The Unknown Heir

by Anne Herries

  ‘Yes, I suppose it must be,’ Hester said, but knew that she had never considered it. ‘Servants, I expect…if they bear their employers a grudge. It would not happen here.’

  ‘You think not? You are very confident of your servants, Hester.’

  ‘Yes, I am, of course. Most of them have been with the duke all their lives. I cannot imagine they would do anything to disoblige him.’

  ‘They may not be so happy at the thought of their new master.’ Mr Knighton frowned. ‘Do you find him acceptable, Hester? Grant says he has a shocking way of speaking at times—though I cannot say I particularly noticed it last night.’

  ‘He has a wicked sense of humour,’ Hester replied drily. ‘He sometimes likes to tease. I assure you he has all the manners of a gentleman—and something more. He is strong and one feels as if one may rely on him.’

  ‘That sounds as if you like him.’ Mr Knighton raised his brows. ‘In London I thought you did not particularly care for him?’

  ‘He is something of an acquired taste,’ Hester said carelessly. It was a throwaway line because she did not like being quizzed in this manner. ‘At first I thought we should not get on, but now…I like him. Yes, I do like him and I think he will be good for the estate.’

  ‘Then I am satisfied,’ Mr Knighton said. ‘I was anxious that you might feel you were being usurped, your authority taken away by someone who is only here because of the tragedy that has overtaken your family.’ He smiled at her with a warmth that made her distinctly uncomfortable. ‘You must know that your comfort…your happiness…is of paramount importance to me.’

  ‘You are very kind to say so,’ Hester replied. ‘Mama always says that we can rely on you, sir—and now, if you will excuse me, I must go up and change.’

  ‘It is your birthday a week after the ball, is it not?’

  ‘Yes…why do you ask?’ Hester hesitated and looked at him in surprise.

  ‘Oh, it was just something I was thinking…’ He looked a little odd. ‘I wondered what you might like as a birthday gift?’

  ‘I do not expect anything, but any trinket would be acceptable, sir.’

  ‘I must think of something special for such an important day.’

  ‘Important? I hardly think so. When I was eighteen I thought such things important, these days I do not consider them so.’

  ‘But it is a special day.’ He frowned at her. ‘Is it possible that you have not been told, Hester?’

  ‘Been told what?’

  ‘You will, I believe, be seven and twenty this year?’

  ‘Yes, I fear so. It makes me feel very much like an old maid and I do not take it kindly that you should remind me of it,’ Hester said, laughing because she spoke in jest.

  ‘Your age means nothing except in one regard.’

  ‘Which is?’

  ‘I am reluctant to say since your mother has not seen fit to tell you—but perhaps you should know. I am sure Grant knows of it and that is why he has begun to pay you attention.’

  ‘I should be glad if you could explain that, for it is a mystery to me.’

  ‘Your lawyer should be contacting you soon, Hester. Your father’s great-aunt died two days after he did and her will states that if he should die before her, her estate comes to his heir or heirs, which is you, because there was only one child—but not until the day of your twenty-seventh birthday. I do not know the extent of your inheritance, but I imagine it must be perhaps twenty thousand pounds.’

  ‘Twenty thousand pounds…that is a small fortune,’ Hester said, staring at him in amazement. ‘Are you certain of your facts, sir? I had no idea that anything had been left to me.’

  ‘It would have come to your father had he lived another three days and then your mother would have inherited half of it, but the terms of the will are quite clear. As things stand, the money is yours. Lady Sheldon asked me to look into it at the time.’

  Hester was shocked. ‘I cannot understand why no one has told me anything.’

  ‘Perhaps your mother thought it might make you vulnerable to fortune hunters, Hester. I had imagined she would have told you before this—and, as I said, I believe that Grant has got wind of it.’

  Hester frowned. His suggestion that Mr Grant wished to marry her because she had twenty thousand pounds coming to her in a few weeks was less than flattering, but it might well be true. She had been puzzled by his sudden interest in offering for her.

