The sound of voices in the hall forewarned Jakob of Lord Swiftbourne’s arrival. He stood and turned to face the door. He felt his body tense and consciously relaxed his muscles. This was not a meeting he anticipated with pleasure.
Swiftbourne had managed to stay on the winning side for over thirty years. He had been an ambassador for Charles I during the 1630s, but at the outbreak of Civil War he had thrown in his lot with Parliament. He had become Cromwell’s ambassador to various foreign countries, including Sweden and France. After Cromwell’s death, and the collapse of the Commonwealth, he had changed allegiance for a third time. He had been one of the influential Parliamentarians who had invited Charles II to return to England. It was for that act of belated loyalty to the Stuarts—and perhaps for more clandestine services to the crown—he had been rewarded with the Earldom.
But though Swiftbourne had prospered, he had done little to protect his less politically adept relatives. At the same time that he had been acting as Parliament’s foreign ambassador, Parliamentary forces had hanged Kilverdale’s Royalist father after the Battle of Worcester.
Unlike Kilverdale, Jakob had never been even technically at war with their grandfather. But he had been Kilverdale’s friend, as well as his cousin, ever since the Duke had first visited Sweden at the age of sixteen. As a matter of instinct as well as personal preference, Jakob’s loyalty to his cousin was much stronger than his loyalty to the man whose title and estate he would one day inherit. He accepted that his destiny ultimately lay in England, but he did not intend to dance to Swiftbourne’s tune. It galled him that he had to meet his grandfather in the guise of an escaped prisoner.
The door opened to admit the Earl. He paused briefly on the threshold, his gaze unerringly finding Jakob. His pale blue eyes raked his grandson up and down. After scrutinising Jakob for several piercing seconds, he closed the door and walked across the room to the unlit hearth. Though now in his seventies, Swiftbourne still possessed the lean, straight-backed frame of a much younger man. He was dressed in deep green velvet and gold lace. A periwig of light brown hair framed his predatory face.
Jakob waited, making no effort to break the silence. He’d met his grandfather on several occasions in the past, although only twice on English soil. The last time they’d spoken had been two years ago, before the unexpected death of Jakob’s father. This was their first face-to-face encounter since Jakob had become Swiftbourne’s direct heir.
The Earl looked uncharacteristically tired, and Jakob noticed deep lines of tension bracketing his thin lips. He wondered if his grandfather’s greatest concern was for the fate of the city or for the inconvenience caused by nearly losing another heir. He was under no illusion that Swiftbourne felt personal affection for him.
The Earl pivoted to face his grandson with almost military precision. As he did so Jakob caught the smell of fresh smoke clinging to Swiftbourne’s clothes. The fire in the city was an ever-present threat and tragedy.
After Swiftbourne had studied his grandson for several long seconds, the tension around his mouth eased. Cold fury suddenly blazed in his eyes.
‘I summoned you to England seventeen months ago,’ he said, his harsh voice serrated by anger.
‘I had more pressing duties,’ Jakob replied evenly.
‘As my heir, your only duty is to me, here in England.’
Jakob controlled a surge of anger at Swiftbourne’s callous dismissal of the people and responsibilities he’d left behind in Sweden.
‘I owe nothing to you,’ he said. ‘To the Swiftbourne land and tenants one day, perhaps—but nothing to you.’
Swiftbourne’s eyes narrowed. ‘So you thumbed your nose at me by dallying in gaol?’
Jakob chose not to answer a question intended to provoke him into self-justification or defiance. The tense silence lengthened. A battle of wills between them.
‘Why were you in Newgate?’ said Swiftbourne abruptly.
‘For the attempted abduction of an heiress.’
‘What? Have you squandered your father’s inheritance already?’
