A Gentleman's Curse (Avenging Lords 4)

“Now listen here,” the magistrate said, but Lord Valentine raised his hand to silence the men.

“Mr Hollingsworth,” Lord Valentine began, “together we will take the prisoner into custody on the charges of fraud, intent to extort money and blackmail. Am I correct that the court will hear the case in Hertford?”

The magistrate nodded. From his sallow complexion and trembling lips, anyone would think he was the one being committed. “After the formal inquest and indictment, the judge will hear the case at the Shire Hall, although not until Lent.”

“This is ludicrous!” Mr Thorncroft protested. He swung around to face Claudia, his movements so erratic that Hudson darted forward and grabbed the rogue by the collar. “Let me go. Get your hands off me. You’ve got no proof, nothing more than the word of a shopkeeper.”

“And the discrepancy in the signatures,” Claudia added.

“One thing I cannot abide,” Lord Valentine said, “is a man who takes advantage of a lady living alone. As a viscount and peer, I shall do everything in my power to see you charged. Indeed, we will retire to your residence, Mr Hollingsworth, and have your clerk record the details.”

In the presence of two peers, the magistrate could do nothing but agree.

A scuffle broke out when they tried to drag Mr Thorncroft from the room. The devil wielded his walking stick like a sword, swinging it high and low until Lord Greystone caught hold of the cane and Hudson smashed his fist into Thorncroft’s face.

The next twenty minutes passed by in a blur as the gentlemen bundled M

r Thorncroft into Lord Greystone’s carriage. Mr Drake accompanied the magistrate, and the men left for Meadowbrook, except for Hudson Lockhart.

Claudia stood beneath the portico, her arms wrapped across her chest while Hudson stood a few feet away and watched the carriages rattle down the drive. Nerves held her rigid. She would have to explain her reasons for not telling him the truth, for not trusting him with the facts.

Hudson turned to face her.

Claudia tried to read his mood, though his face remained expressionless. Relief brought water to her eyes when he opened his arms, smiled and beckoned her forward. In a rush of excitement, she almost tripped on the bottom step but Hudson was there with a steady arm and a warm embrace.

Determined to offer an explanation, she opened her mouth to speak, but he captured her lips in a searing kiss hot enough to make her toes curl.

“Don’t ever do that again,” he panted as he dragged his mouth from hers. “Don’t ever feel as if you have to battle your problems alone.”

“But after what happened with Selina, I thought—”

Hudson placed his finger on her lips. “You’re not Selina. You were right not to take the money. I was wrong to assume you would. For the last week, you’ve done everything to support me and help solve my problems, and not once did I enquire as to the nature of yours. I am the one at fault, not you.”

Claudia swallowed hard. “I would have told you about Mr Thorncroft, but I wanted you to know that my problems had no bearing on my feelings for you.”

He stroked her hair off her brow, kissed her so deeply the muscles in her core clenched, begging for him to enter her body.

“None of that is important now,” he said in the husky voice that suggested he wanted her, too. “Only two questions matter. Two simple questions that require two simple answers.”

“Oh.” Her heart thumped against her ribcage.

“Do you love me, Claudia? For I love you more than life itself.”

Her throat grew so tight she could hardly speak. “To the depths of my soul.”

A wicked smile touched his lips. “Will you marry me?”

“In a heartbeat.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Falaura Glen - Two weeks later

“So your father did send the letter threatening to strike you from his will,” Claudia said as they waited for their friends to join them at the rotunda.

Dariell and Emily had spent the previous day decorating the structure with roses and ivy, used fresh white sheets to give the place the same magical air. Instead of a chaise, a harpsichord took centre stage. Two braziers blazed with enough heat to keep the winter chill from settling into their bones.

“It was a desperate attempt to force me to come home,” Lockhart said, unable to resist the urge to stroke her cheek and press a chaste kiss to her cool lips. “Of course, he had no notion why I’d left in the beginning.”