Forever Mine (34 page)

“When do you expect to have this portrait done,” he snapped as his thoughts made him irritable. Lockwood jumped slightly then glanced over his shoulder.

“I should be done in the next day or two, my lord,” Lockwood said quietly. “However it will take this portrait well into the new year before it’s ready for framing. Her ladyship’s formal portrait can be framed sometime by the end of December.”

“Excellent. That means the countess’ sittings won’t interfere with our return to London.”

“London,” Victoria exclaimed her eyes widening before she narrowed her gaze at Nicholas.

“Lady Guildford, please, I need you to remain still.”

“I’m done for the day, John. Would you mind giving his Lordship and me a few moments of privacy?”

Nicholas grimaced at the mutinous expression on Victoria’s face. He was in for a fight with her regarding their return to town. The moment the artist left the room, she was on her feet with the sheet wrapped around her tightly. It was a clear sign she wasn’t about to let him seduce her into agreeing to his plan.

“I told you a few weeks ago I wasn’t going to London.”

“As my wife you will accompany me, Victoria.” He kept his voice low and calm. Her rejection of the idea didn’t surprise him. She had made her intentions clear, but he wasn’t about to leave her alone for any extensive length of time.

“Don’t you dare patronize me, Lord Guildford.” The use of his title emphasized she was angrier than he expected. He would have to tread carefully in order to make her comply with his wishes.

“I’m not patronizing you, Victoria. But it’s—”

“The hell you aren’t,” she snapped. “You made an arbitrary decision where I’m concerned. I’m not chattel for you to do with as you please.”

“
Christ almighty
,” he growled. “I am not treating you as chattel.”

“I told you before. I am not going to London,” she bit out in a fierce voice.

“
Damn it, Victoria
. I’m not about to—”

A knock on the door interrupted him, and before he could order the person to go away, Victoria called out for them to enter. It was a clear effort on her part to end the conversation. Nicholas glared at her for not judiciously asking who had knocked. It could’ve been Roberts for all she knew, and he had no desire for any man to see his wife as she was now. When Molly walked through the door, relief washed over him. It was quickly replaced by the a wave of frustration.

“I beg your pardon, my lady. But Mr. Elrod insisted on seeing Lord Guildford right away.”

The maid’s words made Nicholas stiffen. He’d met with Elrod earlier this morning. The man’s return could mean only one thing, either he had news from Green, or another note had arrived.

“Thank you, Molly. I’ll be there shortly.” It was a quiet dismissal, and the maid left the room before Victoria could stop her. A sigh escaped his lips as he met Victoria’s angry gaze.

“I do not consider you my property, Victoria. But as my wife it’s expected for you to accompany me to town.” His statement echoed quietly between them. Victoria narrowed her gaze at him once more, her expression unreadable.

“I need to dress, and I believe someone is waiting for you,” she said in a stilted tone as a mutinous expression crossed her face again. Annoyed, he took a step toward her, but she retreated from him. He didn’t like the way it made him feel to see her back away from him.

“We’ll discuss this later,” he growled. “Right now I need to see my estate manager.” Victoria appeared ready to make a retort but she clamped her beautiful lips shut and glared at him instead. With a quiet oath he slammed her bedroom door shut on his way out. God help him, how was he supposed to keep her safe if she refused to do what he said? Perhaps that was the key. He was telling her what she had to do as opposed to asking her. Victoria was an independent woman. She believed she was the one in control of her destiny.

The larger problem was that he’d not been honest with her. His efforts to protect Victoria had included not telling her about the danger she was in. He had little doubt she’d be incensed if she discovered he’d not shared his concerns with her. Still, he didn’t regret his decision. The fear on her face the night he and his men had found her almost two miles from the house was a look he’d never forget.

Victoria had been terrified that night, although he knew she wasn’t a woman who frightened easily. But that one incident could not be the reason she changed her mind about visiting London. She’d refused to do so before being chased through the dark. The worst thing was that they’d not resolved their differences before he’d left her room.

He didn’t like seeing her unhappy, and she was most definitely unhappy with him at the moment. Actually it was a fact that she was unhappy with him that bothered him the most. With a scowl, he descended the main stairs and made his way to his office. The moment he entered, Elrod rose to his feet.

“What news do you have, Elrod?”

“Two things, my Lord. Mr. Green has had a bit of luck with Reardon. Apparently, the man is looking for an item of value. Green wasn’t able to learn what the item is but he says it’s clearly of great importance.” As Elrod finished his report, Nicholas drew in a deep breath and exhaled. At last, something he could work with.

“That’s extremely good news. Tell Green to continue watching the man. Reardon’s extremely cautious, but everyone makes mistakes. We need to know what he’s up to.”

“Yes, my lord. Unfortunately, that’s not all.” The man’s features darkened with worry, and Nicholas intuitively knew what the answer would be.

“Another note.”

The silent confirmation on his estate manager’s face made Nicholas’ gut twist violently. Elrod reached into his coat pocket to retrieve an envelope that he handed to Nicholas. A tic tugged at his cheek in protest as to the way his facial muscles had tightened the moment he clenched his jaw.

My dear Guildford,

I understand Scotland Yard is extremely curious as to why you’ve not returned to London with your lovely wife. I imagine their curiosity is as great as mine, but then we both know how skilled you are at deception. Especially when one considers your questionable claim to the Guildford title? I wonder what Scotland Yard would think of the possibility that your brother is the rightful heir?

My guess is that you have ordered your wife not to ride alone again. Please convey my admiration for the Countess’ horsemanship. Her skills are exemplary given her lack of them before her convenient return. I regret being unable to reach her in time that night to express my admiration. Until we meet in London.

