Chapter Twenty-Five
“There, you’re all set for bed,” Chloe said as she finished braiding Lia’s hair. “I do wish you’d agreed to see the doctor, though.”
Lia turned at her dressing table to smile at her worried-looking aunt. “My headache is gone and I feel fine. Besides, I’ve been told on a number of occasions that my head is quite hard.”
“And who would be so rude as to say that?”
“Jack for one, along with my grandmother, my mother—”
Chloe chuckled. “Very well, I see your point. But it wouldn’t hurt to see the doctor, just to be sure.”
Having a family who would do anything to protect her was a blessing Lia never thought she’d have. How ironic that she’d almost had to die before she’d recognized that she was loved simply for herself, without judgment or expectation of anything but love in return.
“I’m truly fine, thanks to all of you,” she said.
Chloe glanced at the clock on the bedroom mantelpiece. “Goodness, it’s almost ten o’clock. Why don’t you climb into bed and I’ll bring you a cup of tea? Unless you’d rather go right to sleep.”
“I’d rather wait for Jack, if you don’t mind. I won’t be able to rest until I know everything that happened tonight.”
“It might be some time before he and Dominic return from Bow Street. There was much to explain to the magistrate, I’m sure.”
“I know. I’ll wait.”
After her embarrassing fainting episode, Lia had regained her senses as Jack carried her from the brothel to Gillian’s carriage. Because Mrs. Grace’s nefarious establishment was only a few blocks from Covent Garden, the Runners were already arriving from Bow Street by the time Jack loaded her into the coach. She’d barely had a chance to exchange a word with him before the lawmen pulled him away to deal with the aftermath of their rescue. Gillian had then climbed in and taken both Lia and Amy back to Upper Wimpole Street.
Lia stood and hurried to the big four-poster. Shivering a bit, she quickly slid under the heavy, comforting bed linens and propped herself against the headboard. “How is Amy?”
“She’s sleeping, thank goodness.” Chloe fetched a soft knitted shawl from the wardrobe and draped it around Lia’s shoulders. “She did agree to see the doctor, poor thing, but she looked to be in much worse shape than you.”
Lia grimaced. “It was awful what they did to her.”
“The doctor gave her a sleeping draught and told her that she needs to spend the next few days in bed, but he expects her to make a full recovery.”
“Thank goodness.” Lia caressed the smooth bedsheet with the flat of her hand. Never again would she take for granted how wonderful it felt to be safely tucked up in her own lovely, clean bed. “But I don’t know if anyone can completely recover from an ordeal like that.”
Her aunt wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and Lia relaxed into the warmth of her embrace, breathing in the delicate citrus scent of Chloe’s perfume. “I know, darling. But Amy is strong, and so are you. You both kept your wits about you and fought to stay alive until help could come. I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am, and how relieved.”
When they’d arrived home, Chloe had immediately sent for the doctor for Amy, dosed them both with large brandies, and then seen them deposited in hot baths. Chloe had washed Lia’s hair, allowing her to haltingly relay the evening’s traumatic events without interruption, listening with calm attention. It had been infinitely soothing for Lia’s rattled nerves.
“Thank you,” Lia said. “I’m rather proud of us, too, although I know that sounds horribly conceited.”
Her aunt laughed. “You have every reason to crow. From what Gillian tells me, you were a true heroine.”
“If anyone would know, it would be Gillian.” Lia grinned. “She’s a warrior princess.”
“Indeed she is. Much to her husband’s consternation.”
“I, for one, am exceedingly grateful she is the way she is.”
According to Amy, Gillian, along with Jack and one of her grooms, had taken care of Mrs. Grace and her thugs in short order. To Gillian, it was apparently all in a day’s work, but she’d rendered Amy into an almost babbling state of admiration. After all, it wasn’t every day one was rescued by a duchess who could disarm a ruthless thug twice her size.
“Did Gillian go home?” Lia asked.
“Yes. She said she needed to explain things to Charles before he heard any nonsensical gossip, as she called it, about tonight’s events.”
“I wish I could have heard that conversation.”
“I don’t,” Chloe said wryly. “Now, do you think you could rest a bit before I bring you a cup of tea?”
“I’ll try, but I don’t really think I’ll be able to sleep until I see Jack.”
