DefeatedbyLove (5 page)

“Oh, he caught you all right.” Daniel picked up his fork and
took a bite, looking thoughtfully between them. He swallowed and pointed at
Simon with his fork. “You should be the one watching her. You obviously like
her.”

“Watching her?” Simon asked suspiciously. “Why?” He looked
at her for clues but now she was reserving her glare for Daniel alone and Simon
could see nothing.

“Someone is trying to kill me,” she said dramatically, her
blue eyes wide.

Simon found himself leaning toward her and stopped with a
mental shake of his head. There was just something about her angelic looks and
inherent flirtatiousness that had hooked him like a fish on a line. She was
just so tiny and fragile and gorgeous. Even filled with another man’s babe. It
wouldn’t be the first time he’d shared space with a baby. He cursed silently at
his wayward thoughts. Clearly he was drunk on her. Right then and there he
swore to the heavens he wouldn’t touch her again. She was not here for that.
There was no possible way his magical cock could solve her dilemma. Which
brought him back to what she’d actually said.

“What?” he asked in disbelief. He looked accusingly at
Daniel.

“Well, it isn’t me,” Daniel denied huffily. “Harry’s father
and cousin have taken exception to Mrs. Ashbury’s current condition, what with
Harry’s rather long absence.”

“You are callous and cruel,” she said with a sniff.

“I am nothing of the kind,” Daniel said calmly. “I am merely
stating the facts. And you should consider a career on the stage.”

“You don’t have to be so rough about it,” Simon said with a
frown. He patted Mrs. Ashbury’s hand. Her delicate, soft hand that was even now
sliding closer to him as she gazed at him adoringly. God, he loved that look on
a woman. Or a man. Anyone, really.

“Hello,” Daniel called out, snapping his fingers in front of
Simon’s face. “Is anyone there?”

Simon cleared his throat. “Whatever troubles have beset Mrs.
Ashbury are surely not of her making,” he defended her staunchly, desperately
hoping they were indeed of her making and she was looking to cause the same
sort of trouble all over again. With him.

“Thank you,” she said softly. She smiled at him and he could
have sworn angels sang over her shoulder.

“Good God,” Daniel drawled. “On second thought, I shan’t be
leaving her alone with you. It’s like leaving the fox in charge of the sheep.”

“Bleat,” Mrs. Ashbury said unexpectedly and stuck her tongue
out at Daniel.

Both Daniel and Simon burst out laughing at her unexpected
humor. She joined them. Then to Simon’s dismay she stood up. “On that note,
gentlemen, you’ll have to excuse me. Good morning, Mr. Steinberg, and thank you
once again for your generous hospitality until Harry decides to show up.” She
smiled at Simon and there was an abashed embarrassment about it that dashed his
hopes. She was not the sort of woman to fall into a man’s bed, despite her
current condition. “Thank you, Mr. Gantry, for your company and your defense.
It was a pleasure to meet you. Don’t let Mr. Steinberg bully you into involving
yourself with my troubles.”

“You bullied me into it,” Daniel sputtered.

She ignored him and stuck out her hand and Simon grasped it,
wondering if he could hold her here by sheer physical force. But when she
pulled away, he let her go, regret aching in his bones as he watched her walk
out of the room.

When the door closed behind Mrs. Ashbury Daniel turned to
glare at Simon. “Stay away from her,” he warned none too gently. “She’s already
brought enough trouble to my door. I plan to see her gone as soon as I can
possibly get her out.”

Simon shook his head, disbelief written across his face.
“What are the odds? That Harry’s long-lost wife should show up on your
doorstep, begging for help? I can’t believe you agreed.” He turned and stared
at the closed door for a second. “But then again, I can. There’s just something
about her, isn’t there?”

The wistful tone of his voice set off warning bells for
Daniel. “Don’t even think about it. Neither one of us is going to save her. I
can’t find Harry for her, which is what she wants, and you can’t fuck her
problems away.”

Simon huffed in annoyance. “I’m sure I don’t know what
you’re talking about.”

“Ha,” Daniel said without rancor. “I know you. A damsel in
distress has your cock hard enough to pound nails. She’s tailor-made for your
fascination with saving the world one needy woman—or man—at a time. A tumble in
bed with you will not solve her problems. It will only exacerbate them. She’s
in trouble because she was lonely and randy and if I don’t miss my guess she’s
still both of those, judging by the way you two were eating each other up with
your eyes.” He paused and rolled his eyes. “No, that’s not right. You were
actually eating each other up when I arrived, weren’t you?”

“I would love nothing more than to eat her up one lick at a
time,” Simon said, but his tone was rueful rather than lascivious. “But even I
can see that she’s not that sort of woman and that a tumble with me, as you put
it, would not help in this instance.”

Daniel regarded him curiously. “You were taken with her when
you thought she was a strumpet, weren’t you? Before you knew she was in
trouble.” This was new and not at all like Simon.

