“Who was that from?” she asked.
“Cass. He apologizes for missing our party but wished to remain with Milly.”
Pia grabbed his face. He could feel her trembling. “Remember what you promised me. You’ll give her a chance to explain and if she’s guilty…”
“I won’t harm her.” He couldn’t. Cass had already written him regarding the woman. If Melody needed to be punished, the punishment could not come from Sirius, solely because of his marriage to Pia. There was no reason to make discord between them.
He would ask for mercy on the woman’s behalf if she were guilty.
“Should I reply to my father?” she asked.
“Do what you feel is best.” He kissed her and then left.
When he arrived at Lady Melody’s home, he found light shining through the windows. She had no watchmen outside so Sirius managed to peek in without being seen. His breath fogged the glass. The curtains made it impossible to see what was going on, but he suspected from the muffled voices that she was entertaining a guest.
A man.
Sirius would hate to interrupt, but time was not on their side. He slipped around the alleyway and tested the servants’ door. Finding it locked, he searched the perimeter for his best way in. Townhomes in Mayfair were all the same. The time of year meant the likeliness of a window being open was very low, but he found one unlocked just before the cold could do its worst to his freezing limbs.
Inside the kitchen, the air was warm. A servant slept against a wall on a pallet. Sirius was quiet as he walked around her and stepped into the hall.
Melody’s gentle laugh carried and pulled him in her direction.
Sirius stopped just around the corner from the door and listened.
“I should go,” a gentleman said.
“You don’t have to.” Melody’s voice was a thing of fantasy. Smooth and carnal. “I’m only in the city for the night.”
The man sighed. Sirius heard him stand. “I must go. There is work to be done. Have you had word from your niece? I know you saw the wedding announcement.”
“I’ve not heard from her, but it makes no difference. I’m sure she’s made her deliveries by now.” She sighed. “I do wish you’d move the celebration up a bit. I’ve lost quite a bit of money since the duke took over London.” There was scorn in her tone.
Sirius prayed this ‘duke’ she spoke of was not Van Dero.
“We’ve been forced to do just that. Lord Gordie took Mullon’s son and now everyone fears for their heir. We are losing support.”
“Then we should act now. Tonight, even.”
“No, our people must be in place to take out everyone at once. Otherwise, survivors will warn others and Van Dero is no fool. He’ll know what’s going on.”
“And what am I to do until then?” Melody asked heatedly. “I only returned to the city because my footman wrote and said my brother had left me money here. The few coins he did leave were hardly worth the trip. Without the fights, I lose my home. I will not be able to afford rent next year. I will be forced to live in Westminster or worse.”
“You could if you’d cease spending all your money on gowns,” he drawled. “Besides, you’re a merchant. You sell pottery. You should live where the other merchants live.”
“I should live here,” she countered vehemently. “I’m a lady. I’m an earl’s daughter.”
“You turned your back on the earl the day you became an actress.”
“No. He… It doesn’t matter. Why don’t you pay my rent? It isn’t too much for you. Besides… I could make it worth your while.”
There was silence. A moan. Sirius didn’t have to guess at what was taking place.
He had his answer about Lady Melody’s innocence.
She was guilty. She would be punished.
Sirius’ stomach turned at that truth.
Pia would not react well to this.
“I must go,” the gentleman said again, his voice rough.
“But you don’t actually want to...”
He moaned. “But I must. I have a meeting to attend this evening with the others. We’ve abandoned the mask.”
“And I wasn’t invited?” she asked.
“You’re Pia’s aunt. We aren’t sure you can be trusted.”
“I can be trusted,” she purred.
He groaned again. “Perhaps, if I could have you and your niece, I’d consider keeping you.”
∫ ∫ ∫
4 9
* * *
Sirius stiffened. He blinked rapidly to remove the violent haze that clouded his vision. This man would pay for his insult. Sirius would take his eyes for ever thinking to look at Pia. If he’d laid a finger on her, he’d take those as well.
