Devil Disguised (35 page)

“The rug is hideous and it is hardly new. If I do not keep moving, then I will burst into that library and demand to know what is taking so long.”

Duncan spun on his heel again as Eleanor touched his arm. “Remember, I was just in that room helping the doctor treat the injuries to both Lily and Charles. Thank goodness their wounds were not more serious. We have all had a trying day, but Lily is the one who spent the most time with Richard before his death. The authorities will certainly want to hear every detail from her.”

Duncan stopped and covered his sister’s hand with his own. “I am sorry, El. I have been so worried about Lily that I have neglected to even ask how you are faring now.”

Eleanor smiled, but it did not quite reach her eyes. “When I received that note from Lily, or so I thought at the time,
I was scared for her. It told me I needed to come alone to the church because of some horrible secret she must share. Of course, my fear escalated when I got there only to find Mary waiting for me. Then I knew Lily was in danger, not to mention myself. But when that crazy woman turned the gun on you and Charles, I thought my heart stopped. I froze. I was terrified as I watched Lily taken away while neither one of you moved from where you had fallen.”

Tears rose in her eyes as she covered her mouth with her hand. With a shaky breath, she managed to say, “I have never been more frightened for those that I care about.”

Duncan embraced his sister tightly and she hugged him back. She took a deep breath and pushed away from his hold as she looked at him with a slight grin, the tears subsiding. “But, I am surprisingly fine. I may have a bruise or two, but otherwise not a scratch on me.”

“Thank God!”

For a moment, Duncan thought he had spoken out loud, but it was his brother-in-law who bounded into the room following his words.

“Andrew!” Eleanor moved forward and into the arms of her husband.

Duncan wanted to smile at the happy scene, but a pang of envy he did not expect hit him at that moment. He wanted to hold Lily and tell her everything would be all right, but had not had even the briefest moment alone with her since they left the church.

Suddenly the dark wood of the library doors opened and Charles came out with the two officers, the doctor and a maid. Charles shook the officers’ hands. The men then nodded at Duncan and left the room. Duncan waited
anxiously as Charles spoke to the doctor for a moment and then to the maid.

Finally, Charles looked at him and said, “Duncan, Lily has been given something for the pain. The knife wound needed a few stitches and as far as we can tell, did not penetrate her lung. We need to keep an eye on her. I know you want to speak with her, and she did ask to speak with you, but please, be brief.”

Duncan nodded and then glanced at the reassuring gaze of his sister before he hurried into the library.

He closed the door and turned to see Lily lying on a couch as she offered him a slight smile.

He knelt down at her side and took her hand in his. “Lily, how are you?”

“Terrible, but I think I will be fine.”

“What can I do?”

“You have already done all I could have hoped anyone could do for me. You saved my life, yet again.”

“Well, I was assigned to protect you,” he said wryly.

When she did not laugh, he sobered to say, “I take your welfare very seriously.”

She squeezed his hand and looked down. “I take your health seriously too. When I thought that you or Charles may have been shot, I could barely go on.”

He started to speak, but Lily shook her head. “Please, let me finish. I need to say this before the laudanum takes full effect.” Taking a deep breath, she met his gaze and said, “Duncan, you need to leave London.”

Time seemed to stop and there was no sound as he held his breath in utter shock. A crackle and snap from
the wood burning in the fireplace brought him out of his daze. He managed to mutter, “What?”

She pulled her hand free and propped herself up into the pillows behind her. “You need to leave here and forget about me. It is the only thing to do.”

Standing abruptly, he ran his hand through his hair. “What are you talking about?”

She inhaled sharply and her eyes began to fill with tears. “I love you, Duncan. I cannot bear the thought of something happening to you. So, you must go. Our relationship cannot go further. I knew this the moment I saw Richard dead upon the cobblestones.”

Duncan pressed his hands against his head. “I am so sorry you had to see that, but what does his death have to do with me?”

The instant he spoke the words, he knew, but she cried out, “He was my fiancé when he died.”

Exhaling, he said, “Please do not be irrational about this, Lily. I am staying.”

“You have to leave!” she shouted.

“Lily, -.”

“What the hell is going on in here?”

Charles walked into the room with purposeful strides following his words. He knelt next to his niece and glared at Duncan.

Tears were running down Lily’s face. She met his gaze and said, “Duncan, please leave.”

Charles stood menacingly and Duncan looked between them. “I will leave your home, but I am not leaving London, Lily, not unless you are by my side.”

Lily looked away from him and Charles tilted his head as if he had heard something he did not expect.

Duncan started backwards and then turned swiftly, leaving the room. Striding into the hallway, he rushed past the stunned faces of Andrew and Eleanor and headed to the front door. Eleanor caught up with him as the butler opened the door and he stepped outside.

“What happened?” she exclaimed.

He took a deep breath, unclenching his fists. “Lily wants me leave London.”

“What? Why?” she gasped.

He chuckled as he shook his head. “Another one of her fiancés just died. She does not want the same fate for me.”

Eleanor opened her mouth and closed it, appearing stunned. “I am speechless.”

“That is a first,” he teased. Then he smiled, as an idea struck him, allowing the tension to leave his body.

