by Amanda Quick
“Not for long. The rumors that Bloomfield is in charge will surely destroy the confidence of the creditors.”
“Excellent.” Jeremy smiled with satisfaction. “So that is what you meant by destroying him. Very clever, if I may say so Angelstone.”
Prudence grinned proudly. “Angelstone is a very clever man.”
Sebastian quirked a brow at her. “Thank you, my dear.”
Jeremy frowned. “I wonder if Curling is aware of his ultimate fate.”
“I imagine he will comprehend the extent of his punishment soon enough,” Sebastian said. “His bankers will no doubt keep him informed of his falling fortunes.”
Jeremy looked at him in alarm. “Do you think he will attempt to return to England, then?”
“To face a host of furious creditors and the distinct possibility of being thrown into debtors’ prison?” Sebastian asked. “I sincerely doubt it. But if he does, we will deal with the problem.”
“So it’s finished.”
“I believe so,” Sebastian said.
Prudence chuckled. “I do hope the two of you are aware of the stares you are drawing.”
Jeremy grinned. “I know. People are not accustomed to seeing Angelstone chatting in a friendly manner with the members of his family. Oh, by the by, that reminds me, sir. I told Mama that you saved me from being arrested for murder.”
Sebastian choked on a mouthful of champagne. “Bloody hell. I trust you did not tell her the entire tale.”
“Of course not,” Jeremy said seriously. “I knew she would have fits if I told her everything. I explained that everyone knew about the feud between you and the rest of us and that a murderer had attempted to capitalize on that information in order to cover his own tracks.”
“What else did you tell her?” Sebastian asked ominously.
“Only that you had used your power to make certain Bow Street would take no interest in me.”
“Hmm.”
Prudence saw the blurry outline of a familiar figure forging through the crowd. She raised her glass to her eye again. “Speaking of Mrs. Fleetwood, here she comes now.”
“Good lord,” Sebastian said. “Am I going to be obliged to spend the entire evening in the company of my relatives?”
“I’m certain Mama only wishes to apologize to you, sir,” Jeremy assured him.
“No doubt that is exactly what she intends.” Prudence fixed Sebastian with a warning look. “The least you can do is be gracious, Angelstone.”
Sebastian smiled grimly. “If Aunt Drucilla actually undertakes an apology, I will eat my cravat.”
Drucilla came to a halt in front of Sebastian. “There you are, Angelstone.”
“Yes, madam, here I am. What of it?”
“Behave yourself,” Prudence hissed under her breath.
Drucilla ignored the byplay. She glowered at Sebastian. “My son tells me that you have done your duty by the family regarding a certain matter that might have become potentially embarrassing.”
A familiar unholy amusement sprang to life in Sebastian’s eyes. “You may rest assured, madam, that Jeremy is in no immediate danger of hanging.”
“I should hope not. He’s a Fleetwood, after all. No Fleet-wood has been hung since Cromwell.” Drucilla snapped her fan closed in a crisp, elegant gesture. “Jeremy also tells me that you were not the one who was attempting to implicate him in the deaths of those two men.”
“Jeremy explained that to you?” Sebastian asked.
“Yes, he did.”
“And you believed him, madam?”
Prudence drove her elbow into his ribs and smiled at Drucilla. “Angelstone is teasing you, madam. As you know, he has a very unusual sense of humor.”
“Ouch.” Sebastian gingerly fingered his ribs. “I am not laughing now, madam,” he said through his teeth.
Drucilla gave Prudence a quelling glance. “Really, my dear, that sort of foolish play is hardly suitable to the ballroom.”
“I wasn’t playing,” Prudence murmured. She was aware that more and more heads were starting to turn.
Prudence could feel the anticipation rise like a surging wave all around her. She could also feel Sebastian readying his next taunting remark to his aunt. She prayed for deliverance and it arrived in the shape of Hester.
Having apparently decided, along with everyone else in the room, that social disaster was looming, Hester made a bold bid to forestall it. She gave Prudence an anxious glance and then turned to Drucilla with an affected start of surprise.
