Lady Trevarren and the Emerald Brooch: A Regency Romance and Murder Mystery

by Miriam Rochester

  Rupert began to list a number of schemes and to Harry’s relief, there were not so many as he had anticipated. For the most part, Rupert had sold much of the Winstanley jewellery and replaced them with paste. That was not such a problem. He then had the idea of passing off the paste jewellery to interested buyers as real items and had made a tidy profit. He had passed off three necklaces and two brooches in this same manner.

  ‘Cecelia is not aware of course and she still has genuine pieces left,’ Rupert said as if his own misfortune made everything alright. ‘I realised that I had an aptitude for underhand dealings and it was so easy to continue in the same manner,’ he added with little conscience.

  Harry got up and paced the floor. ‘Rupert, someone took a pot shot at us tonight. You have upset one person too many. Not only that, many of your dealings are downright dishonest and will have to stop. Do you realise that the whole Dukedom is at stake if you are exposed? The king could strip you of everything. Worse still, you could end up getting killed.’

  Rupert gave a start. Loss of the Earldom had never occurred to him. It was something that he took for granted and revelled in the status it gave him. In his capacity as magistrate, he thought himself invincible and not likely to be exposed. Not only that, he realised that he had had a lucky escape. The grim reaper had knocked on his door this night but unfortunately got no answer. Since Mr Pendlesham, Miss Fairbanks and now Mr Ranleigh had discovered his fraud and confronted him, he was becoming nervous. Maybe he was becoming sloppy and it was time to halt his activities for a while. He watched as Harry paced the floor. ‘What are your intentions, Harry? You cannot wish to expose me!’

  Harry stopped pacing and leant on the mantle shelf staring into the last embers of a smouldering fire. ‘You are my brother, Rupert. I wish to help you. With your permission, we will go through the books tomorrow. Maybe it is not too late to right the wrongs and turn things around.’

  Rupert looked doubtful. ‘There is no way that I could restore my share of the Trevarren fortune. I can tell you that for a certainty,’ he replied acerbically.

  The acquisition of the Trevarren fortune had been by far his biggest coup. ‘As for the rest, with a bit of prudence, it may be possible.’

  Harry raised his eyes from the hearth and glanced at his brother. He appeared at that moment to be a contrite and weary man but Harry could not be quite sure. He had witnessed his brother calm in the face of adversity before and wondered if this was just one more act. Harry worried that his brother had capitulated far too easily. Was he genuine in his regrets or was it just another ploy to deceive him? He was not sure if his brother had repented completely of his immoral ways, but at least he had been shocked into compliance with the attempt on his life and a few home truths. Only time would tell if he was really genuine.

  He decided to give Rupert the benefit of the doubt. ‘No I suppose you are right,’ Harry said resignedly, ‘but perhaps I can do something about that. I was not going to tell you yet because I know that you have no love for Lady Sophie Trevarren, but I intend to marry her. You had better get used to the idea as she will be your sister-in-law. I shall take care of Lady Trevarren if she will have me and I have every intention of seeing that her brother is provided for. There should be no problem there.’

  Rupert accepted this disclosure with equanimity. It was not as if he did not like the girl precisely, but every time he looked at her she was a guilty reminder of his part in her father’s death. The downfall of Lord Trevarren had been by far his greatest crime. He had never intended to ruin her father completely but his colleagues in crime had no compunction and he had no alternative but to agree. Lady Northcote’s attitude toward Sophie did not help either but he suspected that her dislike stemmed from very much the same reason.

  ‘I have no objections. I will accept the girl, Harry. Do not worry about Cecelia as I will have words with her.’

  Harry raised his hands. ‘It is of no consequence. When we are married I shall retire to my own estates in Rothbury, but first, I will do my best to help you here.’

  Harry walked over and laid a hand on his brother’s shoulder. ‘It is getting late. I will meet you here after breakfast tomorrow and we will discuss what is to be done.’

  Harry left his brother sitting over his brandy and thinking. Perhaps Harry coming home was providence after all. It was not particularly a guilty conscience that bothered the Earl, but the attempt on his life tonight had disturbed him more than he cared to admit. Furthermore, the more astute of his victims were beginning to challenge him and that could not bode well.

