As quickly as it had started, it ended. “Now my question has been answered. You taste as delicious as you look,” he whispered.
She started to reach for his nape when the sound of someone attempting entry brought her back to reality. She didn’t want to return as what had just happened… words couldn’t describe. All she knew it had been pure heaven.
“Robert, you must sneak out as you came for my maid returns and it would be unseemly for her to catch us like this,” she whispered.
“Yes. As much as I don’t wish to agree, you’re right,” he answered softly. In an instant he was back on the tiny terrace blowing her a kiss, then disappeared as Amanda entered.
“M’ lady, please step away from the window as we don’t know who might see you.”
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I heard a noise outside and only went to see what it was. As you can well note, I was armed in a fashion.” She retrieved the poker from where it fell.
Kristina heard a tray set on the small table by her chair and turned see Amanda standing with her arms across her chest and a sour expression in her face. “If that be the case, m’ lady, how do you explain your overly pink, swollen lips? And not just the lower one, but both? Did a certain young swain perchance slip past the guards and steal a kiss?”
“That, Amanda, is none of your concern. Now leave me in peace while I snack on what you brought. You may retire for the night. Don’t bother me until I ring for you in the morning.” She tried not to order her too sternly as Amanda was, along with her mother, a private confidant.
“As you wish, m’ lady, but don’t stay up to late.” Her maid curtsied, then slipped from the room.
A short while later, her first true kiss still tingling on her lips, Kristina crawled between the soft sheets of her bed. What she’d hoped would be a calm, restful repose was instead filled with dreams of a certain gentleman and his lips devouring her in ways she’d never imagined, only read about.
Chapter Four
After a pleasant although slightly disturbing sleep, as he'd dreamed of the vision Kristina had presented him in her nightwear, Robert tossed off the sheets and climbed from his bed. Why he’d risked everything to sneak into her bedchamber still confounded him, but in retrospect, doing so had been worth it.
Padding over to his private room, he took care of his morning routine. Freshly shaven, he returned to find his butler had snuck in and was laying out his attire for the morning.
“Evan, how many times have I told you to knock and await my response before entering? What if I’m entertaining a lady when you barge in?” he scolded. Of course Evan, having been with him for several years, including serving as his personal assistant in the army, tended not to listen unless he wanted to.
“Captain, one of my jobs besides being your valet is to know everything going on as far as you’re concerned. If you by chance did have a lady visiting, I’d know about it either directly or Bing would inform me. Now, would you care to explain your late-night trip to Lady Rosewood’s suite?”
Robert rolled his eyes at hearing Evan using his former rank. As much as he’d tried, the man either couldn’t or wouldn’t refer to Robert by his new, albeit unwanted, title. What he did find of interest was how Evan knew where he'd gone after returning home. Something, though, told him he was better off not knowing, at least for the time being.
“I’d rather the dark green jacket today with buckskin breeches,” he said.
“If you insist, but you wore it yesterday and shouldn’t wear the same two days in a row. What will people think?” Evan explained.
“That I like it,” Robert retorted as he slipped the coat on, then headed for the door.
“Certainly, Captain,” Evan called after him.
“Damn that man. Isn’t he ever going to address me as is proper?” Robert mumbled, stepping onto the stairs that led to the ground floor.
“Never, Captain,” he heard from behind him. A grin spread across his face.
As he stepped into the small breakfast room, Robert started for the side boy. Bing slipped into the room as well. “Good morning, m’ lord. Might I be of assistance in serving you?”
Robert wasn’t surprised at his butler’s question, as he’d asked every day for the past several months since Robert's return from Spain. He knew it was the man’s job to aid the viscount. He remembered seeing him do the same for his father. Bing didn’t realize that during all his years in the army he'd had to fend for himself, so now it was more habit than anything.
“No thank you. I can manage. You can get me coffee, though.”
“Yes m’ lord,” Bing answered.
If he wasn’t mistaken Robert might have heard, once again, a hint of disappointment in the man’s words. He knew someday Bing would finally accept his ways without question.
Turning back to the side boy, he selected a variety of roasted and grilled meats, eggs fried in pork fat, and several slices of salmon. No sooner had he taken his seat at the head of the table than Bing returned with the coffee.
With a nod, Robert waited as his butler set the pot to his right side. “Thank you. After I break my fast, I’ll need a footman to deliver a letter to Lord Eustace Rosewood, Earl of Crossington, and await an answer.”
“Yes, m’ lord. I know the man for the errand and will have him awaiting your summons. In the meantime, while you eat, which broadsheet would you wish to look over? The Times or The Tattler?”
“The Times, as it has less needless gossip,” he answered, accepting the sheets from his butler.
While partaking of his first meal of the day, Robert perused the news to see if there might be anything of interest, especially from Spain. Unfortunately what he read was distressing as the army was still laying siege to several major cities. While flipping through the pages, his eye was captured about a short article about a new viscount finally making his presence known within the ton. The author of the story wondered how long it would be before he claimed a young lady as his wife.
