“Stormed out, you mean?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “You can say it; I'm aware of what I did.”
“You stormed out because I was acting like an uncivilized urchin,” he replied.
She sighed, taking the chair beside his bed. “What are we doing?” she asked. “We haven't been getting along since you've returned.”
“I'm aware,” he said “Perhaps we both thought this trip would go differently.”
“Or perhaps we didn't know each other as well as we thought,” she said. “It is easy, in the height of romance and passion, to do things you later regret. Look at Romeo and Juliet.”
He snorted at that. “Yes, I imagine they regretted that misunderstanding,” he said. “Although I hardly think that we are at the point of swallowing poison and searching out a sweet dagger.”
“Are you sure?” she asked. “I'm sure there are lots backstage.”
“Ah, Lola,” he reached to take her hand. “I don't want you to think that any of this is because I don't.... want to be your husband.”
She breathed a sigh of relief and his eyes turned concerned.
“You thought that?” he asked.
“I thought,” she admitted. “That you might be like all the others. Like Peter.”
She named her murderous childhood sweetheart, who had been jealous enough of her acting to kill her co-stars. He tensed. “You think I was like Peter?”
“Not...to that extent. But you know that I cannot handle jealousy.”
“Is it so wrong that I want you all to myself?” he asked, and she shook her head.
“No, my love,” she said. “But I will always be yours.”
“Come here.” He patted the bed beside him and she carefully got up, sitting by his right side. She tried not to touch him, in case she jolted his wound. “Much better.”
“Much better than my night, in any case,” she said.
“Oh?”
“Aaron got a visitor to the manor last night,” she said. “Some lady who claimed to know him from court. Of course, there are hundreds of people at court at any given time, so he was embarrassed to say he didn't remember her.”
“What did she want?” Wesley asked. “That reminds me, is Gwendolyn alright?”
“She's fine,” Lola said. “Aaron forgot that he’d asked Annabelle to take her home after a few hours. Which concerns me. His memory has always been stellar, but things have not been smooth either.”
“That is a relief,” Wesley said. “I was hoping that it was the case, for the child's sake. Tell me about this visitor.”
“Lady Marianne Marks,” Lola replied. “Married to a very pompous and very annoying lord for about 6 minutes before he died. She is much younger than him, and from what I see, acts like Aaron has caught her eye.”
“Ah, is that why she dropped by?”
“Who knows?” Lola shrugged. “He didn't remember her, Annabelle didn't remember her, and I don't remember her. And we're all too ashamed to admit that her title is minor, so she was probably always in the back. She stayed that night because it was so late, but I imagine she will leave this morning. She did say she wanted to drop by the camp and have a look at everything before she left.”
“It is odd,” Wesley replied. “Lord Bamber does have an excellent memory.”
“He didn't remember Damien Ganders, or whoever that man was, who dropped by earlier this week,” Lola said.
Wesley went quiet a moment, his hands fidgeting. Lola knew that habit well enough to know he was thinking. “The man who knew Gwendolyn was his child?”
“Yes, which any fool could guess if they looked at her.” Lola drew up her knees. “I'm worried about him. Now he's preoccupied with the assumption that Mr. Taners is behind all of this. Oh, he said to tell you that Taners has no family, as far as he could tell.”
“No family?” Wesley replied, confused. “It's unusual a man of that.... rank, that stable situation, would not have a family.”
“Maybe something happened to them?” Lola asked. “I mean, you're an Earl, people would assume that you have a big family around you too.”
“I did, once,” he reminded her. “And one day I will again.”
“Yes,” she put her head against his. “One day you will again, I can promise you that.”
“But until then...” Wesley replied, turning to kiss her on the cheek. “You should go.”
“I'm delaying,” she agreed. “Marianne monopolizes the conversation, and if she's at camp, I don't want to see her again. She's an Irish lady, by the way, so if you are there, you should at least distract her.”
