Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (279 page)

Scott

able. Perhaps he can manage a hearing, but he knows the charges are too frail for a full-blown trial. He means to see Valerian dead long before the charges are heard. Once Val is in prison, any number of unfortunate incidents can occur without anyone paying close attention to them.'

It was as she feared.

felt her body grow

cold. Her fingers became ice. Lucien meant to do murder. What could she do to stop him? To change his mind? She'd do anything, give anything to protect Valerian. She cast about in her mind for an offering. 'I will sell him the mines if needed.' It was all she could think of.

Beldon gave her a black look. 'While the sentiment is heartfelt, Phil, I dislike the idea of our prospering. There's no guarantee that will stop Canton in the future. We don't want him to be able to blackmail you or Valerian in the future.'

'I have a plan, then, Beldon. You go to London and keep Valerian safe.

go to

and see if I

can find anything that might be useful to pressure Lucien. I' 11 meet you in London after that.' It wasn't much of a plan, but it was a start.

'Agreed.' Beldon turned to Lilya. 'Will you be all right here?'

She was white-faced, her hands clenching the tea cup so tightly it was in jeopardy of shattering. 'I am coming with you. I will go to

with the Duchess.

Valerian is my friend. He protected my family and now it is my turn to protect him.' Her voice was firm, but her gaze wavered in the direction of Constantine.

smiled approvingly. 'I will welcome

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The Viscount Claims His Bride

your company. The housekeeper will delight in after Constantine.'

'I will leave right away.' Beldon rose. 'On horseback, I can catch the coach by nightfall. No one can deny me the right to stay at an inn of my choice. So be it, if it happens to be the same one Lucien is at.'

send a note for you to give to Valerian. There are things he must know,'

said quickly.

start packing our things. We'll leave after luncheon for

.'

An hour later, Beldon hugged them each goodbye in the drive and vaulted up on to the back of his hunter, a horse named Hercules, known for its endurance over long distances.

had no doubts about the horse's ability to catch up with the coach.

Beldon carried with him a valise strapped to the back of the saddle and a letter in his pocket that confessed the contents of Lucien's letter and one last secret.

raised her hand to wave as her brother clucked Hercules into motion, the sunlight dancing off the brilliant emerald she wore on her finger.

Chapter

kept his gaze

on a spot on the

carriage wall, his hands surreptitiously gripping the cloak Beldon had passed to him at the last moment.

The day was mild, but come

he'd be glad of

the cloak's warmth. He had no reason to expect any courtesy from Lucien, who seemed committed to playing the righteous patriot to the hilt. The iron cuffs were an indignity that could have been done without, but Lucien was intent on making the experience as degrading as possible. He was meant to be put on display as a dangerous prisoner.

man sat opposite him in the carriage, the other men and Lucien rode on horseback outside in the crisp spring air. Valerian ignored the man, keeping his gaze on the mark on the carriage wall, his thoughts fixed elsewhere, so that his mind was free although his body was trapped.

It was a trick

had told him about when

he'd seen him that last time in prison before the exe-

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The Viscount Claims His Bride

It seemed ironic that he was ostensibly facing the same end as

and just days after

son and daughter had arrived.

For the first part of the journey, he allowed himself to think about

and the promising

start of the morning. He stored up images of her, of Roseland, of Lilya and Constantine, and all the things he loved. Night would assuredly come and sleep would not. He did not dare let it, for fear of the nightmare, for fear of giving Lucien some evidence that could be twisted into incriminating proof. He needed the peace of those memories to see him through the night. He'd spent many lonely nights practising that same technique in the Balkans.

They stopped briefly for a stretch around tea time, then headed on, making the most of the daylight. For the second part of the trip, Valerian thought about game, keeping his mind active by trying to match wits with Canton. It was clear to him that while Canton wouldn't mind seeing him tried as a traitor, it was unlikely that anything would come of it beyond
an
initial hearing. Canton probably wanted to use the opportunity for something else.

It occurred to Valerian that Canton would have ample time alone with him to carry out any das-tardly plans. Canton would have plenty of chances to

him on this trip alone. Cuffed and confined, Valerian was at the man's mercy. What he didn't know was how much of a coward Canton was. Did Canton have the temperament to

a man outright?

Or was he the sort who favoured 'accidents', pre-