“Yeah, he said something about Tyreham scaring him off. Why?”
“Before he ran off, Alberts did a bit of talking. He told Tyreham about the time Archer and Parrish brought a friend with them. ‘A terrifying man with a horribly scarred arm,’ I think were Tyreham’s words.”
With a vile oath, Coop slammed his fist into the wall.
“Still sorry I came?” Raggert taunted.
“Shut up,” Coop snapped. “We’re going to have to speed up our plan. I’ll contact Archer tonight, tell him and Parrish to get over to Tyreham and beat the hell out of our friend the marquis. Maybe then the bastard will mind his own business. The last thing I need is for him to come looking for me.”
“Bloody right,” Raggert agreed, frowning. “Archer and Parrish had better be damned convincing. Because if they aren’t—if they don’t manage to scare Tyreham into staying out of things—this whole scheme could explode in our faces.”
“You made your point.” Coop jerked open the door, nearly shoving Raggert out. “Now get back to Tyreham before someone notices you’re missing. I’ll get dressed and find Archer and Parrish. By tomorrow, Tyreham will either cease to be a problem or cease to be.”
Dawn had yet to begin making its entrance when Dustin left his chambers the next morning. Time was short, and he intended to make full use of it. If he didn’t get to Nicole and her father by half after five, Nicole would leave for the stables and Trenton would begin pacing the floors, demanding answers that were his right to have.
Arising early had been more of a relief than an effort, given that Dustin hadn’t closed an eye all night. Between his worry for Alexander and his preoccupation with Nicole’s physical and emotional state, slumber had evaded him entirely.
Both issues would be confronted today; the latter tonight, the former in a matter of minutes.
Making his way downstairs, Dustin paused only to gulp down two cups of fortifying coffee before leaving the manor. Saxon had agreed, albeit reluctantly, to allow his employer this unexplained and unsupervised morning excursion. Dustin fully understood the investigator’s concern: sufficient time had passed since Dustin had stirred up a hornet’s nest with his inquiries at Newmarket. He was now a walking target. Nevertheless, he meant to walk to the tenants’ section alone. His reasons were twofold: one, he refused to permit Saxon to leave Alexander’s side; and two, he was determined to keep the Aldridges’ whereabouts a secret, to fulfill the vow he’d made when he’d hired Nicole.
Until—and unless—they modified that vow.
He didn’t dare consider what he’d do if they refused. He could never betray Nicole.
He could never look Trent in the eye if he didn’t.
Troubled, he crossed the grounds, making his way to the Aldridges’ cottage before the first rays of sun appeared.
A customary silence greeted his knock.
“It’s Tyreham,” he announced, once a short interval had elapsed.
The door opened, and Nicole gazed up at him, her expression apprehensive beneath her concealing cap. “My lord? Is something wrong?”
“Forgive me for coming by so early, but, yes, I must speak with you and your father at once.”
“Of course.” She paled but admitted him without further question.
Dustin shut the door in his wake, clasping Nicole’s narrow shoulders and fighting the nearly unbearable urge to envelop her against him to ease his aching conflict.
“Dustin?”
She looked so frightened and so vulnerable. Memories washed over him, and he searched her breeches-clad form for signs of lingering discomfort. “Are you feeling better?”
With a flicker of embarrassment, she nodded. “Yes. Much better. The bath and rest worked wonders.”
“I almost came by last night,” he told her huskily. “Three times, in fact. I wanted to see for myself that you were all right, but I resisted the urge to do so. You needed rest, not company. However, that doesn’t mean I wasn’t thinking of you. I was. All night.”
A soft smile. “Worrying about me, you mean.” She reached up, lay her palm against his jaw. “Thank you. But I’m fine. Truly. And we will talk. I promise.”
He turned his lips into her palm. “I’ve turned your life upside down, haven’t I? And God help me, I’m about to do so again. Have you any idea how frustrating that is, given the fact that all I want to do is make you happy?”
Trepidation flashed in her eyes. “What’s happened?”
“They sent a note. To Trenton. A direct threat to Alexander’s life if I don’t stop delving.”
She needed no explanation for who they were. “Oh, my God.” Her arms dropped to her sides. “I’ll get Papa.”