“No, nothing has changed. I write each morning, after any social event, then I copy those writings out, and send them, via a street urchin, to the address provided by Lord Puglinton. He has not, as yet, pressed for anything more – but I do not, in any way, trust him to stay so forbearing. And every time I hear someone mention the ‘Gossip Gazette’, or I see a copy with my words on the page, I die a little inside.”
Kevin reached out and took her hand in his, squeezing her fingers firmly. She met his eyes, and smiled – it was a faded smile, still full of unhappiness, yet it filled him with warmth.
“I am glad that things are not worse. But let me tell you where I have been, and why. This past few days, I have been back in London, pursuing an investigation which began as a result of a conversation with my father. Before that, I was at Chester Park, with my family – as I have been each time that I have left London during this Season. This last visit was for a joyous occasion – the marriage of my sister, Maria, to a good man. After the disaster that was her first marriage, which left her a miserable widow, this is wonderful indeed. But it was also a visit which contained much concern on my part, as has every visit I have made there this year. For you see, my father is ill – quite seriously, and has been hiding it from the rest of the family. He would not allow me to reveal it, nor would he see a physician, until Maria was wed.”
“Oh dear – that sounds most worrying – what manner of illness is it?”
“I do not yet truly know – it involves his lungs, and causes him to sometimes cough up blood. He has lost weight, and has less energy. Perhaps worst of all, he himself believes it to be terminal – he tells me that his grandfather suffered something similar, and was dead within the year. I struggle to accept it with the equanimity that he does. Especially as I could do nothing about it, nor could I speak of it to anyone. At least now that Maria is wed, he has agreed to call in the physician. But there was more to my visit this time, as well. As I mentioned, a conversation with my father resulted in me coming back to London to arrange a very specific investigation. You see, on my way to Chester Park, I remembered something that my father had said, one previous visit. I had, that time, mentioned the fact that the ton were all agog at the new column in the ‘Gossip Gazette’, and he had commented on the history of the newssheet. I had forgotten his words, until well after you had honoured me by telling me of your troubles.”
“And what did he say? How is it relevant to my problems, if it is at all?”
“It is most relevant to your problems, for I believe that it holds the solution to them.”
She gasped, regarding him wide-eyed.
“A solution? To everything? I cannot credit that it is possible.”
“It is definitely possible, although I must say that I am not enamoured of the means required.”
“The means required?”
“Yes. What my father told me was that the current owner of the ‘Gossip Gazette’ had obtained it as payment of a gambling debt – a debt, which it was believed by my father and some friends of his, had been created as a result of a card game in which the winner had cheated. They believed that the man in question had obtained quite a few business and property assets that way – by cheating, ruining good men, then ‘generously’ accepting those assets as payment of the debts. My father confirmed that the man in question was Lord Puglinton.”
“I see. I am not surprised – I believe that he is capable of almost any underhanded dealings. But how does knowing this help me?”
“Well… I had an idea, and I did not want to tell you, until I had confirmed that it might work. When I got back to London, I went to visit my other sister – Nerissa. And I spoke at length with her husband, who still has many… contacts… with access to resources and information that most do not have.”
“I understand what you mean.”
“Good. I asked him to see if there was evidence obtainable, of Puglinton’s misdeeds. He found it. Evidence, and, apparently, a witness. With that, I am confident that we can free you from Puglinton.”
“But how? I don’t understand.”
“By blackmailing the blackmailer. Unpleasant as it is, that seems the only option. If he wants to keep his assets, and his place in society, he will not want any of this revealed. And releasing you, returning your journal, and ceasing to publish the ‘Voice of Truth’ column, will seem a small price to him.”
She was silent, deeply thoughtful, Unconsciously, she drew her lip between her teeth a little as she thought. He wanted to kiss her.
“I am not at all sure that I approve, in principle. But I am quite certain that I approve, in practice, if it frees me from him completely. But… I must ask… why? Why have you done this for me?”
