The Outcast's Redemption (The Infamous Arrandales)

by Sarah Mallory

  When they reached the gates they were closed but unchained, suggesting Sophia had arrived. The village street was deserted, those who worked in the fields were already departed and the rest had not yet breakfasted. He turned to Grace.

  ‘Give me the reins. I’ll take the horse back with me.’

  ‘Yes, of course.’ She made no move to dismount.

  ‘Go carefully. Grace.’

  ‘I have only to cross the street. That back lane will take me directly to the vicarage garden.’

  Wolf nodded. He had used it many times as a boy to steal fruit from the parson’s orchard. What would Duncombe say, if he knew how close Wolf had come to stealing his daughter?

  She sighed. ‘So this is goodbye.’

  ‘Yes.’ He could not meet her eyes. ‘We shall not meet again.’

  ‘Will you not shake hands with me?’

  After the long ride the animals stood quietly side by side. How could he refuse, after all she had done for him, risking her life, her reputation, to help him.

  He took her hand, forced himself to look into her face.

  Ah, Grace, if things had been different. If I had not led such a rakehell life. If we had met before you fell in love with your saintly curate. We might have stood a chance.

  The words screamed in his head, but he could not say them.

  ‘Goodbye, Grace Duncombe.’

  She clung to his fingers. ‘Wolf, last night—’

  He shook his head at her. ‘One day, my dear, you will thank me for my forbearance.’

  She looked as if she might argue so he tore his hand free and caught her reins.

  ‘Go now. Every moment you delay endangers us both.’

  She recoiled from his harsh tone and he bit back the impulse to apologise. Without another word she jumped down and scrambled over the stile. Wolf watched her disappear into the lane, then he turned and headed for the Hall. If this was what it felt like, doing the right thing, he wanted none of it. Clearly he was not made to be a saint.

  * * *

  Wolf noticed the changes as soon as he approached the Hall. Two men were scything the lawn and they stopped to watch as he rode down the drive. When he reached the stables they were bustling with activity. An elegant travelling chaise was visible through the open doors of the carriage house and two young men were removing the weeds from between the cobbles in the yard. They were being watched closely by an older man who looked up as Wolf clattered in. He ran across to take the spare horse from him.

  ‘Morning, Mr Arrandale. Welcome home.’

  ‘Who the devil are you and what’s going on here?’ demanded Wolf.

  The man touched his cap.

  ‘I’m Collins, sir, groom to Mr Richard. He sent me here to meet you and to look after the stables. And not a moment too soon, if you’ll excuse my saying so, sir, since Lady Hune is determined to set everything here by the ears.’

  ‘So my great-aunt’s installed herself at the house, has she?’

  A wide grin split the groom’s craggy features.

  ‘Aye, sir, the dowager marchioness has brought her whole retinue with her, and then some. All trusted folk and loyal,’ he added quickly. ‘You needn’t fear for your safety, sir.’

  ‘Glad to hear it.’ Wolf slid to the ground. ‘I’d better go in and see what she has been doing with my property!’

  ‘Just one more thing, Mr Arrandale.’ The groom lowered his voice. ‘Mr Richard ordered a fast horse to be kept saddled and ready in the stables at all times.’

  Suddenly Wolf was twenty-four again, angry, confused and thrust out of the house by a father who was convinced he was guilty. If he had stood his ground ten years ago, this sorry mess might never have happened. And Richard was clearly prepared for the worst.

  ‘Much obliged to him,’ he said shortly and strode off towards the house.

  He had not gone far before he was intercepted by Robert Jones.

  ‘Her ladyship said she had orders from Mr Richard, there was nothing I could do,’ he said, eager to explain himself. ‘She just swept in and took over, sir, brought all her own people with her, too. Hundreds of ’em.’

  ‘I doubt if anyone could withstand Lady Hune in full flow,’ muttered Wolf.

  ‘But I don’t mind saying it’s good to have the house staffed again, sir. ’Tis quite a responsibility, looking after a place this size. Why, I couldn’t even offer Sir Charles any refreshment when he called.’

  ‘Sir Charles Urmston was here?’ Wolf stopped. ‘When was this?’

  Jones rubbed his nose. ‘Oh, weeks back, sir. Just after you left. He came to the house, saying as how he was in the area and wanted to see where he had spent so many happy days.’

  ‘You let him into the house?’

  ‘I didn’t see how I could stop him, his having been such a favourite of the old master and cousin to Mrs Wolfgang.’

  ‘But you went with him?’

  ‘Oh, yes, sir. He wandered through the reception rooms, sighing and lamenting.’

  ‘And you were with him the whole time?’ When the servant hesitated Wolf put his hand on his shoulder. ‘Answer me honestly, man. It is important that I know the truth.’

