FortunesFolly

by Barbara Miller

  Vance glanced up then and noticed Tanner’s sister but did not seem surprised other than to scan the room and ascertain that Tanner was present. Or perhaps he was making sure that Fredrick was not.

  “He may have heard already that his scheme did not work,” Tanner said.

  “If that were true he would be packing, not here drinking. It is possible that in taking Holly, Stone acted on his own initiative and planned to keep her for himself. If you were Vance and kidnapping someone with his death in mind, would you want an extra witness?”

  “Probably not but I have a difficult time putting myself in that position.”

  “You do not empathize even with good people. A villain would be a stretch for you.”

  He looked sideways at her. “Thank you…I think.”

  “The question is what will Vance do next? He still has my mother.”

  “Will he harm her when he finds out his plans for escape are ruined?”

  “I don’t know. Actually, I was planning on rescuing her tonight.”

  Tanner dropped his glass but she caught it before it fell to the floor. Only a small bit of wine caught the edge of her lace as she handed the glass back to him.

  “Stop funning with me.”

  “The town house is only a few streets away. I was going to slip out, break in and take her to Agatha’s then come back here.”

  Tanner stared at her. “You’re joking, right?”

  “Think about it. Why else would I be carrying a loaded pistol in the pocket of my cloak tonight?” Roxanne watched as he worked through the logic and his amused face turned to one of amazement.

  “So that’s why you had a pistol with you. But you couldn’t have done it.”

  “Why not? It’s the last thing anyone would expect.”

  “But a thousand things could go wrong.”

  “Vance is here now. He can’t stop me. You engage him in conversation and I’ll go get Mother.” As she moved away, Tanner grabbed her arm.

  “You’ve already discharged your pistol, so you can’t possibly attempt the rescue tonight. He must have guards in the town house. By tomorrow there will be a warrant for Vance’s arrest.”

  “That won’t make Mother safe, it will simply make Vance more desperate. And she can be held hostage as well.”

  “I am charged with getting Holly and you safely home again tonight. Please promise me that you won’t crawl down the ivy and go to your brother’s town house in the wee hours.”

  “I’m surprised at you, Tanner. If you were at all observant you would realize my aunt’s house has no ivy.”

  “Rox, please.”

  “Oh, very well. I promise not to attempt Mother’s escape at night. It could be more dangerous.”

  “I should say so. You relieve my mind. You see how well we worked as a team tonight. You don’t have to face these dragons alone.”

  “You now know what it feels like to have someone you love in danger, so don’t blame me for being anxious.”

  “Your mother has kept him at bay for two years. I think you should trust her competence just as I am learning to trust yours.”

  “But we don’t know what that has cost her. I don’t want her in his power a moment longer than necessary.”

  “Tomorrow Vance will be arrested. If not, I will storm the gates of the castle for you.”

  “Very well, but I want to go with you.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “They ruined the casting,” Tanner said when Fredrick was admitted to his office late the next morning. “Should you even be out of bed?”

  Fredrick rubbed his forehead and shrugged. “Only to be expected on the first try. Might I inquire as to your intentions?”

  Normally Fredrick would have joined Tanner for a drink. Instead he stood at attention by one of the chairs, forcing Tanner to his feet.

  “To try again.”

  “I meant with my sister.”

  “I asked Rox to marry me twice, possibly three or four times. I have lost track.”

  “Oh. Without speaking to me first?”

  Tanner tossed his pen on the desk. “We both know that would be useless. She turned me down because she needs to make all right with her family before she can permit herself any happiness. I want to be sure of my footing before I try again.”

  Fredrick relaxed his stance and gave Tanner a sad smile. “She’s in love with you.”

  “So she says, but she’s still distracted with what to do about your mother. She’s convinced Vance murdered your father. Could that possibly be true?”

  Fredrick tiredly sat down and Tanner got him brandy from the cabinet.

  “Now that I think of it, he was in the house that night. Rox said they had been drinking together. She didn’t like Vance at first sight, even though he claimed to be an old friend of Father’s from his Peninsular days. She said she heard the shot. Perhaps if I had been there… But I was at school.”

  “Then it is possible he was murdered as she believes. But by his best friend?”

  “It was Vance who claimed that friendship. Roxanne’s impression was that father tolerated him.”

  “So how did he get all this power?”

  “Our family solicitor. All he said was that Vance had been left our guardianship until we came of age.”

  “What about your mother?”

  “She didn’t seem happy about it but did not dispute it. I should not have gone back to school but what could I have done? I had no power to act.”

  “According to Rox, your birthday is today. Perhaps you should visit this solicitor.”

  “I found out he died last year, but the firm is still there. I spoke to the son and it is all as Rox surmised. Vance hasn’t done terrible damage so far to our fortune and they are awaiting a warrant for his arrest. I must go back this afternoon to sign documents. I am on my way there now.” Fredrick drained his glass and pushed himself up out of the chair.

  “May I be of any help? I hate just sitting here and waiting.”

