“Everything has changed,” Remy said. “You’ll see.”
When the appointed him came, Vita stood. “She’s not here.”
“Her clock could be slower than ours.”
She placed a hand on Remy’s shoulders. “I know you’re trying to help, but…”
The footman came in followed by Holly.
She was dressed in the same work clothes she’d worn the first time she’d come to Vita, but her expression was different. Her gaze was open as she took Vita in.
Vita had changed though. She was now closed off. “Lady Holly. Thank you for joining us this morning. My… General Astger says you have a story to share. I am willing to listen.” She sat back down. Her posture remained rigid.
Remy had stood when Vita did and motioned for Holly to have a seat.
Tea was brought in immediately.
“I’ll pour,” Holly said. She looked at Vita. “How many sugars do you want?”
“Two.”
Holly handed it to her.
“I like cream as well,” Vita said. Her tone said Holly should know that.
Holly gave Remy his cup and then picked up her own. “Cream? Since when? Milk never agreed with you. I stopped giving it to you when you were three.”
Remy looked at Vita. “Does milk not agree with you?”
Vita frowned. “It doesn’t, but I still like it.” Vita was not backing down. “It tastes good.” She sipped her creamless tea after that.
∫ ∫ ∫
5 9
* * *
Vita looked her mother over and made certain her expression showed disgust. She didn’t actually mind the working class. She’d never thought them beneath her, especially since most of them could carry on a conversation for a length of time and not embarrass themselves.
But she wanted Holly to think she didn’t like her appearance. She wanted Holly to think she was unwelcomed because she was.
Now that her mother was here, she wanted her gone before she could say something to break the facade that Vita was trying to create. Behind the mask of stone, she wanted to scream and cry. The world was so very unfair.
She’d loved Holly. She would never make such a mistake again.
“You may begin,” Vita said.
Holly looked into her tea. “I would like to apologize for my cruelty the other day. I just couldn’t have Dunst think us on friendly terms, or the other men, for that matter.”
“The other men?” Vita put down her cup. She was trembling.
Holly sighed. “Powerful men.” She looked at Vita. “I should start from the beginning.”
“You mean the night you left?”
Remy took Vita’s free hand.
Holly’s eyes followed the motion. Was she jealous? Was she thinking about the husband she left behind? Or perhaps she was thinking about the lover who’d clearly abandoned her.
Holly put down her cup and stood.
Vita’s heart rocked in her chest. Her mother was leaving. Was it fear that gripped her? Impossible. Didn’t she want her to go?
But Holly didn’t leave. She went to the window and closed the sheer curtain. Light still came into the room, but now the view was gone. “We should be careful,” Holly said.
As Vita worked to slow her heart, she wondered what sort of game her mother was playing.
Holly returned to her chair. “I’m going to tell you everything I can and then I’ll go. All right?”
Vita nodded.
Holly took a breath. “Fifteen years ago, I started an affair with my painting instructor, Fontaine. He was handsome, wealthy, and… I thought he loved me.” She gave Vita a pointed look. “Your father didn’t love me. He only married me because his father forced his hand. There was something about land or whatever. I don’t know. They didn’t allow women to have much of a say.”
“We don’t have much of a say now,” Vita said.
“Well, your happiness was one thing your father and I agreed on. We would never force your hand. You would have the power to make a choice. I thought it would be Jeremy.” She looked at Remy. “I’m glad it wasn’t. Even then, I could tell he was quite spoiled and self-serving.”
Remy began to cough. Was he hiding a laugh?
Vita fought down her own smile. She would not smile at her mother. “What happened?”
“It was the war. Fontaine said he had to return to France, and he wanted me to go with him.” Holly looked pained.
Vita knew this was the part where her mother confessed to leaving her, to choosing true love over her own flesh and blood.
“I told him no,” Holly said. “I told him that I loved him, but I would not leave my children. He left then. He was gone for months, but I wrote him letters. I was so heartbroken. I wrote down everything.”
“I have your love letters,” Vita said.
“Do you?” Holly looked surprised. “Did you read them?”
“Every last one.”
Holly colored. “I apologize. Such things are not for young women to read.”
Remy narrowed his gaze but said nothing.
“Fontaine thought the missives would change my mind, but they didn’t,” she said. “I always feared your father seeing those notes.”
“He hasn’t,” Vita said. “I would never hurt him that way.”
“He’d have been more embarrassed than anything else. He always loved another woman.”
Vita knew the other woman. She was her father’s current bride.
“Eventually, Fontaine returned. He threatened you and John.” Holly lowered her head. “I’m so glad he didn’t see you, Vita. He took John, but I knew you were safe once we left.”
Vita swallowed and looked at Remy.
The story was far different than the one she’d been told.
“Apparently, Fontaine had disappointed his family in some way, so they cut him off. For money, he began to work for someone else. A circle of men.”
“Who?” Remy asked.
She glared at him. “I will not say their name. To know their name is to know death. It shall never pass my lips. I would never put that on you.” She was looking at Vita when she said it.
“Then why should we believe you?” Vita said.
Holly shook her head. “You don’t have to. It’s the truth either way.”
