by Joyce Alec
“Now,” he began, as the two other men returned to where they had been standing. “You are to speak to Miss Whitaker about Lord Paulson’s death, I believe.” He gestured towards where Lydia sat. “You believe she is the one to have killed Lord Paulson, then?”
Mr. Jones, the first Bow Street Runner, cleared his throat gruffly but nodded. “It is possible,” he replied, ignoring Lydia’s swift intake of breath. “I would say we have good reason to believe it to be true as well. After all, Lady Starling here has told us that Miss Whitaker had left the room long before the musical performance even started and was only found by chance thereafter.”
Joseph, who thought this to be a rather unconvincing reason to place the blame solely on Lydia’s shoulders, shrugged.
“On top of which, Lady Starling was good enough to reveal to us that Lady Templeton, Miss Whitaker’s mother, was in debt to Lord Paulson. I will not go into specifics, but the incident that Lord Paulson threatened to reveal could have ruined the Templeton family. Miss Whitaker would have been ignored by all of society and thrust into a life of loneliness and isolation.”
“And so, you believe her to be guilty of killing Lord Paulson in order to protect herself and her mother?” Joseph asked, keeping his sigh of exasperation to himself. Seeing the two men nod, he shot a glance towards Lydia, who was staring up at him, white-faced and clearly afraid.
“I know that you were only forced to propose to Miss Whitaker because of what she saw,” Lady Starling murmured, getting to her feet and taking a few steps towards him. Her eyes were filled with sympathy, seeming to glow as she looked at him. “You were afraid that she would believe you to be the murderer and so, to protect yourself and her reputation, you had no choice but to propose marriage to her.”
Joseph, who knew this was, in fact, quite true, nodded slowly. “That is indeed the case, Lady Starling,” he admitted, not even glancing at Lydia. He forced a smile to his face as Lady Starling put her hand on his arm for a moment, as though in solidarity. “However, as much as I will admit that, I cannot pretend that such reasoning gives Miss Whitaker any particular guilt. No one saw her enter the room.”
“But she was the only one absent from the drawing room for a prolonged length of time,” the second Bow Street Runner said gruffly, as Lady Starling dropped her hand.
Lady Starling sighed heavily and looked back at Joseph, ignoring Lydia completely. “You are a kind man to try and protect Miss Whitaker, even though you care nothing for her,” she said softly. “But you need not do so any longer. No one will criticize you for bringing your engagement to a close now, Lord Ancrum. Allow justice to take its course. You will find yourself free once more.”
Joseph looked down into the face of Lady Starling and took in everything he saw there. She was beautiful, yes, but underneath that beauty lay a deep cruelty that bit out at everyone around her, at everyone who did her wrong. And it was up to him to reveal it.
“You want me to be free from my betrothal, do you not, Lady Starling?” he asked, putting his hand out and capturing hers with his fingers. “That is the truth of the matter. You have tried your utmost to discover a way to remove me from this betrothal.” He kept his voice quiet and gentle, hating how his fingers touched hers but forcing himself to do so regardless.
“I have always sought your best, Lord Ancrum,” she told him, her blue eyes fixed upon his and her words sweet and smooth as she spoke. “I know that this engagement must have been a torturous burden for you. You barely knew this creature and in spite of that, you were supposed to consider matrimony?” She sighed heavily and shook her head, clearly feeling a good deal of sorrow over what she considered to have been a terrible burden for him. “But you shall be free of it now and how much better for you that will be. You will be able to go about your life as you wish and take a bride of your choosing.”
“A bride of my own choice,” Joseph murmured, his heart twisting painfully as he heard Lydia gasp. “Someone whom I have come to know better than any other. Someone who has relied on me. Someone who has my trust. Someone who I must pray and hope will be able to turn her back on any other and look only to me.”
A slow smile began to spread across Lady Starling’s face and, as she looked up at him, Joseph felt a sense of triumph begin to flood him. This was going precisely as he had planned.
“You are much too generous, Lord Ancrum,” Lady Starling murmured, pressing his hand with hers. “But surely you must know that I would turn my back on all others should you offer me your hand. I have found our acquaintance growing into a deep intimacy that I would long to continue.”
