by Dayna Quince
There was a knock on her door, and for some reason she expected Nic. From the corner of her eye she thought she was right, but as she turned toward her door, she saw it was in fact Odette, and she was wearing a frown.
“What's wrong? Are you ill?” Luna asked.
“It's not me, it's Nic,” Odette replied.
“What's the matter with Nic?” Luna asked with concern.
“Violet asked us all to join her and the dowager for tea and scones in her private chamber.”
“I wasn't aware of this.”
“The invitation was given to Anne to filter down through all of us, but Nic refuses to come out of her room. She's not acting like herself. She seems very sad. I don't know what to do. She doesn't even want to go to the ball tonight.”
Nic was sad? Luna could guess the reason why. Theo must have told her he was leaving.
“I’ll talk to her,” Luna said.
“Why won’t she talk to me?” Odette said.
Luna shrugged one shoulder, frowning in sympathy. If Odette doesn’t know about Theo, Nic must have an important reason.
“Why don't you go to tea and make our excuses. We’ll be there shortly.”
Odette nodded, let out a resigned sigh, and left the room. Luna hurried to finish dressing her hair and then went to Nic's room. She didn't bother knocking but just walked in, startling Nic from the chair by her hearth.
“That was rather rude,” Nic mumbled angrily.
“If you really wanted to be alone, you would've locked the door,” Luna returned. “I know what's bothering you.” She pulled the stool from Nic's dressing table and sat before Nic. Nic folded her arms, her feet tucked up under her bottom in the wingback chair.
“I'm sure you do. He's leaving and he needs to—I know he needs to. He told me about the duel and Judge Blackwood, but that doesn't make me feel any better. He won't take me with him.”
Luna gasped. “How could you even think it?” Luna asked. “It isn't as though you're married or in love, are you?” They couldn't be. Their acquaintance was so short, and it wasn't as if they’d been secretly meeting with each other from the start of the party like she and Callen had, coming to know each other.
Luna hadn’t any intention of falling in love, but she had. Could that have happened to Nic in so short of time?
Nic clamped her mouth shut, and she shook her head. “I’m not supposed to tell you. He made me swear.”
“Who? Theo?”
“It doesn't matter. A promise is a promise and I”—her voice broke—“I made him a promise, and if I hope to ever see him again I have to keep it, at least until he's gone. He says it's not safe.”
Luna’s stomach turned into a cold rock and dropped to her feet. None of that sounded good. Whatever Theo had said or done with Nic, it was something dire, and poor Nic was caught in the middle of it.
Just as Luna had been.
Luna grew angry with Theo all over again. She would be glad to see him gone. Just when she’d thought he was truly redeeming himself. He was only attempting to cover another mistake he’d made. And just how grand was that mistake going to be?
Had he seduced Nicolette? Is that why he was so eager to run away, to avoid marrying her?
“Is there something you want to tell me? Is there some way I can help you?” Heaven forbid he seduce her and leave her pregnant after he was gone. Even with the connections they had with the Duke of Selbourne, Roderick, and Callen, her sisters would never be able to enter society. It was likely they never would after Bernie’s kidnapping. All of Lady Kirkland's guests knew about it, and all of them were considered the social elite from London.
This would only add fuel to the scandal fire.
“Nic, I'm so sorry you got caught up in his schemes.”
Nic pushed out of her chair and strode away. “I didn't get caught up in his schemes. I'm not a child. I am in love with him as much as you hate to hear it, but I know he has to go to save his life. He has to leave England, but he won't take me with him and I will just be left behind.”
“But hopefully not left behind with a child?” Luna asked.
Nic turned to face her and her eyes began to glisten with tears.
“Bloody hell,” Luna murmured. “If it is true, you must tell me.” Callen would know what to do. He’d find Theo and make him do the right thing. “If you know when your next courses are, let me know as soon as they start or if they don't.”