  ‘Well, sir, when we gets to the hall he looked at the spot where your poor wife died and he covers his face, upset-like. Then he asks for something to drink. I told him there was nothing fit and he says as how he would take a glass of water, if I would fetch it.’

  ‘And where was he when you got back?’

  ‘Sir?’

  ‘Was he still in the hall when you brought the water?’

  ‘No, sir, he was on the landing. Said he had been musing on how his poor cousin could’ve fallen from that very spot.’ Jones shook his head, clearly disapproving. ‘Didn’t seem proper, sir, to be going over something that happened so long ago.’

  ‘He was standing near the balustrade, was he? Could he have been in any of the bedchambers?’

  ‘He might have done, sir, but I wasn’t gone that long.’ Jones screwed up his face in an effort to remember. ‘And he was wiping his hands on his handkerchief, sir, as if they was dirty.’

  ‘And what did he do then?’

  ‘Well, he comes down and I gives him the water, which he took no more than a sip of before going off.’

  ‘He didn’t ask to see over the rest of the house?’

  ‘Now you comes to mention it, Mr Wolfgang, he did say as how he thought his horse was going lame and could he stay the night, but I told him that wouldn’t be possible, sir, not at all. I offered him the use of the old gig we keeps in the stables to take him to the Horse Shoe, if he didn’t want to walk, but he said his horse would get him that far. I didn’t see him again after that, sir. Nor anyone else, until her ladyship arrived. And now I’m not sure what I should be doing.’

  Wolf squeezed his shoulder.

  ‘Keep your head down, Robert. This will all be over soon.’

  ‘And then will you be living here again, sir?’

  The footman’s hopeful look caused Wolf a pang of remorse.

  ‘No, Robert, I won’t. But I shall make better provision for you all before I go this time, you have my word on it.’

  * * *

  The house was even busier than the stables, with sounds of activity echoing around the hall, where Croft, his great-aunt’s butler, was directing an army of servants. When he saw Wolf, the butler waved away his minions and bowed.

  ‘Her ladyship is in the drawing room, sir. She is expecting you.’ He added quietly, as he opened the door, ‘May I say that we are all delighted to see you here safe, sir.’

  Wolf nodded. He had no doubt of Croft’s loyalty and he knew his formidable great-aunt would have brought no one to Arrandale who could not be trusted to keep his presence a secret.


  * * *

  Sophia, Dowager Marchioness of Hune, came away from the window as he entered, her bearing as upright and regal as he remembered, despite the use of a cane, but when he was close enough to press a salute upon her hand he could see how much she had aged, her face more lined and the blue of her eyes a little less intense, although the look she fixed upon him had lost none of its power to intimidate.

  ‘I am delighted to see you here, ma’am,’ he said politely.

  ‘So you should be.’ The claw-like fingers clung to him. ‘Help me to a chair. Once Croft has brought in the refreshments we can talk.’

  ‘You have lost no time in making yourself at home,’ he observed.

  ‘You could not expect me to stay in this barrack of a house without a few comforts.’

  She fell silent when the butler came and served them both with a glass of wine. Wolf sipped it appreciatively.

  ‘Did you bring this with you, ma’am? It is superior to anything I recall from these cellars.’

  ‘Your father was always a nip-farthing when it came to good wine.’

  ‘So you brought your own. And all your servants, too, by the look of it.’

  ‘Not only my servants.’ She looked up to make sure they were alone again. ‘I had some idea what would be required to put the place in some sort of order, so I asked the family for assistance.’

  ‘The family?’

  ‘Your brother and his wife and Lord and Lady Davenport. The staff were all carefully chosen for their loyalty and discretion, I assure you.’

  Wolf frowned.

  ‘I do not doubt it, ma’am, but I would rather you had not dragged Alex and his new wife into this.’

  ‘They are Arrandales and will wish to be involved. Do not worry, your secrets are safe enough, my boy.’

  ‘I do not doubt it, but it comes hard to trust so many people, when I have been accustomed to fending for myself.’ He looked up, one brow raised. ‘The two fellows scything the lawns as I rode in. They looked useful fellows to have with one in a fight.’

  He saw the familiar glint in those faded eyes. ‘Your brother sent them, lest Sir Charles Urmston should turn up, although there has been no sign of him as yet.’ She paused. ‘They might also buy you a little extra time to make your escape, should it be necessary.’

  ‘You have not discovered the Sawston diamonds, then?’

  ‘No. I have had the house turned out of doors, but my people have found nothing.’

  ‘Did Richard tell you to pay special attention to the dresser’s room?’

  ‘He and Phyllida are going over it. I presume they have found nothing or they would have come down by now.’

  ‘What?’ Wolfgang exploded. ‘They are here?’

  ‘They arrived last evening, although they have sent little James off to Brookthorn with his nurse.’

