Chapter 3 #2
Will reached under his coat, snatched the little muff pistol from his waistband and pressed it into Miss Hervey’s hand.
“Here, take this, and for God’s sake, be careful who you shoot it at next time.
” He turned her around and gave her a gentle push toward the carriage.
“I wish you a pleasant return journey to London. Goodbye, Miss Hervey.”
“Wait!” Oliver rounded the side of the carriage, dragging his captive along beside him. His brow was creased, and he had a fierce scowl on his lips.
Oh, Christ. Will recognized that look. His dream of a quiet holiday house party was fading before his eyes.
“My brother is only jesting, Miss Hervey.”
“The devil I—”
“We wouldn’t dream of sending you all the way back to London tonight. You and your friend must come and be our guests at Cliff’s Edge.”
Will gave his brother a disgusted look. “You’re gallant this evening, Oliver.” There was no mystery as to why, either. The young lady Oliver had pulled from the carriage was as pretty as Miss Hervey was.
Oliver nudged him hard in the ribs. “Will! Have you forgotten you’re a gentleman? Do you truly intend to send these ladies off alone into the dark and cold?”
Will fixed his stoniest gaze on his brother. “They’ve come this far in the dark and cold without any mishaps. I’m certain they’ll make it back to London the same way.”
“Without any mishaps? Shots were fired tonight, Will! Someone might have been killed!”
Will threw his hands in the air. “They fired the shots! The only people in danger of getting killed were you, me and Christopher. I’d say Miss Hervey and her friend are more than capable of taking care of themselves.”
Oliver opened his mouth to reply, but he was interrupted by the sound of a horse approaching. They all turned to watch as Christopher came into view. Maddy was perched on the saddle in front of him.
“Maddy! Thank God.”
Will stepped forward and reached for her, but Christopher, whose face was pinched with worry, stopped him with a quick shake of the head.
“Caught up to her just before she reached Thorrington. No sign of Rowley. No doubt he was waiting for her there. I’d pay good money to see his face when she doesn’t arrive. ”
Will looked Maddy over. She avoided his gaze, but he could see the tear tracks on her cheeks, and helpless frustration overwhelmed him. He adored his sister, but she was a young lady now, and he and his brothers hadn’t the faintest idea how to manage her.
“Maddy, are you—” Will began gently, but Christopher interrupted him.
“This is who shot at us? They don’t look like murderers.”
“They mistook us for highwaymen!” Oliver, who loved anything ridiculous, was beside himself with glee.
Christopher laughed. “Well, this is the most exciting thing that’s happened since we came to Cliff’s Edge.”
“First they shot at us, and then this lady here kicked me,” Oliver said, with unmistakable relish. “That young lady slapped Will’s face. Pity you missed it.”
“How fortunate you’re both still in one piece. I’m Lord Christopher Angel.” Christopher didn’t dismount but offered each lady a polite nod. “Who might you two be?”
“My name is Dinah Bishop.” The lady Oliver had dragged from the carriage came forward and curtsied. “This is my friend, Miss Penelope Hervey.”
“Miss Hervey is the lady who tried to murder me.” Will shot Penelope a resentful look, but no one was paying the least bit of attention to him.
His brothers were grinning foolishly at Miss Bishop, a curvy brunette with big blue eyes and a wide smile.
Her lush beauty perfectly complemented Penelope Hervey’s creamy skin and striking red hair.
Will’s lips twisted in a humorless smile. A lady for every gentleman’s taste. Silas Bragg was the worst kind of blackguard, but he was no fool.
Oliver bowed to the ladies. “This unpleasant gentleman is our eldest brother, Lord Archer, and that young lady is our sister, Lady Madeline.”
For the first time since she rode up with Christopher, Maddy looked up. She glanced at Penelope, then at Dinah, and the tiniest ray of hope crossed her face. “Have you come for a visit at Cliff’s Edge?”
“No,” Will said, at the same time as Oliver said, “Yes.”
Christopher lifted an eyebrow. “It seems there’s some confusion. Shall we all return to Cliff’s Edge and discuss it?”
“Oh, no. I’m afraid we can’t. Will is insisting these ladies return to London at once. In the dark, that is, without a chaperone, and on such a cold night as this, too.” Oliver gave an exaggerated shiver. “I believe it’s gotten colder in the past hour. Don’t you think so, Christopher?”
