The Langley Sisters Trilogy Boxed Set (89 page)

“You are well, Miss Langley?”

“I am. Thank you, Lord Anthony.” Bella gave him a quick smile. “My sister tells me you are returning a book, yet I do not remember loaning you one.”

The man smiled and Bella wondered why she had ever thought him handsome. It really was just a baring of his teeth and not very pleasant at all.

“I fear I may have misled your dear sister, my dear.”

“And why would that be, Anthony?” Will said in a pleasant voice.

The man climbed to his feet and dropped to his knees in front of Bella, clasping her hands in his.
 

“Regain your feet at once, my lord!” Will’s roar did not stop Lord Anthony.

“I love you, Miss Langley, and it is my greatest desire to see us wed.”

“No!” Bella pulled her hands free. “I cannot marry you, my lord. I love another, as I have already told you.”

“May I know the name of this man?”

“It matters not who he is, Anthony, only that my sister-in-law has declined your offer. Now regain your feet and leave at once.”

“But surely my suit is acceptable. Surely it is better than a man with no title, a man of low birth?”

“How do you know who the other man is?”
Anthony paled and regained his feet. “Such is my love for you I questioned one of your servants to find out who I was in competition with. Forgive me,” he dropped his head, “but I had hoped considering my station that my suit would be more acceptable.

“Your informants have been very busy, Lord Anthony,” Bella said. “But what they have not told you is that I will marry that man because he is the one I love, and will do so until I draw my last breath. God willing, it will be with him still at my side.” Bella felt Will’s hand on her back, supporting her. “You see, in my family, my lord, love means a great deal more than a title.”

 
“Now leave my property, Anthony.” Will’s words were calm yet underneath there was a threat that he would happily carry out if the man did not comply. Bella was glad he was here with her, because she had an uneasy feeling suddenly about Lord Anthony, even though he had given her no reason to be scared of him, and indeed had every right to believe his offer was genuine.
 

“Then there is nothing further to say.” He gave her a curt bow and seconds later he was gone.

“Bella, I have a feeling I misjudged that man, as there was something in his face I did not like.” Will was watching the door as he spoke.

“Do you know, Will, I think you could be right,” Bella said doing the same. “I felt a chill suddenly when he looked at me, as if he was holding his anger in check.
 

“Yes.” Will seemed to shake his thoughts aside as he faced her again. “But as you are going to wed the one man who I know I can trust to look after and love you, I now feel I can relax.”

“I can hardly believe it, Will.”

“And here he is.” Will rose as he heard the rumble of Luke’s voice outside the door.
 

“What? Why is he here? Surely it is too dangerous? Bella’s pulse quickened as it always did when she knew Will was near.

“Ace has brought him in his carriage. They kept the curtains shut. He walked from Ace’s door and into mine undetected.”

“Was that Anthony’s carriage I saw leaving here?” Luke walked in, his eyes seeking her.
 

“Yes. He came to offer for Bella, but I sent him on his way, and your beloved let him know she was marrying for love, not a title.”

“Did she?” A slow smile spread his face.
 

“I can leave you two alone now I know you are betrothed. I will talk with Ace and Finn in my office, if you will join us soon, Luke.”

“Of course,” Luke spoke to Will but his eyes were on her.
 

They both heard the click of the door closing and in seconds she was running across the room and into his arms.
 

“Are you all right? Did Anthony upset you?”

Bella wrapped her arms around his neck and tugged his head down to meet hers. “He’s a fool,” she said before he kissed her. Long and slow, it was a kiss of possession and love, a kiss that made her toes tingle.

“Did he say anything he shouldn’t have, Bella?”

Even dressed as a gentleman, there was still something untamed about Luke, and Bella loved this about him. Her fiancé.

“No, he was polite.” There was little point in saying anything further. Lord Anthony no longer featured in her life; this man did.

“When can we marry, Luke?” Bella sighed as he kissed her neck.

“Now,” he said, which made her laugh.

“Seriously.”

“As soon as I have this mess sorted out. Finn sent word that he has a lead which we will follow as soon as he arrives.”

“And then soon after we shall marry.” She kissed his chin.

“I love you so much, Bella, it terrifies me. Before, I kept it inside, but now that I don’t have to it is even more powerful.”

She cupped his cheek. “Don’t be scared, my love. The future is bright and all ours.

Luke reluctantly left her twenty minutes later to go to his meeting with Finn, Will and Ace. She hoped they found whoever was responsible soon, as she wanted to be free to love him. Collecting her coat and maid, they made their way to the park to walk Eddie .
 

“He’s a nice dog.” A small boy ran up to her as she started walking with Sally. Bending, Bella had a chat with him about Eddie before he ran off again. Eddie barked, eager to follow, and then suddenly he was off the lead.

“Bother. I mustn’t have tied it tight enough. Eddie!” Bella called, but he was gone.
 

“Sally, take the left fork and I shall take the right, and we shall meet in the middle, hopefully with Eddie between us.
 

“Right you are, Miss.”

Bella was too happy to be angry, and the day was lovely. She lengthened her stride, but did not run. She could not do that no matter how hard she practiced; it simply hurt too much. The small stand of trees obscured Sally for a minute and it was there she saw the boy. He turned to her and smiled with Eddie in his arms. Bella smiled back, making her way towards him, and it was then she felt a hand grab her from behind.

“Hurry round the trees and meet the maid with the dog, boy! Keep her there until I’ve carried her from the park.” Bella struggled against the arm, opening her mouth to scream, but the hand that clamped over her mouth held a cloth which smelled foul. She tried to push it aside, but as she inhaled her head started to spin, and then she collapsed.
 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“So are you officially asking me for Bella’s hand, Luke?”

