His jaw clenched. He nodded once and took her hand in his, holding it secure in his grasp. "You'll never be alone. A guard will always be posted in the hall outside your room. No one will notice them, but I want you to know you're safe. You needn't ever fear as long as you're on my estate."
Her heart stumbled at his words, at what his eyes told her. He cared about her as a man cares for a woman. To her surprise, she cared about him too, more than she ever thought possible. More than she expected to. She'd had a crush on him years ago, but that was when he was an unattainable dream. A handsome viscount from her imagination. But Derek was a man. A man she admired, respected.
Desired.
His kisses communicated he desired her in return. The thought left a ragged, gaping pain within her chest.
She worried that when this was all over, she wouldn't be able to walk away from him with her heart intact. Because for the first time, there was a very real chance she might love the viscount.
Chapter 12
Charlotte tucked a curl behind her ear for the tenth time as she descended the stairs. The scavenger hunt started in ten minutes, and a crowd already gathered in the parlor. She smoothed the butterflies in the stomach one last time before taking a deep breath and entering the room full of excited chatter.
Curving her lips, she tipped her head back, exuding a confidence she didn't feel.
Her mother rushed to Charlotte's side, kissing her cheek. "Darling, I'm glad to see you made it."
"I wouldn't miss this. You know how much I love scavenger hunts."
Her mother's eyes lit in understanding. When Derek had held a private meeting with her parents, they'd both been horrified by what Charlotte had endured, by what she still endured. Her mother had scarce left her side in the last twenty-four hours, as if her presence alone could protect her.
Charlotte would participate in the scavenger hunt today, but she wasn't hunting down buttons or hatpins. She hunted a killer. Though exhausted and terrified, she had to do it.
She'd never be free until Derek captured the Black Dahlia.
She glanced around the room, noting half the guests mingling near the large area adjacent to the Queen Anne sitting arrangement. "Have they announced the teams yet?" No one seemed paired off yet, but that didn't mean much.
Lord Acton escorted Lady Pembroke and Lady Norland over to speak with her.
Lady Pembroke fluffed the curls at her neck. "Heavens, no. They wouldn't dare start the festivities without our host."
Lady Norland giggled nervously. "I wonder whom I'll be paired with."
"Well, I hope it isn't me. You're terrible at finding things." Lady Pembroke sniffed, oblivious to the insult she'd just delivered.
Charlotte's eyes narrowed at the woman. She didn't have any tolerance for bullies, and Lady Pembroke seemed to crush Lady Norland under her heel more often. Just because Lady Norland's husband had left her with little financial support didn't mean she should have to suffer the company of Lady Pembroke.
When no one spoke up, Charlotte turned a smile to Lady Norland. "I would be honored to partner you. Your quick mind would come in handy during an activity such as this."
Lady Norland flushed and glanced at the floor.
"Oh. As would I. It would be an honor." Lord Acton coughed, no doubt realizing how ungentlemanly his silence had been.
He said something else, but Charlotte tuned into the inflections and timbre of his voice more than what he said. Was there something familiar about his voice?
No. She shook her head at the unease curling through her. She was trying too hard to find something that wasn't there.
Lady Pembroke on the other hand, could walk over another without a moment's hesitation.
Conversation faded when Derek entered the room. Charlotte's heart fluttered at the sight of him. Sugar lumps!
The use of his Christian name was so natural to her. She was in deep.
"Thank you all for joining us this morning." Derek smiled, his gaze settling on Charlotte's, and in that moment, she could have sworn he smiled only for her. "Scavenger hunts are a long-standing tradition in our household, and as you will find, this won't be your run of the mill variety. You'll be paired into teams of two. One lady with one gentleman. Both genders will be needed for different tasks."
A few nervous giggles echoed in the room. No doubt the unmarried ladies wished to pair with the beau of their choice. Charlotte certainly hoped to.
He waited for the noise to settle down once more. "To make this fair, we've put everyone's name in these hats," he said as a servant held out two glossy black top hats. "One contains ladies' names, and the other, the gentlemen. As I call your name, please step forward."
Derek reached into one of the hats, swirling the folded papers theatrically. The room collectively held their breaths.
"Lady Downes and Lord Castlemire." The group clapped as the two moved to the side of the room to strategize. "Miss Carlton and Lord Bartholomew."
Each person was called, one at a time, and Charlotte took note of the few remaining stragglers. Finally, she was the only unpaired lady. Did that mean she wouldn't have a partner?
"And finally, Lady Charlotte will be partnering me."
Surprise flitted through her. She didn't know how he'd managed it with a random drawing, but she knew that their pairing hadn't been a coincidence. Why had he felt the need to partner her? Surely, as long as she stayed with the group and never wandered out alone, she'd be safe. Between Derek, the other guests, and the surprising number of servants, Charlotte was never alone unless she was in her room or in need of a moment of privacy. Derek had been true to his word. It would be hard for anyone to attack her.
"May I have your attention for another moment?" Derek called out. "Each team will be given an identical list of items to be found, along with corresponding points for each. Some items on the list will be easy to locate, as there are several, while others, the high point values, will be more difficult, whether because there is only one or because you'll have to go to town to find them." A woman gasped at the information, and Derek chuckled. "I told you, a scavenger hunt here isn't commonplace. This is an event. If it's too much for you, you can return at any time, and your points will be totaled from your collection. Any questions?"
"What's the time limit?" Lord Acton asked, and Charlotte winced again at his partner, Lady Pembroke. Poor Lord Acton.
Derek smiled. "You have until four o'clock-six hours. No doubt you will need sustenance before then. There will be a picnic lunch set up on the south lawn for the duration of the hunt, so you can eat whenever is convenient for you. Any other questions?" The room fell silent, but a nervous energy hummed in the air. "No? Then we will pass out the lists, and once everyone has a list in their hands, you may open it and begin the search. Good luck."
Someone squealed in the group, but Charlotte didn't turn to see who it was. Her eyes were only for Derek. He whispered something to a servant before moving toward her.
His eyes skimmed over her. "You look well today," he whispered. "Did you sleep all right?"
Everyone was too busy discussing strategies with their partner to notice them or care what they discussed. "I did. Surprisingly so. I noticed a footman polishing a mirror in the hall outside my room yesterday. Interestingly enough, he was still polishing the same mirror when I woke. You have a most dedicated staff, Viscount Lawrence." She bit her cheek.
His eyes twinkled. "Yes, I do."
A servant handed them a rolled up piece of parchment. "Shall we go?" he asked. "I find it's better to strategize where others won't overhear."
Charlotte agreed before he led her through the house to a rose garden just beyond the west terrace.
"Do you know what's on the list?"
He chuckled. "That would make things easier for us. However, no, I do not know. I had someone else make it so I wouldn't have an advantage. That wouldn't be sporting."
"And are you always sporting?" she teased. She couldn't help it. After everything that had happened to her, this was the first moment they weren't focused on finding two killers. They were outside in a beautiful garden, the sun kissed their cheeks, and a soft breeze tickled hairs against her skin. The estate was beautiful, peaceful, and danger felt a hundred miles away.
"I can't say that I am," he admitted with a grin.
He unrolled the paper, and she leaned toward him, catching his woodsy scent as she scanned the paper. She wanted to close her eyes, inhale that potent smell until it was infused in her brain. No doubt he would think her daft, but she didn't care. Almost.