Harlequin Historical May 2014 - Bundle 2 of 2: Unwed and Unrepentant\Return of the Prodigal Gilvry\A Traitor's Touch (41 page)

‘Do you think we could ask him to visit us at the brothel?' she said. ‘Send a note.'

‘We will send a note, but we'll not meet him at Belle's. We need to find somewhere we can be sure
he
isna' followed.'

‘What about Waterloo Place at Regent Bridge?'

‘They finished it, then?' It reminded him just how long he had been away. A painful reminder full of resentment that made his fists clench as he thought about Ian and his treachery.

‘There is a clear view in both directions,' she said.

‘It sounds ideal.'

‘Is something wrong?'

Clearly the bitterness in his heart showed in his voice. ‘No. Nothing wrong. Let us go back to Belle's and write the note.'

* * *

Despite Drew's assurance that nothing was wrong, he'd left her at Madam Belle's the moment his note to his brother had been dispatched. He had wanted to look at the place they had set for the meeting. And he'd wanted to go alone, leaving Rowena sitting on tenterhooks fearing he'd be caught.

The lad they had sent to his brother's office was to wait for a reply. Given their fear of interception, Drew had kept the note very brief. It had talked about there being no need to climb the bridge to collect the eggs. It would, he had said, let his brother know who was seeking the meeting, but would mean nothing to anyone else.

A rap sounded on the door. ‘Who is it?' she asked, having been warned by Drew not to open it to anyone unless she recognised the voice.

‘Me, ma'am. Nat.' The errand boy.

She opened the door. The boy grinned and waved a piece of paper.

‘You saw him? Lord Aleyne?'

‘Not me. His clerk. He'd not be letting the likes of me near his lordship. But he did send a reply.'

Too bad Drew wasn't here to receive it. Heavy footsteps on the stairs made her look up. It was Drew. ‘We have a reply,' she said.

He took the note from the boy, gave him a coin and came inside and closed the door, tapping the note against his gloved palm.

‘Open it,' she said. ‘If he says no, then we will find someone else to help us. My father had a lawyer. Mr Murchison. He might be willing to talk to us.'

Drew set the note on the table, removed his gloves, coat, hat and scarf. She wanted to shout at him, he was so deliberately slow. But she did not blame him. This was his brother from whom he was estranged. She sensed that if the note was a rejection he would take it hard.

He sat down on the bed and patted the place beside him. She joined him on the bed. Breath held, she watched him open the note. He handed it over without a glance at the contents.

‘Read it.'

So commanding. Pleasure unfurled low in her belly. She took it from him.

The hand was bold and black and the words brief.

‘“Logan, what game are you playing? If you are in trouble with the law or with McKenzie, I will have your head on a plate. Niall.”'

She wrinkled her nose and looked at Drew. ‘He didn't know it was you.'

The muscles in his jaw flickered. ‘Perhaps it is just as well. If he had guessed it was me, he might not have replied.'

‘Oh, Drew,' she said, feeling the hurt in his voice as a pang in her chest.

He squared his shoulders. ‘But he will come for Logan. So perhaps it is just as well he did not recognise my writing.'

‘He mentions McKenzie, too.'

‘Aye. God knows what Logan is about. He always was a wild scamp.' He looked at the small clock on the mantel. ‘It is but a half hour to the time I set for the meeting. We had best get going.'

* * *

The clouds had rolled in over the city, grey and heavy with the threat of snow. People in the streets scurried head down about their business. To Rowena, everyone looked suspicious, but after a circuitous route, Drew stopped for a second.

‘No one is following. Unless they are very, very clever.'

She breathed a sigh of relief, trusting him to know and happy to leave such matters in his hands.

Finally, they were in sight of the bridge. Standing right at the centre was a young man in a dark coat and hat, pacing up and down and slapping his arms across his chest.

‘That's him,' Drew said, at the place where the bridge began to cross the old Calton Road. ‘Niall.'

She took his hand, as much for his comfort as for hers. He tucked it into the crook of his arm and patted it lightly.

