by Platt, Meara
“I hope you are. Tell you what, I’ll check around back.”
“Alone? I know your feats of valor are legendary, Your Grace. But your wife will mutilate me if any harm befalls you. Are you armed?”
He nodded. “To the teeth. You can’t tell by looking at me, can you? My tailor is quite talented. Hidden sheathes for daggers, pistols, garrote, manacles. I’ll give you his name, if you like.”
“Lord, I’m glad you’re on our side.” He saw his cousins, Ronan and Joshua, standing close by. “Take them with you.”
“Gad, they’re big fellows. Any runts in the Brayden litter?”
Romulus grinned. “I’m the runt.”
He quickly explained the matter to his cousins and hurried to the relics room. If the Foresters planned to steal the donations, now would be the best time to do it. The Farthingales were at the front door collecting the entrance fee. The Braydens were in the grand hall, ready to protect Violet when she took the stage.
If he were Forester, he would grab whatever he could while everyone was occupied. The Foresters would not get all, of course. More would come in after Violet’s recital. But they would get the thousands of pounds already brought in. Finn would turn over the donations without hesitation if the Foresters had pistols trained on Violet.
Violet. The thought she might be injured sent his heart pounding through his ears. Stay safe, love. Don’t resist. Let them take it all.
The narrow hallway leading to the relics room was dark. Someone had put out the candles mounted on the wall sconces, for they had been lit when he’d left with Innes moments earlier.
He crept along in darkness, hardly breathing. Hardly daring to make a sound for fear it would cost Finn and Violet their lives. The laughter and general buzz of chatter filtered in from the grand hall. This area had been closed off, so he knew no one else would saunter down here. He was quite alone in this passageway and preferred it. He did not want the Foresters to panic and do something desperate.
He dared not simply burst into the room. Instead, he leaned his ear against it, hoping to hear something and locate the positions of Forester and his sister, Lady Rawley. If he could hear what they were saying, he could determine if they had pistols trained on Finn and Violet.
But all was quiet.
Then he heard a pistol shot and burst in like a raging bull, his only thought to shelter Violet and praying hard that she had not been injured…or worse. His gut twisted. Finn was lying motionless on the floor, and Violet was struggling with Lady Rawley and Forester. Pound notes were flying in the air, and some had already landed on the floor, now strewn all over place.
He realized immediately what had happened.
Violet—and he was going to give her a good talking to when the recital was over—had grabbed an ancient spear and used it to knock the box of donations out of Lady Rawley’s hands. She was now swinging that spear wildly as Lady Rawley was trying to grab it away.
As Forester raised his pistol to aim it at Violet, Romulus grabbed the blackguard and flung him across the room, hearing the crack of bone as he slammed into the opposite wall hard enough to leave him dazed. His pistol had fallen from his hands, and Romulus hastily picked it up.
Then he grabbed Lady Rawley. She tried to hit him with her pistol, but that meant she had been the one to spend her shot. On Finn, obviously.
He handed Forester’s loaded weapon to Violet. “Keep it aimed at Forester. If he stirs, shoot him. I’ll be right back.”
Violet set the spear back on its mount and turned breathlessly to Romulus. “Where are you going?”
“I sent Ian and my cousins out back. They must be there by now. If there are more ruffians waiting outside, I don’t want you anywhere near them.” But he still held on to Lady Rawley. She was struggling against him with all her might, although rather uselessly. All she could do was flail at him with her gloved fists.
He did not like the idea of carrying a woman into a possible fight, assuming one was going on out back. But neither could he leave her with Violet. And she’d been the one to shoot Finn.
He wanted to break the woman’s neck. He might have, had he not blamed himself more for getting Finn involved in the first place. But as his rage was mounting, and he truly feared he would snap this woman’s neck, Finn chose that moment to groan and attempt to rise.
He’s alive. Blessed saints.
Romulus wanted to weep with relief. “Stay where you are, Finn. Help is on the way. Violet is safe.”
