Who Wants to Marry a Duke - Sabrina Jeffries Page 0,51
nothing to this scoundrel.
Shoving his hands into his greatcoat pockets, he added, “That’s why we’ve found a better place for you to do your work. Somewhere safer that no one knows about.”
She eyed him skeptically. “And where in creation would that be?”
“My estate. In Berkshire.”
He’d expected surprise and perhaps resistance to the idea. Not the bitter laughter that erupted from her. “I can only imagine what Mama would think of that,” she said.
“She won’t think anything, because she won’t know about it. No one will. That’s the point. Since plenty of people were aware that you were coming here for a visit, anyone could have done this. So, until your work is finished, the only safe place for you is somewhere no one expects you to be.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “And you think your estate is best for that.”
“Yes.”
“Oh, come now, Thorn, that’s—”
“Trust me, Grey and I have thought through our whole plan. I’ll take Grey’s phaeton to London later today. You’ll leave tomorrow, ostensibly to head home. Everyone will see Grey and Beatrice making a big show of packing you off in Grey’s carriage, accompanied by a maid. We’ll make sure the news is spread in Sudbury in case our villain is hanging about, hoping to try again if we decide to set up a new laboratory.”
He paced in front of the ruins. “But you’ll really be meeting me at Gwyn’s town house in the city. Gwyn’s husband, Major Wolfe, is an investigator of sorts, so I’ll send him up here to see what he can discover about the lad who did this.” He gestured to the destruction. “Meanwhile, in London I’ll personally oversee the purchase of more materials and equipment for your laboratory. With any luck, we can leave for Rosethorn in Berkshire, south of London, in a day or two.”
Her lips tightened into a line. “You realize that if anyone finds out I’m traveling with you, let alone staying at your estate, I’ll be ruined.”
“Did I forget to mention that Gwyn will be coming with us to chaperone? That’s the beauty of our plan. There’s no risk to you. Well, except the usual risk of exploding chemicals.”
She ignored his half-joking remark. “Have you asked either Lady Gwyn or Major Wolfe to do this?”
“Not yet, but I know them. They’ll help.”
“And if they don’t? Or can’t, for some reason?”
“Then I’ll ask another member of my family—Heywood’s wife, perhaps. I don’t want to ask Mother if I can avoid it. We haven’t even told her we’re doing this and why.”
Nor had they told Olivia everything about their investigation. There was no reason to do so. Once this part of the investigation was finished, they wouldn’t need her.
In fact, while he was in Berkshire and she was doing her experiments, he planned to ask around about his father’s carriage accident. It had happened close enough to the estate that it had still been under the jurisdiction of the local constable. Until a year ago, he’d had no reason to look into it. Thirty years ago, no one had suspected foul play. Thorn still wasn’t sure it had been murder. But it was time to rule that out.
And perhaps that would keep him from spending every waking moment trying to seduce her.
“Anyway,” he told Olivia, “I’m certain Gwyn will travel with us and chaperone you. I’m family, and she knows you’re important to—” Thank God he’d caught himself before he’d said “me.” “To Grey and Beatrice.”
He could feel her eyes probing him.
“Only to Grey and Beatrice?” she asked softly.
God, she would ask him a question like that. He stared out over the destruction. “And to the rest of the family, of course.”
Coward. But he knew better than to let anyone get too close, especially a woman whose favorite pastime was dancing with danger. If she had been inside the laboratory when that fellow had broken in . . .
Instantly tensing, he swung his gaze back to her. “Grey and I can think of no other way to protect you from whoever is trying to prevent you from doing your work. As long as the villain thinks we’ve given up, he’ll leave you alone. And that’s what we all want. Obviously you struck a nerve, and now the killer is focused on you.”
“Wonderful,” she said dryly. “Just what I require to make my life complete.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, and meant it. “I’m sure Grey never expected this to be a hazardous proposition. I know I didn’t.”