Velvet Embrace

"It makes sense to me, Miss Brie. He doesn't want you to go about unattended, either. Said he doesn't think you are in any danger, but suggested that you carry a weapon whenever you leave the house."

"That," Brie said, rising, "is the first sensible thing I've heard. I will carry a weapon, but I am more likely to use it on him!"

It was very late when Dominic dismounted and turned the nag he had been riding over to an astonished Patrick Dawson. Dominic's rough clothes and his strange flea-bitten horse, were enough to make Patrick scratch his head in puzzlement. Julian's reaction was similar, but he waited until his guest had changed clothes and been served a late supper in the dining room before asking what the devil Dominic was up to.

Dominic sipped his wine, leaving much of the food on his plate untouched as he answered. His voice was tinged with sarcasm, an indication of his weariness and frustration. "I've been searching for the men who set fire to the Greenwood stables. The clothes were a disguise of sorts. I can hardly track down a pair of arsonists dressed in the height of fashion. And, I'm sorry to say, there is now a horse in your stable that doesn't deserve the name."

"Did you find any sign of the culprits?"

"One or two, but the tracks lead nowhere." Dominic's jaw hardened. "Damn it, I know Germain is behind this! I don't have a shred of evidence, but my instincts tell me he planned this in case he lost our duel. He must have arranged for his henchmen to follow me here, and when they realized they weren't going to get the deed, they decided to take what they could get. That fire last night was no accident."

"I know," Julian replied. "Brie told me." The previous evening he had been astonished when Dominic had come home drenched to the skin and looking as if he had been dragged through a char pit. Julian had also been dismayed to learn the Greenwood stable had been set on fire, and had called there twice that day to offer his help. The first time he had been told Brie was resting. The second, he had found her seething with anger.

"So, now what do you do?" he asked, postponing his discussion of Brie.

Dominic gave a weary sigh. "Keep looking until I find them, I suppose. You're aware that a message arrived from Jason today? He says Germain has recovered from his delirium but that he's leaving the pleasure of interrogating Charles to me. By the way, Jason also writes that Lauren was delivered of a healthy baby girl."

Julian was pleased to hear about the child and he said so, but he was more interested in what Dominic planned to do about the attempts on his life. "Do you mean to go to London then?" he asked.

"I haven't decided. I could probably learn more from Germain now that he's well enough to talk, but it would save me some trouble if I could catch his agents here. Besides," Dominic added softly, almost to himself, "I hardly think it appropriate to leave for London now, with the way things are."

Julian wasn't quite sure what Dominic's cryptic remark meant, but he let it pass. Mentioning the call he had paid on Brie, he relayed her message to Dominic. "She was furious with you, Dom. She said in no uncertain terms that you should mind your own affairs and that she would handle the matter herself."

Dominic gave Julian a hard glance. "I credited Brie with more sense. She realizes, I hope, that the men who set fire to her stables will not stop because their first plan went awry."

Seeing Dominic's set expression, Julian sighed. It was inevitable that his two strong-willed friends should clash. Ever since he had introduced them, he had felt undercurrents of tension in their relationship. It was a pity, though. Brie and Dominic could have been made for each other. But Dominic was determined to believe that women were weak and foolish and untrustworthy, and Brie had competed in a man's world too long to accept masculine domination meekly. She bristled like a hawthorn hedge whenever her ability was challenged.

In this case, however, Julian agreed with Dominic. A man, particularly one of Dominic's experience, was better suited to deal with killers. Not that he would share his opinion with Brie, but he was worried she might do something foolish just to prove she didn't have to obey Dominic's orders.

"She knows they are murderers," Julian answered. "But the point is, she thinks you have no right to take charge. She doesn't understand why you are doing what you're doing. I'll say it again—you ought to tell her what's going on."

Dominic pressed his lips togethe

r in a tight line. "I don't want her to become involved."

"But isn't it possible that these men might try to hurt Brie in order to get to you?"

"Possibly, but not likely. Brie and John weren't intended to be victims. They just happened to be present."

Julian frowned. "All the same, it concerns me. Brie often rides alone, and if she were to come across those villains, well, they might not hesitate to abduct her or some such thing, especially now that they've shown their cards."

"You're being a bit melodramatic, don't you think?" Dominic replied, refusing to admit that the thought worried him as well.

"I would hardly call murder melodramatic. Besides, whoever they are, they couldn't know that you don't care a whit about Brie's welfare."

Dominic's hand tightened around his wine glass. "I care," he said, his tone curiously flat.

Julian gave an exasperated snort. "Then why the devil don't you tell her what you've told me? Let her know the facts? That's the only way Brie will listen to reason."

Slamming down his glass, Dominic glared at Julian. "Because I haven't the time or the inclination to pamper the pride of a spoiled beauty! One who is foolish enough to become involved in a situation that is well over her head, at that." When Julian remained silent, Dominic stood up abruptly. "Hell, tel! her what you like. But whether she agrees or not, I will act as I see fit." With that, he turned on his heel and strode angrily from the room.

Leaning back in his chair, Julian pursed his lips in thought. He found his friend's reaction highly curious. Dominic had never been one to brook interference—and certainly not outright defiance—from a woman. But he rarely let a woman move him to anger. The violence he had shown just now was not in keeping with the cool, impervious cynic Julian knew.

Ah, my noble friend, Julian thought smugly, your actions betray you. In spite of what you pretend, you are taken with Brie. And that rankles, doesn't it? To be attracted to a woman who refuses to fall for your practiced charm? But beware, Dominic, lest you end up presenting your cold heart to her on a platter. After all, are you so different from the rest of us poor mortals?

Dominic had been gone several hours by the time Julian rose the next morning. Still concerned, Julian rode over to Greenwood, intending to give Brie a much needed explanation. When he arrived, however, he was informed by the lad who took his horse that Miss Brie had ridden out early and was not expected back before noon.

"Was she alone?" Julian asked, knitting his brows.