Jeremy sighed. “It’s better if I show you. If you are away for a while will you be missed?”
Louisa shrugged, “I have no idea. My father and uncle are currently having some kind of disagreement and judging by the manner in which I was dismissed, my father doesn’t want to discuss it with me.”
“So he is likely to leave you alone for the rest of the night?”
“Likely yes. But that does not mean I am going to go anywhere with you. Not after what you just said, what you accused me of.”
Jeremy took a step toward her, his eyes remorseful. “Forgive me. If you want an explanation, you are going to have to trust me.”
Chapter 30
Criminal Enterprise
Jeremy could have kicked himself. He knew why he’d made that accusation. Partly, yes it was because he’d had a long difficult day in which he’d learned a few things that turned his blood to ice. But he was also a red-blooded male who was very much in love with a woman living in proximity with him. It was frustrating and very distracting. He spent his nights dreaming of her looking just the way she had when she stepped into his study.
A combination of exhaustion, mental anguish, and sexual frustration had prompted his outburst. And now he would probably pay for it with second thoughts. Jeremy didn’t think he would survive if Louisa changed her mind about marrying him.
So he had to get back in her good graces. Reaching up toward the hook on the door, he snagged his heavy winter coat and held it out to her. “It’s cold outside, you shouldn’t have run out without at least a shawl.” He said, studiously avoiding looking at her bosom.
Especially when your nipples are standing out in that way.
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him but stepped into the coat and fastened its buttons all the way to the top. He smirked, feeling amused and also relieved. Anything that helped keep his libido in check was welcome.
“Now, follow me.”
Beneath his house, accessible from a wine cellar in the basement was a myriad of tunnels. His friendship with Lord Shearcaster had begun when, at eight years old, they had bumped into each other in the tunnels, both exploring from their ends. Jeremy still smiled to himself when he recalled Daniel’s scream, loud and piercing like a girl’s when he’d caught sight of Jeremy.
“I thought you were a ghost!” Daniel had said.
Jeremy had conceded – at the time – that that might be a reasonable assumption. As far as he knew, no one else in his household knew about the secret path beneath the house. Of course the footmen would talk when they saw him go down to the wine cellar, his affianced in tow so he hoped that Louisa was immune to gossip. He knew that his servants generally liked her and they all knew that Jeremy had asked for her hand and so he hoped the gossip would not get out of hand.
He took a hand-held torch from the sconce just next to the hidden doorway, dipped it in tar and lit it up. Louisa looked around with wide eyes and Jeremy reached for her hand.
“Do not be afraid.”
“I’m not,” she replied quietly and Jeremy believed her. She was a brave girl.
Loyal.
Unswerving with her faith in people.
Of course she would defend her uncle, especially since she didn’t know what he had done. He led her down one corridor and up another and she followed, unquestioning. He began to realize that she trusted him too, despite her earlier words, and resolved to make sure she never had cause to regret it.
“You know what the servants think we’re up to down here, don’t you?”
“Of course.”
“And you don’t mind?”
She shrugged, “Seeing as my future husband knows the truth, why should I mind?”
Jeremy sighed. “Why are we waiting? Let’s get married on Saturday.”
Louisa laughed. “You just proved that you don’t trust me, but you want to marry me on Saturday?”
“By bringing you here, I prove that I do trust you. Nobody else knows about this place.”
“What is this place?”
“Just what it looks like. A secret passage.”
He turned a corner and then began to climb some stairs before pushing open a trapdoor at the top and jumping out through it. He reached down for Louisa’s hand and pulled her up. He watched her jump in startlement when she realized they were not alone anymore and placed a comforting arm around her shoulder.
“Louisa, this is Mr. Kruger, he is a Bow Street Runner. Of course you know Mr. Severus Jones…and the woman tied to the chair is Brina Masters; or at least that’s the name she gave us.”
He watched as she looked at them all, open-mouthed. He could see the wheels turning behind her eyes and she turned to him. “This is something to do with the tavern robberies is it not?”
Jeremy smiled proudly, “Clever girl. What gave it away?”
Louisa looked at Mr. Jones. “You told me that you were here to investigate the tavern robberies and if you have a Bow Street Runner here as well, it is not hard to surmise…”
“Indeed.” Jeremy frowned, resolving to find out later when exactly Louisa had a conversation with Mr. Jones. “Well, in exchange for her freedom, Miss Masters here has been most helpful in assisting us to find out what was happening.”
Louisa stared between Jeremy and the girl and then her eyes widened, the color leaching from her flesh. “Are you saying that my uncle is involved in this?”
