More than Passion (17 page)

“No.”

Geoffrey rubbed his chin, thoughtful. “I think we should bring Roberts in on this.”

“I agree. Roberts travels in some pretty unsavory circles when he wishes to.”

“He’s also lesser known than you or me.”

Chester nodded. “Roberts and I will return this afternoon.”

Geoffrey shook his hand in thanks and let him show himself out. He settled behind his desk and mulled over all that Chester had suggested. To think that someone had deliberately tried to run him down.

He could have lost Becca forever. He needed to see her right away, to know that she was truly all right. He left the study, bound for their chamber.

He quietly opened the door to the chamber, thinking Becca might be sleeping. He froze at the sight before him. Becca was turned slightly away from him in the bath, her hands in her hair. Geoffrey watched as she worked her fingers through the long strands, her eyes closed. She wore a look of rapture on her face. He felt his pulse quicken. He stepped toward the tub, drinking in the sensuous picture she made. The water lapped around her, barely covering her pink-tipped breasts. He took off his coat and began unbuttoning his shirt.

Becca ducked under the water once more. When she emerged, her hair streamed down her back. She grabbed it and brought it over her shoulder, twisting the mass into a thick rope as she wrung it dry.

She opened her eyes then, surprise in them as she spotted Geoffrey. “Geoffrey!” She gasped. “How long have you been standing there?”

He smiled crookedly at her as he removed his shirt and unbuttoned his breeches. “Long enough.”

She arched a brow at him. “What are you about, husband?”

“I thought I’d join my wife in the bath.”

The answering heat in her lovely green eyes was all the agreement he needed.

After they’d bathed each other and loved each other in the big bed, she stared up at him. “Tell me, Geoffrey.”

He knew what she needed to hear. “I love you, Becca.”

“And I love you,” she answered.

He rolled onto his back and she snuggled against him.

“You make me quiver.”

He smiled down at her. “And you make me lose control.”

She turned to look at him. “And is that a good thing?”

“Yes indeed,” he said, kissing her lightly. “That’s a very good thing.”

They roused themselves after a while and readied for lunch. When Geoffrey had dressed, he found Becca sitting at the vanity. She turned to face him, a frown on her face.

“Is something wrong, love?”

“Look at me. My face is hideous.”

He laughed softly. “It would take more than a few scratches to make you hideous.”

“You see through the eyes of love, I daresay.”

“Indeed.” He kissed her cheek. “That doesn’t necessarily mean that my vision is clouded.”

She caught his smile. “Never mind that. I’ll see you downstairs?”

“Certainly. Don’t keep me waiting too long.”

When she joined him, John was there, as well. Both gentleman stood when she entered.

“How are you, Becca?” John asked.

Geoffrey looked at his brother sharply.
Becca, is it?

Geoffrey took Becca’s hand in his. “My wife is going to be fine, John.”

“Yes, John. How can I not be?” she said smiling at Geoffrey. “My husband loves me.”

Geoffrey smiled and placed a kiss on her temple. John cleared his throat and turned his attention back to his meal.

When they were finished, Becca and Geoffrey went into the parlor. Geoffrey saw her settled on the settee, getting her assurance that she’d sit still and not tax herself.

She quirked a smile at him. “And what would be more taxing than what transpired upstairs, Geoffrey?”

He growled at her. “Hush, darling. Lest I take you back upstairs and leave our callers disappointed.”

As the afternoon wore on, and the salver grew full, he noted that Becca seemed nearly herself. Just before five o’clock, Chester and Roberts arrived. Lady Margaret escorted the other callers to the front door and Geoffrey told the butler that they wouldn’t be receiving anyone else that afternoon. He closed the doors and turned to find his friends standing over his wife.

“How are you, Lady Kanewood?” Chester asked.

“I feel much better. Thank you, Lord Chester.”

Lord Roberts took Becca’s hand in his. “We were very worried about you, Rebecca.”

Geoffrey’s eyes narrowed at Roberts’s use of her first name. He hadn’t forgotten their exchange on the balcony the night of the Winslow ball, and didn’t much like the charming viscount’s fawning over her now.

“That’s very nice of you to say, Lord Roberts,” she answered, smiling.

Roberts’s eyes glittered and Chester cleared his throat.

“Lady Kanewood,” Chester began. “We were wondering if you could tell us anything about yesterday’s incident.”

