A Breath of Scandal (26 page)

Julian paled. “I sent her north some time ago. She should have arrived long before now.”

Sinjun’s expression turned grim. “I’ll instruct Rory and his clansmen to initiate a search immediately. If Emma reached the Highlands, we’ll know in a day or two. To my knowledge, no danger to travelers exists at this time. Did you send her alone?”

“I assigned six guards to her, and Rudy Blakely offered to accompany her, though I was against it. Did you know Blakely asked permission to court Emma? I refused, of course, but it seemed to do little good. You know Emma.”

Sinjun rolled his eyes. “Indeed I do. But Blakely? Surely you jest. His reputation is nearly as bad as mine was before I settled down to marriage.”

“He’s not
that
bad,” Christy defended. “All he needs is the right woman to reform him.” Her brilliant gaze settled on Lara. “Isn’t someone going to introduce me to Julian’s lady?”

“Forgive me,” Julian said. “This is Lady Lara Stanhope, my—
oomph
.” Julian rubbed his leg where Lara had kicked him.

“Julian and I are acquaintances,” Lara said before Julian could finish his sentence. She didn’t want Julian’s family to think of her as Julian’s wife when Julian himself refused to recognize their Romany marriage.

Sinjun stared at Lara, clearly confused. “I could have sworn I’d seen Lady Lara dressed in Gypsy garb the day I ran into you at the fair.”

“Lara’s mother was a Gypsy,” Julian explained. “She visited her grandparents each summer after she went to live with her father at age thirteen. She was spending her last summer with them before settling down for good in London when I met her.”

“I see,” Christy said, eyeing Lara with speculation. “Are you two traveling alone? Where is Lady Lara’s chaperone?”

“I suppose I can’t keep anything from you two,” Julian said on a sigh. “Very well, here’s the way it is. Lara dragged me from the sea and saved my life. Her grandmother treated my wounds and the Romany protected me from my enemies when they came searching for me.”

“You were wounded? Someone tried to kill you?” Christy gasped.

“Aye, there are people who want me dead.”

“You’re in danger now,” Sinjun inferred.

“Aye, so is Lara. Attempts have been made on both our lives.”

Sinjun sucked in a harsh breath. “ ’Tis time for you to give up your dangerous life and go back to being just plain Julian Thornton, Earl of Mansfield.”

“I suspect you’re right. My identity as a secret agent has been compromised. But I refuse to retire until Diana’s death is avenged.”

“Where does Lady Lara fit into all this?” Christy ventured.

“I had no idea Lara was an earl’s daughter until I returned to London weeks later and met her at a ball given in her honor by her father. Due to the … unusual circumstances of our … association, I felt honor bound to offer for her. My enemies took note of my interest in Lara and decided to use her to get to me.”

“So you had to flee London before your wedding day,” Christy surmised.

Lara decided it was time to put an end to all the speculation. “Not exactly. I refused to marry Julian for reasons of my own.”

Julian’s jaw hardened. “We
will
be married, make no mistake. I’ve placed your reputation in serious jeopardy.”

Christy cleared her throat. “You both look exhausted. I’ll show Lara to her room. We have dinner early in the Highlands but there’s plenty of time to freshen up and take a nap.”

“Take Niall with you,” Sinjun said. “The lad is falling asleep in my arms.”

Lara rose while Christy gathered up her son, grateful for Christy’s timely interference. She followed the Scotswoman up a winding stone staircase to the solar.

“I’ll take Niall to the nursery first,” Christy said. “ ’Tis time for his nap.”

Lara stood aside while Christy entered a room at the top of the stairs. A young woman came forward to take Niall from his mother’s arms.

“This is Effie,” Christy said. “She cares for the children. Effie, this is Lady Lara. She’ll be staying with us for an indefinite period of time.”

Effie gave Lara a shy smile. “Pleased to meet ye, my lady.”

Lara smiled a greeting, then her gaze fell on a cradle holding a tiny babe. “That must be your daughter?”

“Aye,” Christy said proudly. “Would you like to see her?”

“Oh, yes, I’d love to see her.”

While Effie tucked Niall in bed, Christy plucked her tiny daughter from her cradle and offered her to Lara to hold. Raised in a Gypsy camp where babies and children abounded, Lara naturally nestled the babe in the crook of her arm.

“She’s beautiful,” Lara breathed, mesmerized by the infant’s sea green eyes and mop of reddish fuzz atop her small head. “How old is she?”

