A Mysterious Quest of a Seductive Lady: A Regency Historical Romance Novel

by Lucinda Nelson

  “Oh. Of course. They are still working on it. You have nothing to worry about,” he said, pulling her closer and planting several kisses on her breasts. He brought a nipple to his lips, licking it until it peaked.

  Magnolia closed her eyes in pleasure. She wanted him again and apparently, he felt the same way.

  * * *

  Adam Avery, the Earl of Strickland

  Adam began to kiss her again and Magnolia responded with just as much urgency. He did not want her to keep talking about the journal and this was the only way to distract her. He realized that discussing the investigation was the major cause of their disagreements and he planned to avoid it as much as possible.

  She was touching him, planting several kisses in the hollow of his neck. He moaned as it caused several beautiful tingles down his whole body.

  “Your mother spoke to me,” she whispered, lying fully on top of him with her naked body against his.

  “What did she talk about?” he asked, wrapping her closer with his arms.

  “She has been listening to every one of our disagreements, Adam. It was embarrassing. I promised to make things work this time, and I meant it.”

  He chuckled. “I meant it, too, darling. I want to make you very happy and that is why I have come to a decision.”

  “What decision?”

  “Well . . . seeing that the whole investigation is the only problem we have, I think I have found a solution around it. I think you are subjecting yourself to undue stress by doing this. You are too focused on it, and each time I try to give my opinion – or protect you – you misunderstand, as if I am trying to control you.”

  “I see. What is your decision?” she asked, looking at him expectantly.

  “I have decided to take charge of the investigation. I shall see to it that we find the culprit and I will bring him to justice. For now, my love, I want you to lay low and stop working on it. For the sake of our marriage.”

  Magnolia remained quiet while he spoke.

  “I hope you understand?” he asked to be sure.

  Instead of replying, she climbed off of him. “Are you saying - you want me to have no part in the investigation of the man who killed everyone in my family?”

  “Yes, my dear. I am asking you to step aside and focus on making our marriage work while I take charge of everything. I realize I can handle it better than you can and then we would not have to keep fighting. We would be sharing responsibilities, you see, and –”

  Magnolia got up from the bed angrily, pulling the blanket with her. “This is not sharing of anything, Adam!” she cried. “This is about my family! You think you can just stop me from doing what I am supposed to do, to allow you to take charge? That is never going to happen!”

  “Magnolia, wait!” Adam said. “Why will you not see reason?”

  Magnolia glared at him as she held the blanket around her. “I was willing to compromise. To find a way to make both of us happy as we solved this murder together. Perhaps not be as involved in the more dangerous aspects of this investigation, but still being able to help. But all you keep doing is pushing me out. I am aware of the danger and I understand that you wish to protect me. But I can contribute to this investigation as well, yet you will not allow me to do so.”

  “You have kept pertinent information from me as well. How am I to trust that you will not do something foolish in my absence that could get you killed?” he asked furiously.

  Magnolia sighed. “I see now that there is no room for compromise with us.” She turned with a flourish before walking out of the room.

  Adam couldn’t understand what just happened. He blinked rapidly to be certain he wasn’t dreaming. Was it not just a few minutes ago that he thought they were finally having a peaceful ambience?

  Chapter 30

  Adam Avery, the Earl of Strickland

  When Adam woke up the next morning, Magnolia was not in their bed. He touched the space where she was supposed to sleep but it was cold, meaning she had not come back the other night after he had drifted off to sleep.

  He glanced over at the bags of clothes and other precious items he had purchased for her in Spain. It all remained untouched.

  Adam sighed, feeling that he would never understand his wife.

  He got up and got himself washed and dressed. After having his breakfast, he walked towards his office for he needed some time alone to go through the James’ journal.

  Page 1

  I told father about the member of the ton who is busy killings slaves just because he thinks they’re not important. Father promised to look into it. Magnolia avoided Adam when he came around. Something is happening between these two.

  He remembered that time. It was the first time James told him about the person he believed was killing slaves, and he had warned him to be careful.

  But then Adam was disturbed by the last paragraph:

  Magnolia avoided Adam when he came around. Something is happening between these two.

  He managed a smile. This was also when she had started avoiding him for no reason. He was planning to ask her all about her childhood once everything was right between them.

  Father forgot to look into the matter, and I reminded him. We solved the case of Barry Amos, the drunk lord who was always sleeping with his maids. He was put behind bars and the maids were sent back to their homes with good payment. All his properties were confiscated.

