Shades of the Past

by Sandra Heath

  re bound to doubt me, Blair. If I were you, I’d doubt me! I’m a nonentity of an actress, forced to come here specifically to hurt you most cruelly, but I find myself a woman who loves you as life itself. That was something Miles—nor I could have foreseen. You know the truth now, and if you still want me to leave, then I will go.”

  “Leave? After we’ve just made such passionate love together? I’d be a monster if I insisted on such a thing. Laura, I may have spoken in anger, and tried to hurt you with my words, but I still love you. I don’t want you to go.” He pulled her close again and put his lips tenderly to hers in a slow, almost lazy kiss that conveyed forgiveness. Try as he would, he couldn’t deny her, or his feelings for her.

  She clung to him, wishing she dared cleanse her heart completely by telling him she came from a different time as well, but knew it would be best to remain Regency Laura, the actress whose family resided in Norwich. Confessing about time travel might ease her burden, but what effect might it have upon someone with the set perspectives of this nineteenth century. Even with the outlook of the twenty-first century, she’d found time travel hard enough to accept; he’d surely find it impossible. And besides, she didn’t want to risk spoiling what little time they might have left together, for it was still horribly possible that he was to die when all the servants were at the fair.

  The thought was like an icy douche, and she circled her arms more tightly around him, hiding her face against his shoulder.

  His fingers curled lovingly in her hair. “So you really believe, beyond all doubt and argument, that I should let Marianna marry Stephen?”

  “Yes, because Stephen is a reformed man. Besides, Marianna was right in what she said to Lord Sivintree; letting her marry Stephen, especially with your apparent approval, will limit the damage to her reputation.”

  He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, but then nudged his lips to hers again. “You’re fast becoming my lodestar, Mrs. Reynolds,” he murmured. “I’ll try to do the right thing by them, truly I will, but dealing with Lowestoft must come first. I don’t care if the Handworths have gone yapping back to London, their mischief can be dealt with afterward, but Lowestoft has been a canker in my side for too long. It’s time to apply the scalpel.”

  She drew away. “Your quarrel with him is about Celina, not the necklace, isn’t it?”

  “Yes.”

  “I know you don’t want to speak of it, but—

  He interrupted. “I want to tell you now. You see, she left Lowestoft at the altar in order to marry me.”

  Laura stared. “At the altar?” she repeated.

  He turned away to gaze out at the remnants of the sunset. “When I met her I didn’t know she was betrothed to him; they’d known each other since childhood because their family’s estates adjoined in Scotland. I lost my heart completely and proposed to her within three weeks of meeting her in London. She was residing with an elderly aunt who, it later transpired, knew very little of her niece’s activities while under her roof.”

  He leaned back against the shutter. “Anyway, Celina accepted me, and then went home to Scotland to tell her family. At least, that was what she said to me. The truth was that her wedding to Lowestoft was due to take place, and I fear that, rather reprehensibly to say the least, she permitted arrangements to proceed right up to an hour before the ceremony. Only then did she tell him about me. Needless to say, he was devastated, but although he implored her to still marry him, she left for London that very day.” He looked at her in the dwindling remains of the light. “Laura, thus far he had my complete sympathy. Although I had no idea or deliberate hand in it, he’d been sorely wronged because of me, but instead of continuing with his life, he sank into bitterness and an implacable desire for revenge, especially upon me.”

  “Oh, Blair…”

  “Celina’s conduct part in it was indefensible. She should have told him the truth long before she did, but he was as obsessive about her then as he is now, and she was simply afraid of his reaction. Only when it was the eleventh hour and she really couldn’t delay any longer, did she find the courage to speak out. I hoped his interest had waned at last when I heard he’d married, but his poor, unstable wife—another of his victims—is more suited to a convent than the marriage bed, and it was soon clear he’d chosen her for her dowry, not herself. Celina remained his ruling passion, and that, incidentally, is the only reason he feels so intensely about the necklace.”