With every moment that passed, Lia grew more restless to be with him. She still didn’t know precisely what would happen between them, but she needed to feel his arms around her. And she needed another chance to tell him that she loved him. Whether they married or not, she would never view his presence in her life as anything less than the most precious of gifts.
Chloe cocked her head. “Your wait is over, I believe.” She glided to the door and opened it. “Ah, Lord Lendale. Lia has been waiting for you.”
Jack stuck his head into the room. “Good evening, Lady Hunter. Are you sure she’s not too tired to see me?”
“Of course I’m not,” Lia said. “Please come in.”
He strode quickly to the bed, obviously as eager to see her as she was to see him.
“How are you, love?” His gruff tone—which she knew stemmed from emotion—was offset by how gently he stroked her hair.
“I’m fine,” she said, gazing up at him, knowing she looked like a love-besotted fool.
He smiled back, but his gaze was somber and weariness had scored deep lines around his mouth.
“I’m not sure about you, though,” she added. “You look exhausted.”
He grimaced. “Bow Street is a taxing environment at the best of times, and there was a great deal to be sorted out.”
“I suppose my husband is still down there,” Chloe said with good-humored resignation.
Jack glanced over his shoulder. “Yes. He expects to finish up there shortly, but then he intends to go on to Carlton House. He asked me to tell you not to wait up for him.”
Chloe made an exasperated noise. “He always says that.”
“And you always wait up for him, don’t you?” Lia said.
“Of course. That’s what wives do.” She winked. “As I expect you’ll find out.”
Lia glanced at Jack and could feel herself blushing. “Yes, well, we’ll see,” she said vaguely.
He narrowed his gaze. “We’ll see?”
She wrinkled her nose at him.
“I must check on my son and then I’ll wait for Dominic in his study,” Chloe said, clearly trying to suppress a smile. “Just ring if you need anything.”
“I will,” Lia said.
“And do not keep my niece up till all hours, Lord Lendale,” Chloe added. “She needs her rest.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Jack said dryly.
When the door closed, they silently regarded each other. Lia’s heart throbbed with a yearning she knew would last a lifetime if she walked away from Jack. But now that he stood before her, she couldn’t muster up the right words to navigate through the unresolved issues still looming between them.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” he finally said, taking her hand. “God, Lia, you scared the hell out of me when you fainted.”
She squeezed his fingers. “It was so silly of me. Even Amy didn’t faint, and she was in much worse shape than I.”
“Perhaps you were feeling a little woozy from hunger,” he said with a gleam of humor. “Perfectly understandable because you missed tea.”
She let out a reluctant chuckle. “Wretch. But Jack, are you sure you’re all right? You look rather battered.”
He sighed and rubbed a hand back through his hair. Although still somewhat disheveled, he’d set his clothing to rights as best he could. “I’m fine, although I’ll admit that dealing with Prudhoe and his thugs—not to mention Mrs. Grace, who shrieked all the way to Bow Street—did try my patience. Thank God Dominic showed up to take charge of it all.”
Lia scooted over and patted the mattress. “Here, sit down while you tell me about it. I haven’t a clue what happened after you sent me home.”
“All right, but let me take off these boots. You know how filthy that brothel was. And I saw a great deal more of it than I wanted to.”
“As did I,” she said wryly.
After he wrestled off his boots, he climbed onto the bed and propped himself against the headboard, stretching out his long legs with a weary sigh. “I hate that you had to see even one inch of that benighted place. The Runners and I made a sweep of the entire building, just to make sure there were no other women being held there against their will.”
“I’m so glad you thought of that. Were there any others?”
“No, thank God. In fact, most of the ladies seemed quite annoyed by the disturbance, their customers even more so. I will say, however, that very few of the women were distressed to see the back end of Mrs. Grace. She was clearly not well-liked by her, er, employees.”
“I’m not surprised. She’s a horrid woman.”
When he slung an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close, everything inside her finally settled. As he held her, it felt like the rhythm of their hearts slowed and started to beat as one. For a few precious moments, Lia allowed herself to rest in a place of perfect contentment, as if floating in infinite sunlight.
She was reluctant to reenter the world, but there were too many unanswered questions and too many decisions yet to make. “Why was Dominic going to Carlton House? That seems rather odd.”
“He thought it best to report to the Prince Regent on tonight’s events before rumors started circulating.”
She frowned. “Why would the prince care? Sir Nathan is only a baronet, one without much power, it seems.”