Jeremy sighed. “Your uncle recruits the girls, gives them their assignments and collects all the purses.”
“I-I-I-I…what? Are you sure?”
Jeremy gestured toward the girl. “Ask her.”
Louisa looked the girl over. She was bound to her seat, a smidge of dirt on her cheek, her hair uncombed. “Perhaps she’ll say anything to go free.”
“Of course, and we are not taking her on her word alone. She has provided evidence.”
“What kind of evidence?”
“She has told us how they meet, how she gets paid, when they meet and we have counterchecked these names and dates with Notley’s routine and it fits perfectly.”
“But what if–”
“I don’t mean to be rude but you have to trust that we have double checked this quite thoroughly.”
She bowed her head in defeat and Jeremy would have done anything not to have to give her this news.
“And so now what? Will you take Uncle Gilbert to Newgate? Is that his fate?”
“We have yet to decide what to do. We do not know who else might be involved and there are certain things that heretofore did not make sense about my books that now do.”
“What sort of things?”
“Monies disappearing and then reappearing at a later date. Large sums whose movement made no sense. I am no accountant but it did not sit right with me. Mr. Jones has had a look at my books and he recognizes the pattern from other criminal enterprises he has dealt with.”
“Oh God,” Louisa sunk to the floor. She stared bleakly, emptily into space. Jeremy knelt beside her, pulling her into the circle of his arms, as he tried to comfort her.
“My uncle is a criminal?”
“I am afraid so.”
“And, and, and…he’s been stealing from you as well?”
“Yes. He has.”
A sound between a sob and a whimper escaped her lips and Jeremy held her tighter. “I’m sorry.”
“Take me home, please,” he whispered.
* * *
Louisa managed to get back to her chambers without anyone noticing her absence. She buried herself under the blankets and did her best to go to sleep. It was all too much for her to assimilate at the moment and all she wanted to do was hide.
After a night of uneasy rest, she woke to find her father already in the parlor, still wearing last night’s clothes looking as if he had not moved all night.
“Father. Are you all right?”
Americus turned to face her. “I’m fine.”
“You do not seem to be fine, Father.”
; He huffed a laugh in despair and then shook his head. “I have a lot on my mind.”
“Uncle Gilbert?”
“Among other things.”
Louisa took a seat by her father’s side. She reached out and covered his shaky hand with her own. “Father, I…need to tell you something.”
“I am listening.”
There was a knock on the door that distracted them. Louisa sighed, getting to her feet and going to answer it. She was shocked to see Jeremy standing there and her hand jerked as if she might close the door.
“Your Grace. This is a surprise.”
“I have something to ask you, and your father. May I come in?”
“Of course.” She stepped back and let him over the threshold, her heartbeat quickening as she wondered if he was here to do what she had tried to do and apprise her father of his brother’s criminality. She was afraid of the effect it might have on her father and was not sure that Jeremy was the right person to tell him.
“We’re in the parlor. May I ask what this is about?”
Jeremy turned to face her. “Very soon, your uncle will be arrested. I want us to be married before that happens.”
“What?” she whispered.
“I want you to be protected. As my wife, nobody would dare tar you with the same brush.”
Louisa blinked at him. “You want to marry me before you have my uncle arrested?”
“I want you protected. You do still want to marry me?”
“Of course. Well…” Louisa shook her head, unable to assimilate everything, “If you will give me some space, I would like to tell my father myself?”
“All right. May I go ahead and begin making arrangements?”
Louisa blinked a few times, trying to think. “I suppose so. We should move back home however, before any announcements are made.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“I do.”
In the end, Louisa and her father did return to their cottage in Munboro that afternoon, over Jeremy’s objections. Jeremy wanted to rush into telling Americus everything including the accelerated timeline for the wedding, but Louisa thought her father might appreciate some hours to adjust himself to the idea. And she wanted a chance to speak to him in private and find out if he knew anything about his brother’s peccadillos before the announcement was made.
* * *
Jeremy was surprised that Louisa wanted to be married at once; that she even asked, hesitantly, if Jeremy would obtain a special license. Of the marriage settlement that must be drawn up, or her trousseau and wedding clothes, she made no mention. The portrait was done. Together with the other portraits that Louisa had done for Jeremy and his mother, there was enough for a dress or two, the rest placed in trust for her father.
“I have had the license for some time,” Jeremy admitted.
Louisa colored a little.
“So we can absolutely have a wedding on Saturday; I’m sure mother can help you with something to wear,” Jeremy smiled at the thought, “I’m sure she will savor that experience. She always regretted not having a daughter to adorn in silks and lace.”
