Debutantes Don’t Date

by Kristina O’Grady

  “Sorry, old chap. Victoria was always a pretty little thing, I just couldn’t help myself. No harm done though, is there?”

  Jasper wasn’t so sure about that, he had never seen Neal so livid. His body was totally still; he didn’t even blink as he stared at Rupert.

  “Ah, Rupert, maybe you should tell us why you chased us through the streets today?” Jasper asked, trying to defuse the situation somewhat.

  “It’s a long story and I am really not at liberty to go into any details, but what I can tell you is Lord Wester hired me a month or so ago. He had a problem, see.” He looked towards Jasper. “Seems his sister was to marry you, Bingham, but a skirt got in the way and you offered for her instead. The problem is he has spent all his money and all the money his family would receive for her hand.”

  “So the rumours are true,” Jasper said.

  “He also told me that he was counting on being able to ‘invest’ half of his sister’s allowance once she was married,” Rupert added.

  “That bastard. He was going to steal my money from my wife?!”

  “But she’s not your wife. And it gets worse.” Rupert turned his eyes to Neal again. “You wouldn’t happen to have a drink, would you?”

  Neal raised one eyebrow and continued to stare at the big man.

  “Never mind.” Rupert leant back in his chair before continuing. “Wester has it in his mind your new lady is to blame for everything. He hired me to ‘get rid’ of her.”

  “And you took the job?!” Jasper lurched from his seat and started towards the man he knew better than to trust. “What is wrong with you?”

  “Whoa now. Don’t you want to hear the rest of the story?” Rupert put his hands up but otherwise made no move to defend himself. When Jasper slumped back into his seat he continued. “I took the job to protect her. I have been underground, you could say, for so long I am now one of them. No one expects me to save the people I am hired to kill. Do you remember the night we saved that girl from Dotsworth?”

  Jasper remembered all too well. Lord Dotsworth had kidnapped the poor girl and was taking her to Scotland to marry against her will. She was the heiress to a massive fortune and she had too many suitors to count. Obviously Dotsworth didn’t like his chances against the others and took matters into his own hands. Luckily for the lady, Rupert and Jasper were fighting outside the ball she was abducted from and they followed on horseback. They had managed to save the poor girl and return her to her father before anyone even knew she was missing. She accepted an offer for her hand the next day and was married by special licence. She didn’t want to risk getting stolen away again. Of course there were rumours that she had to marry but when nine months passed and there was still no baby, it was assumed it must have been a love match.

  “What does Lady Kessler have to do with anything?”

  “It got me to thinking. There are a lot of people who disappear in the slums of London, more than you and I will ever know about. Some people leave of their own accord, but some disappear with considerable help. I came home. You didn’t know that did you? I found my grave. Do you have any idea what it’s like to see where your own body lies? Well, needless to say I didn’t go to visit my parents.”

  “Why not? They would be thrilled to see you alive.”

  “No. I don’t think they would be. I’ve changed and I couldn’t bring myself to dirty their lives with the filth I brought back with me. I am capable of things you couldn’t even imagine.”

  Neal rose from his chair and crossed to the sideboard and poured three very generous brandies. He handed one to Rupert. “You may need this after all.” He passed another to Jasper then sat down with his own. “Please,” he said, waving his glass, “continue.”

  “Thanks, where was I? Oh, yes, Lady Kessler. Anyway it got me to thinking that if I wouldn’t go home, I needed to do something, didn’t I? I was never one to stand around while someone else did the work. So I set off for the slums and put myself out to hire. I spend quite a bit of my time gambling. I attract rather a few clients that way. Not all of them bad, either. But the men I target are ones with a grudge. Lord Wester was different. He came directly to me. I’ve worked years to gain that kind of reputation, and finally I have it. Too bad, I may have lost all my hard work today in the street with you.”

  “You still haven’t explained what exactly it is you do and why Lady Kessler is involved,” Jasper pointed out.

