“Me,” Driscoll said.
Hunt gave a curt nod. “You will have to look around. Don’t go in right away. I’m assuming Newton will want to have everyone feeling generous and well into their cups before he starts his auction. Knowing the sort of man who will attend one of these things, they will also be heavy drinkers and free with their blunt.”
“Most likely she is locked in her bedchamber. I have no idea where that is, but I’ll find it.”
Hunt stood. “I have a set of implements you can use that will open any lock in the house.”
The earl grinned at his brothers’ shocked expressions. “Certainly, you don’t think when I visit ton parties to gather information for the Crown that they thoughtfully leave all the rooms unlocked?”
“Then I think we’re all set,” Dante said. “Hunt and I will wait outside with a carriage. Once you have her, find a back or side door to bring her out. If not, you might have to drop her out a window.”
“How will you know?” Driscoll asked.
“I will wait at the back of the house where the bedchamber windows are. If you need to drop her, I can do my best to catch her before she lands. But that is a last resort. All of those townhouses have back entrances for the servants and delivery men. If she’s lived there before, she must know how to find the back stairs.
“Hunt will be in the front, but down a few houses in his carriage.” Dante pointed at Driscoll. “Just don’t get so carried away with your lady that you forget me and trot on home.”
Driscoll looked at his two brothers who he’d depended on all his life. They’d had their scuffles and flat-out fist fights growing up, but he would do anything for either of them, and it appeared they felt the same way about him. “Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
Hunt grinned and glanced at the ceiling where his wife rested. “Yes. I do. Now if you will excuse me, I feel the need to take a nap.”
“A nap!” They both shouted.
“When there is a soft, warm, willing woman in your bed, a nap is always the best way to occupy an afternoon.” He waved at them as he left the room. “Be gone with you. I have things to do.”
* * *
Amelia continued to wring her hands as she paced the bedchamber. Never had she regretted anything more than her decision to not tell Driscoll who she was and what Randolph had planned for her. She was stupid, plain stupid, that was the only thing she could attribute it to.
She could already hear the arrival of the men as they made their way through the front door. Loud, laughing, some of them sounded as if they had already downed an entire bottle of brandy.
Actually, it didn’t sound very different from when Randolph had his usual parties. Except she was certain this one did not have any of the loose women he generally invited along as ‘entertainment’ for his guests.
She let out a hysterical giggle. No, she would be the only loose woman at the party. She cringed, thinking of what was in store for her. She’d spent so many hours trying to think of a way to get out of this disaster. Oh God, how could she save herself?
The crowd grew rowdier, and she more panicky, as time went on. She could attempt to run once they let her out of the room, but with all those men downstairs she wouldn’t get very far. She had already searched her room completely and found nothing she could use as a weapon. Randolph had stripped it bare before he locked her in.
She had climbed out the window when she’d escaped the last time but since then Randolph had one of the footmen nail it shut, so that way was blocked. And she couldn’t break the window because they’d taken all the linens from her bed, which she used the last time to make a rope to climb out. She’d been forced to sleep completely clothed, with a cape wrapped around her to keep from freezing during the night.
In her darkest moments she attempted to tell herself maybe the life Randolph planned for her wouldn’t be so bad. Perhaps she would be sold to a nice older man, someone kind, who would treat her well and not demand she share his bed too often.
Oh, God who was she kidding? The life of a mistress was not one of respectability. She would never have children, and if she did, they would be bastards, and no one would accept them. They would grow to hate her.
Her head jerked up at the sound at her door. Were they coming for her already? She looked around frantically, thinking there must be somewhere she could hide. She stopped. It didn’t sound like the door was unlocking, it sounded like scratching.
She walked to the door and knelt. The scratching continued. She pressed her ear against the door. An animal? Wonderful. Just want she needed to complete her night. Attacked by a crazed rat.
Suddenly, the door was pulled open, and she tumbled forward.
Right into Driscoll’s arms.
20
Driscoll held Amelia in his arms and pressed her head against his chest as she sobbed her heart out and mumbled words he could not understand, clinging tightly to him.
“Shh. It’s all right, sweetheart. You must quiet yourself. We have to get you out of here without anyone knowing.”
She pulled away and nodded, accepting the handkerchief he handed her. Gripping her shoulders, he leaned back and looked at her as she wiped her wet cheeks. Face paint had been applied to her lovely visage, and her glorious hair hung down almost to her waist. His eyes lowered to see her garbed in a night dress and dressing gown. Both skimpy and both causing his stomach to clench with enough
