by Anne Ashley
The conveyance above rocked as the Viscount obeyed the rough command to alight. ‘And now, milord, I’ll relieve you of the trinkets you be carrying.’
His lordship’s response to this demand was to attempt to satisfy his curiosity, ‘Would I be correct in thinking you and your fellows are the very ones who relieved the Earl of Grenville of a fine diamond necklace many moons ago?’
‘Knows about that, do yer?’ A sinister chuckle followed. ‘Yeh, if you must know. Not that it’ll do yer no good.’
‘And was it, perchance, you personally who put a period to his existence?’ his lordship enquired, sounding sublimely unconcerned at having a pistol levelled at his own chest.
‘It were. And I’ll be more than ’appy to dispatch you the same way, iffen you don’t ’and over them there sparklers o’ yourn.’
‘Loath though I am to disappoint you, but you were sadly misinformed. Apart from my purse, I am carrying nothing of value, except perhaps my pocket-watch. Will that assuage your desire for bloodshed?’
‘Quiet!’ the highwayman bellowed to his injured compatriot who was doing his level best to impart that something unto ward was lurking beneath the carriage. ‘I’ll not warn ’e again, m’lord.’
Georgiana waited no longer. Rolling out from her hiding place, she fired the pistol she had had the fore-thought to bring with her with unerring accuracy, and the robber’s own weapon flew from his hand. For a second or two he remained seated on his horse, stunned, just clasping his injured wrist; the next he was being hauled to the ground by his lordship, who then proceeded to render the villain unconscious with a powerful blow to the jaw.
‘Damned fine shot, Miss Georgie!’ Digby approved, while his lordship appeared as though he were doing his utmost not to succumb to an apoplexy.
‘I’ll give her good shot!’ he hissed between clenched teeth, while at the same time retrieving the highwayman’s pistol from the ground. He then checked on the other three, moving their firearms out of harm’s way as he did so. ‘How the deuce did you get here?’ he then demanded to know before rounding on the hapless Digby. ‘Were you party to this?’
‘Of course he wasn’t,’ Georgiana assured him, not hesitating to come to her servant’s defence. ‘The first he knew about it was when he got down to open that gate back along the road and saw me perched on the rumble seat.’
His lordship took a moment to consider. ‘You couldn’t possibly have left London with us.’
‘Of course not,’ she confirmed. ‘I didn’t leave the metropolis until mid-afternoon. I rode to the White Hart…on your bay, as it happens.’
Just what his lordship’s reaction to this piece of downright impertinence might have been had not his attention been claimed elsewhere was anybody’s guess. Not only was the militia rapidly approaching on horseback, but Digby had at last drawn his attention to the fact that his head groom had sustained an injury.
‘It’s naught but a scratch,’ Perkins assured them all, as he obeyed his master’s command to hand the reins to Digby and get down from the carriage.
Not wholly convinced, his lordship insisted the wound receive immediate attention and left Georgiana to deal with the injury, whilst he exchanged a brief word with the officer in charge of the militia. By the time he returned to the carriage Georgiana had made a pad with her own handkerchief and was binding the wound up deftly.
‘It is, indeed, little more than a scratch,’ she confirmed, ‘but it should be cleaned properly. And it goes without saying he’s in no fit state to tool the carriage. He’ll set the arm bleeding again if he does.’
‘I’m quite capable of tooling my own cattle, Perkins,’ his lordship assured him, cutting across the head groom’s protests. ‘The Major is happy to deal with things here, leaving me free to return to town. And I must get back before nightfall. There’s the other members of the organisation to take in to custody, remember? We can, none the less, call in briefly at the White Hart in order to get that wound cleaned properly.’ He favoured Georgiana with a darkling look. ‘Besides which, I’m obliged to call back at that inn in order to collect my prized bay!
‘And don’t think you’re getting away with that piece of gross impertinence so easily, my girl!’ he added for good measure, before slamming the carriage door closed and clambering up on the box seat.
