“The only thing that I can think of is it could be hidden somewhere else,” Clarissa said. “Perhaps under the floorboards. Or buried somewhere in the gardens.”
“Or somewhere else entirely,” Andrew said. “What about Belinda’s house?”
Clarissa couldn’t help but laugh. “She brought everything back the day she returned those books, or at least I think she did.” Her heart stopped in her chest and she gasped. “The books she brought back. There was a stack of them, and I didn’t even look at them. I told Sally to get rid of them. Sally!”
After sculling and calling of names, the maid appeared. Clarissa hated the look of utter shock on her maid’s face.
“The books I had you get rid of, what did you do with them?”
“You said you didn’t want them,” Sally said. “You taught me to read, and I wanted to read them. I’m on the second one now, one by Miss Austen.”
“You are not in trouble, Sally,” Clarissa said. “Please, bring them to me, all of them.”
“I opened them one at a time,” Sally said. “If I’ve done wrong, I’m sorry.”
“You’ve done nothing wrong,” Clarissa said. “Now, go and get them.”
Sally left and returned almost as quickly with four books in her hands. She put them on the table and they were immediately grabbed up, by Clarissa, Andrew, Parker, and Gabby. It was Gabby who cried out, “I have it! A letter hidden between the pages.”
“Read it,” Clarissa said, but Gabby handed it to her.
“I think you should,” Gabby said. She handed the paper to Clarissa, who opened it.
“There is one line,” Clarissa said. “As I ride, I know I hold the fate of man in my hands.”
“As I ride?” Andrew screwed up his nose. “He hid it in a horse?”
“Or a carriage,” Clarissa said.
They all sat up straighter, as if someone had put tacks in their chair.
“The phaeton,” Clarissa said. “It’s housed in a stable not far from here.”
“We should go now,” Parker said. He stood up and Ellington, who was next to him, grabbed his arm.
“Not a good idea,” Ellington said. “I am sure Marks is having this place watched. If we all stomp over to the stables he’ll know we found something. We should stay here, finish our tea and then disperse to our own homes. Carin and I will host you all for dinner tonight. Andrew, you and Clarissa can search the carriage on your way over.”
“Excellent plan,” Andrew said.
“Then dinner is at eight,” Carin said. “We shall see everyone there.”
When they were gone, Andrew said, “By the by, my love, I’m proud of you for holding your temper when you saw Belinda.”
“I’m rather proud of myself,” Clarissa said. They had seen their friends out, and she was headed toward the stairs. But it was hard to mount them, because she wanted nothing more than to order the carriage here so she could search it. She looked up and saw Sally at the top of the landing, looking very nervous.
“Retrieve the novels, Sally,” Clarissa said. “I am sorry to have given you worries. I am going to dinner at a friend’s tonight. Please ready my lilac gown.”
“As you say, Your Grace,” Sally said.
When she was gone, Clarissa turned to Andrew. “This plan is well and good, but it is boring and, if we find the journal, everyone will want to see it. I say we go now and search. If we find it, there is only one thing that can be done with it.”
“Please don’t say the only thing that can be done is to give it to Mills,” Andrew said.
“No, the only person who should put their hands on that journal will be the queen.”
* * *
The house teemed with activity, ladies in bright and beautiful dresses and gentlemen in evening kit. Clarissa wore a dark blue dress with so many petticoats and flounces that she felt as if she might topple over from the weight.
As more and more people came inside she tried to keep her mind on the plan, one that she prayed would put an end to this entire event. She shivered as she remembered the reaction their friends had to this news last night.
“You had no right!” Parker Mills had slammed his fist against the table and Ellington had stood.
“You will watch your temper in my home, sir,” Ellington said.
Clarissa was afraid they would come to fisticuffs, but they had not. But the yelling had continued.
“It belonged to my father, and thereby to me,” Parker said.
“Come now, Mills, do you want to be in possession of something that might get you hanged?” Andrew had said. “We gave it to the queen, or to her advisor. There was no safer place. We read it, it wasn’t long. It does not name names, but it does give initials. Thereby we devised a scheme for tomorrow night.”
That’s where they were now. And, as the house continued to fill, Clarissa worried that the scheme would not work. Mills would blend in, and they would not be able to catch him. The food and drink flowed freely, and as the dancing started, Clarissa wanted to cry out in frustration.
But that’s when something hard pressed into her side. “Don’t scream out, Duchess.” She turned to see Neill Marks standing next to her. “You know what I want, and you know where it is. Give it to me, or the man standing near your future husband will kill him. I am tired of waiting.”
“It is in the library,” she said. “I will give you what you want if you promise to leave us be.”
“Lead on, Duchess,” Marks said.
She made her way through the crowd, with Marks at her heels. As she walked she saw a man standing near Andrew, someone she didn’t know. There were many Scotland Yard policemen around, dressed in kit, so she wasn’t worried for Andrew’s safety. She was a little concerned about this next part, however.
Clarissa opened the door to the library and led him inside. He closed it after them and she kept herself from glancing around. She knew there were men hidden in the room. It had taken much to convince Andrew that he could not hide in the library.
