The Danger of Desire (41 page)

She held out her hands to Meggs in supplication. “He’s disappeared. Oh, my dear, I don’t know what to do.”

“The captain?”

“The captain? Why should you think of the captain? No, no not Sir Hugh. Charles.”

“Cousin Charles? The duke can’t just disappear, can he—he’s a duke? Or perhaps he can
because
he’s a duke.”

But the dear old thing really was too upset to find Meggs’s attempt at humor amusing. “I can’t find him anywhere—he
has
disappeared. I fear the worst.”

“Aren’t there nearly four hundred people employed on this estate to cater to his every whim? Surely one of them knows where he can be found?”

“I’ve asked—I’ve had the staff all looking for him for hours now. A groom says he left in a carriage with no one—not even his man—with him. I tell you, I fear the worst.”

“And what is the worst? Surely you don’t think some harm has come to him on the roads? Have you sent riders out?” Meggs made for the door. “I’ll call the steward or go to the stables and ask—”

“No.” Her grandmother grasped at her arm with hard, arthritic fingers. “I spoke to his man. His valet said he was going to the coast, alone. I fear he has gone—gone for the
duke
. For Timothy. To stop him.”

Something dark and feral shook loose inside her chest. “What?” Meggs had no idea how loudly she had shouted until Grandmama flinched away, but the old lady held on. “But cousin Charles said he was glad to let Timmy ... God’s balls. I must go—I must—”

“Yes, you must go. Have Lady Trinity’s bag packed immediately,” she called to her dresser. “Order the traveling coach.”

“And I must send a message to Balfour. Captain McAlden must be told. He will help us, I know he will.” Of all the people in the world, Hugh McAlden would not fail her. And he would not hesitate to tangle with a duke, no matter the cost. He was that kind of man. The very best.

“Oh, yes. I knew you would know what to do. But you must not delay. Yes. Write your note to him. Here is paper.” She led Meggs directly to her escritoire. “I will have it sent directly. But you must go and prepare yourself for travel. Jones, Jones? Where is Jones?”

“Here, Your Grace.” Grandmama’s dresser was waiting to do her bidding.

And Meggs ran like hell for the stair, because hell had finally opened up under her feet.

The traveling coach pulled away from the steps of Fenmore in a clatter of gravel and harness. As soon as the vehicle had passed down the drive and out of sight, Anne, Dowager Duchess of Fenmore, tucked the lace handkerchief she had only a moment ago been waving tearfully into her cuff and smiled. Around her, all the staff, who had been involved in making the hasty arrangements, smiled back.

“Thank you. Thank you, Robinson. Thank you, Jones, dear. Thank you, one and all.

“You’re very welcome, Your Grace.”

The duchess took a deep, satisfied breath and headed upstairs. At the first floor, instead of turning for the east wing and her private apartments, she walked quietly toward the ducal suite, where she found her cousin Charles sitting by the fire. Just as he ought. Just as he always was.

The titular duke looked up from his newspaper and asked, “Are they away?”

Anne took the seat across from her late husband’s cousin and put her feet up on the hassock. “Yes. Smooth as silk. She never hesitated for a moment.”

“Well done. I’ve poured you a sherry.”

“Thank you. You’re an absolute lamb. Ah, lovely.” She took a sip of the sherry. “I know I ought to feel guilty, but somehow I don’t.”

Cousin Charles gave her the look of a longtime friend who can no longer be surprised by character flaws. “No, you wouldn’t.”

“Well, here’s to you, my dear cousin. I must say, you
are
an absolute dear to let me use your name to plant such doubt in the poor girl.”

“Not at all. Happy to do my part, my dear. The two of us have been knocking around this big, empty house for far too long with no one else, no heir to share it. It’s about time we populated the place with young people, don’t you think?”

“I do, my dear cousin, I do. Although if this works, we’ll lose her. But I’m convinced it’s for the best.”

