Seduce Me Please (23 page)

“
Ummm…” Piper stammered; her eyes opened wide searching for help from Poppy.

“
Do you remember the picnic, darling?” She shot her husband a significant look.

“
The picnic?” Declan lifted a quizzical brow.

“
Poppy, did you tell him?” She sat with her cup poised half-way to her mouth.

“
Ah…Rockwell...” He nodded, dragging out the name. “I remember now.”

Piper’s lips parted with surprise. “I cannot believe you told him about Rockwell.”

“
You were obviously upset when you heard the news.” Poppy shrugged. “I wanted to know if Declan was also an acquaintance of Rockwell.” She dimpled. “And he is.”

Piper looked over at him. She took a deep breath, pressing her fingers against her temple.

“
No need to worry,” Declan retorted when he saw her visibly stiffen. “I’m not going to say anything to him.”

“
Marriage seems to agree with you.”

Reaching across the table he covered Poppy’s hand with his own. “Yes it does.”

“
He is a licentious libertine,” Poppy interjected.

“
I was considered a licentious libertine.” Declan wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “That is until you tamed me.”

Poppy put her cake down. “What if he doesn’t intend to be tamed?” Concern evident in her bright blue eyes. “What if he is just attempting to have his wicked way with her?”

“
Good lord!” Declan laughed.

“
Well, I can assure you that Piper wants no part with a man of his reputation.” Poppy wagged a finger at her husband.

“
I can assure you that those rumors were the machinations of a desperate woman,” he replied matter-of-fact, one eyebrow lifting a fraction. He devoured a whole cucumber sandwich before sipping his tea. “Don’t judge the man unjustly, my dear. He is a friend after all.”

Reaching across the table, Poppy patted his hand tenderly. “I would never speak spitefully of your friends. My concern is solely for Piper.”

Piper watched as Declan leaned towards his wife, forgetting that she was sitting right across the table and captured her lips in a light caress.

Piper scrutinized their display from across the table convinced more than ever that she had to take what she wanted. She couldn’t wait for it to be handed to her.

She took a deep breath and cleared her throat, interrupting their romantic interlude. “Why does everyone feel compelled to discuss my situation as if I’m not even in the room?” She sipped her tea.

Declan’s head popped up and his eyes darted to hers. She could have sworn a hint of pink enhanced his high cheekbones.

Harris cleared his throat, discreetly offering his silver salver on which a folded square of parchment lay. He accepted it with a nod, then unfolded the note, reading it with a furrowed brow.

“
Excuse me, ladies.” Declan rose and executed an elegant bow. “Something urgent has been brought to my attention.”

“
Of course, darling,” Poppy said, lifting her face to receive his kiss. She watched until her husband left the gardens.

“
What was that all about?” Piper questioned, her puzzled eyes followed Hawksley out of the room.

“
Men and all their secret meetings,” Poppy said with a smile before taking a sip her tea. “Always acting as if they are saving the world.”

“
Perhaps they are.” Piper grinned. “One glass of brandy and one cigar at a time.”

“
Don’t forget the cards,” Poppy chimed in.

“
Let’s not forget the billiards.” Piper’s eyes danced.

“
Of course not.” Poppy giggled, nodding enthusiastically. “England would have fallen centuries ago without billiards.” Suddenly Poppy’s tone changed. “Are you sure about Rockwell, Piper?”

Piper paused, biting her bottom lip, her elbows resting on the table. She knew that Poppy only wanted the best for her. “He’s not the devil he is made out to be. He’s different. He listens to me. He makes me laugh.”

Poppy leaned forward and grabbed Piper’s hand. “I know you. If your feelings are this engaged, then I wish you all the luck in the world.”

Piper grinned, remembering Rockwell’s words. “It’s not luck. It’s fate.”

………………………………………
.

Crouching in the bushes, he watched as Piper entered the Duke of Hawksley’s London mansion on Berkley Square. The reconnaissance mission assigned to him was turning out to be more entertaining than he had expected. Who knew that exacting revenge could be so diverting? No matter his reasons, he knew the penalty if he failed in his part of the plot. He had no intention of experiencing
his
wrath first hand.

Oh, Rockwell
. It didn’t have to go this far.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

I remember when I believed a little boredom would be a pleasant diversion.

Piper’s journal

30 July

DECLAN STEPPED INTO GRAYDON’S STUDY, glancing around it became quite obvious that he was the last to arrive. It was a little disconcerting to walk into a clandestine meeting and have the chattering stop. Three pair of eyes turned to him when he stepped through the door.

“
Alright, I’ll bite.” One brow rose. “What did I do this time?”

Graydon came quickly to his feet behind the desk and grinned. “Hawk.” He held out his hand.
“Congratulations on your marriage.”

“
Thank you, Rock. You should try it yourself.” He shrugged. “Better than I could have ever expected.”
Declan sauntered over to the desk. “Rock, we missed you this summer.” He gripped the proffered hand before sprawling casually in the additional chair placed in front of the large mahogany desk.

Graydon erupted with a hearty laugh. “I never thought I would see the day you would preach of the benefits of a wife.”

“
Spare us some of the details, Hawk.” Parker waived him silent. “You are after all speaking of our sister.”

Peyton made a sour face. “Yes, I don’t know if I could handle any details.”

“
Yet you participate in orgies in the country,” Declan interjected with a laugh.

“
Enough with the orgies.” Peyton groaned.

“
Luckily I’ve asked you all here for a completely different reason,” Graydon said before handing Parker the first note and Declan the second. His gaze was sharp as he studied their faces and waited for their reactions.

