A Murderous Masquerade (Unrivalled Regency Book 2)

by Williams, Jackie

  He wondered for the thousandth time if he were doing the right thing. Anne was used to far greater luxury than he could possibly offer her on his meagre income. Selling his commission had kept the wolf from the door for the last two years but his circumstances were in no way yet secure.

  His investment in the stables at Ormond wouldn’t ripen for at least a few years and his estate was far too small to earn enough of an excess to provide a lavish income, though it did keep him well stocked with food. The stream running through the estate was teaming with trout, pike, and perch. The pigs kept him in ham, bacon and sausages. His lamb made delicious roasts and the wool sold well enough to keep him clothed. His cattle stock was growing but the lack of land would mean that he had to keep it a small venture.

  He opened his study door and threw himself into his chair before swinging his booted feet onto his desk and leaning back as he turned the letter again.

  A solicitor’s note from his uncle wasn’t a good thing at all. The man was a veritable miser and his son wasn’t much better. The last time Giles had seen the man he’d been wrapped in threadbare blankets and refusing to light a fire as he complained about the cost of buying cut wood. Giles had wondered why his cousin John hadn’t cut the wood and chopped it himself if costs were that pressing, but John’s ten year old sister Charlotte had piped up and bemoaned their meanness as she had wrapped a thin shawl about her bony shoulders.

  He ran his finger under the edge of the letter and split the seal.

  His first reading didn’t make any sense to him. He read the missive again. His heart rate climbed as astonishment settled in.

  Apart from the actual news of his uncle’s sudden demise, he was rather shocked to discover that unbeknownst to him, his young cousin, John, had died several months earlier and that he, Giles Denvers was apparently now legal holder of the title and owner of the estate at Caithwell Brook. His mind went immediately to little Charlotte as he struggled to remember how old she might be. His aunt had not had the children until rather late in life and had died giving birth to Charlotte. His uncle had never been inclined to marry again. There was no mention of her in the letter. Where was the girl right now? Who was looking after her?

  Giles stood up from his chair and walked over to his brandy cabinet. He poured out a generous measure and threw back the burning liquid as he tried to take in the news. Mrs. Mingle pushed open the door and entered the room bearing a tray with plates of cold meats and breads. He poured another glass as Mrs. Mingle placed the selection of meats on his desk. She glanced up at him as he poured a third glass.

  “Everything alright, Mr. Denvers? You’re looking a tad peaky. You’re sweatin’ like you have a fever. I’ll open the window if you’re feeling the heat, though I thought the weather had...”

  Giles closed his eyes and pressed his thumb and finger together over the bridge of his nose.

  “I’m quite well, Mrs. Mingle. No need for any action, but I must leave here tonight and travel to my uncle’s estate. There is a most pressing matter that I must attend to. Would you ask Callum to prepare the carriage? I’ll probably be gone several days.”

  Mrs. Mingle gave a nod but then stopped.

  “But what about the ball at Ormond? You were to be Lady Anne’s escort. You don’t want any other young buck stealing a march over you.”

  Giles gulped the last of his brandy.

  “I’ll travel straight from Caithwell Brook to Ormond. Where’s Craddock? I’ll need him to pack.”

  Mrs. Mingle hurried to the door.

  “Sit yourself down and eat. I’ll sort everything else.” She bustled from the room as Giles moved back to his desk and picked up the letter once more.

  His heart began to pound in his chest. He had never been that close to his uncle or cousins due to his own father falling out with his brother many years previously. After his father passed away he’d visited them on occasions when he’d been passing just to keep up a link with their relationship, but he had never considered that he could come into the title. His cousin John had been so robust even with his father’s meagre provisions.

  There was no note as to how John had met his own demise, but it had to have been something quite sudden. The man had been in good health when they had last met. Giles tried to recall when that had been but his memory appeared to be failing him. Perhaps it had been more years than he recalled. It had to have been on a short leave from the war. He seemed to recall Charlotte admiring his uniform.

