Velvet Embrace

Dominic gave her another of his angelic smiles and pushed a dripping russet curl back from her face. "You know, someone tried to kill us, or me . . ." He broke off, his expression hardening. In all likelihood, the arsonists were the same men who had been following him, but this time Brie and John had been exposed to danger. His unknown enemies meant business, and this latest incident made it imperative to discover who and why.

Swearing silently, Dominic turned to survey the flaming wreckage of the barn. "I called this afternoon to offer my help in apprehending your neighborhood vagrant," he said dryly.

Brie felt suddenly shy. "And I thought you meant to torment me again," she murmured, looking away.

Dominic caught her chin in his hand and turned her face toward him. His eyes searched hers for a long moment, before he bent to capture her mouth with tender savagery.

His kiss lasted only a brief while. Then, as if he had suddenly become aware that he was embracing her in plain view of dozens of curious grooms and household servants, Dominic released her. "You had better get out of this rain," he said curtly, his tone once more holding a mocking edge to it.

"But what about you? You will come inside and get warm, won't you? Those wet clothes—"

"I've dry ones at the Lodge. I must leave you now. Your servant, mademoiselle." Stepping back, he bowed with exaggerated formality, then turned abruptly on his heel and strode away, leaving her standing there.

Brie stared after him, wondering what had caused such a sudden change in his manner. But as she watched Dominic disappear around the corner of the nearest barn, she smiled to herself. Somehow his brusqueness didn't upset her as it had yesterday. She didn't understand him, true, but he was what he was—and she loved him. Perhaps one day . . . but there would be time enough for that tomorrow.

It was only after Brie had returned to the house that she remembered the hundred questions she had wanted to ask him. Dominic seemed to know more about the fire than he had been willing to share. And what was more, she had let him leave without even thanking him for saving her horses.

The rain continued throughout the night and the fire gradually burnt itself out, but the cold gray light of morning brought little cheer to the inhabitants of Greenwood. A pile of ash and charred timbers lay where the barn had once stood, vividly reminding them all of how close they had come to disaster.

A great deal of work needed to be done before the stable's routine could return to normal. All training exercises were cancelled for the day, but the horses that had escaped the flames had to be found and cared for, and the buckets and blankets used to fight the fire had to be cleared away. And there still were the regular chores of cleaning stalls and feeding the animals.

When these tasks were accomplished, Brie ordered everyone to rest. She herself slept for a few hours, and when she woke shortly before noon, she dressed warmly, wanting to tour the stables before beginning the Herculean task of cleaning up after the fire.

The house was quiet, but Brie stopped by her cousin's room to check on her. Seeing Caroline sleeping soundly, she smiled. The girl had reacted surprisingly well to the events of the previous night, taking charge of the household and organizing the staff while Katherine saw to the needs of the injured. Obviously, Caroline wasn't the empty-headed romantic that everyone believed.

The rain had stopped by the time Brie left the house, but gray clouds hid the sun, making the soot-washed stableyard look desolate. Brie shuddered when she saw what was left of the small barn, remembering how the smoke and cinders swirled about them. How narrowly Dominic had escaped a horrible death! He had played down the danger to keep her from worrying, but she wasn't blind. Someone had tried to murder them, and she intended to find the culprit and see him punished.

She spent the next hour touring the barns and carefully checking each horse for injury. She was pleased to see the new filly eagerly nursing at Firefly's side. Brie had tended the mare's wounds herself that morning, and the whip-marks seemed to be healing. With luck, only the deepest slashes would leave scars.

When Brie finished her inspection, she turned her attention to interviewing Greenwood's large staff, using John's office as a headquarters. She was grateful the office had been spared. Barns could be rebuilt, but that particular room with its old desk and hard wooden chairs held many pleasant memories for her. As a child she had spent innumerable hours there with her father and John, learning the intricacies of running a training stable.

She questioned everyone who had been present during the fire, but when she had finished, she was no closer to finding the arsonist. Her suspicions were partially confirmed, however; a piece of wood had been driven between the doors and the metal latchbar, indicating that someone really had intended to murder them. She also discovered one of the lads had seen two strange men leaving the stableyard shortly before the fire broke out—and they had been carrying guns. The boy had followed them a short distance across a field, but had returned when he saw the light from the fire.

Brie was sitting at the desk, pondering her next step, when John joined her. "You don't appear to have slept much," she chided, noticing the weary slump of his shoulders and the dark circles under his eyes. "You ought to rest after all you did last night."

"I'm all right. Lungs still hurt a bit, but it will pass. Besides, that young lord did most of the work. Fine man, that Lord Stanton." John looked at her closely, and Brie found herself trying not to blush. She felt self-conscious whenever Dominic was mentioned. Changing the subject, she told John what she had learned from her interviews.

He frowned when she had finished. "I don't like seeing you become involved," he remarked. "You shouldn't be concerning yourself."

Brie gave him a puzzled look. "I think you must have taken leave of your senses, John. I am already involved. Someone destroyed part of my stables and tried to kill us. Do you expect me to do nothing?"

"I think you should let Lord Stanton handle the matter," he said stubbornly, not meeting her eyes.

"Stanton? Nonsense! I am perfectly capable of handling the affairs of this estate without his help. The local authorities—"

"He has already spoken with the magistrate."

"I beg your pardon? How do you know what Stanton has or hasn't done?"

John sighed. At times Brie could be too headstrong for her own good. "Lord Stanton was here earlier, while you slept. He informed me of the steps he was taking to apprehend the criminals."

Brie sat back in her chair, challenge written all over her face. "I see. And what else did his lordship tell you? Was I to be kept in total ignorance?"

John shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "He sent for the Bow Street Runners and some of his own people. They should arrive in a few days, but in the meantime, he plans to conduct his own investigation. He said he feels responsible for what happened last night. He intends to pay for the new barn, too. Told me to send the bills to his man in London. He also told me not to let you become involved."

"The devil he did!"