by Laura Landon
The evening meal was an informal yet lavish buffet that none of the homes in London could have equaled, and the guests could visit the formal dining room at will to eat whenever they became hungry.
At dusk the manor’s ballroom slowly filled with congenial conversation as guests made themselves comfortable in the cleverly arranged groupings of chairs and settees placed about the fringes of the room. Several couples twirled around the dance floor at the east end near the orchestra dais. Others milled about enjoying the champagne and hors d'oeuvres that remained in constant supply.
Every aspect of the room spoke of the joyous occasion the guests were here to celebrate.
All that was missing so far was the central character Jack was certain was behind the smuggling—the Duke of Fullmont. As to the more serious allegations, Jack couldn’t believe Fullmont could be behind them. Fullmont’s vice was greed, not power.
Jack walked from group to group, playing the perfect host as well as ecstatic bridegroom. Soon he would take Jenna in his arms and dance with his bride-to-be. His anticipation surprised him, but he knew it was genuine, deep-seated, born from a love whose flame was now burning steady and strong.
It made it all the more difficult to focus on the night’s darker mission.
There were several friends and guests Jack had yet to greet, two of whom were the Earl and Countess of Covington.
The earl had been on Jack’s list. He and Covey had been at school together, then later served together in the army. Both had been second sons who had inherited the title due to an unfortunate incident, which in Covey’s brother’s case was a hunting accident that happened while Jack and Covey were in the Crimea.
Covey had been sent home as a result, and by the time Jack returned home his friend was engaged and about to march down the aisle. That was a little more than a year ago and the newlywed’s glow was still on both faces.
“Covey,” Jack said, greeting his long-time friend. “And Lady Covington. You look splendid.”
Jack had liked Covey’s bride the first time he’d met her. There was something genuinely sincere about the way she conversed with people. Jack hoped she and Jenna would become fast friends. He’d like to think there would be another female her age that she could talk to, visit London shops with, and do all the other female activities of which women were so fond.
“Thank you, Devlin,” the countess said, gracing him with an open smile.
“I must say, you still look as blissful as you did on your wedding day. Tell me truthfully though,” Jack said leaning in to whisper just loud enough that Covey could still hear, “what did you see in Covey? If I hadn’t met my future bride when I did, I’m sure I would have languished away, knowing you were lost to me before I could compete for your favors.”
“How very glad I am that you found your own true love then, Lord Devlin,” Lady Covington said on a laugh. “I’d hate to be the cause of your demise.”
“Don’t believe a word Devlin says,” Lord Covington told his wife as he wound his arm around her waist and brought her to him. “He’s the most practiced liar it’s ever been my regret to know.”
Lady Covington giggled when Jack held his hand over his heart and feigned injury.
“Enough fawning over my wife, Devlin. Let’s meet this unfortunate woman who’s agreed to spend the rest of her life with you.”
“With pleasure,” Jack said, looking around the room for Jenna. He found her talking with her aunt and several other ladies just two circles of guests away from them. “I’ll gladly introduce you, but you must promise that you will say only flattering remarks about me. I need all the assistance I can get.”
Covey’s laugh had always been contagious, but tonight it seemed even more robust. Several of the guests turned their attention to see what had caused such humor. Jenna turned too, and Jack caught her glance, then held out his hand and walked toward her.
“I have someone I want you to meet, sweetheart,” he said when he’d escorted her to where Covey and his wife were waiting. “Allow me to present the Earl and Countess of Covington. Covey, Lady Covington, Miss Kingston.”
“Please, call me Jenna,” Jenna said to Lady Covington.
“Only if you will return the favor. My name is Grace.”
“Covey will do for me. I’ve grown rather fond of the name.”
“It will be my pleasure.”
“Thank you for inviting us to be a part of your celebration,” Lady Covington said.
“I’m glad you could join us,” Jenna said with a smile.
“Quite an impressive gathering,” Lord Covington added. “Even Colonel Maxwell is in attendance. How did you manage to get him to leave the home office?”
