Colonel Northcote looked incredulous. ‘Do I understand you correctly. Is the five hundred pounds all interest?’
‘I believe so, my Lord. Papa must have paid the Earl back twofold, but still, the interest keeps accruing. Papa does not know that I have come. He is a proud man and would be angry with me if he found out. I have come to ask for mercy on his behalf in the hope that the Earl would cancel the rest of the debt. Oh, if I were a man I would call him out. He is worse than the money lenders in Newcastle!’
The Colonel looked at the girl. Standing on its own he found it hard to believe, but now he could not be sure. It was just one piece of a very disturbing puzzle. First, there was his lady rogue, then Mr Pendlesham, then Lady Trevarren and now this young lady all vying for his brother’s blood. How many more? he asked himself.
‘Have you evidence of this agreement, Miss Fairbanks?’ he asked uneasily.
‘Indeed I have,’ she replied.
Miss Fairbanks reached into her reticule and pulled out a document. It was all there. The agreement and the payments made, either his brother’s or his secretary’s signature acknowledging receipt of each weekly repayment, but the interest rate was scandalous. He took out his quizzing glass and looked closely at the document. He could not be sure but it looked like the number three had been skillfully changed to a five and then a nought added. Whoever had changed it had made an excellent job. If he guessed correctly the three percent interest had been changed to fifty percent. If this were true, it was a clear cut case of embezzlement, but by whom? He handed the document back. ‘Leave it with me, Miss Fairbanks. I will discuss this with my brother and get back to you within the course of the next couple of weeks. I think your father has paid enough and I will do what I can for you.’
Colonel Northcote personally saw Miss Fairbanks to the door and on returning to the first-floor landing he heard voices coming from the drawing room and discovered the butler bent over and listening at the huge oak door. The man was an enigma, too efficient yet too unnerving for comfort.
‘Whatever are you doing, Metcalfe?’ the Colonel asked accusingly.
The butler straightened and flushed with embarrassment. ‘Forgive me, my Lord but Lady Northcote has a visitor and I am just ensuring that all is well and that she is quite safe.’
Colonel Northcote had the distinct impression that the butler was lying.
‘Why should she not be?’ he replied succinctly. ‘If you have concerns you should come and seek me, not listen at doors. You are free to go about your duties. I shall check that her ladyship is alright.’
Metcalfe flushed scarlet. ‘I am sorry, my Lord, but I thought you were otherwise engaged.’
The butler walked away indignantly and the Colonel knocked on the drawing room door and entered. Lady Northcote was with a gentleman who must have been in his early forties. He was of medium height with dark brown hair fashioned in a Titus crop and had an undeniably handsome countenance. Dressed in a coat of green superfine fashioned in a military cut by Shultz, and hessian boots crafted by Hoby, he was obviously a gentleman. He took a step back when Colonel Northcote entered the room. Harry thought that he had been standing intimately close to lady Northcote but he could not be sure.
Lady Northcote looked up in embarrassment. ‘Oh Harry, there you are. Please come in and meet Viscount Ashenden. He is a neighbour and a good friend of ours. I have something in my eye and he was just checking to see if he could remove it. He is unable to see anything. Can you take a look, Harry dear?’
Harry walked over and holding lady Northcote’s chin in his left hand, he checked her eye. ‘No, I cannot see anything either. Lord Ashenden must have successfully removed it. It was probably a speck of dust, but you know these things, it can still feel as if it is there long after it has gone. Just give it a few minutes.’
He turned to Lord Ashenden with a vague feeling of recognition and shook his hand. ‘I believe we met in London once. I am pleased to renew our acquaintance, Lord Ashenden. Lady Northcote must have informed you, but the Earl has had to go out this morning but I am sure she is entertaining you well.’
Viscount Ashenden had the decency to look embarrassed. ‘Indeed she is, Colonel. I had the pleasure of entertaining Lord and Lady Northcote the other week at my home and I just came by to return something that was left behind. I also have some business to conclude with the Earl, but it can wait.’
