A Stolen Season

by Gill, Tamara

  Anita moved away from Eric’s side and curtsied before Lord Mettleston. “I would be honored, Lord Mettleston. You’ll find me with Mama beside the supper room doors.”

  Eric’s lips twitched. The Duchess of Winters loved her food and seemed determined this night to make the supper room before anyone else. Not that he could blame her; the spread he had ordered for the ball was second to none.

  Lord Mettleston sighed as Anita walked away, and Eric threw him a pitying glance. “Give it over, my friend. You know Anita has Lord Kentum in her sights, and he in hers. Would be a foolish notion to chase a woman destined for another.”

  “True,” Mettleston said, still looking in Lady Anita’s direction. “But I can’t help but think I would suit much more agreeably than Kentum. For starters I’m a trusted family friend, practically family already.”

  “Precisely,” Eric chuckled. “Which is the one reason she would never marry you. As much as Anita loves her family, she does not want to marry someone so closely connected to it. Kentum suits her. Leave her be, my good man.”

  Mettleston pulled him toward the card room. “Any news from the Bow Street Runner? Any leads on William’s death?”

  “No.” Eric reined in the anger and frustration the question triggered. A year had passed and nothing. Not one lead. It was impossible to comprehend. People did not just disappear from the face of the Earth. The thief had to go somewhere. But where?

  “What was the latest report?” Mettleston stopped and handed him another glass of whisky before moving away from the other guests to ensure privacy.

  “From what we know, the woman I fired upon arrived a short time later at Westerham Inn under the guise of Miss Phoebe Marshall. She met a man there, the innkeeper was unable to produce a name for him that led to any leads, but he remembered the girl. Miss Marshall, a beauty, wet and muddy from the storm and trying to hide her injury with little success. A maid informed us she met a Mr. Alastair Lynch upstairs, alone, before receiving clean water and something to eat. They left the next day, presumably for London. From there, we’ve lost track of them.”

  “Lovers, one would assume, after something from your estate valuable enough for Will to hightail it after her on such a night to get it back.”

  “Yes,” Eric said absently, stroking the device he carried with him every day in his coat pocket. A strange, silver metal casing that he’d not been able to open. “Something she will eventually come back to procure, and when she does, I’ll be ready. I will not rest until I watch her hang for the crime against my family and Will’s betrothed.”

  Mettleston clapped him on the shoulder. “I am sorry for William’s death, you know, and I hope you have your justice.”

  “Thank you,” Eric said, noting Anita looking about for Mettleston now that the waltz was over. “I think your dance partner awaits, my lord.”

  Mettleston placed his crystal glass down and smiled. “That she does. I bid you adieu.”

  Eric laughed as his friend walked into the throng. The time alone allowed his temper to cool; it always spiked when talking of his brother and the Bow Street Runners’ inability to track the culprits down. But he could bide his time, and wait for them to strike again.

  This time, there’d be no escape. No disappearing into the night like a phantom on horseback. That woman would pay. Eric, Earl of Earnston, would ensure she did.

  Chapter Three

  Hyde Park was a hive of activity on this summer’s afternoon. Sarah allowed the warmth to penetrate her skin before studying London’s society milling around them.

  The carriages were so highly polished you could see your reflection in their paintwork. Some vehicles bore family emblems or coat of arms that signified the upper echelons of society, those who languished within their open equipages, peered down with an air of aloofness on the walking populace.

  Groups of friends congregated upon the lawns and under leafed trees, shading themselves while no doubt discussing matters of great importance. Namely, what they would wear to tonight’s ball.

  Sarah took in the array of fashion on show. Some women chose to dress as she did in a simple afternoon walking gown with a bonnet. Other women chose to ride, their smart green and blue riding suits profusely decorated with braids and frogging accentuating their lithe forms. Their tall hats were decorated with feathers and plumes.

