She placed a peck on his cheek then hurried for the staircase. Lifting her skirts, she dashed up the stairs. He smiled. Her expression of love wasn’t what he’d expected, but it delighted him all the same.
Twenty-eight
Regina soaked a cloth in the washbasin, wrung out the excess water, and worked up a decent lather with the soap. Neither she nor the actress had spoken since Evangeline left to retrieve a clean gown. Regina realized she was being an abominable hostess, but she couldn’t shake off her embarrassment from earlier.
No lady with her wits about her should ever wish the man she loved to be flattened on the street, but that was the problem. The ability to think clear whenever he was near had become an impossible task. Furthermore, the realization that she did in fact love him frightened her.
Evangeline whisked into the room with a simple pink muslin dress draped across her arm. It didn’t seem like the most flattering color for the actress, but it was clean. “I found this in Sophia’s wardrobe. I think it is most likely to be a fit.”
“Merci.”
Evangeline pulled the chair away from the desk and dropped onto it. She tipped her head to the side. Regina saw the blunt question coming, but she was powerless to stop it. “What is the name of the rat who did this to you, and do you want us to bloody his nose on your behalf?”
Claudine’s smile seemed slightly grotesque with her swollen lip. “Thank you, but no. It is best if you avoid Stanhurst.”
“A duke,” Evangeline said then whistled. “They are nearly untouchable.”
The Duke of Stanhurst was a distinguished man with graying hair and a frosty glare that could leave a person feeling the cut direct as if it were a tangible thing. His reputation for a callous disregard for others was well known, and most tried to avoid him if possible. His son Lord Geoffrey had inherited his black heart.
“How long has the duke been mistreating you?” Regina asked.
“Close to the beginning. I suppose we enjoyed a few months of harmony before I angered him enough to strike me.”
Evangeline leaned forward. “What could you have possibly done to warrant him striking you? He sounds mad.”
“I wore the Earl of Ventnor’s favorite color. I didn’t know it was his lordship’s favorite since I had never made his acquaintance, but when he complimented my gown that evening, he mentioned a preference for blue. On the carriage ride home, Stanhurst accused me of trying to entice the man.”
“Well, that answers my question. The duke is fit for Bedlam.”
Taking a deep breath for fortification, Regina approached Claudine with the wet cloth and lowered beside her on the edge of the bed. “Xavier said you sought him out to issue a warning. Do you believe the duke truly means to harm Xavier?”
“I’m uncertain.” The actress accepted the proffered cloth and thanked her. “Stanhurst often speaks out of turn when he is on a tear, but I was unwilling to take a chance with Xavier’s life.”
“Yet, you risked your own.” She studied the actress. Like her sister, Regina was dubious about Claudine’s previous association with Xavier. “How is it you and Xavier know one another?”
“Your betrothed is a good man, or at least he tries to be. Two years ago, we met at the theatre after a performance. He was the only person to see beyond the act I put on for onlookers, or perhaps everyone knew the truth about the duke and simply didn’t care that I was miserable.” She sighed, her shoulders drooping as if she was weary of trying to hold herself upright. “Whatever the case, Xavier offered his assistance to help me escape from London. I had an actress friend in Vienna willing to take me in. I could have found work on the stage once I arrived, but Stanhurst kept every coin I made. I had no means to travel until Xavier came forward.”
“What happened? Did you change your mind?”
“Xavier never arrived the morning we were to board the ship. I believed the duke when he said Xavier had decided I was too much trouble and left without me. I should have known something was amiss, but Stanhurst was especially cruel to me when he learned I wanted to leave him. I only discovered today that Xavier was being held prisoner all that time.”
Evangeline angled a narrow-eyed glance in Regina’s direction. “Has the duke ever mentioned a man named Farrin?”
Claudine startled. “Not for a long time. Mr. Farrin dined with Stanhurst at the town house several times, but as I said, it has been a few years. How do you know Mr. Farrin?”