  The Earl had another problem and that was his wife. He would have to tell her to curb her spending and being an extravagant spendthrift, lady Northcote would not take too kindly to it. At least she was not aware that almost half of her jewellery had been sold and replaced with replicas. If he were to make total reparation to everyone he swindled, he would have to copy the rest of them but Cecelia need never to know anything about that.

  Chapter Ten

  It was ten o’clock on the following day when Harry and Rupert met in the study. They trawled through the books and made an inventory of every valuable item that the Earldom possessed. They decided that with a bit of forward planning and a lot of frugality they could make amends.

  Harry agreed that within the next couple of weeks he would make a few visits on his brother’s behalf. His first port of call would be Mr Pendlesham, the gentleman he had evicted from Winstanley Hall on the evening of the ball. He was now sorry for his rough treatment of that gentleman but hopefully, they could come to a mutual agreement about the diamond necklace. As promised at the garden party, he would return the Gainsborough to Mr Ranleigh on the morrow in return for the money the Earl had paid for it. If he could maintain that these were genuine mistakes so much the better, although with Mr Ranleigh that would be impossible because his brother had openly admitted culpability.

  Rupert agreed to remedy the overpaid loans. Although most of them were morally reprehensible, they were still within the bounds of legality so that any legal actions against him would have been difficult. He agreed to terminate the agreements for clients who had paid well over the top, and in some cases, make refunds where deemed morally necessary. He would start, of course, with Mr Fairbanks.

  It was three o’clock in the afternoon when Harry finally left Winstanley Hall to pay the Wyndholme’s a visit. At least he could go and visit Sophie with a lighter heart. He smiled to himself. As Sophie was not yet aware that he had discovered her secret, he would take great delight in mercilessly teasing her. The pleasure of her company would bring some pleasant relief to the arduous rigours of the day.

  Sophie was in the stables with Daniel when Harry rode into the stable-yard on Julius. The family had quite given up on the Colonel’s expected visit and Sophie and her brother had decided to take a ride. On hearing the sound of hooves in the cobbled yard, Sophie stepped out to see who was approaching. She quickly retreated into the stable. ‘It is the Colonel. Danny. Quick. Hide!’ she cried in panic.

  Daniel quickly jumped into a pile of hay covering himself completely and chuckling with glee.

  Taking one last glance around, Sophie’s eyes landed on the Colt standing ready and saddled. ‘Hell and damnation,’ she cursed to herself as she led Zephyrus to the end stall. Aunt Caroline would have been seriously alarmed at her language. She threw a blanket over the Colt’s back in a desperate attempt at disguise and only hoped that the Colonel would not notice. Just in time too as Colonel Northcote poked his head around the stable door and smiled. It was an entrancing smile that sent Sophie buckling at the knees.

  ‘Ah, Sophie, there you are. I called at the house but no-one was at home. The maid told me that I may find you here. Please accept my apologies for being so late. Something quite unexpected turned up that needed my immediate attention.’

  ‘Apologies accepted, Colonel, but I am afraid Aunt and Uncle have quite given up on you and have gone out. Aunt Caroline has taken one of
her tenants a cold remedy and Uncle Jack has gone off to his kennels. I was just about to take Excalibur for a spin.’

  Sophie dressed in the same military style riding habit of dark crimson looked vibrant and fresh and she was flushed with being caught out unawares. She led her own mount to the stable door in the hope of preventing his entrance but she was just a fraction too late. With one long stride, he had closed the space between them. ‘Have I not said that you must call be Harry when we are alone? I do so like my name on your lips.’

  Harry reached for her, drew her to him and kissed her gently on the lips. Sophie was nearly lost to him but keenly aware of young Daniel’s presence under the hay pile, she put her hands up to his chest and gave him a gentle shove. ‘Not here, Harry. Someone could come in at any minute.’

  Harry looked around confused. ‘But who would come in, my love? I did not think that your uncle employed a groom and his only man works up at the kennels. We are quite alone.’ He reached for her again. ‘Kiss me, Sophie, like yesterday by the lake. Good Lord, how I long for you. I swear you were born just to tempt me.’

