Scoundrel (18 page)

The other two men turned in their seats and soon all three gaped at her. Lily smiled serenely. “I don’t think I know you, sir. Perhaps introductions would be in order before we engage in a conversation?”

“My apologies, Lady Lillian.” He executed a deep bow, then his arm swept toward the two on the couch who rose to greet her. “These are my friends, the Honorable Mister James Howard, and his brother, Stephen, Lord Jasper. I’m Trevor Montague, brother to our esteemed absentee host.” An impish grin played about his lips. “I must say, your company is entirely unexpected and quite preferable. Didn’t think we’d find a lady caller at this hour. We stopped by to invite Remmington on an outing.”

He left the statement hanging between them. Lily could almost hear him silently add,
And what are you doing here
?

“It’s a perfectly fine day for an outing,” Lily remarked. She tilted her head toward one of the windows. “I daresay Rotten Row will be nearly impassable. I heard that Lady Haviland overturned her phaeton just last week when she tried to make her way around Mr. Smith-Hampton’s carriage. I cannot imagine what the man was thinking, taking a closed carriage to the park in the middle of the day.”

Stephen raised his brows. “I doubt he was thinking of Lady Haviland. Anyone who takes a closed carriage into Hyde is thinking of no one but himself. It simply isn’t done. I daresay Lord Haviland will demand an apology.”

“One would expect as much,” Lily agreed.

“Lady Lillian,” Trevor broke in, “this is all very fascinating, but if you will forgive my curiosity, I cannot help but wonder what brings you to my brother’s house.”

“Why, to find this book of Greek fables.” She held aloft a slim volume. “Remmington mentioned the book to my father, and Papa is mad to have it. His Grace offered to lend him the book, but then he couldn’t locate the volume. He suggested that Papa might find the book more readily since he was familiar with the work, and Remmington graciously turned over his library for the search. Unfortunately, Papa suffered an awful attack of gout and our footman had to take him home not half an hour ago.” She waved her hand toward the piles of books that lay scattered about the room. “As you can see, even with my father, my maid, and good Digsby here to assist, the volume required considerable effort to locate. It was beginning to look as if we’d be at it all day.”

“Your father was here?” Trevor looked dubious.

“Why, of course,” she answered. “You don’t think I would be in a bachelor’s house unescorted, do you?” She affected a puzzled frown. “Oh, dear. That must seem the case. What with all the commotion of the search and Papa’s dreadful suffering, it did seem inconsequential. My maid is here, off somewhere at the moment to fetch tea, and we knew we could conclude the search within the hour. Oh, my goodness. What you must think, I’m sure I don’t know. I can only guess His Grace’s reaction, should I be the source of any rumors of impropriety attached to his name. You don’t think he would go so far as to call my father out, do you?” She began to wring her hands with the hope that she looked close to tears. “I cannot imagine my poor Papa forced to face Remmington over pistols. The very thought makes me feel faint.”

Trevor studied her in silence. One dark brow rose, a mannerism that reminded her distinctly of Remmington when he was being sarcastic. “Do calm yourself, dear lady. His Grace will know that
you
could never be the source of any unpleasant rumors.” He turned his attention to James and Stephen and gave them a pointed look.

“However, I fear my brother’s temper is quite fierce at times. He is also considered an excellent shot. It seems best to avoid the possibility of a duel. If ever the unlikely subject should arise, my friends and I will naturally attest to the fact that your father was here the entire time.”

“But that would be asking you to lie.”

Trevor shrugged. “This is a large house. Perhaps your father changed his mind about leaving. He could be resting in another room even as we speak.” He looked again at the two brothers. “Isn’t that right?”

“Right. Quite right,” Stephen and James chimed.

“You see?” he asked. “Nothing at all to worry about.”

“You are too kind,” Lily murmured. “At least I kept my maid here as something of a chaperon, or you would think me a complete peahen.” She turned her wide-eyed gaze to Digsby. “That reminds me. Would you please tell Gretchen that we shan’t be needing the tea? Now that we’ve located our treasure, we must be on our way. Papa will be quite anxious.”

Digsby didn’t move so much as an eyebrow. “I really think you should stay for tea, my lady. After such a trying chore, you are sure to find a cup of tea refreshing.”

“I feel quite refreshed already,” she countered. “And Papa is so looking forward to reading this volume.”

“His Grace will return at any time,” Digsby said. “I feel quite certain he would not want to miss your visit. You really
must
stay for tea.”

Lily dismissed the order with a delicate wave. “Entirely improper, my good man. My presence here is already a burden to these kind gentlemen. Please tell Gretchen that I am ready to leave.”

“Is your father sending his carriage back for you?” Trevor asked.