As he read on, he was astounded to see not a single word about Lady Rosewood. He found the omission distressing as the reporter stated he had been seen dancing with several ladies, when in actuality he had waltzed only with Kristina. Once again the article confirmed his belief that the gabblegrinders and gossips only saw and talked about what they wanted.
At least he knew his love— not that he’d ever say those two words to her— was safe from being pursued by so-called gentlemen. Not that his late-night behavior had been very appropriate.
With his meal finished, he instructed Bing to inform Cook how pleased he'd been with the selections available, then told him to have coffee brought to his office.
“I’ve a pot already to bring to you,” Bing answered.
With a nod of thanks Robert stood, took the broadsheets, and went to his office to deal with the morning mail, something he detested doing. As the news that he was in town spread, he suspected he'd be dealing with even more correspondence.
Entering his office, Robert noticed two things, one distressing and the other more than welcome. Neatly centered on his desk sat a stack of vellum and parchment envelopes. Each, he knew, contained an invitation to some boring social engagement, most of which he’d refuse. What warmed him was the fire burning healthily in the fireplace behind the oak desk. The majority of the requests for his presence would end up amongst the flames lapping at the wood.
Tossing the gossip rags aside, he cleared the desk of demands on his evening with a sweep of his arm. Satisfied, he withdrew a sheet of foolscap, took up a quill, and began to compose a letter to Lord Rosewood requesting an interview at his earliest convenience.
Once the note was on its way, Robert next turned his attention to this mysterious uncle. After scouring through his father’s diaries, he was at wit's end. He found no references to the man after 1789, when he'd seemingly disappeared. But there was possibly one source— or one person, to be exact— with knowledge of why he’d been sent away.
“Bing, come in,
as I know you’re standing outside the door,” he called out.
In less than two heartbeats his butler stood in front of him. “Yes, m’ lord?”
“You were the late viscount’s butler for how long?”
“I’ve held this position for the last twenty years, and my father before me. However I’ve worked either here or at the estate since a young lad.”
Robert leaned back in his chair, brow furrowed in thought as he digested Bing’s words. “Do you remember any particular event which occurred either here or in the country regarding my uncle, around 1789? After that year there’s no mention of him, and his name seems to have been removed from my father’s diaries.”
“M’ lord, that’s because the late viscount ordered his name never to be spoken again on penalty of being dismissed after he was shipped off to India,” Bing replied.
“Well, now you can speak it, as the information might lead to who killed my father and brother” he explained, then glanced to the still unopened invitations, which could easily wait.
“As you wish, m’ lord, but I should point out my memory isn’t all that clear on the subject.”
With a wave of his hand, Robert signaled Bing to continue.
“It was about the time the viscount learned the viscountess was increasing when he found out his younger brother, Maurice, had gotten a girl from the village in a family way. It turned out this wasn’t the first time he’d gotten a young lady great with child. Fed up with his brother, he ordered Maurice off to India and his name never mentioned again.”
“So what happened with the girl?”
“Turned out she couldn’t stand the shame, so she bolted to London and was lost in the city. Her parents were so distraught that first the mother, then father took their lives. M’ lord was so upset he sent enquires hoping to find the girl and the baby. Unfortunately, it was learned she died soon after childbirth and the baby, a boy, was put in an orphanage.”
As the story unfolded, Robert began to wonder if somehow this mystery boy, now a young man, could have found out was about his parentage, then by some misguided need for retribution arranged for the two deaths.
“Was Father able to find him?”
“From what I remember, by the time someone arrived to collect the boy, he had disappeared with no hint as to where or with whom.”
“So as far as anyone knows he could be either dead or halfway around the world,” Robert muttered, discouraged.
“In that you’re correct, m’ lord. But, and now I’ve your permission to discuss the topic, I can tell you what happened to your uncle.”
“I thought you said it had been forbidden to talk about or communicate with him. Who would have been brave enough to…?” Robert stopped midsentence, realizing who it had to have been. “My mother?”
His butler nodded.
A tear formed in the corner of his eye as he thought back on the day he'd gotten word of her death. He’d been in Spain for only a few months when the letter had arrived. He'd returned home for a short while, then returned to his duties. That had been, until now, the last time he’d set foot on English soil.
“Yes. Every few months she’d receive a letter from him and she would write back. This was all done under the viscount’s nose, and to the best of the senior staff's knowledge, he never learned of it.”
“And the letters were destroyed after her death?” Robert asked, hoping he was wrong.
“No, m’ lord. Lady Kersey and I we were able to hide them from His Lordship. With your permission I’ll get them for you, even though I don’t know if they’ll contain any information in solving the murders.”
“Granted. I’ve a good hour or so before I leave to escort Lady Rosewood to luncheon. That is, if I have heard from the Earl.”
With his butler dismissed, Robert took the time to think back to the past few weeks, starting when he'd come up to London. It had all started with a letter from his dear sister, claiming to know of someone who might be able to assist in the search. Little had he known that someone would be the most intriguing lady he’d ever met.
