His Secret Heroine

by Delle Jacobs

  "It's me, Chloe. Reggie. Don't be afraid."

  "What are you doing here? You can't come into my room!"

  "I'm already in. Get your wrapper, Chloe. You've got to get out of here."

  "Have you lost your wits? I shall not leave my chamber in the middle of the night." She swung her feet over the side of the bed and pulled the blanket with her, wrapping it around her.

  "You have to. Hurry. You're in danger. Get your wrapper and come out on the balcony."

  "Reggie this is absurd. If you think you can get back into my good graces by claiming I am threatened, you are wrong."

  Reggie grabbed Chloe by the hand and tugged. "I am perfectly serious. Vilheurs means to break into your chamber and be caught here, and he has arranged to give the appearance that you invited him."

  Chloe yanked back her hand and stepped back. "It is not enough that you concoct some mad scheme, but you must vilify the only suitor I have left. I'll thank you to leave before you have utterly destroyed what little is left of my good name."

  "Chloe, that is all my fault, and I shall make my apologies to you, but right now it is more a matter of your good name than you can possibly imagine. Portia overheard Vilheurs scheming with Lady Lavington. Truly."

  "Oh, certainly. Your beloved cousin, who will do anything to get you married off to me so she does not find herself stuck with you. I must say, I cannot blame her."

  A small ormolu clock chimed the hour. At the far end of the chamber, a faint rattling sounded at the keyhole.

  "Devil it," he whispered. "Get outside, quickly."

  "I shall not!" she whispered back, and pulled back.

  Reggie wrapped his arm about her waist and tugged her toward the door to the balcony, but Chloe planted her hand against the door frame. The door to the corridor squeaked, and she whirled around, eyes wide, as the hunched figure of a man crept into the chamber in the near darkness.

  Reggie pulled her out onto the balcony, but the blanket she had wrapped around her caught beneath the door and wedged it, still ajar. Reggie held a hand to her mouth to urge her silence, and pulled on the corner of the blanket, but he had jerked the door too hard, and it was stuck. He'd make too much noise if he tried to dislodge it. The drapery fluttered like a pennant in a light breeze. He grabbed its selvage and held it.

  They peered through the crack in the door as the man removed garments, silently laying them across the chair by the writing desk, as if he were a welcome guest rather than an intruder.

  "He's getting into my bed," she whispered.

  "Shh. And he means to be discovered there. We have to get you out of here, quickly. Where's your aunt?"

  She pointed to the way he had come.

  Reggie groaned. He didn't even know how he was going to make it back. The vines were not likely to last through another trip. "Who's on the other side?"

  "Lady Lavington."

  And that was where this balcony terminated.

  "What the devil?" Vilheurs cursed, from the other side of the mullioned door. "Where are you, damn your eyes?"

  Reggie peeked past Chloe, who stared openmouthed as Vilheurs yanked bedcovers off the bed and threw them to the floor. He dashed about the bedchamber, pawing into dark corners, and jerked open the armoire, cursing and shouting.

  "Run to the far end, and stay there, against the wall," Reggie whispered.

  "Where are you going?"

  He pointed over the rail.

  "No!"

  With the sound of female shrieks, Reggie's heart sank. They were only moments away from discovery.

  "Oh, my dear, are you all right?" cried Lady Lavington in a shrill voice from the corridor. "I am sure you have no notion of what you were doing, but we have come to save you."

  "Oh, of course you have," Chloe muttered under her breath. "You would save me right into my grave."

  "Shhh," Reggie urged.

  As a candle brightened the chamber, Vilheurs jerked open the door to the balcony, revealing Chloe, wrapped in the blanket, with Reggie's arms about her.

  "Good God, Villy, what the devil are you about?" Reggie said, staring at the naked man standing before them.

  "You!" screamed Vilheurs. He whirled around, baring himself to the crowd who flooded into the chamber. Women screamed and gasped. He grabbed up the wrapper Chloe had left behind and wrapped it around his body, and leveled an accusing finger back at Reggie. "You have done this to me! I am the one she meant to have tonight!"

