Rogues, Rakes & Jewels

Well, for one thing, they had an audience with her brother and his friend interestedly watching. That was part of the reason; the other was the fear of losing him once he knew she had been in a gaming house, playing the part of Babette!

*

Jewelene left them but stopped outside the closed door because as she started to move off she heard Jimmy within exclaim, “By Jove! Never say so …” She was curious to know what it was all about. What was Ryker telling them?

“Wait … I don’t understand,” Arthur stuck in.

“Noddy!” Jimmy laughed. “But then, I must ask you to explain …”

Stanton came out of the back room and down the hallway towards the front door. She realized suddenly that someone had been at the doorknocker and turned to find Stanton opening the door wide for Aunt Dora, with Omsbury at her side.

Jewel’s eyes opened wide with surprise, and she said, “Stanton, Lord Omsbury may not be admitted.”

Her aunt, who had a basket of cut flowers in one hand, put her free hand to her mouth before exclaiming in shocked accents, “Jewelene! I have invited his lordship in for tea.”

“Aunt Dora, please forgive me, but I have good reason to deny his lordship admittance.”

“I am here to help, nothing more …” his lordship offered gently. “I was in town and noticed that your brother had returned, and I simply wanted you to know that you can turn to me when this all goes wrong—and it will all go wrong.”

“Were I to be captured and dragged off to hell, I would not put out a hand to you to help me!” Jewels snapped sharply, noticing that her aunt had closed her eyes and leaned against the wall table.

The library door opened at that juncture, and Ryker stood towering over them all as he scanned the scene. Purposely he came up and touched Jewelene’s chin lightly before he glanced at Omsbury, who appeared to be suffering a seizure.

Ryker’s voice was soft and yet authoritative as he said, “Take your dear aunt and go in the library with your brother, and do keep him there, lest he feel the need to face Omsbury himself …”

She looked up at him and thought for a moment that he was the God of Thunder. He looked as though he could take Omsbury down easily and without effort, and yet he was so very much in control. She smiled sweetly at him. “Yes, thank you—yes.”

Apparently Aunt Dora’s shock waves swept through her, leaving her unable to speak as Jewelene took her basket of cut flowers from her, took her hand, and led her to the library.

It was obvious she was shocked at her niece’s rudeness to his lordship, who was wealthy beyond imagination and wished to marry her; however, she willingly followed her niece away and out of what had been a mortifying experience for her.

“You are not welcome in this house, Lord Omsbury. Your advances towards Miss Jewelene Henshaw are not acceptable, and further to that, if I hear you’ve glanced her way a moment longer than seemly, I shall have your blood. Are we clear?”

“Who do you think you are? How dare you?” Omsbury’s face was nearly maroon, and his fists moved at his side.

For answer, the Marquis of Lyndhurst took out his calling card and flung it at him, waiting for him to grab it from the air, read it, and respond.

“Upon my word … you? You are the Marquis of Lyndhurst?”

“At your service.” The marquis inclined his head. This game was over.

“So be it, my lord—but know this: I don’t give a rap who you are. I will do what I want, when I want, and with whom I decide to do it. Don’t try and stand in my way.”

“Try? But you mistake—I am in your way,” the marquis returned with a sneer.

Omsbury turned sharply and stomped off. The marquis watched him take his horse from the hitching post, fling himself onto his saddle, and ride off at a heady pace. Then the marquis turned to go back to the library, where he meant to calm the ladies.

Fifteen

THEY HAD MOVED Lightning to the back pasture with a makeshift ‘lean-to’, as it was closest to the house and no one would be able to get to him without putting themselves in full view of the household. In addition to that, two tall torches were set in place by the only gate to the paddock.

Jewelene smiled as she watched their trusted groom Jonas breeze him. He was absolutely the fastest horse she had ever come across, and there was no doubt in her mind that they would win at Derby.

The problem was getting him there without mishap. She had quite made up her mind that she would accompany her brother and Arthur on the trip, even though her aunt had put up some strong objections.

A voice at her ear made her shiver, and she turned to find Ryker’s bent near, so near. “Your brother tells me that you are determined to accompany us to Derby.”

“Oh … are you coming?”