Lady Unveiled - The Cuckold's Conspiracy (Daughters of Sin Book 5)

by Beverley Oakley

  “Miss, ye’re shakin’ sumfink terrible!” Wielding a damp cloth, Dorcas rushed across the room to clean up the spillage caused by Kitty having knocked her powder across her dressing table and over the carpet.

  “I’ve done the most terrible thing,” Kitty whispered. Unable to stop her trembling, she lowered herself onto her chair and put her hands to her face. “I’ve put Silverton in danger…” She heaved in a breath. “Dear Lord, I did not mean to do it, but I have. I told Debenham he was a spy.”

  “Yer did what!”

  Kitty tried not to cry. “I thought it was the last thing he could be, and it seemed such a clever way of enticing Debenham to write him a blackmail note so that then Debenham could be apprehended, but now I see how foolish and naïve I was. Oh, Dorcas!” She reached up to grip her maid’s wrist. “I don’t know what to do.”

  Dorcas’s face was pinched in reflection of her mistress’s distress. “Oh miss, yer was only tryin’ to ‘elp but lordy, if Lord Debenham finks Silverton is a spy, who knows wot he’ll do.”

  “Who knows, indeed? Why, he might find a way of having him…”This time Kitty did burst into tears. “Suffer some terrible accident,” she said over her sobs. “Oh Dorcas, I just have to find a way to protect him.”

  “I dunno ‘ow yer can do that, miss.”

  “Neither do I, which just means I have to find something that will put an end to Debenham’s machinations before it’s too late for Silverton. Oh, what have I done?”

  “Could yer ask Lady Debenham fer ‘elp ter do that? She’s mortal afeared o’ ‘er ’usband, yer say.”

  “She’ll protect him to the death, because she knows that if he were sent to prison, his entire estate would be forfeited to the Crown and then what would happen to her and William?”

  For a moment, Kitty contemplated using her knowledge about William’s true origins as a bargaining tool until she realized that she could never stoop to blackmailing Araminta. Besides, it would taint the child who was an innocent. Children should never be tainted by the wrongdoing of their parents, she thought fiercely.

  Gravely, Dorcas said, “I fink yer should tell Miss Lissa ‘n Mr. Tunley. They can at least advise yer.”

  “I don’t know if I have the courage to admit to such stupidity. And, of course, your friends at Mrs. Montgomery’s are too afraid to say anything about what they know of Lord Debenham. Which just proves what a very dangerous man he is.”

  After a moment of silence, Dorcas said, “I did learn sumfink, miss, that could ‘elp. ‘Bout Lord Debenham and ‘bout what Mr Prism and I was tellin’ yer the other day.”

  Kitty waited with bated breath.

  ‘Me friend, Sal, she said she once paid a visit to ‘is Lordship’s bedchamber when Miss Araminta were wiv her Mama.”

  “She what! Sally?”

  “Sally weren’t ‘is regular girl, but Mrs. Montgomery sent ‘er ter ‘is Lordship one night as a bit of a tryout ‘n a surprise. Apparently, Miss Araminta were recoverin’ from havin’ the babe, ‘n ‘is Lordship were lonely. Well, Sal were that afraid ‘n it’s true that ‘e were none too nice at the beginnin’, but then ’e… well, it turned out ‘e didn’t mind a bit of entertainin’ after all. Sal said she were ever so curious ‘bout ‘is books ‘n papers. She’s allus wanted ter learn ter write. Anyways, she were lookin’ at ‘is desk when ‘e came back inter the room after bein’ called away ‘n shouted sumfink terrible, accusin’ ‘er of all sorts ‘til she cried ‘n said she couldn’t read. Then ‘e locked up ‘is papers in a pewter box ‘n turned the key, which she saw that he put inter a vase on the mantelpiece afta the lights were out ‘n ‘e thought she weren’t lookin’.”

  After a pause, Dorcas added, “Reckon I shouldn’t ‘ave told yer that, miss. If yer ever go ter Lord Debenham’s alone, then ye’re askin’ fer trouble.”

