Regency Romance Collection From Christina Courtenay (28 page)

‘I suppose not, unless I was as devious as Jasper.’ His jaw tightened. ‘Bastard,’ he muttered. ‘Begging your pardon.’

‘No, I can see now that you’re not devious and you cannot be held responsible for your brother’s actions. Now what we need to do is come up with a plan to thwart them. I have to speak to Synley. I wonder if he’s back yet.’

‘I’ll find out. Perhaps we can go and see him tomorrow night?’

‘Another adventure?’ she teased and finally had the satisfaction of seeing Nick’s expression clear a little. ‘If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to him alone, but you can escort me there if you wish?’

‘You can count on it. Until then, we pretend that all is normal, agreed?’

‘Absolutely.’

CHAPTER NINE

The morning after his return from London, Synley rode over to the place where he usually met up with Lexie and Rupert. He had no idea whether she was well enough to go out yet, but he was hoping that even if she wasn’t, young Rupert might take his horse out accompanied by a groom. The boy would be sure to know how matters stood with Lexie and could put Synley’s mind at rest.

He was surprised to see Lexie and Rupert coming towards him with a new riding companion, a gangly young man with whom they seemed to be on remarkably good terms. A demon of jealousy stirred within him, but he tried to ignore it. Throughout his trip to London, Lexie had been in his thoughts constantly and he had half decided to throw caution to the wind and at least ask her if she would mind marrying someone like himself. However, if she had found a more suitable man to marry, then he shouldn’t stand in her way or confuse her. He was, after all, not a particularly good catch apart from having a title and an estate that was beginning to prosper again, if not much more as yet. Also, he may be too old for her – at five and thirty, he was at least ten years her senior.

‘Good morning,’ he greeted them, trying his best not to show any of these thoughts openly. He was gratified to note that Lexie’s eyes lit up at the sight of him, but then they clouded over once more as if she’d recalled something bad. ‘Are you well?’

‘My lord, how nice to see you again. Yes, I’m fully recovered now, thank you. I trust you had a safe journey?’

‘Indeed, ma’am. And a productive one too, but let us not talk of such things now.’ He looked enquiringly at the young man who had bowed to him, but not spoken as yet.

‘Nicholas Torrington, at your service, my lord.’ He stood up in the saddle and bowed again.

Synley returned this with a nod. ‘I’m Synley. Pleased to meet you.’

‘Nick is Mr Jasper Torrington’s brother,’ Lexie explained. ‘He’s just finished his studies at Oxford and was on his way home, but stopped here for a visit.’

‘Ah, I see.’

‘Yes, and he’s a capital swordsman,’ Rupert put in. ‘We’ve rescued Aunt Lexie from being eaten by a dragon several times now.’

‘Have you, by Jove.’ Synley couldn’t help but smile at the boy. ‘If I’d known she was in such mortal danger, I’d have come to help out as well. We can’t have dragons on the loose in these parts.’

Rupert grinned. ‘No, sir, but don’t worry, he’s dead now. We killed him yesterday and I don’t think he can be resu- ... resi- ...  er, made to live again even with magic.’

‘I’m right glad to hear that. Shall we ride on and you can tell me what else I’ve missed.’

‘Oh, yes, well, there were these renegade knights who wanted to kidnap her and although she fought bravely, they tied her up and threw her in a dungeon ...’

Lexie and Nick exchanged a glance of amusement as they listened to Rupert prattling on. ‘Poor Lord Synley,’ Lexie whispered. ‘I fear he is likely going to hear the long version of this tale.’

Nick looked like he was making an effort not to laugh out loud. ‘Yes, but he seems to be taking it in good humour. Rupert keeps telling me his lordship is a wonderful man. Do you think he is right?’

Lexie felt her cheeks become suffused with colour and looked away. ‘A very kind one, at any rate,’ she replied. ‘With infinite patience when it comes to little boys, just like you.’

‘Perhaps he’s had a lot of practice as well. I don’t know him at all. Our family never saw Lady Catherine after her remarriage.’

‘Was there some bad blood then?’ Lexie dared to ask, curious to know more.

‘Not with her, I don’t think. By all accounts she was very amiable, but her former husband disliked my father intensely from what I can remember. I believe it was the gambling he was opposed to and my father thought him an old kill-joy.’ He shrugged. ‘Families, eh? They’re impossible.’

