Sweet Treason (Entangled Ignite) (12 page)

Dodge’s chest puffed out as if he was undecided about blasting her with a scathing denouncement.

“If there is some utterly compelling reason for me to stay, Mr. Dodge, you must tell me now, or I shall return to Oak Hill once my current obligations have been met.”

Dodge was apparently so confused by her analysis of his actions that he was incapable of speech.

Theodora cleared her throat. “I can give you reasons, Emily. If you leave now, especially with accepted invitations to events as yet unattended, there will be speculation as to why you quit town so suddenly. Most will conclude that you got yourself into some sort of trouble—and I am certain you know what I mean by that. The talk could do enough damage to ruin your reputation. You may not care now, but you must think of your future. And that of your sister.”

Emily did not have to be reminded of her sister. She considered Lucy in everything she did. But how could she know how she’d feel once she turned four and twenty and did not have to hide away from discovery? Perhaps she’d want to come to London on occasion. Perhaps it would be nice to be well-thought-of then.

On the other hand, the Frenchman would be returning soon.

“Fulfill the obligations you’ve already made,” Theodora went on. “When additional invitations are issued, offer your regrets and say that you had not intended to stay as long as you have.”

“But I’ve accepted invitations for as far away as three weeks!”

“It really would be best if you honored them,” Theodora urged. “You haven’t been here long enough to make a lasting impression upon society.”

Emily looked across the table at Mr. Dodge, who was glaring at his daughter as if he wished her gone. “Well…”

“Then there is Lord Devaux,” Theodora continued. “You cannot leave town with that particular possibility unresolved. I believe he is possibly smitten with you, Emily. Just think! You could become a countess!”

“All this drivel!” Dodge finally managed. “Taking Miss Nevins to wife would be a come-down for Devaux. He is an earl, and after all is said and done, her father was only third in line for a barony.” He fixed Emily with a cold stare. “I wouldn’t get your hopes up, missy. Catch you a baron or a knight or some wealthy merchant—now there’s a match worthy of you. I’d look closer there.”

Emily fumed silently. Not that she favored Lord Devaux above the rest, but that Mr. Dodge presumed to make
any
choice for her. It would serve him right if she chose Sir Edmund. He seemed interested in her and she doubted he’d tolerate Mr. Dodge’s interference.

“But
you
, ’Dora,” he turned to Theodora, “will pack your bags at once. You are going to visit your sister. She has been asking after you.”

Theodora’s eyes widened in astonishment. “So suddenly? But what of
my
obligations? What of Miss Nevins? Who will chaperone—”

“I shall escort her henceforth.”

Emily squirmed in her chair, upset by this development. The last thing she wanted was Dodge’s undivided attention. Surely things could not get any worse.

Chapter Eleven

Sitting in her chair by her bedroom window, Emily turned another page of her book without reading it. She could only think of last night and the things Ryan had done to her body. Things she’d never forget. She blinked when Bridey threw her bedroom door open with a look of stark terror on her face. “She is below, miss! In the parlor!”

“Who is below, Bridey?”

“Miss Lucy!”

The blood in her veins turned to ice, and she dropped her book on the table beside her chair. “Lucy? But…” How could this be? Lucy was safe in Scotland.

“She is as cool as you please, miss. As if there were nothing unusual at all.”

In her letter before leaving Oak Hill, she had instructed Lucy to stay put until Emily’s birthday when they’d both be safe. She stood, smoothed her skirts, and took a deep calming breath before starting for the stairs, Bridey fast on her heels. “Where is Mr. Dodge?”

“Took Miss Theodora to the post chaise for Bath, he said, miss. He should be back anytime now.”

Thank heavens she’d have a few moments to find out what was amiss before they had to deal with Mr. Dodge. Lucy had better have a good explanation for her arrival in London. A careless word, an unguarded whisper could dash all their hopes and dreams for the future.