  Kitty shivered. “He touched my cheek when we were talking, and I had to close my eyes and pretend that the reason I was shivering was because I liked it, rather than that I was feeling like an adder was flicking its tongue over me. Oh Dorcas!” she burst out. “I don’t want to spend another second in his company, but what if this is the only way? So it’s true that he keeps his secrets in a locked pewter box? Well, it’s up to me to find it.”

  “No, it ain’t,” Dorcas said firmly. “Yer jest tell yer lovely Lord Silverton wot I jest told yer ‘n all will be well. He’ll be very ‘appy that ye’ve found out such valuable information.”

  “It’s not valuable until it’s in the hands of Lord Silverton or Mr. Tunley. It’s worth nothing until then, and meanwhile others—including Silverton—are in danger because I put them there.”

  “Promise me yer won’t do nothin’ foolish ‘n go ter ‘is townhouse alone, miss. It ain’t worth it. Lord Silverton loves yer too much to see yer put yerself in danger.”

  “Does he?” Tearfully Kitty raised her head for an endorsement of what could only make her feel worse. “And I love him so much, which is why I’d do anything to do some good out of the bad I’ve committed. Poor, poor Silverton. I just want him to be safe and happy.”

  Chapter 23

  Another pall of ill feeling hung over the Beecham household. Lissa was conscious of a change between her employer and Lady Julia. Lady Julia still visited just as frequently, but the gaiety that characterized their relationship in the early days had been replaced by a tense wariness.

  It was different from the earlier brief lull where Lord Beecham was clearly angry with Lady Julia. Now, it seemed, they were both frightened.

  In the evenings, Lissa tried to be as obscure as possible, blending into the dull green wallpaper with her drab clothing as she quietly sewed and Lucinda played the piano.

  Lord Beecham and Lady Julia always sat together on the sofa opposite the fireplace, but they were quieter than they used to be.

  When they did speak, Lissa strained her ears to catch every word, but usually they spoke of dull, pedestrian matters.

  Until one evening she was rewarded as Lady Julia gave a gusty sigh and said in a low voice, “Mr. Cranborne lost a large sum of money to Archie last night.”

  “So the score is evened since the night of the spiders, eh?” Lord Beecham chuckled, but Lady Julia became agitated.

  “Archie is greedy. He says that’s barely evened the score because Lord Partington forced him into an impossible wager a little over a year ago when he lost two thousand pounds. Mr. Cranborne won’t pay up again. He’s only the heir and doesn’t have that kind of money. And then what will happen?”

  Fascinated, Lissa lowered her head and pricked up her ears even more. Although she’d made no secret of her presence, it seemed they’d forgotten she was there. She was slightly obscured from their view by way of the seating arrangement, but now she was careful to make no noise.

  “I wish Debenham were dead!”

  The words had resonated at the same time as a resounding chord had signaled Lucinda’s finale, but Lissa had not mistaken what she’d heard.

  Instantly, she saw Lord Beecham’s head twist around to glance at Lissa at the very moment Lucinda announced, “Not a single mistake, Lady Julia. I’ve worked hard as you’ve exhorted me to.”

  Lord Beecham’s attention was diverted; he quickly instructed Lucinda to play another piece, and then Lissa heard him mutter, “Don’t we all, but I beseech you to never espouse such sentiments in public, my dear. These are dangerous times. He’s a dangerous man.”

  “Surely he has enough enemies that someone will give him what he deserves.” She dabbed at her eyes with a small square of linen. “Oh Beechy, I’m so afraid. If Debenham continues to put pressure on Archie what will become of me? Archie’s happy this week because he’s a thousand pounds plumper in the pocket, but what about next week? What about the future?”

  Lord Beecham appeared to deliberate. Then he touched his lips to Lady Julia’s brow and murmured, “Matters are in hand, my love. Don’t you concern yourself with Debenham. I’ll say no more, but rest assured that he will b
e taken care of.”

  “He will be taken care of!” Those were his exact words.

  Excitedly, Lissa paced the kitchen of Mrs. Nipkins’s tiny parlor while Ralph lounged against the scrubbed wooden table. He scratched his chin and said soothingly, “Men often try to sound full of bravado to impress their true loves when they have no intention of doing anything remotely brave. I’m guilty of that. Why, you’ve been relying on me for more than a year to follow through with something brave or notable in order to rescue you from your life of drudgery. I’ve failed dismally.”