‘No.’ Although Jakob’s brother had taken over their father’s business, James Balston had left his oldest son some land in Sweden and considerable wealth. Since his father’s avowed intention had always been that Jakob would receive the English inheritance and his younger brother the Swedish, Jakob had not anticipated such generosity. It meant a great deal to him on a personal level. On a practical level it meant Swiftbourne was unlikely to make the error of thinking he could control Jakob by controlling the purse strings.
‘The heiress, I take it, was Lady Desire Godwin,’ said Swiftbourne.
‘Yes.’ Jakob had done his best to be discreet when they’d arrived, but Desire had introduced herself to Lord Halross with her full name. There was no point in concealing her identity now.
‘And she came here willingly?’
‘She was reluctant to impose upon your hospitality,’ said Jakob. ‘But I assured her you would never turn away anyone in distress,’ he added ironically.
Swiftbourne looked at Jakob. Then he sat down.
‘I am too old to waste my energy sparring with stiff-necked grandsons. Simply tell me the story, I beg you.’
‘You’ve just come from the King?’ said Jakob, momentarily surprised by Swiftbourne’s unexpected concession, but wanting some answers of his own. ‘What is the news of the fire?’
‘It is contained. There are rumours there will be a French or Dutch attack on London tonight,’ said Swiftbourne.
The soldier in Jakob came to full alert. Desire’s situation needed to be resolved as soon as possible, but she would be safe from Arscott in Swiftbourne’s house and a threat to the city required immediate action.
‘Do you have details of where they intend to strike?’ he demanded. ‘You must provide me with a letter of introduction to the commanding officer. I will—’
Swiftbourne raised a hand. ‘Rumours, I said,’ he interrupted. ‘London is in a ferment of gossip, but my sources are much more reliable. I believe it is very unlikely there will be an assault on London—at least within the next few days.’
‘Your sources?’ said Jakob. ‘Spies?’
‘The King values my assessment of the situation,’ Swiftbourne said obliquely. ‘I have a great deal of diplomatic experience.’
‘As you say, my lord,’ Jakob replied drily. It didn’t surprise him that his grandfather was actively involved in acquiring such information. ‘And your reliable sources do not believe there will be an attack on London by the French or Dutch?’
‘No. Precautions will be taken, but you do not need to concern yourself with them. Are you still an officer in the Swedish army?’
‘No. I resigned my commission.’
‘Good. Since you are now assured London is not in imminent danger of invasion, sit down and explain why you abducted an heiress and why that same heiress is now a guest in my house. Are you trying to make me an accessory to your crime?’
‘No, my lord. Though I hope you will intercede to prevent me for hanging for mine,’ said Jakob, willing to request Swiftbourne’s aid now that his grandfather had unbent enough to ask for an explanation rather than hurling accusations at him.
‘Of course.’ Swiftbourne’s lips stretched in a thin smile. ‘Now explain why the need arises.’
‘There now, my lady, I think we are done.’ Athena nudged one last chestnut curl into place and stepped back to admire the hairstyle she had created for Desire.
‘Thank you.’ Desire pushed aside her worries about Arscott and Jakob to smile at Athena. ‘I’m sorry, I have been a poor companion,’ she said. ‘You’re very kind to do my hair as well as lend me your dress. Thank you.’
Athena smiled and lifted her hand in a graceful gesture that both acknowledged Desire’s gratitude, yet indicated there was no need for it. Desire wondered if she would ever be able to command such natural elegance.
She looked down at her new finery, stroking the folds of blue silk that covered her knees. The tightly-laced bodice pushed up her breasts, exposing more cleavage than she was used to. Beneath the bodice she wore a soft white chemise. The sleeves of the chemise were trimmed with an extravagant quantity of lace, which fell from her elbows almost to her wrists.
Impractical for gardening, she thought irrelevantly.
‘It is a very beautiful gown,’ she said aloud. ‘I am so grateful. But are you sure it is quite suitable?’ she couldn’t help adding, touching her hand to the expanse of bare skin revealed by the low neckline.
