Forbidden to Love the Duke(79)

James reached down to straighten his cravat, a unconscious gesture that melted Ivy a little inside. She wanted the solace of his arms around her. “What did they look like?” he asked.

“They wore masks, like highwaymen.” Rosemary’s voice was reflective. “I did not see either of them as closely as Lilac and Quigley did.”

“I’m glad I didn’t see his whole face,” Lilac said, putting her hand to her throat. “But he had red-brown hair and fine clothes like a gentleman.”

“A gentleman he was not,” Wendover said from the window in a contemptuous voice.

“Perhaps it was a random robbery,” James suggested. “The house looks deserted, and they might have been two thieves who happened upon the place in their travels.”

Ivy hazarded a glance at Oliver. “Two robbers wearing masks in the morning?”

“Robbers abound in every part of England,” he murmured. “Some men wait for opportunity to prey on weakness.”

“The house no longer looks neglected since Sir Oliver had the garden cleaned and the mortar work repaired,” Rosemary pointed out. “Besides, the dead man had a disgusting obsession with Lilac.”

Lilac leaned from her chair to put her hand over Rosemary’s. One would think it was Rosemary whose life had been in immediate danger, and not the other way around. Unspoken anger constricted Ivy’s chest. She should have been there, and yet it was Oliver who had saved the day. Why could she not summon more gratitude for his actions? She couldn’t bear to think of anyone harming Lilac.

“I’ll be fine,” Lilac said. “What Rosemary means is that as this miscreant was trying to strangle the breath from my body, he kept insisting that I yield my treasure to him.”

James rose from his chair, his face dark with unconcealed fury. “Where is he now?”

“Hopefully six feet under,” Oliver said, coming to his feet. “I sent the footman to the magistrate to have his body taken off the premises. The other man escaped.”

“How?” James asked.

Oliver wavered. “I’m not sure.”

“There was a small carriage on the bridge,” Lilac said, looking unexpectedly at Captain Wendover.

“Can you describe it?” he asked her gently.

“No.” She shook her head as if she just realized it herself. “I never saw it. I heard it. Few travelers cross the bridge. Those who have in recent years only caused mischief.” She colored, as if realizing James could interpret her remark as an insult. “I wasn’t referring to present company, of course.”

James smiled wryly. “I understand.”

“I was outside, you see, taking tea to Sir Oliver in the gatehouse. I broke some of our best china on the man’s head and dented our silver tray. I even threw an urn of red geraniums at him, which I think only aggravated his rage.”

“Good heavens,” Wendover said, shaking his head in admiration. “I’d like to have seen that.”

Lilac gave him a shy smile. “That’s how I was able to fend him off until Oliver shot him. Rosemary frightened off the other one with her gun, but Quigley had done a bit of damage by that time.”

“It’s a blessing that Rue wasn’t there,” Ivy murmured, catching Rosemary’s eye.

Rosemary nodded. “Yes. We would have had two dead bodies for the magistrates to dispose of then.”

Sir Oliver looked up at the duke. “There will undoubtedly be an inquiry.”

“I don’t anticipate that to be a concern, do you?”

“I shouldn’t think so.”

“I will, of course, offer whatever help the young ladies may require.” He paused, glancing across the room at Ivy. She could see the questions in his eyes, the doubts, and she would be damned if she would let Oliver spoil the intimacy that she and James had built. “Why did you presume to have the garden cleared, Sir Oliver?” James asked.

Sir Oliver did not appear disconcerted at all by the question. “I believe you’re aware that due to my carelessness I almost took Lady Ivy’s life in London. It isn’t a secret that I have developed a tendresse for her.”

“Which she does not return,” James said evenly.

Sir Oliver’s expression did not change. “That remains to be seen.”

A dark warning flared in the duke’s eyes. “No, it doesn’t,” James said. “Last night she agreed to be my wife.”

“Ivy!” Lilac said with a jubilant laugh, and Rosemary gave one of those smiles usually reserved for the rare times she had written a book that satisfied her impossible standards. Ivy was delighted to see their pleased reactions to the news. If only Rue could have been there, too. If only the gathering had not been caused by such a gruesome event.