  “Don’t say such things, Ralph!” Lissa flew across the kitchen and into his arms. “You are patient and clever. That’s far more admirable than being brash and foolishly bold. But you really don’t think Lord Beecham is planning to do away with Lord Debenham?”

  “Would you be relieved if I said no?”

  Lissa considered the matter. “I want Lord Debenham to make a mistake so that you can be responsible for bringing him to justice. He’s an extortionist whose demands have led to the death of more than one, and we’re all but certain he was directly involved in the attempt on Lord Castlereagh’s life with the help of several associates. Surely evidence can be found.”

  Ralph shrugged. “I fear we may wait in vain for a long time. It’s hardly likely that either Beecham is going to bump off Debenham, or that Debenham keeps a neat pile of incriminating evidence in a carefully locked box that would be the answer to all our frustrations.”

  Kitty wasn’t sure how she might find a means to orchestrate a tete-a-tete with Lord Debenham that would involve returning to his townhouse, thus presenting her with an opportunity to rummage through his study.

  So she was relieved when she breezed into her dressing room at the end of the night’s performance to find him seated like a sleek bird of prey upon a striped gilt chair by her dressing table.

  “Magnificent performance!” he said, presenting her with another bouquet of roses.

  “Why, that must be the third night in a row you’ve seen me perform!” Kitty fluttered her eyelashes as she swept past him to seat herself in front of her looking glass. She removed the paste ear drops, then unbound her hair from the pearl-encrusted binding which held it in neat order upon the crown of her head. It cascaded in a tumble of curls, and she heard Debenham gasp, though she ignored him as she tried to reach behind to undo the top button of her gown.

  “Allow me!” Debenham was on his feet in an instant, his bony fingers deftly undoing the top pearl button.

  Coyly, Kitty moved away. “I have my dresser to help me, my lord.”

  “But she is not here.”

  “I simply need to call for her and she will attend me.”

  “Why inconvenience her when you have someone as willing as I on hand?”

  “Because I have a reputation to uphold. No man in this theater or anywhere else has seen beyond what is respectable under the circumstances.”

  “Except Lords Nash and Silverton,” Debenham supplied slyly.

  “Indeed. Lord Nash would have married me had I gone through with it, and I would have married Lord Silverton if he had desired it. I do not give my favors lightly, my lord.”

  His hands were in the vicinity of her throat, hovering as if he waited only for her to succumb and allow him access to the other buttons. Kitty clapped her hands and immediately Deborah, her dresser entered. “As soon as Lord Debenham leaves us, I shall require your assistance.” She sent Lord Debenham a pointed look but he remained seated.

  He made a low noise, a little like a growl. “There is one important matter I wish to discuss.” When Deborah made no move to leave, he waved her away, saying, “It is a matter of privacy with Miss Bijou. Please!”

  The girl scuttled away and Kitty raised her eyebrows. “You are a man who knows how to get what he wants,” she murmured. Just what he clearly liked to hear for his thin lips turned up, accentuating the strong nose beneath the cold gray eyes. It flashed through Kitty’s mind to feel desperately sorry for Araminta in that moment, but then her half-sister thrived on danger, so perhaps they were well-matched. Not that having a straying husband made anyone a good match, though Kitty had absolutely no intention of going beyond a necessary caress of the cheek in order to achieve what she had to.

  Lord Debenham lowered his hand so it rested on Kitty’s shoulder. “Your information about Silverton was much appreciated. Indeed, it was as I had long suspected.” His nostrils flared. “Ha! He called me friend. If he’d been an honest enemy, I might have considered dealing with him more kindly.”

  “What have you done to him?” Kitty thought she’d given herself away in that squeak, but Lord Debenham seemed to think she was his ally.

  “I’m sure you’d be most interested, my dear. The man who thought you weren’t good enough to marry will soon rue the day he so disrespected you. I, on the other hand, respect you too much to see your future stretch before you in such a state of uncertainty.” He gripped her shoulders and drew her to her feet, lowering his head so it was less than an inch away from eye level. “Let us not disturb Deborah. Allow me to assist you to change, and we can discuss the plans I have to aid your future successes from the comfort of your abode.”