  ‘I wish that I had been told,’ Hester said, frowning. ‘Had I known, I might have borrowed against it to put things right here before this.’

  ‘Perhaps your mother did not tell you for that reason,’ Mr Knighton replied. ‘I hope you are not angry with me for telling you?’

  ‘I am grateful for it, sir,’ Hester said. ‘I shall ask Mama why she did not tell me—and now, if you will excuse me, I must go up and change.’

  She was not aware of his eyes following her as she ran lightly up the stairs. Instead of going immediately to her own room, she went to her mother’s private apartments, knocking and entering. As she had expected, her mother was sitting propped up against the pillows, sipping the dark, rather bitter chocolate drink that had been brought up for her by her maid.

  ‘Hester, darling,’ Lady Sheldon said, glancing up at her. ‘You look as if you have been out in the fresh air.’ She frowned as she saw her daughter’s expression. ‘Is something wrong, dearest?’

  ‘Mama—why did you not tell me that I am to inherit money on my next birthday?’

  ‘Oh, has the letter arrived?’ Lady Sheldon questioned.

  ‘No, not as far as I know. Mr Knighton told me. He wanted to warn me because he thinks Mr Grant knows and is after my money.’

  ‘How very disobliging of him,’ Lady Sheldon said. ‘I meant to tell you some time ago, but the duke asked me to wait. He thought that if you knew about the money you would borrow against it to pay the estate debts and he was determined you should not—at least while he lives. Had he been able to leave it to you, as he would like, it would have been a different matter.’

  ‘But you must have known that I should discover it soon?’

  ‘Well, it does make you independent, dearest. I suppose I was afraid you might decide that you wished to set up your own establishment…or marry.’ Her expression was one of guilt. ‘It was selfish of me, Hester, but I should hate to live here if you went away…and I could not desert the duke, you know.’

  ‘Oh, Mama…’ Hester sighed. ‘As if I should leave you and Grandfather in the lurch simply because I am to come into some money. I should certainly liked to have used some of it before this had I known. I am sure the lawyer might have arranged a loan or something.’

  ‘Then I suppose I ought to have told you. Forgive me, Hester?’ Lady Sheldon looked guilty, for she knew herself at fault.

  ‘There is nothing to forgive, Mama, but it was something of a shock when Mr Knighton told me.’

  ‘I dare say he may be right, you know, about Mr Grant. He has a small estate, and is comfortably off, I believe, but twenty thousand pounds would be very tempting to a man of moderate wealth—and you are a good catch for any man, with or without the money.’

  ‘I think I may receive a proposal from Mr Knighton, Mama. I believe he told me because he wanted to scupper Mr Grant’s chances.’

  ‘Did he have any in the first place?’

  ‘No, none at all,’ Hester said and suddenly laughed as she saw the funny side of her situation. ‘Do you think I shall receive other offers once it is generally known that I have twenty thousand pounds?’

  ‘It will not be known, dearest. It would be vulgar to speak of it. If someone you liked made an offer, you would disclose it then, but otherwise I do not think we need to mention it.’

  ‘Well, Mr Grant must have discovered it somehow. I hope it will not make life uncomfortable for us. I shall, of course, settle some of it on you once I have it, Mama.’

  ‘Now that is something I shall not allow,’ her mother told her. ‘I a
m quite comfortable living here, dearest, and now that the viscount has told me that I am welcome to stay even after the duke…Well, I have no need to worry. I can visit Bath as often as I please and return here when I wish. My income will be sufficient for my needs. You must promise me you will not spend yours on the estate, Hester.’

  ‘I should certainly have done so before Cousin Jared came, but it is not necessary now—and I do not think he would permit it.’

  ‘No, I dare say he would not. Cousin Jared, as you call him, is a very determined gentleman. Quite different from what we were led to believe. I have every confidence in him, Hester.’

  ‘Yes…’ Hester frowned. ‘It was very kind of my father’s great-aunt to think of me.’

  ‘It would have gone to your father, your real father, of course, had he lived,’ her mother told her. ‘Lady Mountblain was very fond of your father—and she had no children of her own, or none that survived their childhood. It happens all too often, dearest. If you manage to rear one or two healthy children, you must think yourself fortunate.’

