He put his hand over hers. “I’m afraid Lady Sarah was unhappy with my decision. But I’d hate for her to make a spectacle of herself, especially at Hyde Park! That is the reason why I left so hastily.”
“I see.” Caroline was completely stunned.
“I do pray this will not affect your opinion of me.”
“Of course not, My Lord.” She smiled at him but felt uneasy. Lord Estaria seemed relieved and squeezed her hand gently. Caroline gazed out at her surroundings.
He spoke as if Lady Sarah was a scorned lady, but why did she seem absolutely terrified of him?
Chapter 18
Owen was bored. He sat in his plush armchair, with a drink in his hand and a pipe in his mouth. His outing with Lady Caroline had been rather tedious. She was proving much more demanding than any of his previous conquests. He thought Lady Caroline asked too many questions.
Seeing Lady Sarah could have been a complete disaster. She should know better than to behave in such a way. It was rather pathetic.
For I know how much she enjoyed her time here, they all do!
He was itching for a bit of excitement, for someone to writhe and moan between his sheets. Hurriedly, he jumped up and began rummaging for a piece of paper. He scrawled down a message and folded the note. He was going to send for some company. Now that he was officially courting someone, he had to be more careful, but that’s where his trusty manservant came in.
“Mr. Tiff!” Owen bellowed. After a short while, the brooding manservant entered the room.
“Yes, My Lord.” As usual, Mr. Tiff looked genuinely unimpressed with Owen, but perhaps that was simply how he looked.
“I want you to go and bring this to little Lady Louisa,” he said with a grin, holding out the note.
She will, without a doubt, lap that up.
“Very well, My Lord.” Mr. Tiff gave him a short bow.
“Wait for her,” Owen called as Mr. Tiff was about to leave the room. “I have no doubt she will want to return here as soon as possible.”
“Of course, My Lord.” At that, Mr. Tiff left. This was, after all, not the first time he did this. Although usually, his job was to return the sweet little ladies, not collect them. Owen sucked his pipe happily; this day was about to be much better.
After almost three hours, Mr. Tiff finally returned to the lodgings. Owen was now in a terrible mood, for having been left waiting for so long. “Lady Louisa, My Lord,” Mr. Tiff said, stepping away from the door, revealing a small figure hidden by a heavy-looking black cloak, with a hood that completely hid her face. The delicate fingers pushed the hood back, and there she was, timid looking and deliciously innocent.
“Darling, you cannot believe how pleased I am to see you,” Owen said in his sweetest voice. Lady Louisa blushed, and he gestured to Mr. Tiff to leave the room. Once they were alone, she gave a tremulous little smile.
“I do beg your pardon, My Lord,” she said with a simpering voice. “I have kept you waiting. I was ever so flustered when I receive your letter, but I had to wait until it was safe for me to leave.”
“Do not worry, my darling.” He walked toward her and took her hands in his and kissed her knuckles.
“All is well, now that you are here with me.”
“I admit that I was worried we might never be able to be together again.” She closed her eyes at the thought.
“Why would you ever say that? Come, sit with me.” He guided her toward one of the armchairs.
“It has not escaped my notice that you were out with Lady Caroline yesterday,” Lady Louisa said.
“You were all I thought of while with her,” Owen reassured her. “You know how demanding my father can be. He has insisted I court her.” He gently stroked her cheek. “I hope you know I would much rather be with you.”
“Oh, my heart beats only for you, My Lord.” She closed her eyes at his touch.
“Sweet Louisa, how many times have I told you, call me Owen.” He chuckled.
“O-o-owen,” she stammered, opening her eyes again and licking her lips.
“Now, let us not think of Lady Caroline or my father.” He stood up and pulled her tight against his body. “We do not have much time, and I miss your smell.” He kissed her deeply, and she melted into his embrace. He walked toward his bedroom, lifting her into his arms and carrying her to his bed.
Jasper sat at his desk in his office. He had arrived early, as he needed to prepare for Lady William’s case, as well as do his work for Lord Brighney. He seemed to finally have found a good balance with his work, or at least his focus wasn’t as appalling as it had been for the past weeks.
Which was strange, given what had transpired between him and Lady Caroline at their last meeting. Their kiss had been better than he ever could have imagined. Breathtaking, out of this world, but still, it seemed to make him resolved rather than flustered. He was even more determined to impress the Lord Chief Justice, to try and prove himself worthy of her.
There was a knock on the door. He walked away from his desk and opened the door but saw no one outside. He stepped into the corridor but looked down as he stepped on something soft. It was a small stack of papers bound together with a blue ribbon.
He gazed at the handwriting. A chill trickled down his spine. He recognized the writing at once—Lady Caroline. He leaped down the stairs, trying to see who had brought this. But whoever it was, was long gone by now. He returned to his office and sat down.
