by Anne Herries
‘Yes, I think so,’ she said and touched his cheek. ‘Perhaps in time you will feel able to love with all your heart, Nicolas.’
‘Perhaps I love, but cannot express it.’
Lottie gazed into his eyes. ‘Yes, perhaps that is so,’ she said softly. ‘Come to me tonight, Nicolas. For the moment I think we should go down—Aunt Beth will be worrying.’
Nicolas smiled. ‘Wash your face, my love. You have a dirty mark just there.’ He kissed the spot. ‘I shall go down and tell her the good news.’
Lottie decided to change her gown before going to tea with her husband and her aunt. She went behind the screen and took it off, pulling on a fresh yellow silk gown. Hearing someone enter, she thought it was Rose and called out to her.
‘Rose, will you brush my hair for me, please…?’ She stopped and stared as she came out from behind the screen and saw the woman standing by her dressing table. ‘Clarice! What are you doing here?’
‘I came to see you, of course,’ Clarice said. ‘Are you not pleased to see me, Lottie?’
‘Should I be—after what happened last time?’ Lottie opened her jewel case, which was lying on the table, then held out her hand. ‘Aunt Beth’s pearls, if you please. I know you have them, Clarice. If you do not return them, I shall have you arrested. Aunt Beth would hate it if they were sold. Her husband gave them to her when she was married.’
Clarice reluctantly took the pearls from inside her glove. ‘Give me some money, then. I don’t mean two hundred pounds. I told you last time that I need at least ten thousand. Philippe is in such trouble. If he doesn’t pay up they may kill him.’
‘Has your lover been gambling again? He should learn to play within his means, Clarice. I cannot give you such a sum, for I do not have it—and even if I had I should not give you Rothsay’s money for a gambling debt.’
‘You may be sorry if you don’t. I need that money, Lottie, and I do not mind what I do to get it. Your precious Rothsay would not be happy if the truth came out, I think.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘Why, I will tell all the world about the little deal that Father made with Rothsay. That the marquis bartered for a bride, and to make matters worse for both of you he was duped into marrying the woman he hadn’t even bargained for. Imagine what everyone will think of you both then? Rothsay would not care for that to come out, I imagine.’
‘You wouldn’t, Clarice.’ Lottie felt sick. She had just made things up with Nicolas and now Clarice was back making trouble. ‘Rothsay will respond for sure. He could have you arrested for the sale of that necklace.’
‘Really? I doubt it. I told the jeweller I was you. He believed me—and after all it is true, is it not?’
‘No, actually it is not,’ a voice said from the doorway. Both sisters turned to look and saw Nicolas standing there. He looked furious as he came into the room, and Lottie’s heart sank. ‘The original deal I made with your father was off before the wedding even took place. I married Charlotte Stanton, not Clarice—and I thank God for it every day of my life.’
Clarice scowled, her lovely face ugly with rage and bitterness. ‘You think yourself so clever, Rothsay—but I have proof of the deal in the original contract and that is sufficient to cause a scandal. Do you want everyone to laugh behind their fans and say that Lottie was second choice?’
‘They would not say that if they knew you, Miss Stanton.’ Nicolas glared at her. ‘However, you are correct in thinking I owe you something. Had Lottie not come in your place, it was my intention to offer you compensation for your loss.’
Clarice’s eyes gleamed with avarice. ‘I want twenty thousand pounds or my contract goes to The Times along with a lot of interesting gossip that would blacken your name, sir.’
‘You may publish and go to the devil as far as I am concerned, but I shall not have Lottie harmed.’ Nicolas was silent for a moment. ‘I shall give you ten thousand—and I’ll want the contract and a signed document that says this business is at an end.’
‘If I gave you that, I could go to prison for blackmail.’
‘How would that serve to protect Lottie and her good name? You, Miss Stanton, will go to Paris with ten thousand pounds in your pocket—and the promise of two thousand a year as long as you stay there. I shall offer this once only. Give me your word now or do your worst.’
‘Damn you,’ Clarice muttered. ‘I need that money. I’ll sign and I’ll stay out of your way—for as long as I receive the two thousand a year.’
