CHAPTER 6
CLIFTON
Fairfax was clearly delighted with himself.
Somehow, I refrained from wiping the smile from his face. “Have you taken leave of your senses? This isn’t the time for your nonsense.”
His grin widened. “Apparently, that’s what we do now, correct? We rescue young women?”
My eyes narrowed. “This isn’t one of your games.”
“Fairfax is correct.” Speechless, I stared at Rexford as he continued, “If you weren’t concerned for the girl, you wouldn’t have brought this matter to the group. And from what you’ve said, the only way to help is to involve ourselves directly.”
“I could take her,” Fairfax said.
The alarm I felt at his gleeful announcement shocked me. “No. She barely knows you. You can’t just take her.”
He shrugged. “I’m sure it wouldn’t be too difficult. She wouldn’t be the first woman I’ve seduced.”
I pinned him with my glare. His careless nonchalance about debauching Diana, a young woman my own mother considered family, sparked more than my anger. “We’re discussing keeping her from being killed, not a casual conquest.”
His gaze remained fixed on me. “Two birds, one stone.”
I didn’t realize I was starting to stand until I felt Greyson’s hand on my arm. I unclenched my fists but couldn’t keep from gripping the arms of the chair. “It’s me or it’s no one.”
Greyson released me and let out a breath. “Gretna green.”
His words had the same effect as a bucket of cold water poured over my head. I might have even sputtered.
Fairfax leaned forward. “You’re the one who insisted we act.
And given the threat you overheard, Tuttleford won’t allow you to court his niece.
If he becomes aware of our interest in Miss Atherton, desperation might spur him to act quickly.
Your only other option is to stand back and hope for the best.”
Greyson’s gaze was heavy. “I understand your hesitation, but you don’t have to actually marry her. You could just take her north for a time.”
I clenched my teeth. “And then what? Abandon her in Scotland? There would be nothing to stop her uncle from having her killed when he finds her and telling everyone I did it. Everyone would already be looking at me for the crime since I was the one who kidnapped her.”
Rexford was amused, damn him. “Would you need to kidnap her, though?”
I scowled. “Semantics.”
Fairfax shrugged. “Or not. Even if you convince her to come willingly, Tuttleford will maintain that an unscrupulous Legend absconded with his niece in order to steal her inheritance.”
Grayson grimaced. “And no one would believe it was a love match. Not with the way she’s been dressed.”
Was it becoming warm in here? I tugged at my too-tight cravat.
“I have homes where you can hide with her,” Rexford said.
“That didn’t work when you asked Moreland to hide your sister.”
Rexford remained impassive. “You know very well the plan was to ruin her to thwart my father’s plans. We weren’t trying to hide her. But I have property near Gretna Green. You could hide there until you decide what to do.”
That information shouldn’t have surprised me since Rexford had always been resourceful.
He’d used an inheritance his mother had set aside for him to establish King’s.
And then, to ensure he’d never be compelled by his father, he’d made shrewd investments throughout England.
Each of the Legends had been invited to join those investments.
With advice from his astute club secretary, Mr. Clarence, he was responsible for helping us establish large fortunes of our own.
He had a particular fondness for purchasing property, but this was the first I’d heard of him having any land in Scotland.
“My offer to step in stands,” Fairfax said.
Silence settled over the room as they waited for my decision.
Despite the very real danger to her safety, this was no easy matter.
I couldn’t just take Diana, thereby ruining her reputation, then leave her somewhere.
Merely keeping here safe from her uncle’s clutches didn’t seem to be enough.
Not when I still remembered the lively girl I’d once known.
There was also my mother to contend with.
She’d been good friends with Diana’s mother.
She would never forgive me for ruining Diana, even if my reasons for doing so were ultimately in her best interests.
I’d never sought my father’s approval when he was alive, but I did care about disappointing my mother.