“What happened?”
“He took John. The plan was to ransom him back to my husband. But when Lord Bush didn’t respond quickly enough, Fontaine entered him into a fight.” Holly looked up and batted her eyes, trying to blink back tears. She didn’t want to cry.
And neither did Vita.
Yet this was the first time anyone had told her how John died.
“A fight?”
“To the death. Lord Bush made it just in time to witness it. I tried to stop Fontaine, but he thought John would win.” Holly broke then. “It was the worst night of my entire life. I regretted so much after that. Fontaine, upset that John had lost, sold me to the circle.”
“The circle?” Vita asked.
Holly lifted her hands. “Don’t ask me for any more information than that.”
“Where does this circle operate from?”
“Everywhere,” Holly said. “I lived all over England.” She lowered her gaze. “It was barely living, really. It was mostly just surviving until the next day. I’d seen Husher from a distance once. He’d been speaking to one of the leaders. It was why I couldn’t say anything to you the other day.”
Vita didn’t have to guess what had happened to her mother. She knew.
“They were going to kill me,” Holly said. “I was getting worn out and old. They would have killed me had I not lucked out one night. They used to take me to the fights. No one recognized me in my new clothes and powder. I was offered… another part of the entertainment.”
Vita’s stomach turned. “How long did you do this?”
“Fourteen years. During the last few years, I did less entertainment and more teaching to the other women, but every once in a whi
le...”
Vita couldn’t understand. “I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.” Holly shook her head. “But I always knew it was my fault. I barely fought it. I’d abandoned my husband and gotten my own son killed. I felt worthless and had nowhere to go.”
Vita wanted to tell Holly that she could have come to her, but then what could she have done as a child? Her father had been looking for Holly for years with the intent to punish her before he divorced her.
Holly looked at Remy. “On the final night, men stormed in and cleared out everyone. I was lost in the noise and violence and managed to get away from my captors. Still, I had nowhere to go, but a man offered me employment. He was nice. He asked if I could read and write. Once I told him I could, he gave me a job.”
“Who was this man?” Remy asked.
“Lord Sirius Hayes.”
∫ ∫ ∫
6 0
* * *
Vita watched Remy smile. “I know him. That means I can verify this part of your tale. Did you tell him your name?”
Holly shook her head. “Oh, no. I couldn’t let anyone know who I was. I was far too ashamed. Also, I knew the circle would come after me soon. I changed my name and changed my hair.”
“You became a Collector?” Remy asked. “Yet you never knew who you were working for?”
She nodded.
“What’s a Collector?” Vita asked.
“They collect valuables and good for the duke,” Remy said. “He does favors and expects payment.”
Ask the duke for nothing.
Lord Bush’s warning came back. Ask the duke for nothing.
“But I didn’t handle any clients,” Holly said.
“And you wouldn’t have,” Remy told her. “Women are never upfront where the exchanges happen. It’s a bloody job. Far too many people think they can get out of paying.”
Vita shivered at the thought. “What did you do?”
“I was given papers. Initials, numbers, figures, and I put them into a book. I was to keep my eyes open and my ears closed. That was all.” Holly smiled. “It’s a pleasant position. I’m respected for my intelligence. I am paid well, but I wear these clothes so no one can tie me to my title.”
Vita could see her mother was pleased by what she did. “Yet you attended a party one night, didn’t you? You met Lady Serveck?”
Holly sobered. “I tried to get out of it. I feared someone would recognize me, but since I refused to tell anyone I was a countess, they said I was just nervous. Before I knew it, they dressed me up and took me to the party.” Holly shook her head. “I was so nervous, I did nothing but ramble the entire night, I’m sure.”
“Why were you at the party?” Remy asked.
Holly rolled her eyes. “Some lord wanted information about something. I was to distract the hostess while she searched the rooms. Apparently, Lady Douglas detests men and while she allowed them into her ballroom, she doesn’t allow them anywhere near her. I was the only woman in the office.”
“Who was the lord who was searching the house?” Remy asked.
Holly narrowed her eyes. “I wasn’t supposed to hear his name, but… it was Lord Leonard.”
Remy chuckled.
Vita’s mouth fell open as she realized her mother did work for the duke.
Just how many others worked for the duke and didn’t know it?
“Did someone call for me?” Leo walked into the room.
Holly turned to look at him and then stood. “You! You were there.”
Leo lifted a brow. “Have we met?”
“No, but I rarely forget a face,” she said.
Leo looked her over. “Lady Bush, I presume.”
“Call me Kate Holland,” Holly said. “I go by nothing else these days.” Her accent even changed. It was more Welsh, like Oliver when enraged.
Her story was fascinating. Van Dero would likely never know just how many lives he’d saved in his lifetime.
Holly turned to Vita. “I’m sorry I didn’t return, but I couldn’t, and I can’t stay.”
“Van Dero can protect you.” Remy stood. “You wouldn’t have to run anymore.”
Vita felt butterflies in her stomach. She still wasn’t sure how she felt about her mother.
But Holly shook her head. “I can’t. The circle will come, and I’ll not be the cause of more deaths.”
“The circle?” Leo asked.
