Chapter Twenty-Nine

“Mister Warwick to see you.”

Lily startled when she heard Agatha’s voice in the doorway. At the nobleman’s demotion to Mister, she felt compelled to correct the housekeeper. However, what did the snub matter, given the scope of difficulties in her beleaguered life?

“Shall I tell him you aren’t home to visitors?”

Lily clutched her book to her chest with sudden unease. After yesterday’s visit, she ought to send David away. They’d said all that needed to be said. God forbid he should attempt to overcome her rejection of his marriage proposal with stronger arguments. Still, he might have word about Papa.

“Send him in, please.”

Agatha soured in a contraction of facial wrinkles. “Suit yourself. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”

Lily slid the book on an end table, stood and faced the door, determined to meet whatever challenge David might impose. Seconds later, he rushed into the room, a glimmering blur of expensive gold brocade and creamy lace ruffles. In a courtly bow, he swept off his decorous ostrich plumed hat and waved it with a flourish. Once, she’d considered him handsome with his elegant clothes and his refined air that seemed to warm only for her. Today, a brilliant peacock came to mind. All show and no substance.

“Hello, David.” Nervously, she tweaked a lavender ribbon attached to her bodice. “What brings you here today?”

“He’s out.”

The baffling announcement, along with his satisfied gloat, caused her to frown. “What do you mean?”

“He’s out of prison.”

“Papa?” His jubilant smile implied her guess was correct. A tingle shot the length of her legs. Knees shaky, she dropped to the sofa, a hand at her throat. “When?”

“This morning.”

Papa. Free? Miracles did happen. “How?”

“I said I’d take care of it, didn’t I?” Such a cocksure grin.

It was too incredible. If she could stop trembling, she would have danced on air. “I can’t believe it.”

After her sound rejection of his marriage proposal, she didn’t expect his help. Perhaps she’d misjudged him, thinking him full of self-interest when he was far from selfish. She gripped the sofa arm to steady herself. “How did this wondrous thing come to pass?”

He shrugged, downplaying his triumph. “It’s all to do with influence—a twist here, a shove there.”

No false modesty for him.

“David, I…” Giddy with joy, she struggled to process the many questions tumbling at great speed in her head. She sprang from the sofa, light on her toes. “Where is he? When can I see him?”

He gripped her hands, subduing her impatience. “Soon. For safekeeping, he’s hiding.”

Worry set in. “Is he in danger?”

“No, but the venture is fraught with risk.”

“Tell me what you heard. I want every last detail.” He stroked her thumb, and she wanted to snatch her hand away.

“It’s a convoluted story—one I’ll share later.”

As she made to speak, he threw his arms about her. She stiffened, but after a torturous week of relentless worry, she allowed him this celebratory gesture. “I can’t thank you enough.” He hugged her tighter. His mouth found hers and pressed too hard in a possessive kiss. “No, David.” She shoved away.

His anger flared, but in a flash a sympathetic expression came over him. “Dear heart.”

Troubled by his amorous words, she sidestepped away from his arms that again reached out to her. She took a position near the fireplace, wishing it were Griffin who’d delivered the news.

“I thought…” He faltered and glanced uncertainly at his hands. “I hoped you might see things differently for us since he’s free.”

Ah, the payback. A favor for a favor. Nothing short of accepting his proposal would give him satisfaction. Disappointment pricked at her. Was it too much to expect a selfless act simply because he valued her friendship?

David joined her at the fireplace. “You didn’t really believe I’d leave New York without you?” He touched her cheek and she cringed. “You must think quite well of yourself if you believed you could fling me off so easily.” As if he had the right, his hand slid about her waist.

Lily forced an icy smile. As she dug her fingernails into his wrist, she watched for any signs of discomfort. He didn’t flinch. “Don’t do this, David. Please.”

They shared a long history, one she didn’t want sullied by his stubbornness or his need to control and get his way. If only he would abandon his quest and return alone to London. He could leave with pleasant memories of their shared past.

“You’re so impetuous and unique.” He swept a lock of hair from her forehead. “Do you have any idea how men covet you?”

“Nonsense.” When he dared to draw a knuckle across her lips, she batted his hand away, causing him to chortle cruelly.

“Liar. How could you not have seen the lust writ upon their hungry faces?”

“I want you to leave.”

“Lily, Lily.” He crooned in a know-it-all tone she abhorred. “What a prize you are. So dazzling and feisty.”

In the past, she’d seen his callous behavior towards others. For the first time, she was the recipient of his cruelty. The coldness in his smile frightened her. “You may not marry me, but what’s to stop me from claiming the prize?”

“Stop it. We aren’t children playing games.”

He cocked a wry brow. “You love games. Does it not seem fitting as you win your father, I win you?”

“Have you gone mad?” She pushed away, but he grabbed her arm. His hold was surprisingly strong and she realized he meant to humiliate her for the pain she’d caused him. Jealousy, rejection, and desperation had driven him to this low point, yet her understanding of his behavior didn’t lessen the offense.

“Kiss me, Lily. Kiss me like you kiss him.”

That he dared to usurp Griffin’s importance fueled her anger. How misguided to think his touch could replace the pleasure she received from Griffin. Touch was more than a tactile sensation. It had meaning and emotion. A wide gulf of differences existed between the two men. Griffin held her respect. While David…

Before she could protest, he shoved her to the couch and tumbled next to her. The urge to scream welled in her throat, but she choked it off, worried for Agatha. The old woman would come to her rescue. Lily wouldn’t risk the chance Agatha might get hurt.

