A Murdered Earl

by Marina Oliver

  This was no time for scruples. Luke felt a quiver of hysterical laughter bubble up as he recalled his fencing master, and the pugilist who had given him lessons in boxing. Their lessons were of no use to him now. Unable to break the hold on his wrist he managed to free his other hand and jabbed his fingers at the man's face, at the same time bringing his uninjured knee up as hard as he could into the fellow's unprotected crotch.

  As he reared back to evade Luke's stabbing fingers, aimed at his eyes, then doubled over with a grunt of pain, Luke scrambled from beneath him. Casting a swift glance at the other, huddled against the wall and clutching his stomach, Luke took to his heels, hobbling as swiftly as his leg allowed. He'd disabled the one, perhaps even killed him, but there had been too little force behind his knee to put the other out of action for long. He had to vanish as fast as he could. Once or twice he thought he heard footsteps behind him, but none came closer.

  It was only as he turned into the road where his aunt lived that he had leisure to recall what had passed unnoticed at the time. They had uttered no words, but for an oath or two when he hit them. But those oaths had been in French. People of breeding might use French oaths as a matter of course, but common English footpads didn't.

  Thoughtfully Luke let himself into the house. He was in the entrance hall before he realised that the chandeliers were still blazing, and he could hear voices in the drawing room above. He glanced down at his clothes, torn and muddy, and grimaced. His aunt had mentioned no guests, and it was very late for her to be entertaining. Had the constable traced him at last? But would he appear so late at night?

  Luke paused. Should he retreat to the kitchen and try to clean himself a little, and wait there for the visitor to leave, or try to creep past the drawing room up to his own room? Before he could make up his mind the door above opened, and Aunt Caroline leant over the bannisters.

  'Good evening, Luke. Or should I say good morning?'

  He sighed. 'I always seem to be apologising for my lateness,' he replied, awkwardly beginning to mount the stairs. His aunt stepped back, and gasped as he took the turn in the stairs and faced her from the half landing.

  'What in the world has happened to you now? What's wrong with your leg? You look as though you've been rolled in a midden, and you smell like it too!' she added, wrinkling up her nose in disgust.

  'I was set upon by a couple of footpads,' he said as lightly as possible. He could worry about who they were when he'd had some sleep and time for reflection. 'I need, as you see, to get out of these stinking clothes, so if you'll excuse me – '

  He didn't finish. Behind Aunt Caroline, framed in the doorway, he saw Bella, wrapped in a cloak and clutching a bundle tied up in a shawl.

  'Luke!' she exclaimed, and dropped the bundle as she stepped towards him, her arms outstretched.

  He drew away, bumping into the wall behind him. 'No, don't touch me! I'm filthy. What are you doing here?'

  Bella took a deep breath. 'I couldn't bear the idea of marrying Mr Silbermann, so I ran away. I came here. Luke, you must save me! I'm depending on you!'

  ***

  Chapter 17

  Filthy, his leg aching abominably, Luke stared at Bella in dismay.

  'You must help me,' she said urgently, and he moved backwards as she tried to grasp his arm.

  'Don't, you'll make your gown dirty,' he exclaimed, and she appeared to notice his condition for the first time.

  'Luke! What has happened? Where have you been? I've been waiting for you for hours.'

  'What happened to me doesn't matter now,' he replied. 'We have to decide what you can do. But allow me at least to wash and change first.'

  'In the kitchen, you need lots of hot water,' Aunt Caroline said, taking charge. 'Bella, my dear, wait for us in the drawing room, there's a good girl.'

  Luke allowed himself to be shooed down into the basement. The maid was yawning as she sat by the range, but she roused herself when she saw Luke, her eyes full of avid curiosity. She was sent to fetch clean clothes. Aunt Caroline stoked the fire, plied vigorously at the pump, and pushed as many cauldrons and kettles as she could balance onto the range and the pot hooks, then dragged in a small hip bath and stood it before the fire. She tipped in some hot water from the kettle which had been simmering, added some cold, and ordered Luke to strip off his ruined clothes before the maid returned.