A friend

Nicholas released a soft oath beneath his breath. How was he supposed to protect Victoria if he didn’t know for certain who was behind these notes. His best guess was that Reardon was behind them, but proving that was difficult simply because it could easily be Darby as well. He turned the envelope over and frowned.

“The postmark on the last note was the city of London, this one is from Hammersmith.”

“Yes, my Lord. It’s the same part of the city that Green reported Darby was seen with Reardon in a local pub.”

Frustration made the paper in Nicholas’ hand crackle as he clenched his fists. He gritted his teeth.

“Tell Green I want something connecting these notes to Darby or Reardon. If one of these bastards visits a postal office, I want to know what and to whom he’s mailing something.”

“Yes, my lord.” Elrod nodded at the instruction then left Nicholas alone in his office.

With another fierce oath, Nicholas smashed the top of his fist into his desktop. Whoever was threatening his family was going to rue the day they dared to cross the Earl of Guildford.

D
inner was a silent affair, and Victoria’s noncommittal responses told him she was still angry with him. Preoccupied with the news Elrod had provided him earlier in the day, he’d not been able to focus his attention on healing the breach between him and Victoria. Edmund, with his usual astute observations of human nature, leaned toward him as Nicholas took the last bite of the beef on his plate.

“What did you say to make Victoria so unhappy?” The hostility in his brother’s question made Nicholas stiffen with surprise. For his lack of advanced mental capabilities, Edmund was more in tune to the emotions of others than anyone he’d ever met. With a sigh, he wiped his mouth with his napkin then laid it beside his plate.

“We both know how independent Victoria is,” he said as he slid his gaze toward her. “Unfortunately, I managed to incur her wrath by telling her she had to do something.”

“Oh.” Edmund nodded his head sagely. “Well you better stop telling her what to do. I don’t like it when she’s unhappy.”

“Neither do I, Edmund,” he said as he reached out to touch the back of Victoria’s hand. “Neither do I.”

His gaze locked with Victoria’s blue one, and he waited for her to say something. With a shake of her head, Victoria scowled at him for a moment before a reluctant smile curved her mouth.

“If there’s one thing you do well, Lord Guildford. It’s making an apology without really apologizing.”

That she’d forgiven him filled him with relief. Now to find the right moment to ask her to go to London with him without explaining why he was so insistent. The mood for the remainder of their meal was lightened significantly, and when they’d finished their dessert the three of them retired to the salon. Edmund and Victoria played chess while Nicholas read. When the clock chimed nine, he ordered Edmund to bed.

When his brother had left the room, Victoria invited him to a game of chess. Although his thoughts were still focused on the note he’d received, he agreed as his effort to read was a complete failure. Hopefully a game of chess would distract him. A quarter of an hour later, he realized that had not worked either.

“Checkmate.” The quiet word made him straighten in his chair to study the board as Victoria made a sound of annoyance. “Did you deliberately just lose to me?”

“No,” he said with a shake of his head. “I’d never do that.”

“Then what’s bothering you so much that you lost a game of chess to me in under twenty moves?”

“A business matter.” The lie didn’t please him, but the thought of seeing fear on her face again was the last thing he wanted. Nicholas shook his head. “It’s serious, but it will resolve itself.”

“Would it help to talk about it?”

“
No.
”

His adamant response made her eye him with suspicion. Nicholas sought to make his expression one of nonchalance as he shook his head. He knew discussing the letters would make matters worse between them. Not only would she be angry with him for hiding them from her, but it would frighten her.

Then again perhaps it would make her go to London with him more easily. Her expression made it clear she was still trying to determine whether or not he was being honest with her, but she didn’t press him any further.

“All right.” She stood up. “I’m going to bed.”

Although she didn’t invite him to join her, there was an enticing note in her voice that made him believe she wouldn’t object. If there was anything that would make him forget his woes, it would be in her arms. He smiled at her small cry of surprise as he tugged her down into his lap.

“Is that an invitation to join you in your bed, Lady Guildford?” he asked with a smile as the weight of his fears lifted slightly off his shoulders. Mischief made her eyes twinkle as a seductive smile curved her lovely mouth.

“Well, makeup sex is always good.”

A strange emotion engulfed him as he studied her impish expression. He reached up to caress her cheek, and she cupped her hand around his then turned her head to kiss his palm. In the next instant Victoria stiffened, and jerked her head away from him. Concern flashed through him.

“What is it, sweetheart?”

“It’s nothing,” she replied with a weak smile. Just a moment of déjà vu.”

The confused look on her face made him refrain from probing. Instinct warned him it would be unwise to push her for an answer. She would simply dig in her heels. Instead, he pulled her head downward and kissed her gently.

“As you wish.” The words made her gasp with surprise, and he arched his eyebrows in a silent question.

“It’s nothing. It’s just that what you said reminded me of one of my favorite mov—books, The Princess Bride.”

“Then I shall have a copy ordered for you,” he murmured softly as he caressed her throat with his mouth. Laughter vibrated against his lips.

“I don’t think you’ll find it, because it’s not been published yet,” she said with a sweet smile. “But the fact that you’re willing to buy the book for me makes me happy.”

“How happy?” he whispered as he nibbled on her neck.

“Why don’t we go upstairs and find out?”

The seductive sound of her voice made Nicholas grow hard, and without protesting he set her on her feet. Victoria slipped her hand into his and led him upstairs.

§  §  §

Nicholas stared into the fire burning in the grate. Despite the happiness it gave him to be in Victoria’s arms, he’d been unable to sleep as peacefully as his wife. It was this damned infernal waiting that he couldn’t stand. A sudden awareness shifted through his body, and he looked up to see Victoria. She was pale with fear and tears formed in her eyes. Concern barreled through Nicholas as he quickly tugged her down into his lap.