  “Lady Kessler isn’t involved. I haven’t seen her since we dropped her off at her father’s door that night. No, she doesn’t know anything about this.”

  “Well, what is it then?” Jasper was getting beyond frustrated with the lack of information Rupert was telling them. He wished he would just get to the point.

  “I save people. I am hired to kill or make them disappear, but instead I, with financial help from my sponsors, relocate them instead. When it is safe, if they have family, I move them too. So far no one suspects me. Your fiancée, Bingham, was one of my targets. Wester wants her gone and he won’t stop at anything until her blood is spilled.”

  Silence filled the room and they sat staring at each other for what seemed to Jasper for hours. Finally his thoughts formed into plans.

  “She will need to be watched. Constantly. Neal, could one of your footmen be assigned to that detail? She cannot leave this house without protection. Is there any way we can move the wedding forward? She would be safer if she was already my wife.”

  “Even better if she could bear you a son,” Rupert added. “I’m telling you, Wester will not give up without a fight.”

  “Besides keeping her here under lock and key I don’t see what else we can do.”

  “You don’t want to tell the women,” Neal said. “It would be best if they don’t think anything unusual was going on.”

  “Ha! What am I to tell them about the race I led them on in the streets this afternoon, then?” Jasper asked.

  “Tell them it was a game, women never understand what we men get up to. They think everything we do revolves around sport or gambling. Tell them you had a bet that Rupert couldn’t catch you, or some such nonsense.”

  “What about the footman constantly on watch outside Grace’s room, Bingham, how are you going to explain away him?”

  “Grace already knows I think Lord Wester is up to no good; I’ll just tell her the truth, or at least some of it. I don’t trust Wester.”

  “Right then, are we ready to join the ladies?” Neal asked as he got up from his chair.

  “I think we should have another brandy first.” Jasper held up his empty glass, not quite ready to face Grace.

  Chapter Twenty

  “I can’t handle this. Let’s go for our walk without them, shall we?” Grace asked Anne. They had been in the drawing room for hours, waiting for the men to come out of Neal’s study. Victoria had fallen asleep on the settee ages ago; her gentle snores had been the only sound in the room for the last ten minutes. “Come on, I need to get out of this house. I’ve been cooped up for weeks because of my stupid fall and I really need to go to some shops before the wedding. Are you coming?” Grace asked from the doorway as she walked from the room.

  Anne scrambled to her feet and hurried after her. “Are you sure we should leave the men alone? What if they come out of there and we’re gone?”

  Grace shrugged. “Then we’re gone. I’ll tell Hoskins where we are going if that’ll make you feel better.”

  “He wants to get rid of you,” Anne told her as they walked down the street.

  “What? Who does?”

  “My brother.”

  “Not you too. You don’t really believe that do you? Why would he want to get rid of me?”

  “The truth is he wants me to marry Lord Bingham, not you. He holds you responsible for me not marrying him. But the real reason is Robin needs the money. He told me today the creditors have been knocking on his door and if he can’t come up with the money soon…Well, needless to say, he doesn’t like you and he figures if you
aren’t around then I would be free to marry your Lord Bingham and he would get his money.”

  “I don’t see how he would get money by you marrying someone.”

  “He was going to ‘invest’ my monthly allowance for me. In other words he is going to take half of it and gamble it away.”

  “That sounds nice.” Sarcasm dripped from her lips. “You wouldn’t allow that to happen would you? Why would you give him access to your money if you know he’s going to lose it all gambling?” Grace turned to her friend in confusion, she just couldn’t understand allowing someone else dictate your life. Living in the 1800s was a real eye-opener for her. “You wouldn’t really let him do that would you?” she asked again.

  “He is my brother and what choice to I have? I have to follow his wishes, besides it makes my life a lot easier if everyone in it is happy.” Anne glanced at Grace before ducking her head.

