Except she recognized the last hallway they turned into—she’d been there before, two weeks ago, when she’d confronted him in a righteous fury. “I don’t think my sister is in Lord Rohan’s bedroom,” she said, beginning to struggle. “At least, she’d best not be.”
The footman ignored her, knocking gently on the door without losing his grip on her, and then pushing the door open.
Rohan stood there, still in shirtsleeves and small clothes, as two valets dressed him. He glanced at her, unmoved. “My dear Elinor. What a delightful surprise. What brings you here?”
“Your so-helpful footman,” she said in a tart voice. “And I didn’t give you leave to call me by my name.”
“I thought you might prefer it to endearments,” he purred. “But if you want me to use more intimate terms…”
“You may use my first name,” she said hastily, just imaging the terms he could come up with. “I asked the footman to take me to my sister. He brought me here. If Lydia is anywhere around your bedroom, I’ll cut your liver out.”
He blinked. “What a delightfully bloodthirsty image, Elinor. Would you then eat it? I didn’t know you had such a violent streak.”
“I do where my sister is concerned.”
“Your sister is safe,” he said. “You may set her down, Antoine. I would suggest the bed but she would fight you. The green chair should suffice.”
She found herself settled gently into one of his chairs, and she jumped back up immediately.
“Someone restrain her,” Rohan said in an unconcerned voice. “Without hurting her,” he added, and the footmen took her arms and forced her back in the chair, careful not to be too rough. She sat back, knowing when a battle could not be won.
“Where is my sister?”
“Where I promised she should be,” he said as the two valets helped him into the rich satin coat that fit him perfectly. “She should be arriving at the château by now, and Mrs. Clarke will welcome her by taking her to her bosom. She’ll thrive in the good country air, and by the time the Revels have concluded she’ll be delighted to rejoin you and return to England.”
“Why didn’t you let me say goodbye to her?”
He smiled thinly. “Dare I say I didn’t trust you? I gather you were very delicate when you first told her what the future held, but you have a ridiculously tender heart beneath that calm mien, and I think your sister’s tears would have broken through that admirable self-control.”
“She was crying?” Elinor picked up the salient point.
“Of course she was. She just lost her mother and her old nanny, not to mention whatever meager possessions she still had, and her sister, the person she thought she could count on, has abandoned her.”
Elinor clenched her hands, hiding them in the folds of her skirt. “Why would she think I’ve abandoned her?”
“My dear Elinor, do you really think she believed that ridiculous story you told her about becoming my amanuensis? Yes, I made certain someone was listening and reported to me—no, don’t jump up again. You should have realized I would do that. It’s wise not to underestimate me.”
She did her best to hide her bitterness. “Indeed, I shall endeavor not to.”
He turned away to survey himself in the mirror. Clearly the vision met with his approval. “Your sister is much smarter than you give her credit for,” he murmured. “Right now her imagination is running riot, coming up with all sorts of wicked things you might be getting into. You’ll have to write her and set her mind at ease. And I have no doubt that Mrs. Clarke will manage to make her feel better—she could cheer up Satan himself.”
“She cheers you up?”
He laughed softly. “Oh, no, my precious. I’m not Satan. Merely one of his fallen angels.” He waved away the offer of a wig, letting his luxurious silver-streaked black hair be tied in a neat queue. He held out his hands and his servants slid rings onto his long, elegant fingers, then he cocked his head, looking at her. “In truth, I’m glad you came in search of me. I had some questions for…”
“I didn’t come in search of you,” she snapped. “I would be happy if I never saw you again. I was looking for my sister. Since she is no longer here I will repair to my room, on my own two feet. You may call off your footman.”