Sweet Enemy (42 page)

Liliana stroked Amira’s long nose. “Farewell, Princess. I’m certain the boy will take good care of you.” Promising him double pay should ensure Amira was well treated, even though it was coin Liliana could scarcely spare.

The boy returned, leading a tired-looking bonesetter in his wake. Liliana accepted the horse and watched as Amira was led across the yard. She turned away, tears clogging her throat. Not over saying good-bye to the horse, but because Amira was the last tie she had to Geoffrey.

Her hand dove into her pocket. Not the last tie, precisely. Amongst precious few coins and her decorative tinderbox, Liliana closed her fingers around an old metal key. Though she’d left his betrothal ring behind, she hadn’t been able to part with the key to the folly. That was how she’d choose to remember Geoffrey, as a creative and thoughtful lover who’d once wanted her enough to offer her his most special place.

But there would be no more tenderness. No more races through the morning dew or exhilarating conversations with a man who truly listened to her ideas and didn’t dismiss them as less simply because they came from a woman. No more stolen kisses or moments of bliss in Geoffrey’s arms.

Liliana led the nag to the mounting block, determined not to wallow or second-guess. There was no guarantee there’d ever be any of those things again if she’d stayed, either. When he’d insisted they still marry, she’d been shocked, but a part of her had rejoiced. She’d agreed, if only because she so desperately loved him. She’d thought maybe, given time, they’d be able to put the past behind them and start anew.

But Geoffrey had turned cold, angry, and she didn’t blame him. As he saw it, her actions had been a deliberate breach of trust…one he had no intention of forgiving. When she looked into his eyes, she saw no love, only distrust. And that was her fault.

Her heart tripped when she considered how he’d react when he realized she’d gone. Would his feelings of betrayal deepen and his anger toward her grow even more entrenched?

Liliana wiped a tear from her cheek, ducking her face. She had to quit sniffling like a ninny lest she give her disguise away.

It hardly mattered how he’d react. She couldn’t live like this. And neither should he. In the long run, no matter how much it tore her soul, leaving was for the best. She wouldn’t allow him to throw away his chance to find someone he could trust, and therefore love, for a sham marriage to assuage his misplaced sense of honor. When she was certain she was not carrying his child, she would send him a note to ease his mind. And if she was? Well, she’d deal with that wh—

“Miss Claremont?”

Liliana whirled at the sound of Geoffrey’s voice, missing her step and nearly stumbling as her foot slipped off of the block in her surprise.

The bright sun filtering around him made her squint, and Liliana saw the figure before her only as a silhouette against the light. Her chest constricted for the briefest of moments. Hope, love and joy sprang up inside of her before her mind could quash it. The illusion faded as the man broke through the blinding light and drew nearer.

Not Geoffrey, she realized as her heart stopped forcing so much blood to her brain, but his uncle. Sir Isaac’s ghost, for a moment she could have sworn…

“I barely recognized you, dressed as you are. Are you going somewhere?” Joss Wentworth inquired, his slightly graying black hair glinting in the sun. The polite smile he always wore was firmly in place, but in this blend of light and shadow, it made her uncomfortable. Maybe
because
it was so similar to Geoffrey’s.

And yet so different. She’d never compared the two before, but having just mistaken the two men, she couldn’t help but see the differences. Geoffrey’s smiles always touched his eyes, the kindness in them coming from his heart. She looked hard at Wentworth. His smile seemed only face deep. False, almost like a mask…

She shook off the thought, certain she merely reacted to being caught running away by one of Geoffrey’s relatives.

“I—” What could she say? She supposed the truth would be known soon enough. “Yes. I have decided a marriage to Lord Stratford will not suit and am returning home to Chelmsford.”

Geoffrey’s uncle’s brows furrowed much as his nephew’s did. “Does Geoffrey know this?”

Heat crept up Liliana’s face, but she set her jaw. “Not as of yet, but he will soon enough.” When—
if
—he cared to seek her out and discover she’d gone.

Wentworth frowned, his countenance again eerily similar to the expression his nephew made and yet different, more…irritated? “I’m not certain this is a good idea.”

“I appreciate your concern,” Liliana said, “but it’s truly for the best.” She turned back to her horse and lifted her foot to the block.

“I can’t stand by and let a lady ride off on a rented nag.”

Liliana suppressed a sigh. Misplaced honor apparently ran in the family. But this was hardly the time for chivalry. She faced him and opened her mouth to refuse.

“Please,” he interrupted. “I won’t say I understand why you’re leaving, though my nephew can be trying, I’m sure.” He smiled, taking her horse’s lead and tying it to the post.

Liliana frowned at his presumption, but then he took her arm and placed it on his and started across the courtyard.

“While I’m of the opinion that you should stay and try to work out whatever lies between you and my nephew, I admit it is not my business. However, I insist you at least let me give you a ride to your destination.”

Liliana considered tugging her arm from his, but she didn’t wish to be rude. Wentworth was only doing what
he thought best. “That is truly unnecessary. I am accustomed to traveling alone and will be perfectly fine.”

He kept walking, ushering her through a stone archway to where a nondescript black carriage waited. Odd—nothing marked it as a Wentworth carriage.

“It is the only way I can assure Geoffrey that his intended made it home safely,” Wentworth insisted.

She’d had enough. She’d made up her mind, but the man refused to listen to reason. She tugged at her arm, but he caught it, clenching her forearm in a bruising grip.

What in the world? “Sir, please. Unhand me.”

They’d reached the carriage door, which Wentworth flicked open. “You’re coming with me.”

A chill shot up Liliana’s spine at his tone, and the tiny hairs on her arms rose despite the warm morning sunshine. “I am not.”

