Chapter 2
Chapter Two
“ P erhaps Magpie would suit you better. After all, they do so love stealing shiny objects.” Adrian Stone, Duke of Blackwood, smirked at the woman in front of him.
He had been sitting in his armchair, in the corner of his dark study, when the woman had climbed through the window. Lost in his own ruminations, he had not bothered to relight a fire or a candle, when he had heard the scuffling at the wall.
Adrian had decided to grab a fire poker, and wait for the would-be intruder, intent on finding out why they were coming for him.
Yet to his surprise, a woman had pulled herself through the window. He had been so astonished, he had decided to watch her, after all, she had not noticed him. Always have the upper hand.
He had followed her as she slipped into the hall, his amusement growing at her obliviousness. Yet when she had spoken, he’d been unable to resist making his presence known.
Adrian turned away from her, making a dismissive gesture as he walked down the corridor. “Take whatever little trinkets you happen upon. I doubt I will miss them. And you will find nothing of importance lying around.”
To his surprise he heard her footsteps behind him. He refused to turn around or slow his step.
“I have already told you that I am no thief.” The woman swallowed, her hands twitching slightly.
“So you are perhaps a truly intrepid reporter. Why else would you follow me?” Adrian whirled around, knowing he would catch her off balance. “Do I seem like a man who takes kindly to intrusion?”
The woman was scared, that much was clear. But to his surprise—and amusement—she did not cower away from him. Her eyes did not even dart down the corridor, looking for some sort of escape.
Instead, she stood up straighter, her warm amber eyes meeting his as she said calmly, “I did not come here to steal anything. And I have no intent to harm you.”
Adrian canted his head towards the woman, taking in her height. She is no doubt the tallest woman in any room, I daresay taller than many men. “If you are not here to steal or to harm, then why have you entered my house in the dead of night?”
Despite her height, Adrian still towered over her. Unsurprising given that he was a head taller than even the tallest man in most rooms. He was used to using his height to his advantage, and from the way the woman seemed to make the conscious decision not to shrink away from him, he could tell the opposite was true for her.
Women make themselves smaller, and she is fighting her own instinct to do so. He was impressed, though he took care to hide it from his face, instead letting the corners of his lips quirk upwards as his eyes glinted. Keep them off balance.
“Why are you so desperate to follow me? Unless…” Adrian paused, deliberately moving closer as he murmured, “you are here for a rather more… salacious reason.”
The young woman’s cheeks flushed scarlet, but she did not break his gaze. Fighting spirit, how amusing. “I have no interest in being another one of your conquests.”
“Despite what the scandal sheets say about me, I am not so cavalier with a woman’s virtue. No matter how pretty she is.” He kept his eyes locked on hers, his lips stretching into a slow languid smile, watching the colour rise in her cheeks. “Perhaps you thought to steal my heart? Flattered as I am, you will find that an impossible task.”
“Because you do not have one?” The woman shot back, and then she shook her head.
Adrian saw the tightness in her jaw, the way her hands curled into fists. I am surprised there is not steam coming out of her ears.
“What does it matter to you?” Adrian said languidly. “You are not here to steal it.”
“Perhaps I did not make myself clear the first time, but I have no interest in stealing anything of yours.” The woman glowered at him.
“Of course you do not.” Adrian arched an eyebrow at her and gave her a patronising smile. “And I have no interest in being lied to.”
“I came to ask for your help.” The woman said, still scowling at him.
“And you thought the best way to gain my assistance was to climb in through my window? What a strange understanding of the world you have.” He laughed softly, enjoying the way the woman’s amber eyes flashed with barely disguised irritation. She does not care that she can be read like an open book.
She scoffed. “You left me no choice. Desperate times call for desperate measures.”
“Few people would admit to desperation in my presence.” Adrian said, taking a step away from her . “Many would see it as a weakness.”
“I would have thought you enjoyed a little bit of desperation, I cannot imagine any other reason would drive someone to seek out your presence.” The woman shot back, her voice dangerously sweet.
Adrian clapped his hands together in mocking celebration. “Oh, little thief, what a feisty little thing you are!”
