Devil in Her Dreams (2 page)

Marston cleared his throat. “I can see that.”

John sheepishly looked away from Elizabeth and shrugged.

“
I was sorry to hear about your loss,” John said a few minutes later.

“
Thank you. And yours.” Marston nodded. “It has been an adjustment.”

The group turned and began to stroll back to the seating area in the gardens. “Do you have any plans?” John continued.

Marston didn’t say anything for a moment but glanced at Louisa. “I have to give up the life I have lived these past six years.”

Do you mean you can’t be a spy any longer?
Oh, she would love to ask that question and shock all three of them.

Elizabeth sank into a chair. “What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Louisa took the one beside her. There was no way she was going to leave them to discuss matters without her. If she were gone, then there would be no pretense to talk around the secret subject, and she so enjoyed them trying to search for the right words to convey an entirely different meaning.

“
My older brother was killed in February after coming to the assistance of his friend who had been set upon by footpads. I was with Father when we were told. He had an apoplexy and died within the day.”

Louisa brought her hand to her heart. “Goodness, how horrible for you.”

Marston offered a weak smile. “Thank you.” He turned back to John. “I’ve now found myself in a position I never expected, nor prepared for.”

John hitched a brow. “Managing estates and duty to title?”

“
Worse,” Marston ground out.

“
What?” Elizabeth sat forward.

“
Three younger sisters, all of marriageable ages.”

John snorted. “I never thought to see the day when you were a guardian of young women.”

Louisa suspected nobody in their right mind would give him that duty intentionally. His sisters were safe, of course, but she wouldn’t trust him with a non-relation. If the kiss he’d planted on the inside of her wrist was any indication, Lord Marston had probably been kept far away from the proper young ladies of the
ton
.

“
When I learned you were here I decided to visit and escape Bartlett Court. Those three are about to drive me to Bedlam.” Marston pushed his fingers through his deep auburn hair, and Louisa suspected he may not be exaggerating. “They insist on attending the Little Season. I will meet them in London at the end of the week.”

“
I don’t see the harm,” Elizabeth uttered.

Marston leveled his eyes on Louisa’s sister. “When you meet them, you will understand. Trying to guard one is difficult enough, but all three may prove to be impossible.”

Louisa giggled. “Surely they can’t be all bad.”

“
Trust me, they are.” He pushed his fingers through his hair again then pulled at his cravat. The thought of his sisters really was unnerving the poor man. “I do have my own plans, however.”

“
Yes?” Louisa prompted.

“
I plan to marry each of them off as quickly as possible.”

Just like Grandfather!
Why did gentlemen think the best way to deal with an unmarried lady was to simply marry her off as if that solved everything? Well, he may be a handsome, interesting devil, but he could be someone else’s. With a huff she stood. “Good day, Lord Marston.”

Devlin watched Miss Whitton stalk off. “What did I say?”

“
I have no idea,” muttered Elizabeth. “That is not like my sister at all. She is always the perfect lady.”

“
It is rather odd,” John agreed.

Devlin turned back to his friends after Miss Whitton disappeared into the house. When had John and Elizabeth fallen in love? He wanted a lady who would look at him with the same emotion, but it was not to be. He couldn’t even think about taking a wife for himself until his sisters were settled and a new bride was a distraction he could not afford.

He cleared his throat. “I am glad I found both of you.”

They broke eye contact and looked over at Devlin.

“
Savary has issued an arrest warrant for the two of you, and a reward.”

John chuckled. “That man has power in France, not England.”

“
He is still trying to repair his reputation,” Devlin explained. “He holds you to blame for his failed plan to have us all arrested in December.”

“
Me?”

“
You and Lisette,” Devlin clarified. “Because of the two of you, the rest of us were warned in time.” He grinned. “Thank you.”

John simply shrugged. “Still, I don’t see why this should be a concern.”

Of course he didn’t. Devlin hadn’t told him everything yet. “Two men have come to England to find you. I don’t know if they intend to kill you here or take you back to France for public execution.”

Elizabeth straightened. “Surely they don’t know who we are.”

Devlin grimaced. “They have learned Jean’s true identity. They don’t know yours, yet.”

“
How do you learn of this?”

“
One of the men was apprehended four days ago. I was sent to warn you and then locate Lisette, if necessary. They didn’t tell me you had married.” Devlin paused for a moment. “Surely they knew?”

“
They did.” John grinned.

“
You expect the man to come here?”

“
Yes,” Devlin answered. “It was easy enough for me to learn you were at your family estate. I assume it will be just as easy for the man who is after you.”

“
Thank you for coming here,” Elizabeth offered.

“
Will you be staying?” John questioned.

“
Until the other man appears here or I have to meet my sisters in London.” Devlin groaned.

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you really so concerned about this one man?”

“
No,” Devlin chuckled. “I would rather deal with a dozen men and Savary himself than be responsible for my three sisters during any type of Season.”

Louisa stood to the side of the deep red curtains in the small sitting room watching Marston converse with her sister and brother-in-law. They weren’t that far away from her space by the open window, but she couldn’t hear a blasted word, so she kept her eyes focused on his face and firm lips. It really was a handsome face and his hair was a lovely deep auburn in the sun. She’d never been partial to redheaded gentlemen in the past, but Marston’s wasn’t really red.