The moment she entered the parlor, Lucy stood and rushed forward to throw her arms around Emily in a warm hug, a brilliant smile on her lovely face. “Oh, Emmy! I have missed you so!”

Tears welled in Emily’s eyes. She hadn’t realized until that very moment how much she had missed her sister. Though they’d exchanged hundreds of letters, she had not seen Lucy but a handful of times since their mother had died. How beautiful she’d become. A full grown woman now, she was the image of their mother—fair and statuesque, with the lush curves and sparkling blue eyes that men so desired.

She took Lucy by the hand and led her back to the settee. “What are you doing here? You were supposed to stay with Uncle Angus until my birthday.”

“I could not twiddle my thumbs whilst you risked all.” She lowered her voice to a tone of firm resolve. “Surely you did not think I would let you face the ordeal of dealing with Mr. Dodge alone if I could help it? His monthly visits are one thing, but to stay in his house day after day…well… It is past time for me to take my place beside you. To take my share of the risks. I warn you, if you try to send me away, I shall not go.”

“Lucy, I can manage on my own. I have done so for years. You do not know the full measure of what you are risking.” Emily could not be certain how much Mama had told Lucy before that fateful accident. Perhaps Lucy did not know about the smuggling to keep the taxes and mortgage paid. In fact, Lucy had never mentioned it, and surely she would have had questions or an opinion on the matter.

“Pish! I know full well what Mama feared for us. She thought he was a lecher.” Lucy removed her gloves as she sat. “But I am grown now and able to take care of myself.”

“You did not travel alone, did you?”

“Of course not. Uncle Angus sent a maid, Elspeth, with me. We have just arrived in the city.”

“How could he allow you to come?” Emily glanced toward the doorway and lowered her voice. “You must leave at once. If Mr. Dodge finds you here he will suspect something is amiss. He will insist that you stay here, and then…”

Lucy arched an eyebrow. “And then?”

“He will have you where he wants you.”

“Does he not already have
you
where he wants you?”

“I am safe enough. He detests me, Lucy. And I forbid you to stay.”

Lucy blinked—a sign of uncertainty. “I shall tell you what I told Uncle Angus—
you cannot sway my resolve
. Furthermore, I will not return to Scotland. I’ve had enough of exile and leaving you alone to deal with this. You have taken care of us all for too long, and it is time someone took care of
you
.”

When Lucy set her mind to something, she was unmovable, but Emily could still find a way to keep her little sister from harm’s way. “Brock and Audrey Davis will take you in. They have been begging to see you, and I promised you would be back by late summer. They will not think it so very unusual that you have come early.”

She stood and went to the small desk in one corner intending to write a quick query when Mr. Dodge’s voice carried to them from the foyer. A glance in Lucy’s direction reassured her that her sister realized the importance of that fact.

Dodge entered the parlor, his tricorne under his arm. “Emerson said you have a caller, Miss Nevins?”

Lucy stood and bobbed a perfunctory curtsey. “How nice to see you again, Mr. Dodge.”

Mr. Dodge’s eyes widened. “Miss Lucy?”

“Yes, sir.” She smiled, her eyes twinkling. Emily wondered where she had perfected that coy greeting. Perhaps Edinburgh had not been the back of beyond after all.

“What…why…?”

“She has just arrived in town, Mr. Dodge. I did not know she was coming, or I’d have warned you.”

“Is your mother with you, Miss Dodge?”

Emily was gratified to see his shock. She cut Lucy off. “Mother was unable to accompany Lucy. Grandmother is no better, you see, and she could not leave.”

The solicitor looked exceedingly nervous. He was afraid, no doubt, that he’d been caught in his lies. “Ah. That is a shame.”

Lucy shrugged. “When she learned that Emily was here, she bade me come, too. She said it was an opportunity I should not miss.”

The solicitor’s tension eased, and his smile widened. “Excellent. I shall have my man fetch your trunks. You shall have Theodora’s room.”

