To Tempt An Angel (Book 1 Douglas series) (9 page)

“I don’t see any lantern light,” Angelica said, disappointed. “Robert must have forgotten.”

“Perhaps he’s been delayed,” Samantha suggested.

“I bet he’s on his way,” Victoria added.

“We’ll guard Papa until he arrives,” Angelica said.

“Can we guard him from here?” Victoria asked. “You know I don’t like the dark or graveyards.”

“You weren’t afraid when you abducted Mr. Lewis,” Angelica reminded her.

“Yes, she was,” Samantha said. “I had the devil of a time getting her inside. Tory jumped at every little noise and gave me the creeps.”

“We’re going inside,” Angelica told her youngest sister. “You can wait here alone in the dark or come with us.”

“Lead the way,” Victoria said.

Though reluctant to enter the graveyard at night, Angelica forced herself to step inside and hold the lantern high. She walked the breadth of the graveyard to where they had buried their father beside their mother.

“You don’t trust my word, angel?” asked a voice in the darkness.

Angelica gasped in surprise, as did her sisters. She smiled when Robert appeared in the light cast by the lantern. “You’re alone?” she asked.

Two other men stepped into the light. “These are my friends, James Armstrong and Adam St. Aubyn.”

“I am pleased to meet you,” Angelica said. “These are my sisters, Samantha and Victoria”

“We’ve heard good things about you,” James Armstrong told her.

“Yes, we certainly have,” Adam St. Aubyn agreed.

Angelica tried to think what good things Robert could have said about her. She’d cheated him out of more than a hundred pounds, enlisted his aid in burying Mr. Lewis, given him a lesson on cheating, and—and surrendered her virginity to him. Feeling her face heat with a blush, Angelica was relieved that the night masked her embarrassment.

“I appreciate your help,” Angelica managed to say. “Would you like us to leave our lantern?”

“We covered our lantern when we saw your light coming down the road,” Robert told her. “Come on. I’ll walk you to the gate.”

With her sisters in the lead, Angelica and Robert crossed the graveyard. At the gate, Robert kissed her hand and said, “While I’m guarding your father, I’ll need to sleep during the day. I’ll come by the cottage in a couple of days.”

“I’ll miss you,” Angelica said before she could stop herself.

Robert planted a kiss on her lips and said, “I’ll miss you more.”

Two mornings later, Angelica slept later than usual and awakened with a smile on her lips and Robert on her mind.
I’ll miss you more.
The memory of his words warmed her heart.

Angelica wondered where he lived and what he did when he wasn’t with her. Though she’d only known him for a few days, she could not imagine life without Robert Roy.

Is this love? she wondered.

“Angelica, darling, come here,” Aunt Roxie called from the common room.

“I’m coming.” Angelica pushed blond wisps of hair out of her eyes and rose from the bed. Without bothering to cover her nightshift, Angelica opened the bedroom door and walked into the common room. Aunt Roxie, Samantha, and Victoria were staring out the window.

Puzzled, Angelica hurried across the room. “
Sacred sevens
, what is that?” she gasped.

Aunt Roxie smiled. “That is the Duke of Inverary’s answer to my message.”

Parked in front of their cottage was the ducal coach, a barouche drawn by four pure white horses. On the door of the barouche had been painted the Campbell crest, a gold boar’s head with silver tusks and a red tongue. Behind the coach was a cart used to haul goods.

“I’ll be a rat’s arse,” Victoria murmured. Wearing the black and green Campbell livery a coachman approached their door. “Are you the Countess of Melrose?” he asked Aunt Roxie.

“No, my niece is the countess,” Aunt Roxie answered, touching Angelica’s shoulder. The coachman bowed to Angelica and said, “The Duke of Invarary requests the honor of your presence at his home.”

Who did the Duke of Inverary think he was? Angelica thought with mutiny in her heart. The bloody King of England? If His Grace believed she would set one foot inside his home, then he was as mad as King George whom, everyone knew, conversed with trees.

“Tell His Grace that the Countess of Melrose does not take orders from him,” Angelica said, a mulish expression on her face.

The coachman seemed at a loss. “My lady, I cannot possibly return—”

“Excuse us for a moment,” Aunt Roxie interrupted the coachman.

Aunt Roxie grabbed her arm and forced her farther into the common room. “Pack your bags,” she ordered in a whisper. “We are being driven out of poverty.”