He pulled the ribbon and peeled back the first page, which only had his name. There was a small note on top of the neatly written pages he was holding.
Thank you for believing in me. Don’t stop fighting for us. Only ever yours, C.B.
A wide grin crossed his lips. He read the first few lines that she had written. He couldn’t help but laugh when he realized the subject she had chosen—Inheritance law. How utterly perfect. He read the whole article she had written. She was an excellent writer, that was for sure. The article was sharp and very political. His friend at the Examiner would love to publish this.
He was so proud of her, he felt his heart might explode. He glanced over at the chair Lady Caroline had sat in. He hadn’t seen her since that day. Last time he was at Brighney Manor, she had been out. It felt rather like missing a limb, being away from her for so long. She had become such a strong presence in his life that he truly could not imagine never seeing her again.
Mr. Holmes was due to arrive soon. Thankfully, he had not mentioned the other day. He must have seen Lady Caroline leaving. But Jasper trusted him. The two of them were still preparing for their next day at court, and Jasper had to admit that he wasn’t optimistic. They had not been able to find proof that Mr. Trembill’s witness was lying, and they were due in court in just a few days.
A short while later, Mr. Holmes arrived. His cheeks were flushed, and his hair was on end. He looked like he’d been running.
“Are you all right?” Jasper looked at his young associate.
“I have news,” Mr. Holmes said, out of breath.
“What is it?” He stood up and approached Mr. Holmes.
“I was leaving school,” Mr. Holmes continued, still wheezing. “A group of us were walking in the courtyard along with our professor, Lord Windham. He was recounting one of his old cases. It was a case of fraud, where the defense argued that a land deed proclaimed the defendant as the rightful owner of a substantial piece of land near Wales.” Mr. Holmes stopped speaking, holding his hand to his side as if he had a stitch.
“Do you want to sit down?” Jasper asked.
“No, I’m fine,” Mr. Holmes dismissed. “Lord Windham, he was telling us how they thought they would never be able to prove that their client was, indeed, the rightful owner. It was a complicated family matter with estranged brothers, but their father had left the land to the younger son. But the will the older son produced was very convincing—”
“This is very similar to our case!” Jasper interjected.
“Exactly!” Mr. Holmes nod
ded vigorously.
“Did your professor win the case?”
“He did. After being certain they were going to be defeated, they managed to prove the will was fake.”
“How?”
“The notary confessed over drinks,” Mr. Holmes said, his eyes wide. “In a pub filled with people, the notary swore that he could copy any signature, fool any magistrate.” He was staring at Jasper now.
“But, that doesn’t help us at all,” Jasper said, disappointed.
“It does!” Mr. Holmes insisted. “They managed to prove the will was fake, and that’s how we can prove our will is real.”
“What do you mean?” Jasper sat behind his desk again, frustrated with having been so excited about their seemingly doomed case.
“This notary, who can fake anything, he is also able to prove if a will is legitimate.” Mr. Holmes approached his desk.
“If you think that I am going to—” Jasper began, but Mr. Holmes cut him off.
“It’s worth the chance, isn’t it?”
“You are suggesting that I bring forth a convicted criminal as my expert witness?”
“Not only me but Lord Windham as well,” Mr. Holmes replied.
“Did you tell him about our case?”
“Yes, I did, but only a little bit. He said that it would certainly be a precarious method but one that might, in the end, be fruitful.” Mr. Holmes’s breathing was finally calm, but he had a ferocity in his eyes that Jasper had not seen before.
“Lord Windham will be at his office until noon.” Mr. Holmes added.
“He is willing to discuss the case with me?” Jasper asked.
“Yes.”
“Let’s go then!” He stood up and grabbed his jacket and hat. But just before leaving he grabbed the article Lady Caroline had written. He’d have to make a short stop at the newspaper after their meeting with Lord Windham. Her voice deserved to be heard; sooner rather than later.
Chapter 19
“Ah, Mr. Holmes!” Lord Windham turned around from behind his desk as he and Jasper entered his office. They had run from Jasper’s office, and by the looks of it, they could not have arrived much later. Lord Windham was collecting his hat and apparently on his way out.
“My Lord, this is Mr. Langley,” Mr. Holmes said, taking a step closer to Jasper.
“The infamous Mr. Langley, I see,” Lord Windham said. “I must leave very soon, but we can talk for a brief moment.”
“Thank you, My Lord,” Jasper said gratefully.
“Young Mr. Holmes told me about your predicaments.” Lord Windham gestured they should sit down. “You have to prove the legitimacy of your litigant?”
“Yes, My Lord. Lady Williams has brought forth her late husband’s will, but my opposing counsel has procured a witness that claims to have forged said document,” he replied.
“Before Mr. Holmes bustled away to fetch you, he wished to know if the witness from my old case would be able to help yours,” Lord Windham continued looking at Mr. Holmes.