Harry could not fault the man’s address or manners and thanked him. However, he was still unsure of what he had just seen. Could it be that his sister-in-law had a cicisbeo and the fuss about her eye had been an elaborate performance? Harry had been up an hour and he had already had enough distractions for the day. He needed to get out of this house and seek a distraction more to his liking. He made up his mind to make an informal call at Chalcotte Grange in the hope of seeing Lady Trevarren, but first, he needed to get rid of the impeccable Lord Ashenden.
*****
It was another thirty minutes before Lord Ashenden left Winstanley Hall and Harry went to collect his stallion Julius from the stables. Julius was a thoroughbred of impeccable breeding with a steady disposition and nerves of steel. The stallion had been his constant companion throughout many campaigns and if Harry cared to think about it, responsible for getting him out of many a scrape. When the war was over he could not bring himself to leave him on the continent where he would probably end up as horse meat but brought him home to England. He possibly owed the stallion his life and felt the need to reciprocate. Harry had a great fondness for the animal.
Needing to blow away the cobwebs and feel the wind in his hair, Harry made for open ground and coaxed Julius into a fast gallop. The morning had been disturbing if not eventful and he needed to think. Much had changed at Winstanley Hall since he left for the Peninsular and not for the better. He had the uncomfortable feeling that not all was as it should be. He would seek the company of Lady Sophie Trevarren and hope her Aunt would allow them a little time alone. He smiled to himself. He did not think there would be much of a problem there. Lady Wyndholme was a transparent matchmaker and obviously approved of him.
Harry, however, did not need to ask for her permission for long before he reached the Grange a lone figure came careering toward him. It was lady Trevarren on one of her uncle’s hunters, Excalibur. Excalibur was Sophie’s favourite mount and her uncle had given her free range to ride him. She stopped short and pulled in the reins. She wore a dark crimson riding jacket fashioned in the military style and fastened down the front with black, corded frogs and a long crimson skirt flowed to her ankles. Her hair was tied back and hung loosely down her back, crowned with a black curly rimmed beaver hat, which was decorated with long crimson ribbons. She looked young, fresh and vivacious and exhilarated from her swift gallop.
She greeted him with a friendly nod. ‘Colonel Northcote. I see you have the same idea. It is a fresh day for a ride and quite invigorating.’
Harry could hardly believe his good fortune. Apart from his lady rogue, he had never met anyone quite like her and he felt a warm quickening throughout his body. He wanted this girl and he was determined to have her.
‘Indeed it is. I was on my way to visit your Uncle and Aunt but would you care to ride with me instead?’ he asked persuasively.
Sophie was happy to oblige him, besides, she must stop him from reaching the Grange. Daniel had just had a peal rung over him and Aunt Caroline had made him stay at home to attend to his lessons. She could not risk Colonel Northcote bumping into Daniel. The whole thing was becoming increasingly complicated.
‘Tell me,’ the Colonel asked. ‘Are your guardians not concerned for you riding out by yourself, unchaperoned?’
‘Oh, they do not mind as long as I confine myself to the estate. There is nothing much that can happen to me on my Uncle’s land. Besides, I am well able to look after myself.’ She patted her saddle bag. ‘I always carry my father’s flintlock pistol. He taught me well.’
Harry had not expected such an admissio
n but he did not know why he was not surprised. He frowned for she was not unlike his lady rogue and her disclosure just served to reinforce the seeds of suspicion that had taken root in his mind. She watched his expression, unaware of what he could be thinking.
‘Why. Do you disapprove?’ she asked condemningly.
‘No. No,’ he replied. ‘I just did not expect it. You remind me of someone I once met, that is all.’
They rode side by side and Colonel Northcote changed the subject. He was happy to see her face light up when he told her about the brooch. He explained that a copy was to be made for lady Northcote, but she must keep it to herself. He did not approve of his brother’s methods but lady Northcote had been adamant in her refusal to relinquish it. It was the only way to get the brooch back, short of enraging the Countess.