  She had been so young, maybe nine or ten, a long legged, blonde bundle of effervescence who wore him out with her chatter. John had been nearly grown. Already as tall as Giles himself and very broad at the shoulder. The young man had drunk a whole bottle of port at the dinner table and Giles had been amazed when he had stood up and walked from the room without a hint of a wobble in his stride.

  He folded a slice of ham into a crusty roll and chewed slowly as he re-read the letter once more. Good grief! If the letter was telling him the truth, he would now be Lord Caithwell. He wiped his hand across his brow and ran his fingers through his hair as the implications of his sudden rise in status filled his mind. He’d never even considered what it could mean. A title had been so far out of his reach that there was no reason that it should ever cross his mind. Maybe Anne’s family would be able to see over their resentment of his common status and accept him for her husband.

  His hand fisted as he brought it down onto the desk. He knew that he was fooling himself. An unexpectedly acquired title and crumbling estate wouldn’t be good enough for the likes of Lavenham. He puffed out a deep sigh. If Caithwell was in the same state as it had been at his last visit, this title wasn’t anything to celebrate. The place had needed a fortune spent on it even then. One wing had leaky roofs, the other rotten window frames and part of the servants’ quarters had been unliveable for years, not that his uncle had employed many staff. He preferred that Charlotte did as much as she could, relying on the child to organize the household even at that tender age.

  John had only been interested in his father’s stables. Giles recalled the fabulous hunters that his uncle had ridden and wondered if any were still at the manor. The stables had been his uncle’s one indulgence and the horses were housed in far greater comfort than the occupants of the hall.

  There was a knock at the door and Callum strode in.

  “All ready for you, Sir. Craddock just brought down your trunks and I’ve already loaded them. I take it that you will want me to drive.” The young man looked ridiculously hopeful and Giles didn’t disappoint him.

  “You know the way to Caithwell Brook? It’s several hours away.”

  Callum gave a huge and delighted grin.

  “Aye! We will be there by sun up if you can sleep in the carriage, lunchtime if you want to stop over at Bigman’s Hollow.”

  Craddock appeared behind Giles.

  “I’ll not stay in that flea infested excuse of an inn. Better to sleep in the carriage than risk the bed bugs and lice in that place.” Craddock’s horrified expression had Giles wanting to scratch his head. He resisted the urge.

  “I think we’ll press on through the night if you think you are up to it. I have to get there as soon as possible, but I don’t want you to exhaust yourself or the horses.”

  “Trouble?” Callum's concerned eyes searched his master’s face.

  “I don’t know yet. Something has cropped up that I certainly need to investigate. We’ll be returning via Ormond in three days time. I’ve promised to escort Lady Anne to the masquerade ball and I cannot let her down.”

  Craddock lifted a brow.

  “You hadn’t given me direction for your costume, Sir. I understood that you and Lady Anne were to be wearing corresponding outfits.”

  Giles shook his head.

  “I haven’t been able to discuss it with Lady Anne and unfortunately I don’t have time now. I’ll just wear my black suit and a mask. I’ll send word from Caithwell to Evenleigh to let Lady Anne know my change of plan.�
� For the merest instant he wondered if he should bother, but dismissed the thought just as quickly. He was behaving like a lovesick youth. He shouldn’t have let his temper get the better of him. He had played right into Lavenham’s hands by storming off and leaving the way open for any of the man’s other cronies. The thought burned in his gut. “I have a slight change of plan. I must leave a message for Lady Anne tonight. We’ll detour and take in Evenleigh on our way. If we take Pegasus with us I can leave him there and ask Geoffrey to collect him before the ball. It will only delay us by an hour or two at the most.”

  Callum beamed.

  “Good plan. It’s not a good idea to leave a Lady guessing your intentions. They have a stubborn streak that makes them likely to do something stupid...like marry the wrong man.” He raised his eyebrows significantly.

