The two women shivered delicately.
"One thing, though," Clifford said in a thoughtful tone. "I don't think the culprit could get back and forth from his home without being seen by someone. The roads are well-traveled hereabouts, and it's an awfully long way through the fields in the dead of night."
"Precisely why it has to be one of our nearest neighbors, present company excepted, of course, Malcolm."
Malcolm gave a little nod to Henry by way of thanks.
"Unless of course he is paying someone to do it," Emma suggested.
They all considered that for a time.
"It would have to be an awful lot of money to persuade anyone to cause that much trouble for the Stone family," Josephine said, shaking her head.
"And someone would have got careless, spending their ill-gotten gains too freely, or acting suspiciously. Father investigated that supposition as well, but he's come up with nothing even after all these months."
"Hmm. All the more reason to think it is one of our nearest neighbors. If not the nearest," Henry insisted.
Clifford sighed. "I know you think Vanessa's illness confirms all your suspicions, Brother, but as Malcolm says, we have no proof. Mere speculation is not enough to convict anyone. And fences down, beasts missing, fields flooding, is certainly not the same as murder."
Henry gave his brother a long look. "Then I say we get proof."
"If Gerald is guilty, he's going to be extremely cautious now. Fearful that someone will suspect him. Besides, the estate is far too large to patrol in its entirety night and day," Clifford said. "The culprit can slip in and out at will if he's careful enough. Tthere's very little we can do to stop him."
Henry's frustration became ever more evident from the set of his jaw and tone. "Then lay a trap for him. Catch him in the act!"
"Even if I could bait the trap in some manner, you're asking me to disgrace my wife's half-brother?"
"You and Vanessa are not married yet. Perhaps if you catch him in the next day or two, you needn't go through with this wedding."
Clifford rubbed his eyes and sighed. "Would it were that simple. But Gerald is nothing if not clever. He will behave far more circumspectly if, as you firmly seem to believe, his plan to poison his sister has gone awry.
"I'm sorry, Henry. I can see how strongly you feel about this, and our losses in recent months. I know you're only trying to help. All of you are, and I'm very grateful.
"However, we're not going to get proof all at once unless he is so lost to reason that he does something unspeakably rash. Since Malcolm and I are still not entirely convinced that he's guilty in all of this, we will have to bide our time to get proof. Never forget that Peter Stephens would also stand to gain from harming us and securing Vanessa for his own."
"How?" Emma asked innocently.
Malcolm blushed. "I'm afaid to say that it is a common enough practice to invite a girl out for a seemingly innocent carriage ride and have her end up with her virtue compromised either by word or deed. If Peter or his two brothers are intent upon Vanessa's fortune, they could take advantage of her naive and trusting nature and ruin her easily."
"Oh my. How dreadful."
Clifford nodded. "Which is why I can't take the risk and delay in marrying her. She can't be allowed to go back to Hawkesworth House, or to her aunt at Stephens Manor. The only way to prevent either of those two occurrences is by taking her home from here as my wife."
Josephine shook her head. "You'll have to get her to agree first. I fear that will be impossible. I have no doubt Gerald has done and will do everything he can to poison her mind against you, since he resents you so."
"Most certainly." Emma nodded. "He does it to everyone he meets. To hear him tell it, you would think you had populated all of the local orphanages single-handedly."
Henry laughed. "Well, not quite with-"
Clifford shot his brother a quelling look. "This is no joking matter. Gerald has done everything he can to damage me, and injure Vanessa. I know she will be confused and angry about the card game, as any respectable woman would. I'll simply have to convince her of my decency and sincerity. Vanessa will marry me as soon as she is well, and there is an end to it."
CHAPTER TWELVE
Clifford and his companions, keeping watch over the semi-conscious Vanessa, stayed up all night discussing the best way to deal with the poor girl's predicament. They came up with numerous suggestions, but in the end they all reluctantly agreed that Clifford was right. By taking her to wife, he would be ensuring her safety from her untrustworthy kin in the most effective and unobjectionable manner possible in the eyes of Society.
Clifford charged Henry and Malcolm to make all the necessary arrangements with the local vicar, Mr. Grayson, while he and the Jerome sisters would nurse Vanessa. Henry also agreed to go back to Hawkesworth House to ask a few subtle questions in order to ascertain what the chain of events had been which had led up to Vanessa becoming so ill.
John Gold returned at seven in the morning and ordered breakfast for them all. The kind older man looked Vanessa over, but there was no change.
Clifford had to admit he was exceptionally impressed with his friend. They had known each other socially for quite a few years, and he knew him to be a most excellent doctor. He had never seen him before in a professional capacity himself, but was certain that if anyone could help Vanessa, it was this intelligent man with prematurely gray hair and eyes which looked as though they had seen far too much.