“She's Irish?” Wesley said in surprise “But there's no Irish lady who.... Lola...” He turned pale suddenly and she lurched forward.
“What is it? Are you in pain?”
“You have to take me to her,” he said. “I think I know who she is.”
“I can't take you anywhere, you can barely walk,” she cried.
“No, listen to me,” he said. “I've kept track of Irish nobility, and there was no Irish lady, especially when Lord Bamber frequented court, who was married to an English lord and suddenly widowed. I'm sure of it. I would have known, for she would be a potential wife, yes?”
“Yes...” Lola said, not sure where he was going. “Why do I need to take you to her though?”
“There was however, a pair of thieves, a husband and wife, posing as an Irish lord and lady, who would show up at houses with a sob story and then, after learning the layout, rob the place blind. They were caught once, my father investigated and I went with him. But they escaped. I know her face. If it's her, I will recognize her.”
“But robbing isn't worth risking your life....” she said, reminding him of just how deep the wound was.
“No,” he agreed. “However, they would stop at nothing to get their bounty, including killing the occupants. Take me, now.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
THE FIRING SQUAD
THE FIRING SQUAD
“Do you feel like a firing range, Lord Bamber?” Mr. Taners approached him with a smile on his face and an assignment in his hand. “We are going to demonstrate punishment today. It's important that people understand just how serious the Navy takes misbehaving. If you and your lovely...camp follower would like to volunteer, you can pretend to have the most glorious death.”
“Um,” Aaron replied, trying to process the request. He had just gotten there, and Shauna's hand was grasped tight in his. Gwendolyn was at his side, and he made sure to keep a firm eye on her. “Sorry? I don't particularly want to be shot at.”
“I assure you there will be no bullets in the rifles,” Taners smiled. “You can even check them yourself, and have a team check them. We do have a team of sharpshooters here to deliver the shots from the military. I promise you they will aim away, just in case.”
“Aaron, isn't that dangerous?” Shauna asked.
“Not if it's as Taners said,” Aaron replied suspiciously He liked the idea of the glory, the drama of the situation, but he didn't trust Taners. “A firing range seems a bit extreme, don't you think?”
“We have to show them that crime against the people, against innocent people, is not alright,” Mr. Taners said. “No matter how high your rank. Your crime will be the slaughter of villagers.”
“I will agree if my team can take you up on the offer of checking the guns,” Aaron said, turning to Harold, who nodded.
“Excellent,” Taners said and walked away.
However, as soon as he did, Aaron spoke up. “Did you hear how he said that?” he asked. “The tone in his voice? As if it was a personal attack. As if I somehow accidentally slaughtered his family.”
“I think he sounded just fine?” Corrigan put in, but Aaron was adamant
“There is something not right here.”
“The situation does seem a little bit dramatic. But as long as we check the guns, there is nothing he can do. He can't very well stage an accident with empty guns in front of a full crowd, could he?�
�
“We never discus why,” Aaron pointed out. “If he is behind these accidents, why is he doing it? What vendetta does he have against us, or the Navy, or innocent people?”
“And that is why we cannot accuse him,” Harold reminded them. “Until we have a motive, we must keep suspicion low, and act as normal.”
“Until the next accident,” Aaron said, a slight growl to his voice. He knelt down to look Gwendolyn in the eye, trying to smile. “Do you understand what that man asked me?”
Gwendolyn grinned. “He's going to shoot you!” she cried. “But it's all make believe, it's all pretend. And you're going to die....” Her voice had a sing-song tone to it, an air of mischief that he recognized as his own once. There was absolutely no doubt that this was his child.
“That's right,” Aaron said. “All make believe. Even if I fall to the ground, I'm going to get right back up.”
“Can we escort you?” Matheson said with a grin. “I think it would be a jolly good time.”
“I'd rather you all checked the guns,” Aaron said. “Perhaps be behind a few of them. Shauna can escort me as my distraught wife.”
