A Taste of Seduction (17 page)

The very next morning, their hopes of having at least a few days to themselves were shattered. Evangeline wanted to tear up the missive that had arrived earlier from Christian, informing them that Arend had gone missing, that Victoria had fled, and that Hadley was needed back in London.

She stretched like a sleek cat, sore in private places but for all the right reasons for a change. He'd awakened her near dawn and then proceeded to show her how much he loved her until they had both fallen into an exhausted sleep. No wonder she hadn't heard Torbet knock in order to deliver the missive. She'd woken again to a string of curses and saw that Hadley was dressing in a hurry; it was then that he'd told her about the letter.

She pried open a reluctant eyelid and saw the sun was blazing. She groaned and pulled the pillow over her head.

A few minutes later, she reluctantly rose and dressed. She looked out the window to see Hadley talking to the stable boy who had brought his horse around.

She went down and met him at the front entrance. “I would wish that you need not go, but I know you must. We are all in danger until she is captured.”

“Will you wait for me here?”

“Do you know how long you will be?”

He shook his head.

“Then let us return to London.” She glanced back at the house. “I've had the most magical night here, but it wasn't the location—it was because I was with you. I will join you in London. Wherever you are is the most wonderful place in the world.”

He pulled her into his embrace and kissed her soundly. “On your way home, please make sure you have the men guarding you at all times. Victoria is at large and cornered. She'll be dangerous.”

As she watched him ride off, she made her plans. She would meet him in London, but only after she'd had a trip to Hardstone. She'd use this opportunity to face Hadley's family and learn what on earth was going on. While he hunted for Victoria, she'd hunt for whoever had a hold over him. There was no way he was marrying Claire. She and Sealey had too much to lose.

She asked Torbet to arrange her carriage and luggage. Then she wrote two notes. One was to Beatrice, telling her she'd be back in a few days, and asking her to inform Hadley that she'd gone to Hardstone. The other was to Hardstone, to let Augustus know to expect her.

Hadley made London as night fell, frustration growing with every long stride from his trusty stead. He rode directly to Christian's house and fairly flew out of the saddle and up the front steps. He entered Christian's study to find his friend sitting alone, a bottle of whiskey open on the table.

Hadley approached slowly, his heart still pounding. “You have found him?”

“No. He bloody well should have told us what he was up to regarding his investigation of Victoria. Perhaps he would not be missing if he had.”

Hadley ran a weary hand over his face. “I knew.”

Christian's eyebrows rose. “Care to tell me why you two decided not to share his plans?”

Hadley flopped into a chair. “We did not think you would condone his actions. The women, your wives, seem to think Isobel is innocent, and so by association they thought Victoria must be innocent as well. Only when they had read the journals did they realize Arend was right—it
is
Victoria. By then he'd already confronted Victoria, and…”

A glass slammed on the desk. “And now he is missing. For all we know, dead.”

Hadley flinched. “He's too clever to die, and too mean to boot.”

Christian shook his head. “I don't know what to do. I have no idea where he is, and then you disappeared and I thought…”

Hadley jerked his head up. “You thought I was taken too? I've been at Lathero.”

“So I have heard. With Lady Evangeline. Serena tells me you two are courting.”

Christian filled Hadley's glass with whiskey. After he'd gulped some of the fiery brew he admitted, “Not exactly. I may still have to marry Claire.”

Christian sighed and pushed back his chair. “It's as my wife said, then. Marrying Claire would be a huge mistake because you don't love her. From what I have seen and heard, I'd say you still love Evangeline.”

Hadley didn't even hesitate. “I do, But life isn't always fair.”

“Then I suggest you fix whatever it is that keeps you from following your heart. Life is short, my friend, and can be very lonely.”

“If we are through discussing my private affairs, what are we going to do about Arend and Victoria?”

Christian rose and walked around his desk to perch on the corner. “Go home. Get some sleep. You look like you're about to drop. I need you fighting fit tomorrow.”

“But—”

“We will all meet here first thing tomorrow morning to plan our next move. Racing off without a solid plan won't do Arend any good and may put more of us in danger.”

“When was he last seen?”

“Two nights ago at Lady Seaton's ball.”

That was after Hadley had left for Lathero. “Were Victoria and Isobel there?”

Christian nodded.

Hadley was worried. “He wouldn't have been stupid enough to try to capture her on his own, would he?” At Christian's smirk, he rolled his eyes. “Silly me. Of course he would. Damn him. I should not have gone to Lathero.”

“Arend doesn't need you protecting him every hour of the day. He should have had patience and waited for us.”

