“Marlow is not an honorable adversary, Derek,” Diana said softly.
“I suspect Marlow is indeed a man devoid of honor. That is why he is so very dangerous,” Derek said very slowly. “He could have hurt you, my love. And I would have been unaware of it and unable to protect you.” His eyes were filled with pain. “I could never live with myself, Diana, knowing I had failed to keep you safe.”
“Oh, God, Derek!” The sight of his obvious pain caused her to lose her fortitude completely. She flew across the room, her stomach in tight knots. Derek caught her up in his arms, and she clutched him tightly around the neck and buried her face in his broad shoulder.
“It’s been Marlow from the very beginning, Derek. He hired the men who shot at us in the park and he is responsible for burning down Snowshill Manor. He even sent my crushed black bonnet to Tris and Caroline’s so I would know he was watching me. He seems to be everywhere, know everything. He makes me feel so helpless, so powerless. Marlow is toying with me, Derek, and enjoying himself while he does it.”
“He will never harm you, my love,” Derek said with determination. “Not while there is a breath within my body.”
His words comforted her. But there was more to tell him. “I believe Marlow may have been responsible for Giles’s death,” Diana whispered in quiet horror.
“I have long suspected Marlow’s involvement in Giles’s murder,” Derek said. “Something must have happened between the two men for Marlow to suddenly turn against Giles. Apparently they had several profitable and illegal business dealings together until something went wrong.” Derek’s face was shadowed. “Were you able to discover anything that might explain a feud between them?”
“‘Yes.” Diana nodded her head enthusiastically. “Giles stole something from Marlow. A book. That is the reason Marlow contacted me this evening. He expects me to find and return this book to him.”
Derek frowned in puzzlement. “What sort of book?”
Diana shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t really know. He said I would know the book when I found it by the list of names written inside, some of them members of the ton. Marlow claims the book is of no value to anyone but himself.”
Derek rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I doubt this book is a social listing. It is most likely connected to some devious scheme of Marlow’s—perhaps even a blackmail plot.”
Diana gave an unladylike snort at her husband’s comments. “Oh, yes, Marlow harbors a proven talent for blackmail. He claims to have in his possession the missing church register page we sought in Chippenham—the page verifying my marriage to Giles. Marlow threatened to publicly disgrace us by sending the page to the newspapers for publication if I don’t find this book of his and return it.”
Derek’s rigid expression softened slightly, and he gently smoothed back her hair. “You still have not explained how you met Marlow, Diana.”
Diana pulled back out of his arms and gazed with trepidation into his brilliant blue eyes. “I did not exactly meet Marlow, Derek.”
He slid his strong fingertips down the length of her arms and they came to rest on her hips. His big hands flexed carefully around her waist in a show of comfort and support.
“What happened, sweetheart?”
“As I said before, Derek, I did not formally meet Marlow. He waylaid me outside when I was alone on the balcony after Tristan and Caroline had departed. He seemed to materialize out of nowhere. He did not identify himself at first, and in the shadowy darkness I was unable to clearly see his face. When I attempted to leave, he blocked my path.”
Derek’s powerful grip on her waist tightened noticeably. “Did he touch you, Diana? Did he harm you in any way?”
“He did not harm me.” Diana struggled and failed to release herself from her husband’s crushing grip. “Derek, please, you are crushing the very breath from me.”
“sorry.” He instantly relaxed his hands. “When I think of the danger you were in, it makes my head spin. If that bastard had hurt you—” Derek’s voice, tight with fury, trailed off.
Diana leaned forward earnestly, hoping to reassure him. “Marlow will not harm me, Derek. I am too valuable to him, at least for the time being. He needs me to find this mysterious book of his.”
Derek arched his brows in sudden understanding. “And he threatened to kill me if you did not comply with his demands?”
“Not precisely,” Diana said. “He threatened to make public my marriage to Giles if I did not cooperate. He said he would kill you if I told you about meeting with him.”