Joseph’s jaw set, hearing the truth of what Lady Starling desired. It was as though a curtain was slowly begin pulled back to reveal what was hidden beneath it, letting him see the truth for what it was.
“You seek to blame my betrothed for the death of Lord Paulson so that you might take her place,” he said bluntly, tugging his hand out of hers and stepping back, his brows lowering in anger. Lady Starling’s eyes flared with surprise, her mouth falling ajar for a moment as he gestured wildly towards the Bow Street Runners. “You have taken these men in as you have done with so many others. You have tried to lay the guilt at Miss Whitaker’s feet when she has had nothing to do with it.”
“I am seeking only to protect you!” Lady Starling exclaimed, losing some of her decorum for a moment. “I am trying to ensure that you do not shoulder the blame.”
Joseph shook his head, a snort of disgust leaving his mouth. “That has always been your intention, has it not, Lady Starling? You did not want me to take the blame for Lord Paulson’s death, for then your plan would have come to naught.”
Mr. Jones, the Bow Street Runner, took a step forward and cleared his throat. “What plan, Lord Ancrum?” he asked, as Joseph moved towards Lydia, settling one hand on her shoulder and squeezing gently so as to reassure her. Lydia looked as though she were about to break down completely, tears filling her eyes as she glanced up at him.
“Lady Starling sought to push herself into my life in one way or another,” Joseph said firmly, seeing Lady Starling slowly sinking back down into her chair. “She knew that I was seeking to reclaim my good reputation and, thereafter, look for a wife.”
Lady Starling let out a harsh laugh. “You think I sought to marry you, Lord Ancrum?” She laughed again and waved a hand. “Do not be so absurd! All of society knows that I am not at all interested in such things.”
Joseph did not say anything for some moments but rather held Lady Starling’s gaze, seeing how she flinched at his unrelenting stare.
“What is it, Lady Starling?” he asked softly, his words seeming to light themselves with tension as they made their way towards Lady Starling. “What has occurred that you must now seek to marry? Have you no wealth left? Have your funds dried up?”
Lady Starling said nothing, but the way her eyes darted from place to place told Joseph that he had managed to come very close to the truth.
“Who was Lord Paulson to you, Lady Starling?” he continued quietly. “I know that you say he was a cruel fellow who was blackmailing you, but I cannot believe that to be true. I believe it was all a ruse, a pretense. What was it you sought to do?”
Mr. Jones took another step forward and Lady Starling looked up at him, although her chin lifted slightly as though to pretend she felt no fear.
“If there is any truth in what Lord Ancrum is saying, Lady Starling, then I would ask you to speak it now,” Mr. Jones said, his tone rather gruff. “It would be best for you if you did so rather than for us to have to investigate further.”
Lady Starling said nothing for some moments, looking from Mr. Jones to Joseph and back again. With her jaw set firm and her eyes flashing, Joseph felt as though she were trying to gather her strength, so that she could remain determined and strong in the face of her whole world collapsing about her.
“I should also mention that I have set my butler to the task of discovering the whereabouts of one Miss Preston,” Joseph
added, before Lady Starling could speak. “When she arrives, I have no doubt she will tell us everything we need to know.” He arched one brow as Lady Starling’s face began to pale all over again, aware that he had finally brought Lady Starling’s defenses down. She was not to be victorious, as she had planned. Lydia would not bear the guilt and the shame of being the supposed murderer as Lady Starling had intended. No, the truth was about to be revealed and Joseph had every intention of hearing each word from Lady Starling’s lips.
Much to his astonishment, Lady Starling suddenly flung herself forward, her hands covering her face and her elbows burying themselves into her knees. She neither moved nor spoke for some time and, from a glance up towards Mr. Jones, it was clear to Joseph that the fellow had very little idea of what to do.
“The truth, Lady Starling.”
It was not Joseph that spoke, nor Mr. Jones nor the other Bow Street Runner. Instead, it was Lydia herself who spoke those words of authority, her voice not shaking and trembling as he had supposed. She was pale, her hands tight in her lap, but her strength was beginning to evidence itself once more.