‘It will be money well spent,’ Nicolas said, his expression harsh. ‘Go down to the parlour, Lottie. You aunt is waiting for you. I shall deal with this lady and then I shall join you.’
‘Yes, Nicolas.’ Lottie glanced at her sister. She felt numb with shock. Surely Nicolas would never forgive this? ‘Goodbye, Clarice. I hope we shall not meet again—until you have learned to respect others, at least.’
Chapter Fifteen
Lottie took tea with her aunt. She was apprehensive as she waited for Nicolas to join them, but he was a long time coming and when she asked the housekeeper where his lordship was, she was told he had an urgent message and had gone out. Too restless to stay in the house, she pulled on a warm pelisse and went out into the gardens.
It was chilly and she was about to return to the house when she heard the sound of gunfire quite close and then a man came charging at her. She hardly had time to see that it was the keeper Larkin when he pointed a shotgun at her, gesturing wildly in the direction of the park.
‘It’s your fault with your high morals, poking your nose in where it is not wanted and causing trouble from the moment you got ’ere,’ he muttered. ‘Well, he’ll be sorry for what he’s done—if I go down, I’ll take you with me.’
Lottie shivered, a chill creeping down her spine as she looked into the man’s crazed eyes. She was alone and Larkin was clearly desperate.
‘I have no idea what you mean, sir.’
‘Don’t you pretend with me, woman. I had a nice little thing going on until you turned up, laying down the law and getting folk on your side. Well, you’ll pay for it and Dickon Blake will too, fer it’s ’im wot told on me.’
‘If you have been breaking the law, then you deserve to be punished,’ Lottie said, standing her ground. If she turned and ran he would no doubt shoot her. ‘You were swift enough to kill Sam Blake, and that, sir, was no accident. I would swear you might have shot him in the leg had you not wished to kill him.’
‘Blake were in with us from the start, but he wanted out on account of his missus telling him she would leave ’im if he didn’t give it up. Dickon and me both warned ’im, but he wouldn’t listen so he had to be shut up—the way I’m going to shut you up now.’
‘If you shoot me, you will certainly hang.’ Lottie told him. ‘My husband might be lenient with you if you come to your senses.’
‘And very likely he won’t fer it’s ’im wot ’as ’ad me watched, spied on—and that rogue Blake ’as gone over to ’is side an’ all…’
Lottie heard a rustling sound in the shrubbery. She did not dare to turn her head to look, but knew that someone was behind them. Larkin had become aware of it, too. In the moment that he turned his head, she rushed away to the right, fleeing deeper into the shrubbery. She heard Larkin shout, then another man’s voice, and then the sounds of a struggle and finally a shot, followed swiftly by a second. Lottie gave a little cry of fear. Who had been shot—and would Larkin give chase?
‘My lady,’ a man’s voice called as she hesitated, hardly knowing which way to go for the best. ‘Larkin cannot hurt you. You are safe now.’
‘Dickon—Dickon Blake, is that you?’
Lottie moved towards the spot where the sounds had come from and saw that Larkin was lying on the ground, bleeding profusely from a wound to his leg but still alive. He glared up at the man who stood over him, holding a shotgun at his head. Lottie saw that it was indeed Dickon Blake and that he also had a superficial wound to his arm.
‘You are hurt, Mr Blake. What happened here?’
‘He shot at me, but his gun misfired and I took him down,’ Dickon replied. ‘I’ll not lie to you, Lady Rothsay. I’ve been a poacher and proud of it. In my opinion the woods should be open for a man to take a rabbit for his family—but I am not a murderer and I could not stand by and see him murder you the way he murdered my cousin.’
‘I owe you my life, sir,’ Lottie said. ‘I think we should go back to the house and—’ She was about to say that she would bind his wound and send someone to fetch the more seriously injured Larkin, who appeared to have passed out, but, before she could say more, several men came crashing through the shrubbery.
‘Lottie!’ Nicolas cried as he saw her. ‘My God! I thought he might have killed you.’ He glanced from her to the man on the ground, then at Dickon Blake. ‘What happened here?’
