A Breath of Scandal (21 page)

“I don’t like this, Julian.”

“I’m sorry you became involved. I’ll explain everything to your father once I’m certain he’s not involved.”

Lara leaped to her feet. “You believe that Papa is dealing with smugglers? Are you mad?”

Julian knew he’d made a mistake. He shouldn’t have named Lord Stanhope as a suspect. There wasn’t enough proof to prove or disprove his suspicion.

“I am suspicious of anyone who has contact with the man who might be the Jackal.”

“You wanted to get me away from Papa, that’s why you all but abducted me,” Lara charged.

“Partly,” Julian admitted. “Those attacks on you are what really convinced me to take you away.”

“Papa would never hurt me.”

“I hope not,” Julian said uncertainly.

“You’re the most exasperating man!” Lara contended. “I insist that you take me home. Papa wouldn’t lie to me. I’ll ask him outright if he’s involved in smuggling.”

“That’s out of the question,” Julian argued. “Whether or not Lord Stanhope is involved is irrelevant. There are unscrupulous men on the loose in London. Until I learn the truth, you’ll remain with your grandparents.”

“I’m going to bed,” Lara huffed.

“You’re angry at me.”

She rounded on him. “Of course I am! What did you expect? First you try to force a marriage you’re really not keen about, then you spirit me out of London and accuse my father of conspiracy.”

“Make no mistake, Lara, we
are
going to marry.”

“No. You are mistaken, my lord. I’m still a Gypsy, or have you forgotten?”

“Half Gypsy,” Julian corrected. “And an earl’s daughter. What if you’re carrying my child?”

“ ’Tis no sin among my people to bear a child within a marriage.”

“If you’re referring to our Gypsy marriage, rest assured society will not accept it. ’Tis my understanding that this was to be your last summer with Ramona and Pietro, that your father wished you to find a husband of equal rank or higher. Your father could never hold his head up in public again were you to bear a bastard. English laws must prevail over heathenish rituals.”

Lara’s bristled indignantly. “Are you calling me a heathen?”

Julian heaved an exasperated sigh. “I don’t wish to argue with you, sweeting. Let’s go to bed. I want to get an early start tomorrow.”

“Find your own bed, my lord. I do not wish to share mine with a man who considers me a heathen.”

Julian watched in amusement as Lara found her nightgown in her bag, donned it over her clothing, and undressed beneath it. Then she crawled into bed, pulled the blanket up to her neck, and turned away from him.

“Sorry, sweeting, this is the only bed available and I have every intention of sharing it with you.”

He undressed quickly and climbed in beside her. When he tried to take her into his arms, she stiffened and moved to the edge of the bed.

“Very well, Lara, have it your way. I only wanted to hold you.”

Lara didn’t want Julian to hold her. She was too vulnerable to his loving, too raw inside. How could Julian suspect her father of being involved with smugglers? Her father was an honorable man. She was living proof of his loving spirit and generosity. He didn’t have to take her in when she showed up at his door thirteen years after his brief encounter with her mother, but he did.

Lord Stanhope could have denied ever knowing her mother and no one would have faulted him. But he had accepted her without question, and loved her without reservation. Somehow she would prove that her father was innocent, that Julian’s suspicions were unfounded.

Sleep finally claimed her, but when she awoke in the morning she found herself nestled in Julian’s arms, legs entwined, her body pressed snugly against his. Her gaze flew to his face. His eyes were open and he was grinning at her. If he said one word about their closeness in bed she’d smash the smug smile off his face with her fist.

“You’re awake,” Julian drawled lazily. “It’s time to get up. I’ll perform my ablutions first. While you’re at your toilette, I’ll order breakfast and make sure our carriage will be ready when we need it.”

Lara nodded and carefully removed herself from be arms. Then she turned her back and stared at the wall while Julian washed, shaved, and dressed. Not until Julian left did she rise to perform her own toilette. Julian was seated at a table in the common room when she arrived downstairs.

“I ordered a substantial breakfast,” Julian said.

Lara nodded, still too angry to engage in conversation with Julian.

Lara ate her breakfast in silence, her anger building with each morsel of food she consumed. How could Julian be so complacent when she was seething inside? She couldn’t wait to join Ramona and Pietro. Her grandparents always seemed to know what was best for her. Perhaps they could help solve her dilemma where Julian was concerned. The way she saw it, Julian would never love her, so why should she marry him in a
gadjo
ceremony?