  "Have you!" Chloe cried. "I should not have you if no other man were left alive! Reggie was protecting me from you."

  Miss Hawarth and Lady Mythe rushed in and led Chloe away to the far corner of the chamber. Reggie felt deserted. But the purpose of all this had been to protect her good name, and it did her no good to be discovered in Reggie's arms, whether he rescued her or not.

  Lord Mythe pushed his way through the group gathered within the doorway. "Good Heavens! Clothe yourself, Lord Vilheurs. There are ladies present. Lady Creston, I must impose upon you once again to see to the young ladies. This is clearly not a matter for those of tender sensibilities."

  Lady Creston, eyebrows raised so high they were in danger of becoming lost in her hairline, cornered the younger ladies and herded them away. Reggie suspected, not beyond earshot.

  "Oh, cousin," said Lady Lavington in a falsely sweet tone, "I fear it is all my fault, for I did not realize when I overheard Miss Englefield accept the invitation from Lord Vilheurs that she meant for him to come to her chamber, even though she has agreed to accept his suit. But then when I saw him enter her door, I realized what was afoot. But I am sure she did not understand what it was all about, for she is an innocent—"

  Chloe gasped. "But I didn't!"

  "But there is no point in denying it now, you see, since you have agreed to marry him," said Lady Lavington, reaching for Chloe's arm as if she meant to comfort her.

  Chloe jerked herself back. "I did no such thing!"

  "Look, I have the key she gave me!" said Vilheurs, and reached for the waistcoat he had lain across the chair to pull out a brass key.

  This was becoming a bumblebroth. Whatever he did, Reggie couldn't let Vilheurs win. "Miss Englefield has not left her chamber, and she has not been anywhere without escort, except in my presence, so she could not have made any such promise. Lord Vilheurs schemed to enter her chamber and be caught, so as to force a marriage."

  "It's true."

  The crowd whirled about as more people entered the chamber, to see Portia standing with her arms folded.

  Reggie groaned. He should have known Portia would slip away from Lady Creston. "Portia, stay out of this." A few more words and she would be ruined too.

  Portia sneered. "I overheard Lady Lavington and Lord Vilheurs talking in the library tonight. He got the key from her, and she got it out of Miss Englefield's room this afternoon. She told him Miss Englefield was asleep. He instructed her to enter the chamber at ten after the hour of one, bringing other guests, so as to ensure he would be found in a compromising circumstance with Miss Englefield. Naturally, I told my cousin."

  Portia might have saved Chloe, but she had sealed her own fate. She just did not realize it.

  "That so, Beauhampton?" asked Mythe. "Rather thought you would come to me with something like this, since it is my house."

  "There was no time to find you, Mythe." That was true. It just sounded lame. "I had to get here before Vilheurs did. As you can see, finding him in her chamber with her even for a minute would have been disastrous to her good name. And she does not deserve that."

  "Which brings up the next question. How did you get in here?"

  He grimaced. "The balcony. The vines."

  "This is all absurd," Vilheurs screamed. "I am to marry her, not this ridiculous fribble! Do not listen to his cocked up tales! I have her key to prove it!"

  "You have a key, but that proves nothing," Reggie said, as he grabbed up Vilhuers's discarded garments and tossed them at the man, who fumbled, trying to catch while
keeping his body covered. "And I am fully clothed, whereas, you are not. This is not my house, and I cannot say what you may do, but if I ever see your face again, you shall have grass for breakfast."

  Mythe pushed in between the two. "I shall not allow a duel. But even if you were invited by Miss Englefield, Vilheurs, and I do not for a moment believe you were, your behavior is reprehensible. The magistrate here is my good friend, and if you are still within this jurisdiction when the sun rises, I shall have you charged with attempted rape. It might be wise, in fact, for you to leave the country, for you shall never find yourself in any of the drawing rooms of the ton again."

  Vilheurs worked his jaw and his dark eyes shone with venom as he ran out the door, tripping over garments that dropped from his arms.

  "And you, Letitia," Mythe said to his cousin. "I have tried very hard not to credit what I have heard about you. But, well. I shall see you in my study tomorrow, before you break your fast. And one word of this beyond this room and you shall see yourself cut entirely."

