Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel (13 page)

Lana slumped next to Phoebe on the carriage bench, allowing herself to be coddled. Fresh tears sprang to her eyes, but she swallowed her cry of anguish. She would never allow Drew to marry her out of obligation. He would resent her for the rest of his life. And even worse, she would grow to resent him when he continued to carouse about London. He had made it clear he loved his carefree bachelorhood and had no intention of abandoning his wicked ways.

She would rather live in isolation than have her heart broken time and again. She could heal this once. Maybe not without scars, but she would survive this encounter with Drew. Her soul, however, would wither if forced to witness his indiscretions.

Phoebe moaned softly.

“Phoebe, are you all right, love?” Lord Richard’s anxiety alerted Lana that something was wrong.

“Just a little tightening,” Phoebe answered. “It has passed.”

Lana twisted toward her friend. “Is it the baby?”

Phoebe patted her hand. “I’m sure it is nothing. Richard’s mama said it’s common to feel as if the baby is coming long before the actual time. She said it is the body’s way of getting used to the idea. I still have six weeks.”

“Mother is not a doctor or midwife,” Lord Richard argued. “We are returning to London first thing in the morning before it’s too late.”

Phoebe sighed. “Darling, you’re overreacting. I am fine.”

Lana’s gaze darted to Phoebe’s stomach. Good heavens above. If anything happened to her dearest friend… “Perhaps you should listen to Lord Richard. It’s best to be close to good doctors. I’ll travel to London with you, if you don’t mind.” Getting away from Drew was in
her
best interest and the sooner, the better. Her mama might want to stay and finish her visit, preferring to avoid London, but Lana could travel without her since she would be in good company.

Phoebe groaned once more and held herself stiff. Once the pain had passed, she released a weary sigh. “I suppose you are both right. But I
won’t
leave at the crack of dawn.”

“You will if I command it,” her husband answered.

“Of course, I won’t, my lord.” Phoebe’s argumentative tone shocked Lana. She held her breath, fearful of the gentleman’s reaction, but she needn’t have worried.

Lord Richard chuckled. “You are going to be fine, love. Fate wouldn’t dare cross you.”

At Shafer Hall, he assisted Phoebe from the carriage and escorted her inside while Lana trailed behind them. Her friend appeared as weary as Lana felt. She would rather drop into bed and forget the events of the evening, but there was an important matter to discuss with her host. And it couldn’t wait for morning.

“My lord, might I have a word with you?”

Phoebe glanced over her shoulder, her eyebrows raised in question.

Lord Richard looked between his wife and her. His wrinkled forehead betrayed his worry for Phoebe and Lana, and his indecision on which lady needed him most.

Lana would take the burden from him. “After you settle Lady Phoebe, my lord.”

Phoebe waved her hand as if to dismiss both of their concerns. “I’m fine, really. Joanna will assist me. Please, Richard, give Lana an audience now. I will wait in the bedchamber for you.”

“If you’re certain…”

Phoebe stepped into his embrace and placed a chaste kiss on her husband’s cheek. “I am certain.”

A profound sadness enveloped Lana like a heavy quilt. She would never experience love like the one they shared. If she had ever held out hope for a love match, it was shattered now. What a horrible fool she had been tonight.

“This way, Miss Hillary.” Lana followed Lord Richard into the study. “Perhaps you should pull the door closed behind you.”

She did as he directed and tentatively took a few steps into the room.

“Miss Hillary, may I offer my deepest regret over my brother’s ill treatment of you?”

“I don’t wish to discuss Lord Andrew.” She flinched in response to her sharp tone. “Please forgive my disrespect, my lord.”

Lord Richard chuckled and filled a glass with port. “If I took offense every time someone censored me, I would walk around in a black mood all the time. Would you like to take a seat?”

Lana lowered herself to perch on the edge of a chair and folded her hands in her lap. “I have distressing news to share, Lord Richard. Tonight a rough character accosted me in the gardens. He didn’t appear to be a guest, because he spoke with a vulgar accent, much like the street vendors in London.”