She’d been devastated when word of Lady Atherton’s accident reached her. She’d also been worried about Diana. She must have known that Diana’s aunt and uncle would never have her best interests at heart. Even if I hadn’t already been drawn to help Diana, I would have done so for my mother.
During our all-too-brief conversation at the wedding breakfast, I’d caught glimpses of the intelligent young woman Kendrick had referred to with affection.
She’d just started to come out of her shell when her aunt had interrupted us.
I’d witnessed the way she’d shrunk into herself, suppressing the warmth she’d shown Caroline and Kendrick.
I couldn’t walk away from her.
Once I started on this path, there would be no going back. I would see this through to the end. I took a deep breath, weighing my decision. Looking for even a hint of doubt.
I found none.
I met Rexford’s gaze, then Greyson’s, and finally Fairfax. From the way Fairfax was trying to hide his smile, it was clear he knew what I was going to say.
“It seems that I’ll be going to Gretna Green. And, heaven help me, there’s to be another wedding.”
“How should we proceed?” Grayson asked. “And when?”
Fairfax’s grin broadened. “If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly.”
Giving the current circumstances, quoting Macbeth was a bit much. “I’m trying to prevent a murder, not planning one.”
Fairfax shrugged. “That is the beauty of Shakespeare. His wisdom can be applied to any number of situations.”
Rexford cleared his throat, gaining our attention. “Miss Atherton is good friends with Caroline, is she not?”
I nodded. “Yes, that’s why she was at the wedding today.”
“We’ll have to ask for her assistance, then, before she and Kendrick leave for their wedding trip.”
I’d been hoping to avoid bringing them into this, but he was correct. “Caroline is the only one among us who can call on Diana without rousing the Tuttlefords’ suspicions.”
“Yes,” Rexford said. “Kendrick plans to leave London two days from now. Caroline can call on Miss Atherton tomorrow and give her a note with instructions to slip from the house at an appointed time. You can speak to her in private then.”
I winced, imagining the worst. Surely this wasn’t our only option. “And if Diana doesn’t do it? Or if she can’t?”
Fairfax shrugged. “If she doesn’t come out, you’ll have to break into the Tuttlefords’ townhouse and steal her away. It would be much simpler to talk to her and convince her to leave town with you.”
I tried to imagine what I could say that would have her agreeing to this absurd plan. We’d barely spoken that morning, and before today, I hadn’t seen her in years. “I don’t think she’ll run away with me after one conversation.”
Grayson shook his head. “You’re not daft, man.
Presented with an alternative, do you really think she’ll choose to stay with her guardians?
She is clearly chafing under their rules.
From the way Kendrick spoke about how she helped him when he wanted to speak to Caroline in private, she has a romantic streak.
She’ll jump at the chance, even if just to gain her freedom.
Until this point, she’s been without any say in her circumstances. ”
I sincerely hoped he was right. But when I remembered the twinkle in her hazel eyes that moment when we’d spoken, I couldn’t help but think that the lively young woman I’d imagined she’d grow into hadn’t been completely crushed.
She was still buried somewhere inside the walking shadow Diana had become.
“I’ll tell Moreland what’s happening,” Rexford said. “If you’re going to elope, there won’t be time for Diana to pack. My sister can help with that.”
I shook my head. “We’re the worst sort of bounders to bring their wives into this. And just one day after Kendrick’s wedding.”
“They’ll want to help,” Fairfax said. “They like Miss Atherton. Besides, what did they expect would happen when they each chose to marry a Legend?”
The meeting broke up then, and I made my way downstairs, emotions swirling within me.
The stairs to Rexford’s office led down into the billiard room.
It was afternoon now, but the room was empty.
Members would be arriving soon, and everything would go on as it did every other day.
But my life would never again be the same.
I informed Rexford’s club secretary that I would be heading home if anyone needed me. I had much to do before I could flee to Gretna Green tomorrow with the woman who would hopefully agree to be my wife.
Because one way or another, I had to get her away from the Tuttlefords.