“When I get outside I’ll drape it over my head to hide my face,” she quickly explained.
“Very good idea, m’ lady. Now, off you go and be safe.”
After what seemed an eternity, Donna stood at the kitchen door to her brother’s, and her pre-marriage former, townhouse. Settling her hand on the latch, she opened it and stepped in, coming face to face with Mrs. Stoneworth.
“I must speak with my brother immediately,” she said in a whispered voice, letting the blanket slip away showing her state.
“Come with me,” the Markson housekeeper said.
As if in a daze less than a minute later, Donna found herself in the scullery.
“Now, stay here and don’t say a thing. I’ll have someone watch over you,” Mrs. Stoneworth demanded then glanced around and called a maid over. “Doddie, you’re to stand here at the doorway and not let anyone except myself, Bing or His Lordship in.”
“Aye, mum.”
Donna was able to catch a glimpse of the housekeeper as the woman rushed to the servant stairs and disappeared up them.
Not sure if she was safe, but physically and mentally exhausted, she curled up against the back wall on the floor. After drawing her legs up she then wrapped her arms around them. Resting her head against her knees, she started to cry as the image of her husband lying dead on the floor of his office slipped into her mind.
****
The sound of running, which was strictly forbidden except in the case of an emergency, took Robert’s attention away from Kristina’s lips, his bride of three days, and on the suite door just as it burst open.
“M’ lord and lady, pardon my intrusion but Lady Kersey is hiding in the kitchen with her gown and hands are covered in blood,” his housekeeper blurted out.
“Is she injured?”
“No. She said someone killed the Earl and Bow Street is after her for the murder,” Mrs. Stoneworth told him.
“Have Bing set footmen at all the doors and instruct him that no one is to pass through. Have water heated and a hipbath set in her old room. I’ll be down in a minute to bring her up,” Kristina ordered sending the woman to fulfill her duties.
Throwing the covers off them, Robert climbed from their marriage bed, wrapped a sheet around himself as both Evan and Amanda entered.
“Get something quickly for your mistress to put on while I dress in the anteroom. Evan, assist Bing as I’ll take care of dressing,” Robert ordered both staff.
Minutes later, dressed in pair of breeches with boots and an open collared shirt, Robert returned to their suite as Amanda finished putting Kristina’s hair in a simple braid.
“Good, now let’s go find out what happened,” Robert demanded, as he took his wife by the hand and led her to the door.
“No. I’ll get Donna then bring her up to her old room and get her cleaned. Once she’s settled, then we can talk with her to learn what transpired. You should be available to defer any idiots who think she’s in hiding here,” she countered.
He smiled at his wife while gently giving her hand a squeeze. “Yes, you’re right.”
“Of course I am,” she announced, as they stepped out of the viscount suite and into the main corridor, immediately met by Bing.
Robert watched as his wife hurried down the hall to the servant stairs then turned to his butler. “Is everyone in place as ordered and the house secure?”
“Yes, m’ lord. Evan elected to help guard the main door and even I noticed he has his saber with him so I fear no man will get past.”
Robert allowed himself a grin of thanks that his valet had chosen his saber and not a brace of pistols. At least this way those from Bow Street would have a chance to live, if they were swift of foot.
“Good. Have two trays delivered to my sister’s former suite. One with tea and toast for her as I suspect she’ll not have much of an appetite but will need sustenance to help settle her nerves. For the second you’re familiar with what Lady Markson chooses for breakfast so make sure there’s a selection for her.”
“And for you m’ lord?”
“Coffee in my office.”
“I’ll see to it straight away, m’ lord.” Bing turned then rushed along the corridor and disappeared down the back stairs while Robert casually made his way down to the first floor.
After entering his office, he went to the window, which overlooked the courtyard, to see if anything was amiss. Pleased that there weren’t any horses or people in sight, he walked to his desk. He gave the chair a push with his foot and plopped onto the worn cushion, relaxing his feet on the corner of the oak desk. Anchoring his elbow on the armrest, he cradled his chin in his palm as his thoughts drifted over the events of the past weeks.
After receiving word of his father and brother’s murder, he’d returned to England where he met, then married, Kristina. With the murderers now having danced to the hangman’s tune, Robert and his bride had anticipated a pleasant trip to Scotland, but now the events of this morning seemed to change what they’d originally planned.
Was the untimely death of Lord Bryce Kersey a separate event or were all these murders somehow related? Yes, the Earl had given up, almost publicly, his position as a hunter of spies and traitors. Could that be why he was killed and not because of his association with him through his sister and bringing the others to justice.
Another possibility was that one or more people who’d aided Bryce had arranged for his death to silence him for what he knew about them. For some reason, the later seemed to stick in his mind as the strongest until his ruminating was interrupted by Bing.
“M’ lord, your coffee. Are you sure I can’t get you something to eat?”
“Yes, on second thought I’m a bit hungry. Some roast, ham and an egg will suffice for now. Have the ladies been taken care of?”
“Yes. Even before I got to the kitchen, Mrs. Stoneworth had not only arranged for a bath for Lady Kersey but trays were being put together for both ladies.”
