Page 34 of His Wicked Charm

“I’ve heard that trains are quite handy for taking one from one place to another.”

“Yes, but that’s a long way to go, and you don’t even know that the key is at Carmoor.”

“You just said that was the most likely place for it. And I think we can survive a trip to the wilds of Somerset.” How very curious. Lilah’s manner was almost furtive.

“It’s so sudden. Impulsive. There are things I would have to do—pack and, um, well, we should consider it before we act. It would be rude, just to drop in like that. I haven’t even written my aunt.”

“Oh. It’s your aunt’s estate? I thought it belonged to you.”

“It does. But my father’s sister is living there now.”

“That’s all to the good, then. You’ll have a chaperone, so it will be proper.”

“You clearly don’t know Aunt Vesta.” Lilah’s laced her fingers together tightly. “The thing is, Barrow House is old and... Well, you wouldn’t care for it. It’s old-fashioned. Uncomfortable.”

“I can sleep anywhere. I’ve even been known to sleep in a tent in a field.” He studied her face. “You don’t want me there, do you?” The idea shouldn’t cause this pang in his chest; he was aware of Lilah’s antipathy. Con took cover in a comically tragic expression. “Miss Holcutt...I am devastated at your unkindness. You will have me sleeping in a ditch.”

Lilah rolled her eyes. “Con...you are the most egregious overactor.”

“I? Miss Holcutt!”

“Stop calling me Miss Holcutt every other sentence.”

“But I do think Lilah would be much too familiar, given your lack of welcome, don’t you? But perhaps you would prefer Delilah.” He wiggled his eyebrows ludicrously.

“If you don’t cease this nonsense, I think I may hit you.”

“Now I’m all aquake.” But Con found that he was tired of playing this game. It wasn’t as if he could force Lilah into liking him. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t tease you.” He gave her an easy, impersonal smile to show his lack of resentment and stood up. “I’m sure there’s an inn in the village where I can stay.”

Lilah got to her feet, as well. “It isn’t really an inn. Only a couple of rooms above the tavern. It’s doubtless noisy.”

Now what was the problem? “I can sleep through anything.” He began to walk to the park’s exit.

Lilah followed. “I doubt it’s comfortable. Maybe not even clean.”

“Lilah...” He turned on her in exasperation. “You told me the key was most likely to be at Carmoor, so why the devil are you so eager now to keep me from searching the place?”

“I’m not. It’s just... You’ll break in and get caught. You’re always so rash.”

Con looked at her. There was something more here. It wasn’t just that Lilah wasn’t fond of him—or at least it wasn’t all that. She was pale, almost frightened. His face softened, and he started toward her. “Lilah, what’s the matter? Why are you afraid?”

“Afraid!” She bristled, taking a step backward. “What nonsense.” She spun on her heel and marched off. “Blast!” She swung back to face him. “Oh, very well. You may stay at Barrow House.”

Con’s eyebrows soared even higher, and he began to laugh. “Why, Miss Holcutt, how could I refuse such a gracious invitation?”

CHAPTER TWELVE

LILAH REGRETTED HER decision immediately. She couldn’t take Con home. She thought of Barrow House; she thought of him meeting her aunt. He would tease Lilah mercilessly. There’d been no reason to give in to him. He hadn’t argued or even continued to tease her. Instead, he had given her a polite, pleasant smile that she had never seen on his face before. The sort of smile he might show a stranger. And it had pierced her.

It was absurd to worry that she had hurt his feelings. He was a man whom barbs bounced from. Yet she had felt like a selfish wretch.

It was silly; Con was always annoyed with her anyway. Indeed, once he’d thought about it, he would have been relieved to be free of Lilah’s interference. He could happily explore the house by himself, poking into every nook and cranny.

While she stayed here, making calls and receiving visitors, warding off Sir Jasper’s proposal. She had said she would do anything to help Sabrina, and yet she was refusing to even visit her own home in an effort to help Sabrina. What sort of a friend was she?

It was that thought that had made her give in. For an instant, watching him laugh, she’d been happy, almost eager. But now, as Con chatted amiably about timetables and train tickets, all Lilah could think was what her aunt would say. Aunt Helena disliked her seeing the Morelands, yet here Lilah was, jaunting off to Somerset with the worst of the lot.

She had promised only to not call on the Moreland family, so this trip to Barrow House didn’t break the letter of their agreement, but it certainly trespassed against the spirit of it. Nor could Lilah reveal to Aunt Helena the real purpose of their trip; that would only make things worse. She would be aghast at the notion of Lilah running about the countryside, tracking down clues to a doubtlessly apocryphal treasure.