  Kitty forced herself not to move back. “I have no abode currently, my lord, since I moved only yesterday from the townhouse Lord Silverton leased for me.” It was suddenly difficult to swallow. She was fairly certain she’d not be caught out in this lie. “I’m currently lodging with friends.”

  A furrow appeared between his eyes. “Poor Kitty Bijou. Nowhere to go?” With slow, sweeping strokes, he caressed her arm. “I can offer you somewhere to go. For tonight, at least.”

  “But your wife—”

  “She’s away. I rarely entertain at home, but I should enjoy the company—and the novelty, Miss Bijou.”

  Before Kitty had time to answer, he was swinging her around and engaged on undoing the second button before Kitty shrieked her outrage. “No, my lord! I told you my objections before.”

  “But you will come to me tonight?”

  Kitty moved away and began to pace. She truly was conflicted, but her creased forehead must have signaled a different kind of objection, for Lord Debenham clasped her in his arms and tilted up her chin as if he would kiss her, before muttering, “By God, you like to lead a man a merry chase. Come to me tonight, and we shall hammer out the terms by which I can secure you the future you desire, Kitty La Bijou. I am a generous man when my passions are aroused, I assure you.”

  Kitty managed to only just twist her head away before his cold, unwanted lips might have landed upon hers.

  “When we have an arrangement that is pleasing to both parties, I will give you all the license you could wish for, my lord.” Smiling, she gained the safety of the door, turning the handle as she called out into the passage for Deborah, before saying sweetly to Lord Debenham, “I shall think about what you propose, my lord.”

  “And I shall arrange for you to be met at the back entrance.”

  Kitty allowed him a glimpse of white shoulder as she shrugged. “It could be tempting, my lord, though I make no promises. I do have other offers to consider, you know.”

  Chapter 24

  So it had to be tonight.

  Kitty literally flew through the streets toward home when the line up of carriages and hackneys suggested a delay. She didn’t live far, and besides, if she took a slight detour it would only add another five minutes. She needed to acquaint Lissa with what she was about to do.

  Having gained admittance to the Beecham household, she had to wait in the kitchen and bribe the parlor maid who was drinking tea in the servant’s kitchen to send a note up to the governess, and she was on the verge of giving up when Lissa appeared.

  “You shouldn’t have come, Kitty. Not dressed like that,” her sister whispered, drawing Kitty away from the curious gaze of her fellow employees. “I do wish you had not!”

  “But Lissa, I’m your sister!”

  “Yes, and a
n actress, too! Just look how finely dressed you are, but you cannot be a lady to have come here alone. That’s what they will whisper.”

  “Well, let them whisper all they like. The fact is, you won’t be working here much longer, Lissa, because I’m about to go to Lord Debenham’s townhouse and find the locked box where he keeps his secrets.”

  When Lissa looked at her as if she had taken leave of her senses, Kitty laughed. “It’s true! My maid, Dorcas, has a friend who works for Maggie Montgomery, whom Debenham took home, and it’s the honest truth. He does have a box of secrets, for she saw him lock it up and hide the key.”

  “You can’t do it!”

  “I’m going to.” Kitty removed her sister’s hand from her arm and turned to leave, but when Lissa looked at her as if she were going to either cry or shout, explained, “Lissa, I did a terrible thing earlier. I told Lord Debenham that Silverton was a spy because I truly believed he wasn’t, but that it would be a means for him to blackmail Silverton, and then Ralph would have all the information he needed to apprehend Lord Debenham. Then I realized how badly wrong I got it. But now Lord Debenham has invited me back to his home—”

  “Dear Lord, Kitty, you’ve not allowed yourself to become—”

  “What kind of a girl do you think I am?” Kitty bristled. “He’s done nothing more than try to kiss my cheek and,” she lowered her voice, “undo my top button but I refused him both, and now he’s wild to have me at his home, which gives me the best opportunity of any of us to actually find out what evil he’s been up to.”

  “No, Kitty! I won’t allow it!” Lissa shook her head wildly. “As your older sister, I forbid it.”

  “Don’t you understand, Lissa? You have always thought me…quite useless. Well, this time I’m going to prove how useful I can be. I’m going to make sure Silverton comes to no harm, and I’m going to help you and Ralph find the happiness you deserve. And you can’t stop me!”