Engaging the Enemy (The Wild Randalls 1)

A movement in the distance caught his attention. A carriage rumbled down the drive. As he squinted to see the conveyance more clearly, he recognized it from his first visit to the estate. Mercy had company coming and he should inform her so she might be ready in good time.

He turned on his heel but then stopped. Across the hall, Mercy stood in Edwin’s doorway considering him. Her hand was on the door but she neither frowned nor smiled when he noticed her. She just stood there, as if she’d seen a ghost.

“There is a carriage coming up the drive,” he said softly.

“Is there?”

Leopold nodded. “Yes. I remember the carriage from the other day. It is the same one that I passed as I came to see you the first time.”

“The first time,” Mercy said slowly, eyes traveling the length of his body and back.

The effect of her perusal, unfortunately, was immediate. His pulse raced and his arms ached to step forward and embrace her. Leopold quashed the notion as she folded her arms under her breasts. He swallowed. “Do you remember whom the carriage might belong to?”

Her head tilted to one side and she continued to stare at him without blinking. “Lady Barnet visited here a few days ago along with her brother Lord Shaw.”

Leopold couldn’t move. He was pinned in place by the coldness of her stare. For the first time since they had met, she resembled the woman in the drawing room painting downstairs. “Then it might be her carriage. It’s not too far away,” he warned.

She pursed her lips, called her son to her, and hurried toward her bedchamber. Leopold hung back, confused by her behavior. He had upset her somehow, he was sure of it. But if she was upset she was not going to give him any clues on how to make things right between them.

At her door, she stopped. “Are you going to inspect my chamber first or shall we both be slaughtered while you do nothing but stare?”

Puzzled by her hostility, Leopold stepped into her chamber first, checked beneath the wide bed, drapes and connecting chamber then gave her a nod. She flicked her hands at him impatiently and he hurried to the door. But at the threshold, he glanced over his shoulder and found her standing with her face buried in her hands.

Leopold couldn’t bear it. He shut the door, ruffled Edwin’s hair as he passed the boy, and pulled Mercy into his arms. “Don’t fret, love. All will be well soon.”

At first, she stood stiffly. It took a few moments before she softened, curling against him with a stifled sob. He stroked her back, comforting her as best he could. He wasn’t surprised by her tension. Most people in her situation wouldn’t have held up under the strain as well.

After a minute or two, she pushed him away. “I need to get ready for Anna’s visit.”

“Of course, I’ll be waiting for you both outside.”

Mercy drew in a shuddering breath. “You cannot stay with me while Anna is here. I should like to be alone with my friend.”

If Leopold had felt like a dirty little secret before, he was drowning in muck today. So she did not want her friend to see him at all. He should have known his only use was in her bed. He spun on his heel. “I will await the moment for you to dismiss me then, Your Grace.”

“Leopold,” she called before his hand had touched the doorknob. “Will you keep Edwin with you during her visit? Anna has no interest in children.”

He might not be wanted, but apparently he did have his uses. Minding the child would be no great hardship. He just hoped he didn’t fret about Mercy’s safety the entire time they were apart.

~ * ~

“Oh, my darling,” Anna cried. “You do look under a dreadful strain. Is this Randall chap very vulgar and forward with you? Shaw tells me you couldn’t send him away.”

Mercy patted her friend’s hand. “It’s been an interesting week, Anna, but Mr. Randall has been very polite and agreeable.”

“Yes, well. I do wish you had written me yourself. It is dreadfully sad when your brother knows more about a dearest friend than you. I must reconcile myself to that future pattern, no doubt. He said you had a cozy tête-à-tête yesterday. Are you coming to London with me next week?”

“Next week?”

Anna leaned against her side and winked. “The change of scenery will do you good. We can go to the theatre, dancing, and my brother can court you as you deserve.”

Mercy shuddered. She didn’t want to be anywhere near Lord Shaw. But how could she tell her best friend that her brother’s advances left her cold? There was no way to do it without offending the woman.

“Maybe another time. There is so much here to do just now that I could not possibly leave.”

Anna drew back, a frown marring her features. “Are you afraid this Randall chap will take over the abbey in your absence?”

“Of course not. What a thing to suggest.” She laughed, remembering she had done everything in her power to make him stay this long. The idea of Leopold wanting what Edwin had was ludicrous. Even more so if her suspicions had any truth to them.