Searching Hearts Box Set: Books 1-5

by St. Clair, Ellie

  However, there were times when Hudson appeared to be rather discontented with what he had seen and what he had been required to do. Tonight appeared to be one of those moments.

  Daniel watched carefully as Hudson threw back his glass of brandy, his expression dark.

  “Hudson, what happened?” he asked again, a little abruptly. “Speak, man, and stop drinking yourself into a stupor.”

  Thankfully, Hudson appeared to hear him this time and shrugged. “It’s all sorted now, Ravenhall, you will be glad to hear. I took a punch to the gut and had to drag one of those brutes of a husband along to the authorities, but it’s nothing too much to bear. It was just seeing the state of those children.” He shook his head, passing one hand over his eyes. “How can a man treat his own kin that way?”

  Daniel felt his stomach tighten as he recalled that, during his last short visit to London, he had been told of a woman in need whose husband was drinking himself to death and neglecting his duties to his wife and children. Daniel had wanted to help, and Hudson had promised to look in on the lady. Apparently, it had been worse than Daniel had feared.

  “They’re safe now, of course,” Hudson continued, settling Daniel’s mind. “Put them in one of those houses you’ve rented, although by the looks of things, that one’s almost full.”

  Daniel nodded slowly, his brow furrowing as he tried to think of what to do next. He had already rented three large homes in London, which he had proceeded to fill with those who had nowhere else to go. Each house had a small staff of its own, with the residents contributing to the cleaning and upkeep. Any disorderly behavior was swiftly dealt with. Alcohol was not allowed, and anyone found with it sloshing about inside them was, on their second offense, sent away without hesitation. Two of the homes were solely inhabited by women and children, those who had been neglected or mistreated by their husbands and needed a place to stay — for a few days, months, or years, depending on the case. The problem with the law in this country was that it turned women and children into possessions. A woman became her husband’s property on the day she married, and nothing was going to stop that.

  But he could help.

  “There is another house available near the others,” Lord Hudson continued, helpfully. “Might you be interested in that?”

  Daniel’s expression cleared and he chuckled. “Yes indeed. You know me far too well, Hudson. I should have sent you to my solicitors directly.”

  Lord Hudson managed a grin. “What makes you think I have not already dispatched a note to them?”

  Rolling his eyes, Daniel pulled himself up from his chair and went to pour himself a drink, topping up Hudson’s glass. “I am sorry it was a bad one, Hudson.”

  The man shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “It happens. I’m just glad that we can help. You are a very generous man, Ravenhall, although I am sorry that you were forced to come back to London.”

  Daniel said nothing as he sat back down, though he shook his head. “I’m not a good man, Hudson,” he said. “You know some of the things I have done.”

  “True, but—”

  “The man who went after my brother and now sister-in-law, do you remember what happened to him? Or the sop who tried to force himself on my sister? News takes some time to reach me, but when it does … well. Let’s simply say my anger sometimes gets the better of me.”

  Hudson looked down at his drink before lifting his head to meet Daniel’s gaze.

  “It doesn’t have to be that way, Ravenhall. You can find justice without taking the life of another.”

  Daniel shrugged, and the familiar self-loathing crept through him as he clenched his teeth together. “It’s not as though I have ever taken a life with my own hands, though I might as well have, as I have directly arranged it. It’s only that I’ve not the courage to go through with it myself.”

  “You are here now, close to your family once more.”

  “Indeed. But I had no choice. I had to return else I would not be able to continue supporting those who require it.”

  “You could always tell your father what you are doing.”

  Daniel sat back and leaned his head against the chair. “You know I cannot. Were I to do so, then he would ask me why I felt I needed to do such things, which would only lead to questions about Laura. It would all come out in the end, and I would rather not speak of it.”

  Lord Hudson shrugged, his brown eyes flickering. “Mayhap it might do you a world of good to talk to someone about it. You hold it all in here,” he said, tapping the side of his head. “You know that I would be willing to listen.”

  “What is there to say?” Daniel asked, narrowing his eyes at Hudson. “I am trying to forget it all. The only thing that will bring me any relief is the knowledge of Lord Northcliffe’s whereabouts so that I might begin my pursuit of him.” Such was the fervor in his heart that he did not realize he had clenched his fingers into a fist until Lord Hudson cleared his throat and nodded at his clasped hand.

  “Your anger has simply grown over the years.”

  “Would yours not?” Daniel exclaimed, a little surprised at his friend’s questions. They had been working together for some time and this was the first time in as many months that Hudson had challenged him.

  Lord Hudson nodded slowly, his eyes thoughtful. “Yes, I am sure my anger would flourish, but what is it that you plan to do, Ravenhall? Kill the man? Exact justice in your own way?”

  Daniel felt his stomach churn at the thought of placing his hands around another man’s throat, of pulling a trigger or pushing a sword point home, but in this case, he would not send another to do the job for him. “The constable cannot do anything. There is no evidence other than the butler’s testimony, and he is too loyal to be trustworthy to any other. Even the implement that was used to bludgeon her was gone.”

