The Hidden Legacy

by Julie Roberts

  Soon the light strengthened and he could see the outlines of the wharfs and warehouses of Limehouse, and behind these were the alleys and streets they wanted.

  Adam put Meredith down. ‘It is wiser for you to be walking now. We should be able to buy you a pair of shoes soon.’

  They rounded a corner and Adam saw a wizened Chinaman setting up his stall. Reverting to his Dello Murphy voice he called, ‘Good morning. Do ye be having a pair of fine shoes for me colleen here?’

  The old man bowed and looked over his shoulder, calling out in his own language. A younger man came from behind the stall pulling a basket. He offered it with a bow. Adam sorted through an assortment of old and battered slippers. ‘Do you think these will fit? They’re serviceable and will get you home.’

  ‘I hope so. Anything is better than bare feet.’ She slipped them on. ‘Perfect.’

  Indicating they were acceptable he signalled down to his own feet. A smile spread across the young man’s face and he pulled another basket forward. The top pair of boots fitted well enough and Adam passed over a silver coin. The Chinaman’s smile widened, well pleased with his payment, and they walked on.

  Adam followed a twisted route through a number of alleys, always heading away from the river. Warehouse workers began to fill the streets, heading towards the wharfs. They paid them little attention, but he kept a keen lookout for the slightest move that could turn dangerous if someone suspected he had a purse worth taking.

  ‘We should soon be able to find a hackney and then I can have you home to Tallow House.’

  Her reaction to his comment turned a calm and tired woman into a ball of fire. ‘I cannot, will not, come to Tallow House looking like this. What do you want to do, have Sarah and especially your aunt having the vapours? I am going home to Ludgate Hill.’

  ‘I’m not leaving you alone in that place. Can’t you see how unsafe it is? Madame Lightfoot might think you are now miles away at sea, but she still has the original to find. I cannot agree to such an action.’

  He stepped before her, seeing her features harden. ‘I know I have put us into a position that is unacceptable to you. I don’t know how to apologise, except to say that what happened between us last night was not planned. I can only repeat that everything will be attended to as soon as we are safely back.’ Adam waited, every muscle in his body tense, waiting for the outburst he knew she had stored up inside her.

  It didn’t come out in the explosive way he expected, but as a whisper of despair. ‘I will not be a burden as your wife. I will not be forced upon you by circumstances not of your making. I thank you for rescuing me from the ship and a life worse than death. I thank you for not letting me drown. But that is as far as my gratitude will allow me.’

  ‘I see. Even though last night should not have happened, you will not allow one moment to be cherished as love?’

  Her intake of breath encouraged him to press her further. ‘I did not mean to compromise you, Meredith. You know that. You responded with such sweet passion, I cannot believe there wasn’t just a little love there from you.’

  She raised her chin, an action he now knew as defiance. ‘Sir, I am as much to blame for letting the situation continue, but I repeat, you have no obligation to me. So let us now put aside this talk and get home. I would appreciate your attendance until Ludgate Hill. I shall deal with Mrs Clements in my own way, as you will with your household. Miss Fox must be more than anxious about you.’

  Adam didn’t reply. There was no way he was going to win this fight of words while she was in such an emotional mood.

  ‘Very well, Miss Sanders, we will discuss the matter more fully at a later date. Now, let us make haste to find a hackney carriage.’

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Cuba John waited in the narrow entrance of the silversmith shop. She had sent him to spy on the servant woman.

  Always dressed in her finery, she had no thought for his thin, poorly clothed body. Paintings! That’s all she loved. There wasn’t a scrap of pity in her. That poor wretch of a girl; given to a captain, and a Spaniard at that. He ought to have helped her escape, but the Madame, she would have taken away all his guineas, and flogged him with that whip she sometimes carried hidden in her cloak.

  He huddled down on his haunches and blew breath on to his fingers. It didn’t help; they were stiff as kindling wood. Suddenly he started to shake. Damnation to Roseanna Lightfoot! If that servant woman didn’t go out soon, he’d have to go in and knock her out. She had said search every inch of the place – he couldn’t go back without her precious painting.

