The Lady And The Man Of Fortune_A Wicked Secret_The Eardleys Of Gostwicke Hall, Book 3

by Penelope Redmont

  He scanned it for a moment, then turned it over, to inspect the seal. "I sent for Jasper Renford — he's formerly of the Bow Street Runners. I've used him in various matters — I hope the man's in town. He can advise us on how to proceed."

  "Please sit down, my lord." Catherine went back to the sofa, and pulled up a chair for Delmere.

  Anne sat down at the desk again. She swallowed hard. After thinking about Delmere for so long, he was here. She blinked hard, almost believing that this was a dream — she'd imagined him in Italy so often.

  "You said formerly?" Catherine prompted.

  "Yes. He left the Runners to take on private commissions. I don't want to involve the Runners directly. There would be no way of controlling the talk if we laid charges against Wallwood. There would be newspaper stories — it would ignite a firestorm of gossip… We can't do that, for Miss Bywater's sake. Of course, that's what Wallwood understands very well — the need for the utmost secrecy and discretion."

  "Of course you're right." Catherine shivered, and drew her shawl more tightly around her shoulders. "The fewer people who know, the better — we can't take this matter to the magistrates. Anne has commissioned Mr. Kettering to speak with the jeweler."

  Mr. Morley tapped on the door and entered, bowing to the ladies and Delmere. "Ma'am," he said to Catherine, "Young Davis is about to depart to return to the Hall. You wished to send a letter?"

  "I do." Catherine rose and said to Delmere, "please excuse me. I'll write a quick note to Henry… I must tell her that she's not to do anything herself, other than remain at the Hall. Heaven alone knows what the child would do, if she heard something of Wallwood… I won't be a moment."

  Delmere and Anne were left alone in the library. Delmere avoided Anne's gaze, staring into the fire.

  Anne took a deep breath. She must speak, and she was determined to be honest. "My lord, I owe you an apology. I was most impolite — and I hope that you will be good enough to forgive me."

  He looked startled. "My lady –"

  "Anne, I think," she said with an attempt at a smile. She'd clenched her hands together so tightly in her lap that her nails dug into her palms. "I am very sorry for the way I responded to your kindness. I must tell you that I have spent many hours regretting my words since — and I'm so pleased that you didn't go to Italy."

  He stared at her for a long moment. She met his gaze frankly. Finally, his gaze warmed, and his lips quirked into a smile. "Anne — you set me on my heels. But I — there's no need to apologize."

  She was relieved that he was determined to be amused, rather than angry. "I should not have spoken as I did. I've spent the past month –" she closed her mouth with the snap.

  "You spent the past month?" He asked.

  She'd been about to say that she'd spent the past month regretting her words, when Thomas opened the doors for Catherine.

  Catherine entered the room quickly. "I told Henry that she's not to worry and that I expect her to stay at the Hall. She's to tell me immediately if there is any news of Eva. I do wish Bunny hadn't returned home… But then again, if Henry takes it into her mind to go off on a mad flight, Bunny couldn't prevent it." She sat on the sofa.

  "Can you tell me exactly what happened?" Delmere asked.

  Catherine explained the events at Gostwicke Hall.

  "Lord Wallwood was seen in the village?"

  "Yes, he stayed at the inn, with his servants, and two men. They were delighted to have him of course. He took all of the rooms and the only private sitting room for his use. I questioned the landlord myself. However, I didn't give the man any more information than I had to."

  "So it was several days after Miss Bywater disappeared that you received the letter from Wallwood?"

  Catherine nodded. "That led me to believe that he had taken Eva away. He might have taken her to London — but I doubt that. People know him in London, and Anne said that he left his house."

  Delmere turned to Anne.

  She explained that she'd decided leave her house get away from Wallwood. "I decided to remove to Eardley House — I wanted to get away from him, but then he was gone, as quickly as he arrived. I never imagined that he would —"

  Mr. Morley entered the library to announce that Mr. Renford had arrived, and that he'd taken him to the drawing room.

