Free I Kissed a Rogue (Covent Garden Cubs) by Shana Galen Page A

goal.
    “I don’t suppose we can leave her at Lennox House. Her father doesn’t take the threat seriously enough,” Hunt added. “The duke hasn’t even hired additional footmen to stand guard.”
    “He took it seriously enough to marry her to Brook,” Dorrington said.
    “That’s because he’s lazy and has a termagant wife to contend with,” Brook said. “He’d rather foist his eldest on another man than exert himself to protect her.” Brook felt a twinge of sympathy for Lila, but he pushed it down. Her situation was little different than many unmarried women’s.
    Except now she was married. To him.
    “I suppose we have to take her to the flat,” Hunt said.
    Brook groaned. Even as he wanted to argue, he knew Hunt was correct. Only a handful of people knew of his flat. Lila would be safe there for the time being.
    But it meant taking her to the one place that was truly his. It was the place where he did not have to play the part of earl’s son or knight errant, where he could just be Brook.
    And now the woman he hated most in the world would be living there as well.
    * * *
    Lila hadn’t known what to think when the handsome man who purported to be Brook’s valet had come to claim her at quarter past seven on the night of her wedding. After Brook had not made an appearance at the wedding breakfast, she’d assumed he was done with her. Perhaps he hoped she would be murdered. Then he wouldn’t have to go through the trouble of securing an annulment.
    She’d finally changed from her wedding dress, which she had loved, despite the fact that she had to marry Brook Derring in it. The short puff sleeves with a leaf on each sleeve, matching those in silver netting on the bodice and hem, were just lovely. She hated to take it off.
    But she’d finally dressed for dinner in a white gown with flowers embroidered in red and gold and had sat down to have her hair styled. Lizzy had only just taken her hair out of its elaborate wedding style when Lila was summoned downstairs. She might have asked Lizzy to pin it hastily, but her head ached from the weight of the hair and the tight style in which she’d worn it all day, and she was glad for the respite.
    Now she stood with her hair in a tail down her back, watching her father quiz her husband’s valet. The valet, who was clean shaven, tall, and possessed a strong jaw and lovely blue eyes, did not cower or grovel in the presence of the duke, like most of his fellows would have.
    “How do I know you are employed by Sir Brook?” the duke demanded.
    Hunt—that was the man’s name—cocked his head toward the front of the house. “He sent his carriage for her. Go ask the coachman and the outriders if you don’t believe me.”
    The duke would do no such thing, but he seemed satisfied enough. So Brook had sent his coach for her. He’d sent for her. He did want her after all.
    “Where are you taking her? Derring House?”
    “Begging your pardon, Your Grace, but I can’t reveal that. It’s for the lady’s own safety.”
    “So you are taking my daughter away and you will not tell me where. This is unacceptable!”
    Valencia, who until this point had been sitting near the fire, a smug smile on her pointed face, now rose. “Lennox, surely Lila will be allowed to write to you. She can assure you all is well.”
    Lila glanced at Hunt, who nodded. “I’ll bring a letter tomorrow if you want.”
    “There. You see?”
    Lila saw clearly enough. Vile Valencia had just rid herself of the daughter she’d never wanted. Lila doubted her stepmother cared whether she was off to a dungeon or the palace, as long as she was far, far away.
    “Then I suppose I should say good-bye,” Lila said, filling the silence. She looked at her father. “I will write this evening when I arrive.”
    He nodded. Lila wondered, briefly, if she should embrace him but decided against it. Such displays of affection were unseemly. She curtsied instead. “Good-bye, Father. Valencia.”
    Colin was