An Elegant Façade (Hawthorne House Book #2) (15 page)

Colin felt a bit sorry for the footman who had to plunge into the rain to find them a hack. Hopefully this wasn’t a pressing emergency and Lord Trent would have time to take Colin home first. Finding two hired carriages in the rain would be impossible.

The idea of walking in a downpour was unappealing to say the least. He hated being wet. Ironic for a boy who’d grown up around the ocean and playing on boats.

Maybe it was because getting wet on a boat was a bad sign.

They climbed into the carriage, shaking the water from their greatcoats.

“Hawthorne House,” Lord Trent told the driver. As soon as the door closed, he turned to Colin. “Miranda is missing.”

Colin’s heart clenched. His fears had become a reality. What about the rest of the family? Obviously Lord Trent was safe, but what about Lady Georgina? “Missing?”

Lord Trent nodded and pulled the paper from his pocket. “Griffith said he received word from Ryland’s butler that Miranda was in trouble and they were heading to Marshington Abbey.”

That wasn’t good. Wait, Marshington Abbey? The criminal had taken Lady Miranda to Ryland’s childhood home? The man must be insane. And insane men were dangerous.

The hack pulled up to Hawthorne House and Lord Trent threw the door open and jumped to the ground before the carriage had settled onto the stopped wheels.

After a brief conversation with the butler, Lord Trent jumped back into the hack. “He’s already left.”

Colin considered suggesting Lord Trent wait for word, but if their places were reversed he’d punch the man who suggested such a thing.

And Lord Trent was a practiced pugilist.

“Raebourne,” Colin suggested instead.

Lord Trent dragged his hand through his hair before punching his fist into the upholstered seat cushion. “What?”

“Lord Raebourne. He’s a friend of the family, isn’t he? He can be trusted, and he’ll have a carriage and horses available.”

“Perfect.” Lord Trent stuck his head out the door and gave the driver the new direction.

He was shoved back into the carriage by a large bundle of white.

Lord Trent fell back into his seat with a grunt.

“I’m coming too.” Lady Georgina shook the hood of her cloak back and reached out to slam the hack door shut. She plopped herself on the seat beside Lord Trent as the vehicle moved forward.

Colin was torn between relief that she was safe and ire that she’d thrown herself into the middle of a potentially dangerous situation. Surely her brother would insist she return to the house.

Lord Trent glared at her but didn’t stop the carriage.

In moments, they were in front of Raebourne’s house, pounding on the door. Colin tossed a coin to the hackney driver. Time and discretion were both of the essence in a situation like this. They didn’t need a hired man hanging around hearing more than he should.

The butler opened the door with bleary eyes and a smothered yawn.

Lord Trent pushed past him, bellowing for Anthony. Lady Georgina swept in behind him, her cloak billowing around her like a cloud, complete with raindrops dripping from the wet hem.

Colin followed them into the house with a wince. The butler was fully awake now and preparing to toss all of them out on their ear.

Lord Raebourne appeared, tying a dressing gown around him. His dark brown hair was mussed, and he kept blinking as if he weren’t quite ready to be among the conscious. “What the blazes is going on?”

Lord Trent bounded up the stairs. “I need your carriage.”

Lord Raebourne’s wife appeared behind him, looking slightly more aware of her surroundings. “What’s wrong?”

“Miranda. She’s possibly in danger. I need to get to Kent.”

It was the kind of statement that broke through sleep’s last hold on the brain. Lord Raebourne transformed into a noble marquis before Colin’s eyes. “Hughson, get the carriage ready. And wake Cook to throw together a basket.” Lord Raebourne nodded at Colin and Lord Trent. “Wait in the drawing room. I’ll be dressed momentarily.”

Colin tried his best to rest his eyes while they waited. He could go home. Probably should go home. It was one thing to insist on coming to Ryland’s aid, but this was a family matter. Colin had no part in it, except possibly the fact that Lord Trent needed a keeper. Ryland was likely halfway to Kent now, and the last thing he needed was Lady Miranda’s brothers getting in the way. Colin couldn’t stop Riverton, but maybe he could corral Lord Trent, and now, it appeared, Lord Raebourne.

This could turn into a veritable circus.

Lady Georgina sat in a chair on the other side of the room. She’d yet to acknowledge his presence. Was there any chance they could convince her to stay with Lady Raebourne? There was nothing to gain from her presence on this escapade. In fact, there was potential to great loss of reputation, depending on the outcome.

She appeared serene with the exception of her bottom lip, caught between clenched, even white teeth. Should he go over? Talk to her? There was little that could be done for Lord Trent right now, but if Lady Georgina was concerned, he could console her, tell her Ryland would protect Lady Miranda.