‘Larkin intended to murder me the way he murdered Sam Blake. Sam wanted to make an end to the poaching. He was going to try to find work and look after his family, but Larkin couldn’t allow that because he was the one masterminding the serious poaching in these parts—is that not so, Dickon?’
‘Yes, my lady…’ Dickon hesitated as if he would have said more, but Lottie frowned and he was silent.
‘Mr Blake happened to be nearby and he heard what Larkin intended—and he shot him in the leg after he was shot at. Is that not how it was, Dickon?’
‘I couldn’t let him hurt you after what you’ve done for us at the Hollow, my lady. I thought you were like all the others at the start, but you ain’t—and I couldn’t let him do it, even if does mean I spend the rest of my days in prison.’
‘I doubt you need worry about that,’ Nicolas said. ‘My agent told me you had been most helpful over the investigation into the poaching. I know you have had difficulty in finding work—perhaps you would care to take on Larkin’s work? I shall expect you to deal honestly with me—and a man in need may be warned twice. After that he must be brought to me and I will see if he is a thief or just desperate.’
‘Your gamekeeper?’ Dickon stared as if he did not believe his ears. ‘I’ve been one of them what stole from you, my lord—but if I take your money I’ll serve you well. I never thought you would give me half a chance…’
‘No doubt I should not have done so once,’ Nicolas said and put his arm about Lottie’s shoulders. ‘My wife has taught me better manners, Mr Blake. You deserve no less than respect after what you just did, sir.’ He beckoned to the keepers who were staring in astonishment. ‘Take Larkin back to the kitchens and have him patched up. He will be arrested and tried for murder—and in his case I shall not be lenient. He will hang for the murder of Sam Blake and the attempted murder of my wife. You, Mr Blake, must also be attended. We shall talk later, for I am sure that a man like you will know what injustices have taken place in the past and should be righted—and I shall consult you concerning the affairs of the people at the Hollow. My wife has begun the task but it will be for me to make certain that things do not come to such a pass again.’
‘Thank you, my lord.’ Dickon bent to gather up Larkin’s fallen weapon. ‘I reckon it was a lucky day for us when you married her ladyship.’
Nicolas turned to gaze down at Lottie. There was an odd expression in his eyes as he replied, ‘Yes, it was the luckiest day of my life—even though I did not know it then.’
‘I think I should go back to the house,’ Lottie said. ‘It is most strange, but I feel a little…’ She moaned and started to crumple at the knees.
Nicolas caught her in his arms. He turned and walked towards the house, carrying his precious burden and followed by his men and Dickon.
Aunt Beth had seen them from the window and came fluttering into the hall, her expression anxious. ‘What has happened to her? We heard shooting—is she hurt?’
‘No, it was a keeper who was shot—but she might have been had Dickon Blake not been there to help her. I have had an agent watching over things while I was away, but this afternoon everything came to a head.’
Lottie’s eyelids moved. She opened her eyes and looked up at him. ‘How foolish? Did I faint?’
‘Bring her into the parlour,’ Aunt Beth said. ‘I dare say she will be better in a moment. These faints do not as a rule last long.’
‘What are you talking about?’ Nicolas asked, puzzled. ‘I dare say it was the shock of being attacked by Larkin and then seeing two men wounded.’
‘I very much doubt it,’ Aunt Beth said as he set Lottie gently down on a daybed in the parlour. ‘I do not know if Lottie is aware of it herself, but all the signs are there—though perhaps I should not say.’
‘Now you have completely lost me.’ Nicolas was exasperated. ‘Is Lottie ill? Please have the goodness to tell me, for I have no idea what you mean.’
Lottie caught Nicolas’s arm, as he would have moved away. ‘I think what my aunt is hinting at is that she thinks I am with child, Nicolas. I have not mentioned anything, because I was not perfectly certain—though I have not seen my courses since…I left London.’
‘You are with child?’ Nicolas stared at her, then a smile showed in his eyes and his mouth curved into a huge grin. ‘That is wonderful, Lottie. Do you suppose the night before you left…?’
‘Yes, I would think so, though it is too soon to be sure, Nicolas. I could begin my courses tomorrow, though I am late and I think…I truly feel that I may be with child.’
