Lady Vivian Defies a Duke (24 page)

Besides, once Luke learned of Mr. Collier’s foolish antics, a poor groom who had been dragged into one of her messes would be the last person on his mind. Luke wasn’t as likely to forget her sneaking off to meet said groom and landing in this dilemma, however. Even though he had been patient from the moment of their embarrassing encounter at the creek, she couldn’t hope for his continued goodwill this time. He would probably help pack her trunks and send her to Scotland himself.

Vivi’s bravado vanished and she deflated under the weight of her burden. Perhaps Luke would have been able to forgive her past, but he couldn’t overlook this misstep. There was no telling how many witnesses had seen her leaving with Mr. Collier. And with the way gossip spread among the servants, most of the castle staff probably already knew about her encounter with the lousy rake. She never should have promised Owen that she would keep their past association a secret from Luke, even if she had intended to tell him eventually.

It was true what Ash said about good intentions paving the road to hell. She came down hard on a jagged rock. Pain shot up her leg and she cried out.

“Damn you, Road to Hell!”

Luke had gathered in his study with his mother, Richard, and Johanna to await Vivian’s arrival. Johanna’s show of support after their conversation last night had caught him by surprise, but he was pleased by her attendance.

He glanced at the clock on the sideboard. Vivian was fifteen minutes late. Until this point, he had allowed her some latitude—having sisters, he was aware ladies often operated by a different clock—but it was time to seek her out. “Perhaps I should organize a search party.”

Johanna sprang to her feet. “Allow me to retrieve Lady Vivian.”

“Thank you, Miss Truax.”

She swept out the door in a rustling of skirts. The three remaining occupants stared at each other in silence.

Richard crossed his leg over his knee and drummed his fingers against his calf. Luke strolled to the sideboard to pour his brother a drink. Richard had never possessed much patience. It was a wonder he and his wife got on as well as they did.

“What type of lady keeps a duke waiting?” Richard asked.

Luke returned with a glass of brandy. “A lady who knows how to keep her husband chasing after her skirts.”

Their mother tsked. “Lucas.”

“Forgive me, Mother, but I would dare say you are perfectly aware of what tricks a lady employs to keep her husband by her side.”

“Never you mind my tricks,” his mother said with a sniff.

She attempted to hide her grin by lifting her nose and turning her face away, but both he and Richard spotted it and laughed. It had been no secret their father had run ragged courting her and never strayed from her side in all their years of marriage. Edward Forest had been the subject of much ridicule at Brook’s, but only when he wasn’t present.

There was a knock at the study door before Johanna entered with Vivian’s maid. Both women were frowning. He nodded toward the piece of paper clutched in the maid’s hand. “Do you have a message from your lady?”

Johanna nudged her. “Go on now. His Grace has asked you a question.”

“Not exactly.” Winifred scurried forward and shoved the rolled-up paper at him. “It’s a message to Lady Vivian. I swear I knew nothing about it, or I wouldn’t have allowed her to meet him.”

Luke stood up straighter and took the note. “Meet who?” He scanned the contents then glanced to Vivian’s maid for answers. “Do you know the identity of O?”

She shook her head. “Well, maybe. But it seems unlikely, Your Grace. I don’t like to speculate.”

“Do it anyway.”

She took a step back and fidgeted with her apron.

“I’m not angry with you, Winifred, but I can’t promise how much longer my patience will last.”

“It’s the groom I spoke with you about last night,” Johanna blurted.

Luke raised his brows at Winifred.

“It
could
be Owen, Your Grace. He served at Brighthurst House awhile back. I didn’t know he was here until Miss Truax told me.”

“And what would this man want with your lady?”

“I don’t know.”

Johanna rolled her eyes, likely thinking no one would notice.

“Do you have something to add, Miss Truax?” he asked, crossing his arms and glowering.

Her gaze shot between Luke and his mother. She stepped closer and lowered her voice. “Isn’t it obvious she is involved with this man?”

“She is not,” Winifred insisted. “My lady is a good lady.”

Johanna ignored her. “If you go now, you will catch her in the act. Then you will see I am right about her.”

His mother stood and took the note from him. “I’m inclined to agree with Lady Vivian’s maid. Did you see who delivered the message, my dear?”

The maid shook her head. “No, Your Grace. I found it on her breakfast tray, but it wasn’t there when I carried her breakfast to her.”

His mother scanned the brief missive then pursed her lips. “Thank you, my dear. You may go.”

Winifred chewed her bottom lip and appeared close to tears as she bustled from his study.

