She felt his chuckle ripple against her mouth. “Had I known how fiercely protective you are—and how adept at transporting me around—I wouldn’t have hired Saxon.” He framed her face, lifting it so their gazes locked. “Do you think you got to Saxon in time?”
Nicole nodded. “Yes, I do. Your attackers were badly hurt, creeping away rather than fleeing. The one named Archer was groaning that his ribs were shattered, and the other one—Parrish—apparently had a bleeding head. You were most effective in maiming them, my lord.” She attempted a smile. “I, too, was most effective. As you requested, I raced to the manor in record time. I only hope I manage to be as swift on Derby Day. The same applies to Saxon, who wasted not an instant, mounting Blanket and dashing off mere seconds after hearing my story. Further, it stands to reason that he found Archer and Parrish. If he hadn’t, he’d have returned to Tyreham by now, which he hasn’t. So I’m sure he’s following them, just as you wished.”
“Nicole.” He looked deeply into her eyes. “I needed this moment alone for two reasons. First, to convince you I was fine, to see you, to touch you, to have you beside me. And second, to make certain, before I reveal everything to Trent, that this is still truly what you want.”
“It is,” Nicole answered softly. “For all our sakes, I want them to hear the truth.” Her palm gently caressed Dustin’s jaw. “Incidentally, your brother is a wonderful man. A bit severe, but wonderful. He loves you very much.”
“The severity is a facade. You’ll soon see that for yourself.” Dustin kissed her fingers. “Thank you, Derby, not only for sharing your secret but for coming to my rescue.”
“I knew,” she whispered. “Somehow I knew you needed me.”
“Does that surprise you?” he asked, his voice husky. “That’s fate, my darling. Fate and love. Just as your mother described.”
Trembling with emotion, Nicole touched her lips—ever so lightly—to his swollen mouth. “Heal quickly. We have much to discuss.”
An intense expression crossed Dustin’s face, awareness penetrating the effects of the brandy, alerting him to the fact that something had changed. “Today, Nicole. We’ll talk today. I don’t care what time or how, but I can’t go through another night without resolving things between us.”
“Nor can I.”
He caught her hand. “Stay at Tyreham today. I don’t want you at Epsom without me.”
“What will you tell your staff?”
“The truth—or part of it. My bruises will be visible for some time, so we can’t avoid revealing the fact that I was beaten. We’ll say it was an attempted robbery and that you and Blanket made enough of a commotion to frighten my assailants off. I’ll tell Brackley you’re too shaken up to ride. How’s that?”
“I shouldn’t miss a day of practice.”
“You won’t be. You rode Blanket like a demon from hell. It’s enough for one day. Nicole, if I can’t be there to shield you, you can’t go.”
She saw beyond his command to the love that inspired it. “All right.”
“No argument?”
“No argument. I’ll simply conserve my energy for tomorrow, when I defeat you at Epsom.”
“I have a better use for that energy, Derby, one I intend to explore soon. Very soon,” Dustin repeated huskily, his eyes darkening as he took in her revealing flush. “You’d best go get Trent now, because in exactly one minute I’m going to forget my injuries and our whereabouts and drag you into this bed.”
Nicole scrambled to her feet, propelled not by embarrassment but by the realization that, should Dustin do precisely what he’d just professed, she wouldn’t have the strength, nor the inclination, to stop him.
Taking a deep breath, she crossed the room and opened the door.
It was no surprise to see the duke pacing back and forth in the hallway.
“Your Grace?” she said quietly. “Your brother would like to speak with you. You—and your wife and son.” She glanced up and down the hall, ensuring they were alone. “To address your unanswered questions.”
“I’ll get Ariana.” With that, Trenton strode off.
“The Kingsley men are unnervingly single-minded,” Nicole muttered as she returned to Dustin’s chambers.
A grin. “When we want something badly enough, yes, we are.”
“Your brother’s gone to fetch his family. Would you like me to leave?”
“No.” Dustin’s answer was instantaneous. “I want you beside me. We’ll explain the situation to them together.”
Together. The very word warmed her heart. “All right.”
Footsteps sounded, grew closer.