  Tempted as she was, Sophie side-stepped him and as she did, he noticed the chestnut colt in the far stall. He grinned mischievously suddenly realising the source of Sophie’s discomfort and pounced upon the opportunity to playfully torment her.

  ‘That is a fine young specimen you have over there,’ he said suddenly changing the subject. ‘Your uncle does keep some prime cattle.’ Harry had no doubt that on closer inspection, he would find that the colt had a white fetlock. ‘Do you mind if I take a closer look at him?’ he asked, innocently stepping forward.

  Sophie moved to intercept him and grabbing his arm she pulled him back. ‘I would not recommend it,’ she replied hastily. ‘The beast has a mean temper and is prone to nip. He is not over fond of men.’

  ‘Nonsense,’ replied Harry with a roguish smile. ‘Leave him to me. I have a way with horses. I will soon have him eating out of my hand.’

  Harry walked across to the stall calmly banishing Sophie’s protests. She bit her lip in anxious frustration and only hoped that he would not recognise the colt and connect him to Daniel.

  Harry stroked Zephyrus on his long nose and reached into his pocket for a small carrot. The traitorous animal took the titbit and nuzzled into his shoulder with a friendly whinny.

  ‘There, did I not tell you that I had a way with animals? You see, he likes me. What do you call him, anyway?’

  Sophie relaxed a little. ‘He is called Zephyrus after the god of the wind. D… I mean uncle called him that because he is swift of foot.’

  Harry was not quite finished teasing Sophie yet. He would continue with his dissimulation a little longer. ‘That is a fine name.’ He looked down at Zephyrus’s right hoof. ‘You know, I do believe that I have seen this colt somewhere before but my recollection eludes me for the moment. No doubt it will come to me in time.’

  ‘Perhaps you saw him stabled at the garden party,’ she replied in an effort to distract his thoughts.

  ‘Yes, that is exactly where I saw you,’ he said, directing his words to the colt. ‘You were stabled not so many yards away from my Julius. He reached into his pocket for another carrot and Zephyrus snaffled it up greedily nuzzling into his pocket for more.

  Harry continued to stroke the colt and winked across at Sophie. ‘You know, Sophie,’ he continued. ‘Animals are a jolly fine good judge of character. I cannot be so very bad after all. At least Zephyrus likes me.’

  Despite being on edge she could not help but laugh. ‘Nonsense, it is nothing but cupboard love. He will be your slave eternally if you continue to feed him carrots. Anyway, I can hardly believe that you carry them in your pocket.’

  ‘Ah, but my Julius is very fond of them,’ he replied. ‘And I would never deny him.’

  Sophie looked into his laughing green eyes and was mesmerised. Why did this man affect her so? His family ties should have given her enough incentive to denounce him, but every time they met, it became that little bit harder. How she desired to feel his warm embrace and the fervent ardour of his kisses once again. Oh, why could he destroy her defences so easily?

  Harry seemed to read her thoughts and reached out for her once more. ‘Sophie,’ he whispered. ‘I know my family has done you wrong and I cannot restore your father’s fortune. But if you would just let me, I will do my best to make it up to you.’ He looked down into her wide blue eyes and saw in them both desire and uncertainty.

  Cupping his hands around her upturned face he lowered his own and captured her lips with a soft sensuous kiss. The masculine aroma of shaving soap and woodland musk invaded her senses and all of her reason flew out of the window. She only knew that she wanted more and reached her hand up around his neck to draw him in closer. As he felt the soft touch of her fingers entwined in his silky shoulder length hair he deepened the kiss and as he became hotter and more demanding, she moaned with unspent passion.

  Daniel, still hiding in the hay pile, sniggered involuntarily. He was not too young to understand the powers of seduction.

  Harry pulled away and looked up. ‘What was that?’ he said, suddenly alert.

  At the sound of the Colonel’s voice, Daniel lay quiet, realising his indiscretion and cursing himself for giving his presence away. Perhaps if he kept very still he would lie undiscovered.

