Madeline’s heart leapt when she recognized the scrawled handwriting. Gerard had finally responded to her appeals for a reply.
After handing her pelisse and bonnet to Bramsley, she went upstairs to read the missive in the privacy of her own bedchamber.
The handwriting was particularly bad, Madeline saw upon breaking the wax seal, as if her brother had scribbled in some urgency.
Maman, we taught Gerard to write better than this was her distracted thought as she struggled to make out some of the initial words. Her heart sank with each succeeding revelation.
My dearest sister,
I must confess, you were correct in your allegation. Before eloping, I did indeed take the de Vasse necklace from Lord Ackerby, but only in order to return it to Lynette’s parents, who are the rightful owners. The vicomte and vicomtesse’s jewels were stolen shortly after they fled for their lives during their country’s ghastly Revolution. The necklace illicitly wound up in the possession of the previous Baron Ackerby, who passed it down to the current one. I have no intention of giving it back to this Ackerby.
The difficulty is that he visited the farm two days ago with three of his henchmen and tore the house apart, looking for the necklace. When they couldn’t find it, they had the dastardly gall to beat Mrs. Dobson to force her to give up my location. She refused, loyal soul that she is, but I think it is only a matter of time before Ackerby finds me.
Madeline gave a soft cry at the thought of their dear, sweet, elderly housekeeper being tyrannized by the baron’s ruffians. Clapping her hand over her mouth, she read on.
My beloved’s parents know we took refuge at her cousin Claude’s cottage in Maidstone. Lynette wrote to them last week to tell them she was safe and happy. But since she has received no word in reply, she fears they have disowned her for wedding me, just as we expected. I can only fear what they will reveal to Ackerby if he questions them.
Madeline shook her head in growing alarm, imagining the uproar at the de Vasse house if Ackerby had descended upon them with his henchmen. Lynette’s parents would have been extremely upset that their only daughter had absconded with an English farmer, gentleman or not. They might even be angry enough to disclose Gerard’s location to Ackerby.
I only heard just this morning from Mrs. Dobson, who wished to warn me. I don’t dare let Ackerby find us, so we have left Claude’s cottage and gone into hiding nearby.
Utterly dismayed, Madeline sank down in a chair. Gerard, you foolish boy, what have you done? Ackerby would not give up trying to regain his property, even by violent means.
I have one last favor to ask of you, dearest sister. In addition to the draft you recently sent me, I need another two hundred pounds to leave the country. I plan to take Lynette to France where Ackerby will have no legal authority, even should he pursue us.
I am gratified that you are now married—felicitations on your good fortune, by the by. But since you are a countess, surely you can persuade your new husband to advance you the funds. I am certain Haviland can afford it—his grandmother’s wealth puts Croesus to shame. I will repay you eventually, I swear to you.
Madeline’s hand went to her aching temple. Did Gerard actually expect her to implore Rayne for money so he could whisk the jewels out of the country? Evidently so, judging by the next paragraph.
Since I cannot come to you for fear of being seen, I need you to forward a bank draft for the funds to me at the Blue Boar Inn in Maidstone, in care of the proprietor, Ben Pilling. I will visit the inn on Wednesday at one o’clock in the afternoon to collect the draft. If your letter is not there, then I will return again each day for a week. But the longer you delay, the greater the danger we will be in. I know you will not fail me, though, dearest Madeline.
Your loving brother, Gerard
Fear and frustration warring inside her, Madeline clenched the letter in her hand. If her brother was caught with the priceless heirloom, he could face prison or transportation or even hanging, not to mention bodily harm if the baron’s henchmen found him. Of course Ackerby would want retribution. At this point, even if she could persuade Gerard to return the necklace immediately, it might make no difference.
“How could he, Maman?” Madeline murmured to herself, fighting down a wave of panic. “It is beyond belief that Gerard would endanger himself and his new wife this stupid way. It is awful enough that Mrs. Dobson was beaten for concealing his whereabouts.”