She turned to him, puzzlement on her face. Geoffrey shook his head at his friend, silently warning him not to tell her of their suspicions.

Chester gave an almost imperceptible nod and re-worded his question. “Did you notice anything unusual about the carriage?”

Roberts gave a short laugh. “He means besides the fact that it was out of control.”

Becca laughed at that. All three men smiled in response.

“Well,” she began. “The carriage was dark. Black, or dark blue, perhaps.”

Chester nodded. “Can you remember anything else about it?”

She shrugged, looking quite helpless, and Geoffrey joined her on the settee. He placed his hand on hers. “Try, Becca.”

She closed her eyes for a long moment. “There was a coat of arms on the carriage.”

The gentlemen exchanged curious looks.

“Can you picture it, love?” Geoffrey asked.

“Yes,” she said, her eyes still closed. “It was of an odd shape, one I haven’t seen before.”

“What was its shape, Lady Kanewood?” Chester asked.

She held up her finger and traced a shape in the air. “It was slightly elongated, almost diamond-shaped.”

“Like a lozenge?” Roberts offered.

“Yes!” she said, her eyes flying open.

Roberts blinked. “Was there anything on the lozenge?”

Her brow furrowed for a moment. Her frown suddenly cleared. “There was a bird on it. At least I think it was a bird.”

Geoffrey looked at Chester, who in turn shrugged his shoulders.

“An eagle, or perhaps a hawk?” the blond-haired man asked.

Becca shook her head. “No, much smaller. It was in profile. Sitting, I think.” She turned to Geoffrey. “Is this important?”

“It could be, love. We just want to know everything.”

“Don’t you remember anything, Geoffrey?”

“I’m afraid not. Other than the sight of those horses coming toward us, I draw a complete blank.”

“I hate to see you worried.” She gently stroked his cheek.

He stood and urged her to her feet. “Why don’t you go upstairs and rest, Becca? I’ll entertain these two rogues.”

Geoffrey escorted her to the door.

“She’s enchanting, is she not?” Roberts asked Chester.

“Yes. And very happily married, Roberts.”

Roberts turned with a devilish grin. “But does Kane know how to keep her happy?”

Geoffrey stilled as the man’s words penetrated his thoughts, then closed the door sealing Becca out of the parlor. He turned back to his friends. “Would you care to clarifty that statement, Roberts?”

The man grinned in answer.

“Don’t give a thought to charming her, friend,” Chester said. “Kane has a jealous streak as wide as the Thames where Rebecca is concerned.”

“As you say, Chester,” Roberts agreed.

“Damn right,” Geoffrey gritted between his teeth.
She’s mine.

“Easy, Kane,” Chester said wryly. “I don’t want to watch my two friends duel.”

“And whose second would you be, Chester?” Roberts asked.

“The only second I’ll take on is a second apple tart that my cook makes,” Chester quipped.

The men shared a laugh and Geoffrey put aside Roberts’s apparent infatuation with his wife as they set about the business of deciphering what Becca had told them.

Roberts again mentioned the lozenge on the carriage. “It was a lady’s carriage, Kane. That much is clear.”

“True,” Geoffrey said.

“But what of the bird?” Chester asked. “Do either of you recognize it?”

“I don’t,” Roberts said. “Perhaps there was more on the coat of arms besides the bird.”

“That’s precisely what I was thinking,” Geoffrey added. “But I’m still confused. Why a lady’s carriage?”

“Perhaps someone is jealous of your lovely wife.”

“The carriage may have been borrowed,” Chester offered.

Roberts scratched his chin. “Hmm. Perhaps I’ll pay a call on a certain lady whose acquaintance has proven helpful in the past. She’s an insufferable gossip, and I’d wager she’d know on whose crest sits a small bird.”

The other two knew of whom he spoke. She was a married woman, and quite taken with the very handsome viscount.

“This goes beyond the call of duty, Roberts,” Geoffrey jested.

“Yes.” The viscount rolled his eyes. “What I won’t do for a friend.”

“Come, Roberts.” Chester grabbed his arm. “I say we leave Geoffrey to the care of his wife.”

“Thank you both,” Geoffrey said.

“We’ll let you know if we learn anything,” Chester said.