  Magnolia made a gift for Adam and refused to show me. I still think something is going on between them. But wouldn’t it be preposterous to think my little sister has a crush on my best friend?

  Now, this part was disturbing. James suspected something was going in between his sister and Adam, but he never once brought it up.

  Had Magnolia really been infatuated with him all those times she used to avoid him? If it was so, why had she never brought it up in any of their conversations? James was indeed a man of strange behavior.

  And what gift was he talking about? Could it be the same gift that he never received from her? Adam was tempted to go out, find his wife, and ask her, but instead sighed before turning to the next page.

  Page 3

  Mother and Father argued. She thinks he spends too much time in the office. Trista came on to me. I don’t like her. Looking forward to the ball where we can find out who the killer is.

  Trista? The same Trista who had come on to him on his seventeenth birthday, when he had gone to meet his friend? Adam shook his head. Some women have no bit of shame.

  He flipped to the next page.

  Page 4

  Father and I met in his office. We were able to identify the man but we have yet to get his name. He’s a member of the ton. Looking forward to the ball where we can find out who the killer is.

  Exactly. This was where he was going. He had to contact Richard immediately. The man they were looking for could be anyone. He could have even come to their home many times, or he could have been someone close to the Richmond family.

  Adam grabbed a pen and paper, found some ink, and scribbled a note to his friend. Then he opened the door and beckoned to a servant.

  “Take this to Lord Waterston’s manor immediately.”

  “Yes, my lord,” the servant replied, and hurried away. After that, Adam closed the door again and returned to the journal.

  Page 5

  Father’s office was ransacked early this morning. I think the killer knows we’re on to him. Told father we must be careful but father said the man is afraid because we’re this close.

  That meant that the office at Richmond Manor was once ransacked. James had never told him that and neither had Magnolia ever mentioned it. He wished he could talk to her about the journal, though not now. It would only worsen things between them.

  He meant it when he said he wanted her to lie low and let him take charge. He wasn’t going back on that. Apparently, the last time the office was ransacked wasn’t the first time the culprit had done that. And this page was enough to point out that his wif
e shared the same stubbornness as her father.

  Adam flipped to the last page.

  Another slave died. Her body was found on the street early this morning. There was a rumor that she said some things about the man who gave her the locket before she died. People believe the killer gave her the locket, slept with her, and then stabbed her. There was no proof as the weapon was never found.

  We found a clue: He loves branding his initials on his jewelry. The gold locket will give us a chance to know who the killer is. From the ball, we’ll be going to her parent’s house to talk to them.

  Adam remembered when James had told him about a slave that had died. There had been several, actually, some of which had not been written about in the journal. And the locket; there was not further information about it. He didn’t know who the slave was and there was no further information about that.

  But there was something else that could be of use to him: He loves branding his initials on his jewelry.

  Adam’s mind went to the cufflink that Magnolia had taken to the goldsmith. This was the best time to go and find out the two names that the initials J.W stood for.

  That would solve everything.

  * * *

  Magnolia Richmond Avery, the Countess of Strickland

  Magnolia sat in the parlor, engrossed in the embroidery she was making. Not that she was interested in doing it, but there was nothing else for her to do. Besides, she needed something to vent her anger on.

  Her mother-in-law was somewhere in the open courtyard. Magnolia had not seen Adam that morning and she wasn’t interested in seeing or talking to him. She had been very stupid to think she could make their marriage work.

  Aunt Dorothy had asked her to make compromises, but she was never going to make one as big as that. Revenge was the only thing that mattered to Magnolia now. It had become her life and once it was taken, what else would she have to live on?

  She shook her head. She wasn’t going to allow that.

  “My lady,” Mr. Hartley walked in. “Lady Caroline is here.”

  “Let her in,” she said.

  The man departed and seconds later, Caroline walked in. She was looking quite excited but on seeing Magnolia’s expression, the excitement on her own face vanished.

  “Is everything all right?” Caroline asked.

  “Yes,” Magnolia mumbled, without saying anything.

  “It does not seem so,” she replied.

  Meanwhile, Adam descended the stairs.

  “My lord,” Caroline said, curtseying to him.

  “Lady Caroline,” he greeted, smiling pleasantly. “Good to see you. It has been a while.”

  “Indeed. Where have you been hiding, my lord?”

  Adam chuckled. “I have been occupied with work,” he replied, glancing at Magnolia. She ignored him and remained busy with her embroidery.

  “You are on your way out?” Caroline asked.

  “Yes. I am going to see my friend,” he replied, loud enough for Magnolia to hear.

