Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (278 page)

Scott

shook his head. 'No, Beldon. I think I'd best go with them. I won't have you or

hurt on my

behalf.'

ran forwards, but Beldon grabbed her, whispering, 'No, Phil. We can't help him, not yet.'

Beldon was right, but it was a bitter task to stand by and watch Valerian roughly imprisoned in handcuffs and marched from his lovely home to be stuffed unceremoniously inside the dark coach that waited in the drive.

On the stairs in the hall, Lilya watched the scene, pale faced and frightened. 'His cloak,' she whispered as Beldon and

followed the last of the

soldiers outside, unwilling to let their friend out of their sight until the last possible moment.

looked up blankly at the girl. Lilya nodded and thrust the cloak into her hands.

Beldon took it from her and went down the steps, having the forethought to lay it across Valerian's lap in the carriage.

was glad for his quick

thinking and for Lilya's. At least now he'd be warm.

With any luck, the soldiers wouldn't think to search the cloak and perhaps Lilya had had enough time to put a few things in it.

As for herself,

had to get her thoughts

well in hand. She would be of no use to Valerian if she gave into the guilt and panic that threatened to swamp her. She watched the unmarked coach disappear on to the road, thinking of Valerian alone, surrounded by his enemies and no way to defend himself.

'Lucien means to see him dead in some fashion

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or other.' The thought hit her all at once and it was all it took to galvanise her into action.

'We won't let it happen,' Beldon said staunchly beside her. But she noted he didn't bother to contradict her with soothing claims.

Lilya joined them on the front steps. 'Valerian is a strong man. He is resourceful.'

turned to the girl. 'I am sorry this happened. It's not much of a welcome for you. You did well to think of his cloak.'

Lilya shrugged and met Philippa's gaze meaningfully. 'In my country, this happens often. We are always ready.'

'You were with him that night in Negush,'

said. It wasn't really a question. She was starting to see how the disaster had unfolded. 'Come inside and tell us about it. Perhaps there is something there that can help us.'

They rang for tea out of habit. None of them were particularly hungry, but it gave Cook something to do and the household a way to return to normal after the brawl on the back terrace. Everyone was anxious and

knew the best way to beat anxiety was to keep busy.

'My father had been taken prisoner in earlier fighting. Valerian had been allowed to see him once.

He promised my father he'd protect us. The army was coming. There was no way to escape it. I was nine, I think. Constantine was a baby, and my brother Alexei was twelve.' Lilya stopped here, struggling for composure.

shot Beldon a confused glance. She had

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not heard of the older brother before. 'Did Alexei stay in the Balkans?' Perhaps the girl was homesick for her family.

'No.'

said quietly, staring into her teacup.

'He and my Aunt Natasha were killed that night.

We'd all have been killed if Valerian hadn't been there.' She went on with her story, telling of the fire and the fighting, how her Aunt Natasha had held off two Ottoman soldiers with a sword, how Valerian had arrived, slashing and killing like a berserker.

Valerian had got them to the relative safety of a copse, but the fighting had drawn too near and their hideaway had been invaded by Ottomans intent on blood. 'Natasha fell

Alexei picked up her sword.

He fought back to back with Valerian. He fought well, but he was too young to fight with such a heavy weapon for long. Valerian killed several soldiers before the others fled the copse. Then he found our relatives who saw us to safety. He went back, though.

The army was expecting him. I imagine he went back to the embassy shortly afterwards. His work was done on that mission.

'He didn't forget us. When he knew where we were, he sent clothes and food. He even came to visit us a few times when his work brought him into the area. On those visits, he gave us money. He kept us alive. Our circumstances had been greatly reduced after the uprising. We learned later that he had seen to a decent burial for Alexei and our aunt and that he was with my father at the last.'

After hearing Valerian's part of the story that morning,

could accurately guess what the

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'last' had been. Of course Valerian had done all that at personal risk and expense to himself. There was never a man more true to his friends than Valerian.

He did not deserve to suffer for his kindnesses.

'But it is true, he killed Turks,' Beldon put in.

Lilya nodded. 'To save us.'

'The Turks aren't even our allies any more, which is what makes the situation so damnable,' Beldon huffed. 'There should be a statute of limitations on these sort of things the way alliances shift these days. After eight years of no one noticing, no one caring, it seems ridiculous that one good man should be brought to task for such a thing.'

'Lucien wouldn't care if it wasn't for me.'

put in softly. 'He's doing this for spite.'

'More than spite, Phil. You can't take all the blame. Lucien believes Val stands in the way of his progress.'

'I think we have to go after Lucien,'

said

after a while. 'The charges of treason won't stick. Val has friends in the government who won't allow this to go very far once they hear of it. It's too bad his uncle is still abroad. But even so, there are people who can appeal once we're in town. No one is interested in calling a hero a traitor. Lilya will tell her story, we'll manage a few people in high places and the charges will go away accompanied by a nice public apology. Lucien must surely know this. The charges will stir up a short scandal but nothing more.

In the end, they're only a red herring.'

Beldon nodded. 'I agree. Lucien does know all this. He is just buying time. trial would be laugh-