“Oh, hello, Drucilla,” Hester said. “Didn’t see you standing there. How are you this evening?”
“I am fine, thank you, Hester. I was just about to speak to Prudence about her gown.”
“Lovely, isn’t it?” Hester said, delighted with what seemed to be a safe topic. “That particular shade of lavender is all the rage at the moment, you know.”
“It makes her look like a washed-out dishrag,” Drucilla said. “And all those ruffles are perfectly ridiculous on her.” She frowned at Prudence. “I see you have not yet found a new modiste.”
Prudence felt herself start to turn pink. She glanced helplessly at Sebastian, but he showed no signs of offering assistance. “No, madam, I have not had time. But I intend to do so at the earliest opportunity.”
“There is no help for it, I shall have to introduce you to mine,” Drucilla said grandly. “I do believe she might be able to do something with you. You have possibilities.”
Prudence’s heart sank. She was acutely aware of the gleam in Sebastian’s eyes. She managed a polite smile. “That is very kind of you, madam.”
“Someone’s got to take you in hand. You are the Countess of Angelstone, after all. It seems I shall have to take it upon myself to educate you. Certain things are expected from the wife of the head of the family.”
“Yes, of course,” Prudence said weakly.
“I shall arrange to go shopping with you at the earliest opportunity.” Drucilla turned on her heel and sailed off through the crowd.
Hester fluttered her fan with an air of excitement. “Dear me, Prudence, she may have a point. Now that I consider the matter, I’m not at all certain lavender and violet are particularly flattering on you.”
“You’re the one who chose these colors,” Prudence said, thoroughly disgruntled.
“Yes, I know, and they are extremely fashionable. Nevertheless, I feel we should bow to Drucilla’s expertise.” Hester examined Sebastian’s austerely elegant black and white attire. Then she glanced at Jeremy, who was equally striking. “The Fleetwoods do have a certain natural instinct for style. You may as well take advantage of it.”
Sebastian smiled blandly at Prudence. “Quite right, my dear. Put yourself in my aunt’s hands and do not concern yourself with the cost. No price is too high to pay to see how you fare on a shopping expedition with her.”
Prudence scowled at him. He knew very well she was already dreading the experience. “Don’t you dare laugh at me, Angelstone, or I shall do something drastic, I swear I will.”
“You must forgive me, my dear.” Sebastian’s eyes held the devil’s own mirth. “But it would appear that a whole new world of entertainment is about to open up for me.”
“Really, Sebastian.”
“You were the one who wanted peace in the family, madam wife. Well, you’ve got your fondest wish. It will be vastly amusing to see you deal with the old witch. I beg your pardon, I mean with Aunt Drucilla.”
Jeremy grimaced. “Mama means well, Lady Angelstone. But I fear she has a very strong notion of family responsibility.”
“I’m sure she does,” Prudence said dolefully.
“As do you, my dear” Sebastian said smoothly. “The two of you should get along famously.” He started to laugh.
Prudence glared at him. Sebastian merely laughed harder. He did not even have the decency to stop when everyone in the room turned to stare.
Prudence looked pointedly at Jeremy. “Would you mind very much da
ncing with me, Jeremy? If I remain here with Angelstone I shall no doubt disgrace myself by kicking him in the shin.”
Sebastian gave another shout of laughter.
Jeremy glanced curiously at Sebastian. Then he grinned and held out his arm to Prudence. “It will be my pleasure, madam.”
“Thank you.”
It was only after she had taken the floor with him that Prudence realized she had inadvertently given the ton something else at which to marvel. Every eye in the room was now on her.
“People are staring at us.”
“Can you blame them?” Jeremy chuckled as he swung her into a waltz. “The Fallen Angel’s lady is dancing with a member of the Fleetwood clan. Furthermore, there is no indication that the devil is about to unleash his wrath against me in retaliation. He is too busy laughing his head off at a joke no one else can comprehend.”
