Evacuating the ship and getting everyone the medical attention that they needed was complicated. There was death, there were injuries, and no one could understand how it had happened. Taners approached Harold as the doctors started to swarm around, called in from the local hospital.
“What a terrible accident,” Taners said to him. “I'm so sorry. Did you lose anyone you knew? Lord Bamber?”
“Lord Bamber is injured, but alright,” Harold helped. “The Earl of Rippon is quite badly hurt as well.”
“Two dynasties could have been taken out,” Taners shook his head. “What a terrible shame.”
“Taners...” Harold said. “We have reason to believe that it may not be an accident.”
He gave him a long hard look. “It was a terrible accident and now the public will know the truth about the dangers of the Navy. But so many men signed up to help today, and the news is already spreading. The men who died today gave their lives in service of the Navy, and they will be remembered. The men who signed up are going to be able to serve and protect, inspired by the events of today. We can't stop now.”
Harold set his jaw. “Well, numbers will be down tomorrow. Lord Bamber, the Earl of Rippon, and Lola Montclair will not be able to attend.”
“Oh, but they have to if they are able,” Mr. Taners said. “They have to, for they are heroes.”
“Taners, are you listening to me?” Harold snapped. “Someone is behind this. Someone is trying to get us killed.”
“Who would do that?”” Mr. Taners asked.
“War protesters working together.”
“Unless you have convincing proof, Lt. Harper,” Mr. Taners said. “It's just fear mongering.”
“Bamber mentioned that you might say that.”
“Lord Bamber has always been a little overdramatic, the way I understand,” Taners replied. “I'm sorry he was injured right now. But he hasn't died.”
“No,” Harold replied. “He hasn't died.”
“He shows an amazing amount of strength, given the situation,” Taners said. “I'm sure he will continue to display it. Please update me on his progress.”
“Of course.” Harold wanted to yell at him, to ask him how he could be so oblivious. However, it was clear that the man only cared about navy recruitment over the next few weeks. Whether Taners was just dense, mad, or hard headed didn't matter. These were orders from HQ and he had to continue. He was only grateful that Annabelle wasn't on site today.
“Good,” Taners said. “I’ll send a message to you this evening when we figure our way through the mess. I will have other investigators on the scene, who I'm sure will determine the cause of this tragic accident. Tend to your friends, Lt. Harper.”
“Aye aye,” Harold replied, although he wanted to say so much more. Instead, he clenched his jaw.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
WHO?
WHO?
“What in God’s name is going on?” Annabelle asked when the carriages rolled home at nearly midnight. She had been expecting them so much earlier. News of the explosion in the harbor had reached her, and it was only keeping Gwendolyn safe that made her stay home. “Are you all alright?”
“We're...alright,” Aaron said, gingerly getting out of the carriage. Both of Lola's arms were bandaged; he and Shauna were clinging together, and the other three looked shell shocked. Annabelle fell into Harold's arms, and he gave in fully to her embrace.
“Where's Wesley?” she turned to Lola.
“He'll stay in the hospital, at least overnight,” said the exhausted actress. “It's a mess, Annabelle, and a long story.”
“It's not a long story,” Aaron managed, still feeling shaky. “Someone is trying to kill us. Or at least, target someone at that recruitment exercise.”
“What?” Annabelle said. “It wasn't an accident?”
“No,” Aaron replied. “It most certainly was not.”
“You don't know that,” Harold replied, but Aaron stared his friend down.
“There are too many unanswered questions,” Aaron said. “Too many clues that lead down that path. I'll put my title on the line for it.”
“I may need that title,” Shauna said. “If you insist that I don't work, I need your title to support myself and your daughter.”
Aaron sighed, realizing how complicated this had become. “How is Gwendolyn?” he asked Annabelle, who shrugged.
“She was sleeping last time I checked on her. Although something odd happened. I wanted to speak to you about it...”
“What do you mean, odd?” Aaron asked, wanting desperately to go inside. “She did something odd?”
“A man came to the door, asking for you,” Annabelle replied. “I didn't recognize him, and he wasn't in uniform. He said that you were friends with him. His name is Damien Ganders?”
“Damien Ganders?” Aaron shook his head. “I don't know anyone by that name.”
“He said it had been awhile. I came into the living room where he was waiting. Gwendolyn was with me, and he greeted her as if she was your child...”
Aaron and Shauna looked at each other. “For anyone who doesn't know,” Aaron said, staring into Shauna's eyes. “Gwendolyn is my daughter.”
“Right,” Annabelle replied, raising an eyebrow. “I figured as much.”
She seemed less put out than Aaron had imagined she would be. Then, he had been with Shauna on and off for most of adolescent and adult lives. Twins had a special bond, and anyone would have to be blind not to see the resemblance between Gwendolyn and Annabelle.
In addition, Gwendolyn was a girl, and lords often had bastard children. A girl bastard child was of no consequence, unless Aaron chose to make her so.
“What did he say he wanted?”
“Nothing...” Annabelle said. “But he looked at Gwendolyn in a way that I didn't like.”
“What?” Aaron turned back to her. “What do you mean? Why did you not send us a note? Why did you not get her to safety? Tell me, Annabelle, tell me everything that happened.”
