The Perfect Impostor

by Wendy Soliman

  “I’ll take that,” he said, removing the wrapped tiara out of the hands of the buyer.

  He let it go without protest. It was clear that the man would give no trouble, but his servant was another matter. He swung at Boscombe so violently that he was knocked to the ground. Boscombe recovered quickly and got a hefty punch in to the thug’s midriff. He grunted—the only indication that he even felt Boscombe’s blow—smiling as he retaliated in kind. Boscombe, backed against a footstool, tumbled to the floor. The thug was about to kick him in the head when Leo went to his aid. By the time he’d subdued the man, James had managed to slip past them and get away.

  And he’d taken the tiara with him.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  It was deathly quiet without Leo. The room seemed twice its original size but it felt as though all the energy had been sucked out of it. Stultifying isolation gripped Katrina. In spite of all that had happened over the past week, she’d never felt more alone. Or more betrayed. Lord Coulton was watching her as she paced in front of the fire, endeavouring to tamp down her inchoate anger. He reached out and touched her arm.

  “Calm down, Katrina. You’ll make yourself ill if you carry on like this. You’ve done nothing wrong and have no crimes to answer for.”

  “You appear to be the only one who thinks so.”

  “Kincade has other matters on his mind. He doesn’t seriously suspect you.”

  “Doesn’t he?” She shrugged. “Not that I really give two figs what he thinks of me. You think James was stealing those jewels in order to help Napoleon?”

  “I have no idea, but many Irishmen are sympathetic to Napoleon’s cause, and he’s an ambitious man. Anyway, if Kincade’s involved, it will most likely prove to be something of that nature. He wouldn’t be drafted in for a simple case of thievery.”

  “Oh, why do you say that? What is it that Lord Kincade does?”

  “That, my dear, is a very good question and one that few people could truthfully answer,” Lord Coulton said with a wry smile. “But you girls look all done in. Why not share that bed? You have fences to mend and I won’t have my girls at odds with one another.”

  “But what about you?” Katrina asked.

  “I shall make myself comfortable on the settee in that sitting room. There will be no sleep for me this night, nor do I deserve any.”

  Without further ado he kissed them both and left, closing the door softly behind him.

  Katrina and Julia stared at one another. Neither of them spoke for what seemed like an age. Katrina wondered what she was supposed to be feeling. Her anger was gone. She could even understand, knowing Julia so well, why she’d acted as she did. But could she forgive her?

  The answer was as obvious as it was inevitable. She wasn’t sure which of them moved first but suddenly they were in one another’s arms, laughing and crying simultaneously. The years fell away. They were back in the schoolroom, friends again after some silly disagreement, vowing that no one would part them ever again.

  “I’m so, so sorry, Kat.” Julia mopped her streaming eyes rather inelegantly with the back of her hand. “What must you think of me?”

  “Never mind me. What would Miss Tipping say if she saw you doing that?”

  Katrina nodded towards the offending hand and the tears turned to laughter.

  “Were you really jealous of me?” Katrina shook her head. “It defies belief. I was married to a bully whilst you lived in the lap of luxury. How could my situation possibly invoke your envy?”

  “Because I’m a selfish witch when I don’t get my own way. You know that.”

  “But I didn’t stand in the way of your ambitions.” Katrina, ever the peacemaker, anxious to be loved and accepted, would once have rushed to reassure Julia about the goodness of her character. This time she easily quelled that impulse.

  “No, but you had Papa’s regard.”

  “As did you.”

  Julia plucked sulkily at her lower lip. “Yes, I suppose so but it didn’t always feel that way.”

  “Is that why you didn’t come to Basing Lane and allow me to design dresses for you?”

  “Yes, to my shame I didn’t want you to succeed.” She dropped her head. “I’m sorry. I was being petty and spiteful, and if I could go back and change things, I’d do so in the blink of an eye.”

  “Hush, what’s done is done.”

  Julia’s eyes flashed with mischief. “Did Leo Kincade really pay to dance with you?” Katrina nodded. “How much?”