Finn nodded. “Hurts like blazes. It’s only my shoulder. But someone cracked me over the head…or I hit my head when I fell. I don’t know.”
“Doesn’t matter. We’ll sort it all out afterward. Lie still. It isn’t quite over yet.” He carefully opened the back door.
In the moonlight, he could make out a carriage. As his eyes adjusted better to the dim light, he saw that Ronan had the driver subdued. Joshua was holding on to a woman who was trying to kick him as she hurled epithets at him.
He recognized the sound of her voice. “Damn it, Felicia. What lunacy possessed you to get involved with these fools?”
She turned to him with open hatred in her gaze. “You bastard! You humiliated me.”
“How? By marrying Violet?” He did not bother to hear her answer, for Finn was wounded, hopefully only a shoulder wound. “Ian,” he said quietly, not sure how to break the news of their brother being shot to Ronan or Joshua just yet, “fetch George Farthingale and bring him to the relics room as fast as you can. Finn’s hurt. And then summon the Duke of Lotheil to take care of these three and Forester.”
He wasn’t certain what to do with Lady Rawley who was still in his arms and had now joined Felicia in cursing him. The widow of a marquis and the wife of a viscount tossing out insults like the bawdiest bawds in any seedy dockside tavern. He’d laugh if this haughty pair hadn’t caused so much damage.
He turned to his cousins. “Can I trust you to watch all three of them?” He wanted to be rid of Lady Rawley so he could hurry back to Violet. He’d been gone less than a minute, but it would only take a matter of seconds for Forester to do something rash. He didn’t think Violet had it in her to shoot him if he lunged at her. But that bastard would not hesitate to shoot her if he got his hands back on his weapon.
“We’ll watch them,” Joshua assured.
Romulus hurried back.
Violet still had the pistol aimed at Forester.
“I’ll take that, love.” He eased it from her tense grasp. “Your Uncle George has been sent for. He’ll tend to Finn.”
“I think you broke Jameson’s collarbone when you hurled him against the wall. He ought to treat him as well.”
“He will, after Finn.”
Ian came in a moment later. “Lotheil’s men are taking care of the driver and the ladies. I’ll have them take Forester as well.”
“No, he’s injured. Uncle George should tend to him before he’s removed,” Violet said, her voice and hand obviously trembling.
Ian glanced at Romulus. “What’s wrong with him?”
“Busted collarbone.”
Ian nodded. “I can fix that. Done it often enough during the war.” He strode toward Forester and helped him out of his jacket. Then with a brief warning to “hold still,” he worked the bone back in place.
Forester howled.
Violet gasped.
Romulus took her in his arms. “Violet, love. Are you hurt at all?”
“No, just had the wits frightened out of me. Let’s pick up all these donations and put them in the vault where they belong.”
“I’ll do it. Have a seat, and I’ll pour you a cup of tea. It might help calm you down.”
“No,” Finn said, his words strained, for he was in obvious pain. “Don’t drink it. I think they put something in it intending to knock you out, Violet. At least, I hope that’s all they intended.” He turned to Romulus. “They were mumbling something about tea, and it all makes sense to me now. They wanted Violet unconscious so they woul
d only have to deal with me.”
Romulus ran a hand through his hair. “And Innes was here, too. You both might have had that tainted brew. You both might have…”
His voice trailed off.
You both might have been killed had it been poisoned.
George arrived, took one look at Violet standing among these men, and frowned. “John is going to burst his spleen over this. Are you all right, Violet?”
She nodded. “I’m fine. Finn’s been shot.”
“I don’t have my medical bag with me. I’ll have to get him to my infirmary.”
“Take my carriage,” Ian said, having returned with George. “I’ll have it brought around and will instruct my driver to wait so he can deliver you both to your homes once your work is done. In the meantime, I’ll deposit Forester with Lotheil’s men. Dillie and I can ride home with Gabriel and Daisy.”
He hauled Forester to his feet.
