His Wicked Seduction novel Chapter 25

One floor below, Lucien and the other members of the League gazed up at the drawing room's ceiling. Arms crossed over his chest, he raised a brow as they listened to the strange noises from above.

There was a loud shriek, a thud, and hoots of unrestrained laughter.

"What the deuce is going on up there?" Charles asked.

"Probably jumping on the beds," Cedric grumbled.

"They're no longer children," said Lucien. "Someone should tell them."

"Do you suppose it was wise to leave them alone up there?" Godric asked. His head was tilted like a dog hearing strange sounds.

"They're fine." Now that he'd caught them up on more relevant events, Lucien had to bring them back to the point of the meeting. Lives were in danger. "Now, what are we going to do about this threat?"

"Waverly won't succeed," Cedric said with confidence. "We can defend ourselves."

"Nevertheless," said Godric, "it would be unwise if one of us wasn't keeping an eye on you and your sisters. Even if Waverly intends to kill you, they might get harmed in the crossfire."

"I don't intend to let them leave the house," said Cedric. "If they absolutely must, they'll have an escort."

"We mustn't forget how easily the defenses here were breached in the fall," Ashton reminded the others. "That was a close call with the man who stole Emily. This is a house, not a fortress."

Lucien vowed never to feel that helpless protecting Horatia.

But Cedric could not be pulled so easily from his previous source of rage. "Before we discuss Horatia, I need to defend Audrey from that damned bloody cur," Cedric shot a finger at Charles, "who seduced her in a bloody coach!"

"I did not seduce her, Cedric." Charles raised his hands in defense in case Cedric lunged at him again. "I warned you she ought to marry soon. You're lucky she came to me first. Another man might have actually taken advantage of her."

"Are you saying you didn't touch her?" Cedric demanded.

"Touch? Yes, but I didn't kiss her. She asked for my assistance to make her look compromised."

"Look compromised? You bastard!" Cedric looked ready to go after Charles again. "Women have been ruined for such a thing as a lustful glance, and you go and muss up my sister? What if word got out to the Quizzing Glass of her appearance? Then she would never find a suitor."

Ashton stepped between the two of them, throwing up a hand to prevent Cedric from advancing.

"Come now, gentlemen." Ashton's steely tone stopped the two men. "Do we need to solve this in a ring?"

"I wouldn't recommend that," Godric said with a wry grin. "But if it does come to it, I'll stake ten pounds on Charles."

Both Cedric and Charles shared cautious looks with one another before declining, perhaps in part because none of the others would take that bet. Ashton dropped his hand when he seemed satisfied that Cedric would not resume trying to kill Charles. Lucien gave a sigh of relief. He had no desire to jump between his friends. Charles was a champion boxer and Lucien didn't want a blackened eye simply because he'd try to impose peace. If Ashton wished to risk his face, that was entirely up to him.

Jonathan, who had lingered at the edge of the group, suddenly spoke up. "Is this how all of your League meetings go? Perhaps we might focus ourselves back on the real problem and the importance of protecting the ladies."

Ashton turned to Cedric, his voice hard. "Quite right, Jonathan. Back to the matter at hand. I think it would be best, Cedric, if you take Horatia and Audrey away from London, at least until the rest of us sort this out."

What other choice did he have though?

"Fine," Lucien said with poor grace. "I will go with Cedric."

He didn't want to spend hours in a coach with Horatia, and he certainly did not want to be stuck at his estate with her over the holidays. It was worse knowing that his mother would be there. She had an irritating way of meddling in his affairs, and he feared she would interfere with Horatia. His mother had a soft spot for the Sheridans, Horatia in particular. Letting his mother near Horatia would be more trouble than he wanted to deal with.

"When should we leave?" Cedric asked Ashton.

"As soon as possible. Do you think your sisters could be ready by first light?"

Cedric barked out a harsh laugh. "First light tomorrow? Absolutely not. You must at least give Audrey a day to pack or the little devil will harass me about it all the way to Kent."

"A day then, but I want the lot of you packed and in your carriages before the sun rises." Ashton was deadly serious. "Godric and I will go tomorrow morning to the Midnight Garden and see if we can't catch the two men from last night at their arranged time. I'd like to see for myself if there is any proof it was Waverly. We need to know what we're up against."

"Now that's all settled," Cedric growled, "would all of you mind getting the hell out of my house?"

"Capital idea," Godric said. His eyes then drifted to the ceiling.

"It's awfully quiet up there," Jonathan observed.

"Too quiet," Lucien agreed. Suddenly anxious, the six men proceeded out of the drawing room and up the stairs towards Horatia's room. The door was still locked. Lucien leaned against the wood and listened. Not a sound came from within.