Melody sucked her teeth. “She is married now. Besides, I told you my niece is not as worldly as me. I was never able to convince her to live here. She’s a reserved woman.”
“Women have been known to change, especially when grieving a husband,” the man replied. “You did pay her the amount I told you to for the deliveries, didn’t you? It would anger me to know you’ve been cheating her.” That explained Pia’s high salary.
“I would never cheat Pia… or you,” she said quietly.
A yearning desire flowed through his voice. “She’s an enchanting woman. I asked repeatedly for you to arrange a meeting with her, yet I had to arrange my own before she left the city.”
Sirius wondered if Melody was the reason Pia had only met the man recently. Melody had likely been trying to keep him for herself.
“She’d be against this entire plan,” Melody said. “She’d hate the thought of the boys who fight to their deaths. She’d hate that you would try and murder a woman and child. She’d hate you. She’d never understand you as I would.” The actress sounded desperate.
The gentleman seemed unmoved. “She married Lord Gordie, and he is no saint. As my wife, I’d simply correct any sensibilities that Gordie hasn’t already whipped out of her.”
It took everything in Sirius not to walk into the room and destroy the speaker, but he remained in the hall and listened, hoping the conversation would turn toward whatever ‘plan’ the gentleman was speaking of. Sirius needed a date and time.
“Your wife!” Melody’s shout of outrage caught Sirius off guard. “You’d choose her over me?”
“Melody, every man in London has been between your legs. You’re used up. Pia, on the other hand… I doubt Lord Ginter even touched her. His cousin told everyone at the club about his inability to keep an erection for longer than a few seconds. Once Gordie is gone, she’ll need a new protector.”
“After everything I’ve done for you?” Melody whispered, her voice strained with pain. “After all the sacrifices I’ve made for you? You’d choose her?”
Sirius had heard enough. Another word about Pia and he’d strangle them both.
“Melody, what are you doing?” the gentleman cried. Then there was a grunt and gasp.
Sirius stopped just outside the door.
A man stood with his back to Sirius. Something shiny stuck out of his back. Then it disappeared and he crumbled to the floor.
Melody stood there with a bloody fire poker in her hand. Her look of rage transformed to surprise at the sight of Sirius.
The gentleman, whoever he’d been, didn’t move.
Sirius was dumbstruck by what he’d witnessed.
Lady Melody was a murderer.
“How long have you been here?” she asked.
“Not long,” Sirius lied. “Did he attack you?”
“Yes!” She jumped onto the lie. Her face transformed into one of false sorrow. She even trembled. “I didn’t know what to do.” She was a very good actress.
Sirius moved farther into the room but kept his distance. He didn’t trust this woman at all. “Who was he?”
“Lord Seys.” She looked down at the body and then up at Sirius. “He’s the Duke of Reddington’s eldest son. He was going to kill people. He had a plan to hur
t people.”
“What do you know of his plan?”
“Nothing,” she said far too quickly for it to be true.
“You know who I am?” Sirius asked.
“Your eyes,” she said. “I recognize them. I know you work at the bank. Or, at least you used to.”
He held out his hand. “Give me the fire poker. We’ll figure this out.”
She hesitated and then frowned. “How did you get in? My servants are asleep, and my doors are always locked.”
“Your housekeeper must have forgotten to lock it. I came in through the front door.”
Melody shook her head. “I locked my door after I greeted Lord Seys. I’m sure of it.” She stopped trembling and her features shifted once again, becoming void of emotion. “You snuck in, didn’t you? You heard everything.”
Sirius was caught. He held up his hands. “Pia sent me. She wishes me to see if the duke will spare your life.”
“He won’t,” she said. “Now that you know what I’ve done, he’ll have me killed.”
A door opened somewhere in the house.
Melody brightened. “They have a key. It must be Pia. She is the only person who has a key.” Melody lifted the poker to her face and with a slash, cut her cheek open.
Sirius could only blame shock as the reason he caught the poker when she tossed it his way.
“Help me! Help!” Melody backed away and began to scream. Her eyes filled with tears. The trembling started again.
