Jo Goodman (23 page)

Mercedes spoke so that Severn couldn't. She did not care for the way he was looking at Colin, as if the captain were an insect he'd enjoy torturing before he squashed it. "His lordship was explaining that you had your man of affairs present at the inn, while he brought the sheriff, but I have yet to learn what has been resolved by their presence."

"Then I'm in time," Colin said. "It's better that she learn it from me, don't you think, Severn? If you have any doubts that I'll be less than honest, you're welcome to stay and hear it again."

Severn stepped away from the fireplace, the expression on his sculpted face stony. "I'll excuse myself," he said stiffly. "Mercedes, you know you may count on me if what you hear is not to your liking. I am ever at your service." He made a short bow and left the room, deliberately brushing close to Colin as he passed.

Colin went to the window. He stayed there, saying nothing until he saw Severn leave. "He's a disagreeable sort, don't you think?" he said. "Did he offer for you?"

Mercedes wished she had had Mrs. Hennepin bring some tea to the drawing room. It wasn't because she was thirsty or hungry. Indeed, her appetite had fled and her mouth was so dry it was difficult to swallow at all. A teacup would have occupied her hands. Now they twisted in the folds of her gown and she could only hope they did not draw Colin's attention. She didn't want to know what he would make of her nervousness. "Yes," she said. "Severn made an offer."

One of Colin's brows lifted. "And?"

"And that would be between Severn and me."

He smiled narrowly. "Then you haven't given him an answer." Confident that was the case, Colin went on. "That means you're willing to listen to what I have to suggest."

"It only means that what I had to say to Severn is none of your business." Rather than being angered by her directness, Mercedes noticed that Colin's expression seemed appreciative, as if he might applaud her if it were appropriate to do so. It softened her a little. "But as it happens, I'm also willing to listen. I take it your presence here means you haven't been charged."

He nodded. "Much to your cousin's dismay, the sheriff was clear on that account. There can be no formal charges without proof that the earl is dead. Though the sheriff advised against it, that's why Severn brought his men to Weybourne Park. He thinks he can uncover what wasn't found yesterday. Mr. Patterson was sympathetic to Severn's concerns and is not dismissing the earl's disappearance as of no account, but he was clear that he wants to conduct his own investigation. He seems competent to the task. He's not accepting Severn's explanation without proof, but he's not dismissing it out of hand, either. Enough suspicion's been leveled at my head." He touched his throat. "The rope's on my shoulders waiting to be tightened around my neck."

Mercedes blanched a little at that picture. She sat down slowly and folded her hands in her lap. "But with no charges," she said, "aren't you free to go?"

"Not quite. Mr. Abernathy, my solicitor, says I could engage a counselor-at-law to fight it, but that's moot. I've already agreed to abide by Mr. Patterson's directive."

She frowned slightly. "Then you're not free to leave?"

"Let's say that for the next six weeks I've promised to be a relatively compliant prisoner of your fair country."

"Six weeks," she whispered hollowly. "How will you ever stand it? What about your ship... your crew?"

There was a hint of derision in his smile. He left the window and sat in the chair that had been last occupied by Severn. "Your concern for me is duly noted," he said. "But don't overplay your hand. It will make it more difficult for you to be gracious when you hear the rest of what I have to say."

Mercedes's chin came up as he questioned her sincerity. "I take it back now," she said, "before you go on. I hope you rot."

"That's better," he said approvingly. "As for rotting, you'll be certain to know. After all, Weybourne Park is to be my prison."

Air whistled as Mercedes sucked in her breath. "Here? You mean they're making you stay here? At Weybourne Park?" For a moment she was actually dizzied by the implications. "I can't believe that Severn would permit it. Are you quite certain you heard Mr. Patterson correctly?"

"Should I ring for tea?" Colin asked with grave politeness. "No? Then something stronger? Perhaps not. You look as if you'd throw it in my face."

That he had correctly read her mind bothered Mercedes. She made an attempt to school her features and react with less abandon. "How did this come about?"

Colin leaned back in his chair. "You were quite right to suppose that Severn didn't approve," he said. "As it happens, he had no say in the matter. Mr. Abernathy had all the papers in order, showing the wager as agreed to by Weybourne and me. There was supporting documentation from witnesses as well as evidence from creditors that clearly showed the earl couldn't make good on his wager without forfeiting this estate."

"Quite a lot to come by on such short notice," she said coolly.

"My man's been working on it since Weybourne issued this last challenge. I like to be prepared for any eventuality."

"Still, it's rather suspicious, isn't it? One might be led to believe you put your house in order in anticipation of this very thing happening, perhaps even that you are the architect of the plan."

Colin gave her an arch look.
"Et tu? "
he asked. "Severn said that very thing." He knew she had no liking for being painted with the same brush as Severn. Though he didn't show it, her struggle not to pull a face amused him. "Once Abernathy showed Mr. Patterson that everything was in order, the sheriff really had no choice but to agree that I could take temporary possession of Weybourne Park. It's a clumsy compromise at best, but for six weeks it's a tolerable inconvenience."

Tolerable for whom, Mercedes wanted to know. She stopped worrying her lower lip and actually bit her tongue to keep from asking the question.

"I'll remain in England, available to the magistrate and authorities for questioning, while the search for your uncle continues. At the same time, I'll be afforded the opportunity to make Weybourne Park mine by legal means. At the end of six weeks, if the whereabouts of your uncle are still unknown, my petition for the Park will be ready for review in court."

"Then you don't actually own the estate now," she said.

"No. But neither do you." He saw her shoulders sag a little at this reminder. "And you have no means to get it."

"You not only stab," she said quietly, "you also twist the knife."

"I get no pleasure in it."

That, at least, was true. His expression was stoic, not gloating. "And what of Severn's claim to Weybourne Park?"