“Why in Heaven are you smiling?”

His smile widened before he replied, “Because I have an idea that just might work. I will talk to you and Andrew about it tomorrow and I will wait a few days to approach Charles.”

She reached out and touched his arm. “I am glad you have an idea that seems to make you happy, but tread lightly where Lily is concerned. A great deal has happened to her today, not to mention in the last few weeks and she needs time to heal.”

He put his hand over hers. “Everyone needs some time to get over the shock of today, even myself, I might add.”

“Of course. Me too,” she said softly, looking ashamed.

He embraced his sister quickly and then stepped back. “El, I am so glad that you are fine and that we all managed to live through this day. I almost lost Lily again and I cannot bear the thought of her pushing me away because of her fears. She gave me a reason to face my inner demons and come back to London. She is my angel and I want to help her banish the evil she thinks surrounds her. If she’ll have me, I want to do everything in my power to make her happy.”

“Oh, Duncan!” Eleanor gushed. She hugged him and said, “I had no idea you could be so romantic!”

He returned the embrace and said, “Neither did I, El, neither did I.”

UNCAN STOOD IN
the foyer of the Montgomery home and handed his coat to the butler. The door to the salon behind him opened and Charles and Lily stepped in the hallway. Lily stopped as surprise registered over her features.

Charles moved forward and shook his hand. “Duncan, what a surprise. I thought you were leaving London today.”

He nodded, but never removed his gaze from Lily’s. “Yes, I am on my way outside of London and just wanted to say farewell. I would like to speak to Lily, if she can spare a moment.”

She wrung her hands together and cleared her throat delicately before she said, “You are leaving as I requested?”

“My carriage is loaded for the trip.” He gestured in the direction of the circular drive.

Lily licked her lips and walked to the window next to the front door. She pulled the curtain back to look
outside. Duncan dared a glance at Charles who merely shrugged his shoulders at her behavior.

She faced Duncan and said, “I can see you in the salon.”

He followed her to the room as she opened the doors for him to enter. Moving smoothly she sat down in one of the high back chairs. Crossing her hands in her lap, she looked like a queen about to have her portrait painted.

Trying to hide his smile, he turned and said, “May I shut the doors?”

“If you insist.”

He closed the doors and stood across from her. “I will not stay long. I had heard you were having a difficult time and had even worn mourning attire. I must say it was very hard for me to stay away, but I had to see you before I left.”

“Yes. I had worn black these past two weeks. It seemed appropriate even after all that happened. Eleanor stopped by earlier today and convinced me I needed to wear something a little brighter.”

“Anytime you wear blue, it highlights your lovely eyes.”

“Duncan, please don’t.”

She stood abruptly and moved to stand behind the chair.

Stepping closer to her, he waited until she met his gaze to say, “Do you feel nothing for me?”

Shaking her head, she started to move, but he stepped in front of her. She looked down at her feet as tears were forming in her eyes.

He tilted her chin up and said, “I have to ask you something and I cannot leave until you answer me, truthfully.”

Swallowing hard, she stepped back and said, “Please do not ask me.”

“It is not what you think.”

She gasped and wiped a fallen tear away. “What?”

“I am leaving, today, but I think after all we have been through together you can answer one question for me.”

Her hands shook a little as she crossed them in front of her and nodded in response.

Reaching out he cupped her cheek gently and their gazes locked. “Lily, do you love me?”

Stepping back, she spun away from him.

He moved around her and held her arms. “Dammit, Lily. I need to know. You told me once that you loved me and with those words, I felt I could walk through the fires of Hell and survive. I can handle anything if I know the answer to my question. I am not your fiancé and I am not asking anything else of you. I just need to know if you love me.”

She inhaled sharply as the color left her face. She started to speak, but then shook her head again and stepped back.

Duncan put his hand over his chest, inhaling sharply; he felt his heart clench as it left his chest.

“I see,” he gasped. He stared at the floor and turned away from her. He had to leave the room. He shook his head and started to stride to the door.

“Duncan, I love you.”

The words struck him like a bucket of cold water. He stopped in mid-step as his heart returned to his chest. Standing still, he was afraid to move. Afraid he had just imagined her voice, her words.

He held his breath and did not turn to face her, but heard the sound of her skirts brush against a chair near him.

“Duncan, please look at me.”

Taking a deep breath, he turned around and met her gaze.

She gasped for a breath and said, “I love you so much it hurts.”

Striding forward he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him, claiming her mouth with his own. Her delicate lips parted and he tasted her sweetness and her tears. Her kiss was like water in the parched desert of his heart.

He pulled back and held her face in his hands. “Come with me right now. We are going to go to a church and we will speak to each other what we know in our hearts.”

Her eyes widened in fear. “Duncan, no. We cannot.”

“Listen to me, Lily. I never asked you anything, except if you love me. I am not your fiancé and there has been no wedding announcement about us.”

She looked away from him and appeared to be considering his words.

He said, “I understand your fears, but our relationship is not like the others you have had before and I refuse to leave here without you.”

She looked around the room as if someone would arrive, then she met his gaze.