No Marriage Of Convenience - No Marriage Of Convenience Part 16
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No Marriage Of Convenience Part 16

furious expression said two things-that he hadn't caught her assailants, and that her deception regarding

this latest threat on her life was inexcusable.

Lord Ashlin turned to her, his voice low and rumbling with emotion. "How long has this been going on?"

"It isn't any of your concern," she told him.

"It is now." Lord Ashlin made an impatient noise in the back of his throat.

Aggie stepped forward. "I think you should tell him."

She shook her head.

Lord Ashlin turned to Hashim. "Then I will get the story from him."

"My lord, he can't talk," she said, for once relieved of Hashim's silence."Yes, but I can." And with that, Lord Ashlin began to speak in a language she'd never heard. Butapparently Hashim had, for his eyes lit up at the sound of what must have been his native tongue, andthrough nods and shakes of his head and holding up his fingers, in no time the Earl had the entire story.

"What did he say, Mason?" Cousin Felicity demanded when they finished their odd conversation with a

bow to each other.

"He said that the lady is in grave danger, and that every day she spends here puts her life in greater jeopardy." He turned to Riley. "Would you say that is a fair account?"

She nodded, shooting an angry glance at Hashim, who stood shoulder to shoulder with the Earl, his arms

crossed over his bare chest, utterly ignoring her.

The turncoat!

Cousin Felicity pulled out her handkerchief, worrying the poor thing between her fingers. "Then there is

only one thing to be done."

"And what is that, Cousin?" he asked.

Riley was sure she wasn't going to like the answer.

"This dear girl must move in to Ashlin House so we may keep her safe."

Shooting a glance at Lord Ashlin, she thought for sure his face would reflect the same shock she felt at

such an outrageous suggestion.

But the man's jaw set in a line of grim determination. "For once, Cousin, you and I are of the same mind."

Riley's head still spun at the speed with which her move to Ashlin House had taken place. Once the Earl

had set his mind to changing her residence, there was no countermanding the man's order.Not that she'd had any help from Aggie or Hashim. Both had firmly set their feet in Lord Ashlin's campand refused to surrender to her arguments that the move was unnecessary.

She didn't want the Earl's protection, and she certainly didn't want to be living under the same roof as this enigmatic man who found her tolerable...especially when she found him...well, she didn't know how she found him.

Vexing, most decidedly. And when he'd kissed her...She shook her head. The last thing she needed to be doing was thinking about the Earl's kisses.But there were other matters that needed to be settled, her attendance at rehearsals for one thing. Gaining the girls' acceptance for another. Especially since they hadn't taken her temporary arrival in their midst

very well.

Leaving her room, Riley made her way downstairs in search of Lord Ashlin. When she reached the entrance foyer, she froze at the sight of the man Belton was escorting out.

As the door closed, she asked the butler, "What was he doing here?"

The man gave her his usual pained expression, as if talking to her was truly beneath his station. "You know that person?"

"Yes," she said. "What was he doing here?"

"Why does it not surprise me that he is acquainted with you?" he muttered more to himself as he turned

away and started down the hall.

"Fine," she muttered, her temper rising at the man's imperious treatment. "I'll just ask Mason." This brought the butler to a halt. He slowly turned around and stared at her.

She winked at the crusty old Scot and bustled past him toward the Earl's study. "I'm sure Mason will tell

me everything."She glanced over her shoulder and watched the butler's mouth fall open at her familiar use of Lord Ashlin's Christian name, a freedom she had no right to, but let the butler determine that on his own. It wouldprobably put his overly tight drawers in a knot for the rest of the day.

Continuing down the hall, she threw open the door to Lord Ashlin's study without even knocking. He and Hashim were at his desk, going over some paperwork.

"What was my Runner doing here?" she asked.

"Hashim brought him here, but if I were you, I wouldn't worry about him any longer," Lord Ashlin said.

"I just relieved him of his duties."

Riley's ill-humor flared into a hot temper. "You did what?"

"The man is incompetent. I sent him packing." Lord Ashlin went back to his list, while Riley stood there, her foot tapping out a staccato beat. "Was there something else you wanted?"

She ignored him and turned to Hashim. "You let him do this? You went behind my back and let him do

this. How could you?"The pair gave her no regard."Do you have everything you need?" Lord Ashlin asked him.Hashim nodded, then bowed slightly to Lord Ashlin and left the room, as if she weren't even there."What have you done to him?" she asked Lord Ashlin. "You've turned him against me.""Hardly," he told her, gathering up his papers and placing them in a drawer out of sight. "Mr. Hashim is very concerned about your welfare, as am I. We've decided to work together to bring this matter to a

speedy resolution."

A speechless Saracen and an Oxford professor! They thought they could do what a professional Runner had been unable to do.

Riley closed her eyes and counted silently to ten. "This is none of your concern," she protested, even

though she could see her words were falling on deaf ears.

"I disagree. As long as you live in my house, you are under my protection and my concern." He straightened and folded his hands behind his back, looking every inch the professor rather than the protector.

His protection. Did he even know what that meant? Certainly he had saved her once, but even he had admitted it had been more accident than skill.

What if the next men her unknown enemy sent weren't as cowardly as Clyde and his inept partner?

She glanced over at the Earl. The steely gleam in his determined gaze told her he was going to remain resistant to her every argument.

She decided to try another angle. "You can't afford this."

"Actually, by firing that nitwit you were wasting money on, I am saving you a healthy purse." He smiled at her, as if daring her to try another charge. "With more money in your coffers, you should be able to repay me that much quicker."

Riley crossed her arms over her chest.

Damn the man. How dare he turn this into a joke, when his life may be at stake! Hashim she didn't worry

about overly much, for she had seen him on more than one occasion defend them in the rougher corners of Covent Garden-but Lord Ashlin?

What experience did he have in these matters?

"You can either stand there in a temper," he told her, "or you can help us. While Hashim is a valuable

partner, I think you hold the key to why someone would want you dead."

She stared at him in disbelief. "Are you suggesting I know who is doing this?"

"Yes. Though you may not realize it."

That was the most ludicrous notion she had ever heard.

Lord Ashlin sat back down at his desk. Pulling out several sheaves of paper and catching up his pen, he