True.

Christian held the study door open for Hadley. “Go home. Sleep. And come back tomorrow prepared to leave London at a moment's notice. I have Runners looking into his disappearance. So far nothing, but tomorrow is another day.”

As Hadley mounted his horse for the ride home, he thought about calling at Evangeline's. She should be arriving soon. However, he didn't want to draw any attention to their liaison until the situation with Claire was sorted.

So it was a surprise to arrive home to find a note from Beatrice informing him that Evangeline had gone to Hardstone.

He should be angry with her, but he wasn't. It meant everything to him that Evangeline wanted to try to help him. He wondered what Augustus would do. Would he tell her the truth? If so, would she understand why he had to help his brother? Perhaps she'd be appalled. Somehow he doubted that. She had a big heart and would feel his brother's pain at having to hide who he really was. Hadley knew he could be overprotective when it came to his brother, but from an early age he had always hated how their father picked on Augustus.

Had their father seen the type of man Augustus would be? Was that why he'd picked on Augustus mercilessly? Perhaps their father had thought to beat the predilection out of him. If so, it hadn't worked. But then, Hadley had taken most of the beatings on his brother's behalf.

And now it seemed as if Hadley would have to agree to marry Claire to help save his brother's life. He tried to picture how his life would be. He would be running his brother's estates as he did now, only he'd have a wife whom he felt absolutely nothing for. He'd have nothing but duty to keep him company. His heart would always belong to Evangeline.

As he slipped between cold sheets he prayed not only that they would find Victoria but also that they would find a solution to Augustus's problem.

Evangeline left Lathero shortly after Hadley and arrived in Kent late at night to find that they were expecting her. She'd never visited Hardstone before and she couldn't see much of the estate in the dark, but if the vast grounds outside matched the inside of the grand house, then she was sure it was beautiful beyond words.

It was too late to grill Augustus tonight or to meet Hadley's sisters and mother. What would they think of her visit? Did they know of her past relationship with Hadley and that he had wanted to marry her? She retired to her room with those questions swirling in her mind.

Too weary and restless to sleep, Evangeline lay in bed remembering how she'd felt last night in Hadley's arms. She'd been scared that it would not be like it was before. That all she'd suffered in Dougal's bed might have changed how she thought about and enjoyed sex. Her face heated. She'd enjoyed it even more than she could have imagined. Hadley was a wonderful lover. Patient, thorough, giving, and more. She understood that making love was infinitely different from having sex or being forced to have sex. What she felt for Hadley when he was in her, loving her, was indescribably beautiful.

She rolled onto her side and stared into the darkened room. Augustus's problem must be very serious for Hadley to give up on the idea of a life with her. No one would persuade her that Hadley didn't love her, not after last night and what they'd shared. With those thoughts warming her, she finally drifted off to sleep, vowing to help Hadley's brother and free Hadley from any obligation.

The next morning she found her nerves stretched taut as she prepared to meet Hadley's family. What must his mother think of her unscheduled arrival?

She'd been invited to join the family for breakfast, and as she made her way down the sweeping staircase she heard friendly voices and laughter coming from the breakfast room. She hesitated at the door, swept a hand over her hair and down her dress, took a deep breath, and then entered.

The conversation died instantly as four pairs of eyes swept over her.

Finally Hadley's mother said, “Good morning, my dear. Please take a seat. Clive, would you dish some breakfast up for our guest and a fresh cup of tea?”

“Tea would be lovely, thank you,” Evangeline said as she took the seat indicated, next to one of Hadley's sisters, the younger girl—Lady Cynthia, if she recalled correctly.

She felt a smidgen of relief that the girls were present; that meant the questions could not be of a personal nature.

“I do apologize for dropping in on you uninvited, but I was visiting nearby, and as I was close, I thought I'd take the opportunity to seek advice from His Grace.”

Augustus didn't look surprised at her arrival, but Her Grace appeared perplexed.

“How odd—I cannot imagine what His Grace could help you with. But it's delightful to finally meet you,” she said with a warm smile. “My younger son mentioned you often many years ago, and Augustus tells me that you are recently widowed and have returned to London. Have you seen my son Hadley?”

“Indeed, Your Grace. I saw Lord Fullerton at Lady Beaumont's ball.”

“Was he pleased to see you?”

Hadley's sisters were watching her closely.

“Mother, I'm sure that's an inappropriate question for our guest,” Augustus said. “Lady Evangeline, I would be happy to indulge you as soon as you have finished breakfast. I'm sure you would like to return to London as soon as possible.”

