Regency Romances for the Ages

by Grace Fletcher

  Reluctantly, she began to climb into the carriage. Then she saw another carriage across the road. A grander one. One that she recognized. Outside it Albie was leaning against the railings, watching her.

  It took a moment for Christabel to realize what he was doing here. There would be no reason for him to be in this part of the city. He had been following her.

  And from the look on his face, he wasn’t surprised to see the constables.

  Anger building, Christabel pulled away from the constable and ran across the road. She charged at Albie and shoved him in the chest. “You utter, utter…”

  “What?”

  “You told them where James was, didn’t you? You’re the one who called the constables.”

  Albie sighed. He didn’t bother to deny it. “It was the right thing to do.”

  “The right thing to do?” Christabel shrieked. “He doesn’t deserve to be in jail. Not for self-defence.”

  “He’s killed someone, Christabel! And from the report, he clearly didn’t do it in self-defence. If you kept going on selling your belongings to give him money, he was going to bring you down with him.”

  Christabel felt like she was about to faint. James had told her it was self-defence, that he didn’t mean to do it. Had he been lying to her? She pushed this away. Why would her brother lie to her about that?

  “But… he’s innocent!” she cried.

  Albie shook his head. He didn’t look happy at all. “I saw the evidence on paper. Your brother’s been lying to you. You’ve been harbouring a fugitive, Christabel.”

  “And you think the best thing to do was to call the constables on him?”

  “He’s a fugitive. You’re lucky I said not to arrest you, or you’d be in jail as well.”

  Christabel couldn’t believe it. The man she had thought of as a friend, someone she could fall in love with, had betrayed her. Had betrayed James. She couldn’t forgive him for that.

  She slapped him. Albie’s head snapped to the side, but he didn’t sway. Christabel’s hand stung, but she was too angry to care. She then shoved Albie in the chest, her throat clogging up with tears.

  “I hate you,” she hissed.

  “Chrissie…”

  “Don’t ‘Chrissie’ me!” Christabel backed away. “You come anywhere near me and I’ll do more than slap you.”

  Then she staggered across the street to her carriage. The constable was still there. He didn’t say anything, just opened the door and let her in, latching the door behind her. Christabel curled up in the corner as the carriage started up and the horse began to pull away from the kerb.

  Then she burst into tears. Once the damn started flowing, she couldn’t stop it.

  Chapter 9

  Helping From the

  Sidelines

  A lbie stood at the edge of the public gallery, out of the way of the masses. From there he could have an uninterrupted view of James Townshend standing in the dock, waiting for his trial to start. Christabel sat on a bench behind him, looking like she was dressed to go to a funeral. Her face was pale, and she looked like she hadn’t slept for a while.

  Albie knew he had done the right thing—James was a fugitive, and he needed to be held accountable for his actions—but it still left a nasty taste in his mouth. Seeing Christabel that distraught had put a damper on his actions. She truly loved her brother. She even turned down a proposal so she could protect him. Christabel knew Albie wouldn’t have kept her secret.

  Albie would have done anything for Christabel, within reason. Now the right thing didn’t feel like the right thing.

  “Albie?”

  Albie looked up. Portsmouth had slipped in through the door and was standing behind him. Albie straightened up off the wall. “Portsmouth. What are you doing here?”

  “I thought I’d find you here, if you weren’t at the club.” Portsmouth nodded towards James. “How is it going?”

  “Not good,” Albie said grimly. “He’s having his preliminary today and there’s a trial date to be set.”

  “Hasn’t he got a lawyer?”

  “No, he’s not able to foot the bill for one, not even with the money Christabel kept giving him.”

  Portsmouth raised his eyebrows. “I would’ve thought Baron Laurie would help him out. He is their guardian.”

  “Correction, he’s Christabel’s guardian. James never had anything to do with them, and neither want anything to do with him right now.” Albie slumped against the wall. “The only one on his side right now is his sister, and she has used all the money and jewellery she had keeping him on the run.”

