Page 45 of Noble Scoundrel

At her flat refusal, Frederick sighed in frustration and turned to Hale. “It’s the best way to claim an advantage.”

“Too much could go wrong,” he replied with a heavy scowl. “It’s not worth the risk, lad.”

“But I’ve got to do something. I can’t just hide away in the schoolroom for the rest of my life.”

The frustration in her brother’s voice was the same that flowed through her. “I’m sorry, Frederick, but the most important thing is keeping you safe. We’ll figure this out, but it won’t be by putting you in greater danger.”

His eyes flashed with conviction and determination. “With no other information to go on, it might become our only option.”

Then he turned and strode swiftly from the room, leaving Katherine with a heavy sense of dread churning inside her.

“He’s a brave lad.”

She turned to Hale with a frown. “He doesn’t understand what he’s suggesting.”

His eyebrows arched. “Doesn’t he?”

She closed her eyes as fear rushed through her. Of course Frederick understood. And once he latched onto an idea, he rarely let it go. “I cannot allow it,” she whispered.

“I know.” Hale’s voice was low and weighted with resolve. “I’ll keep him safe. Trust me.”

Opening her eyes, she met his gaze and a tingling sensation coursed through her.

Mason Hale was unlike anyone she’d ever known. He was irreverent and undeniably dangerous. He could make her feel languid and melty one minute, tense with anger and frustration the next. He unsettled her and challenged her and confused her.

And she had placed the most precious thing in her life right into his large, calloused hands.

#

AFTER LEAVING THE STUDY, Mason headed up to the third floor to see how Claire was faring.

He found his daughter sitting on a rug before the fire of what had once been a schoolroom. An ancient set of toy soldiers lay scattered around the skirts of her pale pink frock.

It took a bit to convince the nurse it was all right to leave his daughter in his care. Though he appreciated the woman’s loyalty and protective nature considering the fact Claire had experienced little of either in her life, he was never again going to father his child from a distance.

When they grew bored of playing with the soldiers, they switched to horsey rides. Claire bounced around on Mason’s back, clutching his hair in tight fists as they raced around the toy chest, reading chairs, and sofa, until they were both exhausted. Then they stretched out on the floor as Mason read a book Claire chose from a selection shelved in the corner.

After father and daughter enjoyed a very fine evening meal in the schoolroom, the nurse returned to get the girl bathed before bedtime. Claire pouted in resistance until Mason assured he’d be back to tuck her in for the night. His daughter had very efficiently wrapped him around her little finger.

And Mason wasn’t the slightest put out by it.

---