Saving Grace (Victorian Vigilantes Book 1)

by Wendy Soliman

  ‘Good morning, my lady. Did you sleep well?’

  ‘Exceedingly well, thank you, Betsy.’

  ‘I’ll be right back with your breakfast.’

  Eva took breakfast in bed, simply because she could. She dawdled over it as she recalled the events of the previous evening, wondering if Lord Isaac would continue with his experiment, or if he had made his point and would now lose interest in her. If he had not finished with her, would she dare to…

  Betsy interrupted her introspective thoughts, showing her several day dresses to choose from. They were lovely and Eva was sorely tempted. Even so, she insisted upon wearing the gown she had arrived in, unwilling to accept endless charity. The gown in question had been sponged and pressed and now looked in much better condition. Betsy helped her into it and told her the gentlemen were in his lordship’s study.

  Eva went in search of them, found the correct room after taking only two wrong turns and tapped on the open door. They had their heads together over papers spread across Lord Torbay’s desk. They looked up when they saw her and stood to greet her, Lord Isaac’s heated smile affected her almost as much as his voice had the previous night. She suppressed a shiver she now recognised as desire and returned their smiles with a composed one of her own.

  ‘Good morning,’ Lord Torbay said, examining her face closely. ‘Are you quite well?’

  ‘Good morning, gentlemen. I am perfectly well and quite rested, I thank you.’

  Lord Isaac took her hand and kissed the back of it, winking at her from beneath his thatch of thick curls as he lifted his head. Lord Torbay watched their exchange with an attitude of mild amusement that implied he knew precisely what had passed between her and Lord Isaac. Eva ought to feel awash with embarrassment but had never felt more clear-headed in her life. She sensed last night’s experience had been the tip of the iceberg. There was so much more he could teach her and, if he did decide upon that course of action, Eva knew she would not put up any protests.

  On a visceral level, she had always known that to be the case and could not delude herself into believing otherwise. Resisting Lord Isaac’s compelling charm in theory was hard enough. When confronted by the gentleman himself, it was already apparent to Eva that he was…well, irresistible. She had lost time to make up for and, having had her passions aroused, she was no longer willing to settle for half-measures.

  ‘I am pleased to hear you say so.’ Lord Isaac pulled out a chair for her. ‘Please take a seat. Your timing is perfect since we were just planning our strategy to wrong-foot your husband.’

  ‘How can I help with that?’

  Both men pushed aside the papers they had been studying and resumed their seats.

  ‘It seems to us,’ Lord Torbay said, ‘that Woodstock holds all the aces, except for one very important one.’

  ‘Me?’

  ‘You.’ Lord Isaac nodded, his cerulean blue eyes alight with mischief as he focused them on her face. ‘You are his one weakness and, with your permission, we mean to exploit that in order to draw him out.’

  ‘Draw him out in what way?’ she asked.

  ‘We heard from Franklin after you went to bed last night,’ Lord Torbay replied.

  ‘Do you have any news of Grace?’ she asked anxiously.

  ‘She’s perfectly well and still in Sloane Street.’

  ‘Thank goodness. I thought he might hide her away somewhere.’ Eva looked away, taking a moment to recover her composure. ‘I suppose her being in Sloane Street amounts to the same thing since I can’t get to her there. Still, it comforts me to know we are at least in the same city.’

  ‘Calm yourself,’ Lord Isaac said. ‘Your separation won’t last for much longer.’

  Eva didn’t see how he could be so sure but smiled her thanks anyway. ‘I pray you are right about that.’

  Lord Isaac shot her a look. ‘We usually are right, even when people have entrenched ideas to the contrary.’

  She blushed, well aware what he was referring to, and lowered her gaze. ‘What else did Franklin have to say?’

  ‘He happened to overhear a conversation between your husband and Stoneleigh last night,’ Lord Torbay replied. ‘Your husband was furious because you failed to return to Whitechapel.’

  Eva bit her lip to prevent herself from smiling. ‘Yes, I imagine he must be.’

  ‘He’s now convinced you must be hiding out with one of your wealthy friends and is setting people to question servants.’

  ‘Oh, that could be awkward.’

  ‘None of mine will say a word,’ Lord Torbay said with certainty.