It bothered her that Julian believed her father capable of harming her. That hurt almost as much as the knowledge that Julian didn’t love her. Lara’s mental musings ceased when Julian finished his meal and ushered her out the door. He handed her into their waiting carriage and vaulted up beside her. They started forward in a clatter of wheels and jangling harnesses.

The sun had reached its highest point when Stanhope Manor came into view. “We’re on Papa’s land,” Lara pointed out.

“I’m going to bypass the house,” Julian said. “Being seen by servants would defeat our purpose in coming here. No one is to know where you are.”

“Turn off the main road,” Lara advised. “Head for the trees to the right. You’ll find a narrow wagon path that should lead us to one of Pietro’s favorite camping sites.”

Julian followed Lara’s directions and soon arrived at a clearing beside a bubbling brook.

Disappointment colored her words. “They’re not here. Follow the brook downstream. There’s another camping site not far from here.”

The carriage rolled along a grassy delta. Lara began to fear her grandparents had decided to winter elsewhere. Then she heard voices in the distance.

“It’s them!” she cried, clapping her hands excitedly. “They’re up ahead.”

A dozen or more colorful Gypsy wagons soon came into view. They were scattered about a sun-dappled clearing beside the meandering brook. A Rom child saw them and alerted the others. Since this was Stanhope land, they knew they had nothing to fear from the visitors, for few dared to trespass upon another’s holdings unless invited.

Lara recognized Pietro immediately and waved. She smiled as Pietro’s face lit with pleasure. He waved back and started forward to greet them. Ramona was close on his heels. Julian drew in the reins and leaped to the ground to hand Lara down. But Pietro was there before him, swinging Lara down from the carriage and into his brawny arms. He gave her a bear hug before handing her over to Ramona.

Ramona gave Lara a swift hug, then held her at arm’s length, her knowing gaze moving over her. Then her dark face split into a huge grin.

“Did I not predict that you and Drago would find one another in London?” Suddenly her grin faded and her expression turned grim. “Danger. You are both in grave danger, that is why you are here.”

J
ulian had suspected that Ramona possessed amazing powers, but her quick understanding of the situation stunned him.

“I will explain later,” Julian said tersely when he realized that he and Lara had become the center of attention. He had every intention of telling Lara’s family the truth about himself, but this wasn’t the time.

Watching through shuttered eyes as Rondo swaggered forward, Julian scowled at the way the handsome Rom’s gaze devoured Lara. Jealousy was a new emotion for Julian, and he found it difficult to swallow.

“Welcome back, Lara,” Rondo said, purposely ignoring Julian. “Did your father learn of your unfortunate marriage and send you away?”

Julian stepped forward, his face carefully composed. He wanted to do nothing to rile the people who had saved his life, nor did he wish to tell them anything that could bring harm to Lara.

“I brought Lara back for a visit because she missed her grandparents,” Julian explained. “If it is agreeable to Pietro, we’d like to stay awhile.”

He felt Ramona’s dark eyes upon him and boldly returned her gaze. He knew she was weighing his lies and giving him the benefit of the doubt, even though she was ignorant of his true identity and the danger in which he had involved Lara.

“ ’Tis always a pleasure to have our granddaughter with us,” Pietro assured him. “You are Lara’s husband and welcome, Drago. Is that not right, Ramona?”

After a long pause, Ramona said, “Aye.” Julian could tell she was withholding judgment. Ramona turned and smiled warmly at Lara. “Old Gregor drove your wagon here, little one. It is ready for you and Drago. I’ve been expecting you.”

“You knew I was coming?” Lara asked with surprise.

“I know many things,” Ramona confided. “Come to my wagon, where we can speak freely.”

People began drifting back to what had occupied them before Julian and Lara arrived, but Rondo hung back.

“Why are you and Drago together, Lara? He abandoned you,” he asked snidely. “What manner of man is he? I would not be so heartless were you my mate.”

Lara was rendered speechless by Rondo’s words. Julian leaped to Lara’s defense. “We need not explain ourselves to you. But if you must know, circumstances beyond my control made leaving Lara necessary.”