  Amused, he did so, and eased himself into the bath, though he had to dangle his legs over the side. Finished for the moment with the kettles, Aunt Caroline handed him a cake of soap and brought a candle closer. She gently felt his knee, which was swelling already.

  'What happened?'

  'I'd been to Drury Lane Theatre with Louis and some of his friends. I was attacked on my way home. I think I wrenched my knee when I slipped, trying to dodge their cudgels, then one of them hit me on it too. Where is Uncle Joshua?'

  She looked steadily at him. 'Gone to reassure that foolish child's mother that she is safe. Are you injured elsewhere?'

  'My shoulder,' he admitted, and winced as she prodded the bruise, already visible.

  'I don't think anything is broken.' She went to dip a cloth in cold water and placed a bowl beside him. 'Keep that on your knee, and keep it cold. I'll find some unguents when Bella has gone.'

  Luke began to scrub away the mud and worse which had penetrated beneath his torn clothing. 'How long has Bella been here?' he asked.

  'At least two hours. I managed to persuade her she had to return home, after I'd convinced her I was prepared to help her, but she insisted on waiting to see you, no doubt to be certain I spoke for you too.'

  'You mean to help us?' Luke looked up at her with sudden hope in his eyes, then sighed. 'But how? I cannot support a wife, much as I want her.'

  His aunt was adding cold water to one of the kettles, testing it, and then came across to add it to the bath. 'I need to consult with the rest of the family. It will take a week or so, but I'm sure something can be arranged.'

  'I don't want their charity!'

  'Don't be foolish. It's our duty to help you, and if you won't take a gift do at least consider a loan. Your Uncle Joshua and I cannot fund it by ourselves, but with help my scheme would be possible.'

  'What scheme?'

  'I won't raise your hopes until I am certain of success. But you won't, I hope, let pride stand in the way of rescuing that child, not if you truly love her.'

  Luke finished bathing in silence. His aunt, having received the clean clothes from the maid, banished her to her own bedroom and said she ought to go and keep Bella company.

  'Come up when you are decent,' she said briskly, and Luke made haste to towel himself dry. His shoulder ached, his knee was stiffening, and it was an effort to drag himself upstairs, but he was anxious to discover what had precipitated Bella's flight from home.

  The girl was sitting forward on her chair, her hands clenched together, an anxious look on her face when he entered the drawing room. She sprang to her feet and cast herself into his arms, then tried to stifle the sob which escaped.

  'What happened to you? Your aunt says you were set upon. Are you hurt? Who was it? Was it Mr – Mr Silbermann's men?'

  'Why should you think that?' Luke asked, astonished. 'It was footpads, merely.' Footpads who spoke French, he reminded himself, but it would serve no purpose to frighten Bella, and he could discuss it with his aunt when they had persuaded her to go home.

  'He is becoming impatient, and Mama says I have to say yes to him! I couldn't bear it any longer. I had to escape. I know you cannot earn a great deal at Bow Street, but I'd sooner live in a hovel with you than luxury with him!'

  Luke dropped his head on his hands. What a coil! He'd misled Bella, unintentionally, and she believed he was employed. How could he destroy her hopes and confess he would soon have no means of supporting himself, let alone a wife?

  Aunt Caroline intervened. 'Never mind that now, child. You can see Luke is safe, but it's too late to discuss practical details now. He will come and
see your mother soon. As soon as Mr Prevost comes back he will escort you home.'

  It took them an hour after Joshua returned to persuade her to go.

  'Your mother is too thankful to know you are safe to be angry,' Joshua told her.

  'She says that now,' Bella muttered. 'She will punish me as soon as I am there.'

  Eventually, when Luke was unable to stifle a gigantic yawn, she apologised for being silly and stood up to go.

  'You will come tomorrow?' she asked nervously.

  Luke nodded, but his aunt shook her head firmly.

  'No, child. Luke will come the next day, when I have had time to put my plan into effect,' Aunt Caroline insisted. 'Don't fret, child, you can't be bundled off to the altar before then, and you have to allow the swelling on Luke's knee to go down. He needs to rest it tomorrow, or he won't be fit to carry you off.'

