FortunesFolly

by Barbara Miller

  “I like your plan and I suppose Tanner deserves to be worried at least once more.”

  Roxanne waited for Harding to go down the steps. He was happy and so was Holly. The one thing she could not bear was for him to be killed or injured now that their future was assured. She couldn’t ask him to spend any of his last few hours in London fighting her battle.

  It did occur to her that she should wait for Tanner, give him a chance to prove himself. But what if he was killed by Vance? She would lose him and Holly and their mother would be devastated. It would put an end to all Fredrick’s plans. No, she must not risk Tanner either, even though she had made a promise to him.

  There was only one person left to free her mother. If Vance decided to flee before he was arrested, Roxanne would have to rescue her mother on her own.

  She had barely seen Harding off when a note arrived from Vance that confirmed her decision. It said they were packing to return to the continent and this would be her last chance to see her mother before the ship departed. That must mean he did not yet know Harding’s crew had captured the yacht. Of course it was a trap but at least she would be admitted. If she didn’t go, there was no telling what Vance would do to her mother when he discovered he was no longer in possession of the Silverloo or any of the resources of their fortune.

  The most important thing about the note was that it gave her permission to do as she wanted—go after her mother herself. But she needed to take precautions in case something went wrong. Roxanne wrote a letter to her brother and had a footman carry it to the solicitor’s office. Fredrick would be closeted with him for hours so he was sure to be there.

  She also penned a note to Tanner outlining her plan, even though she had no right to demand anything from him. She didn’t want to risk him but it seemed unfair to deny him the chance to ride in on his charger. She dispatched the other footman with that letter. She just hoped to have the situation in hand before he read it.

  After some thought, Roxanne put the pistol in her largest reticule and a penknife in her half-boot. She’d worn an old brown dress in case there would be blood.

  Roxanne admired the fine summer day as she walked the short distance to the town house. How could everything appear so calm when something desperate was about to happen? The fact that she was the one who was going to provoke the desperate situation calmed her. Control was a heady intoxicant even when it was an illusion.

  She was admitted by a footman with a French accent. The man was surprised when she addressed him in French. Vance was waiting for her in the drawing room on the second floor. He was standing by the window, possibly having watched her approach like a predator waiting for a mouse to slip into his trap.

  “You bid me come to say goodbye. Where is Mother?”

  “I fear she is not well enough to see you.”

  Rox pulled off her gloves. “Then she can’t be well enough to travel. Have you sent for the doctor?”

  “She refuses such attention.”

  “Do you plan to kill her as well?”

  Vance stared at her. “Your mother is resting.”

  “Then why command me to come here?”

  “I notified you. I am not required to do any more. My business here is concluded and we plan to reside in France. The estate will be sold at auction. I had some thought that you might come with us since you are ruined in London.”

  “How delightful. Let me run home and pack.” She moved toward the door and he strode across the room to bar her way.

  “No need. We will buy everything you require in Paris.”

  “But I must say goodbye to Fredrick and my aunt.” Roxanne was reaching the limits of how long she could delay this monster. She really began to fear her mother was dead.

  “You may write to them.”

  “With the mail between Paris and England so unreliable? I have not gotten one of Mother’s letters and she none of mine.”

  “Servants can be so careless.”

  Roxanne smiled at Vance. She must not show any fear. “You can’t have heard the latest on dits.”

  “What possible interest could I have in London gossip?”

  “That the Silverloo was captured for smuggling and impounded, her erstwhile captain arrested.”

  Vance went pale, she was sure of it. “I’m not responsible for the crew of the damn thing.”

  “Without accomplishing their mission—which was to murder Fredrick and Holly.”

  “That’s preposterous.” He strode to the window and looked out at the street as though expecting someone.

  “Not according to Stone.” She pulled the gun out and cocked it. “Leave now without my mother and you leave with your life, but you’ll have to take the packet this time.”