“I think he came out of curiosity. It’s possible he was of the same opinion as you.”
“You mean that he couldn’t believe you actually intended to go through with your vows?”
Jack wanted to punch his good friend. “No,” he said, not trying to keep the sarcasm from his voice. “That he wanted to meet the saint I intend to marry.”
“You’d have to be a saint,” Covey chimed in, “to agree to spend the rest of your life with this devil.”
“Thank you, my good man. You’ve added greatly to my bride’s pre-wedding jitters.”
Everyone laughed, even Jenna, but Jack noticed her face seemed a little paler. There’d been a great deal of stress associated with the wedding and she’d been on her feet for several hours already.
“Would you care to sit for a while?” Jack asked.
“Yes, let’s do. Let’s find someplace we can sit and visit. There,” she said nodding to a grouping of four chairs that faced a floral settee. A particularly lush grouping of ferns gave them just the privacy they sought.
Jack led the group to the chairs and assisted Jenna.
“Devlin, be a good man and fetch us something to drink,” Covey said when they were seated. “And take your time about it. I will need every minute you’re gone and more to warn this lovely lady what she’s in for if she goes through with this marriage.”
“Don’t believe a word he says, Jenna. He’s undoubtedly repaying me for some of the unflattering remarks I might have made to his bride the night before their nuptials.”
“Telling my bride that I was deathly afraid of the dark was more than an unflattering remark, Devlin. Dear Grace had the staff keep every room we entered bright as daylight the first week or more we were wed. I thought she might not like the dark, and it was only after we had a serious discussion over the bills I received from the candle maker that she admitted what you’d told her.”
Jenna gave Jack a shocked look, then burst out laughing. Grace laughed along with her and Jack was glad the two women could see the humor in the prank he’d played on Covey.
“Find us something to drink, Devlin. I’ve thought of a minor detail your bride must know before tomorrow.”
The gleam in Covey’s eyes told Jack he was going to be embarrassed beyond belief. Jack turned to find refreshments for his friends, but stopped short when a deep masculine voice spoke his name.
“Lord Devlin.”
Jack lifted his gaze and looked at the Duke of Fullmont.
“Your grace,” Jack said with a bow just deep enough it didn’t cause insult. “A pleasure to see you again.”
“The pleasure’s mine. And on such a festive occasion.”
Jack stepped closer to Jenna in a possessive maneuver. “Allow me to introduce my betrothed. Miss Kingston, the Duke of Fullmont. Fullmont, my betrothed, Miss Kingston.”
“Miss Kingston.”
Jenna stood. “Your grace.”
“And of course you know the Earl of Covington and his countess.”
“Covington. Lady Covington.”
“Your grace.”
As soon as the introductions were completed, Fullmont’s focus returned to Jenna. Jack felt a stirring of unease.
“Miss Kingston, it’s unfortunate our paths have never crossed. I didn’t realize you
r father had such a charming daughter. Could it have been that he was hiding you from the world?”
“Thank you for the compliment, Your Grace. But it’s not at all surprising we’ve never met.”
“It’s not?”
“No. We probably didn’t have an opportunity to meet because you and my father had none of the same business interests.”
The Duke of Fullmont gave Jenna an evaluative smile that hinted at a number of unspoken threats. “No, we didn’t. How is your father, by the way?”
“He’s still away,” Jenna answered in a calm tone.
Fullmont arched his brows. “Is he?” Fullmont’s slow drawl hinted that he knew something the rest of the world didn’t. “I thought I saw him earlier when I came in.”
Jack felt the muscles in Jenna’s body stiffen.
“I’m sure you were mistaken,” she answered in a voice that to anyone who didn’t know her sounded normal.
Jack, however, knew Jenna, and recognized the strain in her voice. His heart flipped in his chest. He wanted to dismiss Fullmont’s comment for the cruel joke he hoped Fullmont was making. But the cold, calculating look in his eyes told another story. What Jack feared caused his blood to turn to ice.