  What a difference two hundred years made. Sarah’s afternoon gown, although comfortable, was nothing like the clothes she usually wore when walking through Hyde Park. Joe’s Icon Jeans and a comfortable baby doll top was her normal style. Sarah adjusted her bodice, wondering when she’d get used to the feeling of nakedness the light, flowing material made her feel.

  “You look fine.” Richard pulled her along, walking them beside the gravel path known as Ladies’ Mile, the lawn underfoot spongy and soft.

  “After our hasty exit last night from Lord Earnston’s home, I do believe we’ve stuffed up our only means into this society.” Sarah smiled to a passing couple, but neither one ventured to speak.

  “I don’t understand it. I was sure causing a scandal would ensure some invitations to arrive with this morning’s post.” Richard frowned.

  “I told you so.” Sarah wrapped her hand around Richard’s arm. “How on earth are we to repair the damage or, more importantly, secure invitations to any parties in the coming weeks?” Sarah pulled her velvet and straw bonnet forward a little to block the sun’s rays. Lord Earnston’s slight could mean many things for them while in London. The most concerning of all, of course, was that she and Richard would have to break into his lordship’s home to find the missing mapping device. And that she hoped to avoid at all costs. The deceased Earl of Earnston’s blank eyes haunted her still, and she prayed every day for God to forgive her. Not that she’d meant to kill him, but it didn’t change the fact she had.

  “I haven’t figured that out yet, but give me time. Perhaps I can befriend him and gain us access to his home in a more noble manner than stealth in the middle of the night,” Richard said optimistically.

  Sarah nodded. “A game of cards perhaps at one of his clubs. Don’t men of this era enjoy such pastimes? Perhaps try Whites or ask around.”

  “I can’t just walk into Whites and sit myself down. You have to be a member, or invited in by one. I’ll be thrown out faster than I could order a whisky.” Richard paused and Sarah felt the muscles in his arm tense. “Look pleasant, Sarah, it seems the first person wishing to make our acquaintance is heading straight for us.”

  Sarah turned to follow Richard’s line of vision. The woman was dressed in a green velvet riding gown. Her ebony colored hair matched the dark lashes about her eyes. A town beauty, very exotic looking for an English woman, and one, by her quickened pace and determined jaw, set on meeting them.

  “Good afternoon, I’m Lady Anita Drake, and you must be Lord Stanley and Miss Baxter?”

  Sarah curtsied and watched as Richard tipped his hat, his mouth oddly quiet. “Good afternoon, Lady Anita. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Lady Anita smiled. “No, it’s my pleasure. I would have called earlier today, but Mama had a previous engagement.” Lady Anita paused and looked up at Richard. “Would you mind your sister taking a short stroll with me? I have my maid; we’ll be well chaperoned.”

  Sarah saw Richard’s hidden relief in his eyes.

  “Of course. I’ll walk toward the Serpentine and meet you near that copse of trees if you like.”

  “Wonderful.” Lady Anita clasped Sarah’s arm and turned her toward the throng. “Let me start, Miss Baxter, by apologizing for my untoward behavior. I know it is not done to introduce oneself to strangers, especially without a prior introduction by a male member of my family. But it is only me, my maid, and Mama here today. I find in certain situations, one can overlook the niceties and manners and do what we can with what we have available.�
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  Sarah, relaxed by Lady Anita’s candor, found herself laughing. The woman, for all her obvious wealth and youth, made a good point and seemed quite modern in her ideas and speech. Both traits sat easy with Sarah. “I totally agree.”

  “Excellent.” Lady Anita waved to a passing carriage, then turned her attention back to Sarah. “Now, no more of this Lady Anita. Anita will do just fine between us when we’re in private, and I hope you’ll allow me to call you Sarah?”

  “Of course.” Sarah wouldn’t dare disagree with anything at this point in time. They walked along the grassy verge, the trees throwing dappled light across their bodies, eventually coming upon a section of the park that was a little less crowded.

  “You may not know this, Sarah, but I’m the cousin of the Earl of Earnston. I heard last eve how he treated you, and I felt terrible. I told him I’d find you and confirm you did not warrant such treatment.”

