“Damn.” Leo’s gut sank. He wanted to know what was motivating the man to pursue Miss Smith.
There was also the trouble of this damnedfeelinghe got when he was around her, as though his years of celibacy and punishment abruptly didn’t matter, that he could lose himself in her stunning gaze and consuming floral scent.
He blinked away the bloody ill-timed thought and returned his focus to the matter at hand. “Thank you, Percy. Your work is appreciated, though I’m afraid that our night is not yet over.”
Percy lifted one dark eyebrow in question.
As swiftly as possible, Leo launched into a retelling of Miss Smith’s circumstance, concluding with her attacker’s “orders.” “It is entirely possible that the man saw my family’s crest emblazoned on the carriage,” he continued. “We must prepare for his imminent arrival.”
* * *
London
Maria poisedher fist to knock at the town home’s main entrance, but hesitated, twin prickles of fear tingling behind her ears.
“Don’t lose your nerve, now, Maria,” Heather said impatiently. “You woke me up before dawn to come down here; we’d dashed well better seek an audience with the man.”
Chest flaring with heat, and the underside of her breasts feeling uncomfortably moist, Maria rapped on the door.
It was all of thirty seconds before a footman swung it open. “Oh!” He gave them a delayed bow. “So sorry. We’d not been expectin’ visitors afore nine o‘ the clock. Do you have cards?”
“We’ve no calling cards,” Maria said, suppressing a shiver. “But please inform His Grace that Miss Roberts and Miss Morgan are here.”
The young man nodded, and closed the door on them.
Heather sniffed. “Well, I say.”
A laugh bubbled up through Maria’s chest.
They waited for several long moments before the door swung open once more and the harried-looking footman stepped aside. Juliana had not encountered this footman before. Mayhap he was new—he was certainly nervous enough to be.
“My apologies for making you wait. Please come in; His Grace will see you in his study.”
Maria’s knees wobbled as she crossed the threshold, following the young footman through the halls to an opened doorway.
“Miss Roberts and Miss Morgan,” he announced to the room before retreating on nervously shifting feet.
Maria and Heather entered the candlelit study. She ought to have curtseyed, but the thought rebelled when it came to Jasper. She took a deep breath and smiled thinly, instead. The space was warm and smelled like parchment, leather, sandalwood shaving soap, and man.
The Duke of Derby stood behind his desk, his coat and cravat removed, his shirtsleeves rolled up to his elbows, and his collar opened far enough to reveal a smattering of dark chest hairs. Heaven above, he was like a man destined for the gallows, his hair mussed and his eyes creased with worry and hopelessness. He was also entirely lovely. Drat the man.
“Thank you for coming to speak with me. Please, have a seat.” He gestured to the two chairs facing his desk.
Leather creaked as they all sat. Warm firelight flickered, and Maria took him in.
In the many years Maria had known Juliana and Jasper, she’d known them to have a comfortable, familial relationship. He had been charming and vain, but he’d never acted the villain. Never would Maria have thought him capable of attempting to marry Juliana off to a man of nearly sixty.Whathad Jasper been thinking?
Now, gone was the conceited and confident heir to a dukedom, and here sat a duke with wild, finger-combed dark hair, shadowed circles around his too-beautiful eyes, and an air of panic. This man was changed, and it boded ill, indeed.
“You mentioned that this was a matter of some importance?” Heather prompted.
“I did, yes. Juliana is in danger.” The duke retrieved some pieces of parchment from a drawer and slid them across the desk. “I’ve been receiving threats.”
Both Maria and Heather scanned the letters, and Maria’s heart and hope dropped further with each word.
“My God,” she breathed. “But who would do this? Who would make such threats against you?”
“And what could possibly be their goal?” Heather added.