“Perhaps I was,” Fullmont said with a smile even more malicious. “But the night is young. Perhaps he’ll show up yet. I’m sure if he is anywhere near, he’ll want to come home in time to see his only daughter marry.”
Jack secured his hold around Jenna’s waist. Her whole body shivered and Jack knew it wasn’t from an imagined chill. She was frightened to death.
“Thank you for the invitation. I wouldn’t miss this for the world. If you’ll excuse me, however, I see someone I need to speak with.”
Fullmont nodded in farewell, then walked away from them.
When Fullmont was out of hearing, Jack looked down. His objective was to reassure Jenna that Fullmont was playing a cruel joke, but the look on her face told him it was far too late for any reassurances.
“I have to go,” she said, her voice filled with fear.
Before he could stop her, she pulled out of his grasp and hurried as quickly as propriety would allow toward the door.
“Get the colonel and follow us, Covey,” Jack said, then turned to go after Jenna.
He knew where she was going, knew what she needed to see to be reassured that her father was still safely hidden.
Jenna raced down the hall to the other wing of Kingston Manor, then toward the room that had been her mother’s.
Jack stayed close, knowing she’d need him if she saw what he feared she’d see.
She didn’t stop to light a lamp, there was no need. She’d made her way across this room a thousand times, it seemed, to assure herself that the light in the cottage window still glowed brightly.
She threw the drapery to the side and looked out into the darkness.
“No.”
Jack stepped up behind her and put his arms around her.
“No!”
THE DEVIL’S GIFT by Laura Landon
Chapter 23
Jenna felt Jack’s arms wrap around her and hold her close. She needed his support, but she needed to flee even more. She needed to go to the Chisolm’s cottage to make sure her father was still there, except she knew he wasn’t. The darkness that stared back at her told her someone had found him.
“Jack,” she said looking up at him. “They’ve found him.”
“I know, sweetheart.” Jake turned his head to address his friend and the colonel. “Covey, see that cottage? The one there beyond the oak grove? Jenna’s father may have been abducted from there. And if he has, the man Whithers and his wife Maude will be…in distress.”
Jenna gasped. In distress. Those dear people would be in torment or even...
Jenna fought the fear rapidly building inside her. Eleanor had found her father and would hold him captive to keep her from marrying anyone except the Duke of Ridgeway. She’d threatened to do so a thousand times before.
Jenna wondered how much Ridgeway had offered for her. Enough for Eleanor to live like a queen for the rest of her life? Enough for Eleanor to pay her brother’s debts and keep him from debtor’s prison? Enough to have the very influential Duke of Ridgeway’s undying gratitude?
And why? So the Duke of Ridgeway could marry a young bride who would finally give him the heir his two other wives could not?
Jenna felt sick to her stomach. Surely there were other young debutantes who wanted to be duchesses badly enough that they’d marry a man twice their age.
But if she didn’t marry Ridgeway...
The thought of her father locked in a cold, filthy asylum was more than Jenna could endure. A moan escaped from her that she couldn’t stop.
“It’ll be all right,” Jack said, holding her closer. “Trust me. I won’t let anyone harm your father.”
Jenna wanted to believe him, but how could she? This was the man who’d come to Kingston Manor pretending to be a servant. This was the man who’d let her believe he was Jack Hawkins when he was in truth the Earl of Devlin. This was the man who’d believed her father was a murderer and had come to find proof and prosecute him. Was he a man who simply turned events to suit his own intent?
“You won’t be able to protect him,” she said, not wanting her words to be true, but knowing they were. “If Eleanor has Father, I’m the only one who can save him.”
“You’re not!” Jack said, clasping his hands around her upper arms. “There is more to what is going on than you know, sweetheart. Your stepmother is involved in things far too big for you to face by yourself. You have to trust me.”
Jenna looked into his eyes. She saw the sincerity there, the pleading. He wanted her to trust him. Yet how could she? It wasn’t her life that was at stake. It was her father’s.