“He is responsible for Xavier’s imprisonment.” Regina gently nudged Claudine’s arm. “You should clean your cuts, so they don’t fester.”
Claudine carefully circled the cloth over the abraded skin stretched across her cheekbone. “The servants are in Stanhurst’s pockets, and one of them informed him that I was packing. That is how he knew I was sailing that morning, but he implied he’d had a conversation with Xavier about leaving me behind, and we know that is a lie. I’m certain the duke played a part in Xavier’s disappearance. Do you believe he hired Mr. Farrin to see to the deed?”
Or made false claims to insure Xavier was no longer a threat to the duke losing his mistress.
“Why do you stay with him?”
Claudine’s gaze dropped, and ruddy patches appeared on her cheeks and neck. “I have nowhere to go, and even if I did, I’m rarely left alone.”
“You may stay here as long as necessary,” Regina said.
Evangeline reached a hand toward Claudine, and the actress met her halfway. They linked fingers and held on to each other. “No one deserves to be treated in such a manner. I am glad Mr. Vistoire brought you to Wedmore House, and I agree with my sister. You should remain here until you have a safe place to go.”
Claudine’s sad smile tugged at Regina’s heart. “Thank you both for making me feel I have someone to confide in again,” the actress said. “The worst of this ordeal has been the loneliness. It was easier to let friendships fade than face Stanhurst’s temper. I would give anything to stay, but if I’m not home by sundown, the duke’s servants will send word to him. Stanhurst will believe I am with Xavier, and I’m worried for him.”
“Well, I regret to inform you that we won’t allow you to go back,” Regina said. “Xavier can hold his own against the duke. You have warned him. He will be cautious.” Her heart floundered in her chest. The words were for her own reassurance as much as for Claudine’s.
The actress pressed her argument, but in the end, she didn’t stand a chance against Regina and Evangeline. Eventually, she acquiesced.
“Splendid,” Regina said with a clap of her hands. “Let’s wash your hair before you change into a new gown.”
Once the actress’s chestnut brown locks were clean and combed, Evangeline assisted her into the pink gown. Regina and her sister stepped back to inspect Claudine. Her injuries were still a shocking sight, but she looked more comfortable and at ease.
“Come with me,” Regina said. “My next task is to teach you how to defend yourself.”
Regina led her to the large room where she practiced Wing Chun and spent the next half hour teaching Claudine simple moves to ward off an attacker, so she could make a fast escape. She proved to be a quick study.
Since they had no way of knowing how long Claudine would be a guest at Wedmore House, Regina decided it was best to inform Aunt Beatrice about their visitor sooner rather than later. The three women retired to the drawing room to wait for Aunt Beatrice and Sophia to return from the lecture at the British Museum. Evangeline took the time to tell Claudine about their unusual living situation and unconventional kin.
“Your great-aunt sounds delightful,” Claudine said.
When Sophia and Aunt Beatrice returned at half past two that afternoon, Crispin said his good-byes at the door, much to Regina’s relief. She didn’t know how she would explain Claudine’s presence or appearance, and she worried he might accidentally let word slip that the actress was staying as their guest. Aunt Beatrice and Sophia entered the drawing room arm-in-arm.
“I am
done in to a cow’s thumb,” Aunt Beatrice declared. “I couldn’t catch a wink the entire lecture with that old man elbowing me in the side every time I nodded off.”
“That wasn’t a man, Auntie. It was Mrs. Walton.”
Aunt Beatrice snorted and waved her hand in the air. “Oh, yes. Margaret Walton née Paulson. The poor dear was one of six daughters, and any one of them could have passed for a boy. If their mother had dressed them in short pants, no one would have been any wiser.”
“Until their wedding nights,” Evangeline said.
Aunt Beatrice frowned. “I suppose I hadn’t considered the moment of consummation, but point well made.”
Regina smiled at Claudine sitting on the settee across from her. “You were warned.”
“We have a guest?” Sophia’s voice held a note of wariness as she studied Claudine’s battered face.
