CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Once they were gathered in the parlor and everyone had a beverage, Alice dismissed the servants.

"There is an issue we have not discussed," Worthington said.

Giff noticed the other gentlemen's countenances were grim. "Normanby. Do you know what happened to him?"

Worthington shook his head. "Unless Lady Bellamny had him locked up, which is extremely unlikely, he is no longer at the inn or its vicinity."

"He'd better not go anywhere near Alice or Town for that matter." Giff scowled.

"You are not to challenge him to a duel." His beloved directed a hard look at Giff.

"Alice is correct," his mother said. "It would start tongues wagging."

"What shall we do?" Rothwell asked.

"We could kidnap him and send him overseas somewhere," Kenilworth suggested as he gently twirled his glass of brandy.

Giff had no doubt at all they would do just that if they found the scoundrel.

"He did not harm me." Alice's tone was thoughtful. "He wanted to force me into marriage by having people see us together. The only time he touched me was to keep me from calling out at a toll booth. We should quietly put it about that he is a fortune hunter who is already betrothed."

"And make sure he is not invited anywhere." Lady Kenilworth glanced at Mamma.

She took a sip of wine. "I have already been asking questions about him. I can easily say I have found he is insolvent and betrothed to a Cit's daughter. That will stop most ladies from inviting him to their entertainments."

It would. Although would that alone be enough to stop Normanby? And would the man try to punish Alice for punching him? Giff met Worthington's eyes. Alice needed more protection. Giff was certain her brother-in-law would assign more footmen and insist she take a carriage. He would have Normanby's house watched and the man trailed. Giff glanced at his betrothed. Meanwhile, he meant to spend as much time with her as possible.

After tea, everyone made their way to their rooms. Other than Alice, his mother was the only person in the family wing. He stared at the paneled canopy of his bed, wishing she was here with him. He couldn't go to her. That would be a breach of his duties. The clock struck ten. She was probably asleep. Worthington had announced they would all leave fairly early in the morning. He rolled over and gazed out at the dark room. A figure dressed in white moved slowly toward his bed, feeling for furniture as she went. He waited until she was close to the bed.

"My lord," Cummings said.

Giff closed his eyes and sighed. How had he missed how tall the figure was? Why the devis was his butler in his room? "What is it?"

"One of Lord Worthington's men caught someone sneaking around the house. He's being held in the stables."

"Wait for me." Giff threw back the covers and grabbed his breeches. Fortunately, he was wearing a nightshirt. He shoved his feet into a pair of shoes.

When they got to the stables, the man was bound to a post. It was the groom from Normanby's stable. "Where is your master?"

"I ain't got no master." The man spat on the brick floor.

"Indeed?" Giff raised his brow. He wished he'd thought to ask his groom to come. "You did the last time I saw you."

"I don't know what yer talkin about."

"Very well." He glanced at his butler. "When is the next assize?"

"Not for another six months. We can keep him in the dungeon. They haven't been used for a while, but we keep them ready in the event they are needed."

Giff nodded sharply. "Take him there. I'll notify the magistrate in the morning."

"Hey, ye can't do that!" The groom struggled against his bounds.

"On the contrary. I am well within my rights. You were caught trespassing and close to my house." Giff stroked his jaw. "As a matter of fact, I could have you shipped out of England, and no one would ever see you again."

"I actually like that idea much better than holding him over," Worthington said from the door.

The servant's eyes bugged out. "No! Ye can't. I ain't even been paid."

"Then tell me what I want to know, and I will take that into consideration." Giff crossed his arms against his chest. "Immediately."

"I was supposed to nose around and find out when that lady was leaving."

"By lady, I assume you mean Lady Alice."

"If she's the one with the yellow hair, that's her."

Giff forced his hands not to curl into fists. Hitting Normanby's tool would not be either worthwhile or satisfying. "Then what were you supposed to do?"

"Tell his lordship. He says she should be marrying him as he was the one alone with her."

Worthington ambled forward. "As the lady's guardian, I can assure you your master will never wed her. I have already agreed to Lord St. Albans suit."

The groom slumped. "We're done for."

"Not entirely." Alice's hard tone came from the door. "Has he not told you he already has a betrothed? He is welcome to wed her."

