Once Upon A Diamond (A sweet Regency Historical Romance)

by Teresa McCarthy

  “Brandy, Mr. Wilcox?” he asked over his shoulder.

  “Call me, Robert, and yes, I don’t mind if I do. It seems I’m beholden to you for housing my son and daughter after that terrible ordeal. Thank you for being there for them.”

  After handing the brandy to the man, Tristan stared at the amber liquid in his hands. “I fear that if it were not for me, your son may not have been shot at all."

  “But I was informed by Georgiana that it was a footpad that attacked you."

  Tristan sank slowly into the chair beside Robert and took a deep, fortifying breath. “I’m afraid, that’s not the whole of it.” The two men downed their brandy, peering over their glasses, as if scrutinizing every detail about the other.

  Robert finally interrupted the silence. “Tell me."

  Kate’s father was a good man. Tristan didn’t like keeping the marriage a secret, but he would not go against Kate’s wishes. Not now anyway. So he began to explain the events after the ball and how Matthew had been shot.

  He also included information about his quest for the diamond and the hiring of the Bow Street Runner, purposely excluding his covert business with Whitehall. In fact he felt so at ease with Robert that he went on to include information about his first meeting with Kate at the inn.

  Robert’s eyes bulged as if he had eaten an entire bowl of the duchess’s raspberry sauce. “You mean to tell me my daughter had a knife to her throat?”

  “She refused to give the intruder my location and was almost killed. But the man fell on his own knife.”

  Robert shook his head in disbelief. “She’s always been stubborn like that. Impulsive, too.”

  “Putting it mildly,” Tristan said with a twisted smile.

  “I see you have had more than one occasion to discover her temperament then.”

  “Indeed, I have.”

  Tristan realized that Robert was not the head of a shipping business for nothing. He was as sharp as a blade. This man could be of some help in finding the diamond if Gaston were involved. Time was of the essence. Formalities couldn’t wait.

  “I take it you know Captain Gaston?” Tristan asked without hesitation.

  Robert expression darkened. “What about him?”

  “Though you probably know the man’s a thief, a scoundrel, and possibly a murderer, he attacked your daughter, sir.”

  Robert shot from his chair. “Thunderation!”

  “I understand your hatred for the man. Matthew informed me of the captain’s nefarious actions with respect to your disappearance. But Gaston is in London. Thought you should know.”

  “I had a feeling he would turn up here.” Robert narrowed his brows, as if sensing the earl’s protective position. “So, you are interested in my daughter?”

  “I have only the most honorable intentions toward her.”

  Robert cast Tristan a sly grin. “See that they stay honorable, your lordship. But it seems that you have someone out there who’s trying to kill you. Do you know why?”

  Tristan plowed a hand through his hair. “There are a handful of people who might want me dead." He strode past the sofa and toward the fireplace.

  “Gaston?"

  Tristan turned and let out a bitter smile. “The man might want to kill me. I know he’s capable of it, but I’ve already discovered he was home at the time of Matthew’s shooting.”

  “He could have sent someone to do his dirty work. But what about the diamond? If someone thought you had this rare jewel, one might try to kill you for it. Is that a possibility? Maybe that’s what happened at the inn.”

  “A possibility, but not a feasible one. I’m afraid, I don’t have the gem. I do have information that Gaston was in the vicinity of the man who did have it though. And that man is now dead.”

  “Murdered, you mean?”

  Tristan nodded grimly.

  “I see,” answered Robert. “But you have no proof the captain has the diamond?”

  “I don’t know who has it.” Tristan had just received a missive an hour before Kate had come down to dinner. Headquarters had given Tristan and the other agents strict orders to let the captain walk about freely. Watch and wait. It was one of the hardest things Tristan had ever done.

  Robert sat back on the sofa. “It seems this diamond may mean more than you’re telling me, eh? Not just a family quest for the sake of honor and all that?”

  Tristan looked toward the window. Robert Wilcox was a dangerous man. Too smart and too perceptive. Where had Kate’s father been the last few months? Could he possibly have heard about the problems escalating in India and the threat to England? Or was the man a threat in himself?