“Althea is in her third month,” Christy said, “and already she has her father wound around her little finger.”

“ ’Tis no wonder,” Lara said wistfully. “I wish …” Her sentence fell away as she handed the babe back to Christy.

“I’ll take her, Christy,” Effie offered.

“Aye,” Christy said. “I’ll return to feed her later, after I’ve shown Lady Lara to her chamber.”

Lara’s chamber was just a short distance down the narrow hallway. From the long windows Lara caught a glimpse of towering mountains, blue skies, and heather-laden hills. A woven rug covered the floor and the high bed sported heavy velvet curtains that could be closed to keep out the chill. Tapestries covered the stone walls and the windows were hung with velvet drapes, keeping winter’s chill at bay.

“I chose this room for you for its magnificent view,” Christy said. “Your clothing has already been unpacked and placed in the chest at the foot of the bed. You didn’t bring much with you so feel free to ask for anything you lack.”

She eyed Lara critically. “I’m taller than you but Margot is a wizard with a needle. Most of my London clothing is going to waste here in the Highlands where I favor plaids and simple shirtwaists.”

Christy lingered so long that Lara suspected she had something on her mind. She did, indeed, as Lara soon found out, and the beautiful Highland laird wasn’t one to mince words.

“I can’t imagine any woman refusing Julian’s proposal. I take it you don’t care for him.”

Lara flushed. If Christy only knew how much she
did
care … “Julian is … a special man,” Lara said, choosing her words carefully. “What woman wouldn’t care for him?”

“I thought as much,” Christy said smugly. “Is there a specific reason for your refusal?”

Lara hesitated. “Aye.”

“I’m sorry,” Christy apologized. “I don’t mean to pry, but Julian seemed quite eager to marry you. I thought it strange, for Julian told Sinjun he’d never marry or father a child after Diana’s death.” She clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh, forgive me. Sometimes I talk too much.”

“It’s all right,” Lara assured her. “I know all about Diana and Julian’s vendetta against those responsible for her death. She’s the reason I
won’t
marry Julian. I want the man I marry to love me as much as I love him.”

“But Diana’s dead,” Christy protested.

“Her ghost stands between us,” Lara maintained. “I won’t marry Julian until he buries her for good.”

Christy touched her hand. “I hope that happens soon. I’ll leave you to your rest while I tend to my daughter. Would you like a bath? Dinner isn’t until six-thirty, Lara. May I call you Lara?”

“Of course, and I’ll call you Christy. A bath sounds wonderful, Christy.”

Julian and Sinjun sat before the fire, discussing the situation at hand.

“I fear something has happened to Emma,” Julian announced worriedly. “If Blakely lets harm come to her I’ll call him out.”

“If Rory fails to learn anything about our impulsive sister, I’ll head a search party myself. Do you think you were followed here?”

Julian mulled over his answer. “Not to my knowledge, but I can’t be sure. But make no mistake, my enemies won’t leave a stone unturned until they find me.”

“Why do they want you dead?”

“I’m very close to discovering the identity of the man behind the lucrative smuggling operation that’s depriving our government of revenue. I’ve narrowed the field to three men. One of them is Lara’s father, but I pray I’m wrong.”

“Bloody hell! What a coil. Would Stanhope hurt his own daughter?”

“I can’t believe it of him, but I’m not ruling him out. ’Tis why I brought Lara here. I’m depending on you and Christy’s clansmen to protect her.”

“You can count on us, Julian,” Sinjun vowed. “I’ll alert the chieftains to be on the lookout for strangers.”

“I can take care of myself, Sinjun, ’tis Lara I’m worried about. She doesn’t deserve all this. Saving my life and claiming me … well, needless to say, I owe her more than I can ever repay.”

Sinjun frowned. “Is that why you want to marry her? From what I’ve observed, it appears that, well, that you and Lara are … well, more than friends.”

Julian flushed and looked away. “We
are
more than friends. You’ll probably find out anyway so I may as well tell you. Lara and I are lovers. I didn’t know she was an earl’s daughter when I … took her virginity. ’Tis only right that I offer her my name.”

“Lara seems reluctant to accept your proposal. Why is that?”

“It has to do with Diana,” Julian admitted. “Lara thinks I’m in love with a dead woman.”

Sinjun’s eyebrows inched upward. “Are you?”

