Devil Disguised (15 page)

He nodded and said, “Very well, but I still want Dot to help you as well. Mary may share quarters with Dot and they will both share their time assisting with your needs.”

Lily grinned. “Thank you, Lord Cavanaugh.”

Duncan nodded and walked away from the women. He just realized how much he preferred Lily saying his given name as he walked into the dining room. Sitting down, a servant poured hot tea in his cup as Simon entered the room.

Simon bowed and said, “My lord, I have given the staff your instructions regarding watching the property and have just met Lady Montgomery’s maid. Are you certain this is what you wish?”

Duncan put his cup down, surprised by the question. Simon was not one to ever question his instructions.

Duncan replied, “Yes. I thought I was very clear. What is bothering you, Simon?”

“Pardon, my lord, but do you not think it may be best to find another place for Lady Montgomery to stay?”

“What did you just say?” The harsh tone of his words was hard to disguise.

Simon looked down. “Beg Pardon, my lord, but my main concern is for your safety and for that of your sister. I have grown fond of Lady Montgomery, but I wonder if she would be safer elsewhere. Someone has discovered where she is staying and has threatened her life. I wonder if her instincts to flee may be valid.”

Duncan stood and glared. “My good friend Charles entrusted his niece with me. I was asked to keep her safe because he knew I could do just that. If he thought she would be safer elsewhere, she would not be staying here.
I would hope that you would have the same faith in me that Charles does.”

He pushed his chair back and continued on as his voice rose in anger. “I think I am quite capable of seeing to her safety as well as everyone here. I count on you to support me and my decisions. I want to know she has someone with her at all times for the remainder of her stay here. Am I understood?”

“Yes, of course, my lord.” Simon’s cheeks darkened to a deep red color.

“Very good. That is all for now.”

Simon bowed and departed.

Duncan walked away from the table and went to a window overlooking the grounds. Anger coursed through him as he pressed his hands against the window frame and leaned forward. The stretch felt good and he took a deep breath.

“Duncan? Are you all right?”

He recognized the soft feminine voice without the need to turn around, but he looked forward to seeing the woman behind him. He turned to see Lily’s eyes filled with concern.

He replied, “Yes. I am fine. I just needed a moment.”

She wrung her hands together. “I see. I will leave you alone then.”

“No, please stay. Have you eaten?”

She shook her head. “No, not yet.”

He gestured towards the table. “Join me. I was about to have a late breakfast. Biscuits and eggs will be served I am nearly certain.”

Lily giggled. “Wonderful.”

He held her chair as she sat down. She placed her napkin in her lap and poured tea in her cup with a regal manner only to be rivaled by the Queen herself. Duncan sat down just as servants came in carrying trays of breakfast items.

She giggled again and glanced at him. “The servants know exactly when to walk in with the meal. How do they do that?”

He leaned forward and whispered, “I have no idea.”

She laughed fully and her blue eyes sparkled with genuine amusement. Reveling in the fact that he had added to her happiness, he remembered the first time he heard her laugh when she had first entered his home. This is the first time he heard it sound as natural as it did upon their first meeting.

He said, “I am glad to see you in such good spirits this morning.”

She shrugged her shoulders slightly. “I am not sure why exactly, but I woke up knowing that this is a new day and that I should be grateful I am here. And then, Mary arrived. It was a wonderful surprise.”

Duncan wondered if Lily’s ‘I am here’ comment referred to his home or to her state of health, but before he could ask, Simon entered with a calling card.

Simon handed the card to him and said, “Sir, Lord Brian Adair has requested a moment of your time.”

Duncan pulled his sleeves down and stood. “Of course. Please, show him in.”

Simon left and returned with Brian in tow. Brian shook Duncan’s hand, but his gaze immediately found Lily’s. “Hello, Duncan. I did not mean to interrupt, but
please introduce me to this lovely lady you have apparently kept hidden.”

Lily stood as Duncan watched Brian’s gaze travel over her entire length in obvious admiration.

Duncan said, “Lord Brian Adair, let me introduce you to Lady Lily Montgomery.”

Brian kissed her hand and said, “Lady Montgomery you are a vision. How is it that we have not met before?”

Duncan stepped closer to the couple. “She is staying here as a favor to her uncle, Lord Charles Montgomery and she rarely leaves London.”

Brian grinned. “Charles! How is that old rascal anyway?”

Lily laughed and Brian never looked away from her.

Duncan replied, “He is on a trip to India. What can I help you with, Brian?”

Ignoring Duncan, Brian asked, “Lady Montgomery, have you heard some of the tales of Charles and Duncan?”

She shook her head as her cheeks began to turn pink. “No, neither one of them has shared any stories with me.”

Brian’s eyes widened. “That is a travesty! The next time we meet I will tell you one or two stories, if you like.”

Duncan said, “Then I think you plan to bore the lady to death. But, why are you here now, Brian?”

With seeming effort, Brian looked at Duncan. “I am here to let you know I am in town. Need I say more? Oh, I guess I must speak again.”

Brian held out a piece of paper. “I am to deliver this, in person. My sister wants you to attend, of course.” Then he turned to Lily. “And may I extend my personal invitation for you to attend as well, Lady Montgomery.”

“What is the occasion and who, pray tell, is the hostess?” Lily asked.

Brian stepped closer to Lily and replied, “The occasion is whatever you want to celebrate and the hostess is my sister, the Lady Charlotte Livingston.”

