“I tell you, it can’t wait. I should have never listened to you,” Rawlings grumbled. “What was I thinking investing in stolen goods?”
A hand landed heavily on Rawlings’s shoulder. “You won’t regret the investment. I tell you that there are collectors who will be salivating to add these pieces to their collections. They will bring us all a pretty profit. The contraband tea was an unexpected snag. The ship’s captain saw an opportunity for himself and got greedy.”
This was it. All that he needed was to see who the other man was, perhaps one of the other lords? Neelum or Fenwick?
“But what about now? I need the money now.”
“Hmmm, I’ll tell you what. I will give what you need to pay off your creditors if you finally say yes and give me that lovely daughter of yours in marriage. You have been dodging the deal for weeks now.”
“Yes, of course. If she is what you want, you can have her.” Rawlings shook the other man’s hand, sealing the agreement.
Malcolm sucked in a sharp breath. Adeline had been right about her father. He had just sold her off, without a second thought, to pay off his debts.
“Excellent. Come see me at my home tomorrow afternoon, and I will write you a draft. Now, perhaps you can arrange a dance with the girl?”
“Of course,” Rawlings replied.
Malcolm stepped back into the shadows as the door opposite opened all the way. Rawlings exited first, followed by Lord Bellamy. Malcolm pursed his lips. Crafty bastard. Playing both sides. He leaned back against the wall next to the door.The plot thickens. It was unsurprising that Rawlings was complicit in the theft; Malcolm had his suspicions from the start. But Bellamy? Although now that Malcolm thought about it, as foreign secretary, he would have the connections to know what artifacts to steal and from whom. And the status to procure hapless investors. Using men like Rawlings, who were always on the edge of bankrupting their coffers.
But to use all this to also get himself a young bride? True villainy. Malcolm would talk to Danby tonight. Lay out what he knew and give his friend a chance to fix things. Perhaps if Danby agreed to hand over the items to Malcolm, then he could return them discreetly and keep the family from scandal. It would not solve their father’s debts, but that was not Malcolm’s problem. He would talk to Admiral Daniels about Lord Bellamy, though, and make sure that the man could not get his hands on Adeline Amberley.
Chapter Eleven
Adeline let LordBellamy lead her back to where her mother and father stood. She pulled in a breath in an effort to push back the growing panic that skittered up her spine. During their dance—one her father had insisted upon—Lord Bellamy had preened and spoken casually about their future together. How he planned to spoil her. How pleased he would be to have such a handsome wife.
Dumbfounded, she had no words in response. She stared up at him as they danced in and out of the line. Then, each time she opened her mouth to respond, he handed her off to another partner in the line. Shock had her going through the motions of the reel automatically. Now she faced her parents, her father smiling broadly and her mother subdued. Adeline put her polite façade firmly in place.
“Thank you for the dance, my dear,” Lord Bellamy said.
“It is so nice to see you two getting the opportunity to get to know each other better before the wedding,” her father said.
Her mother reached for Adeline’s arm and tugged her to her side, giving her waist a tiny squeeze. Adeline let out a breath. Surely, her mother wouldn’t allow this. “Perhaps not so loud, my dear. Private matters need to be discussed.”
“Nonsense,” her father said far too loud. “Bellamy and I have discussed it, and we have come to a decision. Bellamy, what do you say to a celebratory drink?”
“Sounds excellent.” Lord Bellamy’s triumphant gaze swung to her. He reached for her hand and brushed a kiss over her gloved fingers. Adeline struggled not to shudder.
Once the two men had walked away, her mother flipped open her fan. “Don’t look so worried. You’ll only cause more speculation than your father already has by announcing your engagement so publicly.” She patted her arm. “Don’t worry, I will speak with him tonight.”
Adeline nodded, but she glanced frantically around the room for George. Her mother could fuss at her father, but George was the only one to whom her father would listen. Where had her brother gone off to? She fanned herself. Her heart beat too loudly in her ears. What had happened? Her father had promised her until next month. “Mother, I need to take a moment to settle my nerves. I am going to go to the retiring room.”
“Of course, dear. I understand.”
Adeline blindly walked through the crowd toward the double doors that led out of the ballroom. What was she going to do? Her initial panic quickly began to fade to a familiar sense of resignation. Nothing, she would do nothing. She had no options unless her brother could somehow save her.
“Adeline!”
She raised her head. Lucy and her husband stood a few feet away along the edge of the ballroom. The duke never danced, so the couple tended to keep to the edges as they chatted with other guests. They also never stayed at social functions long. Adeline knew that Lucy was only in town this season to help her with her husband hunt. And what a waste, as it didn’t matter anymore. She was going to end up the wife of Lord Bellamy.
Lord and Lady Hartwick approached. “Adeline, I haven’t seen you all night.” Her friend smiled. “Dancing with lots of eligible gentlemen?”
Adeline tried for a smile, but as she looked up at her friend’s husband, the only thought that raced through her mind was,I know who tried to kill you. Good Lord, the scars on his face were because of her father. She was so ashamed she couldn’t even look at him. She dropped her gaze to her hands. If they knew the truth, Lucy would not want to be her friend anymore. The duke could ruin her family as easily as breathing. Her mother and brother didn’t deserve to be buried under her father’s misdeeds. Lord, it was so hot in here. She needed to find a way out.
“Yes, plenty of dancing. Please excuse me.” Adeline turned in the opposite direction and hurried away.
She looked left and right as she struggled to find an escape from the ballroom. Then she spotted the French doors to the veranda. She bit her bottom lip. She wasn’t allowed outside alone. Well, blast it all; perhaps if she got herself into a bit of trouble, Bellamy would rescind his offer? Either way, she needed some fresh air, or she would go mad with her swirling thoughts.
She took one last glance around for her brother, and not seeing him anywhere, she slipped through the door into the night. She gulped in a lungful of cold air. A loud male laugh came from her right, followed by more male laughter. It had her scurrying out farther to the left and into deeper shadows. She got to the edge of the stone veranda and laid her hands against the cold stone of the balustrade. Goose bumps rose on her skin as the cold air settled in around her. But she didn’t mind; the cold cooled her overheated face as she raised it to the sky. Tonight was clear, and Cassiopeia hung right above her in the sky.