  Giles glowered at the man.

  “And how come you are so much of an expert on the fairer sex and what they are likely to do. You’re barely out of your nursing strings!”

  Callum laughed.

  “You wish that I was! While you’ve been romancing your fair lady for the last couple of years, I’ve been doing lot of hanging around in the Bear and Dragon. It’s astonishing what men reveal while in their cups. Half the men there sit around lamenting the fact that their favoured bride escaped them through their own stupidity. I could tell you a tale or two.”

  Giles smiled fondly as he remembered three hazy days with his newly married and very drunk friend, Alexander. At various points during their mammoth drinking session, Alexander had convinced Giles that his new and very beautiful young wife was either a mermaid, a donkey in disguise, a banshee from Ireland or a Medusa, where in actuality all the poor young woman had wrong with her was a speech impediment brought on by being profoundly deaf. At least Alexander hadn’t been stupid enough to let Lily escape him. After a shaky start the man was now blissfully happy with his delightful bride.

  Giles knew that he couldn’t let Anne escape either. He had to see her and convince her to marry him as soon as possible. Letting Lavenham parade all his eligible friends in front of the poor woman was asking for trouble. Although Anne was strong minded and fiercely independent, with both her brother and her father chipping at her resolve, there was just the chance that she might give in. His stomach went cold at the thought and he stepped up into his carriage. Craddock looked in at the door and Giles beckoned his valet inside.

  A few seconds later Callum clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and the horses lurched forwards. Dusk soon caught up with them and it was full dark by the time they pulled into the gates of Evenleigh. Giles jumped down from the carriage and strode towards the door but it opened just as he reached it and Whittaker welcomed him in.

  “My mistress is in the library. She will be pleased to see you.”

  Giles nodded quickly and strode through the hall. He gave a brief knock and walked in.

  Anne sat in the fireside chair, a slim book in her lap. Giles pretended not to notice as she shut the book and slid it down the side of the chair. He came forwards as she stood up and stared at him with wide eyes.

  “Anne, I am so sorry for my appalling behaviour this afternoon. I should have never walked out on you like that. Can you ever forgive me?” He didn’t care that his voice sounded so unlike his own.

  Her green eyes misted in the lamp light before they cleared and glistened hopefully.

  “I thought you might have gone for good. I couldn’t believe you left me here at their mercy. I’ve put up with nothing but listening to their plans for me since. It appears that I am to be married before autumn. Father says that I must pick a man of his choosing to lessen the scandal of being associated with my husband, Phillip.”

  Giles took her hands in his. He rubbed the backs of them with his thumbs as he pulled her closer.

  “There is no scandal to being associated with Phillip and no one is going to marry you but me, and that will be at a time of our choosing, not your father’s.” He gathered the trembling woman in his arms, more than relieved that she melted against his chest. He brushed his fingers gently over her hair before lifting her face so that she looked up at him. “Anne, there is much I have to tell you, but a family crisis has arisen and I need to go to my uncle’s estate immediately. I’ll not be able to see you again before the ball at Ormond. Do you think that you will be able to hold out against your father and brother for another few days? That is all I ask. Do not give into them before then.”

  She breathed into the skin above his cravat and let out a small laugh.

  “For your treatment of me earlier today I should tell you that I’m marrying the first eligible lord who asks me.” She cupped his stricken face and leaned up to brush her lips against his. “But I won’t. Don’t worry, my love. I’ll hold my own for a few days longer.”

  Giles held her close and breathed into her lush curls.

  “You will marry me then? This isn’t the proposal I had hoped to make, but I want to announce our betrothal to the world at the masquerade ball. I want everyone to know that you are mine forever.”

  Anne kissed his lips again.

  “Yes, my love. I’ll marry you. I am yours forever.”

  Giles let out a groan of relief and scooped her into his arms. He twirled her around before setting her down again and taking a resolute step back.