  "Please ask him to join us in this room in a few moments, Mr. Morley — the drawing room's too cold. We're just getting this room warmed up. You might remove the dust covers before you bring him in…"

  Anne exchanged a look with Delmere, and blushed, while Catherine folded the cover on the library table. Then Catherine left the room after asking Anne to remain. "I must speak with Mrs. Jago for a moment."

  Servants set the library to rights quickly.

  Delmere moved his chair closer to Anne's, so that they could speak without the servants overhearing. He leaned his elbows on his thighs and looked at her.

  "Catherine said that you were at Belton Devering," she told him softly. "But Talverne said that you were off to Italy."

  He grinned ruefully and threw up his hands. "Yes, small subterfuge, because of the Wentworths. I thought that telling everyone I was taking a journey would be enough. But Mrs. Wentworth called on me every day. She waited outside my club in a hired carriage. She even waited outside Gentleman Jackson's. I knew that she and her chick would follow me wherever I went, so I told my people that I would be traveling in Italy and not to expect me in town until autumn."

  "So that's what it was," Anne laughed aloud.

  He shook his head. "It seems amusing now, but it was anything but at the time."

  He looked into her eyes, and she tried to read his thoughts.

  Then Catherine entered the room, followed by Mr. Renford.

  Anne considered Mr. Renford unimposing for a Bow Street Runner. She had expected someone taller and with more authority. Mr. Renford was of middling size and wore common everyday dress.

  She frowned at the small man, who was only slightly taller than Catherine. He wore a loose-fitting dark blue jacket, doeskin breeches, and scuffed riding boots. He bowed to her and to Lord Delmere.

  Delmere introduced him to Anne. "Lady Kingston, may I present my friend, Mr. Jasper Renford. In his days with the Runners, he closed every case he undertook."

  Renford bowed. "Mrs. Grove, my lady… A pleasure to make your acquaintance, even under these circumstances. Lord Delmere has told me something of the situation in which you find yourselves. Mrs. Grove, I understand the young lady was taken from Gostwicke Hall… perhaps you might explain what happened? Tell me everything, if you please… no detail is too small. What happened to Miss Bywater?"

  Catherine paced, after apologizing. She told Mr. Renford that walking helped her to think. She related what had happened calmly, while walking up and down the library. Then she handed Mr. Renford Lord Wallwood's letter.

  Mr. Renford read the letter carefully and held the paper up to the light. Then he peered at the seal.

  "It's an odd thing," he said softly, still studying the letter. "It came to my attention several weeks ago that Lord Wallwood had an intriguing request. He let it be known that he needed a woman — a large woman, someone formerly employed at the Bedlam. It was such a strange thing that it caused talk, which meant that I heard of it — as far as I am aware, he didn't find a woman to suit him… An outlandish request however, which caused much speculation.

  Anne shuddered. Bedlam?

  "Do you think — will he harm Miss Bywater?" Catherine asked.

  Renford laid the letter on the library table, and mused, staring at it. "A desperate thing, abduction. His lordship will want to handle Miss Bywater with all care. Abduction is one thing, particularly if he marries the lady. But doing the lady real harm is something else entirely — he must know that he'd be certain to follow Lord Ferrers to the gallows."

  He sighed, and shook his head. "Yes, there's no defense against murder… He'll want to avoid the hangman's noose. Peer or no, that's what faces him.
I feel certain that he will not harm her. My ladies — your pardon for my plain speaking."

  Catherine shrugged. She stood at the window, with her back to them. Anne cast her sister a quick glance, then waved aside Renford's apology.

  Renford continued. "I've offered a good reward for information, and I hope to hear within hours. Someone knows his plans. And people talk. I take comfort from knowing that his lordship isn't someone to whom crime comes naturally. He won't want to take the lady far. Were you aware that he has an estate some thirty miles distant from Gostwicke Hall? Hooton Hall — it's unoccupied. The tenants have left… the place is heavily mortgaged."

  "Then that's the first place I'll go," Delmere said, and stood up.

  Anne rose from her chair. "I'll accompany you. I'll go and change immediately – I can be ready in half an hour."

