That consideration brought a scowl to her face and Lisa began to wring her hands fretfully. He would wonder why a supposed lady did not have even a maid with her for this journey too, she realized and thought perhaps she should tell the driver to turn back. Once back at Radnor, she could send him to the door to ask for Bet rather than risk getting caught and cornered by Robert. Or maybe she should call this off altogether and ask Richard to handle it. But that would mean probably waiting until the next day . . . another day and night with Robert there, kissing and caressing her, tempting her to do things she really shouldn’t.

No, she wanted a guard now. She wanted Robert gone now. Lisa wasn’t even sure Richard would be willing to hire a guard for her that would remove the necessity of Robert’s staying at Radnor. Richard might not agree that he should leave. After all, he knew she’d slept with Robert.

Her eyes widened. Richard knew she’d slept with Robert. They all did. Why the devil was no one insisting that they had to marry? Every single one of them should be screaming for that, but especially Richard. She was an unmarried young woman, a member of nobility and his sister-in-law, and had been ruined in his care under his own roof. He should be squawking and roaring and demanding Robert make things right.

The fact that he wasn’t was rather shocking now that she thought on it. It also made her suspect that there was something afoot here that she didn’t understand. Was he in cahoots with Robert? And hoping the man would talk her into marriage so he didn’t have to demand it?

Lisa‘s thoughts died as the carriage slowed to a halt. She sat forward in her seat and peered out the window, grimacing when she saw the dilapidated area they were in. She hadn’t recognized the address for the runner when Tibald had mentioned it during one of the afternoon teas. He’d hired the fellow to track down a thief who had stolen some jewels from his country estate. Fascinated, Lisa had asked several questions about the runner, and, eager to entertain her, Tibald had told her everything there was to tell, including the man’s address. He had also mentioned what a run-down area it was in, but she’d got the sense of just a poorer section of town, not this distressing, dingy street with buildings that looked ready to fall down and groups of men standing in shadows and on corners looking menacing and dangerous.