“It won’t matter either way.” Nic covered her face with her hands and she nodded. “I just want him,” she said as she wept.
“I know you do. I understand Nic, I do. I truly do.” But Luna didn't know what she could do about it. If Theo stayed, he might hang. She didn’t feel so terrible about that outcome at the moment. But Callen would, and for Callen, she would gladly see Theo leave to save her sister further humiliation.
Luna stayed with Nic a little bit longer until she stopped crying and fell back asleep. Luna went to have tea with the duchess and made excuses for Nic. As the day wore on, she often thought perhaps she could tell Callen that Theo was up to something nefarious, but then it might result in another fight and somehow Theo not leaving. Perhaps it was better if nothing was said and he left without further incident. Luna didn't know when that would be, but she hoped it would be soon after the party for Nic’s sake.
Callen came back from an afternoon ride and hoped he might find a way to get Luna alone from her sisters. The castle was busy with preparations for the ball tonight, and there would be a big dinner with guests from other estates in the area.
He knew he would not have a chance to speak with her then or find a place for them to be alone, so it had to be now. But he also wanted to speak with his brother about making arrangements with Capt. Marlow. He thought Theo would've gone yesterday after their talk, but he hadn’t seemed to leave the castle at all. This morning he disappeared early on, and he thought perhaps he'd gone then since he'd insisted Callen not join him.
Callen left his horse in the stable and saw Weirick speaking with the stable master. “Densmore, there you are. I have news for you,” the duke said.
“News? For me?”
“Yes. Your valet has at last arrived. I didn't think you could survive without your valet. How did I not know you've been dressing yourself like a heathen all this time?” Weirick winked at him.
Callen chuckled. “I only strive to be like you, Selbourne.”
“Perhaps when you can grow a beard and you finally become a man, you can be like me,” Weirick returned. They laughed together, but inside Callen's heart raced. Coombs was back with news of Kirby.
“I sent him to the kitchens. He looked road weary like he’d been riding nonstop and in need of a hearty meal. I think he had urgent news,” Weirick said.
Callen nodded and he hurried back to the castle. He went to the kitchens, and Coombs was just finishing up a meat pie. Callen informed him he'd await him in his room and then went to find Theo. No one had seen Theo as far as they could remember. Had he gone to see Captain Marlowe? He glanced at the clock; he better hurry back if he had. Callen went to his room, arriving just after Coombs. The young valet was already in his dresser drawers rearranging his clothing to his satisfaction.
“Tell me what you know,” Callen urged as he started to remove his jacket. His shirt clung to his sweaty skin, and Coombs came to help him. He was a sturdy young man with black hair and blue eyes. He was a soldier from a common family who had trouble finding good employment after the war ended. Theo had taken him in when Coombs had come to his aide in a back alley fight. A soldier at heart, he’d settled into working for Callen and Theo quite nicely. Nothing ever shocked him.
“Kirby lives, my lord. He was seen to by some special doctor that arrived a week ago, and from then on his chances steadily improved.”
“A special doctor?” Callen asked.
“A Dr. Hadley arrived uninvited and demanded to see Kirby. The household was quite shaken as Kirby's condition was kept secret since
the duel.”
Callen turned to face Coombs. “Dr. Hadley, you say? And how did you come by this information?”
“Martha, the kitchen maid, was quite vocal about it all for a steep price and a kiss,” Coombs said.
Callen raised brow. “Very well, who sent Dr. Hadley?”
“I don't know.” Coombs took away the sweaty shirt and Callen washed himself, running a damp cloth over his chest and neck. He watched Coombs pull out evening attire, a midnight black jacket and matching trousers along with his dancing shoes.
But it was still too early to dress.
“I will press these, my lord.”
“That can’t be all the news there is, Coombs. You've been waiting there for weeks.”
“Indeed not, sir. It seems Judge Blackwood has garnered himself quite a few enemies in the foreign office. They’ve put the cuffs, metaphorically speaking, on his investigators.”
