Chapter Twenty-One
“It’s just occurred to me that perhaps you would have preferred a ride this morning, instead of a walk.” Hawk sauntered alongside Lizzie, her arm in his as they meandered through the garden. The summer flowers were beginning to wilt.
The grounds at Hawkins Manor were well kept by a staff of gardeners, but this small flower garden had been his mother’s pride and joy for as long as he could remember. With her straw hat protecting her delicate skin, she took to the area each day and dug in the dirt like no other countess he knew.
“In my hurry to leave Wycliff Manor I did not bring all of my clothing with me. I’m afraid my riding habit was one of the garments I left behind.”
“Ah. At least that is one problem I can fix very easily for you. Once we resolve all your issues with the Home Office, you shall visit the modiste and have an entire wardrobe made.” Hawk wasn’t certain of his ability to be a good husband, having eschewed the matter for years, but his pockets were deep enough to provide his wife with all the material goods she desired. Hopefully, that would be a start for Lizzie.
“I am glad you brought that up.” She turned and tilted her head to look up at him, the fire in her eyes intriguing.
A gently reared lady who was able to rescue herself from the clutches of the Home Office and disappear for two years was no demure miss. Lizzie had a steel backbone and was not shy about making her thoughts known. He envisioned many scrapes over the years, with all the wonderful ways they could make up. “Why is that, sweeting?”
Lizzie raised her chin. “I do hope it is not your intention to assume you may direct my life. You left instructions with your mother on how much I was to eat, and now you have practically ordered me to visit with a modiste. Admittedly, I am under your control regarding your orders from the Home Office, but I assure you, I will not tolerate being dictated to in my everyday life.”
Hawk grinned at her, which immediately had her shoulders stiffening. Yes, many scrapes, indeed. “I will be your husband. As such, I am responsible for you. By law I must feed you, clothe you, and provide a roof over your head. Should you get into any sort of trouble, it is my duty to correct the situation.” He patted her hand. “You will no longer be alone, Lizzie. I am your champion now.”
She nodded. “True, and I appreciate that, especially the ‘not alone’ part. However, I shall be the one to decide when I visit the modiste, which articles of clothing I shall have made up, and how much food I eat.”
“Of course. My apologies if I have overstepped.”
That must have been the right thing to say since her body relaxed, and the tight lines on her face softened. She glanced away, but not before he glimpsed tears filling her eyes.
They continued their stroll in silence, both lost in their thoughts. “After making a fuss about visiting the modiste, I now find myself chagrined, and low on clothing, since the few gowns I managed to bring with me are wrinkled messes despite Lady Honora’s maid’s best efforts at pressing them.”
“Perhaps my sister has a gown or two you may have. With the bills I am forever presented with, she must have an immense wardrobe.” He looked her up and down. “You are a bit taller and more filled out than Honora, but I’m sure her lady’s maid can alter something for you to bring with us to London.”
“Thank you, I believe I will take you up on that offer.”
“See. I am not so very difficult to deal with, am I?”
“Um, sometimes.” She grinned, despite the obvious effort she was putting into not doing so.
She looked adorable, and unable to help himself, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her with all the passion he’d been holding in since they’d arrived at his home. But it would do no good to allow that free rein since there was nothing he could do about it. He pulled back and scattered kisses over her jawline and up to the softly scented skin under her ear. “We will marry as soon as we arrive in London. Cam will have the special license by then.”
Her body pressed against his, telling him she was as aroused as he. “How? I thought our presence in London was to remain a secret?”
Hawk pushed backed the curl that had come loose. “Cam will arrange to have a vicar at his house.”
“It is nice to have connections.” She smiled, and they continued their walk.
He hoped his connections would keep Lizzie out of prison. As his countess, her status would increase, and it would be harder to prosecute her. However, treason was prosecutable even for lords, so it was not a guaranteed solution.
It remained their best strategy to gain access to Loverly’s townhouse and search the place for whatever it was the person attempting to kill Lizzie wanted. If they had a name to go to the Home Secretary with, the Home Office’s interest in Lizzie would end.
“I am anxious to get this straightened out,” Lizzie said. “I feel quite refreshed after a good night’s sleep, and I don’t think I require another day to recover.” She looked up at him. “May we leave for London tomorrow? I’d rather get this entire thing over with.”
Hawk studied her. “Are you sure? One more day won’t make a great deal of difference.”
Lizzie sighed. “Another day of worrying. I’ve been wracking my brain trying to think of where Father would have papers or anything else that could incriminate another person. Aside from the safe, which I’m sure the Home Office found a way to open, there is no other place.”
Hawk patted her hand as they climbed the steps back to the house. “Once we arrive at the townhouse, something might come to you. Don’t forget you’ve been gone for two years. Seeing the place might bring back memories you’ve pushed aside.”
“I certainly did push memories aside. They were much too painful.” She shook her head and moved ahead of him to enter the house.