  She hesitated. “Five hundred guineas.”

  “What! But that’s a fortune.”

  “I know.”

  “He must be in love with you.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous! He thinks I’m a murderess.”

  “Tell me about the auction.”

  Katrina relayed the evening’s events.

  “Gosh, I wish that could have been me. I would have adored the attention.”

  “Whilst I hated it. It was Leo’s suggestion. I think he imagined the mere prospect would make me admit to my true identity.” She lifted her shoulders. “But I also think he regretted putting me in that position, which is why he paid so much to save me.”

  “How did you learn to waltz in so short a time?”

  She pulled a wry face. “Celia. Anyway, I wasn’t rumbled and your future remains secure. Unless I’m accused of murder, that is, and then it will all come out.”

  “That won’t happen,” Julia said with absolute confidence. “And Leo saving you from exposure proves that he must be in love with you.”

  “He proposed to you, didn’t he?”

  Julia looked surprised. “He told you that?”

  “Yes, but not why he jilted you.”

  “He didn’t,” she said after a prolonged pause. “Well, not exactly.”

  “You’d better explain.”

  “It doesn’t show me in a good light.”

  “Julia!”

  “Oh, all right then. He proposed to me here in the grounds of Upton Park. It was so romantic, the answer to all my prayers. I’d loved him since I first set eyes on him. That’s probably the real reason why I turned down so many other gentlemen.”

  “So what went wrong?”

  “He took everything from me when I said yes, everything except my virginity, even though I offered it to him.”

  “No!”

  “Stop sounding so shocked or I won’t tell you the rest.”

  “Sorry, go on. You can’t stop now.”

  “I wanted to make the announcement and plan an immediate wedding. If he had old-fashioned ideas about not bedding me until Papa had given his consent then I didn’t want to wait a moment longer than necessary. But Papa was away for a month. And then, just before he returned, Leo was called away on government business. He wasn’t able to tell me how long he would be gone or when he would be able to speak to Papa.”

  “And you grew impatient,” Katrina surmised, shaking her head.

  “I was furious with him for leaving before Papa came back. Since he didn’t get a chance to speak to Papa, we couldn’t make an official announcement. What could be so important that it couldn’t wait for a few days? He promised to be back as soon as he could but his return kept being delayed.”

  “I don’t suppose that could be helped. We are at war, you know.”

  “Bah, this wretched war, it spoils everything.”

  “It isn’t being fought solely to inconvenience you, Julia,” Katrina said, amused.

  “Perhaps not, but sometimes it feels that way. Anyway, Leo’s return was delayed, and I happened to meet Lord Gower one evening at a ball.”

  “Oh no! Don’t tell me—”

  “No, nothing of that nature happened. But he did pursue me. I was feeling neglected and thoroughly out of charity with Leo. And I was flattered by Gower’s attentions. He’s at least as attractive as Leo, don’t you think?”

  Katrina didn’t and refrained from comment.

  “Anyway, our friendship blossomed, and eventua
lly I allowed him to kiss me. Just one chaste kiss, Kat, that was all. I swear there was nothing more to it than that.”

  “Julia!”

  She giggled. “Well…chastish anyway.”

  “But you’d agreed to marry Leo.”

  “I wouldn’t have allowed Gower to take any more liberties.”

  It was useless trying to reason with her. “And Leo chose that moment to return, I suppose.”

  “Yes.” Julia pulled a wry face. “Of all the damnable luck. I tried to explain there was nothing to it but Leo was furious. I thought he would kill Gower.”

  “And that surprised you?”

  “If it had been anyone else I think I might have persuaded him eventually there was nothing to it. After all, I was still a virgin and could prove it.” She chewed her lower lip. “But there was no possibility of his ever forgiving his deadly rival. Besides, he said his work often took him away for long periods and he would never be able to trust me again.”

  “And so he broke off the engagement.”

  “He did have good reason to, I suppose.”

  “And although you were the guilty party, he let it be believed that he was to blame.”

