Kiss Me at Christmas--Playful Brides Page 5

  “You shouldn’t have gone alone,” Regina insisted.

  “Precisely what I’ve been trying to tell her,” Mark replied.

  “Susanna was with me,” Nicole said, mentioning her maid. She stared down at her hands. “I was perfectly fine.”

  Regina shook her head. “Oh, Nicole, you must promise to wait for me next time. I was only catching up on my correspondence because you were napping.”

  Nicole pushed a lock of red hair behind her ear. “I know, but I couldn’t sleep, and a visit to my mother was long overdue. I thought I’d get it over with and spare you.”

  Regina couldn’t smile at Nicole’s jest. Her heart hammered with fear. Ever since the second carriage accident after she’d left Bow Street last week, she’d been filled with worry. Her family might well be under attack.

  “I think you should tell Mark what you told me last night,” Nicole prompted.

  Regina blinked. “Pardon?”

  “You know how you said you felt as though you were … being watched.”

  Regina gulped. She had mentioned that to Nicole last night. She hadn’t wanted to alarm her cousins, but she and Genevieve and a footman had run a few errands yesterday and she’d looked over her shoulder the entire time. She was convinced it was merely her overly active imagination at work, but she hadn’t been able to help herself.

  Mark turned to face Regina. “Is that true?” He searched her face, his features lined with concern.

  “I’m certain it’s just my nerves,” Regina replied. “After the two carriage incidents, I can’t help but feel as if—”

  “You’re in danger?” Nicole said.

  Regina cleared her throat. “I’m uneasy.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me, Regina? Did anything happen yesterday?” Mark asked.

  “No. Nothing. The carriage ride home was entirely uneventful.”

  Mark walked to the sofa and stared down at his wife. His face softened as he looked at her. Love shone in his eyes. “I need to leave for Northumbria in two days’ time. I’m not about to leave you both here alone with this uncertainty and you cannot come with me. The journey will be too difficult for you.”

  “You truly think someone is trying to harm one of us?” Regina asked, a lump in her throat.

  Mark shook his head. “I don’t know.” He paced toward the fireplace. “But we’ve begun telling people Nicole is with child. It’s possible there is still someone out there who wants the future heir to the dukedom eliminated.”

  Nicole placed a protective hand over her belly. “I wasn’t even in the coach with Regina the second time.”

  “The blighter responsible may not have known that.”

  Nicole nodded. “I suppose that’s true. Or … someone’s after Regina.” Her eyes flashed with concern and she squeezed Regina’s hand.

  “Also a possibility,” Mark agreed. “Either way. I intend to cancel my trip.”

  Nicole’s eyes widened and she sat forward abruptly. “No! You cannot cancel your trip. Your dream was becoming the Home Secretary and that position involves travel. I will not allow you to cancel your plans as if I cannot take care of myself. Regina won’t allow you to, either.”

  Mark arched a brow. “I fully believe you can take care of yourself, darling, but need I remind you that you’re not exactly yourself these days?”

  Nicole cracked a smile. “Is that a reference to my penchant for napping?”

  Mark grinned back.

  “I agree,” Regina added with a firm nod. “I don’t want you to change your schedule over this. It may well be nothing.”

  Mark set his glass on the table and came back to kneel in front of Nicole. He took her hands. “I would die if anything happened to you, my darling. No position is worth more to me than your health and safety.” He turned to Regina and patted her hand. “And I refuse to allow another one of my cousins to be hurt. Not on my watch.”

  A loving smile transformed Nicole’s beautiful face and she traced the line of her husband’s dark brow with her fingertip. “Of course not, darling, but you’re not the only person who can protect us. What if we stay here with proper security?”

  Mark’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean? I’m not about to let the coachman and groomsman be in charge of your security. Those two fools might have got you killed had things gone differently.”

  Nicole crossed her arms over her chest. “The coachman and the groomsman aren’t trained for such things, but what if we hired someone who is?”

  Mark’s brow lowered further. “Who?”

