The clomp of a horse’s hoof made him sit up.
The words “good boy” were scarcely audible, but unmistakable.
Swift suspicion and anger filled him, and he scowled at the stall’s door. Was Juliana leaving without him? His heart gave a hard, painfulthump,and he swallowed past the abrupt thickness in his throat. His eyes narrowed.The devil she would.
“S-stop!” The fearful, trembling voice of a young man pierced the air, driving Leo to his feet. “Don’t m-move!”
Leo scrambled for his boots and coat.
There was a whispered “For pity’s sake!” from Juliana, and a shuffle of feet.
“Lady Juliana!” the young man squeaked.
Leo stilled.Lady…
“Hsst!” Juliana shushed him. “Do keep your voice down, George. I do not wish to alert the house to my presence.”
The battered organ in Leo’s chest beat a hard, painful tattoo against his ribs. Juliana was a lady.Juliana is a sodding lady!The thought repeated itself in his mind, over and over again until he felt dizzy from the overwhelming emotion twisting his insides: anger at her deceit, guilt for having deflowered a virginal lady, fear of the inevitable exposure harming Elizabeth, fury that Juliana had led him into temptation by his cods, and the god-awful fucking agony at the knowledge that she’d intended to abandon him.
A familiar, hated stinging began behind his eyes, and he snarled. He wouldn’t cry, for Christ’s sake.
“… And where is Jasper?” Juliana whispered.
“The duke is in London, searching foryou, Lady Juliana.”
“Shh! Please, George, do keep your voice down,” she hissed. “And thank you. I intend to ride after him directly.”
“His Grace expressed concern over your safety; surely you can write to him and await his return?”
A grim silence fell between them while Leonard’s heart ricocheted in his chest.Duke. Devil take me, her brother is a bloody duke!With a tug on his coat sleeves and a cursory finger-comb of his hair, he reached for the stall door’s latch. And paused. Something did not feel—no, did notsmell—right.
He lifted his nose in the air and inhaled deeply.Smoke!
Twisting his gaze upward, he saw it: the first, wispy tendrils of smoke curling along the stables’ ceiling.
“Fire!” he roared, bursting from the stall.
* * *
London
“First just before dawn,and now after dusk. You have me committing all sorts of punishable offences, Maria,” Heather muttered at Maria’s elbow, her breath a cloud of fog.
Maria clucked her tongue. “You know damned well that this was your idea just as much as mine.”
“And a smart mouth on you. What an indignity to be in your presence. Why, I’d thought you a proper lady.” She nudged Maria in the ribs with a wicked grin on her lips.
“You try my patience.” Maria narrowed her eyes at her friend, but affection filled her heart.
“Which is why you love me,” Heather replied curtly. “Now knock, will you? I’m freezing.”
Bracing herself against her own emotions, Maria lifted her fist and rapped her gloved knuckles against the Duke of Derby’s front door. The absence of a door knocker was a clear statement for the public to remain away, but they had rather urgent business with the infuriating man.
“Do not let him cow you, Maria,” Heather reminded her. “We must stand strong. This is for Juliana.”
The door swung inward, and the same young footman who’d greeted them previously peered out.
“Oh, it’s you. Come in, then.” He stepped aside and helped them with their cloaks, gloves, and bonnets before showing them to the nearby drawing room. “I will see if His Grace is in to accept callers.”