Was that a polite question or a request that she leave? She decided to play dumb. “Thank you, Your Grace. I won't take up much of your time, and yes, I'd like to return to London as soon as possible.”

“To your son, I assume. What is his name?”

At Her Grace's question her heart stilled. Hadley's mother was better informed than she'd thought, though Evangeline was sure Her Grace had no idea she was a grandmother. The guilt settled heavy on her heart. Sealey should know his grandmother. “His name is Sealey, and he's a good little boy.”
And he looks exactly like your son.

“Your firstborn was a boy? Your late husband must have been pleased.”

She could not bring herself to reply, so she took a sip of tea.

Polite conversation flowed as she ate breakfast. The girls wanted to know about the latest fashions and whether she had met the Prince Regent at any of the balls. She envied them their comradeship. She would have loved a sibling close in age. Perhaps a sister would have helped her all those years ago.

Soon she could delay her conversation with Augustus no longer. At his raised eyebrow, she nodded, and he rose and helped her with her chair.

“It was a pleasure to meet you,” she told Hadley's mother. “I am just sorry it is such a rushed visit.”

Her Grace exclaimed, “You must come again, and bring your son. The house could do with little children running round.” With those words she looked pointedly at Augustus. “Both my boys appear to be slow in producing my grandchildren. I hope one of them will marry, and soon.” Her smile widened. “Give my love to Hadley when you see him.”

Evangeline blushed furiously and stammered an affirmative reply before following Augustus from the room. They walked in silence until they reached his office. She noticed Augustus fiddling with his cuffs.

As they entered his study, a young man was gathering up papers from a second desk. He looked close to her in age, perhaps twenty-five years old, and he was dressed all in black with a white shirt. His face lit up when he saw Augustus, but the smile vanished when he saw Evangeline.

“That's all, Mr. Vickers. We shall continue my correspondence once Lady Evangeline departs.”

After the other man left, Augustus gestured to a chair. “Please, take a seat. What can I do for you?”

She drew in a deep breath, leaned forward in her chair, and said, “It's not what you can do for me but what you can do for Hadley. You know he does not wish to marry Lady Claire, and I know you understand why he will go through with it. I assume he is protecting this family, as he always has.”

Augustus had the grace to look ashamed. “He has not told you, then?”

“I know he is not marrying Lady Claire because he wants to. He is doing it because he has to. His words, not mine. If you loved your brother, you'd want to see him happy.”

“Life seems so simple to you.”

“I can't believe you just said that to me.” Her voice rose. “I was kidnapped, torn from the man I loved, and sold into virtual slavery. I of all people know life is not simple. Life can be hard, painful, and unfair.”

“I'm sorry, I spoke without thinking. I know my brother loves you, but I don't know what else to do. I'm as trapped as you were.”

She pressed her hands to her cheeks. “I'm probably the only one who can understand what that feels like, and I would give anything to help you. Why don't you tell me what is going on? I'm sure we can think of a way to free both you and Hadley.”

“I know my brother once loved you and that you broke his heart. I also know it was because your mother sold you. That does not mean I can trust you with personal,
private
family matters. We are strangers, are we not?”

“I am hoping that if I can help you, I'll eventually be your sister-in-law. If I share a secret with you, perhaps you'll trust me.”

When Augustus said nothing, she braced herself. Either this was going to work or it would make the situation much worse. “My son, Sealey Hadley Masters, Viscount Stuart, is not Lord Stuart's son.” She waited, but still Augustus did not speak. “He is Hadley's son, and if you don't believe me, you will as soon as you meet him. He looks exactly like Hadley.”

“Does Hadley know?”

She shook her head. “How could I tell him? He would be torn between this family secret and his son. Instead, I've come to try to help us all.”

He spoke quietly. “If I reveal the truth to you, I'm putting my life in your hands.”

So it
was
Augustus Hadley was protecting. She held out her hands. “These may be small hands, but when given in assistance they will not betray you. I know what betrayal tastes like.”

He assessed her intently before finally nodding. “I'm being blackmailed by the Marquis of Corby.” He then proceeded to tell her his sad story.

Her heart began to pound in her chest. Now she understood why this was a matter of life and death. Augustus's behavior put not only himself in danger but the family too.

She wasn't sure how she felt about His Grace and what people would call his “perversions.” She studied him. All she saw was a man, a man who for some reason found other men attractive. With a sentence of death hanging over his head, she supposed it was not a perversion he would choose lightly. What would she do if her son developed into such a man? Would she love him any less? Of course not. Just as Hadley still loved his brother.

It was not for her to judge. She would help them escape this situation.