Willingham looked like he wanted to punch Arthur. “I don’t see how it is any of your concern, Kellington,” he blustered.
“It is my concern,” said Arthur, “because the chest was stolen from Riverton’s estate and I have been working with Miss Gans to secure the treasures. It is just as much my fault as hers that we return empty-handed.”
“From what Sir Lawrence told me, it is much more your fault than Vanessa’s. I’ve a mind to have you arrested for obstructing a Crown inquiry.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” said Vanessa. “Lord Arthur saved my life and he was of invaluable service in obtaining the treasures in the first place. It is hardly his fault that Mortimer and Cassidy were able to catch up to us. Indeed, I wonder who could have tipped them off. Very few people knew where we were. But you were one of them.”
There was a moment of absolute silence in the room. Then Willingham said coolly, “You cannot possibly be accusing me of giving away your location.”
“I’m not accusing anyone – yet,” said Vanessa. “But I have reason to believe that Mortimer and Cassidy have been helped by someone with connections to the Home Office. Very good connections. I intend to learn who that person is, then see him or her prosecuted.”
Willingham’s only response was to pick up the box he’d just been packing. He put a few more papers into it.
“Going on a trip?” asked Arthur.
“Just for a few days. Estate business. How do you plan to catch the mole, Vanessa?”
“I have two things this person would want. The first is the chalice.”
Willingham looked at her with interest. “I thought Mortimer and Cassidy took the chalice.”
Vanessa shook her head. “Mortimer left it with me, along with a note warning me of a Judas.”
Willingham pressed his lips together. “Interesting choice of words. Did you bring the chalice with you?”
“No,” said Arthur. “It is in my brother’s safe. I assure you that it’s secure. But we figured the only way we could learn the identity of the traitor was to smoke him out.”
“This is highly irregular,” said Willingham. “What’s the second thing, Vanessa?”
“I have the chest.”
“The one with the code?” Now Willingham looked very interested. “I thought Mortimer and Cassidy took it with them.”
“It turned up again,” she said.
“You must bring it here,” said Willingham. “If we have that code, we might be able to trace the origin of the message. I don’t care about the trap you’re laying. But I want that chest.”
“I am sorry, sir,” said Vanessa, looking anything but. “I believe this is the best course of action.”
“You do realize I’m your superior, do you not?”
“I have not forgotten,” said Vanessa. “But neither have I forgotten my duty to King and country. If I do not know whom to trust, I cannot trust anyone. I must do my best to protect these items on my own. Kellington House is now a fortress, with the extra men the Duke of Lynwood brought in to guard his safe, as well as the Runners Inspector Stapleton hired.”
“Bow Street is in on this?” asked Willingham.
“Yes,” said Vanessa. “Rest assured, Lord Willingham, I will learn who betrayed me. And the chalice will be safe in the meantime. Good day.” With that, Vanessa turned and left, leaving Willingham staring at the back of her with an odd expression.
Arthur and Vanessa waited to speak until they were outside the building. “That was very clever of you,” he said. “To let him know about the chest.”
“It could only be considered clever if Lord Willingham is the scoundrel behind these thefts,” she said. “If not, I’ve just been terribly rude to my superior. He seemed surprised when I told him we had the chalice. Do you think that was genuine?”
“I don’t know the man well, but it appeared to be his real reaction. However, I did see something else of note. While you and he were talking, I was looking at his desk. He’d written Frederick Mortimer’s name on a scrap of paper.”
“That wouldn’t be too unusual, since this case involves him.”
“But he’d also written ‘five thousand pounds’ after it.”
Vanessa’s eyes widened, but she said nothing. She was lost in thought when Arthur told their driver to take them to Sir Lawrence’s address.
“I don’t understand,” she said. “I thought you’d had quite enough of his company.”
“I had,” said Arthur, as he took advantage of the privacy of the coach to kiss her. He kept it brief because it wouldn’t take much for their passion to blaze out of control. “But I believe you should do the same thing with Sir Lawrence as you did with Willingham. Let him know you have the chest to gauge his reaction.”