Lord Richard moved closer. “What did he do? Did he harm you?”

“No, my lord, but I believe he would have if I had not escaped.”

“No doubt he would have robbed you.” A worry line formed between his brows. “I will send word to my father immediately to search the grounds and post guards. Perhaps their presence alone will frighten the thief away, so no one else is at risk.”

He stared for a long time as if contemplating saying something more. She couldn’t bear it if he reprimanded her for being outdoors alone. Being outside in the dark was the least of her sins this evening.

“I’m grateful you were unharmed, Miss Hillary.” His sympathetic expression nearly brought her to tears again. They both knew his statement to be untrue. Her harm was beyond repair.

Her eyes dropped to her lap. “Thank you, my lord.”

***

The
bloody
toffs
ain’t ’ere to save ya.
Lana gasped and jerked awake. Her damp nightrail clung to her body, and she trembled as her mind flashed back to her harrowing run through the maze. Just as quickly, she recalled the warmth and security of being in Drew’s arms. Her hands covered her chest as if she could hold the broken pieces of her heart together.

Several moments later, she tossed aside the covers and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Dwelling on her encounter with Drew wouldn’t change anything. He had offered to marry her last night, but only because they had been discovered together. Drew didn’t want a wife, and she didn’t want a rake. Tears welled in her eyes again. She also didn’t want the pain that came from loving a rake, but it was too late to remedy the situation.

Sunlight streamed through the windows. She had best get dressed and ready herself to leave for London. After donning her travel gown with the assistance of Phoebe’s maid, Lana made her way to the breakfast room to find Lord Richard dining alone.

“Good morning, Miss Hillary. I see you are dressed for travel, so I take it you haven’t changed your mind about returning to Town.”

Lana slipped into one of the armless chairs at the table, leaving her hands in her lap while a footman served her poached eggs and ham. “No, my lord, I am determined to leave today.”

He checked his watch and frowned. “Will you be ready for travel within the hour, Miss Hillary? It’s a long ride, and I will want to find an inn before nightfall where Phoebe may rest comfortably.”

Lana spread the napkin over her lap and lifted her fork. “I’ll be ready.”

“I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of speaking with your mother.”

The fork slipped from her fingers to clatter against the china dish.

“It’s not what you think, Miss Hillary. I explained that you left the ball early to tend to Phoebe. I also suggested your presence on the return journey would be helpful.”

“Thank you, my lord. Has she departed for Irvine Castle already this morning without saying good-bye?”

A flush crept up his neck. “She seemed in a hurry to return after learning of the potential thief on the grounds. I did not inform her you were the victim.”

Lana’s cheeks heated too, and she dropped her gaze to her plate. Her mother was eager to be the first to share the gossip, most likely, not realizing how close Lana was to being a participant in a mortifying scandal.

“Mrs. Hillary would like to stay in Northumberland until Mother and Father leave next week. Father is allowing her full use of Shafer Hall.”

“That is kind of His Grace.”

Lana’s mind drifted to Drew. Was he still abed upstairs? Would he bid her farewell before she left? “Has your brother arisen yet?”

Lord Richard’s lips set in a firm line. “He did not stay here last night, Miss Hillary, and I’ve not seen hide nor hair of him this morning.”

“Oh.” She forced back the sadness that threatened to spill over and reveal itself. “I will go ready my belongings for travel.”

Something tickled Drew’s nose again and he swatted it away. It came back. Growling his discontent, he slapped his face.

“Ow,” he moaned.

Giggles broke through his dream state. Opening his eyes, he discovered a feather duster advancing toward him and yanked it from his tormentor’s hand. More tittering followed.

“Lord Andrew,” one of the downstairs maids teased, “you’ve outdone yourself this time.”

“What happened to your face?”

He palpated his sore cheekbone. Thanks to Rich, he probably looked a fright. Three young maids gathered in a semicircle around the settee where he sprawled. His back ached and his head hammered.