  Portsmouth snorted. “She’s lucky she’s not up in the dock with him.”

  “I managed to smooth it over for her. The judge has already told her that she was lucky not to be charged with harbouring a fugitive and if she stepped out of line during the trial, he’ll change his mind about charging her.”

  That was the best Albie could do. He didn’t want any harm to come to the woman he loved even if she wanted nothing to do with him. The judge had been more than accommodating, and Albie didn’t want to push his luck in case he got into trouble. There was only so much he could do.

  “Why are you here, anyway?” Portsmouth asked. “She told you to leave her alone.”

  “I know.” Albie rubbed at his eyes. He hadn’t slept well since that night, either. “I just can’t walk away, though.”

  “You were the one who called the constables on Townshend! You were the one that got him here in the first place.”

  “It was the right thing to do at the time.”

  “And you thought if you had James Townshend arrested and put in jail or hanged, Christabel would be free in her heart and desire to marry you, because she’s not covering for her brother.” Portsmouth shook his head with a scowl at his friend. “It doesn’t work like that, Albie.”

  Albie knew that. What he had done had been for purely selfish reasons, not thinking about anyone but himself. And it had backfired horribly. He had lost Christabel as a result and she was about to lose her brother. With no lawyer, he had no chance of defending himself properly.

  The man was going to the rope, for sure. If only he could do something to help. If only…

  Albie turned to Portsmouth as an idea came to him. “Is your friend Roper still practising law?”

  “Of course he is. Best lawyer in London.”

  “Does he do work for the defence as well?”

  “Depends on the money.” Portsmouth frowned. “Why? What are you up to?”

  “Can you get me an introduction?” Albie glanced back at Christabel, who was leaning forward to speak to James as he turned to her. She looked like she was about to have a break down. “I want to ask him a favour.”

  He would try to fix what he had broken. If he could.

  Chapter 10

  Paid in Full

  C hristabel followed the constable down the steps and into the cells. Several of the men peered through the bars in the doors and whistled at her, some of them shouting after her, but Christabel ignored them. She was more focused on finding her brother.

  The preliminary hearing with the set of the trial date had been a disaster. James hadn’t been able to keep his mouth shut, protesting that he was innocent, and it was self-defence. What Christabel hadn’t realized was the man he had killed was a respectable man in English Society. And he had connections in high places.

  James was out of luck before he even got to trial, especially as he couldn’t afford a lawyer who could speak for him. If James represented himself, he was going to be on the gallows before he finished his opening speech.

  His cell was at the far end. The constable opened it up and let Christabel in, closing the door behind her.

  James was sitting on a stone bench under the barred window, his head in his hands. He looked up as his sister came in. “Chrissie.” He looked awful. He hadn’t shaved in a week and his hair was in need of a cut. And his clothes were dirty. Christabel wished she could take him hom
e and spruce him up, but he was considered a flight risk and had to stay in the cells.

  Christabel approached him and sat beside him. “How are you holding up?”

  “I’m doing all right.” James took her hand. “You shouldn’t be here, Chrissie.”

  “I wanted to be here. You are my brother, James. You’ve got no one on your side.”

  James didn’t look happy about that. “You’re putting your own reputation on the line,” he said ruefully.

  “Don’t you want me to support you?”

  “Of course and you’ve been supporting me for a long time.” James sighed heavily, moving his hand away from hers and burying his head in his hands. “But I’ve been selfish in using you for too long.”

  “Don’t be silly.”

  “I have. You turned down a very good proposal because of me. I won’t ruin your life any further.”

  Christabel gritted her teeth as she remembered Albie. She didn’t want to think about him at all. The man hadn’t called around, but he had the nerve to sit in the public gallery and watch the proceedings. Christabel didn’t like that he had come to gloat. She wanted to use his cane to hit him over the head.

  The rat didn’t know when to let off.