  She wanted to know how he could be so sure. Then she recalled Betsy’s glowing testament and was reassured.

  ‘Franklin also overheard them say that whoever is controlling your husband’s efforts to steal the diamond is worried about your disappearance.’

  She blinked. ‘Why should that matter to him?’

  ‘You witnessed that murder, you know about the Sikhs and are obviously unwilling to return to your husband. In other words, you are out of control.’

  ‘Yes, but—’

  ‘Perhaps so unwilling to return home that you would be prepared to go to the authorities with your suspicions and see your husband taken into custody. We believe this person mixes in society, knows the circumstances of your forced marriage to Woodstock, your dissatisfaction with it and your desire to be rid of him. This would be the ideal way to bring that about. Worse, you might even have actual evidence of his intentions, which wouldn’t sit well with our as yet unknown mastermind.’

  ‘Franklin was not so fortunate as to overhear the man’s name?’

  ‘No, but he did learn that Woodstock is thinking of telling him you have returned.’ Lord Torbay shook his head, looking as though he was enjoying himself. ‘Naturally, we cannot allow that happen.’

  ‘How can you prevent it if you don’t know who he is?’

  ‘I assume your husband reads the society column in The Chronicle every day.’

  She felt a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. ‘What are you two planning?’

  ‘We thought it might interest him to read this in the newspaper tomorrow morning,’ Lord Isaac replied.

  He turned a piece of paper towards her and Eva read a statement they had prepared.

  Sighs of disappointment could be heard across London six years ago when Lady Eva Redbridge, only daughter of the Earl and Countess of Portslade and sensation of the season, shocked society by marrying a man whom many considered to be beneath her. The lovely debutante could have taken her pick from a whole raft of suitable admirers but no one had heard of her actual choice and were unable to explain why it was permitted. Her father had died suddenly the year before, so perhaps her judgement was impaired by grief.

  William Woodstock was and still is a merchant with what this reporter has heard described as a dubious reputation and manner to match. Nothing is known about his origins and Woodstock is reported to be tight-lipped on the subject.

  Lady Eva continues to be accepted by society but her power-hungry husband fails to excite. Could that be why Lady Eva has mysteriously disappeared? She has not been seen at Woodstock’s Sloane Street home for over a week and Woodstock is reported to be desperate to find her, although not desperate enough to involve the authorities in the search. Lady Eva is known to be devoted to her daughter but the child remains at Sloane Street, awaiting her mother’s return.

  Eva looked up from the piece and gasped.

  ‘You cannot have that printed. It will lead straight back to you.’

  Lord Torbay shot her a wounded look. ‘Credit me with more guile than that.’

  ‘It will infuriate your husband and worry the man controlling him,’ Lord Isaac added.

  Eva bit her lip as she thought the matter through. ‘Yes, I suppose so,’ she conceded reluctantly. ‘But the risks.’

  ‘There are none from your perspective.’ Lord Isaac looked absolutely determined on that score. ‘Jake insists you remain here, wher
e no one can get anywhere near you.’

  Lord Torbay inclined his head. ‘Absolutely.’

  ‘Will it make them drop the plans for the theft?’

  ‘We think not,’ Lord Torbay replied. ‘The man behind it is absolutely determined to go ahead no matter what, but it might well flush him out.’

  ‘The question is,’ Lord Isaac added, ‘are you prepared for us to use this ruse? The final decision rests with you.’

  Eva didn’t even need to think about it. ‘I trust your judgement absolutely, gentlemen. If you think it will work then by all means go ahead.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Lord Torbay smiled at her. ‘It will help considerably but is by no means our only angle of attack. Your husband plans for your daughter’s outings to the park to resume today.’

  ‘Oh. Do you know why?’

  ‘No, unfortunately Franklin didn’t overhear Woodstock making the arrangements. He heard about it from Mary.’

  Eva closed her eyes and threw her head back, willing the tears she felt building not to fall. ‘Oh, how I wish.’

  ‘We know what you wish.’ Lord Isaac covered one of her hands with his own very capable one, bringing soothing memories of the previous night flooding back. ‘Unfortunately you can’t risk going anywhere near the park.’

  ‘But someone else can,’ Lord Torbay said.

  ‘Not you, obviously.’

