by Diane Gaston
There was a knock on the door.
‘Yes?’ Nicholas said.
Shaw opened the door. ‘Mrs Bassington, your Grace.’
‘Seems I’ll be granted part of my wish,’ Stephen murmured.
Charlotte burst into the room. ‘Nicky, I must speak with—’ She came to a sudden halt as her brothers all rose. ‘Oh, my!’ She looked from one to the other. ‘What are you all doing here?’
Nicholas walked over to her and gave her a peck on the cheek. ‘What are you doing here, Charlotte? You are not even toting one of the pugs.’
She gave him an exasperated look. ‘Do not jest. I am in such a pickle and Drew is off somewhere with Amesby. I could not think what to do.’
Nicholas put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. ‘Come, sit and tell us. With all of us here, we should be able to help you.’
Her expression turned wary. ‘It is a rather private matter concerning someone else. I do not know if I should tell all of you.’
Brenner also approached her. ‘Now, if you cannot tell your brothers, who can you trust? We have no secrets in this family.’
‘Or not too many...’ Stephen clarified.
Leo watched this with growing trepidation.
Her explanation came in a flood of words. ‘I lied about Mariel...for Mariel actually—Mariel Covendale, you know—she asked me to say she was staying at my house, but her father discovered that it was not so, and now I am certain I have managed to get Mariel in terrible trouble, but I do not know what to do about it.’
‘They know she was not at your house?’ Leo cried. ‘When did they discover it?’
Charlotte regarded him with a puzzled expression. ‘This morning, apparently. Why?’
‘Damnation!’ He pounded his fist on Nicholas’s desk. ‘Could they not have waited a few more hours?’
Charlotte’s brows rose so high they almost disappeared into her bonnet.
Stephen sat down next to her and took her hand. ‘We have quite a tale to tell you, Charlotte.’
Chapter Nineteen
The hackney coach stopped in front of the Covendale town house. Mariel and Penny climbed out and retrieved their baggage. It was midafternoon. Would Leo have sent a message already? Mariel hoped so.
Ever since he had ridden off the day before, her nerves had not settled. Riding at night posed enough dangers, but how much worse it would be if Kellford discovered Leo was back in London and sent more men to kill him? During the long carriage ride from their inn in Kent her imagination had provided endless dire consequences for him.
She tried to block her fears, reminding herself that Leo said she must trust him, but the fears always broke through.
A message was all she desired.
The town-house door opened before she and Penny had a chance to knock.
‘Ah, good day, Edward,’ Mariel said to the footman. ‘You must have seen us arrive.’
‘Yes, miss.’ His expression looked distressed.
‘Is something amiss, Edward?’ she asked.
‘You father,’ he said quietly. ‘Towering rage.’
‘Mariel!’
It was her father’s voice, booming from the stairway. He descended, looking more than enraged. He looked panicked.
‘You and your maid will attend me in the drawing room immediately,’ her father ordered.
Penny looked as if she would faint. Mariel took her arm and walked her into the drawing room.
‘Where have you been, Mariel?’ her father demanded, his voice high-pitched.
‘I left you a note. I visited Charlotte Bassington.’ She kept her gaze steady.
Her father marched up to her and wagged a finger inches from her face. ‘You did no such thing!’
She forced herself not to flinch. ‘I assure you I did.’
His eyes looked wild and spittle formed at the corners of his mouth. ‘I called there this morning to bring you back. You were not there!’
‘I left early in the day,’ she responded calmly.
‘You are lying to me!’ her father shouted.
‘It is the truth.’ She had left early, but not from Charlotte’s house.
He put his fists on his hips. ‘Then where have you been all day?’
This time she would lie. ‘Shopping in Cheapside.’
They could have been shopping in Cheapside. A few days ago she would have shopped anywhere merely to avoid him.
Her father scoffed. ‘I do not believe you.’ Turning to Penny, he demanded, ‘You were with her, girl? Where was she? If you value your employment, you will tell me now.’
