Roma paced restlessly across the formal sitting room, her fingers unconsciously tugging at the full skirt of her muslin gown. For a woman who had supposedly achieved her goal, she felt remarkably frustrated. And, of course, the full blame for her seething dissatisfaction could be laid at the door of Lord Carlton.
Her decision to ride in the park yesterday with Freddie Scowfield had been a deliberate attempt to prove she was thoroughly indifferent to Lord Carlton’s arrogant demands. He had no right to blithely expect her to fall in with his slightest whim as if she were one of the innumerable foolish woman susceptible to his potent charm. She was an independent woman who made her own decisions, and just to prove her point she had bravely flaunted his subtle demand that she agree to his lie that they’d had a prior arrangement to ride through the park and had instead chosen to be escorted by Freddie.
It was a decision that she had been quite proud of, even after Freddie had arrived and they had set off for the park. But any sense of smug self-confidence had come to an abrupt end the moment she had caught sight of Lord Carlton’s heart-stopping smile and vivid blue gaze. All at once she had poignantly regretted her stubborn resistance. As ludicrous as it might seem, she couldn’t deny a flare of desire to be seated at his side, exchanging bantering words and using her sharp intelligence in an attempt to remain a step ahead of him.
I must be going soft in the noodle, she silently chastised herself, realizing where her traitorous thoughts were leading. She didn’t want to spend time with Lord Carlton. He was just another arrogant, self-absorbed male who was concerned with nothing more than his own pleasure. And only because he had hinted that he might possess news of her brother had she suddenly wished she had chosen to ride with him.
That was also the reason she had feigned a headache that morning and sent her aunt and cousin off on their round of calls without her. If Lord Carlton did have information, then she was certain he would attempt to contact her as quickly as possible.
Yes, that had to be the reason for her unexplainable emotions, she thought with a rush of relief. It was all quite simple once she thought it out in a logical manner.
Her supreme logic did not, however, ease the lingering restlessness that had plagued her all morning, and for what seemed to be the hundredth time, she paced back across the carpet. If only she weren’t in London, she thought with a sigh of frustration. At home she would be free to work off her nervous energy with a wild gallop, or even a stormy encounter with her notoriously lazy bailiff. And certainly there would be enough problems related to the estate to keep her from perpetually dwelling on her missing brother.
But more or less stuck in London, she found herself bound by the strict rules of Society. A proper lady did not don breeches and ride like a hellion across open fields, nor did she manage an estate with a shrewd eye on the account book and the threat of a riding whip if her orders were not carried through. Instead she was expected to sit meekly in a house and hope that Lord Carlton and his mysterious contacts were doing everything possible to locate her brother. It was little wonder her nerves were twisted into tight knots of unease.
With an unconscious toss of her head, Roma once more turned on her heel, about to retrace her steps across the floor, when she abruptly caught sight of a dark form poised at the edge of the wide French windows. Instantly alarmed, she cautiously moved toward the center of the room, attempting to ascertain that there was indeed someone skulking beside the window without alerting the intruder that she was aware of their presence.
Her heart was racing with a surge of adrenaline, but it never entered her mind to run from the room or even to call for help. It was a decision she was destined to appreciate as the French door was unexpectedly pushed open and a shockingly familiar male figure stepped into the room.
Pressing a hand to her jolting heart, Roma gazed with wide-eyed amazement at the dark, aquiline face and bewitching blue eyes.
“Lord Carlton … ” she breathed out unsteadily.
The wicked grin that had haunted more than one of her dreams was very much in evidence as be lifted his hands in a casual apology.
“I am sorry if I startled you, Miss Allendyle, but I wanted to speak with you in private. And since I happened to note your aunt and cousin leaving, I took the chance I would find you in here alone.”
A proper lady would no doubt have been deeply insulted by Lord Carlton’s forward manner. After all, a gentleman would never treat a woman of good breeding with anything but rigid respect, and such continuous transgressions of the normal code of behaviour could only imply he considered her less than well bred.
Today, however, Roma had little interest in proper manners. She had waited all morning for this moment, and rather than being offended by the unexpected intrusion, she instead rushed across the room, experiencing a wild surge of hope.
“Have you found William?” she demanded, her voice eager.
Reaching out his hands, he grasped her shoulders, his gaze searing her flushed features and anxious eyes.
“No, Roma, I haven’t found him, but I do have some information.”
“Information?” A wave of disappointment rushed over her. “What information?”
“I received a note yesterday morning from an acquaintance who happens to know your brother.”
“What did it say?”
“According to him, the last time William made contact with the government was nearly a month ago. Since then they have attempted several times to reach him by the usual method, but with no luck. You are not the only one to worry about his sudden absence.”
