“Oh, goodness no, of course not. We are honored, Your Grace. The young ladies will be overwhelmed.” She peered at Gareth. “I do not recognize you.”
“I have never been here before.”
“He is my brother Gareth,” Ives said. “He is the youngest.”
“How unfair that the duke did not see to your initiation too.”
“Gareth took care of that himself long before my father would have thought of it,” Lance explained.
“Well, he must finally enjoy the refinements of our entertainments.”
“I must decline, generous though the offer is,” Gareth said. “I am only with Ives, who needed to show Lance where the garden entrance could be found.”
“You will find that little has changed, Your Grace, except the faces. If you would wait just a minute, I want to prepare my young ladies, so they greet you properly.” She sailed out of the dining room.
“I told you that you would make a mess of it if I were not with you,” Lance said. “Hector would have chopped you to pieces by now if not for me.”
“And now you will fall on your sword to spare us yet again,” Ives said. “How good of you.”
“That is what brothers are for.”
The door opened, and Mrs. Lavender beckoned. “Your Grace, all is ready.”
Lance squared his shoulders. “Gentlemen, enjoy your evening, and raise a toast to my sacrifice when you are in your cups.”
“Your selflessness moves us both,” Ives said.
“It should.” He sighed. “The things I do for the family.”
***
Ives shed Gareth once they left the house. He then circled back to the garden portal and climbed the fire stairs.
Padua waited for him in her chamber.
“I saw,” she said. “Did you get in before Hector found you?”
“We did, and I found the cellar. It contained nothing of interest.” He hated lying to her, but he had not completely reconciled his mind to what he had just done. Nor what he would do tomorrow night, when he returned with a carriage and moved the box and the press from this property entirely.
Hiding evidence was contrary to his sworn duty. It compromised his honor without recourse. No one would care that he did it to protect Padua.
He had acted on impulse. It could still be undone. One note to the Home Office or the magistrate would set all to rights.
With the choice weighing on his soul, he joinedPadua in bed. He let her know through the kiss he gave her that there would be no passion tonight. He lay in the dark with her in his arms, assessing the fine mess this had become, considering his limited options and their unacceptable consequences.
“After your father’s trial, what will you do?” He knew she did not sleep yet, but the question sounded stark in the way it broke the silence.
“If I inherit—” She broke off. She would only inherit for one reason. “If I do, I think I will sell this house. Not to Mrs. Lavender. She can go elsewhere if she is determined to continue. I would like to see it become a school. I would accept much less if someone wanted it for that.”
“It could be your school.”
Her hair, so like fine silk, moved against his cheek when she shook her head. “I will take the money and go to Padua, and study. If by some mercy I do not inherit, I will make him give me the money you found in the books and go anyway, and find employment as a tutor while there.”
“I may not allow that.”
She kissed him, and he felt her smile. “You know you cannot stop me. I will have to go. I will be notorious here.”
He was risking his good name, his reputation, and everything that mattered to protect a woman determined to leave him. He was either an ass, or... His embrace closed on her tighter as he acknowledged thetruth behind what he did. Behind the desire and even the pleasure now. Behind the tightness in his chest.