‘Yes, don’t I know it.’ Lexie thought of her own brother and his mean ways.

Lexie had plenty of opportunity to study Synley from behind as they rode and she couldn’t help but feel relieved and happy that he had returned. It was as though something had been missing while he was away and a part of her had wondered whether he was even going to come back. It would have been more prudent to stay away for the moment, with a would-be murderer on the loose, but he was obviously no coward.

Nick leaned over and whispered, ‘Are you still set on going to see him tonight or do you want me to distract Rupert so that you can talk to him now?’

‘I think tonight would be better,’ Lexie replied. ‘You never know who might be about and sound carries, even when you’re trying to be careful. There could be someone hidden among the trees, listening.’ A shiver went through her as she remembered the man who had shot at them and she surveyed their surroundings with a searching gaze. Since the forest was dense in places, he could have been close enough to hear her talking to Synley as well. Perhaps he had even heard them discuss their first meeting?

She debated whether to warn Synley of her intended visit, and opened her mouth to do so, but then changed her mind. He might say that it wouldn’t be proper and she was determined to go, come what may. Besides, she would have Nick with her, at least as far as the door. No harm would befall her.

She said goodbye rather absently, then went back to Hawthorne to await the coming night.

Lexie and Nick waited until George and Jasper had left for the inn again before setting out on their mission. Fortunately for them, Margaret had retired early with a headache and there was no one else about. As an extra precaution, Lexie donned the male clothing again.

‘You’re going to talk to his lordship dressed like that?’ Nick goggled at her when she appeared in the stable yard. ‘What will he think?’

‘It doesn’t matter what he thinks, as long as he believes me to be telling the truth. I have to make him listen. He’s in grave danger!’

‘I suppose.’

‘Besides, my reputation would be in shreds in any case were I to be caught visiting Lord Synley on my own, so it won’t make any difference how I’m dressed.’

‘You’re not alone though, I’m with you.’

‘Ahem, aren’t you forgetting something?’ Nick’s expression was blank so she clarified. ‘You’re a man too and I shouldn’t be alone with you either, even if you’re slightly younger than me. George could force you to marry me for this, you know.’

‘Oh, good grief.’ Nick looked thunderstruck. ‘But I ... forgive me. I had come to think of you as a sort of honorary sister. No offence. I mean, not that you’re not beautiful and ...’

Lexie laughed. ‘Stop, stop, there’s no need to explain. I know what you’re trying to say and I feel the same way, but that’s not how others might see it.’

Nick sighed. ‘You’re right. I’m sorry, I should have thought of that. Should we wake one of the grooms and take him with us?’

‘Heavens, no! Let’s just go and get this over with.’

Riding in the dark was eerie and Lexie was glad she wasn’t alone. She was startled several times by the hoot of an owl or the scurrying of foxes and badgers across their path, but she tried to control her nerves and breathed deeply to calm herself.

Synley Priory was in complete darkness when they finally arrived and Lexie bit her lip at this sight. She had hoped that his lordship was the kind of man who stayed up late, but it looked as though everyone had gone to bed.

‘Oh, bother,’ she muttered. ‘Now what do we do?’

‘Let’s walk all the way around,’ Nick suggested. ‘If we see lights anywhere, we can knock on the door or throw stones at the window.’

They left the horses tied to a tree in the park and walked round to the back of the house. Here they were in luck.

‘Look, there’s a light over there at the French windows,’ Lexie whispered. ‘Come on.’

They tiptoed across a large paved terrace and Lexie saw now that there were several windows in a row that were lit up, although the light was faint. She put an eye to the glass and stared in through an opening in the curtains. At first she didn’t see anyone, but then a movement to the right caught her gaze and Synley walked into her line of vision.

‘He’s in there,’ she whispered to Nick. ‘You stand guard over there, please, and I’ll knock. I pray he’s alone, otherwise I’ll have to make a run for it and hope I’m not recognised.’

‘Very well.’ Nick went to lean on the stone balustrade in the shadow of the house and Lexie took a deep breath.

She knocked hard on the French doors and waited. A second later the curtains were flung back and Synley stared out, scowling. His frown turned to one of puzzlement and he opened the doors. ‘What the devil ...? Who are you?’

