Regina Scott (19 page)

Sir Trevor’s face was hard, his eyes harder, and he gave the man in his grip a little shake. “Mr. Delacorte here must take the blame for abducting Lady Phoebe, or at least attempting to do so. Your stepbrother stopped him.”

Algernon cocked a smile. “Sir Trevor had a hand in bringing him to heel. You are very good with your fives, sir.”

“Bullies!” Delacorte ranted, head coming up. He was tall and whip-cord thin, all his energy burning from his dark eyes. Meredee thought he might have once been considered handsome, with his russet hair,
but now blood trickled from his swelling nose and the skin around his left eye was rapidly turning purple.

“Lady Phoebe is mine,” he shouted, “and you stole her from me!”

Sir Trevor tightened his grip on the man’s collar, half lifting him off his booted feet so that he choked to a stop. “That is enough. You’ll be lucky if you don’t hang.”

Another man would have blanched or perhaps begged for leniency, but Delacorte merely smiled. The sight sent shivers through Meredee.

“You won’t turn me in to the magistrates,” he predicted. “This running off has compromised Lady Phoebe. You won’t want me to tell the tale. And I expect to be well-paid for my silence.” His smile faded, and he squirmed. “Now unhand me!”

Algernon took a step forward, fists bunching, but Meredee put a hand on his arm. Delacorte was clearly deranged. She felt her skin crawl just standing near him. No wonder Chase had worked so hard to protect Phoebe from him.

“I think not,” Sir Trevor said quietly. “You will sit in Scarborough’s gaol and contemplate your many sins. I will speak to the earl about all this, but don’t count on his kindness, for if he doesn’t silence you, I will.”

Meredee shuddered, but Delacorte did not seem overly troubled. The sly smile stayed on his face as Sir Trevor pulled him from the room.

“Rackety loosescrew,” Algernon muttered, then he sighed so heavily Meredee felt it, too. “Come along, Meredee. We may as well return to Scarborough. There’s nothing for us here.”

Meredee followed him from the room, but, with Chase gone, she very much doubted there was anything for her in Scarborough, either.

M
eredee sat on the box with Algernon as they trundled back to Scarborough. The horses plodded along as if they were as weary as she was. Unlike in her mad dash with Chase, she could have appreciated the scenery, but all she kept seeing was the anger, the piercing blame, in Chase’s eyes before he’d swept out with Phoebe.

“I still love her,” Algernon said with a dejected sigh. “After all this, I would marry her tomorrow if she’d have me.”

“I still don’t understand why she won’t have you,” Meredee answered, hugging her pelisse closer as the day cooled and the breeze from the sea moved inland.

Algernon clucked to the horses. “She’s convinced this mess will put me off. Delacorte came on us this afternoon, insisted on a word. He seemed all right, and Phoebe didn’t fear him.”

She wouldn’t, Meredee realized. Chase had sheltered her from the truth.

“Then I saw him force her into her carriage,” Algernon continued, “and I knew I had to rescue her. I ran into Sir Trevor at the inn, and he joined me. When we caught up to them, he made them turn aside.” He shook his head again. “He can be rather forceful.”

“So it seems,” Meredee agreed, though the baronet was the least of her concerns.

“The earl may blame me, but I won’t give up,” Algernon said. He glanced over at Meredee, face brightening. “I know! What if you were to talk to him? He esteems you. Phoebe thinks he may even love you. Tell him what a fine fellow I am, how much I love Phoebe. Surely he’d listen to you.”

Meredee stared at him. Had he failed to see the pain etched so clearly on Chase’s face? Missed the cutting tone when he’d commanded everyone in Algernon’s family to stay away or face the magistrates? Her stepbrother regarded her eagerly, as if nothing had changed.

When everything had changed.

Meredee fixed her gaze out over the horses’ heads. “Lord Allyndale never loved me. Nothing I say will move him.”

“Why?” She could hear the frown in her stepbrother’s words. “What have you done?”

“What have
I
done?” Meredee nearly choked on the words. “I lied to him! I put your needs before the
needs of his family. In doing so, I opened the way for Victor Delacorte. Lord Allyndale can only look at me in disgust.”

Algernon puffed himself up. “If he sees you as anything less than kind and caring, he’s an idiot!”

A laugh forced it way out of her tight throat. “Oh, Algernon, we’re the idiots for thinking all this sneaking around would work!”

“And that is my fault. I should never have asked you to get in the middle.”

“No, but I’m so glad you did, or I would never have known him.” Tears threatened to fall, and she lowered her gaze.

“Now, now,” he said, reaching over with one hand to pat hers. “It will all come right, never fear. I’ll simply have to talk to the fellow myself.”

Meredee closed her eyes. “And you couldn’t have done that days ago?”

He withdrew his hand and sighed. “I should have. Forgive me. But I’m bound to do better now. Phoebe fancies herself ruined. I’m her savior, don’t you see?”