“Allow me to present Claudine Bellerose,” Regina said. “She will be staying with us for a time.”
“She is an actress,” Evangeline added.
Aunt Beatrice gasped, her face alight with pleasure. “Oh, I do love the theatre. How marvelous to have an actress lodging with us. Welcome, Madame Bellerose.”
“Merci, Madame Allred.”
“And she is French.” Aunt Beatrice’s whisper was meant for Sophia’s ears, but it carried in the small room. “Everyone calls me Aunt Beatrice, dear. I insist you do as well. I look forward to visiting over dinner this evening unless you are expected at the theatre.”
Claudine was perched on the edge of the settee with her hands folded in her lap. “No, ma’am. I am not expected on stage this evening.”
“Splendid. Now if you will excuse me, it is time for my afternoon rest.”
Sophia glanced back and forth between Regina, Evangeline, and Claudine with a puzzled wrinkle to her brow. “Let me see you settled above stairs, Auntie.”
Aunt Beatrice continued to chatter as Sophia led her away. “An actress at Wedmore House. Can you imagine? She must have arrived in a hurry. She is still in stage make-up.”
Regina apologized to Claudine. “Our aunt’s eyesight is failing, and she has never been known to censor what she says. We have always loved her forthright manner, but it doesn’t suit everyone.”
Claudine smiled. “She is genuine and gracious. Two fine qualities for a lady to have.”
“She could talk someone into old age,” Evangeline said, “and she will have many questions about the theatre. If you need rescue, mention the weather, and we will intervene.”
“I could discuss the theatre for hours. Perhaps your aunt will need rescuing.”
Regina grudgingly admitted Claudine didn’t fit the image she’d always held of actresses from watching them flirt with gentlemen in the Grand Saloon. The woman was surprisingly humble.
Claudine covered a yawn with her fingertips. “Excuse me. Recent events have taken a toll.”
“If you would like to retire to the guest room, we won’t be offended,” Regina said. She was eager to question Sophia about the lecture, and there were still a few shelves to clear in the library.
Claudine agreed a rest would be appreciated and declined Evangeline’s offer to assist her on the stairs. She and Sophia met at the doorway as Regina’s sister returned from tucking in Aunt Beatrice. The actress exchanged a brief greeting with Sophia before going.
Regina bounced up from the chair. “Let’s talk in the library while we finish searching the books.”
Her sisters followed in her wake and set to work right away.
Regina climbed the ladder to begin grabbing books from the shelves. “How was the lecture?”
Sophia took up position at the table to fan through the books. “The lecture was surprisingly interesting and well attended. There were at least two dozen members in the audience.”
“Oh, that is a lot of people to remember.”
Sophia lifted a book from the pile on the table and rattled off a long list of names with impressive speed. “I’m not including Margrave, Auntie, and myself.”
“Your recall never ceases to amaze me. How do you do it?”
“I pretend to host a dinner party,” Sophia said with a shrug. “I created a seating chart in my mind. One must be careful when seating guests. I certainly wouldn’t want Lords Corby and Ledbery in close proximity to one another. They chattered the whole lecture and were quite distracting. Oh, I did forget one. Lord Geoffrey was present.”
“How was Margrave?” Evangeline accepted a book from Regina and added it to the stack in her arms.
“As brooding as ever, but I didn’t mind as much since he kept Lord Geoffrey in his place. Margrave claims he is fulfilling his promise to Uncle Charles to keep watch over me this Season.”
“Has he heard from Uncle Charles?” Regina asked.
“Apparently, our uncle isn’t writing to anyone. None of his colleagues at the lecture have heard from him either.” Sophia grabbed another book to flip through. “Uncle Charles spoke with Margrave before leaving England, although I don’t know why our uncle would specifically request Margrave watch over me and not all of us.”
With arms laden, Evangeline shuffled toward the table. “Perhaps because it is your first Season, which leads me to believe he had no intention of returning. He is close to discovering something monumental. I know it. All this time searching for a map is a waste of time. Uncle Charles has it with him.” She dropped the books on the table with a bang. “He is seeking evidence of the Black Death’s existence.”
