Page 38 of Indecently Daring

“Perhaps,” he said, sympathy in his eyes now. “But were you intending to martyr yourself for him? Because a man like that could destroy you without trying, without even meaning to. The only person who can save Kilbane is Kilbane, and he gave up on that idea a long time ago.”

“You know him,” Alana said, drawing his attention back to her. An odd, squirming sensation bloomed deep in her belly as his warm gaze settled upon her.

“I knew his older brother a little,” he said, and turned his attention back to the road.

Alana and Cat exchanged a glance. They had both heard the rumours about the older brother. He made Kilbane look like an innocent babe by comparison.

“What was he like?” Cat asked with some trepidation.

Reverend Martin did not look back at them as he answered. “The closest thing to evil I have ever encountered.”

Despite her protests, Reverend Martin insisted on escorting them the entire way back to Holbrook House, which had Alana seething with annoyance by the time they got there. They dropped Cat at the front of the house first, where several obliging footmen haggled over the opportunity to carry her back inside.

“I think I can safely take it from here, just as I could have managed the rest of the journey,” Alana said, glowering at the vicar as he hopped up and sat beside her on the cart.

“I never doubted it, I just worried your friend might persuade you into doing something rash if I wasn’t there.”

“In the first place, I am not that biddable,” Alana replied, growing testier as the vicar’s lips twitched.

“No. I suppose that is accurate enough.”

She huffed. “And in the second, it’s none of your business.”

He waited, glancing back at her quizzically.

“What?” she demanded.

“Ah, you’ve stopped. I was just waiting for the third and fourth.”

“Oh, go to the devil,” she snapped, guiding the pony to a halt in the cobbled yard of the stables.

He sent her a look she could not decipher. “I’ve been already, Miss Cadogan, and I do not recommend the experience. I beg you will forgive me if I do my best to stay closer to God this time.”

There was something in his eyes that told her this was a genuine apology, and she let out a breath, finding it impossible to stay cross with him.

“Why was Kilbane so surprised to discover you were still alive, Reverend Martin?”

There was a significant pause.

“Good afternoon to you, Miss Cadogan,” he said, jumping down from the cart and striding away.

Oh, drat the man.

With frustration, Alana had to wait for a groom to come and take the pony from her, and when she eventually hurried out of the yard, the vicar was nowhere in sight. He’d have taken the path through the garden, she guessed, back to the vicarage. She knew… knew she ought to just let him go. After what had happened between them, she ought to keep her distance. It was clear he had no interest in marrying, and she’d be a fool to allow herself to grow closer to him when there was no future in it, but the temptation to discover more about the increasingly mysterious Reverend Martin was too tantalising to let go. She hurried around to the garden.

Chapter 12

Dear Miss Milly,

I beg you will forgive me for this. I know I said I would give you time, but time appears to be in increasingly short supply. I will not think ill of you if you refuse to aid me with my outrageous scheme. Indeed, I shall think you a sensible young woman with a healthy respect for her own peace of mind. Yet I must ask you, must insist upon an answer now, please. I cannot delay any longer. I fear if I cannot be discreetly done away with, they mean to lock me up in an asylum and throw away the key, and if you cannot help, then I must flee.

It sickens me that this is what I’m reduced to, running away or hiding behind your skirts, but for now, I do not appear to have options.

How you must despise me for my weakness. Yet, I find terror outweighs pride when faced with the prospect of an insane asylum.

What will it be, sweet Emmeline? Yea or nay?

―Excerpt of a letter to Miss Emmeline Knight (daughter of Lady Helena and Mr Gabriel Knight) from The Most Hon’ble Leander Steyning, The Marquess of Wrexham.