“I still cannot believe it is Sir Lawrence,” said Vanessa.
Arthur stilled. Did Vanessa harbor a tendre for the insufferable agent? “Why do you think it could not be him?” he asked, very much afraid of the answer.
“I do not think him smart enough to plan such an elaborate ruse,” said Vanessa. She was then startled by Arthur’s bark of laughter. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing, love,” he said, looking out the window. “And I believe we have found Sir Lawrence.”
Vanessa looked out to see Sir Lawrence walking briskly down the street toward his building, with no noticeable limp. She narrowed her eyes. “That’s suspicious, isn’t it?”
“Frankly, everything about the man is a little suspect,” said Arthur, who attributed at least a portion of his feelings to jealousy. The carriage pulled to a stop, then he and Vanessa got out and hailed Sir Lawrence.
When Sir Lawrence recognized them, the limp reappeared. “Good day, Vanessa, Kellington,” said Sir Lawrence as he bowed over Vanessa’s hand. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Obviously,” said Arthur. “How’s the leg?”
“Paining me something awful. Vanessa, would you care to look at it while Kellington goes to the apothecary? You have such a soothing touch.”
“Unfortunately, Lord Arthur and I are expected elsewhere. But I did want to inform you of something. I found the chest with the code in it.”
Sir Lawrence looked rather shocked by the news. “I thought you said the villains absconded with it in Kent.”
“They did,” said Arthur smoothly, “but once they realized the papers were fake, they apparently disposed of it. One of Riverton’s tenants found it and returned it to the marquess.”
“Extraordinary,” said Sir Lawrence. “I’d love to take a look at it.”
“No can do, old boy,” said Arthur. “It and the chalice are in my brother’s safe.”
Now Sir Lawrence’s shock was tinged with anger. “You have the chalice? That’s impossible! I saw Mortimer take it.”
“He only wanted it to look like he’d taken it,” said Vanessa. “But I later found it in my bag.”
“I don’t know what to think of that,” said Sir Lawrence. “Sounds a bit havey-cavey, your keeping the whole business from me.”
“You were injured,” said Vanessa. “We didn’t want to trouble you with the deception when you had more pressing matters to attend to.”
“I suppose,” said Sir Lawrence, still less than convinced. “So, what do you say you help me, ‘Nessa, while Kellington takes himself off?”
“I’m sorry, no,” said Vanessa. “But I hope you feel better soon.”
“Do get well quickly,” said Arthur, as he pounded Sir Lawrence on the back so hard he almost fell over. “I would hate to think of you in pain.”
Arthur and Vanessa then made their last visit of the day. Professor Dumbarton had taken rooms at Claridge’s. They sent a message up to his chamber, asking him to meet them in the lobby of the elegant hotel.
“How lovely to see you again, Vanessa,” said Dumbarton as he bowed over Vanessa’s hand and brushed his lips over her knuckles. “Kellington,” he said, with barely a nod in Arthur’s direction. “I heard you’d run into som
e trouble and have been terribly worried. I’m glad you caught me before I returned home. There’s an important conference at the university and I shall be speaking, obviously.”
“How did you learn we’d run into trouble?” Vanessa asked, as she gently tugged her hand away from Dumbarton before Arthur did it for her.
“Sir Lawrence filled me in. Nasty business about your villains. You’re quite fortunate you didn’t all come away the worse for wear.”
“Yes, wasn’t it?” said Arthur. “I’m surprised you’re staying at Claridge’s. Doesn’t the university have a club here in town?”
“Of course it does,” sniffed Dumbarton, “but I so rarely get a moment to myself when I stay there. Fame does have its price, don’t you know. So what brings you to see me?”
“We thought you’d want to know we’ve recovered the chest and the chalice,” said Vanessa, anxious to see his reaction.
Dumbarton was momentarily taken aback. “Sir Lawrence didn’t tell me anything about recovering the chalice. He said the villains stole it.”
“That’s what we thought, as well,” said Arthur. “But they only took the sword and the spike.”
