Love's Guardian (19 page)

She’d lost her hat long ago and, as usual, when not restrained, her hair billowed about her shoulders and down her back. The skirt of her riding habit was in tatters, and she suspected her face had collected as much dirt as her hands.

“May I help you, my child?” The priest approached her. His round face had an overly large mouth, but his eyes were kind. “If you’re looking for food, I’m afraid we are unable to...”

“I’m looking for sanctuary, Father, not food.”

“Have you done anything for which you should repent?”

She could imagine the members of polite Society telling her she had a whole lifetime of sins to repent. Laughter bubbled up and she let out a chuckle. “I think that may depend on who you ask.” If she were lucky, the good Lord would be a little more tolerant than the Ton. The priest seemed somewhat disconcerted by her behavior and tried to direct her back outside.

“Father, I know how I must look, but my appearance is unavoidable. My name is Alexandra Kendrick, the Countess of Lochsdale, and I need your help.” She wasn’t sure he believed her, but at least he stopped encouraging her toward the door. “I was abducted earlier today from Hyde Park.”

“Who abducted you?”

“I have no idea. They never let me see their faces.” No sense going into her suspicions about Luther. She gave the priest her best helpless female look. “I’m sorry to be such a bother, but if you would just contact Lord Worthington at Castleton House, I’m sure he would clear things up.”

The front door to the church slammed against the wall. Alex jumped, and the priest crossed himself. The hollow sound reverberated through the vast interior. A man stood in the entrance, outlined in the doorway by the sunlight at his back. He paused a moment as if to get his bearings, then strode directly toward them. Alex reached for her knife, then stopped. She’d know Declan’s stride anywhere.

When he reached them, he grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. She thought her teeth would come loose with the force. “Lady Lochsdale, don’t you
ever
do that to me again.”

Then he kissed her. His kiss wasn’t sensual. In fact, it seemed almost desperate. He kissed her lips and face, then crushed her to him so tightly she couldn’t breathe.

It didn’t matter. For the first time in hours, she felt safe.

“Uh, uhum.”

She heard the priest, but Declan didn’t seem inclined to release her. Before the good Father lost his patience, she nudged them apart and stepped back to break the contact.

“I don’t mean to interrupt,”—The priest glanced heavenward and gave a slight shrug—“but your wife seems to have had a very trying day. Perhaps you should take her home?”

“But I’m not his—”

“I agree, Father.” Declan took her by the arm and propelled her down the aisle. She could hear the holy man following behind.

Before they left, her guardian tossed the priest a bag of coins that he caught with both hands. The man’s large mouth formed a perfect circle, like a singer intent on Christmas carols.

Declan inclined his head. “Thank you for keeping her safe.” Then he guided her from the church.

An enclosed carriage waited in the open square. Morgan and a stranger were inside. She and Declan entered, then took the seat across from them.

“It’s glad I am to see you again, Wee One. You gave us quite a merry chase.” Morgan gestured toward the man next to him. “May I introduce Adrian Leighton, the Earl of Bradford, and Worthington’s cousin.”

“I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.” Bradford took her hand and raised it to his lips. “Morgan didn’t lie when he told me about your charms.”

“That’s enough, Bradford.” Declan glowered at his cousin from the corner of the carriage.

“What happened, Wee One? Are you all right?” Morgan reached forward and offered his handkerchief, indicating she should use it on a spot near her cheekbone. Obviously, she needed a bath.

Heat rose in her cheeks. She must look a sight. “Two men put a sack over my head while I was sitting in the park.” She rubbed her face with the cloth, but without a mirror she couldn’t tell if she accomplished anything. “They locked me in a room and left.” She had never seen Morgan angry, but the look in his eyes made her happy he counted her amongst his friends.

“Did they hurt you?”

“No. I think they were waiting for Lord Addington.”

Morgan’s low voice carried over the sounds of man and animal outside the carriage. “How did you escape?”

“I used my knife on the nails in the shutters and climbed down a tree.”

“They left you a knife?” Bradford’s incredulous voice contrasted with his politely surprised expression.

She grinned at Morgan. “I don’t think they expected me to carry one.”

Morgan broke into laughter, and Lord Bradford smiled. Declan didn’t appear to find it amusing. He sat forward and gave her the reproving look he’d used with her as a child. “You could have been killed.”

”Well, I would have been killed, or worse, if I had remained there.” Where was the desperate man from the church? Ever since she’d been handed up into the carriage, Declan had cast her sullen looks. Rather like a little boy who had been denied something he wanted. None of this was her fault, but he acted as if she’d planned it.

She crossed her arms and held his gaze. “What was I supposed to do, wait until you came to rescue me?”

Declan’s face became more grim, and a muscle in his jaw twitched as he sat back on the seat. She could almost feel the barrier he erected between them. His withdrawal hurt more than his harsh words.

What had she expected, that he’d tell her he loved her? Disgusted that she’d allowed herself to hope, she stared out the window. An uneasy silence ensued.

He should be gratified she’d returned without his help. At least he didn’t have to rescue her again. She cast a furtive glance in his direction. A lock of sable hair caressed his forehead. How she longed to brush back the wayward curl and run her hands through his hair. No doubt he’d evade her grasp. With a sigh, she turned her attention to removing the dirt from the hem of her tattered skirt.