“Why have I done this for you? Because, Lady Hyacinth Gardenbrook, I love you. I think that I have done so for quite some time, but this last week has made me aware of just how important you are to me. I cannot imagine my life without you. I… I want to marry you, Hyacinth.”
Her blue eyes widened, and her lips formed a little ‘O’ for a moment.
“You… you love me? You want to marry me? You’re not just…”
“No, I am not just ‘being noble, and offering myself as a way of ensuring that you are safe from Puglinton’. I love you. I want to marry you, because of who you are, regardless of Puglinton or anything else. Can you… can you possibly consider it? Can you come to care for me?”
She laughed then, with a slight edge of hysteria to it. But she reached for his hand.
“Can I come to care for you? I already do care for you. I think that I began loving you that very first night we were introduced, when you did not turn away from my sharp tongue, no matter how much I intentionally challenged you! I was just afraid that you did not feel the same, that when you disappeared…”
“Oh! You feared, perhaps, that I had a mistress somewhere?” She nodded, blushing. It was Kevin’s turn to laugh. “No, there isn’t, and never has been, a mistress. I am not prone to flattery enough to keep one happy – and such women do not like bluntness at all!”
Unable to resist any longer, he leant to her, and gently brought his lips to hers – it was barely a brush, yet it sent heat flooding through his veins. When he drew back, she was blushing. They both completely ignored the fact that they were in a public place, that anyone might have seen.
“I think that I would be most happy for you to blackmail Puglinton. I find myself feeling vengeful.”
“Then I shall put that plan into action. But, let me do this formally, for I would hear your answer directly. Lady Hyacinth Gardenbrook, will you marry me?”
“I will, and gladly – just as soon as I know that I am truly free of Lord Puglinton.”
“It shall be done. And now… I should, really, do the officially correct thing, and speak to your father.”
“Yes, but I do not think that you have anything to fear there – after all, you like talking about agriculture with him!”
Kevin laughed, and turned the curricle back towards Elbury House.
Chapter Fourteen
As they came to a halt before Elbury House, Kevin felt a moment of complete fear – what if the Duke disapproved? He chastised himself for doubting – after all, Lady Hyacinth’s observation was correct – he did enjoy discussing agriculture with the Duke, and he was almost certain that the man approved of him. Still, he felt nervous as they entered the house.
“Marks, is my father in his study?”
“Yes, my Lady.”
Marks watched as Lady Hyacinth led Kevin to the door of the Duke’s study, but said nothing more.
Lady Hyacinth rose on her toes, and pressed a delicate kiss to Kevin’s cheek, before backing away.
“I’ll be in the parlour, once you’ve…”
Kevin nodded, and tapped on the door.
“Enter.”
Kevin went in, shutting the door behind him. The Duke rose from his desk, a curious expression on his face.
“Lord Kevin – wh
at can I do for you today? For I presume that you are here for something other than a brandy and a chat about farming and the cultivation of exotic flowers?”
Kevin swallowed, and nodded.
“Yes, Your Grace. I… I am here to speak to you about your daughter – about Lady Hyacinth.”
“Oh-ho! So that’s the way it is, eh? Well then, take a seat, my boy.”
The Duke waved towards the two chairs set either side of the fireplace, and Kevin obediently went to them, and sat. The Duke dropped into the other chair, and regarded him, waiting.
“Your Grace… I… I wish to marry Lady Hyacinth. I… I hope that you might see your way clear to approve my suit.”
The Duke was completely still for a moment, regarding Kevin, and the tick of the clock on the mantel seemed to echo in the room. After a moment, the Duke gave an emphatic nod, then rose, and Kevin watched him, suddenly afraid that he would, after all, be rejected. But the Duke simply went to the sideboard which was set against the wall, pulled the stopper from the brandy decanter that sat there, and poured two glasses.
“It looks like we’ll need that brandy after all – to toast your future happiness.”
He carried the glasses back, and handed one to Kevin.