“So that’s good news, is it not?” asked Dumbarton. “While it’s regrettable that you let the other two items fall through your hands, the chalice is purportedly a treasure beyond worth. Good show on salvaging at least a portion of the mission. Can I see it? I reckon I find myself curious to examine it from an academic standpoint.”
“Currently, it’s quite well guarded,” said Arthur, who then explained the security measures they were taking to keep it safe.
Dumbarton nodded approvingly. “Good to hear you’ve learned from your past mistakes, Kellington. But I would be most anxious to see it before you hand it over to Willingham. It might even be worth sticking around for a few more days. I shall disappoint the conference attendees, but my scholarly pursuits must come first.”
“Of course, they must,” said Arthur. “Miss Gans and I are expected back at Kellington House shortly. We shall send word when we intend to move the chalice.”
“Splendid!” said Dumbarton. “Until then, my dear.” He bowed over Vanessa’s hand once again.
When the two of them were alone once more, Vanessa decided it was time to take a stand about the untenable position she was in. “Arthur, I’d like you to take me home,” she said.
“Of course, love. You’ll enjoy dinner at Lynwood House. Cook is sure to outdo herself with all of us home.”
“I do not mean your home, Arthur, but mine.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Her voice was resolute. She was determined to put distance between them.
“Not again,” he said. “Vanessa, I will not allow you to be in danger, especially not now when we’ve alerted our three main suspects that we have the chalice and the chest. Not to mention Mortimer and Cassidy are likely in the city and could easily track you to your rooms through their contact in the Home Office.”
“That is if they are in London and if they have a source in the Home Office,” she countered. “Furthermore, since telling everyone the chalice and chest are at Lynwood House – which only a fool would try to rob – why do you think they would go to my home?”
“Because I have the mind of a criminal?” asked Arthur.
“I am serious, Arthur.”
“So am I, love.” He looked at her, filled with determination, then unbent a bit. “What if I take you to your rooms, so you can pick up whatever personal items you might need for the coming weeks…”
“Weeks?” Her voice was one of near panic.
“For however long you will remain at Lynwood House. That is the biggest concession you will get from me, so I suggest you take it.”
She grumbled a bit, but finally agreed. She gave the address to Lynwood’s coachman, then they set off for her rooms in a boarding house near Covent Garden. Sitting opposite Arthur, she noticed his face became grimmer as the neighborhood became increasingly less genteel.
“It’s all I can afford,” she said defiantly. She wasn’t about to feel embarrassed about her home, when she finally had one of her own. It was modest, but paid for by honest work.
They drew to a halt in front of a slight shabby building with some chipped paint and at least one broken shutter. The only sign of gentility was a window box off one of the rooms on the third floor.
“Is that yours?” asked Arthur.
“How did you know?”
He grunted, then followed her into the building. They were about to climb the first set of stairs, when a large woman in a stained apron confronted them.
“See here, missy! If’n yer to be takin’ men to yer rooms, ye’ll need to pay extra.”
Vanessa took a deep breath. Her landlady, Mrs. Carter, was unpleasant in the best of times, and while it was embarrassing to have such an outburst in front of Arthur, she, in truth, was leading a man up to her room, which no self-respecting woman would do. But before she could say anything in her defense, Arthur spoke up.
“Madam,” said Arthur, with an arrogant tone that would set even Lynwood back on his heels, “if you ever dare to insult my betrothed again, you shall most assuredly regret it. There are laws against slander and trust me when I say I have the means to see them enforced.”
“What in blazes is a betrothed?” asked the combative landlady.
“Nothing, Mrs. Carter,” said Vanessa. “Please go back to your room.”
“Miss Gans and I are to be married,” continued Arthur. “And you shall show the proper respect to my future wife.”
“Married!” said Mrs. Carter, clearly disbelieving his every word. “There’s only one reason a toff such as ye would be in this house with a gel like her, and it ain’t marriage. Are you one of the ones who was in her room last night? Made so much noise, kep’ me awake, they did.”
