Page 115 of Ruthless with a Rogue
“I gave you the key, Miss Forester,” came Ryker’s voice as he sidled up next to Derek.“I’m the only other person who has keys for the building.”His gaze bounced between the two women, eyes sharp.
Livy rubbed her temples and shut her eyes.“I…had left them on the hall table outside the sitting room while we stored everything away.I planned to lock up as soon as we made sure everything was set.”She opened her eyes and shook her head slowly.“Everyone else had left.It was only my aunt and me.”
“Clearly not.”Ryker glanced back at his ruined building.“Sounds quite a bit like arson.”
“Sounds quite a bit like someone was attempting murder,” Derek growled.
Lady Elliot laughed, the high-pitched sound tinged with hysteria.“That cannot be.”
Derek found Livy’s gaze and saw the same grim understanding reflecting back at him.She thought so too.Why else would someone lock them in?
“Everything is lost, Derek,” Livy said quietly.“The fire destroyed it all.”
His lungs stalled.When Dorothea had arrived home after the event, she’d informed him of its success, that they’d raised the funds needed.He swore harshly.Gone.All of it, up in flames.
He shook his head.“We’ll find another way, come up with another plan.You’re safe.That’s all that matters.”
She collapsed against him, and a jolt of alarm shot through him.“Livy?”
“I’m well,” she murmured, but her words were faint.“Just exhausted.”
He squeezed her tight.He needed to get her and her aunt home.Seen by a physician.
“It’s too large a coincidence,” he said to no one in particular.It had to be intentional.An overturned lamp in the very room all the auctioned off items were held in?Christ.At every bloody turn, they were thwarted.But to have locked Livy and her aunt in the room too?Why hadn’t the person just waited for the women to be gone before they started the fire?It didn’t make any sense.
Ryker’s eyes lit, a thrill glittering in their depths.The unmistakable thrill of bloodlust.“So, who stands to gain from derailing the funding of your foundling home, and who would want Miss Forester dead?And the better question: What are we going to do with them once we find them?”
There was only one person Derek could think of who had motive.But would he truly go to such lengths?
It looked like Derek had a call to make.
58
Derek
“LordWentworthisn’thome,”the butler intoned.
“That’s not a problem,” Derek said, removing his topper as he stood in the Wentworth’s townhome entry.He smiled insincerely at the servant.“I’ll wait.”
The butler didn’t seem perturbed by Derek’s rudeness or refusal, but that was butlers for you.The man led Derek to a receiving room.“I will alert His Lordship as soon as he is back in residence.”
“Please do and ensure he knows it’s urgent.”
Derek wandered about the room, drumming his topper against his leg.He’d called unannounced.He hadn’t wanted to give Wentworth advanced notice.
After the events last night, everything felt off, his skin itchy, his muscles antsy.He’d had Livy and her aunt seen by the doctor as soon as they’d returned to Ironcrest House.They’d both been in good health, just prescribed rest.Lady Rutledge was there now, visiting with them.Keeping an eye on them.Dorothea was with Rafe.
In such a short time, two people in Derek’s life had been threatened, nearly taken away from him.Rafe’s fate still hung in the balance.
His attention fell on the over-the-top furnishings, the silk wall coverings, the marble mantle.It was elegant, freshly built.The baron had clearly done well for himself.But men never had enough, did they?Wentworth wanted the title as well.Prestige.Would he really go as far as arson, as murder, for it?Wentworth was a portly, fidgety gent.Nervous.Meek.It didn’t fit.
“My lord.”A soft voice drifted over the doorway.A blonde woman with curves that would have at one time garnered Derek’s attention stepped into the room.A well-built footman silently slid into the room and stood at attention at the wall nearest her.She quietly shut the door behind her.
Derek stiffened.There might be a servant with her, but he wasn’t unfamiliar with attempts at trapping him into marriage.
“We don’t have much time,” she murmured and stiffly made her way over to him.Her gaze darted toward the door and back.
Surely, Wentworth knew this wouldn’t work?It wouldn’t be the first time Derek had left a young woman ruined because of a set of grasping parents.
