by Stella Riley
Eden debated the various ways in which he might answer this. Finally, he settled for, ‘How long will it take you to make Lydia a wedding ring?’
With a perfectly straight face, Tobias shrugged and said negligently, ‘Bring me the appropriate finger and I can have it done by tomorrow evening.’
‘You don’t,’ grumbled Eden, hiding a smile of his own, ‘seem very surprised.’
‘I’m surprised it took you so long and I’m surprised she said yes. Isn’t that enough for you?’ Then, abandoning his pose and grinning broadly, he surged to his feet and crushed Eden’s hand in his own. ‘Congratulations. I couldn’t be happier for you. She’s a lovely woman and you’re damned lucky. So when’s the wedding? You’ll do it in the chapel at home, of course – ah. That’s why you wondered how long Kate will be here. Well, the timing couldn’t be better, could it? Have you already written to Mother?’
‘Stop,’ said Eden laughing a little but recognising he might be facing a hurdle. ‘It’s complicated, Toby. While you were away, we found out who’s been hounding Lydia all this time but I’ve yet to bring him to book – or that bastard, Quinn, either – and I can’t leave London until I have. But neither can I risk him getting his hands on Lydia again, so …’He stopped and said, ‘I’d better explain properly.’
‘Yes. Perhaps you should.’
Twenty minutes and half a jug of ale later, Eden said, ‘So that’s it. Now we have Stephen Neville’s evidence, the situation becomes even more volatile. I imagine Northcote’s getting ever more impatient with Quinn’s failure to deliver – which means something else is likely to happen very soon. I want Lydia safe under this roof before --’
‘I know precisely where you want Lydia,’ interposed Tobias with a leer, ‘and I don’t blame you. But I don’t see why you can’t wait and be married properly at Thorne Ash – unless you’re just frightened she’ll change her mind.’
‘She won’t. But aside from her brother, the only family she has are the men and women she gives work to and she’d like them at her wedding. Consequently, since I can’t transport all of them to Thorne Ash, we’ll have an improper wedding now and something better later. I’ll even write to Mother telling her to have the banns read. But I’m marrying Lydia the day after tomorrow whether you like it or not.’
Tobias sighed and heaved himself to his feet.
‘In that case, you’d better fetch the bride-to-be and I’d better search out the piece of Welsh gold I’ve been saving for just this occasion. No peace for the wicked. Isn’t that what they say?’
* * *
By the end of the day, Eden had taken care of numerous details. He spent an hour at the Tower, called in at the lorinery, informed the Reverend Dawson that the wedding could now take place, sent a message to Aubrey Durand summoning him to sup in Cheapside that evening and collected Lydia from Bishopsgate. And throughout all of it, he found he had only one thing on his mind; how to lure Northcote from the heather and bring the whole matter to a head without further delay – preferably before his nephew’s christening. The trouble was that he could only see one way of doing it; a way he didn’t like at all and couldn’t be sure would succeed.
Sir Aubrey Durand arrived in Cheapside an hour before supper and wearing an expression that was half disgruntled and half wary. Finding his sister sitting cosily beside Colonel Maxwell, his brows rose a little and he said, ‘What’s going on? Has Quinn done something else?’
‘No.’ Eden rose and went to pour wine. ‘This is about something rather more pleasant … though we will have to discuss the business with Quinn later. Lydia says she’s told you everything we’ve recently discovered. What do you make of it?’
‘A viscount dabbling in brothels and blackmail? To be honest, I’m having trouble believing it. But if it’s true and Stephen knew about it – why didn’t he get the fellow arrested years ago?’
‘I imagine because doing so would reveal the fellow’s mother to be not just as an adulteress, but as an adulteress who’d given her unsuspecting husband a son and heir sired by another man,’ replied Eden, handing him a glass. ‘If Arabella had died before him, I think Stephen would have used the information … but she didn’t.’
‘I suppose that may be true. But I still don’t see why he didn’t just tell Lyd what he knew and where to find the proof of it. Or if not her, his own son. It would have saved a hell of a lot of trouble.’