“What are you talking about, Mrs. Carter?” asked Vanessa. “Who was in my room last night?”
“I figured it was ye and one of yer ‘betrotheds.’ I shoulda called the Watch…”
Vanessa didn’t hear whatever else the woman said, because she was already running up the stairs, with Arthur close behind.
“Wait, Vanessa!” he hissed. “Let me do this. You go back and call the Watch.”
“Not bloody likely!” she said, as she ran up the next flight of stairs, then stopped before a door that was slightly cracked. She reached in her reticule and pulled out one of the pistols they’d borrowed from Dumbarton.
She opened the door, to find the tiny room in complete disarray. Whoever had been in there had emptied the contents of her small chest of drawers and the basket that had been on the table she used as a desk. Her pallet had been slashed and the ticking was strewn across the room. The chair was upended. Everything that might have hidden something the size of the chalice had been thoroughly searched. But even more distressingly, the few articles of clothing she owned had been shredded and thrown around the room.
Arthur pulled her to his chest in an embrace. “This wasn’t the work of ordinary thieves,” he said, as he kissed the top of her head.
She nodded. “Thieves would have taken everything to sell. Mortimer and Cassidy were here looking for the chalice.”
“Will you come back to Lynwood House with me now?” asked Arthur softly.
“Yes,” she said. “But only temporarily, Arthur. Only temporarily.”
* * *
The Kellingtons were disturbed to hear what had happened to Vanessa’s home, and intrigued by the reactions of Sir Lawrence, Lord Willingham and Professor Dumbarton upon learning about the chalice. They were having yet another family meeting in Lynwood’s study, with Riverton and Inspector Stapleton in attendance.
“Obviously, one of them was lying,” said Hal. “He had to know the chalice was still missing.”
“Perhaps not,” said Stapleton. “Mortimer and Cassidy might not have told the man. I believe it was they who broke into Miss Gans’s room, presumably to look for the chalice.
They probably wanted to recover it before whoever hired them learned it was no longer in their possession.”
“We need to find a way to draw them to Lynwood House,” said Ned. “And before you raise your objections again, Miss Gans, out of deference to my wife and child, I assure you they will be well-guarded, will they not, Liam?”
“More than a dozen footmen and grooms are on their way here from Lynwood Manor. I will not allow anyone under my roof to be harmed in any way,” said Lynwood, every inch the duke.
“If we’re too well guarded, won’t it discourage the villain from breaking in and stealing the cup?” asked Jane.
“That’s why this may take a while,” said Arthur. “We must have patience to outlast whoever it is.”
“I have an idea,” said Lizzie. “Liam, you said you wanted to throw Riverton and me a betrothal ball, did you not?”
“Yes,” said her eldest brother, “and I believe your response was ‘hang it all, I just want to be married as soon as possible’.”
“Well, that is still true. But what if we were to have the dratted ball anyway? Perhaps the villain behind this would choose that as the time to break in, thinking it would be an excellent distraction.”
The entire room was silent, with everyone looking at Lizzie in varying states of shock.
Riverton broke the silence. “My love, are you saying you want to have a betrothal ball in hopes it will be disrupted by violent criminals breaking into Lynwood’s safe?”
“Yes. But that doesn’t mean I value our betrothal any less. I would just like to get this entire affair settled, so that you and I can finally be married. I think it’s a splendid idea. One of the best I’d ever had, in fact.”
“Considering your political treatise was the last grand idea you came up with, this one’s not half bad,” said Ned.
“It could work,” said Stapleton, “provided you allow me to cover the house and grounds with agents from Bow Street to ensure everyone’s safety.”
Vanessa found it difficult to speak. “Lady Elizabeth – Lizzie – while I am more appreciative than words can express, this could ruin your ball. Even if no one is injured, and there’s certainly no guarantee of that, if we do successfully draw these villains into the open, it will be mayhem. Hardly the kind of occasion to commemorate your betrothal.”
Never Wager Against Love (Kellington Book Three) Page 22