True Nobility

by Lori Bates Wright

  As the horses trotted off, they left a deliriously happy Aurora standing in the doorway with a hand to the side of her face.

  The rain had stopped but the thick night air was still heavy with moisture, amplifying the clopping of the horses’ hooves along the empty streets. Tori avoided conversation by staring out the small carriage window. Their first stop was the offices of Haverwood Shipping and Trade. Tori watched from inside of the carriage as Zach tried the doors and found them locked. The high windows were darkened, and it was obvious Nicholas was not there.

  Zach paused, glancing at Tori, before giving Jonas the instructions to the next destination. Climbing back inside the conveyance, Zach explained that they would see if his brother was at home. “It’s half past two in the morning, Tori. Even Nicholas can’t get you an answer tonight. Let me take you back to Mrs. Charlotte’s. I promise to pick you up at daylight.”

  “What if he refuses to help me? I must find someone else and we will have wasted precious time. Please, take me to him, Zach. Surely he will be agreeable to at least giving me a simple yes or no.”

  With a defeated sigh, Zach tapped on the roof of the carriage to instruct Jonas that they were ready to leave. She could see that her decision agitated him but he was too honorable to question her.

  So unlike his brother.

  Expensive coaches lined St. James Square as they rounded a corner and came to a stop in front of Nicholas’s stylish West Broad Street home.

  Tori refastened a small comb in an attempt to tame her disheveled tresses. Her rumpled ball gown was hidden for the most part under Nicholas’s evening cape. Still she looked a frightful mess.

  No time to worry about that now.

  Tori emerged from the carriage, lifting the hem of her skirts to ascend the circular stairs leading up to the darkened doorway. Rather than wake the staff, Zach used his key to let them in.

  Once inside the dimly lit hallway, Zach lifted a finger to his lips, motioning for her to wait where she was. He then took the marbled staircase two stairs at a time.

  Her normal curiosity to look around was overruled by the urgency of her mission.

  Lord, please move on Nicholas’s heart to help.

  He had every reason to toss her out on her pantalets for the thoughtless way she had spoken to him. All she could do now was ask his forgiveness and pray for compassion.

  Voices at the top of the stairs brought her attention to Nicholas coming toward her in a gray robe. Tori tried to read his expression but was unable to sense his mood.

  “What’s this about?” His question was low and direct. “Has there been news?”

  “She needs your help.” Zach stepped around him, obviously ready to take up her cause. “I tried to convince her to wait ’til morning but she has something she needs investigated.”

  Nicholas pinned her with an unwavering gaze. And though it was unnerving to the point that breathing became a challenge, she refused to look away.

  “Is this true?” His voice softened.

  “Yes.”

  “Thanks, Zach. You can go on up to bed. I’ll see Miss Haverwood home.” Though he spoke to his brother, Nicholas’s eyes never left hers. He continued to study her face as Zach disappeared back up the stairs. A chill in the air overcame her.

  “I see you’ve forgotten your shawl again,” Nicholas drew his cape tighter around her shoulders and secured the ties at her neck.

  “So I have.”

  Nicholas pulled open the double doors that led to a sparsely furnished parlor and motioned for her to go in before him. For an instant, being here alone with him in his bedclothes made Tori question the wisdom of seeking him out after all. Admittedly, it had been a desperate move.

  He led her to a small table flanked by two leather chairs. A game of chess was set in the middle. Nibbling her lip, Tori took a chair across from him, sitting on the edge with her hands folded primly in her lap.

  Nicholas sat back and rested his elbows on the arms of his chair, apparently waiting for an explanation as he brought his hands in front of him, steepling his fingers. “Start from the beginning and tell me what this is about.”

  Tori decided to begin with a confession. “I overreacted earlier and spoke harshly. My behavior was unacceptable. I am truly sorry.”

  “So you ventured all the way over here, braved the storm at two in the morning to make your apologies. Is that what you expect me to believe?”

  Tori could only manage a nod in answer.

  “What is this really about, Victoria?”