  “Thank you,” Sarah said, her heartbeat quickening at the mention of the earl.

  “He’s new to the earldom, only taking up the reins twelve months past after the death of his brother. A terrible tragedy for the family and one Lord Earnston is still … let’s just say the brothers were very close.”

  “How terrible.” Sarah inwardly squirmed at the reminder. Still, the only reason her father had not killed her after she’d confessed her blunder was because the late Earl of Earnston, Lord William, was fated to die from a riding accident a year after Sarah’s disastrous mistake.

  She had therefore not changed history. Lord William, although married as of that time, had not produced any heirs. Yet the relief was only short lived. Sarah had still brought on his death earlier than it was meant to be. It was not something someone forgot overnight. Nor ever forgave.

  “It was a terrible injustice. Lord William was a wonderful man. It is very sad to lose a family member so very young. Eric — I mean, Lord Earnston — is wary of everyone these days, and I apologize to you for his behavior. When I introduce you, I’m sure he’ll redeem himself in your eyes.”

  Should Lord Earnston find out what she’d done, she’d be lucky not to end up hanging at the end of a rope.

  “It was our fault entirely. We were not invited to his lordship’s ball and shouldn’t have presumed all would be well,” Sarah said.

  “Do not tax yourself, Sarah. Lord Earnston will not hold your first steps into London society against you. And with my friendship, you’ll soon be receiving many an invitation to the Season’s best balls and parties.” Anita pointed to a woman sitting in a barouche avidly discussing something with a couple standing beside her door. Sarah took in her highly polished equipage, the magnificent horseflesh, and wondered who the powerful matron was.

  “That is Lady Cottlestone, my dear. She has been married twice. Once to a duke and now to a viscount. Wonderful woman and one I want you to meet.”

  Sarah allowed Anita to walk them toward the woman. Her ladyship’s wealth and power oozed from the carriage. Lady Cottlestone was a large woman, well fed by the looks of her waistline and floppy jowls. While Anita made the introductions, Sarah remained silent and wondered what the matron made of her. The woman’s bland, non-expressive face left a lot to one’s imagination.

  “Welcome to London, Miss Baxter,” Lady Cottlestone said, her gaze roaming over her person.

  “Thank you, my lady.” Sarah curtsied and waited for the woman to speak again. It was odd being nervous, especially since Sarah was a highly qualified archaeologist, a career woman not usually fazed when meeting people. But this woman had an air of quality and Old World candor that left Sarah a little uneasy and unsure of herself.

  “And what brings you to our fine city, Miss Baxter? The Season? Looking for a husband, perhaps?”

  Sarah smiled. “My brother and I decided to return to England after the death of our parents abroad. My brother, should he be here, would say I am actively looking for a husband. Whereas I would dispute this fact and tell you I’m here to enjoy my first London Season, and that is all.”

  Lady Cottlestone slumped back into her squabs, a pained expression on her visage. “I am sorry to hear about your parents, my dear. It is very sad when one’s parents pass at a young age and leave a woman such as yourself to rely on a male sibling for marriage guidance. Where abroad were you from, Miss Baxter?”

  “Rome, my lady.” Sarah shifted her feet, then, conscious of her habit of fidgeting when trying to avoid difficult questions, stilled.

  “Oh, how I love Rome. Such a wondrous city and wonderful people. If not a little too warm in the summer months. What were your parents’ names, Miss Baxter? Perhaps I knew them.”

  “Our family name is Baxter. My father’s title was Baron Stanley. My parents tended to shy away from society and its trappings.” Sarah took a fortifying breath and hoped she would not forget the multitude of lies she was spinning. The last thing they needed was to be caught out before the electronic mapping device was back in their hands. She would have to bring Richard up to speed on these falsehoods, too.

  Lady Cottlestone frowned. “No, I do not believe I have met your dearly departed parents.”

  “I am so looking forward to your ball tonight, Lady Cottlestone. Do say you’ll allow your guests the pleasure of the waltz this eve. I do so love the dance,” Anita said.