  “I want to stay, but I have pressing matters to sort out. I’ll be at Ormond in three days. We can announce our betrothal at the ball and be married as soon as you want after. Set the day Anne. I don’t want to wait any longer.” He turned to the door and was about to go out when it opened and Lavenham stood on the threshold.

  “What are you doing back here, alone with my daughter again? We thought we’d seen the last of you. Lady Anne needs a far better man than the likes of you. Leave while your dignity is still intact.” He pointed an imperious finger towards the door.

  Anne gasped in fury, slapped the offending digit down and was about to speak when Giles held up a hand to stop her. He stood up to his tallest which was several inches above the Earl of Lavenham’s balding head and looked down his nose at the annoying man.

  “I am taking my leave of your daughter, but not due to any threat that you or your son could make.” He bowed to Anne. “My Lady, I will see you again at Ormond.”

  Anne gave him a secret smile before he strode towards the front door and marched out into the night.

  His boots crunched on the gravel drive and he gave Callum a light, celebratory punch on the shoulder as the young man doffed his cap and laughed delightedly into the evening air as he stood at the carriage door.

  Giles bounded up the steps and Callum folded them inside as soon as Giles was seated. He glanced at his grinning valet and then out of the window, but the front door of Evenleigh was already firmly closed. He didn’t care. She could hold her own for three days. He leaned back in his seat as a huge smile spread across his lips. She was his at last and he was officially the happiest man alive.

  Chapter Three

  Even in the early morning light Giles could see the tussocks of grass that dotted the centre of the long drive up to the manor house. Caithwell’s outward appearance was belying its good name.

  He yawned and stretched his legs in the cramped space. Craddock grunted and opened a bleary eye. He looked out of the window just as the house came into sight and blinked rapidly.

  “Good God! What on earth has happened to the place? It looks like the whole of the west wing is collapsing.”

  Giles was about to groan loudly when a streak of white came galloping across the front lawn. The young boy riding the horse looked across at the carriage and pulled his mount into a sharp stop. The horse snorted at his interrupted run and began to rear up but the boy held on and calmed the animal quickly. The pair stared as the carriage came nearer.

  Callum pulled to a stop in the weed ridden forecourt. He jumped down from his seat and opened the carriage door as the horse and rider walked slowly up to them. The boy sl
id from the animal and stood staring curiously as Giles stepped down the steps.

  He had no time to take in the rundown frontage of the property. All the wind was knocked out of him as he was suddenly engulfed in a pair of squirming arms and legs. The boy’s cap fell to the ground and a cascade of blonde curls tumbled down as a girlish voice squealed out his name.

  “Giles! I couldn’t wait for you to arrive. Cook threatened me with the workhouse if someone didn’t show up soon. I told her that you would be here as soon as you had the news, but I couldn’t travel to fetch you by myself. I had to wait for that stuffy old solicitor to send you official word. It’s been so grim waiting for you.”

  Giles leaned his head back and stared down at the long haired ragamuffin whose arms were still clasped around his neck.

  “Charlotte? Good heavens, girl. What on earth has been going on, and what on earth are you doing riding around in flat caps and breeches?” His surprised tone did nothing to stop the young girl’s enthusiasm.

  “Oh, don’t you go all pompous on me too. Someone has to exercise the horses and since John is no longer here to do it then it falls to me. I think I do the job a lot better though. Lightning is looking magnificent, don’t you agree?”

  Giles unwound the girl’s arms and dropped her to the ground in front of him. He glanced at the fabulous horse that stood staring down at the pair of them.

  “He is certainly one of the most beautiful specimens I have come across. Is he part of your father’s breeding programme?”

  Charlotte shook her head as her expression became sad.

  “There isn’t one any longer. Father gave up all his interest when John died.” She sighed as she took in Giles’ confused expression. “Come on inside. I’ll just take Lightning back to the stable and then I’ll join you. I expect that we have much to discuss.”