“I did, yes, My Lord,” Mr. Holmes said. “The notary you mentioned was a forger that claimed to be able to copy any signature, fool any magistrate. Would he, therefore, not be able to make out the valid and true contract?”
“What is your opinion of this, Mr. Langley?” Lord Windham turning to peer at Jasper. His shrewd eyes were calculating, but he did seem genuinely amused.
“This is a wild idea,” Jasper said, and he noticed Mr. Holmes deflate slightly. “But I gave Lady Williams my word. I am willing to do anything.”
“It is true what they say about you, then.” Lord Windham chortled. “A truly honorable man.”
“I’m afraid I do not know—”
“Don’t think your reputation hasn’t reached these walls. Lord Brighney has spoken very highly of you.” Lord Brighney explained.
“I am honored to be working aside him,” he replied.
“Well, then.” Lord Windham stood up. “Go find Mr. Thomas McIntire.”
“I beg your pardon,” Jasper said, wanting to be sure he heard correctly. “Are you talking about Constable McIntire?”
“Indeed I am.” Lord Windham guffawed with a burst of deep belly laughter. “He will be livid, no doubt, but I want to help you.”
“You are sure he will help us?” They were now walking from the office.
“He will if you tell him I have sent you,” Lord Windham said.
“Thank you, My Lord.” Jasper turned to look at Mr. Holmes, who looked just as shocked as he felt. Constable McIntire was well known as one of the Bow Street Runners.
“Now, I must get going,” Lord Windham said. A gentleman approaching them waved, and Jasper and Mr. Holmes turned to leave.
“Duke!” Lord Windham bellowed in greeting.
“Lord Windham,” the gentleman replied before looking at the two of them, still standing by His Grace.
“This is my pupil, Mr. Holmes,” Lord Windham said. “And his employer, Mr. Langley.” He turned to face them, before adding, “This is, of course, his Grace, the Duke of Aston.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Grace,” Jasper said and bowed his head.
“Mr. Langley?” The Duke seemed to be trying to remember something. “You are a man of law, are you not?”
“I am, Your Grace.”
“That is fortunate,” the Duke replied. “My will requires amending, and as you have mightily impressed Lord Brighney, you are the one I would prefer to work with.”
“Certainly, Your Grace. I would be delighted,” he replied.
“Good,” the Duke said and turned to Lord Windham again.
Just as Jasper and Mr. Holmes began walking away from the two gentlemen, the mention of Lady Caroline made his heart skip a beat. Trying to not be conspicuous, he slowed down, hoping to hear what they were saying. But there was too much noise, although he could have sworn he heard Lord Windham say her name and courting.
Jasper was on his way to the Examiner publishing house. He had sent Mr. Holmes back to the office, where he would meet him afterward. He pushed opened the door and walked inside, and asked for Mr. Fielding.
“Mr. Langley!” Mr. Fielding cried. “This is a surprise.”
“Good to see you,” Jasper said, shaking his old friend’s hand. They had both been in the military at the same time, and both retired from there to study.
“Come on inside.” Mr. Fielding ushered him to his office, which had bookshelves on every wall, from the floor to the ceiling. It was a tiny library crammed into the tight space. “What brings you here?”
“I…” Jasper paused, as he put the article Lady Caroline had written onto the desktop. “I wanted to know whether you would publish this.”
“Are you nursing a secret wish to be a journalist, eh?” Mr. Fielding took the papers and read. His eyes sped back and forth, and after a little while, he put the article down. He looked at Jasper with a peculiar look on his face.
“This is rather unlike you, I must say.” Jasper calmed his features, not wishing to give anything away.
“What has brought you to write this?” Mr. Fielding asked.
“My work,” he replied.
“I mean, this is excellent work, Langley.” Mr. Fielding re-read a part of the article. “But it is very sharp. Are you sure your fellows will be pleased with this?”
“This is just the truth,” he said. “One cannot go wrong when following the truth.”
“That is true.” Mr. Fielding stood up abruptly. “I can publish this in tomorrow’s paper.”
“Excellent!”
Jasper was invited to dinner the following day at Brighney Manor, and he could not wait to see Lady Caroline. He would be able to bring her a copy of the paper.
“This is exactly what we like to publish, so if you have more of this, we will print it,” Mr. Fielding said.
“Good, this will not be my last article,” he said with certainty. He would make sure that Lady Caroline wrote more.
Caroline sat in the draw
ing room with her needlework. It had been a quiet day, but she was thankful for that. Yesterday’s excursion with Lord Estaria had left her filled with questions. She desperately wanted to see Lady Anna, as she had a knack for knowing about other young ladies’ fates and troubles. But her aunt seemed intent on keeping her at home if she was not with Lord Estaria.
For the Lust of a Rogue: A Steamy Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 12