Did Lady Georgina even know the truth about Ryland? The other siblings knew, but Colin wouldn’t put it past Lady Georgina to miss the news entirely.

“No.”

“Yes.”

Lord and Lady Raebourne burst into the drawing room, both dressed in warm traveling clothes, Lady Raebourne’s redingote buttoned crookedly.

“No.” Lord Raebourne put his hands on his hips.

“You can’t stop me.” Lady Raebourne crossed her arms over her chest, the insolent posture looking a bit hilarious on her tiny frame.

Colin knew better than to laugh.

Lord Raebourne leaned down to speak into his wife’s face. “What makes you think I can’t keep you here?”

“Because James won’t take you anywhere if I tell him not to.”

Lord Raebourne dragged his hands over his face. “I thought we agreed you wouldn’t manipulate the servants.”

“This is too important.”

“This is too dangerous.”

Lady Raebourne huffed. “I’m not leaving Miranda to the care of a bunch of panicked men.”

Colin took exception to that. He wasn’t panicked in the least. Concerned, yes. Aware of the importance of efficient usage of time, yes. But panicked? No.

Lord Raebourne echoed Colin’s thoughts. “We’re not panicked, we’re concerned. And we have Georgina.”

Lady Raebourne raised her eyebrows, clearly unwilling to point out that Lady Georgina might not be the most calming female presence for Lady Miranda. “I’m going.”

Lord Trent stepped between them. “Can we leave?”

Moments later they were hurtling down the road to Kent. It was a bit impractical to squeeze five into the traveling coach, but no one volunteered to stay behind. It was also impossible to fit the three men to a single seat, leaving the other for the ladies to ride in comfort.

As the smallest of the three men, Colin found himself sitting on the ladies’ side, pressed against Lady Georgina, and trying to keep his facial expressions clear of the internal struggle between his physical appreciation and his intellectual distaste. He stared out the window, praying for sleep but knowing he wouldn’t find it unless he turned his turmoil over to the Lord.

He was still awake when the first rays of sun crested the horizon.

Raebourne’s coach was new, equipped with advanced new springs, and outfitted with a set of prime horses and a speed only the panicked can induce. One of Raebourne’s grooms rode ahead, ensuring that fresh horses were ready in the inn yards. With the faster coach and faster horse changes, the group caught up to Riverton at an inn about two hours away from their destination.

Knowing the aristocrats wouldn’t listen to reason, Colin grabbed the two coachmen and convinced them to approach Marshington Abbey with caution. If Ryland did have a plan in the works, he didn’t need anyone blundering in and ruining it.

Expecting Lady Georgina to move to her brother’s coach, Colin climbed back into Raebourne’s, only to find himself sharing a seat with the lady he was trying to avoid. Apparently Lord Trent was the one who opted to gain more room by switching to Riverton’s carriage. Colin couldn’t even call on propriety to ask Lady Raebourne to share the seat with Lady Georgina. The married couple across the way was far too engrossed in their debate to notice they were sharing their carriage, much less that the other seat wasn’t properly filled.

Lord Raebourne was trying to convince Lady Raebourne to stay in the carriage when they arrived at the Abbey. Given the mutinous
expression on the lady’s face, that wasn’t going to happen. Trying to give them privacy, he turned to Lady Georgina. His mind went utterly blank of discussion topics. What could they possibly find to talk about?

“The sun is rising.”

Admittedly not his best conversation starter.

Lady Georgina leaned against the window, eyes widening as color streaked the sky. “It’s beautiful. The way the reds and oranges blend together. It’s like the night sky is a curtain pulling back to let the sun through. I wish I had my paints. We don’t get sunrises like that in London.”

Colin opened his mouth and shut it again, taking a moment to absorb what she was saying. He latched on to the most tangible part of her revelation. “You paint?”

She nodded. “All of my fans and most of the fire screens in the house. The borders on Lady Jane’s cerulean shawl.”

He’d seen the fire screens when visiting Riverton. They were exquisite works of art, blooming with color and detail. “You like color.”

It wasn’t a question, but Lady Georgina answered him anyway. “What’s not to like about it?”

“But your traveling cloak is white.”

She looked at him for a long while, as if contemplating whether or not his inane comment merited an answer. “Everything I have is white.”

Colin half turned in the seat and settled into the corner. “I’ve noticed. Why is that?”

Lady Georgina looked annoyed enough to ignore him but finally gave a shrug. “Because you’ve noticed.”

