lies you told Vaughan. The poor chap will suffer in the navy anyway, so why kick him when he’s down?”
“Because if he believes Juliana loves him, he’ll return to take advantage of her. Vaughan must be forced to realize he’ll gain nothing by coming back.”
Overton shivered. “What if he still attempts it?”
“After the navy gets through with him, he won’t want to come near Wales.” He patted Overton’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, brother. He’ll struggle through the navy, slink off into some corner of the world with his tail between his legs, and thank his good fortune that he needn’t deal with us ever again.”
Overton chafed at his brother’s condescending tone. Rhys Vaughan hadn’t seemed that sort of man to him. “Well then, what if Morgan Pennant comes back? He looked rough.”
“A printer?” Darcy chuckled. “You certainly are spooked by shadows.”
“I just don’t understand why you said all that rot to him about his sweetheart and got him riled up. You told me you only wanted to rid the town of radicals.” He crossed his arms. “Now I wonder if you did this to get him out of the way, so you could have Lettice.”
Darcy glared at him. “I hope you don’t voice that theory to anyone but me, dear brother. Remember, when Father dies, I’ll hold the purse strings. And I never forget a slight. Do you understand me?”
Overton blanched. Darcy had never threatened him, but then, he’d never needed to. Overton had always deferred to his brother’s superior intellect. In return, Darcy had always made certain Overton received sufficient funds for hunting and gaming.
“Well?” Darcy prodded. “Say you’ll support me, no matter what.”
If Darcy wanted this so badly that he’d make threats to get it, Overton dared not cross him. “I’ll support you.”
“Come on, then.”
Moments later, they found the innkeeper and determined that Juliana hadn’t left her room. “I think she might have fallen asleep. ’Tis awful quiet up there.”
“Good.” Darcy gave the man more money and reminded him once again of the story he was to tell anyone who asked. “And be sure all those in your employ say the same.”
The three of them climbed the stairs. Darcy paused outside the door. “Remember, this is our first visit to the inn. We know nothing about Vaughan’s disappearance.”
When Overton nodded, Darcy gestured to the innkeeper to unlock the door. Then he threw the door open.
Juliana was asleep. But as soon as Darcy boomed out “Where is he?” she jolted awake.
Overton averted his face as she immediately sat up, exposing her nakedness. And though she scrambled to cover herself with the sheet, rage surged through him to see her obviously deflowered.
“Where is he?” Darcy, too, wore a tortured look as he strode inside and scanned the room. “Where’s that scoundrel Vaughan?”
Darcy was so convincing that Overton had to remind himself it was merely an act. Clutching the sheet to her chest, Juliana watched Darcy prowl the room with an expression of growing horror.
Darcy fixed her with a fierce gaze. “Where’s Rhys Vaughan, Juliana?”
She looked pitifully bewildered. “I-I don’t know. I fell asleep and then . . . What are you doing here? How did you know where to find us . . . I mean, me?”
“Mother found your note this morning, and we’ve been searching inns ever since. When we got here, the innkeeper said there was indeed a young couple staying here.” Darcy cast her sheet-wrapped body a look of contempt, and poor Juliana cringed. “I see we came too late to rescue you from that fortune hunter, but not too late to make him face the consequences. So tell us where he is! ”
“What time is it?” Juliana asked.
“Milord,” said the innkeeper, in keeping with Darcy’s instructions, “the maid told me Mr. Vaughan came downstairsa few hours ago and went out. She didn’t stay around to see him come in, and I assumed he was up here—”
“Where
“Because if he believes Juliana loves him, he’ll return to take advantage of her. Vaughan must be forced to realize he’ll gain nothing by coming back.”
Overton shivered. “What if he still attempts it?”
“After the navy gets through with him, he won’t want to come near Wales.” He patted Overton’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, brother. He’ll struggle through the navy, slink off into some corner of the world with his tail between his legs, and thank his good fortune that he needn’t deal with us ever again.”
Overton chafed at his brother’s condescending tone. Rhys Vaughan hadn’t seemed that sort of man to him. “Well then, what if Morgan Pennant comes back? He looked rough.”
“A printer?” Darcy chuckled. “You certainly are spooked by shadows.”
“I just don’t understand why you said all that rot to him about his sweetheart and got him riled up. You told me you only wanted to rid the town of radicals.” He crossed his arms. “Now I wonder if you did this to get him out of the way, so you could have Lettice.”
Darcy glared at him. “I hope you don’t voice that theory to anyone but me, dear brother. Remember, when Father dies, I’ll hold the purse strings. And I never forget a slight. Do you understand me?”
Overton blanched. Darcy had never threatened him, but then, he’d never needed to. Overton had always deferred to his brother’s superior intellect. In return, Darcy had always made certain Overton received sufficient funds for hunting and gaming.
“Well?” Darcy prodded. “Say you’ll support me, no matter what.”
If Darcy wanted this so badly that he’d make threats to get it, Overton dared not cross him. “I’ll support you.”
“Come on, then.”
Moments later, they found the innkeeper and determined that Juliana hadn’t left her room. “I think she might have fallen asleep. ’Tis awful quiet up there.”
“Good.” Darcy gave the man more money and reminded him once again of the story he was to tell anyone who asked. “And be sure all those in your employ say the same.”
The three of them climbed the stairs. Darcy paused outside the door. “Remember, this is our first visit to the inn. We know nothing about Vaughan’s disappearance.”
When Overton nodded, Darcy gestured to the innkeeper to unlock the door. Then he threw the door open.
Juliana was asleep. But as soon as Darcy boomed out “Where is he?” she jolted awake.
Overton averted his face as she immediately sat up, exposing her nakedness. And though she scrambled to cover herself with the sheet, rage surged through him to see her obviously deflowered.
“Where is he?” Darcy, too, wore a tortured look as he strode inside and scanned the room. “Where’s that scoundrel Vaughan?”
Darcy was so convincing that Overton had to remind himself it was merely an act. Clutching the sheet to her chest, Juliana watched Darcy prowl the room with an expression of growing horror.
Darcy fixed her with a fierce gaze. “Where’s Rhys Vaughan, Juliana?”
She looked pitifully bewildered. “I-I don’t know. I fell asleep and then . . . What are you doing here? How did you know where to find us . . . I mean, me?”
“Mother found your note this morning, and we’ve been searching inns ever since. When we got here, the innkeeper said there was indeed a young couple staying here.” Darcy cast her sheet-wrapped body a look of contempt, and poor Juliana cringed. “I see we came too late to rescue you from that fortune hunter, but not too late to make him face the consequences. So tell us where he is! ”
“What time is it?” Juliana asked.
“Milord,” said the innkeeper, in keeping with Darcy’s instructions, “the maid told me Mr. Vaughan came downstairsa few hours ago and went out. She didn’t stay around to see him come in, and I assumed he was up here—”
“Where
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