Led Astray by a Rake (The Husband Hunters Club 1)

“If I was like Theodore Garsed, with nothing to talk about but my last meal, would you be here with me now?” he mocked. “I don’t think so. My reputation makes me interesting, Olivia. The half-whispered secrets and the shocking gossip. I know what they say. If I became just another ordinary man no one would give me a second glance.”

Olivia laughed, but stopped when she realized he was being serious. She shook her head at him. “Oh Nic, that’s not true. Whatever you did, whatever you were, you would never be ordinary.”

They walked in silence, entering the park, and making their way along the edge of the long driveway. After a time they crossed to the other side, following a path through the thickening trees, as the park turned into a wood. Olivia saw the dark bulk of the gatehouse rearing up ahead of them, with only one or two lights showing.

“This is the quickest way to the road,” Nic said, seeing her looking doubtful. “Don’t concern yourself. No one will see us. My mother keeps early hours. We are quite safe.”

Olivia trailed after him through the trees, and eventually they reached a mown stretch of grass that bordered one side of the building.

“The coach should be waiting just beyond the gates that open from the road to the driveway,” Nic said. “Not far now.”

The words were hardly out of his mouth when there was a shout behind them. Branches snapped as someone crashed through the undergrowth. They both froze. The shout came again, and now there was the dull gleam of a lantern, getting nearer, the light wavering and shaking because whoever held it was running.

“Devil take it,” Nic said, releasing his breath. “Wilson, the gamekeeper. The bloody fool thinks we’re poachers.”

Olivia knew it wasn’t funny but she felt a terrible urge to giggle, and put her hand up to her mouth to stifle it.

“I don’t want him to recognize you,” Nic went on, lowering his voice. “Go over to the gatehouse and wait for me in the shadows. I’ll get rid of him.”

He didn’t wait for an answer, hurrying to meet his overzealous gamekeeper, calling out his name in warning. Olivia did as she was told, moving closer to the gatehouse. There was a terrace flanking this part of the building, and she climbed the stone steps that led up to it. There were rows of pale blossoms, and a fountain splashing, catching the moonlight in ripples of silver. She leaned over to peer into the pool that collected the water, but if there were fish they were well hidden among the reeds and lily pads.

A shiver ran up her back, the hairs standing up on her nape. Even before the voice spoke, Olivia knew she was no longer alone.

Chapter 16

“Who is there?”

Haughty and used to being obeyed, the tone was instantly recognizable. It was like a repeat of their first meeting, in the castle garden by the Pan fountain. Olivia tried to breathe calmly, wondering if it was possible for her to turn and run. If she reached the stairs she could reach the safety of the trees. But Nic and the gamekeeper were over there, she reminded herself. What if Wilson recognized her? What if he thought she was a poacher and shot her?

But she had dilly-dallied too long and it was already too late. Lady Lacey moved from the shadows and stopped directly behind her, trapping her against the wall of the pool and preventing her from going anywhere.

“You are trespassing. Who are you? Turn and face me, I say, or are you a coward?”

Olivia was no coward, and she turned, keeping her face deep in her hood. She was surprised to see that Lady Lacey was holding a thin cigar in her fingers, the pungent smoke mingling with the strong perfume of night-scented stocks. She knew that there were women who had taken up the masculine habit of smoking, but Lady Lacey seemed like the very last person she could imagine joining their ranks.

“I-I’m sorry to have startled you, my lady,” she said, in a low, husky voice, disguising her usual calm tones as best she could. “I didn’t realize you were still awake.”

Suspicious, Lady Lacey peered at her, but Olivia only lowered her face further into the folds of her hood. Just then the voices of Nic and his gamekeeper drifted toward them from the woods, rising and falling over the distance. Lady Lacey looked in their direction with a frown.

“What on earth is going on? Who is out there? I am going to call my servants—”

She turned away, taking a step toward the house, but Olivia reached out and caught her wrist, holding it tight. It was the hand holding the cigar and it dropped from her shocked fingers.

“No, you must not, Lady Lacey.”

Lady Lacey stared at her in amazement, as if no one had ever dared to tell her no before. “How dare you! Release me at once. I will not—”

The glow of the lantern shone out, then faded into the trees, and a moment later Olivia could hear someone coming quickly up the stone steps. She recognized Nic’s tall figure as he reached the terrace, and was silhouetted against the night sky. He saw them at the same time and slowed, taking in the situation, before he approached them.

“That is my son,” Lady Lacey said, her voice heavy, as if the weight of the words was actually causing her pain. Her gaze slid back to Olivia, sharpening. “You must be one of Dominic’s unmentionables.”

That was when Olivia made her decision to run for it. As if she’d read her mind, Lady Lacey’s bony wrist twisted in her hand, and the woman’s fingers fastened painfully about hers, holding her prisoner.

Nic’s tall figure stopped in front of them, and Olivia could feel the agonizing tension between mother and son. She didn’t understand it.

“I hope for your sake my son paid you well,” Lady Lacey said with a dry bitterness, speaking to Olivia but looking at Nic. “He prefers to pay. You see, that way he doesn’t feel he needs to engage himself, emotionally. My son doesn’t feel, he doesn’t care. He’s selfish and immune to the suffering he causes those around him. Heed my words, girl, or you’ll end up as one of his victims.”

The words must have stung, although Nic said nothing. But Olivia wasn’t going to be silent—if he would not stand up for himself then she would do it for him.