Kevin released his breath in a rush, and his hand shook slightly as he took the glass.
“Then… then you approve, Your Grace?”
“I do. Most heartily. I’m grateful, in fact, my boy – Hyacinth has always been the one I’ve worried about. She’s a strong mind, strong character, but she has struggled so hard to be ‘socially acceptable’. I was beginning to wonder if there was a man out there who had enough character to match her. I assume… that you’ve already spoken to her, that she’s happy with this? I’d not, ever, force any of them to a match they didn’t want.”
“I have, Your Grace, just this afternoon. And I have been honoured by her acceptance of my proposal.”
“Excellent. You’ll do well by her, I think.”
“You… you are not concerned that I will only be a Viscount, in the fullness of time? You did not hope for a man of higher station for her?”
“Frankly, Lord Kevin, I do not care what station a man holds, if he is the man that my daughter wants, and is well off enough to support her appropriately. Her happiness is far more important than the title she will carry. And a man’s competence is far more important than the title he holds, or will hold. I realise that those statements would shock most of the ton to the core, but they are my opinions, and I’ll stick by them.”
“I am most glad that you see the world that way. It took my sister, Maria, suffering for a year with a terrible man, and then suffering more when he met an unpleasant death, to teach my father to think that way.”
The Duke nodded, and sipped his brandy.
“Just make her happy, Lord Kevin. And if your fortunes ever suffer, apply to me for aid – I’d not have my daughter want for anything, should you have a temporary reversal of fortune.”
“Thank you, Your Grace. I believe that you can rest easy on that count. The Chester estates are profitable, and well managed, and I’ve learnt enough from my father, and, I must admit, from my neighbours, to keep them that way.”
“Good to hear, good to hear. Well then – I’ve no doubt that she’s in the parlour, waiting anxiously for the moment that she can tell her sisters. You are prepared for the immediate chaos that will ensue, aren’t you?”
“I believe that I am…”
“Then, by all means, go and set my household into turmoil again. The Duchess will be in alt about having another wedding to plan.”
Kevin swallowed the last of his brandy, rose, bowed to the Duke, and left the room.
<<<< O >>>>
Hyacinth had entered the parlour quietly, and simply settled onto the couch beside Rose, saying nothing. The conversation in the room, which was about the rather daring gown that Miss Phillibert had worn the previous evening, continued. Rose raised an eyebrow at her silence, and passed her the plate of little iced cakes which sat beside her. Hyacinth took it, and selected a cake. If nothing else, it was an excuse not to speak.
The cake was delicious, as always. Cook was a genius.
And Rose probably had some influence on that. Hyacinth had no idea why Rose found such things interesting, but she spent as much time talking to Cook about cakes as their father spent talking to the gardener about flowers.
The sisters had almost managed to reach agreement on Miss Phillibert’s dress when the door opened. Hyacinth managed not to choke on the last crumbs of her cake. Lord Kevin stood there, his eyes alight, and she felt a shiver of relief run through her. Not that she had ever thought that her father might deny them… but still. He stepped into the room, and her sisters fell silent, regarding him with wide eyes. He said nothing, but held out his hand to Hyacinth. She rose, and went to him.
Once she faced her sisters beside him, her hand securely in his, he spoke.
“Ladies, your sister has done me the honour of agreeing to become my wife. I have been assured by both Lady Hyacinth, and by your father, that this announcement will result in a situation where the entire world becomes focussed on wedding planning.”
The sisters looked at each other, and burst into laughter, then rushed forward to congratulate them. Violet slipped out into the hall, and spoke to Marks for a moment. Not long after, the Duchess swept into the room.
“What is this that I hear? Another wedding?” When Hyacinth nodded, her mother smiled widely. “Wonderful, wonderful. Is you mother in town at present, Lord Kevin? I must meet her to discuss this, as soon as possible!”
“She is not – she is at Chester Park, still. My father… has not been entirely well.”