  “Not unless you enjoy being bored for hours over legal matters. I do wish you would speak to Rox. You were as instrumental in saving our lives as Harding.”

  “I wish that were true. Yes, I must go to her to keep her from staging a rescue of your parent in broad daylight. She is convinced Vance means to snatch her away again.”

  “Harding indicated Vance would be arrested for kidnapping as well as extortion if Stone informed against him. And the yacht has been impounded so he can’t exactly just sail away.”

  “I wait only for Harding’s visit before I go to treat with Rox again. At least I know what Harding wants.”

  * * * * *

  “Miss Whitcomb,” Fenster said. “I finally met with your brother.”

  “He was abducted last night and nearly killed. I just thought to look in and update you.”

  “Abducted? He didn’t mention that.”

  “How like him. By the way, have you run down your missing clerk yet?”

  “No, and he absconded with my ready cash. I trusted him just because he always worked for Father.”

  “Apparently he could be bought.”

  “Since you are here, I can give you a précis of the situation. Your brother is coming this afternoon to sign the papers so his funds can be put at his disposal. I hope he does not mean to touch capital. The interest should be enough of a living.”

  “Only his capital.”

  “Yes, yours will be held in trust for two more years. I did a thorough search and found the original documents, not the ones Vance forged. My clerk must have been hanging on to them for a spot of blackmail against Vance later. Your brother will be your guardian.”

  “Very well.”

  “He should clear five thousand a year as well.”

  “And my mother?”

  “The same.”

  “So we have been living on cabbage soup and darning our socks while Vance enjoyed our money.”

  “That is how I see it but the bulk of the fortune is intact. Things
could be much worse.”

  “My father is dead because of Vance. That’s as bad as it gets. No, I should not say that. Fredrick could have been killed as well. Who knows what was planned for my friend Holly, and all because she visited here with me. It was unwise of me to involve her.”

  Suddenly Roxanne felt overwhelmed by the danger she had put them all in. She’d dragged Holly into her affairs without stopping to think Vance might revenge himself on her for Tanner’s attack on Stone and for her own interference in his plans. The clerk was obviously working for Vance and must have told him the jig was up. Hence the kidnapping. No doubt he planned to dispose of Roxanne and her mother at some point as well, perhaps in the Channel.

  “Miss Whitcomb, you look so pale. Are you well enough to see yourself home? Let me call you a hackney.”

  “My maid waits below. Actually, that would be very kind of you. But it just occurred to me that you and your family might be in danger as well.”

  “I have not yet married and I have already filed a complaint with the magistrate, so it would do Vance no good to kill me.”

  “It wouldn’t do you a lot of good either. Last night we had his cousin arrested. If Vance knows that, he will become even more desperate.”

  “He is powerless now, I tell you. I’ve notified the exchange. He is no longer authorized to act on behalf of your brother. Besides, today is Fredrick’s birthday anyway.”

  “So Vance won’t be able to sell out of the funds and carry our money off to France.”

  “No. Everything is perfectly safe now.”

  “How I wish that were true. I’m sure my brother will be along directly.”

  Roxanne let herself be helped down the stairs by Mr. Fenster and got into the hackney his new clerk, a youngish boy, had ordered for her. During the brief ride to the town house with her maid, Roxanne’s mind still churned over the night’s events.

  They had been received if not warmly at the ball, at least with no more than the usual amount of coldness. There were some whispers behind fans but the words she caught were horse and galloping, not abduction and shooting. Such a small mercy.

  How odd that her biggest fear yesterday was dwarfed by comparison with what had occurred last night. Was Fenster right? Was all this almost over? They had enough samples of her father’s signature to prove the new will a forgery but that didn’t bring home a charge of murder on Vance. And while he lived, he was her mother’s husband. Perhaps she could provoke a confession out of him in front of a witness. He seemed the sort to boast of his conquests. But how to contrive it?

  And then there was the clerk, Goff. She had forgotten about him last night. By now he might have apprised Vance of the situation and they could even now be spiriting her mother away. She must make all haste to get home, collect what she required and keep a watch on the town house. If she saw them about to depart, she could at least delay them.

  * * * * *

  Tanner received Harding in his home office with as much trepidation as he had when he’d interviewed other applicants for Holly’s hand. “I think I know what you wish to speak to me about.”

  Harding held his uniform hat tucked under his left arm. “So formal after last night. A blind man would have known I was in love with Holly, yet you never considered the possibility I might be worth more to her than any of these fops.”

  Since Harding stood at attention, Tanner did not take a seat either. “Your condemnation is just. You saved her life. I can hardly refuse to let you marry her. I should—”

  “And yet it grates with you. I will marry her whether I have your permission or not.”

  “I said I would be no impediment, but she isn’t of age. There are documents to be signed. Settlements.”

  “She needs the permission of a parent or guardian. We have her mother’s permission. We don’t need yours. We don’t need you, Tanner. I can take care of her myself. I will come for her when all is arranged. It might not be a grand, expensive wedding but our marriage will have nothing to do with money and all to do with love.”