Pia rushed into the drawing room, and he knew exactly how it looked.
He cursed.
Melody’s eyes widened as she gazed a Pia. “Pia?” Her voice held relief and hope.
Pia looked at the body on the floor and gasped. Then she looked at Melody and reeled back. She covered her mouth before turning to look at Sirius. The pain in her gaze suffocated him. “How could you? You swore…”
“Pia, I didn’t do this.” Sirius threw the poker down. He spoke even though he knew she’d never believe him. He wouldn’t believe it himself. “Your aunt killed Lord Seys.”
Two male servants arrived. One held a shotgun. They both took in the scene.
“Help me. He’s trying to kill me,” Melody cried.
The man with the shotgun aimed at Sirius.
Sirius’ hands went up. He calculated in his head the likelihood that he’d survive if he tried to flee. It was low. He couldn’t outrun a bullet and shotguns were far more accurate than pistols.
“Shoot him!” Melody wailed as she collapsed on the floor.
“No!” Pia cried. “Don’t you dare kill him!”
The footman’s hands trembled. He didn’t want to do it, but Sirius knew he would if he felt threatened.
“He has no weapon,” Pia said. “Lower your gun.”
“No! Shoot him now!” Melody said.
“He is the Earl of Gordie,” Pia said. “If you kill an earl, you will hang.”
The footman lowered the gun and Sirius relaxed.
He’d almost been killed.
Sirius lowered his hands and took a step in Pia’s direction. “Pia, I didn’t do this.”
Pia shook her head. “Don’t lie, Sirius. I saw you with the poker. Lord Seys I understand, but my aunt? You promised me.”
“Please.” Melody’s voice was weak as she offered her hands. The footman helped his lady onto her feet, but Melody refused to be steady.
Tears rolled from Pia’s eyes as she gazed at her loved one.
Sirius cursed again. “Even if I’d hit you across the cheek with a poker, which I did not, it would not make you lame, woman.” He turned to Pia. “She’s performing, Pia. Don’t fall for this.”
“We should go,” Melody told her niece. “Robert can stay and deal with the earl, make certain he doesn’t follow.”
Robert, who happened to be the one with the shotgun, lifted his weapon once more.
“No!” Sirius’ shout stopped Pia’s movement. She’d been heading for her aunt. Now, she looked at him. “You are not leaving with her. It is not safe. She killed a lord.”
Pia frowned. “You expect me to believe that?”
“Pia, if I’d done it, I would tell you the truth.” As if to prove himself, he kicked Lord Seys’s leg. “I wouldn’t lie to you. You know who I am. I’ve nothing to hide from you.” Except for his real name.
Pia hesitated. He could feel the truth of his words sinking in.
“Pia, please. We should hurry. Being around my attacker is making me dizzy.” Melody’s voice had grown a little stronger. She was also walking now. She touched Pia’s arm.
Sirius started forward, but Robert shifted and aimed the gun at his head, causing Sirius to stop. “Pia, come here,” he growled. “Pia!”
She didn’t even look at him. She held a cloth to her aunt’s face as they walked away. She avoided his gaze no matter how much he called to her.
The door closed behind them. The single footman with the gun stood there. They both listened as the women got in a carriage and the horses started away.
Robert began to move but only because the weapon was heavy. “I need to send someone for the authorities.”
Sirius dropped his hands. “How much?”
Robert’s eyes flashed. “What?”
“How much for you to run, right now? I have a thousand-pound banknote in my pocket.” He was already prepared to bribe. “Do you want it?”
Robert lowered the gun slightly. “Lady Melody hasn’t paid us in a month.”
“I’m not surprised. She’s a desperate woman.” Sirius looked at Seys and then at the footman. “I didn’t kill this man. I’d never leave a mess if I did.”
“You’re the Earl of Gordie,” the man whispered.
“Do you want the banknote or not?” Sirius asked. He needed to find his wife and the longer he stayed here, the longer it would take to find her. “Of course, it would require your silence. Should you break it, I’ll come after you.”