  "No, my lady," Mr. Renford said. "I recommend that you stay in town. It's the best thing."

  "No, I will go with Lord Delmere. Eva is in my charge."

  Delmere also shook his head. "Out of the question. I'll ride straight there. I won't be taking a carriage. And it's far too late in the day to reach Hooton Hall."

  "Then I will ride as well!"

  "Can we stop arguing for a moment?" Catherine's tone was impatient. She walked to the library table and lifted the letter. "There's no point in anyone dashing around the countryside. We've no indication that Eva is at Hooton Hall. Merely an assumption that Wallwood would not wish to travel far with a girl who would be at least unwilling, if not completely uncontrollable."

  She paused. "Consider this. He may have drugged her. In which case, she would be very controllable — they could be on their way to France."

  Mr. Renford cast Catherine an admiring glance. "Indeed, Mrs Grove. That's it. He could take her anywhere — best not to assume, my lord, and my lady."

  "I must do something," Anne said, and stood. She had made up her mind that she would travel to Hooton Hall.

  "If you're set on accompanying me — we'll take my carriage." Delmere stood too, and took her hand to prevent her rushing away. "But Catherine's right. Wallwood may have taken Eva anywhere. Best to wait for a few hours, until we have a clearer indication of where he might be."

  "I'll have something definite by noon tomorrow, or tomorrow evening, at the latest," Mr. Renford said.

  "I could be at Hooton Hall tomorrow." Anne removed her hand from Delmere's. She did it reluctantly, blushing. His hand was large and warm — she'd seen Catherine's gaze widen.

  Catherine stared at Anne. Finally, she sighed. "Very well then — go to Hooton Hall. Thomas and Marie will accompany you. I'll remain here — Eva Bywater is no wilting flower. She may free herself from the man. I hope she has the sense to find a magistrate — even though that would ruin her. At least she would be safe."

  Or, Anne thought bleakly, Eva might free herself from Wallwood, and find herself in a more desperate case.

  Anne was in her dressing room when Catherine walked in. Marie and Thomas had returned to Kingston House. They needed to pack for the journey. Anne had debated whether she should return to Kingston House with them, but realized that she had more than enough clothes in the family's London Home.

  She prayed that Eva was where they expected her to be — but she told herself firmly that she must expect to be disappointed. If they found her, Anne would take her directly to Gostwicke Hall.

  "You mustn't be seen with Delmere," Catherine said. "It's best that you wear a veil, and a large cloak." She closed her eyes for a moment as if in prayer. "Spend the night at an out-of-the-way inn — somewhere no one of quality would visit."

  "I'm sure that Lord Delmere will think of that. He has no more wish to court scandal than we do. Do you know why he told his servants that he was going to Italy?" She told Catherine what Delmere had said about Mrs. Wentworth.

  Catherine shook her head. "I'll say one thing for that woman, she's persistent. She's determined to win Delmere for her chick. Just be careful that she doesn't manage that." She paused. "Anne, Delmere is in love with you."

  Anne's eyes widened.

  "Don't look at me like that — it's obvious. The man looks like a stunned calf around you. He'll ask you to marry him again. What will you say?"

  Anne wasn't so sure that Delmere would ask her again. After all, she'd refused him. Equally, she didn't know what she would say if he did ask her. Could she marry Delmere? When she'd thought that he'd gone to Italy, she'd felt bereft.

  Suddenly, she gasped, then almost choked on an inhalation. She realized that she was in love with Delmere.

  Catherine was standing on a stepladder, opening and closing hat boxes. "He knows your secret, so you needn't worry about hiding it," she said, taking out a hat and twirling it on her hand.

  Anne blushed furiously.

  "Let me fasten your buttons." Catherine stepped off the ladder, and tossed a dark blue top hat onto the dressing table. Then she deftly closed the small buttons at the back of Anne's carriage dress.

  She stood back to look at her sister. "Turn around again…" She made a circular motion with her hand. "Very nice. I like that shade of blue… It brings out the blue in your eyes. Madame Lola does wonderful work. Try this hat…"

  She picked up the hat and handed it to Anne. "I need to find a veil… a thick one."