As they sat around the table consuming eggs, bacon, toast, and kippers, they caught up on each other's news.
"What's the news of Esther Hancock?" Clifford asked.
The doctor shook his head. "Not good, I'm afraid. She had a very hard time of it, and the baby is a rather small girl. I will be surprised if the poor little thing survives the week."
"And Esther?"
"She's sorely upset, and very weak."
"I shall send over our cook to help her build up her strength."
"That's very good of you. I'm sure she will appreciate it."
"I would have Cook come here to stay, but I know how excellent your own Mrs. Travers is helping your patients. I'm certain that Vanessa will be in good hands."
The doctor smiled reassuringly. "She is even now making all sorts of jellies and broths for the young lady. Her throat will be very sore when she finally comes to."
"When do you think that will be, Doctor?" Emma asked.
"Soon, I hope. She seems to have been resting quietly for some time now. It has been a very great shock to her system, of course. If she is going to pull through, we ought to see some signs of her rallying soon."
"Josephine will call us if there is any change. We might as well keep up our own strength with this excellent breakfast," Emma said.
They all ate dutifully, though Clifford tasted little of what he put into his mouth. He attempted to follow the doctor's light conversation with his unexpected guests, but his thoughts continually strayed back to the snug little parlor where the auburn-haired beauty lay.
As soon as he had cleared his plate, he rose and returned to the sick room.
"There is some hot food in the dining room, Josephine. Off you go. I'll sit with her now."
She patted her future brother-in-law on the shoulder, and left the room.
A few minutes later, Vanessa began to roll over on her side, and cradled her head upon her arm. Clifford was relieved to see she appeared to be sleeping more naturally. He was even more delighted to see her long dark lashes flutter open and take in the strange surroundings of the handsomely appointed doctor's study. She stared at the pale blue flock wallpaper unseeingly for a moment, and gradually began to focus on her companion.
Her ears were still ringing, and her throat felt as though it had been set on fire. She blinked again a couple of times to focus her eyes better and ensure she was not dreaming.
Where on earth was she, and who was the stunningly handsome man in evening dress by her side?
/> She swallowed hard a couple of times, and managed to whisper, "I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, sir. Are you the new doctor in Millcote?"
"No, I'm Clifford Stone. Do you remember me? I'm afraid you've been ill."
Her eyes widened in horror and she clutched the sheet to her scantily clad bosom. "How on earth did I get here? The last thing I knew I was at Hawkesworth House. Where is my brother? Why have you brought me here?" she gasped, her tone accusing.
"We have not been able to locate him. I sent my brother Henry to your home, but the servants knew nothing as to where he went after he left for the Cavendishes'. They haven't heard anything from him since last evening when he left and gave the servants orders to lock up securely. And no one is at the Cavendishes' house."
"I can't imagine him wanting to speak to you or your brother after all you have done to our estate," Vanessa said haughtily, though a fit of coughing made her regret immediately her impassioned words.
Clifford frowned in confusion at her accusing words, but he was not about to argue with her at this stage. "My dear Miss Hawkesworth, you are in no state to be discussing matters such as these. Please drink some of this water and calm yourself."
She raised up off the pillow with his help, which she accepted only grudgingly, and drank a few sips. He could see the effort it cost her. She lay back upon the pillows exhausted, and looked at Clifford mistrustfully.
He decided to take the bull by the horns. "Miss Hawkesworth. Vanessa. I know you feel you have every reason to be aggrieved with me. You wake up to find yourself in strange surroundings, and are naturally confused. I am sure that our engagement as a result of your brother gaming for your hand and my winning it does not sit well with a young lady of your discretion and good breeding.
"Please believe me when I say that I only played cards in the first place to protect your honor and reputation. Several of the young rakes at the ball were interested only in the good sport, and of course your sizable fortune. They would have had no qualms about seizing their prize as if you were no more than a spoil of war."
She shot him a resentful look from under her long lashes but said nothing.
"I have no intention of causing you any harm or distress. Of imposing my will upon you in any way. I would have you remember that we were friends in the past, when your mother, and later when your father died. I hope I have never done anything to you personally to cause you to think ill of me.
"I can guess from your accusations a moment ago that your brother has probably told you all sorts of things about me. The truth of the matter is that he has never liked me. He is a Tory, I am a Radical. We are too fundamentally opposed on every question of politics, religion, or lifestyle to ever reach any sort of accommodation, though I am willing to try for your sake. Anything he says is bound to be biased. I would simply ask you to judge my character for yourself before you dismiss me out of hand as your future husband."
She glared at him, angry with herself for finding him so attractive, and as a result finding herself charmed by his seemingly reasonable words. "I suppose you're going to tell me that you won me fairly in the card game. That I have no choice, and must wed you if I wish to avoid the ruination of my brother," she said in stinging tones.
