Secrets for Seducing a Royal Bodyguard by Vanessa Kelly Page B

dangerous armed criminals.”
    The pain faded from her gaze as one eyebrow slowly lifted in a sardonic arch. No one could do that better than she and he couldn’t help giving her a sheepish grin.
    Her mouth twitched. “Very well, but I still suppose you could give your mamma a kiss. It’s been ages since I’ve seen you.”
    As he bent to kiss her, the familiar scent of rosewater teased his nostrils. An indefinable emotion ticked through his chest, as it always did when she showed him affection. If he was forced to identify it, he might call it . . . regret.
    When he straightened, she ran an assessing gaze over him. “I take it you suffered no harm?”
    “I’m fine. Just tired.”
    Dominic crossed to the bell pull. “I’ll ring for tea.”
    Aden cast him a startled glance. “Shouldn’t we get Lady Vivien back home as soon as possible? It won’t be long before there’s activity on the streets.” Already the gray light of dawn was filtering through the shutters across the long casement windows.
    “Be that as it may, I would very much like a cup of tea,” snapped the object in question. “Surely fifteen minutes one way or the other won’t make a difference. And I’m parched.”
    Grumpy, more like it, Aden thought as he studied her pinched brow. He smiled at her, but that simply made her pretty mouth turn down in an irritated curve.
    He gave up and looked at Dominic. “What’s the plan, then? Bring her home in broad daylight and pretend nothing happened? I can’t imagine that’ll work.”
    “Don’t fuss, Aden,” his mother said. “Of course Vivien may have a cup of tea, and a nice wash and change of clothes, too.”
    “Well, that’s putting me in my place,” he replied.
    His mother narrowed her eyes at him as if she might put him over her knee and paddle him. Aden rubbed the spot between his brows, wondering if the day could grow any more bizarre.
    Fortunately, there was a tap on the door and Smithwell, Dominic’s butler, came into the room. He acknowledged Aden with a respectful bow and then crossed to the women.
    “Lady Thornbury, your maid has arrived with Lady Vivien’s things. She’s waiting to help her ladyship upstairs, in the guest bedroom.”
    “Why not my maid?” Lady Vivien asked, looking puzzled. “And why isn’t my mother here?”
    “We sent her home last night,” Dominic answered as he moved to his desk. “There was no reason for her to remain all night, keeping vigil.”
    Lady Vivien pressed her lips together, as if struggling to maintain her composure. “And yet Lady Thornbury elected to stay,” she finally said.
    Aden’s gut twisted with sympathy at the quiet pain in her voice. Obviously, he wasn’t the only one with family problems.
    His mother smoothly intervened. “Your dear mamma was hysterical, Vivien. Both Sir Dominic and I thought it best she go home and rest. She hasn’t left her bedroom, and we’ve put it about that she has a cold. Since she couldn’t control her distress, it was for the best.”
    “Yes, I can imagine,” Lady Vivien replied in a colorless voice.
    The way the life had drained from her made Aden want to smash something.
    “Come, my dear,” said his mother, helping her to her feet. “My girl will help you get changed and Smithwell will bring you a nice cup of tea. By the time you’re finished, we’ll be ready to take you home.”
    Lady Vivien nodded, letting Aden’s mother guide her toward the door. As she passed Aden, she looked up at him, her gaze shadowed with a weary sadness.
    “Will you still be here when I come back?” she asked with the tiniest quaver.
    Unable to resist the impulse, he touched her kitten-soft cheek, momentarily forgetting everyone else in the room. There was only Vivien and what she needed from him. “Yes, I’ll be here. There’s nothing to worry you. I promise all will be well.”
    She gave him a trembling smile, then let Smithwell usher her out of the room.
    Once the door closed behind her, a heavy silence