Lord Melvedere's Ghost

by King, Rebecca

  She looked to damned right sitting gracefully in the chair beside the hearth, with Basil at her feet, that he knew the elegance was inherent to her. It wasn’t a show, it was merely who she was. Only she didn’t seem to realise it, or, if she did, didn’t care to allow it to affect her approach toward life. He mentally cursed her father for restricting such a beauty with his sheer heartlessness, and felt a surge of protectiveness toward her that was far beyond his usual feelings toward women.

  He had always been raised to respect women; they needed looking after because they were the weaker sex. Somehow, Cecily seemed to throw that learning on its head. She had endured more than some of his friends could ever consider possible, and had withstood harshness without a murmur of complaint. He realised then just how easy she had made his job of getting her to Melvedere.

  Now all he had to do, was give her the information she needed while protecting the secrets of the country and the Star Elite, while not tripping himself up and revealing his future intentions for her – them – far too soon.

  Not much expected of him then.

  He sauntered slowly across the room and dropped into a chair opposite, leaning back in his seat and bracing one ankle on his knee while considered where to start.

  “I want to know how long I am going to be here,” Cecily began, meeting his watchful look with a boldness that hid her inner turmoil.

  She felt as though she was being scrutinised, judged, assessed, and didn’t like it one bit. If only she knew what was going on behind those cool grey eyes of his. But she couldn’t ask. She didn’t want him to know how much of an affect he had on her. His opinion of her didn’t really matter after all. As soon as his job was done, she would be released and allowed to go on her way; wherever that was.

  “However long it takes us to get the next part of the mission done.”

  “That is?”

  Sighing deeply, Jamie steepled his fingers and considered for a moment. “We need to give Portia and Archie time to reach their destination.” He lifted a finger when she took a breath to ask. “No, I don’t know where they are going before you ask. Because of what happened to us, I can only assume that Archie may have taken matters into his own hands and headed in a different direction to the one planned in order to keep them safe. Until he sends word of his location to my boss, there is nothing we can do but sit and wait. I don’t know how long it will take but, believe me when I say that Archie will do everything in his power to keep Portia alive. We just have to be patient.”

  “But I cannot just sit here and do nothing!” Cecily protested, pushing out of her chair and walking toward the dog. Without thinking, she picked up the tongues and lifted Basil’s tail away from the edge of the fire before dropping the tongues back into the pot beside her.

  “There is nothing else we can do for now. I have sent word to my boss that we have arrived here safe and sound, so when he hears anything, he knows where to get hold of us. You are already aware that think there may be someone who is, shall we say, less than honest within the Star Elite but, until we can find out who that person is, there is little we can do except be extremely cautious who we send notes to, and how.”

  “So there is nothing else we can do?”

  “Except eat, drink and be merry? No, I am afraid there isn’t right now,” Jamie sighed, wishing he could tell her everything. He couldn’t lose sight of the fact that her father could very well be up to his ears in financing the French spies and, as such, Jamie had no idea how much Cecily or Portia knew of their father’s actions.

  “I need to ask you some questions, Cecily, and I want you to think carefully about your answers.” His voice dipped with seriousness and he levelled a steely stare at her, urging her to sit down.

  Cecily narrowed her eyes and met his stare with her own, defiantly standing where she was. “Go on.”

  “Is your father a particularly wealthy man?”

  Cecily stared at him. “I think he has more wealth than he has ever bestowed upon us if that is what you want to know. He was frugal to say the least and, although he provided for us, he spent as little as he could get away with. We survived, that is about all I can say.”

  “Yet your father worked long hours and had close business connections with a lot of people,” he named several of the names they knew were involved in handling smuggled goods.

  “Yes, those are the ones, how do you know?”

  Jamie smiled secretively. “I don’t suppose you were ever in a position to overhear any of their conversations?”

  Cecily shook her head. “Our father hated us. We were there to look after him, not the other way around. We had our place and had to stay there. In the kitchens, or our rooms, it didn’t matter to him as long as we kept out of his way when he was entertaining his colleagues. When they came around, we were always called upon for refreshments and banished from the room. So to answer your question, no, I wasn’t confided in or included in any of my father’s personal or business dealings.”

  Jamie nodded and heaved a huge sigh of relief. He knew from the look on her face that she was being honest with him and he was so very glad of that. Mentally discounting her guilt, Jamie glanced at his feet thoughtfully before deciding on another tack.

  “Did you go into your father’s study much?”

  Cecily frowned and studied him for several long thoughtful moments, before mentally shrugging. She could see no reason not to tell him what he wanted to know. “A few times but only when we delivered trays of food. We weren’t allowed in there much. I know Portia went in by herself a few times, mainly just to be able to defy him, but I had to carry on with the jobs. If we didn’t get things done on time, father would become spiteful and shout a lot.”

  “What was Portia looking for?”