“Don’t look so frightened, Derby,” Dustin murmured, studying Nicole’s face. “You’re in for a surprise.”
“Thankfully, Ariana is not as intimidating as your brother, or I’d be quaking under the bed,” she returned, perching in a nearby armchair.
“Now that Dr. Welish has proclaimed me well, you’ll see another Trenton,” he vowed. “Watch.”
On cue, the door swung open and Ariana broke out of Trenton’s embrace to dash in, Alexander in her arms. “Dustin.” She reached the bed, her turquoise eyes clouded with worry. “Trenton just told me what happened. Are you all right?”
“I’m a lot better than I look,” he teased.
“That’s not much consolation,” Trenton declared cheerfully. “You look like hell.” He grinned, amazing Nicole with his lighthearted banter. “Then again, knowing you, this is a ploy to entice women to your bed, allegedly to minister to your wounds.”
That Nicole didn’t find at all amusing.
Ariana appeared equally unamused—but for different reasons. “Why did you go out alone?” she grilled Dustin. “You knew those horrible men would be coming to Tyreham.”
“I had to take that chance,” he replied frankly. “For many reasons.” With that, he gestured toward Nicole. “I had to visit my soon-to-be Derby winner.”
Following Dustin’s motion, Ariana spotted Nicole and broke into a brilliant smile. “Forgive my rudeness—” A pause. “Mr. Stoddard. I didn’t see you. Thank you for coming to Dustin’s rescue. We’re very grateful.”
“No gratitude is necessary,” Nicole murmured, rising as Ariana approached her.
Five steps later, Alexander, realizing he was near enough, reached out, snatching the rim of Nicole’s cap and tugging.
The cap didn’t budge.
“Mama,” he exclaimed.
“No, Alexander,” Ariana scolded gently, prying his fingers loose. “You cannot do that.”
“I was wondering what took him so long,” Dustin commented from the bed. “Appendages of any kind offend him, be it mustaches or hats.”
“Mama,” Alexander repeated. Ignoring the adult conversation, he yanked his hand free of his mother’s, leaning forward to pull, once again, on the unyielding brim. He gave a frustrated squeal when it refused to give.
“I’ll relieve you for a while, misty angel,” Trenton said with a hearty chuckle that made Nicole wonder why she’d ever found him intimidating. “Sorry, Stoddard,” he added, lifting his son into his arms. “My son is as stubborn as a mule.”
“I wonder who he could take after,” Ariana mused wryly.
“Mama.” Alexander continued to stare at Nicole’s cap.
“Mama is exhausted,” Trenton informed him. “She’ll hold you again later.”
Vehemently, the child shook his head. “Mama,” he insisted, pointing at Nicole.
“He’s not referring to me, Trenton,” Ariana noted, her lips curving. “He’s referring to Mr. Stoddard.”
“Wonderful.” Trenton rolled his eyes. “Not only does he call every female on earth ‘Mama,’ he’s now extended the title to men as well.”
“I don’t think so.” Ariana gazed calmly at Nicole, and, with a start, Nicole realized Dustin’s sister-in-law knew the truth. She knew, and she was asking permission to share that knowledge.
With an admiring nod, Nicole granted it.
E
yes sparkling, Ariana crossed over to shut the door and lean back against it. “Dustin.” She folded her arms across her breasts, inclining her head in Nicole’s direction. “You have quite a bit to share with us … wouldn’t you say?”
Dustin blinked, easing up on his elbows and glancing from Ariana to Nicole. “You know.”
“I know. From the onset, in fact. But evidently no one else does. Except, of course, my brilliant son.”
“What is it you all know that I don’t?” Trenton demanded, looking from one of them to the other.
Ariana arched an amused brow at her brother-in-law. “You summoned us here to fill in the missing pieces. Perhaps you should begin by introducing us to this lovely woman you’ve been protecting—whatever her name might be.”
“It would be my greatest pleasure.” A proud, relieved smile curved Dustin’s swollen lips. “Trent, Ariana.” He held out his hand, waiting until Nicole had crossed over to clasp it. “I’d like you to meet Nicole Aldridge.” His voice was a whisper of a caress. “My very own miracle.”
