by Abigail Agar
“Stevens, it’s urgent that you send your fastest footman to Phin Collins’ townhouse.
Everett scribbled on a piece of paper and handed it to Stevens. “Then if he's not there, have your runner go to the Alberts’ townhouse.” He held out his hand. “I’ll write the address on that.”
“Tell him to keep looking for Phin until he finds him; Mercy or Silas might be able to help. Come back when you’ve sent him on his way.”
Stevens left, and Everett picked up the letter one more time. He pulled out new paper, his ink and quill. When Stevens came back, Everett was finishing up. While melting wax onto the paper, he looked up at Stevens and said, “This must go immediately to Mr Whitaker. You have an address?” When Stevens nodded, Everett took off his ring and made his imprint into the warm wax. He handed the paper to Stevens.
The twenty-minute wait until Phin arrived seemed much longer. He ate bread and cheese while pacing his office and resorted to pouring himself a drink – even though he promised himself to wait for Phin – to see if it would help end his pacing. It did not.
Phin opened the door without knocking, something he always did, but Everett didn’t mind. Everett thrust the correspondence from Whitaker into his hand.
“Ev, this is bad. This is bad. I wouldn’t want to be Bernard. How do you bungle something so important? It wasn’t even a small, possibly insignificant piece of the operation.” Phin looked up at Everett. “Did you ask to see Whitaker?”
“I did. I haven’t heard back from him yet. I hope he’s available to come. Sit. Drink?”
Phin nodded. “What does this mean? Is he going to leave the country? This man will follow him for the rest of his life.”
“What makes you think he’ll leave the country? I think this puts Charlotte, or should I say Charlotte’s dowry, in more danger.”
“Think, Ev. When we counted up his debts last time, the dowry covered everything but not by much. Add on this bungled smuggling operation, and his debts go way past what she could provide.”
“Phin. Think. Do you know if she has bank accounts, property, anything else of value? Usually, someone with the dowry that size has a lot backing it up.”
“In this case, I don’t think so, but I don’t need her assets, so I don’t know.”
“You two made huge headway, didn’t you?” Everett asked.
“I’m very happy with the outcome. I feel pretty optimistic.”
“Good for you.”
Stevens knocked on the door and announced Mr Whitaker.
After bowing, Everett offered him a seat and a drink. He took both.
“I alerted His Grace,” he pointed his chin at Phin, “as soon as I read your message. I just came back after a few weeks in another location and read it. I sent for you right away. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not in the least. I wondered why you didn’t send for me right after I sent it, but now it makes sense.”
“Mr Whitaker, I would like to go through the entire smuggling incident step by step, but first, I must ask you how you got this information and if you are confident in its veracity.”
“Understood. My man is the brother of one of the four henchmen the mate employees. I trust everything he says, and all his previous reports to me check out. I have no reason to believe this information is inaccurate. In fact, it’s quite comical. If it weren’t true, I’m not sure anyone would be capable of making it up.” He had a rueful smile.
Mr Whitaker relayed the details of Bernard’s botched documents and the outcome. “The cash and the French brandy were added to the outstanding loan balance. He now owes close to twice as much as before.”
“Mr Whitaker, have you heard at all about how he intends to pay down this loan? Everett and I were speculating that he might run to the continent.”
“He could I suppose. I know my friend’s brother went to the continent before to hunt someone down. By the way, he did get his man.”
“What are his alternatives?”
Whitaker blew out a long breath. “He has no alternatives. He needs to hand over cash. Cash.”
Everett stood and fished through his pockets. “Was there any other information pertinent to Lord Bernard, Mr Whitaker?”
He stood also. “Only that this guy’s brother said he needed to marry the richest girl in London. Good luck with that, right?”
Everett gave a small laugh and handed Whitaker a few coins. ”Thank you, sir. Please send me a message any time you think there is something valuable I should know.”
He opened the office door for Whitaker, called Stevens, and then closed the door.
“What you think?” Phin asked.
“I don’t know. I have to agree with Whitaker. Bernard has very few alternatives. Has Charlotte ever mentioned a country estate? Is her jewellery especially expensive?”
Phin shook his head no. “She spends money on her clothes, but her dowry could have come with a clothing allowance. Otherwise, I can’t think of anything of worth. Lady Genevieve doesn’t own any expensive jewellery pieces either, to my knowledge.”
“What do you make of it?”
“Ev, I think we’re dealing with a very desperate man. I have to say, if I were in his position, I’d be worried. Maybe I’m in denial, but getting his hands on Charlotte’s dowry isn’t going to do him much good. Does the mate back off when a loan is partially paid?”
“No, but if she’s got property, I suppose he could give the mate all the cash then explain the property and how he’ll liquidate it or sign it over to him.”
