“Lawrence,” said Vanessa wearily, “I don’t think it is appropriate to ask Lord Arthur to work as your valet. I’m sure your landlady can find someone to help you dress in the morning. And it is, after all, only a sprained ankle. Surely you can muddle through on your own.”
Both Arthur and Sir Lawrence looked at her in surprise.
She faced both of them. “I’m tired, it has been a long journey and I simply want to go home and find my bed.”
“An excellent suggestion,” said Arthur. “Sir Lawrence, it was an interesting adventure.”
“It was, indeed,” muttered an offended Sir Lawrence. But then he suddenly brightened. “Say, it would be my pleasure to meet with his grace and report on our mission.”
“I’m sure it would,” said Arthur. “But I’m not so sure it would please him. Good night, Sir Lawrence, I hope you feel better soon.”
With that, Arthur ushered Vanessa out of Sir Lawrence’s rooms and back to the carriage. He helped her in, gave instructions to the coachman, then joined her inside.
He sat next to her and folded her into his arms. He kissed her lightly on the lips. “I’ve wanted to do that ever since we left the Gypsy camp.”
She smiled up at him and kissed him back. They were both tired. Weary to the bone from the long trip and the events of the past few weeks. They kept their caresses light, but there was a connection between the two that was even more restorative than sleep. Somehow being with each other made them both feel lighter. Made them both connect in a way neither had experienced before.
Then the carriage drew to a halt.
Vanessa had been so caught up in Arthur’s kisses that she had no idea where they’d gone. The view outside her window drew her up short. “Is that….”
“Lynwood House,” said Arthur as he opened the door, then turned to help her down. “Specifically, we are at the mews behind Lynwood House.” He motioned for her to join him.
She didn’t move. “I shall find a hack to take me home.”
“No, you will not,” said Arthur, beckoning once again.
“Will the carriage take me?” asked Vanessa, afraid of what she thought he had in mind. “No, the poor carriage men need to find their beds.” She could see a handful of sleepy grooms coming out from the stables. One of them was already unharnessing the horses. Arthur stepped away to give instructions to the head groom, as well as to thank their driver.
He returned to her. “Love, you will prevent these good men from returning to their beds if you don’t come with me now.” He gently pulled her from the carriage, then reached in and grabbed her saddlebag and valise. “You will feel much better after a long sleep, then we can discuss further plans in the morning. Or, early afternoon, since there is the distinct possibility I shall sleep most of the day.”
With her hand in his, he began walking across the drive to the back garden.
“But you don’t imagine I can stay here!” she said.
“You shall have your own room and with my sister in residence it won’t be improper in the least.”
“But of course it will,” she whispered. “I am not of a rank to be considered a guest in your home.”
“You weren’t worried about that when you crashed the Riverton house party.” He guided her through the tall pine trees which bordered the garden.
“I was on a mission and had no choice,” she said. “And I felt bad about deceiving the marquess and his family. I have a home here in London. I can go back to my rooms…”
“No,” said Arthur.
“No?” said Vanessa in somewhat of a panic because they were rapidly approaching the house.
“No. I believe you to be in grave danger. I will not allow you to go back to your rooms tonight.”
“I’m an agent of the Crown. I am used to being in danger,” she said.
He stopped and turned to face her. “But I shall never grow used to it. I fear for your safety and I’ll be damned if I simply let you fall victim to anything.” He continued on the last few steps to the French doors at the rear parlor. “I’d rather not wake the servants, since they have to get up in a few hours. But I don’t suppose we’ll be lucky enough to find these doors unlatched. They were our favorite escape route when I was growing up.” He tried the handle and it opened. “It looks like fortune smiles on us tonight.”
Vanessa hesitated before entering, somehow knowing her life would change if she did. But Arthur’s hand at her back gently pushed her into the house.
She could see only enough to know that whatever room they were in was quite large. Arthur lit a candle at the flint box by the fireplace, then led her through the dark house. Once they reached the staircase, he escorted her up past a landing, then on to the next floor. They walked through a series of hallways until they reached a door.