“Good, then after I eat, I’ll go see to my sister and find out what happened.”
“If I might suggest m’ lord, you wait as Cook and Mrs. Stoneworth made a special tea for Lady Kersey, which will allow her to sleep. They thought, and I along with Lady Markson agree, it would be for the best to let her rest after the shock. Her Ladyship informed me she will be with Lady Kersey in a comforting capacity in the off chance she wishes to talk.”
Robert took several sips of coffee while digesting what his butler had told him. In reality, it didn’t make sense, but considering Kristina and her perchance for a good mystery it did. Not that she wanted to learn first what had occurred it was that she had an uncanny ability to evaluate then present the facts in a simple manner.
“Make sure there’s at least one maid with the ladies and two footmen on guard outside the suite.”
“Consider it taken care of. Will you want to be notifying the Earl and Countess of Crossington you might not be departing for the north as planned? If so I can have a trusted footman waiting to deliver the note.”
“Most likely,” Robert said.
“I’ll return shortly with a tray,” Bing told him, bowed then slipped from the room.
Robert started to pen a note to Eustace and Sylvia, his bride’s parents, when he heard yelling coming from the direction of the front of the house. Bolting up from his chair, he started for the door only to stop then grab his saber from where it hung on the wall. Now suitably armed against obvious intruders in the guise of Bow Street, he rushed from the room and down the stairs.
On gaining the ground floor, he was pleased to see Evan was easily holding several men at bay with his sword.
“I demand you let us pass as I know you’re harbouring a fugitive.” Robert heard then witnessed as one of the men screamed while trying to dodge the saber’s tip.
“I’ve already told you there’s no one by that name residing in this house. Now remove your frog hide from this house before I run you through,” he overheard Evan call out.
> Taking the last step, Robert stormed up beside his valet, also with his saber at the ready.
“I’d do as he told you. Not only does Evan hate the French, his sword despises them even more. If I’m not mistaken, you go by the name of Jacques so I’d do as not only he but I, Lord Robert Markson, Viscount of Hampshire, say and depart this residence.”
To add emphasis to his words, Robert glanced to Evan, nodded, which was returned, then together they drove forward sending the two runners out of the front door and spilling head over heels down the granite stairs.
“And I should point out that if, by some chance, Lady Donna Kersey were here she’d be under my protection. Now be off with you and until you can prove she is and that she did what you claim don’t you dare blacken my steps.”
With those final words, Robert, with Evan at his side, stepped back into his townhouse.
Chapter Two
Once free of the front door and prying ears, Robert turned to Evan.
“I need you to contact some of your friends and have them set up a watch around the outside. Tell them if they see any runners to get word to either you or Bing then inform Lady Markson or myself. I’ll have the footmen take care of inside the walls.”
“If you’ll give me an hour or two I can have the watch set,” Evan replied, giving Robert a salute with his saber.
“Very good. I’ll be in my office as Lady Kersey is most likely still resting and I don’t wish to disturb her.”
Retracing his steps from moments ago, he entered his office, sheathed his sword then rang for his butler who arrived post haste.
After explaining what needed to be done he turned his attention to other pressing business.
As the morning progressed, and there weren’t any more rude interruptions, Robert was able to pen the note to Kristina’s parents. He then turned his attention to estate business not aware time for luncheon was soon approaching. Ringing for Blair, he ordered a light lunch tray for his wife to be sent to her.
“Darling, that won’t be necessary as your sister is still sleeping so I may dine with you,” Kristina announced as she swept into the room.
“Then make that two trays, Bing,” Robert ordered before stepping up to his bride.
“Good, then we can discuss what little I was able to glean from Donna before she dozed off.” Kristina then wrapped an arm around his waist.
He gathered her to him, gave her a kiss on her cheek then directed his attention to Bing, sending him away with a wave of his hand.
“At once, m’ lord.” He bowed and slipped quietly from the room.
Alone with his bride, he dipped his head, then settled his lips over hers. Teasing her mouth open with the tip of his tongue, he swept in. A moan from deep within her throat brought a hidden smile to his lips as he tasted of her, tea mixed with bilberries, which didn’t surprise him as he knew she loved the little round berry.
The sound of voices coming toward the office forced him to break the kiss, not that he wanted to.
“We’ll continue this later,” he promised her, ending with a kiss to the tip of her nose.
“Oh, yes we will.”
“And I’m sorry as this isn’t the way I planned to start our honeymoon, helping my sister prove she’s innocent,” he said as Bing with another footman entered with their lunch trays.
“Think nothing of it as family comes first,” she whispered back.
“Please set them on the table in front of the divan,” Kristina told the men who responded with a nod.
Settled on the settee, they ate, a ham sandwich for her while he partook of one made with roast venison, in silence. Taking his napkin, Robert wiped a crumb from the corner of her lips. “Next time I might have to use my tongue so I can taste the bread and you at the same time.”
“You mean like this?” She leaned into him and swept away a tiny piece of bread from his mouth with the tip of her tongue.
“Yes.” Grabbing her around the waist, he lifted her onto his lap. “My darling, as much as I enjoy your lips on me don’t you think first we should find out who killed Bryce?” Robert stated.
