Free Moonspun Magic by Catherine Coulter

was thinking that he was a bachelor, that he knew absolutely no proper female in London. He was at an impasse. Suddenly he remembered Lyon Ashton, the Earl of Saint Leven, laughingly tellinghim of his tartar great-aunt, Lady Lucia Cranston. She lived in London, the old martinet, and tried to govern his life whenever he was within firing range. She had, Lyon said, decided that he and Diana Savarol would match up perfectly. And damn the old lady’s hide, she’d been right.
    â€œI know what to do now,” he announced, straightening.
    At his smile, she stiffened a bit. “It is something proper, I trust, sir?”
    â€œPure as the driven snow. My idea, that is.”
    â€œWell?”
    He grinned as he rose. “I think I’ll leave you in a bit of suspense. We’ll leave early in the morning.” He paused, looking at her carefully. “I will hire a carriage.”
    â€œI can ride.”
    â€œIt would take us three days’ hard riding to reach London, perhaps even four.”
    Victoria thought of her leg and the inevitable strain. She knew Rafael wouldn’t think she was suffering again from a sprained ankle. Nor could she see herself limping into the solicitor’s office. She sighed. “All right, a carriage, then. And, Rafael, I shall pay you back.”
    â€œOf a certainty you will,” he said smoothly. “With interest from your immense fortune.”
    â€œIt might not be all that immense.”
    â€œWe shall see.”
    â€œI shall see. Once you’ve escorted me to London, you can be on your way and well rid of me.”
    â€œWe shall see about that too.”
    He turned slightly at the adjoining door. She was still seated in the chair, her profile turned toward him. Why the devil did he have this near-compulsion to kiss her and smooth her hair and tell her he wouldgive his life to protect her? I am becoming a half-wit, he told himself. She had a very stubborn jaw.
    Â 
    Elaine sat in front of her dressing table, rhythmically brushing her long hair. It was thick and black as a raven’s wing and it was her vanity and a source of great pride. She saw her husband enter her room and said, “I simply don’t understand it, Damien. How could Victoria be so ungrateful? Damaris is carrying on and Nanny Black can’t quiet her.” She was studying him closely in the mirror, alert and watchful, but his expression didn’t change.
    â€œI have sent out men in search of her, my dear,” he said, yawning. “We should hear something soon.” What he didn’t tell her was that he was certain Victoria had seen the tied letters that were beneath the strongbox. He’d discovered that fact but a few minutes before, and felt his jaw clench with helpless rage. Damn, he should have burned the letters, but who would have thought . . . ? Well, he would find her. He said now, disinterested as a clam, “In fact, you seem so very worried, my dear, that I intend to join the search on the morrow. I believe it likely she has gone to London.”
    â€œBut she had no money.”
    â€œAs a matter of fact, she took some twenty pounds from my strongbox.”
    â€œThat little thief. After all I’ve done for her, and she a worthless cripple.”
    Damien merely shrugged.
    Elaine continued with her brushing, calm again, watchful. “I wonder,” she said, again studying her husband’s face in her mirror, “why she ran away.”
    â€œI imagine it was that pitiful bore David Esterbridge. He was after her, you know. Perhaps she was escaping from him.”
    â€œI can’t think that is true. Don’t you remember?She was talking of David as if she’d made up her mind to wed him. I truly don’t believe David could be responsible for her running away.”
    â€œThat isn’t what David told me. Evidently she changed her mind. I wouldn’t put it past the stupid boy to have frightened her, mauled