truth about your brother is not one that is safe or appropriate for a woman. Your desire to take the risks is admirable, but you’re not alone anymore. You have me.”

“I do need you,” she admitted, then wanted to call back the imprudent words immediately. She glanced up at him, noticing the way his jaw clenched. “I’m sorry; that wasn’t well said.”

“I know what you meant,” he bit out. His chest rose sharply and fell again.

She could practically feel the tension rolling off him, a sudden sexual heat that lapped at her like the ocean at the shore. This was the reason she hadn’t wanted him for a partner—this uncontrollable hunger that seized both of them when they were together.

“Is everything all right?” Lavinia called.

Her voice broke the spell, and they both took a
step back, putting more space between them.

“We’re fine, Vin,” Rome said. Dear God, where was his control?

Anna stood with her head bowed, and when she raised her eyes, she couldn’t hide the desire that lingered in those dark depths. His body tightened all over again in response. Sweet, brave girl, trying to do what was right to honor her dead brother. Such faithfulness was rare, and for a moment, he envied Anthony Rosewood. What would it be like to have that love and loyalty directed at him instead?

His heart ached just imagining it.

“I’ve come to take you up on your offer to be partners,” she said.

“So I assumed. But how can we work together if you are confined to quarters?”

She opened her reticule and pulled out a sheaf of folded papers. “This will be my contribution.”

“What’s this?” He took the proffered papers and unfolded them.

“This is my research,” she said, craning her neck to view her own neat writing. “I have kept notes on every death by sword in the past year. Gossip, it seems, is a fertile source of information.”

“Amazing.” His admiration for her grew as he flipped through the sheets of carefully laid-out notes. He shuffled back to the first page, and his gaze lit on one name at the top: Anthony Rosewood. “You’ve done a lot of work.”

“I thought perhaps you could take this infor
mation and use it, maybe visit the sites where the men were found—that sort of thing.”

“I could indeed.” He squeezed her hand. “Thank you, Anna.”

She blushed and snatched her hand away. “Now that Mama is haunting my every moment, I’m trusting you to follow these clues, Rome, and help me find the man who killed my brother.”

“I will.” He folded up the papers and tucked them in the pocket of his coat. “I will have Vin send a note around when I have some results.”

“Contact me even if you’ve found nothing. The waiting will drive me mad.”

“No, it’s best if we don’t have too much contact.”

“But—”

“No.” He held her gaze, his implacable. “Together we will find your brother’s killer and disband the Black Rose Society, but after that, we should stay away from each other.” He glanced at her full, lush mouth, then flicked his gaze back to hers. “You know why.”

Her pupils had dilated, and she nodded, biting her lower lip.

He sucked in a harsh breath. Damn it, but she aroused him like no other woman ever had. Her body, her heart, her fierce loyalty. He wanted them for himself.

“Business only,” he said, talking to himself as much as her.

“Business only,” she echoed. “I understand.”

The parlor door opened and Bagsley appeared. “Miss Rosewood’s chaperone indicates it is time for the lady to depart.”

Anna sighed. “Tell her I will be out directly, if you please.”

“Very good, miss.” The butler withdrew.

“Anna,” Lavinia said, as they approached her sofa, “did your maid just order you home?”

“It’s my mother’s maid, and she has her orders.” Anna pressed Lavinia’s hand. “Thank you, Lavinia.”

“You are always welcome here.”

Bagsley came back into the room. “Miss, your companion is most insistent.”

“I’m coming. Good-bye, Rome.”

“Anna.” He gave a little bow, but couldn’t stop a grin. “I wish you luck taming the dragon.”

She grinned back, a dimple flashing in her cheek. “Thank you. I look forward to hearing the results of our business transaction.”

“As soon as I know, you will know.”

Bliss appeared in the hallway behind Bagsley and cleared her throat loudly. The indomitable woman was taller than the aged butler, her graying dark hair pulled ruthlessly back in a braided coronet, her clothing stark black. Over the butler’s head, she fixed Anna with a look of warning.

With a sigh, Anna turned and left the room.

Rome watched her go, the papers in his pocket a testament to the love she bore her brother.
Would she demonstrate the same devotion for her husband?

“Are you certain you know what you’re doing?”

Lavinia’s quiet question drew his attention away from Anna’s departing form. “I told you, Vin, this is just a business matter.”

She sighed, toying with the swirling design of her teacup handle. “You don’t look at her like a business associate.”

“And how do I look at her?”

Lavinia met his gaze. “Like she’s your last chance for happiness.”

Struck dumb by this evidence that he had failed to conceal his true feelings, Rome didn’t reply.

After a long moment of silence, Lavinia said, “Just be careful, Rome. There are more hearts than yours at stake.”

“En garde!”
Slashing swords drowned out the sharp command. In the moonlit clearing, the two young men parried and thrust, weapons gleaming in the silvery light.

On the side of the clearing, three masked figures dressed in black watched the battle silently. One of them shifted a bulging purse from one hand to the other, the rapid clink of coins lost in the scrape of steel upon steel. A second man fingered two pieces of white paper.

The leader held out a hand, snapped his fingers. The second-in-command handed over the
notes. “Both of them?” the leader asked without taking his eyes from the duel.

“Yes. We’ve been more careful these past months since we lost that one.”

“Reassuring.” He folded the letters and slipped them into his pocket, then watched the swordplay with his companions and waited for the victor to be revealed.