“Speak, Lady Starling,” Lydia continued, when Lady Starling did not move or say a word. “You must know that you cannot hide any longer. The beginnings of your deceit have been revealed and there can be no escape.”
Silence reigned for some moments longer, until Lady Starling slowly began to sit up. Her face was ashen, her eyes dulled, yet her mouth was pulled into a thin, cruel line that could not be hidden from her expression. Her eyes narrowed as she looked back at Lydia, clearly angry in the midst of her defeat. Her mouth opened, ready to spit words of fury out at them all, only for the door to open and the butler to step inside.
“Miss Preston, Lord Ancrum,” he said clearly, ushering in a young lady who came into the room with hesitant and cautious steps. “And her mother, Lady Cuthbert.”
Joseph bowed quickly, seeing how Lady Starling stared at the young lady in horror, not even managing to get to her feet. His victory was certain now, and he suspected that Lady Starling knew it.
“Miss Preston, Lady Cuthbert,” he said, seeing the grey-haired older lady look at him in suspicion. “Thank you for attending and I must apologize for the way in which you were requested to come to my home. It is of the greatest urgency, I assure you.”
“What is it that you require of my daughter, Lord Ancrum?” Lady Cuthbert asked sharply. “I do not understand what has occurred that requires her presence.”
Joseph nodded, seeing how Miss Preston’s gaze was fixed on Lady Starling’s face, her cheeks paling. “We need the truth from her, Lady Cuthbert,” he said, as firmly as he could. “Before these men here, Miss Preston, might you tell us what Lady Starling required of you the evening of Lord Paulson’s musical soiree?” He saw the girl flinch as though his words had stung her, her eyes closing tightly for a moment. “You need have no fear,” he continued reassuringly. “Lady Starling cannot hold anything over you any longer and what you say will not leave this room.” He gave her a small, tight smile, which the young lady did not return. “Please, Miss Preston, do not hold anything back. The fate of my betrothed is at stake.”
Miss Preston drew in a long breath, looked at him steadily, and then nodded. “If you can assure me that nothing I say will be spoken to anyone else, then I shall do as you ask,” she said, her voice somewhat tremulous. With a glance up to her mother, she closed her eyes tightly, her breathing rattling out of her. “I am sorry, Mama.”
16
Lydia watched as the two ladies seated themselves opposite her, although Miss Preston made certain not to sit anywhere near Lady Starling. Lady Starling herself had gone a rather ugly shade of crimson, her hands clenched into fists in her lap as she glared furiously at Miss Preston, clearly trying to use her ire to prevent the girl from speaking.
Lord Ancrum came to sit down beside Lydia, his presence an overwhelming sense of security to her. She felt bolstered by it, emboldened to continue in strength and determination. Looking at Miss Preston, Lydia forced herself to remain outwardly calm, praying silently that the young lady would not restrain herself out of fear. Lady Starling was still directing all of her ire towards Miss Preston, who, clearly aware of it, was shifting in her seat in a most uncomfortable fashion. Lord Ancrum settled his hand over hers, drawing her attention towards him once more. He smiled at her, his eyes filled with confidence, and Lydia felt some of her tension leave her.
“If you would begin, Miss Preston,” Mr. Jones said, looking a little confused as he glanced towards Lord Ancrum. This had clearly taken an unexpected turn and the Bow Street Runners were, mayhap, a little taken aback at how Lord Ancrum had managed to turn their investigation around so quickly that they were no longer even considering her as the person responsible.
Miss Preston took in a long breath, lowered her head, and set her hands together in her lap.
“Lady Starling and I only became acquainted a little over a sennight ago,” she began, her voice so quiet that Lydia had to strain to hear her. “She discovered me in a rather… improper… situation and I—”
“Sophia!” Lady Cuthbert exclaimed, interrupting her. “When was this? And what precisely was it that—”
“If I might be so bold as to interrupt, Lady Cuthbert,” Lord Ancrum said loudly, getting to his feet. “I know that this may have come as a shock to you, but please be aware of just how grave this situation currently is. If you might permit your daughter to finish without interruption, I would be most grateful.”