“I knew it.” The dull ache in her heart was becoming more pronounced. “I knew there was something wrong. William would never disappear unless something terrible had happened … ”
His grip tightened on her shoulders. “Do not jump to conclusions, Roma. At the moment he is simply missing.”
“But he would not be missing unless something was keeping him away.”
“No good can come from assuming the worse. We must take a positive outlook.”
Oddly his firm grip and authoritative tone instantly quelled the wave of panic that threatened to sweep over her. Meeting the blue eyes that probed deeply into her wide gaze, she forced herself to drag in a steadying breath.
“You are right, of course. I have to believe that we are going to find him and that everything will soon be back to normal.”
A small smile tugged at his lips. “That is the spirit.”
“Did the note say anything else?”
There was a brief pause, almost as if he were considering whether or not to reveal what else the missive had contained. Something in the determined set of her features, however, must have convinced him that she would be satisfied with nothing less than the full truth, and he at last gave a small shrug.
“Actually he has arranged for me to meet with an associate of your brother’s.”
“An associate? Did he say who it was?”
“No. I have very few details.”
Roma frowned. “I wonder if it is someone I would know?”
“It is possible, but highly doubtful. You have pointed out yourself, you know few people in London.”
“Yes, I suppose. Why does he wish to see you?”
“So that we can discuss the situation. Hopefully, together we can come up with a few ideas on where to begin to search for your brother.”
“That is an excellent idea.” Roma unconsciously raised her hands to lay them against the smooth fabric of his dark blue jacket. At the moment her disturbing awareness of his potent masculinity was overshadowed by a vast sense of relief that he truly intended to help her locate William.
“Where are we supposed to meet him?”
She sensed more than she actually felt Lord Carlton stiffen at her eager words.
“Roma … This is a highly secretive meeting, not a social gathering,” he pointed out in a gentle, but firm voice.
“I realize that.”
“There can be no question of your attending.”
“Why not?” she demanded, her ready temper sparking to life. “It is my brother you will be discussing. Certainly no one knows more about him than myself.”
The impossibly handsome features tightened as he gazed down at her militant expression.
“That may be so, but I can hardly drag you unescorted to a secluded spot and then return you here without creating a major scandal. You must use some sense, Roma.”
The hazel eyes flared at the patronizing note in his voice, and with a toss of her head, she glared at him in the precise manner her father had used to quell a troop of rowdy infantry men.
“Do not talk to me as if I am a complete simpleton, Lord Carlton,” she snapped angrily. “I am well aware that I can not simply disappear with you. I may have lived most of my life in the country, but I do know the proper behavior for a young woman.”
Lord Carlton’s features remained set in stern lines, but Roma suspected that the glint deep in the dark blue eyes was one of amusement.
“And so you understand that you must allow me to deal with this situation? At least for the moment?”
“I understand that Roma Allendyle can not accompany you,” she corrected, “but if she were to take to her bed to nurse a lingering headache, there is no reason you could not take along a young groom to help with your horse.”
Just for a moment he gazed at her blankly, as if he didn’t completely understand her meaning. Then the hands on her shoulders abruptly tightened, and he gave her a slight shake.
“It is absolutely out of the question.”
“Why?”
“Why?” He glared at her in exasperation. “Not only would you risk exposing both of us to a shocking scandal, but more importantly there is a very real possibility that this meeting might hold an element of danger. I will not allow you to put yourself in such peril.”
Roma’s chin jutted out in a stubborn gesture. It seemed impossible that just a few moments ago she was waiting with nervous anticipation for some word from this man. She had even wondered if perhaps she wasn’t beginning to think of him a bit too much. Now she could only remember how truly annoying he was.
“I am quite capable of deciding whether or not to put myself at risk, Lord Carton. You might have insisted on helping me with my search for my brother, but you have no right to tell me where I can or can not go.”
There was a dangerous edge in her voice. It would have warned the people who knew her best that now was not the time to openly challenge her independence. Unfortunately Lord Carlton possessed his own share of mulish pride, and he wasn’t about to back away from his rigid stance.
“Perhaps not, but I do have the ability to keep the whereabouts of tonight’s meeting a secret. If you wish to get yourself killed out of some stubborn notion that it will help your brother, you will have to do so without my help.”
“Why, you …” Literally shaking with fury, she glared into his harshly handsome face. “You have no right to keep me away. You know quite well that I could contribute details about my brother and his movements before his disappearance. They might very well be of importance. By keeping me away, you are more than likely putting my brother in serious danger.”