“Then we shall have to visit Chester Park, in the very near future. But there are many things that I can set in motion here, first.”
Hyacinth thought that Lord Kevin withstood it all remarkably well – her family were rather like a torrent in flood – they tended to sweep people along with their enthusiasm. The rest of the day passed in happy chaos – her only concern was the fact that Lord Puglinton’s threats still loomed over her. Until Lord Kevin carried out his plan, she would not feel entirely safe, ever. And after that… it would depend on how well that plan worked.
<<<< O >>>>
Kevin tucked the satchel of documents under his arm. It was an unassuming thing, much like the ones that men of business carried to transport their papers. But this one contained documents which could ruin a man, and set a lady free. Behind him, Hunter Barrington, the Duke of Melton, stepped down from the carriage, and told the coachman to wait nearby.
When Kevin had gone back to Hunter to discuss his plan for dealing with Lord Puglinton and to collect whatever documents Hunter’s contacts had gathered, he had been surprised, and pleased, when his brother-in-law had insisted on accompanying him. For his rank as a Duke would lend weight to the matter, and Kevin was sure that Puglinton, like a large percentage of the ton, was aware of the fact that Hunter’s responsibilities, during the war, were rumoured to have involved spying. He was not a man that anyone would wish as an enemy, if they were wise.
“Are you ready for this, Kevin? I expect that he will bluster and try to deny everything.”
“Of course he will. Until he realises that the threat is serious.”
“True – hopefully, once he does, he will take the sensible course of action, and co-operate.”
They went up the steps, and rapped the knocker on the door. Soon, they heard the echo of footsteps approaching, inside the house. The door opened, and an elderly butler regarded them.
“How may I help you, gentlemen?”
“We are here to see Lord Puglinton, on an urgent matter.”
Kevin passed his, and Hunter’s, calling cards to the butler, whose eyebrows rose a little as he read the name of the rather exalted gentleman on his doorstep.
“Please, come in.” They entered, and he showed them into a pleasant parlour, with a large
window which overlooked the street. “I will inform his lordship of your presence.”
They waited, studying the room around them. It reflected wealth, without excessive opulence, although the colour scheme was less than tasteful. Ten minutes passed and, just as they began to wonder if Lord Puglinton would actually deign to see them, he appeared at the parlour door.
“Your Grace, Lord Kevin – to what do I owe this visit?”
“Please shut the door, Puglinton – we have a serious, and private, matter to discuss with you.”
Hunter’s voice was cold. Lord Puglinton frowned, unaccustomed to being directed in his own home, but complied.
“A serious matter?”
“Yes. A matter upon which might hinge your fortune, and your place in society.”
Puglinton’s eyes widened in shock, and it was obvious that he was mentally cataloguing all of the things in his life which might put such things at risk. When Kevin and Hunter had discussed how they would approach this, they had planned their words most carefully. They wanted Puglinton off-balance from the start. It appeared to be working.
“What on earth are you talking about?”
There was an edge of bluster to Puglinton’s words, which seemed to cover true worry. Kevin spoke, watching Puglinton’s reaction to every word.
“Let me be blunt, Lord Puglinton. I have become aware of the fact that a very large number of your assets have been… obtained… as payment of gambling debts. A most unusual number. Debts which were incurred by gentlemen in a series of games, at a well-known gaming hell, over a two-year period. A period during which you cheated, consistently.”
Puglinton went red in the face, and drew himself up.
“What nonsense! You have no proof for this scurrilous accusation!”
“On the contrary, Lord Puglinton, proof is exactly what we do have. We have come into possession of a collection of correspondence, in which you were foolish enough to actually plan these matters with an accomplice. An accomplice who has seen his way to cooperate with us, given that you never paid him the entirety of what you had promised. We also have a second witness, who observed each one of those games.”
A Vixen for a Viscount: Book 2: Hyacinth - Clean Regency Romance (A Duke's Daughters - The Elbury Bouquet) Page 12