“
What has you so upset?” Madeline asked from the settee where she had been reading a book.

“
Why is it that gentlemen believe that every unattached woman above the age of seventeen should simply be married off to the first person who comes along?”

She could hear Madeline close her book and then the rustle of skirts as she rose and walked toward her. She paused beside Louisa and looked out the window. “When did Devlin get here?”

“
Not long ago. He came up behind me in the garden and thought I was you.” Though it was rude to not look at her friend when speaking to her, Louisa didn’t dare take her eyes off of Marston’s lips. She might miss something if she did.
Who was Savary?

“
Did he insult you?” Madeline asked with a chuckle.

Hardly that. “I think he was trying to charm me.” Louisa finally looked at her friend. It was too hard to figure out what Marston was saying anyway.

“
Trying?” Madeline arched an eyebrow. “Usually it is very clear when Marston is trying to charm a lady, which is always.”

Louisa tilted her head, and the space around her heart tightened. Had Madeline set her cap upon him? “You like him?”

This time, Madeline laughed. “Oh, I like him very much, in a brotherly fashion, of course.”

The tightness released. Why was she relieved Madeline did not want Marston for herself? Louisa certainly didn’t want the rogue. She wanted nobody who could lie as easily as her brother-in-law. One would never know when the truth was being told. That would never do in a marriage.

“
Tell me about him.” Louisa turned back to the window and focused again on Marston. If she could see John or Elizabeth she would have a better idea of the discussion, but she could only view the back of their heads. It was far too frustrating.

“
There isn’t much to tell, other than the two of you would never suit.”

Louisa abruptly turned to study her friend. “Why would you even suggest such a thing?”

Madeline narrowed her green eyes and tilted her head. “I’ve never seen you so fascinated with a gentleman before.”

That is only because I am trying to figure out what he is saying and it has nothing to do with how handsome he is
. “I’m just curious.” She shrugged. With one last glance at the window, she moved to a chair. She’d missed too much of the conversation, and trying to concentrate was giving her a headache. “Out of curiosity, why wouldn’t we suit?”

Madeline laughed and settled across from her. “You are calm, level-headed, disciplined, and always behave properly. You deserve a respectable man who will never give you a moment’s concern.”

“
And marry a vicar?” Why did everyone think she wanted to be a vicar’s wife?

“
Yes.” A grin pulled at Madeline’s lips. “I once thought you and Matthew would be a perfect match.”

While Madeline’s older brother Matthew was a nice gentleman, living with him would be about as exciting as living with Louisa’s father, which she refrained from saying. On second thought, perhaps she should start speaking her mind and acting the way she wished, and then maybe people would stop trying to marry her off to vicars, and maybe she would attract the notice of an interesting gentleman.

Better yet, she should try to find a way to bring notice to herself in society. It had worked well for her friend Moira last spring, when her name ended up in White’s infamous betting book. But first, she would have to come up with something scandalous. “That’s it. I will write to Moira.” If anyone had spent years planning on how to escape a parent or a mundane life, it was Moira.

“
Who is Moira?” Madeline asked, a curious look upon her face.

Oh dear, had she spoken out loud. “Moira attended my father’s church when she wasn’t in school. We grew up together. I just remembered something I needed to ask her.” Louisa quickly excused herself before Madeline could prod any further. How long would it take for a letter to be delivered to Scotland?

Devlin stood just inside the doorway of the sitting room. This was where he had been told the family would gather before dinner. Miss Whitton sat alone in a deep blue chair by the window, embroidering. She did not yet know he was here, and Devlin drank in her appearance. Golden hair caught the reflection of the early evening sun and shone like a halo about her head. Ringlets cascaded and one curled seductively around her breast.

A modest gown of moss green revealed only her neck and lower arms. The skirt was hitched slightly, bunched on her lap with the material she was embroidering. This left her feet, which were encased in slippers dyed to match her gown, exposed, as well as the ankles adorned with embroidered silk stockings. They were lovely, trim ankles. Her head was bent over her stitches, and she hummed quietly. It was a song he remembered from church, but he could not recall the name. Her lips were full and pink, and far too kissable and should be kissed often, in his opinion.

Desire shot through Devlin, and he tried to quash the heat. He should not be the one kissing Miss Whitton. No. He couldn’t. To do so, he would have to be betrothed to her, and he couldn’t marry anyone. Not yet. Not until his sisters’ futures were dealt with. Besides, she was a respectable miss whom he should not be lusting after—a vicar’s daughter, and one did not desire daughters of vicars, or granddaughters of powerful dukes either.

Miss Whitton glanced up and paused in her work. A slight smile came to those delectable lips. “Good evening, Lord Marston. Did you need anything?”

He shook the earlier thoughts away. “No.” He must look like a fool simply standing in the doorway, staring at her. He took a step inside. Then another, in her direction and ordered himself to quit thinking about her ankles, hair and lips. “How are you, Miss Whitton?”

Her smile widened. “Very well. And you?”