  The Colonel took a small pistol out of his jacket pocket. As someone had taken a pot shot at him last night he was not taking any chances. He took a pace forward keeping Sophie behind him.

  Sophie dismayed at the sight of the pistol stayed his arm. ‘It is nothing,’ she declared firmly, ‘it is only Perdita, the stable cat. She has probably caught a mouse or something.’

  Daniel taking advantage of her spurious explanation decided to enforce it with some ingenuity of his own. ‘Meow,’ he purred gently from the confines of the hay pile.

  After the attempt on his life last night, Harry’s suspicions were aroused and he was not prepared to let the matter drop that easily. He gently took Sophie’s arm from off his own and smiling reassuringly, he put her behind him. ‘No doubt you are right but stay here while I investigate.’

  Sophie bit her lip. She would kill Daniel for such a stupid prank when she got her hands on him. That is if the Colonel did not shoot him first. She gasped in horror. It occurred to her that it could be a distinct possibility. What if Harry shot first and asked questions later? She could not allow the Colonel to shoot Daniel accidentally. Sophie stepped forward defiantly and stalked across to the hay pile pretending to look for Perdita and with total good fortune found her sitting in the corner preening herself. She bent down to pick up the ginger tabby. ‘There did I not tell you that it was just the cat.’ She tickled Perdita under the chin and spoke to her reprovingly. ’You naughty puss, scaring the Colonel like that.’

  Harry pocketed his pistol and smiled. ‘Indeed, you did. I am sorry, Sophie but after so long in the Peninsular, my reactions are second nature to me.’

  Perdita, not the friendliest of cats, objected to being disturbed from her peaceful occupation. She squirmed frantically freeing herself of Sophie’s hold and landed on the hay pile dislodging some of the hastily arranged hay. With raised hackles and waving tail she haughtily strolled away in displeasure. As Harry glanced down at the tabby, he was sure that he saw the heel of a boot sticking out from under the dislodged hay. He smiled to himself. Everything was becoming quite clear. If he was not mistaken young Daniel was hidden in the hay pile, no doubt under the strict command of his sister not to reveal himself. No wonder she had been reticent to kiss him. They had an audience.

  Sophie led him away from the hay pile and he obediently followed her.

  ‘Bad cat,’ she proclaimed as she brought her hand up to her mouth to stem a small trickle of blood. ‘I don’t know why uncle keeps her but she is a good mouser.’

  ‘You are hurt,’ Harry said with concern as he took her hand to examine it.

  ‘It is nothing. Just a sc
ratch,’ she replied.

  ‘Yes you will live,’ he said taking his handkerchief out of his pocket and tenderly wiping off the remnants of blood. ‘Well seeing as you are all ready to take a ride do you mind if I join you?’

  Sophie, only too relieved to get him out of the stable, readily agreed and led Excalibur into the stable yard where Julius was waiting patiently and drinking out of the water trough. Harry cupped his hands for her foot to help her mount. ‘Up with you, my lady rogue,’ he laughed as he hoisted her up into the saddle.

  Seated on Excalibur, she looked down at his dark head taken aback. ‘What did you call me?’ she asked, startled.

  He looked up into her startled eyes and grinned in amusement. ‘Why, do you deny that it was you who held me up to rob me of the Trevarren brooch? If it was not for that graceless young brother of yours, you would have come off the worst for the encounter.’

  She looked down at him trying to assess him. He knew everything and it was in his power to ruin her but undisguised humour was present in his moss green eyes. Her actions that night had not been one of a lady but much worse, they had been downright criminal. She studied his amused face and had to admit that he did not appear to be judgemental. Her mind was racing but she was not quite ready to admit it and, after all, what proof could he have? ‘I do not know what you are talking about,’ she finally whispered.

  He looked up to her seated on Excalibur. ‘Oh, I think you do know,’ he replied. ‘Wait there a moment. I have something that may just convince you that your secret is out,’ he explained mysteriously.

  He walked across to the stable door and she tried to call him back but it was too late. He poked his head around and shouted. ‘You can come out now, Lord Trevarren and bring your colt with you if you wish to take a ride with us. After all, the beast is saddled and you would not wish to disappoint him.’