  ‘No, not me.’ Parker entered the room and nodded. ‘And she’s here now. Send her in please, Parker.’

  A stunningly beautiful lady with dark hair and darker eyes sailed into the room, dressed in the height of fashion. Both gentlemen greeted her with informality, especially Lord Torbay, Eva noticed. She looked familiar. Eva was sure they had met before but was unable to place her.

  ‘Lady Eva,’ Lord Torbay said. ‘May I present Mrs Olivia Grantley?’

  ‘Mrs Grantley. Of course, we came out together.’ Eva recalled taking an immediate liking to her when they first met six years ago; although she had not been Mrs Grantley at the time. She had made fun of the whole business of being presented, alleviating much of Eva’s fear. ‘How nice to see you again.’

  Olivia Grantley smiled as she shook hands with Eva. ‘We were both predicted to make fantastic matches, but neither of us did terribly well as it turns out.’

  Her candour was refreshing. ‘Your husband died,’ Eva said. ‘I am sorry.’

  Mrs Grantley smiled as she seated herself beside Eva. ‘There is no need to be so delicate. Marcus was violently killed and everyone thought I was responsible. Between you and me, the world is a better place without him, but that doesn’t mean I sent him on his way. Were it not for Jake,’ she added in a matter-of-fact voice, ‘I would have hanged for a crime I did not commit.’

  ‘How terrifying.’

  ‘It was certainly inconvenient, especially since I was innocent.’

  ‘Well yes, I imagine it must have been.’

  ‘Now, of course, I’m persona non grata in some circles.’

  ‘Nonsense,’ Lord Isaac said. ‘You are still invited everywhere.’

  ‘Yes, because I am so notorious.’ Mrs Grantley mouth curved into an enticing smile. ‘People are fascinated by me and can’t quite decide if I was actually guilty or not, even though Jake exposed the true villains. Some would have it I was in league with the rogues, which I find most insulting. If I had wanted to kill Marcus, I was more than capable of carrying out the deed unaided, and I would have made a much better job of it.’

  Eva was slightly overwhelmed by the lady’s frankness, to say nothing of her engaging personality. ‘I am very glad Lord Torbay was there when you needed him,’ she said.

  ‘He has a happy knack of being in the right place at the right time.’ Mrs Grantley flashed a saucy smile. ‘Jake excels at rescuing damsels in distress.’

  Eva looked down, plucking imaginary specks from her skirts. ‘I doubt if he can rescue me.’

  ‘Of course he can,’ Mrs Grantley replied briskly. ‘Jake can do anything he sets his mind to.’

  ‘Olivia, please stop speaking about me as though I wasn’t in the room.’

  ‘Oh, are you here?’ She elevated one brow. ‘I was so enjoying my conversation with Lady Eva that I had forgotten all about you and Isaac.’

  ‘Obviously we are easily forgettable,’ Lord Isaac replied, chuckling.

  ‘Mrs Grantley has a son who is a little older than your daughter, Lady Eva,’ Lord Torbay explained. ‘They are about to take a turn in Holland Park. If anyone can get your daughter’s nursemaid to open up about events inside your husband’s household, then it is Olivia. As you have just discovered for yourself, conversation comes easily to her.’

  Mrs Grantley sent Lord Torbay a challenging smile. ‘Is that your way of saying I talk too much, Jake?’

  ‘It was meant as a compliment, Olivia.’

  ‘Hmm, of course it was.’ Mrs Grantley turned her nose up at Lord Torbay and then looked at Eva. ‘Now, tell me about your daughter’s nursemaid.’

  ‘Mary is the only servant appointed by me.’

  Mrs Grantley looked astonished. ‘Your husband does not allow you to choose your own servants?’

  ‘Absolutely not. That would mean I had people to take my side against him, which is a risk he would never entertain. The only reason I was allowed to appoint Mary is because he takes no interest whatsoever in our daughter.’

  Lord Torbay appeared pensive. ‘Mary is loyal to you?’

  ‘Indeed, yes. We are firm friends. She’s the only person in Sloane Street whom I can safely confide in, although even then I must be cautious.’

  ‘Call it off, Jake,’ Lord Isaac said. ‘I very much doubt if Mary knows anything that will help us so there is nothing to be gained from it.’