  “He seems to truly believe it was tricked from his father.”

  “No, he knows it was won fairly in a game of cards. He maintains the story of sleight at hand at the green baize simply to justify himself in the eyes of the world, and in real truth wants the necklace solely because it was Celina’s favorite piece of jewelry. Lowestoft lives and breathes for her, even to the extent of commissioning Lawrence to paint a duplicate of the portrait in the library here. Lawrence actually painted two portraits at the same time. It must have cost Lowestoft a pretty penny for the privilege.” Blair gave a weary sigh. “Oh, how tired I am of him and his fixation. Celina was undeniably culpable, for whatever reason, but he’s been the bane of my life for too long now. This villainy with you and Stephen is the final straw. It’s time to confront him. Do you know where he is?”

  “No, just that he must be staying somewhere in the neighborhood. It can’t be the King’s Head, or Stephen would know. If I wish to see him, I must wait by the old oak tree in the woods at ten in the morning. He says he rides there every day.” She explained about the encounter she’d had.

  Blair thought for a moment. “When the Mercury Fair opens tomorrow, the woods become too public for the sort of confrontation I have in mind. The track through them is a short cut from other villages along the valley, so better he’s lured here to Deveril House itself.” He smiled. “Nothing could be more private and secluded, because all the servants will be at the fair.”

  Laura gazed at him in dismay. More private? Or more hazardous? And yet, conversely, if Miles was lured to the house, maybe he would be the one to die.

  Chapter Twenty

  A fresh draft had suddenly wafted though the ballroom as the doors, which had swung to, were pushed open again. Trembling candlelight set the shadows reeling as Marianna and Stephen entered, the latter with a walking stick, and appearing more infirm than ever with a bandage around his forehead. He placed the candlestick on a console table as Blair finished speaking, and Marianna was immediately panicky for Blair, even though they’d quarreled so bitterly. “Please be careful, Blair, Sir Miles is a very unpleasant man,” she begged. Her eyes were red from crying, and she clutched at Stephen’s arm as she looked imploringly at her brother. “Stephen has told me everything about Sir Miles’ horrid plot, so if you believe he and Laura were his willing accomplices, you couldn’t be more wrong.”

  Blair smiled a little. “I’m now aware of all that. Better late than never, do I hear you say?” he said, glancing at Stephen, who clearly shouldn’t have left his bed yet.

  Stephen met the glance. “I know you won’t be able to forgive me, but I entreat you to at least try to understand.”

  “I do understand, Stephen, and as I’ve forgiven Laura for her part in Lowestoft’s scheme, I must also forgive you.”

  Stephen didn’t know whether to smile or not, and cleared his throat. “And—and my misconduct toward Marianna?”

  That young lady clutched his hand and looked so beseechingly at Blair that he had no business not melting on the spot. He did no such thing, of course, but did soften his manner toward her. “I should hold my ground and send you both to the Devil, but I know when I’m beaten.”

  Marianna’s breath caught excitedly, and her eyes began to shine in the candlelight as Blair looked at Stephen again. “I give my consent, sir, because not to do so now would be to ruin Marianna’s character forever in society, especially when the Handworths have every intention of blackening her character to soot, but you had better not give me any cause to regret the decision. Any cau
se, is that clear?”

  Marianna ran to hug him so exultantly that she almost knocked him over, but somehow he managed to keep his balance—and hers.

  Stephen was grateful, knowing only too well how much Blair had yielded. “Thank you, Blair, from the bottom of my heart. I’m not enamored of myself for any of this. First I was afraid to stand up to Miles, and then I betrayed your trust by my base—if truly lovesick— conduct toward Marianna. You have my vow never to let you down again, because I fully appreciate how momentous a concession you’ve made.”

  “Well, you’ll pay the price, because now my sister will be your responsibility, and I wish you well of the minx.”

  Stephen smiled a little as he came toward them. “It’s a responsibility I gladly accept, Blair.” He extended a hand.

