“She intended to seek refuge with Standish and her sister, but as you know, they’re on holiday.”
Malum’s stare did not waver. But then he shrugged. “I can send word to them. Or did you intend to deliver her to them yourself?”
“I’d considered it.”
“The first place they’ll check is West House. Failing to find her there, Crossings will send men to track down her sister.” Beckwith folded his arms across his chest. “He’ll take any excuse to go after Standish.”
Because the Earl of Standish had married Crossings’ younger daughter without the duke’s permission.
“Well, damn.” Jasper exhaled. As the younger daughter’s husband, Standish was within his legal rights to keep her from the duke. But Standish had no legal claim to protect Lady Gardenia. Nia.
“Crossings will track Lady Gardenia down, and then she’ll end up married to Dewberry anyway,” Malum said. “Unless…”
Jasper exhaled slowly, remembering the advice Helton had doled out earlier.
“Your aversion to marriage is public knowledge,” Malum pointed out. “They won’t think to look north.”
“North, as in Gretna Green?” Jasper felt his freedom begin ebbing away, taking with it the very air he breathed.
Malum nodded. “Otherwise, you might as well return her to her father tonight—save yourself any further inconvenience, save Standish the annoyance of having his honeymoon interrupted, and save Dewberry the frustration of delaying his nuptials.”
“Because as long as she is unmarried, the law is on Crossings’ side,” Beckworth added. Which truly was ironic.
And wrong.
Jasper punched his fist on his thigh. All three of them knew Jasper wasn’t about to allow Dewberry to get his hands on an innocent young woman. Not if he could do something to prevent it.
“Head north under the pretense of marrying her, and if I discover another means for protecting her, I’ll send word via messenger. You may not have to go through with it.” Malum struck a flint to light a cheroot. “Or she could work here. I’ve no doubt that, with a little training, she’d be quite popular.”
Jasper narrowed his eyes at the duke. “Gretna it is, then,” he said. Because he refused to consider either of the other two options.
Nia sat and waited, glancing around curiously. Jasper’s friend’s office was set at the end of a loft-type corridor that looked over a room that opened up to the entire height of the building. Above hung one of the largest chandeliers she’d ever seen—more massive, even, than those that hung in the Willoughby Ballroom. When she’d finished studying the intricate painted carvings in the ceiling, she counted the candles in that chandelier.
And then simply sat, waiting some more. Had he forgotten all about her?
Nia realized she was once again doing the bidding of some man. And this one wasn’t even her father! As each minute passed, she grew more and more impatient.
Which was interesting, because she’d always considered herself to be the most patient of ladies. She’d prided herself on the fact, because patience was a virtue, after all.
And she’d done her best to exemplify virtue.
But sitting here now, waiting for Jasper to finish doing whatever it was that he was doing, leaving her out of the decisions that affected her, was vexing to no end.
She popped off the chair and crossed to the railings to see what was below, only to jump back when the chandelier slowly began descending, a cranking sound coming from above. Either they were going to clean and polish it, or they were preparing to host a ball of some sort.
Did gentlemen’s clubs hold those sorts of events?
Cautiously returning to the railing, she rested her arms on it, watching several servants bustle about below. There was no dance floor, but instead several felt-covered tables, with black and red numbers and squares marking them.
She knew enough to realize they were for gambling. Chairs were arranged, and a formally dressed gentleman who reminded her of Mr. Bulwark set out an array of decanters on a tall table in one of the corners.
The contents of those decanters held every possible shade of amber, and a few were filled with what she assumed was port.
Even before they had arrived here, the sun had been low on the horizon. They were obviously preparing for the evening’s business.
And it was fascinating! She had so many questions.
“You shouldn’t be up here.”