  ‘She would speak to you, Mrs Grantley, if she knew you had been sent by me.’ Eva tried not to show her anxiety. ‘She must wonder what has become of me. I would like to set her mind at rest, and I’m also desperate for a first hand report on Gracie’s welfare.’

  ‘So, if Olivia lets Mary know the two of you are in contact, she will tell you whatever she knows?’ Lord Torbay asked.

  ‘Yes, I am sure she will.’ Eva paused. ‘If you were to ask her how her mother’s arthritis is, she will know I sent you. No one else knows about her mother, or her ailments.’

  ‘It’s worth a try,’ Mrs Grantley said.

  In spite of Eva’s need for news of Grace she worried Mary might somehow give herself away. She was a straightforward country girl, not used to duplicity. ‘Please don’t place yourself any in danger for my sake, Mrs Grantley. My husband can be vicious and downright cruel if he thinks a person is conspiring against him.’

  ‘It’s kind of you to concern yourself about me, Lady Eva, but rest assured I am well able to take care of myself. I often help Jake with his little assignments. No one suspects a weak woman of involvement, you see.’

  Eva laughed. ‘Forgive me, but you don’t strike me as being the slightest bit weak.’

  ‘It is time for you to leave, Olivia,’ Lord Torbay said.

  ‘Just when we were getting acquainted again.’ Mrs Grantley stood and shook out her skirts. ‘I shall report back to you as soon as I have news.’

  ‘Take great care,’ Eva said, biting her lip to keep her emotions under control. ‘You can be sure my husband’s people will be watching. Even so, if you can assure me that Gracie is well and not pining for my company then I shall be greatly obliged to you.’

  ‘That I can most assuredly do,’ Mrs Grantley replied, walking through the door that Lord Torbay held open for her.

  Chapter Ten

  Stoneleigh had always known little Grace would be the catalyst that led them to Lady Eva. With that in mind he put himself in charge of the men watching Mary and the child in the park. He wanted to be the one to return the recalcitrant woman home. Woodstock could be generous to a fault when a person did something to please him.

  As he settled down to wait, he mulled the situation over. Woodsto
ck was a fool to cling to Lady Eva. Anyone with eyes in their head could see she despised him and everything he stood for. Worse, all his enemies knew she was his one weakness. Stoneleigh smacked his lips together, well able to understand why he was so smitten. If the day ever came when he finally got rid of her, Stoneleigh would give her a tumble himself and show her what it was like to be serviced by a real man. The thought excited him and he adjusted his clothing to conceal the evidence. Stoneleigh had managed to spy on Woodstock once when he had Lady Eva spread beneath him, open and unwilling. She had lain there like a corpse, head turned to one side, her expression contemptuous and repelled. Her dead eyes stared straight at the panelling Stoneleigh was hidden behind, as though she knew he was there and was begging him to rescue her.

  ‘Soon, little lady,’ he muttered. ‘Soon I’ll show you how it feels when it’s done right.’

  Stoneleigh also regularly spied on Woodstock when he was with Rose. A man could learn a lot to his advantage through voyeurism. Woodstock was a different person when he was with Rose, giving it to her hard and rough, slapping her about, filling her every orifice with his less than impressive manhood. Rose egged him on, stroking his ego as well as his cock, but only because he paid her so well. Rose had told him on more than one occasion that only Stoneleigh’s thick knob gave her true satisfaction. Now she was in the family way but was unsure whether the brat in her belly was Woodstock’s or his.

  Either way, it didn’t matter. Stoneleigh had taken the money Woodstock intended to pay Rose off with and used it to set her up in a small room not that far from the one Lady Eva had recently occupied. She was his now. He would support her and the kid, just so long as she did as she was told and let him slake his lust whenever the fancy took him. When he got tired of her, he’d set her to work at what she did best. She was far better at lying on beds than she was at making them. He was on good terms with the landlord in a Covent Garden tavern. Rose, with her easy-going ways and willingness to do just about anything, could make a small fortune for him in that establishment.

  Stoneleigh was proud of himself for being such a philanthropist. Not many people would bother with a fallen housemaid who had thrown her weight around without actually pulling it. She was the master’s plaything and had Stoneleigh as her protector and so none of the senior staff beneath Woodstock’s roof dared to confront her when she was slipshod around the house.