  Laura had to blink tears away as Blair accepted the heartfelt olive branch. Please may they all be happy forever…

  Marianna linked Stephen’s arm happily, and then glanced around the shadowy ballroom. “Suddenly Deveril House isn’t important anymore,” she declared. “I don’t mind that it’s been sold, or that we don’t know who the new owner is.”

  Blair raised an eyebrow. “So much for your wailing and gnashing of teeth,” he murmured dryly.

  She was penitent. “I know, but it came as such a shock. One minute I had no idea you planned anything, then it was suddenly all signed and sealed.”

  “I shouldn’t have done it without consulting you, for it’s your home as much as mine, but I had to sell. You do understand now, don’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good, because nothing is going to stand in the way of my starting anew at Castle Liscoole.”

  “Is the new owner’s identity really unknown to you?”

  “He’s a complete mystery, but although I was curious first, now I really couldn’t care, I just want to settle everything here, and leave.”

  Marianna became anxious again. “Blair, about what you were saying when Stephen and I came in a short while ago. What exactly are you going to do about Sir Miles?”

  “Deal with him once and for all,” Blair replied firmly.

  Laura touched his arm uneasily. “You don’t mean—?”

  “To shoot the bastard as he enters the room? Would that it was an option.” Blair grinned. “I have no intention of standing before a court on a charge of murder, even if it would have been a justified act. But there’ll be no peace for any of us until he’s stopped.”

  Stephen raised an eyebrow. “You have something in mind, don’t you?”

  Blair nodded. “It shouldn’t be too difficult to get him here to Deveril House if he thinks it’s safe. Once he’s in my grasp, I see no reason why I can’t use a little of the coercion of which he’s so very fond. A few hours—days even—in the cave should make him malleable, don’t you think? After that I’m sure he’ll not only agree to hand over the IOUs and the deeds to certain properties in Norwich, but also write a full confession of his sins. He’ll be warned that any dark deeds in the future will mean the letter’s being made horribly public, which will lead to society shunning him and the authorities becoming exceeding interested in his blackmailing activities.”

  Stephen nodded approvingly. “I like it, Blair, but have one small complaint.”

  “Which is?”

  “That my name has been omitted from the proceedings. I can’t let you take this on alone.”

  Blair smiled. “I’ll be glad of your assistance.”

  But Marianna had misgivings about the whole thing. “What if, in spite of all your efforts, Sir Miles resists your demands?”

  Blair laughed. “He won’t. I know his type, only brave when he’s in command. Take that command away, and you’re left with a craven coward.”

  Stephen sighed. “I wish to God I’d never even heard his name.”

  As he spoke, he swayed a little, and Marianna immediately put a steadying arm around his waist. “Stephen, don’t you think you should lie down again?” she asked anxiously.

  He nodded, and then gave Blair a contrite smile. “I swear I’ll be in better fettle when you need me,” he promised as Marianna, not wanting to leave Blair and Laura in darkness again, hurriedly brought another candlestick from the passageway and lit it from the one Stephen had placed on the table. Then she held the second candle carefully aloft as she ushered Stephen away.

  Blair immediately turned to Laura. “You had very little to say. Don’t you approve of my plan?”

  “Of course I do, it’s just that I’m afraid.” Other unspoken words sounded through her. Something dreadful happens here tomorrow, so take care, my darling, take care!

  He cupped her chin in his hand, tilting her face to his. “All this has made me realize how very little I know of you. I thought you were a Northumberland widow, instead you’re Miss Reynolds of Norwich and the Hannover Theater.” He put a finger to her lips as she made to respond. “No, don’t think you have to say anything, my love, for there is no need. I want a new beginning, completely new, so your life before you came to me is of no consequence.” He took the finger away, pulled her into his arms and rested his forehead against hers. “Laura, about this business of demolishing Lowestoft. It necessarily involves you, you realize that, don’t you?”

  “Yes. I—I’ll have to meet him by the oak tree.”