  ‘I do not think I shall marry.’

  ‘You might. Not to Mr Grant, of course. I could not approve that, but you might find someone else you like.’

  Something in her mother’s eyes told Hester what she was thinking, but she refused to let herself dwell on such pipe dreams. She knew that at her age, and even with twenty thousand pounds, it was unlikely she would find a suitor—at least, one she could really like. Though her inheritance would make her acceptable to many gentlemen with pockets to let if it were public knowledge. She must hope that no one would know of it, for being hunted for her twenty thousand pounds was the last thing she wanted!

  Hester left her mother’s room. The shock of discovering that she was an heiress had begun to wear off a little, and she realised that she did already have the means to set up an establishment of her own somewhere if she cared to—and she might wish to do just that if Viscount Sheldon were to bring his bride to this house.

  Hester discovered that thought was almost too painful to be borne. She put it from her mind as she went down the hall to her own room. At least the mystery of her sudden popularity had been cleared up. A little smile played over her soft, rather sensual mouth as she thought about telling Cousin Jared. She was certain he would see the funny side of it, and she needed to explain that she had known nothing of it. If she had known, she would never have allowed things to continue to slide here at Shelbourne. It was important to her that he should know that and she changed quickly, wanting to find him and tell him of her discovery before he learned it from someone else. However, when she went down and inquired after the viscount, she was told that he had gone out and was not expected back for the rest of the day.

  Feeling restless, Hester took herself off to the flower room where she commenced filling vases with beautiful blooms. It was a job she normally enjoyed, but that afternoon her mind kept straying from the task. She was impatient to tell Cousin Jared her news, and she had no idea that by the time he returned something would have happened to put it right out of her mind.

  Chapter Seven

  ‘Are you certain of your facts?’ Jared asked. His expression was hard as he looked at the face of the man he had employed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack on him in London. ‘You are sure that you’ve seen this man lurking in the shrubbery at Shelbourne?’

  ‘Yes, sir. I still don’t know his name, but I followed you here the way you told me, and I caught sight of him once on the road, but then I think he saw me and I lost him. But I kept following you, making sure the young lady didn’t spot me—and I was in the grounds that night…the first night you came down, me lord. I am certain I saw him. Staring up at the house he was. I watched him the way you told me, and he didn’t see me this time. He just stood there looking up at the windows until the young lady looked out. After that he left sharpish. I don’t think he wanted ’er to see him.’

  Jared looked thoughtful. ‘That means she would probably recognise him. It all fits with—’ He broke off, for he was still not certain he could trust this man. ‘And have you seen him again?’ His instinct was telling him the answer, but he waited for the man to continue.

  ‘Yes, sir. It seems as if he’s a guest at the house because I’ve seen him talking to the young lady. It’s a bit queer, ain’t it, me lord?’

  ‘Yes, it is rather strange. Unless…and then of course it all makes perfect sense…’ Jared nodded, keeping his thoughts to himself. ‘Can you describe this man to me in detail?’

  ‘Yes, my lord,’ the man replied and proceeded to do so in such a graphic way that Jared was left in no doubt of the man’s identity. Only his motive remained in question—that was still a mystery.

  ‘You have done well.’ Jared drew a handful of gold coins from his pocket. ‘This is what I promised you. You may return to London now and go back to your business…whatever that may be.’

  ‘Don’t you want me to keep watching him, me lord?’

  ‘What I do not want is for him to realise that he is being watched,’ Jared said. ‘He might decide to put off his plans to eliminate me and I prefer that he make his move sooner rather than later. If he saw you hanging around, he might guess that I had recruited you to my side.’

  ‘I could tell him that I was merely trying to earn the money he paid me,’ Tyler said. ‘I’ve took a fancy to workin’ for you, me lord. I might be able to help you in lots a ways.’

  ‘Well, if you wish to work for me, you may continue to do so,’ Jared said. ‘But I want you to stay away from him. There is something else you may do for me. Listen carefully, because it is important.’