"As you noted yesterday, it's really his father's claim if he chooses to pursue it. I get the impression the Earl of Rosefield may not be as eager as his son to take on this estate. Nothing was said to that effect; it was merely something in Severn's manner that made me suppose it."

"I told you this estate would draw heavily on one's financial resources. The earl is of a more temperate nature than his son, and considerably more cautious."

"Perhaps Severn's father doesn't know
all
of Weybourne Park's assets."

In spite of her best intentions, Mercedes bristled. "What do you mean by that?"

"I think you know. You said Severn made an offer. That's a pretty clear indication that he wants you."

"Oh, Severn was quite clear," she said.

"I also have an offer."

Mercedes steeled herself. It crossed her mind to wonder if she'd slap him, but then the thought was gone. She knew she wouldn't. Whether for herself or someone else, she abhorred hitting out as means of expression. "Well, Captain Thorne?"

Colin studied her with his darkly reflective eyes. He liked her hair. The way she'd braided it close to her scalp altered the shape of her eyes, lending them a faintly provocative slant. Her features were clear and composed, though he suspected that composure was a struggle to maintain. Her complexion was smooth, but pale. The unnatural flush that he had noted when she'd been speaking to Severn had long since faded. Her long, dark lashes were lowered to half mast, shading her expressive gray eyes. Somehow she was managing not to tug on her lower lip, a mannerism that invariably signaled she was worried or deep in thought.

Colin appreciated the way she faced him, with her head held up and her slender throat exposed. It was rather a fearless pose and his eyes skimmed the line of her neck before they lifted to meet her gaze squarely.

"As you know," he said, "I spoke to Sylvia and Chloe and the twins yesterday before dinner. I think they must have told you some of it. It's the only explanation for your tirade after Aubrey left for London."

Mercedes smiled wanly. "Please," she said. "Get on with it."

Colin nodded. "I will see that Britton and Brendan are educated in the public school of your choice, and I will support Chloe and Sylvia with dowries, provided you approve of the matches."

Had he talked to Severn? she wondered. Though Colin made some noises about consulting her, thus far the offers were remarkably similar. Mercedes felt confident in finishing for him. "And in return, Captain Thorne? Is it a house for me in London complete with new furnishings and a full staff to do my bidding? Or did you think to keep me here at Weybourne Park and frequent my bed at your will? That would be less expensive for you and tolerably convenient for both of us." She placed an index finger on her chin as though musing about her future. "Perhaps you will see fit to give me an allowance for new clothes and jewelry. That would make you more agreeable than Severn. He never got around to mentioning an allowance at all. We argued for a while about whose bed it would be, mine or his, but I think you can see my point that if it's my London house, it must be my bed." She feigned puzzlement. "There might be some confusion here, though, what with your bed and my bed both being so readily available." She brightened, her face clearing. "I know. I'll come to your room on the even days and you may come to mine on the odd ones. That's fair, don't you think?"

Colin had been following Mercedes's line of reasoning carefully so he didn't have to think long about it. "Very reasonable," he said pleasantly, watching her closely. "I assumed that if you accepted my offer to manage Weybourne Park, I'd have to pay you a wage, but if you're willing to barter your skills for my services in bed, I find I'm agreeable."

Mercedes blinked.

Her reaction was so priceless, like a baby owl seeing the world for the first time, that Colin actually laughed aloud. It was a deep sound, low and rumbling and hearty. For all that he did it so rarely there was nothing tentative about it. A lock of his bright blond hair fell forward and he raked it back, tempering his laughter at the same time.

Lowering her head, Mercedes stared at her folded hands. She waited for silence. "You didn't have to let me go on," she said quietly. "You've never hesitated to interrupt me before."

She probably didn't want to hear that she'd never been so entertaining. "I apologize," Colin said. "You're right. I could have stopped you."

Mercedes didn't ask him why he didn't. It wasn't hard to imagine that he had found her speech something of a wonder. In his place she might well have been struck dumb. Right now her tongue was cleaved to the roof of her mouth.

Colin's gaze rested on her bowed head. "I take it Severn's offer was not a marriage proposal."

The gentleness of his voice washed over her. She shook her head.

"I didn't know that," he said. "I wondered about it before, but today... well, today I thought he meant to marry you. I was less certain what your answer would be."

"I told him no." She lifted her head slowly but her eyes did not meet Colin's. She looked at a point past his shoulder. "It was easy to do."

"And if it had been an offer of marriage?"

"My answer would still have been no. Severn and I wouldn't suit."

"I see."

"I doubt it," she said. "Severn may be closer to your age than the earl's, but he was always my uncle's friend. That doesn't endear him to me or my cousins. The twins can't abide him and the girls merely tolerate his presence. He's never been a frequent guest at the Park, but then no one has. The earl was particular about that. As for Severn liking any of us, I can't imagine that it's true. He took pains to mention that he would send the boys to school and provide for the girls, but that's because he doesn't want to think about them or have them underfoot."

"And they would be outside of your protection," Colin said.

Mercedes gave him full marks. "You
do
understand." She twisted a tendril of hair and tucked it behind her ear. "Severn's only interested in controlling me. With the boys at school, out of my reach and sponsored by him, he supposes I'll be amenable."

"Amenable?"

"To whatever he wants." She saw Colin's frown and supposed that plain speaking was in order. "I know what's expected of a mistress," she said, "but I've heard that Severn's tastes aren't—"

Colin held up his hand. "I've heard the same thing."

"You have?"

He nodded but didn't explain. Molly and her sister had been his sources. Prior to the meeting with Severn and the sheriff he had talked to both women. When they realized it was the viscount who was making the accusations, they had a few of their own. It seemed that slap and tickle with Marcus Severn was more slap than tickle. "That leaves my offer," he said after a moment.