She hesitated as if she’d expected him to decline.
Teaching his little terrier about pleasure?
This was going to be fun.
Chapter Twelve
As Lilah entered the breakfast room the next morning, Dexter was already there. His dark gaze followed her as she approached the buffet. The hour was late for Dexter, who was usually at his business premises by now.
She spooned scrambled eggs onto her plate, then sat at the table.
“Brother, do you have a particular reason for being here at this hour?” she asked.
“I wish to speak to you regarding Molineux.”
Her cheeks warmed under his scrutiny.
“Why?”
“I think you know,” he said. “Why else do you bear the expression of a child with its fingers caught in the sweetmeats?”
Her heart sank. Had someone heard her last night? Or had Thea betrayed her?
She pushed her plate aside. The fork clattered onto the table, splattering eggs onto the tablecloth. A footman rushed forward and removed the offending items.
Dexter frowned. “You do believe in making life hard for the servants, don’t you? Mrs. Harris will now have to waste her time removing that stain when she has better things to do with her day.”
“I can clean it myself,” Lilah said.
“That’s not the point.”
“No, Dex, the point is that Thea’s been spying on me.”
“What on earth has your sister got to do with this?” Dexter asked.
So, Thea hadn’t ratted her out. Then, who?
“Who’ve you been speaking to?” she asked.
“The man himself,” Dexter said. “He came to ask my permission for you to visit his estate in Scotland. He said you’d already agreed to go.”
“Did someone mention Scotland?” a voice asked. Thea entered the room, helped herself to eggs, and sat at the end of the table opposite Dexter.
“Molineux has invited our sister to Scotland next month,” Dexter said.
Thea froze. “Oh, has he? I trust you refused.”
“Thea, why don’t you keep your pointy little nose out of my affairs,” Lilah said.
“Delilah Hart, there’s no call for such incivility,” Dexter growled. “We have a difficult enough time being accepted in society without you and your wild tongue.”
“We know nothing about him,” Thea said. “He has the look of a debaucher. Dexter, you must refuse.”
“I’ve already given my permission,” Dexter said. “He’s not one to accept denial easily. I agreed, provided he observed propriety. Sarah will, of course, attend you on the journey, Delilah, and Molineux’s promised that his mother will act as chaperone during your visit.”
“I don’t need a maid,” Lilah said. “I can look after myself.”
“Either you take Sarah, or I’ll hire the most cantankerous dowager I can find to accompany you from the moment you leave the house until you return,” Dexter said. “I’ve already told Molineux I’ll cut his balls off with a butter knife if he compromises you, but don’t think I won’t punish you either.”
“And what did he say?” Lilah asked.
The corner of Dexter’s mouth twitched into a smile before the stern expression returned. “He promised that if he returned you with a hair out of place, he’d offer his…” he hesitated, “…his full complement of manly parts on a silver platter for me to hang in the garden for the titmice to peck at.”
Lilah spluttered her tea, contorting her face with the effort not to laugh.
“In return for granting my permission, you must do me a favor,” Dexter said.
“Which is what?”
“I want you to visit his distillery,” he said. “I’d like to know if it exists and whether it’s as productive as he’s told me.”
“You’re interested in whisky?”
“Perhaps,” Dexter said. “He’s looking to consolidate his loans, and I’d like to know if he’d make a sound investment.”
“You want me to snoop?” She shook her head. “I can’t do that.”
“Delilah, I’m placing a lot of trust in you by giving my permission for this trip,” he said. “I’m asking very little in return.”
“Very well, I’ll tell you what I see,” she said, “but I won’t be dishonest about it. If he asks me why, I’ll tell him.”
“It’s not dishonesty,” he said. “It’s due diligence. And it may be a means by which I can help him.”
“Help yourself, you mean,” Lilah said. “I’ve never known you to indulge in acts of philanthropy.”
“I still don’t trust the man,” Thea said. “Why should he issue an invitation to you, Delilah?”
“Is my company so abhorrent that I ought never to be issued an invitation?” Lilah asked.
“Of course not,” Thea replied. “I only asked if he had a particular reason.”
Lilah blushed. “When I accused him of being too frivolous, he said I should enjoy life more. He’s agreed to help me with Mrs. Forbes at her establishment, and in return, I agreed to visit Scotland.”
“He’s trying to ingratiate himself,” Thea said.
“I don’t think so,” Lilah replied. “I believe he’s genuine. He’s attending Mrs. Forbes today.”
Thea let out a laugh. “He won’t be there, Delilah,” she said. “You’ve been played for a fool.”
Lilah stood and pushed her chair back. “We shall see.”
“Stay where you are, Delilah.”
Lilah stopped at Dexter’s voice, which resonated with the tone he used when about to admonish or dismiss a servant.
“What is it, Dex?”
“There’s another condition of your going.”
“Let me guess,” she said. “You want me to have as dull a time as possible?”
He sighed, and for a moment, she caught a glimpse of tenderness in his eyes before the usual stern expression returned.
“No,” he said. “I want you to take care. Though he seems an honorable man, he is a Molineux. And I, for one, will never forget what his predecessor did when you were a child. Make sure you are chaperoned at all times.”
“Of course.” She rolled her eyes. “This is about propriety again, isn’t it?”
“No,” Dexter said. “It’s about the concern of a loving brother.”
Perhaps Dexter was in possession of a heart, after all.
*
“Might I have a word, Your Grace?”
Fraser looked up from the pile of silverware he was polishing with Miss Hart, to the woman standing at the kitchen door, the owner of the establishment Miss Hart had brought him to. She wore a plain dark blue gown and an apron covered in stains. Her iron-gray hair was tucked into a cap. Dark brown eyes watched him, suspicion in their expression.
“Mrs. Forbes,” Miss Hart said, “I’ve already vouched for…”
“Delilah,” the woman interrupted, “I must hear it from his own lips and make up my own mind. I’ve learned, to my cost, the folly of taking something on trust. Perhaps you could tend to Rose’s children while I have a word with him?”