A Rake for All Seasons: A Regency and Victorian Romance Boxset

by Samantha Holt

  “Unfortunately, no. Though it could not be any further back than three months ago,” Reed informed the nurse. “His name was Thomas Moore.”

  She shrugged. “We have so many patients here. It is hard to remember them all. You believe he is still alive?” the woman asked.

  Orelia nodded. “We know he is.” She clasped her hands together and forced a gentle smile that she somehow felt might suit a rich woman looking to take up her time with charitable work. “That is, I have been told he is.”

  “Well these books are those who have died in the past three months.” The nurses indicated to several books stacked on a desk, the top one open and ready for more entries. “And there are those who have been discharged.” A smaller pile was a grim reminder of how few people left the hospital alive.

  The nurse glanced over her shoulder. “I must attend to my patients. Please be quick. You should not be looking at these.”

  Reed nodded and flicked open the book while the nurse hastened off. Orelia leaned over his shoulder to watch but most of the words looked like nothing more than nonsense to her.

  “If I skim through from three months ago, hopefully we can find record of him,” he told her.

  “Will you really donate?” Orelia asked.

  He chuckled, running his finger down the ledger and flicking over another page. “Do you think me a liar?”

  “Well, no…”

  “It’s clear this place needs funds.” He flicked over another page. Then another. “Ah.” He placed a finger on an entry. “Here he is. He left just under a month ago.”

  “Is there any other information?”

  Reed shook his head. “The address that is given is the empty one, but it says he was admitted to bed four. Let’s see if we can take a look at it.”

  They exited the room and found the nurse they had originally approached. “Could you show us bed four?” Reed asked. “It seems he was discharged from it three weeks ago.”

  “Yes, just over here. Though I am not sure what you think you will find.” The nurse led them over to an empty bed. In the bed next to it was an elderly man whose eyes were sunken and his skin hung off his bones as if there was not an ounce of muscle on him. His breaths wheezed so loudly that it made Orelia flinch each time he inhaled.

  Reed glanced over the bed. It was clean and made up with no sign of any of the previous occupants. Orelia sighed. How were they ever going to find this man?

  “Do you not recall this patient at all?” Orelia pressed the nurse.

  The nurse gave an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. We have so many people here and your friend won’t have been the only occupant here.”

  Rubbing a hand across his face, Reed looked at Orelia. “We need to find out where Thomas went after this.”

  “But how?” Orelia eyed the empty bed. “Do the patients ever leave any belongings behind?”

  The nurse shook her head. “If they do, it means they are dead, and we give those belongings to the churches if they’re not collected by family straight away.” She gave a shrug. “We do not have the room to store them for long.”

  “Did you say Thomas?” the man in the bed asked.

  Orelia glanced at him and moved closer. “Yes, did you know him?”

  The man nodded. “I’ve been here long enough to see many occupy this bed. Thomas was one of the few who wanted to talk.”

  “He’s a friend of mine. I am hoping to help him.” Orelia hoped lying to a probably dying man was not considered too much of a sin if it was in aid of catching a would-be murderer.

  The man’s thin lips stretched. “Thomas is a lucky man to have a friend like you, miss. But I do not know where he went after he left, I’m afraid.” A coughing fit wracked the man.

  Orelia knelt by the bed and waited for the coughing fit to subside. “What did you and Thomas talk of? Perhaps if I know where he liked to go, I shall be able to find him.”

  “He liked a good drink, I do know that.” The man flashed a toothless grin. “What man doesn’t.”

  “Do you know which pubs he preferred?” Reed pressed.

  The man’s expression turned sour and he turned his attention back to Orelia. “He never said. Though…” He screwed up his face for a moment and lifted a finger. “I do recall him talking of a club—The Clermont. He liked to gamble—too much I think.”

  Orelia swung a look at Reed who gave an almost imperceptible nod. This was the thread they needed. If they went to this club, perhaps they could find him there.

  “Thank you, sir. You have been an immense help.” She gave the old man’s hand a little squeeze. “My cousin here shall ensure you are rewarded for your help.”

  The man gave a wave of his hand. “No point in helping me. I will end my days in this bed before long.”

  Orelia winced. “Well, I’m sure we can—”

  “I don’t need no help!” the man barked.

  “Come on, you had better leave.” The nurse ushered them away from the bed. “Mr. Newell is a little unpredictable.”

  “I’ll be in touch about a donation and I would still like to ensure he is comfortable,” Reed told her as they left.

  “Do you think we will find Thomas at that club?” Orelia asked when they got outside.

  He nodded. “Or if not, I should be able to find someone who knows him and his whereabouts.”

  “What are we waiting for?” She gave his arm a tug. “Let us go now.”

  Reed shook his head. “I know that club, Orelia. Believe me when I say you cannot step foot inside it.”

  Scowling at him, she put her hands to her hips. “I’m not scared.”

  He chuckled. “I know you’re not, but it’s a gentleman’s club.” He glanced her over. “You are most assuredly not a gentleman.” He ran his gaze up and down her body that was currently encased in another borrowed gown.

  “Oh.”