  His face was scarlet with anger when he saw the gun in her hand. “You are presuming to dictate terms to me?”

  “I’m not the only one who knows all your crimes and plots. Now Fenster the younger suspects that you killed his father as well as mine.”

  “I had nothing to do with his father’s death.”

  “No, that was probably the clerk, Goff. Also, I told Fredrick everything.”

  “That is unfortunate.” He advanced on her. “You have been far too busy.”

  “Fenster went to the magistrate days ago. There is a warrant for your arrest. If you know what is good for you, you’ll saddle a horse and ride away from London.”

  “They have believed me all these years. No one will believe you. You’re just a silly girl.”

  “I do not care what you think. I had rather not expose Mother to you any longer. So you have a choice, which is more than you gave Father. You can wait here to be arrested, flee to Europe without her or take your own life. That is what is expected of a man who is ruined, isn’t it?”

  Vance snorted but kept his gaze on the pistol. “How ironic. I sold out of the funds before Waterloo and advised him to. If he had done what I said, he would have been ruined as well.”

  “But he might still be alive and I would far rather have Father alive than all the money in the world. Perhaps if you had been in the battle instead of retired you would have died with honor. But you came to the estate with the tragic news that all who sold out were ruined. Perhaps he laughed at you to reassure you because he believed our army would win. Is that when you shot him or did Stone bring more news later, that those who stayed in the funds were wealthy?”

  He took another step in her direction, his hands fisting greedily as though he wanted her neck in their grasp. “Your imagination runs away with you.”

  “But mine does not,” her mother said from the doorway. “I knew what you had done but I thought I had no power to defeat you.”

  Her mother did not look as though she had been packing, for with her silk walking dress she was wearing a muff, a strange fashion accessory in such warm weather.

  Vance stared in a puzzled way at her then turned back to Roxanne. “You mean to shoot me in my own house?”

  “No, I mean to shoot you in Fredrick’s house.”

  “Rox, do you think you should?” her mother asked. “Would they call it self-defense?”

  “I have considered the possibility of having to stand trial myself. But he won’t flee to Europe as he should or dispatch himself. What choice do I have?”

  “How inconvenient for him now that I have heard his confession as well.”

  “I confessed nothing,” Vance shouted.

  “I heard him say he shot Father, didn’t you?” Roxanne asked.

  “I certainly did. Two witnesses should be enough.”

  “Good. We are leaving, Mother.” She started backing toward the door.

  “Will Fredrick be safe?”

  “Yes, he is with the solicitor now.”

  Vance glared at her again, his gaze slicing the air between them.

  “You’ve always known, haven’t you?” Roxanne whispered.

  “Yes. I knew the will was a forgery but the old solicitor would not listen to me. I made a deal.”
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  “And you became his prisoner.”

  “Better than being his wife.”

  “A forced marriage is invalid. You are not his wife, so even if he lives you are still free.”

  “But is it safe to just let him go?” her mother asked, pointing at him with her muff. “It seems he deserves some punishment. Possibly you could just wound him.”

  “Listen to you two, debating my future.” Vance clenched his fists. “You’re just a couple of women.”

  “You have to leave before the magistrate gets here or you will be arrested.” Roxanne moved so that she was closer to her mother’s side rather than in front of her, for she had just remembered the significance of the muff.

  Vance glanced toward the window. “I don’t think there is anyone coming.”

  “Do you think I’d be stupid enough to come here alone if I didn’t have a plan in motion?”

  “Why did you come, you stupid girl?”

  “You forget so quickly. You summoned me. But I needed to get Mother and came to convince you to leave and avoid scandal. You still have that opening—exile rather than death.”

  “Which is why I don’t believe you. You’d never be satisfied with letting me go. You’d want revenge.”

  The arrival of a carriage in the street caused Vance to stride back to the window but he turned and smiled at them. For a horrible moment Roxanne thought Stone might have escaped. She listened to hasty steps on the stairs. If the man had been admitted, he was Vance’s ally not hers.

