Devil Disguised (13 page)

She looked over him as anger flashed in her eyes. She turned around and offered him her back. He shook his head and began to unfasten her dress.

Her voice was mockingly sweet as she said, “I believe you because the only times you have kissed me or touched me inappropriately were after you insulted me or accused me of nefarious activities. You were also inebriated or half-asleep most of the other times so maybe I am safe with you now. You have only been polite to me today so I assume you will keep your hands to yourself.”

Duncan stilled his hands as it took a great deal of effort to hold in his reply, but he finished his task in silence. The smooth skin of Lily’s back was before him and he stepped back from her quickly; the temptation to touch the flawless skin was nearly overwhelming.

She spun around and held her dress up with her hands. Somehow, she managed to look grateful and annoyed at the same time. She tilted her head towards the door in dismissal. He narrowed his eyes as he began to move past her and then stood outside her door.

She followed him and said, “There is something strange about a man who only tries to seduce a woman after he has insulted her.”

He glared at her. “I do not recall you rejecting my touch. As I remember it, you moaned in pleasure and you welcomed my advances each time. What does it say about a woman when she allows the man who insulted her to touch her so intimately?”

Anger and surprise crossed over her features just before he was looking, yet again, at the dark wood panel of the door.

He clenched his fists as he fought against the urge to open the door and kiss her senseless. No woman had ever infuriated him more, not even his former fiancée who embarrassed him in front of the entire ton. He took a deep breath and turned to walk back to his own room.

Lying in his bed, Duncan inhaled deeply trying to relax enough so that sleep would come, but he could not rest. Checking on Lily had not worked out as he planned and he imagined going back to her room just to have the door slammed in his face again. He smiled at the thought when a blood-curdling scream came from down the hallway.

He leapt out of bed, pulled his pants on and ran down the hallway. Terror seized him as he heard Lily cry out, “No!”

He burst into her room ready to do battle, but saw her sitting up in the bed with terror in her eyes. Her entire body was shaking and she looked straight ahead, but her eyes were unfocused. There was no one in the room.

He went to her and touched her hand. “Lily, look at me.”

She shook her head and turned away from him. Sweat beaded on her forehead and he held one of her shaking hands. “Lily, it was just a bad dream.”

She pulled away from him and slid to stand on the other side of the bed. This was no wilting flower. Lily was strong as she struggled to gain her composure.

Hugging herself, she said, “The dream was very real. I thought a carriage was coming at me again. I am sorry I woke you.”

Simon entered the room. “My lord, is everything all right? I heard the scream.”

Duncan nodded. “Yes. Everything is fine; please let everyone know Lady Montgomery just had a bad dream.”

Simon bowed and left the room.

Duncan looked back at Lily and fought the desire to comfort her. He said, “Tomorrow we are going into town again. I want you to be around carriages and horses. You cannot let your fear rule you. The best thing will be for you to be around those things tomorrow.”

Even in the darkness of the room, he could see her glare at him. “Words of wisdom from a man who will not listen to his own advice. If I need to face my fears, why do you not face your own?”

“What are you talking about?” he asked angrily.

“If I have to go back into town, then I think you should have to return to London.”

He leaned over the bed towards her. “My reasons for staying away from that city have nothing to do with fear. I do not have to explain myself to you.”

“No. Nor I to you. Have Simon send for me when you are ready to depart tomorrow. I am willing to face my fears even while you cannot even admit your own. Please leave.”

“Gladly. Please stay where you are. I can see myself out and you have already had your daily dose of slamming the door in my face! Goodnight.”

Walking back to his room, anger permeated through his veins. He slammed his door closed and paced next to his bed. The urge to comfort Lily and to strangle her mixed together. How could anyone be so vulnerable while seemingly strong and nearly invincible at the same time? Sitting on the edge of his bed, he tried to focus on anything other than Lily Montgomery.

UNCAN WAITED IN
the foyer for Lily and watched as she glided down the stairs. She looked radiant even though she could not have possibly slept more than a few hours. She smiled slightly as he helped her into the carriage before he entered, sitting across from her. The carriage moved forward and she focused her attention on the passing landscape.

He took the opportunity to look at her as she stared into the distance. In the style she seemed to prefer, her blond hair was loosely pinned up allowing curled tendrils to fall around her head and touch her shoulders. The effect was alluring, tempting one to feel the silky strands. The style also displayed the perfection of her face. Her slender nose and high cheekbones gave her a classic silhouette, but her deep blue eyes with their long black lashes and full lips gave her a sensuality that was hard to ignore. Her skin was smooth like alabaster and from what he knew of
her body, it was lush and firm in all the right places. He looked away before she could sense the illicit thoughts creeping into his mind.

They rode in silence to the town and, like the day before, separated to go their own ways. Today they would only be apart two hours. He watched as she crossed the street easily. Simon stayed a safe distance from her as he was instructed to do. It seemed a good idea to have Simon come along this day as Duncan wanted Lily to have someone near her in case she panicked if a carriage got too close. Continuing to watch Lily, he saw women stare at her with curiosity and men turn to look at her. He chuckled as she walked on, completely oblivious to the admiration of the men who crossed her path. He followed her movement until she went safely into the bookstore before he turned and moved on to do his own errand.

