However, it was late, and he probably would not get what he wanted if he arrived in the middle of the night yelling and pounding on the door. No, he would have to call upon her at a reasonable hour and charm the information out of her. Money was apparently her motivating factor, and he had plenty of that. He would offer to match or beat what his mother had paid her if she would give her information to him instead.
As he strode up to his room and prepared for bed, a little of the stress and sorrow of the day dissipated. Gemma had to know where Serenity was. Why else would she be contacting his mother after all these years?
The thought of having Serenity in his arms again, of putting the past behind them and beginning again, soothed a bit of the pain churning inside him.
Please. Let her be safe.
Chapter Twelve
Serenity was sittingin the parlor with Gemma when someone pounded loudly on the front door. The women exchanged concerned looks as Browne went to answer it. After only two days, Serenity had already gathered that Gemma didn’t have many guests, and the voice that drifted down the hall sounded decidedly male and angry.
A few moments later, Browne arrived at the parlor door, her face a bit pale. “Miss Cross, the Earl of Hawkesmere is here to see you.”
What is he doing here?
Serenity rose from her chair in a panic. “Don’t tell him I’m here,” she pleaded. “See what he wants, but don’t tell him I’m here.”
Gemma nodded but looked strangely nervous herself. “Send him in,” she instructed Browne.
Serenity hurried across the room to the door that connected the parlor to the dining room, ducking out of sight against the wall on the other side, her heart thundering in her chest. How had he found her so quickly? How had he possibly known where to look? She hadn’t thought he’d have kept track of Gemma.
“Good afternoon, Miss Cross. Forgive me for dropping by so unexpectedly.” Luke’s deep voice had its usual effect on Serenity’s frayed nerves, and she pressed harder against the wall, forcing herself to stay put instead of running back to him, as she wanted so badly to do. Why did she still love him so?
Gemma cleared her throat. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, my lord. It’s been many years. Please, have a seat.”
“I won’t be staying long,” Luke said, still sounding angry, despite his politeness. “I’ve come about this.”
Serenity wanted to peer around the corner to see what he was referring to but couldn’t risk it.
“How did you get that letter?” Gemma asked nervously.
“I’ve sent my mother away,” he said. “But when I saw your name on the envelope, when I have been looking so hard for Serenity Pratt, I decided to read it. Imagine my surprise when you mentioned the previous financial arrangement you’d had with my mother and your attempts to gain more money for the new information you have about myself and Miss Pratt.”
Had Gemma written to the countess? Tears burned Serenity’s eyes when she realized this hadn’t been the first time. She should have realized Gemma had been the one who’d alerted the countess of her relationship with Luke. The one person she’d thought she could trust had been the one to destroy her.
Tears stinging her eyes, rage welling up in her throat, Serenity abandoned her hiding place and entered the parlor once more. Luke’s blue gaze immediately met hers, and the relief and happiness she saw there banished the last of her doubts. If the choice was between taking his charity or Gemma’s, she would always choose him.