Lily’s smile faded to a puzzled frown. It was amazing that she could fall into her role so effortlessly with these strangers. In Remmington’s company she’d begun to fear that she’d lost the talent. “I wonder if Papa will remember? He tends to be forgetful when the gout strikes. Perhaps we should find a hired hack.”

Trevor shook his head. “That might be rather difficult at this time of day. They’ll all be on Bond Street or Pall Mall. I’d offer to escort you myself, but we’re on horseback.”

“I’ll find a hack,” Stephen volunteered. “We’ll have you on your way in no time at all, Lady Lillian.”

“Thank you ever so much.” Lily wondered if the flutter of her lashes was a bit much. Stephen gave her a jaunty salute before he left, then she turned again toward Digsby.

“Gretchen?” she reminded him. A dull flush crept up from his collar, but his expression remained unreadable. He gave her an impertinent nod before he left the library.

“Digsby seems out of sorts today,” Trevor remarked. “That injury to his face seems to have affected his manners. I’ve never seen him behave so rudely.”

Lily smiled. “Perhaps he ate something that didn’t agree with him.”

“Hm, I don’t think so.” He dismissed the matter with a shrug. “Remmington insists on employing the oddest people. I hope you didn’t take offense.”

“Not at all.”

“Won’t you have a seat, Lady Lillian?” James stood up to offer the seat he’d just vacated.

Worried that James intended to join her on the small sofa, she declined the offer. His gaze drifted over her figure with an unwelcome familiarity that she’d almost forgotten about in Remmington’s company. She despised that lecherous stare. She wished Remmington would look at her that way just once. What was she thinking? She wanted no such thing.

Trevor showed as little interest in her appearance as Remmington, and she wondered if there was something about her looks that Montague men found distasteful. Remmington seemed to find her appealing only when they kissed. She shook her head and tried to clear her thoughts. “Did you attend the Ashlands’ ball?” she asked Trevor, to fill the long silence.

“I arrived just yesterday from the West Indies, my lady.”

“How very exciting. I would like to travel someday. Are the West Indies as beautiful as they say?”

Trevor’s reply was cut short when the library door opened. Stephen walked in wearing a broad smile. “I found a hack practically on the doorstep.” With a flourishing bow, he held one arm toward the hallway. “Your carriage awaits, my lady. Your maid showed up as well. She’s in the foyer.”

Now that her opportunity to leave was actually upon her, Lily felt a moment of hesitation. Remmington would be furious when he discovered her absence. She bolstered her courage by thinking about his reaction when he discovered one of his messages missing. The smile she gave Stephen was forced. “Thank you ever so much for your trouble, my lord. I don’t know how I could have managed without your help.”

Gretchen and Digsby stood in the foyer. The normally cheerful maid kept her solemn gaze on the floor as her fingers worried at one of the buttons on her gown.

“I really wish you would stay for tea, my lady,” Digsby said in an ominous tone.

Trevor called out to her at the same moment. “Lady Lillian, you mustn’t leave just yet.”

Lily’s heart leapt to her throat. She watched Trevor hold up a book.

“You forgot this in the library.” He held the book out. His thumb obscured the tide that was stamped onto the front cover. “You wouldn’t want to forget this. Your father will be quite lost if you don’t return with his book of, ah, Greek fables.”

He held the book so only Lily could see what he was doing, then he slid his thumb aside to reveal the title.
Canterbury Tales
. Her gaze flew upward and she discovered that his grin was as infuriatingly smug as his brother’s. He knew something was amiss. Her hand trembled as she reached for the book, and she flinched when his hand covered hers.

“I do hope our lack of hospitality isn’t chasing you away. Will you let me make amends and allow me the pleasure of your company on a carriage ride through the park this afternoon?”

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible.” Lily tried to pull her hand away. “I promised Papa that I would read to him this afternoon.”

“Tomorrow, then?”

She gave a hasty nod. “That sounds lovely, sir. You must call on my father first, of course.”

“Of course.”

He leaned down to kiss her hand before he released her. There wasn’t the same thrill of anticipation that Remmington’s touch elicited. She felt only a burning need to be away from these people. Trevor insisted on escorting her to the hack and he gallantly assisted both women into the hired carriage. Once seated, Lily turned to give the group a cheerful wave. Digsby had never looked so dour. Trevor gazed at her with frank curiosity. The Howard brothers waved back just as cheerfully. She glanced up and down the street, half afraid she would see Remmington. When the carriage lurched forward, she moved away from the window with an audible groan of relief.

“Oh, my lady,” Gretchen sighed. “That was a close thing. Digsby told me how those men burst into the house without warning. Whatever shall we do now?”

Lily rubbed her forehead. “We will return to Crofford House. I’ve had enough adventure for the time being.”

Her hand moved to her skirts to make sure the message was still tucked safely into her garter. She had an awful feeling that her adventure was just beginning.