Embracing Ashberry

by Serenity Everton

  Ellie thought over her plan as she breakfasted, finding its holes, questioning every outcome and measuring every risk. Ashberry did not appear until she was nearly finished and his eyes lit with undisguised pleasure to see her lingering over her teacup. Ellie, after a thoroughly inappropriate kiss unintentionally interrupted by Alexander, nearly had to back out of the room, for Ashberry’s eyes were just a little too yellow for her morning to be as productive as she intended. She escaped through the kitchens, leaving a message for Ashberry that she had gone out with Jules and Peter to visit the markets, breathing a sigh of relief only when they wandered among the aisles of farm girls with their wares.

  Instead of returning to the house after the markets closed, she visited a modiste on Bond Street that Caroline had recommended, and after several hours of perusing the exquisite fabrics and planning a few purchases, the clocks had finally turned to a semi-respectable hour. With a smile to the seamstress, she arranged to have the entire bill sent to her husband, wondering how he would react to the outrageous sum and deciding immediately that not a pound had been wasted no matter what his reaction.

  Ellie arrived on Charlotte’s doorstep without much thought to her brother. Unfortunately, he was still at home and met her in the front hall. Ellie made light of her own presence, saying only that she hadn’t seen Charlotte’s nursery since the women had begun cloistering themselves in Caroline’s sitting room. Edward’s face relaxed into an easy smile—he was proud of the tender care Charlotte had spent in preparing it and allowed her to proceed up the stairs without further comment. She did visit the nursery, listening as Charlotte described with pride the time they had spent cleaning, sewing and decorating. It was obvious that she had devoted herself in those rooms, and even Lady Whitney had a smile for the joy on Charlotte’s face.

  Ellie forced herself to wait, patiently, for Edward to come and take his leave. “I have business,” he told Charlotte, and then had whispered a few soft words in her ears that both heightened her color and widened her smile.

  The smile didn’t last long after he left. As soon as Ellie was sure he had quit the house, when she rose and stood by the window and saw his chaise drive away, as soon as Ellie repeated Edward and Ashberry’s words to her mother and sister-in-law, Charlotte’s smile was no more.

  Her eye flashed with a fury Ellie was sure meant trouble for her sibling. “It wouldn’t do,” she warned Charlotte, “To let them know that we are aware of their plans.” Her voice trembled as she explained. “I don’t think it would stop Edward and I know Ashberry—he would send me away or lock me in my room if I tried to stop him.” Her eyes rested on Charlotte’s stomach. “And it would be worse for you if Ashberry even suspected you might try and stop him—he would convince Edward you were endangering the baby.”

  Ellie carefully watched her mother, but other than her pale face and pained eyes, Lady Whitney’s face gave away nothing. Her words were quiet. “I pray Ashberry is wrong, Ellie, but his current information is accurate. Your father kept a mistress in London. He didn’t cut her off until we decided it was time to take you to London. He said, then, that he didn’t wish to see her anymore but I was sure that there was something about their relationship he didn’t want Society to discuss that would damage your prospects or perhaps filter back to the boys or I.” She sighed, “But I was too intimidated by him to find out what it was.”

  Charlotte’s jaw was set tightly, her eyes burning. “He told me, you know,” she seethed, “That they had some information about your father that the two of them were going to pursue.” Her fingers clenched in her lap. “But he didn’t say they were planning to kill anyone. Or meet alone with a ... a loose woman in the process!”

  “Only if they find the man,” Ellie calmed her. “And I, for one, don’t intend to let it get to the point where they do.”

  Charlotte straightened, her eyes focused suddenly on Ellie. “You have a plan to stop them?” she asked incredulously, then a moment later continued more calmly, “Tell me.”

  In some ways, fate intervened. Caroline began her labor the next Wednesday, the night Ashberry and Edward planned their small adventure. Edward, as predicted by Charlotte, had told her a large part of the truth—which was that they were to meet an informant’s of Ashberry’s that evening. The news from Eldenwood House came after Ashberry left for his mysterious ‘business meeting’ and Ellie quickly changed her mind about going to Charlotte’s. The women met at Eldenwood House instead.

