The Daring Miss Darcy (Lost Ladies of London 4)

The question drew his mind back to Estelle’s meeting with Mr Hungerford. “No. I shall dine at my club.” Vane doubted Farleigh would leave his bedchamber for the rest of the day. Besides, he had no intention of spending the night at home, not when he hoped to spy on Estelle.

The sweet sound of feminine laughter filtered down to the hall. Lady Farleigh appeared on the top stair, accompanied by her besotted husband. Happiness radiated from her like a brilliant beacon. Farleigh looked different, too: content and thoroughly satisfied.

“Lord Trevane,” Rose said as though pleased to see him. She came forward with graceful poise, grasped his hands and held them tightly. “Christian has been telling me all about your poor Miss Darcy. But isn’t it wonderful that you’ve found her?”

Vane was about to offer a customary reply, but the sudden swelling of his heart gave him pause. Wonderful did indeed describe recent events. Painful but wonderful all the same.

“And I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to hear Lillian is wed,” Rose continued. It seemed she had an ability to use one concise word to convey his feelings. He was just as thrilled for Lillian, too. “And it’s good to know Lord Ravenscroft is not really a pirate.”

“Indeed” was all Vane managed to say.

“Come,” Rose said with some excitement, “let’s sit in the drawing room and you can tell me all about Miss Darcy.”

Vane glanced at Farleigh who mouthed a silent apology.

Rose threaded her arm through Vane’s. “Oh, I know that’s the last thing you want to talk about, but it might help to have a lady’s perspective.”

She was right. His thoughts and feelings were his own, and he had no intention of sharing them with anyone. But in the space of two minutes, Rose had proved to be remarkably perceptive. Perhaps she could offer useful advice to help him persuade Estelle to share her secrets.

“Rose shares my view,” Farleigh informed, “that something untoward must have forced Miss Darcy to flee Prescott Hall.”

“Indeed.” Rose’s gaze drifted over his face. “What reason could a lady have for not wanting to marry you?”

“I can think of a few.”

Rose shrugged. “Yes, you can be quite frightening when in one of your morbid moods. Can’t most men?”

Vane cleared his throat. “That wasn’t what I had in mind but thank you for drawing my attention to an obvious flaw in my character.”

Rose blushed. “Forgive me, I only meant—”

“I am teasing you,” he said. “When it comes to flaws, patience is not a skill I have mastered. Nor do I have the ability to remain calm when anger burns hot inside.”

So much for keeping his thoughts and feelings to himself. This lady possessed an ability to draw out the truth without him even putting up a fight.

Vane glanced at Farleigh as Rose led him into the drawing room. A smile formed when he noted his friend’s crumpled cravat. The lord had obviously dressed in a hurry for he’d missed a button on his waistcoat, too.

While Farleigh visited the drinks table to pour them both a glass of brandy, Rose settled into the seat by the fire and gestured for Vane to sit opposite.

“I have decided to return to Hanover Square,” Vane said before Rose brought up the subject of Estelle. Making the announcement aloud made it more difficult to change his mind.

Decanter in hand, Farleigh stopped pouring and glanced over his shoulder. “You’re leaving here? May I ask why?”

Rose sat forward. “I don’t suppose it feels like home when we arrive unannounced.”

“This is your home, not mine,” Vane said humbly. “You’re free to do as you please and I’m grateful to Christian for providing an alternative place to stay when we returned from Italy.”

The thought of going back to Hanover Square filled him with dread. The same frightful memory played over in his mind. Dawn approached as he ambled up the steps after a night spent in the company of Lady Monroe. The scent of exotic perfume clung to his clothes as did a whiff of stale tobacco. His butler, Marley, had long since gone to bed, and so Vane had let himself in with a key.

It was dark but not quiet.

The sound of whimpering drew him to the hunched figure sitting on the cold marble stairs. Upon hearing the door close, Lillian looked up. He would never forget her swollen face, blotchy red cheeks, and sad eyes ringed with black shadows. She jumped up and hurried down to the hall, flung her arms around his neck and sobbed as she told him of her ordeal.

It was his responsibility to protect his sister. But he’d been too occupied with trying to find a cure for his malaise, trying to cure the mental and physical discomfort that plagued him since losing Estelle.

“I am to blame,” Rose said, dragging Vane from his reverie. “But with us being so recently married you see, I just couldn’t stay away.” She glanced at her husband, and one could not miss the sensual undertone in her smile.

From experience, Vane distrusted the look of love, but all those around him seemed determined to prove him wrong.