“This is your room,” whispered Arthur. “You can pick another tomorrow if you choose, but this one is always at the ready for unexpected guests.”
“Arthur,” she whispered. “I shall certainly not stay another night. I will go home in the morning. Indeed, I would like to go right now.”
“Out of the question!” Arthur raised his voice just a bit, then took it down to a whisper again. “You will stay in this house until we learn who the Judas is. And do not think to sneak away in the night, for my old bed chamber is next door. I shall hear you and the consequences will not be to your liking.”
“You’ve brought me to the family wing!” whispered Vanessa furiously. “It was bad enough when I was just to be a guest. But to be in the family wing is most irregular.”
“What is really most irregular,” drawled a voice from the end of the hall, “is why a whisper carries so much further than the normal spoken voice. Good evening, Miss Gans – Arthur told us your real name when he wrote his letter from the road. Welcome home, Arthur.”
Vanessa wanted to curl up in shame. “Good evening, your grace,” she said, making her curtsey to the Duke of Lynwood. He was exactly as she remembered from the house party. A tall man – though not quite as tall as Arthur – with a commanding presence. Even in his dressing gown, with his black hair mussed from sleep, he had the dignity and carriage of a duke.
“Thank God you’re here, Liam,” said Arthur.
Lynwood raised his brows in question. “Where else would you expect me to be? Indeed, you’re the one who insisted on moving out of the house into your own rooms.”
“Yes, well, I need the use of my old room temporarily, if I may,” he said. “And one for Miss Gans, too. Hallo, Hal.”
His younger brother Hal had just emerged from his room. He was as handsome as his brothers, and was by far the most rakish of them all. He smiled at Vanessa. “What a pleasure to see you again, Miss Gans. I can hardly think of a better way to be awakened.”
“Hal,” growled Arthur in warning.
“This is why I moved to the country,” said a man Vanessa didn’t know. But he looked like a Kellington, and as he escorted his pregnant wife out of their room, Vanessa realized they were Ned and Jane. “The only noises I have to put up with in the middle of the night are a few owls and wolves.” But the smile he turned on his brother and Vanessa took the sting out of his words.
“Ned!” said Arthur as he and his brother embraced. “I hadn’t expected to see you.” Then he bent to give his sister-in-law a brotherly kiss. “Jane, you look even more beautiful than the last time I saw you. Your condition becomes you.”
She smiled up at him and patted his arm. Jane Wetherby Kellington was blonde, with light brown eyes and warmth that radiated from her. Vanessa had been curious about this woman who worked as a surgeon in the village of Marston Vale. One thing was clear from how close Jane and Ned stood to each other, how their fingers touched while they spoke to others: theirs was a love match.
Jane turned to her. “Since none of these rag-mannered men will introduce us, I feel I must. I’m Jane Kellington,” she said with a bright smile, holding out her hand to Vanessa.
Vanessa couldn’t help b
ut instantly like the woman. She touched fingers with her as she curtsied. “I am Vanessa Gans. I’m pleased to meet you, my lady.”
“Miss Gans!” said Jane excitedly. “Liam, Hal and Lizzie have all been telling us about you. Are you really an agent for the Crown? You must tell us all about it.”
At that moment, a sleepy little girl emerged from a room that was adjoining Ned and Jane’s. She had dark hair and green eyes. “Papa, why is everyone in the hall?”
Ned reached down and pulled his daughter to him. “I’m sorry we woke you, sweetling. But Uncle Arthur arrived home with a friend of his, Miss Gans. Miss Gans, this is our daughter Violet.”
If Vanessa had been wistful watching Ned with Jane, it was nothing compared to the feelings that welled up in her when she saw Ned and Jane with their daughter. She imagined having a child with Arthur, then she had to swallow the lump in her throat.
“How do you do, Miss Violet?” asked Vanessa.
Violet smiled up at her with a grin that was missing at least one tooth. “Very well, thank you. How do you do, Miss Gans? I’m six years old.”
“That is a brilliant age,” said Vanessa, unable to resist grinning at the girl.
