Page 43 of An Unbending Lady for the Desperate Earl
She nodded slowly. “Actually, I did.”
He froze. “Who? Can you describe them? Did you recognize them?”
“I confess, I did recognize them.”
“Tell me, Victoria—who were they? You must tell me!” His heart clenched in his chest. Could they have found the culprits, so soon after beginning this plot?
She laughed softly, her shoulders shaking against him. “It was you, Christian. You were the one looking at me.”
His terror dissipated, replaced with a relieved smirk. “That is not in the least bit amusing, Victoria.”
“No? Then why are you smiling?” She peered up at him and, so help him, he came within a hair’s breadth of closing that gap, once and for all, and kissing her.
Chapter 18
The next week passed by in a haze of balls and parties and dinners and visits to the theater and the opera. Victoria had lost track of the beautiful gowns she had borrowed from Miss Longacre, who was working devilishly hard at spreading the word of the mysterious Lady Laura.
The Duchess of Sopworth was doing her part, as well, ensuring that all and sundry knew the name of Lady Laura before the week had come to a close. Indeed, a veritable mountain of letters arrived each morning upon the silver tray at Christian’s townhouse, inviting her to this gathering and that gathering. Truly, she had become the talk of London, with every family eager to host this exciting newcomer.
“This is the trouble with high society,” she claimed, over the dinner table where she was breaking her fast. Christian sat opposite, his fork poised halfway between his plate and his mouth.
“And what may that be?” He rolled his eyes, evidently now accustomed to her daily gripes surrounding the upper echelons.
“They’re so desperate for fresh meat.” Victoria set down one of six invitations she had opened that morning. “Your social ponds are stagnant, and everyone knows everyone. So, when someone new arrives, it is a furious dash to lay claim to them first.”
Christian eyed her. “If that were true, and everyone knew everyone, we would have discovered these kidnappers by now.”
“Not necessarily.” Victoria raised a finger. “There is always a chance that I was mistaken about them being from high society itself. They could just as easily be close to a well-to-do family, with access to the same occasions and locations as said family. Yes, it would be exceedingly difficult for them to have the use of a carriage, but they may have stolen that, for all we know.”
She had been thinking a great deal about her previous suppositions, trying to figure out if she may have made a misstep somewhere along the way. She still felt certain that these criminals had something to do with high society, but she had come to realize that there might be some leeway, with regards to their positions. After all, staff could move just as easily, and just as discreetly, through the masses as actual members of the social elite.
“Do you still believe this will work?” Christian put down his fork.
“It has to.” She didn’t hesitate in her response. “Now, what is on the agenda for today? Are we to dine with kings and dance with sultans?”
He rolled his eyes. “I thought we might take a turn about Hyde Park after breakfast, and then take tea with Miss Longacre. She has invited several of the most prolific gossipmongers within her acquaintance, in the hopes of spreading your influence further. The Duchess has also given us her invitation to the Earl of Russell’s party this evening.”
“I suppose I should have more eggs, then, if we are to have such a busy day.” She cast him an encouraging smile, trying to stave off the argument they had endured each day since this plan had come into action.
He sighed. “I really think we ought to find another means of coaxing these kidnappers out of their hiding places. What good can it do, honestly, to have you in harm’s way? Will that not simply mean one more captured lady? What if you vanish, and you cannot free yourself?”
“Please, I beg of you, let us go one day without having this discussion!” she protested. “I have the means to defend myself, if I am taken. Which is more than may be said for the other ladies. They will take me into the lion’s den, not realizing that they have stolen away a lioness.”
“These are strong, clever, furtive men, Victoria. What if they overwhelm you? What if they lock you up, and you have no means of escape? What if this comes to naught, and we succeed in nothing but getting you trapped in their web?” He leaned his elbows on the table, in a most ungentlemanlike fashion.
“It will not come to that,” she replied stubbornly. “And I am quite finished with my eggs, now that I think about it. I shall go to change for the day ahead, and I strongly suggest you do the same.”
She rose without another word and crossed the room, only for Christian’s voice to call her back.
“It is only because I care, Victoria.”
She didn’t dare to turn, in case she looked into those beautiful eyes of his and spilled everything that lay within her heart. A growing affection that only increased in its fervor with each passing day. For, this past week, attending so many events at Christian’s side, she had come to imagine what life might be like if she were always at Christian’s side. And, truth be told, she had come to want it, too.
“I know,” she murmured. “But there are fathers, and brothers, and fiancés out there who are without the lady they care for. I would bring them home, at any cost. I don’t have to remind you that Lady Helena is still missing. You said, once, that you loved her as a sister. That must be of more value than any care you have toward me.”
“Victoria…” He got up and Victoria instantly panicked.
He is going to say it… he is going to say that he feels something toward me, more than he should.She was no fool. She had seen the way he watched her during their outings, always endeavoring to be near her, and had heard Miss Longacre’s remarks about his feelings. Even if she had been oblivious to those things, she couldn’t have denied the way they had danced together, in a way that not even married couples would dare to dance. No, she couldn’t hear any admission of affection now, or her resolve would crumble entirely.