"But he don't want her," the servant said glumly. "We don't want her. She ain't the right sort to be our lady."

Giff patience was running thin. "It is of no matter. Her ladyship will marry me. If you want to help your master pay you and his other servants, you will tell us where he is."

"He's at the Six Bells."

"Under what name?" Worthington asked.

"He used his own name."

The man was a damned fool. But it made what they had to do easier. "You will be kept here until morning." He signaled to Cummings. "Lock him up."

"Yes, my lord." Two large footmen held the groom's arms while another untied him. The three of them led the servant out of the stables. "When do we go to the Six Bells?"

"As soon as we're dressed," Worthington said. "I'll have the others wakened."

"I am going as well," Alice said.

"As you wish." Her guardian strode to the door and stopped. "We leave in fifteen minutes."

Alice muttered something under her breath. "I do not have a riding habit. Do you have a carriage I can use?"

Fortunately, the moon was up, giving her enough light to drive. "My curricle. I'll have it made ready."

"Thank you. I must hurry." He took her hand, and they ran back to the house.

Stopping in front of her door, he raised her fingers and kissed them. "I'll meet you here."

Alice strode into her chamber to find Bertram already there. "What do you need?"

"Absent a riding habit, a carriage gown. I only have a short time."

She took out a gown from the wardrobe. "Here you are."

Less than ten minutes later, Alice was dressed, her hair dressed in a knot, and a bonnet on her head. She pulled on her leather gloves. "Go back to sleep. I doubt we're departing in the morning." Giff was waiting for her when she entered the corridor. "Let us go. Matt will leave if we are late."

"That is good information to have." He took her hand again, and they dashed through the house to the stables. They arrived just after her brothers-in-law.

Charlotte was also there. She grinned. "It has been a long time since I have had an adventure. Aside from that, I brought my lock-picking tool."

Alice wanted to throw herself into her sister's arms. "There are a number of things I am going to start carrying in my reticule from now on."

Charlotte gave a rueful laugh. "I know the feeling. The carriage is ready. Do you want to drive?"

"Yes, thank you."

Giff lifted Alice onto the bench, while Con helped Charlotte. The gentlemen mounted their horses. For a second, Alice was struck at how masculine and graceful Giff looked in doing so. And now she was hers. She took the ribbons in her hands and followed him. Thankfully, the road was macadam and reflected the moonlight, making it easy to see.

"Some men do not give up easily," Charlotte said. "I was abducted twice."

"I never heard the whole story." Perhaps her sister would tell her.

"It is rather sordid. I was abducted for the same reason you were. An ineligible gentleman wanted to marry me. However, he thought complete ruin was in order. He hired someone to abduct me. Con happened to be driving by when Thorton stopped him and sent him after the carriage I was in. To make a long story short. I was saved, but another woman was taken, and I was abducted again in the process of trying to save her." The corners of her lips tilted up. "I suppose it was not all bad. Con and I fell in love and married."

"It was the most harrowing time of my life," Con said from the side of the gig. "I hope never to repeat it."

They slowed and turned into the inn's yard. A sleepy stable boy ran out to meet them. "Don't think we have room for all of ye."

"We are not looking to spend the night," Giff said. "I want to know which chamber has been given to Lord Normanby."

"Don't know the name, but I carried a bag for some lordship up to the last room on the first floor. It's on the right side of the corridor." Giff slipped the lad several coins.

The boy grinned. "Let me know if I can help you some more."

"You can do so now. How do we get in without waking everyone?"

"I'll show you the way." He waved his arm, and they followed him to the back of the inn. "This door's always open. Go through it and up the stairs. You'll be right in front of the room you want."

"Thank you." Charlotte smiled at the boy, and his jaw dropped. She led the way, stopped at the door, took out a small bird-shaped tin of oil, applied it, then used her tool to turn the lock, and stepped back. "Gentlemen, after you."

Giff shot Alice a grin. "I'm going to like being part of your family."

She started to enter the room, but her sister stayed her. "You do not know his state of dress. Wait here until we are needed."

Alice was not completely certain what part she would play, or if she would be allowed to do anything at all. "Very well."

Charlotte patted Alice's arm. "Matt will not keep you out of the discussion."