…
Dinner was a pleasant affair. True to his word, Hawk had approached Honora about relinquishing a few gowns to Lizzie. She and Honora had spent the afternoon with the seamstress, choosing gowns and having them altered.
Honora’s gowns were much prettier than the gowns Lizzie had been wearing for the past two years. What suited her as a governess would certainly not do in her future life. That was, if her future life did not include taking up Newgate as her residence.
They settled on a few day dresses and one evening dress. Thankfully, Honora’s coloring was similar to Lizzie’s, so the gowns they chose looked fairly well on her.
In fact, Lizzie rather enjoyed how Hawk’s eyes lit up when she joined the family for drinks before dinner in the drawing room.
With his full lips set in the crooked smile she liked so much, he crossed the room as soon as she entered, took her hand, and bowed. “My dear, you look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” Admittedly, the beautiful rose-colored soft muslin gown with small roses and green leaves embroidered around the neckline showed her off quite nicely. Lizzie was more endowed in the bosom than Honora, so while the seamstress was able to let the bodice out a bit, it was still too small, which had the effect of squeezing her breasts together and making them rise much farther above the neckline than had been intended.
If she had any doubt about the fit of the bosom part of the gown, it was immediately dismissed when Hawk had a hard time moving his eyes from that area. Lizzie dipped her head and lowered her voice. “My lord, I believe you’ve forgotten where my face is located.”
A naughty smile and riveting stare suggested he was quite pleased with where his eyes had landed and that he would much rather drag her upstairs than spend any more time in his mother and sister’s company. She tapped him on the arm with her fan, a flush rising above her bodice to cover her face. “Behave yourself.”
He patted her hand where she had placed it on his arm. “I never do, which you will soon find quite entertaining. Along those lines, I am quite pleased we are leaving for London tomorrow.” He stared straight ahead. “If Cam wishes to retain my friendship, he better be in possession of that license and have a vicar on call.”
Lizzie passed on the offer of a glass of sherry, and they were soon summoned by the butler for dinner. Again, Lizzie was given the place of honor next to Hawk. His mother and sister’s easy acceptance of their betrothal overwhelmed her. If the rest of the ton accepted her so easily once their marriage was announced, she would be thrilled. But the rigid standards of the Quality—especially the self-appointed guardians of virtue—would likely make her re-entrance into Society difficult.
I am your champion now.
The words calmed her as she glanced at Hawk who was speaking with his mother. It was hard to believe this handsome, well thought of, and very much coveted man among the young ladies of the ton would soon be hers. He glanced over at her, and his smoldering eyes and crooked smile melted her insides. With him by her side, things would certainly go much smoother.
Dinner was finished, and they had retired to the drawing room. While she, Hawk, and Lady Hawkins chatted, Honora entertained them with her pianoforte skills, which were quite remarkable. The music did much to soothe Lizzie’s anxiety about their trip the next morning.
“What are your plans to straighten out this little misunderstanding between the Home Office and dear Lizzie?” Lady Hawkins’ description of the terror Lizzie faced almost made her laugh. Leave it to a woman secure in her place in Society to refer to possible charges of treason, a visit to Newgate, and a public hanging as a little misunderstanding.
Hawk took the last sip of his tea and placed the cup on the saucer. “As for the little misunderstanding hanging over Lizzie’s head, I believe there are damming documents among the papers Lord Loverly left behind that will help us in our cause, if we are able to find them.”
“What sort of papers?”
“Ah, that is the conundrum. We are not at all sure what it is we are searching for. Since there have been attempts on Lizzie’s life, I assume there is something damning that whoever wishes her dead believes would incriminate him. A letter, a journal, some sort of written word. The key to solving the entire puzzle is to learn who that person is, clear Lizzie, and see that individual punished for his crime.”
“If you do not know what it is you are searching for, how do you intend to find that crucial evidence?” Lady Hawkins pointed out.
“I’d rather not say.” Hawk held up his hand when his mother began to speak. “If anyone from the Home Office comes here after we are gone and questions you, it is better if you do not know our plans. They cannot trick you into revealing something you don’t know.”
Hawk stood and reached out for Lizzie’s hand. “And now, I believe my betrothed and I will take a short stroll in the night air before we retire.” They crossed the drawing room and left the house through the patio doors.
“Look at that beautiful sky. It is such a lovely evening.” Lizzie took in a deep breath and admired the stars covering the sky like a jeweled canopy.
Hawk turned her and took her in his arms. “I am too taken with the beauty in my arms to notice anything else. ’Tis a shame to waste such a lovely night as this without a kiss.”
Lizzie slid her arms up his chest to circle his neck. “Indeed?”
“Yes.” Hawk lowered his head and devoured her mouth. He moved his palm down to her lower back and nudged her against his warm body.
A crack sounded in the air, and something slammed into Lizzie’s flesh. She slumped in Hawk’s arms.