‘It feels strange, doesn’t it?’ said Athena, taking Desire by surprise. She couldn’t imagine this lovely woman ever feeling ill at ease. ‘After so many years living as a guest in the convent I found it odd to dress fashionably too. But it was my aunt, the Duchess of Kilverdale, who gave this gown to me. And I know she would never give me a dress that is improper.’
‘Your aunt?’ Desire said, her attention caught by the reference to the Duchess. ‘I—’ She broke off quickly. She didn’t want to arouse Athena’s curiosity by admitting she had once spent a few days as a house guest of Kilverdale’s mother. It might lead to questions she didn’t want to answer.
Desire conjured up an image of the Duchess as she had been six years ago. She remembered an elegant, fair-haired woman with a poise she’d envied. The Duchess had been a considerate hostess, doing her best to make Desire feel comfortable but, not surprisingly, most of her attention had been focussed on the home to which she had only just returned. The Duchess had spent seventeen years in exile in France. Her belated return to the home where she had lived for a few happy years with her husband, and where her son had been born, had filled Kilverdale’s mother with bittersweet memories. Perhaps it wasn’t surprising the Duchess hadn’t been fully aware of the tension between her son and Desire.
Desire put the unsettling memories aside to focus on the present. She was sure Athena was right. The Duchess would not have given an improper gown to her niece.
Her anxieties partially relieved, Desire smiled uncertainly at Athena. ‘It is not that I am afraid the gown is improper,’ she said, ‘only that it might not be…’ She took a deep breath and tried again. ‘A beautiful gown is obviously very suitable for you to wear but, in short, I usually dress more plainly.’ Her stomach knotted with tension as she spoke, but she looked directly at Athena, refusing to hide her scars.
‘It is not a gown made for comfort,’ Athena agreed cheerfully. ‘I do not wear it when I am working or resting. But it is very suitable for you to wear in formal company.’ She hesitated a moment. ‘I don’t want to seem impertinent, but you have lovely shoulders and a trim waist, my lady, and the gown shows them to good advantage,’ she said.
‘It does?’ The knots in Desire’s stomach eased. There was no indication that Athena was mocking her. She stood up and put her hands on her waist, delighted by how well the bodice fitted her. It was true she’d been annoyed that the housekeeper’s oversized clothes concealed her figure. When she looked down, she could see the blue sweep of her skirts glowing softly in the muted light from the window. The lace at her elbows might be impractical, but it brushed against her forearms in a very pleasing way. She had never worn such a lovely dress. Her mother had always worn sober colours and insisted her daughter do likewise.
‘You are a beautiful woman,’ said Athena quietly. ‘Your scars cannot hide that.’
‘Oh.’ Desire touched her fingers to the ridges on her cheek. She hadn’t expected Athena to comment on them directly. It was a long time since she’d been exposed to the comments and questions of strangers. Athena’s willingly offered friendship meant a great deal to her, but she’d had so little company over the past few years that she could not respond in the same easy manner.
‘And gentlemen often find it difficult to keep their gaze focussed on a lady’s face at the best of times,’ said Athena, a thread of humour in her voice. ‘There’s no harm in discreetly drawing attention to the rest of your charms.’
She demonstrated what she meant by pushing the neckline of the Desire’s borrowed bodice a little lower. Then she stepped back to consider the effect.
‘That’s shameless!’ Desire gasped, instinctively pulling the neckline back up the bare quarter of an inch Athena had lowered it.
Athena blushed, but a mischievous light danced in her eyes. ‘I would not advise this if you were in the unprotected company of strangers,’ she said. ‘Or among men you should not trust. In those cases, it is better not to draw attention to yourself. But Jakob is a very honourable, noble man.’
‘Yes, I know. I—’ Desire stopped and looked at Athena suspiciously.
‘It is so lucky Kilverdale stole his clothes and left him behind in Dover,’ said Athena blithely, as if she hadn’t noticed anything in Desire’s glance. ‘Otherwise he would never have heard of the plot to abduct you and rescued you. I wonder who is behind it?’