  She rummaged through the drawers in Anne's dressing table. "Most of the hats in those boxes are out of date. Last season's, and the season before. Marie will need to send them off to be refurbished. This one will do." She pulled a veil from a drawer.

  Anne stared at herself in the long cheval glass, while Catherine pinned the veil onto the hat. "I need gloves — I'll take a couple of pairs, I think."

  "When you find her, take the chit home to the Hall, and I'll come down and speak with her."

  "Yes, that's best. I won't know what to say to her. I'm so disappointed. I thought that she'd settled."

  "I'll have plenty to say. No doubt of that. She should not have sent her groom to the public house." Catherine tapped her chin. "I've no doubt at all that she did it for a reason — she knows Wallwood. What if she met him, and went with him without force?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "You wrote me that that steward had married, and left Rayburn — she might do something outrageous if she doesn't know that he's out of her reach."

  "No. No, Eva wouldn't do something like that…" Or would she? Anne sighed. Eva had spent months in her home, and she didn't know the girl at all.

  Catherine shook her head. "Whatever happened makes no matter, I suppose… Come. Marie and Thomas will return from Kingston House shortly… I hear a carriage. Remember what I said — keep the blinds drawn in the carriage, and don't allow yourself to be seen by anyone. It would be the outside of enough if you were seen with Delmere. Then you would have no alternative other than to marry him."

  She adjusted Anne's hat. "Very becoming… This scandal-ridden family will be the death of me. We've got a scandal brewing with Eva Bywater. We don't need another scandal with you and Delmere."

  Anne chuckled at the doom in Catherine's voice. "There will be no scandal. Delmere will make certain of that."

  "I hope so."

  Delmere had ridden back to Delmere House. He'd decided to take two carriages, one for Anne and her maid and himself, and another for his servants. He would take three large footmen. Anne knew that Delmere wanted to be well prepared, no matter what they faced.

  17

  Eva blamed her mother, and the letter.

  If she hadn't received the letter, the only one she had received from Lady Fraser in months, she would not have allowed herself to be cozened by Lord Wallwood.

  She hated him. He had lied to her and tricked her. Now, here she was.

  The room was tiny. Just off the kitchen, it must once have belonged to the cook. Eight paces took her from the window to the opposite wall; ten paces took her from one wall to another. The door, close to the window, led to the kitchen. A small window opened onto a cou
rtyard.

  The room contained a single chair. An old wing chair, dark red. Nothing else.

  She had hopes of the window – great hopes. Although it was tiny, she knew that she could open the shutters. She'd tested them and found that they were loose.

  Gently, persistently and as silently as she could manage, she'd worked the shutters' lock until it popped out of the wood. All she had to do was wriggle out of the window when she'd managed to open the shutters and she would be in the courtyard. And free.

  Now that she had the strength, she would do that tonight, when the men were sleeping. She didn't think that they guarded her too closely. She knew that they were somewhere in the house, she'd heard them climbing and then descending the staircases.

  Her mother's letter had said simply:

  Carlisle has married. He and his wife have left Rayburn Manor. I hope that the preparations for your season are continuing. Remember, I expect you to have an offer of marriage by the season's end.

  That was all. Her mother hadn't asked her how she was, hadn't said that she missed her, and hadn't given any indication that she wanted her daughter to return home. In effect, her mother had washed her hands of her.

  The trouble was, she didn't believe what her mother had said about Robert. That had been her first mistake.

  The second mistake had been speaking to Lord Wallwood when she met him in the village.

  The third mistake had been agreeing to meet Wallwood, alone, without her groom. How could she have believed Wallwood when he'd told her that the groom was a spy who would tell Catherine of his presence immediately?

  She shivered when she remembered his words. "Lady Kingston encouraged my suit, until Delmere." He'd looked wretched and sad, and she'd believed him.

  The biggest mistake? Not fleeing Wallwood when she had the chance. She should never have spoken to him. What had possessed her? She knew that he had attacked Lady Kingston, and that that lady, gentle as she was, had been forced to shoot the man.