Loving Protector

by Sally Quilford

  “I am afraid,” she said, when they were alone.

  “I understand that, darling. It has been a stressful few days. You should rest.”

  “I am afraid it is not over, which is why I dare not leave Evelyn’s side. I am also afraid to tell you what I fear. It sounds mad, even to me. Yet…”

  “You think you are the only one who suspects what is happening here? Let me assure you that you are not.”

  “There are things I cannot tell you, because they involve other peoples’ secrets, but I think it is the key to what’s happening. Only I do not want to believe that anyone could do something quite so wicked.” Her eyes filled with tears, the enormity of her suspicions too much to deal with.

  Calista,” the colonel put his hands on her shoulders, and she immediately felt calm. His strength poured into her, and she knew things would be alright as long as he was there. She wanted to cling to him, so that she would always feel safe. “There is nothing I do not know about Harry and Mrs. Haywood. He is my best friend and, well, men talk of such things.” The colonel lowered his voice. “I know he is Blanche’s father.”

  “I think she has found out somehow and fears the truth coming out. She has said that nothing will stand in the way of her being the Duchess of Midchester. Nothing. But she could not, she would not…. Would she?”

  “I have had a man investigating Harry’s assault, and it seems the ruffians were paid by someone to attack him.”

  “It is too extreme,” said Calista. “Isn’t it?”

  “Blanche is a woman ashamed of her status in life. She wants it to be more than it is, believing that a rank is her right, rather than her privilege.”

  “But to kill her own mother… Brook, it is horrifying.” It was the first time Calista had used his name. The privacy of the small dressing room seemed to invite such intimacy. He answered by taking her in his arms and kissing her. For a moment all her fears were swept away.

  “I know it is frightening, darling, but it is something we must face if we are to make sure everyone is safe in the future.”

  Calista rested her head on his shoulder. “Lady Bedlington said she was afraid for you. I understand why now. I am afraid for you too. If Blanche says that nothing will stop her becoming a duchess…”

  He laughed softly. “As delighted as I am that you are so concerned about my welfare, I assure you I can take care of myself.”

  “I would have thought Mr. Benedict could too, but he was almost killed by those ruffians.”

  “I do not stand in Blanche’s way of becoming a duchess. My father’s feelings for me are well known.”

  “Your great aunt says that society might have other ideas.”

  “My father cares less about what society thinks than I do. This is probably why he gets away with so much bad behaviour. The only way I could become the duke is by risking my father sullying my mother’s good name after he is dead. I have already told you that I will not do that.”

  The problem was, thought Calista, that Blanche did not know that. And she could not tell her step-sister without informing her of the Duke of Midchester’s threat, which would inevitably cast a bad light on the character of Brook’s mother even though the allegations were not true. She had little doubt that Blanche would take great advantage of such a slur.

  Whatever else Calista did, she would protect Brook from having his mother’s name dragged through the mud. “And still you think of protecting me,” he said, as if he had read her thought process. He stroked her cheek.

  “Well why should it only be you who protects me? If we are to be married, then we should take care of each other, should we not?”

  “Yes, I agree completely. And I am happy that you no longer see marriage to me as such a dreadful thing

  “I never did. Only…”

  “Only what?”

  “It does not matter.” It did matter. It mattered very much that he did not love her as she loved him. But she liked the way they were at that moment, in each other’s arms, both filled with the same sense of purpose. She would not spoil the mood by making emotional declarations that might only make him uncomfortable. “There are more important concerns now. I have to go and…”

  “Sleep. You have to go and sleep. Tomorrow, when we are both rested, you and I will look into what has been happening, together.” He kissed her again, before saying huskily, “Go to bed woman, before I forget I am a gentleman.”

  Chapter Eleven

  “I wonder if I’ve got it terribly wrong,” said Calista. She and the colonel had met in the study, to discuss the events of the past few days. “Blanche seems genuinely concerned for Evelyn. Normally I would suspect her of pretending, but I have seen her cry real tears.”

  “Perhaps she is a better actress than you realize,” said the colonel. “We must get to the bottom of this, before anyone else is hurt.”

  “Yes, of course. What is happening about the men who attacked poor Mr. Benedict?”

  “My agents have not yet found out who paid the ruffians to attack him, but we will get answers, I am sure.”

  “I cannot imagine how Blanche would even know how to employ such men. She never goes out alone, and whilst I do not know much about it, I assume that the men were from the rougher part of London. There is no way Blanche would venture to such a place on her own. She values herself rather too much for that.”

  “Then she is not working alone.”

  Calista was astonished. “You think she has inveigled someone else into this awful plot?”

  “If, as we suspect, she has managed to poison her mama and the servants, then she would need someone to get hold of the poison for her. Just as she would not go to the rougher areas of London, I cannot imagine she would go into a pharmacy and ask for rat poison. Assuming that is what was used. In fact,” said the colonel thoughtfully. “I think it is in fitting with Blanche’s nature to get someone else to do the dirty work for her.”

  “Yes, you are probably correct in that assumption.”

