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Desmond’s look swung to Rafe. “Then who is he?”
“Rafe Somner, Baron Winfred, my lord.” The words came clipped out of Rafe’s mouth.
“Baron Win—I’ve never heard of you.” Desmond’s eyes narrowed again at Rafe, hostility resurfacing.
“It’s a title of the Netherlands, so keep your anger in check—he was at the Eve of Winter Ball at Wolfbridge.” Her voice lifted, but she managed to not squeak in frustration again. Just barely. “Rafe was leaving the area just like everyone else after the party and he happened upon me on the road. And then he has been kind enough to bring me all the way here to Seahorn.”
“Why not go back to Wolfbridge? We were farther away.”
Her hands flew up at her sides. “I was dropped on the blasted road like refuse. I had nothing with me—only my clothes and I needed to get help for Eva. We went after them, trying to find her but could find no trace of the coach. But they wanted her—Eva—specifically. Lachlan is coming here, not to Wolfbridge, and if anyone knows who would take her or why, it would be him. Reiner wouldn’t know and I also didn’t know what route they were taking, so I didn’t want to waste three days going back and forth to Wolfbridge for nothing when I could get here quicker. Would you please stop scrutinizing everything I say and get the riders out to Lachlan?”
Desmond seethed a breath, his head shaking at her, then his glare snapped to Rafe. “This isn’t over. I’ll deal with you later. Don’t you dare leave this place, man.”
Her father spun on his heel, running to the stairs and charging up them two at a time.
She turned to look up at Rafe. “I’m sorry. After all you’ve done to get me here. He will calm. I’llmakehim calm. I promise.”
“Don’t apologize for his temper.” The cold mask still sat in place, but now she could see through a small fissure of it around his eyes. He was furious at having been manhandled and not allowing himself to fight back.
“I appreciate you not fighting him. I know it’s not your nature. He’s usually not like that—so angry.” She shook her head. “We should go greet my stepmother. Apprise her of the situation.”
Victoria gave a low whistle and Fox ambled over to her. She picked him up, her hands still shaking from the confrontation, then started toward the staircase on the left. Seahorn was a labyrinth of corridors that looped and cut off in dead ends, but to the left wing was where she imagined her stepmother to be.
Rafe followed along, a half step behind her on the stairs which put him mostly eye-level with her. “You previously mentioned it, but your father is…
“Overprotective? I’ve noticed.” She stomped up the stairs, the blood in her brain boiling hot, making her want to scream and punch walls. Where was Jules? Her stepmother could always calm her down and she needed calm.
At the top of the stairs Rafe set his hand on the small of her back, but not to direct her where to go. She wasn’t even sure why he did it, but at his touch, the oddest thing happened. The touch cooled her. Cooled her enough that she wasn’t seeing red.
Her feet slowed, no longer stomping along the wooden floors of the corridors.
They found Jules in the nursery with her back to the doorway, looking out the window. She held her daughter,Susannah, high on her chest, the babe’s little one-year-old chinresting on her shoulder.
Wide open blue-green eyes—exactly like Jules’s eyes—looked at them, a gurgle at the babe’s chubby lips.
At the sound of them stepping into the nursery, Jules spun, her face lighting up as she spied Victoria. Then her smile froze in place as she noticed Rafe standing just inside the door.
“Vicky, you are early—you don’t know how happy that makes me. And you have a dog and someone I haven’t met in tow. Has it only been three months since I’ve seen you last?”
Victoria laughed, closing the distance between her and Jules and wrapping her and the babe in a tight hug with her free arm. She pulled back, looking at her stepmother. “It’s good to see you as well, but why the extra enthusiasm?”
Jules nudged her head toward the rooms down the hall. “Tarrencehas been pestering me every hour, sometimes every half hour, as to when you would arrive. He’s been doing it for days ever since Des accidentally mentioned you had left Wolfbridge for here. I was too late in clamping my hand across your father’s mouth to stop him. And you know how Tarrence is. He’s been focused on one thing and one thing only—to make his favorite older sister appear by sheer force of will—or by asking me a thousand times when you’ll arrive.”
Victoria laughed. “The squishy little bugger. I’ve missed him.” She had. She adored her little half-brother. He was only three, looked like a miniature Desmond, and could already charm any lady in the room. “We’ll go see him in a bit and I can deliver Fox to him.” She lifted the puppy in her arm to Jules. “The pup should keep him busy for at least an hour.”
“I will take five minutes.” Jules’s blue-green eyes shifted to Rafe, her gaze wary, but curious. “Who have you brought with you?” She looked back to Victoria. “And why do you have a black eye?”
At least her stepmother asked questions in the right order. Victoria turned to the side, lifting her hand toward Rafe and he stepped farther into the room, stopping before Victoria and Jules. “Jules, this is Rafe Somner, Baron of Winfred. Rafe, this is my much-adored stepmother, Jules Phillips, the Countess of Troubant.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Lady Troubant.” He inclined his head to her.
Victoria studied his profile as he greeted Jules and she was relieved to find the cool mask from earlier had eased into calm politeness.
“And I you,” Jules said, a half-smile on her face as she looked from him to Victoria. “May I ask how you’ve found yourself accompanying Vicky to Seahorn?”
“There is my explanation, and Victoria’s explanation.” He inclined his head toward Victoria. “Hers will be much more thorough.”
Jules looked at him, a grin wiggling on her lips. “Why don’t we start with your version first, then.”