Duncan watched as Lily hid her surprise well. She glanced at Duncan before she said, “Well, Lord Adair, I am not sure if I will be available to attend, but I am certain Lord Cavanaugh will send a reply for each of us.”

Brian took Lily’s hand and placed a kiss over her fingers. “I hope you are able to attend. I have a full schedule the next few days, but I would like to call on you. Until then, I will count the days until I see you again.”

Lily continued to blush and she did a slight curtsey as Brian turned to leave.

“Duncan, it was a pleasure. I hope you can both attend my sister’s soirée,” Brian said as he turned back to glance at Lily before he was escorted from the room.

Duncan turned towards Lily. “Would you like to attend the soirée?”

“I think that would be wonderful!” Lily smiled brightly.

Duncan nodded and now realized keeping Lily safe had a whole new meaning.

T HAD BEEN
five days since Lily had received the invitation to Lady Livingston’s party, but finally the day of the party arrived and she was very excited. After her time away from London, she was finally going to a soirée. She choose a new gown for the party, it was a dark bronze color that worked well with the gold strands of color in her hair, but did not take away from the blue of her eyes. Both Dot and Mary had helped her get ready and now she wanted to get Eleanor’s opinion.

Stepping into Eleanor’s room, she saw her friend shift in her bed as her mouth dropped open. “Lily, you look gorgeous! That dress is beautiful on you!”

Lily curtsied and turned around so Eleanor could see the deep cut of the back.

“I was worried about the cut and color, but I am so pleased with it,” Lily gushed.

“Goodness, the back is so low, but it is perfection on you. Your skin is flawless, Lily. And the color of that goes
so well with your hair and even makes your eyes stand out. Bravo! The men of Brentwood are in for a delightful surprise tonight.”

Lily smiled and went to hug her friend. She saw Eleanor grimace and she sat next to her on the bed. “Eleanor, are you all right? I am happy to stay if you need me.”

“No. I am fine. The baby keeps pushing in the most unusual places. I think he or she is running out of room.”

“I heard that there is a servant at the ready to get Doctor Nelson as soon as you need him.”

“You heard correctly.” Lily turned at the sound of Duncan’s deep voice and saw him standing in the doorway.

She gasped as Eleanor read her mind and said, “Duncan, you look so handsome!”

Lily’s mouth went dry. Goodness. He always looked refined and elegant, but she had never seen him in a tuxedo. She forgot to breathe, as he looked more dashing than she even thought possible.

Eleanor continued, “Lily, stand up, let Duncan see your new dress.”

Lily stood and felt the color rise in her cheeks. She was nervous for some reason.

Duncan’s eyes travelled over her. “Lily, you look beautiful.”

The sincerity of his words and his gaze made her feel faint.

He cleared his throat and said, “I will do my best to help you handle the throngs of gentlemen that will surely fall at your feet this night.”

Lily tried to laugh, but somehow the air had been taken from the room. Her immediate thought was how much she wanted him to kiss her again.

Eleanor said, “Go on you two. Please, do not be late on my account.”

Duncan stepped forward. “El, the staff is at the ready for you. If anything happens we will return straight away, but are you sure we should not stay with you?”

Eleanor rolled her eyes. “I am fine! Please leave!”

He smiled as he lifted his arm and said, “Lily, I think Eleanor wants some privacy.”

Lily smiled. “I think so too.”

Turning, she saw a wide grin on Eleanor’s face. Lily wrapped her arm through Duncan’s as he led her from the room. In the hallway, he released his hold as they walked down the stairs and then into the waiting carriage.

Lily watched as Duncan sat across from her and looked out the window to nod at the footman. The carriage moved forward as Lily took a deep breath. He pulled down his jacket sleeves and said, “Lily, you do look beautiful this evening, but you seem so nervous. Are you all right?”

She looked out the window, even though the twilight diminished her view of the passing landscape. She answered honestly. “Even though nothing has ever happened to me inside a carriage, there are times when I become uneasy.”

“That is understandable. But, the ride to Lady Livingston’s is not very far.”

“Good.” Lily felt the intensity of his stare.

“Lily, is there something else? You are not going to try and run away again are you?”

She smiled before she replied, “No. My intentions were good, but I must say I am glad you stopped me from my rash actions as I am not sure what I would have done.”

“Well, Charles will kill me if he returns from India and I am out somewhere looking for you. So, please spare my life and do not try to leave again.”

Lily chuckled nervously, but was enjoying his playful banter. “Speaking of Charles, would you care to elaborate on Lord Adair’s comments from the other day?”

“No.” He turned and looked out the window, the whimsy now gone.

She looked outside. The sun had now set completely and a half moon would soon be the only light in the sky.

She spoke softly as she said, “You can be assured I will not leave now, especially for Eleanor. I am worried about her and the baby. She is a week overdue on her delivery. I wonder if we should have stayed despite her wishes.”

He remained somber as he looked at her. “I am concerned as well, but I have already asked Doctor Nelson to check in on her tonight. I also have a servant at the ready to let us know if anything with her condition changes.”

She nodded and bit her lip as she smiled.

Duncan looked surprised. “Is there something amusing? I think I planned well for Eleanor’s current state.”

Lily shook her head. “No, you have a good plan.” She chuckled. “It’s just Charles told me you had servants aplenty and that I did not need to take a maid with me, but you have far fewer servants what we have at our own home. Sometimes, I find it amusing.”