  Goff paused, breathless, in the doorway a minute later. “The jig’s up. I goes to the ship like you said but it’s impounded. I nearly got arrested. ’Ow are we to get out of this now?”

  “As always, by taking prisoners. You tie up my lady while I deal with the hellcat.”

  When Goff grabbed for her mother, Roxanne was startled by the shot even though she had been expecting it. Goff spouted a blossom of scarlet on his side and keeled over. The muff pistol was a good ruse but one that was now spent.

  While Roxanne was gawking, Vance grabbed her and disarmed her.

  She heard an altercation at the street door, fists smacking skin then a thunder of feet on the stairs. Tanner kicked the already-open door wide and burst into the room with a pistol in his hand. Vance grabbed for her mother but Roxanne put herself in his way so he held her father’s pistol to her head.

  “Let me out of here and I’ll let her live.”

  “Just shoot him, Tanner. The gun isn’t loaded.”

  “What?”

  “Shoot him, I said. The pistol is empty.”

  “Who wants to find out?” Vance asked.

  “No!” Tanner yelled and tossed his pistol aside.

  Just then more footsteps on the stairs brought Fredrick into the doorway.

  “You too, Fredrick,” Vance ordered. “Toss your weapon aside or I will kill your sister.”

  “Certainly not. Father taught us all to shoot. I can hit you without endangering Roxanne in the slightest.”

  Tanner stared at him. “He’s got a gun to her head. She’s so self-sacrificing she might be willing to give up her life to save the two of you.”

  “I keep saying the pistol is not loaded. Why will no one believe me?”

  “I believe her.” Fredrick glared at Tanner. “Why don’t you?”

  “Because he’s courageous enough to take a bullet to keep the rest of us safe,” Roxanne said.

  “Rox?” Tanner asked.

  “Since I’ve got only one shot, who will it be? You, I think.” Vance pointed the pistol at Tanner, who blew out a breath but kept his eyes open, staring at the barrel. Vance pulled the trigger but there was only a harmless click.

  Roxanne elbowed Vance in the stomach as she bent to retrieve her penknife. But she had no need for it because Tanner took Vance down in a thunder of fists. She enjoyed every moment of watching Tanner beat the stuffing out of Vance.

  Once Fredrick had tied up the semiconscious Vance with a cord from the draperies, Tanner turned to her. “You weren’t lying. It wasn’t loaded.”

  “It would be stupid of me to risk it. You got my note and came.”

  “What note?” Tanner still looked stunned.

  “You came for me even though I didn’t ask it of you?” She leaned toward him and kissed him, her arms reaching up to wrap themselves around his neck.

  Fredrick laughed. “Yes, she would never risk letting him get his hands on a loaded gun.”

  “Actually I was afraid that if I came here with a loaded pistol, he would goad me into murder.”

  “You’re not capable of it,” Tanner said.

  “She did shoot Stone. Could have been a kill,” Fredrick said as he walked to the window to investigate the sounds of yet another carriage.

  Roxanne let go of Tanner to glare at her brother. “I should say not. I aimed to wound him and I did. Do these French servants seem unresponsive to so much noise?”

  “I imagine they have all fled,” her mother replied. “Probably with the baggage.”

  The steps on the stairs this time heralded the arrival of the magistrate with Fenster.

  “Which one is Vance?” the magistrate asked.

  Fenster pointed at Vance, who was awake enough to sit up but not stand.

  “Captain Lucius Vance, I charge you in the name of the Crown with the murder of Sir Henry Whitcomb, extortion, embezzling, smuggling and other summary offenses.”

  “I didn’t. I don’t care what they say. It was that clerk Goff who showed me the will. I thought it was genuine.”

  “So you are blaming Goff for everything?” Fenster asked as he gazed in a puzzled way at the wounded clerk who was beginning to stir.