  “Well, that’s in the past,” she said briskly. “It wasn’t meant to be.”

  “From the look of it, I’d say it was the complete opposite.”

  “What?”

  “Come on, Chrissie, I knew who he was in the gallery. I saw the way he looked at you. The man clearly loves you.”

  Christabel snorted. “If he loved me, he wouldn’t have done this to me.” She looked away. “Besides, don’t start talking about my life, James. We’re trying to save yours.”

  “And yours. You’re throwing yours away standing by me. It’s not going to look good in Society. Even I know that.” James stood and paced away. “Why don’t you let me go? I’m done running.”

  “What?” Christabel wasn’t sure she had heard him correctly. She jumped up and grabbed his arm as he paced past her. “Don’t do that, James. Please!”

  “I made you lose a good match, Chrissie. I’ve been too selfish about myself and I forgot all about you.” James looked miserable. “If you stand with me much longer, you won’t get a match at all.”

  “I don’t care. You’re the only family I’ve got left.”

  James tittered and gave her a half-smile. “Don’t be daft. I’m strong. I can handle it. Who will look after you if and when I’m hanged? I can’t look after you if I’m dead.”

  Christabel meant it. She didn’t care. Even if she ended up alone and penniless. She was standing by her brother and he wasn’t going to push her away. “You need to fight this, James.”

  “I am,” James shot back. “I just won’t let you fight this for me.”

  “He’s right, Miss Townshend.”

  Christabel jumped and spun around. A tall, rugged man in his late twenties was coming through the now open door, a sheaf of papers under his arm. He gave Christabel a nod and turned to James.

  “You’re doing the right thing, Mr Townshend. The best thing your sister can do is step aside and let us deal with it. Or rather, let me deal with it.”

  “You?” James looked confused. “Who are you?”

  “Forgive me, I should’ve sent my card.” The man approached James, his free hand outstretched. “Sidney Roper.”

  Christabel’s mouth fell open. “The barrister?”

  “The very same.” Sidney gave her a kind smile and turned to James, who looked like he had been hit over the head. “I was paid to defend you. And I hope it won’t be money wasted.”

  “I…” James floundered. “I don’t have any money to pay you. There must be some mistake.”

  “No mistake made. It’s my job now to help you.” Sidney’s smile widened. “And as I’ve already said, I’ve been paid.”

  Paid? Christabel couldn’t believe it. Had her foster father come through? He had said he would do nothing to help James, and that she was on her own. What was going on?

  “Who paid you?” she asked.

  Sidney tapped his finger to his lips. “My lips are sealed, Miss Townshend. I suggest you go home and get some rest. We’ll see you the day of the trial. I have a lot to talk about with my client.”

  Christabel hesitated. Was this a trick? Who had paid him? But James reached out and squeezed her arm.

  “Go, Chrissie.” He kissed her forehead. “I’ll be fine.”

  She had to trust them. There was nothing else to it. Christabel didn’t want to leave, but the men had already moved to the bench and sat down, Sidney bringing over the nearby table. They were already deep in discussion.

  Taking a deep breath, Christabel managed to leave without looking back. If someone had paid for the best barrister in the city to represent her brother, she wasn’t going to waste his money.

  #

  The trial hadn’t been as long and complicated as Christabel thought it would be. In fact, Sidney Roper did a very good job. James, cleaned and pressed into a suit within an inch of his life, had almost sagged in relief in the dock.

  It was the best sentence they could have hoped for. Sidney had warned they wouldn’t have him acquitted, but this was certainly better than going to the gallows.

  Sidney even had Christabel go home in his private carriage, taking care of her as he had done with her brother. Christabel could feel herself smiling and her spirits lifting as she headed home. The man had worked some magic. And all because of her foster father.

  She had a lot to thank Baron Laurie for.

  The man in question was crossing the foyer when Christabel came in. He walked over to her as the butler took Christabel’s cloak, hat, and gloves. “How did the trial go?” Even though he wanted nothing to do with James, Baron Laurie asked Christabel about the trial every day.