  “Give my regards to him,” Caroline said shyly, causing Magnolia to look up and find her blushing.

  “Indeed. I shall deliver your message. Have a pleasant day.”

  Both friends watched until Adam left the room.

  “What was that all about?” Magnolia demanded.

  “I should ask you why you completely ignored your husband,” Caroline retorted.

  “We had a fight last night,” she replied, looking downwards and still working with the needle.

  “On the same thing or something new?” asked Caroline, folding her arms.

  “The same thing,” Magnolia replied. “He wants me to step aside completely while he takes charge of everything. We are talking about my family. How can he just decide that?”

  Caroline sighed. “You are giving your husband a lot of work. I know he is just looking out for you. Anyway, I and Lord Waterston have been getting quite close for some days now,” she explained, suppressing her smile.

  Magnolia stared at her, wide-eyed. “You and my husband’s friend?”

  Caroline nodded. “We went out on picnics two days in a row and I enjoyed myself immensely. He is truly a gentleman,” she added, placing both hands on her cheeks.

  “Then with the way you are acting, I daresay we should expect a proposal soon?”

  “Oh, yes, Magnolia. I cannot wait to be married!”

  Magnolia smiled. “Then let us hope for the best.”

  * * *

  Adam Avery, the Earl of Strickland

  Adam got into the carriage. He knew Magnolia had ignored him on purpose, but he wasn’t bothered.

  “Destination, my lord?”

  He thought for a moment. Should he go to the goldsmith’s shop first or to his friend first?

  “Waterston Manor,” he finally said.

  Minutes later, he got to his friend’s home and found him outside, riding.

  “I was expecting you would show up,” Richard called out, on seeing him.

  “I do love taking my time,” Adam responded jokingly. “Let’s go inside. There is something I must show you.”

  Richard stepped down from the horse, which he handed to a stable boy before he and Adam went inside the house.

  “What is it? Did you see Carlos?”

  Adam nodded, taking a seat. “I did,” he replied, bringing out a journal from the envelope he had in his hand.

  Richard collected it from him and went through the pages for some minutes, and then he closed it.

  “We must go to the goldsmith,” he said, immediately after reading the journal pages. “This is getting very deep and he is the only one who can solve this one last puzzle.”

  “Exactly my thought,” Adam said, standing up.

  * * *

  “And that was how everything I thought we had successfully built, within the shortest time, all came crashing down.”

  Richard stared at his friend as he finished narrating all that had transpired between him and his wife.

  “She did not talk to me this morning. She completely ignored me, even in the presence of her friend.”

  “Caroline?” Richard asked, clearing his throat.

  Adam threw him a suspicious look. “Still calling her by her first name, Richard? What are you doing with this lady?”

  “Since you asked me, I will tell you. I wish to marry her,” Richard stated.

  This left Adam even more surprised. “With the way you are talking, it appears you both have been spending a quantity of time together.”

  Richard chuckled. “We only went on a picnic twice.”

  “Twice?” Adam shook his head. “If you wish to marry her, I would suggest you propose on time and stop beating round the bush.”

  “Of course. I would start working on it, but I want the whole investigation thing to be over with first. Because if things get too intimate between us, it might complicate things and I wish to protect her from everything.”

  Adam smiled, but kept quiet. They had arrived at the goldsmith’s shop.

  The two men stepped down from the carriage before moving ahead towards the shop.

  “My lord,” said one of Gulliver’s apprentices.

  “Where is your master?” Richard asked.

  “Here, my lord,” Gulliver responded from the inner room, and then walked out to where they were all standing.

  “You, there. Go back to your work,” he ordered the boy, who quickly left. Now it remained just the three.

  “Gulliver. Were you able to find the names of the people who could be the owner of the cufflink?”

  “Yes, my lord,” he replied. “I have a name.” Gulliver walked towards the table, slid out a drawer, and brought out a jotter. “I got several names, in truth, but one stood out among the rest.”

  Adam collected the note from him. When he saw the name that stared back at him at the top of the page and he couldn’t help but smile.

  At the top right-hand corner of the page was a circled name and initials. J.W. Junior Wilde
.

  Chapter 31

  Adam Avery, the Earl of Strickland

  “That bastard!” Adam spat. “He has been the one all along!”

  Gulliver, the goldsmith, watched him carefully. “Yes, Lord Longsheer is the owner of the cufflink. You can always give it to him. I wonder how much he must have paid for something like this?” he said tentatively as picked up the cufflink. “The goldsmith who made it for him is my friend and I know he makes a fortune off the man.”