  Nicole shot a sly glance toward Regina. “What if we hired Daffin Oakleaf to be our bodyguard?”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Regina thought she might cast up her accounts. Nicole had said she had a plan, but Regina hadn’t expected this. Daffin, here? Dear God, could she face him? If he accepted, she’d be sorely tempted to flee back to her uncle’s house in Surrey, Dryden or no, but that would only protect her for so long. Not to mention it would be cowardly of her. Nicole needed her, too.

  “Daffin?” Mark’s face slowly softened. “Hmm. I hadn’t thought of that.”

  Nicole folded her hands in her lap. “I seem to recall him saying he doesn’t have much family. Doesn’t do much for the holiday. He could stay with us here in the town house and then accompany us to Surrey just before Christmas, where you’ll meet us.”

  Mark stroked his chin. “I suppose the idea holds merit. I’d trust Oakleaf with my own life.”

  “And the life of your unborn child?” Nicole prompted.

  “Indeed,” Mark said solemnly, meeting his wife’s gaze.

  “Ahem, I’m not certain that’s a good idea,” Regina interjected from her perch on the edge of the sofa. Her voice had an unfortunate squeak in it.

  Nicole kicked her softly just before Mark turned to her. “What? Why?”

  Regina refused to look at Nicole. She cleared her throat. “I just mean … Mr. Oakleaf is a busy man. Do you think he’ll have time to stop chasing down criminals and the like to play bodyguard?”

  “It cannot hurt to ask,” Nicole said, nudging Regina with her foot again.

  “Regina makes a good point.” Mark turned back to Nicole. “Daffin may not be available.”

  “But if you tell him it’s a special favor to you…” Nicole continued.

  “You’re right,” Mark said. “It cannot hurt to ask. I’ll pay him a visit first thing in the morning.” He stood and made his way toward the door.

  “Cousin Mark!” Regina called just before he left the room.

  He paused and turned back to her. “Yes?”

  “Will you be certain to tell Mr. Oakleaf that we completely understand if he’s unable to help us?”

  Nicole kicked her more sharply this time, and Regina squelched her yelp.

  Mark frowned. “On the contrary, I intend to do everything in my power to convince him to accept.”

  * * *

  As soon as Mark left the room, Nicole kicked Regina again. Regina jumped from her seat and leaned down to rub her sore ankle. “Stop kicking me.”

  “I had to kick you,” Nicole retorted. “You’re ruining the plan.”

  Regina whirled to face her. “What plan?”

  Nicole rolled her eyes. “The plan in which I get you and Daffin under one roof, thereby giving you plenty of time to explain your lapse in judgment at Bow Street and charm him again.”

  Regina’s mouth fell open. “First, I’m not certain there’s enough charm left in me to overcome what I said to him at Bow Street, and second, we should hardly be concerned about my idiotic bungle with Daffin when one of us is being targeted by a madman.”

  Nicole crossed her arms over her chest. “First, there’s only one way to find out how much charm you have left. Charm is hardly infinite. Second, if there is a madman after us—and I still have my doubts—we’ll be perfectly safe with Daffin here.”

  Regina shook her head. “Do you truly think Daffin will agree to come and watch over us?” She prayed
the answer was no.

  “If Mark asks him to, yes,” Nicole said with a firm nod. “Besides, Daffin works for bounties. Mark knows how much to offer him to make it worth his while.”

  “I didn’t tell Daffin I was staying with you,” Regina said. “It didn’t come up.”

  “I’m certain Mark will inform him.”

  Regina paced along the carpet in front of the fireplace. “If it is not entirely certain someone is after us, isn’t it unfair to take his time when he could be chasing down real villains?”

  “We don’t know for certain someone isn’t after us,” Nicole replied. “Besides, I think Daffin will enjoy it. He’ll be with a family during Christmastide.”

  Regina frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “I used to work closely with Daffin, and happen to know he dislikes Christmastide.”

  Regina couldn’t stop her gasp. “Dislikes Christmastide? Why, I’ve never heard such a thing. Why would anyone dislike Christmastide? It’s filled with laughter, and family, and food and merriment.”

  Nicole blew out a breath. “Yes, but Daffin has no family.”

  Unexpected sadness tugged at Regina’s heart. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  Nicole sighed. “He works himself ragged each December to keep his mind from it. This year, we’ll merely be giving him something to concentrate on, not to mention he’ll have our company during the holiday. If he says yes, that is. I hate to think of him all alone.”