‘I think he intended to tell me,’ said Lydia. ‘But in the last weeks, his illness became so acute that he rarely had enough breath to talk.’
Aubrey nodded and was about to speak when the door opened to admit Nicholas and Tobias.
‘Good.’ Eden poured more wine and handed it to the newcomers. ‘Now we’re all here, Lydia and I …’ He paused to reach out and draw her to his side. ‘Lydia and I would like you to congratulate us. We are to be married at St Michael’s on Cornhill the day after tomorrow.’
Aubrey’s incredulous ‘What?’ was lost in Nicholas’s delighted, ‘At last! That’s wonderful news!’ And while Nicholas immediately shook Eden’s hand and gave Lydia a swift, hard hug, Aubrey remained rooted to the spot.
To cover the awkwardness, Tobias sauntered over to kiss Lydia’s cheek and murmur, ‘Welcome to the family, my dear – and thank you. We thought we’d never find a lady willing to take him off our hands.’
She laughed up at him, shook her head and then said, ‘Aubrey? Aren’t you happy for me?’
He didn’t look at her but continued to stare unsmilingly at Eden. Finally he said coldly, ‘This is very sudden. And why so soon, Colonel? Have you got her pr--?’
‘No,’ returned Eden, equally coldly. ‘And I suggest you accord your sister more respect.’
The blue eyes finally encompassed Lydia.
‘Perhaps I’m missing something. Have the banns been read?’
‘No. We wanted to --’
‘Then it won’t be legal,’ he snapped. ‘I don’t know what the hell you’re thinking, Lyd – but I absolutely forbid it.’
‘You’ve no right to forbid anything,’ replied Lydia flatly. ‘And for the last time, will you stop calling me Lyd!’
‘I’m your brother, damn it – your only living relative. Of course I --’
‘Shut up,’ said Tobias pleasantly, taking Aubrey’s arm in a crushing grip and marching him to the far side of the room. ‘You’re behaving like an ass. Sit down and get a grip on your temper. Or failing that, go home.’
‘Thank you, Toby. You said you had something in the workshop to show Lydia … so perhaps now might be a good time?’ Eden slid an arm about Lydia’s waist and dropped a kiss on her brow. ‘Go and tell my brother what a clever boy he is while I put your brother straight on a few things. And don’t worry. If I’m tempted to hit him, Nick will remind me not to.’
She hesitated, glancing across at Aubrey, leaning sulkily against the wall and then decided that he and Eden would be best left to sort out their differences without her. Nodding, she smiled at Tobias and let him lead her from the room.
‘If,’ said Eden crisply to his future brother-in-law, ‘you had kept your mouth shut for a moment before putting both feet in it, you would have learned that I love Lydia and am doing my damnedest to protect both her person and her reputation. No, the wedding won’t be entirely legal – though I personally see little difference between paying a bishop for a licence and paying a vicar to do without one. However, there will be a second wedding in Oxfordshire with virtually my whole family present. There is also the matter of Lydia’s people in Duck Lane and Strand Alley – all of whom, unlike yourself, will want to wish her well and --’
‘I do wish her well,’ said Aubrey angrily. ‘How dare --?’
‘Be quiet. I haven’t finished yet. Lydia wants those men and women there on her wedding day. That won’t be possible at Thorne Ash – hence the ceremony at Saint Michael’s. Also, despite its slight irregularity, it will mean that she can come and live here, where it will be easier to keep her safe while
I attempt to take down Northcote and Quinn.’ Eden stopped and fixed the younger man with a hard gaze. ‘I trust that covers everything?’
Aubrey scowled into his wine and hunched one shoulder.
‘It would seem to.’
‘Good. So when Lydia comes back, perhaps you could manage a shred or two of civility. Dislike me, if you wish – I really don’t care – but you’ll keep it to yourself for your sister’s sake.’
‘I don’t dislike you particularly,’ muttered Aubrey. ‘I was just taken by surprise. And you have to admit it didn’t sound good. Anybody would have thought what I did.’
‘Possibly. But if anybody but you had been stupid enough to say it, they’d be picking their teeth off the floor by now,’ replied Eden. Then swivelled to face the door as Lydia came half-dancing back through it, glowing with pleasure.