  “I am aware of all that,” Lord Hudson replied, gently. “I know that it was dark, which is why no one saw a man covered in blood making his way from your home. I know that, most likely, he hailed a hackney before throwing everything in the Thames or burning it. I know that you believe it was Lord Northcliffe but that there is nothing to prove his guilt. I know all this, Ravenhall — and yet I still think you should open up to someone about what you saw and the pain and grief you are still experiencing. To keep it all within slowly begins to turn one’s heart black.”

  Daniel sniffed disparagingly, trying to pretend that he was not in any way affected by what his friend had said. “I don’t need to talk to anyone, not even you. I know that you are trying to help me but there is nothing that talking will do in my vow to get justice for Laura.”

  “And how will you do that if you cannot have Lord Northcliffe convicted?”

  “I don’t plan on him being convicted.”

  “You cannot kill him, Ravenhall,” Lord Hudson replied, his voice filled with a warning. “You will only then be as guilty as he is, and all will know it was you. If he is truly guilty of what you believe him to be, then you must get him to confess, else you are attempting to punish an innocent man.”

  Anger burst through Daniel’s veins, and he threw himself out of his chair, brandy sloshing over the glass and onto his hand. “There can be no one else! Only Lord Northcliffe sought Laura’s hand in marriage. Only Lord Northcliffe attempted to steal her away from my affections, and when she told him that she would not be persuaded, his attempts to pull her away grew all the more desperate. When we became engaged, I saw the look on his face when it was announced. He hated her. He hated me. He wanted nothing more than to have Laura to himself, and since he could not have what he desired, he took her away from me so that I could not have her either. He will pay for what he has done.”

  Lord Hudson shifted a little uncomfortably in his chair. “There is another reason I have come to speak with you, Ravenhall. Word has reached me that Lord Northcliffe has, in fact, returned to London, after many years away. I was not going to tell you, but it is better you be prepared.”

  A deep, unfurling rage se
ared itself through Daniel’s soul as he stared at his friend.

  “And I can already see your reaction,” Lord Hudson continued with a heavy sigh. “You must learn to control your temper, Ravenhall, or you will be of no use. You are going to be in the same room as Lord Northcliffe on multiple occasions, I am sure of it, and you cannot let your anger get the better of you. At least, not until you have proof of his guilt or a confession.”

  Daniel began to sputter, only for Hudson to hold up one hand, stemming the flow of words threatening to come from Daniel’s mouth.

  “You are quite justified in feeling all this, I know,” he continued, as Daniel began to pace up and down the room. “But to exact justice on this man, to have a confession from his lips, you must find a way to first be civil toward him — while making every effort not to engage with him at all. If you reveal your hand too early, then the ton will think worse of you and pity him for being so poorly treated.” He leaned forward, halting Daniel in mid-pace, and froze him in his stare. “Do you understand what I am saying, Ravenhall? I must know.”

  Daniel wanted to rush from the room at this very moment, battling the urge to go in search of Lord Northcliffe at once, so that he might beat the man to a bloody pulp — but Lord Hudson’s calm words began to infiltrate his fury.

  “Yes,” he managed to say through gritted teeth. “Yes, Hudson, I understand.”

  “Good,” Lord Hudson replied, calmly. “Well, I’d best be off. I’ll call by tomorrow afternoon and we can discuss how things are going. You’d best hurry. Dinner with your father and mother, isn’t it? And you certainly can’t go looking like that.” He threw Daniel a wry grin as he rose to his feet, making Daniel aware that he was trying his best to pull Daniel further away from his uncontrolled anger. “Best to take things one step at a time, old boy.”

  “Indeed,” Daniel gritted out, his hands slowly beginning to unfurl as he tried to get a rein on his temper. “Thank you, Hudson.”

  “Not at all,” his friend replied opening the door. “Like I said, I’ll be back tomorrow. Can’t wait to hear why your father has summoned you back to London after all this time. Good luck!”

  4

  Wide-eyed, Christina glanced around her as the carriage made its way through the streets of London. It had been so long since she had been to town, she felt like a foreigner. She was used to the great expanses and the open air of the country, and she felt somewhat stifled here, though her senses had never been so alert.

  Perhaps it would be different in the light of the day. Her father had wanted to arrive in time to attend the theatre, to which Christina had readily agreed. He had assured her that her betrothed would not be in attendance, about which she was somewhat relieved. She would prefer some time to get used to the idea, to become acquainted with the city before she had to spend time in his presence.

  The carriage pulled up in front of a stately home, and Christina looked across the seat at her father, her eyes narrowing as she took him in.

  “Father?” she said with suspicion. “This is not some form of trickery, is it?”

  “No,” he chuckled. “It is not. Christina, there is one thing I haven’t told you. I—”

  “Lord Burrton!” a voice warbled, and Christina turned abruptly to the door of the carriage. “I know I should have waited inside, however, I simply could not help myself but hurry out to meet your daughter!”

  Christina hurriedly closed her mouth when she realized it was agape, but she couldn’t help from swiveling her head back and forth between her father and the elaborately clad woman standing in the carriage doorway, who was now looking at her father with a pout on her face.