“Make love to me like you did to him.” His wet lips seared her neck.

“Never!”

His head cocked back, his eyes alight with a sudden comprehension. “So you have made love to him. I knew it!”

“Stop it.” She swung but before her palm connected with his cheek, he’d caught her wrist. He shoved her flat against the sofa and leaned over her. The odor of his wine-tinged breath turned her stomach. He pinned her hands alongside her head and his kiss aroused disgust.

She managed to drag her face away, her lips stinging. “Leave off!” She bucked against him and when she broke loose from his grip, she struck out wildly and clipped him on the ear. “Get off me!”

“You’re lively.” Flushed and wildly intent, he thrust a hand beneath her skirts.

It took a moment to recover from the shock. Every breath came in quick, shallow waves as she beat against his shoulders. As he squeezed and pawed, her anger soared.

Oh, David. Don’t do this.

****

Griffin trotted his horse along Water Street, moving with subtle haste, but not enough to draw unnecessary attention. The rain had ceased. Puddles littered the street while the rich smell of damp earth clung in the heavy air. With his hat tugged low over his forehead, he scanned the familiar road. Beyond the heightened military presence of redcoats posted at every corner, trade flowed with its usual brisk rhythm. A casual observer would never guess the city had been under siege less than an hour ago by triple explosions.

Griffin couldn’t claim the status of a casual observer. Staying alert and cautious had kept him out of the hands of the British forces. Luck played into his longevity as well. Senses sharp, he kept his head down. With a tug on the reins, he headed to an alley and tethered his horse to a hitching post around the back of his uncle’s business.

A shipping clerk noticed Griffin as he stepped inside the large storehouse. The thin-haired man shoved his spectacles higher on his nose. “Good to see you back, sir.” He pointed a bony finger at Josiah’s door. “He’s alone.”

“Perfect.” Griffin crossed the storeroom, stepped inside the office, and quietly closed the door. The soft click of the latch alerted Josiah, who looked up and brightened. “Taken up the ministry, have you.” Chuckling, he leaned forward, his elbows down on the desktop.

Griffin glanced at his somber black and white costume of a Calvinist preacher with a sardonic grin. “Don’t want to stand out in the crowd and risk recognition.” He let his fingers play with the splayed stock at his throat, irreverently flipping it up and down.

“It’s good to see you, boy.” There was no mistaking Josiah’s relief. “You’ve put the Reds in an uproar. They’re chasing about like headless chickens.”

“As intended.” Griffin dropped down in a chair by his uncle’s desk. “What have you heard?”

“One soldier was shot. He’ll live.”

Griffin knew a moment of reprieve from his worry as he suspected it was his bullet lodged in the young soldier.

“Although I’m sorry to say the soldier will return to harass the good citizens of New York,” his uncle went on to say. “Some property destruction, but you probably already know as much. A few injuries. The British think the bombs were a ploy. They haven’t pieced it all together yet.”

“Your intelligence is impressive. What else did you hear?”

“Nobody recognized you, but circumstances could change at any moment.” Josiah let out a breath and pressed his hands to his thighs. “It doesn’t mean you’re out of danger.”

“Nobody is ever one hundred percent safe.” What mattered most was Lily’s protection.

“Unfortunately, Captain Sprewell was discovered shortly after he’d been bound and left in his smalls, early this morning.” Josiah raised a speculative brow. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about this, would you?”

Griffin just smiled. “I figured somebody found Sprewell. It explained their quick mobilization. A launch must have been sent to investigate the prison ship, where it was learned Fitzhugh had been taken.” With the Brits anxious to apprehend Fitzhugh, getting Lily out of the city preyed more heavily on his mind than ever. If she were in any way harmed, he would never forgive himself.

He jumped up. “I thank you for the news, but I must hurry.”

“Be careful. The Redcoats are hopping mad. Nobody likes to be played for a fool.”

“Perhaps they should go back to England if they hope to avoid more humiliation.” He backed towards the door, keeping his uncle in his view. “You’ll see the Fitzhugh housekeeper is safe?”

“Arrangements are already in place.” Josiah stood tall, his manner grave. “You do a great service to this country, lad. I’m proud of you.”

Happiness and pride rose inside. He bit back a smile.

“Speaking of good deeds…” The man snagged a thick envelope from a drawer and tossed it to him.

“What’s this?”

“I couldn’t say. She stopped in day before yesterday.”

“Lily?” His heartbeat kicked up a notch.

“She seemed genuinely disappointed to find you’d gone. I told her you went to Philadelphia. A pity she’s affianced to someone else.”

Griffin only half-listened as he fought the urge to rip open the seal and read the missive. Worried it might be papers related to the dissolution of the marriage, he stuffed the packet in his coat pocket. Time enough for bad news later.

“The letter seemed important.”

“Thanks for keeping it.” His hand quivered as he patted his pocket.

“Another thing.” Josiah sobered. “I sent two lads to keep surveillance on the Fitzhugh house. I’m sorry to tell you, it’s already under watch.”

Griffin cursed.

“If you hurry…”

Griffin stopped him with a raised palm. “I’ll see it done.”