  Ellie and Charlotte both knew that they would not be permitted to see Caroline when the pains became severely close but at her bedside they visited and discussed their plans. No longer would they need to convince Benjamin, Ashberry’s driver, that his lordship was in danger. Instead, Benjamin was sent home until he was summoned to return her ladyship to Ashberry House, and at Caroline’s breathless insistence, the Eldenwood carriage was called and two footmen, large and muscular ones, and a driver duly assigned to accompany the determined women.

  “Are you certain Eldenwood will not be angry?” Ellie asked softly, squeezing her sister-in-law’s hand.

  “I’m sure,” Caroline answered positively. “He is at Watier’s, you know, probably until late. My pains didn’t begin until after dinner, when I had already sent him off for a few hours to enjoy himself; the poor man has been haunting the halls for the last few days. I haven’t let the staff summon him yet—he won’t be able to do anything but fret anyway.” She stopped and took a heavy breath as a pain wracked her. “Though I may have to relent soon and call for him to come and sit with me.”

  With Caroline’s blessing and concerned hugs from the older women, Ellie and Charlotte donned heavy black pelisses and covered their faces with veils before being assisted into the carriage. Ellie’s instructions to the driver were quiet and succinct, and the carriage was soon waiting outside the opera house. The intermission was ending and most of the crowds were strolling back inside the theatre, except for two men and a graceful, proudly erect woman they were guiding outside.

  The Eldenwood crest was clearly visible on the side of the coach and Ashberry’s face was priceless when he recognized it. Ellie and Charlotte both watched their spouses as one of Caroline’s liveried footmen delivered his sister’s message to Ashberry. “My lord,” the young man bowed, “My pardon. Lady Eldenwood says it is urgent and to please come at once.” He drew a deep breath, his voice more confiding and serious. “It is the baby, my lord. She specifically asked for you and Lady Charlotte said to look here first.”

  Ashberry clearly did not wish to leave the quarry he still held between himself and Edward, but his loyalty to his sister was deep, as Caroline had well known. He paused in indecision. Edward’s face was drawn with worry as well and it was he who said to the woman, “Would you object to joining us in the carriage? We could discuss our business more privately there and we will arrange for you to arrive home discreetly in a hired cab.”

  The marquess’ eyes were sharp now. Ashberry didn’t particularly wish to be seen handing a known madame, even one as expensive as the woman beside him, into yet another brother-in-law’s coach. Eldenwood, Ashberry mused, might find the gossip amusing, but Caroline would not.

  There was no help for it, of course. The woman nodded her head serenely and the footman hurriedly led them to the coach. Charlotte and Ellie sat opposite inside the coach, hardly breathing in the shadows, when the woman was handed up. She looked at them in surprise but nodded when Ellie’s finger touched her mouth silently, asking the woman to be silent. The woman assented without a word, simply taking a seat near the door as Edward climbed inside the carriage. His eyes took in the dark figures in the far seats and he scowled, turning to the marquess entering behind.

  A jerk of the head was all Edward said. Ashberry’s jaw tightened as Ellie slid over in the seat closer to her husband. “I believe I should explain, Ashberry,” she said gently before the disbelief on his face turned to anger. She turned to the woman across from her. “My name is Lady Ella Ashberry,” s
he said as she pushed back her veil. “My husband, as you know, is seeking some information about Lord Whitney, who is my father.”

  “And my husband’s father,” Charlotte chimed in, uncovering her own face.

  Ashberry’s gaze burned at both women while Edward could hardly grasp his wife’s presence. “What are you doing here?” the young man seethed, pressing his hand to Charlotte’s belly. The babe kicked in response.

  Charlotte answered defensively. “I’m taking a carriage ride, Edward, not riding a hunter through the fields or lifting casks of wine. And,” she said to the whole carriage, her voice unrelenting, “I’m staying involved until I know that Edward won’t lose his head over something foolish so you’d better settle this matter quickly before Edward’s heir decides to join us.”