“Bloody hell, Sinjun, you too? Diana’s been dead for many years. Her death cost me a great deal and I’ll not rest until she is avenged. But Lara is flesh and blood. I feel many things for Lara, among them the kind of lust I never felt for Diana. I can’t help feeling that I’m betraying Diana for experiencing deep emotions with Lara, but I’m not ready yet to face that. I have to deal with Diana’s killer first.”

“Far be it from me to give you advice,” Sinjun said, “but it seems to me that refusing to acknowledge your strong feelings for Lara is an error. Learn from my mistakes, brother. Being too stubborn to say the words Christy wanted to hear nearly cost me my wife and children.”

“I have to follow my conscience,” Julian explained. “But I
will
marry Lara before we return to London whether she agrees or not. She could be carrying my child.”

Sinjun chuckled. “And you called
me
a rake.”

“You don’t understand,” Julian said earnestly. “Lara and I have a Romany marriage. She married me to save my life when the Jackal’s men came looking for me. Of course I never considered it legal or binding, but I can’t deny I wanted to bed Lara once I recovered from my wounds. Lara never mentioned that she was an earl’s daughter.”

“And I thought Christy and I had problems,” Sinjun said, wagging his head. “I suppose you and Lara will have to work this out on your own. But you can rely on me to provide all the protection you require.”

“Thank you,” Julian said solemnly. “I knew I could depend on you.”

“Are you two catching up on news?” Christy asked as she strode into the hall. “Have you discussed Emma and what might have happened to her?”

“I’m on my way to speak with Rory and Gavin,” Sinjun said, rising. “Would you show Julian to his chamber? He’d probably like to clean up before dinner.”

Sinjun strode from the hall, and Julian followed Christy up to the solar.

“Can I peek in on my new niece?” Julian asked.

“Both Niall and Althea are sleeping, but it won’t hurt to look in on them,” Christy answered.

She opened the door to the nursery and Julian tiptoed inside, startling Effie, who sat sewing beside the cradle.

“It’s all right, Effie, this is Julian, Sinjun’s brother. He wants a peek at Althea.”

Julian approached the cradle and stared down at the tiny scrap sleeping peacefully in her snug bed. He couldn’t resist the urge to caress her cheek with the back of his hand, amazed at the softness. One day he and Lara might have a child like this, he reflected. That thought startled him, but it had definite appeal. Deep in thought, he turned away and followed Christy from the chamber.

“That’s Lara’s chamber,” Christy said, gesturing at a closed door farther down the corridor. “She’s probably bathing now. Your chamber is across the hall.”

Julian wanted to protest separate rooms but thought better of it. This wasn’t his home; he had to follow the rules set by its lady. But surprising Lara at her bath did sound tempting.

“Dinner will be served at six-thirty. You can escort Lara downstairs,” Christy said as she opened the door to a large chamber furnished with an array of solid, masculine furniture. “Your clothing has been put away. If you need to supplement your wardrobe, I’m sure Sinjun can find something to fit you. He wears mostly kilts these days and has plenty of clothing to spare.”

“Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind,” Julian said, eyeing the bed with longing. The narrow bed they’d occupied at the inn the night before left much to be desired.

Julian prowled the chamber like a restless animal once he was alone. Lord knew he could use a nap, but curiosity about Lara’s sleeping accommodations wouldn’t allow it. Plus, he wanted to know what she thought of Sinjun and Christy, and how she liked Glenmoor, and if she was comfortable, and … There was no help for it. He wouldn’t rest easy until he spoke with Lara.

No one was about when Julian stepped out into the hallway. He quickly crossed the narrow corridor and rapped lightly on Lara’s door. When no one answered he turned the knob and let himself inside. She was still at her bath, her head resting on the rim of a tub that had been set up before the hearth.

The glow of leaping flames softened her golden skin. A riot of midnight black curls cascaded over the rim of the tub. Her eyes closed, she appeared to be sleeping. Julian crept closer, his body taut with wanting. Would desire for his wild Gypsy lover ever wane?

As if she sensed his presence, Lara’s eyes flew open.

“Julian! What are you doing here? This is my chamber.”

“I wanted to see if you were comfortable. When you failed to answer my knock, I let myself in.”

“I suggest you let yourself out,” Lara said curtly.

Julian stared at her. “What’s the matter, sweeting? You offered no objection when I watched you bathe in our room at the inn last night.”