“Where am I?” His voice sounded scratchy as if he had consumed half a bottle of broken glass instead of brandy last night. He pushed himself to a seated position and groaned. If he had eaten anything recently, he might spew it all over the pristine carpet.

“You are in the west parlor, my lord. And you’re lucky no one comes here except at night. Why are you not in a bed?”

“I don’t have a bed at Irvine.”

More snickers assaulted his senses. “We’ve never known that to stop you, my lord.”

Hell’s teeth.
“I need to locate the facilities.”

“This way, Lord Andrew.” One of the taller maids reached under his arm and helped haul him to his feet. She pressed her body against his side as she draped his arm over her shoulders.

“I can walk, love, but thank you.”

She hesitantly stepped away. “Of course, my lord.”

“What time is it?”

“It is nearing two o’clock,” the maid he thought they called Sheila said. “We allowed you to sleep as long as we could, but you are sure to be discovered soon if you continue to slumber.”

Devil
take
it!
He needed to get to Shafer Hall and speak with Lana if she hadn’t arrived at the castle already. “Could one of you lovelies arrange a bath for me?”

“As you wish, my lord.” The small blonde raced to do his bidding.

The taller maid stepped forward. “If you need help washing…”

He sighed. “Thanks for the kind offer, but I am able to manage that on my own, too. You may check to see if Miss Hillary has arrived if you would like to be of assistance.”

Disappointment clouded her expression. “Yes, sir.”

In another thirty minutes, Drew lowered his battered frame into a steaming tub of water. He didn’t know how they had done it, but the chits had come through for him. They had also procured a bar of sandalwood soap and a tumbler of scotch to ease his suffering. By the time he finished his bath, he felt almost human again.

One of the maids found a change of clothes for him too. He didn’t dare ask from where, but in case she had pilfered them from another guest, he slipped out of the castle as quickly as he could. As he had expected, Lana hadn’t come to the castle this morning, and he couldn’t blame her. He had behaved like a beast, allowing his lust to override his good sense.

The groom noticed his approach and went into the stables to ready a horse. He led the black stallion by the bridle. “Your horse is ready, my lord.”

On the ride to Shafer Hall, he considered his hurried conversation with Lana last night. He could see how his fumbling proposal might upset her. A lady expected romance and eloquent words.
We
will
have
to
get
married.
Drew shook his head at his ineptitude. In his defense, he’d never once believed he would propose to anyone, so he hadn’t practiced how he might go about it.

A broad smile spread across his face. How absurd to have believed he would be able to forget Lana once he’d bedded her. She plagued his mind more than ever this afternoon. He anticipated making love to her again once he had properly offered for her and announced their intentions. On second thought, perhaps she wouldn’t insist on waiting until their betrothal was official; at least he could hope.

When Shafer Hall came into view, his stomach twisted and he urged the stallion into a canter. His desire to see her again was almost unbearable. A footman met him outside to take the horse while Drew jogged up the steps.

“Lord Andrew,” the butler greeted.

“Good morning,” he replied happily. “Please inform Miss Hillary she has a caller requesting an audience.” He continued toward the library. That would be the perfect place to propose. He’d almost kissed her for the first time there, and would have if his lousy brother had not intruded.

The butler cleared his throat. “My lord?”

He swung around to face the servant, irritated with the delay. “Yes, what is it, man?”

“I’m afraid Miss Hillary left for London this morning with Lord Richard and Lady Phoebe.”

“Pardon? You say she’s gone?”

“They departed several hours ago, my lord.”

Bloody
hell. She left me?
Drew growled his frustration. What manner of woman bedded a gent then took off without a by-your-leave? He stormed from Shafer Hall, startling the footman outside.

“Collect my horse,” he commanded. He would show Lana Hillary she couldn’t dally with him then toss him aside like an old hat. She would marry him, by God, and she would be happy. He wouldn’t accept her refusal. Mounting his black again, Drew urged him into a gallop toward London.

Hours later, Drew’s horse plodded along the muddy lane as he huddled in the saddle attempting to stay warm. A bone-chilling rain poured down on him.

