Kitty feigned ignorance. “And if I had, how will that lose him a great deal of money?”
Lord Debenham chuckled. “Ah, you really are either the innocent…or the opposite,” he added thoughtfully. “My dear, secrets are worth a great deal of money.”
“Blackmail?” Kitty gasped and shook her head. “I couldn’t possibly blackmail Lord Silverton. He’d immediately suspect who was responsible for the leak, and then what do you suppose would happen to me?” She needed to appear self-interested and doubtful. Lord Debenham would be less suspicious than if she eagerly complied with his every suggestion. For now she realized how important it was for Lord Debenham to finally involve her in the trade of secrets with which he was lining his pockets. This was what would implicate him. This is what Lissa and Ralph were after, but it would be Kitty who’d release them all from their burdens. For once, Kitty would be the sister who saved the day.
“Yes, blackmail, my dear Kitty. Tell me what you know about Lord Silverton that he might be willing to pay to withhold. Simple. Pillow talk is the best means of gaining such information.”
“Pillow talk? How would you know, my lord?” Kitty angled an impish look at him, and to her surprise, he obliged her like a lamb. But then, men like Debenham loved to brag about their exploits.
“In the golden afterglow of a night of fleshly pleasures, it’s astonishing how forthcoming a satisfied man can be.”
Kitty frowned, feigning ignorance. “So you’ve divulged secrets you’ve regretted in such instances?”
“Lord, girl, what do you think?” His frown was swept away as he chuckled. “You were funning me; I see that now. No, I have girls who are only too willing to offer me the secrets they’ve discovered when entertaining certain high-placed gentlemen. It’s a lucrative pastime, I assure you, and one from which we can both profit, Miss Bijou.” He reached across to touch the fur tippet around her neck, then gently caressed her cheek. Kitty closed her eyes, pretending to relish the experience while her insides churned with fear and revulsion.
“You enjoy nice things, don’t you, Miss Bijou.”
“Oh yes,” she whispered, imbuing her words with a breathlessness he might easily mistake for sexual longing.
And being the kind of man he was, he did.
“Well then, tell me what you know about Lord Silverton, and I can make sure you enjoy lots of nice things. Those who fear me do so for a reason, but those who please me know that I can be a very generous man.”
Kitty thought wildly. What would satisfy Lord Debenham that she had an axe to grind with Silverton? What did she know of his past exploits that she’d be willing to offer Debenham?
Slowly, she said, “I was very relieved to learn my maid had been unsuccessful in making use of some letters that Mrs. Montgomery—I believe it was—had ordered be secreted in his study. Apparently, they’d been written by him some while ago to a certain prominent MP’s wife and had been stolen.” She shook her head and added, “But Dorcas confessed and since, at the time, I truly believed Silverton was going to marry me, it was a huge relief to me.”
“It wasn’t enough, in any case, to make Silverton cough up the blunt. He had less to lose than the lady in question. Think, Miss Bijou.” He leaned across the table and looked into Kitty’s eyes. “What do you know of Silverton’s exploits that would be so embarrassing or terrible that he would be prepared to part with a great deal of money to spare the public. Or is he so snowy-white that not even you, who know him intimately, can come up with anything?”
Kitty thought hard. She bit her lip. Then she reached across the table and said softly, “Silverton is a spy.”
Debenham blinked. It was the only indication that her response had made any impact. Then he put his head on one side and looked at her inquiringly.
Kitty thought even more wildly. Of course, Silverton wasn’t a spy, but if she chose the most far-fetched reason he might be blackmailed, Debenham would really think it worth demanding ransom to keep it secret.
“A spy for the British government,” she whispered. “He is investigating a matter that has confounded the authorities, but I believe he is on the cusp of discovery.” She sat back in satisfaction. “I think he might just be willing to pay quite a lot of money to keep that secret, don’t you think?”
