Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (280 page)

Scott

ferably those that were ordered by him, but carried out by others?

Accidental occurrences had certainly played a lucky part in Lucien's life in recent years. The accidental appearance of Mandeville Danforth at Lucien's home in

led directly to a seat on the

bank's board of directors. An accident at Cambourne's mines had offered him a direct connection to the Cambourne inheritance and a chance to use Philippa's friendship for his nefarious schemes.

That gave him pause. He'd seen all the angles Canton had decided to play so far. But he'd not looked past the present. How involved was Canton's scheme? Had it incorporated the planning of Cambourne's death? Was this plot so detailed that he'd been willing to invest three years in setting it up? To wait until

was out of mourning and able to

legitimately remarry? The potential depth expanded the parameters of the situation. This was no longer an opportunity to exploit a plum that had fallen into Canton's lap on happenstance. It was much more defined than that. If his suppositions were correct, then Canton had known all along what he was doing.

It explained why Canton would be willing to go to such lengths to remove him from the equation. He'd unknowingly put the entire scheme at risk and too.

He hoped

was holding up. She'd looked

devastated after her discussion with Lucien and she'd been pale after the fisticuffs. But she was tenacious and he had no doubt that she was planning some way to assist him. He rather hoped he'd find a

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way to resolve his situation before could

leap into action. He didn't want her endangered and Lucien was a more perilous foe than she realised.

He fingered his cloak, taking comfort in the fact that someone had had the foresight to slip a few things into his cloak, probably Lilya. She would have been the only one able to do it. Beldon and had been on the terrace with him.

If he wasn't mistaken from the feel of things, there was a small knife, some money and a tiny vial.

He could imagine Lilya racing to his room and seeing the vial on the bedside table. She'd probably grabbed it in hopes that if it was medicine he needed, he'd have it. If he lived long enough to see the inside of

the money would come in handy. He

hoped he wouldn't have to use the knife. But he thanked Lilya silently for her efforts.

Dusk was falling when they stopped for the night at a wayside inn. An hour ago, they'd driven through a larger village. But Valerian could see now why Lucien had chosen to stop here. It was less likely to be frequented by travellers, less opportunity to call attention to their party. Such a choice supported Valerian's thoughts that Canton had other plans than a trial for treason in mind.

'My hands, please,' Valerian said as the coach rocked to a stop. He held them up to be unlocked.

The man riding with him shook his head. 'Sorry, I've got orders not to under any circumstances.'

'Very well. My cloak about my shoulders, then, if you don't mind,' Valerian ordered. 'The clasp is in

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front. Fasten it well, I don't want it sliding off in the dirt.'

Uncomfortably, the man did as Valerian asked, grumbling about being treated like a 'bleeding valet'. Valerian took some petty pleasure from the man's complaints. Perhaps the man would tell Canton he didn't sign on to be a 'bleeding valet' and get permission to remove his cuffs. It wasn't as if Valerian wanted to engineer a prison break, or in this case a coach break.

away only enhanced the

look of guilt. He simply wanted to stay alive long enough to reach London and put Lucien's case to rest.

The inn was rough, but empty of guests with the exception of a few locals. Lucien sneered at him as he clumsily took a seat at one of the benches. One of the men was allowed to remove his cuffs for eating. Dinner came shortly afterwards, greasy fare of lamb stew and overcooked carrots. But Valerian had eaten worse. Lucien apparently hadn't and pushed his plate away in disgust. He eyed Valerian malevolently over the plank table. 'Probably wise of you to eat what you can now. Can't say as how there'll be much food or opportunity to eat where you're going.'

Valerian met his gaze evenly and said nothing. He had no intention of saying a word to Canton. Lucien looked away, his attention drawn to the door and the newcomer. Lucien's eyes went hard.

'Pendennys, what a surprise to see you here,'

Lucien drawled coldly.

'Ah,
yes, who would have thought, out of all the

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inns to choose from, we'd have the same taste?'

Beldon returned in a jovial tone, sounding as if he'd just walked into the finest gentlemen's club on St James's. 'St Just, I trust you're well?' Beldon came over to the bench and sat beside him.

Valerian stifled a laugh. 'Whatever are you doing here?'

'I'm journeying to London on business, much the same as you, I am guessing,' Beldon said off-handedly. 'Is the ale here any good?'

Lucien

outside in anger,

an order

to keep a close eye on the prisoner.

'We're going nowhere,' Beldon said cheerily, lifting his tankard in a salute. 'At ease, gentlemen, I am simply here to keep an old friend company.