"That's not quite true," Clifford contradicted mildly. "I would like you to give your consent freely to doing me the honor of becoming my wife."
She shook her head. "But I'm a stranger to you, sir. Why-"
"We are not strangers, Vanessa. We were friends once. I am sure you can recall the time you took me to see the puppies--"
"But we have not seen each other for years," she said quickly, not wishing to revisit that particularly warm recollection from her adolescence. It was one of the few good memories she did have of growing up. Though of course she had few memories of that time at all... She glared. "Friendship is one thing, marriage quite another."
"I can understand your concerns. I do share them to some extent. But you as a lone woman need to be protected. Gerald has left you open to gossip and scandal."
"Why should you care? Surely it is my family's concern only."
Clifford sat back with a sigh, and raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "I'm not going to argue with you, Miss Hawkesworth, not when you are so ill. Let me just say a few brief words and leave the matter until you are feeling better."
"I would prefer to have it all out in the open, if you don't mind. I ask you again, Mr. Stone. Why are you interfering in my life?"
"Not interfering. Aiding, I hope. The situation has arisen through no fault of your own. The damage caused by Gerald's card game has been done. We need to discuss our options. I have worked under the assumption that you are free to marry me. As your fiance, I am in the best position to protect you without any further scandal being caused.
"If your objection to me is due to you having fallen in love with another, well of course I would never hold you to the arrangement your brother made without your knowledge or consent. It is only money, after all, not our entire lives. I'm wealthy enough in my own right not to find your fortune an overwhelming temptation."
She cast him a withering glance. "Every person I have met since my aunt passed away has found it my main attraction."
"Then they're fools, and don't deserve you," he said sincerely. "I seem to recall your main attractions were your beauty, intelligence, ready wit, and ability upon a horse. I never saw anyone, man or woman, ride as well as you did in your youth."
"That may well be a wonderful talent for a young girl, but hardly a fitting attribute you would seek in a wife. Nor would most men wish to wed a bas bleu."
"You think not? Well, I suppose it all depends upon what one is seeking for in a wife. If a man were looking for a simpering, empty-headed bedmate, or a bank account, there are any number of women in this neighborhood I could settle down with. Yet I have thus far remained unmarried."
"Why buy the cow when the milk is free, I believe is the vulgar phrase."
Clifford's brows knit in consternation. "I am no rake or purchaser of women. We all of us have certain standards. Expectations about the partner we would care to share the whole of our lives with. If I ever stand up in front of a vicar to recite my vows, I expect to fulfill them to the letter. Love, honor and cherish, 'til death."
"Very noble of you, I'm sure."
He ignored her waspish interruption. "They might be just words for some, but I do try to be a good Christian. And while I know the expectations of a young girl such as yourself might be very different from mine, I hope they're not completely dissimilar.
"For my own part, I want someone I can admire and respect. Where there is respect and trust, there is love. So I shall ask you again, Miss Hawkesworth, are you in love with anyone else?"
She felt stunned by the question. Did he really care if she was? Would that put a halt to this madness?
She was tempted to lie, but something in his eyes told her he would see through the fib in an instant. "No, sir, I am heart-whole. I led a full life with my aunt. I won't pretend I did not get to meet various young men at the County balls in the past year or so since I was permitted to go out more into the world. But I've never behaved indiscreetly. Nor met anyone to whom I would pledge myself unreservedly. I too desire the same in my future partner, admiration, respect, love."
Clifford nodded, satisfied. "I believe you were cheated out of your London Season by your aunt's untimely demise?"
She sniffed hard. "It is no great hardship to have endured, believe me. I would rather have my aunt alive, and no fortune for everyone to squabble over. Nor am I interested in playing the marriage game. Not when there is so much to do in the world to improve it."
He smiled down at her. "You say that now, but there will come a time when you will long for congenial companionship. I'm not saying I'm the best man in the world for you, but I've always respected and admired you, Miss Hawkesworth."
She gave an unladylike snort. "I think I should rest now."
H
e nodded. "I'm sorry to have tired you." As he began to move for the door, she found herself oddly reluctant to relinquish his company.
"I'm sorry to have kept you up all night nursing me."
"It's my pleasure."
"Hardly." She wrinkled her elegant nose. "No one likes to tend sick people."
"Dr. Gold does. And my very dear friend Doctor Blake Sanderson, currently in the Peninsula. It was no trouble at all."
"Very gallant of you, I'm sure. It was kind of your brother and friends to wish to help. But I think you should go home now, all of you. Dr. Gold's staff can see to my needs well enough, and you may go about your business without any sense of obligation on your part."
"I'm staying."
The Rakehell Regency Romance Series Boxed Set 1 Page 11
