Chapter Sixteen
Roland stared at the letter in his hand, his temples throbbing. How dared that pathetic excuse for a human being, Treadwell, threaten Lissy! He would scoop the man’s eyeballs out with an egg spoon, stretch his neck with his bare hands, tie a knot in his disgusting tongue, and choke him!
“What am I going to do?” Lissy’s voice was level, but he saw the fear in her eyes.
“I don’t suppose I’d be permitted to flay him alive?”
She shook her head.
“Challenge him to a duel? I can’t imagine he’s a good shot. Or much of a swordsman for that matter.”
“That’s not what I want from you. I was hoping for a solution.”
“One that doesn’t involve violence? How can you deprive me of the pleasure I would glean from dispatching that little runt?”
She laid her hand on his sleeve. “Had I known you’d be so angry, I’d never have come to you. Please don’t do anything foolhardy.”
“Forgive me, but I’m already angry with him for stealing you away from your family and then attempting to kidnap you when your family orchestrated your return.
Only the lowest kind of fellow manipulates a lady like that.
And now, as we can tell from the note, Oscar Treadwell truly is the lowest kind of fellow, no matter how good his watercolor daubs might be.
I’m sorry to say it, Lissy, but I cannot help believing it was always your inheritance he was after, and never your delightful self. ”
It was greatly to her credit that her lip did not tremble, nor her eyes glisten with unshed tears.
Instead, she tilted her chin. “I can see that now. I was very foolish.”
He moved closer. “Not at all. From what I’ve learned, your mother’s been overprotective of you—possibly because you are the youngest—and you have been almost a prisoner here in Mundlingham Castle.
What could you know of the outside world except what you read in books and journals, or from snippets of information brought by occasional visitors?
You understood the idea of men, but not the reality.
Then Oscar Treadwell came along—passably good-looking, although nowhere near as handsome as me, obviously—and he befriended you, gave you confidence in your abilities, and tempted you with a vision of freedom.
Is it surprising that you took the first opportunity of escape? ”
“Kind of you to give me the benefit of the doubt, but I like to think I was not quite as ill-informed as you imply. I have, perhaps, lacked worldly experience, for which I entirely blame Mama. I don’t consider myself particularly vulnerable or weak, but I do confess to being soft-hearted.
In all the books which detail what’s proper for a young lady, that has never been seen as a weakness but as a virtue. ”
She sighed, then squared her shoulders. “I should write letters of complaint to those authors, informing them that young ladies must protect themselves against attacks upon their tender feelings, and that being soft-hearted is the first step toward being taken advantage of.”
“Miss Felicity Ashby—I am truly proud of you.”
If it hadn’t been for what he was about to do, he would have taken her in his arms and kissed her senseless.
But there was still the issue of the sapphire necklace lying between them.
And having just outlined the despicable behavior of Oscar Treadwell, Roland had no intention of following a similar path by taking advantage of Lissy’s soft heart.
He wanted to kiss her again—and the need was driving him close to madness—but if he did, he would be no better than the aforementioned gentleman.
She clasped her hands together and raised her eyebrows. “So—since I have ruled out murder, and since we don’t wish to involve the authorities for fear of investigations that could embarrass us both, how do you suggest we deal with Oscar?”
He gave her an encouraging smile. “I’m flattered that you came to me, sweet lady.
I have decided that I will always do my best in any situation, just as my brother Leo does.
I never before thought of myself as a particularly useful person—and may I remind you that you didn’t either—but I am beginning to believe I may have some resources at my disposal.
I promise to devise a foolproof plan—complete with a viable alternative. ”
She laid her hand on his arm, and the thrill of her touch charged through his veins like molten metal—hot, glorious, and decidedly dangerous. He swallowed.
Her eyes were large and shining. He could so easily lose himself in their blue depths. “I knew I could rely on you,” she breathed.
Those were the words he would like engraved on his tombstone. But alas, in this instance, they would not be true. He would be leaving as soon as he gained possession of the necklace.
“Why the serious face, Roland? You’re making me anxious.”
“I am simply pondering the possibilities—that is all. Now then—it appears I will have to attend tomorrow’s costume ball.
Only you can know this. Instruct all your servants and your brothers to detain anyone bringing a message to the castle.
That way, you can get a note back to Treadwell via his messenger to meet you in the castle’s solar, the room you now use for sewing.
Nobody’s likely to disturb us there. Tell him to come up at nine o’clock precisely.
The ball will be in full swing by then, and everyone should be too occupied to notice you slipping away.
He’ll expect an ambush if he has any sense, so you’ll have to come up with some excuse, such as your Mama won’t let you leave the castle. ”
He was certain Lissy could word her request so that Treadwell would believe her to be alone, frightened, and vulnerable. Damn the man for trying to take advantage of her! It made him want to grind his teeth.
“I’ll be in the room a good half-hour before either you or Treadwell arrives, and I’ll escort the gentleman out, under threat of being handed over to the constables if he attempts to make a scene. I shall endeavor not to plant a fist in his face, as I know you are averse to violence.”
She bit her lip. “Will the constables be present? It will cause an awful furor, and Mama will be upset that her ball has been spoiled.”
“I shall ensure that doesn’t happen. We must dispatch Treadwell as swiftly and unobtrusively as possible.
I’ll simply truss him up and walk him out of the castle and into the town, where I shall arrange for him to be incarcerated in the lock-up.
