Viscount of Vice (Lords of Scandal 4)

“I’ll be fine.” Bad waved a dismissive hand as he swung open the door.

“Be careful,” Ada cried. “The last thing we need, Lord Baderness, is for you to be hurt too.”

Bad paused. “After what I just did, you’re concerned for me?”

Ada shook her head. “You’re angry at Grace for being so thick-headed. Trust me, I am too.”

Bad stared at her then looked at Vice. Vice gave a small shrug but his lips curled into a smile. “She’s very generous of spirit.”

Bad gave a single nod. “I can see that.” Then he swung out from the carriage. “I see them,” he cried. “They’re paying the toll on the bridge.”

Ada clutched his arm. “We have to hurry.”

Vice stuck his head out too and sure enough, stopped on the bridge was a carriage with stallions carved into its doors that were intricately painted. “How are we going to get over the bridge quickly?” Vice asked. “We can’t lose them now.”

“Sir,” Bad called. “I’ll give you twenty pounds for your horse and saddle.”

“What?”

“Twenty pounds. Buy a new one, pocket the rest.”

“Deal,” the man answered.

Bad looked back at them. “Keep up as best you can.”

Ada was still clutching Vice’s arm. “Please. Bring her back to us.”

Bad nodded and hopped out of the carriage.

“What should I do, my lord?” The driver called.

With a look at Ada’s determined countenance, his decision was easy. “Keep following that coach.”

Chapter Thirteen

Ada had never been more tired in her life and yet less likely to fall asleep. They’d been driving for hours. They’d caught sight of the carriage a great deal in the beginning of the chase. Enough to know she and Blake were chasing Grace on a road north. But it had been hours since they’d seen the vehicle. And there was no sign of Bad.

Her head ached nearly as much as her body as she snuggled in the crook of Vice’s arm. At least her pillow was comfortable, though his muscles were a bit hard. She glanced up at him, his eyes open and staring into the dark. “You’re awake.”

“So are you,” he said looking down as he softly stroked her cheek. “You should try to rest.”

“I can’t,” she answered. “I keep thinking of Grace alone with strange people. What if they hurt her?” What if they did worse? She touched her chest, her heart beating madly. She couldn’t even say the words out loud.

“She’s all right,” he answered softly, drawing her closer. “First of all, the countess doesn’t want to hurt her. She just wants her to expose Daring. At this point, I hope Grace agrees. We’ll likely sell the club anyway.” He sighed. “Bad and I will see to your reputation and Grace’s while we find Abernath and give her the punishment she is overdue.”

“Take care of our reputations?” Ada sat up then, her insides tingling with realization. “What does that mean?”

Vice sat up too. “It’s the middle of the night, love. You never went home.” He reached for her hand. “We have to get married, Ada.”

Her mouth went dry. “You’d do that for me?”

“I already told you I would last night.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I meant it then and I mean it now.”

Part of her jumped in excitement while another cringed with the realization that this marriage was not of the heart but born of necessity. “All right. We’ll marry after we find Grace.”

He shook his head. “Sweetheart, I haven’t wanted to say this, but we’re not going to find her. Bad is.”

“But we’ve come all this way.” Her insides twisted as tears sprang to her eyes.