Page 30 of Wickedly Yours
‘I did not come for you for Nick’s sake.’
Heat rippled down her body to her core as she remembered his words and her eyes fluttered closed. A strange yearning for Malden struck her.
“I wondered if I’d ever find you alone,LadyArabella.”
Shocked, her eyes snapped open at the familiar voice.
Barker stood, not two feet away, his bulk hidden in a tangle of flowering vines. As he stepped closer, she hastily pressed her gloves to her nose. Barker was in dire need of a bath.
“Do I offend your precious sensibilities?” A sneer accompanied his words. His eyes were stony and full of dislike even as they ran knowingly over her body.
Arabella took a step backwards. “What do you want?” She glanced towards Miranda, but her friend was engaged in an animated conversation with Miss Lainscott and paying Arabella no mind. The groom who’d accompanied she and Miranda wasn’t looking her way, his attention taken by two young maids who spoke to him while their mistresses gossiped several feet away. Surely if she screamed, someone would hear her. “If you are found in London—”
“You’re the reason Corbett’s dead and I haven’t been paid.” Barker cleared his throat and spit near her feet.
Arabella felt the blood drain from her face. “How dare you. You took me from my coach by force. You helped Corbett kidnap me.” She turned to wave at the young footman. “One scream from me and you’ll be arrested.”
Barker gave an ugly laugh. “That’s rich. You weren’t screaming when I drove the coach away. Didn’t even try to escape, did you?”
“I was concerned you would harm my aunt.” Every fiber in her body urged her to flee. How had Barker found her?
“You agreed to marry Corbett and when that toff showed up, you changed your mind, so you stabbed him. Killed him dead. Probably pushed him out the bloody window.”
Arabella shook her head viciously. Her hand began to twitch against her skirts. “He tripped and fell out the window and broke his neck. I wasn’t anywhere near him at the time. He died from the fall.” How could Barker knowshestabbed Corbett? Rowan had taken responsibility. “Not that it’s any of your business.”
Barker gave her a speculative look. “That’s where you’re wrong, Lady Arabella. I wasn’t paid for services rendered.”
“I hardly see how that is my problem.” But she could see it wasgoingto become her problem. And Barker wanted money to go away.
“I’m sure your brother, the duke, won’t see it that way. Nor that fancy toff.”
Arabella swallowed. Her brother would never forgive another deception. And Malden? He would hate her and break the betrothal. Did she want Malden to view her with disgust? Or have her brother banish her to parts unknown?
Resigned, Arabella reached into her reticule, pulling out what funds she carried. “This is all I have.” Allowing herself to be blackmailed went against everything Arabella believed in but what other choice did she have?
Barker chuckled and snatched the coins from her hand. “I knew you’d see reason, Lady Arabella.”
21
Rowan told himself, as he sat discussing his acquisition of a textile mill with the Duke of Dunbar, that he wouldn’t attempt to see Arabella today. Twice before he’d tried to call on her only to have Peabody politely, but firmly, rebut him. Such a show of cowardice was unlike Arabella. Surely, she had something to say about their betrothal and approaching marriage. Even if she didn’t, Rowan had quite a lot to say to her.
“How precipitous that you are to become my brother-in-law, as it seems you will need my ships. Cotton, I assume, from America. Wool perhaps? You know, I’ve heard an interesting story as to how you came into possession of the textile mills.”
The Duke of Dunbar was one of the few noblemen in England who openly engaged in trade. The family had become enormously wealthy as a result of their shipping empire and brought goods to England from all over the world. They hired only the best captains, paid the crews well and sailed to faraway places few others would attempt. Luxury goods, especially things not available anywhere else were brought by the duke’s ships to London. Even if Arabella hadn’t entered the equation, Rowan would have approached Nick.
“Have you?” Rowan gave his friend a bored look.
“Ah, Malden. You know that I have.”
Rowan didn’t doubt it. The Dunbars not only dealt in shipping but also in information. “The fool should not have gambled what he could not afford to lose,” Rowan bit out, then he smiled. “He was fortunate that it was I who he negotiated with and not another who would not have been so kind. Besides, I’m not sure I’ve gotten the better part of the bargain. The Newsome properties are in poor shape and will take a great deal of investment to modernize.”
Nick shot him a veiled glance, the pewter ring he always wore on his thumb, dull and pitted with age, caught the light. “You have become more interesting over time, Malden.”
A great bubble of laughter erupted from inside his chest, as he wondered how much he should confide to his future brother-in-law. “I am glad you think so, Your Grace.”
A flash of gray outside the window caught Rowan’s eye, appearing as it did amongst the brilliant red of the rose bushes. Either the Dunbar residence was home to an enormous mourning dove or Arabella, dressed in her usual staid garments was walking about the gardens.
The duke’s lips twisted in a smile. “I fear your attention has wandered, Malden, and is no longer on our conversation. I did so wish to ask you about your winnings of the other night.”
