Damien's Destiny (7 page)

Surely he would hear her. Damien could do anything.

Damien, I need you now. He’s about to make me go with him and then he’ll force me once again. I won’t be able to live if this happens.

Her frantic words rang in her head even as she concentrated on not showing her fear. She’d stopped four steps up from the hallway, while all three of the men watched her. Heath in triumph, the bully with lust in his eyes equal to the baron’s and Stephens still doubled over and in despair.

He could do little to save his master’s ward. Even if he could move, the bully hovered there ready to pound him out of the way.

Heath chortled, an ugly sound of triumph.

“Come on down, Victoria. You won’t like it if I have to come get you.”

When she stood as if frozen, he grunted and started toward the stairs.

He stopped abruptly, almost as if he’d run into a brick wall. He could not set foot on the first stair. Toria hovered just out of reach and then quickly moved back up another few steps. She smiled with delight as she watched first Heath and then his henchman reach out for her. In vain. Damien had somehow protected her with a shield of safety no one could penetrate without her permission. How he’d done it she didn’t know but she could feel his soothing touch on her senses even as she stood without moving.

As she halted out of their touch, the baron tried three times to breach the invisible barrier and then started cursing.

“So the bastard really does have magical powers. I’ve heard he rivaled the devil himself but I didn’t believe it. Don’t mistake me, Victoria. This little setback doesn’t matter. I’ll be back. I’ll catch you when you’re not protected by one of his demonic spells. He can’t be omnipresent. I just have to figure out how to break his control. You’re safe for the moment, my dear but not for long.”

Stephens was still doubled over and Heath kicked out at him as he and his henchman stormed away. Only the toe of his boot caught Stephens in the stomach but the old man groaned and closed his eyes.

As soon as the front door slammed, Toria ran to the door and threw the bolt. Then she called for Debora and turned to Stephens. She caught the old man in her arms, feeling his heart flutter beneath her palms. She and Debora must keep him alive until Damien returned.

She’d not been overly startled when she’d felt the shield go up around her. It was almost as if a wall of heavy glass appeared in place, a thick and impenetrable barrier. She’d known Damien would somehow protect her. She’d long ago recognized Damien was superior to any other being she’d ever known. She was just beginning to know how superior.

But she recognized he’d dedicated his powers to keeping her safe.

* * * * *

When a worried Damien returned that night he felt a little reassured when he crossed the threshold. His beloved women were safe. He’d felt deep danger at one time during the day but now his prescient senses reassured him. He found Toria and Debby seated at Stephens’ bedside, coaxing him to eat a little chicken broth.

The three were talking, all in quiet tones.

“I’m not fit to be in the same room with you, my ladies,” Stephens mourned. “The master charged me with your safety and I failed him.”

Damien stepped through the doorway.

“Damien,” breathed Toria, as Debby flew to his arms.

“Oh Damien, it was horrible. Stephens did his best but those bullies pounded him without mercy. Do help, Damien.”

Damien’s eyes raked Toria. She was safe, if shaken. The protective shield he’d placed around her had proved as effective as he hoped. He held out one hand to her and she came quickly to his side.

“Are you all right, Toria?” he asked softly. He kissed her cheek and she leaned into him. A surprise that he relished.

“Somebody better tell me the whole story. Not you, Stephens, your honor is not in question but your health is. Let me make you feel a little better and then the ladies can fill me in on the details.”

Damien moved to the bedside and took Stephens’ hand in his and within moments the old man fell asleep.

“There,” Damien said with satisfaction. “He’ll heal faster in sleep. There’s nothing broken in his body. Now if you both would oblige me we’ll go to my study and you can tell me what happened here today.”

“Let me see to some food, Damien,” Debora said. “You must have ridden hard to get back here by now. I’m sure you didn’t take time to eat.”

“I’ll eat later,” Damien said grimly. “For now I’ll just have a glass of wine while you fill me in.”

He listened in silence as Toria told him what happened. Debby had been in her room for most of the time, so couldn’t contribute much to the story.

“You say the baron appeared an hour or two after I left?”

When they both nodded he vaulted to his feet and wheeled to look out the window at the dark night. There was a still a thin dash of silver nestling just above the horizon although Damien saw nothing but the black sky. But then his eyes were not focusing on the scenery.

“Which means someone in this house has been bribed to inform him of my movements.”

“I never thought of that,” Toria gasped.

“It’s the unmistakable conclusion, my dear.” His grim tone promised speedy retribution when he found the culprit. “Go get some sleep, both of you. I’m here and promise to keep you both safe.”

He ate lightly and then went to his room. He must be ready to go to London tomorrow and see the Prime Minister. And he would be forced to leave Toria again. He’d find the traitor in his household first but then he must leave.

An almost insupportable thought.

* * * * *

His last thought before sleeping a few hours was how to keep Toria safe while he posted hard to London. Even with luck in convincing the P.M., he couldn’t be sure Lord Salisbury would send help to Rafe in time. Although Salisbury was known to be unusually sensitive to the African question, a decided plus for the current problem. Certainly the P.M. would not want the uproar resulting if word leaked out of a mistreated British citizen.

The serious question remaining was how to secure Toria’s safety while he was gone. He much feared it would mean curtailing her freedom to ride and indeed, to set foot outside Tregaron until he returned. But how to keep Heath out if word leaked Damien had left again? Which it was sure to do, even if the newly hired gardener who betrayed them this time was far away.

He didn’t look forward to telling Toria. For one thing, she might still be reticent with him but she adored their daily rides. Was it even partly she enjoyed sharing the time with him? Or was it just having freedom for a few hours?