“I won’t go,” Angelica insisted.

“I thought you wanted revenge on those men who stole your father’s fortune,” Aunt Roxie countered. “What better way to get at them than by becoming the Duke of Inverary’s house guest?”

“But the duke—”

 “—had nothing to do with your father’s troubles,” Aunt Roxie finished for her.

“What about Robert?” Angelica asked.

Aunt Roxie gave her an ambiguous smile. “Don’t worry about him, darling. I promise His Grace will know how to find Robert Roy. If you don’t believe me, leave the man a note.”

Angelica hesitated in indecision. She supposed this was the best way to get to the men who’d ruined her father. But what if Robert Roy refused to disturb her at the duke’s residence? She might never see him again.

“Think of your sisters’ future,” Aunt Roxie said as if she’d read her thoughts. “With the duke’s sponsorship, Samantha and Victoria will make good matches.”

Angelica saw the sense in what her aunt was saying. She would leave Robert a note, telling him where she’d gone, and pray that he would come for her.

One last thought occurred to Angelica. “What about Jasper?” she asked.

Aunt Roxie gave her a feline smile. “Why, darling, Jasper will accompany us.”

Angelica knew when she’d been bested. Reluctantly, she nodded and said, “Very well, but I won’t like it.”

Two hours later the Douglas family, including Jasper, sat inside the luxurious ducal coach. Angelica slid her hand across the black leather seat and murmured to herself, “Softer than a lady’s lap.”

“Driving down Park Lane again feels wonderful,” Aunt Roxie gushed, gazing out the window.

“Wonderful,” Jasper repeated. “‘Wonderful. “

Angelica smiled at her aunt’s delight and glanced at Samantha, who rolled her eyes. Victoria giggled.

The coach halted in front of an elegant brick town house. A moment later the coachman appeared and opened the door to help each of them down.

Last to leave the coach, Angelica warned, “Do not touch me or the bird unless you wish to lose a finger.”

The coachman stepped back instantly. Angelica placed a hand around the back of the macaw’s head, securing its lower mandible. With her free hand, she secured the bird’s wings. Only then did she climb out of the coach, her sisters’ hands ready to steady her.

“Mr. Tinker, you haven’t aged a day,” Aunt Roxie cried.

Angelica turned toward the mansion to see the Campbell majordomo. Wearing a broad grin, the man rushed down the stairs to escort her aunt inside.

“Lady Roxanne, you are even more beautiful than I remember,” the majordomo said.

“You old rascal,” Aunt Roxie replied, giving him a dimpled smile. Over her shoulder, she called, “Come, girls.”

The mansion’s foyer was imposing, classically inspired with marble statuary and elaborately carved cornices. Its ceiling had been decorated with delicate rococo ornamentation.

“Please, come with me,” Tinker said, walking toward the stairs. “His Grace asked me to escort you to his study as soon as you arrived. “ The majordomo looked at Angelica and asked, “Where shall I put the bird, my lady?”

“Jasper stays with me,” she told him.

The majordomo nodded. With him in the lead, they climbed the stairs. Its main feature was the wrought-iron balustrade lit by a tall, round-headed window gracing the landing.

“I was sorry to learn of the earl’s passing,” Tinker said, leading them down a long corridor. He knocked on a closed door.

Angelica wet her lips nervously when she heard a man’s voice bidding them enter. She could hardly believe she was about to meet one of the devils she was determined to pauper.

And then the majordomo opened the door. With her aunt in the lead, Angelica and her sisters walked into the duke’s study.

The chamber reeked with masculinity. On one side of the room was a marble hearth and mantel. Portraits of important-looking men topped bookcases that had been built into the walls.

A rogue’s gallery Angelica thought realizing the portraits were Campbell lairds. And then she dared to look at the man rising from his chair behind a desk that was bigger than her bed at home.

Despite his age, the Duke of Inverary was an attractive man. Tall and well-built, the duke had black hair, graying at the temples, and dark eyes. He seemed oddly familiar.

“Roxanne, I’ve missed you,” the duke said, walking around the desk to take her aunt’s hands in his. Then, instead of kissing her hand, he pulled her aunt close for a hug and kissed her cheek.

“Darling, you cannot imagine how many times I’ve thought about you, “ Aunt Roxie drawled, obviously please with his greeting. “But Graham—” She shrugged. “My brother was a proud man, too proud to ask for help.”