  “It’s terribly sad.” Regina’s mind raced. What had happened to Daffin’s family? “I suppose when you look at it that way, our hiring him to watch over us is not such a bad thing, even if it turns out we’re perfectly safe.”

  “Precisely,” Nicole replied. “Besides, he’ll be getting paid. It’s a perfectly lovely plan all around. He’ll be back to his real cases come Twelfth Night.”

  “If he says yes,” Regina reminded her. “I’ve acted a fool to him. Perhaps I should go back to Surrey and allow him to guard you here in London alone.”

  Nicole’s jaw dropped. “Absolutely not. That would spoil the entire plan. Besides, if you go back to Surrey, you’ll have to face Dryden. Not to mention, Daffin needs to guard you, too.”

  “Yes, I’d thought of the Dryden debacle. It may be the only reason I’m still here.” Regina’s lips twitched.

  “Nonsense,” Nicole replied. “Besides, we’re all meant to meet together in Surrey for Christmas Eve. We’d catch up with you.”

  Regina shrugged. “I know, but at least there would be a delay.” She grinned at Nicole.

  “You’re talking like a coward and you’re no coward, Regina. You must face this head-on. Apologize to Daffin again and ask if you might start over.”

  Regina bit her lip. “I don’t know if I can.”

  “Of course you can. Where’s that Colchester spirit? At least promise me if Daffin agrees to come, you won’t run away like a thief in the night.”

  “No. No.” Regina waved both hands in the air. “I was planning to go in broad daylight.”

  Nicole snorted. “You know what I meant.”

  “Fine.” Regina let her head fall back and gave a defeated sigh. “If Daffin agrees, I will stay.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Paul, the clerk, leaned a shoulder against the wood frame doorway that led into Daffin’s office. “Guess who’s here to see you this time.”

  Damn it. Not another fame-seeking lady. Daffin couldn’t take it any longer. He paused. Wait. It wasn’t Regina, was it? Had she come to apologize or make him another indecent proposal? Frankly, neither would surprise him. The woman was unpredictable.

  “Who?” he drawled, dreading the answer, though, if he were being honest with himself, he’d admit he wanted it to be her.

  “The Marquess of Coleford.”

  Daffin let out a pent-up breath. “Ah, tell Grim to come back.”

  This would probably be just another discussion about the police force in London, but Daffin’s stomach still tied itself in a knot. Had Regina mentioned her encounter with him to her cousin? Daffin, of course, had no intention of bringing it up, but if Grim did, he’d have to address it. Damned awkward, that.

  Moments later, Grimaldi strolled into his office. No matter where he was, the former general always seemed to be studying a battlefield. His sharp eyes missed nothing. He commanded respect.

  Daffin stood and shook the marquess’s hand before taking his seat again. He searched Grimaldi’s face. He wore a hard expression.

  “Good to see you, Grim,” Daffin said. The Stone Man. There were days when the moniker made sense. Since he and Nicole had reunited, however, there were fewer of those days.

  “Likewise.” Grimaldi lowered himself into the chair in front of Daffin’s desk. “But today I’m not here to discuss the police force.”

  Daffin shifted in his seat. Damn. Damn. Damn. “You’re not?”

  “No. I’m here to discuss a personal matter. One that involves my family.”

  Daffin scrubbed a hand across the back of his neck. This wouldn’t be easy. “Look, Grim, I told her—”

  “Nicole may be in danger.”

  “Pardon?” they both asked in unison.

  Daffin leaned forward and searched his friend’s face. “The devil you say. Who is threatening Nic?”

  “I don’t know. But I damned sure intend to find out. The trouble is I’m scheduled to leave town tomorrow for a business trip to Northumbria. I need someone to watch her. Someone I trust. I need you, Oakleaf.”

  The drawn look on his friend’s face told Daffin that Grim was serious. “What’s happened?”

  Daffin listened as the marquess recounted the two near-accidents and Regina’s feeling of being watched. When Grim was finished, Daffin leaned back in his chair and scrubbed a hand through his hair. “Your cousin Regina is staying with you?”

