Eight Hunting Lyons (The Lyon’s Den Connected World)

Chapter Six

A s Lord Danford’s carriage turned the corner from Margaret Street onto Cavendish Square, the bright rays of the afternoon sun pierced its window, rousing Louis, the eighth Earl of Danford from his unconscious state and eliciting a loud groan from the earl. He rubbed his jaw, which hurt abominably, and struggled up from his ungraceful sprawl across the black leather bench seat. “Where the bloody hell am I?”

Squinting out the window, he peered at the scenery flying by and recognized it as the block on which his townhouse sat, thank Christ. His head was splitting where Braeton had planted him a facer. Lucky punch, that. He moved his jaw and winced. Damned interfering cur. Blearily, he gazed at the houses flashing by, vaguely aware that he was fast approaching his own residence. Good Lord, what was he to tell Caroline about Honoria’s absence?

Reaching up, he rapped on the trap. “Holwell! Go around the block once more.”

A mumbled “Yes, m’lord” filtered through the carriage’s roof, and Danford sat back, satisfied that he’d bought himself a little time before he had to go face his wife.

If his scheme had gone as he’d planned, this very moment he’d be luxuriating in bed with the beautiful Honoria and not, instead, attempting to concoct a tale to tell Lady Danford about why her mother’s companion wouldn’t be returning to the house. Damn Braeton.

Damn Honoria, for that matter. This was her fault. She’d eluded him for the past six months, no matter how many times he’d arranged for them to be “accidentally” alone together. Somehow, the woman had managed to evade him by pleading an urgent errand for Mrs. Edwards or a sudden need to fetch something for his wife. The past month he’d never even been able to find her without a servant at her side. Yes, Honoria had been clever, until today.

He’d scented victory the moment he’d climbed into the carriage and met her shocked gaze. She hadn’t expected him at all. He’d quickly pressed his advantage and had her smooth thigh beneath his fingers…The memory of it now made him hard as brick.

He’d been so certain she’d simply capitulate to his demands. An ape leader, with no prospects for marriage or anything other than being a hired companion for the rest of her days. The woman should have jumped at the superior life he offered her. How was he to know she’d have the pluck to shove him away and jump from a moving carriage?

And what luck must she have had to stumble into the Lyon’s Den of all places? That Lyon woman had some gall of her own to thwart him and his plans. Doubtless, she was working in tandem with Braeton, although what their ultimate game was, he hadn’t an idea. Braeton obviously didn’t intend to marry Honoria. He’d merely offered that to provoke Louis so he could strike him and whisk Honoria away for God knew what purpose. Perhaps he’d make her his own mistress. The thought of Braeton frolicking in bed with Honoria when it should have been him drove Louis to pound his fist against the padded wall of the carriage.

The coach slowed, and Louis hastily glanced out the window, expecting they’d arrived back at Danford House. To his relief, they’d merely stopped because of the press of traffic. The carriage’s stop had, however, brought Louis’s attention back to the most pressing problem at hand—what to tell Caroline about the absence of Honoria.

Since the truth absolutely would not do, he’d need a plausible reason that fit as many of the real facts as possible. Why would a lady’s companion leave her charge without sending word or coming to collect her things? The only thing he could think to explain such a thing was an urgent summons from her parents. But, as such a message would have been sent to the house, that explanation did him no good.

Shaking his head, Louis wracked his brain to find some way to explain Honoria’s behavior, when an epiphany struck him, so brilliant in its simplicity he could scarcely believe he hadn’t realized it immediately. Suddenly confident, a slow smile spread across his face. He sat up straight and rapped on the trap once more. “We can go home now, Holwell.”

“Danford?” Caroline, Lady Danford stood in the doorway that separated his set of apartments from hers as his valet was fussing with a final brushing of his evening clothes.

“Yes, my dear? Roberts, you may go. We’ll be late coming home tonight.”

“Very good, my lord.” The staid and stocky man bowed and disappeared immediately into the dressing room.

“Danford, the oddest thing has occurred.” His wife sauntered into his chamber, her lush figure hidden by the sheerest of pink dressing robes.

Louis licked his lips. His earlier erection had subsided, but the sight of his wife’s thinly veiled body aroused him once more. Whenever he was denied one sexual encounter, he became insatiable for another. “What is that, love?”

“Mamma says Honoria has not returned from her afternoon off.”

Ah, at last. Time to act the role of the perplexed earl. “What do you mean she hasn’t returned?”

“Just that.” Caroline sat in the comfortable Queen Anne chair near the low-burning fire. “She left just after lunch, as usual, and Mamma expected her back before their dinner was served at half-past six. But it is now almost seven, and she has yet to put in an appearance.” His wife bit her lip. “You don’t think something has happened to her, do you?”

Nonchalantly, Louis sauntered toward her. “Nonsense. Honoria has too much sense to allow something untoward to happen to her. I daresay she’s been shopping all afternoon and has merely forgotten the time.”

“She’s never done that before.” Her brows dipped down in a charming frown.

“There is always a first time for everything, my dear.” He slid his hand over her soft shoulder, and he bent to nuzzle her neck. “Are you almost ready?”

Caroline nodded, then tilted her neck slightly. An invitation he had hoped for. “Mars had just laid out my gown when Mamma sent me the note about Honoria.”

“Hmm.” Scattering little kisses up her neck until his mouth rested just behind her ear, Louis smiled against the tender flesh. “I wouldn’t worry about her overmuch. I’m certain she’ll turn up later tonight.”

“You don’t think she’s had an assignation with someone, do you?”

The innocent question acted like a shower of cold water down Louis’s crotch. He gritted his teeth, then forced himself to peer down at his wife’s breasts, fully open to his view. They were encased in stays, of course, which could be dealt with quickly. At the sight of her plump flesh, his cock resumed its urgent need to unfurl. “Honoria? What a droll notion, my dear.” He slid his hands down into the stays and cupped her tenderly. “I wouldn’t give it another thought.”

“But shouldn’t we try to find her? What if she’s hurt or been…ahh…kidnapped or something?” Arching her back, Caroline pushed her breasts more firmly into his hands.

“Nonsense, love.” He pinched her nipples, drawing a sharp gasp, then a low growl from his wife. “London is as safe a place to be as any city in the world. And who would want to kidnap Honoria?” Other than himself. “She’ll return sometime tonight or tomorrow, most likely.”

Panting, Caroline closed her eyes. “Well, if she’s so inconsiderate as to make us worry like this, perhaps we should find someone else to… Oh, Louis!” He’d popped her breasts out of her stays, then bent over and sucked one into his mouth. “Oh, oh, my dear! You take my…oh, God…breath away.”

Perfect. His distraction had worked admirably. He moved his lips to her ear and whispered, “Perhaps we should move to the bed, my love?”

“Yes.” The throaty word was fraught with her need.

He swept her up in his arms and plopped her onto the blue silk-covered bed. Her robe slithered open, revealing her rounded hips and dark thatched nether regions. His mouth watered as his manhood surged against his trousers. He’d have to change afterward, but there was no way he could wait to disrobe. By the time he’d torn off his jacket, he had to rip the buttons from his fall to let his member spring free.

Vaulting onto the bed, he straddled her body. “Caroline,” he whispered, nudging her legs open.

“Yes, my love?” She gazed up at him, her eyes pools of black desire.

“Do not worry about Honoria. I’ll discover what has happened to her.” He positioned himself at her opening. “I promise you I will find out where she has gone.” He closed his eyes, seeing Honoria’s face on the pillow beneath him. “I will find you,” he muttered to himself, “no matter how long it takes.”

With a vigorous thrust, he slid all the way home.