“No!” Emily glanced at Lucy and then back at Mr. Dodge, praying her sister would not contradict her. “She is to stay with Squire Davis’s son and his wife.”

Mr. Dodge’s smile faded as he glanced between them. “Absurd. There is no need for such arrangements. Miss Lucy will stay with us.”

“That is not mother’s wishes.”

“I cannot believe that. Why would she send Miss Lucy to them if you are here?”

“Perhaps because she did not want to inconvenience you further,” Lucy said in the awkward silence. “She made the arrangements herself.”

“Did she, indeed?” A note of doubt had crept into Mr. Dodge’s voice. “I wonder why she did not advise me that you would be coming. Surely you will need funds.”

Lucy waved one hand as if such matters were inconsequential. “Emmy always handles those details. Through you, of course. Alas, I seem to have caught Emmy by surprise, did I not, Emmy?”

“Quite,” she agreed, admiring her little sister’s aplomb. “But that is so like Mother, is it not? She is almost as impulsive as you, Lucy.”

“Oh, I daresay I am more impulsive. So like me to go rushing off without the Davis address. I pray you have it, Emmy.”

Emily went back to the little desk and withdrew a sheet of paper from the drawer. Dipping the pen in the inkwell, she scratched the address and folded the paper. “Meantime, would you mind terribly writing a bank draft for Lucy, Mr. Dodge?”

“How…”

“I am certain you will be generous, sir, given that Lucy’s wardrobe is as sadly out of date as mine was. I know you would not want her to reflect poorly on you.”

“Yes. Yes, of course. I shall do so immediately.”

Emily watched him leave the room before she heaved a sigh of relief. She gave the address to her sister and shook her head. “That was a near thing, Lucy. We must be more careful around Mr. Dodge.”

Lucy leaned close and lowered her voice. “I wanted to stay with you, Emmy. Do you really think Brock and Audrey will take me in on such short notice?”

“I am certain of it. They always say how you light up a room. I have seen them on several occasions since my arrival, and they always ask after you. With you safe in their care, I will be free to find out what Mr. Dodge is plotting.”

“But will I be seeing you? Helping you stay out of the man’s clutches and find out what plan he’s hatching?”

“You can help me best by staying safe, Lucy. We shall see each other quite often and will be attending the same fetes. You can help me in anything but dealing with Mr. Dodge.”

“What do you suspect he is up to?”

“Aside from controlling us and having us at his mercy, I cannot be certain.” Emily’s head began to ache. She took a deep breath and relaxed. As if the smuggling weren’t bad enough, there was still the American spy who now held their fate in his hands. She would have to keep those secrets or risk Lucy blundering into worse trouble. “I believe he wants to find a way to keep me, and perhaps you, under his control. I have begun to wonder if he has been embezzling from Papa’s estate. I think he knows I will ask for an entire accounting of the last seven years.”

Lucy’s eyes widened. “He would not dare embezzle!”

“You know what Mother feared. A man who is capable of that is capable of anything.”

Lucy sighed wistfully. “Come to Brock and Audrey’s with me.”

Returning to the room with a bank draft in hand, Mr. Dodge caught the last of their exchange. “Go with you, Miss Lucy? Never. Miss Nevins requires my guidance. Both your futures depend upon it. Who would deal with possible offers and cull the invitations to include only the best events?”

Lucy blinked, and Emily recognized that look. Mr. Dodge was about to be delivered a subtle set-down. “We do so appreciate all you’ve done for us, Mr. Dodge,” Emily interjected quickly. “In fact, Mother feels the debt rather strongly and desires to make those decisions herself. Once Grandmother is well enough, she has promised to join us if we are here overlong, regardless.”

“Overlong? How long might that be?”

With a quick glance at Emily, Lucy said, “Six weeks, perhaps?”

Six weeks?
Emily had to be back at Oak Hill before the new moon! She slipped an arm around her sister and guided her to the foyer. “I shall call upon you tomorrow to assure myself that you are settled in. And do thank Brock and Audrey for their generosity. Do not forget to send Mama word of your save arrival.”