“Which leaves Charlotte with nothing.”
“Exactly, Phin. We need a plan now.”
***
Bernard greeted Charlotte and Aunt Genevieve then sat. They were unusually upbeat, gushing really. Or maybe it was he. When he was drowning, did happy people look especially happy?
Bernard asked a few polite questions about the party. Answering, the two of them giggled like schoolgirls. He hated that. He needed to stop this pain and jump in.
“Charlotte, your being away has awakened me to my true feelings for you. Two weeks gone was entirely too long. I can’t go without you that long again.”
Charlotte was stunned. Where on earth did this come from? She wasn’t prepared to answer him. In truth, she hadn’t given him a moment’s thought since arriving at Collinswood two weeks ago. She rather thought she would end up with Phineas.
“What are you saying?”
Bernard stood then kneeled on one knee in front of Charlotte. He breathed deep and said, “Charlotte, will you marry me?”
Charlotte stared down at him nonplussed at his proposal. She certainly wasn’t expecting it. If anything, she thought Bernard would back off courting her since she was gone so long to his rival’s estate. Or maybe that was just what she thought.
No, this proposal didn’t feel right. It brought no feeling of joy to her. It should, shouldn’t it? When she looked in his eyes, she didn’t see love, she saw a storm brewing. A storm on the horizon. A storm heading her way.
“My Lord, thank you for your kind offer. I am not quite prepared to make a decision like that today. Could you ask me again in one week?”
“I’ll do whatever I need to, love. Please, don’t keep me in suspense long.”
Bernard sat back in his seat. There was an uncomfortable tension in the air. He probably weaseled his way in while he had her to himself all the time, Bernard thought.
Bernard needed to tilt this roulette wheel in his favour. “Was there concern in the ton about your host? His reputation precedes him, and I fear for anyone associating with that man. He has been the talk of the ton for years. It no longer comes down to what one person believes, but what the ton believes. Did he steal his father’s money and sail to India?
“His father resorted to selling valuable paintings and jewels in his last years. There was also talk of smuggling, talk that seems persistent. I don’t know what is true and what isn’t true. Would you take the chance and ruin your reputation?
“If I were a young lady having my first season, I would not associate with a man who could ruin my reputation for life. The problem with the rumours going around about him? They never seem to die away. He’s been gone five years, and yet, the rumours still swirl. Imagine the girl who marries him and must live under a cloud of rumours for the next ten, fifteen, twenty years.”
Genevieve and Charlotte looked at each other. It had been a long day now they were back from the country. Aunt Genevieve looked tired, lines framing her eyes.
“Lord Bernard, thank you for visiting, but I’m afraid we have had a challenging day, and I’m cutting calling hours short.” Lady Genevieve pulled the bell. “Quinn, show Lord Bernard out then return.” Knowing it would be a matter of time before Phin called, Lady Genevieve told Quinn upon his return, “We will not be receiving any other guests, today.”
***
Charlotte didn’t love Bernard. She liked him well enough, but he had no real feelings for her. His behaviour seemed very suspicious. Why did he want to marry her? Why was it so important to do it now?
She decided she would rather be a spinster than marry Bernard. It was mild affection between them. Nothing more. She had only been into her season a few months. There was plenty of time to meet more men. She'd take her chances.
She didn’t think she could take a chance on marrying Phin and live under the shadow of nasty rumours for the rest of her life. Bernard was right. It didn’t matter if the rumours were true or not, the ton believed them to be true. That’s all that mattered.
She loved Phin. She fell in love with him while they were at the house party. He’s a wonderful man. How could anyone believe such things about him? When she thought of her life with him, she envisioned busy days decorating, meeting with the House wives and bringing up their children. It was a perfect picture until she looked closely and saw the rain clouds overhead. Rain clouds with no chance for a sunny day.
***
“My Lady. His Grace, the Duke of Marlborough wishes to know if you are receiving visitors.”
“Thank you, Quinn. For him only, I am receiving visitors.”
Very well, My Lady.”
Genevieve put her hand to her hair to make sure she wasn’t dishevelled.
“My Lady, My Lady.”
“Your Grace. How good of you to come.”
Charlotte curtsied, “Your Grace,” she said.
Charlotte began pouring John tea. She put an extra biscuit on his plate and passed it to him.
“Tell all, ladies. Was your trip to the country all you hoped it would be?”
Genevieve answered, “It was rather wonderful. Every day was planned, and there was always something fun or adventurous to do. Silas Collins did a marvellous job of running the event. I believe everyone left happy.”
Lord John furrowed his brow, “Except you two. You were very much more cheerful when I last saw you before the trip.”
