CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“Go back to the house, Nicholas. Take Emily and Samantha with you, and tell Devon I have gone to Temple Street as there is a fire there!” Lilly said, picking up her skirts in preparation to follow Toby.
“You are not running off without protection, Lilly. I forbid it, and your future husband will murder me if I allow it.” He grabbed her wrist. “You there,” Nicholas addressed the three footmen who were trying to appear inconspicuous. “Take Lady Samantha and Miss Emily back to the residence. Emily, tell Lord Sinclair and your brother what has happened, and I shall take a footman and my sister to Temple Street.”
Nicholas grabbed her hand, and they were soon running behind Toby back the way he had just come.
“Hurry and call a hackney, Toby. It will get us there faster,” Lilly panted. She watched him sprint ahead of her and out of the park gates.
“I regret, sister, that I get to see your house in Temple Street in such circumstances.”
Lilly was panicking. She had visions of Mr. and Mrs. Davey and any of the children currently there being trapped inside the house.
“I-I am s-so scared, Nicholas.”
“I am here with you, Lilliana. We will face it together.”
“Quick, Lilly, Nelly says he'll take us there!”
Toby was hanging out the door of a hackney as they reached the road. Nelly, she gathered, was the driver, who gave her a toothless grin. The footman clambered up beside him. Nicholas threw her inside and followed, and the carriage started moving as he slammed the door.
“T-tell me what you know, Toby,” Lilly gasped, pressing her fingers to her side to stop the pain.
“Mr. Davey said it was nothing, but Mrs. Davey look scared so I came to get you. I saw the flames and the smoke was thick.”
“But everyone was all right?”
“Sam left for the country yesterday, so no one else was inside.”
“Lord I wish you had told me that before I ran to the carriage. Horrid visions were filling my head, Toby.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know how much damage has been done to the house, but I think everyone is safe.”
Lilly didn't know why, but she had a sinking feeling that the fire was to do with her visit to the Watch House and the kidnapping.
“I am slowly starting to piece together things that at the time did not seem right, but I ignored,” Nicholas said, giving Lilly a steady look as she battled the panic inside her. “Your shopping trips and visits to friends were, in fact, all to your house in Temple Street, weren't they?”
Lilly nodded.
“God, how could I have been so blind.”
Ignoring her brother's muttered words, Lilly was up and out the door as the carriage stopped.
“Looks all right,” Toby said, opening the front door.
The smell of smoke still lingered in the air as they made their way through the house. The small front parlor appeared untouched, as did Mr. and Mrs. Davey's bedroom.
Nicholas followed them silently as they checked the lower floor, and then Toby led the way down the stairs to the kitchens, and Lilly heard the murmur of voices. She found Mrs. Davey with her arms in a tub of soapy water and Mr. Davey with several boards in his hand.
“Is everyone all right?”
“Of course we're all right,” Mrs. Davey said, quickly drying her hands and reaching for the kettle to heat water. Tea was always called for when anyone arrived at Temple Street.
“Where was the fire?”
“Now then, boy, you should not have disturbed Miss Braithwaite,” Mr. Davey said to Toby. “There is no need to worry yourself; it was just a small fire by the back door in a box of old rags we kept outside. The problem was it got hold of the wood I had piled outside and the flames were high enough to cause a few murmurings in the street. If we'd not been here, the damage would have been substantial, to be sure, but we were, so no harm done. If I'd known the boy was running for you, I would have stopped him.”
“I thought she should know,” Toby said, shrugging as he leaped onto the bench and took the large piece of jam and bread Mrs. Davey handed him.
“Where are your manners, Miss Braithwaite?” Mrs. Davey said, looking over Lilly's shoulder to where Nicholas stood.
“This is my brother, Lord Braithwaite. Nicholas, this is Mr. and Mrs. Davey. They look after the children and run Temple Street. It is their home.”
Lilly watched as Nicholas shook Mr. Davey's hand and bowed to Mrs. Davey. Both looked him up and down, neither looking particularly happy to have him in their home. Lilly had never willingly spoken about her family with them. However she guessed her maid and Wilson had, and none of what they had imparted had been complimentary.
“It seems my reputation has preceded me,” Nicholas said, shooting Lilly a look, to which she shrugged. “However, will you believe me when I say I have seen the error of my ways, hence my appearance here before you in the company of my sister?”
There was silence in the small kitchen and then Mr. Davey nodded. “Well then, that's as it should be, I'm thinking.”