  “First we need to find out what was used to poison Mrs. Haywood and the servants, then we can make investigations. We will visit all the pharmacies in the area and ask who they have sold the poison to recently.”

  “We? You mean I may come with you?” Calista felt her heart lift.

  “Unless you would find it distressing.”

  “Oh no. I mean, yes, it is distressing to see how Evelyn and the servants suffer, but I cannot deny it would be exciting to help you investigate. Is that awful of me?”

  “No, not at all. When I was in the army I often had to investigate wrongdoing by my men. Even in the most awful circumstances, I found myself excited by the thrill of the chase. You have a quick mind, Calista. I think you will be a great help to me.”

  He could not have paid her a better compliment if he had said she was beautiful.

  “But first,” he continued, “we must find out how the poison was administered.”

  “I keep feeling that I am missing something,” said Calista. “Something important happened, only it did not seem important at the time. It was one of those trivial everyday events that…” She paced the room. “So much for my quick mind,” she said with a wry smile.

  “That’s only because you’re thinking too hard at the moment. Let us go for a drive in the phaeton, and talk of other things. Then perhaps it will come to you.”

  “I am afraid to leave Evelyn alone with Blanche for too long.”

  “Blanche has gone out this morning to visit some friends. Aunt Agatha arranged it at my behest. I thought it might be a good idea to get her out of the way for a while. We have plenty of time, and I gather Mrs. Haywood is much improved this morning, as are the servants.”

  “Yes, Evelyn was certainly more cheerful this morning. How is Mr. Benedict?”

  “Improved, but still in a bad way. I’ve left my valet caring for him.”

  Calista and the colonel took a leisurely drive in the phaeton, and she could not help but notice how handsome he looked with h
is hands on the reins. Judging by the admiring looks he drew from female pedestrians, she was not the only one who thought so. She could still only marvel that she was to marry him, and was convinced that he would be snatched away from her at the last minute. He might meet another young woman that he fell in love with. She had to find a way to let him know that he was free to do so, even though the thought of it was like an arrow to her heart. His kisses of the night before told her that he was attracted to her, but her memory reminded her that he had only meant to offer her his protection. Not his hand in marriage, and not his love.

  She, however, would love him for the rest of her life. She had managed to convince herself that their marriage could work, especially if they had children, but deep down she ached for the love he would never give her.

  “How is your house coming along?” she asked, trying to free herself from the painful thoughts.

  “Things have slowed down a little, due to Harry being out of action, but he left detailed plans, and the builders are good men who know how to follow them. It might not be finished as quickly as I hoped. I wanted it completed by our wedding day. That may not happen now.”

  “Colonel…”

  “Do you not think that as we are to be married you should call me Brook? Otherwise I shall feel like I’m your commanding officer, rather than your husband.”

  “Is that not the same thing?” Calista said, smiling and showing her dimples.

  He smiled back. “I hope you will not think so, Calista. I hope that you will always look upon us as equals.”

  “What I wanted to say … Brook … is that if you met someone else before we married, I would not hold you back. I want more than anything else for you to be happy.”

  “And you think we will not be happy together?”

  “I … I suppose that I have always believed a man and woman should be in love when they marry. I know it is naïve of me but…”

  “Well then I suppose I should make you the same promise. That if you meet someone else, I will set you free. Only …” he frowned. “Only I will not. If I even think of you liking another man more than you like me, I will call the blighter out. Whatever you may feel now, Calista, this marriage will happen. I did not put my reputation on the line in front of the King for it to be otherwise.”

  “But this is what I am trying to say. You should not feel you have to marry me out of duty, either to me or the King. I…”

  “Enough! I do not like the turn this conversation has taken. We are supposed to be working together to help find out if Blanche has poisoned her mother and half of my great aunt’s household, and you seem intent on tearing us apart.”

  “No, that is not it. I…” Calista seldom pouted but she did at that moment. “So we are to be equals until you decide you do not like the way a conversation is turning. Then you call ‘enough’ and suddenly you are the commanding officer again. I can only obey.”

  “If that is what it takes to get you up the aisle so that neither of us looks a fool, yes.” She heard him take in a deep breath. “I am sorry I am not what you wished for in a husband, Calista. But I promise you that I will treat you well and I will not resort to commanding you. Once we are married. Until then, I am not taking any chances.”

  How could he think that he was not everything she wished for? She had dreamed of meeting a man like him, only to find that when she did meet him, he was even better than the dream. Because he was not only incredibly handsome and clever, he was human and flawed. He moved from being the nebulous image of her fantasies to being a real, warm bodied, human being who drove her almost insane with his kisses. It was only because she knew he did not love her that she found it impossible to tell him of her feelings. It would only make him feel awkward, and might also mean that if he did meet someone else, he would feel duty bound to stay with her out of some sense of honour. Yet her love was there, demanding to be heard, to the point that she was afraid she might one day explode and ruin everything.

  “We are getting off the subject in hand,” she said eventually. They were driving through Hyde Park. Walkers and riders were enjoying the early spring sunshine, and she wished she could do the same. She should enjoy being in a magnificent phaeton with a magnificent man, but it only served to remind her that she was not worthy of his love. Only his protection.