“Bloody idiot,” he muttered.

To think he could catch up to Lana with the lead they had was lunacy. He should have taken the time to pack some clothes. And perhaps a carriage would have been wise, but no, he had to race after the chit half-cocked. Either way, whether traveling by coach or on horseback, drenched clothing was the least of his worries.

“What has she done to me, Demetrius?” He spoke aloud to the horse, having decided to give his patient listener a name. “Fools run after ladies all the time, but only a truly besotted bugger would give no thought to clothing before giving chase.” He didn’t even carry a firearm and here he traveled after dark.

“We’ll stop at the next village with an inn and find a warm place to sleep. Perhaps the mews will have a filly that pleases your eye.” The horse deserved a little recreation after this harrowing day. “I have sworn off ladies myself, but my abstinence needn’t affect you, old chap.”

Demetrius had stopped responding with a shake of his head twenty minutes earlier.

In the morning, Drew would hire a coach to take him the rest of the way to Town, and then he would deal with Miss Lana Hillary.

He traveled perhaps another hour at least before reaching the next village. Soaked, starving, and irritable, he deposited Demetrius at the stables and slopped through the puddle-filled streets until he located the Oak Barrel Inn. Rainwater ran down his cloak in rivulets when he stepped inside the establishment, leaving large wet spots on the floor.

The innkeeper greeted him with a slight nod. “You need a room, sir?”

Drew tossed a purse on the desk. “Locate a change of clothing for me also, and you may lay claim to this entire purse.”

“Yes, sir.” The man turned to a barmaid. “Beatrice, show the gentleman to ’is room, and find some clothes for ’im.”

The barmaid eyed Drew’s wet clothing and smiled. “Of course. Perhaps ye would like a warm bath too, sir?”

“Brilliant suggestion.” He followed the wench upstairs. If he rose early on the morrow, maybe he could catch up to Rich. How far had they traveled today? His brother couldn’t travel too quickly with a child and ladies accompanying him.

The maid opened one of the doors off the hallway and preceded Drew into the room. She lit a lamp with the candle she carried before starting a fire in the fireplace.

“Billy will bring up water for ye’re bath when it’s ready. If ye want to take off yer wet clothes, I can take ’em wit’ me to wash.” She stared unabashedly, waiting for him to strip.

“I’ll wait for the bath, but thank you.” He didn’t care to stand around in the nude nor did he want this Billy walking in on him while he didn’t wear a stitch of clothing.

Beatrice curtsied then left the room.

Drew meandered to the fire and held his hands toward the warmth. His gaze strayed to the bed. Too bad his little peach wasn’t here to share it with him. His body stirred immediately to memories of her silky skin.

A scratch at the door signaled when his bath water arrived. After several trips between two lads, the tub filled to the halfway point. He tossed them each a shilling before they walked out, and then set to peeling off his wet garments.

Drew sank into the warm water and his mood improved a great deal. “Dear God, yes.” After his bath, he would seek out nourishment and feel more like his old self. Plunging his head under the water, he quickly emerged and shook his head. A giggle rang out in the room.

Drew snapped his head around to discover Beatrice had returned with a towel and the most hideous clothing he could imagine.

“Where did you find that atrocity? I asked for clothing, not a horse blanket.”

Her lips narrowed to a firm line. “It is all I could find, sir. We ain’t a fancy clothier. These belong to me older brother.”

“If I leave the funds, will you purchase something decent for the poor man?”

She dropped a hand on her hip. “They ain’t that bad. Ye must be one of those dandies that stop through ’ere on your way to fancy places I’ll never see.”

Drew chuckled. “Didn’t mean to offend, Bea. Just leave everything on the bed, and thanks for your efforts. I’ll make sure you are rewarded later.”

Beatrice didn’t move. “I think I’ll take me brother’s clothes back. And maybe the towel can go too.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

She raised her eyebrows, challenging him to do something about it. She took one step toward the door. “Ye better come and get ’em if ye want ’em, my lord.”

