Redcliff, obviously much shaken, said, “I’m sure I wouldn’t know whatto say if asked, milady! Tied up. And that man touched my ? Well, I reallydon’t know. That Agnes said there were three men, and guns. Was it arobbery?”
“An attempt at one,” said Beth. “Nothing was taken.” She suddenlyrealized how to handle the maid. “But you must see, Redcliff, that itwould be disastrous for anyone to discover I visited this house.”
“Indeed I do,” said the maid sternly.
Beth adopted a repentant attitude. “I didn’t quite realize,” she said.“It was only when the marquess arrived that I saw how wrong it was. No onemust suspect.”
“My lips are sealed, milady,” said the maid with resolute kindness.
“Thank you Redcliff,” said Beth meekly and caught up to Clarissa.
Redcliff and Robin were sent to walk home while Beth and Lucien drove anervous Clarissa to her parent’s hired house. Beth assured the girl therewould be no more beatings and just hoped that was true.
Clarissa’s parents were too relieved at having their hope of solvencyreturned to them to rage, and were quite overwhelmed by the exaltedcompany their daughter was keeping. They didn’t even question the storythat Clarissa had taken refuge with an unnamed school friend where Bethhad discovered her.
Beth made much of Clarissa in her farewells. Lucien dealt out the deVaux arrogance with a heavy hand. By the time they left they could befairly sure the girl would receive no more than a scold.
“Though I suppose we’ll have all this to go through again when the nexthusband’s lined up,” said Lucien as they drove toward MarlboroughSquare.
Not necessarily, thought Beth, but she said nothing. She had to thinkthrough her plan and decide whether her husband would be for or againstit.
By the time they entered Belcraven House it was close to dinner time,but the thought of eating in state deprived Beth of any appetite. As theyentered the house she said, “I think I would like to have a quiet meal inmy room.”
“My thought entirely,” said Lucien with a smile. Beth became aware oftheir situation again and promises that had been made. She stared at himnervously. It was not even dark yet, and after the events of the afternoon. . .
“Don’t worry,” he said gently. “Go and change into something morecomfortable and rest. I’ll arrange everything and be up in a littlewhile.”
Chapter Twenty-one
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“I’ll arrange everything.” Beth was filled with a warm trust whicheased away her anxieties. She returned his smile and climbed thestairs.
She did not quite feel it appropriate to put on her nightwear, however,and changed her walking gown for a soft muslin with simple drawstrings atneck and waist. She had Redcliff brush her hair into its natural style.She didn’t even bother with the cosmetics to hide the bruise. Withouthonesty there is nothing.
Finally she gave Redcliff the evening off and lay on the chaise in herboudoir. The events of the afternoon had already become like a dream. Hadshe really been held at gunpoint in danger of her life? She remembered thethreat to Lucien’s life, however, with crystal clarity. Her heart startedpounding even at the thought. Oh, it was frightening to love like this.What had this to do withSelf-Control?
There was no place in her heart for rationalization, no place for moraljudgment.
She remembered him saying, “Even if you were debauched, I would stilllove you.” She felt exactly the same. Love was a madness, a tyrant.
It was wonderful.
When he walked in she smiled and held out her hand. He came over andsat on the edge of the chaise. He had discarded his jacket, his waistcoat,and his cravat. In the open-necked lawn shirt and buff pantaloons helooked relaxed and . . . and accessible.
She raised a hand and touched the skin of his chest at the base of histhroat.
“How can you look so bright-eyed?” he asked as he covered her hand withhis. He felt hot to her fingers.
“Because I’m in love,” she replied softly.
His smile widened. “So am I. Remarkable, isn’t it?”
“Convenient, at least,” she teased. “You were worried once, I remember,about me falling in love with someone else.”
He shook his head and drew her into a warm embrace. “Don’t. I don’tever want to think about the things that have happened, the things we havesaid. Let’s put everything behind us.”
She rubbed her cheek slowly against his chest. The fine weave of hisshirt was silky soft, but his flesh beneath seemed to burn.