  “Money,” Cecily sighed. “We knew he had more than he was sharing with us. Usually when he went out, he locked the door to his study, and he had the only key – or so he thought. Portia found a key in the kitchens and used it to get in and out. We helped ourselves to his money a few times, but only a few pennies you understand, nothing of great significance.”

  “You should have taken more,” Jamie sighed. He couldn’t help but regret the fact that they hadn’t helped themselves to more of the miserly old man’s despicable wealth. At least someone worthy would have had the benefit of it.

  Cecily smiled, feeling not the least embarrassed for her confession.

  “Do you think he wanted to sell you into marriage to his friends because there was money in it for him, or do you think it was designed to secure his business connections?”

  Cecily thought about that for a moment. “There was no love for us, you understand. Any agreement my father made on our behalf was only done for his own financial gain. The man he had lined up for me was twice my age, but one of his oldest business associates, so I can only assume that an agreement was reached because my father had something to gain for his business, which in turn would improve his finances.”

  “I agree with that. Did you object when he told you about his plans?” Jamie didn’t know why that particular question had popped out. It had nothing to do with the work of the Star Elite, but it was too late now. He wanted to withdraw the question, and pulled on all of his years of training to remain perfectly still and outwardly unaffected by the careful study she was giving him.

  “Of course I objected,” Cecily replied carefully. “Not only do I object to being married at all, let alone to a man twice my age, but I do not expect to be sold like chattel to the highest bidder.”

  “I’m sorry, Cecily, I didn’t mean to overset you,” Jamie sighed, warily sitting back in his chair when she jumped to her feet and turned toward him.

  “I am not overset, I am angry,” she snapped, stepping carefully over Basil on her way to the window. “My father was the coldest man at the best of times, but of late, with the orders he gave us to marry old men, he had sunk to a new low.”

  “Do you think he was hard up for money and was really trying
to put on a show for his friends?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “That he wasn’t as wealthy as he liked to think he was, or had some sort of financial commitment that took all of his available funds.”

  Cecily turned to stare blankly at him. “He always lived frugally, although managed to afford the finest brandies and foods for himself and his associates, you understand.” Her lips twisted wryly. Now that she was away from her father’s wrath, she felt that, for the first time in her life, she could form her own thoughts. That she could really and truly be herself. It was liberating as much as it was terrifying. She knew she shouldn’t be saying half of these things to anyone, let alone someone like Jamie, but the words couldn’t stop flowing. For some reason she felt compelled to tell him everything. After all, it wasn’t as though his opinion mattered to her and, if the Star Elite were investigating her father, wasn’t it her moral duty to tell them everything she knew?

  “You were investigating him when you came to the Tissington ball,” Cecily stated after several long moments of thoughtful silence.

  Jamie rose and moved to stand beside her. “I am afraid we were and have been ever since. There are things he was involved in that make him a very guilty man indeed.”

  “Is he likely to go to prison?”

  Jamie hesitated and gave her a searching look. Her comment about her reluctance to marry was like a thorn in his side and he couldn’t allow it to simply go unnoticed, or uncommented upon.

  “I think that you are not likely to be going back to Tissington,” Jamie sighed. “Whatever the future holds, your father has been involved in things far beyond his control, and he has now run out of options.” He remarked quietly, studying her face for any sign of distress.

  “Good.”

  Jamie’s brows flew upward. “Good? He is your father.” He applauded her common sense but wondered if it was a spur of the moment thing rather than deep sentiment.

  “He was a tyrant, and a bully. I have no idea what he has been involved in, please believe that.”

  “I do,” Jamie declared softly.

  “If he has been involved in any criminal activities, then it is only right that he should face justice. He made it perfectly clear to both Portia and I that we were there under sufferance. Our mother wanted us, not him. He had to marry and was obliged to have a family. We were a disappointment because we were daughters, not sons.”

  “Whatever his reasons for having you, you are still his children. However, because you are daughters, our investigation will mean that you and Portia will be on your own for a while, away from your father’s protection. If your father was involved in illegal activities, it will be some time before the estate will be released and, even when it is, there will be wills to take into consideration. Given your father’s aversion to his daughters, there is little likelihood of either of you being bequeathed anything.”

  “I know,” Cecily sighed, uncertain if she was glad to be rid of Tissington, or not. Although her future was now out of her father’s hands, it was still very much out of her hands as well. As far as she could see, she only had one viable option worth considering, and it would mean a life of drudgery and hard labour. “I have only one option to take, but if that is what has to happen then so be it.”

  Jamie frowned at her retreating back as she moved back toward the fire and poured the tea.

  “You aren’t going to seriously consider marriage to any of those old men, are you?”

  “Good God, no,” Cecily snorted, dropping sugar into her tea and stirring rapidly. She didn’t usually drink tea or, have the luxury of sugar, but right now she needed both. The entire morning had been unsettling, and so many confusing thoughts and emotions were swirling around in her mind that she didn’t know where to begin to sort them all out.

  “So?”

  Cecily sighed and glanced at Jamie warily as he resumed his seat. “So what?”