“Not a very likable chap, our Mr. Marlow.” Derek’s attempt at lightness eased a bit of the tension.
Diana made a noise that was half laugh, half groan. “He is a very unusual man. He actually seemed pleased when I deduced his identity. But what frightens me the most is that I never saw his face. He was very, very careful to make sure I did not get a clear view of his features. It forces me to conclude Jonathan Marlow might be someone who is already known to me, or perhaps someone I might have an opportunity to meet in the future. He obviously was a guest at the ball, so he is someone accepted in society, I presume under a different name.”
“No wonder Mr. Marlow is so difficult to locate,” Derek said in amazement. “He is leading a double life.”
“Yet another charming facet of Marlow’s character he shared with Giles,” Diana murmured.
“Tell me, Diana, was there anything even remotely familiar about the man?”
Diana thought long and hard before answering. “Nothing,” she replied, shaking her head in dismay.
“I am ashamed to admit I could very well have spoken with him again before we left Lord and Lady Harrington’s party and not known it was he.”
“This does put us at a decided disadvantage,” Derek said.
“Marlow has allotted me two days to find his property.” Diana looked searchingly into Derek’s handsome face. “What are we going to do?”
There was a short pause while he pondered the best approach to combat their enemy. “I suspect we shall spend the next two days tearing this damn house apart, floorboard by floorboard if necessary, to find the book. After we discover exactly what it contains, we will know what Marlow is so anxious to retrieve. Once we have a better understanding of our adversary, I shall formulate a plan to effectively dispose of him.” Tight-lipped, Derek gave Diana a meaningful stare. “Permanently.”
The following morning Diana stood in the middle of the master bedchamber, trying to control her involuntary shivering and silently chastising herself. It is only a room, you ninny, she told herself. It has no magical powers over you. But it was Giles’s room, a wicked voice within her said. His bedchamber. The room where he slept, he dressed, he lived. She shut her eyes tightly, trying to close out the sound of the voices and regain her equilibrium.
She was concentrating so hard she did not hear Derek enter the room. “Diana?”
She jerked her hand up over her mouth, effectively stifling the scream lodged in her throat. She turned and looked, terrified, toward the door.
Derek stood in the open doorway, his handsome face a combination of bewilderment and concern. “I am sorry, Diana,” he said in a soothing voice. “I did not mean to startle you. Are you all right?”
She nodded her head viciously and responded in a none-too-steady voice. “I am fine, Derek. You surprised me—that’s all.” She gave her husband a wan smile to prove her words. “I thought you were down in your study, talking with the investigator. Is the meeting over?”
“Yes.” Derek strode across the room and stood before her. He reached down and clasped her trembling hands. “Are you cold, Diana? Your hands feel like ice.”
Diana bit down hard on her lower lip, determined to overcome her anxiety. “I must confess I am a bit out of sorts,” Diana admitted. Her eyes darted nervously about the bedchamber. “I know it is foolish, but this room reminds me so very much of Giles. It is most unsettling.”
Derek glanced around the room. “I feel it
too,” he said. “I remember now it was the primary reason I decided not to occupy this chamber.”
She relaxed visibly at her husband’s remarks, comforted by his confession. If Derek reacted the same way she did, at least she knew she was not going crazy, she told herself with relief.
“I have already searched the other bedchamber on this floor, so I decided it was time to look in here,” Diana said. “’Tis a reasonable assumption Giles would hide the book somewhere in his bedchamber.”
Derek snorted. “You forget, Diana, my cousin was not a reasonable man. Besides, I already made a detailed search of this room when you first arrived, seeking evidence of your marriage to Giles. I found nothing.”
Diana sighed, disappointed the bedchamber was yet another dead end, but relieved at having the excuse to leave. “Then there is no point in our searching again.”
Once back in their bedchamber, Derek was pleased to note the color returning to Diana’s face. His mouth curved up in an ironic grin when he remembered his wife’s reasoning for impulsively giving this house to Henriette. Diana was right. They would never be comfortable living there.