Forester turned to Violet. “Sorry, Violet. But you know how it is.”
“I don’t, Jameson. You and Valerie were given every advantage in life. These orphans had nothing. You thought nothing of stealing from them.”
He tossed back his head and laughed. “Want to know the irony of it? Their roof would not have crumbled. My father intended to give the abbess the funds to have it fixed. That’s what gave me the idea for this recital. Save the orphans. Fix their roof. But we intended to take the proceeds for ourselves all along. Would have worked, too. We had it all arranged to be held up in front of witnesses as I took the donations to the bank.”
Romulus wanted to strangle the fiend.
Violet looked ready to grab the spear she had just replaced on its mount and run Forester through with it. “You used me to steal from others. Perhaps destroy my reputation. Who would do such a thing to a friend?”
“Friend?” His expression turned vicious. “My sister and I hated you and Poppy. You were always the perfect children. Never complaining, always smiling. Sweet as treacle. We both thought it would be great fun to somehow pin the blame for the theft on you. But we really just wanted the donation funds. It wasn’t worth plotting to implicate you. You simply weren’t worth the bother.”
“But the two of you would have known what you did and laughed about it behind my back.”
“The plan would have worked if you hadn’t suddenly married Brayden and brought him in on the planning.”
She put a trembling hand to her throat. “Romulus never trusted you. He sensed you were up to no good. He was right all along.”
Romulus wrapped an arm around Violet and drew her close, worried she was about to lose her composure. In truth, he was amazed she’d held herself together this long. She shivered against him and looked ashen, but he knew better than to suggest they cancel the recital. Ian had just hauled Forester out when applause began to filter down the hall into the relics room.
Romulus groaned. “It’s time, Violet. Can you manage it?”
She wiped a tear off her cheek and nodded. “I’ll be fine once I’m on stage. I’ll sing my heart out. I’m so sorry I dragged you and your family into this mess.”
He kissed her on the forehead. “No place I’d rather be than beside you, my love.”
She took a deep breath and nodded.
The crowd roared as he escorted Violet to the stage. Her accompanist was already seated beside the pianoforte. Romulus scanned the crowd, still tense and worried something else might happen before the recital was over.
But after several glances around the hall, he eased. All was well in hand. Lotheil and his men were taking care of the culprits. George was treating Finn’s wound. He wasn’t certain whether he should tell Finn’s mother, Lady Miranda.
No.
Miranda was a hellion. A riot would break out.
He would tell her after the recital, for this was Violet’s night to shine, and he was not going to allow anyone to ruin it. Miranda would be angry with him, but better she take it out on him. It wasn’t in her nature to stay angry for very long. Besides, Finn was a grown man. He did not need his mother getting in the way of whatever George had to do to treat his wound.
He turned back to the stage and stared at Violet, unable to look away.
So achingly beautiful.
Truly an angel.
This was her moment, and he was so proud of her.
He forced himself to return his attention to the crowd, for he had to remain vigilant. As his gaze drifted over the lords and ladies filling the hall, he saw Innes seated up front between Dillie and Daisy. These Farthingale sisters were quite beautiful, but the lad had his eyes fixed to the stage and the enchantress who now captured everyone’s attention.
Violet started out with a medieval ballad that every Englishman knew. She then sang a Scottish ballad that had every Scot in the crowd wiping the tears from his eyes. Then a religious hymn, no doubt in honor of the abbess who ran the orphanage. She ended with another popular English madrigal about a brave medieval king and his knights who went off to fight for their kingdom.
The crowd would not stop cheering.
They wanted more.
Apparently, Violet had prepared for this. She sang another madrigal and then another ballad. When she finished the last, she stepped forward and raised her hands for quiet. After a moment, the audience hushed. “This last song is dedicated to my husband, Captain Romulus Brayden, and all the valiant sailors who serve in the Royal Navy. It is known as the Song of the Selkie.”