  At this point she had nothing else to lose so she chose to get straight to the point. “I need your assistance.”

  “Now, that I believe.”

  Tori shifted uncomfortably. “You’re the only person I know to ask. I really have nowhere else to turn.” Tori watched him cautiously then presented the paper she had found. “Here, read this.”

  He took the parchment and quickly skimmed over it. He raised a brow and handed it back. “So the earl has more of an interest in Georgia than he let on.”

  “I need you to help me find this woman. For obvious reasons, I believe she may lead us to my father.” Despite her best efforts, her hands held a slight tremble, so she clasped them in her lap.

  Lightening lit the room from the corner windows.

  “But I can’t do it alone, Nicholas. I need your help.” When he didn’t immediately respond, she reached across the small table and placed her hand on his. “Please.”

  Thunder cracked outside and Tori flinched.

  He rose and pulled her up into the warmth of his arms He held her so tight she didn’t dare move. The same spiced wood scent that had lingered on his cape filled her senses and she closed her eyes to breathe deeply. Nicholas embodied the strength she needed. And in that moment, she allowed herself to be immersed in the stability of his embrace.

  The tenderness he showed her, after she had all but scorned him, touched something deep inside her heart.

  “All you had to do was say please, princess.”

  Turning her face, she looked up at him. A half-grin played at the corner of his mouth.

  She tried to smile back, but it wasn’t in her tonight. “Please tell me you believe this could have something to do with Father’s disappearance.”

  Moonlight broke through the clouds for a fleeting second to shine down upon them through the high windows. “I do believe it’s a place to start.” Nicholas straightened the cape around her shoulders. “For now, I’ll take you back to your aunt’s. We can talk about our options first thing in the morning.”

  Tori nodded, relieved he had taken her notion seriously. For the first time since finding the marriage certificate, she felt a glimmer of hope that they might be on the right track to recovering the earl.

  Exhaustion finally flooded over her. “Thank you.” Her voice came in a broken whisper.

  Nicholas pulled her to himself and kissed her forehead.

  There is no instinct like that of the heart.

  ~ Lord Byron

  Fifteen

  The moon peered from behind the clouds and illuminated the brilliant blue of her eyes. Along the way to the Haverwood house, Nicholas watched Tori scan the empty streets and he knew she was hoping for any sign of her father. As if she expected the earl to appear out of thin air if she willed it hard enough.

  Once stopped, she gave a tired smile as he helped her disembark and make their way to the high doorstep. Before she reached for the door, Tori paused.

  Her eyes lifted to meet his. Nicholas didn’t like what he read in their depths. Her desperation was almost tangible.

  “Come on,” Nicholas smoothed a curl, still slightly damp, that clung to her face. “Let’s get you inside.”

  “You’ve been so kind. I don’t know what to say.” He pushed the door open, but she still didn’t move. “Thank you, Nicholas.”

  “Princess, we’ll find your father.”

  “I realize it isn’t much to go on.” She placed her hand inside his
arm and allowed him to lead her inside. “But I feel better knowing you will be looking into it for me.”

  “I’ll contact my attorney first thing in the morning and have him track down the woman in the document. Sound fair?”

  The foyer was still lit, and before the door was closed the Haverwood ladies filed out, both talking at once.

  “Oh, praise be!” Mrs. Charlotte exclaimed.

  “Tori, we were scared to death. We thought something had happened to you, too.” Aurora gave her a hug, then looked to the doorway. “Where’s Zach?”

  “Where on earth have you two been?” Mrs. Charlotte was clearly annoyed at them both.

  “Victoria was with me.” Nicholas passed her a look that brooked no argument. “We needed to examine a document she found with her father’s things. She’s convinced it is somehow connected with his disappearance. She felt she needed to act quickly, so she sought me out. Perfectly acceptable under the circumstances.”

  “Well, I hope none of your neighbors saw her coming to call in the middle of the night. It wouldn’t matter if your father was President Abraham Lincoln himself, Tori, you’d never live it down.” Mrs. Charlotte motioned for everyone to filter into the parlor, but Nicholas remained at the door.

