It was highly suspicious and bothersome as to why the earl's man of business was consorting with these rough types, and Lucy searched her mind for a plausible reason.
It was just as well that Caroline asked the one question that was currently plaguing her thoughts.
"Do you think he is in trouble, Miss Lucy?"
"Frankly, that's all I've been thinking for the past few seconds," Lucy admitted, as she moved as close to men as possible. The noise coming from inside the drinking establishment, and the street, made it quite difficult to hear what was being said, but she could make out a few words.
"Maybe he gambled and lost some money, and these men are after him to pay back?" Caroline's unsure voice broke through Lucy's concentration as she strained to make sense of the words being spoken.
What in the world does ' posting letters' and a 'bawdry affair' have in common? Is Edmund uncovering an affair or hiding one? Is he here for the earl—or for himself?
"The solicitor doesn't seem like a man who'd lose himself to the card table, but stranger things have happened." Caroline's tone held traces of disappointment, which Lucy understood and couldn't fault her for jumping to conclusions.
A good number of men had succumbed to the weak urges of repetitive gambling, all with the notion that they'd get better and amass a good deal of money and in some cases, properties, but each time they sank deeper into the vice.
But Lucy didn't believe Edmund gambled, or had lost money. He looked like someone who had a good head on his shoulders, and was so self-contained, it bordered on unhealthy, especially when she couldn't help wondering where all those unseen passions went when they got overwhelming.
At least she knew where hers went—she staved off her loneliness with an unbelievable amount of sewing, gardening, and speaking to her mother in her head.
Edmund, on the other hand, was an enigma. He often seemed preoccupied and worried, but she didn't think it had anything to do with gambling, but rather his recent and frequent visits to the earl's office.
Lucy couldn't figure out what it all meant, and the words floating from the men were faint and too scattered to enable her to piece things together properly. Yet, she couldn't help being troubled as she sneaked a little peek in time to catch a wretched expression steal into the solicitor's face as one of the men began to laugh in a particularly disturbing manner and the other gave a shout of glee, and clapped Edmund's back in a most inappropriate manner.
It is normal to be concerned about a friend or acquaintance, she told herself. The earl is a terrible man, and it's only moral and human that I'm worried about Edmund's safety.
Chapter Nine
Edmund walked into the cozy front parlour of the Langford's residence the next morning, feeling every muscle in his body tighten with tension and discomfort.
"Would you be kind to wait for a few minutes, sir? His lordship is currently breakfasting in his chambers and will be with you as soon as he can," the sombre butler informed him with a nod, and left the room immediately.
Edmund stood for a moment, his thoughts coming back to haunt and bedevil him like never-ending whiplashes. He couldn't believe everything was going to work according to plan, and frankly he was ashamed of himself.
There was no way to look at the situation with any form of pure logic, without a strain of morality and empathy coming into play.
The meeting with the men of Oak Junction had gone as planned yesterday afternoon and now those jaded cads of questionable character were looking forward to carrying out the dastardly, cruel operation with little to no regard for the hurt they were about to inflict; but were rather only concerned about the gold sovereigns that had been promised at the completion of their job.
Damn it to hell! Edmund cursed inwardly, and moved to take a seat on one of the cushioned chairs.
He couldn't help the despair and frustration that descended over him right there like a harsh brittle coat, and forced him to confront the entire business from every angle.
He could have tried to be more forceful in his disapproval with the earl. He could have protested getting involved in such vile, demoralizing business. Nothing was worth the task of helping to carry out the destruction of another person, to attain one's desires.
That only went to show the kind of unscrupulous man he really was on the inside, didn't it?
Much good it had done him to f strive to maintain an honourable, principled lifestyle, when being faced with his first hurdle, he let it all crumble to the sand.
He was beyond confused and so tormented that it had been almost impossible to get any sleep the night before. Meeting with the earl this morning, and having the plan set in motion was disturbing enough to have his stomach churning in revulsion.