Ace had gone to send a message to a man about something, and Finn had yet to arrive, so only Will and Luke sat in his office.

“I have no right to with what hangs over my head, yet I am, and have asked her. We wish to marry as soon as it can be arranged, but that will be after I have resolved this problem.”

“Her sisters will want to put on a lavish wedding for her.”

Luke sighed. “Will, we have loved each other for more years than I care to count, and while I understand what Phoebe and Livvy will want something special for their sister, we don’t want to wait any longer than necessary to be together.” Running a hand through his hair, Luke tried to get out the words that were in his heart. “I woke smiling today, Will. A big wide one, and then I laughed, which, believe me, has not been something I have done a lot of lately. I did not wake to that cold, dark feeling invading my chest, not knowing when I would see her. The danger is still there, but now I have hope, because I have Bella. I need her to survive, Will, just as she needs me.”

“I hope you spoke to her like that?” Will’s voice was gruff as he stood to answer the knock on his door.
 

“She knows.”

“Excuse me, my lord, but Sally has returned from the park with Eddie, but has lost Miss Langley.” Roberts entered the room.

“What!” Luke was out of his chair in seconds.

“Bring Sally here at once,” Will said, putting a hand in Luke’s chest as he tried to pass him. “And have Lord Levermarch and Mr. Dillinger brought here, too.
 

“Stay. She will come to us, and then we will listen and take action.”

Luke stood aside as the butler returned with the maid. His body was tense, his heart pounding. Where was Bella?

“Tell us everything, Sally.”

She looked at Luke and then to Will and nodded.

“We entered the park and a boy bent to speak to Eddie and then ran off.
 
But Eddie’s ribbon had come undone and he followed. Miss Langley asked me to go along the left path while she took the right, but I never saw her again. Tears filled her eyes. “I searched everywhere. I walked into the trees and then on the road where the carriages were, but I saw no sign of her.
 

“What of the boy?”

Sally nodded. “He brought Eddie to me, and when I questioned him as to where the lady had gone, he said he hadn’t seen her.”
“Did you believe him?” Luke snapped.

She nodded. “I questioned him thoroughly.”

“Did you see which way the boy walked, Sally? Think now,” Will added. “This could be very important.”

“He ran off to the north, my lord.”

“Roberts, have our horses brought round now and then send word to Lord Levermarch’s brothers and any men he has to help search. Sally, you will lead the staff in a search of the area for Miss Langley or the boy,” Will stated.

Dear God, this was not happening
, Luke thought. They had just become betrothed; finally they could be together.
 

“I hear raised voices,” Livvy said, entering Will’s office with Finn and Ace on her heels.

Luke looked at her and watched the color drain from her face. What did he look like if he had produced that reaction in her without saying a word?

“Bella?” she whispered. “Where is she?”

Will caught her as she reached for him, and Luke shuddered. He wanted Bella in his arms.

“Sally came back from the park saying that Bella has gone missing. Luke and I need to leave now with Sally, love, to find a boy who they spoke to.”

“I will come.”

“You will not,” he said firmly. “You will stay with Henry and wait for Phoebe and Finn’s brothers.”
 

She started to cry. “Y-you believe something has happened to her, don’t you?”
“Give me the keys to the guns.” Luke caught them as Will threw them at him. Then going to the locked cabinet where Will kept his arms, he opened it and took out a shotgun and pistols. Handing some to Finn and Ace, who had arrived in haste after hearing the news, he then placed a knife in his boot and took another for Will. Locking it again, he then used another key to open the drawer Will kept his money in. Taking out a large pouch, he stuffed it into the inside pocket of his jacket. Luke then locked his emotions away; he’d had plenty of practice over the years, and it took an effort but he managed, and was soon the cool controlled man he needed to be.

“The information I was bringing you today implicated Anthony, Luke.” Finn’s face was grave. “Could it be he who has taken Bella?”

“He was just here!” Livvy cried.

“He asked her to marry him,” Luke snarled.”
 

“I sent him away after Bella told him she loved Luke,” Will added. “But he knew about you,” he said, looking at Luke. “Said he’d bribed one of my servants to get that information.”

“We leave now.” Luke threw Will his weapon.
 

“Luke,” Livvy whispered. He hugged her briefly. “We’ll bring her back, Livvy. I promise.”

She nodded and then stepped back to where Will was waiting. He held her briefly. “Finn will have Phoebe brought here, and you must promise me that you both will stay here until we return,” Luke heard Will say as he began to leave the room. “I can’t look for her and worry about you at the same time.”

Luke heard her muffled agreement that she would not leave the house.
 

Sally awaited them in the entranceway.
 

“Is there anything you can tell us about this boy, Sally? Anything that will distinguish him from others?” Will questioned her when he arrived.

“His scarf,” she said quickly. “It was red, and his hair is black, but he wore a brown cap.”

“Roberts, send the staff out to look around the streets for the boy or Miss Langley. Sally will go along to identify him. Tell them to ask questions of anyone they see about her,” Will said. “Have Lord Levermarch’s brothers join us at the northern end of the park. I will leave word there as to where we have gone.”

“I will see to it, my lord.”

“And my wife and her sister are not to leave this house or I shall fire the lot of you.” Will’s parting words made the butler pale, but he nodded and then closed the door. Luke heard it lock behind them.

They were all soon mounted and left the drive.

“Lord Anthony’s lodgings, does anyone know where they are located?” Luke questioned.