Scoundrel (10 page)

“Slight?” Remmington lifted one brow. Had the earl lost his mind? “Crofford, your daughter is in no condition for a long sea voyage. You should not send Lily anywhere by herself right now. You should travel with her.”

“Don’t you think I want to be with my daughter?” Crofford dropped his elbow to the table and rubbed his forehead. “I can’t leave
London
, Remmington. My plan is to draw her attacker into the open by making him believe Lily is still in the house. Yet if he discovers that Lily fled, he will start searching the most obvious places. If I am with her, there will be no guesswork at all concerning her whereabouts.”

“Isn’t there somewhere else you can send Lily? Somewhere this man won’t think to look for her?”

“Nowhere I could be certain of her safety. I don’t want to send her away at all, but she isn’t safe here. Hopefully, we’ll catch this madman within a day or two, and this entire business will be a blessed end. I want my daughter back.”

Remmington didn’t want to give her back. Crofford had a sound plan to catch the man who threatened his daughter’s safety, but he seemed incapable of a plan that would keep her out of harm’s way in the meantime.

“Unless you can think of a destination more suitable than Italy, she’s safer with me.” Remmington closed his mouth too late. What possessed him to make such a suggestion?

“It would be an enormous imposition.” Crofford shook his head. “You’ve done quite enough already.”

Remmington sighed in relief.

Crofford continued to stare down at his folded hands, then straightened in his chair. He nodded slowly, his expression enthusiastic. “Of course, it does make sense. No one knows she’s there. And it would only be for a few days.”

Remmington felt a twinge of panic. The earl was seriously considering the idea. Not that the thought of keeping Lily didn’t appeal to him, too. It was the thought of her father knowing of the arrangement that appalled him. She would be as untouchable as ever, yet just as tempting. It would be torture, an insane test of his willpower. “Of course, I’ll understand if you consider the offer too outrageous. Her reputation would be in shreds if anyone learned she was in my house unchaperoned.”

“I thought you said your servants were not the types to gossip.”

. “You won’t find more discreet servants in London.” Remmington mentally kicked himself over the too-prompt answer. He should be bragging of the rumormongers in his employ. “Yet I would understand any father’s hesitation to place an unmarried daughter in my care. I fear my reputation with women is far from exemplary.”

Crofford’s expression turned dark. “Are you saying that you made this offer simply as a means of seducing my daughter?”

“Of course not! I have no intention of seducing your daughter.” In fact, that was what he wanted to avoid. To be accused of plotting her seduction was insulting. He leveled Crofford with a stare that would make lesser men shiver. “You have my word as a gentleman.”

“Fine. I accept your word.” The earl leaned forward, his expression solemn. “After all, no
true
gentleman would take advantage of a woman in such circumstances.”

The two men stared at each other across the table, the air charged between them. Remmington finally broke the silence.

“Your daughter is safe, Crofford. In case you aren’t aware, rumors have me very nearly engaged to Lady Margaret Granger.”

“I’d heard that,” Crofford murmured, undaunted by his glare.

“Lily has nothing at all to fear from me.”

“I’m glad to hear that, too.”

“She’s safer in my home than she is in her own!”

“I believe you’re right, Remmington. I accept your offer to keep Lily in hiding. You’ve put my worries completely to rest.”

Remmington shook his head. Just recalling the conversation with Crofford made him furious. He moved to one of the long windows in his library, braced his hands on either side and stared out at the garden, unappreciative of its stately beauty.

He’d been duped. Looking back on the meeting, he felt certain he’d walked right into the old man’s plot, had an ugly suspicion that this arrangement was Crofford’s intent from the start. Crofford must have known that his men wouldn’t abandon Lily at a public inn. Looking at the situation from Crofford’s viewpoint, his town house was the perfect hiding place. No one would ever guess Lily was here.

“You sent for me?”

He grimaced at the sound of the small, hoarse voice. With a sigh, he turned to face her. She didn’t look very appealing at the moment. The coil of her hair had come undone already. The long strands framed a face swollen from tears, and she still wore the ugly black gown she’d obviously slept in. She looked a mess. He felt the reluctant stirrings of pity. None of this was her fault or her doing. Her father might be manipulative, but he would swear that she played no part in any plan to insinuate herself in his household. She was an innocent, left alone and vulnerable in the care of a man she barely knew. Her father should be horsewhipped.

He fought down an urge to cross the room and take her into his arms. Then again, why not? That would prove beyond any doubt that her father’s trust in him was misplaced.

In that moment, the conversation he’d overheard in the Ashland gardens came back to haunt him. Did Crofford know of Lily’s infatuation? A father could demand marriage if a man compromised his daughter. Could the earl possibly be that devious? It would be the most elaborate plan ever conceived to force him to the altar, yet he couldn’t entirely set the suspicion aside.

If there was any hope of weathering this situation unscathed, he must make it clear to Lily from the very start that their relationship would be businesslike. He would do nothing that might encourage her affections. He would turn away if she looked up at him with that combination of innocence and longing that he found so appealing. Innocent looks could be deceiving. His own experience had taught him that much, and he never made the same mistake twice. He would ignore the rush of heat he felt whenever she came near him, and he wouldn’t stare at her whenever he knew she wasn’t looking. For the time being, he was her guardian and he would not so much as touch her.

With his resolve firmly in place, he pointed to the high-backed chair near his desk. “Sit down.”