He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “Not because of him, sweetheart, because of you. You’re the daughter of a royal duke, and both the Duke of York and the Regent will certainly want to know about tonight’s unfortunate events.”
She twisted in his embrace to stare up at him. “That seems unlikely. My father has never even met me.” It felt odd to even use the term.
“That doesn’t mean he’s not interested in your welfare.”
“Jack, not once in my entire life has he shown an iota of interest, nor did he ever give Mama any money for support after their affair ended.”
“I suspect that’s about to change, thanks to your half brother—who is quite close to the duke. Captain Endicott is very concerned for your welfare and has written to York about you.” Jack smiled. “I’m sure Sir Dominic will have something to say about it, too, as a member of York’s inner circle. Don’t be surprised if your royal father begins to take an interest in you, especially after tonight.”
Apparently she was acquiring family by leaps and bounds. It would take getting used to, but it also felt quite lovely. “Better late than never, I suppose.”
He pulled her back into his embrace. “Not that it truly matters, because I’ll be taking care of you from now on.”
“Jack, about that—”
“Although you’re obviously capable of taking care of yourself,” he said, sounding a bit disgruntled. “I was all set to charge in, your knight in shining armor, only to discover you’d dispatched the villain quite handily.”
She patted his chest. “You’ll always be my knight in shining armor. And I cannot tell you how happy I was to see you burst through that door. I must admit I was stunned, though. How did you know we were there?”
“Your little friend Sammy heard your screams in the alley. He rushed out in time to see you being hauled off to Prudhoe’s carriage. He bravely followed and managed to keep the carriage in sight, thank God.”
“He’s a very quick and clever lad.” And Lia could never be grateful enough for his courage.
“He is at that and shall be amply rewarded, I assure you.”
“So, he followed us to the brothel. Then what did he do?”
“He knew where you lived, so he came here. That showed on uncommon presence of mind, and I now suspect Sir Dominic will take the boy under his wing. Sammy deserves a better future than hanging about the back door of a theater.”
“Ah, so that’s why Gillian was with you. We’d planned to meet here for tea.”
“Yes. In fact, your cousin wanted to storm the barricades with only her groom’s assistance. Fortunately, your aunt was able to hold her back until she could send for me. It took a little longer to track down Dominic, though, and we decided not to wait for him. Thank God,” he added with a mutter, giving her a squeeze.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him back. “Yes, poor Amy was in a very bad fix. If you’d been much later, I don’t know what would have happened.”
“Yes, we had to scramble. Lady Hunter dispatched word to Bow Street, but I had to make sure we had enough men for the job because I had no idea what we would be facing. Charles would have murdered me if anything happened to Gillian.” He shook his head. “She was quite annoyed with my blasted caution, as she termed it. As if I didn’t want to go charging straight in there myself, pistols firing.”
“Or knives slashing, as the case may be. What an amazing person she is.”
“Don’t tell her that. You’ll just encourage her.”
Lia couldn’t help laughing. “I have every intention of emulating her from now on. She was truly inspiring. As were you,” she hastily added when he lifted a sardonic brow.
“Your enthusiasm overwhelms me, my love,” he said.
She poked him in the ribs. “Don’t be silly. You were absolutely splendid. All you needed was a white stallion and the heroic picture would have been complete.”
“You were the true hero, Lia. You kept your head under the most horrific of circumstances and rescued yourself. Gillian and I merely mopped up after you.” He cupped her cheek, his gaze tender and full of emotion. “I’m beginning to think you don’t need me at all. I don’t like that part very much, which makes me sound like an insufferable coxcomb,” he added with a rueful smile.
His praise brought tears to her eyes. “Jack, you’ll always be my hero. Just think of all the times you’ve rescued me over the years.”
“Like the time you fell into the pond and I fished you out?”
“You pulled me into the pond, as I recall,” she protested. “After I pushed you in.”
“Oh, right. Well, then, what about that time you stepped on that wasp nest and I carried you to safety?”
“Actually, you stepped on it, although I admit you did carry me to safety. But I was only five years old at the time. I couldn’t run as fast as you.”
He let out a dramatic sigh and nestled her back against his chest. “Clearly, I need to work a little harder at this hero business.”
“Perhaps Gillian could give you lessons.”
“What a horrifying idea.”
She chuckled, then turned serious. “Jack, what will happen to Prudhoe and the others?”
