If You Were Mine (12 page)

“
I should have got here sooner,” Peter sighed, shaking his
head regretfully.

“
You were stuck in a snow-storm. We sent word as soon as we
got her here, but you couldn’t predict the snow would strike when
it did. At least she was here,” Dominic argued. He knew Peter well
enough to know that he would have ridden hard all the way to
Havistock upon receipt of Dominic’s note, and would have been here
in a matter of days, if it wasn’t for that wretched
storm.

“
Have you stayed with her at that time?” Peter felt the
brotherly responsibility behind his question, but felt no worry
that Dominic would be offended by his forthright
inquiry.

Dominic
fully understood Peter’s desire to protect his sister, and couldn’t
blame the man for it. After all, they both had the same goal in
mind. “I have spent most of the nights since her arrival in the
chair beside the bed. She was in a temper today, and had taken
objection to being confined to her bed any longer.” Dominic replied
cautiously. He didn’t see the need to give her any further detail.
He had, after all, seen more than enough!

Peter
nodded in understanding. He had first-hand experience of just how
wilful his sister could be. “She must be getting better if her
temper was roused,” he added knowingly being fully conscious of his
friend’s discomfort.

“
She is definitely chafing to get up and about. But with the
weather still being so cold, I am trying to keep her warm and safe
in bed,” Dominic replied with a tone of caution. “It seems that I
may have been a bit over-protective.” He saw Peter’s smile of
understanding and was relieved that the man understood.

“
What have you managed to find out about Rupert? Why did they
take her?” Dominic asked after several moments of companionable
silence.

“
Rupert is in dire financial trouble. He has numerous billets
around Town, some of whom are starting to lose patience at his lack
of repayment. Rumours are he has turned towards loan sharks to
repay some of his debts. There are people looking for
him.”

“
Most probably why he has vacated London, and nobody has heard
from him.” Dominic nodded sagely.

“
Undoubtedly. More interestingly, he has become close
acquaintances with Bertram DeLisle,” Peter replied
quietly.

“
I know. Do you know if Bertram or Rupert have a house near
here?” Dominic queried.

“
I don’t know. What makes you ask?” Peter rose to replenish
their glasses and moved to stand before the hearth.

“
It was something Rupert said in the village the day I found
Isobel. He mentioned that he had a small house nearby here, but I
wasn’t aware there had been any property in the locale up for sale.
Moreover, I didn’t know there was anyone new in the area.” Dominic
said.

“
He could have moved in while we were away looking for
Isobel,” Peter replied. “After all, we were gone for several months
and with Isobel -” He paused, not wanting recount one of the most
difficult moments of both of their lives.

“
He may well have. I just wonder if it was where he brought
Isobel when he took her from Willowbrook.”

Peter huffed cynically. “
That
would appeal to Rupert’s perverse nature. To know
you are looking for her and have her stashed so blatantly nearby.
He would enjoy that.”

“
But that doesn’t explain why we were led to believe she had
been murdered.” Dominic replied, trying desperately to block out
the horrifying memories of standing beside Isobel’s
grave.

“
Unless they have funds nobody is aware of, they wouldn’t have
the funds or contacts to buy a magistrate.” Peter tried to plot out
the details in his mind but failed miserably.

“
We need to speak to the magistrate,” Dominic considered the
numerous questions they had yet to find answers for. “As soon as
the weather clears, I’ll go back and ask a few questions of this
magistrate.” A part of him was furiously angry with the man for
letting them grieve unnecessarily. However, a small voice of
caution warned him that the man most probably believed what he had
told them, and until Dominic and Peter had answers, they couldn’t
condemn the man for doing his duty.

“
One thing is for certain. If Rupert didn’t buy the
magistrate, he could also believe Isobel is dead. That would mean
she is safe enough for now.”

“
But if Rupert bought that magistrate, he knows very well she
is alive and most probably here. I got the distinct impression the
other week that the man was looking for someone. He could have
gotten close enough to Isobel to know she was in the
area.”

“
Would he know she was in disguise?”

Peter
looked at Dominic with a frown. “Disguise?”

Dominic
realised that he hadn’t yet informed Peter of all of the Isobel’s
adventures. “We found her wearing men’s clothing. I think they may
have been yours.” He quickly described the thick breeches, rough
work shirt and heavy boots that were far too big for
Isobel.

Peter’s
brows rose in surprise and knew exactly where Isobel had got them
from. With a rueful shake, of his head he fought the urge to ask
Dominic how on earth he had known it was her dressed in men’s
clothing, but that was something that would wait for
now.

“
If Rupert does suspect she is here, then she is most
certainly in danger. I can ensure nobody gets to her during the
night. Indeed, the safest place for her is beside me.” Dominic
turned to stare at his friend. “But she is becoming more active,
and doesn’t want to remain in bed. She won’t tolerate me dogging
her every footstep.”

“
We can take it in turns to keep her occupied, and make sure
there is a member of staff in the vicinity should there be any
problem. With staff inside and out keeping watch, there is little
chance of anyone getting close to her.”

Peter
refilled their glasses as a thoughtful silence settled between
them.

“
Do you think we should tell her?”

Dominic
immediately shook his head. “No!” He paused, and took a deep breath
at Peter’s surprised look. “She was in a state when I found her
Peter.” Briefly, he described her reaction when she had seen Rupert
in the busy village street.

“
I don’t want her worrying unnecessarily. You and I both know
that Rupert will not get anywhere near her.” Dominic’s voice
dripped with deadly menace. “There is no need to worry her
unduly.”

“
She won’t thank us for keeping her in the dark,”Peter warned
knowing his sister’s penchant for always being in the thick of
things.

