Mine Till Midnight (The Hathaways, #1)

by Lisa Kleypas

“We shall begin by eliminating the places Leo would not go,” she said. “Churches, museums, places of higher learning, and polite neighborhoods are naturally out of the question.” “That still leaves most of the city,” Merripen grumbled.

“We should probably start with taverns,” Amelia continued. Merripen gave her a dark glance. “Do you know how many taverns there are in London?” “No, but I’m certain I will by the time the night is out.” “We’re not going to start with taverns. We’ll go where Leo is likely to find the most trouble.” “And that would be?” “Jenner’s.”

“Sir, we’ve come to ask you a question or two regarding—” “I don’t like questions.” “I am looking for my brother, Lord Ramsay,” she continued doggedly, “and I desperately need any information you may possess as to his whereabouts.” “I wouldn’t tell you even if I knew.” “I assure you, sir, I wouldn’t put myself nor anyone else to the trouble were it not absolutely necessary. But this is the third day since my brother has gone missing—” “Not my problem.” Rohan turned toward the door. “—he tends to fall in with bad company—” “That’s unfortunate.” “—he could be dead by now.” “I can’t help you. I wish you luck in your search.”

“We’re not as helpless as all that,” she protested. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of the family … and so is Leo. When he’s sober.” “When would that be?” His bland tone made the question all the more sarcastic.

“I’ve seen those well-dressed gentlemen do things that would make you faint to hear of them.”

“Sweetheart,” he said with a softness that undercut the noise of the crowd, “I may be the one you most need protection from.”

This hooked me

His formerly fit body was paunchy, and the visible portion of his neck was bloated. There was still a long way to go before Leo was in total ruins, but he seemed determined to hasten the process.

Leo surprised her by bending to brush a light kiss on her forehead. “You haven’t met a man worth giving up your independence for. But you will someday.” He grinned before adding, “Despite your encroaching old age.”

“There’s work to be done, ma’am,” Freddie commented, bending to pluck a tall weed from between two paving bricks. “Freddie, you’re a master of understatement.”

“I draw the line at pets with scales.” Beatrix stared at her mutinously. “The sand lizard is a native species of Hampshire—which means Spot has more right to be here than we do.” “Nevertheless, we will not be cohabiting.”

“Impressive, Rohan. You covered a distance of fifty yards in no more than five or six seconds.” “I would hardly miss a chance to leap on a beautiful woman,”

“I don’t have moments of weakness. Not that kind, at any rate.” His laughter curled around her like a drift of smoke. “You will.”

No, it must be that he was mocking her, trying to make her look foolish. And if there was one thing she feared in life more than bees, it was appearing foolish.

The company’s director used his investment to acquire the patent rights for the vulcanization process, and they invented these little stretchy scraps of tubing called rubber bands.

Leo had his faults, certainly, but he was nothing if not loyal.

“You deserve a hell of a lot better. Just remember that if he comes sniffing around your heels again.”

“I don’t want a percentage of the profits,” Cam had said, thumbing through the passbook without interest. “My salary is fine.” “Your salary wouldn’t cover the annual cost of my bootblacking.”

“If we were eating together, I would offer you the choicest bites of meat. The soft inside of the bread. The sweetest sections of fruit.”

“If I study anything,” Leo drawled, “it will be the bottom of a good bottle of port. The Ramsay tenants have proven their ability to thrive on neglect—they clearly don’t need my involvement.”

“Miss Hathaway,” he said gently. “Do I make you nervous?” She brought herself to look up at him. “No,” she said immediately. “No, of course you—yes. Yes, you do.” The night deepened—one of the torches had burned out—and the conversation devolved into something halting and broken and delicious, like pieces of barley sugar melting on the tongue. “I would never hurt you,” Cam said. “I know. It’s not that—”

“Only … who will create another distraction if Leo starts being disagreeable again?” “I will,” Cam assured her gravely. “I can be shocking at a moment’s notice.”

“You know, if I have to keep rescuing you like this,” Cam Rohan remarked casually, “we really should discuss some kind of reward.”

“I can help.” He leaned a shoulder against the wall, smiling. “I’m good with my hands.”

“I don’t think I could fall asleep that way.” She felt his hand playing slowly in the loose locks of her hair. “You could.” His voice was soft. “I’d help you.”

“Why are you on the floor with your buttons undone?” Amelia considered the question. “I decided to have a spontaneous tryst in the middle of the hallway with a man I hardly know.”

“What are you doing here?” “It seems I’m helping with pest eradication.” “Then you can begin by leaving,” Merripen growled.

“My family will worry if I don’t rejoin them soon.” “They know you’re with me.” “That’s why they’ll worry,” she said, making him laugh.

“Forgive me. I shouldn’t make assumptions. It’s just that the ring on your finger … Cam’s worn it since he was twelve years old.”

“Say yes, and save me from ever having to spend a night with another woman. I’ll sleep indoors. I’ll get a haircut. God help me, I think I’d even carry a pocket watch if it pleased you.”

“I’ve been waiting my entire life for Amelia to stray from the straight and narrow. Now that it’s happened, I’m going to enjoy it.”

“If you hurt her in any way,” Merripen said, “I’m going to kill you.” “I won’t.” “I may kill you anyway.” Cam smiled slightly. “You’d be surprised how many people have said that to me before.” “No,” Merripen said, “I wouldn’t.”

“You can’t lie with me twice and then refuse to marry me.” Cam lowered his head to kiss her ear and worked his way to the little hollow behind her earlobe. “I’ll feel so cheap.”

“Either drop that bar,” Cam said quietly, “or I’ll dislocate your arm.” To his disappointment, Frost set the bar on the ground.

Feeling overwhelmed, Amelia thought in despair, I’ve failed. The house is gone, Leo is missing or dead, Merripen is injured, Win is ill, Beatrix is going to prison, and Poppy is doomed to spinsterhood. But what she said was, “Merripen first,” and strode briskly from the room with Poppy at her heels.

But somehow, she knew Christopher’s search for Leo would be halfhearted at best.

But Merripen sensed an intent in her, a strange deliberateness, and the idea came to him that she was giving him an overdose on purpose. His exhausted mind weighed the possibility. It must be that Win wanted to spare him more suffering, knowing the hours and days to come were beyond his endurance. Killing him with morphine was the last act of kindness she could offer him.

“Go to sleep,” Cam whispered. “We’ll start arguing again in the morning. For now, love, dream of something sweet.”

“Never be afraid to hope. It’s the only way to begin.”

“Any man,” she muttered, “who wanted to marry into the Hathaway family after this should be shut away in an institution.” “Marriage is an institution,” he said reasonably, retrieving her gown from the floor.

“I know, darling,” he said gently. “I know what you want and what you don’t want. I know you wish I could be better than this. But I’m not.”