  Robert managed a small chuckle. “Have no fear. I’ll keep mum on your search. Foreign Office matters can be so tiring when you’re in it alone, can they not?”

  Tristan spun around, his drink sloshing in his hand.

  Robert patted the air with his hand and lowered his voice. “Wellington’s a friend of mine. No need to get into the particulars. Knew him before the war. Long story. But if you must know, the Duke was arranging a journey to France when I met him in Dover a few days ago. We had dinner. One thing led to another, and the man gave me some information about the diamond. Thought I could help.”

  Tristan almost choked on his own spit. “Wellington?”

  The Duke of Wellington? Tristan was acquainted with the man, but he had no idea which of Britain’s leaders knew of the diamond.

  “Indeed,” Robert said. “The man has an uncanny memory. He remembered you were a neighbor to the duke, my brother-in-law. He must have access to reports in Whitehall and thought I could be of some help with my expertise in reconnaissance. Was an agent myself.”

  Tristan smiled, more intrigued by this man every minute. “For England?”

  Robert coughed. “America, my boy. Thought I would let you talk first though. But I wonder, does my daughter realize these happenings at the inn and the ball could have been attempts on your life?”

  Weary, Tristan rubbed the back of his neck. “No. She thinks the first incident at the inn was a thief. And she believes that the attempt on Matthew’s life was a footpad."

  Robert frowned. “Listen here, I’d rather you keep your side of the story from Katherine. She’s had too much unneeded excitement since she came to England, and if she’s endeared to you as I think,” Robert swept Tristan a knowing gaze, “I don’t want her getting involved. She may do something impulsive. And we both know what kind of mess that may lead to. Especially if I the stakes are what I think they are.”

  Tristan nodded. What else did this man know?

  Robert stood and looked past the doorway to the hall. “Suppose I’ve given Katherine ample time to warn her brother of my coming. Let’s venture upstairs to see if Matthew’s fainted as well, then I can give my account of why I am not floating in the Atlantic.”

  “Kate,” Matthew asked. “How does he look?”

  “Well. But I do not want you telling Papa about my marriage.”

  Matthew struggled to sit up in bed. “Why not? It was sanctioned by the church. You had a license. You’re legally married, Kate. By God and by men. And don’t tell me you don’t love your husband. He’s insane about you.”

  Kate turned on her heel and glared at Matthew. “Mad about me? That’s all he is to me lately. I can’t seem to do anything without him scowling at me.” She chewed on her lip. “Please, don’t tell, Papa.” She lifted her chin. “Besides, you owe me after you made me marry the man.”

  A minute later the door opened and Tristan and Robert entered. Robert strode to his son’s side, hugging Matthew, careful not to touch the ugly wound. Years of memories haunted Tristan as he observed the Wilcox reunion.

  A cold lump formed in his belly as he watched Kate wrap her arms about her father. Would she ever love him with such emotion as that? Even Handsome got a crumb or two.

  While Robert inspected Matthew’s wound, Kate walked over to Tristan, pulling him to the other side of the room. “Thank
you for not telling my father about us. I need some time to ease him into the idea. I think it’s best that I go back with him to my aunt’s. My brother doesn’t need me as much as he did before."

  “Leave here?” he hissed, grabbing her shoulders.

  “Only a week.” When she touched his lips with the tip of her finger, it was all Tristan could do not to drag her back to her room and kiss her senseless. “Please, only a week for Papa to adjust, and then I can tell him.”

  Tristan reluctantly dropped his hold on her as he recalled the threats on his life. Hell’s teeth! On second thought, Kate might be safer away from him. But the thought of being without her for an entire week would drive him insane. How many times had he kissed her? Two? Three? He had controlled himself at dinner, thinking he would have time to be with her tonight.

  “One week,” he growled softly. “Then you’ll come home and be my wife,” he caught her gaze and held it, “in every sense of the word.” His blood stirred at the sight of her blushing cheeks. “One week, mind you. You come home or I come calling, sweetheart. And I believe you know I have the means to accomplish that.”