He chuckled. “Pair of old romantics, that’s what we are. How long do you think it will take?”

“I hope no time at all. I hope he is holding her hand in that coach as we speak. And as they head down the coast road, I hope she will have her weary head tucked against his strong, supportive shoulder.”

“And the duke?”

“Safe, quite safe. His ship came in to Dartmouth two days ago, and he is in the safe company of his captain’s family there until Captain McAlden retrieves him.”

“Good, good.”

They sat in companionable quiet, as they had for so many evenings before.

“Do you think,” the duchess asked at last, “she will be
very
angry with me when she finds out we duped her?”

Cousin Charles looked over his spectacles and down the length of his remarkable nose. “
We
? I, myself, plan to remove to London. But with any luck, her captain will keep her occupied.”

“Yes, with any luck. But just to be safe, perhaps we ought to have the London house opened. Just in case.”

They were away. The coachman had been given instructions to give his horses their heads and make all speed for the coast, and he was making good with the office. But it didn’t seem to lessen Meggs’s agitation in the least.

Meggs. Lady Trinity Margurite. Hugh had no idea what to call her. He’d like to call her Mrs. McAlden, but whatever he was to call her, the lass had her face pressed up close to the window on the opposite seat. She was watching every foot of their progress, and when her breath fogged the glass, she let the window down, impervious to the biting wind. Her hands gripped and tugged the sill as if it were she driving the carriage herself and urging the horses on.

“Lass, come away. We’re making good time. The coachman knows his business. He’s a professional. It will be hours yet.”

“I know.” Her eyes were dark and liquid with fear. And anger. He’d have to go carefully.

“I understand.” He reached across to pat her hand. Like a friend. Or an uncle. He was going to choke on uncle.

“I can’t thank you enough for coming with me. I didn’t know who else to ask.”

“Of course.”

She gripped his fingers tight. “This is all my fault. I’ve gotten soft. I wanted this ... fairy tale, but I should have known better. I should have seen. I should have suspected cousin Charles from the start. Something can
always
go wrong. Even in fairy tales, there are always ogres under the bridge.”

“It’s trolls. Trolls under the bridge.” Hugh kept hold of her hand and shifted across to sit next to her, easing closer, lending her his comfort and support. Anything to be close to her. “Easy now. It will all come out right. Your hands are cold. Come here, I can’t watch you worry yourself to death. Come, get warm.” He slid the window closed.

She was so tense, she felt brittle. He was a cad to take advantage, to feel triumph when she turned into his coat and held on tight. God, it felt so good to have her in his arms. It felt so right. Just for a while, at least for this little time.

But he couldn’t have any more lies or half truths, or even misunderstandings between them. “Meggs, I know what the duchess feared, but I’m not convinced the duke, that is, your cousin Charles, has done anything untoward.”

“What do you mean you’re not convinced? He’s disappeared!”

“Perhaps he went off to see ... someone else. Perhaps, he has a private life the dowager duchess knows nothing about.”

“I can’t think so. The two of them seemed as close and cozy as thieves.”

“Well. I suppose I’ll have to defer to your professional judgment about that.”

“Hugh. I’m serious. Please don’t make fun of me. Not now.”

She was calling him Hugh. He felt his chest expand with hope. “I’m not. But I can’t see Lord Charles Evans conspiring against his own flesh and blood. Against his own heir.”

“But Timmy’s the real duke. Cousin Charles would lose Fenmore to him. He would become
Timmy’s
heir.”

“But Timmy’s only a boy and will need to be taught and educated in his responsibilities for quite some time by your cousin Charles. And neither you nor Timmy, nor certainly the Dowager, are going to toss Lord Charles out of Fenmore. It’s his home. And Timmy needs him.”

“I don’t know. I keep remembering how she didn’t want us at all, all those years ago. How we were turned away from her house by that horrible old butler and how she never came to find us.”

