‘And if I now agree to send for the physician?’ Christian challenged.
‘Then I still could not leave you here without family or friend to attend you,’ she maintained obstinately.
Christian looked at her searchingly, sensing—sensing—ah, yes, there it was—a telltale glitter of tears in those deep blue eyes.
Because he was attempting to save Lisette’s reputation by sending her to stay with his sister and brother-in-law?
Admittedly, it would also save his own reputation, but—
There was no but to this situation, he conceded heavily; Lisette was the one without family or friends, apart from himself, and to send her away, albeit to stay with his sister and Marcus, would be the height of cruelty after all that she had done for him.
‘It was merely a thought, Lisette.’ He sighed in defeat. ‘Of course, if you wish to stay here at Sutherland House, then you must do so.’
She blinked, lashes slightly dampened by those tears she was determined not to allow to fall. ‘If Lord Maystone does not wish to take me away for questioning as yet, then yes, I do prefer to stay here.’
‘Then it is settled.’ Christian braced his shoulders before turning to Marcus and Maystone. ‘Gentlemen?’
Marcus rose elegantly to his feet. ‘I have no doubt you do need to rest following the...the exertions of the journey here, Christian,’ he added drily.
Pointedly, Christian acknowledged irritably, knowing full well to what ‘exertions’ Marcus was referring. As did Lisette, by the becoming blush that had now coloured her cheeks. Maystone still looked befuddled.
And perhaps Christian did need to rest; his thoughts of a few minutes ago regarding marriage to Lisette certainly indicated that he was not in his right mind!
It seemed that he was to have Lisette as his guest at Sutherland House after all. And he had not had to fight Aubrey Maystone, verbally or otherwise, in order to achieve it.
His gaze narrowed on the older man as he continued to stare at Lisette as if she were an apparition.
What was wrong with the man?
Perhaps his grandson’s kidnapping had affected Maystone more seriously than any of them had suspected?
But, if that was so, then why was he not insisting on taking Lisette into his custody?
He felt a throbbing behind his eyes, as indication that so much thought—and so many unanswered questions—had resulted in him developing a headache. ‘Just so,’ he now answered Marcus vaguely. ‘Do not visit with Julianna too early tomorrow morning, Marcus,’ he added wearily as he rang for Evans to show the gentlemen out. ‘I have a feeling I will not be at my best until later in the day.’
Marcus’s dark brows rose. ‘You know your sister almost as well as I; it will be as much as I can do to prevent her from visiting you later today once she knows you are returned from France and injured!’
Yes, Christian did know Julianna very well. He also knew that she had Marcus entwined about her little finger.
‘Then I suggest you do not tell her I am injured,’ he bit out. ‘As to the rest, I am sure you will manage to think of some other manner in which to divert her,’ he added ruefully.
Worthing gave a devilish grin. ‘I shall do my best.’
Lisette was very aware of Lord Maystone’s gaze still fixed upon her as the two gentlemen prepared to leave. No doubt his decision not to arrest her as yet was only because he was still trying to come to terms with the fact that his enemy’s illegitimate daughter now stood just feet away from him.
Having now met Lord Maystone, Lisette felt even more ashamed of her connection to Helene Rousseau. The woman was a monster beyond her imagining, to have instigated the kidnapping of this man’s young grandson.
She also could not deny the heaviness she felt in her chest at Christian’s obvious effort to send her away to stay at his sister’s home. Evidence, no doubt, that now he was back in his own household, and despite his earlier promise to protect her, he wanted to be rid of her.
Chapter Eleven
‘Do you have everything you need?’
Lisette turned at the open doorway from the hallway into the comfortable bedchamber she had been shown into by the butler just minutes ago, on Christian’s instructions.
That same gentleman now leaned against the door frame, looking across the room at her as she sat on the side of the four-poster bed that dominated the luxuriously appointed cream-and-gold room.
A bedchamber fit for a princess.