Page 32 of Only Pleasure Will Do

“Madam Vestry has been set upon by our old friend, Mr. Redmond, my dear.” Lady Dalbury dropped the name like she was shooting a mortar shell out of a cannon and waiting for the explosion.

“Redmond!” He stared at Amorina with loathing, as though the man himself and not she was standing before him. “I’d hoped to God we’d seen the last of that blackguard.”

“I’m afraid not, Duncan. Can you take him please? My arm is all needles and pins.” She handed the baby to her husband, who gamely grasped the wee lad although the new father looked a bit uncertain. “Redmond kidnapped Madam Vestry two weeks ago and has drawn her into a very dastardly plot.”

“What kind of plot?” Duncan asked absently, having become absorbed in his son’s tiny face.

“A plot to kill you, your wife, and your son, my lord.” Amorina was careful to keep her tone dispassionate. Stating the facts and nothing more usually created better results.

The marquess’s head snapped up, his dark eyes boring into her as if she were a bug on a pin. “What the devil are you talking about?”

His shout woke the baby, who began to cry at the highest pitch imaginable.

The marchioness glared at him. “I did not tell you to wake him, Duncan.”

“You did not tell me that there was a plot afoot to kill us.”

“I’m telling you now. We are telling you. The threat is real.” Lady Dalbury rescued the baby, bouncing him and murmuring to him until his fussing subsided. “Redmond sent a bomb to us, disguised as a clock for the nursery. It’s out in the garden this minute.”

“In the garden?” The shock on Lord Dalbury’s face as he turned from his wife to Amorina and back to Lady Dalbury would’ve been comical, had Amorina not feared he would have an apoplexy. “How did it get into my garden?”

“I delivered it this afternoon, my lord.” That was the confession she’d been most dreading. An absolutely unforgiveable betrayal in Duncan’s eyes certainly. She braced for the firestorm.

Eyes narrowing, Lord Dalbury stalked the two steps until he stood inches from Amorina. She’d forgotten how he towered over her but refused to be cowed. Defiantly, she stared up into those inscrutable eyes.

Twisted by rage, his face resembled the drawings of a Gorgon she’d seen in one of her father’s books. “How dare you jeopardize my family thus? I’ll have you hanged for attempted murder.”

“I had no choice, Duncan.” The blatant familiarity took him aback, as though she’d actually slapped him. As she’d intended. Possibly the only way she could’ve gotten his attention. “Redmond has Pearl and your wife’s cousin, Sir Reginald. He’s threatened to kill them if I do not bring him proof of your deaths by noon tomorrow.” Defiantly, she stared back at him. “What would you have had me do?”

The marquess rocked back on his heels, a breath escaping him. He ran a hand through his golden hair, standing it up on end, then shot a glance at his wife.

That lady watched him coolly, giving no indication of her feelings, but awaiting his next words.

“So instead of going through with Redmond’s scheme, you told Lady Dalbury about the plot?” His tone was calmer, more measured.

Amorina released the breath she’d been holding. “Yes, my lord. I thought I should trust your wife as she has so often trusted in me.”

“Good, good.” Dalbury turned away and paced toward the fireplace. “Do you know where Redmond is holding your daughter and Matthews?”

“Unless he moved them after my departure, they are in the basement of a building on his father’s property in Kent—Abbot’s Priory.”

“A good hour’s ride at the least. But few servants there if his father is not in residence. Still, more than I would be willing to deal with alone.” Pacing faster as he talked, Dalbury seemed to forget she and his wife were in the room. “I believe I shall require the assistance of our friends and family, Katarina.” He cut his gaze toward Amorina. “Will you allow us to help rescue your daughter, Madam Vestry?”

Some of the tension in her body eased. If anyone could help her, this man with his cold intellect and myriad resources could. She nodded. “I thank you, Lord Dalbury, for any assistance you can render me and mine.”

The door opened once again, bringing a footman with a tray and the nurse, an older lady who held out her arms for the babe.

“Thank you, Nurse.” The marchioness handed her son over to the woman without a qualm. “I’ll be up to see him later.” She turned back to Amorina, her face eager and excited. “Let us have some tea, Madam Vestry, while my husband gathers his forces. Who will you send to, Duncan?”

The marquess raised his eyebrows, as if surprised she’d asked, then shrugged. “I believe everyone is in Town now. Your brother, Tris, Morley. Four heads will certainly be better than three or two trying to devise a plan of rescue.”

“I believe you will have more than four heads, my love.” The sweetness of Lady Dalbury’s tone was belied by the sharp look in her eyes.

“More than four, my dear?” The puzzled look on Dalbury’s face again bordered on the comic.

“Ask them to bring their wives, love. Then we will all have a hand in the adventure.” The excitement in Lady Dalbury’s face seemed to dismay her husband.

And her words appalled Amorina. She knew the women of whom the lady spoke, with the exception of Lady Manning, married to Lady Dalbury’s brother. Lady Juliet Morley had spent some days hiding at the House of Pleasure. A very sweet lady. Seeing her again would be less difficult than meeting Lady Dalbury had been. But sitting face to face with Lady Trevor would be torturous. That lady had come to her at a dire point in her life, asking for employment at the House of Pleasure. And although Amorina’s plan for her had worked out admirably, still the meeting could very well be repugnant to the woman, who was now a viscount’s wife. Best make her excuses and leave before the situation became more embarrassing than it was already. She could make arrangements to return when a plan had been devised. “I will take my leave of you now, Lady Dalbury, Lord Dalbury. I will go—”

“Of course you will not go.” Lady Dalbury turned a determined gaze on her. “You are an integral part of this venture, my dear. Duncan and our friends will need to know everything you can tell us about where Reginald and your daughter are being held, all Redmond said about the plot, whatever you believe he will do next. Here,” the marchioness handed her a cup and an elegant tea cake, “do have a seat and refresh yourself until the others arrive.”

Amorina sank down onto the chair and sipped the hot, soothing tea. Lady Dalbury was likely correct in thinking Amorina’s information would be needed. She took a bite of the cake, suddenly aware that she’d had no food or drink since the night before. Ravenous, she tried to restrain herself, but the cake disappeared in two bites.

“Help yourself to more, Madam Vestry.” Lady Dalbury had taken a cup of tea to her husband, who sat at a nearby desk writing notes efficiently one after the other. Calling the troops to battle.

A sudden hope filled Amorina. If anyone could manage to thwart Tommy Redmond, it must be the two people just there, their heads bent over the writing desk, devising a summons to several very powerful men and women. Amorina would wait and watch and pray that all their efforts would not be in vain. If together they could contrive a plan that would rescue Pearl and Reginald, she would be the most grateful person on earth.

If not, she would likely die of grief that she could not prevent the deaths of the two people in the world she held most dear.