“The help should have been offered,” Angelica spoke up, a bitter edge to her voice. “A true friend helps without being asked.”

“And these are Graham’s daughters,” the duke said, ignoring her remark.

“The mouthy one is Angelica,” Aunt Roxie said, giving her a warning look.

“Ah, yes, the Countess of Melrose.” The duke smiled warmly and asked, “What have you there, Lady Angelica?”

“Jasper, my pet macaw,” she answered. “Do not touch him or he’ll bite off your finger.”

“What wonderful protection,” the duke said smoothly.

“Great grunting shit,” Jasper shrieked unexpectedly.

Aunt Roxie looked ready to swoon. Samantha and Victoria dissolved into giggles. Even Angelica managed a smile.

“He has quite a vocabulary,” the duke remarked.

Jasper cocked his blue head to one side and said, “Hello.”

The Duke of Inverary smiled and turned to her sisters. “And these pretty girls are . . . ?”

“Samantha and Victoria,” Aunt Roxie supplied.

“I am pleased to make your acquaintances,” the duke said. “Make yourselves at home.” He turned to Roxie, saying, “I have London’s most fashionable dressmaker coming here tomorrow to outfit the four of you with new wardrobes. Now, you must be tired after your long ordeal. Tinker will show you to your rooms.”

Angelica started to turn away when the majordomo opened the door for them, but the duke’s voice stopped her. “I would like a private word with you Lady Angelica,” he said. It was a command, not a request. “Tinker will return for you shortly.”

“Mind your manners, darling,” Aunt Roxie said, giving her a pointed look.

“Please sit down,” the duke said when they were alone.

With malice in her heart, Angelica set the macaw down on the upholstered chair in front of the desk and then sat in another chair. She gave the duke a sunny smile and said, “You don’t mind if Jasper sits there, do you?”

The Duke of Inverary inclined his head. “Where does he usually perch?”

“Jasper has a cage,” Angelica answered. “However, macaws need companionship, so I doubt placing the cage in my bedchamber will be healthy for him.”

“I will instruct Tinker to purchase a cage for every room,” the duke said expansively.

“He’ll need blankets and perches and toys to go with each cage,” Angelica added.

“I’ll leave it to you to tell Tinker what will make your pet happy.”

Angelica fixed her gaze on his and said, “My cottage is what will make Jasper happiest.”

The Duke of Inverary appeared unruffled by her statement. He leaned back in his chair and studied her until she began to fidget uncomfortably.

“You are even prettier than I remember,” he said finally.

“I don’t recall meeting you,” she replied. “Though you do seem vaguely familiar, as if I’d seen you somewhere recently.”

“I have sensed a certain hostility emanating from you since the moment you walked through that door,” the duke remarked. I have opened my home to you. Why don’t you like me?”

“You betrayed my father,” Angelica accused him, staring him straight in the eye. “I intend to make you regret that, Your Grace.”

Unaccountably, a smile flirted with the corners of his lips. “I see you have inherited dear Roxie’s fierce spirit,” the duke said. “I must correct your misconceptions, though. Your father was the dearest friend I ever had, and I would never betray him.”

Angelica opened her mouth to refute his statement, but the duke raised his hand to let him finish.

“I heard Graham had gone to Europe,” the duke told her. “I had every intention of helping him.” He paused to run his hand through his hair and then added, his frustration evident in his voice, “I searched for years.”

Angelica dropped her gaze to the carpet. His sincerity confused her, but she had no experience with sophisticated deceivers. Should she give him a chance or not?

“I will allow you to prove the veracity of your words,” Angelica said, raising her gaze to his, heedless of the rude way she was speaking to a duke. “I will give you the opportunity to help him now by helping me exact revenge on the men who ruined him.”

The Duke of Inverary snapped his brows together. “Do you know who these men are?”

“Alasdair Trimble, Henry Drinkwater, Archibald Mayhew, and Charles Emerson.”

“Archibald Mayhew is dead.”

Angelica arched a blond brow at him. “The son will pay for the father’s crimes.”

The duke inclined his head, but his expression remained bland. “Getting even with Charles Emerson is out of the question,” he told her. “His daughter is my son’s widow and the mother of my only grandchild.”

Angelica said nothing. She stared at him, an expression of contempt etched across her features.

“How were you planning on getting even, child?” the duke asked.