She stiffened, disliking his tone. “Because he did not wish me to go alone.”
Captain Ryder turned to Harry, who was busy smoothing his cravat.
“Remarkable,” the captain said again. “Not an elopement? You travel in the wrong direction for Gretna Green.”
“I can understand your surprise,” Harry said. “I wonder at it myself.”
“But I suspect Lady Erina could be quite persuasive,” Captain Ryder said with a faint grin.
“Precisely,” Harry said.
Erina frowned. “Please do not speak as if I were not in the room. My father and Harry’s were about to announce our engagement, but neither of us wished to marry… so I decided to remove myself from London before it could be announced.”
Captain Ryder’s dark eyebrows peaked. “You two don’t wish to marry?”
She reddened. “We both abhor arranged marriages. We wish to marry for love.”
A faint gleam brightened the captain’s eyes. The door opened, and a woman entered. She was probably the most beautiful woman Erina had set eyes on.
The men stood as she crossed the pink-and-blue Axminster carpet.Captain Ryder introduced her as Harry’s cousin.
“I’m delighted to meet you both,” said the marquess’s daughter. “You’ll spend the night, of course? I’ll ring for tea, or would you prefer wine?”
“I’d be most grateful for tea, thank you,” Erina replied.
“I know the captain prefers coffee.” Lady Althea’s smile warmed her beautiful, pale-blue eyes. For a moment, she and Captain Ryder gazed at each other.
So, this is what keeps him here, Erina thought. He obviously didn’t like to find she and Harry traveling unescorted. Did he think she would damage his friend’s reputation? It made her even more guilty to see the censure in his eyes. The captain was so very different to Harry. A man accustomed to ordering his men about, he towered over one and when his black eyebrows snapped together, Erina suffered the need to explain herself. But there was nothing she could say in her defense.
She looked across at Harry, whom she never wanted to hurt. He was so different to his friend Captain Ryder. They were chalk and cheese. Harry was calm, reasonable, and kind. Why had he agreed to take her? He could have refused. Most men would have. Erina felt heat rise up her neck, admitting to herself that she had asked too much of him. She must tell him the truth about Cathleen despite her fear that he might turn against her. And just when she’d welcomed the change in their relationship. She hadn’t just come to depend on him, she enjoyed being with him and detected a hint of thawing in his attitude toward this escape, which he had so heartily disapproved of. It thrilled her to think Harry might come to approve of her sense of adventure.
Chapter Eight
As the marquesshad been a respected member and orator at the House of Lords, Lord Butterstone’s funeral was scheduled to take place in London in a sennight. In consideration for Lady Butterstone, dinner had been a sober affair followed by a quiet game of whist after her ladyship had gone to bed.
When their card game ended, they all retired to their bedchambers, and Jack stopped Harry on the stairs. “What on earth are you up to, Harry? You’re playing a dangerous game with a lady’s reputation.”
Harry looked at him coolly. “One might ask you the same thing.”
Jack raised his eyebrows. “One might?”
“The way Lady Althea looks at you could set the room on fire.”
“She is merely grateful. I’m trying to find out who killed her father.” Jack wasn’t prepared to discuss Althea; it would be disloyal to her, although he and Harry were usually frank with each other.
“Ho! And the sun doesn’t rise in the east!”
Jack continued to climb the stairs. “Leave this to me, Harry. I’m riding to London tomorrow. I may have this dealt with by the end of the week.”
“And then?”
Jack didn’t wish to examine his own feelings too closely. “I’ll be on my way, as I planned.”
Harrynodded with a smirk.
Jack grinned, a hand on the banister. “How skillfully you have changed the subject. We were discussing you and Lady Erina. One might ask where her chaperone is.”
“Might be wise to leave that for another day,” Harry said with an eyeroll.