“They will think Angelstone has lost his wits,” Prudence said. “And they may be correct.”
“It will be all over Town by morning that the Fleetwood feud is finished,” Jeremy mused.
“I suppose being taken in hand by your mother is not too high a price to pay for ending the feud,” Prudence said, trying to be optimistic.
“Don’t be too certain of that.”
• • •
Prudence was still grumbling about the forthcoming shopping trip an hour later when Sebastian escorted her out into the cold, foggy night.
“It is most annoying, Sebastian. Back home no one ever remarked upon my clothes. Here in Town I do not seem to be able to please anyone. And what am I to do with the wardrobe I ordered when Hester took me in hand, I ask you?”
“Give it away, I suppose.” Sebastian signaled for his carriage. The Angelstone coach was nowhere to be seen amid the crowd of vehicles that filled the street in front of the large house.
“To whom?”
Sebastian’s mouth tilted. “To someone who looks good in shades of violet and lavender.” He took her arm and started impatiently down the steps. “Come along. It will take another twenty minutes for the carriage to make its way through this press. We may as well walk to it.”
“Very well. I certainly don’t care to stand out here for long. It’s quite chilly tonight.” At least she had worn a cloak this evening, Prudence thought. Sebastian had insisted upon it.
It was difficult to tell one coach from another in the heavy fog. The black Angelstone carriage was waiting at the end of a long line of vehicles. A footman in the familiar black and gold Angelstone livery appeared to open the door for Prudence.
Something about him seemed different. She glanced up and realized she did not recognize him. Before she could raise her glass to her eyes for a closer look, she heard Sebastian swear softly.
“Who the devil—”
A soft, sickening thud cut off his words. Sebastian groaned. Prudence whirled around as she felt him release her arm.
“Sebastian.” Instinctively she reached out to him as he crumpled to the pavement. But he was too heavy for her. She went down on her knees beside him. “Dear God, Sebastian, what’s wrong?”
A man loomed up out of the fog. His face was a blur, but Prudence had no difficulty seeing the large blunt object in his hand.
“Don’t you worry yerself none, ma’am. He’ll be all right. I knows me job. Get on with ye, now. Into the coach. I’ll put his nibs in there with ye.”
Prudence rose swiftly, her mouth already open to scream for help. A rude male hand was instantly clamped across her lips, silencing her.
“Shut yer bloody mouth, yer ladyship,” the strange footman hissed in her ear.
Prudence started to struggle. She kicked out wildly, but her movements were severely hampered by the heavy folds of her cloak. The other villain grabbed her ankles. She realized there were three men in all, including the coachman.
“Behave yerself or it’ll be the worse for yer man,” the false footman muttered. “We’re in a hurry, ye know. Ain’t got all night. Me and me two mates promised to deliver ye on time. Don’t get paid unless we do.”
Prudence glanced desperately up at the box as she was bundled into the carriage.
“Get ’em inside,” the man on the box said in a voice that definitely did not belong to Sebastian’s regular coachman. “We ain’t got all night.”
Prudence’s captors tossed her onto the floor of the carriage. There was a small, sharp crack that she recognized at once as the sound of her dangling eyeglass shattering beneath her cloak.
She floundered about, trapped in the folds of the garment.
“No sense wearin’ yerself out,” one of the men said gruffly. He reached into the carriage and hoisted Prudence onto one of the seats. “Best save yer energy. Expect me client’s got plans for a pretty little thing like you.”
The man wearing the Angelstone livery stuffed Sebastian’s limp body into the vehicle. Sebastian sprawled facedown on the floor. He did not move.
Prudence gazed at him in horror, trying desperately to see if there was blood on his head or if his eyes were open. It was impossible to tell. Even if she had been able to get to her spectacles in her reticule, she knew she would not have been able to see how badly Sebastian was injured. The interior of the carriage was very dark.
The villain in the Angelstone livery jumped into the carriage and sat down across from Prudence. There was just enough light for Prudence to see the pistol in his hand.