  The magistrate stared down at the wound in Goff’s side and the spill of blood onto the rug. “If he lives, he will stand trial with you.”

  They had almost forgotten the clerk and whether he was dead or not until his arm shot out with a pistol in it. “I’ll not swing alone.”

  He fired point-blank at Vance and got him in the chest. The look of surprise on her torturer’s face would give Roxanne nightmares for some time. Had her father been surprised when Vance suddenly shot him?

  She felt her knees grow weak and Tanner’s strong arms supporting her as he guided her to a sofa. She was aware of Fredrick embracing her mother and casting the muff aside.

  The magistrate shook his head. “This will complicate matters.”

  “Who shot the clerk?” Fredrick asked.

  “Probably Vance,” Fenster said. “Is Goff dead?”

  “Not quite,” said the magistrate. “I’ll have them hauled away then work on my report.”

  “We should be able to get a confession from Ian Stone now,” Fredrick suggested.

  “Rox?” Tanner asked.

  She gazed up at Tanner and gave him a look that should have melted him into a puddle. Then she withdrew to a corner of the sofa with tears in her eyes. “You came without my asking.”

  “Of course. I meant to have it out with Vance. I’m just sorry I was detained so long. There’s a carriage in the stable yard loaded with baggage. If you had not arrived when you did, he might have abducted your mother again.”

  “But you thought the gun was loaded and tried to draw the fire to yourself. You are a hero…but you didn’t believe me.”

  “I trust your judgment, not your veracity.” He smiled at her but she still felt breathless, as though she had been running a long race and only just finished.

  “There’s time now for us,” she said. “The worst is over and we can all return to a normal life.”

  “Whatever that is to be. Is this a bad time to discuss our future?” he asked.

  “The past is too much with me at the moment. Seeing Vance shot brings back memories of Father’s murder. We must go to Aunt Agatha’s house. I need a few hours.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Tanner walked into the breakfast parlor, pulling on his driving gloves and carrying a small valise. “I shall be gone the res
t of the day, possibly tomorrow as well,” he told his mother. He kept his gaze out the window on the fine day so at odds with his mood.

  “Checking on the wool mill?” She dropped her toast on her plate and took a meditative sip of her tea.

  “Possibly.”

  “If you are looking for Roxanne, best fortify yourself with a meal.”

  “How did you know that?” He poured himself a cup of coffee and drank it standing while he mused on her smug look.

  “You love her. How could I not know it? Give her this ring.” She put her cup down and drew a sapphire off her finger and handed it to him. “I hope it brings her more happiness than it did me.”

  “Your wedding ring.” He smiled in spite of his worry. “Shall I consider this your blessing on the match if I can make it?”

  “She’ll understand, even if you don’t.”

  As he left the room he heard his mother mumble, “Young fool.”

  And she was right. How could he have let Roxanne go without some sort of promise to wed? But she said she needed time and only a villain would have pressed her when she had so much to discuss with her mother. Not to mention all that blood on the carpet. It simply wasn’t the right moment. It never was for them. But he had expected her to stay at her aunt’s town house.

  Now Holly was missing as well and he could only hope they were together and safe. He could not confess to his mother that he had mislaid his sister yet again. He had planned to beg Holly’s maid to say she had a cold and his mother should stay away from her. But her maid was missing.

  It never entered his head that Harding might have eloped with her. Captain Harding was a man of honor. But perhaps Holly had run to him. Tanner was setting a course for Exeter with all speed, hoping to find her before his mother went into a decline. He could send an express rider as soon as he had good news. With frequent changes of teams, he could accomplish the trip in two days rather than three.

  Before he left town, he stopped at the foundry and was not surprised that Fredrick was there.

  “The new casting worked. We are one step closer to our compact steam engine.”

  “Good, good. I put you in charge here.”

  “Where are you going?” Fredrick wiped his hands on his pocket handkerchief.