Colin began to scoff at her nonanswer before realizing the truth of her statement. While white was a color found in every young lady’s wardrobe, it was never the only color. The fact that Lady Georgina didn’t even trim her dresses in any color but white was quite famous among the
ton
.

It was rather ingenious, actually.

“Why did you come?” Since she seemed to be in the mood to explain herself, even if vaguely, he decided not to waste the opportunity.

“My sister is in danger, Mr. McCrae. Whatever else you may think of me, I’ve never given you reason to doubt that I care about my sister.” She turned her nose up and stared on the window.

Colin laughed. “You haven’t? Not even when you tried to catch the eye of the man she loves?”

When Georgina’s response finally came, it was very quiet. “Miranda’s feelings have not yet been determined.”

The carriage pulled into Marshington Abbey’s long drive. Colin grinned. What was the poor dear going to do when she couldn’t fool herself anymore? “I have a feeling we’ll soon see otherwise.”

The front yard of the Abbey was in complete chaos. Something had certainly happened. Colin’s breathing thinned as he waited for the carriages to stop. He knew that things didn’t always turn out well in spite of well-laid plans and determined protectors.

Jeffreys, Ryland’s retired-spy valet, and Price, the former smuggler turned butler, were overseeing an army of villagers beating rugs and cleaning items from the house. The fact that they didn’t look the least bit worried or distressed eased Colin’s chest considerably. If something bad had happened, the men’s scowls would be dark enough to put out the sun.

Price came over as Colin and Riverton climbed down from their respective carriages. “Good morning, Your Grace. I didn’t expect to see you, Mr. McCrae.”

“Right place, right time.”

Price grinned. “Story of your life.”

Colin could do no more than nod. God had certainly guided his steps over the years.

Lady Raebourne tumbled out of the carriage, ripping her cloak from her husband’s hand. “I am Lady Raebourne, and you are . . . ?”

“Price, my lady.” Price’s eyes widened as he took in the little lady.

Colin sucked in his cheeks to keep his grin hidden. He didn’t know much about Lady Raebourne, but the woman was showing
herself to be considerably more formidable than she appeared. It was amusing to watch.

Lady Raebourne smiled sweetly up at the butler, appearing completely oblivious to his intimidating form. “Good morning, Price. Is Miranda safe?”

Price nodded, glancing from Colin to Riverton and back to Lady Raebourne and her husband standing behind her, looking cross. “Yes, everything is taken care of. We’ve hauled Mr. Montgomery to the magistrate already. Ry— His Grace and Lady Miranda are in the drawing room.”

Colin frowned. Mr. Montgomery? Ryland’s cousin had been the criminal mastermind? That didn’t make any sense, although it did explain the location a bit better as Gregory Montgomery had grown up in the house as well.

Trent and Riverton were already halfway to the house when Colin broke free from his considerations. The Raebournes were right behind the brothers, still arguing about whether or not Lady Raebourne was going to wait in the carriage.

Where was Lady Georgina?

Colin turned to find her hovering in the doorway of the carriage, lip caught between her teeth. Despite her brave declarations in the carriage, he knew she didn’t have the best relationship with Lady Miranda. Was she more worried about her sister or about having to finally admit that Ryland wasn’t available?

Without a word, he helped her from the carriage. She set her shoulders and nearly ran after her brothers. Colin followed at a slower pace, appreciating the drama filling the yard as villagers set about airing rugs and linens and cleaning furniture. The Abbey hadn’t been occupied in well over a decade, and it suddenly had a slew of potential overnight visitors.

Chances were Ryland and Lady Miranda were engaged already. If not, they would be by the end of the day.

After all the ups and downs, the couple would finally be happily settled, or at least on their way to being so.

It would also irk Lady Georgina.

The thought brought a smile to Colin’s face as he ambled into the house.

The last thing he expected as he entered was to see Lady Georgina actually caring for her sister.

Lady Georgina sat on the settee next to Lady Miranda, her skirt bunched on one side and her traveling cloak draped over the back, trailing down to pool on the floor. Never had he seen her disregard her appearance that way.

There was no pretense in her bearing, no practiced smiles or postures. She smoothed Lady Miranda’s hair with a gentle hand and complete focus. Colin had never seen her like that. She looked . . . genuine. Approachable in a way she hadn’t been before. This was Georgina without any artifice, and Colin wasn’t sure what to do with it.

It was only when she thought no one was looking that she would glance at Ryland and a bit of sadness would flitter across her face.

Had there been any real feeling there? Colin would have sworn she wanted Ryland strictly for his position and influence. Was he wrong?