Sophia stuck out her tongue and made a gagging noise. “Every time you mention that name, I think of rats.”
What if Evangeline was correct? This could be a waste of time, and they didn’t have much left.
Regina descended the ladder to join her sisters at the table. “Do you really believe the man who hired Farrin is interested in proving the Black Death is not a myth?”
“Every antiquarian’s dream is to uncover that which everyone else believes is a fantasy.” Evangeline’s wide blue eyes sparkled. “It would be like discovering Atlantis was a real city or finding the Holy Grail. I know others are interested, or they will be once they realize the group is not a myth.”
“How can you be sure?” Sophia asked.
“There were rumors the leader of the Black Death kept a fortress in the mountains. Uncle Charles never named his source, but he was allowed to examine a letter from one of the source’s ancestors. Only one person, a French knight, spoke of having ever seen the stronghold. He said the battlements were barely visible among the clouds, and the castle walls were at least twenty feet thick. In the noble knight’s estimation, the fortress was impenetrable.”
“Do Uncle Charles’s notes indicate which mountains or where to search?”
“The broad area, yes. If he was able to identify the exact mountain, he must have the information with him.”
Regina tapped the tip of her finger against her chin as she digested the information. Xavier needed a map to use as leverage to find out who was responsible for the threats against their families, and Regina wanted to it removed from Wedmore House. Farrin probably wouldn’t know a fake from the legitimate one. As long as he collected his fee, why should he care where the map led? If it showed a location within the general vicinity of where the group might have settled, it shouldn’t alert the buyer to the map being a forgery either. Although, even if the buyer did recognize it for a fake, perhaps it would achieve what Xavier wanted. It could draw the rat out of hiding.
“I have an idea.”
Twenty-nine
After Xavier settled into his rooms at the hotel, he visited the print shop to order calling cards that reflected his change in residence. And since it was vitally important to give the impression he was permanently entrenched at the Pulteney, he stopped at the closest coffeehouse to engage in discourse with several groups over a two-hour span, dropping his name and telling everyone he’d just taken rooms at the hotel. He was easily the most obnoxious popinjay in the all male crowd
, which would ensure at least a few would mention him outside of the establishment.
Once he was satisfied he’d done his best to advertise his whereabouts, he made his way back to Wedmore House to check the progress on finding the map. He’d also promised to inform Regina of what had transpired with Claudine earlier, although he expected she’d gathered the story from the actress already.
Cupid greeted him at the door, his sharp yipping muffled by the thick wood. When no one answered his repeated knocks, he let himself inside and snatched the dog in his arms before the little rogue had a chance to defile his trouser leg. “You are a scamp and an incompetent butler, my friend. I think you would allow anyone to walk in the door.”
As a precaution, Xavier turned the lock and went in search of the ladies of Wedmore House. He found Regina and Sophia huddled around Evangeline at the table in the library. Their aunt and Claudine were missing, and he suspected both ladies were resting above stairs.
Sophia tapped her finger to the paper in front of Evangeline. “There is a sandy plain here, and a mountain range runs toward the west and south coasts.”
His pulse skipped. “Did you find the map?”
The women startled and whipped their heads around to gawk at him.
“Xavier Vistoire.” Regina wrinkled her nose at him. “You scared us.”
“My apologies. No one came to the door when I knocked, except my little friend here. You really should remember to lock the door.”
“Mrs. Cox and Cook have gone to the market,” Sophia said.
He set Cupid on a chair by the window and approached the table to peer over Evangeline’s shoulder. As he’d hoped, the Darlington sisters were discussing a map, but the quill in Evangeline’s hand puzzled him. “What do you have happening here? Are you altering the map? Where did you find it?”
Regina’s smile was much too sweet. “I will tell you all about it. Just one moment, please. Was there anything else, Sophia?”
Secrets to a Gentleman's Heart (Gentlemen of Intrigue Book 1) Page 22