  Lady Lavington paled. "You cannot believe—"

  "Out," said Mythe, his face explosively red. Letitia, Lady Lavington scurried out the door.

  "Miss Englefield," said Mythe, "I shall leave you in the care of your aunt for the evening, if you feel you will be safe."

  Miss Hawarth placed an arm about her niece's shoulder. "I shall take her to my chamber, Lord Mythe, as I cannot imagine she would wish to stay here."

  "But Mythe, my dear," said Lady Mythe, taking his arm, "we are left with a difficult problem. You must think of Miss Englefield's reputation. She is the innocent, yet it is she whose reputation will be questioned."

  Chloe gave a weak squeak.

  "True," said Mythe, and he cleared his throat. "Even though it is utterly obvious to all of us here that she had nothing to do with this attack, her name would be damaged merely by the association. And unfortunately, with Lord Reginald also here, the situation is even more complicated."

  "Well, that is my romantical cousin for you," said Portia, clutching her shawl about her and looking as innocent as if she had just been called from her chamber. "He would very naturally come to a lady's rescue the moment he heard she was in danger, even knowing he would compromise himself in the process. I suppose he must marry her now."

  Mythe's eyes gleamed as he took to the story immediately. "Yes, yes, of course," he said, harumphing rather properly. "Precisely. Lord Reginald learned of the heinous scheme and set about to rescue the young lady against whom the diabolical plot had been launched, knowing of course that he must in the end marry the lady whose name had been unfortunately associated with the crime against her. Quite romantical, don't you think?"

  "All a matter of presentation, my darling," said Lady Mythe, smiling broadly at her husband.

  Chloe moaned and tucked her face into her aunt's shoulder. Reggie squelched the urge to run to her side. That was the last thing she needed now. She’d made it clear, the very last thing she wanted was to marry him. But now she would have no choice.

  Mythe nodded, having completed his assessment and reached his decision. "Very well, then, Miss Englefield, I shall meet with you and Lord Reginald in the morning following breakfast, in my study. And as long as we are up, I should like all of the gentlemen to join me in the long gallery now."

  Reggie sought Chloe's eyes one last time before leaving the chamber, but she refused to look up. Discouraged, he followed Mythe and the gentlemen from the chamber to the dimly lit long gallery that was the central gathering place of the second story. On the way, Castlebury clapped a hand to his shoulder.

  The old gallery still retained the original plasterwork and linen-fold panels that had been installed by Mythe's ancestors, and its diamond-paned windows overlooked a deer park that was silvered in the bright moonlight. Reggie wished he could bring Chloe here, and just hold her in his arms to soothe her fears.

  "So, you're to be leg-shackled," said St. James, and forced Reggie to shake his hands.

  "So it would seem," he replied.

  "Buck up, old fellow," said Castlebury. "I thought it was what you wanted. Don't tell me we have all schemed for nothing."

  "What the devil do you mean?"

  The tip of Mythe's nose wiggled as if he were about to sneeze. "Reggie, we must admit, we have conspired to repair the rift between you and Miss Englefield."

  "But we should also be fair and admit we are not unaware of the circumstances," said Castlebury.

  "Explain yourself." Reggie was not altogether sure he wanted to hear the explanation, and he walked over to the long row of windows to stare down at the moonlit grounds far below.

  Castlebury put his hand on Reggie's shoulder. "St. James discovered quite by accident that Miss Englefield's portion has been mishandled by both her cousin and her uncle."

  Castlebury stated what Reggie knew he already knew. But then, he had promised not to tell.

  "She does not have twelve thousand," Castlebury continued. "Odd that Vilheurs did not discover that, considering the sort of fellow he is. But I believe it is no secret to you."

  "And true enough," Mythe said, "Vilheurs is not the sort of fellow who would fail to make such a discovery. While he is not up the River Tick, he is an avaricious devil, and I hold no hope that he sought Miss Englefield for her love and kindness."

  "But you must keep in mind, I only discovered the truth through my connection to her dastardly cousin Bertrand," St. James replied.