Trust had been the point of contention between them since they’d first met, and it would be the final blow that would destroy any chance they had for a future together. There was a time when she had placed her trust in her father to take care of her like he’d promised after her mother had died. Instead, he’d married a woman who’d made her life miserable. Since then, trust had merely been a blind alley for Jenna.
The lesson burned into her soul had been a brutal one. The only person she could truly count on was herself. It had been proven true over and over. She’d put her trust in the stranger her father had chosen as her betrothed. And that man, the one she’d expected to save her from Eleanor’s ruling hand hadn’t wanted her. Hadn’t once come to see her. And had died before he could marry her.
No, all these past experiences had taught her a very valuable lesson. She was the only person on whom she could rely. If she trusted Jack to save her father and he failed, that failure would always stand between them.
If anyone failed to save her father, it would be best if it were her.
Jenna placed her palms against Jack’s chest and pushed him away.
He stepped back and dropped his hands to his sides.
From the look of anger and hurt in his eyes, Jenna realized the damage she’d done. The ache in the hollow spot where her heart used to be confirmed it.
“Jenna, don’t do this. Please, trust me.”
A lump lodged in her throat and Jack’s handsome face blurred before her eyes. “I can’t. He’s my father. I—”
“I hope you’re telling Lord Devlin that you can’t go through with the marriage.” Eleanor’s voice came from the other side of the room. It sounded darkly hopeful yet rife with her usual disdain.
Jenna looked up to see her stepmother in the open doorway.
Eleanor stepped into the room, followed by two servants with lighted candelabra. The dark room brightened as if it were daylight, illuminating the victory on her face that seemed to have aged her immeasurably. She dominated the center of the room with her brother, Viscount Brackston, standing on her left. The Duke of Fullmont took his place at Eleanor’s right and stood in a commanding position, with his legs braced wide and
his hands locked behind his back. From the expression on his face, one would think he was the main player.
But Benton was there, and so was the colonel, standing protectively beside Aunt Chloe. And Lord Covington. She knew they could be relied upon for help. The others she didn’t know, and felt suddenly afraid.
Then, the gathering parted and a big, burly man entered the room with her father in tow.
“Papa,” she said on a whisper.
She wanted to rush to him, but Jack’s fingers grasped her arm and held her back.
The Duke of Fullmont stepped forward and commanded everyone’s attention. “What a gathering you have here, Miss Kingston. This whole evening has been full of surprises.”
Jenna glared at the Duke of Fullmont. “What have you done to my father?”
Her father had a faraway look in his eyes and Jenna realized he was oblivious to any of the dangers that were engulfing him.
“He doesn’t seem himself, does he, my dear?” Jenna’s stepmother cooed.
Jenna clamped her fingers around the arm Jack held in front of her to keep from rushing forward. They’d given her father something. Laudanum, perhaps, or one of the drugs Eleanor had used before when she’d attempted to poison him.
Jenna tightened her grip around Jack’s forearm.
Lady Kingston took a small step forward, then stopped to look back over her shoulder. The expression on her face when she looked at her husband brimmed with contempt, and Jenna felt a fresh wave of fear.
“I fear he’s not in control of his mind,” Eleanor simpered. “What do you think?”
With that, Eleanor made a sudden movement of her hand.
Out of instinct, Jenna ducked to the side.
She heard a loud bellow and her father went into a rage. He bolted toward Eleanor, and if the guard watching him hadn’t held him back, Jenna was sure he would have done his wife bodily harm.
Jenna wouldn’t have blamed him, but it would only have proven the point Lady Kingston was attempting to make—that her husband was of a violent nature and needed to be locked away.
“Stop!”
Jenna broke free from Jack’s grasp and rushed to her father. When she reached him, she pulled one of his arms free from the guard’s harsh grasp and drew him close. “Don’t hurt him,” she cried out, holding him as she tried to calm him. “He was only trying to protect me.”