“Did your abductors use any names?” Lord Bradford asked.

“One of the men did call the other Spider. Does that help?”

“Yes.”

Lord Bradford tapped his fingertips against his thigh for several moments. “Would you be able to show me where you were being held?”

“I’m not sure. It was a two-story building, with a fishmonger’s shop below my room.” She stuck the handkerchief up her sleeve. “I followed the bells to get to the church. I’m afraid I didn’t try to memorize my surroundings.”

“No matter. Based on what you and Lord Worthington have told me, Lord Addington is behind this. He visited the docks today, but then returned to his establishment. He could have hired henchmen to do his bidding.”

“How did you find me?”

“One of the boys in my employ spotted you from the description we gave him.”

“So that’s who was following me.”

Lord Bradford smiled. “Yes. He sent someone to get us after you entered the church. You’ve won his respect. It seems you nearly outran him.” Declan’s cousin tilted his head and gave her an assessing look. “I don’t think that’s ever happened.”

She could feel her face grow warm. “I’ve had practice.”

“Outrunning kidnappers?” Lord Bradford raised an eyebrow, a look of admiration in his eyes.

“No.”

“Lady Lochsdale has a number of interesting pastimes.” Declan gave her a disapproving look.

“You carry a knife and outrun kidnappers.” Lord Bradford shook his head. “Anything else?”

Thank God the carriage lurched to a stop in front of Castelton House, and she didn’t have to answer. Who knew what else her guardian would disapprove of next? Declan got out first, helping her down. He made it a point to touch her as little as possible.

Lady Bradford came out the front entrance, followed by Anna. “Oh my dear child, come in. We were so worried about you.” Declan’s aunt directed her into the house and bustled her upstairs, leaving the men in the entrance hall.

Alex wanted to be alone, but the women followed her into the bedroom. Lady Bradford asked Williams to have a bath drawn and a fire started. In the meantime, they washed her face, combed out the worst of the tangles in her hair, and settled her on the window seat with a blanket thrown over her shoulders. They acted as if she were family, fussing over her more than a captain watched over his charts, and it made her happy. She hadn’t expected to care for Declan’s family. It was nice to know they’d missed her, even though Declan hadn’t.

Alex glanced around her bedroom and wrapped the covering close to her body. Nothing had changed. Was it only this morning she’d thrown Luther out?

The maid who’d started the fire left the room, and Lady Bradford shut the door behind her, then turned. Alex thought there were new lines at the corners of her eyes. She must have noticed Alex’s concern, because she took a deep breath and pasted on a smile. “So, what happened?”

“I was abducted in the park.”

“Oh my.” The older woman’s hand flew to her throat.

“Were your captors handsome?” Anna asked in a dreamy voice from her perch on Alex’s bed.

“No. Well, actually, I couldn’t tell. They’d put a sack over my head. But they didn’t sound handsome.”

“I bet they were.” Anna gave a long sigh. “I’d love to have an adventure like that some day.”

Lady Bradford and Alex both answered, “No, you wouldn’t.” They looked at each other and laughed. It felt good to be able to find amusement in her abduction, now that she was home safe.

Home?

When had she started to think of this as home? Initially, the thought of residing at Declan’s residence had been daunting, but she liked it here. She had to admit a great deal of that desire to remain was due to the possibility of seeing Declan.

Williams entered, followed by two servants bearing a wooden tub. They set it in the middle of the floor and began to make the necessary trips back and forth to fill it with hot water. When they’d finished, she watched the steam coming from the bath and longed to soak away the grime of her little prison. She stood and crossed to the bed to deposit the blanket.

Lady Bradford must have guessed her thoughts. “Why don’t we let you bathe. You can tell us what happened when you’re rested. Would you like Mary to attend you?”

“No, thank you. I need a little time to myself.”

Everyone left, but Lady Bradford paused a moment before exiting. “I’ve never seen Lord Worthington so upset.”

“He’s angry with me.”

“No, he’s not. He’s angry with himself. Give him a little more time.”

Alex shook her head. “I’ve decided to make my choice after the masquerade ball this weekend. I suspect my attackers were hired by my cousin, Lord Addington.” She sat down on the edge of her bed and tried to run her fingers through her matted curls. “I can’t wait any longer to marry. He could try this again.”

“But the Season isn’t over. Lord Worthington will protect you, now that he knows what could happen.”

“I can’t depend on that. There’s too much at stake. I’ve given Lord Worthington my choices. All four will be there on Saturday night. If he has any feelings for me, he’ll have to speak up then.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“So do I.”

Water pummeled the windows outside the library. Declan hadn’t seen a storm like this in several years. Lightning streaked across the sky, brightening the room considerably.

He hadn’t bothered with an oil lamp, preferring the meager light from the fireplace and the show nature provided. The storm matched the turmoil in his soul.

His ward had been kidnapped, when he should have protected her. That was the only reason for his panic. She was his responsibility, and he’d failed to keep her safe.

It didn’t have anything to do with love.

Alex’s grandfather had given her to him, and he’d let someone abduct her, almost under his very nose. He took another long drink of brandy from a snifter that had rarely been empty that evening. Hell, she’d rescued herself as well.