Page 17 of When the Rogue Returns
“We have to,” Rupert said firmly. “Mother insisted that I invite you. If we don’t show up, she will be very vexed. I shall just have to read the book tomorrow. Can you loan it to me?”
“Certainly,” Isa said, determinedly ignoring Victor. “It’s best if you take me home anyway. I’m sure Mr. Cale has things to do.”
“Nothing more important than squiringyouabout, Mrs. Franke,” Victor said as he watched his quarry slipping between his fingers. “You can bring the book tonight, so as not to inconvenience his lordship.”
“It’s no inconvenience at all, cousin,” Lochlaw said heartily. “I’m a regular visitor at Mrs. Franke’s.”
Victor clamped down on a hot retort.
Isa stood and nearly overset the phaeton. “Then it’s settled.” She held her reticule against her chest like a shield as she stared pointedly down at Victor, obviously waiting for him to let her out. “I don’t wish to keep you, sir.”
And it dawned on him why she was suddenly so eager to escape him. She didn’t want him to know where she lived.
Unless she had another reason. Was she thinking of fleeing Edinburgh now that he’d shown up? His gut clenched at that possibility.
But no. She was too entrenched in Edinburgh society to just run off, and she was clearly up to something with young Lochlaw. He doubted she would give that up.
There was also the fact that she seemed to think she could once again makehimout to be the one in the wrong. He would have to disabuse her of that notion.
Reluctantly, he descended and helped her down. Lochlaw was already heading back to his curricle, so Victor took his chance to have a word alone with her. When she tried to slip away, he caught her waist in his hands.
“Know this, Isa.” He fixed her with a hard gaze. “If you attempt to leave town, I will hunt you to the ends of the earth. I’m not letting you off so easily this time.”
Temper flared in her pretty brown eyes. “Nor I you,” she surprised him by saying. “I don’t know what it is you’re up to, but I won’t rest until I find out.”
She thoughthewas up to something? The very idea made him want to shake her.
Or take her, over and over. Because now he was only too aware of her painfully familiar scent—violets and honey—and of the softness of her flesh beneath his fingers. Of the way her breath was quickening, as if she felt what he did—the echoes of their past reverberating around them.
“Mrs. Franke!” Lochlaw cried. “Are you coming?”
“Yes,” she said lightly. “Right away.”
Pushing free of Victor’s hold, she said in a low voice, “One more thing. Do as you want with Lady Lochlaw. But if you hurt Rupert in any way, you will have to answer tome.”
And with that peculiar statement hanging in the air, she left.
The hell Rupert was merely a “friend.” She was protective of the man; clearly, she had deep feelings for him.
Victor had to restrain himself to keep from following them. But there was no reason to rouse the baron’s suspicions; surely he could find out where she lived from someone in town. It was time to start doing what he’d been paid to do—investigating.
Now that she had as much as admitted her culpability in the theft, he meant to learn everything he could about what she’d done with the diamonds. There were a few hours before he must dress for the theater, and he would use them to study Mrs. Franke’s life in Edinburgh. The next time he saw his wife, he would be better armed for the encounter.
4
ISA SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLYon the first part of the ride to her cottage on the outskirts of Edinburgh, and not because of Rupert’s manic driving. Granted, he narrowly dodged hackneys and wheelbarrows at full speed, like a hare escaping a hound, but she was used to that. Thankfully, it made conversation impossible. After her encounter with Victor, she needed to settle her nerves.
It hadn’t gone well, what with Victor insisting that she’d desertedhimand looking daggers at Rupert and trying to bully her into letting him drive her home. In that moment, she’d known she had to escape him... and take Rupert with her.
For one very good reason.
“Rupert?” Now that they’d left Edinburgh proper and Rupert had finally slowed on the quieter country road, she could learn what she needed to know. “Have you ever told your mother about Amalie?”
“No, indeed.” He clicked his tongue at the horses. “She already disapproves of our association. If she knew you had a child, she’d make even more trouble over it.”
Relief coursed through her. At least Victor couldn’t find out about Amalie through Lady Lochlaw.
Then the rest of Rupert’s words registered. “‘Even more trouble’? What do you mean?”