When the door closed, Mother waved the note toward Johanna. “Now that the help is gone, let’s be honest, shall we?”

Richard took the paper, his brows lowering as he read the contents. “I don’t understand. Honest about what?”

Mother’s stare never wavered from her companion.

A pink flush stained the younger woman’s cheeks. “I—I have no idea what has transpired, Your Grace. I swear it.”

“I recognize the handwriting, Johanna. I would like you to explain why you sent a note to Lady Vivian arranging a false meeting with a servant.”

Johanna’s complexion drained of color and she swayed. Richard held her up when her knees buckled. “I was trying to help,” she said in a weak voice.

“Devil take it!” Luke stormed the door. He had to find Vivian before she landed in trouble.

Once he had cleared the castle doors, he rushed for the stables. A groom was already running to meet him.

“Your Grace, it’s Lady Vivian.” He spoke in a hushed voice, but there was a hint of fear in his tone.

“Where is she? Is she hurt? Take me to her.”

The servant fell in step with Luke to return to the stables. “Mr. Collier rode away with her in the phaeton. I tried to stop him.”

“Which way?”

The groom pointed north toward the village. “The gentleman is reckless. I pray for her ladyship’s safe return.”

“Saddle my horse,” Luke snapped as they passed into the stables.

Richard came up beside Luke. “Make that two horses.”

His mother and a tearful Johanna were several strides behind his brother.

Luke held his fist stiffly at his side for fear of throttling Johanna. “Mr. Collier has taken Vivian. What does he plan to do with her?”

Her jaw fell open. “But that wasn’t supposed to happen. He was to summon the groom.”

“Dammit!” Luke slammed his fist against the stall. She jumped and fresh tears flowed down her cheeks. “I told you the blackguard couldn’t be trusted. You will be held accountable, Miss Truax. And don’t think you will come out of this lightly.”

He stalked past her to where Thor was housed.

“He said he loves her,” Johanna called after him. “He was going to offer for her hand once you were freed from the betrothal.”

“Hush,” his mother scolded.

Luke took the reins from the groom to lead Thor from the stables. “I never wanted to be freed from Vivian. I just didn’t know until I met her.”

Richard joined him outside with his horse in tow. They mounted and set off for the gate.

“I’ll kill him if he has touched her.”

“Understood,” Richard said as they cleared the gate.

Luke urged his horse into a gallop and Thor obliged, tearing up the ground in a matter of seconds. From the corner of Luke’s eye, he spotted his brother’s mount keeping pace. Perhaps even Richard believed there were times when risking one’s neck was appropriate.

When they topped the hill, a figure in the distance caught Luke’s eye. It appeared to be a child, perhaps a village girl who had wandered too far from home. As they drew closer, he could see he had misjudged her height. It was a woman hobbling down the lane. A well-dressed lady with her bonnet askew and hair partially tumbling around her shoulders.

Vivian.
He pulled back on the reins to slow Thor. Richard followed suit with his steed.

“Is that her?” his brother asked. “Good God! Is she armed?”

A flash of sunlight glinted off the barrel of a pistol in her hand. Luke tamped down the urge to laugh hysterically, because that’s exactly what it would be. A hysterical response. Never in his life had he been frightened out of his wits.

He had explored the crags around Northumberland, hunted wild boar in the Black Forest, dove from the highest cliffs he could find, and stared down the barrels of pistols on several occasions when an opponent was unhappy with how the cards had played out. None of those things had ever scared him. Yet, the tiniest hint of danger to his little spitfire and he turned into a petrified nursemaid.

“Luke!” The tremor in her voice tore at him. He dismounted the moment he reached her, barely waiting for Thor to come to a halt.

Her hair was a mess, her gown was soiled at the hem, and she had lost a shoe.

“Have you been injured?” he asked.

“I’m fine.”

He ran his hands over her head in search of bumps. There were no visible bruises or cuts.

She pulled free of his grasp with a harassed scowl. “I swear to you, I haven’t been hurt.”

He held his hand out for the firearm and she passed it to him. He set the flint so it wouldn’t fire, and then lost control. “What the hell did you think you were doing?”

She blinked. “I—I didn’t want to go—”

“God’s blood, Vivian! Whatever possessed you to leave the castle without an escort? Do you have a damned death wish, because it would be easier to ask for my help?” He shoved a hand through his hair, trying to rein in his emotions. “If you ever do anything this harebrained again, I may just wring your neck.”