“She's safe,” Annabelle said. “To be fair, Aaron, everyone thinks you are their friend; it wouldn't be a surprise that you don't remember him. He may have simply been surprised that you had a child after all this time. I didn't say anything one way or another. He simply wanted to say hello.”
“Something is not right here,” Aaron said. “I know it. Let's check on her.”
Grasping Shauna's hand, for support both physically and emotionally, they made their way up the winding staircase. The house was mostly silent, the servants gone to bed. Shauna looked around in awe at the darkened silence.
“It is a beautiful home,” she said, trying to normalize the night. “I don't know why you don't want to be in it more. Is the sea really more beautiful?”
“The sea made me feel alive,” he said softly.
“And now?”
“I don't know,” he replied. “I don't know anymore. But as circumstances are, I can't think straight.”
“Of course,” Shauna replied. “I understand. Do you think Annabelle is right? That there was something off about this man?”
“Annabelle is an impeccable judge of character,” Aaron answered. “If something was off, she would smell it. But why would a man come here, claim to be my friend, stare down a daughter no one knew I had, and then leave?”
“One of the many unanswered questions of the day,” Shauna said as they peeked into the room where Gwendolyn was sleeping. She was curled up on the pillows, her blond curls sprayed over them, and her body curled slightly. “Oh, thank God.”
“Indeed,” Aaron murmured and leaned his head against Shauna. “If anything happened to her, I would never forgive myself.”
“I trust your sister, and I trust this house,” Shauna replied. “But I would rather have her with me, at the camp.”
“The camp is not safe, Shauna!” Aaron cried. “Did you not see what happened today?”
“I saw an explosion and my last thought before I hit the water was of Gwendo
lyn,” Shauna said. “How I wouldn't get a chance to say goodbye. I won't go through that again.”
“You have to go home,” Aaron replied, and Shauna looked down.
“There is no home to go to,” she said. “Not anymore. What would you have us do? Check into an inn in town? Is it safer there? Is it safe anywhere? At least if we are together, we can reach out, hold hands, and take strength from each other.” She squeezed his hand. “You do understand that, don't you?”
He buried his face against her shoulder, inhaling deeply. It was rare that he didn't know what to do, but nothing in life had prepared him for parenting; for protecting his love and his child.
“Yes,” he said. “I do know that we are stronger together than apart. I've always known that.”
“I should get to bed,” Shauna said after a long moment. “But I think our decision has been made.”
“Yes,” he replied. “But I don't like it one bit.”
“Aaron, if there's one thing I've learned in this world, it's not to show fear,” she said. “Do you believe in what we're doing?”
“I...” he stopped. “I never thought about that.”
“But of course, you have,” she replied. “Because otherwise you wouldn't have joined the Navy. You believe in serving your country, even if it means you die in battle tomorrow And I believe,” she said. “In finding so many boys to join the Navy that you aren't needed any more. Then you can come home safely.”
He looked down, afraid that tears would prick his eyes. It was as if she could see into his very soul, his very heart. Then, she always had been able to do that. They were soulmates; he had known that the moment they met.
“And you are willing to risk the safety of our daughter?” he asked.
“For the safety of her father, for the hope that one day that he will come home to us,” Shauna said. “Besides, Gwendolyn is safer with us than without us.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “I do know that. She'll be by our side every day until this is over. Tomorrow, I'm going to put in inquiries about who this Damien Ganders is.”
“You think something dark is going on?” she said.
“It just doesn't sit well,” he replied. “But I don't want you to worry about it. I will take care of everything.”
“I trust you.” She kissed him again and then headed to bed. Aaron sighed, wondering whether he should mobilize his guard or just sleep until dawn.
Eventually, he decided that whatever had happened today, he was safe tonight. The walls of this house had never been penetrated in hundreds of years. He trusted his family legacy, at least for tonight.
No one came to wake him up in the morning. The sunlight was streaming through the window and he rolled over, staring at the grand ceiling. His father had such a different way of ruling things when he was alive. He followed the book to the letter, making sure that his children were going to have a future that upheld the family traditions. His father had known about Shauna, he was sure. He never said anything about it because lords had women on the side all the time. However, he never knew about Gwendolyn and he never knew that Aaron was in love with Shauna.
What would he have said? Aaron wondered. Would he have told him to follow his heart? Or would he have told him to put his heart aside and be a Lord?
Why couldn't he do both at once?
“Mother, have you seen this?”
He heard Gwendolyn's voice and laugh outside the door. It was the most beautiful thing in the world to wake up to.
“Are we going to the camp today?”
“Yes,” Shauna said. “But you must be careful.”
“Lord Bamber will protect us,” Gwendolyn said, and he smiled as he got up.
He would, he would do anything for that little girl and her mother.
In the kitchen, the mood was subdued. Everyone was thinking about yesterday; their minds thinking of the different aspects of the accident.
“I'm going to be late today,” Lola said, already dressed and ready to walk out the door. “I’m going to see Wesley, check on his progress.”
“Please give him our regards,” Aaron said. “I'll try to stop in and visit him.”
