“I meant no insult, and even you should agree that my questions are valid.” The caring in his eyes made her want to slap him and then throw herself in his arms and weep for what she could never have. “I can help you, Celia. Please—let me.”
“The only help I require from you, Lord Raines, is transport back to Hasterton House. Now.” She drew herself up and clenched her teeth, forcing her composure to remain intact.
He bowed his head and slowly shook it, his mouth tight as though he clenched his teeth too.
“The carriage, Lord Raines,” Sophie repeated while hugging an arm around Celia.
Elias curled his finger and thumb to his mouth and blew a sharp whistle that split the air. In an instant, the stylish barouche and its fine pair of black horses came to a stop in front of them.
Too irritated and embarrassed with herself to worry about social convention, Celia yanked open the door before the coachman or Elias could reach it. She clambered up into the vehicle, took her seat, and snapped open her parasol. “Sophie, you will seat yourself beside me, please.”
“Of course.” Sophie slid into the seat beside her and squeezed her arm in a silent message of sympathy.
“Take them to Hasterton House,” Elias ordered the coachman.
“Then return for you, m’lord?” Jamison asked.
When he didn’t answer, Celia peeped out from behind her parasol to see why. Her heart ached at the sight of Elias disappearing into the woods.
“Seduction is for naught,” she said as the carriage took off at a brisk pace. “The hound only wishes to kill the fox.”
“You underestimate yourself, sister.” Sophie lightly squeezed her arm. “I believe he cares and is trying to protect you.”
Celia blinked faster against the infuriating tears that refused to go away. “I will protect myself and Mama. Like always.”
Chapter Six
“Mr. Elkin stronglyrecommended I tread lightly regarding the Dowager Duchess of Hasterton and her companion, my lord.”
Elias eyed Jack, knowing the Bow Street Runner had never backed away from an investigation in all the years he had known him. “Did Mr. Elkin threaten your position if you continued looking into this matter for me?”
“He made it clear things would not go well for me if I caused the lady any trouble.” Jack ambled closer to the desk and gave an emphatic dip of his chin. “He spoke as if she was his friend—or had once been more. I’ve seen that look in a man’s eyes before.”
“As have I.” Elias remembered Master Hodgely’s fondness for the dowager. Apparently, in her youth, the lady had gained several loyal admirers. Much as he had come toadmireCelia and yearned to protect her. “I appreciate the information about the duke’s background.” He handed the man another voucher, doubling the payment this time. “Let it rest for now to get Elkin off the scent and keep your post intact. You have a wife and children to feed, and I do not want your loss of wages on my conscience.”
“I can still keep an ear to the ground without old Elkin knowing. If I hear more, you’ll know.” Jack bobbed his head. “Good day to you, my lord.”
“Good day, Jack.” Elias watched the man leave, then leaned back in his chair and thought over what the Bow Street Runner had reported about the duke. Nothing new, really. Elias was already aware that not a soul in London could remember meeting the man. They all recalled his father, the fifth Duke of Hasterton, but the sixth was only known by his signature and his astoundingly lucrative trading at the Stock Exchange by a representative who refused to speak to anyone. The duke had to have made that man rich as Croesus to secure such loyalty. The duke was also known as a ruthless businessman.Ruthless. Was the man cruel, also? Was he the one who put the fear and leeriness in Celia’s eyes? Elias’s blood boiled at the thought of anyone mistreating her. Renewed determination to protect her surged through him.
He thought back over every conversation with her, scrutinizing every word. Not once had Celia ever exhibited any apprehension about the duke—or commented about Lady Cecilia, other than mentioning the lady’s poor health. And she had spoken as if she knew them both intimately.
A dangerous feeling of something much stronger than mere loyalty to a client stirred within his heart. He cared about Celia and wanted her with a relentlessness he’d never known. A need to protect the wondrous green-eyed goddess became stronger every day.
A heavy sigh escaped him. He had most assuredly estranged her in the park because of his determination to shield her from what would surely be a very public stripping away of everything the Duchess of Hasterton intended to leave to her. If Celia would just trust him, he could save her from such a scandalous humiliation.
“Blast and damn it all!”
A rap on the door and a curt “Carriage here, m’lord” interrupted his fuming. He pulled his watch from his pocket and glanced at it even though he knew the time. It couldn’t be helped. He had waited as late as he dared. The duchess would surely be wondering why he had yet to arrive with the documents he had promised would be ready for her signature today.
He grabbed his leather bag and left the office without a word to anyone. The closer the hackney drew to Hasterton House, the harder his dread churned. Not because of the duchess, but because of Celia. He resettled himself in the seat, tensed to spring from the hackney as soon as it slowed. Why should he dread a visit? He probably wouldn’t even see her, because she surely hated him by now. She probably thought he had arranged the ride to Hyde Park to interrogate her when her guard was down.
When he arrived, he paid the fare and bade the driver to wait. A pair of servants could witness the signing of the copies of the will. Completing the documentation would not take long at all. He vaulted up the front steps and banged the brass ring in the lion’s mouth against the plate.
After a surprisingly long few moments, Gransdon opened the door. “Welcome, my lord. Her Grace requests you see her in the privacy of her rooms. Please follow me.”
A strange request, since the dowager had said she would attend Lady Bournebridge’s ball this evening. Surely, the lady didn’t mean to have him bring the papers to her while she dressed. Bracing himself for whatever awaited, Elias dutifully followed, all the while hoping to glimpse his precious Celia, even though he knew she hated him.
Gransdon lightly knocked on a door at the head of the stairs, opened it, and announced, “Lord Raines is here, Your Grace.”
