She struck him on the side of the head with the pillow. “I am a grown woman. This will be kidnapping.”
A grown woman wielding a pillow as a weapon? She acted more like his ten-year-old sister.
She smacked him again.
“Desist,” he gritted out through clenched teeth.
“No. Not until you—”
He snaked his hand out and grabbed the pillow. He yanked it away, causing her to fallto the mattress in front of him. He gripped her wrist and hauled her to seating. “Now, it is time—”
“Juliana!” A distressed gasp dragged his eyes to the doorway of the bedroom. Miss Butters, clutching her ruffled ballgown, gaped at them. “What are you doing with this man in my room? On my bed?”
Lady Juliana shoved his chest, and he stepped back, giving her room to climb from the bed. “I am trying to impart the seriousness of my situation to this…man.” She scowled at him. “He isn’t taking liberties. He’s trying to takemyliberty.”
“Don’t worry, Miss Butters. There is absolutely nothing untoward going on here,” he hastened to add.
For some reason, that only caused Juliana’s scowl to deepen.
“Now if you will excuse us, Lady Juliana is going home.” He took her elbow, careful not to hurt her but with enough strength she wouldn’t be going anywhere but where he willed.
“How can you be so heartless?” the lady in question asked.
“Am I the heartless one?” He nodded at Miss Butters. “You’ve placed your friend in an untenable position. What do you think will happen to her if you are discovered?”
Miss Butters paled. “My mother would kill me.”
“And have you no thought for your brother?” he asked. “The man is out of his mind with worry for your safety.” Out of his mind was an exaggeration, but Brogan would take any advantage he could get. “And your father…”
Brogan sniffed. Her father didn’t seem concerned his daughter was traipsing about unsupervised. The man did have a lot to answer for in the raising of his children. “Well, if your suspicions about your father are true—”
“All right. I’ll go.” Lady Juliana pointed to a coat hanging over the back of a chair. “But we have to leave unnoticed. I won’t have Hyacinth in trouble for aiding me.”
He released her to fetch the coat.
“Thanks, Juliana.” Miss Butters blew out a breath, her shoulders sagging. “Of course, you’re welcome to stay as long as you need, but…”
“But it would be easier if I left.” Lady Juliana gave her friend a smile. “You’ve done more than I have any right to expect. I can’t thank you enough, Hy.”
Miss Butters hustled over and gave her friend a kiss on the cheek. “Take care of yourself.”
Lady Juliana gave her one more smile before leading Brogan from the room.
He guided them to a back staircase. “She doesn’t know of your suspicions.”
“That someone is trying to kill my father?” She slid into her coat and buttoned it. “No. Hyacinth is very sweet, and very simple. She wouldn’t understand.”
“Plus, if you convinced her there was a killer afoot, she might not have allowed you to stay in her room.” No girl was that daft.
Lady Juliana sniffed. “She’s afriend. Of course, she would have let me stay.” She turned left at the bottom of the steps, and Brogan took her arm and guided her right.
“Friendship doesn’t extend that far,” he muttered.
She waited as he peered around the corner of the hallway. “You clearly don’t have any true friends if you believe that.”
He grunted. This discussion was pointless. He led her toward the kitchen, heard the sounds of a party from within, and switched direction. He found the door to the side garden and pushed it open.
Her feet planted themselves in the entryway, and he practically carried her across the threshold. He gritted his teeth. “LadyJuliana—”
