“What do you mean ‘after which’?” Ariana interrupted. “Are you saving you intend to let those men beat you?”
Dustin smiled faintly, touched by Ariana’s unwavering softheartedness, despite her alarm over Alexander’s safety. “Don’t worry about me,” he assured her. “I’m very resilient. I doubt they’ll inflict too much damage. If things get out of hand, I’ll yell for help. As for protecting Alexander …”
“Dustin, why are you doing this?” Trenton’s cobalt gaze delved into his brother. “And don’t tell me it’s to protect the turf. I know you better than that. You’re principled as hell, but you wouldn’t jeopardize your family for anything on earth. As I suggested last time, you’re shielding someone. Who?”
Silence.
“It’s Stoddard, isn’t it?” Ariana murmured, watching Dustin’s face. “You’re safeguarding your new jockey.”
A cautious nod. “Stoddard is twenty years old, Ariana, the same age as you. Nick Aldridge is all he has in the world. I feel …” Dustin searched for the right words, words that would be accurate but not revealing. “… responsible for him. I can’t explain why, but if I’m able to help him, I must.”
“You don’t need to explain,” Ariana surprised him by saying, precluding whatever furious response Trenton had been about to render. “We understand.”
“We do?” Trenton demanded incredulously.
“Yes.” Ariana’s nod was strangely insightful. “We do.”
“Thank you.” Dustin gave Ariana a grateful—albeit puzzled—look. “Let’s get back to Alexander. As I mentioned, I’ve hired an investigator. Actually, I did so right after meeting with Trent, who bluntly informed me I wasn’t skilled enough to investigate on my own. He was right. I realized that the instant I interviewed and hired Saxon. Watching him do his job is an education unto itself. The man is exceptional. So, here’s what I propose. You were planning to come to Surrey for the Derby anyway, you’ve merely arrived early. Stay on. Have your bags sent, as well. Let Saxon oversee Alexander. Believe me, no one will get past Poole’s nephew.”
“Poole’s nephew.” Ariana’s brows arched in comprehension. “So that’s why Quinn was relegated to his recent position as footman. You hired Poole’s nephew as your new driver … and investigator.”
“Precisely. In this way Saxon could accompany me to whatever racecourses I needed to visit, safeguard my well-being, and assist me at the same time.”
“Trenton?” Ariana twisted around to glance up at her husband. “Dustin’s suggestion does make sense. I’d feel much safer with Mr. Saxon keeping an eye on Alexander. He is, after all, a trained professional. Not to mention that this way we can all be together, draw strength from each other. Perhaps you and I might even help. I’m sure Dustin is eager to resolve things as quickly as possible.” Her gaze flickered briefly over Dustin before returning to Trenton. “May we stay?”
“You couldn’t drag me out of here,” Trenton retorted.
Ariana sighed with relief. “I’ll ask Poole to send for our things. Then, I want to check on Alexander.”
“And then you’re going to bed,” Trenton concluded. “Otherwise you’re going to collapse.” Tenderly, he kissed his wife. “Dustin and I will work out the remaining details.”
“I’ll even speak to Saxon before retiring,” Dustin added. “He’ll begin watching Alexander tonight. How would that be?”
Ariana crossed the room and kissed Dustin’s cheek. “You’re a fine man, Dustin.” A flicker of a smile. “The woman in your life had best know how lucky she is.” Squeezing his arm, she retraced her steps, pausing only to receive Trenton’s brief, reassuring embrace and his murmured, “I’ll make everything right, misty angel,” before hastening from the study.
The instant the door closed behind her, Trenton turned back to his brother, his former intensity restored. “This conversation is far from over.”
“I never thought otherwise,” Dustin returned dryly. “I assumed your intention was to ease Ariana’s mind enough so she’d agree to get some rest, then to continue this discussion in private.”
A terse nod. “Ariana is taking this whole situation very hard. I won’t keep things from her, but I needn’t immerse her in unnerving specifics either. The fact is that, unless she believes we’ve eliminated all cause for worry, she’ll post herself at Alexander’s bedside until dawn, and become ill in the process.”