  “What do you plan to do once you are free of here?”

  “That’s my decision,” she replied warily, hating to acknowledge the last option open to her, but resolutely realising that there was little else for it. A small part of her broke free inside and began to crumble. Staring thoughtfully into the fire, she wondered if she would be better going back to Tissington to marry an old man. At least he wouldn’t live very long, and she could spend the rest of her days as a widow, but she immediately discounted the notion with a shudder of revulsion.

  “Do you plan to marry, is that it?” Jamie asked boldly. “If I know Archie, Portia’s days as a single woman are limited. Not that he would do anything untoward before marriage, you understand, but his affections are engaged you know.”

  “I know. You would have to be blind to miss it,” Cecily replied with a smile. “I am pleased for them, Archie seems nice.”

  “He is one of the best. You should have no concerns there. He will most probably want to take some leave for a honeymoon when they marry, and I am sure the boss will be more than happy to allow him to do so.” Jamie knew she understood his meaning when she met his gaze directly.

  “I have no intention of imposing myself of my sister and her new husband, if that is what you think. I am going to use the time I have here to enjoy my last taste of freedom and then, when I am allowed to go, I shall venture my own way in this world.”

  “Where is that going to be?” Jamie muttered, watching her carefully pluck Basil’s tail out of the fire for a second time. This time, rather than resume her seat, she continued to stand and stare thoughtfully down into the glowing embers.

  Jamie scowled, knowing she had absolutely no idea what she was going to do. Biting back a curse of frustration he leaned forward in his seat. “It is a dangerous world for a single lady like you, Cecily. This is no game here. Any decisions you make could have significant consequences for your future welfare. Why don’t you allow me to help you?”

  “Excuse me?” Cecily turned to stare at him, not sure if she had heard him correctly.

  “I said, I will help you,” Jamie suggested. “There are cottages around here, and I am sure there are things you could do to keep yourself busy.”

  “You mean, like a kept woman?” Cecily’s voice quivered with suppressed emotion. She wasn’t sure whether to stalk out, throw her tea cup at him, or both.

  “Well, no, not really,” Jamie cautioned, realising far too late what connotation she had put on his offer. “I don’t expect anything in return, if that is what you are thinking,” he declared defensively, wondering how the conversation could turn against him so quickly. Foot. Mouth. Mentally wincing, he wondered how much grovelling he would have to do before she forgave him his wayward mouth.

  Cecily slammed her cup down on the table. She was furious at the slightly condescending glanced he had dismissively run over her. She might not be the belle of the ball, but she had never scared children and was passably pretty. His dismissive glance irked more than she cared to admit, and that annoyed her more than anything else.

  Unable to form the words she desperately wanted to use to put him in his place, she merely straightened her shoulders, stiffened her spine and glared down at him haughtily. “If that is all for now, I shall be in my room.”

  “Cecily,” Jamie sighed, watching her stomp across the room. “I need to ask you some more questions.”

  “Later,” Cecily snapped, stalking toward the door.

  She yanked her elbow out of his firm grasp when he moved to stop her from leaving.

  “Look, I am sorry for offending you. It was a genuine offer of a place to stay while you consider your options that is all. Archie is one of my best and oldest friends,” Jamie smiled gently. “He will want some time to be with Portia for a while, and although I know he would want you with them, I think you need a bit of time to decide for yourself what you want to do with your future. You are more than welcome to stay here for as long as you like but, if you find the house a bit forbidding, then I was rather clumsy at offering the use of one of the estate houses for
as long as you want it. I am sorry if my lack of manners offended you.”

  Cecily felt the fight drain out of her, and felt foolish for her wildly swinging emotions. “It’s all right. It is just that things have been very trying of late.”

  “I know. There is a lot happening and even more that I simply cannot tell you about, but please believe me that I will tell you everything as soon as I can. Right now, I am just as much in the dark about some things as you are and I cannot contact the people I need to because of betraying our hiding place. Just be patient, everything will work out.”

  Cecily felt her lip tremble. She swallowed against the sting of tears. “I am sorry. It is just that I am so worried about Portia.”

  “Portia is with one of the Star Elite’s best men. Archie cares about her, so has more than enough reason to want to keep her alive. Even if you ignore Pie, one of our most highly skilled fighters, she is in safe hands. As soon as I receive word then I will let you know, I promise.”

  Cecily smiled carefully at him, unsure what to say. The atmosphere in the study sharpened slightly and she was at a loss to know why.

  A single tear trickled slowly out of the corner of her eye and slowly meandered down her face.

  “What are these for?” He asked gently, wiping the drop of moisture off her alabaster chin carefully.

  “I am just so very tired of not understanding much of anything that is going on about me, that’s all,” she sighed, thinking about the strange events with the bedroom door, and the unfamiliar emotions coursing through her right now. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to happen. A part of her wanted to lean against him and seek the comfort of his embrace, if only for a little while, but then another part of her wanted to run and keep running, away from the house, away from him, away from her father, away from all of it.