“Tell me about your meeting this morning,” Diana said.
Derek shrugged out of his forest-green jacket and loosened his stiffly tied cravat. Then he settled himself comfortably in a large, overstuffed chair near the lit fireplace. Casting his wife a decidedly lecherous glance, he patted his knees invitingly. “Come over here and sit with me, sweetheart. I shall tell you everything.”
Diana smiled at him. Once she was situated in the his lap, he related his earlier conversation with Charles Ramsey, the Bow Street runner hired to investigate Giles’s death.
“Ramsey has had limited success with the investigation,” Derek said. “He was able to track down a man named John Wickers, who was at the scene of Giles’s murder, but this individual is not able to provide any significant details about the murder itself.”
“How did Ramsey locate Mr. Wickers?”
“Apparently, Wickers found Giles after he had been attacked. Wickers moved in on him, intending to relieve Giles of his purse and any other valuables he could find. Ramsey was able to trace Wickers through the pawnbroker who bought Giles’s watch from Wickers.”
“Isn’t it possible Wickers killed Giles?”
“Precisely the question I put to Ramsey.” He shifted his legs and pulled Diana closer to his chest. “Despite his rather sordid reputation as a pickpocket and a thief, Wickers is not considered a killer. He vehemently denies stabbing Giles, claiming he happened upon Giles after he had been knifed. Ramsey believes Wickers is telling the truth, and I am inclined to trust Ramsey’s judgment in this matter.”
Diana threaded her arms around his neck and sighed loudly. “Then we actually have learned nothing from Mr. Ramsey’s investigation.”
“No, there is an odd twist to the story,” he said. “Although Giles was mortally wounded when Wickers discovered him, he was still alive and miraculously conscious for a few moments.”
“What!”
“Giles even spoke to Wickers, yet his words make little sense.”
“What did Giles say?”
“Wickers says it was all rather garbled and muddled, but he distinctly recalls Giles saying, ‘Look to the foxes.’ ”
“Look to the foxes,” Diana said slowly. “What in the world is that supposed to mean, Derek?”
He shook his head ruefully. “I haven’t the foggiest notion. Ramsey thinks it might be a clue to the identity of Giles’s murderer, yet I still believe Jonathan Marlow either hired someone to dispose of Giles or did so himself.”
Diana snuggled closer to him. “Perhaps the fox is a reference to Marlow. A code name Giles used, or the name of a tavern or inn where he met with Marlow to conduct business, or even a clue to the name Marlow uses in society.”
Derek shrugged. “Any or all of those explanations are quite plausible, Diana. But frankly, it is not my primary concern at this time. Our focus must be on Marlow and finding his black book. We only have a day and a half left.”
“I know,” Diana said quietly. “We still have a large portion of the house to search, but I am certain we will find it.”
Derek smiled at the note of optimism in her voice. “I have given the entire staff the rest of the day off and instructed them to leave the house. Morgan and Tris will be here at one o’clock to help us search the servants quarters.”
Diana’s expression betrayed her dismay. “Is that absolutely necessary, Derek?”
“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “The entire house must be searched, including the servants’ floor.”
“Giles could have hidden the book in the servants’ quarters without their knowledge,” Diana said.
“I am very aware of the fact,” Derek said. “No matter what we discover, I promise I will not automatically accuse any of the staff of any wrongdoing until they have an opportunity to offer an explanation.” Unless Dobbs proved to be in possession of the book, Derek said silently to himself. Then he would take great pleasure in dealing with the haughty butler swiftly and decisively.
“There is one thing we have learned with certainty,” Diana said sadly. “Giles was capable of just about anything.”
Chapter Twenty-five
The house was eerily silent as Derek, Diana, Morgan, and Tristan quickly, yet thoroughly, hunted through the servants’ quarters.