Chapter 22
Kitty reached her home much later than she’d anticipated, and very much excited by her adventures that night. Escaping Lord Debenham’s clutches—his attempted kisses and caresses—in a way that hinted she was playing a daring game of cat and mouse was exhausting. It wasn’t in Kitty’s nature to play such games, but to her surprise, she found she knew, instinctively, what would whip up Lord Debenham’s excitement. And at what point she could duck out of the final showdown.
Now, sitting on a chair by her dressing table and removing her stockings while Dorcas brushed out her hair, she began to describe her exploits.
“Yer told Lord Debenham summat he’ll want ter blackmail Silverton ’bout? Oh miss, yer dunno ‘ow dangerous this is.”
To her chagrin, Dorcas hadn’t been at all excited by the idea that Kitty was going to play Debenham at his own game, and by proving that he was a blackmailer, ensure he was caught in the act and so put him behind bars.
“It might be dangerous, but I know what I’m doing, Dorcas.” Kitty raised her hands for Dorcas to remove the lovely evening gown she wore, followed by her stays and chemise, then donned her night shift and slipped under the covers. “I’ll also need your help.”
“Me ’elp?” Dorcas almost squealed in fear as she shook her head. “I ain’t eva intendin’ ter ‘ave anyfink ter do wiv Lord Debenham. ‘E’s the devil, ‘e is. ‘N yer ought ter keep well away, too. Don’t ‘ave nuffink ter do wiv ‘im, please promise me, miss. Forget yer wild ideas. It’ll end badly; I jest know it.”
“It’ll end with Lissa and Ralph being able to marry at last, and Lord Debenham safely locked away and not harming anyone. No, Dorcas; I’ll do my bit by orchestrating a bogus exchange. I’ll tell Silverton that I’ve invented this excuse so that he’ll be able to turn up with the funds to give to Debenham, and then those who are lying in wait will arrest Debenham. All I want you to do is to quiz the friends you have at Maggie Montgomery’s so that you can find out what secrets they might have told Lord Debenham, and even better, where that pewter box is that’s supposed to contain them all. Can you do that for me? It’s really important. With that, we’ll then have all the other evidence needed to make sure Lord Debenham never causes anyone to lose a fortune to keep their secrets, or end their lives because they don’t pay. Surely you understand that?”
“I ain’t stupid, if that’s wot ye’re implyin’.”
“No, of course not,” Kitty assured her. “I don’t want to put you in danger, and I promise I’ll make sure the information is only given to Mr. Tunley so he can then build a case, but knowing that all these people’s misdemeanors never get into the public arena. It’ll all happen in a trice—no dribbling out of information giving Lord Debenham time to question who’s behind it. You mustn’t worry about you or your friends being in any danger.”
“It’s yer I’m worried ’bout, miss. Ye’re too trustin’ ‘n I know ye’ll not like me ter say it, but if yous pittin’ yer wits aginst Lord Debenham, then I’m quakin’ in me boots. B’sides, I know wot the girls at Maggie Montgomery’s will say. That it ain’t worth their while ter be talkin’. They’ll never tell yer where to get Debenham’s box. They’ll tell yer to get it yerself.”
Each time Silverton looked up and found Octavia smiling at him, his stomach lurched with a vague, deep-seated dread that the time was shortening whereupon he would be gazing at her like this each and every day.
“You’re not tired?” he asked. Even in the gloom of the carriage, he could see the dark shadows beneath her eyes. He truly was concerned. “It’s been a busy few days for you, Octavia. Your aunt certainly seemed worn out last night. I think she’ll be glad when this business is over.”
&
nbsp; “You mean the business of getting oneself married?”
He gave a short laugh, embarrassed at the way she’d called him up on his phraseology. “Yes, my darling, I do mean that, for it is quite a business, and you are not possessed of boundless energy. You are enjoying yourself, aren’t you?”
“London is quite the grand whirl.”
He’d heard the pause before her enthusiastic endorsement, and wondered if she were feeling slightly jaded as he certainly would be if every night were a repeat of the same round of merrymaking. Silverton had accompanied her to most events, but diversions such as his collaborations on an investigation instigated by the Home Office relieved the tedium.