Geoffrey sat down behind his desk, feeling much better for having brought his two friends into the mess, Roberts’s infatuation aside. He only hoped that nothing untoward would happen before they could get to the bottom of it. As long as he was in danger, so was Becca.

He’d die before letting anything ever happen to her again.     

Chapter 18

For the next week, Geoffrey held several meetings with Lords Chester and Roberts. The latter had an interesting bit of news to share one afternoon after his visit to the enamored gossip.

It seemed that a certain young widow was in a bad way financially. Lady Joan Balsam, the married woman so fond of Roberts, told him that Priscilla Brooks was in dire straits. Her late husband, the Earl of Brookdale, had amassed gambling debts before his untimely demise. Lady Joan was only too happy to add the fact that Lady Brookdale had practically nothing left except her pretty face.

“Does a bird figure prominently on Brooks’s coat?” Geoffrey asked.

“Yes,” Roberts answered. “A quail.”

“Were you able to learn if Lady Brookdale is involved with anyone?” Chester asked.

“No.” Roberts shook his head, a crooked smile on his face. “It seems that Lady Joan was quite jealous of my interest in the lovely widow.”

Geoffrey nodded, returning the man’s smile. “It’s a wonder you got out of their with your virtue intact, Roberts.”

“I thought that I’d pay a call on the poor, lonely widow,” Roberts volunteered.

“That could prove interesting,” Chester added. “Do you think she’d be involved in this?”

Roberts shook his head. “From what I remember of the late earl’s wife, she’s quiet and shy.”

“The earl died only a few months past, I believe?” Chester asked Roberts.

“Seven months, according to Lady Joan. Why?”

Chester stood and paced as the other two men watched expectantly. After a while, he spoke. “It seems to me that she wouldn’t be openly involved with anyone. Could she have let someone use her carriage that day?”

“It’s possible.” Geoffrey looked at the clock on the desk. “Gentlemen, if you will excuse me, I promised my wife that I’d change and be ready to escort her to dinner this evening.”

His friends stood then, crossing to the door.

Chester pulled the door open and turned. “Are you going to any of the parties tonight, Kane?”

“Rebecca and I plan to make the rounds, yes. Though with the possibility of someone wishing me harm, I’m tempted to keep her out of the line of fire.”

“You don’t know if this was deliberate,” Chester said. “It seems your wife isn’t the type to let you wrap her in silk and keep her at home.”

Geoffrey smiled. “Hardly.”

“How is she feeling?” Roberts asked.

“She’s feeling just fine, thank you,” Becca said from the doorway.

The men turned to her. She was dressed for dinner, wearing a gown of deep violet. She smiled at them in greeting.

“Rebecca.” Roberts grinned. “You look marvelous. You must be feeling better.”

“It’s a pleasure to see you so well,” Chester said.

Geoffrey joined his friends at the door. “Hello, love.” He took her hand and drew her to his side.

“Geoffrey, it seems I was left to find my own way to dinner.”

“Put the blame squarely on us, Lady Kanewood.” Chester smiled. “We kept your husband from you.”

“Yes.” Roberts bowed. “We beg your pardon, Rebecca.”

They took their leave and Geoffrey pulled her into his arms.

“I’m sorry, Becca,” he said softly. “I’ve been closed in with those two for too long.”

“I forgive you, Geoffrey.”

“Come upstairs and help me get dressed for dinner?”

“I daresay were I to assist you, we’d both go hungry.”

“Hmm. I see the truth in your statement.” He kissed her. “I’ll see you in a few minutes, love.”

She nodded and left the room, bound for the parlor. She found John and Patricia within, and froze. After their confrontation in the hallway the other day, she was still very uncomfortable in John’s company.

“Good evening, John,” she said stiffly. “Hello, Patricia.”

“Rebecca,” Patricia responded cooly.

John stared “How are you this evening, Bec— Rebecca?”

“Very well, thank you.” She took a seat on the settee.

“Good evening, everyone,” Lady Margaret said as she joined them. “And where is my eldest son, Rebecca?”

“He was detained by Lords Chester and Roberts, Lady Margaret. He should be down in a few moments.”

Geoffrey strode into the parlor just then, barely acknowledging his brother and sister-in-law. He kissed his mother on the cheek and took Becca’s hand. “Sorry to keep you waiting, love.”

They went in to dinner and, afterward, went upstairs to ready themselves for the round of parties.

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