“Do you know,” Harper brought up. “That I tried to tell Mr. Taners that you might not be in today, and he got irrationally angry.”
“He's so focused on his path,” Lola said. “It's an obsession. I've seen men like that before.”
“No,” Harper said. “I think it's more than that. Focusing on the Navy, yes. But purposely putting men in harm's way, including not caring about two crowned lords, does not seem right.”
Aaron froze, watching him. Matheson and Corrigan stopped eating in the background, their eyes trained on Harper. “What are you thinking?”
“I think he's behind this,” Harold said. “I don't know how, and I don't know why. But he is.”
“Yes,” Aaron began to put the pieces together. “Yes, I think you're right. His behavior almost seems...not consistent with HQ. You were sent to question the protesters, but our findings were brushed off. Now, there have been several accidents, many people have died, and he's not increased security. What is he after?”
“That part I don't know yet,” Harold replied.
“Wesley will know, though,” Lola said. “We have to ask him.”
“We have to do this carefully,” Aaron said. “As to not arouse suspicion. If we do it and have no proof, you know what is going to happen. You saw it when Wesley tried to prove it in your case.”
“Don't remind me,” she replied, the memory too close. “Are you willing to put your title against it, though?”
“Yes,” he said, looking at Shauna and Gwendolyn. “Anything that is needed.”
“We have time now,” Lola said. “Let's go ask Wesley what he thinks. I'm sure he's awake by now, and he will be trying to do anything to keep his mind active.”
“Be quick,” Harold said. “I can explain your lateness at the camp, but not your absence. We have to make sure the evidence is right before we strike.”
“Shauna?” Aaron said.
“I'll take Gwendolyn to the camp, and act as if everything is normal,” she said. “But come soon.”
“I will,” he promised her. “I will.” He was going to get to the bottom of this; even if it was the last thing he ever did.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THE HOSPITAL
THE HOSPITAL
“Of course, he is behind it,” Wesley practically screamed at them when he was presented with the evidence. “How could you think that he's not, given those circumstances?”
“But how do we prove it?” Aaron asked, surprised that his friend could even sit up. He was lucky that so far, the wound on his stomach wasn't infected. However, he did look pale, and Lola pushed him gently on the chest so he would lie back down. “We have no proof, just suspicions.”
“You have to prove it the same way I did with Lola's mystery,” he replied. “Find the personal connection and it will lead you to an admission of guilt. What do you know about Taners?”
“Nothing.”
“Exactly. Everyone has a past.”
“Wise words,” Lola said. “But it's my experience that Navy men don't open up to others very easily.”
“And how many Navy men have you experienced?” Wesley asked her. She shot him a sharp look, and Aaron sighed. Despite the fact that Lola had spent the whole time he was away pining for him, relations between the two were clearly not as smooth as they believed.
“I'm going to wait outside,” she said, rolling her eyes. Aaron watched her go, and sat on the chair beside the bed.
“What is happening with you two?” he said. “So many months of longing and now it's disaster.”
“I don't know,” he said. “I came home expecting a future with Lola, and instead, I imagine my life alone.”
“Have hope,” Aaron replied. “No one pretends your relationship is easy.”
“Are you with Shauna?” he asked. “It seems obvious to everyone aro
und us.”
“Yes, although it's about as easy a situation as yours, at the moment.”
“And Gwendolyn is your child?”
“Could it be more obvious?” Aaron asked. “I didn't know. I would never hide it if I had known about her. I didn't know I wanted a child, a daughter, until I met her.”
“You are one of the lucky ones,” Wesley said. “For it seems your answer is right in front of you.”
“Can we just ...figure out today?” Aaron said. “You suggest I find out about Taners's past?”
“Make friends with him. See who he is friends with. How long has he served? You'll find your answers. Come to me with anything you find.”
“You just rest,” Aaron said, giving his hand a brief shake. He promised to visit afterwards, and joined Lola in the hallway. She was leaning against the wall, wiping tears off her face. “Lola?”
“Why does he have to say such things to me?” she asked. “He knows my past is checkered, but at least I did not hide my title and my rank like he did. I'm not ashamed of my past, and I do not take note of what his is. And yet, he snaps at me like I am a common whore.”
“He's in pain,” Aaron said, trying to soothe her. “He is not well; you saw the wound yourself.”
“It has been this way since he returned,” Lola said. “I thought we were of one mind, one body, one soul.”
“I know the feeling,” he says, thinking of his early days with Shauna. “I miss it.”
“I do too,” she said, trying to smile. “Anyway, we have a camp to get to.”
“Yes, Shauna will be wondering what happened to us,” he said. “And I'm sure Gwendolyn has lit up the whole camp by now.”
“What do you want to do?” Lola asked. “With Gwendolyn, I mean. Will she live in your mansion?”
“Everything is undecided,” he replied. “I kept wondering what my father would say, if he knew my heart as well as my body belonged to a peasant, and the only heir to Bamber Manor was a bastard girl.”
“He might just be thrilled to have an heir at all,” she said. “He was obsessed with it, from what I remember.”
The Lord’s Secret (The Regency Renegades - Beauty and Titles) (A Regency Romance Story) Page 9