  That made Bella smile faintly, and she went willingly down to the hackney Uncle Joshua had kept waiting, with a couple of linkboys for extra protection.

  'Up to your room, Luke, and I will bring bandages,' Aunt Caroline said briskly. Luke dragged himself up two flights of stairs and was in bed when she came in.

  'What plan do you have?' he demanded as Aunt Caroline busied herself applying soothing ointments, and bandaging his knee. 'I need to know, not fret about it,' he added, seeing her pursed lips.

  'Very well. With the threat of arrest for murder, and Bossard's enmity which threatens Sylvie too, England is not safe for you. If the family will all help a little, and most of them can afford something, I suggest you take both girls to America.'

  'America?' Luke said blankly. 'What would I do there? How could I support them?'

  Aunt Caroline chuckled. 'That had me puzzled for a while, but I have the answer. You must start an academy for butlers.'

  Luke stared at her blankly. 'A what?'

  'We hear a good deal in the City about conditions in America. It's a wild country for the most part, but there are wealthy families now, living in some style, especially in towns such as Boston.'

  'Where they tipped the tea into the harbour just after I was born? That was the act of rebels.'

  'Perhaps, but now they have money, they want to ape the European aristocracy, and they need well-trained servants for that. With your French heritage, and experience in a London mansion, you could train men to fill these posts. I am sure I can find enough money to pay for your passages, rent a suitable house when you arrive, and maintain you for a few months until you are established and earning money. You can set up a registry too, supplying servants from amongst the immigrants.'

  'I can't!' Luke exclaimed.

  'Why not? You were not too proud to become a servant, are you too proud to become a tradesman?'

  He shook his head. 'It isn't that. If I leave England my last hope of discovering what happened to the treasure my father hid will be lost.'

  'That was hid in France, not here, and you may not be able to visit France for years. By that time you could be wealthy enough to return, the murder threat will be forgotten, and who knows what might happen to Bossard? If you are out of reach he'll probably return to France. And it gives you a chance to marry Bella. If you really love the girl and are not just sorry for her you'll go.'

  ***

  Luke shut out the chatter of Jenny and Maggie as they were rowed across the river towards Vauxhall Gardens. He was more concerned with what questions he needed to ask Maggie, how he might persuade her to tell the truth, than speculating on the wonders they were about to see or the musical entertainment they might hear.

  He patted his pockets. Joshua had insisted on lending him money to supplement his own rapidly diminishing resources. 'Buy them plenty of good food and wine,' he'd advised. 'Get the wench merry, and she'll be more likely to talk.'

  It was difficult to follow his uncle's advice, he was so impatient to unravel another piece of the puzzle. Despite this, however, he was despondent about the value of it. Even if he discovered that the Viscount had been alone, that would not prove more than the opportunity to poison his father's chocolate. His thoughts swung to Aunt Caroline's amazing suggestion. At first he'd dismissed it out of hand, but during a long night when the pain in his knee and shoulder had prevented him from resting, the idea began to appear more attractive. His chances of recovering the family jewels were, he admitted for the first time, remote. Unless he killed Bossard neither he nor Sylvie would be safe. He could not kill the man in cold blood, but even if he did wasn't it possible the revolutionaries would send someone else on his trail, someone he wouldn't know was dangerous? And in England he had no chance of marrying Bella. America suddenly appeared enticing.

  He was planning in detail when the boat reached the water gate and the two girls, giggling as Sam bowed low and offered them his hand, sprang up onto the steps. Luke pushed aside thoughts of Bella. He must pay attention to Jenny and Maggie tonight.

  For a while they strolled along the walks, and Jenny clung tightly to Luke's arm, frequently asking for reassurance that his shoulder and leg were not paining him too much.

  'Not so long as I walk slowly, and you only need one arm for support,' he chuckled, trying to inject a flirtatious note into his voice, but very much afraid he did not succeed.

  He and Sam had discussed how they meant to introduce the questions, and very soon Sam led the way to a supper booth Luke, feeling recklessly extravagant, had hired. They ate and drank heartily. The girls commented loudly on the joys of being served for once, of not having had to prepare the food or wash the dishes, and Sam made sure they drank plenty of wine. Luke was peeling an apple for Jenny when he judged it time to start.