  “Otherwise my reputation would have been destroyed. Leo’s a gentleman to the core.” She sighed. “One never knows what one has until it’s gone.”

  “I’m sorry, Julia. You obviously loved him.”

  “I thought I did but I can see now that we wouldn’t have suited. I’m really remarkably fond of Dupont, you know. I get to enjoy his bottomless bank account and the chance to shine at Court.” She spread her hands, grinning self-effacingly. “You know how I like to show off. He doesn’t place impossible demands on me, even if he is possessive. Papa is right. I do enjoy being a marchioness. I was never one to settle for half measures.”

  “I once remember Miss Tipping asking us whom we would most like to marry. You didn’t hesitate. You said a man with the grandest title and largest fortune you could find.”

  “And you said someone who would love you for who you are.”

  “Yes, naïve little fool that I was.”

  “Well, you’ve found him.” Julia kissed her cheek. “Leo never once looked at me with one tenth of the passion in his eyes as when he looked at you tonight. Not even when he declared himself to be in love with me.” She smiled through fresh tears. “I wish you joy, Kat, and this time I shall try very hard not to be jealous. I shall manage it, as well. You’ll see. I’ll make you proud of me or die in the attempt.”

  “There’s no need for such promises because you’re quite wrong. Leo Kincade doesn’t love me. And even if he did, I couldn’t return the love of a man who believes me capable of murder. That’s no basis upon which to form a marriage.” She pushed the covers aside and climbed out of bed. “Help me, Julia.”

  “What are you doing?”

  “Changing my gown. Leo ought to be well gone by now so it’s safe for me to leave the room, but I can hardly prance about with a torn bodice.”

  “But where are you going?”

  Katrina stepped into a pale muslin gown and turned her back so Julia could tie the laces. “To find out who murdered Amos.”

  Julia gasped. “But you can’t. You promised to stay here.”

  “I won’t leave the manor grounds.”

  “Kat, be serious!”

  “I am. Never more so.” She shrugged into a spencer and headed for the door. “It’s my life at risk here, and I’m not going to leave it to someone else to decide my fate. Not this time.”

  “What if someone comes?”

  Katrina actually managed a brief laugh. “Then you can pretend to be yourself.” She pulled Julia’s rings from her fingers and left them on the side table, blew her friend a kiss and slipped into the corridor. “I won’t be long.”

  * * *

  Leo’s hopes that the men he’d left on guard would apprehend James were dashed when he reached the stable yard in time to see a sturdy bay gelding, fully tacked up, being held in readiness for its owner. James swiped the reins from the hands of the groom, vaulted onto the horse’s back and left the yard at a gallop.

  “Here, stop, thief!” yelled the groom ineffectively.

  Leo cast his eyes about the yard, desperate for a means to follow him. All the horses were still in their stalls. By the time he liberated one, James would be gone. James’s own horse was tethered behind the mews, so it would take too long to reach it. Then he noticed a spirited thoroughbred tied to a post at the far end of the yard, munching contentedly at a pile of hay. Leo didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the rope to its halter, swung onto its back and followed James out of the yard. He sank his heels into the creature’s flanks and it responded instantly, sparks flying from its hooves as they sped across the cobbles.

  This was likely to be a one-sided chase, Leo thought, tearing along at breakneck speed with no saddle and not even a bit in the horse’s mouth with which to control it. But abandoning the pursuit didn’t even occur to him. He gripped tightly with his knees, leaned low over the horse’s withers and encouraged it forward.

  Thankfully herd instinct took over and his mount followed the exact same path as James’s, now several hundred yards in front. James looked over his shoulder but, far from seeming upset at being so closely followed, he merely raised a hand in acknowledgement of Leo’s presence and increased his speed.

  Leo was steadily gaining ground but James wasn’t stupid. He knew he couldn’t outrun a thoroughbred when mounted on a horse bred for endurance rather than speed. And so he did what Leo would have done in his place—veered off the road and set off across country, thus giving his sturdier horse the advantage and greatly increasing his chances of evading capture.