That made her feel better.

The sound of a slap and a groan emitted from the bedchamber.

"What in the bloody—ooof."

"Mind your language." Matt said. "There are ladies present."

"What are you doing in my room?" Normanby blustered.

"Making very sure you do not cause my sister any more harm." Alice had never heard Matt's tone so hard.

"You should be happy for her to wed me. I'm a marquis." She rolled her eyes. Why did peers always think their rank mattered? Aside from that, so was Giff, and he was going to be a duke. If that was the competition, Giff won.

"What did you not understand about never approaching her again or there would be consequences?" Matt's tone was menacing.

"By any rule of propriety, she should marry me. You don't know what happened in that coach. Only she and I do. She was not unwilling."

The next sound was one of bones crunching.

Alice sighed. "You were right. Some men do not know when to stop."

"It would save the world a great deal of trouble if they did." Charlotte matched Alice's whisper.

"You have made your point, now go," Normanby wheezed.

That was not going to happen. She stepped into the room. "Why on earth should we believe a single thing you say when you have lied to us? You must think we are all feather-brained wigeons."

Matt rubbed his forehead. "We could lock him up in your dungeon."

"We could," Giff agreed.

"I have a better idea." The gentlemen turned to look at Alice. "I think we should keep him locked up near Town. I would hate for his betrothed to be waiting for him at the church and he not appear. It would not be fair to her."

"Richmond," Merton said. "There are cellars, and no one will breathe a word."

"Excellent." She glanced at Normanby. "What is the surname of your betrothed?"

"Why should I tell you?" His words were slurred as if he was having a bit of trouble speaking.

She shrugged. "You do not have to, of course. I will find out another way."

Normanby glared at her. "You are unnatural. You and your entire family."

The nerve of the cad. How dare he cast slurs on her family. "Simply because we are progressive thinking does not make us at all unnatural."

Williams entered the room. "We're ready to take him, my lord."

Normanby opened his mouth, and Giff punched him. "Just to keep him quiet, you understand."

This was probably not an appropriate time to smile, but Alice did so in any event. "Well done, my love."

Two more of their servants entered the room and began binding Normanby. One tied a piece of cloth around his head and over his mouth.

"My sweet." Giff took her arm. "We should leave. Perhaps we can get a little sleep."

"We're not leaving tomorrow are we, Matt?"

"No. We'll remain another night."

"Oh, good." Charlotte took Con's arm. "I am sleeping late."

He snorted. "Have you ever slept late in your life?"

"Probably not, but there is always a first time."

They made it to the inn's yard without waking anyone. A wagon was there as well as some of their grooms and footmen.

She felt sorry they would not have any sleep tonight. "You are taking him to Richmond and locking him in the cellar now?"

"Don't worry about us, my lady," one of the men said. "We've been through worse."

"We'll take turns driving," another one said.

"Do not take any unnecessary risks."

Giff lifted her into the gig. "You were splendid."

"As were you." She leaned down and kissed him. Perhaps she could spend the rest of the night with him.

The rest of the gentlemen arrived. Con helped Charlotte onto the carriage bench, then mounted his horse. Alice started the gig. Once the horses were far enough away not to hear her, Alice decided to ask her sister a question. "How would I approach making love to Giff?"

"Giff?" Charlotte smiled slyly. "I decided to seduce Con, but he knew a great deal more so I let him take the lead."

"Are you saying I could simply go to him? In his bedchamber, I mean?" Most of her family were in the house.

"Of course. You are betrothed. You will be wed in two weeks." She shrugged. "None of us has waited." She placed her hand on Alice's arm. "Be very sure this is what you wish."

It was. She loved him, and he loved her. He was everything she wanted and had truly never thought to find. "Thank you."

"Make sure there are no hidden passageways to his chamber."

That was strange. "Why would there be?"

"Dotty's two youngest brothers and sister found one when she was in bed with Dom."

Alice should be surprised but was not. Good Lord. Looking for something like that was exactly what her nieces and nephews would do. "I will ask, and if there is one, I will have him secure it."

"A good idea." Charlotte gazed at her husband for a few moments. "It is wonderful and beautiful when you are with a gentleman you love."

"So I have been told." And tonight, Alice would experience it for herself.