Page 25 of His Wicked Charm

“That is my point. I fear they are a terrible influence on you. Your actions yesterday were impulsive and inappropriate. You showed a lack of respect for me, which you have never done before.” Tears glittered in her eyes before she blinked them away. “I fear that your Holcutt blood may lead you astray.”

Lilah’s resentment was washed away in a flood of remorse. “I’m sorry. I never intended any disrespect to you. I wouldn’t hurt you for the world. I’m well aware of all you’ve done for me.”

“Dearest girl, I do not ask your gratitude. I did it because I loved my sister, and I love you. I couldn’t allow your father to ruin your chances. All I want is for you to make a good marriage and live a pleasant life.”

“I know. I want that, as well.” Her aunt was right; that was the sensible thing to do. That was what she wanted, too. The Morelands were exciting, but their life was too chaotic for her. Lilah wasn’t herself around them. And she wasn’t about to let the Holcutt in her come out. “I shan’t call on them again.”

CHAPTER NINE

CON WAS NOT going to think about Lilah Holcutt today. Nor was he going to dwell on that kiss. It had been a foolish thing for him to do. He had gotten caught up in the moment—and, yes, Lilah had looked damned desirable charging into battle, cheeks flushed and eyes glittering, without a care for how she looked or what others might think.

But kissing her had been a mistake. He had carefully avoided her since the wedding, and he’d reached the point where he hardly thought of her. Then, in one moment, he had dropped all his barriers and let her in again.

However different Lilah might have seemed during the rescue of his family, however much her kisses stirred him, she would go back to being herself. Disapproving. Rigid. Cold. Just she had been yesterday when Con entered the room. As if that moment of closeness on the terrace after the wedding had never happened, Lilah had turned her usual cool, measuring gaze on him. She had refused to even sit down with him to chat. Whereas he had come running like a puppy at the sound of her voice. He hoped she had not noticed the way he had rushed into the room.

How could the woman who had turned into flames in his arms last night manage to be all ice the rest of the time? She was a puzzle, so of course she intrigued him. But this was one conundrum that he must resist. One lock that he should not open.

He had better things to do today. The new threat to Sabrina needed his immediate and undivided attention. After breakfast, he headed to Moreland Investigations, the agency he had taken over from Olivia a few years ago. There, as he’d hoped, he found Tom Quick, the agency’s employee of many years.

Quick was whip smart, cool under pressure and able to follow almost anyone without being noticed. He was also a wizard at picking pockets, having spent his early years on the streets, but that was a practice he had given up since he came to work for the Morelands. Though only a few years older than Con and Alex, Tom had been their mentor in subjects that were far more interesting to them than Ancient Greek or Philosophy.

Tom was appropriately incensed by Con’s story of the ladies’ kidnapping and rescue, though he had some reservations. “A key? You think they kidnapped your mum and sisters for a key?”

“Yes. I know it’s odd.”

Tom snorted. “That’s true of anything connected with you lot. But a key is a small thing to risk prison for, and a parasol seems a flimsy clue.”

“Perhaps, but it’s the only one I have at the moment. Since Sabrina and Alex are off on their honeymoon, we can’t ask her about it. But she is the heiress to her father’s substantial estate, and she’s already had Niles Dearborn and his son trying to get their hands on her money.”

“Then you think it’s the Dearborns.”

“We know they’re cheats and liars.” Con ticked his points off on his fingers. “We know they still have a great many financial woes. They will resort to any method to get their hands on money. And they have twice abducted people.”

“You’ve convinced me. But do you have any proof?”

“No,” Con admitted. “That’s why I’m going to pay a visit to the Dearborns this morning. Care to come along?”

Tom’s ready grin was answer enough.

The footman who opened the Dearborns’ door blanched at the sight of Con on the doorstep, but he quickly ushered them into Niles Dearborn’s study. As they followed the man down the hall, Tom murmured, “I’d say that fellow remembers you.”

“Is he the one I shoved aside?”

“You mean the one you punched? Yes, I think so.”

Niles Dearborn looked equally alarmed when Con strode in on his servant’s heels. He shot to his feet, sending a glare at the hapless footman. “What are you doing here, Moreland? You can’t just barge in here.”

“Apparently I can,” Con returned.

“I told that maniac you sent over here yesterday that I had nothing to do with his wife’s disappearance.”

“Leave my father alone.” Niles’s son, Peter, hurried into the room. “Why can’t you leave us alone?”

“Because you came after my brother’s wife again.”

“McIntyre said nothing about Sabrina,” Niles protested. “He said it was the duke’s wife and daughters.”

“Is Sabrina all right?” Peter asked. “What happened to her?”