In all my life, I've never felt so sick to my stomach. If there is any indication I shouldn't be doing this, this is it, he thought.
The sound of the door opening had Edmund stiffening as he prepared to be confronted by the earl, but the sight of Miss Lucy Middleton brought a surge of relief and tremulousness through his body at the same time.
Miss Lucy looked like a dreamy vision as she usually did, in a sapphire blue gown with her long pale blonde curls hanging low over her shoulders. Her face was wreathed in a warm inquiring smile as she approached.
He got up at once and bowed slightly. "Greetings to you, Miss Lucy. Trust your morning has been as pleasant as your beautiful face?"
Lucy colored prettily, and gave him a demure smile. "Why, Edmund, I didn't realize you were given to such delightful compliments."
"It isn't difficult to speak the words when they possess huge elements of truth, Miss Lucy," Edmund replied, feeling the burden of his heart easing at the pleasure she took in his words.
Suddenly her brows furrowed in a frown, and a pensive look stole into her eyes. "Edmund, forgive my inquisition, but I noticed something quite odd yesterday on a few errands with my frie—lady's maid, Caroline."
Edmund didn't have time to speculate on what it could be, when she settled on an armchair and crossed her stockinged feet, prompting him to resume his seat as well.
"I happened to come upon you briefly at a tavern in Cheapside, deep in conversation with some men of questionable character. I couldn't help but notice how duly upset and uncomfortable you looked." Lucy's voice was soft and laced with concern while her ice gray eyes searched his.
Edmund was shocked, and found it difficult to hide it. He hadn't expected to be seen, and had been worried the entirety of the time he stood on the sidewalk outside the Blue Pint, negotiating and explaining the arduous uncomfortable business to the men. He could remember darting a careful gaze around, to make sure he wasn't caught off guard, but had relaxed somewhat as the conversation continued. The thought of someone like Miss Middleton coming upon him had been miles away from his mind, but apparently fate had worked it so, that she'd been walking by the tavern and he hadn't glimpsed of her.
This entire business was getting more complicated by the minute, and Edmund wished he could wipe his hands of everything. His stomach churned as he gazed at her troubled face. Her, of all people, to have seen me!
Coughing slightly, to cover his aghast feelings, he apologized, "I'm sorry, Miss ... Miss Lucy. I don't think I caught sight of you at the time. Pardon me."
Edmund felt only slight relief when she bestowed him with a bright, warming smile that glowed brighter than the sunlight streaking in through the window behind.
"It's alright, I take no offense but should rather be the one seeking pardon for watching you from a distance without presenting myself," Lucy apologized and lowered her lashes, a flush creeping up her neck. "The truth is, I was quite worried about the men … and about you, also. They looked quite dangerous, and an unfortunate experience on my first arrival in London has created in me at a sour, careful disposition regarding such characters."
Edmund felt a fierce sense of protectiveness sweep into him, and pictured his hands around the men who must have frightened her enough to inst
il such apprehension behind those confident eyes. He'd always despised men who preyed on women, which only made the situation he was currently in the more difficult and disappointing.
Alarmed at the force of his anger, an emotion he'd always had a struggle with, Edmund looked away from Lucy and gathered himself together before turning back to her.
"I'm sorry about such an unpleasant experience. London is safe enough if you are careful and cautious, but a good number of unsavory characters prey on strangers."
"I learnt the hard way, but the memories of that evening never seem to leave, despite my most valiant efforts to banish them." The concern had returned to Lucy's eyes and she gazed at him speculatively, as though she could see through the barely-constructed calm to the turmoil in his heart.
"But that isn't of importance right now, Edmund. I know you think me forward, but I'd like to consider us friends, so I would be pleased if you forgive my intrusive nature."
Friends? Edmund thought about being friends with the delightful Miss Lucy and felt some happiness blossoming inside. He would also love to consider something more than mere friendship, but he knew that was likely to remain a faint hope.