  Ellie smiled at the woman, who seemed now amazed by the presence of the two ladies. Ignoring her husband, she asked the woman, “We know that you were my father’s mistress for several years—my mother says five—and that you knew much about Papa that we didn’t. For a variety of reasons, it is important to us now to find out as much as we can about my father. Can you tell us anything?”

  The woman’s voice was quiet. Her accent was muted from long years in England, but the original sound was somehow musical. “It was five years, as you say.” She waved her hand dismissively. “As to what he didn’t want his family to discover?” She frowned, squinting as she examined Edward’s face, clearly taking in the similarities between father and son. “That he was violent with me?” She gestured to Charlotte and spoke forcefully, abruptly. “You look much like your papa and I imagine are much like him in other ways as well. You know not to hit the girl while she is with child?”

  Stunned by the woman’s question, Edward’s jaw opened. He forgot to close it, even when Charlotte answered for him, the tone amused. “My dear woman, thank you for your concern but allow me to assure you that if Edward ever raised his hand to me, he would find himself in more pain than he has ever imagined.”

  “That’s true,” Ashberry said grimly. “Before I allowed my baby sisters to wander through London’s ballrooms, I taught them how to incapacitate a man, and for what reasons it was justified.” His voice remained tight, unyielding, but his next words were to the stranger among them. “Whitney beat you?”

  The woman’s eyes opened wide as she took in the looks being passed between the other four occupants of the carriage. “Yes,” she answered easily, “He angered easily, and I seemed often to be the one bearing poor news.”

  Ellie winced, knowing the question was necessary. “What sort of news?”

  The woman regarded her carefully, considering. It was unnerving to be appraised in that way but Ellie had long been accustomed to strange looks. Her skittish behavior, particularly in Germany, had brought many questioning looks and her seclusion in London had often brought consideration from the matrons when she accompanied her mother in the park or while shopping. Ellie met her gaze with a non-verbal plea to answer honestly.

  The woman sighed, frowning. “The matter is hardly fit for polite conversation but as you are his children and it is certain that you have your reasons, I shall answer as straightforwardly as possible.”

  “Please do,” Ashberry murmured. Between them, he felt for Ellie’s hand and clasped it in his own, squeezing comfortably.

  Ellie felt some of the tension drain from her as the marquess squeezed her hand. She did not doubt he was angry over her interference, but neither was he so lost to his ire that he would leave her to hear the news unassisted. She pressed her fingers in return but did not turn away from the woman.

  Her answer was quiet, emotionless. “He had acquired, about nine years ago, a large debt to a ... an unsavory man known in the streets as the Hamster. I know because it was about the time he ... discovered me and set me up in a little house in the East End. I believe he contracted the loan to pay gambling debts because after the payments began, I never saw your father gamble again. The man charged a significant interest, which he paid regularly, but for whatever reason, Whitney was unwilling to pay the principal of the debt.” She shrugged. “I often was the one forced to tell him that the Hamster had demanded additional funds to continue the loan.”

  “The Hamster?” Ashberry frowned. “He’s been dead near two years now.”

  “Yes,” the woman replied softly. “His death occurred while Whitney was in Europe. It was the only way to clear the debt without paying the man and I believe Whitney had been gambling all along—that the interest the man charged would amount to less than the principal of the thing. After all, every debtor to the Hamster had a reason to kill the shark: their own lives hung in forfeit if they defaulted.”

  Ellie shivered, she couldn’t help it. It was Edward who asked the next question, for Ashberry’s lips were grimly closed and Ellie didn’t believe she could frame the required words. “Four years ago, four months before we left for Europe, was there a, how should I say it, disagreement between the Hamster and my father?”