“I wonder if you would be so kind as to take me on a tour of your lovely home, Mr. Davey?” Nicholas added, surprising Lilly. She was happy for him to do just that now she knew no one was in danger.
“Indeed, I would be honored, my lord.”
“Can you show me where the fire started, Mrs. Davey?” Lilly said after they had departed.
“Of course, please follow me.”
Her heart had resumed its normal beat as they walked outside. The weather had grown colder on the drive, and a brisk wind had risen.
“I'll fetch you a shawl, miss,” Mrs. Davey said.
“I shall be all right for a few minutes until I come back inside,” Lilly said, moving to the box Mrs. Davey pointed to.
“That is the box it started in.”
Lilly studied the area. It was small, with only a tiny patch of grass, a shed, and several chairs. There was a gate at the rear of the property and it would not be hard for a person to slip down the narrow lane and inside to light the fire. Was she being overly suspicious? Walking around the box, she looked at it from all angles.
“How do you think it started, Mrs. Davey?”
“Don't rightly know. Mr. Davey couldn't work that one out either. Oh, I almost forgot in all the goings-on, Miss Braithwaite, that a message was delivered for you first thing this morning.”
“Thank you,” Lilly said, taking the note the woman pulled from her apron. “Please go back to whatever you were doing, Mrs. Davey. I'll be along shortly.”
“Come in when you're finished, and I'll have a cup of tea ready to take off the chill.”
“Thank you.”
Lilly took out the note and opened it.
I had planned to send you on a long voyage to a certain Kurdish sheikh who will pay an extremely high price for you, as he has a lust for blonde English noblewomen, Miss Braithwaite. That can still be arranged, as can the fact that I can burn this house to the ground and hurt anyone you care about. Stop meddling in my business, or next time I will make you pay tenfold.
Shivering, Lilly wondered what she should do next. If something happened to Devon, or any of the others in her life now, she would never forgive herself.
“I thought we agreed you were not to rush headlong into danger without first notifying me.”
Pushing the note behind her back, she turned to face Devon. Lilly could tell he had left the house in haste. He was hatless, his hair standing on end, and the collar of his overcoat was tucked inside.
“I had to come; Toby said there was a fire. Nicholas and a footman are here,” Lilly rushed to say. “Mr. Davey is at present showing him the house.”
“And what of the danger to you?” he said, ignoring the fact that her brother was there. Taking off his coat, he moved to where she stood.
“I am quite warm,” Lilly said, retreating several steps.
“Your lips are blue, and if you wish to hide what is in your hand from me, then I will not force you to show it. However, I will search your things when you're not looking.”
The woman would see him in Bedlam, Dev thought as his heart settled back into his chest. He had been looking over some maps in James’s office, while the Duke took his wife driving around the park, when Emily and Samantha had burst into the room to inform them that Temple Street was on fire. He had run out of James's house and jumped into the carriage he’d just called to take him to the docks. He had then urged the driver to race at a reckless speed through London and its bustling traffic.
“You wouldn't be so underhand!” Lilly said in shocked tones, which made him laugh.
Something had frightened her. The fire definitely, but also whatever was in that note she had thrust behind her skirts.
“Of course I would. How do you think I kept track of my siblings, without being underhand,” he added, wrapping his coat around her shoulders and hauling her close so he could kiss her. All the starch instantly left her spine as she sank into him. Lord, she had the softest lips, Dev thought, an instantaneous tug of lust surging through his body.
“All right,” Lilly whispered against his mouth.
“All right?”
“All right, you can read my note,” Lilly said, pulling back and handing it to him. “But you must understand that I have no wish for you to start roaring or being even more protective. I am showing it to you because I want no secrets between us.”
“I understand,” Dev said, wondering what the hell it said. “When did you receive it?”
“Mrs. Davey gave it to me a few minutes ago,” she said, handing it to him.
Lifting an arm, he tucked her under it and opened the paper so they could read it together. He felt his blood run cold as he read the angry, slanted words.
“Inhale and exhale a few times before you say anything,” she urged him. It was sound advice. The hand she rubbed up and down his chest also helped... but only a little.
“Christ, Lilly.”
“I know, but as you saved me, I am not on a boat about to be delivered to a Kurdish sheikh.”
“You never will be.” Dev hugged her close. “I want you to leave London with me for a while, Lilly. Just until it is safe and this madman is caught.”
Her body stiffened against his. “I cannot leave now, Devon, you must know that.”
“To lose you would destroy me, love.”
“That's not fighting fair, Devon.”