He yanked so fiercely, pain exploded in her shoulder, as if he’d pulled it from its socket. Liliana gasped in shock and agony.

“Oh, I think you are. Quietly.”

Her gaze flew to the driver, a great hulk of a man, but he ignored her plight, keeping his face deliberately turned away.

Wentworth shoved her inside, following behind. He tossed her into the seat and settled in beside her, blocking her exit. He banged a hand on the ceiling of the carriage, which rocked into motion.

Dear God, what was happening here? Was Geoffrey’s uncle really kidnapping her? Why? Certainly not to return his nephew’s errant bride to him.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“Where is the corselet?” Wentworth demanded.

“The what?” Shock melted her to her seat. How did Wentworth know of the treasure? Had he overheard while following her and Geoffrey about?

“Don’t toy with me,” he growled. “The treasure. Where did your father hide it?”

Where did
your
father hide it?
A wave of nausea rolled
over Liliana, sucking the breath from her as her mind tried to process his words. They smacked of intimate knowledge, more than could be gleaned by eavesdropping.

She looked at Wentworth, with his fake smile that had turned to a snarl. Could
he
be the blackmailer?

The old valet’s story popped into her mind, a tale of murder and poison. She nearly gasped, barely suppressing the urge in time. Could Wentworth be the killer?

Thoughts, memories and scenarios swirled around in her brain. What if she’d been right that the note that lured her father to his death had been a forgery?

Where did your father hide it?
Anger boiled through Liliana. How would Wentworth know whether her father had hidden the treasure unless
he
had tried to get it from her father and failed. Maybe killed him in the attempt.

And then killed his own brother to cover up his deed? Or for the exchange money.

And now she was trapped in a carriage with him. Dear God, what did he intend to do with her? She glanced at the door, then at the man blocking her path. There would be no escape, at least not until they stopped. Her only choice was to play along, buy some time.

“I don’t know anything about a treasure,” she said, hoping to sound confused rather than horrified, as she actually was.

Wentworth reached a hand into his vest, withdrew a pistol and pointed it at her chest.

Liliana stopped breathing. He
was
the killer, and if she didn’t do something, she might be his next victim.

“You’re lying,” he said. He pushed the gun forward and metal prodded her rib cage. Her bluff wasn’t working.

“Okay, I know about the corselet, but I don’t have it,” she blurted.

Wentworth’s eyes narrowed, and in their blue depths, Liliana recognized desperation. Desperate men did rash
things. Wentworth’s grip tightened on the pistol and Liliana’s insides went all watery. She had to say something, anything, or he very well might dispatch her and no one would ever know what had become of her.

“But I know where it is.”

Uncle Joss was nowhere to be found. In the chaos that surrounded the packing of carriages and guests hurrying to breakfast early before starting back to London, no one could remember seeing the man. Geoffrey had looked in the family wing, the common areas, even the servants’ quarters. All he learned was that Uncle Joss’ longtime valet was missing, too.

Mother, who’d blessedly given him the silent treatment since he’d announced his intention to marry Liliana, had broken it long enough to tell him she hadn’t seen Joss since last night’s dinner.

Geoffrey bounded up the stairs to the guest hallway. Before he left to search the grounds, he needed to warn Liliana to stay inside. If he was right about Joss suspecting she had knowledge of the treasure’s whereabouts, she could be in danger.

He reached her rooms and knocked on the door. He had no desire to besmirch Liliana’s reputation by his unorthodox visit, but it was imperative that he fill her in. Besides, they’d be married in three weeks, and any breach of etiquette would be forgiven.

Geoffrey checked his timepiece and banged harder on the door.

The door opened a crack and Liliana’s cousin’s face appeared. Her eyes widened as she registered him.

“I must speak with Liliana,” he demanded without preamble.

Miss Belsham blinked rapidly, but her mouth firmed. Geoffrey realized she was stalling. Something was wrong. Air filled his lungs as adrenaline spiked through him. He rose to his full height.

“Miss Belsham, I demand to know—”

“She’s gone.” Liliana’s cousin said, pinning him with surprisingly hostile blue eyes. She narrowed them, showing uncommon fortitude for a slip of a girl.

“What do you mean
gone
?”

The girl’s shoulders slumped and she opened the door wider, inviting him inside. She turned her back and walked over to the nightstand on the far side of the bed. The tiny wooden drawer opened with a creak and she retrieved something. When she returned, she thrust out her hand and opened her palm.

Amethysts and gold winked up at him, the ring a mockery of the excitement he’d felt when he’d chosen it to match Liliana’s stunning eyes. When he’d chosen it for the woman he loved…

“I mean
gone
. She’s left, run away, departed the premises.” Miss Belsham glared at him with accusation, as though she was certain it was entirely his fault.

Geoffrey took the delicate betrothal ring from Miss Belsham, stunned. The jeweled band felt heavy in his palm…and cold, like a blade of steel poised to stab him through the heart. “Did she say anything to you?”

Miss Belsham sighed. “No. When I awoke this morning, her side of the bed was empty.”

Rejection sliced through him. She’d left him without a word, after she’d agreed to marry him. Certainly she hadn’t seemed happy about it, but she’d said yes, damn her.

“But she was miserable last night,” Miss Belsham said, her voice angry. “I’ve known Liliana my entire life, and before she met you, I’d never seen her cry. Yet she was a virtual watering pot the whole night through.”

Geoffrey winced, remembering a choice few of the awful things he’d said in the last couple of days, the cool way he’d treated her. Was that why Liliana had left? Had he driven her away with his harsh tongue and cold demeanor?

But damn it, that was the only way he knew to protect himself. Still, that didn’t make him feel less of a cad.

He looked down at her cousin, afraid of the answer but unable not to ask the question. “Did she say why?”