Rory (24 page)

“What is it?” she asked, glancing toward the door.

“Nothing. I just heard someone walk past.”

“You don’t think they heard us, do you?”

“Doubtful,” he said, loving the desire in her eyes, the flushed cheeks and sated expression.

She nodded and released a sigh. “I cannot stay long.”

“Please for a little while.”

He didn’t want to move from where they lay on the rug, their bare limbs intertwined.

Georgiana’s nails bit into her palms.

Damn that little bitch.

Her maid had told her that Lord Ambrose and Shannon were seen in town yesterday. Today she had watched Rory as the pretty servant talked to the handsome footman named Johnny. He’d tried not to show his irritation or how distracted he was, but his jealousy had been obvious.

And now she heard the two making love … again. She had come to Rory’s room hoping to seduce him, to win him over, especially since he had polished off a bottle of wine during their game of chess.

She had been able to capture his attention during that short time, and only because Shannon had left the room. The man panted after her like a dog in heat. Did he not realize he was making a fool of himself and of her as well? Why did men constantly think with their cocks rather than with their heads?

All evening she’d considered having a conversation with Lady Graston about Shannon. Perhaps the other woman would send Shannon back to her Twickenham estate while the family spent these weeks at Claymoore Hall. Once Georgiana had the engagement ring on her finger, she would not allow Rory to go
anywhere near his brother’s estate, and she would keep him on
a very tight leash. She would never tolerate other women throwing themselves at her husband.

But even Lady Graston seemed to dote on the girl, singing her praises, saying how fortunate she was that Lord Graston had found her.

Shannon would no doubt forever be a thorn in Georgiana’s side.

Honestly, if it wasn’t for the fact that Lady Rochester seemed to like her, Georgiana might pack her bags and return to London to pursue another man. She wasn’t getting any younger, and she wanted the protection of marriage once again. Although Rory hardly had the title she had desired, he made up for it in every other way.

She could hardy wait to make love to him, to experience ecstasy in his arms. She had eagerly lapped up all the stories, seen the gleam in his lovers’ eyes as they whispered under their breath about being taken by the dangerous rakehell.

She wanted to be taken in such a way–roughly, desperately, like he couldn’t wait another second to have her.

Unfortunately, as it was now, he locked his door against her every night. But he didn’t lock that little slut out.

Feeling like a knife had been shoved into her chest, Georgiana walked back to her chamber, an idea forming in her mind.

Desperate times called for desperate measures.

S
hannon, we must leave now … while the family is out.”

Shannon’s stomach dropped to her toes. “Now? But it’s mid-afternoon.”

Zachary brushed a hand through his hair. “The family went to the abbey for the day. From what the other servants said, the abbey is five miles away from the manor.”

Shannon was aware the family and guests had gone for a walk. Lady Graston had not asked Shannon along, and though she yearned to go, especially since Rory would be there, she had instead watched the progression as they walked across the lawns, Georgiana clinging to Rory’s arm.

Last night when Rory had fallen asleep in Shannon’s arms, she had stared at him, memorizing his features, knowing that that moment would have to suffice for all the days ahead when she would miss him so very much.

“We cannot wait until tomorrow?”

“Shannon, we have the perfect opportunity, and this way we’ll have plenty of sunlight left in which to travel. I have two horses we can use.”

“No.”

“What do you mean no?”

“We will not steal from them. Lord and Lady Graston have been too kind to us, and we will not return the favor by taking their family’s horses.”

“They would understand. We can leave a note.”

“And say what, exactly?”

Zach shrugged. “That it was a matter of emergency that we took them. That we will pay them back one day.”

“No, I refuse to do that.”

He sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair. “It will take us far too long on foot.”

“I don’t care.”

“Fine.” He stared at her, his frustration obvious.

“Meet me at the back gate in five minutes.”

Shannon nodded and rushed to her chamber and packed her few things. Tears clogged her throat knowing she would never again see the man she loved more than life. Perhaps she should write a letter and leave it for him where he would find it eventually. At least then Rory would know leaving had nothing to do with him.

But time would not allow it. Zachary was waiting.

The day dragged on endlessly.

Rory walked the grounds of the abbey with Georgiana, trying with difficulty to focus on what she was saying. It was not easy when his thoughts were with a pretty blonde servant who had been left back at the manor house.

He wanted to ask Lillith where Shannon was or why she hadn’t been asked along, but he knew the answer when he saw Georgiana and noted the tight smile on her face when he’d entered the parlor. He’d awoken late and completely missed
breakfast. For all that he tried not to know what her expression
meant, he knew very well that she had been the one to walk in on them last night. And there was nothing he could do or say to defend himself.

Plus, he had half a mind not to defend himself. Georgiana was here at his mother’s invitation, not his own, and the sooner she realized they would not have a future together, the better.

He was relieved when the others gathered up their things and started walking back toward the manor house.

Thank God.

“I was thinking that perhaps we could take a day or two to journey to York,” Georgiana said. “I have heard so much about the medieval village and castle.”

Though he always enjoyed visiting York, he had no desire to leave Claymoore Hall–or Shannon.

“My father is soon to arrive, and I need to be here.”

“Oh yes, that’s right,” she said, pressing her lips together. “Of course. How thoughtless of me to think otherwise. I am sure you miss him terribly.”

“Indeed, I do.” He was more than anxious to speak with his father, because he wanted his approval to marry Shannon. Lord Rochester was a man of few words, and he had little patience for foolishness in any way, shape, or form. But he was also a good listener and oftentimes gave excellent advice.

