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Lilly and Dominic quickly reached the stables ahead of Chance and left their mounts in Duncan’s care. They had just reached the informal garden parlor when a gentle rain began to fall. Escaping into the small but pleasant room decorated with spring floral patterns and white teak wood furniture, Lilly threw off her bonnet and collapsed on to a plush sofa.
“He’s really angry,” Lilly said to Dominic’s back as he stood gazing out onto the rapidly dampening garden paths.
“I didn’t even think of telling him where we were. It must have slipped my mind.”
“Mine too,” Lilly said contritely.
“Lilly... I have to know something,” Dominic said somberly as he turned and walked to the sofa to sit beside her.
“What... what is it you want to know?”
“Is there something between you and Chance?”
“What?” Lilly cracked a smile but swallowed the urge to giggle. “You cannot be serious.”
“I need to know.” Dominic turned to face her, his expression taking all humor from the moment.
“No,” Lilly said. She was dying to ask him why it mattered, but she was a little afraid of his answer. “Our relationship is purely based on friendship—sometimes we even fight like siblings.”
“Well, that I did notice.” His countenance eased.
There was a soft knock on the door, which neither Dominic nor Lilly had noticed was closed. Fields entered, quickly followed by a brooding Chance. He took a seat across from Lilly and glared at them both.
“Will there be anything else, my lord?” Fields asked.
“The brandy decanter and tea for Lady St. James will be all,” Dominic responded.
“Well, gentlemen,” Lilly said nervously, “what happens now?”
“I wish to speak with Lilly alone,” Chance announced.
“No,” Dominic said abruptly.
“Now, wait just one minute,” Lilly said indignantly. “I may speak with whomever I choose, with or without your consent. What say do you have over who I speak to anyway, Dominic?”
Dominic raised an arrogant brow. “Say what you wish, but I am not leaving the room. Deal with it.” He walked over to the far side of the room and took a seat, staring moodily out the window.
Chance quickly joined Lilly on the sofa and took her hand. “Are you all right, Lilly?”
She smiled at his brotherly concern. “I am fine, Chance, really. Between the two of you I have more white knights charging to my rescue than I can handle. I have actually had a very lovely time here. It’s been nice to be able to be myself again.”
“I’m glad Lilly, truly I am, but I still think you should come back to London with me.”
“No,” Lilly and Dominic said in unison. Lilly glared at Dominic across the room. “You should at least pretend you can’t hear us,” she snapped.
Dominic snorted. “She’s not going anywhere, Chance. It is not safe and I need her here to protect her, and for the investigation. You can’t argue with that.”
“Then I’m staying as well,” Chance declared.
“No,” they both again. Chance looked back and forth between them.
“I will be fine, Chance; I don’t want you involved in this. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I don’t trust him,” Chance confessed, pointing at Dominic.
“He’s your friend,” Lilly said, bemused.
“Yes, and he’s also a first-class rake.”
“You honor me,” Dominic said humorlessly as Fields entered bearing a tray. Dominic took the balloon of brandy and swallowed it in one gulp.
“Dom, I love you like a brother, but I’m not about to leave a girl like Lilly under your roof—even with a legion of chaperones.” Chance stood.
“What do you mean a girl like me?” Lilly said indignantly.
“I didn’t mean it like that, Lil. You’re just too damn beautiful to leave alone with a man like him."
“Then why should I trust her with you, Chance?” Dominic came and stood in front of him, meeting him eye to eye, nose to nose.
“It’s not like that between her and me. I’ve known her since she was in leading strings. She’s practically my sister, for Christ’s sake.”
“This is ridiculous.” Lilly came and stood between them. “I am sick of the two of you arguing like I’m not here. The only one who gets to control my life is me. End of story. Chance, you have to go back to London; I do not want you involved in my mess. As for you Dominic, well... I will see you at dinner.” She turned and walked out of the parlor, leaving no room for argument.
***
Once the door clicked shut behind her, Dominic stepped away from Chance and lounged on the sofa. “You can help me if you want, but be careful. I need to know what is being spoken about town—who knows about the situation and who is just spreading rumors. Then check the gaming halls and clubs. I need all suspicion directed away from Lilly and on London. No one can know she’s here, no one.”
“Why do I get the feeling that something has already happened to her?” Chance said.
“Because it did, and on my own damn property to boot. She was attacked and I didn’t know about it until I saw the bruises on her neck.”
“Bruises?” Chance sat down on the sofa beside Dominic and put his head in his hands. “I should have been there for her. The moment I found out about the scandal I should have taken her away and protected her at all costs.”
“It’s pointless now, Chance. She’s under my protection and I will keep her safe. Together we can solve this and catch the bastard, as well as give Lilly her life back.”
“Her life?” Chance said incredulously. “She has no one to go home to; short of marrying her off to the first willing bloke, she has no home, no family, and no friends who can take her in.”
“What about her guardian, the fop who inherited the title?” Dominic asked.
“He could be dead for all we know. He’s been in Europe for years. Lilly’s never even met him.” Chance grew silent. He stood and walked to the windows to stare at the wet landscape, now dreary and dark from the thick layer of clouds overshadowing the land. “I’ll have to marry her,” he finally said.
Dominic’s gut clenched, because of a few words he might as well have been punched in the stomach. It was a startling revelation, but he would not—could not—let anyone marry Lilly. Not unless it was himself. “Why would you do that?”
“Why?” Chance repeated, moving back to the sofa. “It is the only way she can regain her formal life.”
“That’s a rather large sacrifice on your part just so she can attend a few parties every year.”
“Maybe, but she is my friend. If this is the only way I can help her, then why wouldn’t I?”
“What if she has feelings for someone else? You wouldn’t be doing her any favors by locking her into a lifetime commitment.”
“I would know if Lilly was in love with someone.”
“I didn’t say love.”
“Lilly isn’t like that. She does not do things by half measure. If she had feelings for someone, she would fall hard and be completely devoted to loving that man with her whole being.”
“And you want that man to be you,” Dominic said aggressively.
“No, I mean... I just want her to be happy. Even if we clear her name and her stepfather is caught, she will still have no money and no means to take care of herself. There is no other socially acceptable help I can give her except to marry her.”
Dominic was silent, his gaze focused on his clasped hands before him.
“Unless you marry her?” He said the words quietly, but they seemed to echo throughout the room.
“Pardon?” Dominic’s head snapped up and he met his friend’s eyes. “Why would I... How could I...?” His thoughts and emotions jumbled together, rendering him temporarily dumbfounded.
“Well, you said you needed a wife and it’s brazenly obvious you’re attracted to her. But will you do the honorable thing? Give her your name, a home, and secure her rightful place in society?”
Dominic was still silent. He was not prepared to answer those questions. The easiest answer would have been no, but Dominic could not say the word. He was not ready to explore the turbulent feelings he felt for Lilly, but on the other hand, he was not about to let anyone else have her either. Did he want her? God yes, he wanted her. He wanted to be inside her, explore every valley and plane of her body and make love to her until he had nothing left in him, and while he could give Lilly every physical pleasure imaginable, he doubted he had the ability to love her the way she deserved to be loved. Did he deserve her love in return?
“Let’s not rush into things before we have all our answers and all avenues explored,” he finally said, getting up to refresh his drink with the decanter Fields left on the side table. “Based on her earlier outburst, I hardly think she will tolerate us deciding these things for her. I have ways of locating her cousin and forcing him to return to England. There’s no need to make such drastic decisions for her, not yet.”
“All right,” Chance said slowly. “Not yet, but there will come a time when we will have to consider that we are perhaps her only option.”