Chapter 6
The note was bloody absurd. Of course, the whole thing was absurd. As dawn light filled his house, Max wondered if he’d lost his wits in the darkness. He hadn’t. Of course he hadn’t. But she’d done something to him. Something entirely unexpected. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d ever felt so. . . deeply affected by another person, especially a woman.
Max crumpled the piece of paper, dropped it into the bin beside his desk and quickly strode down the hall. To do as bid. He suppressed a grin at that. She did, indeed, have spirit.
But he was a bit at a loss. What the devil had her note meant?
As he walked down the long hall, he considered. It had been an exceptionally useful skill, to put himself into the position of others. Allowing his thinking to alter temporarily had saved his and others lives on more than one occasion.
And as he was about to rap on her door, it dawned on him. He had given her no rules, guidance, or understanding as to what would truly come next. Intelligently, instead of rushing about foolishly, she’d written, asking for clarification.
The door abruptly opened and she stood in the morning sunlight, surprisingly bright.
“I thought you would be sleeping,” he said, then nearly kicked himself. Of course she wasn’t sleeping. He’d warned her that her brother would likely arrive today. Rest wouldn’t come naturally after such a claim.
As if to echo his thoughts, she swallowed and shook her head. “Alas, I dinna feel at ease.”
“Do you not feel safe?” he asked gently.
“Yes, but being at ease and feeling safe are no’ the same thing, are they?”
“I suppose not,” he acceded.
“Good. Then we understand each other.” Her eyes widened as she studied him, clearly searching for something. “Did ye bring coffee?”
“It is on its way,” he assured, wishing he’d thought to arrange it earlier. He usually thought of every detail, but he’d been absorbed with the immediate necessities of understanding her situation and aiding her.
She let out a breath of relief. “Thank goodness. I was readying to pine away for longing of the beverage.”
Her playful drama was a welcome thing given her unease. It appeared she was most definitely not the sort of lady to wring her hands and wail. “You seem most cheerful.”
“What would ye have me do?” she asked. “Fling myself upon the bed and weep?”
“No.” He raised his hands in teasing protest. “Please God, no.”
She laughed though it wasn’t exactly a merry sound.
Lady Diana stepped back from the doorway and gestured to someone inside. “Nellie, this is the Duke of Raventon.”
Nellie gave a deep curtsy, then she looked at him with rather sharp eyes given their difference of station.
He immediately liked her for it. The woman would not be easily manipulated nor would she betray her mistress for a few coins. Not with a look like that.
“A pleasure to be formally introduced, Nellie,” he said. “Have you seen your own quarters?”
Nellie’s lips puckered with displeasure. “If ye think, I’ll be leaving this one alone, ye’ve the wrong end of the stick.”
Max hid a smile. “I beg your pardon, of course you are concerned.”
Nellie nodded, bouncing slightly on her toes, but she looked as though her spine were forged of Toledo steel. “We made like bandits down from Scotland, and I’ll no’ abandon her at the sight of a silk pillow.”
“Certainly not,” he agreed. “Your loyalty is obvious. I’m most glad Lady Diana has had someone of your character to look after her on such a perilous journey.”
Nellie cleared her throat, clearly pleased by his response. “Och, well. Are we prisoners then?”
“Nellie!” Lady Diana exclaimed.
Max couldn’t fight his grin as he said, “And I thought that you were blunt, Lady Diana.”
“We are no’ given to niceties, Nellie and I,” Lady Diana replied ruefully.
“I’m glad for it,” Max said with utter conviction. “Honesty does save a great deal of time.”
She stared at him strangely, as if she were not entirely convinced of his whole honesty.
Which really was very wise of her. He lied better than any confidence man and played his parts with more ease than the most seasoned Drury Lane player.
“You are not prisoners here,” he said gently, hoping to ease her and her maid’s minds.
“When ye left me. . .” Lady Diana glanced from Nellie back to him. “It was rather abrupt and I wished I had asked ye questions.”
“You didn’t seek me out?” he asked, curious as to her answer.
“I didna ken if ye wished me to stay in this room,” she pointed out quickly. “And frankly, I’ve no wish to risk yer ire at present. I am also no’ one to relax upon my laurels just because I’m in yer house.”
His admiration for her only grew at her revelation. It hadn’t been fear that had kept her in her room but good sense. “My servants are trustworthy, but I’m impressed that you don’t act on impulse.”
“Acting on impulse is what got my brother in dire straits.”