The idea that Lady Georgina was actually in love with Ryland didn’t sit well with him. The sensation almost felt like jealousy. But that was preposterous. Wasn’t it?

Colin distracted himself by pulling Ryland aside. “What happened?”

The other man shook his head but didn’t take his eyes off Lady Miranda. “We caught our spy yesterday, but this was something much more mundane. My cousin wanted the title—thought to lure me here and arrange a way to inherit it. Miranda was the bait.”

Colin winced. It was a tale as old as time and one that many aristocratic families had to deal with daily, though fortunately the jealousy didn’t often end in murder. “What does that mean for you?”

Ryland raised an eyebrow and cut Colin a brief, questioning glance. “It means I’m getting married.”

Colin laughed quietly as the duke strode back across the room. It
was good to see Ryland happy. A darkness that Colin had never fully realized had settled on his friend seemed to now be lifted. Leaning his shoulder against the wall, Colin did what he did best. Observed.

The men were talking, joking, enjoying the time together now that the danger was gone. The women were joining in. Lady Georgina fixed her skirt and her posture before reaching a hand up to smooth her mussed coiffure.

The laughter and love flowed as easily and plentifully as the tea, but Colin stayed on the fringe—watching, waiting, and wondering if he would ever again see his own family like that.

“If I ever claim to be falling in love, Harriette, I give you permission to knock me over the head with a chamber pot.” Georgina flung herself across the foot of the bed, weary from spending the bulk of the past twenty-four hours in a carriage. They’d returned to London after spending less than three hours at the Abbey. There were reputations to consider, after all.

Harriette bustled around the room, draping towels over the fire screen and pulling clothes from the dressing room. “What’s wrong with love? I’ve always thought it a delightful notion.”

“Love has ruined not one but two perfect plans.” Georgina pushed up into a sitting position. “I had exclusive access to the Marquis of Raebourne for nearly two years while he stayed in the country visiting no one but Griffith. When it came time to look for a wife, it would have been so easy to choose me. But no, he had to fall in love with someone who doesn’t know the first thing about being a marchioness.”

Harriette met Georgina’s eyes, a look of practicality stamped on her face. Georgina tilted her chin up, daring the maid to bring up the fact that Georgina had not yet been out in society when Anthony had chosen his bride. With a shake of her head, Harriette turned back to the closet.

Georgina picked at the laces on her white leather traveling boots. “And if a duke were suddenly to come out of hiding, why wouldn’t
he select the most popular and successful woman of the Season as his wife? I’m telling you, Harriette, love makes people do things that don’t make sense.”

Harriette frowned at the dirt on Georgina’s shoes. “Perhaps that is why your mother continues to let you buy such impractical footwear.”

A knock at the door prevented Georgina from having to come up with an answer. Family love was all well and good. She loved her family. But that didn’t keep her from making logical plans and following through on them. If only other people would cooperate with her plans, she might be able to get out of this Season with her dignity and reputation intact.

While Harriette directed the filling of the tub, Georgina considered her options. Now that the duke was well and truly out of reach, where did that leave her?

Lord Ashcombe. Although she had to admit the knowledge that he’d done more than simply call on her sister made things the slightest bit awkward.

There was also the question of what he would do when he discovered her secret.

Georgina wasn’t foolish enough to think her shortcomings could be hidden from a husband as easily as they could from the rest of her family. Ashcombe’s pride should keep him from telling the world, but he was known to be quite ruthless in business matters. How would he handle a wife who lacked a basic skill necessary to run his household?

“The water is ready, my lady.”

Georgina sank gratefully into the bath. Traveling always exhausted her, and she’d never traveled so hard or fast in her life. They must have used every spare horse between London and Kent to make the round trip as fast as they did. “Do I have anywhere to go tonight, Harriette?”

“Lady Jane’s rescheduled poetry recitation party is tonight. Would you like to use your recent travels as a reason to send your regrets?”

With a groan, Georgina sank deeper into the tub until only her head remained above the water. “No. We don’t need everyone knowing about Miranda’s little adventure. A scandal is the last thing I need right now.”

Harriette nodded, laying out clothes for the evening.

Georgina groaned as the heat from the water soaked into her tired muscles. “Perhaps I can graciously allow the other ladies more chances to exhibit their skills instead of me.” She tilted her chin down and opened her eyes wide. “Modesty is a virtue, after all.”

A grin tugged at Harriette’s lips as she pulled a chair closer to the bath and opened their thick notebook of secrets. It never ceased to amaze Georgina that writing things down wasn’t an abhorred chore for other people.