The Bachelor Bargain (Secrets, Scandals, and Spies) by Michaels, Maddison (short books to read TXT) 📕

“Dewhurst Manor?” Livie exclaimed. She stood from her seat next to Charlotte, grabbed her cane from beside her, and walked over to Sebastian’s desk. Obviously, she’d been paying keen attention to his conversation with Rowan. “But doesn’t that property belong to your half brother, the Duke of Dalkeith? I’m sure I remember going there with my parents as a girl for one of their fox hunts.”

“It used to be his. But it’s not anymore,” Seb replied.

“It’s not?” Livie looked thoroughly curious.

“Let’s just say he needed funds and was happy to offload the place to me,” he informed her. “I made use of the opportunity. After all, it’s rather difficult to come by grand estates. They don’t often go on sale, and I’d always wanted a property in Cambridge. Worked out well, actually. You’ll enjoy spending a few days there. The country air is so much more refreshing than here in London.”

“I’ve already told you I cannot travel with you to the country.” Livie squared her shoulders, almost as if she were entering a battle.

Seb pushed back his chair and rubbed his temples. Of course, she was going to continue to be difficult over the matter. When was she not difficult? “So, we’re back to this topic again, are we?”

“We had not actually finished discussing the topic in the first place,” she pertly informed him.

Seb pressed his lips together. “As I explained to you then and will explain to you now, I need to see you both safely out of London, at least until this threat has been contained.” He was amazed at how patient he sounded when all he wanted to do was shake the gravity of the situation into her. “Surely, a few nights at my country estate will be fine, considering it is being done to keep you safe, and indeed will provide the perfect protection against this man, as I will be able to see him and his men if they so much as try anything.”

“I appreciate that might be the case,” Livie conceded. “And I know you are only trying to protect me, but I still cannot go.”

“Why the devil not?” Seb felt his jaw begin to clench.

“You know perfectly well why I cannot do such a thing. My father and brothers would never allow it, and as preoccupied as they all are with their own lives, I do think they will notice if I’m gone for several days.”

“Well, you traipse about London at all hours on your own, and that doesn’t seem to trouble them.”

He could see Charlotte and Rowan in the background watching their argument with equal expressions of interest and awe. It was rare to ever see anyone stand up and argue with him, as he knew only too well, and had definitely taken for granted.

“That is because they have no idea of what I am up to.” Livie crossed her arms over her chest. “A carriage ride across town is one thing, but traveling to the country and residing under your roof for a few nights, alone and without a chaperone, is a very different story. And to pretend you are not fully aware of the ramifications of doing so is being obtuse.”

“Obtuse?” He, too, crossed his arms over his chest, mirroring her physical position. “What? You think they’d make you marry me if they found out? Now that is amusing, as it is the very last thing they’d ever do.”

“I still cannot go.” Her eyes were sparkling in defiance.

The woman was being difficult. Purposefully difficult, especially when there was a madman on the loose.

“Can’t Charlotte be your chaperone?” He was losing patience and fast.

“My goodness, you are like a dog with a bone.” Livie leaned heavily on her cane and shook her head fiercely. “No, she cannot be my chaperone. She is younger than I am and unmarried in the bargain.”

“You are a frustrating woman.”

“And you are a frustrating man.”

They stood glaring at each other, trying to stare the other down.

He realized belatedly he’d never actually had an argument with a woman before, or that in doing so, he felt invigorated and somewhat liberated, too.

Generally, in the face of an upset woman, even with his sister, he felt no anger or upset. But not so with Livie. The woman was damn well getting under his skin and making him behave in a manner he was unfamiliar with.

“What about Livie’s godmother?” Charlotte’s voice was filled with calm reason as she stood and wandered over to where they stood. “Wouldn’t Lady Calder be a suitable chaperone? If anything, she’ll provide great amusement with her acerbic tongue.”

Livie paused, her forehead furrowed in contemplation. “Well, of course she would be more than suitable. But she would never agree. It would be too scandalous. And besides”—she looked up at Seb—“how would I explain you?”

Seb turned to Rowan. “Go and fetch the duchess, and if the lady won’t come, tell her that her goddaughter will be carted off to the country by the Bastard of Baker Street without any chaperone if she doesn’t come immediately, and I mean immediately.”

Rowan nodded and headed for the door.

“He can’t tell her that!” Livie exclaimed. “She’s going to have your head when she does arrive, you do know that, don’t you?”

“Perhaps, but she will agree to accompany us,” Seb stated. “Particularly after I explain the situation to her. Your godmother may well be a veritable dragon, but she’s a canny lady and she will listen to reason, unlike yourself, my dear.”

“And how will we explain your presence in all of this? I haven’t told her I’ve gone into a partnership with the Bastard of Baker Street, after all.” Livie could only imagine what her aunt would say to such a thing.

“Tell her the truth that both you and Charlotte were kidnapped today after you attended the modiste, and that Charlotte’s brother is ensuring you are both protected by having me around until the villain is apprehended. And obviously you both need a chaperone to accompany