‘Jakob thinks it is my steward, Arscott,’ said Desire. For a few brief minutes she had forgotten Jakob’s shocking revelations. A wave of disbelief washed over her. She stepped back and sank on to the stool, wondering what on earth she was to do.
‘Your steward?’ Athena exclaimed. ‘Why does he think that?’
‘We need to speak to Gabriel!’ At the end of Desire’s explanation Athena jumped up and seized her hand. ‘Come on.’
It was a long time since anyone had held Desire’s hand with such unforced, friendly companionship. The simple gesture meant more to her than Athena could possibly realise. So, although she had no idea why Athena suddenly considered it essential to speak to Lord Halross, she didn’t object at being led into his presence.
That didn’t prevent her from feeling a momentary frisson of nervousness when she saw the Marquis stand up to greet them. He was an imposing man, nowhere near as handsome as Jakob, and in repose his features looked somewhat austere.
But when he saw Athena his expression was transformed. As they entered the room his eyes went first to his betrothed. The look of undisguised love that dawned on his face was so intimate Desire looked away so she wouldn’t intrude. Yet at the same time it filled her with an odd, sweet yearning. It must be wonderful to be loved like that.
The exchange of glances between the lovers only took a few seconds, and then Halross turned to Desire. She saw a brief flicker of undoubted surprise in his eyes, and then his gaze travelled quickly down her body before returning with well-bred courtesy to her face. There had not been even the faintest hint of lascivious interest in his eyes. He had paused only momentarily to take note of her changed appearance before he greeted her, but it was very definitely approval, not distaste that she detected in his expression.
‘Athena’s gown is much more to your style than the housekeeper’s dress,’ he said, setting chairs for the two women.
Athena threw Desire a quick, conspiratorial smile. ‘Lady Desire needs your advice,’ she told Halross.
‘I do? I beg your pardon, my lord.’ Desire continued hastily, realising her startled outburst wasn’t very complimentary. ‘I am sure your advice is excellent, but why…? I don’t understand?’ She looked questioningly at Athena. What advice could Lord Halross give her that Jakob couldn’t?
‘It is because you need a disinterested advocate,’ Athena said. ‘I mean someone who has your best interests at heart that do not conflict with his own interests.’
‘Oh.’ Did that mean Athena thought Jakob’s advice wouldn’t be in her best interests? ‘I am sure Colonel Balston would never act dishonourably,’ Desire said, a cool note unconsciously creeping into her voice.
‘Of course he wouldn’t!’ said Athena indignantly. ‘It is not Jakob you need to be protected from.’ She paused, apparently to gather her thoughts.
Desire glanced at Lord Halross and saw he was watching Athena with a hint of amusement in his eyes, as if he understood perfectly what she was thinking.
‘You haven’t met Lord Swiftbourne yet, have you?’ said Athena.
‘No.’ Desire wasn’t looking forward to the meeting. Lord Swiftbourne sounded extremely formidable.
‘He is a very clever, devious man,’ said Athena. ‘I don’t believe he would ever do anything to harm you—apart from anything else, Jakob wouldn’t let him. But nor do I think Swiftbourne would let an heiress slip through his fingers, either, without somehow taking advantage of the situation. And Jakob is a stranger to England, and an escaped prisoner into the bargain. That’s why I think it’s best if you have someone to speak on your behalf who is not only independent of my grandfather, but also has his own undeniable authority in England.’ She paused for breath, and looked at Desire anxiously, as if she was afraid she might have offended her.
Desire didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She’d been worried about Lord Swiftbourne’s possible plans for her when she’d tried to escape from Jakob the previous night, but she hadn’t given the problem a thought since then. Perhaps she’d been right all along in her anxieties about falling into the clutches of Jakob and his powerful relatives?