Could he ask her to be housebound again? And with no guarantee of safety? He didn’t think so. He’d have to come up with another solution.

* * * * *

Damien asked Toria to meet him in his study. His valet was packing the few things he’d need, mostly a clean outfit for his audience with Salisbury when he reached London. He anticipated no trouble with an immediate admittance. This was one time he would gladly use the power he possessed as a mage. Even if it meant arranging matters so an appointment for Damien to see Lord Salisbury mysteriously appeared on the mighty lord’s schedule. While Salisbury might be mystified, Damien could allay his suspicions as soon as he was received.

Now he must talk to Toria. She would definitely not approve of being left behind again. In fact, he no longer felt sure that was a good idea. He’d rather have her with him, even if her presence turned out to be his own private form of torture.

Toria appeared so quickly after he asked Stephens to request her presence in his study that he suspected she’d been waiting around the corner.

He smiled as she entered. Her walk was purposeful and it amused him. Did she intend to berate him then for his last absence? He would absolutely love it if she showed the spirit her stance suggested.

She spoke directly to the point.

“I intend to go with you, Damien. Otherwise you’ll make me promise to stay indoors while you’re gone. I won’t do it. I would promise not to go outside the hotel if that’s what you want. I just won’t be left behind again.”

Her demanding eyes flashed as she made her imperative request.

Damien was delighted. Before he had time to think he reacted. He took her beautiful face between his hands and kissed her rosy mouth. She jerked a little but did not draw away. Instead, to his besotted delight she tentatively kissed him back. She obviously knew nothing about kissing but still the clumsily returned pressure nearly made him lose control.

Not here, not now. Not yet
.

She blushed a fiery red and tried to wrest herself away but he refused to let her go, stroking her hair and gentling her as one would a frightened child.

“Thank you, Toria, I treasure your wish to go with me. And I think I have a surprise for you.”

He tucked her against his side. She snuggled against him, even as she muttered, “But I don’t like a man to touch me, Damien.”

Since she only burrowed further into him her words didn’t stop his hands from attempting to calm her. He tried to raise her face to his but she held herself stiffly, refusing to meet his passion-filled eyes. Perhaps just as well if he didn’t want to frighten her warm welcome body from him.

Her next words jolted him to his toes. Her head was still down as she shyly asked, “Did I offend you just now, my lord? Acting like the veriest wanton?”

Did this girl-woman have any idea the intensity of his desire? Of how very welcome her slight response was to him? Quite evidently not. He put a hand under her chin and this time forced her to look at him.

“You don’t even know what the word wanton means, my dear. I don’t want to hear you ever use it again. Not applied to yourself, at any rate. A kiss between good friends is permissible. Now, don’t you even want to know my surprise?”

She thoughtfully examined his face.

“Oh,” she said. “I guess you’re right. We are very good friends. But that doesn’t change the fact I still want to go with you.”

She stepped back, setting her chin so stubbornly he almost laughed.

“And I want you to go, my dear. You and Debora both. I’ve decided I simply can’t leave you two alone here for that long a time. Stephens suspects our traitor was a new gardener who’s suddenly disappeared but there might be another servant the baron could tempt. We’ll go by train and stay at the recently opened Savoy Hotel. Jason recommends it, even though it’s quite new.”

“You win too many arguments, my lord. I can’t refute this one however.” Her beaming face made the slight loss of time by not traveling alone well worth it.

“I like winning,” Damien said silkily. “And my name is Damien. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already.”

This time she grinned. “No, Damien.”

Her words were delivered with a look from under her heavy lashes that Damien would have called flirtatious in another girl. Cheered beyond measure, Damien beamed down at her. The intense longing that was always with him subsided for just a moment, as he savored her pleasure in being allowed to go with him. Surely she was beginning to accept his love and would let him soon into her heart.

“I’ve already called for my coach to be ready within the hour. Go tell Debby both of you must pack as lightly as you can. We won’t be in London long. Now I must send a footman ahead to purchase three tickets on the late morning train.”

He set her from him, cheered tremendously by her reactions. Jason was on his way and now he must do his part, while keeping the women safe. This trip would be no problem since he’d have them with him. When they all returned he’d deal with the treacherous baron.

And may Merlin’s mercy keep Rafe alive until Jason could reach him.

Chapter Six

As anticipated, once in London Damien easily made an appointment to see the Prime Minister the next day. Then he could do nothing but wait for the morning, so Damien reserved a prime table in the elegant dining room of the Savoy.

He insisted both women looked lovely even though they were not conventionally dressed for dinner. Each had packed only a fresh blouse and nightclothes in keeping with Damien’s instructions. Although the ladies did not feel as stylish as they might like, neither Debora or Toria said a word of reproach.

Actually Toria thought Damien handsome enough to turn every eye his way. Who would notice the women at his side with anything but envy? Surely there never existed another such wonderfully striking man. Strong and tall, his dark hair was shining and his light scent of sandalwood creeping into her senses. She thought of how virile he looked and then blushed and closed her mind to such an unladylike thought.

She definitely didn’t want to consider him as exuding masculinity. She just wanted him to be her good friend.

Still Toria looked at him with shining eyes, her joy at being allowed to come and her feeling of safety plain to see.

When Damien pulled out her chair she beamed up at him and he could hardly resist leaning over and kissing her fragrant hair. He frowned as he looked around the room. More than one male eyed them both, with admiration and a large touch of envy. He shut down his irritation. Her beauty naturally drew everyone who saw her, a fact he must learn to appreciate, not resent.