Although his lordship proved to be highly competent at tooling a carriage and four, it was evening before they arrived back in the capital. Consequently, farewells were not protracted, with Georgiana just raising her hand in a final salute, as his lordship moved away from the Grenville town residence, and then letting her hand fall with a heartfelt sigh.
Digby was not so concerned by his young mistress’s unusually sombre state as he was by her indecent boy’s attire, and took it upon himself to enter the house first, by way of a side door, and make sure the coast was clear before ushering his subdued mistress up the back stairs to her room. Once there Georgiana didn’t delay in donning more appropriate raiment, then wasted no time in searching out the Dowager Countess.
Anything but gratified by this unexpected appearance in her private apartments, the Dowager dismissed the maid before favouring Georgiana with a severe look. ‘I assume you have come in order to offer a reasonable explanation for your departure from town, at least one that is more satisfactory than the one contained in the brief note you left for me?’
Although perfectly understanding her ladyship’s annoyance, Georgiana was too consumed with her own miseries to attempt to placate her. Throughout the long journey back to town she had been given ample time to consider her future, and from every angle it looked bleak indeed.
‘It’s over, ma’am,’ she said softly. ‘It is…all over now.’
Only a fool could have missed the desolation in the voice, and the sorrow flickering in blue eyes, and no one could ever have accused the Dowager of being dull-witted.
Rising from her dressing table, she led the way into her private sitting room. ‘I think you had best sit and tell me all about it, my dear child.’
‘No doubt Lord Fincham will furnish you with a full explanation of events, ma’am. Suffice it to say that he made it known that he was leaving town with the sapphire-and-diamond set he presented to me on the occasion of our engagement. He chose to put his life at risk in order to bring the ringleader to book for his crimes. I discovered what he was planning to do and followed him from town. The robbery was foiled, and those involved…those who survived were taken up by the militia. The other members of the gang are, no doubt, being taken into custody as we speak. The ringleader is none other than Lord Chard, although of course he played no part in the robberies themselves. The man directly responsible for your son’s death is now in the hands of the authorities and will stand trial for his crimes.’
‘You took a grave risk,’ the Dowager pointed out, a touch of admiration in her voice. ‘You must indeed love Lord Fincham very much.’
Georgiana stared down at the empty hearth. ‘I’ve always loved him, as I imagine you suspected all along. And I always will. And that is why I must leave London again tomorrow.’
‘I do not perfectly understand you, my dear.’
‘The engagement, my lady, was a complete sham from the first, instigated by his lordship in order to bring the guilty man to justice. He put it to me that working together would more likely lead to a successful outcome. What he intended, of course, was to undertake the investigation on his own and exclude me as much as possible.’
The Dowager could not forbear a smile at the disgruntled tone. ‘If that was indeed his intention, he was not wholly successful, as you succeeded in discovering his plans.’
‘Yes, that does afford me a modicum of satisfaction, but it is scant recompense for what I must now do.’
Georgiana took her bottom lip between her teeth in an effort to stop it trembling. Now was not the moment to break down. Time enough for that in the weeks, months…years ahead, she told herself.
‘The reason for the e
ngagement no longer exists, therefore I must do the honourable thing and terminate the union, for I’m very sure Lord Fincham would not do so.’
‘Which might suggest, might it not, that he possibly has no desire to do so?’ her ladyship pointed out, not unreasonably. ‘Might he have had another purpose for proposing marriage?’
‘Because he is in love with me, you mean.’ Georgiana’s shout of laughter was mirthless. ‘If only that were so! But he has never said as much, ma’am,’ she revealed. ‘And he wouldn’t if it was not so. I’m afraid the love is all on one side, though I’ve done my utmost to conceal that from him. The last thing I want is for him to feel honour-bound to wed me.’
She rose to her feet and went over to the door. ‘I have much to organise if I wish to be gone by morning.’
‘But, child, where do you intend to go? Wouldn’t it be best if you discussed matters with his lordship?’