“I feel guilty as hell.”
“Don’t feel guilty. Just tell me everything. What did you learn at Newmarket? What more do you know about those hired hands who came to Tyreham? What can I do to help? And what the hell can’t you tell us?”
“You can pour me a drink while I ask Poole to summon Saxon—after which I’ll address your first two questions. Also, you can understand, or at least accept, that what I can’t tell you must wait until tomorrow.”
“That’s an untenable request.”
“I wouldn’t make it unless I had to.”
Sucking in his breath, Trenton relented. “Very well. I’ll wait until morning.” He stalked across the room, pouring two goblets of brandy. “Early morning,” he called after his brother, who’d stepped into the hallway to speak with Poole.
“How can I be of assistance, my lord?” Poole inquired quietly.
“You can tell me if Saxon has retired for the night. I need to speak with him.”
“He headed off for bed mere minutes ago, sir. Would you like me to summon him?”
“If you would. It’s critical, or I wouldn’t disturb him at this late hour.”
“He’d expect nothing less. I’ll fetch him at once.” Poole hurried off.
Confident that Saxon would soon be joining them, Dustin returned to his study.
Tyreham’s entranceway door eased open silently, a lone figure assessing that the hallway was, at last, empty. Hearing Lord Tyreham’s study door click shut, he crept in the direction of the sound. Upon reaching his destination, he pressed himself to the wall outside the room, straining to hear the conversation unfolding between the marquis and his brother.
Oblivious to the intruder’s presence, Dustin and Trenton resumed where they’d left off.
“Here’s your brandy.” Trenton handed Dustin a goblet. “I’ve already downed half of mine. God knows I need it.”
“Everything will work out, Trent. I’m certain of it.” Dustin accepted the proffered goblet. “You asked if I discovered anything of consequence at Newmarket. The answer is yes. Do you remember Alberts?”
“Your jockey?” Trenton halted, the reason for Dustin’s question snapping into place. “Was he one of the names on that list? Did he throw your races?”
“He most certainly did. And, as luck would have it, I stumbled upon him at Newmarket.”
“Who foolishly engaged his services?”
“No one. He wasn’t entered. In fact, he’s been unable to secure a position since I discharged him. He was there to blackmail one of the other jockeys into sharing his illegal winnings with him.”
“The bloody scoundrel.”
“A scoundrel, yes, but an informative one. I convinced him to describe the two men he dealt with.”
“And?”
“They were the same men who visited me. Everything Alberts revealed about them I already knew. However, in the process of relaying his experiences, he disclosed a new and interesting fact. It seems that during one of their visits, they brought a companion with them. An unsavory sort with a horribly scarred arm. Alberts described him quite thoroughly.” Dustin slammed his goblet to the desk. “I intend to find this bastard—whoever he is.”
Still listening intently, the intruder scowled, wondering how much more time he had. His answer came in the form of approaching footsteps that alerted him to the butler’s imminent return. Instantly, he retraced his steps and slipped out the front door to avoid discovery.
Fortunately, the grounds were deserted.
Raggert darted off into the night.
Fourteen
??
?RAGGERT, WHAT THE HELL do you want? It’s two in the morning.” Coop rubbed his unshaven face, glowering at the trainer.
“When you hear why I’ve come, you won’t care what time it is. Now are you planning to let me in?”
Eyes narrowed, Coop swung open the door. “This better be good.”
“Oh, it is, all right.” Raggert wiped the sweat off his forehead, striding into the shabby hall and pacing restlessly about. “Broddington and his family are at Tyreham. They showed up a couple of hours ago in a snit about something. I couldn’t get close enough to hear what they were saying, not for a while anyway. I finally got my chance—so I sneaked in and listened.”
“So?”
Raggert blinked. “Aren’t you surprised?”
A shrug. “About the duke bursting into Tyreham? Not particularly. Our employer said something about going after Tyreham through his family, especially after the prying he just did at Newmarket. I don’t see why—all Tyreham learned was what he already knew, but I couldn’t calm our nobleman friend down. He muttered something about planning to send Broddington a telegram about his son. That’s probably what got him and his family so riled up.” Coop shot Raggert a dark look. “Is that the only reason you’re here?”