Lexie moved into the light and lifted up her face. ‘It is I,’ she whispered. ‘Are you alone?’

‘Lexie? By all that’s holy, have you run mad?’ He stepped outside to stand beside her and peered into the darkness. ‘Did you come here by yourself?’

‘No, Nick is over there.’ Lexie nodded in Nick’s direction. ‘Can I please come inside for a moment? I need to speak to you.’

‘Very well, but this had better be worth it.’

He pulled her inside and shut the door, then closed the curtains, making sure they left no gap this time. Then he turned to look at her, taking in her male attire with disbelief written all over his face. His eyes widened even further when she took the beaver hat off and shook out her hair, which was loose since it was easier to tuck it in that way. ‘Lexie, for the love of God, what’s the meaning of this? Are you eloping with young Torrington and in need of funds? I don’t have much, but I’ll give you what there is. Or I can hide you, if that’s what you wish?’

‘Elope with Nick? Don’t be ridiculous, my lord. Why would I want to marry him? He’s not even finished his education yet and we’re just friends. There is nothing else between us.’

‘I don’t understand. Why are you here then?’

‘I’ve come to warn you. Nick and I overheard Jasper talking to George and he plans to murder you.’

‘Oh, well I’ve already gathered that for myself.’ He smiled ruefully. ‘I’m not an imbecile, Lexie. The problem is I can’t prove it although I do have some circumstantial evidence.’

‘I never thought you were, but I wanted to let you know exactly how he’s going to do it so that we may stop him.’

‘We?’

‘Yes, Nick and I want to help. He feels bad about it and wants his brother to be caught. He says it’s time Jasper had his comeuppance and he never thought he’d stoop this low.’

‘Does he now?’ Synley sounded very doubtful, so Lexie felt the need to defend Nick.

‘I know it may be difficult to believe and I doubted it myself at first, but Nick really isn’t like his brother at all. He’s good through and through. If you had seen his expression when we found out, you’d be as certain of that as I am.’

‘Well, be that as it may, I can’t in all conscience involve either you or him in this. It would be too dangerous. The best thing would be if I could talk to Jasper in order to explain that he is labouring under a misapprehension – he’s not going to inherit anything from me, no matter what he does.’

‘Really? But then why does he want to murder you?’ Lexie frowned.

‘Probably because he’s seen his late uncle’s will and doesn’t realise it’s not legally binding. There’s a clause in there mentioning “wishes”, but it wouldn’t stand up in a court of law.’

‘I doubt he’d listen to you and even if you could get him on his own and talk to him, he might not believe you. He’s already gone too far.’

‘I know.’ Synley sighed. ‘Very well, tell me what the plan is and I’ll deal with it.’

Lexie shook her head. ‘No, you must let us help you, my lord.’

He sighed and took a step closer. ‘Jake. My name is Jake. Please stop calling me “my lord”.’

‘What? But I couldn’t possibly ...’ Lexie was suddenly very aware of his nearness and swallowed hard.

He smiled and shook his head at her. ‘You can ride out unchaperoned in the middle of the night dressed in men’s clothing and with a young man who is not your brother, but you can’t address me by my name when I want you to? Do you realise how absurd that is?’

‘I ... suppose so.’ She had to smile back, because he was right, it did seem ridiculous.

He took another step forward and was now standing so close she had to look up to talk to him. She breathed in the wonderful, exotic scent of him and it sent a thrill down her spine. ‘Then say it, please. I want to hear you say my name.’

‘Jake?’ She stared into his eyes and couldn’t tear her gaze away. The look in them was burning a trail down through her entire body and she began to tremble. ‘Jake, I want to help you. Please?’

‘Very well, but on one condition.’

‘What’s that?’

‘You let me kiss you again first.’

Lexie put her palms on his chest, feeling the hard ridges of it as it rose and fell with his breathing. ‘You know I’ve never been able to deny you that particular request.’

His smile widened. ‘That’s true. But there is something else I want you to agree to this time as well. Will you marry me? Because if I keep kissing you every time we meet, fairly soon I won’t be able to stop at that.’

Lexie drew in a hasty breath and almost choked. ‘You want to marry me? But you can’t. I’m nobody. I mean, I have nothing to bring you.’