  “Thank you,” she said and lifted herself on tiptoes to press a light kiss on his lips.

  The taste of her threw Tristan’s world upside down. A burning ache grew inside him. She still loved him. He knew it as sure as the diamond was pure. He would not lose her now. Yet for her sake, she must stay with the duke and duchess. Yes. A week would have to be enough time to discover who was involved in the attempts on his life.

  Across the room, Robert snapped a scrutinizing brow at the couple. “Katherine Josephine, what do you think you’re doing?”

  Blushing, Kate looked to Tristan for help.

  Tristan stepped forward and pulled at his waistcoat. “Your daughter was simply, uh, thanking me for nursing her brother back to health and giving up my bed for his comfort.”

  Hell’s bells. The woman was more trouble than a hornets’ nest.

  Matthew’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “A pleasant way to be repaid. Perhaps I should get blown to bits more often.”

  Robert cast a perceptive glance toward the couple and said nothing. Kate turned even redder. Tristan burned with the desire to sweep his wife into his arms and take her away.

  Matthew broke the silence when he touched Robert’s arm. “Tell us what happened, Father.”

  Robert drew in a deep breath and took a seat. “When I last saw you, I had set sail for the Continent. I can only guess that Gaston sensed I was getting too close to the truth about his thievery with my money and hired one of the sailors aboard my ship to kill me. During a storm, Gaston’s man hit me on the head and threw me overboard. I discovered later that the scoundrel who hit me, fell and was drowned as well.”

  Kate’s throat ran dry. The thought of her father falling into the angry storm made her ill. But Gaston and thievery? What was this about?

  “The long and the short of it was, I drifted on a piece of wood thrown over by the storm, and by some miracle I was picked up by an English ship. Delirious with fever, I couldn’t remember my name. The ship captain made certain that I was cared for in the most splendid manner. He had a load of goods to deliver, and while I recovered, the ship made its way to Italy. When we docked, I sent you a letter.”

  He glanced at Matthew and Kate. “Obviously, you didn’t receive it, thinking that I drowned. I returned home, hoping to greet my family, only to learn that they had traveled to England. And I have just received information that the captain is in London, too.”

  Kate shot her brother a stifling glare. “For some reason I believe you knew of Captain Gaston’s dealings and kept it from me. And you," her finger pointed toward Tristan, “I suspect my brother had conveniently informed you of the captain’s atrocious behavior?”

  Wisely, the two men didn’t answer. Kate turned back to her father. “Papa, what will you do if you run into Captain Gaston?” The possibilities chilled her veins.

  Robert’s jaw clenched. “It seems the man is in trouble with the British government, and therefore, I have been asked to curtail my contact with the captain until things are sorted out on England’s end of it. But from what Lord Lancewood here has told me, Katherine, you’ve had quite an adventure here in England, too."

  Kate quickly drew herself up and hopped off the bed. “I admit I have had my share of abnormal occurrences the last month or so.”

  Tristan and Matthew eyed each other and both let out an amusing snicker.

  Kate frowned. “I do not find my adventures funny.”

  Robert exchanged confused glances between the two men. It was obvious that Matthew was growing a bit pale.

  “Katherine,” Robert said, “I believe it’s time we leave. I promised your aunt that I would return with you for dinner. Of course, now that Matthew is out of the woods and recovering, I must thank Tristan’s mother for being such an accommodating host, but I see no reason for you to impose on the Lancewood family any longer.”

  Robert slapped his hands on his knees and raised his eyes to the earl, as if waiting for Tristan to tell him otherwise. “Is there?”

  Kate jerked her gaze toward Tristan. There was an air of loneliness about his expression that twisted her heart.

  Tristan’s smile did not quite reach his eyes. “I will see that your daughter’s things are sent to the duke’s as soon as possible.”

  Matthew’s gaze widened in surprise.

  Robert nodded and patted his son’s arm. “Looks like my boy will be ready to join us in a week or so.”

  Robert rose and shook Tristan’s hand. “No need to show us out. We can manage. Why don’t you keep my son company for a while.”

