A Breath of Scandal (17 page)

Julian arrived promptly at nine o’clock, looking splendid in blue satin coat, gray breeches, silver vest, and white stockings. Lara saw admiration in his eyes as she came down the stairs to join him and her father. Her own costume was an elegant confection of green and gold tulle with short puffed sleeves, fitted waist, and neckline that dipped provocatively low over the rounded tops of her breasts.

“You look stunning,” Stanhope beamed, moving forward to grasp Lara’s hand. “Mansfield will be the envy of the
ton
tonight.”

A footman handed Lara’s cape to Julian and he placed it over her shoulders. Lara felt the warmth of his palms as they rested a moment longer than necessary on her arm.

They were on their way out the door when another carriage pulled up behind Julian’s.

“Who in the world could that be?” Stanhope asked.

Lara felt Julian stiffen beside her and wondered if he was expecting trouble.

The carriage door opened and Lord Tolliver stepped out. “Ah, I’m just in time. I have something of importance to discuss with you, Stanhope. ’Tis about the bill we’re sponsoring in Parliament.”

Stanhope looked annoyed. “Can’t it wait? I’m accompanying my daughter and Mansfield to the Ailsworth musicale tonight.”

Tolliver nodded at Julian, then returned his attention to Stanhope. “I’m going there myself after we’ve spoken. You can ride with me.”

Stanhope appeared torn.

“Go on, Papa, have your talk,” Lara urged. “You can join Lord Mansfield and me later. Don’t keep him too long, Lord Tolliver.”

“Indeed I won’t, my lady,” Tolliver said smoothly.

Lara shivered. The more she saw of the man the less she liked him. There was something oily about him. He was too smooth, too sure of himself. And she didn’t like the way he looked at her, as if he could see through her clothing.

Lara sensed Julian’s tension and wondered if he felt the same about Tolliver as she did. She glanced at him beneath a fringe of spiky lashes, but his expression gave away nothing of his thoughts. She did know, however, that something about Lord Tolliver bothered Julian.

“Shall we go?” Julian said, offering Lara his arm.

“Go on, my dear,” Stanhope urged. “I’ll be along directly.”

Lara cast a surreptitious glance over her shoulder at her father, then moved off with Julian. The night was damp, and Julian had arrived in a closed coach with a driver and his tiger hanging on to the back. Julian handed her inside and climbed in after her. He seemed preoccupied as he stared out the window.

“Is something bothering you, my lord?”

Julian turned his midnight blue gaze on her and smiled. “ ’Tis nothing to be concerned about.”

“Are you concerned in some way about Lord Tolliver?”

A long pause. “Perhaps.”

“When are you going to stop being so secretive? Are you in danger? Is Lord Tolliver involved?”

“Don’t pry, Lara. And don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

“From whom do I need protection, my lord?”

“Your father, perhaps?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I wish you wouldn’t interfere in my life.”

“ ’Tis too late. Our lives became entangled when you brought me into your camp. One woman lost her life because of me and I won’t let it happen to another.”

Julian’s pain was palpable and Lara’s heart went out to him. He must have loved Diana dearly. Losing her so tragically had altered the fabric of his existence. His life now revolved around finding her killer and bringing him to justice. He was opposed to opening his heart to another love, and she was a fool to think she could change him.

They arrived at the Ailsworth mansion and Julian handed Lara down from the coach. The butler opened the door and they ascended the stairs to the music room, where chairs had been set up for the guests. The featured entertainer for tonight’s performance, a busty Italian diva, was standing beside the pianoforte, preparing to deliver her first aria.

“I’ll fetch you something to drink,” Julian whispered as he settled Lara into a chair beside a young lady in pink organza.

The diva began her recital and Julian drifted away. He hated opera. At the refreshment table he helped himself to whiskey and poured a cup of punch for Lara. He started to walk away when Lord Randall joined him.

“I see we both have the same idea,” Randall said jovially. “My wife enjoys opera, but I find it tedious.”

“As do I,” Julian remarked.

Randall leaned close. “Meet me in the garden in ten minutes. Look for the statue of Venus.”

Julian nodded and Randall disappeared into the crowd.

Julian returned to the music room and pressed the cup into Lara’s hand. She smiled her thanks and returned her attention to the diva, who had hit a high note that almost perforated Julian’s eardrums. Glancing furtively about to make certain no one was watching, he sidled toward the door.

