The Lord's Inconvenient Vow

‘I haven’t been back here since I was a child. My last memory was of fleeing outside into the snow with Lucas and Chase because my father and uncle were trying to run each other through. This was not a happy house. Perhaps after we find Rafe we could return to Qetara?’

She gave a little laugh, as if trying to make light of her words, but he nodded.

‘But by dahabiya up the Nile this time, I’m still aching from that camel ride...’

The door opened and a wiry white-haired man in livery stared at them in disbelief.

‘Miss Sam!’ Aside from being inaccurate, for a servant this greeting was utterly inappropriate, but Sam detached her hand from Edge’s and hurried up the steps.

‘Tubbs!’

Edge’s mother would probably have swooned at such breaches of etiquette. At least the man waited until Sam hurried into the hallway before pressing her hand warmly between his. Sam turned to Edge, her nose red and eyes damp.

‘Edge, this is Tubbs. He always took care of us. Tubbs, this is Edge... Lord Edward Edgerton, my husband.’ She laughed at the butler’s expression. ‘Impossible. I’ve finally succeeded in surprising the imperturbable Tubbs.’

The butler transformed himself into a specimen well suited to Greybourne, his gaze settling somewhere past Edge’s left shoulder.

‘My congratulations, Lord Edward, Lady Edward. Do Lord Sinclair or Mr Sinclair know of this? It was not mentioned.’

‘No, not yet, Tubbs. It was rather a...surprise. Are they here?’

‘Lord and Lady Sinclair are expected back this evening. Master Chase and Mrs Sinclair are in Paris, I believe, or perhaps Switzerland by now.’ His stiffness melted into an affectionate smile. ‘Married. Goodness. Mrs Tubbs will be beside herself. I must see to the rooms. There have been quite a few changes here this past year as you can see, Miss Sa—Lady Edward.’

‘This is only until I make arrangements for accommodation elsewhere,’ Edge interjected, feeling resentful though he did not know why.

Tubbs bowed, resuming his dignity.

‘Of course, my lord.’

Edge set his jaw, but before he could turn to Sam an almighty yowl sounded above them and a black cloud streaked down the stairs. Edge moved between Sam and the projectile, but this was clearly a case of unnecessary chivalry because instead of shredding him, the feline, as the streaking object turned out to be, merely wove with impressive agility between his boots and climbed Sam like a ferret, leaving visible rents in her cloak.

‘Inky!’

Sam laughed and cradled the monster, stroking the purring mass as best she could. The cat tolerated this for a few rumbling beats and then leapt to the ground, directed its snow-capped tail heavenwards and stalked off without a backwards glance.

‘Well, Lady Sinclair will be pleased to see Inky can recover her spirits. She has been sulking since her return from Egypt and there have been no more offerings of mice in inappropriate places for quite some time. Clearly she has missed you, Miss Sam.’

Edge again locked his jaw against a completely incomprehensible urge to correct the butler. It was not like him to care one way or the other about titles and Miss Sam sounded far better than Lady Edward. She sounded like she belonged here.

He, on the other hand...

‘Is my uncle in London, Tubbs?’ Sam asked and Tubbs’s face underwent another transformation, blanking of all expression.

‘I do not know. Shall I make enquiries, Lady Edward?’

‘Yes, please.’

Edge held his peace until Tubbs led them to a drawing room and departed. Sam sat on a pale blue chaise longue with a sigh and cast her bonnet on to a low table. It rolled on to the floor and Edge picked it up, smoothing out the ribbons as tension flicked along his nerves.

‘Sam, we discussed the issue of your uncle...’

‘I don’t think we could call your blank refusal to accept help a discussion.’

‘And we certainly cannot call your refusal to listen to my objections a discussion.’

‘True. Therefore, it is safe to say we did not discuss this, but it is none the less the right course of action.’

‘I am certain your uncle has better things to do than...’

‘Don’t be stuffy, Edge. There is no one better equipped to help you than Oswald. Please stop pacing and sit down.’

He stopped pacing, but kept the length of the room between them.

‘How many times must I make it clear that my brother might well be involved in something which does not bear scrutiny? The last thing I want is to have a representative of the government investigating him.’

‘Oswald would never reveal a confidence and he would never hurt me.’

‘Very touching. You cannot guarantee that and, besides, it is not you he would be hurting but Rafe.’