  “Are you not going to help me in?” she asked, and Christina could hardly get over the heavy hand the woman had taken to the color on her face. Her father finally bumbled over to her, helping her into the carriage. Christina nearly couldn’t breathe, such was the overpowering scent of the woman’s perfume.

  “Christina, my dear, this is Lady Aster,” said her father, his grin stretching wide, and the woman smiled broadly at Christina. Ah, Christina thought, this explained a lot. Her father was trying to be rid of her to make room for a new woman in his life.

  “How lovely to meet you,” she finally managed and was grateful the carriage ride to Covent Garden was short.

  Lady Aster turned out to be not the worst sort of woman, though not the type that Christina could spend much time with. She trilled on and on, through the carriage ride, the theatre lobby, and up the stairs to their box. She seemed genuinely pleased to spend time with Christina, who soon realized that it was not Lady Aster who wanted her out of their lives, but her father himself.

  He nearly ignored Christina, instead concentrating on the woman on his arm. When intermission finally came, Christina excused herself as quickly as she could, stumbling out of the booth in her haste. As she parted the curtains, she nearly ran into another woman, managing to right herself just in time.

  “Pardon me, my—”

  “I say, did you come out of the Marquess of Burrton’s booth?” The woman asked, surprising her, and Christina felt her eyebrows rise.

  “Well, yes, as a matter of fact, however—”

  The young blonde woman interrupted her once more, shocking Christina further when a grin broke out on her face and she began motioning behind her for someone else to join them. “You must be his daughter! Oh, how lovely. Sebastian! Sebastian, come meet Lady Christina.”

  However did these people know her name? Christina found her nerves on edge as she stared openly at the woman, who was beautiful, her light locks the color of a field of wheat, unlike Christina’s own hue, which was somewhere between blonde and a plain brown. She looked around her for a means of escape, but the woman grasped her hand between hers, bringing it excitedly to her breast.

  “Oh!” Christina exclaimed before the woman turned to the man who had joined her. He seemed much more serious than she, though he had a light to his eyes, especially when he looked at the woman who was most certainly his wife.

  “Lady Christina, I had so hoped to run into you,” the woman said, to which her husband laughed.

  “My apologies, but as you may have gathered by now, this is not a coincidence, my lady,” he said. “My wife practically stationed herself outside your box before the first act was done.”

  “Do hush, Sebastian,” she said, scolding him, before turning back to Christina and continuing in what could be described as a whisper, although Christina was certain nearly anyone walking by could hear. “Now, as we are to be sisters soon, we have so much to get to know about one another.”

  “Pardon me?” Christina’s stomach dropped, and she looked closer at the woman. Oh dear. This must be—

  “My brother is the Marquess of Ravenhall!” she continued. “Ever since my mother told me of your betrothal, I have been so curious to meet you.”

  The man she called Sebastian put his hand on his wife’s arm, stilling her movements.

  “Polly,” he said gently. “Perhaps we should allow Lady Christina a moment. My apologies, my lady,” he said, turning to Christina. “My wife is being somewhat dramatic. We only learned of your arrangement — not betrothal, Polly — this morning. I am not sure that the marquess himself is even aware as of yet, as he is just arriving in town this evening. It has been some time since my wife has seen her brother, so you can imagine her excitement. Allow me to properly introduce ourselves. We are Lord and Lady Taylor.”

  “But Polly to you, of course,” Lady Taylor said, her smile never wavering. “Now come,” she said, taking Christina’s arm. “I would so love to know more about you.”

  As Christina allowed herself to be led down the corridor, she considered that, while this woman was perhaps slightly overwhelming in her exuberance, if all of the Harrington family was so welcoming, it might not be such a bad arrangement after all.

  * * *

  Three hours after leaving Hudson, Daniel found himself sitting at the dinner table with his father an
d mother, who acted as though everything was just as should be expected. They had both warmly welcomed him and, while Daniel could admit that despite his misgivings he had been glad to see them, he could not help but remain somewhat distant as to how he had been summoned.

  “I have missed you so very much these last few months,” his mother, Marie Harrington, the Duchess of Ware, commented as they finished their dessert. “With every other one of your siblings married, it has taken me a great deal of time to become used to living in such a quiet house. Ah, well. All is as it should be.”

  Daniel, who had put up with enough insipid conversation during dinner, cleared his throat as the footmen took the dishes away. “Are we to stay for a port, Father? I think you are aware, despite the warmth of your welcome and plentiful conversation, that there is something for us to discuss.”

  Much to Daniel’s surprise, the duke did not appear to be in the least bit disconcerted by his frosty tone but rather smiled. That smile, in turn, made Daniel’s frustration grow as he kept his gaze firmly fixed on his father.

  “Of course, Ravenhall,” the duke replied calmly, startling Daniel with the use of his title. His father typically was not quite so formal in private settings. “We can discuss whatever you wish, although your mother is to remain a part of the conversation.”

  Blinking, Daniel turned to see his mother smiling back at his father as though this was quite to be expected.

  “Mother, you knew about this?” he asked, somewhat taken aback that they had conspired against him.

  “About what, my dear?” his mother asked, calmly, as the tea tray was set in front of her, though she was unable to keep her bright eyes and smile from him. “That you were to return to London? Yes, of course I knew.”