Lost in a Royal Kiss (6 page)

One thing was clear after all these weeks—he needed a new strategy. It was obvious he’d made a muddle of things, and he’d better come up with a way to fix it.

He rose from his desk, taking his brandy and wandering over to the fireplace, brooding as he stared down into the empty grate. Not everything had gone awry that fateful night. Their lovemaking had been spectacular. Linnet’s soft body writhing against his as he sank deep into her—that memory had disturbed his sleep every night since. She’d responded to him with such a sweet, innocent passion, giving him everything he asked for and more. Anthony hadn’t doubted for a moment that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

Until, that is, he’d outlined his immediate plans for their future. He’d made a hash of that, and at a time when she was bound to be emotional. He should have been gentler with her, but he’d been caught off guard by her reluctance to commit to anything, much less a firm date for their marriage. That had brought his possessive instincts charging up, and he’d been hell-bent on bending her to his will. A mistake he sincerely regretted.

So he’d left her alone, trying to respect her sensibilities and convinced that her superior good sense would bring her around. And even though he’d handled the situation like a great oaf—he still winced whenever he recalled her phrasing—Linnet needed to understand that she could not dictate to him. Leaving her alone had been partly his way of communicating that. He would not go running after her, or allow her to turn his already-complicated life inside out. Anthony accepted that she was a strong-willed, determined person, and he appreciated those qualities in her. But she could not command him or defy him. On that point, they needed a clear understanding.

Downing the rest of his brandy in one swallow, he set down his glass and headed for the door. He’d get no more work completed tonight, so he might as well try for some sleep.

He was about to climb the stairs when a sharp rapping sounded on the front door. He paused, frowning. Could it be one of his agents? He doubted it, because they would never raise such a commotion.

The door to the kitchen swung open and Carter, still fully garbed, came rushing out. Anthony waved him back as he retrieved a pistol from the sideboard before crossing to the door. As he unlocked it, his impatient visitor began pounding again.

When he opened it, Linnet practically pitched into his arms. She stumbled over the step, and Anthony barely managed to catch her while keeping the pistol out of harm’s way.

“Good God, Linnet,” he growled, handing the weapon to Carter. “Are you hurt?”

A jumble of words poured out of her mouth as he drew her into the hall. It took him a moment to realize that she was clutching the lapels of his coat, and that her hands were shaking. Her whole body, in fact, trembled.

“Hush, my dear,” he said, gently interrupting her flow of words. “Come into my study and you can explain everything to me.”

He started to lead her across the hall and then stopped. “How did you get here?”

“I had one of the coachmen from the palace stables drive me here,” she said in a breathless voice.

Anthony jerked his head at Carter. “Take care of it.” He gently towed Linnet toward his study, pausing only to retrieve the pistol from Carter and stow it back in the sideboard.

“Who were you expecting?” she asked as she watched him put it away.

He glanced down at her, but was unable to read her face in the shadows cast by the deep hood of her black cloak.

“Certainly not you,” he replied dryly. He felt rather than saw her wince.

Once inside his study, she started to untie her cloak. Her fingers were shaking so badly that she tangled the cords. Anthony gently brushed her hands aside and completed the task. He then led her to a chair, once again hushing her agitated explanations, before fetching a brandy.

“There’s no time for this,” she exclaimed, waving away the drink.

“Then make time.”

Her beautiful face was pale and strained in the lamplight, and she held her body with a tension that vibrated in the air. Anthony crouched before her and took one of her hands.

“I’ll be happy to listen to everything you want to tell me, love,” he said in a soothing voice. “Just take a sip of the brandy and try to recover your breath.”

She gave him a wavering smile and complied. It almost broke his heart to see how her hand shook as she lifted the glass to her mouth. Something was very wrong, and it had nothing to do with their emotional impasse. If Linnet had wanted to discuss that, she’d had ample opportunity over the last few weeks to do so, nor would she appear at his door in so rattled a state.

He took the glass from her. “Now, tell me what’s wrong.”

“It’s Chloe. She’s pregnant.”

He grimaced and rose to his feet. “That’s a troubling development, but I hardly think it warrants you dashing out in the middle of the night, putting both your safety and reputation at risk. Could you not have sent me a note instead?”

