“How?” Sophie shuddered at the memory of the words she thought only she had heard.
“It doesn’t matter.” Arnaud’s face filled with anger. “Over the last few weeks, I’ve seen many expressions flit across your face, but I’ve never seen hurt and fear. That monster will pay for his cruelty.”
“He, he wanted to know if anyone had asked about my parentage tonight.” Sophie hung her head and tried to hide the tears threatening to slide down her cheeks.
Arnaud placed two gloved fingers beneath her chin and lifted her face. “I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him where he stands.”
“No,” Sophie cried out, but immediately lowered her voice, realizing the other couples strolling the Howick gardens might overhear. “He is Lady Howick’s nephew, Lord Howick’s cousin. I would never wish their family harm.”
After delivering Teddy to the library without uttering a word, Captain Neville turned and quietly shut the door behind him.
Lord Howick stared into the banked fire for long minutes with his back to his cousin without acknowledging the young man’s presence.
Howick suddenly turned and advanced close to him. “I have one question. Why would anyone try to intimidate the granddaughter of a duke, a lady who is under the protection of a marquess who sits in the House of Lords?”
The younger man took an awkward step back and muttered beneath his breath. “I have no idea what you mean.”
“In my house you must never forget someone is always watching, someone is always listening.” Howick gave him no chance to react before delivering another blistering accusation. “And you might also explain how you came to arrive at the ball at exactly the same time someone set my mews on fire. I should warn you that my men have apprehended the ruffians waiting in the rented hack parked behind the garden gate. If they turn out to be your associates, I will hand you over to the runners along with the three of them, so you’d better hope they do not reveal any connection to you.”
Teddy gave his lips a nervous lick and shifted his gaze back and forth as if looking for a way to escape. “I would never hurt her. I’m in love with her. I, I was hoping I could persuade her to come with me to Gretna. You don’t know what she’s really like,” he said, his voice shaky and breaking. “Why, she’s been brazen. She’s given me encouragement and some hope of affection every time I’ve been here, and…”
“Stop and think very carefully before you let fall your next words.” Lord Howick’s tone turned harsh. “We both know Miss Brancelli has always been nothing but courteous and polite to a fault toward everyone in this house, including your own worthless self.” The older man moved even closer and pushed Teddy hard on the chest. “Affection toward a young man who has rarely spared her a kind word? I think not. I’ve deposited enough blunt in your account to take you far from London. One of my colleagues in Lords needs a clerk for his mine in Wales. You leave in the morning. I will explain the circumstances to your aunt.”
“And the men in the hack?” Teddy condemned himself with the question even though his face had turned pale as parchment and he shook like a terrified child.
“The runners will deal with that lot.” Howick gave Teddy a black look. “Or is there something you want to tell me before they reveal what they know?”
“No, no,” Teddy trailed off without further explanation.
“Here are your letters of introduction and train tickets.”
Teddy grasped the heavy envelope and pivoted so hastily, he stumbled on the heavy Turkish carpet.
When Teddy opened the library door, Captain Neville, along with a tall, muscular footman, stood ready to accompany him out of the house.
“Sergeant Randall,” Howick said, addressing the footman, “please make sure Mr. Seaton arrives at his final destination. If he tries to escape, use any means, ah, necessary, to ensure he fulfills his responsibilities.”
“Aye, m’lord.”
“And, Teddy, if you wish to communicate with Sergeant Randall at any time during your journey to Wales, you must turn your face toward him. He lost his hearing with Mercer’s artillery at Waterloo. But he reads lips.”
After the men left with his wretched excuse for a cousin, Howick poured himself a small swirl of brandy from the corner tantalus before re-joining his guests. He dreaded the talk he would have to have later with his mother.
Chapter Fifteen
Sophie suckedin a breath and prayed her companion did not notice her overset nerves. She clutched the seat on both sides, hoping to hide the slight shaking of her hands. Could the ground really be that far away?
Sir Thomas, next to her on the high seat of his curricle, murmured low to his spirited team dancing in their traces. They seemed overly high strung to her, unaccustomed as she was to sensitive thoroughbreds. Her experience had been limited to the steady teams that drew the Howick and Wolford carriages of her childhood.
Sir Thomas laid a gentle gloved hand over her clenched one gripping the seat. “I would never allow any harm to come to you, Miss Brancelli. You must believe me. And besides, your ever-present guardianchevalierfollows us a few places back in the Howick carriage. You are certainly the most protected young woman in Mayfair today.” He pointed to another curricle moving around St. James Square. “See that young couple? They are perfectly safe and enjoying the day. Neither one of them appears to have fallen into the street. Their horses have not run away with them.” He chuckled low. “In fact, you are probably much safer than they.”
“And why is that?” Sophie asked the question while staring straight ahead, fearing to turn and lean toward him.
He placed his hand beneath her jaw and tilted her face his way. “I am the best driver in all of England.”
“How, how do you know?”
“No one has ever disputed the fact, so we will suppose it is true.” With that, he burst into hearty laughter and nodded to his groom to free his precious horses. As soon as the boy climbed onto the rear step, Sir Thomas gave a light flick to the reins and the curricle sprinted off at a fast trot. They flew around the square, the water basin at the center a sparkling blur in the sun.