Robert’s hands tightened on the gun. “What’s to stop me from shooting you and just taking the banknote?”
“The fact that you’re not a killer.” Sirius lifted his brow. “Or are you?”
Robert lowered his gaze as he thought.
Sirius’ patience snapped. He reached into his breast pocket. Robert’s hands started to go up, but once he saw what Sirius was doing, he stopped. Sirius opened the note to show it to him. Then he placed it on the couch. “I’m leaving. You decide what you will. If you take the note then we have an agreement.” Slowly, he made his way to the door.
Robert circled with him, heading to the banknote. “What’s to stop you from coming after me anyway?”
It was a fine question. “All you’ll have is my word.” Once Sirius was in the doorway, he turned and left. His heart raced and he waited for Robert to shoot him in the back. It never came, but he didn’t breathe easy until he was in his own carriage and heading home.
He had to find Pia. Lord Seys had mentioned a meeting. It was likely taking place in the city. If he had to guess, he believed Melody would head there. She seemed far more invested in this scheme than Pia had hoped.
He only prayed Melody didn’t lead his wife to her death.
∫ ∫ ∫
5 0
* * *
“Why are we not leaving the city?” Pia asked. “We shouldn’t stay. Sirius will find us.”
Melody sighed and rubbed her temples. “Please, Pia. I cannot travel tonight. My head aches.” She looked out the window. The position made the entirety of her cut visible to Pia. Now that she looked at it, she noticed that it wasn’t very deep, just long. Superficial. Melody was lucky. It wouldn’t scar.
“He’d expect us to leave town,” Melody said. “Let him go search elsewhere. We’re staying right here.”
“Aunt Melody, I am only with you as long as it takes to get away,” Pia said. “I will go back to my husband.”
“You can’t! I will see some friends and then we will leave together.”
“Friend
s? My husband just tried to... kill you. We have no time for visiting.” It pained her to know she was abandoning him in that house, but what else could she do? He’d broken his promise to her.
Her heart ached. She felt as though her world were falling apart, as was her heart.
She prayed he’d forgive her upon her return, though she wasn’t quite ready to forgive him herself.
She’d planned on staying home, but Van Dero’s missive had forced her from the house. She’d needed to make sure that Sirius didn’t kill Melody.
To think he’d have succeeded if she hadn’t been there…
“You’re actually planning to be faithful to him?” Melody asked.
“Yes, he is my husband. His daughters are my daughters.” She would not abandon her family completely. She couldn’t. “But I will see you to safety.”
“We won’t be long,” Melody promised. “Besides, my friends will want to see you as well.” All the anguish seemed to vanish from her aunt. She no longer seemed in pain or afraid for her life. There was a determined glow in her eyes that Pia found disturbing.
That Sirius had struck her aunt made Pia wonder. “Who forced you to write the names in the porcelain?”
Melody stared at her. “No one forced me, Pia. I did it of my own free will. I was very much involved in the plot to have Lord and Lady Van Dero brought down.”
Pia’s lips trembled and dread came over her. She’d never heard her aunt be so cold. “Why?”
“They ruined me, Pia. I was once a wealthy woman. Now, I’ve been reduced to actually working for a living.”
“But the children—”
“I’ve no sympathy for them. Life is hard for everyone. It is simply the way of the world. If they wanted better, they’d find a way to make it happen just as I did. Just as you did after Ginter died. The weak were never meant to prosper in this world.”
Pia could hear the old pain in her aunt’s voice. Perhaps, there was still time to save her. “Aunt Melody, please. You must tell the duke everything. There may still be time to save you.”
“I’ve no intention of dying or letting you kill yourself by returning to your husband. We’ll go to Italy after we leave here. You’ll enjoy it. The sun is so warm there.” Melody closed her eyes and smiled. “It will be like the trips my mother used to take us on. I have a home on the water. They’ll never find us.” Melody opened her eyes and reached out to take Pia’s hand. “We’ll be together forever, just you and me.”
The Secret Pleasures of an Earl: (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) Page 24
