by Aria Norton
Freddi inwardly groaned. When will Edwina hold her tongue? I may care for him greatly, but that is not to say that I shall admit to it. That was a complication that neither she nor Nash needed. What mattered was finding the person behind his father's threatening notes and getting his inheritance back.
“Leave it be, Nash. Edwina has kept you a few biscuits if you are hungry.”
Nash narrowed his eyes for a second or so before turning his attention to the older woman.
"That was kind of you, Edwina. Have you had anything to eat other than biscuits? I met Rose on my way here, and she has offered to set the table for us downstairs."
“Oh, how thoughtful of her,” Freddi mockingly said.
Edwina entirely missed her mockery of the inn's owner, but Nash raised an eyebrow.
“Indeed, Freddi,” said her chaperone. “Miss Rose is quite the host. See how attentive she is?”
I would rather she take her attentiveness elsewhere, I have no need of it anywhere near Nash. Freddi knew that it was jealousy that had caused her intense dislike for the woman. She could not understand why Nash had to be overly friendly with the woman. It is no better that she is pretty. Freddi was comely herself, but she was not as forward as the innkeeper was. I could never act in such a familiar fashion as to embrace him as she did. No, the first thing she had done after meeting him for the first time in ten years was scold him. The total opposite of the woman's welcome.
“Shall we go to dinner?” Nash asked.
Freddi was in no mood to see the woman. “No, thank you. I think that I shall have an early night.”
"Oh, no, dear!" Edwina complained. "You have not eaten much today- see how thin you are! You must come, even if you only have a little."
“Yes, Freddi, do come. As your husband to be, I wish you to sit with me. After all, you are my fiancée, and your wish should be to please me.”
Freddi's jaw dropped open. Of all the chauvinistic things to say! This man is purposefully goading me, I can see it.
“Do you hear what your beloved has said, my dear? Listen to him.”
Before long, Edwina will think that the sun rises and sets on Nash's head. I should rather hold my tongue before I reveal that our relationship is not what she thinks. Freddi gave Nash a cutting look, but the man only smiled, going so far as to wink at her. She gasped, shocked that he would do such a thing.
“My dear, are you all right?”
Freddi swallowed hard, nodding at Edwina. “Yes, I just recalled something that I wished to tell a friend back home.”
“Oh, well, you will have the chance once you return, yes? Let me fetch my shawl that we may all go downstairs for our dinner.”
While the woman walked to the wardrobe, Nash decided to take a slow walk toward her. What is he doing? First, the wink, and now this? She held her breath when he came nearer to her, but he bypassed her and grabbed a biscuit. As he came back up, he spoke to her in low undertones
“Do not be mad at me. I will tell you all that I found out today once we are alone.”
Freddi frowned. How on earth would they have the opportunity to be alone? It was hardly proper, and Edwina would be with them. She did not get the chance to voice her questions as the older woman approached them and Nash drew away as though he had done nothing but get a biscuit.
“I am ready,” Edwina declared. “Shall we go?”
Nash hooked both their arms in his and led them out, chatting to them as though the happenings of moments before had not transpired. He is in a good mood, perhaps he has discovered something to help him find out his father's perpetrator. If that were the case, then she was interested to know just what it was. But how?
***
Freddi glanced at Edwina's sleeping figure, amazed that the woman was sound asleep. They had returned from their dinner only half an hour ago, but the chaperone had quickly dropped off to sleep in her chair, mumbling something about forty winks.
"She must have been tired to have fallen asleep so quickly. Tell me, Nash, what did you find out?"
“Lord Ayles is not our man, Father was right. However, his reasoning was not correct.”
“His reasoning? What do you mean?”
Nash shifted in his seat, leaning more toward her. “Father believes that Lord Ayles would not have dared to send him any threats after the duel they partook in many years ago.”
“You say that there is another reason?”
"Yes. The man could not have done it because his health is deteriorating. He can hardly write such a note, let alone remember the faces of his own staff. We can safely rule him out."
Then why did Nash seem excited? I would have assumed that he would be disappointed as he has hit another dead end.
“Do you have any other leads?”
