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“Cassie...” Eleanor said tightly.
“I shall speak to an investigator,” Luke suggested and held up a hand before Cassie could protest. “I shall express the urgency of the matter and they’ll be paid handsomely. It will be in their best interests to solve this case quickly. In the meantime, we’ll arrange protection for you all.”
He looked to Chastity, who nodded slowly. Grim lines lingered around her mouth and he sighed inwardly. Being the oldest, Chastity took the care of her sisters to heart and he wanted to do what he could to assure her all would be well. The trouble was, he could not be certain of it. The fact that whoever had done this had potentially murdered someone and burned their body left him convinced they would not balk at doing something worse to prevent Cassie from continuing her investigations.
“I think I should stay here too.” He looked at each of the sisters. “As protection.”
Cassie’s eyes widened but she said nothing.
Chastity nodded slowly. “Father would not mind the male company though I’m not certain how we shall explain your presence.”
“Renovations!” Demeter declared.
“Renovations?” Cassie frowned.
“You could say your house is undergoing some work and you need to stay here for a while.” Demeter grinned. “You know Father will not even think to question it.”
Luke nodded. “Works for me.”
In fact, it worked all too easily. Now he would be under the same roof as Cassie with far too easy access to her. He shouldn’t even be thinking such thoughts with Cassie under threat but, hell, he was a rake after all.
And rakes never changed it seemed.
Chapter Twenty-One
Cassie stared at the window from the comfort of her bed, her covers tucked tightly about her. She kept expecting it to explode into a storm of glass. She tightened her muscles to prevent the shiver wracking her. Were they out there now? Watching her and her sisters?
Teeth clenched, she drew in a shuddery breath. How dare they do such a thing?
Luke wanted her to sleep in one of the other rooms tonight but how could she let whoever this was cow her?
Unable to sit still any longer, she pushed aside the covers and sat on the edge of the bed. As foolhardy as it sounded, she wanted to inspect the area around the window. If she could just find some evidence, maybe it would lead her to the people behind Theodore’s disappearance, and this could be over and her sisters would be safe.
A tiny thread of warmth spiraled through her at the thought of Luke. To imagine he slept only a few rooms away. She considered his scorching touch, knowing that other women had partaken in the pleasure of experiencing him—all of him—and she was still waiting.
Her heart twisted. Why on earth was she thinking of such a thing? She stood, tiptoeing to the door to listen. She didn’t hear anything on the other side. She knew Luke was nearby, but he could be pacing around another area of the house, making sure no one was trying to get in through any of the servants’ entrances.
Breath held, Cassie twisted the doorknob and cracked the door open, peering out into the hall.
No Luke.
She let go of her breath and ran back to her bedside to lace up her boots and throw a robe over her nightgown. Back at the door, she stepped into the hall and began silently making her way down it, trying to reach the stairs.
“And where do you think you’re going?”
She froze at the deep voice of Luke. Turning, she raised her chin, trying not to act like a mouse caught in the act of stealing cheese. “I wanted a bit of fresh air.”
Luke’s dark brows lifted. “Why is it always air with you, Cassie?”
“I just want to see the area below the window. Perhaps we missed something.”
“And you think you’d find that something in the dark?” Luke shook his head, a roguish smile dancing across his lips. “Come back to bed, Cassie. I swore to your brother I’d protect you and protect you I will. Even if it is from your own foolishness.”
“I don’t want to continue living in fear,” she retorted. “Hardly a foolish notion.”
But she knew he was right. With a potential threat waiting for her outside, it would have been dangerous to venture out alone. But she wasn’t about to let Luke know she’d realized that.
Luke extended an arm. “Back to bed, Cass.”