  “I’m not staying. I just wanted to see Victoria home.”

  “In that case, go on up, girls. I’ll see Nicholas out.” Turning back to Nicholas she lowered her voice, pulled him by the sleeve until he bent down to her level. “Nicholas Saberton, you better have acted in a manner befittin’ a gentleman or between your mama and me, we’ll take it out of your hide.”

  “Mrs. Charlotte.” Nicholas patted her round cheek. “You know me better than that. I assure you, my neighbors saw nothing.”

  Charlotte Haverwood released a grateful sigh.

  “I kissed her well out of their view.”

  By eight o’clock the next morning, Nicholas was back in his office on Bull Street. He’d sent a message to Abner Westphall requesting a meeting at his earliest convenience. Considering it was Saturday, he didn’t expect to hear back from the lawyer until Monday morning, but he’d given Victoria his promise to make the contact.

  Sorting through invoices, Nicholas was surprised when the front door swung open at quarter after nine and Mr. Abner Westphall came into the room clasping the lapel of his overcoat. A prominent attorney in Savannah, he’d made his mark, and was proud of the fact. He’d handled the Saberton’s affairs for forty years and had known Samuel and Dottie before any of their boys were born. He and Nicholas’s father had been the closest of friends.

  “Good morning, Nicholas.” Westphall offered his hand and Nicholas left his desk to accept the greeting. “I got your note and came as soon as I could.”

  Nicholas led him to chair with a pat to the man’s back. “Thank you for coming, Abner. I assume you’ve heard about Haverwood’s abduction?”

  “It’s all over the newspaper this morning.”

  Nicholas hadn’t taken time to read his copy, choosing instead to visit the constable hoping for new information. Unfortunately, G.W. McAllister posed no help at all. According to his wife, he was sound asleep after a late night and his second man in charge indicated they had nothing new in the case.

  “How well did you know the earl?” Westphall asked, taking a notepad from his leather briefcase. “The word around town has it he was well liked by most, if not revered.”

  “I was contacted by him in March. Before that we’d never met.” Nicholas leaned back against the front of his desk, arms crossed at his chest as he relayed the connection. “He’s the older brother of my late business partner, Percy Haverwood. From what I understand, Mother met him briefly years ago, but I’d never personally made his acquaintance.”

  “I didn’t handle Percy Haverwood’s holdings. I’ll find out who did and see if I can schedule a meeting.” Nudging his spectacles with a thumb, the lawyer flipped to a fresh page in his notebook. “Now, I assume the earl had a reason for contacting you?”

  “He said it was imperative that I leave immediately for England, to see him and his daughter safely out of the country as soon as possible.”

  This gave Westphall pause. His hand stilled as he looked up at Nicholas over his glasses. “Didn’t you find that a bit odd?”

  “I did. But out of respect for Percy I decided to make the trip.”

  Westphall nodded and made the notation. “Did the earl ever explain his reasoning?’

  “No.” In hindsight, Nicholas was agitated at himself for not pressing the issue. “When asked, he evaded the question.”

  “Did he ever say anything or do anything else peculiar?”

  “You’ve obviously never met the man.” Nicholas couldn’t help but smile. “Lord Haverwood is a dignitary of the first order. He’s used to having his way and always has an agenda.” Standing, Nicholas moved to the window, looking down on the square which was just beginning to come alive with Saturday activities. “The earl may come off as quirky or gruff, but he always knows what he’s doing. He has a brilliant business mind and will stop at nothing to see to his interests.”

  “I take it his interests included you marrying his daughter?” Nicholas could see Westphall watching for an answer in the reflection of the glass.

  On a heavy sigh, Nicholas turned. “Zach’s the only person besides Victoria who knew about that.”

  Abner nodded. “I stopped by your home thinking you would be there. Zach told me where to find you—among other things.”

  Returning to take a seat at his desk, Nicholas filled the lawyer in on the unusual conversation he’d had with the earl when he’d first arrived at Wrenbrooke.