  The woman swallowed, her eyes narrowing at the suddenly tense bodies of Ashberry and Ellie. After a moment, she sighed softly, “No, it was earlier than that. Perhaps six months before your departure. Whitney had already ended my support but he was generous and I had enough to stay in my little home for a few months longer. The Hamster sent his man, a snake he was, to the house and insisted on relaying a message to Whitney.” Her eyes turned to Edward, pleading with him to understand. “When I told him Whitney would not be back, that he had ended the arrangement, the man was furious, irate. He had a knife to my throat while he made me tell him where to find your father. Whitney,” she sounded disgusted, “Had the gall to only tell him of his mistress’ home. Perhaps he thought I would sacrifice my life for his and he would be free, but it was a foolish move on his part. I neither wished to die nor did I believe Whitney would return to me. I sent him to the London house, in Mayfair.”

  Edward nodded, his gaze swinging helplessly to Ellie, not daring to question the woman further. Ellie’s face was white even in the dim light of the carriage lanterns and her fingers were gripping Ashberry’s in a fevered grasp.

  It was Charlotte who contributed quietly. “He could have learned about Rose Hill simply by asking the servants in neighboring houses.”

  Refusing to bow to the terror closing in around her, Ellie asked in a soft voice, “Would he have killed Papa just for trying to escape like that?”

  “No,” the other woman mused, “Death was a last option, reserved for those who couldn’t ever pay, not for those who wouldn’t. If Whitney was dead, the Hamster couldn’t collect the debt. But he would have done something to remind Whitney there was no escape.” She shuddered. “As it was, he left me bound and gagged on my own drawing room floor, and he cut off my clothes to humiliate me further. I believe he spared my life only because he was convinced I had told him something of worth, and he knew that he could have returned to me easily and finished the job if I had lied or if it turned out that I still meant anything to Whitney at all. I laid there until the housekeeper arrived the next morning.”

  Ellie could barely hear her own voice, so loud were the demons screaming in her head. Still, she forced out the words, surprised when Ashberry’s hand tightened around hers in a near death grip. “This, this man of the moneylender’s,” she asked, “How did he look, and sound?”

  A strange question, the woman clearly thought. She frowned, as if trying to deduce its purpose and then her eyes widened. She took in Ellie from head to toe, noting the girl’s pale countenance, her fragile posture and even Ellie’s frenzied eyes glittering in the dim light.

  The woman softened noticeably, her words compassionate. “I will never forget him. Because I feared him, I fled to the protection of a .. a ...”

  “A brothel,” Charlotte supplied helpfully, ignoring glares from both brother and husband.

  “Yes,” the woman winced. “I knew there he could not return for me.” She cleared her throat, her words raw and her own fa
ce paling. “And that voice, I will never forget that strange tongue. I had met him before, of course, and he had always been civil. But then, before, my answer had never been a refusal, only a promise to relay his instructions.”

  It was Ellie who finally described him, her voice toneless. “He was my height, dark in complexion, black curly hair and brown eyes. He had the longest arms I’d ever seen on a man that size and his feet were ... monstrously large.” She shuddered. “And the voice ... I have found out since that he was from the wilds of Louisiana, perhaps even New Orleans.”

  “Yes.” For long moments, the woman was quiet, as the two women communed in silent commiseration.

  EIGHTEEN

  Ashberry was not interested in watching his wife find an ally in a courtesan, particularly one who had directed Ellie’s attacker in the direction of the baron’s family. He blinked and asked softly, “Madam, can you tell us if you’ve heard of this man’s whereabouts recently?” His teeth flashed in the carriage and everyone turned to see the fury in his face. “I’m afraid I have some unfinished business with the man.”

  “Undoubtedly,” the woman replied softly. “Indeed, if I believed him to be in London, I would have my revenge as well. However, I cannot help you. After the Hamster died, he was left with only the protection of his knife and there were many relieved men in London who were only too ready to seek their revenge on the man. Unfortunately for all of them, he had reasoned that danger. He boarded a ship for the colonies the morning after the Hamster’s death, apparently stealing every penny on the man, and disappeared from England completely.”