‘I know it probably seems presumptuous of me,’ said Athena. ‘Under any circumstances I would not thrust myself upon you, or even Gabriel. Though he has such a wide experience of the world and is so competent in all he undertakes that you could not seek a better adviser—’
‘Hush, love,’ Halross caught one of Athena’s eloquently gesturing hands in his and kissed it lightly. ‘You will make me blush. My lady, the situation is not as melodramatic as Athena makes it sound,’ he said to Desire. ‘And I am sure Jakob Balston is more than capable of providing all the protection you need. But I would be honoured to speak for you if you wish. You need have no anxiety about my motives. I am more than content with my existing bride, and I have no male relatives desperate to marry a fortune.’
Desire took a deep breath. Events were moving so quickly. So much had changed over the past twenty-four hours. There was a strong possibility a man she had trusted all her life had bitterly betrayed her. And now she was being offered the help and kindness of strangers. She could refuse out of pride and fear. Or she could trust the good faith of her new friends.
‘Thank you. I will gladly hear your advice,’ she said, smiling at her companions.
‘My lady, I am sorry I was not here to welcome you to my house in person.’ Lord Swiftbourne bowed over Desire’s hand. ‘I trust you have been made comfortable in my absence.’
‘Oh. Yes, thank you, my lord. Everyone has been very kind.’ After her first moment of surprise, Desire managed to gather her wits sufficiently to frame a coherent reply. She had been worried about Lord Swiftbourne’s reaction to her scars, it had never occurred to her that she might be disconcerted by her host’s appearance. ‘You look just like the Duke!’ she exclaimed before she had time to censor her reaction. ‘Except—’
‘Except Kilverdale is dark and I am fair—and the small matter of nearly fifty years’ difference in age,’ Swiftbourne replied calmly. ‘I hope my likeness to my grandson does me no disservice in your eyes, my lady.’
‘No, indeed, my lord.’ Desire cursed the blush she felt rising in her cheeks. ‘It merely took me by surprise.’
She glanced instinctively at Jakob, and immediately forgot her embarrassment at her unruly tongue. Though he said nothing, she saw him take full notice of her trim figure revealed by the borrowed gown. She wasn’t used to admiration. It was a heady moment when he smiled at her, his eyes full of masculine appreciation.
‘And I understand that Colonel Balston has been of some assistance to you recently,’ Swiftbourne said, his words breaking into her thoughts. ‘I am glad he was able to help you.’
‘He saved my life,’ said Desire. She was disconcerted to realise she’d been staring at Jakob and said the first thing that came to mind to cover her confusion. ‘I would have burned—’
‘Burned?’ Swiftbourne looked startled. He glanced from her to Jakob.
‘On my roof,’ she said. ‘My skirts caught fire. Colonel Balston put me in the water cistern.’
‘That’s when you hurt your hands?’ Swiftbourne raised a thin eyebrow in Jakob’s direction. ‘He told me he blistered them at the oars, my lady.’
‘Rowing made them worse,’ she said, feeling calmer now she’d diverted the Earl’s attention away from her.
‘We’ve just been discussing Lady Desire’s situation,’ said Lord Halross, when they’d all sat down.
His words drew Desire’s attention back to her immediate problems. She looked at Jakob and saw him throw the Marquis a sharp glance. Was he offended by the fact she’d talked to Athena and Lord Halross? She folded her hands in her lap, trying to pretend a composure she didn’t feel. She would have preferred an opportunity to talk to Jakob in private, before Halross took on his role as her spokesman, but there had been no chance for her to do so. Besides, she still felt confused about the nature of Jakob’s interest in her. She didn’t understand if he was only motivated by an honourable wish to protect her, or whether he also cared about her as…she stumbled on the thought…as a woman.
‘Lady Desire would like to return to her own house as soon as practicable,’ said Halross.