And here was the root of all her anxiety and fear. It was exactly as she said, she wanted so to believe in her own fairy tale, but she was afraid to do so. He needed to remember his first impression of her—that the years of hard living, hand to mouth, had broken her trust in humanity. And he had not helped. He had broken her trust in him. “But she
was
looking for you. She never stopped looking for you. That’s why she was so ready to find you at that damned ball. How can you doubt that she is devoted to you?”

When she shook her head, he carried on. “Meggs. Rest easy. What I do know is that Timmy is fine. He is in the safe keeping of his captain, my friend James Marlowe. Marlowe will not let anyone who isn’t you or me take the boy away.”

“But the duchess said the duke might try ...” She pushed off his chest and stared at him, combing his face and eyes for some clue. “But you had already sent those particulars—you or I and no one else—to Captain Marlowe?”

“Yes. Not to cast any aspersions on your cousin Charles, but a twelve year old boy, who is the lost heir to a dukedom, is a very serious matter. I’m not so trusting as to let just anyone take such a boy out of my care. He’s my Tanner, too, you know. I care for him, too.”

“Oh.” She was looking at him in that minute way of hers—weighing him out like an undertaker.

“I do not think there is anything to worry about.” He tucked her head back down against his chest. “Your nose is cold, too.” He took the opportunity to wrap the free end of his sea cape around her. It felt so good—so right to have her in his arms. To hold her. Hugh closed his eyes and let himself luxuriate in the simple pleasure of her body pressed up tight to his. He wouldn’t allow himself to ask for more than this day, this time together.

After a few more miles, she pulled back and asked again, “You’re
really
convinced there’s no danger? Then what are you doing in this carriage, making hell-for-leather for the coast?”

“Helping you.” He reached out slowly to brush a stray lock of hair back under her bonnet.

She went still under his hands, but her eyes never left his face. “Why?”

“Because you asked me to.”

She leaned herself back against his chest slowly and lay there, pliant and quiescent for a few moments. He couldn’t see her face, but when she spoke, her voice sounded ... careful. “Why didn’t you tell Grandmama your suspicions?”

Hugh took a deep breath to batten down his hatches. “I did.”

“Ohh.” Her inhale echoed out of her mouth, and she sat bolt upright on the seat. “Do you mean to tell me that sweet little old lady humbugged me? She set this caper up on purpose?”

“It should be a comfort to know you come by your native abilities quite naturally. Must run in the family.”

“Why that pattering old goose!” Meggs’s astonishment was writ across her gaping face. “I fell for her lies like the greenest gill. Damn me if she didn’t run me like a bloody rig. How could I have been so stupid?”

“You’re not stupid.” He took her hand—her dear, delicate, larcenous, scarred hand—in his and tugged her closer. “Far from it. You let your heart dictate your actions. And Timmy really did need to be fetched home. I’m happy and honored to help you do that. Although I may make him ride on the seat with the driver.”

“Are you quite sure?”

“Bloody damn sure. He’ll have his sea coat and be warm enough.”

“Hugh! Truly? He’s safe?”

“Meggs, lass.
I’m what you call a professional
. I sent a dispatch through Admiralty channels immediately, the night of the ball.”

She folded back against the seat as if all the stuffing had run out of her. “Of course you did. I should have realized. I haven’t thanked you for that, have I?”

“I think you were in a state of shock. And I didn’t do it for your thanks.”

The carriage grew enormously quiet. “Then why did you do it?”

“Because it was the right thing to do, and because I would do anything I could to make you happy.”

“Is that why you’re here?”

“I’m here because you asked me. You wanted my help.” He looked out the window for a long moment and gathered every ounce of his courage. “You know how I feel, Meggs. I can’t say it any plainer. I love you. You know that. But I think what you don’t know is why
you
asked for
my
help. Why, when your grandmother told you her story, you sent for me?”

Her face cleared, like the dawning of sunrise. “I knew I could count on you.” She said it almost to herself, as if she was just discovering this truth. “Never let me down, not when it mattered.”