  “Yes. Oh. Not to mention it is notorious for being home to a rough crowd. Neither of us will fit in looking like we do now, even if you were not decidedly female. We’ll return home and I shall head to the club tomorrow night. I imagine that’s when it will be at is busiest.”

  “Well, just be careful, Reed.”

  “I’m always careful.” He winked before offering her his arm.

  His assurances didn’t do much to quell the uncertainty in her gut, especially after that man attacking her. The thought of something happening to Reed…well, it did not bear thinking about. He mattered to her more than she liked to think about.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “Orelia, is it not?”

  Orelia took a breath and turned to face Reed’s mother, who hastened along the path with a lot less grace than usual. She would not point out that the duchess knew full well what her name was but that she had never used it nor addressed her if she deemed it unnecessary. Which was about the entire time she’d been at the abbey.

  She offered his mother a smile. She could hardly blame her. What a strange thing it must be to suddenly have a Romani girl in her midst—someone so far removed from her world that it was likely the duchess had never even considered people like her existed.

  Part of her wanted to reassure her that she would be gone soon, that his mother’s world would be perfect once more, however, she could hardly bring herself to say the words or imagine what it would be like without being near Reed.

  “Can I help you, Your Grace?”

  The duchess stopped. She gulped down some air and her cheeks were red. “I...I have had word that Reed was hurt in town.”

  “Hurt?” Orelia shuddered to a standstill. “Badly?”

  “I do not know.”

  The distress in his mother’s eyes had her softening to her. She motioned to the stone bench nearby. “You had better sit, Your Grace.”

  She nodded hastily and sat. Orelia perched herself next to her, careful not to get too close to the duchess’s beautiful green silk gown. She took a second to remind herself that Reed was the cleverest and wiliest of men. He simply would n
ot let himself be hurt badly. It was likely something small and nothing to fear.

  She hoped.

  “What has happened?”

  “A young man came to the house.” His mother pressed her hands to her stomach. “He said that he had news of my son that I would wish to hear if I would pay. I, of course, gave him some coin.” She drew out a handkerchief and pressed it to her lips. “He said Reed was in the most dreadful of places. Someone set upon him and he is harmed.” The last word came out as a sob.

  “Is the man still here?”

  She shook her head. “I sent him away.”

  “Did he say what happened to Reed afterward?”

  “No, only that a tall man dragged him out of the club and...and...”

  Orelia carefully eased her fingers over the duchess’s arm and gave her a light pat. “All will be well.”

  She forced herself to ignore the horror building inside her. What if Reed was harmed? What if he was lying on a roadside somewhere, close to death? How did the man even know it was Reed? He could be in even more danger if the patrons discovered he was a duke. They could hold him for ransom or...

  No. Reed would not let that happen. He was too resourceful.

  “What was he doing there?” his mother asked. “Why would he be spending time at such places?” She pressed her handkerchief to her lips again and spoke from behind it. “Why does he love to torture me so? You must know. You know him better than I already, it seems. Why are you here? Why is my son hurt? What are these trips he keeps taking you on?”

  Squeezing the duchess’s arm, Orelia gave a little shrug. “I cannot say. It is not up to me to. But I can tell you he wishes you no ill.”

  The duchess stood abruptly. “He wishes me no ill, yet he disappears constantly. He spends time away from me for years on end then when I am looking forward to having him home and settled, he vanishes again.”

  Orelia stood too. “I shall go and find him,” she said. “He will be fine, I just know it.”

  “Do you?”

  “Yes.” Orelia nodded determinedly. “I shall go to the club and speak with the people there.”

  The duchess shook her head. “If you go there and are hurt, Reed shall not be happy.”

  “If he is hurt, he will have no chance not to be happy.”

  The woman peered at her as though seeing her as something other than a gypsy for the first time. “You have a lot of courage,” she said quietly.

  “Not all the time. But I think Reed has encouraged it in me.”

  “Take a few of the men with you. Colin, the stable hand, is a big man. And a few of the gardeners could help. They will keep you safe.”

  Orelia could not help but smile. In her life there were few people who had been concerned for her safety. But first Reed and now the dowager duchess. It was an odd feeling and she liked it. Maybe a little too much.

  “Very well, I shall change, though. I would not wish to wear this into a place like that.”

  His mother cast her gaze over what had once been her gown. “Reed really should get you some new dresses. It is most unbecoming for you to wear his mother’s old gowns. I shall send for a seamstress once Reed is safely home.”

  “That is really not...”

  “If you are going to remain under my roof for however long, then I think it best you look the part,” she said sternly.

  Allowing herself a smile, Orelia nodded. At least his mother was back to her usual commanding self. Hopefully Orelia would find Reed, bring him home and all would be well. She could not consider the idea that he wouldn’t. What would her life be like without him?

  “I will set off presently,” Orelia determined.

  “I shall ask Colin to round up the men and ready a carriage. You must take the quickest one.”

  As Orelia turned to make her way back up the garden path, she paused and narrowed her gaze at a figure strolling around the side of the house. Her heart gave a rapid jolt and her bones seemed to melt.

  “It’s Reed!” she declared.

  His mother gave an odd shriek, a sound unlike anything she’d heard before.