Lily seated herself without argument. Her head ached, her throat hurt, and her eyes felt so swollen that she could scarcely keep them open. But she was here to find out what her future would hold, to discover how her father intended to get her on the Brighton mail coach without arousing Remmington’s suspicions. Holding her throat against the pain of turning her head, she looked over her shoulder at her host.

Remmington stood before the window nearest her, the long streamers of afternoon sunlight at odds with his dark clothing. He wore a charcoal-gray riding jacket and matching breeches with a pearl-gray shirt and cravat. Sunlight reflected off brightly polished black Hessian boots. It seemed everything he wore came in some shade of black.

Even the room itself appeared more cheerful than its owner, now that she had an opportunity to study the place in daylight. Deep blue walls were trimmed with the white woodwork of floor-to-ceiling bookcases. Not one gap showed between the books, an indication that all the leather-bound tomes were in their proper places. The books were not only arranged according to size, they were also grouped according to the color of their bindings. Amazing.

Turning in her seat to survey the room as a whole, Lily realized that everything appeared exactly right. Even the furniture was placed at precise angles. The wood glowed with rich highlights from a recent polishing, and the scent of lemon and beeswax made the room smell as fresh and clean as it appeared. Except for a few papers spread on Remmington’s desk, the room looked as if it never saw any use. She wondered how he could concentrate in such a barren place.

“There have been certain changes in your travel plans.” Remmington’s clipped voice interrupted her thoughts, and he walked around the desk to take the seat across from her. “In fact, you no longer have travel plans.”

She released a sigh of relief. “It won’t take me long to gather my belongings. I’m sure there will be some risk in returning to Crofford House, but Papa will have a sound plan to deal with the culprit. I hope my stay hasn’t inconvenienced you too much.” She stood up to take her leave.

“Your stay hasn’t begun to inconvenience me.” He pointed again to her chair. “Sit down, Lily.”

“But—”

“You aren’t leaving.” He picked up a folded paper from his desk and tapped it against his fingertips. “I want you to listen very carefully to what I’m going to tell you, Lily. I dislike repeating myself.”

His voice reminded her of the tone her father used to address servants or small children. Perhaps he shared the opinion of many men that the weaker sex also had the weaker brain. Considering her circumstances, that wasn’t such a bad misconception to encourage. She managed to keep her expression blank as she gave him a solemn nod.

“Your father and I decided that it’s best if you stay here.” He didn’t give her a chance to absorb the shock of his announcement, but continued before she could object. “Your great-aunt took herself off to Italy, and your father cannot think of another safe place for you to stay until he tracks down the culprit responsible for this situation. I think it important to set a few rules at the outset of this arrangement so we will both understand what is expected of the other. First, I do a great deal of work in my library in the mornings and I will not tolerate interruptions of any sort. Second, I—”

“You cannot be serious!” Her voice broke into a harsh croak but he ignored the sound.

“Quite serious,” he said. “My estates and business ventures require my undivided attention in the mornings and I will not put up with distractions. I have a very orderly schedule that will not be interrupted by your stay if you simply follow—”

“I’m not staying here.” She crossed her arms and sat back to wait for his agreement.

“Your father anticipated that you might be doubtful of the arrangement.” He tossed the folded paper across the desk. “His letter should help clarify the situation.”

Lily snatched up the letter and broke the seal. “My father would never agree to such a ludicrous plan, Remmington. You must be…” Her voice trailed off as she read the contents of her father’s letter.

Dearest Lily:

After a long discussion with Remmington, I am convinced you will be safer in his keeping than with Aunt Amelia in Italy.

I am certain His Grace knows my concerns about this agreement, yet he has convinced me that your safety is of the utmost importance.

I have his word that nothing of an improper nature will take place while he is entrusted with your care, that your honor will not be compromised in any way.

After much thought, I’ve decided you’re to stay in hiding at Remmington’s town house until your attacker can be brought to justice.

I fear you’ll not be safe in your own home until this madman is in custody, or until his reasons for such a bold attack become known.

Remmington has promised that your stay in his home will remain a tightly guarded secret, that not even a breath of scandal will arise as a result.

I wish I could be there as well to lend my support, but you know the reasons I am staying here.

I hope that you can trust Remmington as I do.

It certainly seems there is nobody better qualified to keep you safe at this time.

I can think of a
halfdozen
reasons why you will object to this plan, but know it is my wish that you stay with Remmington until this dreadful business is resolved.

Yrs.,

Crofford

Lily understood immediately why her father underlined the word
halfdozen
. It was the sixth word in the sentence and an alternate word for six. It was also the clue to the letter’s simple code. She scanned the note again, reading only the sixth word of each sentence.
Remmington knows nothing. You’re safe. Stay there. Trust nobody
. Her hand trembled as she placed the letter on Remmington’s desk.

“You must be very convincing, Remmington. That, or my father has taken leave of his senses.” She tried to reconcile herself to the fact that she was staying. One part of her felt a sense of elation. The other part, sheer dread.

“I assure you that I was not the least convincing, and I agree completely that your father’s senses are sadly lacking where you are concerned.”

Her chin rose several inches. “How dare you insult my father!”

“I am stating facts, not insults. You must also take into consideration the fact that I have had less than three hours’ sleep in the past two days and now find myself the guardian of a young woman I hardly know. Forgive me if I seem somewhat irritable.”

Her thoughts raced forward. She would be forced to face him every day, perhaps several times a day. How long could she pretend indifference? How long before he realized that she was as stupidly infatuated with him as she had been before they met? It was a lowering thought. “You cannot want me here. My presence will be a dreadful inconvenience.”

“I agree completely.”