  “I dismissed it, of course. I figured the earl was just trying to increase his influence by having his daughter become a duchess.”

  “Mmm hmm.” Abner had taken a page full of notes. “Are you certain he understood you were not interested in marrying Lady Victoria and reclaiming the family inheritance?”

  “I don’t know how I could have made it any more clear.” A jab of conscience caused Nicholas to frown. He wasn’t the least bit interested in going back to England to reclaim Brechenridge. But he couldn’t honestly say he hadn’t developed a rare fascination for the earl’s daughter.

  “Your message said you needed me to look over a document.”

  Taking the folded parchment from a pocket in his vest, Nicholas handed it across the desk. “Victoria found this among her father’s belongings.”

  Nicholas watched the lawyer scan the paper both through his spectacles and over the top of them before finally returning his attention to Nicholas. “I take it no one knew about this.”

  “Victoria didn’t. Neither did Charlotte Haverwood.” Nicholas replaced his pen into the inkwell. “Do you think it’s legitimate?”

  “Quite.” Westphall was quick to answer. “This is the hand and seal of Judge H.M. Lamb from Richmond County. In the year eighteen and thirty-six. Have you any idea where this woman is now?”

  “None.” Sitting back in his chair, Nicholas brought his elbows to rest on the leather padded arms “I was hoping you might be able to help track her down. Victoria is certain she has something to do with the earl’s apparent kidnapping.”

  “Possibly.” Abner lifted the parchment. “Mind if I keep this for the time being?”

  “Please do.” Weighing his next question before posing it, Nicholas narrowed an eye. “What would the woman have to gain by abducting the earl?”

  “Ransom. Revenge. Possible inheritance. A number of scenarios come to mind. Since he had remarried, it’s quite possible the woman is dead.” Abner tucked the document into a pocket of his leather case. “And if she’s not, that makes for a fairly convincing motive for murder. At least, my wife would think so.”

  Nicholas gave a half grin.

  “Yet, since the earl felt it was his daughter who was in the greatest danger, there are evidently more pieces to this puzzle that must be uncovered. Her welfare is at stake. I suggest yo
u hire an investigator to dig a bit deeper into the earl’s disappearance. In the meantime, I’ll travel to Augusta to have a look at the court records.”

  “Thank you, Abner.” Nicholas stood. The very real thought that Victoria could possibly be targeted next caused cold dread to grip his chest. Keeping her safe was suddenly raised to a whole new level. This had gone from an amusing diversion to a matter of life and death. “I’ll see that Victoria is taken care of.”

  “If you don’t mind my asking, Nicholas, how do you plan to see that happen?” Westphall stood as well.

  “I’ll move her where I can keep a closer eye on her. At my home. In my care …”

  The emphatic shaking of Westphall’s head was more than annoying, especially since hearing his plan out loud sounded ridiculous.

  “You have no legal right to keep her there. She isn’t your legal ward, nor is she your wife. Therefore, I’m afraid you’d be asking for tongues to wag.” Abner removed his spectacles and waited for Nicholas stop studying the ceiling. “You and I both know the ladies of Savannah would have a hen-fest with that.”

  “I can hire guards and keep her from leaving the Haverwoods until this is resolved.”

  Still, Abner shook his head. “Again, you have no right. Besides, I don’t know anyone that appreciates being held a prisoner.”

  Frustration built until Nicholas swiped at a pile of invoices stacked on the corner of his desk to send them fluttering to the floor. “I won’t stand by and do nothing. As long as there’s a threat, she’s my responsibility.”

  “I have no doubt you’ll do the right thing.” Abner nodded kindly, before seeing himself to the door. “I will send word when I return from Augusta. Good day, Nicholas.”

  With that he left Nicholas alone with his troubled thoughts.

  Returning to the window, he leaned against the jamb, looking out over the bustle of Forsythe Square. A muscle worked in his jaw. Up until a few days ago, he would have shrugged this off as just another wild scheme the earl was becoming famous for.