  “After seeing it permitted at Lord Earnston’s last eve, I have decided it should not offend those with a more delicate personality.” Lady Cottlestone turned her attention back to Sarah. “As you heard, Miss Baxter, I am hosting a ball at my home, Hendon House, this evening. Do say you will attend with your brother. I will send around an invitation to you directly.”

  “Thank you, Lady Cottlestone. As I am not aware of other plans for this evening, we’ll be honored to attend.” Sarah sighed her relief. Their foothold in the ton was secure.

  The two women stepped back as the highly sprung barouche pulled away, and they continued down the grassy bank toward the Serpentine. Richard stood under some trees, his clothing and relaxed stance making him look like a true nineteenth century gentleman enjoying the air in the park.

  “Your brother is not married, Sarah?”

  “No. And from what I can tell, he is in no rush to become so.” Sarah smiled, but out of loyalty to her friend refused to laugh. Poor Richard, should he find out they were discussing him in such a way, would turn as red as a beetroot.

  “Such a shame for he’s very handsome. Maybe a nice English woman will steal his heart.”

  “Perhaps,” Sarah said, as they came before Richard. “Thank you, Lady Anita, for your company. I’ve enjoyed our walk.”

  “It was entirely my pleasure, Miss Baxter. I look forward to seeing you tonight.”

  Sarah smiled at Richard, then watched as Anita, accompanied by her maid, strolled toward her mother’s carriage. The Duchess watched them, her features full of enquiry as to whom her daughter had been engaged with.

  “Lady Anita has secured us an invitation to Lady Cottlestone’s ball this evening,” Sarah blurted as soon as they were alone. “She introduced me, and her ladyship invited us both. I’m sure tomorrow your silver salver at the front door will be full of invites. Hopefully some of them will be close friends of our earl.”

  Richard took her arm and started to walk from the Serpentine back toward Park Lane. “Is Lady Cottlestone a friend of Lord Earnston?”

  “I think so,” Sarah said. “She was at his ball last night apparently, so they are acquainted. Why?”

  “Perhaps we should make Lady Cottlestone’s home the first house we search. I don’t know if she collects peculiars like Lord William did, but we should at least eliminate her from our list while we have the chance.”

  “You think the current earl may have sold his brother’s collection to one of his friends?” Sarah hadn’t even thought of that possibility. It was feasible and yet, re
membering the devastation she had seen on the earl’s face when he realized his brother lay dead at his feet, something told her he would treasure such a collection instead.

  “I do.” Reaching Park Lane, Richard hailed a hackney and helped her inside.

  “Okay, we will search her ladyship’s home, but I doubt we’ll find anything there.” Sarah picked up the conversation before turning to the window to watch the bustle of nineteenth century London life. “I think Lord Earnston will still have the device. Lord William had many peculiars around his library. Knowing his deceased brother loved the collection, I doubt he’d sell it off. It’s not like he’s in need of finances.”

  Richard leaned against the seat and pulled off his hat. “True, but it won’t hurt to inspect all the same. It would be a wasted opportunity if we never checked.”

  “Lady Anita offered to introduce me to Lord Earnston tonight. I admit I’m a little nervous about the whole thing.”

  “Don’t be. If you start acting offish and tense, he may suspect or mistrust you, Sarah.”

  “I know. But I killed his brother, Richard. I feel so guilty every time I look at the man. How will I get through the next few weeks?”

  “Lord William’s death was an accident. He tried to save you, Sarah. That he fell awkwardly was not your fault. Lord William wouldn’t blame you.”

  Sarah met Richard’s gaze before looking away. She wasn’t so sure the deceased earl wouldn’t blame her. Yes, he may have been trying to save her from falling, but she had stolen from his collection and engendered the reckless chase that ended his life. “I just want to get the mapping device and go home. I’ve already done so much damage to this family. Let’s work fast and get out of here.” Normally a woman who bungled her way through life being too candid and dull, it was going to be a Herculean effort to pull off playing a society queen.