I know, dearest, Madeline’s mother answered in her mind. But Gerard was always the romantic sort. Perhaps this is his way of meting out justice.
“Or perhaps he only wants to curry favor with his new bride’s parents,” Madeline retorted under her breath.
Trying to quell the swell of dread inside her, she muttered an imprecation that was half oath, half plea for Gerard’s salvation. Yet imploring Heaven for help would likely have little effect. She wanted to throw herself upon her bed and wail also, but crying would not solve her dilemma or extricate her brother from his reckless idiocy, either. She couldn’t give in to panic as she wished to.
“So what should I do, Maman?”
Her mother’s voice was frustratingly silent, however.
“I must rescue Gerard from his own folly. I promised you solemnly to look after him and I mean to keep my word.”
Yes, certainly you must, my darling. You cannot allow him to be harmed.
Springing to her feet, Madeline began to pace her bedchamber. For much of her life she’d championed her younger brother, loved him, nurtured him. She had supported Gerard’s recent elopement because she wanted him to have a chance for happiness. Lynette’s parents would never have permitted their daughter to marry him otherwise. No doubt Gerard believed that by returning the necklace to the vicomte and vicomtesse, he could win their support. But if he was dead or imprisoned, it wouldn’t matter that he had won over his bride’s parents.
Therefore, Madeline concluded, she would have to go to Maidstone herself and physically take the necklace from Gerard and hand it over to Ackerby. If it was found in her possession rather than her brother’s, her new title would help protect her. And surely Rayne would step in if—
Madeline halted abruptly in her tracks.
Oh, dear heaven, Rayne.
What if he found out about her brother’s crime? What if the world learned of it? If the dowager Countess Haviland already deplored her grandson’s choice of brides, what would she say to Madeline having a criminal for a brother?
No, Madeline thought, feeling a fresh surge of panic. She couldn’t drag Rayne into a scandal that could stain his family name and alienate his grandmother even further. She had to rectify matters on her own while keeping her brother’s shameful misdeed secret.
Moreover, she didn’t have the right to take Rayne away from his current endeavors. If he had immersed himself in his former profession once more, no doubt he was doing important business.
But most crucially of all, she feared Rayne would be even less likely to love her if her family caused him ignominy.
As the tightness in her chest intensified, Madeline murmured another imprecation. This disaster was coming at the worst possible time in her marriage.
Yet what choice did she have? Gerard was her brother, her flesh and blood. She couldn’t abandon him to his folly simply because she wanted a chance at her own happiness.
Stiffening her spine, Madeline forced herself to take a deep, steadying breath. “Forgive me, Maman,” she muttered aloud, “but when I see Gerard, I plan to throttle him.”
Meanwhile she had to quickly decide her best course of action. Somehow she had to make her brother behave responsibly and give the necklace into her care and then prevent Lord Ackerby from taking any retribution for the theft.
As for the additional funds Gerard needed to flee the country, Madeline reflected, she would certainly not ask her husband for more money. She didn’t want to be any further burden to Rayne, not after costing him so much already. He had already spent a fortune on her clothing.<
br />
What was left of her quarterly pin money would have to do for now. Combined with the hundred pounds she had already given him, it would be enough to fund Gerard and Lynette’s passage to France and get them temporarily settled. Afterward she could send Gerard her salary from her academy employment….
Yes, Madeline vowed, she would handle this problem herself, without asking Rayne for help, without causing him embarrassment or disgrace. She loathed the thought of sneaking around behind his back, but there was no help for it.
She would leave at once for Maidstone. From her recollection, the town was southeast of London in Kent, on a main route to the coast—perhaps fifty miles from here, at least a half day’s drive. She would call at Claude Dubonet’s cottage first, to see if he could tell her where Gerard and Lynette had hidden themselves. If not, she would wait for Gerard at the Blue Boar Inn and confront him when he arrived tomorrow afternoon to collect his bank draft. Perhaps she could even return home by late tomorrow night.
