Page 90 of Tempting the Marquess

Chapter19

“Please sit down,Standish. You are making me seasick just watching youpace.”

William forced himself to halt and instead stare out the wide window of White’s upper floor office. He’d done an unpleasant but practical task today, adding a codicil to his last will and testament in case of his untimely death. Settling a huge fortune and all unentailed properties on his unborn child under Samantha’s guardianship, with assistance from Stephen and Alexander, was the best he could do for them both. As he and Samantha weren’t married, even if she gave birth to a son, the boy couldn’t inherit the marquessate. And not being able to legally marry her immediately was enough to turn him quitemad.

He hadn’t allowed himself to feel in the longest time. Now, like a dam bursting, all kinds of emotions were hurtling through him, especially fear for Samantha and the baby. He’d lost far too many people he loved to untimely deaths. If he lost her, he would never recover.

“Easy for you to say, White. You don’t have a man aiming to kill you tomorrow.”

The intelligence coordinator rolled his eyes. “No. I have men aiming to kill me every singleday.”

Hell. There wasn’t an argument to that statement.

“I just can’t stand the waiting,” William said finally, sinking into a chair. “Not knowing what he might do, because that bastard is literally capable of anything.”

Unexpectedly, White’s face softened. “The waiting is the worst part. I understand your frustration and anxiety, Standish. I feel the same way. Bringing Claremont and his accomplices to justice would be the greatest achievement of my life, and allow hundreds of murdered men and women to finally rest in peace. But one wrong step…just one…and he evades the noose yet again. The earl has many friends in odd places. He has carefully cultivated a persona that would make it difficult to convince his peers in the House of Lords that he is even capable of such heinous crimes. And, as you know, the witnesses disappear or succumb to accidents.”

William blinked. “I think that might be the most honest you’ve ever been withme.”

“It won’t happen again. And I’ll deny it with my last breath should you share those thoughts with anyone.”

“So what is the next move on the chess board?”

“A team is being put together as we speak. The best of my men, I promise. When you meet Claremont, wherever and whenever that is, they will be waiting to swoop on the earl and any cohorts captured alongsidehim.”

“What about Lady Claremont?”

White shrugged and shifted a pile of papers from one side of his desk to the other.

“There is no evidence to suggest she has willingly, or even knowingly, been involved. She will be protected to avoid the kind of treatment handed out to a traitor’s wife. Perhaps exiled to sunnier climes for her health or some such thing.”

“Confidentially…are you serious about arrest and a proper trial? Or is there the possibility this particular male subject might not make it to that point?”

“Of course I am serious,” White replied blandly. “But raids are a hazardous activity. While my operatives strive to observe every procedure and propriety, naturally there are occurrences where they are, shall we say, forced to defend themselves.”

“Then I look forward to defending myself.”

“Beg pardon?”

William frowned. Why the hell did White look mildly startled? “I’m going to end this once and for all. Personally.”

“You most certainly arenot.”

He got up from the chair and stalked over to White’s desk. As he braced his hands on the edge, a jolt of pain raced up his shoulder. “This group made me an orphan. And tried to kill me. This is very much my fight.”

“No. It’s time for you to leave the Buchanans behind and retire. Find some blue-blooded lady to marry, and sire enough children to make even Lord Grey blush.”

“I can’t,” he snarled.

White raised his eyebrows. “Whynot?”

“Because I’ve found the blue-blooded lady I’m going to marry, and the first of our blush-inducing brood is already on theway.”

“Good God. You didn’t!”

“I did,” he said defiantly.

“Damnation, Standish,” said White, hurling his pen onto the desk. “Do you know how many rules you’ve broken? How utterly, stupendously idiotic you’ve been? What if Lady Samantha had been involved in her father’s activities?”