"It would be a pleasure to be honored with your friendship, Miss Lucy," he replied in a light tone that contradicted how he felt.
She pressed, "Please would you be so kind as to tell me why you were conversing with those men yesterday? Does it have anything to do with the earl? Are you in any sort of trouble, perhaps involving the card table?"
Edmund shook his head, saddened by the weight of the situation he was in, and the worried look in Lucy's eyes.
He'd never had anyone show so much concern and understanding towards his affairs, except for members of his family and his boyhood friend, Ethan.
Ethan was unfortunately away in the Americas, chasing his fortune, and they shared an irregular and scanty correspondence.
Once he'd thought he had a beautiful woman kindly interested in his personal matters, but it had turned out she was merely looking out for herself.
It was the reason why he'd been guarded against the opposite sex for a little while now, and wary when he'd initially met the sweet Miss Middleton.
Lucy had no motive to fake concern and interest, and looking into her naturally cold grey eyes, which had softened as she regarded him right then, Edmund couldn't help the tenderness he felt; she soothed and comforted him.
Oh! Bugger it! He was tired of keeping the wretched business to himself, and drowning under the weight of the horrible thing he had to do.
There was nothing he could do about extricating himself from it all without losing so much more, but sharing it could ease his conscience, couldn't it?
"Well, Miss Lucy. This might sound quite shocking and offensive to your delicate nature, so I'm apologizing in advance."
"I assure you, Edmund. I'm not as delicate as I might appear." Lucy spoke with a slightly mischievous smile, and Edmund didn't doubt her sentiment for a second.
He took a deep breath and released it, looking towards the open doorway for a second, before proceeding to narrate the entire disquieting situation.
Lucy grew pale as he struggled through the Earl of Langford's plans to get his debts paid by the viscount by using poor Lady Mary's dowry. By the time he was finished, she looked furious.
"You mean Viscount Hilgrove doesn't just want to marry her to get his hands on her dowry, but also plans to cast her off after a month!"
Edmund nodded and said, with a resigned sigh, "That's the plan, and when he has paid off his gambling debt, the earl will help him get out of the marriage by framing Lady Mary for adultery."
"But that is absolutely terrible!" Lucy got up, incensed. "She would be ruined in society, and the vultures would eat her up without a moment's consideration."
"Unfortunately so, Miss Lucy. It's all quite a horrible business, because the earl expects to have his money and the viscount doesn't have much choice."
"But he does," Lucy retorted sharply. "He could stay married to her, even though it isn't a love match. Many society marriages are like that, and everyone carries on with their lives and affairs. It doesn't even stop him from keeping his mistresses, so why then does he choose to bring her such disgrace?"
Edmund had no answers. He had brought this point up with the earl, who insisted it was all none of his business what Hilgrove chose to do. All his concerns were on getting his money. It didn't matter if he had to assist a friend in something nefarious to do so.
The Earl of Langford only cared about one thing in his life, which was his money and properties. There was no empathy in the man's cold dark soul, and nothing as inconsequential as the societal disgrace of an irrelevant lady would cause him to forget about collecting on the debt owed to him.
Lucy was pacing the room now, anger heightening her color, and disabusing the notion that she was a sedate, calm lady. The bard had said that hell had no fury like a woman scorned, but it seemed that even the thought of another woman scorned was enough to rile up Miss Lucy into a fierce passion. Edward couldn't help but be drawn to her flames; her moral rectitude is much stronger than mine, he chided himself.
Lucy said, "This is the wickedest thing I've ever heard. I know the earl is a cold man, but I never expected something this atrocious. And the viscount! This is wrong on several counts."
Lucy paced with rapid, jerky steps, and her hands were balled into fists by her side; watching, Edmund began to feel regretful. He shouldn't have told her about the entire business. She didn't need to know how most men of society preyed on impressionable young women and used them to get what they wanted. There were worse cases compared to Lady Mary's coming plight, and such things happened frequently given the high number of gambling addictions and people with ruthless ambition to rise in status.