Her eyebrows pulled down in a scowl. “I’m not an idiot, Anthony, which you should know by now.”

“Yes, I do,” he said, throttling back his frustration. This was
not
how he imagined being with her again. “Then, what has you so upset?”

“Chloe told Dominic she was pregnant. They’ve run away together.”

For a long moment he stared at her, uncomprehending.

“Now who’s the idiot?” she muttered.

Anthony shook himself free of his paralysis. “But I saw Dominic this afternoon. We went riding, before I went into the City for dinner.”

She raised a skeptical eyebrow. “And have you seen him since?”

“No,” he said, with a growing sense of foreboding. “I haven’t.”

Linnet fought to keep herself upright, a difficult task after several hours spent in a curricle. Unlike her, Anthony seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of energy, showing no fatigue as he drove them along the night-shrouded highway. She could only pray they would catch up to the children soon before she made a fool of herself by falling asleep and toppling into the road.

The vehicle picked up speed as Anthony gave the horses their heads. They were in sight of the next village, where they hoped to catch up with the passenger coach carrying Dominic and Chloe. Dawn was breaking, too. Linnet had never traveled in an open carriage at night, and it was an experience she hoped never to repeat. But if they’d waited until first light to pursue the children, they might have lost them forever.

She glanced at Anthony’s severely handsome profile, traced by the first rays of the sun. His mouth was set in a grim line, evidence of his displeasure with the situation. But even though they’d barely exchanged a word since leaving his town house, he’d still fussed over her, forcing her to eat and drink on their short stops, and tucking a blanket around her to ward off chills.

There was hardly a chance of catching a chill, but when she’d protested he’d simply narrowed his eyes, sending her a silent but clear message. For once, she’d capitulated.

Because it was the only thing she
had
capitulated on, he was furious with her. Linnet had insisted on accompanying him, and Anthony had been just as insistent that she not. When she’d finally vowed to hire a coach and follow him, he’d let out a string of oaths but relented and dragged her down to his stables. Linnet had been tempted to laugh, more from nerves than anything else, but the grim look on his face had killed the impulse.

Fortunately, she knew where Dominic and Chloe were headed. Chloe had confided her plans to the Steeles’maid, a young girl not much older than she was, with strict instructions that the news be shared only when she and Dominic were out of reach. It had taken the combined efforts of both Linnet and Mr. Steele to extract the information from the girl, and the results had been horrifying—Dominic and Chloe were fleeing to the coast to board a ship to America.

“What I don’t understand,” Linnet mused, breaking the long silence, “is how Dominic managed all this. Even if he and Chloe rode on top of the stagecoach, which doesn’t seem to be the case from what we learned at the last stop, where did he get the money to pay for it, much less their passage to America?”

Anthony let out a snort, not taking his eyes off the road. “He picked the lock on my strongbox, relieving me of fifty pounds.”

That jolted her fully awake. “Well, that was certainly enterprising of him, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, he seems well launched on a criminal career. Thieving, lying, and kidnapping. I’ve obviously been a splendid role model for him.”

The bitter tone in his voice made her stomach twist. “Oh, Anthony, I’m so sorry,” she said contritely. “I never should have burdened you with any of this. I should have gone straight to Prince Ernest’s governor in the beginning, or even the queen. It was wrong of me to foist this responsibility on you.”

He cut her a startled glance. “I’m glad you did. I’m much better equipped to handle this kind of situation than anyone else in the royal household, believe me.”

“I know, but it’s been such a trial for you, and now it’s a complete mess.”

He switched the reins to one hand and placed his other hand over hers. “Linnet, I always want you to come to me when you’re worried or in difficulty. I’d like nothing more than to sort out your messes, as you call them.”

When he gave her a fleeting smile before turning his attention back to the horses, the tight band around her heart eased a fraction. Good Lord, she loved him, and she’d been so afraid she’d angered him past all repair. And she truly did want to marry him. What she
didn’t
want was for him to take over her life, fixing all her problems with the wave of his imperious hand. She wanted them to sort out their problems together. She wanted him to need her as much as she needed him, and she’d been hoping that some time apart might induce him to recognize that.