Then I’ll be back to reassure you that the coast is clear. ”
“He can still tell tales. There’ll be a trial, I assume?”
“There certainly will. But I’m not without influence—by which I mean my brother is an earl.
Curious—I never thought I would be proud of that fact.
” He gave a half smile. “At any rate, I’ll take the stand and testify against Treadwell.
Your name need never be mentioned. We’ll present him as a disgruntled former employee with an axe to grind.
I’ll locate our original coachman, who will testify that Treadwell stole the coach.
Highway robbery is still an offense punishable by death. ”
He paused, aware that Lissy was hanging on his every word. He was promising much. But would he be able to deliver on his promises?
“In fact, that is the argument I shall use to silence Treadwell. I dislike bargaining with felons, but in this instance, I’m certain it will work.
If the man so much as breathes your name, I’ll see him tried as a highwayman.
If he holds his tongue, I will do what I can to spare his neck. How does that sound?”
“It certainly sounds like a good plan, Roland. It’s an awful lot of trouble for you to go to, though.”
She was looking at him searchingly, and the air between them fairly bristled with the words he wanted to say.
But he mustn’t confess his feelings—not now.
He couldn’t give her false hope. There could be nothing between them if he was going to complete his mission for Mrs. Dove-Lyon and rescue his reputation among his peers.
“I am doing what any gentleman would for a damsel in distress. I apologize—not in distress. You have shown a good deal of backbone in the face of adversity, and I admire you for it.”
Any gentleman indeed! Surely, no other gentleman was quite so invested in her fate as he. Even though it was uncomfortable to admit it.
She had that admiring expression on her face again; he must stop flattering her. She was more than capable of kissing him, he suspected, and if she did, he didn’t know whether he would have the willpower to stop her.
A heavy silence fell between them. She turned away and gazed out through the narrow panes of the coach house window. Then, in a soft voice, she asked, “Did you not say there was a further plan, should the first go awry?”
Devil take it. He was going to have to make the offer—even though he knew it would never work between them, particularly when she discovered what he truly was.
He took a deep breath. “As I mentioned once before, you will have the protection of my name if there’s any threat of scandal.
We will be married and face down our detractors.
I shall do my best to persuade your family that it’s the only sensible course of action, though you will need to convince them too, because I’m not certain your brothers trust me. ”
“I’m not sure I do either—I seem to have a talent for trusting the wrong people. But in this instance, you’re the only person I can turn to. Avoiding scandal is a poor reason for marriage, in anyone’s book. I’m no more keen on the idea than you seem to be.”
The chill in her tone pierced him. He was already letting her down—shooting painful little arrows into her heart.
But it was for the best. She must not get too close—and she must understand that marriage to him would be an expedient, nothing more .
. . even though he understood that he would be winning a prize beyond riches.
How could he ever expect forgiveness for stealing her mother’s sapphire necklace?
“We need to keep clear heads between now and tomorrow night,” he said. “I suggest we avoid being together.” His words sounded like a door clanging shut, and he had no right to be upset by the hurt in her eyes when he was the one turning the key in the lock.
He cleared his throat. “Please leave a note under my door when you hear from Treadwell, and I’ll contact you as surreptitiously as I can.”
Lissy clasped her hands together and paced around his tiny parlor. He saw her square her shoulders and felt a dreadful sinking in his stomach—she was hardening her heart against him already.
“You will need a costume if you’re coming to the ball,” she announced. “There’s no time to have one made up—you’ll have to adapt something you already have. Or you could look in the attics—there are a few chests of old clothes up there.”
“What will you be wearing?”
She gave him such a coquettish look that his pulse raced. Damn the woman.
“That must remain a secret. But I’ll find you when the ball begins, and make sure you know it’s me behind the mask.”
“A pity. I had hoped we might be a matching pair, so that everyone could watch and admire us as we waltz around the ballroom. A secretary in disguise can dance with the belle of the ball uncontested, can he not?”
“You must claim your waltz early if you want one—I’m hoping to have many suitors.”
He chuckled. “It would be extraordinary if you didn’t!”
He paused for a moment, battling a jab of jealousy. “I think I might come as an executioner—I just need the right kind of mask and an axe. That way, if anyone sees me escorting Treadwell from the premises, they’ll assume it is in jest rather than earnest.”
“I’m not sure I want to dance with an executioner.”
“You’ll have to,” he assured her. “Executioners can be very persuasive.”
“And very unpopular. You’ll struggle to convince anyone to dance with you.”
He only cared about one dancing partner, but now was not the time to speak.
Lissy smiled, and the tension between them lifted like a released breath. “I’d better go, Roland—there’s nobody in the courtyard, and I don’t want anyone to wonder why I’ve been talking to you for so long. Farewell.”
He watched with unrepentant appreciation as she walked gracefully across the castle’s inner bailey and disappeared into the house.
His smile faded when he glanced down and noticed the corner of his valise protruding from beneath the table. Pray heaven Lissy hadn’t noticed it! It was already packed with everything he needed for his return journey to London.
His plans had been laid before Lissy came to him with the news of Treadwell’s blackmail threat. He’d been going to steal the necklace on the night of the ball when everyone was distracted, collect his baggage, flee through the tunnel, mount his waiting horse, and vanish into the night.
This was still the plan, once he was sure Lissy was safe from Treadwell.
The only plan he didn’t have was the one he most desperately needed—a way to piece together his shattered heart after betraying the woman he loved.