Penny still clung to Mariel. ‘Ch-Cheapside, sir.’ Mariel felt her trembling. ‘Shopping.’
Mariel’s father pulled Penny away from Mariel and shook her by the shoulders. ‘Tell me the truth. Or you are fired.’
‘Cheapside!’ Penny sounded terrified.
Mariel’s father shoved Penny away so forcefully, the girl almost fell. ‘One more chance, girl, or you will be discharged immediately.’
‘No!’ Mariel put a protective arm around Penny. ‘Leave her alone!’
‘Cheapside,’ Penny rasped. ‘Shopping.’
Mariel’s father grabbed Penny by the front of her dress and pulled her from Mariel’s grasp. ‘Out!’ He pushed her towards the door. ‘You are discharged!’
Mariel ran to her. ‘You cannot do that, Father.’
‘I pay her wages. I most certainly can.’ He pointed at Mariel. ‘You tell me the truth and she may stay.’
‘No, miss,’ Penny pleaded.
‘Very well, Father, I will tell you where I was.’ Mariel stood between Penny and her father. ‘I was with a lover!’
‘A lover?’ Her father turned so white she thought he would pass out. ‘You fool! Who is this lover? What if Kellford gets wind of this? He’ll not want damaged goods! You’ll ruin everything. What will happen to me?’
‘To you?’ Mariel spoke in a low tone. ‘Is it not time to consider me? Or if not me, my mother and sisters? You are responsible for this trouble, Father. Not I.’
‘That is neither here nor there,’ he said to no purpose. ‘Everything was settled. Now you could ruin it!’
Mariel kept an arm around Penny, who wiped her eyes and sniffled. ‘I hope I do ruin it!’ Mariel said. ‘I do not want this marriage.’
His mouth dropped open. ‘You would wish your father dead? You ungrateful child.’ He cleared his throat and spoke in a careful tone. ‘This lover of yours must be prevented from causing any problems. Who is he?’
Mariel stood her ground. ‘I will not tell you. It is my own affair and had nothing to do with you.’
Her father looked as if he might say more to her, but a sly expression came over his face.
He turned to Penny. ‘You, girl!’ he said in a mollifying voice. ‘You will tell me who this man is.’
Penny’s eyes widened again and she shook her head.
Her father swung back to Mariel, a snide smile on his face. ‘Tell me, then, who is the man?’
‘Do not do tell, miss,’ Penny cried.
How could she tell? If her father let Leo’s name slip in front of Kellford, it would definitely cost Leo his life. But she also could not allow him to use Penny to get his way.
‘Out with it,’ her father demanded, while tears ran down Penny’s cheeks. ‘Tell me the name of the man or you are discharged.’
‘I will not tell you, sir.’ Penny sobbed.
He pointed to the door. ‘Then, go. Leave this house immediately. This instant!’
Mariel embraced Penny and whispered in her ear, ‘Go to Walker. He will take care of you. Tell him what happened here.’
‘Yes, miss.’ Penny nodded.
Mariel gav
e her one swift hug before Penny hurried out of the room.
Mariel faced her father again. ‘That was not well done of you, Father.’
Her father wiped his face. ‘Tell me the man’s name and she may come back.’ His voice was more desperate than demanding.
She merely glared at him.
‘Please, Mariel?’ His breathing accelerated. ‘Please do not ruin this. I’ll hang, if you do.’
‘At the moment, Father, I do not care.’ She was still furious at him for sending Penny away. ‘You have accomplished nothing but the injury of an innocent girl. I cannot stand the sight of you. I am going to my room.’
She did not wait for his permission.
By the time she reached the hall, Edward, who was just closing the door on Penny, waved her over. ‘You have a message, Miss Covendale.’
Her father marched past her and snatched the paper from Edward’s hand. He read it and crumpled it in his fist. ‘Go up to your room, you ungrateful wretch.’