  Harding spun on his heel and left Tanner gaping. The man did not expect or even want any of Holly’s money? Why was that such a shock? If Rox had taught Tanner nothing else it should be that money does not drive people the way it does business. Not all people anyway. His problem was he had dealt only with shallow people—or they had not revealed to him any depth. He’d considered Holly and his mother exceptions until he’d met Rox, Fredrick and Harding.

  Tanner sat for a moment, trying to think of a way to redeem himself, and he could not. Perhaps in time Holly, Harding and Roxanne would forgive him, but would it be in time for him to have a future with his dear Rox? He was not at all sure about that.

  “Spencer. Are you all right?”

  He had not noticed his mother enter and did not know how to answer her. “No, I am a wreck.” He leaned against the edge of the desk.

  “It’s not quite that bad. No one died.”

  “But they might have if not for Rox’s guesswork. And every time she asked for my help, I refused her.” He stood up and paced to the window.

  “You didn’t refuse her last night.” His mother seated herself on the edge of a wingback chair. “You threw yourself into what could have been a dangerous or embarrassing mess and I have a feeling you enjoyed it.”

  “Yes, I did once the uncertainty was over. There is nothing like it in the carefully planned world of business. But I have asked Rox to marry me several times and something always gets in the way of her saying yes.”

  His mother smiled. “She loves you. That is apparent from the way her gaze follows you.”

  “But does she admire me? Does she think me worthy of her?” He sat on the arm of the chair.

  “I think so. She asked my advice about something last night.”

  “What was it? Or are you at liberty to say?”

  “She wanted to know if I thought she could make you happy. I said yes, of course, that she was the only woman who could.”

  “She asked your permission to marry me? I never heard of such a thing before.”

  “She’s an original.”

  “Very true. But what am I? Because I have money I think I have power, but I have done nothing of any use. Look at Rox—penniless and she has managed all.”

  “I think she understands what real power is.”

  “What is that?”

  “Love. It makes all things possible.”

  “She once told me she didn’t think she was cut out for love.”

  “That’s because she always sacrifices her own feelings for those she loves. The man who wins her will have a prize beyond price.”

  “I’m surprised she still loves me. I dragged my feet at every turn in this mess.”

  “Not when it really counted.”

  “I doubted her until I saw her brother on that ship. Then my heart did stop, for I knew Holly must be there as well.”

  “Holly seems to have survived the experience. Did you notice how animated she was last evening? Agatha told me that several young gentlemen were taken with her now that it is too late for them.”

  “Yes, that is how I imagined she would feel for her come out, joyful and lively. Why the change? Is it the relief of not being killed?”

  “It is the surety of Harding’s love and her marriage to him.”

  “Shall we give them a house for a present? It will have to come from you since he wants nothing from me.”

  “I don’t think he will accept that.”

  “Perhaps his own ship then. I shall think of something.”

  “Roxanne can’t give a thought to her own happiness so long as her brother is in danger. Today is his birthday but that does not make him safe. If Vance has him killed, even now he might still get away with his scheme.”

  “I must go to Rox then and help her, even if I get arrested for breaking into her brother’s house.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Harding called at Manchester Square and found Roxanne with her cloak
over her arm, just ready to depart on her surveillance mission. He reported that the kidnapping and smuggling affair had turned into a feather in his cap. Holly had accepted his proposal and was busy packing but saddened that he and his ship were being called back to duty. The marriage would occur three weeks after he returned to Exeter. He had been promised three days’ leave for the event. Their family was invited if they wished to attend.

  “Wild horses could not keep us away,” Roxanne said as she drew on her gloves. “We will all come. What about Tanner?”

  “He isn’t throwing any obstacles in our path but I don’t think he likes the idea much.”

  “After last night? Perhaps you misread him. He owes you his sister’s life.”

  “And he owes you his. Stone was going to kill him. It strikes me, Tanner is not the sort who likes to owe debts, not ones he can’t discharge with money.”

  “I’m sure he’ll come round,” she said with her usual confidence. “Look how much progress he has made.”

  “I will always be prepared to accept his friendship if he is willing to offer it.” Harding picked up his hat and turned to go.

  “He needs time to think…and possibly just one more scare.”

  Harding twitched his head in her direction. “Now you’re worrying me. What do you have in mind?”

  “It would be easier for Holly to arrange her new life with you if she were nearby. I was going to invite her to stay with Mother and me at the carriage house at Whitcomb Hall, with her mother’s permission of course. You’d be able to see her every day you are in port.”

  “Capital, but why not stay at the Hall?”

  It was a question Roxanne had asked herself and she finally knew the answer. “That’s where my father died. I don’t think I can until he has been avenged.”

  Harding’s eyes opened wide. “By you?”

  “No, silly. What could I possibly do? Just come and visit us there in a few days’ time.”

  “I see. And no one is going to let Tanner know where you have gone.”

  “It’s just a thought.”