Every seaman knew of this song and had heard it before, but never like this. Violet had a spectacular voice, yet this rendition of the popular Celtic legend left Romulus breathless.
Everyone felt the power of it.
The vast hall was as quiet as a tomb, the ethereal notes seeming to cast a spell over all of them.
No one dared breathe.
It was as though her voice rose from the depths of the ocean. Sad. Plaintive. Beautiful. It was a fairy song. The words were wistful. The refrain haunting.
Romulus felt himself transported to a rocky shore on the edge of the ocean. He imagined himself looking out on the windswept waters, blinking in disbelief as the other-worldly selkie of legend appeared before him and changed into the form of a woman…Violet.
For him, it would always be Violet, for only she had the power to steal his soul.
This was the lore of the selkie.
No man could look upon her and not fall hopelessly in love.
Romulus closed his eyes and allowed Violet’s song to surround him, to carry him into the sea. His heart now beat to the rhythm of the waves as they swelled and ebbed, as they washed upon the shore with a soft whoosh and then drew back with the strong tug of the tide.
Romulus felt this ensorcelling tug, it drew all of him in and he was helpless to resist. It drew his soul into the watery depths. He was no longer in the Royal Society’s grand hall but on that rocky beach. With each refrain, he heard the lapping waves, caught the salty scent of the sea filling his lungs, heard the cries of gulls and plovers who flew along the coast.
Her music continued to surround him. He saw his frigate with its sails unfurled, catching the wind and cutting across the water like a sleek, powerful dolphin, and the sun sinking over the horizon, turning the distant sky and sea waters a fiery gold.
Her song.
Her song.
Everything about it was magical.
She was magical.
He opened his eyes, surprised to find even himself tearing up. He feared to blink the tears away, afraid to somehow lose her. In this moment, she was the selkie who would one day slip back into the ocean, never to be seen again.
When the song ended, no one moved for the longest moment.
Men were sniffling, some were openly sobbing.
Then in one wave swell, everyone rose and began cheering.
Violet looked upon the audience in confusion, genuinely unaware of the profound impact of her song. She blushed and gave a quick bow, obviously wanting to hurry off the stage.
But the Duke of Lotheil was not about to allow this night of brilliant triumph to pass without speeches. This grand hall had been named in his honor since he’d paid for its construction. He was on the board of the Royal Society.
He viewed this as his moment to shine as much as Violet’s.
He meant to bask in all its glory.
Violet politely stood and smiled at his side.
As the duke spoke, Gabriel and Ian collected more donations.
Romulus had not been far off the mark when he’d told Violet the donors would be tossing wads of pound notes at the stage.
Five new orphanages could be built from the proceeds collected. He and Violet would speak with the abbess of St. Aubrey’s about what to do with this bounty. The donations were sufficient to keep the place solvent for decades, allowing Sister Ursula to take in more children. Perhaps she would be open to acquiring a place in London to house the older children who now had to make their own way in the world.
Well, all this was for a later time.
Right now, Romulus wanted to take Violet and Innes home and see them comfortably settled before he rode to George’s infirmary to make certain Finn was all right. He wouldn’t leave Violet if she was too shaken, but he also had to tell Miranda that her son had been shot. He dared not put it off much longer.
He intended to do it before they left the Royal Society. It wasn’t fair to keep her in the dark. Since Finn would likely be taken back to her home, Romulus hoped she would go straight there and prepare a bedchamber for Finn instead of running off like a crazed mother hen to George’s infirmary.
He would have a lot of explaining to do to his family.
He would deal with it all tomorrow.
Right now, all he wanted to do was take Violet in his arms and never let her go.
His brother limped up to him and clapped him on the shoulder. “John and Sophie warned me these Farthingale girls were dangerous. I did not appreciate just how much.” He clapped Romulus on the shoulder again, his grin now fading. “Seriously, are you all right, little brother? I heard there was some trouble.”
“Yes, not a scratch on me. Violet, as you may have noticed, is also fine.”