"As a matter of fact, I do. My father has been quite the busy man; there are many things about him that I am not aware of."
“Such as?”
“My father once competed for a woman's affections.”
Freddi was not at all surprised by Nash's statement. Lord Blackmore was a man with very little scruples, or rather, he only possessed them when he saw the need to.
“Did you find the man he competed against?”
Nash nodded. “Not only that, but I discovered the woman's name as well as her whereabouts. We shall go to see her first thing in the morning. Perhaps she will have more information that will guide me in the right direction.”
Freddi hoped so for his sake. Nash gave her a little more information about their task for the next day before bidding her goodnight and retiring to his own room. Sometime later, Freddi lay wide awake in bed listening to Edwina's snores. She had considered waking up the woman, but she had looked so peaceful that she thought better of it. At least I shall not have a sore back, but I do feel sorry for Edwina. Tomorrow, Freddi would insist that the woman sleep on the bed and not in the armchair.
Soon enough, her mind drifted from her chaperone to Nash. I cannot help but feel anxious about what the future will bring us. What if this is yet another dead end? Nash was hopeful, but Freddi had experienced too many disappointments to remain optimistic. These thoughts kept her awake for some time, preventing her from sleep. Finally, when her eyes began to droop, the last thing on her mind before succumbing to sleep was Nash's cheeky wink.
***
Boardman's Street turned out to be a narrow stretch of road with a few houses on either side of it. It was not difficult to find Kimble's Boarding House as it was the biggest house on the street, with a sign that could be read from quite a way off.
“There it is, Nash,” said Freddi. “Were those men positive that Ann George lives here?”
“Yes, but I shall not know for sure until we go in there. Do you know what to do once you enter the house?”
They had decided last night that she would be the one to speak to Miss George as the woman was more likely to receive another woman as opposed to a man.
“Yes, but what if she will not see me?”
“You can only try, Freddi. We cannot be too long, Edwina has not given us much time together.”
The chaperone had begrudgingly allowed them a day out to themselves as long as they were not seen by anyone. Freddi inhaled deeply, slowly pushing the air out. Nash had placed the fate of his success in her hands, she only hoped that she would do nothing to jeopardise it.
“Very well, I shall do what I can.”
The carriage stopped and she got down, righting her clothes as she walked up to the door. A pretty bell hung to the side of the door, so she pulled the rope hanging down, giving it one gentle tug. The ringing sound had the door opening seconds later, an old woman materialising from the surprising darkness of the house.
“Yes?” she inquired.
“Good day. May I please speak with Miss Ann George?”
The woman eyed her suspiciously. "And who shall I say is calling?"
“Miss Frederica Dunn.”
“Wait a moment.”
The door slammed
shut in her face, making Freddi jump a little. Goodness, she could have warned me before doing that! Minutes passed, and she began to contemplate about returning to the carriage. The woman had told her to wait, but it had been some time since the door had slammed shut in her face.
Freddi was getting ready to turn away when the door opened, but it was not the old woman. This woman was several years younger, and still had much of her beauty. She must have been stunningly beautiful when she was younger. Could this be Ann George?
“May I help you?” the woman asked.
“Yes, please. I am looking for Ann George.”
The woman's eyes narrowed. “Why do you wish to see Ann George?”
Will I be interrogated before I see her? “I have a few questions to ask.”
The woman's eyebrow lifted. “Such as?”
Freddi was not in any mood to have to tell her story more than once.
“Would it be possible to speak to Ann George? This matter concerns her.”
The woman's eyes seemed to turn to stone, her lips thinning into a straight line.
“You will tell me what you wish to tell her and I might allow you to come in and see her. Do I make myself clear?”
This is quite the scolding. I have half a mind to walk off, but Nash needs me to make this mission a success.
“I would like to discuss an event that took place some years ago.”
“An event? And what event would this be?”
“It involves a Lord Blackmore and Mr Loftin.”
Comprehension dawned on the woman's face. Her quickly eyes closed off, showing no emotion at all.
“I am sorry, but I must ask you to leave.”
Aghast that she had lost before she had even begun, Freddi tried to make sense of the woman's dismissal.
“But I simply must see her!”