“We’re here for Lizzie’s wedding!” said Violet.
“Where is Elizabeth?” asked Lynwood. “There’s no way she could still be sleeping, not with all this noise. You’d think she would’ve been the first one out here.”
The Kellingtons all turned to a door slightly further down the hall, which Vanessa presumed was Lady Elizabeth’s. But no one made a move to knock.
A moment later, the door cracked just a bit and Lady Elizabeth Kellington squeezed her way out, quickly shutting the door behind her. She was a beautiful woman, with black hair and distinctive green eyes like her niece’s. Even at a glance, Vanessa knew Lady Elizabeth hadn’t been sleeping. Her hair was quite mussed and the way she was fastening her dressing gown made it seem like she’d rather hastily donned it.
“Aunt Lizzie!” said Violet. “You said you’d show me your wedding dress. Can I see it now?”
Lizzie cast a rather frantic glance behind her, then said “I promise we’ll do that tomorrow, Vi. And what’s going on that….” She spotted Vanessa, then broke out into a grin. “Vanessa! How wonderful to see you again.”
“Lady Elizabeth,” said Vanessa with an answering smile and a curtsey.
“I thought we were past that. I am Lizzie, and you were Tara, although now I understand you’re Vanessa. Why don’t we all go down to Liam’s study to learn what has transpired since we last saw you?”
Lizzie tried her best to herd everyone downstairs, but the only ones who moved with her were Jane, Violet and Vanessa. All her brothers were staring at her closed bed chamber door.
She tried again. “Liam, I believe a bit of your excellent brandy would be just the thing.”
“Ned,” said Jane, as she pulled on his hand, “don’t you and your brothers want to learn about Arthur and Miss Gans’s adventure? We should all go downstairs.”
But Ned and his brothers were now clustered around Lizzie’s door. Then it opened and a dignified, fully dressed Marquess of Riverton emerged, as if leaving White’s after dinner with friends. Marcus Redmond was tall, blonde and blue eyed. He was also, Vanessa had noticed at the Riverton house party, head over ears in love with his fiancée, Lady Elizabeth Kellington.
“Oh, no,” said Lizzie as she dropped her head into her hands, then rushed to her fiancé’s side to protect him.
“My lord!” said Violet, as she ran over to him. “Were you looking at Lizzie’s wedding gown? Is it as beautiful as mama says? Can I see it? Do you want to see my tooth that came out?”
“Vi,” said her mama, as she came around to take her hand. “Why don’t we go to the kitchen to get some warm milk?”
“But I want to stay here with everyone,” said Vi eagerly, as she looked at all her uncles looking at Riverton. “I think they’re playing a game.”
“I think we shall go for milk, anyway,” said Jane, as she coaxed her daughter along. “Ned, are you joining us?”
“No,” he said. “I have business here.”
“Please papa! Please come with us!”
And since Ned could refuse his daughter nothing, he reluctantly left his brothers, leaving Riverton with one fewer Kellington to face.
Understanding this was a family matter, Vanessa turned to enter her room.
“Not so fast, Vanessa,” said Lizzie. “I was serious about wanting to hear your story. And, Marcus, you cannot let those brothers of mine intimidate you. Come join us downstairs.”
Riverton looked at the Kellington brothers. They’d all expressed their pleasure at the upcoming marriage. But it looked like they weren’t quite so sanguine about the premature celebration of it. He turned to Lynwood. “I must apologize for acting in an ungentlemanly manner under your roof.”
“Lud, Marcus,” said Lizzie. “You could never be ungentlemanly.”
“I should never have done anything under Lynwood’s roof that he wouldn’t approve of,” he replied, looking Lynwood in the eyes. “But I love your sister and find myself unable to be parted from her.”
Lynwood studied him for a moment longer. “Then perhaps we should move up the wedding,” he said.
“An excellent idea,” muttered Riverton, which earned him another look from the duke.
“I suppose we should take Lizzie’s suggestion and find out what Arthur and Miss Gans have been up to,” said Lynwood with a sigh. “Riverton, you might as well join us. You are, after all, family.”