Niall stopped his pacing and looked towards them. He was dark, not blonde like Drew. He took a step in their direction and then stopped, frowning, but he wasn't looking at Drew, he was looking at her, and as they came closer his frown deepened.

‘What the devil is going on?' he said as they came within earshot. His gaze dropped to where their arms linked. ‘Who is this?'

‘Is that a proper greeting for a brother you haven't seen in six years?'

There was a careless drawl in his voice. A devil-may-care note she hadn't heard before. His arm beneath her fingers had tensed. It was as rigid as a board. He was ready for his brother to turn away. Steeled against it.

Rowena could only watch as the other man peered into Drew's eyes uncertainly.

Drew pulled down the muffler.

Niall reared back. ‘What? Who? My God, Drew!' he whispered. ‘Can it really be you?'

Drew nodded stiffly. ‘It is.'

Niall lunged forward, clutching his brother to his chest, then leaning back to look at his face. ‘We heard you were dead.'

‘Not yet,' Drew said drily.

‘Hell's teeth,' he said, his eyes taking in the scar. ‘What happened? Why didn't you come to the house? Why the strange message? I have been standing here for the past half hour, thinking Logan was in some sort of trouble. Just wait until Ian knows you have returned. And Mother.'

‘Mother is... She's well?' His voice sounded strained.

‘She'll be all the better for seeing you.'

If Drew noticed the evasion, he didn't mention it. He glanced around. ‘To tell you the truth, Niall, I am in a wee spot of trouble. Is there somewhere we can talk? Somewhere we won't be seen?'

Niall stared at him, smiling, seemingly lost in some sort of reverie. ‘You have to meet my wife. And Ian's Selina. And—'

‘Niall, we don't have time. There are dangerous men—' He looked over his shoulder. ‘Damnation.'

Rowena followed the direction of his stare. Her heart sunk. Walking towards them was the man whose narrowed gaze focused only on them.

‘You were followed,' Drew said. ‘My note said to take care no one followed you.'

‘Damn it, Drew. I bloody well did.'

‘There's no time for this,' Rowena said. ‘We can't risk—'

The smuggler must have realised he had been spotted because he started to run, one hand tucked under his coat. Probably holding a pistol. Drew looked the other way and groaned. Another one was coming from the other direction.

‘There's only one thing to do,' Niall said. ‘Rush the man coming from the far side of the bridge.'

‘Come on, then,' Drew said grimly. He took Rowena's hand and she hoiked up her skirts in the other and they ran straight at the smuggler.

He must have thought they hadn't seen him because he started to grin and unbuttoned his coat. Rowena could see the grip of a pistol sticking up from his waistband.

‘He's got a gun,' she gasped.

‘I see it,' Drew said.

‘He's not the only one,' Niall said. He reached under his coat and pulled out an ornate duelling pistol. He cocked and fired. The smuggler hit the ground with a howl.

And then they were over the bridge and running alongside a building.

Rowena glanced over her shoulder. The man they'd seen first was catching them up and he had drawn his pistol. She tried to run faster.

‘Stop them,' the smuggler behind them yelled at passers-by. ‘Stop, thief.'

A burly man on the pavement in front of them put his arms out to block them.

Chapter Thirteen

‘L
et them pass,' Niall shouted at the man standing in their path. To Rowena's surprise he stepped aside.

‘Guard the door,' Niall said to him. ‘Don't let anyone in.' He dived through the building's nearest door.

Drew thrust Rowena ahead of him, lifting her off her feet in his rush to get her inside.

Niall slammed the door and locked it.

‘What the devil?' Drew said, staring at his brother. ‘Who was that outside? I thought we were done for.'

‘Bodyguard,' Niall said. ‘I'll explain in a moment.' He led the way down a narrow corridor that opened out into the great hall of a sumptuous office building. A porter hurried forward to greet him with a bow. ‘My lord?'

Drew made a snorting noise through his nose.

Niall ignored him. ‘We need a room where we can be private, and brandy.' He glanced at Rowena.