Her accusing words fell on deaf ears. If anything the dark, aquiline features hardened with arrogant determination.
“You have heard my decision, Roma. I apologize if you consider it unfair, but I will not change my mind. I do, however, promise to keep you informed of everything that is discussed tonight.”
“How very generous of you!” she snapped.
“Would you prefer that I not tell you anything?”
“I would prefer that you had never intruded into my life.”
The blue eyes darkened with frustration, and without warning Roma felt herself being jerked against the solid warmth of his tall frame.
“Roma, there are times when …” The muttered words slowly drifted away as Lord Carlton began to realize just how intimately he was holding her.
Roma eyed him warily, finding it strangely difficult to breathe as she waited for him to release his tight grasp. But surprisingly the lean fingers continued to press into the sensitive skin of her shoulders, while his narrowed gaze swept over her startled features, halting on the full curve of her mouth. Her heart actually seemed to flip over as he carefully scrutinized the trembling lips that had never known a man’s touch, but even as she frantically considered the notion that he was about to kiss her, his body abruptly stiffened and with a firm movement he stepped away.
Confused as much by the unfamiliar strain that marred Lord Carlton’s features, as by the unexplainable excitement fluttering through her stomach, Roma struggled for the angry composure that she had somehow lost in the last few seconds.
“I am greatly disappointed in you, Lord Carlton,” she forced herself to say. “I thought perhaps you were different from the others.”
“Different?”
“I thought perhaps you understood me.”
Something flashed deep in his eyes. “I understand that I will do nothing that might lead you into danger,” he retorted, his voice unusually husky. “Why can you not accept that I am only doing what I think is best for you?”
Feeling the nearly overwhelming force in his magnetic gaze, Roma abruptly turned away. She wasn’t about to be coerced into once more agreeing to his demands. He was wrong to keep her away from a man who might very well have information about William. And it only made it worse to know that his reason for keeping her away from the meeting was solely because she was a woman.
It was thoroughly unfair, she told herself grimly. And if he was determined to treat her like a helpless fool who was incapable of taking care of herself, then he had no one to blame but himself if she chose to act on her own.
Unconsciously squaring her shoulders, she turned back to meet his wary gaze.
“It seems I have little choice but to accept your decision, Lord Carlton. I can hardly force you to reveal the location of your meeting.”
The blue eyes narrowed, almost as if he sensed she was hiding something behind her stiff mask of indifference.
“And I can trust you not to rush about London asking those you encounter whether or not they have plans to meet with me this evening?”
Her chin tilted to an indignant angle. “I have no intention of speaking of this with anyone. Whatever I might think of you and your underhanded methods of manipulating people, Lord Carlton, I am deeply concerned about my brother. I would never do anything that might put him in even greater danger.”
A silence fell as Lord Carlton carefully inspected her stiff expression. Roma was well aware that he remained suspicious of her abrupt capitulation, and with a determined effort she forced herself to meet his probing gaze with a steady indifference.
After a long moment he gave a small shrug, seeming to realize there was little he could do to ensure that she stay out of trouble.
“Will you come for a drive tomorrow so that we can discuss what has been decided?”
She gave him a meaningless smile. “Of course.”
“Roma …” He stepped forward, a frown marring his wide brow. “What are you thinking?”
“Thinking, my lord?” She swallowed an angry retort and instead batted her eyes in an innocent motion. “Why I was just wondering if my new gown will be delivered in time for the Blanton ball tonight. It truly is the most charming concoction, and Aunt Clara has promised to loan me her emeralds for the occasion. It is a pity you will not be there to see me.”
His suspicious frown deepened at her fluttering words.
“Are you attempting to bamboozle me?”
“Not at all.” Her tone abruptly hardened. “I was simply practicing my role as the proper debutante. What else could I possibly have on my mind but how utterly ravishing I am going to appear tonight?”
“Roma …” With a frustrated sigh he took a step forward, but she quickly backed away, her expression grim.
“I think you should be leaving, Lord Carlton. You claim to be concerned for my reputation—it would hardly do me much good for you to be discovered here.”
For a moment she thought he was going to argue with her stiff logic, but with an irritated shake of his head, he obviously decided that she was in no mood to be reasonable.
“I will call on you tomorrow.”
“Very well. Good day, Lord Carlton.”
With one last glance, he turned on his heel and disappeared through the open French door. With a small smile she watched as he covertly dodged his way to the high hedge, knowing all the while she had no intention of leaving her brother’s fate in the hands of strangers. Dangerous or not, she was going to be at that meeting. Now, all she had to do was come up with a plan to accompany Lord Carlton without his being aware of her presence.
Not an easy task.