“Yes and no,” Simon said, dusting off his lap and crossing
his legs. “I figured a pregnant strumpet who somehow found herself in your
breakfast room was in some sort of trouble.”

“Yes, well, she is. I didn’t actually take her seriously at
first, but then someone tried to kidnap her the moment she walked out of my
house last night.”

“What?” Simon shook his head. “I seem to be saying that
quite a bit this morning. It’s growing tedious. Just tell me the whole story
and be done with it.”

“She claimed her in-laws were going to do her in. I didn’t
believe her. I refused to help. She graciously accepted my refusal and left.
I’d barely had time to digest her outrageous tale and the mere existence of her
when I heard her scream, ran outside and saw a ruffian attempting to drag her
into a carriage. I gave chase, the carriage took off, a man jumped out of the
shadows, leaped onto the carriage and grabbed her, jumping to safety. She
fainted, I had a drink, and the next thing I knew she was staying here
indefinitely.”

Simon blinked several times, incredulity on his face. “I’m
not sure where to start.”

“Exactly,” Daniel agreed.

“Wait, yes I do. Who was the mysterious man who jumped out
of the shadows? One of Barnabas’ men?”

“No. The tale grows more outrageous. It was an old friend of
mine, who still lives down the street.”

“You jest,” Simon said with a laugh.

Daniel shook his head. “I do not. Robert and I grew up
together and got into all kinds of scrapes.”

“Now that is the most plausible thing I’ve heard in the last
few minutes.” Simon tapped a fork against the table and Daniel reached over and
took it from him. He didn’t want the wood scratched. “How did this Robert just
happen to appear when you needed him?”

A knock sounded at the door before Daniel could answer and
Matheson opened the door. “Constable Manderley to see you, sir.”

Daniel laughed in astonishment. “Apparently he has a talent
for it,” he told Simon. “Show him in,” he said to Matheson.

“Is that him?” Simon asked.

“Indeed it is.”

“Constable?” Simon said with a raised brow. “You left that
part out.”

“Indeed I did,” Daniel said unrepentantly.

“You are living dangerously, my friend,” Simon warned him.
“If he finds out about your visits to St. Giles, you’ll hang.”

“Robert wouldn’t hang me,” Daniel scoffed. But he’d been
thinking the same thing. Robert had always been a knight errant. He wasn’t the
sort to overlook his vigilante activities.

Robert walked in a few moments later. He was looking quite
dapper in a dark-blue jacket and buckskins, not at all what one would expect of
a constable. They hadn’t had a great deal of time to talk last night, but the
truth was Robert was a well-bred gentleman, though a third son. It was rather
unusual for someone of his station to join the constabulary.

“Good morning, Daniel,” he said. He smiled politely at
Simon.

“Good morning, Robert. May I introduce Mr. Simon Gantry?
Simon, this is my old friend Robert Manderley. Even older than you, if you can
believe that.”

“Har har,” Simon said drily. He stood and held his hand out
to Robert. “How do you do, Constable? A pleasure to meet you.” He sat down and
Daniel waved at Robert to do the same. “Daniel was just telling me about your
adventures last night,” Simon continued. “I met the charming Mrs. Ashbury this
morning.”

Daniel had a moment of panic. He hadn’t told Simon about the
cover story they’d made up last night. “Simon hasn’t been here in a while,” he
interjected. “He didn’t know Mrs. Ashbury had come to visit while Harry was
abroad.”

Simon was looking at him queerly, but he gamely took up the
cue. “No, no I didn’t. Haven’t heard from Ashbury in ages, actually.” His smile
was bland.

“I thought I saw you on the street just the other day,”
Robert said with a smile equally as bland. “I live just down the road.”

“Well, two days without me seems like an eternity,” Simon
said dramatically. He smiled again into the silence that followed.

Daniel closed his eyes and silently groaned. He’d forgotten
how astute Robert was. He’d always been observant, and was tenacious when it
came to ferreting out the truth. No wonder he’d become a constable.

“So Mrs. Ashbury just arrived?” he asked.

“Yes,” Daniel quickly answered before Simon could make up
some asinine story. “Last night. Just before the incident.”

“Ah,” Robert said, as if he’d just solved the crime. “They
must have followed her from the coaching inn. She did say she’d taken a
hackney, did she not?”

“Yes,” Daniel agreed slowly. “She did.” His mind was racing
as he tried to remember what else had been said. He hadn’t realized how
discombobulated he’d been by her arrival and the revelation of her identity.
The rest of the evening was a bit of a blur.

“Where did she come from?”

Daniel sat there blinking at Robert for a moment or two. He
didn’t know where she lived. She’d told him. Where was she living a quiet life?
But not really. The coachman. Damn, damn, damn. Orkney? Wales? The Hebrides? If
he’d been alone he’d be pounding his fist to his forehead.

“The country,” Simon interjected smoothly. “She’s not used
to the rough ways of the city.”

“Yes, the country,” Daniel agreed. “Surrey!” he shouted
triumphantly. “She lives in Surrey.”