“That was the last room,” Tristan said in a discouraged voice as he stepped into the hallway to join the others. “Any luck?”
Everyone dejectedly grumbled their negative answers.
“What is next?” Morgan asked.
Derek paused a moment, scratching his head. “The - kitchens. We have a few hours before everyone returns and we must complete our search of the servants’ area today while they are gone. We can concentrate our efforts on the remaining rooms of the house tomorrow.”
“Fine,” Morgan said. “Tristan and I can begin in the pantry. Perhaps we will have greater success if we work in pairs.”
The exhaustive search yielded nothing. The four of them probed numerous nooks and crannies, moved furniture around, and even pried up loose floorboards and bricks, but the result was always the same. Nothing was found.
“I must confess, I’m stumped,” Morgan said.
He sprawled out on a drawing room chair and nodded his head slightly in thanks when Derek placed a glass of wine in his hand. Derek, Morgan, and Tristan were alone in the drawing room discussing tactics, while Diana was mucking about in the kitchen preparing tea for everyone.
“One thing is certain,” Derek said with conviction. “I shall meet with Marlow in Diana’s place, whether or not the book has been found.”
“Of course,” Tristan said immediately. “It would be to our advantage if we could locate that book, however. It might provide us with a better understanding of Marlow’s motives.”
“I am pleased to see you haven’t forgotten the first rule of battle, Tris,” Derek said with a slight smile. “Know thy enemy.”
“Marlow certainly knows a lot about you and Diana,” Morgan said. “What could possibly be in this mysterious book Marlow is so desperate to retrieve?”
Derek thoughtfully rested his chin on his clasped hands before saying, “I believe the book contains a record of Marlow’s blackmailing activities. It would explain why Marlow kept only one copy of this book and why he told Diana she would recognize it by the names listed inside.”
“Sounds plausible,” Morgan said. “How the devil did Giles get his hands on this valuable book?”
“Hell, Marlow was probably blackmailing Giles,” Derek answered ruefully. He moved in front of the fireplace and jabbed aggressively at the burning logs. “Lord knows Giles had enough secrets to entice the interest of a man of Marlow’s character. We know Giles had other business dealings with Marlow, since Marlow admitted to Diana he aided Giles in selling some of her properties. Giles must have somehow stumbled upon Marlow’s book and acting out
of greed, or perhaps even self-preservation, stole the book. When Giles refused to return the book, Marlow either killed him or had him killed.”
“But Marlow’s plan backfired,” Morgan said. “Apparently Giles died before Marlow was able to discover where the book was hidden. And now he has involved Diana in his search.”
“Well, I plan to uninvolve Diana in the search and effectively destroy any future plans Marlow might be harboring that could threaten my wife,” Derek said forcefully.
“What about this Ramsey fellow you hired, Derek?” Tristan asked. “Was he able to provide any critical information?”
Derek sighed with regret. “The shortened version of Mr. Ramsey’s report reveals only that Giles uttered a cryptic and probably unconnected sentence before he died. The man who was in the process of robbing Giles at the time only remembers the phrase, ‘Look to the foxes.’ ”
“What the devil does that mean?” Morgan asked.
Derek shook his head. “Your guess is as good as mine, Morgan. Diana thinks it might be a reference to Marlow, perhaps a clue to the name he uses in society, but we have no way of knowing.”
The discussion came to an abrupt halt as Diana entered the room. Derek immediately sprang forward to relieve his wife of the heavily ladened silver tray she was awkwardly balancing in her arms.
“Thank you, Derek,” Diana said breathlessly. “I did not realize it was such a long distance from here to the kitchens. The tray became heavier with each step. I almost dropped it twice in the foyer.”
“You should have called for one of us to help you,” Tristan said, filling his plate with several sandwiches.
“I did not want to disturb you,” Diana said, pouring out the fragrant hot tea. “I suspected you would be discussing things you preferred I not hear.”
Notorious Deception Page 27