“John, I don’t want to impose, Charlotte is very concerned about her association with Phineas Collins. If I may, I’d like to ask what you know of the Duke. There were rumours at the estate. Rumours that won’t die down. Someone told Charlotte these rumours had lasted years and could follow him for years to come. I don’t want Charlotte to bear the burden of nasty gossip.
Lord John thought for a moment before he spoke. “I’m in a unique position, as a Duke, to be part of the ’club’ if you will. There are only 24 of us throughout Britain. We meet, discuss issues before the House of Lords, given our vision of the Britain of the future.
“We do our work quietly and confidentially. I hesitate to confide our dealings except that I understand different versions of the sad events between Bennett and Phineas have been a source of speculation and misinformation for years.
“When Bennett Collins died, Phineas was in India. I knew him as the heir to Exeter, but he was a young man when I knew him. It’s probably been six or seven years since I last saw him.
“But Bennett. He attended our gatherings regularly. One time, he pulled me aside. I sit on the board of a few of the banks in town. He was agitated that his loan on Collinswood defaulted because he didn’t pay it, and Phineas renegotiated the loan in his name. He also closed out all the empty bank accounts his father had drained because of his gambling. As I understand it, and I may be wrong because Bennett was ranting that day, and I’m not sure what he said was accurate, Phineas left a loan account to pay down Collinswood, another account for Mercy’s dowry, which had also been gambled away, and an account for his father, giving him a monthly allowance.
“Bennett wanted to know how he could get his hands on Mercy’s dowry account. He was sure he could win it all back if he had the money to start.”
Charlotte gasped. “Pardon me.”
“Bennett told me he disowned Phineas for pulling the rug out from under him for his bank dealings and for leaving him with a monthly allowance. He told Phineas he never wanted to see him again, and Phineas promptly left for India.
“I met up with Bennett at a gathering about two years later. He asked me again if I could help him get his hands on Mercy’s dowry account. Under Phineas’ deposits, it had ballooned and became quite significant. He explained that his monthly allowance wasn’t enough, and he had to sell off art and other costly items.
“I offered to take a look at his income and expenses to see if we could make it work without selling off treasures. He said no. He told me Phineas hadn’t factored in his hobby of gambling when he set up the account. I told him it wasn’t a hobby if he had to sell his Gainsborough or his Ming vases. He never spoke to me again.
“As for the rumours, Bennett was a bitter old man who couldn’t look his addiction in the eye nor find a cause to blame himself for anything.
“To cover his foolishness, he blamed Phineas. I believe the rumours still exist for two reasons. One, there is no way to prove them wrong, and two, Phineas does not want to come forward and explain how he saved his family from his father. Airing dirty laundry is not his style. He’s a rather reserved young man.
“As an endnote, had he lost Collinswood and his townhouse and Mercy had no dowry, that girl wouldn’t have a roof over her head. She’d be a governess or a servant, I’m sure.”
John looked up to see Charlotte crying, “Oh, my dear. I didn’t mean to make you cry. I apologize for my clumsy retelling of the story.”
Lady Genevieve leaned forward and patted Lord John on the hand. “Thank you for sharing that with us. It explains a lot of the confusion we’ve been having over the whole sordid business.”
Genevieve moved in her chair until she had a much better view of John. “Charlotte was told that Phineas took all the money out of the bank accounts, Bennett disowned him, and Phineas left for India, leaving Bennett to have to sell his personal items to live.
“She was also told that Phineas has been embroiled in rumours for the past five years, and anyone attached to Phineas would be subject to dealing with these rumours for many years to come. I cannot allow Charlotte to live under a cloud of suspicion for such a long time. Charlotte would someday love to be a mother. She couldn’t bring a child into a world of scandal.”
Lord John turned to Charlotte, “These rumours have been persistent, haven’t they? I would have thought with Bennett’s death, they would also die. The rumours are just close enough to the truth to last, I presume. I will have to think about how we can make that case.”
“I must say that rumours are ugly things. One person has licence to say anything they want about another person, and there is no recourse. No one checks a story to make sure it’s true. A young man’s reputation is on the line. I must say, he bears all this mess well.”
***
Two days later, Phin knocked on Charlotte’s door.
“Good afternoon, Quinn. I’ve come to visit the ladies.” Phin went to step in, but Quinn blocked his way.
“I’m sorry Your Grace; the ladies are not receiving today.”
“Not receiving? Is someone ill?” Ph
in said as he tried to see around Quinn’s imposing size.
“No, Your Grace. The ladies are not receiving today.” Quinn stood tall and stone-faced.
Panic flowed through Phin’s bloodstream, and his body was at once overheated.
“Oh. Please tell them I was by,” he said quietly, and dejected, he left.
Chapter 15
“Hey, here you are. If one more person tells me what a great party you gave, I might have to throw a party just to top you,” Everett said from his desk.