‘Tea, please,' she said, still gasping from their wild run. How they had managed to cross the bridge ahead of their pursuer she wasn't quite sure. It seemed that with Drew holding her hand, her feet had barely touched the ground.

The servant opened the door to a small sitting room tucked away behind some columns. ‘Will this do, my lord?'

‘Excellent,' Niall Gilvry said. No, he was Lord Aleyne, Rowena reminded herself.

She sank down on to the nearest sofa and perched on its edge, watching Drew eye his beaming younger brother warily.

Aleyne stepped towards Drew as if he would offer an embrace, but Drew stiffened and took a half step back. Aleyne shook his head, but his grin remained. ‘I can't believe you are here.'

‘Believe it.'

‘We heard you were killed in a hunting accident.'

‘Heard from whom?'

‘Carrick. By way of the hunting party.'

‘Is that so? Well, whether you like it or no', I am still alive.' His voice was hard and grim.

‘Good heavens, Drew! Are you saying you think I would be glad if you were not?'

The muscle in Drew's face flickered as he fought some emotion he did not let show in his eyes. Rowena had the feeling it was pain. But it could just as easily have been anger.

‘You've been missed,' Aleyne said. ‘By Mother, especially. You were always her favourite after Logan. She refused to accept you were gone. Not without proof. And, by Jove, she was right.'

At that last, Drew turned away and paced to the window.

Aleyne stared at him, a puzzled frown on his face. ‘Dammit, Drew, so much has happened since you left, I have no idea where to start. All of us are married. Even Logan, and to the unlikeliest of women. Though she has been good for him. Settled him down no end.' He shook his head. ‘And you? What happened to you? Why didn't you let us know you were alive until now?'

‘It is a long story,' Drew said. ‘And not relevant to our current situation. What is all this I hear about you being a lord? And why the bodyguard?'

Aleyne's handsome face hardened. ‘Also long stories. But since you ask, my title came through my wife.'

Drew curled his lip. ‘Married an heiress, did you? Ian thought it was all right for you, then.'

‘Ian had no knowledge of it until it was done. Ours is a love match.' His tone held disapproval.

Drew winced. ‘And he married the Albright woman.'

‘Lady Selina is a grand lass and has been very good for our Ian.'

‘Not to mention good for the family coffers. She brought him Dunross, I understand.' Drew's voice and eyes were as cold as ice. ‘Whereas I was banished for trying to save the family fortunes.'

Aleyne shook his head. ‘You have no idea how much he regretted... But I should let him tell you himself. He will be here tomorrow to meet with Lord Gordon.'

‘I'll be here then, too,' Drew said. To Rowena it sounded like a threat.

‘Good. He's bringing Mother, too, to see a specialist for her lungs.'

‘Why the bodyguard?' Drew asked abruptly.

‘Ian's idea,' Niall said. ‘There are some unsavoury elements who have caused us problems recently.'

‘Do they work for a man named McKenzie? They mistook me for Logan, at first.'

Now, why was he not telling his brother everything with respect to the smugglers? Didn't he trust him? Were there things about his family Drew hadn't told her?

‘He does look like you, Drew,' Niall said. ‘His hair is lighter and he doesna'...' He winced.

‘His face isna' scarred,' Drew said. ‘It was what finally convinced the blackguards I wasna' him. It seems like young Logan has been creating quite a stir.'

‘Aye. McKenzie is our competitor. Logan runs rings around him. The man would like nothing better than to see an end to him. You were lucky to escape with your life.'

Drew looked at Rowena. ‘I had help.'

That look warmed her through.

Niall looked shocked. ‘You want to be careful. They are dangerous.'

‘So we discovered,' Drew said.

Rowena expected him to say more. To speak of his capture. He didn't. He looked at her. ‘I should introduce you to my companion. Mrs Samuel MacDonald, this is Niall Gilvry, my brother, Lord Aleyne.'

Aleyne stared at her open-mouthed and then looked from her to his brother. ‘Hell's teeth! You have the missing MacDonalds?' He turned to Rowena. ‘Is your husband with you?'