Georgiana, resolute, shook her head. ‘My mother possessed strength enough to give up the man she loved. I can only hope I’m equal to doing the same. But I need time for some quiet reflection. Besides which, I dare not come face to face with his lordship, at least not yet. He might so easily weaken my resolve.’
Chapter Fifteen
It was as the late May evening’s light was rapidly fading that Lord Fincham arrived on foot at a much-admired residence situated, like his own, in one of the most-favoured parts of the city. He had called at the property on numerous occasions in the past. His association with Lord Chard went back many years, before the time of the late Lord Fincham’s tragic and unexpected demise. All the same, even though he had never looked upon the baron as a particularly close friend, he gained scant satisfaction from what he felt obliged to do now.
Ignoring the two men loitering on the opposite side of the street, avidly watching the house, his lordship mounted the steps. After gaining admittance, he was very soon afterwards being shown into the book-lined room situated on the ground floor, where Lord Chard, betraying a marked degree of surprise, and a suspicion of wariness too, it had to be said, rose at once from behind an impressive mahogany desk.
‘Why, when my servant informed me you had called, I was inclined to consider the wretch had been helping himself to the brandy!’ The jocular greeting was not in keeping with the baron’s normally sombre manner, and something in Lord Fincham’s mien must have revealed that he wasn’t deceived by the false display of bonhomie. ‘Forgive me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t it your intention to leave town?’
‘It was, as you well know,’ his lordship returned. ‘So let us not attempt to prevaricate further. I know you are the brains behind certain jewel thefts that have taken place during the past couple of years or so. I know it was you who marshalled the gang that attempted to rob me early this morning. You must now fully appreciate they failed. Those members who survived the attack are now in custody, as are your other co-conspirators.’
Lord Fincham held up one long-fingered hand against the denial about to be uttered. ‘It will avail you nothing to plead the innocent, Chard. Your steward, Ivor Hencham is, as we speak, in the hands of the authorities. How long do you suppose it will be before a confession is drawn from him? If for no other reason, he will undoubtedly reveal all in an attempt to save his own neck from being stretched. I am here in order to spare you that indignity, too, should you choose to avail yourself of the opportunity that you ill deserve, in view of the fact that your determination to maintain your lifestyle brought about the death of an innocent man, one of your fellow peers.
‘No, I’m afraid there is no escape,’ he continued, when Chard, attempting no further denials, went over to the window. ‘As you can see, across the road are two employees of Bow Street. No doubt there are others watching the rear of the property. They have been following your every movement since my meeting with a well-known personage connected with maintaining law and order.’
His lordship sighed deeply, and there was no mistaking the genuine regret contained in the sound. ‘In deference to those closely connected to you, and innocent of any wrongdoing, I was permitted to see you before you are taken into custody. I do not believe you would want close members of your family to suffer further humiliation by a long and highly publicised trial, where every last detail of your life and marriage will come under public scrutiny. Better, surely, to spare them that and put a period to your own existence?’
‘I might ask why you became involved, but of course I believe I know the answer—your fiancée, Miss Grey,’ Lord Chard at last remarked, breaking his silence. ‘I believe someone mentioned once she was very close to Grenville.’
‘He was like a father to her, yes,’ his lordship confirmed softy. ‘And, of course, what adversely affects her now very much concerns me.’
‘It was never my intention to harm anyone, Fincham. I hope you believe that,’ the baron said, returning to his desk with a distinctly purposeful stride, as though he had come to a decision. ‘I’m afraid, though, that since my marriage I’ve grown accustomed to every creature comfort, and when, owing to my excesses, the money began to run out, I had no intention of altering my lifestyle, if I could possibly avoid it, even if this meant putting more lives at risk…I was even willing to risk yours in order to get my hands on those sapphires.’ He laughed hollowly. ‘Yes, a despicable fellow am I not?’
Opening a desk drawer, Lord Chard stared down solemnly at its contents. ‘I think you can appreciate why I have no desire to prolong this interview. It only remains for me to say…thank you for showing me more consideration than I deserve…and goodbye.’