Vivian’s bottom lip trembled, but she held her ground. “Could we please discuss this at a later time, Your Grace? I have ruined my favorite slippers, torn my stockings, and soiled my gown. Besides, I’m at a decided disadvantage should you decide to strangle me here and now since you have taken my gun.” She finished with a sniffle.

“Hell’s teeth, Viv. You know I wouldn’t harm a hair on your head. But I’ll rip Collier limb from limb. Where is he?”

She pointed in the opposite direction. “He took off like the devil was after him.”

Richard came up beside Luke and held his hand out for the pistol. “Allow me to give chase. He won’t get far in the phaeton.”

Luke surrendered the gun then swept Vivian against him. She squirmed in his hold, but he refused to let her go. She worked her arms free, wrapped them around his waist, and snuggled her cheek against his chest. His heartbeat refused to slow. If he had lost her… “You are fortunate I don’t take you over my knee,” he murmured before kissing the top of her head.

God help him. All he had were empty threats, because he would rather be on the receiving end of a whip than see her harmed in the slightest manner.

“Perhaps you should take Lady Vivian to Shafer Hall,” Richard said. “Phoebe will have something she can wear, and no one must know about this morning’s excursion.”

Luke released her. “Come on. You’ll ride in front of me.”

He tried to cover his weakness with gruff manners, but when she lowered her head and sniffled again, he only wanted to reassure her all was well. At this rate, he would likely exhaust himself rescuing her from scrapes. Of course, she had done a bang-up job of saving herself today.

He mounted Thor then signaled for his brother to offer her a leg up. Vivian climbed into the saddle and sat astride, half on him and half on the horse. He wrapped his arm around her waist to hold her in place. Now that he had her safely within his reach, he couldn’t let her go. He tapped Thor’s sides and they set off for Shafer Hall, cutting through the meadow.

After a bit, she wriggled to adjust her seat and nestled into his crotch. His body warmed with her snugly against him, fitting him so perfectly in every way. Perhaps she was too much like him. This was the origin of his fear. Nothing had ever held him back, and Vivian was just as reckless.

“What am I to do with you, water sprite?”

She gave her head a small shake and a hot tear fell on his hand.

Brushing her hair aside, he placed a kiss at her temple. “No more tears. I have you now.”

***

Vivi fought back her tears for the remainder of their ride, trying to honor Luke’s wishes, but she was filled with sorrow. What was he to do with her? Well, there was really only one answer, wasn’t there? She didn’t believe he had thought of sending her on to Scotland, though. Not yet, anyway.

When they rode up the circular drive of Shafer Hall, a footman came out to greet them.

“Welcome, Your Grace.” He showed no indication that he found the Duke of Foxhaven’s arrival unexpected nor did he seem surprised Luke had arrived with a lady riding astride before him. The young man even had the good manners to pretend he couldn’t see her ankles and half her calves from her skirts bunching up.

Luke swung down from Thor then assisted her with dismounting as the butler and an older woman bustled out of the house.

“Your Grace, we were not expecting you,” the woman said and patted her mobcap as if to reassure herself it was on properly.

“We won’t be staying, Mrs. Aylmer. Will you please show Lady Vivian to a chamber to set herself back to rights? My brother assures me Lady Phoebe is happy to supply a new gown to the lady as well.”

Vivi heated through at what the servants must think of her state of dishabille and what had caused it.

The woman curtsied. “It would be my pleasure, Your Grace.”

Luke regarded Vivi with a frown. “I must attend to an urgent matter, but I will send a carriage for you.”

Her heart leapt into her throat. This would be his life. Cleaning up her messes and growing more disgruntled with her.

She grasped his arm without thinking. “Please stay. Can’t we talk through this first?”

Luke shot a look toward the servants, silently communicating for them to leave them alone.

The staff returned to the house.

His glance fell to her fingers digging into his forearm. She released him. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

He lifted an imperious eyebrow. “That seems to be a common occurrence, Vivian. You are correct about the need to talk, but now is not the time. Richard may require assistance, and I won’t leave my brother to face Collier alone.”

“No, of course not. You should help your brother. I wasn’t—” She bit off the last word. Reminding him yet again of her tendency not to think things through carefully wouldn’t help her cause. “Will you come back for me instead of sending a coach?”

“It may take some time. Are you sure you wish to wait here?”

She nodded. The last thing she wanted was to spend the afternoon with Luke’s kin pretending she hadn’t spoiled everything between them.

Luke escorted her to the double doors, left her in the servant’s care, and returned to his horse. If Mrs. Aylmer hadn’t hustled her inside, Vivi would have stood on the stoop to watch him ride away from her.