Mr. Turley glanced in Dom and Thea’s direction, then bent to his sister. She blushed and shook her head. He must have said something else as the next thing she did was nod, and they started straight for him.
Dom’s jaw clenched.
“Be nice,” Thea murmured. “After the rumors that have been started, the gossipmongers will watch how we behave.”
What gossip? He’d not heard anything. Although he had not been around any of his friends lately, or at White’s. He tightened his grip on her arm.
She smiled and held out her free hand. “Elizabeth, how good to see you.”
Miss Turley shot him a frightened glance and focused on Thea. “Dotty, thank you. I know so few people here, but my aunt insisted we come.”
He and Turley gave one another brief nods.
“Turley.”
“My lord.”
“Oh, Dotty.” Miss Turley smiled brightly. “May I present my brother, Mr. Turley? Gavin, this is Miss Stern.”
Had the brother been involved in the trap? Was that the reason Miss Turley had been arguing with him that evening?
As he bowed over Thea’s hand, the man’s smile seemed genuine enough. “My pleasure, Miss Stern. Allow me to wish you and Lord Merton happy on your betrothal.”
Thea turned to Dom. The expression on her face was so joyful his heart crashed around in his chest to know it was for him. And she was right. If it hadn’t been for Lady Manners’s machinations, he would have been back at Merton rather than marrying Thea. He grinned at Turley. “Thank you. We are extremely pleased.”
He nodded and addressed Thea again. “Elizabeth told me how kind you’ve been to her.”
“My dear sir, it is easy to be agreeable to someone as good-natured as your sister.”
For a few minutes they discussed the weather and the number of Lady Thornhill’s interesting guests.
Finally, Turley said, “Miss Stern, it was a pleasure meeting you. I can see why Lord Merton is so happy.”
Miss Turley nodded as she took her brother’s arm. “Yes. I think you have made the perfect match.”
As Thea was thanking them and saying good-bye, it struck Dom that he was happy. Happier than he had been since before his father’s death.
As the couple left, he murmured, “That went well and should put an end to any remaining talk. I might need to have my secretary send Lady Manners a thank-you note.”
“My lord.” Thea’s eyes widened in mock horror. “Are you making a joke?”
He had to think for a moment, then he chuckled. “I guess I am.”
Chapter Twenty
A few days after Lady Thornhill’s drawing room, Major Horton had requested an urgent meeting with Dotty, Dom, and his mother.
The major leaned against the mantel in the study, his form tense. Lady Merton sat on the chair next to Dotty’s in front of Dom’s desk.
“How bad was it?” he asked the major who had arrived shortly after breakfast with the news that the ladies must be relocated sooner than planned.
“Woke the whole house up and scared the”—he glanced at her and Lady Merton—“scared everyone to death. Fortunately Mrs. Oyler was able to calm everyone, but it spooked the lot of them and had my wife nervous as well. The woman who screamed said she heard men talking outside her window.”
Dom had an impatient look on his face. As if he truly did not understand the gravity of the problem. “They are well guarded, and we replaced all the locks. Simply tell them there is no reason to be frightened.”
Dotty sucked in a sharp breath, then let it out. Mrs. White was in Newgate awaiting trial. Fortunately, the Runners had enough evidence against her that none of the ladies would need to testify. Miss Betsy, though, had somehow escaped, and no one knew who the scoundrels were who had helped Mrs. White.
Major Horton’s posture hadn’t changed, but he seemed even more rigid. “It’s the second time in a week this has occurred. The women will never feel safe in that house.”