Rowena gaped at him. ‘My husband is dead.'

‘What do you mean?' Drew asked at the same moment. ‘The missing MacDonalds?'

Niall looked from one to the other. ‘Haven't you heard? Mere died some weeks ago, in a boating accident. The lawyers for the estate have been trying to contact surviving family members.'

‘I have indeed been in contact with the Duke of Mere's lawyers. The duke was named executor of my husband's will,' Rowena said.

An odd expression crossed Aleyne's face. ‘And how do you come to be involved in the case, Drew?'

‘Case?' Drew said. ‘I was there when Samuel MacDonald met his end. I was tasked with bringing his remains home to his family.'

‘I see,' Aleyne said thoughtfully.

Drew narrowed his eyes. ‘Just what is it that you see?'

‘The matter was in all the papers. The search for the heir. The estate is in a state of limbo until all the relevant relations have been contacted.'

Rowena stared at him. ‘No one mentioned any word of this. Indeed, I understood that the new duke was already in place. I never met him when I visited Mere Castle. I was told he was indisposed.'

‘It is all verra odd,' Aleyne said. ‘To whom did you speak?'

‘Mr Jones, the duke's lawyer,' Rowena said.

‘Jones? Never heard of him. He certainly wasn't the old duke's lawyer,' Aleyne said. ‘Carstairs and Raglin have served the Dukes of Mere for three generations. And I can tell you that there is no lawyer or clerk named Jones in their office. I deal with other clients of theirs on a regular basis.'

‘But he met us at Mere,' Rowena said.

Drew nodded in confirmation.

Aleyne looked at her with consternation.

‘And then there was Lady Cragg,' Rowena said.

‘And who might she be?'

She looked helplessly at Drew. ‘I don't know. I thought she must be the duke's hostess. A member of his family. She was in charge of the servants.'

‘A distant cousin of the old duke, perhaps,' Aleyne said. ‘There is no new duke confirmed as yet. Though there have, as I understand it, been a few claimants to the title.'

‘Surely a duke would know the identity of his heir,' Rowena protested.

‘You would think so,' Aleyne said. ‘But though we are calling him the old duke, he was younger than I am by a good bit and he was about to be married. I doubt he expected to cut his stick quite yet.'

‘Are you saying that you think that perhaps my husband might have been his heir?' Rowena finally said. She'd kept trying not to think that this was what all this meant, but logically what else could it be?

‘Only someone from Carstairs and Raglan could say for certain. But he was one of those mentioned in the papers as being sought. Another is a small lad barely out of petticoats.'

‘I saw a small boy,' Rowena said. ‘At Mere. He was playing in the gardens.'

‘Why didn't they tell Rowena all of this?' Drew asked.

Rowena stiffened as Lord Aleyne's sharp gaze went to her face at Drew's use of her first name. She looked down her nose at Drew's brother. ‘That is a question I would like answered,' she said tersely. ‘Lady Cragg did mention the need for legal matters to be ironed out.'

Lord Aleyne went to the hearth and leaned an elbow on the mantel, looking at them both with a frown. ‘I will speak to Will Carstairs. He's a friend of mine. Of course, he won't give away any confidences, but there are things he might be able to tell me. I will need the answer to a few questions before I see him.'

‘What would you like to know?' Rowena asked.

‘First, is there proof of your husband's death?' Aleyne said.

‘There is,' Drew replied. ‘We delivered his remains to Mere Castle on our way to Edinburgh.'

Aleyne's frown deepened.

‘There is something else I should mention,' Drew said, leaning back. ‘This man Jones, who said he was the duke's lawyer, seemed very insistent on establishing the exact date of Mr MacDonald's death. Or at least, he was for a while. When I told him I didn't have proof, he suddenly didn't seem to care.'

‘Do you know the date of death?' Aleyne asked in a strange tone of voice.

Drew shot him a hard look. ‘Tell me why it is so important.'

‘The date, Drew,' Aleyne said.