“Agreed.”
“Now, before Donna fell asleep what were you able to learn from her?”
“Only moments before she found Bryce with the knife in his chest, Donna noticed a tall, thin person go through the door leading to the servant stairs. She thought it unusual as her husband was no longer in the business of hunting for spies. She also mentioned the runners had said the tip came from someone who was walking by on the street. I know here the windows open to the mews so I wonder if his do also.”
“And if so, then how could someone have seen the murder. They would have said mews and since it’s frequented mainly by staff from the different houses how could that be so,” he furthered her explanation of what she’d learned.
“Let’s wait until Donna awakens then get this point clarified. If what we learn is as we both suspect, then I believe a carriage ride by the Kersey townhouse might be in order to confirm the facts,” Kristina suggested, earning her a kiss.
“You do know that will cause quite a stir, not to mention gossip? Being out and about when we’re supposed to be heading to our main estate,” Robert said with a leer.
Kristina giggled. “Since when have you known me to be bothered by what others whisper? It’ll also help cement in their little minds we’re not hiding your sister away.”
Hearing her melodic laugh warmed him as it was one of many adorable charms he loved about her.
“And if anyone asks her whereabouts, we can point them to the Frome estate thus hopefully taking some pressure off us and her,” Robert recommended.
Lifting her off his lap, not that he wanted to since he loved having her in his arms, he stood and offered Kristina his hand bringing a quizzical look his way.
“I know she might be asleep, but you’re correct in that we need to move on this. I know you mentioned an excursion into their townhouse to look through his office, so I feel now would be the best time,” Robert said, pulling her to her feet.
“That would make sense, but how will we be able to get in as I’m sure the house is being watched?”
He nodded his understanding only to correct her, he hoped. “My guess, only the front. I’m sure we will be able to gain access via the mews then up the back stairs. I’ll send Evan ahead to make sure the way’s clear.”
Robert set his hand in hers then together started for Donna’s former suite when they saw Bing coming down the stair from the second floor.
“Lady Markson and I will be going out shortly. Have our town carriage brought around front. A better thought would be to leave it in the mews, this way we can come and go without being seen.”
“And make sure it’s a coach without the Viscount seal on the door,” Kristina added, which earned her a gentle hug from Robert.
“I’ll take care of everything straight away. Oh, I was also coming to inform you Lady Kersey is awake and wishes to speak with you both,” Bing announced before going on his way.
“Shall we, as I’m desirous to hear firsthand from her what occurred,” Robert said, as they arrived at the door to Donna’s suite and entered.
He wasn’t surprised when his bride broke from him and dashed over to give her new sister a hug as they’d become bosom bows while hunting out the murders of Robert’s father and brother.
“Oh, I’m so glad you’ve awoken,” Kristina said.
Robert slid up, gave Donna a kiss on the cheek then glanced to the maid. “Please collect a light luncheon tray for Lady Kersey.”
“That won’t be necessary as I’ve a tray here consisting of broth, crackers and tea,” Mrs. Stoneworth announced as she stepped into the room.
“As long as it’s not the same tea from earlier, which put me to sleep.” Donna teased, bringing laughter from the others.
“No, m’ lady, it isn’t. Now slip into a dressing gown, come over by the fire and enjoy your meal while I’m sure His and Her Lordship wish to in
terrogate you,” the housekeeper instructed Donna.
“Always the mistress of the house,” Donna insisted, then turned to Kristina. “Yes, my sister, you might think you rule the house but it’s really Mrs. Stoneworth who does in consort with Bing. They like to let us think we do,” she explained putting on a simple cotton robe.
“That explains the running of my parent’s,” Kristina replied.
“Um, ladies can we get to the subject at hand.” Robert stepped up to escort them to chairs in front of the fire. He let them get settled while he propped an elbow on the mantle waiting for Donna to start in on her meal. Once she had a little colour in her cheeks, he asked what she remembered from earlier, earning a glare from Kristina.
“No, no Kristina he’d always been like that wanting to hear the information first hand. I know you told him what I’d said, now he wants to compare then to now,” Donna explained.
“I’m beginning to learn. I just didn’t want you to needlessly relive the event of this morning.”
“No and I can understand your concern but we need to find this man and with rest and food I’m up to the task,” Donna declared.
“Good, then what do you remember?” Robert asked, making sure he tried to keep his voice controlled and firm.
“I rose later than usual as we’d been to a ball the evening before. After taking care of my needs and dressing, I started to his office on the off chance he’d not broken his fast. I can’t tell you how wonderful it felt to finally have him back in every way, if you understand my meaning. Anyway, as I stepped onto the first floor, I saw a tall, thin man slip through the servant’s door. As a lady of the ton, I’m well versed in gentlemen’s fashions. I was astounded when I noticed his attire was definitely of the top quality.”
“If he was dressed in the finest attire as you say, do you think you might have seen him around, at a ball or some other event in the past,” Robert asked.
“This was the first time I’d ever seen this person.”
To Catch a Killer: Markson Regency Mystery Series Collection Page 10