“Oh, lovely,” Shauna replied, shaking her head. “This is not as advertised.”
“Taners is right about the public needing to see all sides,” Harold pointed out. “So many of them have glorified it. And while serving your country is the greatest thing they can do, they do not need to think it's always laughter and good fun.”
“So, a martyr I'll be then,” Aaron replied. “Shall we?”
“Oh, Lord Bamber!”
He heard a cry from behind him and groaned. Turning around, Marianne had arrived, all sunshine and roses. She was waving at him from across the field and he briefly thought about running the other way. Instead, he held Shauna's hand firmly, to establish a relationship.
“How exciting all of this is.”
“Yes,” he said. “Although I have some duties to attend to at the moment, so if you'll excuse me.”
“Is this your little one?” She got down to Gwendolyn's level, a smile on her face. “Hello! What is your name?”
“Gwendolyn,” the girl said, delighted in the attention.
“We didn't meet last night, but I stayed in the house,” Marianne said. “And how do you like the grand house? I wager you enjoy being a little lady, isn't that right?”
Gwendolyn looked confused by this comment, and turned to Shauna, who didn't know what to say. She was holding Aaron's hand, so she couldn't very well deny that Gwendolyn was his daughter. So instead, she stepped forward. “Gwendolyn is a bit shy,” she said, even though the child was anything but. “Come along, we have duties to attend to.”
“Please tell me what you'll be,” Marianne said. “I would love to get to know you better. After so many years of knowing Lord Bamber, it would be nice to know his family.”
Shauna wanted to slap her forehead, but instead she forced a fake smile. “I believe that we'll be in the field, there, against the tents,” she said. “We'll see you soon.”
She slipped away as fast as she could, leaving Aaron to make his own excuses.
“At least if Wesley was here, he could just confuse her,” Aaron said as he and Harold went to meet the crew of sharpshooters and examine the guns.
“I have rarely judged someone on the merit of their voice,” Harold replied. “But I've not had a moment to say a word whenever she speaks. It's amazing.”
“Maybe she should be in front of the firing squad?” Matheson asked, which made Aaron snort. Harold shot him a look to say it was all inappropriate. Aaron had a bad habit of allowing them to speak out of rank on the ship, and it sometimes got out of hand. Harold tried his best to keep the division of rank, but it didn't work when they spent so much time together.
The public began gathering around as soon as the announcement was made of a firing squad. Aaron got a blindfold and heard the drums, excited to get into character. Even though it was a dire situation, he couldn't help but grin. This was not a situation he got to witness often, and of course, he had never been a part of it. “My father used to say that anything was worth an experience,” Aaron said as he and Shauna waited inside the tent, ready to be brought out. “Any cost, any amount of time, to experience something you never have before. He believed that made you richer than wealth.”
“Your father never had the experience of scraping together enough coins to eat a meal,” Shauna pointed out and Aaron was inclined to agree.
He could see Gwendolyn's shadow, just outside the tent. She had strict instructions to wait at the front of the crowd. Harold, Matheson and Corrigan were behind the guns, so they were also keeping an eye on her. Despite the fact that he was supposed to be fake fired at in a moment, it seemed like the calmest moment that they’d had all week.
“I suppose I could have said no to this,” he said to Shauna. “But disobeying even Taners isn't something to be done. We must obey a commanding officer, even when we think they are wrong.”
“Do not pretend you aren't enjoying this,” Shauna said. “When this is all over, you should be an actor. The applause will feed your soul.”
“You feed my soul,” he said.
There was a huge crowd gathered when he was finally summoned to march out. He could see how it was a huge attraction. There were boys clinging to their mothers, husbands standing at attention as if they had seen it before. He was going to be blindfolded when he reached the wall against the tent, but until then, he had a hard time keeping a smile off his face.
“Look serious,” Shauna hissed at him. “You're going to die.”