  Coach wheels sounded very loud, slowed, and stopped yards from him. He leant forward and peered down Ludgate Hill. A sailor got out. And God Almighty, Meredith Sanders!

  Cuba John wasn’t cold anymore, he was burning with glee. How she’d done it he didn’t know, but he wasn’t waiting here any longer. He had a very, very bad piece of news for Roseanna Lightfoot.

  The midnight hour chimed from a mantle clock in Madame Lightfoot’s bedchamber. The richly gowned dark woman was now a richly dressed gentleman. The black hair had been cut and was secured at the nape with a ribbon. A silver-thread embroidered waistcoat covered a white shirt with a perfectly tied neck cloth. A red velvet coat, dark trousers and shoes gave full conviction to the disguise under a dark cloak.

  Monsieur Clair de Lune, gentleman of wealth, his dark eyes hidden under a broad brimmed hat stepped into a coach. The only sound was the horse’s harnesses and hooves as they pulled away.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Meredith gave Mrs Clements no time to ask questions when she walked into the parlour.

  ‘Clemmie, I am so sorry to have been a worry to you, but Mr Fox has kindly been my companion since I met him yesterday afternoon. Someone, I do not know who, tried to kidnap me and Mr Fox was my rescuer. I know you must have been terribly worried, you will forgive me, won’t you?’ Meredith didn’t stop for breath as her words tumbled out; anything was better than the truth.

  Mrs Clements struggled out of the armchair. Her eyes were red from crying and her voice hoarse with tears. ‘Oh, Meredith, my dear, you’re safe.’ She wrapped her arms around her charge. ‘Worry does not express what I have been going through. You left here yesterday afternoon to see a client. Mr Fox went looking for you, and not a word since.’ She stepped back, tears running down her cheeks. ‘I have been sitting here all night not knowing what to do. I left the front door unlocked, but was terrified some foot pad might come in. And look at you! You look terrible.’

  Meredith held the old lady again until she calmed and stopped crying. ‘Everything is all right now, Clemmie, I’m home, safe.’

  ‘If we were living at Harlington I could have gone to the Reverend Lyle. But not here! Not in this city of strangers.’

  ‘I’m so sorry, but truly, everything is all right now. I will make us a pot of tea.’ Meredith wished she could rub the hours of fear out, like in a pencil sketch. Clemmie pushed her away, the gesture hurtful and unexpected, until she saw the look of amazement on the woman’s face.

  Meredith turned and saw Adam standing in the parlour doorway looking like a cross between an Irish rogue and a gypsy tinker.

  ‘My apologies, Mrs Clements, I can assure you it is me, Mr Fox.’

  Meredith realised her bland account of a few moments ago was totally inadequate for the bizarre clothing he wore. But matters changed instantly with Adam’s next words.

  ‘You will both come to Tallow House.’ His voice had that curt tone, authoritive, expecting obedience.

  ‘Sir, I have already told you –’ She was cut off by his next words.

  ‘Mrs Clements, will you please inform this obstinate woman that I am only trying to protect her, and yourself, of course; that staying here alone is a foolish gesture.’

  Mrs Clements’ cheeks coloured. ‘Move to your residence, sir? You think Miss Sanders is in that much danger? But from whom?’ Amazement turned to confusion. ‘Is there so
mething I’m not aware of?’

  ‘Truly, it is nothing for you to worry about. Let us just say that a person, unknown, seems to have a …’ She couldn’t think of a lie that would protect her reputation and Frederick.

  Her knight errant continued the lie. ‘The art world is an infamous place of jealousy, Mrs Clements. No doubt one such person resents a woman presenting herself as competition. I’m sure it will all die down if the building is closed for a short period. Please pack a valise for Miss Sanders, and yourself. I would like to be home before the household realise I, too, am missing.’

  Meredith should refuse, tell him that she was quite capable of looking after herself, but this would be an absolute contradiction, since without his rescue she would be far out to sea and beyond the help of anyone.