Dominic
sighed, knowing full well Peter was right. “I know but hopefully
this will be done and finished soon. I fully intend to keep her
well and truly occupied once Rupert has been removed from our lives
once and for all.”

Peter
glanced at his friend, and knew the battle-hardened stare well.
Nothing would get to his sister with Dominic around. He just hoped
Isobel understood, and appreciated, just how much affection Dominic
had for her.

“
We need to decide who is going to do what, and how we are
going to go about them keeping Isobel out of the loop,” Peter
added. “I don’t want her getting involved unless she absolutely has
to.”

Dominic
nodded. “We do need to ask her to tell us what happened, and how
she came to be removed from Willowbrook. It is imperative we find
out who was involved, but need to do it without her realising we
are going to bring Rupert down.”

Peter
nodded in agreement.

As the
clock ticked steadily on the mantle, both men settled back in their
seats and began to plan.

Isobel
awoke the following morning alone. Last night had been the first
night since her arrival at Havistock Hall that Dominic hadn’t
joined her in the master suite. She wasn’t sure if she preferred
him there or not. Certainly, there was nobody there to argue with
her if she decided to get up.

Shooting
a calculating look at the distance between the bed and the walnut
table standing along the far wall, she guessed it was a distance
she could manage by herself. Easing the sheets backwards, she
waited to see if the dizziness she had experienced over the past
few weeks would returned, and was relieved when there was no sign,
leaving her to see to her morning ablutions unhindered. Luckily,
Peter had brought a large selection of her wardrobe with him, and
these gave her ample selection to choose from.

Moments
later, adorned in her favourite cornflower blue linen dress Isobel
slowly closed the bedroom door behind her. A quick glance to the
right revealed a doorway leading to a set of stairs, clearly
servant’s stairs. To the left was a longish corridor leading to
what Isobel could only assume was the main staircase. Slowly, she
took the left corridor. She paused when she reached the upper
landing, waiting for her trembling legs to steady beneath her as
she studied the awfully long, sweeping staircase leading down to
the ornate entrance hall in consternation. She had done very well
so far, even if she did say so herself, but could she manage such a
long staircase unaided?

“
Ahem.”

Isobel
jumped with alarm as a footman appeared from somewhere behind
her.

“
Sorry ma’am,” he said politely, offering her a deep bow.
“Would you like me to escort you down the stairs?” He held out an
elbow, clearly waiting to assist her.

Isobel
looked at the long sweeping steps before turning back towards the
footman.

She
arched a brow in question.

“
Edwards, Ma’am,” the footman said.

“
Thank you, Edwards.” Isobel took the pro-offered elbow
gratefully. “I hadn’t realised how large this house
was.”

“
It is a rather grand place, ma’am,” the young man replied,
carefully manoeuvring them down the stairs. Isobel was so intent on
keeping her knees from buckling beneath her and falling down, she
missed the frantic signal the footman gave to the upstairs maid who
quickly scurried off towards the servant’s stairs.

She had
no sooner got to the last few steps, when Dominic appeared at the
bottom.

“
Where do you think you are going?” Dominic asked, stunned at
the vision before him. Although thinner than she had been before,
her hair had grown significantly longer and curled tantalizingly
around her delicate face. Her slightly tanned skin held a slight
flush of good health. Even though her dress hung a little loosely
on her, Dominic was pleased to note she had indeed put on some of
her original weight and looked far healthier than she had been. One
could almost be fooled into thinking she was back to full health,
if you ignored the slightly rasping breathing.

“
I have had enough of being in bed. It is time I got up.”
Isobel raised her chin defiantly as she slowly descended the last
few steps. “I was going to -” She paused, and looked inquiringly at
the man beside her.

“
The library, my Lady,” Edwards offered, wondering if he had
overstepped the mark at his suggestion. It was the only room he
could think of with a lit fire and he, like the rest of the house
staff, felt sympathetic toward the young woman on his
arm.

“
Yes, I was just going to the library,” she announced,
skirting cautiously around Dominic, just in case he took it into
his head to pick her up and return her to the bedroom.

“
Then that is where you shall go, my dear Lady,” Dominic
replied and swept an astonished Isobel off her feet.

“
I can walk,” Isobel grumbled. Within minutes she was
carefully placed among the plush cushions upon the chaise lounge in
a room literally crammed full with row upon row of
books.

“
Have you had breakfast?” Although the hour was long past the
breakfast hour, Dominic knew Cook would be happy to make anything
Isobel wanted. Indeed, most of his house staff seemed to have taken
it upon themselves to oversee Isobel’s recovery
themselves.

“
I am not very hungry,” Isobel replied, and paused at the
slight frown of concern that immediately appeared on Dominic’s
dace. “I shall send for some tea and cakes, if Cook has any,
later.” Ignoring his towering presence, Isobel began to arrange her
skirts carefully around her knees, only to find a thick rug draped
casually over her knees by the ever-attentive Edwards. “Thank
you.”

“
I shall ring for a maid. I am sure Cook can come up with
something to whet your appetite.” He had noted the slight trembling
in Isobel’s hands as she had arranged her skirts, and wondered if
she was trying to hide her weakness from him. “How are you feeling
this morning Isobel? Did you sleep well?” Dominic’s low murmur was
interrupted by the arrival of Peter.

“
Peter!” Isobel was unable to hide her delight as her brother
swept across the room towards her. She didn’t have time to stand
before she was enveloped in a bear hug. Taking a deep breath, she
was assailed with the same scent that had permeated the clothes she
had taken out of his hidden drawer all of those months ago, and the
sudden memory of that night flooded her. Tears sprang into her
eyes, and she tightened her hold on him, suddenly needing the
comfort of his hug.