Fifteen
SILENCE GREETED DUSTIN’S ANNOUNCEMENT.
Nicole watched Trenton stiffen with shock, and he shifted Alexander’s weight, staring at her as if she were a ghost. “Stoddard is …?” He blanched, as the next reality struck. “Nicole Aldridge?”
“Yes, Your Grace.” Purposely, Nicole abandoned Stoddard’s voice in lieu of her own. “I’m Nick Aldridge’s daughter.”
“Of course,” Ariana breathed, nodding. “Now it all makes sense. No wonder Dustin is so fiercely committed to resolving these crimes.” Warmly, she added, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Nicole. I hope you know your secret is safe with us.”
“I’ve been a bloody fool.” Trenton moved closer, studying Nicole’s face at close range. “But it never occurred to me …
“It wasn’t supposed to,” Nicole replied with an impish grin. “I worked long and hard perfecting Stoddard’s boylike mannerisms. Remember, I had to convince everyone—even Poole.”
“Which you did,” Dustin commended. He brought her palm to his lips, making no attempt to hide his feelings. “Everyone but me, of course.”
“Had you and Dustin met prior to the onset of this masquerade?” Ariana asked Nicole.
“Once.” Nicole replied. With a deep breath, she recounted the entire story, from their meeting at the Thames, to the threats on her father’s life, to her answering Dustin’s personal as Nick Aldridge’s protégé.
“Nicole is every bit as good as Aldridge’s letter claimed,” Dustin put in proudly. “You should see her ride.”
“So Ariana’s told me,” Trenton responded.
“When I applied for the position, I had no idea that the gentleman I’d met and the notorious marquis of Tyreham were one and the same,” Nicole confessed. “If I had, I would have dismissed this whole deception as an impossibility.”
“Then I’m glad you didn’t realize the truth,” Ariana declared.
“Nicole, where is your father?” Trenton demanded.
A heartbeat of a pause. Then, “He’s staying at Tyreham. With me.”
Trenton’s jaw tightened. “Does anyone know this?”
“Other than those in this room and our friend Sully, no.”
“Sully?”
“Sullivan,” Dustin supplied. “He’s the jockey I told you about. The one Archer and Parrish thrashed in an attempt to find out where Aldridge was.”
“He told them nothing,” Nicole inserted loyally.
“Parrish?” Trenton swooped down on the name. “I thought all we had was the name Archer.”
“Until this morning, that was true. But Nicole and I both heard Archer call his cohort Parrish. So we now have his name as well.”
“How did Nicole happen upon you during your beating?” Trenton asked. “You’ll forgive me, but I’m beginning to doubt it was mere coincidence.”
“It wasn’t,” Nicole answered honestly. “It was a combination of tangible misgivings and emotional instinct. You see, I was the last one to see Dustin before he was attacked. He came to my cottage before dawn to tell Papa and me about the telegram you’d received and to ask our permission to reveal the entire truth to you. We agreed. As he was leaving, he said he’d meet me at the stables at six. I assume he intended to use the intervening time to speak with you. When he didn’t arrive, I knew something was wrong. Gut instinct compelled me to ride Blanket through the woods toward the cottage. That’s when I heard those men. I made as much noise as I could to scare them off. It worked.”
Trenton cleared his throat. “Forgive my abruptness, Nicole. I don’t mean to interrogate you. It’s just that …” He glanced at the wriggling child in his arms.
“You needn’t explain, Your Grace. I fully understand. That is why I agreed to divulge the truth to you about my identity and Papa’s. We’ll do anything we must to keep your son safe.”
An unsteady nod. “Thank you.” Trenton’s glance shifted to his brother. “So all we’re really sure of are the names Archer and Parrish, and the fact that they have a scarred associate. We won’t know another thing until Saxon returns.”
“Wait.” Nicole’s grip on Dustin’s hand tightened. “A thought just occurred to me. Dustin, do you recall what Parrish said to you before he staggered off? During those last few punches?”
Dustin frowned in concentration. “Something about one punch being for his head and one for Archer’s guts.”