“My feelings for you go beyond fair, Lilly, and I will not have you taken from me because you show a reckless disregard for your welfare. This,” he waved the note before her, “is very real, and words of a man who is dangerous and intent on achieving his goal no matter the cost. I cannot allow you to get anywhere near him again. Therefore, you must be protected, and to do that, I want you to leave London.”
Dev watched the frustration flicker across Lilly's face. She tried to pull away from him but he wouldn't let her. She had to learn that he was part of her life now, and she could no longer make decisions without forethought.
“You are to become my wife. Therefore your welfare is my main concern, and if I sound unreasonable for wanting to remove you from some madman intent on taking you from me, then so be it.”
“Of course I understand why you are speaking this way, but I cannot leave now. Not when the children need me. But if we stay in London, I will do as you say and will go nowhere without you knowing it. I promise.”
Dev looked down at her for the longest time and then smiled. “I almost believe you.”
“I would never lie to you!”
“Don't look offended, love. I know you would never deliberately lie to me; however, I think you are used to acting alone, as is evidenced by your actions today.”
Lilly huffed, then faced him, placing a hand on his chest.
“Please.”
He was used to his siblings bribing and manipulating him. This woman had a lot to learn if she was entering their family.
“Please, ah.... Please, Dev.”
“That was the most pathetic attempt at begging I have ever heard. My siblings would have laughed themselves sick had they heard. You need to speak to Dorrie; she begs better than anyone I've ever met.”
“Are you laughing at me?”
“Yes,” he said, unrepentant about the fact. Anger still smoldered inside him, but he could at least breathe easier knowing she was close.
Her expression slowly changed before his eyes. Her eyes softened as she wet her lips with her tongue. Dev braced himself as she lifted to her toes and reached for a handful of his hair, then tugged his head down for a kiss.
Innocent she may be, but Dev was soon on fire.
“Please, Devon,” she said in a breathy little voice that a courtesan would be proud of.
“All right,” Dev said, his voice harsh as he battled his body's response to Lilly's kiss. “But you have to promise to do as I say and if anything further happens, we leave London. Furthermore, I will not let you win every argument with such an obvious display, even if I enjoyed it.”
“I promise.”
“Again, I'm not totally convinced, and yet we will leave that for now.” Dev grabbed her hand and tugged her back in the direction of the kitchen door. “We have to tell Mr. and Mrs. Davey the truth, love, about everything so they will be ready if anything further happens.”
“They know some of it, but yes, you are right.”
Dev was surprised to see Nicholas Braithwaite seated at the small table in the kitchen, sipping tea from one of Mrs. Davey's teacups. He looked quite comfortable. The man was trying, he'd give him that.
“I tried to get Lord Braithwaite up to the front parlor, Miss Braithwaite, yet he would not budge,” Mrs. Davey said, looking quite happy with the fact.
“It is warmer in here, Mrs. Davey, and this apple tart is quite possibly the most delicious I have ever tasted.”
“Is it, Braithwaite? Well, then you had best leave enough for me,” Devon said, putting Lilly into one chair and taking the other.
Soon the small party, including Toby, who was still seated on the bench swinging his legs happily and munching yet another slice of bread, was all busy eating and drinking. Lilly brought Mr. and Mrs. Davey up-to-date with everything that had transpired.
“And I would completely understand if you wish to leave London for a time because of this,” Lilly said when she had finished her tale.
“Oh no, miss, we'll be staying put and caring for the children when they need us, and of course there's our Toby,” Mrs. Davey said, giving the boy a smile that he acknowledged with a small one of his own.
“If you will allow it, Mr. Davey, I will have someone watch over the house for a time. He'll be discreet so as not to upset any of the children, but it will ease Miss Braithwaite's mind,” Dev said.
They were proud people, the Davey's, and he knew they prided themselves on caring for the boys and themselves without any fuss or help. Because of this, he had made the offer sound like it was to ease Lilly's mind and hoped that would make a difference.
“I should be relieved if you would take up Lord Sinclair's offer,” Lilly added her voice to Dev's.
“If it will make Miss Braithwaite happy, then we shall allow it,” Mr. Davey said.
“Excellent.” Dev gave Lilly a wink.
They left the house a short while later, and Dev tried not to think about the letter he now had tucked in his top pocket. He would have to talk to his family and James about it later. Maybe even Nicholas, but for now he said good-bye to Lilly's brother, watching as he strode off down the street, having decided to walk to the business he said he had to attend to.