Two hours had passed quickly and Duncan stood near his carriage as he saw Lily across the street. He could spot her so easily. He smiled as she waited for a clear path and then confidently began to cross the busy street towards him. A slight smile came across her features as she saw him and she shook her head as if trying to clear it. A small carriage turned the corner a little too quickly and was heading in her direction. She noticed and increased her pace.

The carriage turned and headed straight for her. Duncan’s stomach tightened as she started to run. He screamed her name as he realized he was too far away from her to help. The carriage turned again, aiming right for her. Duncan darted forward as he watched in horror as the masked driver flicked the reins.

Lily screamed as Simon ran towards her and pulled her down with him. The carriage barely missed them and sped away down the street. Duncan reached them as they were still on the ground. Duncan knelt down. “Are you both all right?”

Simon said, “I am, but are you my lady?”

This time Lily did not look all right. Tears flooded her eyes as she shook her head. Her hands shook as she looked at her palms. Blood escaped from several small cuts and she looked up in utter disbelief. She said, “I did not freeze this time. I ran away.”

Duncan’s heart clenched at the fear he saw in her eyes and he leaned forward and lifted her into his arms. He waited for a protest that did not come; instead, she leaned her head on his shoulder and he tightened his hold in silent response.

He whispered, “I have you. We are leaving.”

He looked at Simon. “Do you need help?”

Simon shook his head and walked next to them. He opened the carriage door so Duncan could place Lily inside.

Simon said, “My lord, that carriage driver wore a mask.”

Duncan nodded and lowered his voice to say, “I noticed. Stay here and see if you can find out anything. I will send the carriage back for you.”

Simon nodded and brushed the dirt from his clothes. “Of course.”

Duncan stepped in the carriage as Lily was wiping away her tears.

He reached in his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. He held the cloth to her hands to help stop the bleeding. She began to shake as she struggled to hold in her tears. He moved to sit next to her and placed his arm around her shoulders. “Lily, it is okay to cry. Someone just tried to harm you.”

“My mother taught me to hold in my tears. She said I should never appear weak or vulnerable. I was always to carry myself with control and decorum.”

Duncan squeezed her shoulders slightly as he realized her mother was a huge influence on her. “You are a very strong woman. You mother would be more than proud of how you have handled the tragic situations you have had to deal with. Shedding tears in certain instances does not make you weak, it makes you human.”

She looked at him sidelong, her expression grim. “I thought you questioned or despised my reactions to the tragedies in my life. You have even accused me of the ill deeds in not so many words.”

He looked down avoiding her gaze for an instant. He took a deep breath and looked into tear-stained blue eyes. “I have issues with trusting people, especially women. Charles told me your tragic tale and I immediately let my imagination run wild. I could not help but wonder how you managed to escape the deadly accidents that had befallen those close to you. I wondered what you had to gain.”

Lily choked, appalled. “Gain! What I could gain?”

She pushed away from him. “What I gained was heartache. I loved my parents and Joshua. I worry every time I see someone I care about go into a carriage without me.
I had to deal with feeling cursed while at the same time realizing how lucky I am to be alive. I had to talk to a doctor for several months to keep my composure and continue to function in society.”

She took a deep breath and moved to sit across from him. Her bottom lip quivered as she struggled to keep her composure. “And, until today, I was convinced that all the tragedies of those close to me were just that, tragedies, because who would want to harm me or those I love? But now, after all that has happened, I think Charles may be right. Someone wants to harm me and now they have followed me here.”

She put her head in her hands and began to cry uncontrollably. Duncan eased over next to her and she did not move away again as he held her shoulders. In between sobs she managed to say, “All those I loved died because of me.”

Duncan wrapped his arms around her tightly. “Lily, those close to you died because someone is out there trying to harm you and has already harmed your family.”

He gently tilted her face up to look in her eyes. “We will find out who this person is and justice will be served. You need to stay strong. You are the only one who can help us find them and you need to keep going to show them you are not afraid. I will keep you safe, I promise.”

Lily looked down as fresh tears came. The carriage stopped and the door was opened. Duncan looked at the driver and shook his head. The servant immediately shut the door.

He held Lily for a few moments more and then said, “Lily, the carriage has arrived. We can stay here longer or we can go inside the house.”

She nodded and whispered, “Inside, please.”

He helped her out of the carriage and led her upstairs. He said, “The doctor has been sent for and I want you to see him.”

Nodding in silent response, she went into her room.

Duncan waited anxiously for the doctor and for Simon to arrive. The doctor arrived first and he and Dot went to check on Lily. Then Simon arrived as Duncan asked, “Were you able to learn anything?”

“No. No one noticed the masked driver until it was too late and I did not find out where the carriage went. No one seemed to know anything.”

“That is what I feared.” He paused before he said, “The doctor is here and I would like you to be checked out as well.”