‘September fifteenth,' Drew growled.

‘By all that's holy,' Aleyne whispered. ‘Are you sure?'

Drew bristled. ‘I wouldna' say it if I wasna'. I suppose now you will be asking me for proof.'

Aleyne turned his gaze on Rowena. ‘If you have it, you are a very wealthy woman, your Grace.'

* * *

Drew felt the same as he had below decks on the ship. As if he was suffocating. Rowena stared open-mouthed at his brother.

‘What are you talking about?' she asked.

‘If your husband died on the fifteenth of September, he died as the duke,' Niall pronounced.

‘It doesn't make him any less dead,' she said.

‘But it makes you the dowager duchess.'

Rowena's eyes widened. ‘An empty title, Lord Aleyne.'

Drew had a strange sense about where this was leading. He kept his face impassive and waited to see what his brother would say.

‘And there will be settlements and privileges that attain.'

Drew felt his chest squeeze. ‘It all hinges on the date of MacDonald's death, then.'

‘Do you have proof?' Niall asked.

An image of the page from MacDonald's journal leaped to his mind. ‘Is my word not good enough for you either?'

Niall cocked his head to one side. ‘Not when large sums of money are concerned. You would have to be proved a witness without any interest in the outcome.'

‘I have none,' Drew said.

‘You are travelling together,' Niall mused. ‘Which might not be a problem. I assume you have not—' he hesitated and gave a grimace of distaste ‘—been indiscreet? Your past reputation for dalliance...'

‘That was years ago.'

‘A clever lawyer would not hesitate to use it if it suited him.'

Drew bit back a curse at all lawyers.

Niall looked at Rowena. ‘I assume you are travelling with a companion? Or a maid?'

Rowena blushed fiery red and Drew wanted to hit Niall for making her look so embarrassed. ‘Mrs MacDonald's private life is no one else's business.'

Rowena gave him a smile of gratitude, then shook her head. ‘Lord Aleyne is right. Innocent or guilty, facts will be twisted by others who have an axe to grind.' She looked down her long nose at Drew. ‘We have spent more than one night alone together.' Her blush deepened. She was, of course, embarrassed by what they had done.

‘It will be an expensive fight, Mrs MacDonald,' Niall said regretfully. ‘And a difficult one without any proof.'

She bowed her head. ‘It is your advice that we not make the attempt and I accept whatever they feel inclined to offer, then?'

Niall sighed. ‘It might be. Let me consult with Carstairs before we come to a decision.'

Bile rose in Drew's throat. He didn't want to deprive Rowena of what should be hers by right. A dowager duchess! Who would ever have guessed such an outcome?

But if Drew offered the proof he had of the date, circumstantial evidence at best, and it was not accepted, the shameful revelations in the journal would have been made for nothing.

No. They must take his word. The journal was a last resort. ‘We will hear what these friends of yours have to say before proceeding further.' He looked at Rowena. She nodded.

Niall bowed his head. ‘That is also my advice. Where are you staying?'

Drew tensed. He didn't want anyone to know where they were staying. He took a deep breath. This was Niall. Not a stranger. Not a renegade. Or a smuggler. ‘At Madam Belle's.'

Niall's jaw dropped. He swallowed. ‘Interesting choice.'

Rowena's expression became remote. Drew glowered. ‘It's where no one would think to look for us.'

‘McKenzie's men,' Niall said. ‘I'd almost forgotten. What the deuce is going on?'

‘Something to do with Logan.'

‘But they must know you are not Logan.'

Rowena leaned forward. ‘Someone else means Drew harm. A man visiting Mere Castle. I heard him talking.'

‘Let it go, Mrs MacDonald. It's not important,' Drew said. It was something he would solve on his own.

‘Someone else?' Niall's eyes narrowed. ‘Who?'

‘I have no idea.' He couldn't keep the bitterness from his voice as he kept his suspicions firmly behind his teeth. Niall would never hear a word against Ian without proof, and that he didn't have. Yet. ‘How long will it take for you to get the information from Carstairs?'