  "It is of no importance to me," Reggie answered. "I am able to provide for her."

  "Yes. Hence, our goal became the same as yours. It became imperative to assist you in your cause before her situation became generally known, or before she affianced herself to some disreputable person such as Vilheurs. You see, we also learned the other part, that she fears for the safety of her sisters as long as they remain with Cottingham."

  "Reggie, we know she is not happy with the situation," said Castlebury, "but that will change once she learns that those who have discovered the secret of the book do not disdain her for it. It was not at all well done of you, though."

  "I know," he replied ruefully. "I did not mean to make my heroine so clear that she could be identifiable. But I suppose it was inevitable that all the characteristics of the woman I loved would show up in my heroine."

  "Perhaps you should tell her that, Reggie," said Bibury. "At any rate, we are committed to helping you get those young twins from Cottingham. Or whatever else we can to help."

  "And whatever we must to hush this up," Mythe added. "What we must do now, is figure out how."

  "If you really want to help," Reggie said, "then help me find a buyer for the Xanthe."

  “What about Warrenton?” Mythe asked.

  “He’s putting out feelers for me, but so far, no luck.”

  Castlebury jutted out his chin and squared his shoulders. “Then I’ll buy it. Been looking to try my hand at the helm for some time.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  In the morning, Chloe followed Lord Mythe’s directive and went to his study without breaking her fast.

  Outside the window, the sunshine dappled the parterre gardens. She folded her arms tightly and wished the nightmare inside the house would go away.

  "You really have no other choice, my dear," said Lady Mythe gently. "We have done everything we can to squelch the rumors, but nothing will stop them entirely. Letitia may decide to defend herself, and even if nobody believes her, they will wonder. Lady Creston has taken your part, and in any case will be discreet, but I do not think we can rely on some of the younger ladies who simply cannot resist chattering, especially those who think it so romantical."

  "Quite so, Miss Englefield," said Lord Mythe. "Notoriety can be disastrous."

  She knew. Aunt Daphne had talked with her on the subject for most of what remained of the night. She glanced at her aunt, studying her green eyes and seeing both understanding and concern. There was no way out. Her sisters were doomed. All because Chloe had fallen in l
ove.

  "There are things you do not understand," she said.

  "They know about your sisters, Chloe," Reggie said.

  She blinked, and stared at him.

  "They know you are no mere adventuress, out to gain a title and a fortune. And we have a plan."

  She frowned and chewed her lip. "What plan?"

  Lord Mythe cleared his throat and smiled, making the tip of his nose wiggle. "There is no small amount of power assembled in this house today, Miss Englefield. And our Reggie has a good many more friends who are equally as influential. Once you are married to Lord Reginald, he will petition the court for a change of guardianship. When Cottingham realizes what he faces, he may very well relent."

  "But if he doesn't?"

  Reggie took a deep breath and released it. "Then we shall have a battle."

  "That will be terribly expensive. You don't have that sort of money."

  "I'm selling the Xanthe."

  Her jaw went slack, then shook as she struggled with the thought. "No, Reggie, you love that boat!"

  "It's only a boat. It's not a person. Two young girls are more important. You need not be so concerned, as it is not going far. Castlebury has decided to purchase it. He's been at me about getting his own boat before."

  It wasn't only a boat. It was his ketch, the Xanthe. And it was the place where she had fallen in love with him. "Oh, no, Reggie. It isn't right."

  "It's very right." He smiled, folding his arms the way he did when he looked like he might otherwise do something untoward, such as hugging her in public. "Mythe, might you allow us a few moments alone? I believe Miss Englefield and I have several matters to discuss."

  "I quite agree," said Miss Hawarth, and her lips pursed and curled upward all at the same time. "There are several irregularities which must be resolved."

  Chloe wasn't at all sure she wanted to be left alone with Reggie, and suspected she trusted herself even less than she did him. She was not even sure she wanted to resolve anything, as angry as she was. She gripped her hands so tightly, her knuckles went white as she watched the door shut behind Aunt Daphne and Lord and Lady Mythe.