Callen's hands froze as he ran a damp cloth over his hair. “Judge Blackwood is losing power?”
“Indeed, sir. In Kirby's return to health, he's decided not to be quite as loose in his pockets, and that includes the generous attention he gives his uncle and cousin. According to Martha, the two had been living like kings while in Kirby's home. Kirby recuperated and they were summarily tossed out like filthy dogs that had soiled the carpet. Martha's words.”
“Bless, Martha,” Callen murmured.
“Indeed, sir.”
Theo was safe. He didn't have to leave.
“As you requested, sir, all correspondence was given to me, and it just so happens, Sir Kirby wrote you and your brother a letter.”
Mr. Coombs brought him a letter, and Callen swiftly tore it open.
Dear Lord Densmore,
As I recuperate from my injury, I have come to the conclusion that I'm an idiot. I have many things I regret. And as I lay here thinking about the possibility of my death at the age of nine and twenty, I have been reminded that life is a gift I have squandered, and I wish to waste it no more. I wish to convey my apologies to your brother, but I will not insult him by assuming he will accept it. He was right. I did have cards up my sleeve. I am a cheater and a coward, but I am a coward who wishes to live. Dueling has lost its honor for me. I know it is not gentlemanly to say such a thing, but there were moments when I looked down on my own body, and I did not like the man I saw. This made me see things in a new light, and I must make changes. First, I will apologize to you for having shot you. I hope you are recovered and well, and I will apologize to your brother for all the unnecessary animosity that I can only attribute to jealousy over something insignificant. I can hardly remember it now. I shall not bother either of you again, and perhaps one day I may have the privilege of calling you friend.
Most sincerely,
Sir Kirby
Callen refolded the letter in disbelief. “What the devil happened to that boy?
“I don't know, sir, but in the last week alone, I've seen the entire household take on a new life. It's been very strange indeed, and even Martha has sought to better herself. She said she stopped pilfering sweets from the larder and nipping whiskey from the drawing room.”
Callen chuckled. “Just how well did you become acquainted with Martha?”
“She's a good lass,” Coombs said, “but I don't hear wedding bells in my future.”
“Or the cry of a babe,” Callen returned.
“No, sir, it wasn't as serious as that.”
“Good, then I won't have to hire her. I don’t want servants who will steal from me. I have to tell Theo this news before he boards that ship.”
Dare he think it, that he won't have to leave it all. He could stay right here and still find a new life and a new purpose. Just as Kirby had.
Chapter 26
Callen looked at the clock. Time was slipping away. Soon he would have to start dressing for the ball, everyone would. Theo should be back already. Violet had informed every one of the time for which the evening entertainments were to start. Being in the country, dinners and balls were held earlier than in the city. He hoped Theo remembered that and wasn't falling back on old habits.
“Coombs, find Theo as quickly as you can. If he's not in his room right now, I don't know where he'll be.”
“Yes, sir,” Coombs said and left the room with Callen's evening attire in hand.
He dragged on a fresh waistcoat and jacket and hurried from the room. Callen went about searching the other places where Theo might be. He started with the billiard room and the library. He stepped outside and onto the terraces at the back of the castle overlooking the ocean. Could he be with Nicolette?
There was only one way to find out, but he couldn't do it himself. Damn Theo if he was trying to seduce her before leaving. Though he'd hate to think such a negative thing about his brother, it wouldn't surprise him.
But he had to stop thinking that way now. Perhaps they were just saying goodbye. Callen went to the corridor where the sisters were housed, and from the back stair, he saw no one was in the hall. But that wouldn't last long. There would be maids coming and going, helping the sisters get ready.
Callen hurried across the corridor and, without knocking, slipped into Luna's room, closing the door behind him. That's when he made his first mistake. He definitely wasn’t cut out to be a spy. Nic was there with Luna, dressing her hair.
Both women turned to him with surprise.
“Callen? What are you doing here?”