  They pounded through a field of corn stubble, James’s raucous laughter audible even over the sound of the labouring horses and their pounding hooves. Leo grimaced as he struggled to stay on his horse’s back on this uneven terrain at such high speed, glad someone was enjoying himself.

  An impossibly high hawthorn hedge directly ahead was coming up at an alarming speed. There was no way to avoid it. They were too close and Leo couldn’t turn his horse’s head with just a single halter rope, not when its neck was set in a rigid line and it was hell-bent on following the nag in front. James pushed his horse into the jump, whooping as it landed without mishap. Leo followed the only course open to him—he grabbed a handful of mane, dug his knees more firmly into his horse’s sides and prayed.

  The horse knew its stuff and took off without any help from Leo, as smoothly and effortlessly as though he did this sort of thing every day. He probably did and Leo thanked God for it. They seemed to be airborne for an eternity, but Leo was already anticipating the moment when the thoroughbred’s front legs would hit the ground. Without a saddle, timing was the only thing that would prevent him from slipping forward and tumbling over the horse’s head. He leaned back as far as he dared at exactly the right moment, avoiding being tipped forward but sliding awkwardly to one side, dangling precariously over the horse’s flank. He hung on thanks to a combination of taut thigh muscles and a strong grip on his mount’s mane. His horse didn’t slow, so it was either a case of pulling himself back up or landing beneath those pounding hooves.

  Leo grabbed a little more mane, made a massive effort to right himself and somehow managed to regain his balance. James glanced over his shoulder, no longer laughing when he saw that Leo hadn’t come to grief. James’s horse was tiring. Its pace had slowed considerably since jumping the fence, and Leo knew his chance had come. He encouraged his mount forward and gradually drew level with the other horse’s quarters.

  “Give it up,” he yelled across the distance that separated them. “You can’t win.”

  “Ah, but the thrill of the chase is half the battle, don’t you think?” James flashed a wicked grin, as though he didn’t have a care in the world. Leo understood at that moment how his Gaelic charm could have turned the head of someone as sensible as Celia. “Far better than rusticatin
g in some dreary dungeon.”

  Leo knew then that James would never surrender of his own volition, so he’d have to find a way to stop him. He pulled up level with him, the two horses separated by less than the width of a man’s thigh. It was a mistake to get so close. Too quickly for Leo to react, James removed one hand from the reins and flashed a knife. He brought it down across Leo’s thigh with a brutal swipe.

  Blood gushed from the cut but Leo felt no pain. Instead he put all his strength into tugging the halter rope and pulled his horse’s head directly in front of James’s. Taken completely by surprise, the other horse behaved just as Leo had hoped it would and shied. It went from a canter to a dead halt and then reared. James was a proficient horseman and just for a moment Leo thought he would keep his seat. But it had happened too quickly for James to react, and with a string of oaths he slipped from the saddle and fell backwards over his horse’s rump, landing with a heavy thud on the hard ground.

  Leo dismounted and patted his horse’s neck. He had a lot to thank him for. Then he ruminated on his problems. His lacerated thigh was now giving him merry hell and he needed to stop the bleeding. But first he needed to make sure that James was properly subdued. He wasn’t moving but when Leo prodded him with the toe of his boot, he groaned. Good, Richard would want him alive. Leo set about securing him, preparing to take him into custody, when he heard hooves approaching. Boscombe and his men coming to his aid, presumably. Better late than never.

  “Are you all right, milord?”

  “I’ve had better days, Boscombe.”

  And then he started to laugh. He laughed so hard that his insides eventually hurt more than his cut thigh.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Instinct took Katrina in the direction of the servants’ hall, where she paused on the threshold to the kitchen. It was the early hours of the morning but there was still much activity. All the clearing up after the ball and preparations for breakfast, she supposed. It seemed like a good idea to questions the servants. The murder had occurred in a courtyard that was seldom used by the gentry. And as far as she knew, no one but her above stairs had cause to think ill of Amos, but in all probability he would already have crossed swords with one or two of the other servants. There was nothing Amos enjoyed more than a good disagreement.