They reached the edge of a wooded copse through which a small stream flowed. Julius lowered his head to take a drink and Harry dismounted. He walked over to Lady Trevarren who was still mounted. ‘Shall we walk,’ he said, reaching up for her.
She slid out of the saddle and into his arms. She looked up at him. ‘Thank you,’ she said gratefully.
The Colonel, momentarily at a loss held her for longer than was seemly. ‘For what?’ he asked in puzzlement.
‘The brooch. You cannot know what it means to me.’
Harry looked down into her sincere eyes and could resist no longer. ‘I would do anything for you,’ he responded, as he bent down and gave her a gentle, lingering kiss. Sophie had never been kissed before and she responded tentatively, reaching up and running her fingers through his shoulder length silky hair. Her response encouraged him and he deepened his kiss savouring every precious moment. She was soft and warm and her kisses were innocent, and it only fuelled his desire more. After many minutes, he released her and trailed his lips down her cheek and neck. Raising his head to nibble her ear, he whispered. ‘You do things to me that no other woman can. Marry me, Sophie,’ he said.
Sophie put her hand against the muscled wall of his chest and pushed him away in surprise. ‘I cannot marry you,’ she replied forcefully.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her back. ‘But why? You feel it too. I can tell.’
She turned from him in anger. ‘You are a Northcote!’ she snapped in frustration. ‘You have no idea how much I despise your family.’
Harry was somewhat confused. ‘Sophie! I am not my brother! I know you have feelings for me. Do not let what has happened in the past come between us. I do not believe in love at first sight, but I knew from the moment we met that you were special. Even when I caught you in the Countess’s bed chamber, I could not rid myself of my desire for you and it would be the perfect solution to your problems.’
Sophie folded her arms across her chest in a subconscious effort to keep him out but she was failing miserably. And damn, had he just called her Sophie? When had she given him permission to use her Christian name? The use of formal names was the last barrier of her defences. She had loved the man since she held him up that night on the track to Winstanley Hall. She knew that now, although he must not be given the slightest inkling. As much as she had tried to keep him at a distance her attraction to him was too strong. Even her little brother suspected it.
She lowered her head despondently. ‘Please, Colonel Northcote, do not press me any further. If we did marry, your family would despise me. We would be outcasts.’
‘Harry! My name is Harry! Please use it when we are alone. What do I care what the Earl and Countess think? I have land and property of my own. I have money enough for the both of us and that is apart from my salary as an officer in his majesty’s service. I care nought for my family’s wishes.’
Harry dragged his fingers through his unruly, dark hair and paced the earthen ground. In view of the events of this last week, he could no longer dismiss Sophie’s qualms. Her abhorrence ran deep and he began to wonder if she truly had justification. Had that card game been all that it appeared or had his brother really cheated? He sat down on the raised bank by the stream and patted the ground next to him. ‘Come then. Tell me, Sophie, for I am ready to listen. Tell me everything you know. Tell me about that night your father gambled away his fortune. You suspect that my brother cheated. You have told me that much but explain it again. I need to know every detail as your father related it to you.’
Sophie sat down beside him on the bank. She dearly wanted to hold him again, to touch him, but she dared not. It would be the undoing of her. Instead, she slowly began to relate the events as her father had explained them. How Lord Northcote had a card up his sleeve. How her father had noticed and how the Earl managed to flick the card across the floor before his could be accused. Nothing could be proved and they all agreed that the debt should be honoured. It was said that her father was drunk that night but he was not. He had no more to drink than any other man at the card table, but he was vilified because he had dared to accuse the Earl of cheating. Her father was a rough diamond but never-the-less an honourable man and he would not have lied to her. He had not only lost his fortune but his reputation as well and that had been the worst of it.
Harry listened carefully. ‘Can you remember who was around the card table that night?’ he asked.