His lordship had no desire to remain, either, and left without uttering another word. He had reached the street and had turned in the direction of Berkeley Square when he detected the two men watching the house begin to cross the street. He didn’t look back.
When he related all to the Dowager Countess of Grenville late the following morning, she betrayed little emotion, least of all gratification. In fact, several long moments elapsed before she eventually spoke.
‘I owe you a debt of gratitude, Lord Fincham, that I could never hope to repay. I recall dear Georgiana revealing something shortly after she had returned here yesterday that, now, I can fully appreciate. She said she no longer sought revenge. And I can perfectly understand that sentiment also. It will afford me no gratification whatsoever to see Lord Chard dangling from the end of a rope. I am not sorry you offered him the opportunity to take his own life.’
‘Whether or not he chose to avail himself of it, ma’am, I have no notion. If he did not, he is most definitely now in the hands of the authorities. There was no possible escape for him.’
She was not a female given to smiling too often. Lord Fincham, however, was the recipient of one of those rare displays of absolute approval. ‘And what are your plans for the future now that you have succeeded so admirably on my behalf? Do you intend to remain in London, as do I and my granddaughter, and enjoy what is left of the Season?’
He smiled ruefully. ‘I am no longer able to consider only myself, ma’am. Much will depend on my fiancée, though given the choice I would not delay too long in tying the final knot.’
Again the Dowager smiled, only there was a suggestion of satisfaction in it this time. ‘I did not believe my judgement could be so flawed.’
It wasn’t so much the admission itself as the tone in which it had been uttered that aroused his lordship’s suspicions. Something was wrong… Yes, something was decidedly amiss.
He cast a frowning glance towards the door. ‘Where is Georgiana? Is she, perchance, out visiting with Lady Sophia?’
‘My granddaughter is, indeed, out paying morning calls,’ the Dowager confirmed, before revealing what he most wished to know. ‘But I regret to tell you that Georgiana is not with her. She left town first thing this morning in a hired carriage.’
‘The devil she did!’ he cursed, his perfect manners forgotten, and was on his feet in an instant. ‘Where the deuce has she gone?’
‘That, I’m afraid, I am unable to tell you,’ the Dowager responded and, ignoring his fulminating glance, also rose to her feet and went across to the mantelshelf, from where she collected a glittering object, which she subsequently placed into the palm of his lordship’s right hand.
‘What the deuce does she mean by it?’ he demanded to know, staring down almost in disbelief at the sapphire-and-diamond ring.
The Dowager regarded him in some exasperation. ‘For a highly intelligent man evidently you can be remarkably obtuse on occasions, my lord. What on earth do you suppose she means by it? She is releasing you from the engagement she believed all along to be a mere contrivance to obtain an end… Was it a sham, my lord?’
He shook his head. ‘Not as far as I was concerned, it wasn’t,’ he admitted softly.
‘No, I thought not. All the same, I never attempted to set her straight on the matter. I believe she needs to hear it from you, personally. She is under the impression, you see, that all the love is on her side. I know you are not a gentleman to wear his heart on his sleeve. But did you never once admit your feelings for her?’
A moment’s silence, then, ‘Not in so many words, no.’
The Dowager sighed deeply as she returned to her chair by the hearth. ‘I once interfered in matters of the heart…I vowed never to do so again. I am prepared, however, to make this an exception. If you take my advice, my lord, you will locate the girl you desire so much to wed and tell her of your feelings without delay.’ She sighed again. ‘I only wish I could inform you where to look.’
Again he regarded her in silence for a moment. ‘And you genuinely have no idea where she might have gone?’
‘I would tell you if I had,’ she assured him. ‘I think Georgiana appreciated that and therefore chose not to confide in me. All I can tell you is that she left London early this morning in a post-chaise. I cannot imagine she would be so foolish as to return to her home in Gloucestershire, or take refuge in my private residence in Bath. She would consider they would be the first places one would look. Perhaps the only clue she gave was to reveal that she was going to seek shelter with someone whom she knew would be kind and offer her a retreat from the world for as long as she craved sanctuary.’