“Well, now, reckon you and me will have to find some-thin’ to talk about for the next hour or so, ma’am. Yer man ain’t goin’ to be in the mood fer conversation for a while.” He nudged Sebastian’s still body with the toe of his boot.
“Don’t touch him,” Prudence said.
“Don’t worry, he’ll be in reasonably good shape when I deliver him to Curling Castle. That was the deal I made with his lordship, y’see. Both packages to be delivered in good shape.”
Prudence could hardly breathe. “You’re taking us to Curling Castle?”
“That’s where we’re headed, right enough. This damn bloody fog will slow us down somewhat but not much. Jack up there on the box is real good with the reins. I reckon we’ll get there in no time.”
The black chamber was every bit as cold as Prudence had remembered. The dark, heavy chill seemed to have a life of its own. It emanated from the stones themselves, not from the night air outside the castle walls. Like the fog, it shrouded everything in the room.
Prudence turned her head. The men who had brought her and Sebastian here a few minutes ago had left a single candle burning on the table. The flame was of little use against the oppressive shadows that filled the chamber.
She lay very still on the bed, listening to the sound of retreating boots in the hall. A small sense of relief washed over her. The kidnappers had departed.
She sat up stiffly. Her hands and feet were still bound, but at least the villains had not gagged her. Not that she intended to start screaming now, she thought. The last thing she wanted to do was summon one of her captors.
Chains clanked against stone.
Prudence raised her head swiftly and peered into the shadows. “Sebastian? Are you awake?”
“Bloody hell.”
The surly sound of his voice revived her spirits as nothing else could have done. “They put you in those awful manacles on the wall.”
“I noticed.” Chains scraped lightly on stone again, as if Sebastian was quietly testing them. “Are you all right?”
“Yes.” Prudence managed to sit up on the edge of the bed. “What about you?”
“I feel as if I’ve gone a hundred rounds with Witt himself, but other than that I seem to be in one piece.”
“You’ve been unconscious for a very long time. I was terribly worried about you.”
“I wasn’t unconscious, just dazed.” Sebastian sounded coldly furious now. “I couldn’t seem to move for a while, at least not quickly enough to take that pistol away from the man in the carriage. I decided to bide my time.”
“We’re at Curling Castle,” Prudence offered.
“Believe it or not, I figured that out all by myself.”
Prudence frowned. “There’s no need to get sarcastic. I was just trying to help you orient yourself.”
“I beg your pardon, madam. I am not in the best of moods.” Chains rattled again. “Damnation.”
“What’s wrong?” Prudence asked.
“What isn’t wrong? This entire investigation has been wrong right from the beginning. Bloody hell.”
“I mean what’s wrong right now?” Prudence said patiently. “Why are you swearing?”
“Because I can’t get quite the right angle on the locks of these manacles. I need to be a few inches higher.”
Prudence brightened. “You’re trying to pick the locks?”
“Yes.” Chains rattled softly. “Damn it to hell.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“See if that chamber pot I saw under the bed last time is still there,” Sebastian said.
“A chamber pot? Don’t you think you can restrain yourself for a little while? We’re in something of a hurry here, Sebastian.”
“I need the damned pot to stand on so that I can get the wire into these locks,” Sebastian said through his teeth. “If you find it, try to kick it over here.”
“Oh. Yes, of course.”
Chagrined, Prudence scooted off the bed. Unable to use her bound hands or legs to control her descent, she landed with a thud on her knees. “Ow.”
“Hurry.”
She bent down and looked beneath the bed. The fuzzy outline of the chamber pot was just barely visible in the deep shadows. “It’s there.”
“Get it over here,” Sebastian ordered.
That was going to be easier said than done, Prudence thought. But there was no point complaining about the difficulty of the task. She had the uneasy feeling that their lives might very well depend on her getting the chamber pot out from under the bed.
She lay on her side and wriggled partway under the iron bed. It took three attempts before she successfully hooked her bound ankles around the pot.
“Got it,” she whispered.
“Push it over here.”
“I’m trying.”