  'This could be my last night of freedom,' he sighed. 'If the constable doesn't find a better suspect soon, he'll do his utmost to arrest me.'

  Jenny whimpered slightly, and clutched at Luke's injured arm. 'No, Luke, 'e mustn't!'

  He winced, but bore the pain. 'He has no other likely suspects,' Luke said. 'The one most likely to benefit is the Viscount, but if you were with him, Maggie, he is cleared.'

  'Would the constable really charge 'im?' Maggie whispered, and even in the glow of the many coloured lanterns which distorted the light Luke saw her cheeks pale.

  'I doubt it, unless there was real proof. It would be a different matter to arresting me and throwing me into some stinking cell. He'd need to be completely sure before offending the whole of the ton, and I can't see how he can get any proof now.'

  Maggie looked thoughtful, and Sam refilled her wineglass. She drank half the wine in one swallow. 'You mean, if there was any doubt, neither you nor 'im could be put in gaol?'

  Luke nodded, and then sighed. 'But you were with him.'

  'No I weren't then!' Maggie exclaimed, and then clapped both hands over her mouth. 'Ooh, I dain't mean ter say that! 'E said 'e'd kill me if I did!'

  'He threatened you? He forced you to say you were with him?' Luke demanded.

  Miserably she nodded. 'I dain't want ter do it, but 'e said I'd be in trouble if I dain't.'

  'But you're leavin' now,' Jennie said eagerly. 'Maggie, yer've gotta tell the truth, fer Luke's sake, an' yer'll be working' for this City feller next week!'

  Maggie looked thoughtful. 'What d'yer want me ter do?' she asked Luke eventually.

  He breathed a silent sigh of relief. 'Tell me what happened, I'll write it down, and you can sign that it's the truth.'

  'I can't read,' she protested.

  'No, but Sam can, and if he reads it out to you, will you trust him enough to make your mark? He and Jenny can sign as witnesses, and I can give it to the constable.'

  'Shall I 'ave ter go ter court?' Maggie asked.

  'I doubt it. But it would make them more unlikely to accuse me.'

  She pursed her lips, then suddenly nodded. 'Mr Silbermann said I could go when I wanted, an' I don't see why I shouldn't go termorrer.'

  Luke had come prepared. He pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket, and a small phial of ink with a quill. While Jennie
and Maggie watched in some awe he wrote, pulled out a screw of paper with sand in it, scattered it over the paper, and handed it to Sam.

  'Will you read that, please? And if I have anything wrong stop him, Maggie.'

  Solemnly Sam parodied fishing out a pair of spectacles, perching them on his nose, frowned at the giggles this evoked, and read out what Luke had written. Maggie listened intently, and when he'd finished she nodded.

  'What do I do now?'

  'Have you made your mark before?'

  'Yes. Do I do that now? Where?'

  Luke pointed to the place, dipped the quill in the ink, and handed it to her. Tongue protruding Maggie carefully drew a cross, Sam annotated it, and then he signed his own name with a flourish and Jennie, trying to look nonchalant, added her cross.

  'I am most grateful,' Luke said, but inwardly wondered whether this would in fact do him any good at all. He threw off gloomy speculation and concentrated on entertaining the girls.

  'You must be looking forward to going to work for someone else,' he said as they were walking round the paths again, in search of musical entertainments. 'How did you hear of the job?'

  Maggie chuckled. 'Mr Silbermann's marryin' a relative of the Earl's,' she said, 'an' from what I 'eard neither the old Earl nor the new 'un will even pass the time of day wi' the gal. Mr Silbermann thought it'd serve 'em right if 'e enticed as many servants as he could away ter work fer 'im.'

  Was this care for Bella, or some grisly joke the old man was perpetrating, Luke wondered. Fleetingly he felt guilty about what would happen to Mr Silbermann's new household when, as he fervently hoped, he removed Bella from the danger of a forced marriage with a man old enough to be her grandfather. Mentally he shrugged. He could not take on responsibility for all of them, and if some were dismissed they would soon find other positions. It was what they expected of life.