“No, although it explains a lot. I wish you two would tell me your plans. It would be nice to know what’s going on since I’m the one who’s supposed to be keeping an eye on Tyreham’s estate and his jockey. Speaking of Stoddard, he’s a cocky, insolent—”
“I don’t give a damn about Stoddard,” Coop growled, rubbing his scarred arm. “He’s your problem, not mine. Just tell me what the hell you’re doing here, then get out and let me go to bed.”
“You’re wrong about Tyreham not learning anything at Newmarket. In this case, our source did a lousy job.”
Coop’s massaging motions slowed. “Our source is not about to miss anything—not when he’s got more to lose than we do.”
“Well, he missed one conversation, that’s for sure. Did he mention that Alberts was at Newmarket?”
“Yeah, he said something about Tyreham scaring him off. Why?”
“Before he ran off, Alberts did a bit of talking. He told Tyreham about the time Archer and Parrish brought a friend with them. ‘A terrifying man with a horribly scarred arm,’ I think were Tyreham’s words.”
With a vile oath, Coop slammed his fist into the wall.
“Still sorry I came?” Raggert taunted.
“Shut up,” Coop snapped. “We’re going to have to speed up our plan. I’ll contact Archer tonight, tell him and Parrish to get over to Tyreham and beat the hell out of our friend the marquis. Maybe then the bastard will mind his own business. The last thing I need is for him to come looking for me.”
“Bloody right,” Raggert agreed, frowning. “Archer and Parrish had better be damned convincing. Because if they aren’t—if they don’t manage to scare Tyreham into staying out of things—this whole scheme could explode in our faces.”
“You made your point.” Coop jerked open the door, nearly shoving Raggert out. “Now get back to Tyreham before someone notices you’re missing. I’ll get dressed and find Archer and Parrish. By tomorrow, Tyreham will either cease to be a problem or cease to be.”
Dawn had yet to begin making its entrance when Dustin left his chambers the next morning. Time was short, and he intended to make full use of it. If he didn’t get to Nicole and her father by half after five, Nicole would leave for the stables and Trenton would begin pacing the floors, demanding answers that were his right to have.
Arising early had been more of a relief than an effort, given that Dustin hadn’t closed an eye all night. Between his worry for Alexander and his preoccupation with Nicole’s physical and emotional state, slumber had evaded him entirely.
Both issues would be confronted today; the latter tonight, the former in a matter of minutes.
Making his way downstairs, Dustin paused only to gulp down two cups of fortifying coffee before leaving the manor. Saxon had agreed, albeit reluctantly, to allow his employer this unexplained and unsupervised morning excursion. Dustin fully understood the investigator’s concern: sufficient time had passed since Dustin had stirred up a hornet’s nest with his inquiries at Newmarket. He was now a walking target. Nevertheless, he meant to walk to the tenants’ section alone. His reasons were twofold: one, he refused to permit Saxon to leave Alexander’s side; and two, he was determined to keep the Aldridges’ whereabouts a secret, to fulfill the vow he’d made when he’d hired Nicole.
Until—and unless—they modified that vow.
He didn’t dare consider what he’d do if they refused. He could never betray Nicole.
He could never look Trent in the eye if he didn’t.
Troubled, he crossed the grounds, making his way to the Aldridges’ cottage before the first rays of sun appeared.
A customary silence greeted his knock.
“It’s Tyreham,” he announced, once a short interval had elapsed.
The door opened, and Nicole gazed up at him, her expression apprehensive beneath her concealing cap. “My lord? Is something wrong?”
“Forgive me for coming by so early, but, yes, I must speak with you and your father at once.”
“Of course.” She paled but admitted him without further question.
Dustin shut the door in his wake, clasping Nicole’s narrow shoulders and fighting the nearly unbearable urge to envelop her against him to ease his aching conflict.
“Dustin?”
She looked so frightened and so vulnerable. Memories washed over him, and he searched her breeches-clad form for signs of lingering discomfort. “Are you feeling better?”