Remy moved to speak to him.
She walked over to Vita, sat down, and took her hand. “I’m sorry I failed you. I brought this on us and will suffer for my choices.”
Vita was visibly shaking. This sounded like goodbye. “Van Dero is powerful. If you wish it…”
Holly was already shaking her head. “You don’t know these men. When I say they are everywhere, I don’t just mean in England.”
Vita’s stomach tightened.
Holly squeezed her hands. “You hated me an hour ago and while I don’t know how you feel about me now, no one can ever know about this second meeting. You must continue to pretend to hate me.”
“Lady Holly,” Vita began.
“No, you listen to me,” Holly said. “If you care for anyone around you, you will do as I say.”
Vita closed her mouth and then laughed. “I thought you’d never scowl at me again.”
Holly smiled and stood. She looked at Remy. “Keep her safe.”
“I will,” Remy vowed.
Vita stood and deciding to be brave, she wrapped her mother in a hug. Still unsure of her feelings, she knew that if one day she grew to love her mother, she wanted to remember giving Holly a hug.
Her mother squeezed her back and then broke it. “I’ve stayed long enough. You have people watching this house.”
“We know,” Remy said.
Vita hadn’t known. Her eyes widened.
Holly went to the back door. Everyone followed. Holly wrapped a scarf around her head. There was an empty basket at her feet, and she picked it up before she looked at Vita again. She said nothing as she slipped out the door.
Vita turned to Remy and hugged him.
He held her back and she managed to calm enough to breathe normally. The tightness in her chest grew less and less with every slow pull of air.
* * *
Remy remained silent as Vita calmed.
Then finally, she looked up at him and smiled. “Thank you.”’
“I’ll try and see what we can do about this circle. I’ll not go to my grave with you and your mother being forced to live apart.”
“At least she’s safe,” Vita whispered.
“And so are you.” After another moment, he asked, “Are you ready to return to London?”
“No, Belle has convinced me to go to the bathhouse with her.”
He smiled. “Enjoy it.”
Vita gave him an odd considering look before she left the room.
Then Remy turned to Leo. “First question, where is Noel?”
“Out,” Leo said. “He wanted to speak to the boys on the street. I think he’s trying to gather as many as he can. He’s good at this, you know?”
Remy shook his head. “It’s that charm. I’ve no idea where he gets it from. His father was a very humble man.” But Noel could be every bit his last name if Remy didn’t get him on the right path. Yet for the moment, he thought his nephew had found it.
“You’ve some charm,” Leo said.
“Remy grunted. “What were you looking for in Lady Douglas’ house?”
Leo’s arms were crossed. “More information about my father’s fears. He also mentioned a circle many times. I don’t think it coincidence, Remy. I think the men my father feared were the same men Holly fears and my father was bigger than Oliver. It was why we thought him mad. He could take on anyone, but this… ”
“What are you going to do?” Remy asked.
“Talk to Oliver,” Leo said. “He can’t ignore it now. We also need to speak to Cassius. Dunst is a part of this circle.”
Remy twiste
d his mouth. “We should have forced Holly to tell us everything.”
“We still can.”
Remy shook his head. “Vita would find it hard to forgive me if I tortured it out of her.”
“Likely so.” Leo leaned against the wall. “It’s a scary world when there’s something scarier than Van Dero out there.”
Remy couldn’t agree more. “Cass found love. He’s growing soft. People will notice. What he does with Dunst will affect the future.” Remy was already trying to strategize the best way to defeat the enemy.
A kiss on the cheek stole him from his thoughts.
“We’ll be back later,” Vita said. The guards were with her.
“Enjoy your time and don’t worry over anything.”
She nodded and then she and Belle left the house.
They hadn’t been gone for twenty minutes when Noel rushed into the house.
His expression put Remy on alert.
“Where’s Vita?” Noel asked.
“The bathhouse. Why?” Remy asked as he and Leo stepped forward.
“Dunst is in town.”
“How do you know?” Leo asked.
“Winter told me.”
“Winter?” Remy asked.
“One of the boys,” Noel shouted. “He’d been around the hotel last evening. He saw two men pick up the guy you threw out, Mr. Palmer. He listened to their conversation.” Noel shook his head. “Palmer told the men that you and Vita were in love.”
Remy didn’t need to hear another word.
He didn’t bother to grab his hat before he ran out the door. He didn’t wait for a carriage to be readied. They lived on the main street. He moved at a full run. His heart pounding.
He prayed he wouldn’t be too late.
∫ ∫ ∫
6 1
* * *
“Tell us what you want, and we’ll cooperate,” Belle said, her hands in the air.
The man with the pistol kept it trained on Vita. “You know what I came for. Dunst wants the girl.” He motioned to Vita. “Come here.”
Vita said nothing as she clung to her robes, soaking wet after her bath.
It was as though Dunst had read her thought and would not allow her to change her mind.
Just half an hour ago, she’d decided that she would not marry Dunst. Remy Astger had amazed her on more than one occasion, and now more than ever, she was certain he was not only the man for her, but he could save the boys Dunst had taken.
A Knight to Dare: (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) Page 29