Sophie wrinkled her brow trying to think. ‘Let me see. There was Lord Dereham, Viscount Ashenden, Mr Redesdale, Mr Featherstone, my father and of course your brother Winstanley. I think that was all. Papa told me that Mr Redesdale suggested that considering a card had been found on the floor, they should play the hand again. It would have been the natural and obvious thing to do but the idea was adamantly rejected. Papa thought Mr Redesdale suspected as well, but as he had no proof there was little he could do to overrule a majority decision.’
Harry cupped her face in his large hand and rubbed away a tear with his thumb. ‘Well, that is something to start with. I will make enquiries. I cannot promise anything and I doubt I can restore your father’s fortune, but if we can find some kind of proof at least we could restore his reputation.’
Sophie brightened a little. ‘Then do you believe me?’ she responded hopefully. She had tried so hard to seek justice on her own, but no-one had believed her and being female in this male-oriented world, it had proved difficult. She could not rely on Daniel because he was just too young to be of any assistance.
He smiled. ‘I believe you, Sophie. I had only been here a week before I realised that my brother is not the paragon he pretends to be. I will pay Mr Redesdale a visit on Saturday and see what I can find out. I was to attend Lord Dereham’s garden fete, but I doubt I will return in time. I will ask my brother to send my apologies.’
The look on Sophie’s face was all that he needed. He stood up and reached for her hand to pull her to her feet. ‘Come, I had better get you back to Chalcotte Grange or your Aunt will be worrying about you.’
Sophie was so happy that at last someone believed her that she forgot about the possibility of the Colonel accidently bumping into Daniel. It hardly mattered, though, for on returning home there was no sign of him. He had been well and truly confined to his room to catch up on the maths that the local vicar had set for him. On realising, Sophie sighed with relief.
After spending a little time with her Uncle, the Colonel left Chalcotte Grange, leaving Sophie with mixed feelings. She was now happy that she had an ally, but the possibility of her exposure as his highway robber was increasing and hovered ominously over her head like a big black cloud.
Chapter Seven
On returning home, the Colonel found Lord Northcote in his study. Lord Northcote looked up as his brother knocked and entered. ‘Ah, Harry. You will be pleased to know that I have commissioned a copy of the Trevarren brooch and I will have it in a fortnight. I take it Lady Trevarren can wait that long?’
The Colonel chose a chair opposite his brother and sat down stretching out his long shapely legs in front of him. ‘She has been without it for months. I am sure two more weeks will not hurt her. However, I need to spea
k to you about something else. I had the dubious pleasure of receiving a Miss Fairbanks on your behalf this morning and what she had to say was somewhat disturbing.’
Rupert frowned. He was well aware of his dealings with Mr Percival Fairbanks but was not sure what his daughter should be doing here. ‘And what did Miss Fairbanks want?’ he asked in irritation.
Harry described the whole interview and brought up the matter of the outrageous interest rate, all the time watching Rupert’s face and trying to gauge his reaction. His brother remained unruffled, his passive face giving nothing away. Inwardly he was seething that such a thing had come to Harry’s attention. He was already annoyed that he had to go out that morning and all for the sake of that infuriating emerald brooch.
Rupert was thinking on his feet. ‘Fifty percent interest did you say? I think there must be some mistake. Either there has been an error in the contract or my man of business is embezzling funds. Leave it with me and I will investigate,’ he said, without the least intention of doing so.
Harry stood up. ‘I should be grateful. I suggest that you not only write off the debt but offer the man some compensation for the mistake.’
Rupert was a greedy man and gritted his teeth at that suggestion. He had a profitable little enterprise going in extortionate money lending and the last thing he wanted was to be exposed by his brother.
He sighed. On second thoughts, it would not really hurt him to let one individual off the hook, and if it kept Harry from discovering his less amenable affairs, it may be worth it. He would just take his time about it and if in time Harry forgot, well, the debt would be left to stand. He would just wait to see what transpired and if Harry issued a reminder, then he would do something about it.
Lady Trevarren and the Emerald Brooch: A Regency Romance and Murder Mystery Page 7
