The Prince's Bride by Victoria Alexander Read Free Book Online

in Becky’s voice. “Don’t you see? It was a trap and Jocelyn was the ...” Realization dawned on Becky’s face. “Oh my,” she murmured and dropped back on the sofa.
    “Bad move, old man,” Thomas said under his breath.
    “The bait?” Jocelyn’s eyes widened and her voice rose. She got to her feet. “You used me—”
    “Not really,” Beaumont said quickly.
    “As bait?” She stared in stunned disbelief and stepped closer. “Like cheese for a mouse? Or a rat dangled before a cat?”
    “Not deliberately.” He held up a hand. “However, I knew there was a possibility—”
    “Why didn’t you tell me?” Her voice had an odd, high sound suspiciously close to a scream but she didn’t care.
    “Why would I?” He stepped to her and gripped her shoulders. She tried to pull away but he held her tight. “Look at me,” he ordered. She stared up into his eyes. Dark and endless and, God help her, to be trusted. “What would you have done if I told you?”
    “I don’t know. I could have—”
    “You could have done nothing.” His tone was firm. “Absolutely nothing. You simply would have been scared.”
    “More frightened than I was already? That’s hardly possible.” She jerked free and turned away, wrapping her arms around herself. “I have been terrified since it happened.”
    “Oh dear, Jocelyn.” Marianne stood and crossed the room to Jocelyn and enfolded her sister in her arms. “You should have told me.”
    “And you should have told me,” Thomas said to Beaumont.
    Beaumont blew a long breath. “I was going to tell you in the morning. Though we were at the ready, I honestly did not expect anything to happen tonight.”
    “It scarcely matters.” Marianne stroked Jocelyn’s hair much as she had when they were very small. And now, as then, Jocelyn’s fears eased. “It’s all over now.”
    No one said a word.
    “Thomas?” Marianne’s question hung in the air.
    Jocelyn pulled free from her sister and swiveled toward the men. “It is over, isn’t it?”
    Beaumont and Thomas exchanged glances.
    “Is it over, Rand?” Thomas asked in a sober voice that chilled her blood.
    “I don’t know,” Beaumont said simply. “I wish I did.”
    “Then what do you propose we do?” Aunt Louella’s tone was matter-of-fact, as if they were discussing a matter of no more importance than the daily menu.
    “First of all, we shall have to make sure she’s protected.” Thomas drummed his fingers on the mantel. “There is an army of servants on staff here and I shall alert them to deny entrance to strangers. I can also hire additional—”
    “It’s not enough,” Beaumont said slowly. His gaze met Jocelyn’s. “She will be in danger as long as she remains in London.”
    “Then she shall leave London immediately,” Thomas said firmly. “We shall take her to the country. We’d planned to leave for Effington Hall in a few days anyway. We shall simply go at once.”
    “No.” Beaumont’s tone was hard and unequivocal. “As long as she is with you, you are all in danger. Any one of you could have been shot tonight.”
    “That does make it all somewhat less exciting, doesn’t it,” Becky said with a sigh. “It would be rather annoying to be shot by accident.”
    Marianne cast her an irritated look.
    “Well, it would,” Becky muttered.
    Marianne ignored the younger girl. “Besides, Effington Hall would be the first place anyone would look for her.”
    “I could go home then.” Jocelyn looked from face to face, hoping to find a glimmer of agreement anywhere. “To Shelbrooke Manor. There’s no one there but the servants and with Richard still away no one would ever think I would—”
    “Shelbrooke Manor is as obvious as Effington Hall,” Thomas pointed out. “We need to find a place unconnected to her. To any of us.”
    “Then there is nothing else to be done.” Aunt Louella folded her hands in her lap and directed her words to Beaumont. “You shall take charge of