  Kate gave Tristan a quick glance, then left the room with her father. Tristan rubbed his hands across his face and dropped into the chair beside Matthew’s bed.

  Matthew struggled to swing his legs over the side of the mattress, almost kicking Tristan off his seat. “You stupid idiot! Why did you let her go? My father should know. She’s your wife! She should be with you tonight.” The man waved his hand wildly in the air. “Not with those relatives of ours.”

  Tristan rose and strode toward the window, pulling the curtain aside to watch Kate depart. “Don’t inform me of my husbandly duties. You seem to be forgetting who put me in this blasted situation in the first place, Mr. Matchmaker.”

  Matthew rested back in his bed and threw his hands behind his head, wiggling into a comfortable position. “You love her, don’t you?”

  Tristan turned on his boots and crossed the room.

  “You do, you know,” Matthew said. “Don’t deny it.”

  A second later, Tristan slammed the door, leaving Matthew to enjoy his victory laugh alone.

  When supper ended at the duke’s townhouse, the duchess asked the men to join the women in the drawing room. It had been two days since Kate had seen Tristan, and tonight, he’d barely said a word to her. But during their time apart, she wondered if the carriage incident had also been an attempt on Tristan’s life. What was going on? Who were his enemies? Was the dead man at the inn a one time event? Or was her imagination taking things to the extreme? She wasn’t sure about anything anymore.

  “Charlotte, my dear, did you know that your father had a suitor visit with him today?” the duchess asked in a hushed whisper.

  Beaming with excitement, Georgiana took a quick peek over her shoulder at the men clustered on the other side of the room, then moved her attention back to her daughter.

  Kate sat on a high-back chair opposite Charlotte who had settled on the piano bench, folding her hands neatly on her lap. It took every bone in Kate’s body to hold back from asking the duchess who the caller had been, though she knew it was Edward.

  The duchess inched closer. “A suitor, my dear, and a very interested one at that. I must say your father was quite surprised. He would have talked to you about it sooner, but he was at the club this afternoon."

  With a twinkle in her eye, Kate glanced at Char
lotte and thought it wonderful that her cousin was going to marry Edward. She smiled, thinking how lovely it would be at family gatherings to have Charlotte by her side, doing battle with their domineering mother-in-law. Life would be easier.

  But the situation made Kate wish that Tristan had had time to ask her own father about their marriage. The hasty way their bonded life had begun was unsettling. Sometimes she felt she hardly knew the man.

  “Who was he, Mama?” Charlotte asked with innocent eyes.

  The duchess sighed. “He doesn’t own an illustrious title. But I believe your father knows he will give you a good life.”

  Aware that Mr. Edward Fullerton was only the second son of the earl, Kate knew he had a healthy allowance to live on, and he was not a wastrel. The man was interested in crop rotation and helped Tristan with his many estates. It was unfortunate for Charlotte that Edward could not make dinner tonight.

  Charlotte gripped the edges of the piano bench. “He is rather good-looking, is he not, Mama?”

  “Oh, yes, my dear, rather good-looking - not as handsome as your brother, however. But your father is willing to offer him a nice dowry.”

  “Oh, he cannot be solely interested in that, Mama. You see, I know he loves me,” Charlotte answered confidently.

  The duchess sat upright in her chair, a cluster of wrinkles forming across her forehead. “Charlotte dear, you must be aware that almost every man concerns himself about the dowry, rich or poor. Almost every man except your father that is.”

  Georgiana batted her eyelids like a starry-eyed girl. “The duke was too wealthy to worry about that. He married me for love.”

  Georgiana peered across the room, eyeing her husband with a giddy expression. Kate almost laughed out loud when the duke stared back, his questioning gaze asking if he had done something wrong.

  “I think I shall be quite happy, Mama.”

  The duchess clasped Charlotte’s hands in hers. “Indeed, you will. You are so lucky. It’s not often a girl finds a man she wants to be with for the rest of her life.”

  Kate stared across the room and a tingle of warmth shot down her spine when Tristan’s green eyes caught hers and held. He would come to love her. She had to believe it.