  Hester was working at her household accounts in her grandfather’s library when she heard a commotion. She laid her pen down and looked up as the door opened and one of the footmen came in.

  ‘Yes, Briggs?’ she said, getting to her feet because he looked concerned. ‘Was there something you wanted?’

  ‘It’s Mr Knighton,’ he said. ‘It’s bad news, Miss Sheldon. He was out riding and someone shot at him. The shot went wide, but he fell from his horse and he has injured his arm. I’ve had him helped up to his room, miss, and I was wondering if I should send for the doctor. His horse came back to the stables. One of the grooms went looking and found him lying up near the lake. He was unconscious, but he came round as Ned reached him, complaining of pain in his shoulder and arm.’

  ‘Mr Knighton was shot at—and he fell from his horse?’ Hester was shocked. It had so nearly happened to Jared! ‘Yes, yes, of course you must send for the doctor. This is terrible—to think that he was attacked on our land.’

  Hester followed the footman from the room, her mind whirling in confusion. Two men had been shot at in a matter of days. This was something that could no longer be ignored! She had been almost convinced that the shot that might have killed Viscount Sheldon had been fired because he was the duke’s heir—but why should anyone fire at Mr Knighton, who was merely a guest in the house?

  Her first thought had been to see how Mr Knighton was, but it would have been most improper for her to go to his room. She went instead to find her mother, who was sitting in her favourite parlour at the front of the house.

  Lady Sheldon was working at her embroidery and she glanced up with a frown as her daughter entered. ‘These silks do not match, Hester. It is most annoying, for I ordered the same colour and this yellow is brighter. It will look odd, do you not think so?’

  ‘I do not know, Mama, but you must forget it for the moment—Mr Knighton has had an accident while out riding. He fell from his horse.’

  ‘How dreadful,’ Lady Sheldon said, getting to her feet at once. ‘Is he badly hurt?’

  ‘I have been told that he complains of pain in his shoulder and arm,’ Hester said. ‘The doctor has been sent for and he was helped to his room. It would not be right for me to visit him there, but perhaps you would care to see if he has all he needs?’

  ‘Yes, of course. I sh
all do all I can to make him comfortable,’ Lady Sheldon said. ‘It is most unfortunate. I have never liked horses…nasty unreliable creatures, if you ask me.’

  ‘I do not think it was the horse at fault,’ Hester said. ‘I believe there was a gunshot nearby—perhaps a poacher in the woods.’

  ‘A poacher? Mercy on us!’ Lady Sheldon looked even more shocked. ‘The keepers are not doing their duty properly. Your grandfather should know about this!’

  ‘I think it best to wait and tell Cousin Jared,’ Hester said. ‘We do not wish to worry Grandfather over this, Mama.’

  ‘I dare say you are right,’ Lady Sheldon agreed. ‘You must speak to him as soon as he returns. I shall go up to Mr Knighton at once.’

  Hester watched as her mother left the room. She picked up the embroidery Lady Sheldon had abandoned and looked at the silks. She saw at once that the shade of yellow in the needle was much darker than the one previously used and pulled it out, searching in her mother’s very untidy workbox until she found the correct colour. She was just about to rethread the needle when the door opened. Glancing round, she saw that Jared was standing there, watching her.

  ‘Embroidery, Hester? I did not think you had time for such things.’

  She threaded the needle and put it back on top of her mother’s work, frowning as she looked at him. ‘Mama could not find the colour she wanted. She has this minute gone up to see what she can do for Mr Knighton until the doctor comes.’

  ‘Is Mr Knighton unwell?’

  ‘He was shot at while out riding by the lake and fell, injuring his shoulder and arm.’ Hester looked at him anxiously. ‘I am afraid that he may have been right, though I did not believe him when he told me this morning.’

  ‘What did you not believe?’ Jared’s brows arched.

  ‘He said that there is a highwayman operating in the district.’

  ‘Did he, indeed? Why did he tell you that, may I inquire?’