Ann Lethbridge - Rescued By The Earl's Vows

The surprise in his voice irritated her beyond rational thought. ‘Is that so impossible to believe?’ Unfortunately, it was far more selfish than that. She ignored a pang of guilt. After all, he might be more likely to help her if he thought her reason altruistic rather than self-serving.

A sudden urge to tell him the whole truth, to tell him about Greydon, took her aback. She couldn’t. What if he told Rowan? She dared not take the chance.

His voice dropped to a low seductive murmur. ‘You have not yet heard my price for undertaking this service.’

Her stomach gave a little hop. She risked a glance at his face to find him looking at her with a small smile on his lips as if he was once more amused.

She swallowed. It was the one thing that had kept her awake all night. What on earth would he demand as payment? He had said at the masquerade that he didn’t want money. Heat scalded her cheeks. ‘Tell me.’

‘Before I impart this person’s whereabouts to you, you will tell me the real reason you wish to find him. The full truth. I will have your word on that.’

‘You would trust my word?’

‘Why would I not? I trust until a person proves unworthy.’

‘And if they do prove untrustworthy?’

‘Then I seek retribution.’

A shiver passed over her skin at the hint of menace in his words. She glanced over at him, trying to read his expression, but he seemed completely focused on guiding the horses out through the gate and there was no way of guessing what might be on his mind.

‘Well?’ he asked when they had moved into the traffic on Park Lane.

‘I accept.’ She would simply have to tell him a truth that did not lead to Grey and if he didn’t like it, too bad. She handed him a piece of paper with Freeps’s full name on it and some other bits of information about his family she had remembered that might come in useful. ‘This should help you find him.’

He tucked the note into his waistcoat pocket without even so much as a glance. No doubt he’d be handing it off to one of his minions since it was likely he had far more important clients requiring his services.

Resentment tightened her chest. She took a deep breath. She could not afford resentment. His offer was what she had wanted all along.

Life was becoming exceedingly complex. What with Cousin Rowan and now Lord Sandford, she felt as if she was walking through a meadow full of cows. One misstep would cause no end of mess.

A new topic of conversation was needed. ‘Where is the Sandford estate?’

He stiffened. ‘Why do you want to know?’

Hah! What an interesting reaction. ‘No reason. I am simply making polite conversation. It is something I can easily look up in Debrett’s should I be interested enough. Which I really am not.’

He made an odd sound, like a laugh being turned into a cough. ‘Touché, Lady Tess.’

‘We are not engaged in a battle, Lord Sandford.’

‘Merely a war of words.’ Again that disdainfully amused tone in his voice.

They neared the corner of Piccadilly. He slowed just enough to let his tiger leap up behind them. She glanced over her shoulder. ‘Isn’t that a little dangerous?’

‘Na, miss. I does it all the time. Saves getting the horses all of a bother.’

She blinked, surprised the tiger had answered her directly. The Earl said nothing when she had expected him to issue an admonition to the lad for impertinence. She was surprised yet glad when he did not.

‘Sandford is in Derbyshire.’

So he had decided to be civil after all. ‘I have never been there. I grew up in Kent.’ She gave a little shiver. ‘I hear it is cold and rainy in the north.’

‘It can be rather bleak in winter, can it not, Remmy?’

‘Yes, me lord. Proper chilly.’

‘But it has a stark beauty that grows on one.’ He sounded almost wistful.

The north must have some redeeming qualities, she supposed. ‘Do you go there in the summer?’

‘I never go there if I can help it.’ The words were spoken in a flat tone of voice.

She bit her tongue to stop herself from asking why. Theirs was a business relationship, nothing more. He didn’t seem to be the sort of man who would take kindly to someone prying into his personal life.

‘I would miss not visiting my home.’ Her chest squeezed painfully. Unless she could get her bracelet back, it was likely she would never see it again.

Lord Sandford cast her a sideways glance. ‘Is something wrong?’

She realised she was gripping the side of the carriage for all she was worth. She dropped her hand into her lap. ‘Not a thing.’

His eyes narrowed. ‘Come now, Lady Tess, your expression was one of pure horror.’

‘I should be more careful with my thoughts, should I not?’ Particularly around him. He noticed too much.

He frowned. ‘Is there something you are not telling me? Something with which I can help?’

Hope lifted her heart. No. What was she thinking? He would never understand a woman desiring to make her own life choices rather than be dependent on a man, be that a husband or a cousin. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to think clearly. She gave him a tight smile. ‘I think it would be unwise to accept any offer of assistance from you, Lord Sandford. Who knows what sort of price you would set?’

The tiger gave a little snigger.

‘Round two also to you, Lady Tess.’

He pulled up at her cousin’s front door. ‘It has been a pleasure.’

‘When will I hear from you?’

‘When I have something to report.’

She wanted to press him, but did not dare in case he changed his mind. Men were such obstinate, fickle creatures.

He jumped down and escorted her to the door where he bowed over her hand. ‘I will let you know when I have news.’

The butler opened the door to his knock.

Sandford touched his hat. ‘Good day, Lady Tess. Thank you for a pleasant afternoon.’ He sauntered back to his carriage.

Blasted man. He really was the most annoying individual she had ever met. He thought he could get away with anything just because he was rich and handsome.

So very handsome. If any man could be described as an Adonis, it was he. And he drove to an inch, handling the ribbons with expert ease. It had been impossible not to notice all the ladies casting admiring glances his way.

Pah. What did that have to do with anything?

Chapter Three

Two days had passed since Tess had given Lord Sandford the information about Freeps and there was still no word. All morning she had been sitting in the drawing room with her needlework in hand, listening for the arrival of the mail.

And when it came, she had received nothing.

She was being foolish. Too anxious. A single gentleman did not write notes to a single lady who was not a relative or an intended. She certainly had no wish to set alarm bells ringing in Wilhelmina’s feather brain. If they thought Lord Sandford was trifling with her, they’d have her sent north in the blink of an eye. Or they would if Mr Stedman wasn’t still showing a marked interest in her.

Wilhelmina drifted in wearing her Phineas-has-issued-an-edict face. Edicts had been issued more and more frequently of late. Tess tensed.

‘Good morning, Theresa,’ Wilhelmina said with a vague smile. ‘I missed you at breakfast and couldn’t find you anywhere afterwards.’

Worse and worse. Tess let her needlework fall into her lap and forced a cheerful smile. ‘I went for my usual early morning walk.’ The walk her cousin did not approve of.

Wilhelmina’s glance sharpened. ‘With your maid, I assume.’

Poor old Mims was far too old to be trotting along at the pace Tess preferred. ‘I took one of the footmen.’

‘Carver gave his approval?’