“Stop calling me that.” The woman took a step towards him, and then seemed to change her mind.
“What else would you have me call you, little thief? After all, I do not know your name.” Adrian grinned at her and swept into a mocking half bow from his seat. “Allow me to demonstrate how one usually makes introductions. I am Adrian Stone, Duke of Blackwood.”
“I know who you are.” The woman took a steadying breath, and curtseyed. “I am Lady Natalie Rokesby, youngest sister of the Duke of Emberly, Alexander Rokesby. You might have heard of him.”
Duke Emberly. The name stirred something in his mind, and he nodded. “The Beast of Emberly Castle. The man everyone thought had killed his own father to inherit his title.”
“That was proven false years ago. If your information is so outdated, then perhaps you cannot help me after all.” Lady Natalie made a dismissive gesture. “I would expect a scandal of that nature to be known to even the most guileless of the ton, and I find it rather worrying that you seem unaware of the truth of things.”
“Perhaps my use of the past tense escaped you. I am well aware of your brother’s fall from grace and his subsequent redemption.” Adrian made a dismissive gesture as though the story was beneath him, all the while watching her. “You said you needed my help. Well, you seem rather capable, and I am not inclined to help people who break into my house.”
He turned from her opened a nearby door and walked into the library. His smile broadened as he listened to her footsteps behind him.
“I would not have done so if you had had the decency to respond to any of my requests for a meeting, I am not some half-wit. You simply left me no choice.” Lady Natalie strode towards him, and as she did so he caught a waft of lemon and bergamot.
Adrian whirled around again, drawing himself up to his full height. “Do you have any idea how many insipid little nothings send me requests for meetings? Why should I answer them if they have nothing to offer?”
She looked up at him, her jaw tight, words clipped as she retorted, “I am not some nobody, sir. And I have plenty to offer!”
“Do you indeed?” He took a step closer to her, closing the distance between them as he let his eyes drift across her body, hoping to make her blush.
It had the intended effect, but she did not look away from him or take a step backwards. Instead, she said in a voice too sweet to be anything but deadly, “I think the unorthodox nature of our meeting shows that I am not like other people.”
“That much is clear.” Adrian nodded and moved towards the decanter, pouring two glasses of whiskey.
“So are you going to hear me out, or do you wish to continue our little tête-à-tête into the wee hours of the morning?” She smiled a dagger sweet smile.
“For someone so desperate for my help, you play a dangerous game.” He canted his head towards her.
“I would have thought you enjoyed dangerous games.” Lady Natalie shrugged.
“I do. Though few people care for my stakes.” Adrian gestured to one of the sofas as he sat down in an armchair. “Are you sure you are ready to play my little game?”
“Perhaps it is you who is playing my game.” Lady Natalie sat down, defiance in her eyes.
Adrian let a soft chuckle escape him. “We shall see. Can I offer you a drink, dear lady?”
“No.” The vehemence in her voice surprised him, and from the look of alarm on her own face, it surprised her as well. “I mean, no thank you.”
He filed it away in his mind, and simply shrugged. “Tell me, Lady Natalie, what exactly is it you think I can help you with?”
“I need information. Information on Lord Henry Lindon, the Marquess of Bolton.”
“Lord Bolton?” Adrian’s brow furrowed as he tried to recall the name.
He visualised a library in his mind, thumbing through shelves of books and pulling down volumes until he found what he was looking for. He nodded to himself.
“Why would you need information on him? Surely the time is past to do your due diligence. He is your intended, after all.” Adrian saw Lady Natalie clench her fist, her eyes full of unbridled rage. Interesting.
“I have no wish to marry him.” She spat.
Adrian tilted his head towards her. “Then you should not have agreed to do it.”
“I did not. I turned him down twice in—well,, three times I suppose.” She gave him a bitter smile. “They did not take.”
Adrian nodded. “But it would seem your brother did not care for your wants when he gave him his consent.”
“He did no such thing. Lord Bolton lied. He is a scoundrel. A vile and dastardly man.” Lady Natalie shook as she looked at him. “I would sooner die than marry him.”