‘Look!’ she said. ‘See what Toby has given me as a bridal gift. Isn’t it lovely?’
Eden shot a surprised glance at his brother and then looked at the dainty necklace of sapphires and moonstones set in gold that encircled Lydia’s throat. He said, ‘Yes. It’s almost as beautiful as you are.’ And to Tobias, ‘That’s extremely generous of you. Or are you merely wooing my lady away from me with expensive trinkets?’
‘I thought it was worth a try,’ grinned Tobias. Then, more seriously, ‘I made it a couple of months ago but never put it in the shop. As soon as it was finished, I realised I’d already seen the one perfect neck for it.’
Lydia beamed at him. ‘That’s a very nice thing to say.’
‘My charm is legendary,’ said Tobias modestly. ‘Ask anyone.’
‘Lydia?’ Aubrey eyed her uncertainly. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said what I did.’
‘No,’ she agreed, ‘you shouldn’t.’ She was careful not to look at Eden who, she supposed must have given the truth a wide berth. ‘Eden and I will marry on Wednesday. I would like it if you felt able to – to take Father’s place.’
‘Of course.’ He put his arms around her. ‘And I’m glad for you. Truly.’
With Aubrey’s capitulation, supper became a more pleasant meal than it might otherwise have been. But when it was over, Eden kept everyone gathered around the table and said, ‘I need to bring Northcote out into the open. Has anyone any ideas on how to do it?’
Aubrey said nothing and Nicholas shook his head.
‘Send a troop of Militia into this brothel of his. That should bring him out fast enough.’
‘It might bring Quinn out,’ agreed Eden, ‘but if I take him down, I’ll never get his employer. So it has to be Northcote first.’
‘Offer him what he wants,’ said Lydia simply. ‘He wouldn’t be able to resist that, surely.’
‘No. Probably not and it’s the way my own thoughts have been running. But our problem would be managing the how and the where – and I haven’t found a satisfactory solution to that yet.’
‘I could do it.’
Four pairs of male eyes were suddenly riveted on her face.
‘No,’ said Eden curtly. ‘I don’t want you anywhere near this.’
‘Why not? He visited me once before – so why shouldn’t he do it again? And if I pretended I didn’t know what it was all about … that I just wanted to be quit of the whole problem … surely he’d have no reason not to believe me.’
‘No,’ said Eden again.
There was a brief silence and then Nicholas said slowly, ‘I don’t think you should dismiss it out of hand. Obviously, we wouldn’t leave her alone … and it’s the only idea we have, let alone the only one that might work.’
‘It wouldn’t,’ snapped Eden. ‘If she pretends she hasn’t read or doesn’t understand Stephen’s dossier – how come she knows that Northcote wants it? The man may be evil but nothing we know suggests he’s also stupid. He’ll see through her in an instant and we’ll be worse off than we are now because he’ll know for certain that we have the damned papers.’
Everyone stared gloomily into their wine.
After a while, Lydia said musingly, ‘His name is on it somewhere I couldn’t help noticing it. Wakefield? Northcote? Both, perhaps. I’m sure we can manage that. And I write him a letter. I’ll say I couldn’t understand any of that nonsense about mythology … but seeing his name and recalling Gilbert’s incessant talk about Stephen having letters from their mother, made me realise it had to be a family matter. Of course, I could give the letters to Gilbert … but since I rejected his proposal of marriage, relations between us are not what they were. And really it matters little to me which of them has the letters so long as one of them does and I’m free of the whole, nasty business.’
She paused and Nicholas said, ‘The bit about Gilbert is a stroke of genius. Go on.’
Lydia’s eyes narrowed in concentration and she said slowly, ‘I’ve experienced a lot of unpleasantness on account of these letters which – which only came to light recently thanks to severe damage inflicted on my Duck Lane premises. A blackguard named Quinn was behind that – I can only assume for nefarious purposes of his own such as the intention to blackmail his lordship. I am hoping that handing the letters to their rightful owner will spare both myself and the Wakefield family further pain. But if Lord Northcote has no interest in the matter … I’ll just send the wretched letters to Gilbert. Anything to be rid of them.’ She stopped and looked hopefully at Eden. ‘Well? Will it do, do you think?’