  “Yes, she’s serving as Nicole’s companion during her confinement. She may well be the culprit’s target.”

  Daffin shook his head. “Who would want to hurt either of them? And why?”

  Grimaldi rubbed his chin. “I don’t know, but I want to find the bastard and tear him limb from limb.”

  “I do, too,” Daffin said. Nicole was his old friend and former colleague. He couldn’t stand to think of anyone hurting her, especially now that she was with child and vulnerable. And Regina, well, he didn’t know how he felt about Regina, but he damned sure didn’t want to see her hurt.

  “I thought you’d feel the same way,” Grim said. “Nicole trusts you. She asked for you personally.”

  “She did?”

  Grim nodded.

  Daffin had to wonder if Regina had confided in Nicole about her visit to him and her proposal. That could be awkward, too. “And Lady Regina? Is she agreeable to it?”

  Grim blinked. “I don’t see why she wouldn’t be.”

  Daffin had his answer. If Regina had told Nicole, Nicole hadn’t informed her husband. “Nicole says she thinks you might be free for Christmas,” Grimaldi continued.

  Daffin shifted in his seat again. This sort of talk made him uncomfortable. “Actually, I am. I just wrapped up the case that had been plaguing me for weeks.”

  “No plans to spend Christmastide with anyone?”

  “No,” Daffin answered, his tone clipped.

  “Excellent. I needn’t mention I’ll pay you twice your regular rate for keeping them safe.”

  Daffin held up a palm. “My regular rate is sufficient. I’d do it for free if you asked it of me.”

  “Your regular rate and a half, and we won’t speak of it again,” Grimaldi insisted. “You must arrive tonight so you’ll be there when I leave tomorrow morning. I’d expect you’d keep security measures in place in the city, accompany them anywhere they go. Nicole is adamant about not being a prisoner in her own house.”

  Daffin gave a wry smile. “That sounds like Nic.”

  “Next week, you’ll be traveling to Surrey with the ladies where I’ll meet you for Christmas. You’ll spend
the holiday with us.”

  Daffin nodded. “I promise I’ll keep them safe. If the bastard tries anything again, I will take him down.”

  “I’d like nothing better,” Grimaldi replied, standing.

  Daffin stood too and the men shook hands. “It’s settled, then.”

  “See you tonight.” Grimaldi made his way to the door. He paused at the threshold. “One more thing. I seem to recall you and Regina flirting in Surrey last summer. Perhaps it should go without saying, but I expect you’ll keep your manner entirely professional while you’re under my roof.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Regina paced in front of the windows in her bedchamber. Daffin Oakleaf was coming to live here. Tonight. And staying with them through Christmastide. He’d be traveling with them to Surrey. She would be in proximity with him for the better part of a fortnight. It would have been a dream come true if it wasn’t a complete nightmare.

  She’d promised Nicole she wouldn’t run off, but at the moment, the only thought in Regina’s mind was grabbing her clothing, tossing it in her trunk, and jumping into a coach bound for Surrey. She couldn’t do that to Nicole, however.

  She must apologize again and set things to right (or as right as they could be) with Daffin. Then she would pretend it had never happened. She’d stay away from him. At least as far away as she could while they were under the same roof.

  The heavy brass doorknocker down in the foyer sounded once, twice. Regina flew from her bedchamber and down the corridor to the landing near the top of the stairs. She stood with her back to the wall, listening like a guilty eavesdropper, as the butler opened the door.

  “Good evening, Mr. Oakleaf,” Abbott intoned.

  “Good evening.” The sound of Daffin’s deep voice sent gooseflesh scattering along Regina’s skin. She poked her head around the corner.

  He stood in the foyer, a dark cloak covering his shoulders. He’d already doffed his hat and handed it to the butler. Next, he pulled his cloak from around his wide shoulders and handed that to the man too. His gloves were last. He was dressed in a red vest, black overcoat, gray breeches, and black boots. Oh, how he filled out those breeches. His blond hair was mussed from his hat, but it quickly fell back into place when he ran his long fingers through the strands. The smile on his face made her sigh. Drat. She was already half swooning over him and he’d barely made it into the house. This did not bode well for the next two weeks.