She had to think up a story to explain her absence from Riverwood, of course. Rayne had gone to London again for several days, so she had a little time before he missed her.
She would have to watch herself with Rayne’s servants, though, given their staunch loyalty to him. Which meant she couldn’t use his coachman or footmen or grooms. Therefore, she would have to borrow or hire a carriage.
But how? Arabella was in London just now…. She could say she was going to visit with Arabella, but instead she would make directly for a posting inn as soon as she arrived in London, so she could hire a traveling chaise to take her to Maidstone. Arabella would likely go along with her plan if she revealed that she had an urgent family matter to attend to.
And Bramsley would likely not question her intentions, either, since she’d spent quite some time in London with Arabella this past week. He was unlikely to deny her the remainder of her pocket allowance when she asked him for it—
A knock on her bedchamber door startled Madeline out of her fretful ruminations. When she answered it, she discovered Bramsley standing there as if she had conjured him.
“Miss Blanchard has called for you, my lady,” the majordomo informed her.
Madeline stared blankly at Bramsley for a moment—until she recalled having invited Tess over for luncheon only a short while ago when they’d crossed paths at the academy. She’d thought it a good opportunity to become better acquainted. Regrettably, though, she had no time for friendly cozies just now, Madeline decided, or the emotional fortitude, either. On the other hand … she froze as a thought struck her. Tess might be the perfect person to help her.
“Would you escort Miss Blanchard here to my bedchamber, Bramsley?”
It was an odd request, but the majordomo did not seem overly disconcerted. “Certainly, my lady, as you wish.”
When he was gone, Madeline headed directly for her dressing room to fetch her bandbox. If she intended to travel to Maidstone, she needed to pack for a stay of at least one night, perhaps more.
When Tess arrived, Madeline was nearly finished filling the bandbox.
“I am so very sorry, Tess,” she apologized at once, “but I must cancel our luncheon. I have just learned of a minor family matter that I must straighten out.”
Tess was instantly concerned. “I hope it is not too serious?”
I hope so, too, Madeline muttered to herself. Aloud, she managed to sound reassuring. “I don’t believe so, but it requires me to be away for a day or two. I dislike imposing on you, but I don’t feel I can leave Arabella shorthanded with no notice. Would you mind very much taking my class at the academy tomorrow and perhaps Thursday as well?”
“Certainly, I will be happy to do so. You handled mine when I was away.”
“Thank you,” Madeline said in gratitude.
“Is there anything else I can do for you?” Tess asked. “You seem upset.” When Madeline didn’t immediately reply, Tess pressed in a low voice. “I have seen that look on the faces of countless women in difficulty, Madeline. If you are in trouble of some kind, I would like to help.”
She remained silent as she met Tess’s perceptive gaze. The beauty’s expression was full of sympathy. Perhaps Tess was so compassionate because of her past experiences in dealing with victims of misery and misfortune.
At Madeline’s hesitation, Tess hastened to add, “You can count on me for complete discretion, if that concerns you.”
Discretion wasn’t the sole issue. Tess was nearly a stranger, yet she could be trusted, Madeline felt sure of it. The question was, why would Tess trust her?
“Are you certain you wish to involve yourself with my problems, Tess? You scarcely know me.”
Tess smiled faintly. “Arabella has vouched for you, and that is good enough for me. Moreover, I have seen how cruel the world can be to women with little family or resources. We ladies must stick together, I believe.”
Giving a pained laugh, Madeline inhaled a steadying breath. She disliked dragging anyone into her potentially scandalous affairs, but she would be supremely grateful for an ally. Deciding to accept Tess’s offer of help, she nodded.
“Very well … I need to go to London at once so I can hire a post chaise, but I would rather my husband not know of this particular endeavor. Would you mind if I borrowed your carriage and coachmen to take me into town?”
“I will do even better. I will drive you to London myself.”