…

Ryan stood near the Bradford’s French doors, his gaze focused on Emily. She was a vision in soft pink with a striped underskirt of ivory and rose. Her fan was of ostrich feathers dyed to match her gown, and the colors complemented her complexion and played well against her dark hair. She was receiving more than her fair share of attention. And she deserved it. But he found himself gritting his teeth and balling his fists every time a new swain appeared at Emily’s elbow. He was growing impatient to find a moment alone with her.

There was something strained about her tonight. She had arrived with Henry Dodge, but Miss Theodora was not in attendance. Something had changed. Something was wrong.

As he watched, a willowy blonde beauty, accompanied by his cousin and Audrey, joined Miss Nevins and kissed her on the cheek. The girl looked vaguely familiar, but he knew he hadn’t seen her before. He’d have remembered.

“Good God! Who is that?” Devaux asked at his side.

“She looks familiar, does she not?”

Devaux nodded. “Shall we?”

They joined the little group, exchanged greetings with the Davises, and looked pointedly at the young woman who was just finishing her remarks to Miss Nevins.

Brock noted the direction of their attention and smiled. “Lucy, my dear, may I present Lord Jonah Devaux and my cousin, Mr. Ryan Sutton? And this is Miss Lucy Nevins, freshly arrived from Scotland.”

The girl turned, a dazzling smile on her face. Silver green eyes so exactly like Emily’s widened, and her bowed lips parted. Ah, this was the reason for the familiarity. The fabled sister was no longer hidden away and was almost as appealing as Emily.

Her gaze met and held Devaux’s. A quick glance at Devaux told Ryan the fascination was mutual. He turned to Emily, wondering if she would be distressed by this turn of events. She had favored Devaux above her other suitors, but he could not detect a trace of the green-eyed monster. Instead, the corners of her mouth lifted in a faint smile, and a tiny sigh escaped her. Thank God for that. He’d have been sick if she languished over another.

After an awkward moment, Miss Lucy, color creeping up her cheeks, curtsied. “Lord Devaux, Mr. Sutton, I am very pleased to meet you.”

“Lucy, dear,” Emily said, “you must observe Lord Devaux’s technique on the dance floor firsthand. He is quite elegant in a minuet.”

Devaux grinned at Emily and took Miss Lucy’s hand as she straightened. “The pleasure is mine, Miss Lucy, and will double if you will consent to dance with me.”

The girl lowered her lashes in a way that conveyed modesty and pleasure. “Thank you, Lord Devaux. I should be pleased to dance my first in London with you.”

Devaux’s grin widened, if possible. “Gads! You must call me Jonah. Or plain Devaux, if you must.” Without relinquishing Miss Lucy’s hand, he led her toward the dance floor.

Ryan glanced again at Emily and found that she was watching him. He smiled and offered his arm. “I believe you promised me a dance, did you not, Miss Nevins?”

She slipped her arm through his. “I doubt we’ll be missed, Mr. Sutton.”

Halfway to the dance floor, Ryan led her toward the French doors to the terraced gardens. “Do you mind if we stroll instead of dance?”

“Not at all. I suppose we should talk.”

He braced himself. He’d suspected Emily would have serious second thoughts about last night. “Regrets?”

She gave him a long look before answering. “I…none. I would not change it, Ryan, but it must never happen again.”

He covered his disappointment. “We cannot undo it, Emmy, and I would not want to forget.”

She looked down at the pebbled path. “I am not blaming you. I…I used you shamelessly, and I apologize.”

She had used him? If only that were so. “I think we both took our pleasure.”

A breathless little laugh was her only answer to that. “But, you see, nothing has changed. You are still…”

“A traitor?”

She shook her head. “An American. When the war is over, win or lose, you will go back to Virginia, where your heart is. And I will never leave Oak Hill. There can be no future for us.”