Devil Disguised (2 page)

KNOCK SOUNDED AT
the study door. Duncan looked up from the paper he was reading and said, “Come in.”

His butler stepped into the room. “My lord, Lord Montgomery has arrived.”

“Thank you, Simon. Please show him into the front salon.”

Duncan stood up and pulled his jacket off the chair. He smiled as he put the jacket on and tugged the sleeves down to his wrists. He had not seen his friend in quite some time and moved quickly down the hallway and into the front salon. Charles was standing in the middle of the room and turned as Duncan entered.

“Charles! It is good to see you, my friend,” Duncan called out.

Duncan shook Charles’ proffered hand and they patted each other on the shoulder.

“Good afternoon, Duncan.”

Duncan stepped back and smiled at his friend. “How is my favorite viscount?”

“I am well. How is the Earl of Westbrook?”

“I find myself continually occupied by all there is to do here at the estate and still do not miss London one bit.” Duncan grinned.

Charles crossed his arms and tilted his head. “I see. Do you not think that maybe the ton misses you?”

Duncan chuckled and then shook his head. He moved to the drink cart in the corner of the room and began to pour two drinks while he replied, “You know I could care less what the ton thinks, but what brings you so far outside of London?” He handed a glass of whiskey to his friend and waited for a response.

Charles looked at the glass in his hand and said, “I know you care about what the ton thinks, but I am not here to discuss that now because I need a favor.”

Duncan felt his eyes widen as his curiosity was piqued. “A favor? Well, I must say, I am intrigued.” He gestured with his glass. “Please, go on.”

Swallowing some of his drink, Charles seemed to hesitate before he said, “Do you recall that after my brother Warren and his wife, Edith, were killed in the carriage accident that I became the guardian of their daughter, Lily?”

Duncan nodded. “Again, I am sorry about your brother and his wife. Of course I recall the accident, but I do not recall you speaking much about Lily. Actually, I cannot recall if I have even met her. Have I?”

Charles shook his head. “I doubt it. She had her debut during your last Season in London. I doubt you would have noticed her.”

“Why would you say that? I notice most young women. Is she not appealing?”

Charles looked at him as if he had lost all his senses. “You have really tried to push the past behind you. No, my friend, my niece is very attractive, but during your last Season you only had eyes for one woman. Then you left London, never to return again.”

Duncan felt his jaw tighten as he looked at his glass. In one swallow, he emptied the contents of the glass and enjoyed the smooth burn of the whiskey as it flowed down his throat. He moved back to the drink cart and refilled his glass. “Well, when one is publicly humiliated in front of the entire ton one cares not to return.”

Charles shook his head. “I did not mean to open up old wounds, but only mentioned it as to the reason you may not have not met Lily. Three years ago, her first Season ended and she became betrothed to a young man, but he died of consumption shortly after their engagement. She never even speaks of him. Then, nearly one year ago she was engaged again, this time to a man she considered the love of her life, Joshua. Shortly after their engagement, he and his driver died in a carriage accident and this was just three months after her parents died. She has bravely overcome her grief and remains one of the ton’s darlings.”

“So what is the problem exactly?” Duncan sat on the arm of the chair and watched his friend pace in front of the hearth.

“I am going away to India. I have to deal with Warren’s part of our business and may be there for a few months. I need someone to look after Lily.” Charles stared pointedly at Duncan.

“Absolutely not.” Duncan stood abruptly.

“Hear me out, Duncan.”

“I said, absolutely not. I will not go to London to watch over your niece.” Duncan clenched the glass he held so tightly he was surprised it did not shatter.

“I know you never plan to return to London, but I was hoping she could come here.”

Duncan gaped in utter disbelief and nearly dropped the glass. “Are you mad? Have you considered her reputation? I am unmarried. Her living under my roof would be scandalous! You do recall that I am still quite notorious, do you not?”

Charles grinned. “Yes. The ton used to know you as an unrepentant rake, but it has been over three years since you have been to London and the rumors of your current status will do no harm to my niece.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Duncan hissed.

Charles tilted his head and crossed his arms. “Hmm. Let me see if I can recall the latest gossip. The Earl of Westbrook stays at his estate brooding all day alone with his horses. Then, I have heard he never leaves his wine cellar and drinks himself into a stupor every night. He has also become so bored with women that some say he no longer fancies them and has turned to other pleasures.”

Duncan clenched his jaw as he felt the heat of anger rising through him.

Charles paused and thrummed his fingers on his chin before he held up his hand and said, “Wait, there was another. Oh, yes! He met a strange doctor who told him he must stay indoors and this doctor plans to turn him into a eunuch.”

Duncan slammed his glass down on the wooden table nearest him. “Please leave. Now.”