“Yes. And the final one, he said, was to remind you to stay out of things that don’t concern you. He warned you that if you wanted to save yourself and Alexander, you’d better ‘cut out the late-night talks with your brother.’” Nicole inclined her head in Dustin’s direction. “Now how would he know you and the duke had a late-night talk?”
A heartbeat of silence.
“How indeed,” Dustin repeated at last. “Unless someone told him.”
“Someone who was inside the manor at the time of our talk.” Trenton scowled. “Not only inside the manor but right outside the study. How else could he have eavesdropped on our discussion? Dustin, you and I were behind closed doors. Our voices were low. Hell, the window wasn’t even ajar.”
“And no one gets by Poole.” Dustin’s hands balled into fists. “So whoever this informant is could very possibly be a resident of Tyreham.” He shot up—and groaned in pain.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Trenton demanded. “You’re hardly in shape to stagger downstairs and interrogate the staff—unless you want to swoon at their feet.”
“Dustin,” Nicole said softly. “Determining who eavesdropped on your conversation is a delicate matter. You need to mull over the possible suspects, then narrow down that list. Next, you must devise the most effective course of action to take, so as not to alert the culprit or upset your staff. I know how badly you want to resolve things and how impatient you are to do so. I’m equally as impatient. But you’ve been confined to bed for the day. Since your tactics require planning anyway, and since you’ll do a far better job of effecting those plans once you’re healed, why not use today to think and tomorrow to act? Also, remember that by then you’ll have another crucial piece of the puzzle, Saxon’s report.” Nicole gave the man she loved a tender smile. “Wait a day. Then you’ll work your magic.”
With a sigh, Dustin sank back against the pillows. “All right, Derby. One day.”
“No wonder you called her your miracle,” Trenton observed dryly. “I’ve been your bloody brother for two and thirty years and haven’t once been able to placate you like that.” He shot Nicole an admiring look. “What’s your secret?”
“I’m in love with him,” Nicole returned softly.
Trenton’s expression softened. “So I see.”
A tiny spark lit her eyes. “Then perhaps you’ll turn away that stream of women when they arrive to minister Dustin’s wounds.”
Ariana laughed aloud. “If Trenton doesn’t, I will.”
“Also, Your Grace,” Nicole contin
ued, straight-faced, “I hope you won’t hold it against me that I’m terribly inept at removing boots. Men’s boots, that is.”
While Nicole’s first quip had only succeeded in making Trenton look sheepish, her second one caused his mouth to drop open. “Lord,” he muttered, realizing the significance of his earlier actions. “Not only the boots, but the breeches.” He actually flushed. “I apologize. I had no idea …” He leveled an accusing stare at his brother. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“I did …” Dustin grinned. “… eventually. Until then, I was having too much fun watching Nicole squirm.”
“What shocking incident did I evidently miss?” Ariana demanded.
“Nothing much, misty angel.” Trenton continued to glower at his brother. “Only the fact that I ordered Stoddard to strip Dustin so I could cleanse his wounds, which poor Nicole began to do.”
“Dustin”—Ariana’s shoulders were shaking—“that’s unconscionable, even for you.”
“Yes.” An unrepentant chuckle. “It is, isn’t it?”
“Nicole,” Trenton declared, catching Alexander’s flailing fist. “You have my permission to trounce my brother at Epsom. I hope you beat him by twelve lengths, not six.”
Her eyes twinkled. “I’ll certainly try, Your Grace.”
“Trenton,” he corrected.
“Trenton.”
“You’ve acquired a welcome ally, Nicole,” Ariana said warmly. She met Nicole’s gaze. “Actually, two.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Nicole murmured. “And please forgive me for the danger I’ve put your family in. I’ll do everything I can to eliminate it.”
“My name is Ariana. And you’re as much a victim as we are. We’ll resolve this situation together. After which”—her whole face lit up—“I anticipate a most festive future.”
It was nearly noon when Saxon returned to Tyreham. He was immediately shown to the marquis’s chambers.
“At last. Come in.” Dustin rose stiffly from the armchair in which he’d been sitting.
“Are you in pain, my lord?” Saxon inquired with a furrowed brow. “My uncle apprised me that your wounds were, thankfully, not as bad as they could have been.”