‘I am very grateful for your hospitality,’ Desire hastily assured Swiftbourne, ‘but I don’t like to inconvenience you, and I would like to go home.’ She was careful not to look directly at Jakob as she spoke. She didn’t want any of them—including Jakob—to believe her decisions were dependent on his approval. But she could see him from the corner of her eye, and she was glad that his expression seemed thoughtful rather than angry.
‘That is hardly a safe or wise option in the circumstances,’ Swiftbourne replied.
‘Not without protection,’ Halross agreed. ‘However, I have a solution to that difficulty. As we all know, I blew up my London house yesterday. As you may not realise, Colonel—’ he turned to address Jakob directly ‘—many members of my household are now crammed into the servants’ quarters here. I kept the youngest and most able-bodied on hand yesterday to help with emptying and destroying my house. It was my plan to send them into the country in the next few days, but now Lady Desire and I may be of service to each other. My servants are in need of occupation and lodging, and she has need of trustworthy protection until this matter is resolved.’
‘Arscott went to my house in Kingston,’ said Desire. ‘I would like—I intend—’ she locked her fingers tightly together ‘—to go there to confront him.’ She lifted her chin as she spoke, turning her head to meet Jakob’s gaze boldly and a little defiantly.
He smiled faintly. ‘Kilverdale’s already there,’ he said. ‘He went this morning.’
‘What?’ She couldn’t believe she’d heard correctly. ‘Why?’
‘To safeguard the wealth you sent out of London with Arscott,’ Jakob said gently. ‘Arscott wanted you, my lady, and all your fortune. But if he’s afraid you’ve slipped through his fingers and decides to cut his losses…how much money is in that chest you sent away with him?’
Shock knocked the air from Desire’s lungs. It hadn’t even occurred to her that Arscott might steal from her. She had been too appalled at the deaths he’d caused and the thought of marriage to him.
She took a deep, unsteady breath, dimly aware of the rustle of skirts as Athena came to stand supportively beside her.
‘Nearly…’ Her voice cracked. She swallowed and started again. ‘Nearly nine thousand pounds,’ she said. ‘It is the accumulation of several years’ income. I am not…I do not have large personal expenses, so the unspent annual income has increased since father’s death.’ She exhaled carefully, gathering her composure, then looked at Jakob, ignoring everyone else. ‘Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?’ she challenged him.
‘The news that Arscott ordered the abduction attempt was hard enough for you to hear,’ he said. ‘This risk follows from that, but you didn’t need to be confronted by it all at once.’
‘It is my business. I have a right to hear what you suspect and what is being done in my name!’ Desire’s temper flared. ‘You sent Kilverdale to Kingston?’ She could hardly believe it.
‘I didn’t send him. He chose to go. It was obvious that someone needed to go there, and even before you decided to leave Putney in such haste I was bound to bring you back to London. You may depend upon Kilverdale to protect your property with utmost vigilance.’ Jakob’s voice was uncharacteristically stiff and he spoke more formally than usual, as if he anticipated Desire’s displeasure.
She hardly noticed. She put her hands against her cheeks. A myriad of furious responses hovered on the tip of her tongue, but she did not want to argue with Jakob in front of the others.
‘It would have been better if you’d told me,’ she said. Despite herself, she couldn’t entirely hide the anger throbbing in her voice. ‘And asked me before—’
She was interrupted by a sudden commotion in the hall from raised voices loud enough to penetrate through the heavy oak door. She half-started to her feet as she thought she recognised one. Without warning the door burst open and several struggling men crashed through it.
‘Benjamin?’ she cried.
‘My lady?’ Benjamin Finch, her Gentleman of the Horse, fell on his knees, two of Swiftbourne’s footmen still clutching at his arms. ‘My lady, thank God I’ve found you.’ His voice cracked on a sob of relief.
‘Let him go!’ Desire ran across the room.
At a nod from their master, Swiftbourne’s servants stepped back, though they remained close to Benjamin’s side.