Rondo’s eyes narrowed. “There is more to your appearance here than you have told us. I can smell your lies. Lara’s father must have been enraged to learn she had married a man with little to commend him, a man with dangerous enemies.”

“Pah, Rondo! You smell your own jealousy,” Ramona charged. “You fool no one. You’ve always wanted Lara, but her father had plans for her future that didn’t include a Gypsy husband. Cast your eyes elsewhere; Lara was never meant for the likes of you.”

Rondo’s eyes darkened with malice. “Nay, you cannot believe that Drago, a man with a mysterious past, is better than I. The
gadjo
left Lara behind. I would not.”

His gaze settled disconcertingly on Lara. “ ’Tis easy enough to divorce the
gadjo
. You know our customs. I’m surprised you did not see to it immediately, before you returned to your father.”

Julian looked askance at Lara. Rondo’s words gave him pause for thought. Why hadn’t Lara divorced him if Gypsy customs made it easy to do? Lara’s answer left him more confused than ever.

“I did not wish to divorce Drago, Rondo. Why I did not do so is none of your concern.”

“Come with me,” Ramona said. “You must be tired. As for you, Rondo, heed my granddaughter’s words. None of this concerns you.”

Properly rebuked, Rondo strode away, but not before slanting Julian a menacing look. Intuitively Julian knew that the jealous young man would bear watching.

Ramona prepared tea for them inside her wagon on a small brazier. She poured each of them a cup of the strong brew. After a bracing sip, Ramona’s penetrating gaze settled on Julian.

“Tell me about the trouble you have visited upon my granddaughter.”

“ ’Tis a long story,” Julian ventured.

“We have time,” Pietro encouraged.

“Very well,” Julian said, dragging in a sustaining breath. “First, my name is Julian Thornton, Earl of Mansfield. But I prefer to be called Drago while I am here. Revealing my identity to others could prove dangerous to your people.”

Pietro tensed. “Danger from whom?”

“My enemies. What I tell you now must be held in the strictest confidence. And if you wish me to leave after you’ve heard me out, I will do so at once.”

“We will not judge until we’ve heard your explanation,” Ramona assured him.

“I am a government agent,” Julian began in a hushed voice. “My current assignment involves smugglers. I was very close to discovering the name of their leader when something went awry. A man, quite possibly the leader, is privy to government secrets. He learned the identity of the agent known as Scorpion.”

Lara’s eyes widened as comprehension dawned. “You’re Scorpion!”

“Aye. Things took a deadly turn when the smuggler, a man called the Jackal, tried to end my life. I was supposed to be inside the carriage that carried my betrothed. She died in my place. I vowed on her casket that her death would be avenged.”

“How did you end up floating in the sea, shot full of holes?” Pietro asked.

“The Jackal got wind of the trap that been set for the smugglers. I had joined a group of peasants who were loading contraband into a jolly boat. The contraband was to be rowed out to a ship anchored off the French coast. I was there to keep an eye on the operation, but the Jackal must have known about me for I was singled out and marked for death. I was shot trying to escape. I woke up aboard the smugglers’ ship and was wounded a second time when I jumped overboard in another bid to escape. I have no idea how I ended up on the beach where you were camped.” He glanced at Lara and smiled. “Divine intervention, perhaps?”

“The men who came looking for you wanted you dead,” Ramona mused thoughtfully.

“Aye, Lara saved my life when she claimed me as her husband.”

“Why did you not take Lara with you to London?” Pietro demanded.

“I can answer that, Grandfather,” Lara cut in. “Julian is an earl. He didn’t wish to damage his high standing in society by claiming a Gypsy wife. He maintains that a heathen marriage such as ours is illegal and will not hold up in English courts.”

Julian bit back a groan. The way Lara explained it made him out to be a hard-hearted bastard. The look in Pietro’s dark eyes did not bode well for him.

“I’m more than willing to marry Lara again in a ceremony recognized by English law,” he offered.

Lara sent him a dismissive look. “Julian and I met at a ball Father gave in my honor. Needless to say, we were stunned to see one another in such a setting. Once Julian learned Papa was an earl, he decided to do the honorable thing and offer for me. A Gypsy wench was good enough to bed, but not to wed. My being an earl’s daughter made all the difference in the world to Julian.”