Lady Cuthbert turned to Lord Ancrum wordlessly, her eyes wide and her hands shaking slightly as she settled them back in her lap. Her mouth closed tight and she nodded to her daughter to continue. Lydia could not help but feel a swell of sympathy in her chest for Miss Preston, aware of just how difficult this must be for her.
“I—I was foolish, Mama,” Miss Preston whispered, throwing the smallest of glances up to her mother before lowering her eyes again. “Lord Kingsley was most welcoming and sought to take a walk with me in the gardens and I…” She closed her eyes tightly, shaking her head slowly. “As I said, I was foolish. I thought that Lady Starling was there to come to my aid, to help me away from his grasping hands, but instead, she told me that I would have no other choice but to do as she asked. Else she would speak of my misdemeanor to all and sundry and thereafter, my reputation would be blighted forever.”
“How terrible,” Lydia murmured sympathetically, seeing just how the debutante had been taken in by a gentleman who was, most likely, well used to taking advantage of innocent young ladies such as Miss Preston. “And Lady Starling threatened to reveal all if you did not do as she asked?”
Miss Preston nodded miserably, looking across at Lydia. “I was to do her bidding whenever she wished it and without question.”
“I see,” Lydia said, slowly beginning to understand why Lord Ancrum had been so eager to have Miss Preston brought to the house. “That sounds most troubling, Miss Preston.”
Lord Ancrum cleared his throat gently, drawing the young girl’s attention. “And might I ask, Miss Preston, whether or not Lady Starling informed you as to the color of gown you would be wearing on the night of Lord Paulson’s musical soiree?”
Lydia’s heart slammed hard into her chest as Miss Preston nodded, the girl not daring to look anywhere but her hands as they lay in her lap. “Both the same cut and color,” Miss Preston whispered, as Lydia swallowed back the exclamation that fought to rush from her throat as she realized what Lord Ancrum meant by his question. There had never been any suggestion that Lady Starling had been the one to leave the room, for Lady Templeton would surely have recognized if such a well-known lady had risen from her chair. But, in the dimly lit room, would it not have been easy to make out the lady’s features as she quit the room? A lady in a green gown sitting in Lady Starling’s seat would have, of course, been thought to be none other than the lady herself—but what if that had not been the case? What if Miss Preston, being of the same height an
d slim build as Lady Starling, had worn the same gown so that she might take Lady Starling’s place for a time? Lydia’s eyes traveled towards Lady Starling, horror beginning to fill her heart as she saw how the lady’s expression was one of fierce, unrelenting anger. Lady Starling’s furious gaze was now settled upon Lord Ancrum, clearly furious that he had discovered the truth about her plans.
“You were the one to kill Lord Paulson,” Lydia whispered, her fingers wrapping around Lord Ancrum’s strong hand. “You had Miss Preston take your seat at the performance so that you might go about your business.”
Lady Starling lifted her head and looked directly back at Lydia and the coldness in her expression sent a flurry of fear through her heart. The lady showed no sign of remorse, no outward expression of sadness. Instead, she appeared to be angry that she had been discovered.
“Lord Paulson and I had a wonderful partnership,” Lady Starling said, her voice thin. “He and I made certain that certain members of the ton were obliged to pass on either money or favors to us.”
Lord Ancrum’s hand pressed Lydia’s hard for a moment. “You mean to say that you were both involved in blackmailing some of the beau monde?”
Lady Starling shrugged. “My fortune and wealth are not what they had once been,” she replied, as though this was to be expected. “Therefore, I had to find a way to supplement it. That is, until Lord Paulson decided that he would no longer participate in our arrangement.” Her eyes narrowed all the more, her gaze resting on the floor somewhere by Lydia’s feet as she thought of the late Lord Paulson. “He threatened me.”
“Threatened you?” Mr. Jones asked, making Lydia start in surprise at his gruff voice. She had been so caught up in all that Lady Starling was saying that she had quite forgotten the Bow Street Runners were there.
Lady Starling’s lip curled. “Lord Paulson was a cruel man,” she declared, as though to say that he was somehow much worse than she. “He took all the… particulars of our agreements so that I had nothing with which to continue bringing in money.”