Moments later he exited through the pantry on the lower floor and worked his way around to the garden. He spied the statue of Venus keeping watch over a fountain and hastened toward it. Lord Randall was already there, sitting on a bench beneath the shadow of a boxwood.

“Make it fast, Mansfield,” Randall said. “It wouldn’t do for someone to notice we went missing at the same time. Have you learned something?”

“What do you know about Clay Merritt, Earl of Tolliver?”

“Tolliver? He’s not exactly a confidant, but he has important connections and we meet occasionally. He knows nothing about Scorpion. He’s aware of the smuggling situation and is using his connections to gather information. He agrees that the loss of government revenue is a threat to the crown.”

“Who else knows about our investigation?” Julian asked.

“Lord Dunbar, the Duke of Crawford’s second son. He’s been in my service nearly as long as you have.”

“What about Stanhope? Is he one of your confidants?”

“No. Stanhope is active in Parliament but he knows nothing about our investigation.”

“Could any of the men just mentioned be the brains behind the smugglers?”

Randall remained thoughtful. “I suppose anything is possible, but I’d hate to think one of those men is a traitor. Be very careful, Mansfield. We don’t want to accuse unjustly.”

Julian removed the note he’d received earlier and handed it to Randall. “It’s too dark here to read, so I’ll tell you what it says. It’s a warning against continuing the investigation. I can handle the threat to my own life, but the threat was also directed at Lady Lara, Lord Stanhope’s daughter. The Jackal must know that she is the woman from the Gypsy camp who aided me.”

“Good Lord!” Randall said, aghast. “We can’t involve another innocent victim in our investigation. You told me the lady saved your life by claiming you were her husband. Just how involved are you with her?”

Julian’s jaw stiffened. “I’m going to marry her. I had no idea Lara was an earl’s daughter when I … when we … Needless to say, I owe her my name.”

“You’re relieved of duty immediately, Mansfield. Keeping you on the case now can endanger your life and hinder our investigation. Your future usefulness is questionable. I don’t want your death on my conscience, Julian.”

“I can’t quit now, my lord,” Julian argued. “I’m on the threshold of unmasking the Jackal. I’m convinced I can protect myself and those I care about. I just wanted you to be aware of a traitor within your ranks. Keep an eye on both Tolliver and Dunbar. I’ll take care of Stanhope. Don’t give them any useful information.”

“I’d feel better if you got out of this now.”

“I’ll contact you again in a few days,” Julian replied, deliberately ignoring Randall’s suggestion. “I’m getting closer every day.”

Lara dragged her gaze away from the diva, searching the room for Julian. A prickling sensation tickled the back of her neck. Something dangerous was afoot. Where was Julian? What mischief had he gotten himself into now? Without a thought to her own welfare, she rose and slipped from the room. Julian was not in the hallway. She descended the stairs. A few couples lingered in the open doorway leading to the garden, fanning themselves.

Something in the waiting darkness drew Lara’s attention. She could see nothing, hear nothing but silence, but her nerve endings sent a silent warning to her brain.

Julian was out there
.

Lara slipped past a couple obviously engrossed in one another and strode purposely down a path toward a statue of Venus standing guard over a bubbling fountain. Footsteps crunched in the gravel behind her. She whipped around. There was no one. Her imagination was working overtime. She continued down the path, then stopped abruptly when she sensed someone behind her, close enough to feel his breath touch the back of her neck. A hand on her shoulder.

She opened her mouth and screamed.

Julian and Randall were just parting company when a muffled scream pierced through the darkness.

“What’s that?” Randall asked sharply.

Somehow Julian knew. He felt it in the deepest marrow of his bones. Something had happened to Lara. His face contorted with terror as he raced along the path toward the house. He came upon her abruptly, sprawled on the ground in a puddle of moonlight. Her face was as pale as death and a trickle of blood oozed down her forehead.

He dropped to his knees and cradled her head in his lap, his fingers dashing the blood from her eyes.

“Lara, can you hear me? Oh God, Lara, speak to me.”

“What happened to her?” Randall asked when he reached them a moment later.

Just then Lara moaned and opened her eyes. “She’s been injured,” Julian snarled, touching the lump rising on her forehead. “I’ll kill the bastard who did this.”