Drew had grown accustomed to the female gender propositioning him, and he had to acknowledge Beatrice’s efforts were less blatant than some offers he received from proper ladies. “If you think I won’t take the garments from you, you are mistaken, love.”

She took two more steps toward the door. “Ye’ll ’ave to be quick about it.”

He shot out of the water and clambered over the side of the metal tub. The maid squealed and threw the towel. Drew snatched it with one hand and wrapped it around his waist before pursuing the mischief-maker.

Beatrice opened the door and ran into the hallway, but he captured a handful of her skirts.

“Come back here, you little vixen. You aren’t getting away that easily.”

The maid giggled and struggled to break his hold.

“Uncle Drew, can I play chase too?”

Drew froze in the corridor.
Bloody
hell.
Finally daring to look up, he met Lana’s furious green eyes. His brother and Phoebe also stood in the hallway, gaping as if he’d gone barking mad.

“Uncle Drew isn’t playing anymore, Stephan,” he mumbled.

“Ah, but you caught her.”

“That’s enough, Stephan,” his mother said, hauling the lad closer to her side.

Drew dropped the maid’s skirts and stepped away from the chit.

Beatrice’s face glowed red. “My apologies, my lord.” Shoving the clothes at him, she curtsied then dashed down the corridor.

Lana glared, sparks shooting from her deep green eyes. He took a step toward her, and she flinched.

“It’s not what it seems, peach. I have no dry clothes and…”

She lifted her nose and sniffed. “
If
you will excuse me, Lord Richard and Lady Phoebe, I’ll wait for you downstairs.” She rushed by Drew, pressing herself as close to the wall as possible to avoid touching him.

Rich frowned. “Phoebe and Stephan, please accompany Miss Hillary to the dining room. I will meet you in a moment.”

Phoebe shook her head as if to say, “Oh, Drew,” as she and Stephan brushed past.

Drew pulled the towel tighter around his waist and hung his head. Scolded like a young boy.

Once they had disappeared down the stairs, Rich followed Drew to his room and closed the door.

“Where were you this morning?” he asked. “I expected you to present at Shafer Hall to offer for Miss Hillary. What the hell are you doing here dallying with the maid?”

Drew gritted his teeth. “I arrived at Shafer Hall this afternoon to discover you had absconded with Lana.”

Rich lowered himself onto the simple wooden chair by the hearth. “I couldn’t tarry all day, Drew.”

“Last I had heard you hadn’t planned to leave Shafer Hall until after the babe was born.” Drew dropped the towel to the floor and grasped the borrowed trousers, shoving his legs into the garment one at a time.

Rich’s brow creased. “Phoebe started having pains last night. I want her in London where we can access a doctor if needed.”

“Oh. I didn’t know.” He pulled the shirt on over his head and fastened the buttons. “How is she today?”

“Phoebe claims she hasn’t felt anything out of the ordinary today. Just the baby kicking.”

“That has to be a good sign, wouldn’t you agree?”

Rich smiled ruefully. “If she is telling the truth. I shan’t rest easy until we are safely ensconced in Town.”

Drew searched the floor for his boots. He didn’t relish putting on soggy footwear, but he had little choice. “You didn’t travel far today.”

“We stopped early. The journey is uncomfortable for Phoebe.”

“It beats riding in the rain.” Drew tugged on a boot. “I should join you in the carriage tomorrow.”

His brother held up his hand. “Not on your life, Drew. I can’t participate in Miss Hillary’s suffering. Have you forgotten you’ve ruined the poor girl?”

Drew scoffed. “I’ve ruined
her
? I was perfectly content before Miss Hillary came along and mucked up my life. She plagues my thoughts morning and night.”

Rich cocked an eyebrow, sending a jolt of irritation through Drew.

He jabbed a finger in his brother’s direction. “And I’ll have you know I proposed last night. She turned me down.” He pulled on the other boot as he reconsidered his statement. “Well, I didn’t
exactly
propose. But I suggested we marry, which is the same bloody thing, if you ask me. It’s not like I have ever considered shackling myself to anyone else.”