  “If it frightens you in any way, then—”

  She interrupted. “He doesn’t frighten me now that you know about what he’s been doing. Just tell me what you wish of me, and I’ll do it.”

  “Well, the diamonds must be the lure.” The paste jewels caught the candlelight as he rescued the necklace and letter from the floor. He gave both to her and then held out his hand. “Come with me.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “To the library.” His fingers closed warmly over hers, and he took the candlestick and led her from the ballroom.

  The flame guttered and smoked as they entered the gloomy library. The dust sheets seemed to tower for a moment as the light fell upon them, and the air was heavy with the smell of paint and varnish. Neither of them glanced toward Celina’s portrait as he led Laura to one of the tall bookcases, and moved some volumes aside. There seemed to be just wall behind them, but in fact there was a false panel, behind which was revealed a tiny deep-set safe. No wonder she and Stephen hadn’t found it, Laura thought.

  He unlocked it with a key from his pocket and then turned to her. “See if you can open it.”

  She tried hard, but the little door remained tightly closed.

  Blair smiled. “There’s an art to it. Look.” He pushed the bottom right corner twice, and suddenly the door swung open, revealing documents in the compartment beyond. On top of the documents was the leather case containing the real necklace. “If you give Lowestoft the key and tell him you know where the diamonds are, but can’t open the safe because it needs a man’s strength, and that Stephen can’t help because he’s too injured and confined to bed after the trauma in the tunnel, I think the bait will be taken. The safe manufacturer’s name on the key will make your story seem all the more believable, and as he’s staying in the immediate area, by now he’s sure have heard about the rescue in the tunnel. Urge him to come to the house when everyone’s at the fair; tell him you’ll cry off the excursion with a headache and then show him to the safe. Once he’s here, Stephen and I will deal with him. Do you think you can convince him?”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  He searched her face. “What is it? Is there something wrong? Something you want to tell me?”

  Yes, so much, but I daren’t. She forced a smile. “Nothing at all. I’ll convince him; I’m an actress, remember?”

  “So you are,” he murmured, pulling her close.

  But as their lips met again, a secret needle of fear pricked her. She was keeping the future from him. Tomorrow wasn’t going to go the way it was planned, but there was nothing she could do about it. All she could pray was that cruel, blackmailing Sir Miles Lowestoft would b
e the one to die, because he didn’t deserve any other fate!

  The next morning she set off a little early on horseback to meet Miles, and to keep herself as calm as possible she rode the long way, through the village. The weather was fine and clear. Deveril House was already deserted because the fair had been in full swing since dawn, and the servants were making good use of every minute of their time off. Hurdy-gurdies, drums, shouts, and squeals of excitement were audible long before she reached the green, where she found so many people she thought the whole county must have come to enjoy the fun.

  Ha’penny Jack seemed to be doing particularly well, for there was a long queue waiting to view his little theater, but his scowl didn’t reflect the briskness of trade; he was in a black mood because he knew he’d lost Dolly to Harcourt.

  The church clock struck the three-quarter hour, and Laura rode determinedly—but steadily—down the steepness of Barge Lane to the rendezvous with Miles. She had to have faith that before this day was over, justice would be well and truly done and the right man would have suffered.

  She reached the track into the valley woods, and soon found that Blair had been right about the number of people using it to get to the fair. She rode past many groups of villagers, some on foot, some in carts, and even one or two modest private carriages, although not, she was relieved to note, the expensive vehicle that belonged to Lady Lowestoft.

  The breeze rustled through the branches of the blasted oak tree as she reined in to wait, but almost immediately she saw Miles riding toward her, his peacock coat standing out even against the vivid greens and blues of the May woodland.

  He didn’t waste time in idle pleasantry. “You have the necklace?”

  “No.”

  His amber eyes flickered. “Then why have you come?”

  “Because I know where it is, but can’t get to it.” She held up the key to the safe.

  He took it, and then searched her eyes. “If you have the key, why can’t you open the safe?” he asked softly.