George’s gaze shifted to the door. His eyes widened, but he nodded. “Yes, yes, come in.”
Malcolm crossed to the bedside, and Adeline melted backward to leave, closing the door behind her. He looked down at George’s blackened eye and swollen lip. Damn, they had really worked him over. “Came to track you down this morning after you stood me up last night.”
“Ran into some trouble,” George replied.
“I can see that. Is this what had you so jittery last night?”
George shook his head and then winced. He closed his eyes briefly. “No, didn’t see this coming. Couldn’t talk my way out with these fellows. Father owes them money. Used to his debts being to other gentlemen at the tables. Always able to figure out something.”
“Has it to do with the stolen artifacts?”
Surprise flared briefly in George’s eyes. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I could be discreet. If you gave me the pieces, I could return them without implicating you.”
“I can’t. Father…” His good hand flexed into a fist. “I simply haven’t any idea what you are referring to.”
So, it was going to be like that. Malcolm sighed. “What did you want to talk to me about last night?”
“Wanted to ask you…” George struggled to take in a deep breath.
“Are you all right? Can you breathe?”
“Fine, just hurts. Need you to watch out for Adeline. Things are complicated. Now, dangerous, maybe. Can you keep an eye on her for me?”
“Absolutely, but your father has accepted Lord Bellamy’s offer for her.”
“What? No. I have some extra money hidden from my father. I can pay off the debts. They wouldn’t listen last night; I couldn’t even get them to tell me how much. This morning, Father wouldn’t even look me in the eye.” George closed his eyes for several moments. “Can you take Addy to my estate in Wiltshire? I will deal with things here. I can keep Bellamy at bay for a while.”
Even though he doubted that George coulddeal withanything in his current state, Malcolm nodded in agreement. Getting Adeline out of town and somewhere safe had just become his top priority. “What about your mother? Shall I take her as well?”
“No, she won’t go. Hates to have her routine disturbed. She never leaves the house anyway. She will be safe in her tower.”
Malcolm stared down at his friend. He was going to hate to get him in trouble, but he had to report what he knew to Daniels. Scandal was inevitable for the family, but he would do what he could to protect Adeline. He could marry her and give her his name and the protection that being a marchioness would provide to her reputation. The trouble was she was far too analytical to be swept off her feet by hasty proposals, but he vowed to spend every moment of their trip to Wiltshire convincing her that he was the right choice in her husband hunt.
“George, if I take your sister under my protection, I am going to make her mine. I won’t allow her to marry Bellamy.”
George nodded. “I couldn’t imagine a better match. Keep her safe.”
Chapter Thirteen
Adeline leaned againstthe wall with her arms wrapped across herself. She stared at the closed door. What were they talking about? Did Kingsbury know something about the artifacts? He seemed so confident that he understood her situation. She shook her head. He must have meant about being married off to Lord Bellamy. Last night’s attack on George was undoubtedly done by those men to whom her father owed money. The artifacts were just another way for her father to pay his debts. Like his selling her off. Why did Lord Bellamy want her anyway? How much did he offer her father? How much was she worth?
The door opened, and Kingsbury walked out of George’s room. Good Lord, he was so big and solid. She wanted to step into his embrace again, but that was foolish and probably unwanted. She had already made a cake of herself by asking him to kiss her last night. Oh, but the sensuous slide of his lips had been worth discarding her pride. During their kiss, for the first time in her life, she hadn’t had a single thought in her head. She had planned to analyze the pressure and position of lips and mentally record all the details of how a kiss should be attempted. Instead, his kiss had erased all rational thoughts, replacing them with pure sensation.
His grim expression softened when he saw her. “Adeline, can we speak privately?”
She pushed off the wall. “Certainly.” Where could she take him where her father wouldn’t see? “This way.”
Kingsbury followed her toward the back of the house. Adeline climbed up the back stairs. At the top, she led him to the left and pushed open the large window that led to her favorite place. She stepped over the low sill and onto her terrace. At ten feet by ten feet, it was a small area that jutted off right below the roofline. No one ever came out here but her, which made it a perfect spot. She crossed to the stone balustrade to give some space for Kingsbury to climb out. The crisp fall air was chilly, and she pulled her shawl more tightly around her shoulders. “This is my space. No one ever comes out here.”
“Nice view.”
It really was a pleasant view. From up here, she could see the entire square, the bright oranges and reds of the trees that stood sentry in front of the pristine, grand houses. She turned to face him. “I use it most often at night to view the stars.”
He shucked off the greatcoat he still wore and draped it across her shoulders. It enveloped her in his warmth, falling down to sweep the ground. His lips twitched up into an amused smile. “There, it’s chilly this morning.”
“Thank you.” She buried her nose in the collar. It smelled like his pleasant mix of smoke and vanilla. “For coming this morning, as well. You always seem to show up when I am falling apart. I promise you, normally, I am very level-headed.”
