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He licked dry lips. “Seek your room, mistress.”
She whirled away from him, crushed that he didn’t believe her.
Savage lost no time seeking out Mr. Burke. He found him in the kitchen tailing two fresh salmon that had obviously come from their own waters. Mr. Burke’s face had such a passive look upon it, Savage guessed he knew most of what was going on.
“Burke, you obviously know of the deception that has been perpetrated against me. Can you give me an explanation for the deliberate lies, or is Lamb Hall simply a madhouse and its inhabitants lunatics?”
Mr. Burke washed his hands. “May I sit down, my lord?”
“For God’s sake, don’t start ‘milording’ me. Surely we can talk man to man.” They both sat down at the massive oak kitchen table. “I suppose, inadvertently, I was the one who started it all. The twins both wore yellow oilskins when they went sailing. When they didn’t return after the storm, Lady Randolph and I nearly went mad searching and waiting. Finally one of them was washed up onshore half dead. I thought it was Anthony. The sea-soaked garments made him heavy to carry and the slicked-back hair made me positive we had found the boy. Roz, too, thought it was Anthony.
When we stripped off the clothes and she regained consciousness, to our surprise we found out Anthony was actually Antonia. This was the third accident that had happened in rapid succession, right after Bernard Lamb paid a visit to offer his condolences for the loss of the twin’s father, which left Bernard heir to the title, Lamb Hall, the London town house, everything! We suspected the accidents were more than coincidence.
“Lady Randolph knew what it was to lose her home. Because she had no son when Lord Randolph died, everything went to hismaleheir and Roz came to live at Lamb Hall. If Anthony was presumed drowned, his male heir, Bernard Lamb, would inherit everything.
“The plan was audacious in concept, but Antonia insisted she was simply safeguarding what belonged to Anthony until he returned. It was a long time before she accepted that he would not return.”
Savage stabbed his fingers through his black hair. His eyes were no less glacial, his jaw still jutted with outrage. “You actually believe Bernard Lamb had a hand in this?”
“I do, sir. Antonia has been stalked for days. She was pushed beneath a carriage when she left Vauxhall last week. She was terrified to leave the house. When we came to Half-Moon Street it was to seek your protection. When you offered her Ireland she clutched at it as an escape, a way out.”
“The whole thing is preposterous. Like one of Sheridan’s ridiculous plays!”
“I mean no disrespect, sir, but I’m not laughing. Lady Antonia is the pluckiest female I’ve ever known.”
“Damn it, man, that is beside the point. She should never have been allowed to impersonate her twin brother. The license allowed a young lord in Georgian England is so permissive, he has carte blanche to indulge in debauchery. Antonia is probably ruined!”
“Oh, I realized long ago it was a horrendous mistake. Not only is it highly improper, it is deadly dangerous.”
“Well, at least we agree on one point. You may rest assured the folly is finished. It is over, Mr. Burke.”
“God be praised for that, my lord.”
“Would you be good enough to tell Lady Lamb that I wish to speak with her again? Perhaps the Jacobean Garden would be less confrontational.”
Antonia stood gazing at the distant mountains from the tower room of Blackwater Castle. Why had he looked at her with such contempt? When she had told him what her hated cousin had done to her and shown him the bruise, why hadn’t he enfolded her in his strong arms and told her he would keep her safe? She closed her eyes against the pain in her heart, but it did not prevent her tears from seeping beneath her lashes. She had made such a wretched botch of everything. The thought of her rattling about in male attire disgusted him. He would never look at Antonia the way he had looked at Ann. She would never be able to attract him in a million years!
Each and every night she relived the intimacy they had shared in Venice. She could still taste his kisses, still feel his demanding mouth molding her lips, parting them so his tongue could explore the intimate warmth of her mouth. She shuddered at the memory of his rough tongue sliding deeply inside her mouth, and deeply inside other intimate places. The Leopard’s tongue.
She jumped at the sound of the low knock upon the chamber door. Mr. Burke came in and said quietly, “We have talked. I told him what happened the night Anthony was lost. He would like to speak with you again in the garden. I don’t think he will be fierce with you, Antonia.”
“Thank you, Mr. Burke. I could never manage without you.”
Tony dried her eyes after he left and toyed with the idea of keeping Savage waiting. Better not. Mr. Burke said he wouldn’t be fierce, so he must have vented his temper. If she left him to cool his heels it could easily flare up again.
When she entered the garden her steps slowed as she saw his face was still grim. The fragrance of the lovely flower borders stole to her. It was such a poignantly beautiful spot, made for lovers. Her eyes again became liquid with unshed tears for what might have been.
“I have spoken with Mr. Burke and realize that you genuinely believe Bernard Lamb was responsible for your twin’s accident.”
When Antonia weighed his words, an instant spark was ignited.
“You, however, don’t believe any such thing!”
“I shall investigate the matter. I hope you realize there would be no need to fear your cousin if you had not passed yourself off as your twin brother.” Savage’s temper had ignited again. It was plain they could not even converse without sparks flying.
“I had no choice. If you think I’d hand everything Anthony owned over to his murderer, you must have the brains of a pissant!”
“Be silent! I will not tolerate your insolence.” The scar on his mouth made him look sinister and cruel. His glacial stare was merciless.