“She will not see you. Good day.”
The woman thought to close the door, but Freddi put her hand out.
“Are you Miss Ann George?”
The woman lifted her chin. “Yes, I am. Would you kindly leave this door?”
“Miss George, I must speak with you, please.”
“I have nothing to say to you regarding this matter, Miss-?”
“Miss Dunn, Miss Frederica Dunn. Please, Miss George? If you would help me with this, it would go a long way to solving the mystery surrounding my parents' deaths.”
Now, why did she say all of that? I must be desperate to blurt out such a thing. But it seemed to work as the woman paused, her slightly lined brow pulled into a pucker.
“Your parents' deaths? I cannot see how that is connected.”
“It is, Miss George. Please, allow me to speak with you for just two minutes? That is all I ask.”
Sighing, the woman stepped back. “Come in, Miss Dunn. You have two minutes to say whatever it is that you wish to say.”
Ann led her to a table with three chairs, indicating for her to sit. A few curious gazes were cast their way, but no one stopped to stare.
“Now,” the woman began. “Say whatever you wished to say.”
“Yes, thank you. I wish to know of the circumstances surrounding the competition to win your hand.”
“A competition, you say? I do not recall any such competition, Miss Dunn.”
Freddi was momentarily stunned. Had Nash been told a lie, or was the woman lying?
“But Lord Blackmore and Mr Loftin were rivals for your affection.”
“Who informed you of such a thing? Yes, Mr Loftin and I were once together, but we went our separate ways many years ago. However, regarding Lord Blackmore, I had nothing to do with him.”
Was the woman telling her the truth? It was hard to know as Freddi had only just met her.
“Why would people say such things if there was not some truth to it?”
The woman shrugged. "The minds of people are a curious thing, Miss Dunn. I was not aware of the competition for my hand as I was never interested in Lord Blackmore. The man was married, and he was far too cocky to attract my attention. Rumours about our supposed association were just that- rumours."
“I see.”
How do I tell Nash that this is yet another dead end? This is precisely what I was afraid of.
“Have I answered all of your questions?”
Freddi nodded. “Yes, thank you. I shall not take up any more of your time.”
Freddi stood up, Miss George following soon after. "I am sorry that I was not able to help you any further, Miss Dunn."
Freddi thanked her once again, leaving the boarding house disappointed. Nash stood outside the carriage, his ankles crossed as he leaned against the contraption. She hoped that this news would not deter him from continuing with his search, but she would not blame him if it did. Freddi had a feeling that they would be returning home soon, and Nash would then proceed to walk out of her life once again. And I can do nothing about it.
Chapter 14
Nash could tell that Freddi was worried about him, but he did not have the energy to reassure her that he was fine. Disappointment ate at him like rust through metal, corroding whatever hope he had. I do not know what direction to take, this was my last chance of finding something about Father's situation.
With no hope and dwindling funds, Nash knew that he would have to return to Alfriston soon. He would have to tell his father that he could find nothing about the perpetrator, and worst of all, he would leave Freddi behind. Nash passed his hands over his face. This was not the outcome I had expected. I was confident that something would come of this London trip, but I have failed once again. He felt ashamed that he would not be able to fulfil the promise he had made to himself regarding Freddi. I did not tell her anything of my plans, but I know of them, and that is enough.
Returning to France meant that he would likely not see her for some time- who was to say that she would not marry Mr Down? Nash closed his eyes at the thought. How will I stop her if I cannot promise her any better? What right did he have to tell her what she should do with her life? The right of a man deeply in love with her. Freddi was his, and it had been that way since they were children.
“Nash? You have not said anything since we left the boarding house. Are you all right?”
Nash could hear the concern in Freddi's voice, and his heart ached to know that his failure meant her failure as well.
“I am fine, only tired. I think that I shall retire to my room.”
"Oh no, my Lord," said Edwina. "What of our card game?"
Nash looked at the cards he held in his hand. “I think that I am out, Edwina.”
Just as well for he had no drive to continue their game.
“It is just you and I, Freddi,” said Edwina. “Play your next hand.”
But Freddi did not put her cards down. “Nash, are you unwell?”