“I’m not very good with silk and lace, but I can stand still,” Louisa said, finally. They were sitting on the Chesterfield together, unchaperoned in Munboro parlor; Americus and the Dowager Duchess chatting in the other room.
Jeremy had stripped off his gloves to hold Louisa’s bare fingers in his own. “If I was a better gentleman and concerned with decreasing the gossip…we would be engaged for a little longer. But I cannot wait to be your husband and Saturday cannot come soon enough.”
“Good. I am glad you feel that way…as well. I must go because I have yet to tell Betty the news.”
“I shall drive you to the village myself. However, you must first tell me what your preferred jewel is so that I may present you with a suitable engagement gift.”
“Absolutely not!”
“Why? Do you want some other type of gift?”
“You’re being absurd, Jeremy. I have never even held a jewel in my hand. How am I to know the difference between a quality diamond from paste and glass? It is not necessary for you to do this.”
“Well I want to and since you mentioned diamonds that is what you shall get.”
“Jeremy,” Louisa scolded. “The wedding will be costly enough already, without you adding diamonds to the bill.”
“Nothing that is pleasing to you could be too much to ask,” Jeremy said. “But fine, I shall buy nothing yet.”
“Good.”
“I will make them a wedding present. That will give me time to have something made.”
“Jeremy!”
“Did you not have to go to the village, my love?”
“Ridiculous,” Louisa said.
She went to inform her father of her departure, and assure him that he need not come with her. Jeremy handed Louisa up into the open carriage before he took up the ribbons and set off down the cobbled courtyard and out into the street. Louisa jammed her hat on her head and kept her face lowered as if she expected to be jeered at by passersby.
Jeremy vowed to protect her at all costs, to allay Louisa’s discomfort. A thought came to him that now that Louisa and he were engaged, he should throw a ball in her honor following the wedding. He did not want anyone to think he was ashamed of her. He could invite everyone of worth. His mother and Louisa would have an excuse to buy some gowns. Everyone would have the chance to admire his amazing bride and see the lovely portrait she painted – even if they did not know it was she that did it.
Louisa alighted at the flower shop, and Jeremy squeezed her hand before he left, resolving to let her know his idea the next time he saw her.
Her touch burned long after he had left the flower shop behind and was on his way home.
* * *
Walking out after the wedding ceremony, Louisa wasn’t sure she could breathe. Or maybe it was simply that her mind was having trouble understanding that breathing was necessary.
It was done now.
She had not only married for love but created an alliance which would make sure the family finances were not a source of worry anymore, even if it came at a steep cost in notoriety.
Louisa’s personal reputation was in serious doubt as far as the so-called respectable Haute Ton was concerned; she had been named a social climber, a mushroom. And she was certain that the more or less overtly malicious rumors she’d had to put up with since the engagement had been publicized were just a taste of what was to come.
And yet all of that was very hard to even remember when Jeremy had looped his arms with Louisa’s and was smiling at the world – which consisted mainly of Louisa’s father, the Dowager Duchess, Mrs. Marni, Betty and Jeremy’s friend, the Earl of Shearcaster – like it was self-evident that he’d choose to have Louisa on his arm on this fine day.
If Louisa so much as let herself think about how the conversations they’d had before the wedding might mean that Jeremy actually would choose to have Louisa, any other thought became impossible.
The wedding breakfast was a private affair, which was probably a good thing, because Louisa didn’t really have the mental capacity to put on a diplomatic face right then. All she could do was to be dazed, overwhelmed and be someone who had no eyes for anyone except for Jeremy.
For his part, Jeremy chatted amiably with Betty and managed to even get a few smiles out of Louisa’s father. Meanwhile, Jeremy’s friend uncharacteristically ate quietly. The Earl of Shearcaster sometimes shot an evaluative look in Louisa’s direction that was unnerving.
Louisa was ready to suffer through thousands of awkward dinners if she could have Jeremy at her side, smiling whenever their eyes met.
And she knew that the dinner was going to end with her and Jeremy in the same bedchamber, finally able to leave propriety outside the door.
Louisa had been kissed by Jeremy before the ceremony; she neither couldn’t nor wouldn’t deny that. And everything between that and walking down th
e stairs to be married had happened in such a state of profound giddiness that it almost felt like it had been done by someone else.
Not that anything had happened that Louisa didn’t want to or wouldn’t have done herself, just that it had all happened in such a haze that it would take Louisa some time to wrap her head around the fact that it had happened at all.
At that moment, she certainly had not given even a single thought to what would happen after the wedding.
Tempting The Ruined Duke (Steamy Historical Regency Romance) Page 26