  They both hastened toward him. Orelia couldn’t prevent a startled “oh no,” when she saw his face. “What happened?” she asked, resisting the desire to take his battered face in her hands.

  He grinned at her, his swollen lip stretching and making her wince. There were several grazes on his face and he appeared to have a slight limp. A generous bruise marred his forehead.

  “I had a little scuffle, nothing to worry about,” he assured her.

  “What were you thinking, Reed?” his mother demanded. “You must stop all of this. No more vanishing to unsavory places. You are a duke. You should be behaving like one.”

  “I am well, thank you for your concern, Mother,” he said with a wry grin.

  Orelia took Reed’s arm. “Your mother was worried about you. We had already received word that you were harmed, and we feared the worst.”

  “Someone recognized me. Let us just say some did not take well to nobility in their midst.”

  “And that is precisely why you should remain where you belong.” His mother gave an exasperated huff. “People should stay where they belong,” she directed a pointed look at Orelia.

  So much for being admired for her courage. It seemed she was back to being the enemy. She had seen the concern for Reed though. As much as the duchess pressured Reed, his mother loved him dearly and she could not begrudge her that.

  He opened his mouth to respond so Orelia tugged him away in the hopes of preventing an argument. “We had better get you cleaned up.”

  “And looking more duke-like,” his mother declared.

  “Honestly, can a man not get a bit of peace in his own home?” he muttered as Orelia urged him back into the house.

  “Not when you worry us like that,” Orelia scolded. “I knew I should have gone with you.”

  “I am grateful you did not. What if you had become involved?”

  “I could have done something, I’m sure.”

  Reed chuckled. “Perhaps you could have.” He winced when they followed the steps into the house. “Twisted my ankle or some such,” he explained. “Nothing terrible.”

  “Is it true? Did they set on you because they knew who you were or was that simply for your mother’s sake?”

  “They knew who I was, but how, I do not know. Someone revealed me.”

  She frowned. “For what purpose?”

  “To prevent me from finding out more I suspect.”

  “Did you find anything out?” she pressed.

  He grinned then winced. “Yes. Before I was so rudely ejected, I found out Thomas’s whereabouts. He still lives in Portsmouth.”

  “That’s wonderful. We can go there as soon as you are healed, but first let’s see if Mrs. Corley has something cool to put on your head.”

  He nodded, and they made their way downstairs, past the servant’s hall and into the kitchen. “Your Grace!” one of the kitchen maids exclaimed.

  “Not to worry, May, all is well. Please do not let me get in the way.”

  Orelia tugged out a chair while the girls watched them with fascination. Mrs. Corley scowled and then and flapped a cloth at the serving girls. “Leave His Grace be for a moment. He is not here to be gawped at.” She folded her arms and eyed them both. “What have you been up to, Your Grace?”

  “A little adventure, Mrs. Corley. Nothing more. But if you would be so kind as to find a nice cold steak or something to ease this bump” —he motioned to the bruise on his head that was indeed showing signs of swelling— “I would be most grateful.”

  “Of course, Your Grace. Let me see what I can find.” She nodded to Orelia. “You will help him clean up, miss. There are clean cloths under the sink.”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  Mrs. Corley went to the larder in search of something cold so Orelia busied herself wetting some strips and cleaning off the various cuts and scrapes.

  “What actually happ
ened?”

  “I entered the club without any problems but unfortunately it was not long before I was approached. Things grew violent quickly and when it became clear I had no riches on me, they saw fit to throw me out. Hence this,” he motioned to his head. “And I was tossed about a little. I got a few punches in but there was three of them.”

  She shook her head to herself. “You were lucky not to be killed.”

  He shrugged. “I’ve—”

  “Experienced worse I know. That does not mean you are invincible, Reed.”

  “Am I not?” He gave her a lopsided grin. “I had rather hoped you might think I am. It does a man’s pride good to think a woman thinks him so invulnerable.”

  She lifted his chin and dabbed his mouth. “What if you had been killed?” she muttered, more to herself than anything.

  “Would you have missed me?”

  Her gaze shot to his. “What a silly question, of course I would. I-I hate to think of anything happening to you.”

  “And I you,” he said, his smile turning soft. He lifted a finger to her face and traced the line of her cheek. “Were you really worried for me?”

  “Certainly. We both were.”

  “Was my mother terrible to you whilst I was gone?”

  She chuckled. “Not totally terrible. She even called me courageous.”

  “Goodness that is a compliment. Whatever did you do” —he hissed when she dabbed a particularly angry-looking scrape on his jawline— “to deserve such praise?”

  “Well, I was planning on going into town and finding you.”

  Reed shook his head. “Whatever will I do with you?”

  “Kiss me?”

  The words tumbled from her mouth, unbidden and uncontrollable. It didn’t matter that she had just been nursing his lip and worrying about hurting him further. Now he was safely home, she wanted nothing more than a kiss from him.

  ***

  Her words echoed around the empty kitchen, bouncing off the shining black tiles and the hard stone floor before finally landing in his brain and rolling around in there for a while. Reed stared at Orelia. There was nothing he wanted more than to kiss her. In truth, it had been all he’d thought about since that night at the ball. That and a few other things...