“You have the run of the house,” Max said before he paused, hoping to explain without giving her concern.
“But I’d prefer you stay to the upper floors and out of sight of visitors and don’t go into the gardens until your brother has been handled appropriately.”
Lady Diana sighed. “I thought as much. After all, who kens who might work for him, poor reprobate.”
“Precisely.” Max wasn’t quite willing to share her kindness to her brother. There was nothing poor about him, except for his lack of funds. He’d been born to privilege, had every advantage, and he’d thrown it all away and turned into the worst sort of a man. A man who would hurt his family when he should protect it.
“Even friends might accidentally reveal information without intent,” Max warned.
Lady Diana’s face creased with resignation at this particular fate. She looked about the beautiful room for a moment and her shoulders drooped as if realizing the extent to which her brother had affected her freedom.
How long had she struggled all but alone? No family. No friends to help. Only Nellie. It infuriated him. She wasn’t alone now. She’d never be alone again. He’d damned well see to that.
Then she shook her head and squared her shoulders. “Well, I’m lucky to be here at all and no’ at the bottom of a loch.”
“I beg your pardon?” he demanded, finally stepping from the hallway and into her chamber. The claim was too incendiary to linger in the doorway.
“Did she no’ tell ye?” Nellie asked.
He couldn’t look away from Diana, whose face had paled. “Tell me what?” Max asked quietly.
Diana frowned as though not wishing to recount the memory.
Nellie drew up and rushed, “Her brother tried to drown her while she was swimming in the loch.”
Diana winced. “Nellie—”
“It’s the truth!” Nellie countered.
“Forgive me, I must know the depth of this.” Max’s heart slammed in his ribs, the visceral details only making Diana’s claims all the more real. “You were swimming? In the loch?”
She nodded. “My mother loved to swim in the sea loch. And she took me from the time I was a girl. Ye see, I adore the bracing salt water of the deep loch. Hamish never cared for it. So, I often went swimming in an attempt to escape him for but a few hours. Och, it mattered no’ how cold, for once I was swimming, I warmed.”
She licked her lips. “But no’ long ago, I was swimming, focused on my stroke, when I suddenly felt someone grab me and shove downward. It was terrifying.”
Max’s hands coiled into the fists, feeling a shocking terror at the idea of her in such danger. What if she had not survived? What if her brother had succeeded? He never would have met her. He could barely countenance the idea of a world without Diana in it. The fact that he had but met her hours before seemed to matter not at all.
“I managed to latch ahold of the person’s arm, pull myself upward and sink my teeth into his arm.” Diana grimaced. “It took several seconds. Water splashed over my face. . . and I did think it was my end. But he let go.”
“You’re certain it was your brother?” Max queried. He asked only to discern if she faced danger on more than one front.
“Och, aye,” Diana said. “I saw him making a mad escape in a skiff. He never was a good sailor.”
Max pressed his lips together. “I see. So, he’s quite determined and willing to do the deed himself.”
She nodded.
There was a pounding downstairs and then shouting.
Max tensed.
Diana grew white as she clearly recognized one of the shouting voices.
Max nodded his understanding. “He must have realized you escaped his reach very soon after you left.”
“But how—”
“Is he stupid, your brother?” Max asked quickly.
She shook her head.
“Then, you probably left an easy trail to follow. No fault of your own,” Max offered kindly. “It’s simply how it is. There are only so many roads you could have taken or inns you could have stopped at. He followed you. Effectively.”
The fact that the Scot had, indeed, followed her so well did not bode well for an easy intimidation. “Stay here. Remain quiet.”
She nodded. It wasn’t fear he saw on her face but determination. And he admired her for it.
“Do you trust me?” he asked abruptly.
Her eyes flared.
“Let me announce our engagement,” he requested, hoping to God she would say yes. “It will buy us a few days.”
Her mouth dropped open but she snapped it shut. “I agree.”
“Good.” He felt a wave of relief. “I’m eager to see what he does. After all, you’re about to be beyond his grasp.”
“And right glad I am of it,” Nellie whispered, far more white with dread than her mistress.
He hesitated. “Do you wish to face him?”
“I beg yer pardon?” Diana asked, blinking.
“I’ll see him, announce our engagement, then you can enter. Let us see how far he is willing to go. I shall be by your side. Perhaps, he will see reason and hie off.”
She swallowed. “And if he doesna?”
“I’ll bury him in my rose garden.”
Though he smiled as he said it, he meant every word.