“What happened?” Lara asked groggily.

“Did you see who attacked you?”

“No. I heard someone behind me, but didn’t see him. Help me up. I’m fine, my lord, really.”

Julian helped her to sit up, then to stand. She swayed, but quickly gained her equilibrium.

Julian swept her into his arms. “I’m taking you home.”

“Julian, wait, I just remembered something,” Lara said. “Moments before I blacked out, my attacker spoke to me. He said to let this be a warning for Scorpion. What did he mean?”

Julian and Randall exchanged meaningful looks over Lara’s head.

“It means you’re not leaving your house without me or an escort,” Julian growled.

J
ulian spirited Lara away from the musicale without causing a scene. He circled around to the front or the house where his coach awaited and set Lara on her feet. But as luck would have it, they ran into Stanhope and Tolliver, who were just arriving.

“Mansfield, Lara,” Stanhope greeted. “Leaving already?”

“Uh, Lara has a headache,” Julian said, stepping before Lara to shield her from view.

Concern furrowed Stanhope’s brow. “I’ll come with you.”

“No need,” Julian said. “I’ll see Lara home.”

“Nonsense,” Stanhope blustered. “I wouldn’t enjoy the musicale knowing Lara is unwell.” He turned to Tolliver. “Please excuse me, my lord. I must see to my daughter’s welfare.”

“Of course,” Tolliver said smoothly. He peered at Lara through darkness eased only by moonlight. “Have you injured yourself, my dear? Is that not blood on your forehead?”

Julian cursed beneath his breath as Stanhope maneuvered his daughter so he could get a better look at her. “My God, what happened?” Stanhope exclaimed.

“ ’Tis nothing, Papa,” Lara said weakly. “I … I fell.”

Julian glanced at Tolliver, but could read nothing in his shuttered expression. Then his attention was diverted when Lara slumped against him. Fear lanced through him. She could be badly injured. He had to get her home and summon a doctor.

Scooping her into his arms, he placed her inside the coach while his tiger held the door open, and clambered in beside her.

“Wait for me,” Stanhope said, hurrying after them. The door had barely closed behind him when Julian thumped on the roof and the coach lurched forward. Lara groaned and opened her eyes.

“How did it happen?” Stanhope asked. Julian sensed Stanhope’s anger and couldn’t blame him. He felt the same way. This shouldn’t have happened.

“I fell,” Lara said before Julian could answer. “Julian had gone to fetch refreshments and I felt in need of air. I stepped outside to catch a breeze and tripped on a tree root when I started down the path toward the fountain. I … I must have hit my head on a rock.”

Stanhope sent her a skeptical look. “ ’Tis not like you to be clumsy, Lara. Are you telling me everything?”

“Aye …”

“No,” Julian contradicted. It was time to test Stanhope’s devotion to his daughter. “Lara was attacked in the garden.”

“Attacked!” Stanhope gasped. “Someone attacked my daughter? How dare they? Who was it, Lara? I’ll have his hide. I’ll bring charges.”

Lara sent Julian a disgruntled look. “Really, Julian, there’s no need to frighten Papa.”

“There’s every reason in the world,” Julian maintained. “He’s your father. He has a right to know.”

Stanhope glared at Julian. “What should I know?” Suddenly his brow cleared and he smiled. “I say, Mansfield, have you declared yourself to my daughter?”

“I was going to speak to you tomorrow, my lord. I want your blessing to court your daughter. I intend to marry her.”

Stanhope stared at him. “What does Lara have to say about it? I’ll not force her to marry someone she dislikes.”

“I don’t dislike Lord Mansfield, Papa,” Lara explained. “I’m not ready to marry yet.”

“We’ll marry in one month, in the chapel at Thornton Hall,” Julian said over her objection. “Meanwhile, Lara is to go nowhere alone. I intend to hire a guard to watch over her when I’m not available.”

Stanhope looked thoroughly confused. “I don’t understand. Why was Lara attacked? Why would anyone want to harm her?” His eyes narrowed with sudden comprehension. “What are you involved in, Mansfield? Is Lara’s life in danger because of you?”

“What are
you
involved in, Stanhope?” Julian returned.

“Me? I’m involved in nothing that could hurt my daughter. Can you say the same? I’m not sure I approve of your suit.”