  ‘Very well, Mr Fox, I agree, but just until this … unfortunate incident has been … well, until I have time to think things through.’

  ‘An unfortunate incident; you wish to think things through?’ His voice still had that curt tone. ‘I will decide when that threat is past. Now, Mrs Clements, will you please hurry with packing your essentials.’

  Flustered and obviously bewildered, Clemmie glanced from one to the other. ‘Of course, I will go immediately, sir. Meredith, perhaps we should dispense with the tea?’

  ‘Indeed we will, Mrs Clements.’ Adam gave an impatient nod. ‘Can you be ready within the half hour?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’ And she hurried out of the parlour.

  Meredith faced him. ‘May I go and change, sir? You will allow me those few moments of your time. Arriving at Tallow House bedraggled and dirty is not how I wish to start my enforced visit.’

  ‘Of course, please forgive my lapse of manners, Miss Sanders. You have one half hour.’

  She didn’t like this Adam Fox. There was no warmth in his tone, no tenderness. Yet last night he had cradled her in his arms and loved her, driven away the horror of what might have been had he not rescued her. Did he regret what had happened; regret that he had offered marriage? Of course he did, he didn’t love her as she loved him. Her refusal of his offer in that riverside room had been the right thing to do. She would never hold him to a betrothal, no matter what the outcome of their night together. Better a fallen woman with a bastard child than seeing Adam tied to her in a marriage of convenience.

  ‘Thank you. I shall not keep you waiting.’ Meredith held her head high as she walked past him. What a fool she was to love him.

  The household servants were up and busy with their duties when Adam Fox entered Tallow House with Meredith and Mrs Clements.

  ‘Simms, will you please show Miss Sanders and her housekeeper into the drawing room; and a tray of tea and toast, they have not breakfasted. I will be down as soon as I have changed.’

  Whatever thoughts the sight of his master in a coarse cotton shirt, breeches, and old boots might have raised, the butler merely replied. ‘Very well, sir.’

  Adam raced up the stairs two at a time and turned left at the top of the staircase. His room was the first door. Inside he went straight to the wash stand. Hell, what was he going to tell Aunt Izzie? She would want to know where he had been since yesterday. There was an easy answer to that – he had been at the warehouse, an unexpected problem with a shipment. But bringing Meredith here was unorthodox and could raise awkward questions.

  He stripped off his clothes and poured cold water into the bowl. In his hurry to escape the quizzing eyes of the servants he had forgotten to ask Simms for hot water. However, the cold water made him more alert and his brain started to form a plan to protect Meredith from gossip.

  Dressed in his usual attire of breeches and high boots, shirt, neck-cloth, and coat, he entered the drawing room to find the ladies nibbling his ordered breakfast and looking much more relaxed. He banished this thought as they both immediately straightened their backs and primly put the plates onto the tray.

  ‘Please, continue.’ He was now as uncomfortable as they. ‘Mrs Hooper will arrange your rooms immediately.’

  Meredith nodded. ‘You are most kind, sir, thank you. I should like to go to my room as soon as possible.’

  Before he could reply Simms came in. ‘Mrs Hooper has prepared the lady’s bedchambers, sir. Shall I ask her to come now?’

  ‘Yes. I have to go to the warehouse. Please inform my aunt that I shall be back at noon.’ He bowed to Meredith. ‘When you are settled, perhaps I may have a word with you when I return.’

  Outside he climbed into the hackney coach he had instructed to wait. Time was of the most urgent. He would conduct only the most important business of the day with his warehouse foreman and return.

  Two hours later he paid a generous sum to the coachman and went into Tallow House.

  ‘Simms, has Miss Sanders come down yet?’

  ‘No, sir, she is still in her bedchamber.’

  ‘Please ask Miss Fox’s maid to request Miss Sanders to attend me in my study, at once.’ God, he was wound up like a spring. Simms would be wondering what was wrong. He didn’t speak to his staff like some lord, biting our orders, expecting immediate action. He needed to calm down. Like his father, the study was his haven of privacy, the room where no one would interrupt him.