Something in Adrian’s chest twisted, but he pushed it away. An old wound that he would not examine, even as the smell of roses threatened to overwhelm him.
“A high price to pay, simply to avoid a marriage.” Adrian swallowed the last of his whiskey, letting the silence settle between them.
“All I ask is that you give me the information I need to be able to break off the engagement.” Lady Natalie looked at him, and Adrian saw two emotions warring in her eyes: desperation and hope.
A dangerous combination. “And what makes you think the cost of my aid would be more bearable?” Adrian asked.
Tension left Lady Natalie’s shoulders, but bitterness steeped her every word. “Anything would be more bearable than marrying him.”
Adrian wagged a finger at her. “Be careful, little sparrow, you do not yet know my price.”
“Whatever it is, I will pay it. So long as it does not harm my family.” Natalie swallowed.
He surveyed her, thinking of what she was asking him to do. “It is dangerous to make deals with the devil.”
“You are not the devil, just a man.” She replied smoothly.
“Are you sure?” he leaned closer.
She moved towards him, looking him up and down. “As sure as I have any wish to be.”
“Oh, little sparrow, this is going to be fun.” Adrian settled back into his seat.
“Then you will help me?” her eyes widened. “Thank you!”
“I am sure it will be my pleasure.” Adrian smirked. “You shall leave by the servant’s entrance, and I shall have a carriage take you back to your London house. Doubtless, you have no desire to add to your list of scandals.”
Lady Natalie flushed with embarrassment, but she managed to bite back her anger and simply nod. To his surprise, Adrian found himself a little disappointed.
He shook himself. “Before you leave, I would like to know one thing. You are familiar with my reputation…”
“What, that you are a notorious man about town?” Lady Natalie gave him a distasteful look.
“I believe the word you are looking for is rake.” He gave her his most wolfish grin, and swept into a mocking bow. “How did you know I would be home and not out cavorting? Unless this is not your first intrusion.”
“A little girl told me. I assume she must be a child of one of the servants.” Lady Natalie smiled and then her eyes widened and she clapped a hand to her mouth. “Please, do not punish her.”
“I take it she had blonde hair, several twigs and perhaps a collection of leaves in her hair?” Please let her say no. Adrian gripped the arms of his chair tightly, his words clipped.
Lady Natalie nodded and he felt as though someone had punched him in the gut. Adrian’s heart thundered in his chest and he leapt to his feet, pacing across the room. “I cannot allow this behaviour to continue.”
“She did not mean any harm. She is only a child!” Lady Natalie had stood up and moved to block him from the door, her eyes wide, but full of steel.
“She should know better. I do not understand why she was talking to you at all.” Adrian shook his head.
“She was crying, so I comforted her. She was worried she would be in trouble so I told her that I would speak to the master of the house on her behalf. And she told me that Thursdays were the best day to speak to you.” Lady Natalie’s eyes searched his face.
Adrian took a step towards her, meaning to push past her into the house beyond. But Lady Natalie grabbed his hand firmly. “She is just a child.”
The warmth of her hand spread through him, cutting through the rage and fear filling his body. He shook his head, breathing deeply, the smell of her perfume filling his head. I must be calm. Control. I must stay in control.
“That is the second favour you have asked. Be careful, little sparrow, you are racking up quite the bill.” His eyes met hers, his voice cool and even.
“It is one I will happily pay to keep a child safe from harm.” Lady Natalie glanced down and hastily removed her hand from his. “I have already made a deal with the devil. What harm is another?”
“What harm indeed?” He murmured. “You shall wait here while I make the necessary arrangements.”
He strode past Lady Natalie. As he opened the door and prepared to step into the corridor, he turned to face her.
“As enjoyable as this visit has been, let us not make a habit of it.” He jerked his head towards the window. “I will be in touch when I have the information you want.”
He closed the door behind him and beckoned to a servant, explaining what he wished and asking that he bring him his valet, Mr. Kember.
A moment later, the man appeared.
“Kember, I want to know everything there is to know about Lord Bolton.” Adrian said without preamble. “And while you are at it, dig up everything you can find on Lady Natalie Rokesby.”
Knowledge was power, after all.