And tedious it had been, for with no opportunity to even cast his eyes over Kitty, living the life of the carefree blade about town had been a rather barren business. Although, if he had seen her, he realized, it would only have rubbed salt into the wound. The pain of her departure had not eased as he’d thought it would.
“You really are a country girl at heart, aren’t you, my dear?” He patted her hand. “Don’t worry; we shall only involve ourselves in this lark for a couple of months of the year.”
Her eyes lit up. “You truly would oblige me by spending most of your time in the country? Even though I know you far prefer town?”
“Marriage is a serious business.”
“Indeed it is, Silverton!” There was real urgency in her tone. She reached across the small space. “You’re not regretting this, are you?”
He was glad of the darkness, for while he could inject the necessary jolliness into his tone, he didn’t think he could have done the same for his expression. “When I asked you to marry me, I knew it was the most sensible decision I could possibly have made! Mama adores you. In fact, she quite dotes on you. Always has. My tenants know you better than me for your good work. You are a treasure, Octavia!” He squeezed her little gloved hand and closed his eyes, reminding himself yet again of the need to do what was right for his family rather than for himself.
“You are a kind man, Silverton,” she murmured, gently returning the pressure. “And I am a lucky girl. Ah, it looks like I am home. Thank you for a lovely evening.”
Wearily, Silverton stepped across the threshold into his dimly-lit townhouse, surrendering his hat and coat. He wouldn’t go straight to bed, though it was late and he had an early start with meetings at the Home Office.
“M’lord, you have a visitor waiting for you in the drawing room.”
Silverton couldn’t have been more surprised—and delighted—at the identity of his unexpected visitor, who leaped up in a rustle of silken skirts as the butler discreetly withdrew.
“Kitty! What are you doing here?” He barely dared hope yet he had to ask the question; the affirmative to which would have made him the happiest man on Earth. For right now, he felt like the loneliest. “Have you come back to me?”
“Oh Silverton, you know I can’t do that when you’re to be married in a little over a week.” She looked truly regretful yet her smile, tinged with sadness, was the most glorious sight he could remember seeing as the last few weeks of London revels blurred across his mind.
“You don’t love me quite enough to do that, eh?” It was a low shot but, emboldened by the fact he’d just knocked back more than a few brandies shortly before, he wanted to needle her into some declaration that would hint at the truth of her feelings for him.
“I love you too much to force you into such a conflict with your sense of honor, my dearest.”
He was disappointed when she took a step back as he approached, and said softly, “Please don’t touch me, Silverton, for you know how susceptible I am to your overtures, and I’m really here for a very noble reason which would be entirely spoiled if it resulted in anything physical between us.”
“But the physical between us has always been so mutually satisfying, hasn’t it? And we both feel exactly the same about each other as we did—” he paused, then added with difficulty—“before you left me.”
“That might be true, but that’s not what I’ve come here to talk about.” Her words were truncated on a slow sigh, for Silverton had succeeded in breaching the distance between them and now his fingertips were gently caressing her cheek.
She closed her eyes, but did not move other than to whisper, “It’s about Lord Debenham.”
“Such a ghastly man, indeed,” Silverton murmured, hoping that concurring with what he knew she felt about the man was appropriate under the circumstances. “I hope you’ll stay well clear of him.” Carefully he drew Kitty into his embrace. He needed to manage this encounter with the greatest skill. Holding the most exquisite woman he’d ever met, the woman he’d made his mistress when he’d wanted so badly to make her his wife, simply reinforced how right she made him feel. She was bright, intelligent, a lively companion, and so very beautiful.
And she was so hell-bent on doing what was right.
Silverton was hell-bent on doing what was right, too, which was why he’d never held his wife-to-be in anything more intimate than a waltz hold for fear it would be the death-knell to his resolve to marry Octavia.
“And what is it about villainous Viscount Debenham that brought you to my townhouse so late at night?”
Kitty twined her arms about his neck and nestled her head against his chest. Her soft sigh of contentment was like a hot needle in his most tender parts, for Kitty was so transparent about her affection for him.