“I don't fear the empty guns,” he replied. “But I do wonder if my friends are remembering every moment I made them angry over the past few years.”
“Wondering if they might crack you over the head with a gun?” she whispered, and he couldn't help but smile. He quickly hid his smile against his hand, pretending to be overtaken by emotion.
“Lt. Smith,” Harold called out, using his character name. “Because you approached an entire village of innocents and ordered brute force, you will be lined up against a wall and shot until dead. Do you understand?”
“I think so,” Aaron replied as someone approached him with a blindfold. He saw Gwendolyn standing at the front of the crowd. She had a wide grin on her face, and he had no concern that she was about to get traumatized. She understood that it was all a play, a drama just for the crowd. He managed to wink at her, and then let them place the blindfold over his eyes. Shauna gave a little fake cry, and he heard the drum rolls.
He had a moment of fear, considering all the accidents that had happened. His heart fluttered a little bit, and he tensed only slightly.
He heard the gun shots, and his shoulders dropped. He was so relieved to not get shot that he almost forgot what he was doing. Then he remembered that he was supposed to be dead, and dropped to the ground.
Because it was of his own volition, he was able to control the fall. The audience burst into applause He heard some gasps and sobs, and he resisted the urge to stand up and take a bow. He felt hands on his shoulders, and tensed.
“It's Matheson, sir,” Matheson said, in his ear. “We're to carry off your very dead body. That's Shauna at your feet, and Corrigan on your other side.”
Aaron resisted saying anything, but he cocked his head very slightly to show that he understood. He appreciated them letting him know.
It was only when they were in a tent and he could take the blindfold off that he sat up. “Did they love me?” he asked, as soon as he knew it was safe to talk. “That was amazing. Now I know why Lola loves her death scenes!”
“Yes, they loved it,” Shauna said. “Gwendolyn especially. Do you want to see her? I'll get her, since you are supposed to be dead.”
“That would be lovely,” Aaron said, and off she went.
He turned to Mathews, trusting him to regale every moment. Matheson and Corrigan seemed to have enjoyed it as much as Aaron had. They chatted for a few m
oments, and then Shauna ducked back in.
“Where's Gwendolyn?” Aaron asked, confused. “Don't tell me I frightened her.”
However, Shauna was pale as a sheet. “I can't find her,” she said.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
GONE
GONE
“Did you tell Annabelle to come again? It's almost noon.”
“No...” Aaron said, but he wasn't sure. After yesterday, he didn't trust his own memory. “I mean, I don't remember doing that, but then I didn't remember yesterday either.”
“Oy,” Matheson put in, trying to save them from fighting. “Now that we've done our big scene, I could go home and check? Perhaps put your minds at ease? I'm sure that is the case...not to doubt you, sir.”
“If you could go and check,” Aaron said, trying to remain calm. “That would be lovely. I'm sure that is the case. And after this camp...perhaps I should see a doctor.”
“Might be a good idea,” Shauna replied, trying not to yell at him. Now that steps were in place, and it had happened yesterday, she wasn't quite as panicked. Annabelle had been discreet yesterday, and it was quite possible she was being discreet again today. “I could accompany you, just in case you forget all the things you've forgotten.”
“Attractive,” Aaron replied as Matheson gathered his things. Shauna rolled her eyes.
“How long must you stay in here?”
“A few hours at most,” Aaron said. “Which is not a bad way to get paid. Relax with me.”
“Perhaps we should speak with your sister about being so discreet,” Shauna said. “She should check in with us, so we don't panic as much.”
“I'm alright with that,” Aaron said. “If Matheson gets a carriage right away, he will be right behind her. It should be a quick turnaround.”
Shauna sank onto the cot beside him. “I suppose it is a good thing that Gwendolyn is so comfortable with Annabelle,” she said. “She is family.”
The Lord’s Secret (The Regency Renegades - Beauty and Titles) (A Regency Romance Story) Page 12