He said nothing, every instinct rebelling against involving her.
But Tobias said, ‘It might. Admit it, Eden – it sounds pretty plausible. And as Nick said, Lydia doesn’t have to see him on her own – or even at all, come to that. She sets up an appointment and we keep it.’
Eden finally unlocked his jaws to say, ‘Aubrey? Do you have an opinion?’
‘I’d rather she didn’t have anything to do with it,’ came the reluctant reply, ‘but things can’t go on as they are. Unless you have an alternative … I’d have to agree with Toby.’
‘You see?’ Lydia slid her hand into Eden’s. ‘It’s a chance – and I’d be perfectly safe.’
His fingers closed hard over hers and he drew a long, painful breath.
‘All right. But not until after the wedding. And then I want it locked up so tight that nothing can go wrong. If I’ve any doubts at all, we find another way.’
~ * * ~ * * ~
TEN
On the following morning, his stomach still queasy with anxiety, Eden went to the Tower in search of Major Moulton for the purpose of asking him to the wedding.
‘I think I’m entitled to reinforcements of my own,’ he explained, ‘since Lydia is busy inviting her sewing women and everybody from Duck Lane.’
‘All of them?’ asked Ned feebly, thinking of Troopers Buxton and Hayes.
‘All of them. So you’ll come?’
‘I wouldn’t miss it.’
‘Good – and once that’s over I’ll need your help with the Northcote situation.’ Having already told the Major everything they knew, Eden proceeded to explain the current plan and then added bluntly, ‘It’s giving me nightmares, Ned.’
‘That’s understandable. And of course you can count on me – probably a few others, as well.’
‘Thank you.’
‘I’m beginning to see,’ remarked Ned, ‘why you found it necessary to resign your commission. Busy as a body-louse these days, aren’t you?’
‘It certainly feels like it.’ Eden paused. ‘Is there any news from the West?’
‘You mean you haven’t heard? Colonel Penruddock led his fellows into Salisbury at dawn a couple of days ago and caught the High Sheriff and the assize judges napping. Literally, in fact. Rumour has it they were still in their nightshirts. At any rate, Penruddock took the Sheriff hostage and rode on through Sherborne and Yeovil, trying – unsuccessfully, by all accounts – to rouse the country as he went. He got as far as South Molton in Devon before a troop of Horse out of Exeter stopped him.’
‘And then?’
‘A skirmish through the streets till the Cavaliers broke and fled,’ shrugged Ned. ‘A few escaped – but Penruddock and some of the other ringleaders are in gaol awaiting trial.’
‘Which, in the case of Colonel Penruddock, will doubtless have the usual result.’
‘I’d say so. But hopefully he’ll be the last for a while.’
Eden shook his head.
‘We think that every time,’ he said.
* * *
Shadowed by Peter, Lydia went home with a smile on her face. The women had greeted the news that she was to marry the Colonel with sighs of envy; the men had made no bones about the fact that she was getting a good man – the very best, said some. All of them were stunned and delighted to be bidden attend the wedding; and all of them overwhelmed her with their good wishes.
Back in her bedchamber with Nancy, she pushed all thoughts of Lord Northcote to the back of her mind. There would be time enough for that later. Today was for a long and leisurely preparation for her bridal; for bathing, for washing her hair in scented water, for laying out the pale pink, pearl-trimmed gown … and for dreaming about Eden.
A part of her still found it almost impossible to believe that tomorrow she would become his wife … that this strong, clever, beautiful man would be hers to love and cherish all the days of her life. And that maybe … just maybe, God would grant her one more miracle. Eden’s child.
By the following morning Lydia felt a great deal less relaxed. She stared at the pink dress and said edgily, ‘Do you think the blue would be better?’
‘A gown you haven’t worn before would be better,’ replied Nancy tartly, ‘but the Colonel’s given us no time for that, has he? So stick with the pink one. At least you’ve only worn that once.’
At Yule, remembered Lydia. And then flushed as she also remembered what had happened on that day.