She’d been Lady Phoebe’s savior once, and look what a mess she’d made of everything since then. She hadn’t been able to intervene between her stepbrother and Chase; she hadn’t been able to keep Lady Phoebe from being kidnapped. Mrs. Price, she was certain, would be only too happy to enumerate the ills she’d
suffered without Meredee there to help her. What a miserable savior she’d made.

Did they truly need another Savior?

She hunched her shoulders against the thought. Algernon said this mess was his fault, but she had to accept some share of the blame. She had advised him to flee for Scarborough when he might have tried to reason with Chase. She had agreed to help him hide when she could have insisted that he come out in the open. She’d done everything from a desire to please her family, when the only person she should have been pleasing was God. And He certainly didn’t sneak around!

Yet how could she trust God with her future? He never answered her prayers, not the way she wanted them answered. The thought made her stomach heave. Was that the problem? She’d thought there was no point praying for big things because she feared God wouldn’t answer. Perhaps she refused to pray because she feared His answers would be contrary to hers.

She bowed her head.
Forgive me, Lord. I know Your thoughts, Your ways, are higher than mine. Show me the plans You have for me. Not my will but Yours be done.

“Well?” Algernon said, oblivious to her realizations. “What do you think? Won’t Allyndale have to agree to my suit with me having saved his sister?”

“A funny thing about being a savior,” she said, feeling lighter. “People generally don’t thank you for
it. And sometimes you may be doing them a disservice.”

She thought he would argue, but he nodded. “I know. I had the same argument with Father when he told me he was leaving everything to me. I said he ought to leave you a dowry, at least, but he was afraid of what you’d do with it.”

Meredee sucked in a breath. “Did he think me so stupid?”

“Never! But you have a kind heart, Meredee. You help everyone. Father was worried you’d use the fortune to help others and, by doing so, impoverish yourself. And he was afraid if he left it to Mother, she’d spend it all on herself. He knew I would look out for you.” He squeezed her hand again. “That’s what families do, you know—look out for one another.”

The tears fell this time, the breeze cooling them on her cheeks. “Yes, Algernon, I know. Thank you for reminding me.”

Chase had barely driven a mile from the inn when he reined in. Phoebe had huddled beside him in such a dejected lump, her sobs throbbing over the drum of the horses’ hooves and the jingle of tack, that he could stand it no longer. He tied the reins to the jack and took her in his arms.

She slumped against his chest, her tears dampening his waistcoat, his shirt. What could he say? What should he do? He patted her back, and her sobs only
deepened. Every part of him shouted that he must defend, protect, yet there was no one to fight against. He’d never felt so useless.

Meredee would have known how to comfort Phoebe.

He shook his head against the thought, but pictures flashed through his mind like scenes in a play— Meredee, face alight, bending to show him the sea squirts; Meredee, hovering beside him, smile encouraging, while he drank the odious spa water; Meredee on the box beside him, eyes determined, as she warned him she wouldn’t stand for his bullying.

Much as he hated to admit it, he knew she could have advised him on how to settle this mess. Meredee would likely have been able to convince him to return to Scarborough instead of driving home like a fox bolting for his den. As it was, he and Phoebe arrived at Allyndale Park after sunset, throwing his remaining staff into a flurry.

“My lord, we didn’t expect you,” the footman protested. The strapping fellow, who was in charge while Beagan was in Scarborough, had clearly been preparing for bed for his collar was crooked and his coat misbuttoned. “The assistant cook has already retired. Shall I wake her?”

Chase glanced at Phoebe, who shook her head wildly. “I can’t eat a thing.” She rubbed her arm and sighed. “I wish Meredee was here.”

So did he.

And why? He asked himself that question again as he yanked off his cravat in his own room after the footman had helped him off with his boots. She’d proven herself as unreliable as any woman he’d had the misfortune to know. She’d kept her relationship with Whitaker a secret, used her friendship with Chase and Phoebe to aid her stepbrother’s cause, put Phoebe in danger from Delacorte, whom he could only hope had been apprehended by Trev. He should be furious with her. Yet he could not forget the sadness, the disappointment in her eyes when he’d left her at the inn.

He’d hurt her, deeply. Was that the mark of a scheming jade? If she wanted to help her stepbrother run off with Phoebe, shouldn’t she have looked more triumphant, pressed her advantage? Instead, she’d risked her own reputation to help him find the pair. What kind of deep game was she playing?

Or was she playing at all? Had he completely misjudged the situation? And, more importantly, how was he to set it right?

By the next morning, he had reached no answers, but, as he took a deep breath of the country air, he knew he was glad to be home. Here, things could be ordered to his liking, and his staff were dependable, his steward capable, his tenants reliable, and everyone respectful.

Everyone, that is, except his sister.

“You made a pretty hash of it yesterday,” she said when he went to check on her and found her sitting up in bed, lacy cap on her head, sipping hot chocolate.

“Did I?” He came to sit beside her on the canopied bed. He always felt like a lumbering giant in Phoebe’s room. The furniture was so dainty, lacquered in white and gilded in gold, and far too many surfaces were lace-covered or pink or both.

“Should I have looked the other way when you disappeared?” he challenged her.