Charles did not move. His face hardened as he glared at Duncan directly. “No. You still owe me for the time I helped you when you were with Lady Holbrook. The bullet I took in my shoulder was aimed at you. Thank God her husband was nearly blind and had only one bullet in his revolver.”

Clenching his fists, Duncan inhaled a shaky breath as he considered his friend’s words. “You would use that favor now?”

“Especially now. I learned your sister is coming here to stay in her confinement while her husband is away. I am sure she would like a companion.”

Duncan ran his hand through his hair. “What about my reputation, Charles? You know I do not stay clear of innocents.”

“Yes, but I trust you because Lily is my niece and I have made arrangements for her to be betrothed when I return from India.”

Duncan shook his head and glared at his friend. “I know I owe you for what you have done for me in the past and I want to repay the debt, but this is absurd.”

Charles shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe. But, there is no one I trust more to keep her safe.”

“Safe? Safe from what? What are you not telling me?” Duncan asked as he turned his head sideways and straightened to his full height.

Moving to the drink cart, Charles refilled his glass with whiskey and inhaled deeply before he replied, “I think someone is trying to harm her.”

“What?”

“It may be my imagination, but there have been so many accidents with those she loved and it is forming into an eerie pattern.” Charles sat down on the sofa.

“Go on.” Duncan sat in a chair across from his friend, intrigued.

Taking a deep breath Charles shook his head and said, “As you know, my brother and his wife died in a carriage accident, but Lily was supposed to have gone with them that day. She has not spoken about why she was not with them, but I know she was devastated. Then Joshua and his driver were killed in a carriage accident. It was discovered that a portion of the carriage that attached to the horses was sawed away. Lily had gone to the ball with Joshua, but she decided to stay at the party and I had agreed to take her home. Then, a few months ago, she was shopping with her friends and a carriage careened towards them. She and her friends insist it was a minor event and no one was harmed. I learned there was another run away carriage incident as well, but Lily refuses to discuss it.”

Duncan looked down as he absorbed the information. “She was very lucky. You are convinced that at least some of these instances were aimed to truly harm her? But, why?”

Charles shook his head and his gaze seemed unfocused. “I am not sure why, but I am certain that someone is trying
to hurt her. I have hired a man to look into this for me while I am away. He is actually the person who discovered that Joshua’s carriage was damaged before that accident.”

“I see. And now you want me to look after her?” Duncan knew it really was not a question.

“Please. There is no one I trust more. I need to know she will be safe.”

Ignoring the compliment Duncan said, “I still do not think this is a good idea.”

“I disagree. I think it is a very good idea. However, I will do my best to return as quickly as possible from India.”

Shaking his head, Duncan looked up at the ceiling. “I do owe you, probably even more than this favor will even repay.”

Charles smiled. “True, but I may not be able to say we are even because you have not met Lily yet.”

KNOW YOU STILL
do not want to talk to me, but I really think you need to ask any questions you may have before we get there,” Charles said.

Lily kept her gaze out the carriage window as she watched the seemingly endless rolling hills. Her bags were packed and she was headed far away from London. Trying to keep the anger from her voice, she said, “When I agreed to this, you knew I had no idea I would be so far outside of London. All my friends have already begun to gossip and no one can understand why I could not stay closer to the city. I was at a complete loss for what to tell them!”

She turned to face her uncle and felt the heat rise in her cheeks. “I should have just said that my crazy, paranoid uncle has banished me from London so that I could lose all my social graces and all my friends.”

Charles grinned. “Think of all the stories you can tell when you return. This is an adventure and I am sure
everyone will welcome you back with open arms! I am sure that nothing will change for you in only a few months.”

“But, I am so far away that I cannot even visit my friends!”

Charles looked out his window and shrugged his shoulders. “I think you need a break from your so-called friends and from the ton as well.”

“I cannot believe you did not even allow me to take one of the maids!” Lily clenched her hands together in front of her wishing she could pace or move away from her uncle. Suddenly the plush carriage seemed too small.

“There is no need. The Earl of Westbrook has servants aplenty and I am hoping you will become fast friends with his sister so you can keep her company. I think you will find you are needed,” Charles murmured.

“I was needed in London! I have two friends who are getting married and I was going to help them.” Lily paused as she considered her uncle’s prior words. “Wait. What did you mean earlier by my so-called friends?”

Charles inhaled deeply before he met her gaze. “I mean that even the most popular people can fall from grace in the ton and that many of your friends are only with you because of your wealth and popularity.”

She glared at her uncle. “I am well aware that many of my acquaintances are only there because of my current position, but I have many true friends. I also assume your comment about falling from grace refers to the Earl of Westbrook. My so-called friends have told me he stays up until the wee hours of the morning drinking wine with his horses.”