  “That’s bullshit, Anne.” Anne gasped and she looked as though she would faint. “Pull yourself together, Anne, it’s just a swear word. You should try using them once in a while; they make you feel better.” Grace waited until Anne closed her mouth before continuing. “How is your life better if you don’t even get a say over what happens in it? It’s bad enough you were willingly going to marry someone you don’t love just to please your father, but to give your money, your independence away, as well? Anne, I just don’t understand your reasoning.”

  “What about you, Grace?” Anne finally looked her in the eye and she was surprised she could see fierceness lurking there. “You are going to marry Lord Bingham and you can’t tell me it is what you want. Where is your independence?”

  Grace let out a bark of laughter. “You have me there, Anne. It’s sure easier said than done keeping one’s independence, isn’t it? Especially for us women. Hard to believe that back home I had a job. A proper job. I would like to think I’m a woman with my own means, but the truth is, if I wasn’t marrying Jasper I would be on the streets. And we know what the only option for a woman there is, don’t we. Come on, let’s go, people are starting to wonder why we are standing here all by ourselves, besides I don’t think we want anyone to overhear what we’re saying.” She led her friend further down the street. “Are you happy now, Anne? I mean, now that you don’t have to marry Jasper?”

  “I’m looking forward to happiness, yes. Not that being married to Jasper would have been bad. He is a nice man, I could certainly do worse. But you’re right, I don’t love him and it would have been the same as my life is now. Except of course I would have children. I’m thankful now I will have a real chance at finding a man I want.”

  “Do you have someone in mind, Anne?” Grace asked teasingly but Anne had her head ducked again. Grace was sure she saw a blush colouring her cheeks though. She wondered who the lucky man could be. “Oh, look, let’s go in here.” Grace pulled her friend into her favourite shop. It was full of candles and beautiful linen.

  “Grace, this is where the housekeeper shops.”

  “I know, isn’t it grand? I thought to give each lady at the wedding a sweet-smelling candle and a box of bath salts as a gift. I think I should be able to find them here. I don’t know what to do about the men though, and I’ll need your help, but what are bridesmaids for, huh?” She looked around the shop, smelling candles and looking at the lovely ribbons until the shopkeeper was done serving her other customer and came over to help them.

  “Miss Lancaster. How nice to see you again. Have you given any more thought to what you wanted to order? If you do want the cinnamon candles, I will have to ask Jane to start on them right away, but I did just get the lavender in this morning. I have saved the whole lot for you just in case.” Mrs Edmond bustled into the back room without waiting for Grace’s reply. A few moments later she came out carrying a small wooden crate and put it on the counter. “See, aren’t they beautiful? I told Jane myself you would be impressed with them. And don’t they smell sweet?”

  “They are lovely, Mrs Edmond. I can’t believe that Jane was able to make all of them so quickly. And so beautifully too. Anne, come and look. What do you think? Won’t the ladies love these?”

  “Grace. I don’t think ladies of the ton will appreciate getting candles.” Anne put down the ribbon she was looking at and walked across the room towards them.

  “Come and have a look before you decide.” Grace smiled kindly at Mrs Edmond who looked crestfallen at Anne’s unkind words and gently pulled a candle from its box. Mr Edmond had made individual boxes for each candle and Jane had wrapped the candles in colourful material before placing them in their own boxes and then into the larger crate.

  “Oh,” Anne gasped, “it’s beautiful! How on earth did you think to do that, Grace?”

  “Brides always give away favours at their weddings back home and candles are always a nice gift.” She turned to Mrs Edmond. “I will take the lavender. How could I not with a reaction like that?” She smiled before asking, “Do you have any ideas on what the gentlemen would like?”

  An hour later Grace and Anne exited the shop each with their own cinnamon-scented candle that Mrs Edmond insisted they take free of charge. Grace arranged for the wedding favours to be delivered to Victoria’s house for the wedding breakfast. The gentlemen would be getting their whiskey flasks engraved with the wedding date and Bingham’s crest.

  Grace and Anne both agreed each guest should also get some chocolates and they went off to sample some from the chocolatier who had just set up shop down the street.

