To Tame a Dangerous Lord (Courtship Wars 5)

“Good evening, Simpkin. I should like to speak to Lord and Lady Danvers, if I may.”

“Regrettably they are away at present—in London. But they are expected to return sometime tomorrow morning.”

“Then I must ask you to do me a service. This is Miss Madeline Ellis, a family friend. She needs lodging for the night, but naturally she cannot reside with me. So I would be obliged if you would put Miss Ellis up for tonight.”

“Certainly, my lord,” Simpkin replied without batting an eyelash at the uncommon request. “Welcome to Danvers Hall, Miss Ellis,” he added with a polite bow. “I will call for Mrs. Simpkin to show you to your room. May I take your cloak and bonnet?”

Miss Ellis, however, held on to her garments, looking chagrined. “I should like a word with you, my lord,” she said in an urgent undertone.

When Rayne obliged by drawing her aside a short distance, Madeline gazed up at him in disbelief. “You do not mean to simply leave me here?” she whispered in dismay.

“You have some objection to remaining?”

“Of course I have an objection! I cannot impose myself on people I have never met when they are not even at home.”

“You know propriety will be better served if you remain here. And Danvers Hall has ample guest rooms.”

“That is hardly the point.”

“Do you wish to go home with me?”

She hesitated. “No,” she said with obvious reluctance.

“Then I will see you in the morning. As soon as Lady Danvers returns, we will sort out your future employment at her academy.”

When Madeline remained there, eyeing him in mingled exasperation and frustration, Rayne smiled, wanting to reassure her. “I am not abandoning you entirely, Miss Ellis. I only live next door, a scant half mile away as the crow flies. If you find you need my protection, you may send a footman to fetch me. But I doubt the daughter of a war hero will need rescuing.”

At his deliberate challenge, her gaze narrowed in recognition that he’d used her father against her and impugned her courage in the same breath.

The next instant her spine straightened, just as Rayne had expected it would. Then Madeline shook her head in exasperation, while a reluctant smile twitched at her lips. “Do you always employ your persuasive brand of logic to get your way, Lord Haviland?”

“Frequently. But Mr. and Mrs. Simpkin will take good care of you. Won’t you, Simpkin?” he asked in a louder voice.

“Indeed, we will, my lord.”

“There, you see, Miss Ellis? Simpkin, don’t concern yourself with me. I will see myself out.”

He heard Madeline murmur something under her breath as he turned away but didn’t pause to investigate. Instead, Rayne returned to his carriage, satisfied that he had made the right decision by stepping in to alter the course of her life.

The drive to Riverwood took little time, yet Freddie Lunsford was already awaiting him when he arrived. Freddie had always run tame in Rayne’s various homes and made free with his liquor, so it was not surprising to find his relative ensconced in his study, sprawled on a sofa, staring morosely into a generous glass of brandy.

“Why the long face?” Rayne asked as he poured his own glass. “I said I would help you.”

Freddie barely glanced up. “This is not a long face. This is the depths of despair. You would be despairing, too, if your entire future depended on securing two thousand pounds to pay off a blackmailer.”

“You won’t be paying off the Widow Sauville.”

“No?”

“No. We will get your letters back instead so you may burn them. Otherwise there will be no end to her extortion. She will keep bleeding you dry.”

His expression arrested, Freddie sat upright. “Just how do you mean to accomplish the retrieval of my letters?”

“I haven’t had time to consider a plan, but I will. Cease fretting, man, and leave me to deal with Madame Sauville.”

“By Jove, Rayne, you are a Corinthian. I knew you would not let me down.”

Looking more cheerful, Freddie downed the expensive liquor in one long swallow, then shuddered at the effect.