She reached for the note in her father’s hand. ‘I’ll have my note first.’
He pulled it out of her reach. ‘Go to your room.’
This was impossible to tolerate. The message was from Leo; she just knew it.
Edward approached her, standing between her and her father. ‘I will carry your bag for you, miss. Penny took hers with her.’ He winked, which was very unlike him.
She followed the footman up the two flights of stairs to her bedchamber.
At her door, he turned to her and leaned close. ‘I read the note,’ he said in a hushed tone.
‘You read it!’ Her heart beat faster.
He looked sheepish. ‘Well, the seal broke.’ He opened the door and put her bag inside her room.
She seized his arm. ‘What did it say?’
‘It said, Arrived safely. Have plan. Do not worry. Take care.’ He lifted his palms in the air. ‘It was not signed.’
She squeezed his arm. ‘Thank you, Edward. It is enough.’
He bowed and started to walk away, but turned back. ‘It was not right for Mr Covendale to dismiss Penny like that.’
‘I agree, Edward.’ It was abominable.
He nodded and hurried back to the stairway.
Mariel entered her room and closed the door behind her.
Bless Edward for being a busybody. The note was not nearly enough, though. It said almost nothing. Like her note to Leo two years ago. Had she written more carefully, he might have guessed her father’s manipulation. But Leo’s note might have been cryptic on purpose. If anyone—such as her father—confiscated it, it would tell them nothing.
But why had Leo told her to take care? Did danger still exist? It must or he would not have written that. She could do nothing but wait, not knowing at all what was happening outside these walls.
She lowered her face into her hands. Once again she was left waiting...and not knowing.
* * *
Penny walked through Mayfair with tears streaming down her cheeks. She was terrified. She had no employment and no references. How was she to find a new position?
Plus what would happen to Miss Covendale? Her father was so very angry. Could he force her to marry Lord Kellford, after all?
She hurried through the streets, clutching her portmanteau, all she had of her belongings. Would she even be able to get her other things from her old room at the Covendale town house—the pair of gloves from her father’s shop, the garnet cross that had been her mother’s? That was all she had left of them.
When she reached St James’s Street, young gentlemen loitered on the corner. They made rude comments to her as she passed by. Her faced burned with shame at the words they used and the names they called her. She kept her eyes straight ahead and pretended she did not hear them.
Soon she could see the building where Mr Fitzmanning lived. She quickened her step and wiped her eyes before knocking upon the door.
There was no answer. Her nerves jangled even more. What if Mr Walker or Mr Fitzmanning were not at home?
Finally she heard Walker’s voice behind the door. ‘Who is there?’
‘It is Penny,’ she cried. ‘Oh, please open the door for me!’
The door opened and he seized her arm and pulled her inside, putting her behind him. He glanced quickly out the doorway before closing the door again and turning to her. ‘Why are you here? What has happened?’
He sounded angry and it frightened her. ‘I—I had nowhere else to go.’ Her voice cracked.
He wrapped his arms around her. ‘Do not weep. Do not weep. I dislike seeing you so distressed.’
She clung to him. He was so strong and he smelled so nice and she felt so safe with him. He brought her over to a sofa and sat down with her.
Taking her hands in his, he said, ‘Now tell me what happened.’
‘Mr Covendale found out that my lady lied to him and he tried to make me tell where she went and who she was with, but I wouldn’t do it.’ She took a shuddering breath. ‘So he discharged me and sent me away!’
His expression hardened. ‘He discharged you?’
She nodded and tears filled her eyes again. ‘What will happen to me? How will I find another position?’
He held her again. ‘You do not need another position. I will take care of you.’
It seemed like he held her a very long time. He soothed her with this talk of taking care of her. She would be safe forever. She took a deep breath at the satisfaction of that thought.
Finally he released her and handed her his handkerchief. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose.