  “That was the point of coming out,” he replied. “To take our minds off the case. So to speak. But I did not intend us to argue, Calista. Nor did I intend to dominate you.” He took another deep breath. “Of course, if you should meet and fall in love with someone else, I would not stand in your way. I want you to be happy too, and if you cannot be that with me, then I suppose I must accept you will find happiness with someone else.” His lips set in a thin line and he tightened his grip on the reins to the extent that his knuckles turned white.

  Never, she thought secretly. She would never be happy with anyone else. She had made him angry and did not know how to put things right. “Perhaps we should go back,” she suggested, “since this is not working. Surely the scene of the crime is the best place to be to pick up clues.”

  “Yes, perhaps you are right. It is nearly time for luncheon anyway.”

  He turned the horses expertly and they drove back to Lady Bedlington’s. She was in the hall when they arrived, talking to one of the servants. “Good news,” she said to Calista and the colonel. “The servants have made a complete recovery. I have given them all a few days off so that they are fully rested.”

  “And my step-mother?” asked Calista.

  “She does very well, is that not right?” Lady Bedlington turned to the servant she had been speaking to.

  “Yes, M’lady. She is out of bed and sitting in a chair. Miss Blanche has just taken her some tea and honey.”

  “Honey!” Calista exclaimed. “Oh it was the honey!” She dashed up the stairs closely followed by the colonel. When she reached Evelyn’s bedroom, she was just in time to see Blanche hand her mother a cup of tea. “Stop it!” she cried, rushing forward and knocking the cup out of Blanche’s hand. It shattered on the floor.

  “What on earth are you doing, Calista?”

  “You poisoned the honey. That’s why your mother and the servants are ill. They all had some.”

  “Poisoned? How ridiculous.” Despite her words, Blanche’s eyes were watchful. “Why on earth would I do such a thing?”

  “Somehow you found out the truth about your mother and Mr. Benedict. About your illegitimacy. So you thought to poison your mother and have Mr. Benedict killed so that their secret died with them.”

  Blanche knelt at her mother’s feet. “Mama, tell them the truth. Tell them how sorry I was when I realized what I had nearly done?”

  “Blanche overheard us talking, Calista, when I told you about it. She was frightened for her future.”

  Calista looked at her step-mother, aghast. “You knew?”

  “I guessed, yes,” said Evelyn. “But Blanche knows she did wrong. She is truly sorry.”

  “But you nearly died. The servants nearly died.”

  “But we did not die,” said Evelyn. “We cannot have a scandal. You do understand that, don’t you, Calista? It would not only ruin Blanche but everyone in this house. Is that not right, colonel?”

  “No, it cannot be so,” said Calista.

  “Your step-mother is right,” said the colonel. His lips were set in a grim line. “I understand how you feel, Calista. But such a scandal would bring shame upon my aunt’s family name and mine.”

  “So you’re just going to let things be. Let her get away with attempted murder?”

  “I have seen the error of my ways,” said Blanche. “Despite what you think, Calista, there was no poison in that cup you just knocked from my hands. You may have it tested if you want. All I have wanted for the past few days is for mama to recover. I did not realize how much I loved her until I nearly lost her.”

  Despite Calista’s misgivings, she believed everything Blanche had just said. Blanche had learned h
er lesson, at least where danger to Evelyn was concerned. But not only Evelyn had been harmed. Mr. Benedict was still unwell, and whilst the servants had recovered, things might have gone very differently. Then there was the niggling doubt in Calista’s mind as to why the colonel was so keen to let Blanche get away with it. Was he protecting her because he was in love with her, as Calista had suspected all along?

  “I suppose then that I must go with the majority view,” said Calista. She felt let down. By Evelyn, and by the colonel. Whilst she could understand why the highwayman had turned to crime, she could not condone the same behaviour in Blanche. Certainly not just for the sake of a grand title. She realized that it was perhaps a fault within her. That she despised her step-sister so much that she wanted to see her punished. It was a feeling of which she was not very proud, but it was there and would not go away.

  “We will discuss it later,” said the colonel. She was aware of his eyes searching her face.

  “There is nothing to discuss, since everything has been decided.”

  “Calista, dearest, Blanche is my daughter and despite her wrongdoing I love her. This is, after all, partly my fault.”

  “She just hates me and wants me to die,” said Blanche. That was the manipulative Blanche that Calista knew and despised. The one who turned everything to her benefit, even Calista’s misgivings about her escaping the consequences of her actions.

  “I am sure that is not true,” said the colonel. “None of us want you to die, Blanche. Calista?”

  “No, of course I do not want Blanche to die. I … I need some time alone.” She fled the room in tears, churned up by all her conflicted emotions.

  Calista normally laughed at young women who used headaches as an excuse to hide away from the world, but for the rest of the day she did just that. She refused to join the others for lunch, and then again at dinner time. It seemed to her that the world was upside down when someone who had almost murdered half a dozen people could simply get away with it just to avoid a scandal. She recognized her own dislike and jealousy of Blanche played a big part in her feelings, but that did not mean that her step-sister deserved to escape justice.