Christian Seaton_ Duke of Danger(57)

In her defence, she had not actually agreed with his instruction earlier not to leave Sutherland House.

A poor defence, to be sure, but it was the only one Lisette had in the face of what she knew was going to be Christian’s extreme anger for her having disobeyed him.

‘Do you have la famille—family in London, Davy?’ she prompted curiously as they left the park and began to stroll along the pavement.

‘My widowed mother.’ He nodded.

Considering that Davy was only aged perhaps sixteen or seventeen, his mother must be a very young widow. ‘Any frères ou soeurs? Brothers and sisters,’ she translated awkwardly.

‘Four.’ He nodded again. ‘Two of each. All younger than me.’

With young Davy no doubt the only breadwinner, Lisette inwardly sympathised, wondering if she dare ask Christian to reward Davy for having returned her safely to Sutherland House.

She already owed Christian so much; what did a little more matter? Besides, she doubted that Christian would wish to make a fuss in front of Davy or Evans.

Once they were alone she had no doubt it would be a different matter...

* * *

‘How can you have lost her already?’ Marcus frowned once Christian had explained the reason for his having called at Worthing House. ‘You have only been back in London a few hours!’

A few hours could, when it came to Lisette, as Christian knew only too well, seem as long as a lifetime. Indeed, it seemed like that lifetime since he had left Sutherland House to begin walking the streets in search of her.

His leg ached like the devil, and he had finally given up that search and called upon his sister and brother-in-law at Worthing House, in the tenuous hope that Lisette might have decided to call upon them. An unlikely occurrence, Christian knew, especially as Lisette had no idea where Worthing House even was, but it had now been over three hours since Lisette left to go for a stroll and his anger had been replaced with an uneasy anxiety.

Although he had no doubt that his anger would come boiling back up to the surface the moment he saw her again!

She had the ability, it seemed, to induce strong emotions inside him, be they anger or desire.

‘Can you not see how worried he is, my love?’ Julianna, glowing with the happiness of her marriage to Worthing and their excitement at their forthcoming baby, now placed a lightly restraining hand upon her husband’s arm as the two sat together on the sofa opposite Christian, who sat restlessly on the edge of an armchair. ‘Perhaps she has called upon Lord Maystone in the hope of easing that gentleman’s mind in regard to her innocence?’ she suggested.

It did not surprise Christian in the slightest that Marcus appeared to have told Julianna all. Indeed, he would have been surprised if he had not; the couple had once lost each other because of a lack of communication. Now that they had found each other again and were happily married, they did not intend such misunderstandings to ever happen again.

Christian wished that he could say he had the same open honesty with Lisette.

Although, to be fair, he had been the one mainly responsible for having kept secrets.

‘Doubtful,’ he answered his sister; he could not imagine Lisette voluntarily calling upon Maystone.

‘You do believe she is innocent, Christian?’ his sister prompted anxiously.

‘Without a doubt,’ he confirmed distractedly; he now knew that Lisette was far too headstrong, too outspoken—too forward, he added as he recalled their conversation of earlier—to be in the least proficient at subterfuge. ‘She has been gone for hours, Marcus.’ He gave a shake of his head. ‘She is headstrong and impulsive but she is not stupid, and I warned her that it is not safe for her here!’

‘Perhaps you should have thought of that before bringing her to England?’ Julianna said quietly. ‘Although I have to admit to a selfish need to see and speak with her in person, in order that I might thank her for saving my brother’s life...’

A sharp reminder from Julianna, perhaps even a rebuke, as to the reason Lisette was in England at all?

Christian sighed heavily. ‘I am well aware of what I owe her, Julianna. I just wish—’ His mouth firmed. ‘She never listens to a word I say to her!’

‘Perhaps that is because you do not ask but tell, Christian?’

His jaw tightened at this second rebuke from his sister. ‘Asking or telling; neither seems to make the slightest bit of difference. Lisette will always do exactly as she pleases.’

‘Another reason why I shall like her!’ Julianna’s eyes sparkled merrily. ‘But I can see how you might find that...irritating.’ She sobered as he continued to scowl.

Christian now gave an impatient snort. ‘She is stubborn as a mule!’