‘Why were you angry at me when you opened the door?’ she asked, holding the handkerchief in her hand and vowing to wash it for him.
His expression hardened again. ‘I was not angry at you. There are men watching these rooms—Kellford’s men, I imagine—I merely wanted to get you inside as quickly as I could.’
Her eyes widened. ‘Where is Mr Fitzmanning?’
He frowned. ‘I do not know. A note was here when I arrived. It had been slipped under the door. It only said he would be away.’ He rubbed his face. ‘Better he stay away. I’m worried that these ruffians will nab him if he comes near.’
‘We can watch for him and warn him,’ she offered.
He wore the nicest expression of concern for her. ‘I will fix you something to eat. No doubt they did not feed you at the Covendale house.’
‘We had just walked in when her father set upon her.’ She rose and moved to a chair with a view of the window. ‘Should I watch out the window while you cook?’
‘No need. He won’t be home tonight.’ He picked up a piece of paper and unfolded it. ‘I’ll be gone a day, it says.’
‘Where did he go?’ she asked.
He looked at the note again. ‘I do not know.’
‘He’ll be away all night?’
He nodded. ‘I suppose.’
That meant she would be alone with Walker all night long. Like at the inn. The idea excited her.
* * *
Kellford descended his stairs, spying Hughes waiting below in the hall, twirling his hat in his hand. When he reached the bottom step, he gestured for Hughes to follow him into the drawing room. He checked his timepiece, a fine gold watch that he had purchased after a very lucrative spell of faro. In an hour’s time he had an appointment with Mr Carter. The money lender undoubtedly wanted to be assured that he’d soon receive payment.
Kellford hoped Hughes would bring him news that meant Carter would have nothing to be concerned about.
‘Well, what do you have to say?’ Kellford asked. ‘It had better be good news.’
‘It is good news, you could say.’ Hughes spoke with an edge to his voice.
It made Kellford uneasy. ‘Out with it, then.’<
br />
Hughes pulled at his collar. ‘We have not captured him, but we have the next best thing. He will not bother you.’
Kellford’s blood raced. ‘Did you kill him?’
Hughes averted his gaze. ‘No...but let me explain.’
Kellford waved his hand impatiently.
Hughes cleared his throat. ‘I spread my men throughout the city, anywhere Fitzmanning might go—at great expense, I might add.’
‘An expense you will, of course, take upon yourself,’ Kellford inserted.
Hughes inclined his head. ‘As I was saying, my men were watching for Fitzmanning. Lo and behold, one of them spots him coming from his brother’s house. There had been lots of activity there all afternoon. Footmen coming and going; two gentlemen and one lady calling. Nobody saw Fitzmanning go in, though.’
Kellford poured himself a glass of sherry. He did not offer Hughes any.
‘After an hour or so, grooms bring four horses around,’ Hughes went on. ‘A little while later, out he comes. Fitzmanning. The duke is with him, giving orders to everybody. Two other gents are with them. They mount up, all these gents around Fitzmanning. There was no way my men could get to him.’
‘Where did they go?’ Kellford took a sip, feeling his nerves jangle.
‘They rode out of town,’ the man responded.
‘How do you know they rode out of town?’ Hughes asked.
Hughes looked self-satisfied. ‘My men followed them, which was not too hard with all the other carriages and such on the streets. They did not travel fast. My men were able to follow them all the way to Westminster Bridge.’
Kellford felt his cheeks flush. ‘You dolt! What if they merely had an errand in Lambeth?’
Hughes smirked. ‘Well, in that case the men posted at the bridge will see them upon their return.’ He stared at Kellford’s sherry glass. ‘I also left a man at the duke’s house in case they rode back another way.’
Kellford nodded approvingly. ‘That might do it.’
Kellford’s confidence was restored. He would convince Mr Carter that all was proceeding without mishap.
He’d also make certain there were no surprises at the church. His wedding was a mere two days away.