"Tell me, Edmund. If you're so troubled about all this, why do you still go along with it? Who were those ... men you were speaking to at the tavern? Pray tell?"
Edmund was caught off guard by Lucy's questions and the unreadable expression she wore as she stopped pacing to face him.
"They are the men whom the earl plans to use in the scheme, and it was my job to make arrangements with them," Edmund explained matter-of-factly, reasoning that he'd said too much already.
"But you could out rightly refuse ..."
"Forgive me, Miss Lucy, I understand how you feel because that's exactly how I do, but I need to end this conversation right now. I'm afraid I've said too much already. Do not concern yourself with this tedious affair; I'm just relieved to have eased my thoughts of the burden of carrying such weight around."
Instantly, Lucy looked remorseful and clasped her hands together. "Forgive me, Edmund. It's just so difficult to accept such wickedness. I feel you shouldn't be forced to get involved in something as ruthless as this if you don't want to."
Edmund flinched at the unintentional barb in her soft spoken words but said nothing. She wouldn't understand and he'd made the mistake of letting go of so much information. He was an ethical man, and divulging his employer's business, no matter how deplorable, was something alien to his character.
Before he could say anything more, the butler appeared at the door, his brow furrowing in disapproval when he saw Lucy, but turned to address Edmund.
"Lord Langford requests you join him in the office." The short stocky man spoke in his usual dour manner.
"Thank you, Wilson," Edmund replied, and turned to Miss Lucy whose expression held plenty of unspoken words and arguments but, darting a quick look at the butler, she refrained from saying anything more.
"Excuse me, miss. I have a meeting with the earl … thank you for speaking with me, but as I said, you don't need to concern yourself with such matters. A pleasant day to you."
Chapter Ten
Why can't I get my mind off this wretched business with the earl and viscount?
Lucy paused from copying the dinner party's guest list and dropped the pen on the smooth surface of her escritoire, s
ighing heavily.
The guest list was meant to have been completed earlier in the day, and handed to Wilson, if her mind hadn't been heavily preoccupied somewhere else. The butler hadn't hesitated in giving her an annoyed look when she passed him polishing the silver in the hallway.
He probably thinks I'm a pert hoyden who doesn't do her job, but rather lies in wait for the earl's visitors like the housekeeper does.
At that moment, Lucy wasn't concerned about the staff's opinions regarding her liberties, but on the information she'd gleaned from Edmund yesterday.
It kept swirling in her head and as she thought more about it, righteous anger rushed through her and made her dizzy.
In all her life, Lucy couldn't think of a moment when she'd been angrier than yesterday.
Her feelings had been so forceful that Lady Agnes had noticed right away that something was amiss, due to Lucy's constantly dark brooding countenance and forgetfulness.
In between returning twice to the Bond Street modiste, who was making a new gown for her ladyship's dinner, Lucy had submitted the wrong meal arrangements to Cook, and mistakenly run into the insufferable earl who'd barked at her, muttering under his breath about incompetent workers and graceless companions who were in fact country bumpkins.
Instead of feeling embarrassed and scared as she'd always done around the man, Lucy had felt contempt and anger, glaring at him as soon as his back was turned and he was striding away.
He was the most despicable person Lucy had ever met in her life, and she couldn't help feeling sorry for Edmund and the unfortunate predicament he was in.
The poor man had looked so worried and unhappy yesterday, that Lucy had wished she possessed the power and place to give the earl a good talking to. She'd known, from the whispered stories below stairs in the servant quarters, and the hushed gossips at society events she'd attended, that he was a terrible man, but she hadn't realized just how mean and horrible he truly was, till now. She thanked Fate for saving her from an entanglement with such a man.
To Catch the Candid Earl: Regency Historical Romance Page 9