She set her cup on the silver tray in her lap and waved it and the maid away. “Of course not. But you might have asked before lighting into Algernon. He was not the one to blame.”

“I refuse to let you protect him,” Chase warned.

“You see!” Phoebe pointed a finger at him. “You refuse to listen! You cannot believe that anyone but you might have a single thought in their heads. Well, I will have you know that none of this is Algernon’s fault.”

He must have looked skeptical, for she pulled her knees up under her lawn nightgown and inched higher until her gaze was even with his. “It’s true! If you want someone to blame, it must be Victor Delacorte.”

Chase frowned. “Delacorte? What has he to do with this?”

Phoebe spread her hands, face intent. “Everything! He’s the one who carried me off to that horrid inn.”

Chase recoiled. “What? Explain yourself, miss.”

Phoebe dropped back onto her haunches, hands rubbing together in her lap. “Well, you see, I went to visit Meredee, as I told you I would, only Algernon was there. He asked me to go walking with him. I didn’t see the harm in that. Oh, Chase, he was so kind and thoughtful, so handsome, so much the gentleman.” She sighed dreamily.

Chase pushed his frustration away. “Go on. How does Delacorte figure in all this?”

“He came upon us while we were walking. I was surprised to see him, and I felt a bit guilty, too. You see, I once thought I cared for him, but now I realize it was only a passing fancy.”

She could have no idea how young she sounded. “Like many of your suitors,” Chase pointed out.

She wrinkled her nose. “Well, perhaps. But I doubt any of them would have behaved like Victor. He looked so shaken to find me with Algernon that I knew I had to speak with him. But when I tried to explain, he went into a temper! He insisted that I accompany him back to the inn to get the curricle so he could take me home.”

“And you went with him?” Chase asked with a frown.

She nodded, brows drawn. “I was afraid of what he might do to Algernon if I refused. But when we were in the curricle, he headed out of town. He said I
was to marry no one but him, and if he couldn’t have me, no one could.”

Ice raced along Chase’s veins. “Forgive me, Phoebe. I didn’t tell you about him because I didn’t want you to worry. I thought he might be dangerous, but not like this.”

She lowered her gaze with a sigh. “I should apologize to you, too. You tried to protect me, and all I did was fight you. If I hadn’t been sneaking around with Algernon, Victor would never have had the chance to approach me.”

Chase wasn’t so sure about that. “Where’s Delacorte now?”

“With Trevor. He and Algernon arrived together.”

Chase smiled. “I always said Sir Trevor was a good friend.”

“Trevor is very helpful,” Phoebe agreed, glancing up with an answering smile. “But it was Algernon who stopped Victor.”

Chase’s brows went up. “Whitaker?”

“Yes!” The set of Phoebe’s chin proclaimed her righteous indignation that Chase would question the prowess of the man she loved. “Algernon was so eloquent in my defense, so confident in the face of danger, that Victor was shamed into backing down.” Her face sagged. “But of course he’ll never want to marry me now, not with my reputation ruined.”

Chase somehow thought the remarkable Mr.
Whitaker would disagree. He rose from the bed. “I’m sure, given time, you’ll see that all is not so lost. Until then, perhaps it’s wise if we stay here.”

Phoebe scrunched up her face. “But what about Scarborough? I’m certain you need to take the waters to return to health.”

“I’ll be fine. We can return to London in time for Parliament next spring.”

“Spring? Are you mad! I cannot stay here that long.” She scrambled from the bed. “Please, Chase! I’ve learned my lesson. No more sneaking about! No more lying.”

Chase crossed his arms over his chest. “And exactly what lies have you told, besides hiding Whitaker, of course?”

Phoebe sighed. “I’m not stupid.”

Chase frowned, arms dropping. “Whoever said you were?”

“You do!” Phoebe cried, throwing up her hands in a flutter of lace. “And do not deny it,” she continued when he opened his mouth to do just that. “You think I’m simple-minded, and I never bothered to disabuse you of the notion. Having you think me dim seemed far easier, on both of us. I didn’t have to bother about anything, and you seemed happier when you were protecting me.”

Chase snorted. “So you allowed me to worry, to carry your responsibilities all this time, simply because it amused you?”

Her face puckered. “I suppose I did, in a way. But not anymore. I’m beginning to feel as if I’ve stepped in a noose, and it’s tightening. Some days I can scarcely breathe trying to remember to play the fool. Algernon doesn’t expect it of me; Meredee chided me for it. It’s time you let it go, as well.”

Chase stared at her. How had he missed the intelligence in those wide brown eyes, the supreme confidence in that slender body? “You realize I will expect you to show proof of your change of heart,” he said.

She nodded. “I know. It’s my due, I suppose. I haven’t acted honorably. I brought you to Scarborough so I could be near Algernon, and I nearly drowned making his sister’s acquaintance. Oh, I’ve been so silly, and my excuses sound feeble even to me! I suppose I wasn’t ready to be the person you wished. But now I want to be a woman of character, a woman Algernon can be proud of, a woman I can be proud of, like Meredee.”