“It helps to be truly passionate about the work,” he replied. “I imagine you witnessed the same in your father’s dedication.”
“Yes. Father was quite devoted.”
“If you’ll excuse us, Lord Emsworth, I must introduce my young guest to the Lord and Lady Drennan.”
“Of course. Enjoy your evening, Lady Katherine.”
“And you, my lord,” she replied as Lord Shelbourne escorted her toward a nearby couple.
Nearly twenty minutes later, her anxiety and awareness of Lord Emsworth’s presence had not eased. Though she stood talking with an effervescent trio of ladies near her age, she could not keep herself from throwing wary glances toward the man. Not that she expected him to do anything, even if he was their anonymous enemy. They were in the middle of a party, after all.
Despite the fact that his behavior appeared utterly common, the frisson of alarm he’d inspired never left her. In fact, it continued to expand until she started to feel watched from every angle. As though she was a sheep surrounded by unseen wolves slowly closing in. Part of her acknowledged she might be overreacting, but another part of her—the quietly adamant voice in her head—insisted she was in danger.
When Shelbourne announced that one of the guests—a young lady talented with the harpsichord—had offered to provide an impromptu performance in the conservatory, Katherine decided to take advantage of the people flowing out of the drawing room to leave the house altogether. Though she realized it would be rude to leave without saying good-bye to her host, her rising anxiety convinced her to forego the convention.
Hanging back as the others went on ahead, she took the first opportunity to change direction and head toward the front door. Maybe later, she’d acknowledge that she’d allowed irrational fear to overcome good sense, but right now, all she could think of was getting outside to where Hale was waiting for her.
The entry hall of the townhouse was blessedly empty. Unfortunately, not even the butler was about to fetch her cloak.
“Lady Katherine. Where are you going?”
She spun around at the sound of the deep voice and saw a middle-aged gentleman with ink-black hair and a heavy gaze stepping into the hall.
Calming her breath, she smiled as she searched her memory for his name. “Lord Lowndes. You startled me.”
The lord’s expression darkened with apparent concern as he continued toward her. “Do tell me you are not leaving us so soon.”
Doing her best to disguise the anxiety buzzing through her, she replied, “I’m afraid I’m not feeling very well. If you would please extend my apologies to Lord Shelbourne—”
“No need, my dear,” Shelbourne interrupted as he entered the hall behind Lowndes. “You may offer them to me yourself.”
As he came to stand beside her, she offered a weak smile. “I apologize for leaving early, my lord. But I must be going.”
Worry was evident in the older gentleman’s gaze as he slid a curious glance toward Lowndes. “My dear Lady Katherine. You do look quite unwell, indeed. I cannot, in good conscience, allow you to leave unescorted. I will take you home myself.”
“That is unnecessary. It will only take a moment for my carriage to be brought round.”
Lord Shelbourne smiled gently as he shifted his attention to Lord Lowndes. “I shall see to the lady. Please rejoin the party, my lord.”
Lowndes gave a shallow bow, then turned and strode away. For a moment, Katherine considered calling him back, feeling suddenly uneasy.
Shelbourne stepped toward her to take her elbow in his hand as he opened the front door to reveal a carriage painted all black already pulled up. “See, my carriage already awaits, my dear.”
Panic flared as she glanced at the man beside her to see his grey eyes had gone frighteningly flat as his hand tightened around her arm. Panic turned to anger as she spoke in clipped tones. “I’d thank you to release me, my lord. This instant.”
Shelbourne sighed and the look of gentle concern slid easily from his face to be replaced by a sharp expression of censure. “Are you frequently so demanding and contentious, Lady Katherine?”
“Always,” she retorted, realizing she was seeing Shelbourne’s true nature for the first time. And he was a deceptive bastard.
“Well, we haven’t the time for it. Get in the carriage.”
“I will not,” she replied through clenched teeth.
Shelbourne released another suffering sigh as he glanced over her head to his butler, who’d seemed to appear out of nowhere. Shelbourne gave a short nod and the servant’s fist shot out, connecting with Katherine’s temple. The explosion of pain caused her legs to give out and her vision to blur with stars. Pain and heavy confusion blocked her ability to resist as the butler lifted her in his arms and carried her swiftly down the front steps.
While she struggled to regain her wits, a sound like that of an enraged lion’s roar cut through the quiet night, and Shelbourne’s voice held a note of unease for the first time. “Into the carriage. Now.”
The butler tossed Katherine into the waiting vehicle. She immediately righted herself on the seat as Shelbourne climbed quickly in behind her. The door was barely shut before the vehicle took off at a frantic pace.
Another shout of pure fury echoed through the air.
“What the hell was that?” Shelbourne muttered.
Katherine blinked away the shadowed haze from her vision to see him staring intently out the window.
She knew what the sound had been. And she had no doubt Hale would not be far behind them. For a moment, she considered telling Shelbourne just so she could watch as his fear was justified. But there would be time for that later.
Right now, she intended to get some bloody answers.
Breathing deeply through her nose, she shifted herself to a more upright posture. Though her head throbbed, she forced the encroaching fog from her brain and glared at her captor. “Why have you taken me? What do you want?”
The older man’s grey eyes fell heavily on her position in