  Christabel smiled as she handed her gloves to the butler who bowed and walked away. “Really good. He’s been found guilty but of the lowest charge possible for the crime.”

  “So, he’s not going to be hanged?”

  “No. He’s going to jail for a year.” That was the only dampener, but Christabel would take it. “That was the lowest the judge would go and James took it. He said he would take jail over keeping his life.”

  Baron Laurie beamed. “That’s brilliant. If he shows regular good behaviour, he could be out within six months.”

  “I hope so.” Christabel was still feeling giddy. “I can’t believe having a lawyer made so much difference. If we hadn’t had one…”

  “Wait, hold up. James had a barrister?”

  “Yes, Sidney Roper.”

  Baron Laurie’s eyes widened. “Him? He’s the most expensive defence barrister in London.” Then his eyes narrowed. “Where did you get the money to pay for him? I thought I told you not to help your brother out by using any money on him.”

  “I didn’t…” Christabel stopped, staring at him. “You mean… you didn’t pay for him to represent James?”

  “No. I told you that I wouldn’t do that. I would support your decision to stand with him, but that was it.” Baron Laurie paused. “You thought I paid Roper? I can’t afford him.”

  “Then who did?”

  Christabel was confused. If Baron Laurie hadn’t paid for Sidney Roper’s fees, who did? He wouldn’t have done this out of his own pocket or his heart.

  What was going on?

  “I…” Baron Laurie glanced towards the morning room. “There’s someone in the morning room who might be able to shed some light on that. I think it’s best you went to speak to him now.”

  “Him? What do you mean?”

  But Baron Laurie was already hurrying away towards the back of the house. Christabel scowled after him. She had a feeling she knew who was in there. And she didn’t want to go in.

  But her feet took her over to the door and Christabel went inside, taking a deep breath as she braced herself. She couldn’t stop her heart from jumping and her stomach filling
with flutters when she saw Albie pacing across the floor, glowering out the window before turning back.

  He stopped when he saw her. Then he gave her a low bow. “Miss Townshend.”

  Christabel was speechless. What was he doing here? She swallowed and barely remembered to curtsy as she approached him, almost tripping over her skirts. “Your Grace? What…? I thought I said I didn’t want to see you again.”

  “I had to see you.” Albie rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “Let you know that Sidney was more than happy to do this pro-bono when he heard your plight, but I was the one who insisted on paying him. I’m glad it worked out the way it did.”

  “How did…?” Then the penny dropped. Christabel stared at him in astonishment. “You paid Mr Roper’s fees? But… why would you do that?”

  “Can you not guess?”

  Christabel swallowed. “I’m nervous to,” she mumbled.

  Albie’s expression softened. He approached her and took her hands. Christabel didn’t try to pull away. Touching him again felt good. She had missed the touch of his hands.

  “I meant what I said about us, Chrissie,” Albie said quietly, cupping her chin gently. “I love you. I didn’t realize how much until I saw your brother being taken away. That was a petty moment for me, yes, but I knew things would get even worse for you if you kept hiding him. I made sure you wouldn’t be charged because I didn’t want to see you ruined by this. But… getting James representation was a little harder.”

  Christabel was staring at him like she had never seen him before. The only other man in her life who had done things for her best interests was Baron Laurie. Not even James had been thinking of her when he was on the run. “You did all this for me?”

  “Yes, I did.” Albie shook his head and his hand moved from her chin, his fingers brushing across her jaw, and he laid his hand on the side of her neck. His hand felt very warm against her cool skin. “I know I ruined it with you, and I wanted to make it up to you.”

  “You think this was going to endear me to you?”

  “Did it?”

  Christabel was about to protest, but then she realized that Albie had endeared himself to her again. She wasn’t about to admit it, though. “A bit,” she conceded. She prodded him in the chest. “I’m still mad at you for calling the constables on him.”