And as relieved as she was that he still appeared to want to be with her, his words and manner suggested he had yet to understand why she’d stormed out of Lady Farnsworth’s study that fateful night. It was time to stow her lacerated sensibilities—and her fears that she’d made a fool of herself over him—and try to explain it once again. If she failed this time, there was no hope for them.

As she pondered how to broach that tricky subject, they rattled into the village and onto the high street.

“Belkingham has only the one coaching inn as I recall,” Anthony said. He extracted a pocket watch from inside his coat and flipped it open. “With any luck, we should only be a few minutes behind them.”

Linnet grimaced when they rattled over a rut that almost bounced her out of her seat. “Thank goodness. I don’t know how much more my backside can take.”

“I can rub it for you if you like,” he said. “I’m very fond of your backside, and I’d hate for it to suffer any more than it has to.”

“How kind of you,” she said, rolling her eyes.

He flashed a brief smile, but then went back to looking grim. “I’m sorry about all this, Linnet. If I had kept a better eye on Dominic, I could have prevented this.”

“I don’t see how. Dominic and Chloe hatched quite a clever scheme.”

“Still, I should have anticipated he might do something like this,” he said in a voice laden with self-disgust.

How like him to assume responsibility for everything and everyone. She didn’t know whether to scold him or kiss him.

She chose the former, for now. “Anthony, do stop being such a prig. Not everything in the world falls under your all-seeing eye, you know. The rest of us have to take
some
responsibility for our actions. And how you could have anticipated this particular event is beyond me.”

He didn’t say a word as he wheeled them into the yard of the inn. As the ostlers ran to the horses, Anthony slowly turned in his seat to face her. “A prig. Is that how you see me?”

The incredulous expression on his face had her biting back a smile. “Only when you absolutely merit it.”

He made a noncommittal grunt while he helped her down from the high seat. A flurry of activity on the other side of the yard drew their attention. It was the coach they’d been pursuing, readying for its imminent departure.

“Wait here,” Anthony ordered.

“But—”

“I have no intention of exposing you to any more notice than necessary,” he said. “I’ll go talk to the coachman and return immediately.”

She accepted the blunt explanation with a nod—no point in riling him up—and watched his progress across the yard. The coachman listened attentively to Anthony and then pointed in the direction of the inn. Something exchanged hands before Anthony strode back to her.

“They’re inside,” he said. “Chloe wasn’t feeling well, so Dominic booked a room.”

Linnet pressed a hand to her chest in relief, swaying a bit. “Thank God.”

Anthony’s arm whipped up to steady her. “Are you all right?”

“I’m just tired. I’ll feel better after I speak with Chloe and know how she is. The poor girl is probably exhausted and frightened to death. And Dominic is likely beside himself with worry.”

“He’ll be beside himself with something else when I get through with him,” Anthony growled.

He started toward the inn, but Linnet grabbed his arm and dug in her heels.

“What now?” Anthony asked with a long-suffering sigh.

“You are not to go charging in there and browbeat those children. If you do, they will take the first opportunity to run again. You must reason with them instead.”

“Trust me, I can be very convincing.”

She tugged on his sleeve when he started forward, holding him back. “And how will you convince them? Tower over them with your most formidable glare? Berate them into compliance? That will only provoke Dominic into doing something rash, and frighten poor Chloe to death.”

“I will not,” he snapped. “I will be perfectly mild when speaking to them.”

As he finished, two disheveled men stumbled out of the inn, clearly after a night of excess. One of them tripped and brushed against Anthony’s back. When Anthony whipped around and glowered at the fellow, he blanched and slunk away, muttering an apology.

“Yes, I’m sure you will be very mild,” Linnet said sarcastically.

“Linnet, you must—” he began in an exasperated voice.

She reached up and touched his stern jaw, interrupting him. “My dear sir, please listen. They’re both convinced they are all alone. We need to make them feel safe, and know that we understand how they feel. Chloe and Dominic must believe that we have their best interests at heart, or they’ll simply repeat this escapade.”

For several seconds, their gazes held. Linnet prayed with all her heart that he would trust her as much as she trusted him.

Finally, he nodded. His features remained stern, but his eyes smiled back at her. “All right, love. We’ll try it your way.”

Her throat tightened. “Thank you,” she managed to whisper.