‘Here, Lottie dearest. Hold this to your nose,’ Aunt Beth said and gave her a kerchief heavily soaked in lavender water. ‘It may help you with the headache you may have after a nasty faint like that, my love.’
Lottie took the kerchief and inhaled the perfume gratefully. She had been feeling a little queasy, but the strong lavender helped and she breathed more deeply.
‘Should you not see what is happening elsewhere, Nicolas? You will need to send for the constable and have Larkin attended by a doctor. Even a man as despicable as he should be properly cared for, do you not think so?’
‘Had I fired the gun he would probably be dead,’ Nicolas admitted grimly. ‘He is lucky that Blake got to him first. My keepers and agent will do all that is necessary, Lottie. I have no intention of leaving your side until I am assured that no other villains lie in wait for you. Forgive me for not protecting you properly.’
‘It could not be expected that Larkin would try to kill me or that he would be in the rose gardens.’ Lottie was sitting up now. She smiled and took his hand. ‘Sit here beside me, Nicolas. Tell me just what has been going on here, please.’
‘You were so certain that Sam Blake was innocent of any crime other than taking a rabbit or two. Therefore I had to wonder if Larkin was a dishonest servant as you’d suggested. When I went off to London I engaged agents to come down to Rothsay and discover what they could—and also to make sure that nothing happened to you. After what you’d said, I thought that it might possibly have been Larkin who took a pot shot at us that day. He probably wanted to give you a fright, but when you became involved with Lily Blake and took too much interest in things that could be dangerous for him, he decided to kill Sam.’
‘Dickon told me that Sam wanted out of the large-scale poaching. Larkin would not let him give it up, because he thought he might betray the rest of them. I do not know who else was involved, but I think he was the ringleader.’
‘He will be punished for the crime of murder. I shall give the others a warning—but I believe Dickon Blake will sort things out. A reformed poacher makes the best gamekeeper of all. My father once said that, but I fear I had forgotten much of what he told me. He went away from me when I was very young, you see.’
Lottie saw that Aunt Beth had left them alone. She patted the seat beside her and Nicolas sat down, reaching for her outstretched hand. ‘Were you lonely as a child, Nicolas? Someone told me your mother died when you were very young?’
‘She was very like you in some ways, Lottie, always wanting to help others. She had been nur
sing one of the young mothers at the Hollow and caught a fever. The doctor could do nothing and she died swiftly. Both my father and I were devastated. I think he could hardly bear to be here afterwards; he spent long periods away, and he scarcely seemed to know he had a son until just before he died. He apologised to me then, but it was too late. I had grown a protective barrier inside.’
‘That isn’t all of it, though, Nicolas?’ Lottie’s eyes were on his face. ‘I know something of your affair with Elizabeth.’
‘I did love Elizabeth in my way, but it was not enough for her. She once told me that the only time I came alive was when I played the pianoforte.’
‘You do lose yourself in the music, which is why you play so well—but if she had loved you, she might have found a way to tear down the barriers you had built around your heart.’
‘The way you have, Lottie?’
‘Have I—truly?’
‘Yes. I thought some of the hurt might still remain. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to love completely, because it hurts to lose those you love—but I could have lost you today, Lottie.’ He took her hand, lifting it to his lips to kiss the palm. ‘I know that my life would be empty without you. You have made my heart your home, Lottie—and you rule both in my heart and my home. Without you I think I should be like my father and simply fade away.’
‘What nonsense,’ Lottie said and leaned forwards to kiss him lightly on the lips. ‘For one thing I have no intention of going anywhere without you again, and for another—I want your promise that if in the future I should die and leave a child or children, you will love them and give them all the affection they deserve. Only a weak man gives up when he loses something, Nicolas, and I know you are not that. If my children live, then I shall live on in them—but it is most unlikely to happen. I dare say that you will be stuck with me for many years, perhaps the whole of your life.’
Her eyes twinkled with mischief and Nicolas laughed. ‘You have my word, Lottie. You are right. I am not my father. I have my mother’s spirit and she was brave like you. I promise that I shall always love our children—and now, my dearest, should you go up and rest?’