Simon sighed and gave him a disgusted look. “Yes, of course
she does.” He patted Daniel’s hand and turned to Robert. “You’ll have to
forgive him. He’s still recovering from a head wound.”

“I am?” Daniel asked incredulously.

“He is?” Robert asked, eyeing him suspiciously. “What
happened?”

“You are,” Simon said. “Carriage accident. That’s why he was
so overset at last night’s events.”

“Ah,” Robert said, giving Simon an understanding look. “That
explains why he didn’t jump on the carriage first.”

“I didn’t jump on the carriage because I was too slow, not
too scared,” Daniel protested. “And also because it was a foolhardy and
dangerous thing to do.”

Robert looked shocked. “But Mrs. Ashbury was in mortal
danger. A lady in her condition, and obviously so delicate and beautiful.
Surely you jest?”

“Of course he does,” Simon said. He was pointing to his head
and gesturing at Daniel with his eyes, as if to indicate he were mad.

“Oh, stop it,” he said to Simon in disgust. “I was not
jesting, and I do not have a head wound. Not all of us have the Galahad
impulse, you know.” He pointed between Simon and Robert. “That is something the
two of you have in common, by the way. You also apparently share an infatuation
with the
very
married, and
very
pregnant Mrs. Ashbury.”

At Simon’s speculative look Daniel frowned. “That is
all
you have in common, and all you will ever share.”

“Oh, that is a pity,” Simon said gazing regretfully at
Robert, who was clearly uncomfortable with the discussion. “The Galahad impulse?”
Simon asked, chuckling.

Robert blushed. “A silly nickname from our youth,” he
grumbled.

“A nickname? Really?” Simon said with relish. “I like it.
Galahad.”

Another knock at the door had all three men turning. The
lady in question peeked into the room. “Am I interrupting? Matheson came to
fetch me. He said Constable Manderley was here to see me.”

“Come in, my dear,” Simon said, standing with a smile that
lit his face. Robert had the same besotted look on his face as he scrambled to
his feet. Daniel let his head drop forward, chin on chest, eyes closed. He had
a very bad feeling about this. In his world, two men in love with the same
woman always caused some sort of trouble for him. And since Mrs. Ashbury had
already come with more trouble than he could comprehend, the additional baggage
seemed quite, quite unnecessary. Turning his head slightly he cast a jaundiced
eye to the heavens. Really, this was too much.

“Mrs. Ashbury,” Robert said, gallantly kissing the hand she
extended. “How are you? I can only hope you have recovered from your fright
last evening.”

“Oh yes,” she said, bestowing a smile on him that rivaled
the glowing sun in the sky. The sad thing was, Daniel didn’t think it was
feigned. It was becoming increasingly clear that Mrs. Harry Ashbury had indeed
married the wrong man. She was better suited to Simon, or any another man who
wouldn’t mind sharing her a time or two, or a thousand. She was as besotted
with men as they with her. Just her luck to marry a man who liked to shag other
men.

“I’m much better,” she continued as Simon held out a chair
for her. By his side, of course. He cast a triumphant grin at Robert as she
took the seat and Robert was forced to sit opposite her. “Last evening’s
fainting spell was quite out of the ordinary for me, I assure you. I was simply
fatigued, and being dragged off in an attempted kidnapping must have
exacerbated it.”

Daniel blinked at her with incredulity. “Do you think so?”
he asked sarcastically. “Yes, it must have been fatigue.” He turned to Robert.
“You see, Robert? She is not as delicate as you and Simon believe. Made of
sterner stuff is our Mrs. Ashbury.” He emphasized her married state, just in
case they’d forgotten again.

“You certainly look well,” Robert said. He blushed when she
looked at him curiously. “I mean, you look ravishing…beautiful, as usual. Of
course.”

“Not very suave, are we?” Daniel heard Simon mutter under
his breath, and Robert blushed harder.

“Thank you,” Mrs. Ashbury said graciously, giving Simon a
reprimanding look. When his gaze merely heated at her glance she blushed too.

“You are wreaking havoc,” Daniel told him crossly. “Go
away.”

Simon held his hands out at his sides and shrugged with an
innocent look. “Me? I haven’t done a thing.”

“I actually came today to offer my help in contacting Mr.
Ashbury,” Robert said firmly. He looked as if his dog had died.

“We are already taking care of that,” she rushed to assure
him with a desperate look at Daniel. “Aren’t we, Mr. Steinberg?”

“Oh yes,” he said flatly. “Taking care of it.”

“Damnation,” Simon exclaimed with a dawning look of horror
on his face, as if he’d just realized Daniel’s predicament. “This is a muddle,
isn’t it?”

“Erudite as usual,” Daniel told him, pointing at him and
winking. “Always were the clever one, weren’t you?”

“At least I’m pretty,” Simon said.

“Yes,” Mrs. Ashbury said wistfully, and Robert looked as if
his other dog had died.

Daniel sighed and looked regretfully down at his now cold
breakfast. Nothing would be right around here until she was gone.