He was most fascinated by her unwillingness to divulge anything except in private. Granted, she’d have her lady’s maid and he his valet on the carriage ride today, but he suspected the woman could keep her own council as he knew Evan would. Was it possible Kristina had uncovered some tiny fact which, in the end, would lead him to his uncle’s bastard child? If so, she was a better investigator than anyone he’d ever known.
The sound of Bing returning cleared his mind of last eve’s thoughts and brought him back to the present. Unsurprisingly, the man didn’t knock but strolled into the office, a stack of envelopes tied with a pink ribbon held tightly in his hand.
“M’ lord, the missives you seek." Bing set them on the desk in front of Robert. "Neither Lady Kersey nor I ever glanced at them as we didn’t feel it our place to. We only kept them in the off chance they someday could be useful. I know the reasoning seems strange, but this was among the dying wishes of the Viscountess.”
This bit of information was even more surprising than he could have imagined. Not only his mother, but butler and sister had known something might happen someday and had prepared for it. For the first time since his return to England, things started to make sense. He picked up the pile and carefully undid the bow, took the bottom letter, and started reading it.
He was so focused on the words that he never heard Bing leave until he returned and cleared his throat.
“Yes?” he asked, glancing up from the second letter, frustrated he’d been unable to glean anything from the first.
“M’ lord, the response you seek from Lord Rosewood.” This time he put the note in Robert’s hand.
After breaking the seal, he scanned it, then smiled at Bing. “Have my landau ready in an hour, and inform Evan to be at the front door at that time also.”
“As you wish, m’ lord.” Bing bowed, then set about his tasks.
****
At the appointed hour, Robert climbed the marble stairs to the Rosewood townhouse and reached for the large polished knocker centered on the heavy oak door. A butler opened it, allowing him to look the length of the ground floor.
“M’ lord, welcome. If you’ll accompany me I’ll show you to the Earl’s study, where he awaits the pleasure of your company,” the butler announced.
Robert stepped through and followed the aged man up the grand staircase. If nothing else, the warm welcome was encouraging.
As they strolled down the corridor Robert heard several voices in the distance— two women's and a man's. One he knew belonged to Kristina, while the others had to be her mother and the earl. He was curious, yet relieved to hear their tones were calm, as he supposed there might have been worry on the parents' part. This reinforced his hope he would be allowed to court her, which considering he’d learned nothing of import was encouraging. He desperately needed the lift to his spirits.
Stopping short of the office, he waited to be announced, then stepped inside. “Crossington, m’ ladies,” he said, giving them a hint of a bow as the earl and countess were lower in rank. They, on the other hand curtsied and bowed deeply.
“Pleasure to finally meet you, Hampshire,” the earl said. "I’ve had my ears filled with you by my daughter. For some reason which escapes me, she’s entranced by you." Robert was happy to notice a hint of jest in his words.
“The pleasure’s all mine, and she couldn’t have told you that much as we only met last eve courtesy of my sister, Lady Kersey.”
“Only that you’re the first gentleman who I have ever, save Father of course, been comfortable with,” Kristina announced with a smile.
“On that, Crossington, I promise you nothing untoward or any harm will befall Lady Rosewood,” Robert pronounced with a grin.
“As I’m sure it won’t. I and the Countess have complete faith and trust in your word as a gentleman.”
“I appreciate your confidence, sir. Now, with your permission, I promised Lady Rosew
ood an enjoyable luncheon at a lovely tavern in Chriswick. Later, we’ll be taking a tour of the park.” Robert spoke to the countess first, then glanced to the earl.
“You couldn’t have picked a better day for the excursion. Mayhap, if I can convince my husband to get some air we might see you later,” the countess said, with a smile of confidence.
With a nod to her parents, he offered his arm to Kristina and together they departed the townhouse.
Chapter Five
As the coach rolled through the streets of London toward the hamlet of Chriswick, Robert told Kristina of the invitations he’d received. “I’ve not touched them as I had something more important to look into. Also, having no idea which I should respond to, I was hoping for guidance from you.”
“I know what you mean, actually. Today was the first time I got more than one or two. It would seem after last night we created a bit of a stir within the ton. Now, hostesses will all but demand our presence to see what we do.”
“Then my dear, I suggest we do as we wish, not what’s expected of us.” He grinned at her nod of approval.
“If you’re able, would you enlighten me as to what kept you busy?” she pondered.
By the time the coach arrived at the Horse and Mule Tavern, he’d finished telling Kristina everything he knew about his uncle. “I’ve got more letters to read. It might be a day or so before I finish them and am able to evaluate everything.”
He handed her down and settled her hand on his arm. As they entered the main room with a very silent Evan and Amanda following, Robert glanced over his shoulder. “I’ve arranged a meal for you both in the tap. Why don’t you enjoy it while we dine in private to discuss certain matters?”
The glare of disapproval from Amanda, Kristina’s lady’s maid, made him suspect she didn't favor his suggestion. “Fear not Amanda," Kristina said. "I’ve Lord Markson’s pledge nothing untoward will occur.”
To Catch a Killer: Markson Regency Mystery Series Collection Page 3