“That will be up to the magistrate and the courts, of course, but they all might hang,” he said in a somber tone. “God knows they deserve it.”
She couldn’t help cringing a bit. As much as Prudhoe and his men—and Mrs. Grace—had earned their fate, she hated that they might find their deaths because of her.
“It’s not your fault, love,” he said gently. “Only they are responsible for their actions.”
She breathed out a trembling sigh. Of course he would know what she was thinking—he always did. “If only I hadn’t gone to that stupid Cyprians’ ball. That started everything.”
He nudged up her chin, making her look at him. “And what would have happened to poor Amy if you hadn’t gone? You rescued her that night, too, remember?”
She blinked, startled by his response. He’d been so furious with her that night, and yet now he was praising her for going.
“Not that I want you making a habit of that sort of thing,” he added. “Let’s be clear on that.”
“Yes, my lord,” she said meekly, subsiding back on his chest.
His snort told her how little he was fooled by her manner.
“You are giving up on that idea, are you not?” he asked a few moments later, sounding doubtful. “The whole courtesan nonsense. You know it’s not the life for you.”
She sighed. “It’s not the life for most women, Jack. I’ve come to hate the entire sordid business. No woman should be forced to sell herself to survive. It’s disgusting and heartbreaking.”
He let out a heavy sigh. “I agree entirely. And I’m greatly relieved that I don’t have to spend the rest of my life scaring off potential protectors and keeping you out of trouble. That would be exhausting for both of us.”
“Jack, what I’d really like to do is help some of these unfortunate women, perhaps assist Aunt Chloe in her work.”
“You don’t need to do that in London. There must be charitable organizations who assist such women in Yorkshire and would be happy to have the support of the Marchioness of Lendale. If not, you can start one.”
Lia hid her face in his cravat. “About that . . .” she said, her voice muffled.
His big body stiffened beneath her. “About what? About our impending marriage? Because that is not up for debate, Lia. We are getting married, and sooner rather than later.”
She sat up and tried to pull out of his arms, but he refused to release her. Instead, he cupped her chin and feathered a kiss across her lips that quickly transformed from gentle to demanding, full of heat and hidden promises. She sighed and wrapped her hands around his strong wrists, taking in the sweep of his tongue with an eagerness she wouldn’t deny. Too soon, he eased away to trace the curve of her cheek with his lips. Lia couldn’t hold back a shiver of pleasure.
“Sweetheart,” he murmured between kisses, “I almost lost you tonight. I swear that would have been the end of me.”
She reluctantly retreated from his delectable kisses to study his face. His dark gaze burned with hunger, propelling a rush of desire through her body.
“Do you love me, Jack?” she whispered.
His smile was crooked and endearing. “I can’t believe you need to ask. My darling, don’t you realize how much I need you? You’re everything to me.”
“You say that now, but—”
He took her firmly by the shoulders, gazing at her with an intensity that made her tremble. “I will always say it. Lia Kincaid, I love you more than anyone on God’s earth. I want to marry you. Now, is that clear enough?”
Joy unspooled in her heart like colorful strands of silk. “Yes, thank you, and I love you, too. But—”
“No buts. We’re getting married.”
“Well, perhaps . . .” She wrinkled her nose when he scowled at her. “Very well, but not right away.”
His expression lightened. “Ah, do you wish to have the ceremony at Stonefell?” He cut her a sheepish grin. “You want a proper wedding, with Rebecca and the rest of your family. Of course you should have that, and I’m a brute to suggest otherwise.”
“No, I think I need more time than that,” she confessed. “More importantly, you need more time than that.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
Lia pulled out of his embrace, and this time he reluctantly let her go. She folded her legs to sit tailor style facing him. “It means I should visit my half brother and his wife in Vienna before we make any final decisions. Captain Endicott has made it clear he would be delighted if I stayed at least three or four months. I think that’s an excellent idea.”
Jack crossed his arms over his chest, looking so put out she was tempted to laugh—if she didn’t start crying first. She loved him so much it made her heart ache. Leaving him for even a few months was an awful prospect. What if he decided he didn’t truly wish to marry her? For his sake, though, she needed to take that risk.
“I think it’s a horrific idea,” he said.
“This is a momentous decision, Jack, and you need time to think it through without me right in front of you, making you feel guilty.”
He rolled his eyes. “You do not make me feel guilty.”
“Jack, you feel guilty about everything.”
