Page 47 of The Allure Of Lord Devlin
Tobin pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I will find him and bring him home to you. Don't be afraid, we have well-guarded the house.
She could barely breathe, let alone speak, so she nodded and squeezed his arm. Standing like a scarecrow, helpless, as the men left to bring the man she loved more than life itself, home to her.
* * *
Two hours later, Dharma had finally told Rosemary what had happened. After crying uncontrollably and trying to go to her mother, Dharma had put Rosemary in bed with a cup of tea and a few drops of laudanum.
She kept a tight rein on herself, wanting to do just what Rosemary suggested and head to Devlin’s and question the witch Fiona. However, she wasn’t so stupid because if Longton captured her or Rosemary, the men’s ability to stifle the villain may be jeopardized. And she needed to win, or Devlin might be lost to her forever.
So where the hell was Fencourt? Had the lad found him? Every minute counted. If she could just appeal to the romantic in Fencourt, maybe he would reveal something about his father. Like where would he have taken Devlin?
What with little slumber the night before, Dharma drifted towards sleep as she sat in the drawing room with the sun streaming through the windows. It was only the butler, clearing his throat, that alerted her that Lord Fencourt had arrived.
“My sweet lady, I received your summons and came immediately. How can I aid you?”
“Why don’t you pour yourself a brandy? I have a terrible tale to tell and I feel you’ll need it. In fact, I’ll have a sherry.” Should she be nervous about revealing the truth about his father? Was Fencourt the enemy, too? He didn’t appear to have a deceptive streak, but then she wasn’t very experienced in reading people.
He settled into the chair by the fire and she breathed a sigh of relief. If he got upset, she had a clear run for the door, which remained open. She also suspected that Sutton, their butler, would hover nearby, fully aware of who her visitor was related to.
“What is this all about, Lady Dharma?”
She took a fortifying sip of sherry. “Your father has kidnapped Lord Devlin.” She expected to see surprise or outrage on his face, but his first reaction was to sigh.
“I had hoped it would not come to this, but father is not a man who should be crossed.”
He knows.“You haven’t even asked why?”
“I know why, as do you. You’re now looking at a man who will lose everything because of what my father has done.”
“Just as Devlin did all those years ago. But for Devlin, it was an injustice because, as you know, his father did nothing wrong.”Would he admit it?
He sat for a moment drinking and seemed lost in thought, as if trying to decide what he would reveal or do. “I haven’t known long. My father asked me to pay attention to you and find out if there was any talk about Devlin’s father. I had no idea why until a few days ago, when I overheard Mrs. McTavish and my father talking. By then, what could I do?”
“You could have warned me.”
“You don’t know my father,” was his dry reply.
He’s scared of his father.That wasn’t good, because he’d probably be too scared to help her. Unless…
“If your father kills Lord Devlin and you do nothing to help, society will blame you. They cannot blame you for what your father did in the past, but they will count you as an accomplice to Devlin’s death. You need to help me stop your father.”
“You want me to help you ruin my life?”
“No. I want you to help me so we can save your standing in society.”
“Whatever happens, my father will ruin me. He’s taken Mrs. McTavish too. She knows too much.” He downed the rest of his brandy and stood to refill his glass. He turned to face her with the decanter in his hand. He looked like he’d shatter as easily as the decanter if he threw it in the fireplace. “If I help, will you let me gather my belongings and funds and head to America before letting society know what my father has done?” She nodded. “I can start a new life. In the Americas, no one cares about a title, about your past. I can be plain, Mr. Fencourt. In fact, I can be anyone I want to be.”
“Will you be satisfied with that?”
He sighed. “I don’t have a choice. To be shunned and shamed here, or be accepted somewhere else. In the Americas money talks. I’ll have a better life there. I could become a plantation owner. Look at Devlin and how his family suffered here.” Silenced lengthened.
Dharma rose and crossed the room to stand beside him, her heart going out to the situation he faced and not really knowing how to help him. She took Fencourt’s head in her hands and planted a big kiss on his forehead. “It will be very difficult for you, but society will remember you as the hero who wanted to put things right. I’ll see to that. Please tell me where he is.”
“I doubt it. They will know me as the traitor’s son. But you’re right, I don’t want to be an accomplice to murder—especially of a peer.” He pulled her close. “Besides, I don’t think I stand a chance with you. Is he more important to you than I?”
She cupped Fencourt’s cheek. “I cannot help whom I love. Just as you cannot help who your father is.” She pressed her lips to his. “But I will never forget what you have done for me. I will stand by your side as will Devlin. But you have to help me save him first? I know it could destroy your family, so if you cannot help me, I will understand.”
He stood looking at her for a moment. She could see the indecision in his eyes. She held her breath until Fencourt said, “I will tell you where he is holding Devlin captive, but I won’t be party to my father’s capture.”