  “I just love chocolates, don’t you, Grace?” Anne sighed as they entered the little shop. The delicious smell greeted them as they walked in the door. The small room was full. Every lady who was out shopping had stopped for a tasty treat before heading home. Anne finished explaining about her brother as they waited to be served.

  “You must stay away from him,” she whispered. She didn’t want anyone overhearing their conversation, although it was so noisy in the shop Grace didn’t think that would happen. “He has gone mad I think. Every time I see him, he tells me you need to go. And with your wedding getting closer he is getting more and more unstable. Please tell me you’ll stay away from him, Grace.”

  “OK. If you really want me to.” She turned and looked at her friend. “I didn’t want to say, but I don’t really like him anyway, so it won’t be a problem to keep away from him. He kind of creeps me out, so I tend to avoid him as it is. Besides, like you say, the wedding is in a few days. After we are wed there is nothing he can do. Don’t worry, Anne, everything will be OK. Jasper won’t let him harm me.” Finally they were at the front of the line and they had to stop the conversation.

  When Grace asked if she could place an order for one thousand chocolates the chocolatier shooed everyone else out of his shop and locked the door.

  “One thousand, you say?” The man was grinning from ear to ear. “We can do that! When do you need them by?”

  “I need them as wedding favours for our guests and the wedding is in five days’ time. Does that give you enough time to make them?”

  “Five days?” The smile on his face faded slightly, but then gained strength. “A challenge! I am sure it won’t be a problem, my lady. What exactly do you have in mind?”

  With the last of the wedding plans under control Grace could look forward to enjoying the last days before the big day. She caught herself smiling whenever she thought of Jasper. It appeared she would be staying, so she might as well make the most of it. She could think of a lot worse things that could have happened to her than getting married to a man who set her on fire with just one look. She went up in flames when he touched her, how could she ask for much more? She knew there were a lot worse marriages out there than that, even in 2013 when people were allowed to pick their own partners.

  She wished she could figure out what caused her to time travel; she wouldn’t want to just disappear on the poor man. Maybe she could go and see Lord and Lady Kensington before the wedding; the scene of her arrival. Maybe Rupert would e
scort her there when he went to see his parents. Although that might not be the best time to go, especially since they thought he was dead. It was going to be quite a shock to their system when he showed up on their doorstep.

  Anne continued to talk as they made their way down the street towards the Harrisons’ residence, unaware Grace was lost in her own thoughts. Anne had agreed this afternoon to stay with her until the wedding and Victoria had been kind enough to offer Anne her own room. She just hoped Victoria was sober enough to remember when they returned to the house.

  Grace was sure this was the most freedom Anne had ever experienced. She hoped Anne would one day find a man to be happy with; she deserved the best the world had to offer.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Grace had been pacing her room for an hour, ever since Anne went to lie down for a nap. She had to tell him! They were getting married in a few days, for Christ’s sake. He had to know, but getting up the courage to tell him was impossible.

  Too soon a knock sounded on her door.

  “Miss Lancaster? Lord Bingham has arrived. I have instructed him to await you in the drawing room.”

  “Thank you, Hoskins, I will be down directly.” She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and whispered “Here goes nothing,” and walked out the door to her fate.

  Jasper was shown into the drawing room and told to wait for Grace. Usually, she met him in the library so he knew something was up. The note he’d received earlier gave it away as well. He pulled the note from his pocket again and studied her handwriting.

  Jasper,

  Please meet with me today at your sister’s. I have something most important to discuss with you.

  Grace

  When they had come out of Neal’s study and found Anne and Grace missing, his heart had stopped. Victoria was snoring on the couch so she was no help at all. It wasn’t until Hoskins came in and told them they had gone for a walk that they even knew where the ladies had gone to. He and Rupert were set to rush from the house when Hoskins told them he had taken the liberty of sending a footman with them, just in case the ladies purchased anything on their way.