Parker read through the note two times before lifting his head, meeting Graydon’s concerned stare. “What family secret is the note referring to?”

“
That’s just it; I haven’t a clue. I don’t know anything that the
ton
doesn’t already know.” Graydon frowned a bit. “Believe me, my father made sure that his indiscretions were known to all.”

Parker looked straight at Graydon. “Have you seen anyone strange lurking about?”

“
That’s just it.” Graydon rubbed his eyes wearily. “Nothing. Nothing strange or different or intriguing has taken place. I can’t think of any reasons someone would want to threaten me.” He had spent the summer alone with his mother and two sisters. He hadn’t hosted a house party or had visitors traipsing through at odd intervals. He had taken long rides and read an outrageous number of books and did a lot of thinking. Pondering his future and what road he wanted to take. All in all it had been a very quiet time. He drummed his fingers noisily on his desk.

Declan straightened, one brow arching in question, switching notes with Parker. “What can’t you stop?”

“
I haven’t a clue.” Graydon rubbed the bridge of his nose before leaning back in his chair. “Then again, perhaps this is just someone’s idea of a joke?”

“
Cruel joke, if you ask me.” Peyton stroked his chin thoughtfully while scrutinizing the notes. “I wonder who
‘W’
could be?”

Graydon looked down at a list on his desk. “I’ve written down possible suspects.” He pointed to the first name and began to read off the names. “Wynter, Wilde, Wrothingham, Wakefield,

“
Do you mind?” Declan asked, gesturing towards the liquor cabinet. “I believe this sort of intrigue requires sufficient alcohol.”

“
Of course, sorry Hawk. I should have offered already.” Graydon grimaced. He hated feeling out of control. “This whole situation has me pissed off. At first I thought it might have something to do with Roberta Staverton, but now I’m not certain. Perhaps ‘W’ is the father of her child.”

Declan looked towards the other gentlemen after pouring a glass of brandy. “Refill?”

“
Just bring the whole damn bottle, Hawk.” Parker replied. “I have a feeling we are going to need it.”

“
Why now?” Declan asked. “Why would he surface after such a long time?”

“
Who is the father of her child?” Peyton queried. “Did you never find out?”

“
That’s just it, Staverton must have spent a lot of money keeping everything hush—hush, because I haven’t heard so much as a whisper of a name and I really didn’t try that hard to uncover that information.”

Parker leaned forward. “I’ll do some sniffing around and see what I can find out.”

Pensively, Graydon rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t want this to turn into an ugly situation.”

“
Have you noticed anyone watching you?” Declan asked.

“
This all just started. I hadn’t been paying attention before.”

Peyton handed over the notes. “Well, I for one am going to take this seriously. I believe our family has a vested interest in yours, if I’m not mistaken.”

Graydon pursed his lips, considering his statement. Whether he answered or not, either would be a sign of his interest.

“
Interesting,” Declan said, rubbing his hands together.

Parker’s eyes narrowed, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “
You want to make sure my sister is safe and happy. No
mésalliance,
I believe you said to me.”

Graydon weighed his answer carefully. “Uh…yes.” Frustration surged through him. He had set the perfect course for his life and with a twist of fate; the briefest of moments changed everything.

Parker’s brows drew together, studying him as if trying to judge his sincerity. “Should I be concerned?”

Graydon turned away from Parker’s unsettling gaze. Why did Parker have to pick this time in his life to choose to act as a true guardian? Why did
she
have to be related to one of his best friends? Was Declan right? Could a true relationship be better than he could imagine?

Oblivious to Parker’s concerns, Peyton continued to speculate on Graydon’s predicament. Calling out different reasons someone would want to harm him. “Perhaps it’s merely a jealous husband?”

“
Although my reputation precedes me, I have yet to take part in a dalliance with a married lady.” Graydon sighed. “So there would be no call for
W
to be a jealous husband.” He wished the answer would be that simple.

“
What about Whitman?” Peyton interjected. “You asked me about him at Tattersall’s, remember.”

“
I had never met Whitman before this season, what grudge could he hold towards me?” Graydon was truly perplexed, he rubbed his temples. He couldn’t think of a single reason Whitman would be seeking vengeance on him. “He’s a complete stranger.” His gaze fell to the list of suspects lying on the blotter on his desk. There wasn’t a single name that made any sense. “I suppose we will need to confront them all.”

“
I suppose we will need to find out.” Parker retorted, pushing himself up from his chair. “We’ll not find answers in this room.”

“
Agreed.” Declan stood. “We’ll check in with each other if any new information is found. Right now, I have a beautiful wife waiting for me at home.”

“
Should we acquire a runner?” Peyton scrubbed a hand over his face.

Graydon sat quietly for a moment, the gravity of the situation weighed heavily. “Let’s hope not.”

“
We’re going to figure this out, don’t let it drive you crazy.” Parker called from the door. “We’ll see ourselves out.”

Over the next few days, Graydon learned everything he could about the men on his list. Where they went, what they were hiding. Their deepest darkest secrets, though none of it seemed to point in his direction. But during that time, he received two more messages. One left at his club and one left on his front step. He wished he could just ignore the notes, but at his usual weekly visit to his mother’s for tea that Wednesday it all changed.

Graydon dropped into his usual seat, a faint creaking reminding him of how delicate his mother’s furnishing were. He wished he were sitting in his large comfortable chair in front of his fireplace instead. Leaning forward to grab a miniature cake from the tray in front of him, he noticed the square of paper with his name written in a dark scrawl on the small table to his right.