  A knock sounded on the door. He opened it and Meredith stood there like a servant, her eyes lowered, hands clasped together. Had his overbearing manner reduced her to this? That she now looked on him as her jailer? But how else had he been able to bring her to Tallow House and safety? All he wanted to do now was to take her in his arms, kiss away the sadness and make love to her as he had at the inn. Instead, he stepped aside for her to enter.

  ‘Will you take a seat?’

  Her eyes were like green gemstones, those soft lips tight together. ‘No, thank you, I will stand.’

  To distance himself, he went behind his desk. ‘Meredith, I have a plan. We will tell Aunt Izzie that I have made an offer to you. As you have no other living relative …’ he paused, but her expression was impassive, ‘… I have invited you to come here, to be chaperoned by her. I will then make arrangements for us to be married. This will also allow me to continue my enquiries about Madame Lightfoot and the painting. It is possible that she may attempt a second abduction if she discovers you escaped.’

  ‘I see you have it all mapped out for me, Mr Fox. But you have given no consideration to my wishes.’

  He came round the desk and stepped close, but didn’t touch her. ‘Can’t you see this is my only option to protect you? I trust we will do well together and in time, when we know each other better, make a good marriage.’ Couldn’t he have sounded more … loving … instead of though he was offering some sort of contract? And kissing her would only fan her pent-up emotions. At this moment, he was sure she didn’t know what she wanted.

  ‘Marriage, sir, is something I did not have in mind when I came to London. I wish to continue with my studio and fulfil Frederick’s dream.’ She was breathing heavily, standing stiff and straight.

  ‘That is something we could discuss. I am not adverse to you continuing your painting. Perhaps, when you have completed Sarah’s portrait, commissions could be forthcoming.’

  ‘Are you saying that as my husband you would not object?’

  ‘The studio here would be sufficient, would it not? Sarah’s tuition would not be every day. Aunt Izzie is most keen that she learns all the polite elements of society.’ Her eyes softened and he continued, ‘Well, Meredith, will you agree to my plan?’ In the hall, Sarah’s voice trilled happily. ‘Do we announce our betrothal at lunch? It sounds as though my niece has been for a walk with her maid and we must have appropriate answers for such an inquisitive child.’

  He pulled her towards him, touched her lips. She did not yield, nor pull away. For the first time since leaving the inn, she had given up rejecting everything he suggested.

  ‘If you so wish, sir.’ That was all she said. It left him unsatisfied and a little angry. Did she now accept, even in
the wild bohemian world, unmarried, her reputation would be ruined, if their night together produced a child? He had been sure she had desired him as he had her.

  He thought back over the past days. They had shared more than one night’s lovemaking. There was Sarah’s tuition, the mystery, and detecting at The Grapes. Woody’s claim that she could be his daughter slipped in amongst his thoughts.

  If there was any truth in that, then the man he had sent searching for her could be … her father?

  But she had shown nothing in her manner when he claimed she had no living relative, and berated himself for thinking ill of her

  Meredith wasn’t a riverfront girl. She was a lady. Her manners were impeccable. Mrs Clements was her employed housekeeper. Frederick was her father; she had said so the day he had taken Sarah to the studio.

  The agony of yesterday when he couldn’t find her rippled through him. He pulled her against him, not giving her time to react, and kissed her with a passion that washed away any anger or doubt. He ran his hand up to her breast and could feel he had sparked her desire in return. She parted those lips that had looked so prim a moment ago and he deepened his kiss.

  He didn’t want to release her, but he pulled away. ‘Oh, Meredith, I would have searched the world for you, no matter how long it took. But I have you here now and I only want to love you.’

  ‘But how can I be sure it’s me and not your sense of duty?’

  The sadness in her voice gave him hope. ‘What can I do to convince you? Why do you think I came aboard the ship? I was full of dread for you when I saw the sailors. I see these captains every day and I’m fully aware what life at sea is like for them. Your whale bone would have been no defence …’ Adam paused as her face paled. ‘I’m sorry, my love, do not think about it. I have you here.’ He stroked her hair, ran his fingers down her cheek until he touched her lips.