She smiled up at him, biting her lip as a moment of doubt seemed to shadow her features. “I told him you were a spy.”
“Dear God! What possessed you to say that?”
She looked surprised at his angry bark before responding with the gentle reminder that, “You, my darling, said that you were as far away as could be imagined from being a traitor or a spy when I told you of my Cousin Stephen’s warnings about you the first time we met.”
She looked dismayed, and Silverton realized his facial features must still be composed into an expression of the horror he was trying to mask. He still couldn’t get over what she had said. “That aside, why would you tell Debenham I was a spy?”
Kitty stepped out of his embrace and went to the fireplace to warm herself, or perhaps seek a little distance from Silverton’s uncharacteristic ire.
“Don’t be angry,” she pleaded. “When you hear what I have to say I hope you’ll think I’ve been rather clever.”
Just the way she smiled at him made his stomach curdle with longing— rather a contrast to the way it was also churning with foreboding.
“When did you have anything to do with Debenham?” He spoke softly for he was trying very hard not to frighten her with the extent of his fear.
Kitty rested against the mantelpiece, appearing to choose her words as she wrapped a corn-colored ringlet around her finger. “Lord Debenham visited me at the theater and took me out to supper.”
“Good God! You went out with him? Alone?”
“Please hear me out, Silverton. It’s not what you think.”
The idea of his precious Kitty putting herself in danger with such a villain struck terror into his heart. Then he realized that the idea of Kitty being with any man other than himself was what was making his heart behave so erratically. Taking a breath to calm himself, he said in a more level tone, “Of course, I realize I have no claim on you now. I cannot dictate who you see.”
“No, you can’t. And I know that’s not because you don’t care.” She gazed at him with the deepest sympathy, and he longed to cross the floor and take her in his arms as she added, “I know you still love me, just as I love you. So deeply, Silverton. That’s why I forced myself to spend time with Debenham because I know that he tried to embarrass you over Lady Kilmore’s letters, and I wanted to be the agent for good. It was jealousy on his part, but worse is the fact that my sister, Lissa’s beloved, Ralph Tunley, needs to find conclusive evidence of Debenham’s wrongdoing if he and Lissa are to marry. It’s been his greatest challenge, and now
I think I have discovered how to do that.”
“You think you’ve discovered a way to do what no one else has managed?”
“There’s no need to sound so incredulous.” She was clearly hurt but put up her hand to halt his apology. “I’m not pretending to be cleverer than anyone else, it’s just that Lord Debenham wants to make me his mistress, and he thinks that because you and I have ended our liaison—I do hate that word—that I harbor ill-will toward you. At first, I was going to refute his assumption that I wanted vengeance against you. You must know that I will go to my grave adoring you,” she added as an aside. “But then he said he could help me to harm you, and I just needed to think of some terrible secret you had for which you’d pay a great sum to keep out of the public eye. Naturally, I could think of nothing. You are the most honorable man I know. That’s when the idea came to me to tell him you were a spy. And that’s why I came here, to warn you that Lord Debenham was going to blackmail you, and that the blackmail note would be the evidence you needed, because all you’d need to do then was turn up with the supposed ransom and instead apprehend him.”
This time Silverton did cross the floor, but he only put one hand on her shoulder and with the other, tipped her head up gently.
“Kitty, my dear sweet girl, I do thank you for your desire to help. But the fact is, I really am a spy, and Debenham has obviously had his suspicions for a long time. That’s why he tried to publicly embarrass me by using my letters to Lady Kilmore against me. When that didn’t work, he’s been trying to ascertain if, in fact, I could be looking closely into his affairs and not the friend I profess to be. Second, he would never turn up, personally, to collect a ransom. If he did, we would have arrested him a long time ago.”
“You are a spy?” Her mouth dropped open and her knees buckled. He had to clasp her tightly to him to stop her falling. And then, of course, he couldn’t let go as he added, “Now I fear that we are both in danger.”
Lady Unveiled - The Cuckold's Conspiracy (Daughters of Sin Book 5) Page 20