His gaze turned to Nicolette. “I was looking for her, actually.”
“Me?” Nic asked. Her eyes were red-rimmed and his gut clenched. Something told him that Theo was the cause for her distress.
“Do you know where Theo is?”
Her bottom lip trembled. “He's gone. He left this morning.”
“I don't take your meaning,” Callen said.
“You wanted him to leave so he left. That's the end of it, isn't it?” Nic accused.
“No, it's not,” Callen said. He dug in his pockets for Sir Kirby's letter. Damn it. He left it in his room.
“Sir Kirby lives, and Judge Blackwood has been reined in. Theo can stay.”
Nicolette gasped, dropping to the stool at the dressing table as if her knees had given out. “He can stay?”
Luna had tensed and her brow furrowed. “What does that mean? Judge Blackwood has lost power?”
“He is under investigation by other government offices. And it seems Sir Kirby has been reformed in his convalescence and has cut the purse strings. Judge Blackwood and his son James have no more influence over him, nor do they have the funds to keep up their lifestyle. I think Theo will be the last thing on their mind right now.”
“But you can't be certain, can you? Shouldn't he leave to be safe?”
A sob came from Nicolette. They both looked to her in concern. Luna left her side and came to stand before Callen, whispering, “She's been upset all day. I think he seduced her,” Luna said.
Callen shook his head. “No, you don't know that.”
Luna looked at him imploringly, tilting her head to the side as if, yes, she did know it. He looked past her to Nicolette, who was weeping into her hands.
She lifted her head. “It's too late. He left. He went to the ship this morning.”
“Is that what he told you?” Callen asked. “He told me the same thing, but he was going to arrange his leaving not actually leave.”
“That's what he wanted you to think,” Nic said. “He said he'd leave you a letter explaining everything, but he didn't want you to find it until it was too late to stop him.”
Callen went cold and Luna's gaze snapped to him.
“By that expression, I'm guessing you haven't found any letter.”
“Coombs only just arrived. Theo doesn't know any of this. He doesn't know he doesn't have to leave,” Callen said.
“Where's the ship?” Luna asked.
“Down in the village harbor. But if it's set sail already, there's no way I can stop it.”
�
�Perhaps he already made the arrangements, and it's still there. Where would he put a letter to you that he didn't want you to find until much later?”
Callen focused on her and blinked. “My evening jacket.”
He bolted from the room, feeling like a madman as he sprinted down their corridor, certainly alarming everyone to his presence, and went back to his room. He threw open the door.
“Coombs?”
Blast it. Coombs had taken the jacket to press it. He reversed direction and took the back stairs down to where the servants mended and pressed clothing near the kitchen. He barged into a room of busy people and saw Coombs at a far table. Coombs opened the jacket and ran his hands underneath, frowning as Callen approached him. He pulled a folded piece of parchment from an inner pocket. Callen snatched it out of his hand and unfolded it, reading as quickly as possible.
Callen,
I know by the time you read this I'll be gone. I also know this is a bit cowardly, but please understand it would've been difficult to say goodbye. You have so much to look forward to, and I hope that I may as well, but I can only do so if I remain alive. I have investments I want you to control for Nicolette. My wife should not want for anything in my absence, though I fear she may want for me for some time. I hope she will one day forgive me or that I may return to her. Until then, take care of our women.
Regretfully,
Theo
He left a list of his investments for Callen to monitor. He'd already written to their solicitor giving Callen control.
All the air left his lungs as he stared down at his brother’s signature.
Bloody hell. When had he married Nicolette? And he said nothing about when he was leaving or what time the ship was departing.
“Damn it, Theo,” he said, startling everyone in the room.
He tossed the letter back to Coombs, and as he marched out of the castle toward the stable, Luna had somehow caught up with him.
“Where are you going?” she called to him.
He paused a moment for her to catch up. “Nicolette was right. He's gone. And by the way, he married her.”