With a flicker of embarrassment, she nodded. “Yes. Much better. The bath and rest worked wonders.”
“I almost came by last night,” he told her huskily. “Three times, in fact. I wanted to see for myself that you were all right, but I resisted the urge to do so. You needed rest, not company. However, that doesn’t mean I wasn’t thinking of you. I was. All night.”
A soft smile. “Worrying about me, you mean.” She reached up, lay her palm against his jaw. “Thank you. But I’m fine. Truly. And we will talk. I promise.”
He turned his lips into her palm. “I’ve turned your life upside down, haven’t I? And God help me, I’m about to do so again. Have you any idea how frustrating that is, given the fact that all I want to do is make you happy?”
Trepidation flashed in her eyes. “What’s happened?”
“They sent a note. To Trenton. A direct threat to Alexander’s life if I don’t stop delving.”
She needed no explanation for who they were. “Oh, my God.” Her arms dropped to her sides. “I’ll get Papa.”
“You don’t need to. I’m here.” Nick Aldridge descended the stairs, belting his robe. “I heard you mention a note. To whom? Saying what?”
“To my brother. Threatening my nephew’s life if I don’t stop asking questions.”
“Dammit.” Nick’s mouth thinned into a grim line. “When did this happen?”
“Late last night. Ariana and Trenton arrived at Tyreham close to midnight. They brought Alexander with them. Needless to say, they’re terrified.”
“Of course they are.” Compassion swept Nicole’s features. “He’s their child. What can we do to help?”
A surge of love erupted inside Dustin at Nicole’s use of the word “we.” For the first time, she was integrating her life with his … and when he needed her most. “Thank you,” he said humbly. Clearing his throat, he added, “Fortunately, Alexander is in good hands. I haven’t mentioned this to either of you, but several days ago I hired an investigator. He accompanied me on my trip to Newmarket. As of now, he’s standing guard over Alexander.”
Nicole’s eyes narrowed. “Why didn’t you mention this?” She answered her own question. “You didn’t want us to know how much danger you’ve put yourself in. We’ve put you in,” she amended.
“Nickie’s right, Tyreha
m,” Aldridge concurred. “And I let you talk me into it. But you’re a grown man. An innocent babe is another thing entirely. I won’t be the cause of your nephew’s life being jeopardized.”
“You aren’t,” Dustin interrupted. “The bastards orchestrating this scheme are. The only way to ensure Alexander’s well-being—and yours—is to expose them. Nick, I appreciate your compassion. In fact, I’m counting on it. But I didn’t come here to upset you, I came to elicit your trust.”
“My trust?” Nick cocked an ironic brow. “I think I’ve more than demonstrated my trust in you, Tyreham, not only professionally but personally.” A subtle glance in Nicole’s direction.
“Yes, you have.” Dustin felt a pang of guilt as he contemplated what Nick’s reaction would be to the knowledge that he’d taken Nicole’s innocence.
Staunchly, he deferred that issue for later.
“The duke must have had a million questions,” Nicole murmured.
“He did.” Dustin met her gaze. “And I explained a great deal, including the fact that Stoddard was Aldridge’s protégé and had come in his stead when Aldridge went into hiding. But I couldn’t tell Trent all he needed to know—where Nick Aldridge was hiding, why I was so personally involved …” A pause. “Who I was protecting. And why. Those questions, I couldn’t answer without betraying your confidence, which I will not do.”
“That’s why you’re here,” Nicole stated softly.
“Yes, Derby. That’s why I’m here.” He drew a harsh breath. “Nicole, as you yourself just said, Alexander is Trent and Ariana’s son. Do I truly have the right to deprive them of all the facts surrounding the telegram they received? The answer is no. Yet that’s what I’m doing—unless you allow me to do otherwise. It comes down to the trust I just alluded to. If you trust me, you’ll believe in my instincts—that both my brother and Ariana will guard your secret with the same integrity as I. You have my word. I’ll say about them what you’ve said about Sullivan. I’d place my life in their hands.” With that, Dustin offered the decision to Nicole and her father. “What shall I do?”