“Marks will be suspicious if he does not see you in the main room,” Clarissa said. “You have to stay there or this will not work.”
They had argued about it for a great deal of time, and it had taken a talk from Essex to convince Andrew that Clarissa was right. She was unhappy that he wouldn’t listen to her. She knew it was because he was concerned for her safety, and right now, she would love to know that Andrew was in the room, waiting for her, ready to protect her.
“Where is it?” Marks asked.
“You mean the book that proves you’re a traitor?” Clarissa turned to him. “You will pay for your crimes.”
“Not with Hallard dead. I killed the other two all by myself.” He sounded so proud of himself that Clarissa wanted to slap him. “We will succeed one day, and take that woman off the throne.”
“And put her son on it?” she asked.
“We have plans in that direction, too,” he said. “Now, give it to me.”
She wanted to ask what he meant, and she knew she’d gotten him to admit to his crime, but she was too distracted by what he’d said about killing the others to end it there as they’d planned. “Not Taylor, surely.” Her husband might be a thief, but she didn’t think he was a traitor.
“Your husband was too stupid to take part,” Marks said. “We couldn’t trust him. He wanted nothing more than money. That’s the only thing that interested him. Well that and the damn skirt he was fucking.”
Marks laughed, and then bowed. “Excuse me, Your Grace, for my crude words. Now, give me the journal and I will be on my way.”
“I’m afraid I don’t have it,” she said. “I gave it to the queen last night.”
Before he could respond the door to the room burst open and Andrew rushed in. He tackled Marks, which knocked the gun he’d been holding to the floor. Clarissa moved aside as they wrestled on the floor. Andrew ended up on top, and she gasped as he slammed his fist into Marks’ face.
“This is for my future wife, f
or my queen, for my country, and just because you are an all-around asshole.” He slammed his fist into Marks again, and then two men came out from behind the curtains and pulled him off.
“We’ll take it from here,” said the man, who had refused to give his name or position, only that he worked on a security force for ‘Her Majesty’.
Andrew took Clarissa’s hand and led her out of the room. The party goers were unaware of what was happening.
“I need wine,” Clarissa said. “A lot of it.”
Andrew kissed her, full on the mouth. Around them ladies gasped and a few giggled. “Are you all right?” he whispered as he held her close.
“Right as rain,” she said. “Thank you for being my knight in shining armor.”
“Always,” he said.
Clarissa’s butler, Sparks, came hurrying across the room after Andrew had kissed her again. She smiled to think that he might be coming to break up the offensive behavior that was attracting so much attention.
“Your Grace,” he said, out of breath. He swallowed hard, “The queen is here.”
“Here?” Clarissa couldn’t quite believe his words.
“Her carriage just pulled up out front and she should be coming in the door any moment.”
“Thank you, Sparks,” Clarissa said. She took Andrew’s hand and he squeezed it.
“It will be fine,” he said.
“Of course,” she said. They made their way to the main room where people were looking out the windows and gathering near the doorway. Clarissa and Andrew stepped in front of everyone before Sparks took up his place near the door to the hallway.
“Your Grace,” he called out, and then he stuttered before he said, “Um, it’s Her Majesty, The Queen.”
Women curtsied and men bowed as the tiny woman stepped into the room.
“Your Majesty, welcome to my home,” Clarissa said. “You honor me.”
“On the contrary, Duchess, I understand it is you and your friends who have honored me by catching the last conspirator in the Hallard Scheme.”
The room started to buzz with excitement and one of the queen’s advisors held up his hand, and silence took over.
“I have come to deliver news, as a reward for your loyalty to me,” she said, “I approve the marriage of the Duchess of Melbourne to Lord Andrew Beaton.”
The room broke into applause, and the advisor held up his hand once again.
“Furthermore,” the queen continued, “after their marriage I will bestow upon Lord Beaton the title of Duke of Melbourne, with all its lands and entitlements.”
Clarissa felt tears roll down her cheeks as those around her said, “God save the Queen.”
She’d never been so happy in her entire life.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” she managed to say, at the same time Andrew bowed and said the same thing.
“Thank you for your service,” the queen said. “Now, I understand there’s cake.”
One of the queen's advisors stepped forward and said to Clarissa, “A word in private, please.”
She led him to the library, thinking she would have to order everyone out, but she was surprised to find it empty.
The man said, “A package will be delivered for you tomorrow, consisting of the jewels that Marks had in his possession. I understand they belong to your family.”
Clarissa fought back tears as she nodded.
“Then I believe this concludes the matter, Your Grace,” the man said. “I wish you and your future husband every happiness in your upcoming marriage.”
When he was gone, Clarissa sat down on the sofa. Andrew came in and he sat down next to her. She told him what the man had said, and then she leaned into him.
“You're going to be a duke,” she said.
“Clarissa, with you by my side I feel like a king.” And then he kissed her.
* * *
The resulting newspaper articles made it hard for Andrew to go anywhere without people bowing to him and saying, “Your Grace.”
