Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (284 page)

Scott

'As good as it could be. He and I took turns keeping watch in the night. I bought kegs of ale to keep the guards affable. During the day I rode in the carriage with him. I didn't leave his side for a second out of worry that Lucien would take any opportunity.'

'I wish I could see him now,'

whispered,

staring at the pianoforte in the far corner. Valerian had spent hours at the instrument, playing for them after family dinners.

'No,

Beldon said sharply. 'Valerian

insists you don't visit.'

'I can't support that,'

said. 'I want to

see him. I cannot sit around in the house all day doing nothing.'

'You can send a letter.

take it when I go.

is a filthy place even with my blunt greasing every step of the way.' Beldon was firm on this.

'New gate ! '

exclaimed, horrified. She

hadn't known. She supposed in her mind she'd speculated about the possibilities of where Lucien would take him, but she hadn't allowed her mind to grasp the full import of those speculations. Of course Lucien would push for

It was lawless and

all the better suited for an accidental death, a stabbing, a poisoning. The guards would hardly care if there was enough money to blind them with.

'Yes,' Beldon said quietly. 'I've done everything I can, bought him every convenience they'd sell. He has his own small chamber. He has food from this house every day that I personally deliver myself.

254

The Viscount Claims His Bride

Cooky fixes all his favourites. I've taken him clean clothes.'

studied her brother, seeing the signs of strain around his mouth and his eyes. Beldon had only been in London a week ahead of her, but it seemed an eternity separated them. In that time Beldon had been immersed in a dark world of experiences neither of them had ever thought to endure.

She heard the unspoken 'but' at the end of his litany of activities. 'What is it?'

'There's an initial hearing scheduled for tomorrow to determine if there's any substance to the charges.

friends in the government are outraged. At least they've managed to make it a very quiet affair.

It'll be at Whitehall. Lucien's father is on the committee.'

Lilya gasped beside her. Beldon reached across to place a comforting hand on the girl's arm. 'We will be vigilant, Miss Stefanov. Valerian has a friend on the committee as well.'

'We haven't come this far to be thwarted now. I have faith in English justice,'

assured her.

She better understood Lilya's life after spending so much time with her on the road. She understood Lilya's reaction. In the girl's country, it was unlikely someone survived prison or hearings or trials. They were all slow precursors to the gallows.

wished she felt as confident as her brave words. She grasped the full import of Beldon's news.

hearing would bring everything to a head. If the committee dismissed the charges, Lucien would have to act quickly if he meant to have Valerian fall

Scott

victim to an accident while in

If the

charges stuck, then there was a very real chance Valerian would stand trial.

'Can we attend the hearing?'

'I might be able to arrange it,' Beldon said.

'How is Valerian taking all this?'

asked.

It was the question she wanted answered most, but the one she wanted to ask least. How had he taken the letter? Did he blame her?

'He is doing as well as can be expected. He stays on guard constantly. He knows what the real danger is at this point. But it is wearing on him. I stay as long as I can each day so that he can sleep. Sometimes we play chess, we talk. I've engaged a discreet, highly recommended barrister and he's come to meet Valerian several times in case he's needed. But at night, I have to leave. He doesn't sleep at night for fear Lucien will send his assassins in the dark. I can't say the fear is unfounded. And I think, too, that he fears what he may dream.'

'I wish I could help him.'

felt tears fill

her eyes. It was dark now outside and she wanted to be with Valerian, to throw her arms about him and take his worries away. Right now, across town, he was beginning his long, lonely night vigil, wondering if this would be the night he had to fight for his life.

'You do help him, Phil. He was appreciative of your letter,' Beldon said cryptically.

Lilya took the cue. 'I think I'll go on up and unpack.

I'll find someone to show me my room. You go ahead and

to your brother, Philippa.

be fine.'

256

The Viscount Claims His Bride

'A baby, Phil? Are you sure?' Beldon whispered fiercely as the door shut behind Lilya.

nodded. 'I didn't want to wait to tell him in case I waited too long. It seems Valerian and I have an unfortunate habit of holding off on sharing until it's too late.'

'Valerian was thrilled, but anxious,' Beldon said honestly. 'He doesn't want his child born under the banner of such nasty events.'

Philippa's hand went to her flat stomach. 'These events will be long past when this child arrives.'

'Let's hope so. Did you find anything in

'More than I wanted to find, I think,'

said sombrely. 'I have diaries Lucien kept about Cambourne, and about me. He's schemed to get control of the Cambourne mines for years and he's willing to stop at nothing to get them.'

Beldon nodded grimly. 'Then we have something to bargain with when the time comes.'

dressed carefully the next morning in a dress of flowered blue delaine. True to his word, Beldon had secured the right for them to be present at the hearing. She wasn't sure how he'd done it. But she'd heard him leave last night to go

'out' and he hadn't been home when she'd retired at midnight.

The carriage ride to Whitehall took twenty minutes. They were expected and an escort hurried them inside into a basement room hidden deep in the building.

doubted she could find her way

out on her own. She and Beldon were given chairs