He was about to deny it when she lifted her eyebrows, prompting him to let out a disgruntled laugh. “Very well, I partially concede your point. But we’re still getting married, and it’s because I love you and want to be with you, not because you make me feel guilty. That’s just nonsense.”
“Of course you feel guilty. You feel obliged to marry me because you rather precipitously stole my virtue.”
“I did not steal it, nor was I precipitous. I took it with full knowledge of what I was doing.” He gave her a smug smile. “That was part of my plan.”
“It was not,” she exclaimed.
He waggled a hand. “Well, perhaps not right away, but it certainly is now.”
“Jack, that’s ridiculous.”
“I’m joking, sweetheart. Trust me when I tell you that I would never have laid a hand on you if I had doubts about what I was doing.” He gave her a wry smile. “Especially considering the consequences of my actions. I’m well aware of the challenges before us, which should convince you of the seriousness of my intentions. This is not a feckless or haphazard decision on my part, Lia. I make it with full understanding. And,” he added quietly, “it’s one I make with a great deal of gratitude and happiness.”
“Oh,” she whispered, pressing a hand to her chest. “That’s . . . that’s rather lovely.” When he put it that way, it was hard not to see his logic.
“And because I’m such a wise fellow,” he said, “I also understand that I need your help. No one knows Stonefell as you do. If I don’t marry me, I’m sure to muck everything up.”
She had to smile. “Now, that’s plain silly. But what are you going to do about Stonefell’s situation? You need to get the money somewhere.”
“That’s where your family comes in. Sir Dominic and Charles are quite insistent about investing in the mining scheme, and they’re confident they can bring in other investors. And believe it or not, Lindsey is feeling better about the way the harvest is shaping up for the fall.”
“That’s all good news, but is it enough?”
“It will be once I sell the mansion in Bedford Square.”
Lia almost fell off the bed. “Jack, no! You can’t do that.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”
“Because it’s part of your family legacy, that’s why. Besides, your mother will hate it—hate me. And she doesn’t need additional reasons to do so,” she added morosely.
He leaned forward and kissed the tip of her nose. “I was pondering selling it even before I discovered I wanted to marry you. Honestly, love, I have no attachment to it, and it’s simply too big and too expensive to keep.”
“But where will your mother live? Where will you live when you come to London?”
“You mean, where will we live? As to that, I was thinking of buying one of those new terrace houses going up in Belgravia. My mother will be merry as a grig in a stylish new town house, I assure you. As for us, we’ll be spending most of our time at Stonefell.”
“Jack, your mother will never agree to this.”
He took both her hands, cradling them in his warm grip. “I know she won’t be happy, but that is her choice, Lia. I cannot live my life for her. I must live it for myself.”
She gnawed her lip, wanting to believe they had a chance. “Are you sure?”
He nodded. “Beyond doubt.”
“Stonefell has never been your dream,” she said. “Can you be happy with such a quiet life?”
“Lia, dreams change. My dream now is you. You are the kindest, sweetest person I’ve ever known. How could I not want to spend my life with you?”
She clutched his hand, blinking back tears. “Thank you, but I’m afraid others won’t see me in the same light.”
“Then I want no part of them. Now, my darling, all that’s left is for you to face down your own fears. Can you do that?”
She stared into his loving gaze and knew he was right. She’d been afraid for most of her life—afraid she would lose the small circle of people she loved and the one place she could call home. And yet she’d spent weeks trying to push all that away, push him away, because she’d thought it was best for him. But that was a decision Jack needed to make for himself, and apparently he had.
“Well, it would appear you’ve figured everything out to everyone’s satisfaction, Lord Lendale,” she said, emotion making her voice gruff.
A slow, utterly masculine smile turned up the corners of his mouth. “I have, although I do wish to make one other point.”
“And that is?”
He clamped his hands around her waist and lifted her into his lap. She gasped at the feel of his erection pressing against her bottom.
“I also have an unquenchable lust for your delectable figure,” he said in a husky tone that made her shiver. “And if I don’t get you into my bed very soon, I will no doubt go stark-raving mad.”
“Dear me, that would be most unfortunate,” she said in a breathless voice.
He bent down until his mouth was a mere inch from hers. “I love you, Lia Kincaid,” he murmured. “With all my heart. We’re getting married and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
Lia’s throat had gone so tight that all she could do was nod. But for once, she was more than happy to give him the last word.