“I’m not sure I like this,” he said to Barton as they made their way into a little known shop in Soho. He was there to purchase all new ropes. He wanted to make sure that the things he used on his duchess had not been used on anyone else.
“You better get used to it,” Barton said.
They stopped inside the door. “Before we get into that discussion, I’d like to know what you plan on doing with Lady Strauss. She was not at the party, although I have it on good authority that Clarissa invited her.”
“She was, if you can believe this, with Ryan of Beckett.”
“You are pulling my leg,” Andrew said.
“I wish I were,” Barton replied. “I will do my best to keep her away from the wedding.”
“Please do more than your best,” Andrew said. “The queen is attending.”
Barton’s eyes widened. “Then I hate to miss it, but I will make sure she does not come near the event.”
“I will owe you a huge favor,” Andrew said.
“I will think of something expensive, Your Grace.” Barton laughed and ducked as Andrew tried to half-heartedly punch him.
“Andrew.” Barton stepped in front of him when he tried to go farther into the store. “May I ask you something?”
“Since when do you ask permission?” Andrew asked.
“Since you became a future duke.” They both laughed and Barton said, “Do you love her enough to go through all this? People will treat you differently now, much differently, as you’ve seen. Do you love her? You’ve never said.”
Andrew stared at his friend, one of his oldest friends in the world. Barton knew him better than anyone. What was he really feeling? He wasn’t really sure. But then he thought about what it would be like to be without her.
“I think I do,” Andrew said. “In fact, I know I do.”
“Then good luck, Your Grace.”
“Bow when you say that, peasant.”
Barton chuckled and went into the main part of the shop. Andrew stared after him, his mind whirling as he considered Barton’s words. “Do you love her, because you’ve never said. It made him realize he’d never said it to Clarissa, either. It made him want to run to her and let her know that he really did love her, that it wasn’t something he expected to grow as their marriage went on. He was in love with her now.
He had to fight the urge, because he wanted to present her with their new toys. Her first meeting with the Rakes would come two weeks after their wedding, which would follow their trip to Paris where they would spend the first two weeks of their wedded life.
They had selected a romantic hotel on the river, notably because it was close to tourist sites. But he had told her, in no uncertain terms, that they would spend most of their time in bed, making love.
She had told him that was just fine with her.
“Are you going to shop, or daydream?” Barton called from inside the store.
First things first, Andrew said to himself as he entered the store. He would buy what he needed, and then he would find Clarissa. He knew she was at the dressmaker’s this afternoon for the final fitting of her wedding gown. The only thing she would tell him about it was that it was peach in color, and ‘it had lots of flounces’.
He gathered hemp ropes of various lengths, and, as a joke to her, he purchased a set of shackles that they kept in the store. Barton had lifted his eyebrows when he’d seen that, but he’d kept his mouth closed.
After arranging to have it all delivered to his future home on Park Lane, they left the store.
“How do you think her servants will react to your play room?” Barton asked.
“They won’t have to,” Andrew said. “I’m bringing my limited staff, and Jake, my man, will keep it clean and ready as he does at the one at my home. It will be locked to everyone else. Clarissa is a little concerned, but soon I hope she won’t care what they know. If they want to keep their jobs, or leave with a reference, they will mind their places.”
“Spoken like
a true duke already.”
“Please, don’t tell me you don’t feel the same way about your staff.”
They were in the carriage now, and as it made its way toward Park Lane, Andrew tried to think of the right words to tell Clarissa that he loved her. The trip took quite a time, since they stopped by Barton’s house several blocks away to drop him.
When he arrived, he bolted from the carriage as if the conveyance was on fire. “Where is Clarissa?” he asked Sparks the minute he was inside.
“In her room, sir,” Sparks said. His look said he disapproved of Andrew going there, but he knew he couldn’t stop him. Andrew took the steps two at a time and opened Clarissa’s door without knocking. She and Sally were going through boxes of what looked like clothing.
“You may go, please,” he said to Sally “I need to speak with Clarissa alone.”
Sally curtsied. The entire staff had been greeting him that way since the queen had made her announcement. Well, except for Sparks.
“What is wrong?” Clarissa asked the moment the door was shut.
“I love you,” he said.
The look of utter joy on her face made him cross to her. He took her face between his hands and said, “I want to spend every day of my life with you, Clarissa. I want to wake up next to you, and I want to fall asleep next to you. I want to be inside you as much as possible, and I want to laugh, cry, and love with you. I haven’t told you that, yet. I wanted you to know.”
She was crying in earnest now, her body heaving with huge sobs. “I... love…” that was all she got out before she buried her face in his chest. Moments later he was fairly certain he heard, “I love you, too.”
But it really didn’t matter what he heard. Her reaction told him everything he needed to know.
* * *
Clarissa stopped at the doorway to what she knew was the ballroom in the Ellington home. She and Andrew were officially wedded and bedded, as her parents had said. The wedding itself had been beautiful, and they had both cried. Clarissa wasn’t positive, but she was pretty sure she saw tears in the queen’s eyes, too.
His Party Guest: Rakes of Mayfair Book Five Page 15