“Indeed. Of course, they must stay.” Christopher frowned at Will.
“Cliff’s Edge is dreadfully dull.” Oliver gave the ladies his most winning smile. “But perhaps you’ll help us liven things up.”
Will smothered a groan. Oh, no doubt they knew how to liven things up. Actresses usually did. It was the very reason they weren’t staying. “That’s not a good idea—”
“Will?” Maddy fixed her wide blue eyes on him. “You don’t mean to say you’re going to send them off into the dark, alone?”
Will met his sister’s pleading gaze, and a perplexing sense of frustration and shame swept over him. He’d promised himself he’d do his best to behave like a proper gentleman from now on, and a proper gentleman didn’t send two unprotected young women off into the night alone.
At least, not with his young, impressionable, tender-hearted sister watching.
He sighed. Being a gentleman was a dreary business. It was far easier to be a rake, but the Angels’ days of whoring, gaming and drunken duels had come to an end.
He glanced at Penelope Hervey. She did look cold. Her red, petal-soft lips were trembling. He knew very well she’d been sent here to harass him, but even the most hard-hearted gentleman couldn’t withstand such a sight.
One night. How much trouble could they cause in a single night? He’d keep an eye on them, then send them on their way tomorrow morning with one of his footmen as escort as soon as they lifted their heads from their pillows.
“Very well. Come on then.” Will reached down to help the post boy, who was still on the ground where he’d thrown himself after the first pistol shot. He pressed a coin into his hand. “Help us free the wheel from the mud, take the two ladies to Cliff’s Edge, and then you can be on your way.”
“Yes, my lord.” The boy bobbed his head and scurried off toward the carriage.
Will’s gazed landed on his brothers, a sigh gathering in his chest. Oliver, always the gallant, had handed each of the ladies to a dry patch of ground, away from the mud.
Will noticed Miss Hervey still appeared shaken from the evening’s adventure.
She certainly had delicate sensibilities for a lady who’d been wielding a loaded pistol less than an hour ago.
He strode forward and set his shoulder to the back of the carriage, pushing it alongside the post boy.
The wheel was dislodged from the mud, and in no time at all the ladies were back inside and the post boy astride his horse.
Will and Oliver mounted their own horses and led the party back toward Cliff’s Edge.
Will waited until his housekeeper, Mrs. Sedgewick appeared and took charge of Miss Bishop before he approached Miss Hervey.
“A word, if you’d be so kind.” He didn’t give her a chance to answer, but took her arm and led her down the hallway to his study.
Once he’d closed the door behind him, he waved her to a chair in front of the fireplace.
“Please take a seat, Miss Hervey. I’m sure you’re fatigued after your adventures this evening. ”
He strode to the sideboard, splashed some port into two glasses, then turned to find Miss Hervey perched on the edge of one of the chairs, her back straight and her dark eyes wary. She looked like a disobedient schoolgirl about to sit through a scolding.
“Are you cold? This will help warm you.” He offered her one of the glasses of port.
She nodded her thanks and took the glass, but set it aside without tasting it. “What can I do for you, Lord Archer?”
He regarded her as he sipped his port. “You can be gone first thing tomorrow morning, Miss Hervey, and on your way back to London.”
She reached for her port then, and raised the glass to her lips.
Will noticed her hand was shaking. His conscience stabbed at him, but he reminded himself he hadn’t any reason to feel guilty. Indeed, he had every right to send her away before she reduced his house party to chaos. So why did he feel like the worst kind of ogre, towering over some innocent maiden?
The thought made his temper rise. He had his siblings to worry about, and a carefully selected houseful of party guests to attend to. A few of them were dreadfully proper, and wouldn’t be pleased to find two scandalous actresses had been invited to stay.
He’d left London to escape the sort of difficulties Penelope Hervey could cause him. She might look innocent, but she must have come to Cliff’s Edge on Silas’s or Florentina’s orders. It was simply too much of a coincidence for her to have appeared here otherwise.
Two disreputable brothers, a lovesick sister and a half dozen demanding house guests were quite enough trouble for one holiday. The last thing he needed was a fetching little redhead with strawberry lips distracting him.
Especially not with all the mistletoe hanging about.
Will downed the rest of his port and set his glass aside. “You and Miss Bishop may remain here tonight, Miss Hervey, but I expect you to take your leave first thing tomorrow morning.”