What would he say when Rory told him that he had fallen in love with a servant? Would he be disappointed with him, like his mother so obviously was? She barely looked him in the eye these past weeks.

She was so intent on him marrying Georgiana that she wasn’t about to let a servant interrupt her plans. And Lady Kinkade was a more realistic choice as a bride, but he wanted Shannon to be his wife, and he was tired of hiding their love.

He knew what the
ton
would say. Knew that he would fall from grace, and thereby put his family in an unfavorable light,
but he had faith that his brothers would ultimately back him. After all, they had married women they had both fallen in love with.

Why should it be any different for him?

Perhaps his father would surprise him and let Rory follow his own heart.

Rory made sure to keep pace with the others, even though Georgiana seemed more than determined to fall behind.

When Claymoore Hall came into view, he breathed a sigh of relief. Already he could not wait to see Shannon and tell her his plans.

A few of the footmen came out to assist them, but Zachary was not among them.

“I would like to freshen up before dinner. I’ll see you shortly,” he said to Georgiana.

“Very well,” Georgiana said, looking pleased and anxious.

He left her at the foyer and climbed the steps to his chamber, hoping that Shannon would be there waiting for him, but she wasn’t.

His valet had laid out a black suit for tonight’s festivities. He removed his cravat and rested it over the back of a chair, then followed with his shirt, his gaze shifting to the rug where he’d made love to Shannon last night.

He was tired of stolen moments. He wanted the luxury of going to bed with her each night and waking up with her in his arms each morning. He didn’t want the other servants whispering behind her back, or Lady Kinkade watching her with despite. He wanted to call her wife.

Though Shannon loved the outdoors, being outside in the dark with no light to guide her way, and nothing but a cloak to cover her, was nothing short of miserable.

Even worse, she had heard earlier that a storm was coming.

“We need to find cover soon,” she said, struggling under the weight of the reticule she had brought along. The bag contained a change of clothing, apples she had picked in an orchard they had crossed, a loaf of bread, a hairbrush, and soap. Zachary’s pack was far heavier, and yet he didn’t seem to be struggling as much.

He could travel farther and faster without her, and there had been a few times she had nearly told him to go on without her. At least a hundred times she had thought about running straight back to Claymoore Hall and to Rory. A life on the run, taking odd jobs where they could find them, compared to a life as a mistress. True, she would always have to watch out for her cousin, but what if she told Rory the truth? Maybe he could take care of matters once and for all and protect them.

A crack of thunder came, and lightning filled the sky, showing an old, neglected shack in the distance. If anything, it would be a dry place to lay their heads for the night.

The shack had been long ago abandoned, with holes in the floors and walls, and it was obvious animals had used the place for shelter. Shannon hoped none was there now.

At least it would give shelter from the rain. Using her reticule as a pillow, she lay down beside her brother.

Tears tightened her throat as she tried not to think about what Rory was doing at the moment. Did he even realize that she had left yet, or was he too occupied with Georgiana to notice?

“Zachary?”

“Yeah?”

“What if we told someone about Clint? I mean … what if we told Rory or Lady Graston the truth? We could have him arrested, and perhaps then we could get our lives back.”

“We just keep going as we have been. Everything will be fine. You’ll see. You just need to have faith.”

“But I know that Rory would have helped us. Lady or Lord Graston as well. We should have at least tried.” She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “We are not so far away that we can’t return.”

“And run the risk of coming across Clinton. I think not.”

She pressed her lips together and pulled the coat tighter about her.

“You’ll like Scotland, Shannon,” he said, his voice softer than moments before. “We’ll be happy there.”

“Will we really?”

His brows furrowed. “Of course.”

“I’m not so sure anymore.”

“Sister, you must put these silly thoughts aside. Lord Ambrose is going to marry Lady Kinkade. You would be nothing but his plaything until he tired of you. If we had stayed, Clinton would have found us and killed us. Now we at least have a chance at a life, such as it is.”

Yes, but how long until he would find them again? How long before they would have to start running?

Lightning lit the sky and she shivered, wishing more than anything she were at Claymoore Hall in the safety of Rory’s arms.

Shannon was gone.

Her reticule was missing. She’d left no note, neither had Zachary. The two had left while the family had been out at the abbey, and no one had noticed until nightfall when Georgiana had awoken from her nap. As she’d been readying for dinner she had noticed that her emerald necklace and earrings were missing.

All the servants had been assembled and questioned, and Shannon and Zachary were gone.

Rory didn’t believe that Shannon or Zachary had stolen Lady
Kinkade’s jewels, but why then would she have left while they’d all been gone?

It did not bode well.

A thorough search of the grounds proved that Shannon and Zachary had left … and on foot, since none of the horses was missing.

Which meant they wouldn’t have gotten too far. But which direction did they go?

“The two could not have gone far,” Betsy said, taking a sip of chocolate. “I honestly did not take them as thieves. They seemed so genuinely happy with Lillith and Victor.”

Lillith stood by the window, staring out. “They are not thieves, Lady Rochester. Shannon and Zachary would never steal.”

“Their absence and the disappearance of my jewels can hardly be coincidence,” Georgiana said, an odd gleam in her eye.

“Perhaps you misplaced them, Lady Kinkade,” Lillith said, turning toward the other woman.

Georgiana lifted her chin. “I did not misplace my jewels, Lady Graston.”

“Shannon would not have–”

“How do you know what she would or would not have done?” Georgiana’s face was red with fury. “Did you know her that well?”