Anthony led her into the inn. After a few moments’ conversation with the innkeeper—which Anthony handled masterfully—they followed a maid up the stairs to a room at the end of the hall. When they reached the door, Anthony waved Linnet into action.

Taking a deep breath, she rapped firmly on the oak panels and then entered.

It was a typically modest room of the sort found in small coaching inns in the country, with a bed, a chair, and a couple of other pieces of ancient-looking furniture. Chloe huddled under a quilt, looking miserable. Dominic sat beside the bed but sprang to his feet, wild-eyed, when Linnet pushed open the door.

For a moment they all hung suspended, then Dominic rushed forward, blocking their path to Chloe. “No! You won’t take her,” he yelled. “I won’t let you.”

Anthony calmly put up both hands, palms out. “Dominic, we simply want to talk to you and Chloe. Believe me, no one is going to force you to do anything.”

His thin, lanky frame rigid with defiance, Dominic eyed his erstwhile mentor with suspicion. The boy’s eyes were red-rimmed and dark with despair, and Linnet’s heart squeezed tight. There was so little she could do to ease Dominic’s or Chloe’s pains. In fact, what must be done to keep them safe would make them feel that the entire world had lined up against them.

Anthony raised a hand to Dominic’s shoulder, whispering something Linnet couldn’t hear, and the boy seemed to crumple. Dominic nodded and stood aside, allowing Linnet to cross to the bed. Chloe had pushed herself up to a sitting position, her pretty face a mirror of Dominic’s emotions.

“My dear, there’s nothing to be afraid of,” Linnet said in a quiet voice as she sat next to her. Chloe shuffled back, disbelief pulling the lines of her pale face tight.

Linnet had to force down a surge of rage. Chloe was a beautiful and sweet girl, with innocent doe eyes and coltish limbs. Her predicament was the height of injustice, and never had Linnet felt more helpless or angry. But she had to put those feelings aside if she was to help the girl salvage something from the horrible mess.

“How are you feeling?” Linnet asked, resting a hand on Chloe’s cheek.

The girl first jumped at the touch, but then settled.

“I feel so queasy and I can’t seem to eat,” she whispered on a wavering breath. “And I’m so tired.”

“That’s all entirely normal,” Linnet replied in a matter-of-fact voice. “And I imagine swaying about in a coach for most of the night didn’t help your stomach.”

Chloe’s eyes grew teary as she gazed at Dominic. “I’m sorry I got sick. I know I’ve made a mess of everything.”

Dominic took a step forward, but Anthony held him back. “It’s not your fault,” the boy told Chloe in a shattered voice. “None of this is your fault.”

“No, it’s not,” Anthony said. “But running away will not mend the situation.” He turned Dominic to look at him. “I think you already know that.”

The boy managed a halfhearted glare of defiance, but Chloe hunched her shoulders up with guilt. “We didn’t know what else to do. Papa was sending me to my uncle in Yorkshire. I barely know him, and I was afraid I would never see Dominic again.”

“I understand your distress, but that’s necessary,” Linnet said. “We must all do everything we can to protect your good name and ensure this incident doesn’t ruin your life. But that certainly doesn’t mean you’ll never see Dominic again.” She gave Chloe a reassuring smile as she squeezed her hands. “Everything seems very frightening right now, but eventually that will pass. In the meantime, I will do everything I can to help you.”

She twisted around to look at Dominic. “There’s absolutely no need for either of you to despair, and I’m sure Sir Anthony would agree with me.”

“I do,” Anthony said. He gave her such an approving smile that Linnet’s heart seemed to glow with warmth.

“But sending her away,” Dominic blurted out. “It’s not fair.”

“It’s not, but it’s the safest thing for Chloe,” Linnet replied. “She’s not yet showing and no one need know what happened. She’ll be safe in Yorkshire, and well cared for. Her uncle lives quietly and he will see to it that she is protected from gossip.”

Linnet had made certain of that. The Reverend Steele had assured her that his brother, a vicar who resided in a small village not far from Ripon, would shelter Chloe in his own household and assume responsibility for her until the baby came. Further plans would then have to be made for both mother and baby, but those decisions could come later.

Dominic pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes. “Even so, I can’t stand the thought of losing her,” he said in a voice so raw that Linnet was hard-pressed to hold back tears. Chloe had no such compunction, and began crying.