To Bed a Beauty (Courtship Wars 2)

“Someone,” Arden continued, “must organize a search and speak to the local authorities tomorrow. Perhaps set up a watch to try and prevent future robberies. You have a bailiff or a steward, my lady?”

“A bailiff.”

“Then I will meet with him in the morning and make arrangements.”

Roslyn still was reluctant to involve the duke in their affairs. “You needn’t put yourself to such trouble.”

“I have no wish to tell Marcus about the attempted robbery, do you? If I handle the matter, he won’t need to know.”

She hesitated, acknowledging his point. If Marcus thought there was a highwayman at large threatening the district, he would likely postpone his wedding trip, and Arabella deserved to enjoy her newfound happiness uninterrupted.

“I suppose not,” Roslyn finally said. “But still-”

“I will deal with it,” Arden stated, cutting off any further protest. There was an implacable note of finality in his tone, as if he was unaccustomed to having his decisions questioned. But he was a duke, after all.

“Now tell me what happened tonight,” he suggested. “What exactly did our highwayman say and do?”

Roslyn gave a brief account of the attempted robbery, and Winifred chimed in with a detail or two.

“I could scarcely believe it was happening,” the elder lady added at the last. “Ours is a very quiet neighborhood. And this is not the main road to London.”

“I think,” Roslyn said slowly, “that he waited for us to leave Danvers Hall and then followed us.”

Arden’s interest sharpened. “Why do you say so?”

“Because he knew precisely what jewels Lady Freemantle was wearing. He must have seen her earlier today.”

“Or perhaps he was informed by someone who did see her,” Arden observed.

“But it is curious that he only wanted her brooch.”

“Brooch?”

Winifred drew aside her shawl to display the piece. “This was the only item that devil demanded. I can’t imagine why he would want my brooch.”

“Did either of you recognize him?” the duke asked. “Anything familiar about him? Any identifying characteristics?”

“Not that I noticed,” Roslyn said thoughtfully. “Although I realize now that he was surprisingly wellspoken.”

His speech was not of the lower classes, Roslyn was certain. In fact, Winifred’s accent was much rougher than the brigand’s.

“Well,” the duke said, “we can do our best to find him, but I doubt we will have much luck.”

Roslyn had to agree. Finding a small, red-haired, well-spoken footpad who had tried to rob Winifred would likely be impossible. The only detail that might lead to his identification was that he was likely wounded, perhaps in the arm, but they couldn’t even be sure of that.

Falling silent, she settled back against the squabs, wondering how the special evening had suddenly turned so grim.

Drew was regretting the turn of events almost as much as she. This was precisely what he had hoped to avoid-becoming further entangled with Roslyn Loring. He would rather be halfway to London by now. Yet he couldn’t leave the ladies without protection. And he owed it to Marcus to stay and see to matters.

Barely an hour before, he’d promised his friend to keep an eye on the two younger Loring sisters. He and Heath had remained late at the ball in order to say farewell to Marcus and share a brandy to mourn the demise of his bachelorhood, even though Marcus had soundly rejected their condolences and claimed to be wildly content with his love match to Arabella.

Drew found himself swearing at the wretched timing. It was the devil’s own luck that the highwayman had struck so soon after his making that promise.

He had to admit, however, that Roslyn had borne the danger with aplomb. He’d been impressed by her courage and resourcefulness, even if it had sent his heart to his throat to see her in danger of getting shot. Most females of his acquaintance would have fainted dead at the threat.

Simply because he could admire her mettle, however, did not mean he wished to spend the night with her under the same roof. He didn’t want to be tempted by her, or to be subjected to Lady Freemantle’s annoying attempts at matchmaking. But it looked as if he would have no choice.

When the coach drew up before the Freemantle mansion, her ladyship wouldn’t hear of Roslyn going on to stay with her friend, Miss Blanchard, and insisted she remain at the Park to provide solace and company.