Madeline searched the other woman’s kind eyes. “Doubtless you are wondering why I wish to keep secrets from Haviland—”
Tess held up a forestalling hand. “I don’t require an explanation unless you wish to tell me. You need a friend just now, and I am available.”
Madeline wanted to hug Tess for her trust and unquestioning support. But she settled for murmuring another heartfelt thank-you.
“Do you wish to leave now?” Tess asked, eyeing the bandbox on Madeline’s bed.
“Yes, if you don’t mind. But will you give me a few minutes first? I must speak to Bramsley and make some financial arrangements.”
“Of course.”
“And I should order a meal packed for us since I deprived you of the luncheon I promised you,” Madeline said as an afterthought.
Responding with a light laugh, Tess professed herself capable of going without lunch this once. But in truth, Madeline was glad for the mundane distraction of providing sustenance for their journey.
It would help her to take her mind off her fears for her reckless brother and her attempt to save him from destroying his life with his quixotic but criminal undertaking.
* * *
“Mr. Bramsley is awaiting you in your study, my lord,” Walters informed Rayne as he entered his London manor late that night.
Nodding at his chief aide, Rayne felt his chest tighten. If Bramsley had personally traveled all the way from Chiswick, the news could not be good. The hour was advanced, nearly midnight. Rayne had just returned from his club, where he’d spent the evening trying to distract himself, for even though his plans to thwart a ring of assassins were reaching a critical point, the possible drama playing out at his country estate in Chiswick disturbed him far more.
With effort, he kept his expression neutral as he greeted his majordomo in his study.
“What information do you have for me, Bramsley?” Rayne asked, pretending a dispassion he wasn’t feeling.
“You directed me to investigate anything out of the ordinary regarding Lady Haviland, my lord,” Bramsley responded with reluctance, not questioning why the earl was spying on his wife yet obviously not eager to bear bad tidings, either.
“And you noted something unusual about her behavior,” Rayne prodded.
“Yes, my lord. Her ladyship departed Riverwood suddenly this afternoon.”
“Did she attempt to open my safe first?”
“Not as far as I could tell. But she requested the remainder of her pocket allowance before she went with Miss Blanchard to London.”
“She has gone to Lon
don before during my absence from Riverwood,” Rayne observed.
“Yes, but this time she said she planned to stay at the London home of Lady Danvers this evening, and I know for a fact that her ladyship left London yesterday for the Danvers family seat.”
Hoping there was a simple explanation for his wife’s actions, Rayne set his jaw muscles and forced himself to remain silent as Bramsley continued.
“I thought it best to err on the side of caution, so I had John James follow Lady Haviland as you instructed. I received word from James only an hour ago, so I came directly here to report to you.”
John James was a former agent for British Intelligence who had remained in Rayne’s service after Napoleon’s defeat. He’d been sent to Riverwood only this morning for just such an event, since he had extensive experience in following suspects without being detected. By posing as a footman on Bramsley’s staff, James would have ample opportunity to watch Madeline.
“He must have discovered a serious transgression,” Rayne said, fighting the hollow sensation in his gut.
“I fear so, my lord. Miss Blanchard set Lady Haviland down at The Swan, where she hired a post chaise and set out to the east, toward Canterbury.”
Rayne frowned at the revelation. The Swan was a major coaching station on the outskirts of London, so it made sense that Madeline would go there if she needed an unmarked traveling carriage. But he would have expected her to head for home in Chelmsford in Essex, not Canterbury in Kent. The road to Canterbury continued on to Dover, a seaport on the coast, which offered swift passage to France, Rayne thought absently.
“And did James follow her from The Swan?”
“Yes, on horseback. When Lady Haviland reached Maidstone early this evening, she stopped first at an inn for a short while, then called at a nearby cottage, where no one seemed to be at home. Then she returned to the inn—The Blue Boar—and took rooms. Evidently she is waylaying there overnight.”
To Tame a Dangerous Lord Page 28