“If he’s family, why can’t we hit him?” asked Hal as he followed his brothers down the hall. “Lord knows we’ve hit each other often enough.”
Arthur pulled Vanessa’s arm through his. “Welcome to Lynwood House, love.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
What was originally supposed to be a brief update in the study quickly turned into a light meal. Apparently, Vi’s attempts to be quiet in the kitchen had awakened not just Cook, but also Heskiss, the long-time family butler. When alerted that they had a guest, maids were immediately dispatched to Vanessa’s room to ensure it was in tip-top shape and Cook quickly laid out a “light repast” for the travelers which wouldn’t have looked out of place at a state dinner.
By the time Ned and Jane entered the study, having put Violet to bed once more, there was a veritable feast in front of them.
“Thank goodness,” said Jane, as she loaded her plate with the pickled herring Cook had kept in stock since hearing she was expecting. “It seems like the babe is always hungry.”
“No doubt it’s a son this time,” said Hal, as he too piled his plate with food. “Kellington males are known for our appetites. Sometimes, we are even in the mood for food. And before you admonish me, Ned and Arthur, I believe the females among us are not known to be easily offended. That goes twice as much for your intended, Riverton.”
They were interrupted by the knocker on the front door.
“Whoever could that be at this hour?” asked Lizzie. “Do not tell me your lightskirts have taken to making house calls, Hal.”
“See what I mean about being shameless, Riverton?” asked Hal.
“It is Stapleton,” said Lynwood. “I sent a footman asking him to come.”
Inspector Joseph Stapleton was employed by Bow Street. He’d first become acquainted with the Kellington family earlier in the year when Ned had been accused of murder. A genuine friendship had developed between Stapleton, the Kellingtons and Riverton. He had been at the Riverton house party when the chest was stolen.
Heskiss entered the room, followed by Stapleton. “Inspector Stapleton, your grace.”
“Thank you Heskiss, and please give my thanks to Cook for the meal, as well as the maids and footmen who should all be abed. Please start the day two hours later to help make up for the interruption.”
“I do not believe I can do that, your grace,” said Heskiss.
“Try your hardest to
do it anyway,” he replied. “Now take yourself off to bed, Heskiss.”
The butler bowed his way out, nodding to Stapleton as he went.
“I did as you asked, Stapleton, and let you know as soon as they returned to town,” said Lynwood. “Although I’m sure you didn’t anticipate a meeting at four in the morning. Please help yourself to some food. Hal, pour him a glass of brandy.”
Vanessa was only slightly acquainted with the Inspector from the time they’d spend at the house party. But she knew him by reputation. He was one of Bow Street’s best and was known for his bravery, integrity and intelligence. “Why did you ask to be informed of our arrival?”
“Because, Miss Gans, I believe you to be in grave danger.”
All heads turned to Stapleton and the eating stopped.
“Please explain,” said Lynwood.
“When I returned from the Riverton house party, I looked into this matter with Mortimer and Cassidy. I also,” said Stapleton, looking directly at her, “investigated you.”
Vanessa nodded almost imperceptibly. “I would expect nothing less. Lord Arthur had just run after someone who arrived at the party under false pretenses. You only had my word that I worked for the Home Office. I can imagine your professional curiosity was piqued.”
“It was not only that,” said Lynwood. “I asked him to look into your background, Miss Gans.”
“See here, Lynwood,” said Arthur with rising anger. “That was rather high-handed of you.”
Vanessa placed her hand on his arm, then under the watchful gaze of everyone in the room, she quickly removed it. “His grace had every right to worry about you. Indeed, it was his responsibility as the head of this family to do so. You are aware that while I have worked for the Home Office these past few years, I was a common criminal before that. It is only through the grace of God that I am having a late meal in Lynwood House rather than living in a gaol in Australia. It is only right that the rest of your family know, as well. And it is certainly within his rights for his grace to have me removed from this house at any time.”
Never Wager Against Love (Kellington Book Three) Page 20