Desire reached out to help him to his feet. Benjamin stared into her face, his eyes wild with worry. She had never seen him so distressed.
‘Are you hurt?’ he demanded, his grip on Desire’s hands so tight it was painful.
‘No! No, I am very well. What are you doing here?’ Desire couldn’t understand how Benjamin had found her.
‘That devil said you’d be here, but I had to see you with my own eyes.’
‘That devil?’ She was confused.
‘Kilverdale. The black-hearted villain. At this very instant he’s lording it in the great parlour in Kingston.’
It took a while for Benjamin to regain his composure and assure himself that Desire had truly come to no harm.
‘No one knew where you were,’ he said, the anxiety of the past hours still carving deep grooves into his face. It was barely a day since Desire had last seen him, but he seemed to have aged years in the interval.
‘I am so sorry.’ Remorse filled her. ‘I should never have stayed behind. I should have gone in the coaches with you.’
‘Yes, you should.’ Benjamin was clearly in no mood to pander to his mistress’s whims. ‘It was dangerous and foolish to remain behind. I thought you had more sense.’
‘Her ladyship has come to no harm,’ said Jakob, his calm voice a striking contrast to Benjamin’s emphatic tones. ‘You have my word of honour.’
‘Your word?’ Benjamin sat back and looked at Jakob through narrowed eyes. ‘He said you’d be here.’ Desire guessed he must be Kilverdale. ‘Some rigmarole about your being an army officer and a gentleman, and only interested in protecting her ladyship. How did you get out of gaol?’
‘I was a Colonel in the Swedish army until recently,’ said Jakob. ‘It is true that I only became involved in the plot to abduct Lady Desire so that I could protect her.’
Benjamin didn’t say anything, but his opinion of Jakob’s explanation was clearly visible in his eyes. Desire saw him glance from her to the door and realised he was estimating his chances of rescuing her from Swiftbourne’s house, by force if necessary. The thought of more violence was too awful to contemplate.
‘Where’s Arscott?’ she asked quickly, hoping to distract his attention.
‘I don’t know,’ said Benjamin. ‘He left Kingston to look for you this morning, before that de—before the Duke arrived. The Duke told me you’d either be at Godwin House or here, so I went there first.’
‘Arscott wasn’t there?’
‘No. The porter told me Arscott had been back, found you weren’t there, and left again,’ said Benjamin. ‘I don’t know where he went after that. Now what is going on? Why did the Duke of Kilverdale turn up at Kingston this morning with eight armed men and insist on mounting guard on your money chest?’
‘Why did you let him in?’ Desire demanded, somewhat affronted by Kilverdale’s uninvited invasion of her property. Even if he had, apparently, done it in her best interests.
‘The house was in an uproar with you missing,’ said Benjamin. ‘We were not prepared to repel such an assault,’ he added sourly.
‘He assaulted you?’ Desire’s temper kindled.
‘No. Not physically. But he’s high-handed as the devil. Insisted on checking for himself that the chest was still there and had not been tampered with, and then posted guards all over the house. It was damned insulting. If I hadn’t been so worried about you, I’d have—’ Benjamin stopped and rubbed his left hand up and down his right forearm. ‘At least I had the pleasure of creasing his fine coat,’ he muttered.
‘How did you to that?’ Desire asked worriedly. Benjamin had never been much of a warrior and Kilverdale was more than thirty years younger.
‘I shook him by his fine brocade until he told me where you were!’ Benjamin’s voice rose to a near shout of anxiety, exasperation and frayed pride.
‘Benjamin! Oh, I am so proud of you!’ Desire exclaimed, thrilled at the notion of the Duke’s odious arrogance being shaken out of him. ‘He didn’t retaliate, did he?’ she added with belated concern.
‘No, he told me to come here.’ Benjamin sounded thoroughly disgruntled. ‘Now, my lady, why are you here? And what the de—what on earth is going on?’