  ‘Thank heaven they have shown some sense!’ declared Wolf. ‘I do not want the family interfering in my affairs any further.’

  ‘I think you must accustom yourself to it, Wolfgang. These days Arrandales stick together. You should think yourself fortunate that Ellen Tatham, Phyllida’s stepdaughter, is touring the Lakes with her old teacher at present or she would have been here, too, and she would set us all by the ears.’

  ‘Even you, Sophia?’

  Lady Hune allowed herself a faint smile. ‘Even me. However, I think you should prepare yourself to see the Davenports here tomorrow. And they are bringing the children with them.’

  Wolf clapped a hand over his mouth, as if to hold back even more explosions, not so much of wrath as consternation.

  ‘Send them an express,’ he said at last. ‘They should not come.’

  ‘Do you not wish to meet your daughter?’

  ‘Yes, very much, but I want to meet her as a free man. I do not want her to see me arrested and dragged off in chains.’

  ‘Do you think that is likely?’

  He nodded. ‘If I delay here too long. Urmston will make sure Arrandale is searched, once the trail to Dover goes cold. If the necklace is not found within a day or two, then I must give up my plans to see little Florence and leave the country.’

  ‘If that is the case then naturally you must go, but you may be sure we shall continue the search.’

  ‘Thank you, ma’am, I—’

  He broke off as the door opened and a cheerful, musical voice floated across the room.

  ‘Go away, Croft, we will announce ourselves.’

  ‘Cassandra!’ The words had hardly left his mouth before a petite dark-haired beauty threw her arms about him. ‘What the—the deuce are you doing here?’ he demanded, frowning over her head at Raoul Doulevant, who had followed her into the room. Raoul merely lifted his shoulders in a very Gallic shrug.

  ‘My wife, she thought we should support you.’

  ‘You knew I was coming here?’

  ‘I guessed,’ said Cassie, twinkling up at him. ‘As soon as Grandmama wrote to tell me she was coming to Arrandale I knew something was afoot. We set off as soon as Raoul had made arrangements for leave from his duties.’

  ‘Then you can make yourself useful by helping to search the house for the Sawston necklace,’ snapped Lady Sophia.

  Wolf glanced at the dowager marchioness. Despite her sharp tone he could see she was delighted to have her granddaughter with her and she even greeted Raoul with more warmth than Wolf expected her to show to a mere surgeon.

  ‘The diamonds?’ said Cassie, going to sit on a sofa beside her husband. ‘You think they are here?’

  The dowager nodded. ‘Wolfgang thinks so, although so far we have found nothing.’

  Wolf exhaled fiercely. ‘Perhaps I am wrong, but Meesden was adamant the diamonds had not been stolen. Grace and I both remember her saying so.’

  ‘Grace?’ Lady Hune pounced on the name. ‘Your brother mentioned a young woman was helping you.’

  ‘Miss Duncombe is the daughter of the local vicar here in Arrandale,’ he said carefully. ‘She was visiting her aunt in London.’

  ‘Indeed?’ Wolf found himself subjected to another of the dowager’s piercing stares. ‘I should like to meet her.’

  ‘I think not,’ he said quickly. ‘She has had too much contact already with the Arrandale family. And she is about to marry the local magistrate.’ Wolf stared moodily into the fire. The thought of Grace married to another man tore into him. It was made even more painful by the obvious affection that existed between Cassie and her husband. If only Grace could love him in that way, but her heart was buried in the Arrandale churchyard, along with her first love.

  He rubbed a hand over his eyes, the long ride was catching up with him.

  ‘I need to sleep,’ he said, rising. ‘Then I will help you search the house. The diamonds are here, I know it, and I am determined to find them.’

  * * *

  Grace slipped into the vicarage, thankful that there was no one on the stairs to see her in her boy’s clothes. In her room she found the maid, humming tunelessly as she ran a cloth along the mantelshelf. On hearing the door open, Betty turned and immediately dropped the Dresden figurine she had been dusting.

  ‘Ooh, Miss Grace, you did give me a scare!’ She looked in dismay at the shattered porcelain pieces lying in the hearth. ‘And what the master will say when he knows what I have done I don’t know.’

  Grace quickly closed the door.

  ‘Leave that for now, Betty. I will make it all right with Papa, but first you must help me to change. I cannot go down to him dressed like this.’

  ‘No, indeed.’ The smashed figurine was forgotten as the maid put her hands on her hips and regarded her mistress. ‘I thought I’d have time to clean your room before you got home and you turn up, bold as brass and dressed like a, well, like I don’t know what.’ She wrinkled
her nose. ‘And if you don’t mind my saying, Miss Grace, you looks like you’ve been pulled through a hedge backwards.’

  Grace stooped to look at her reflection in the mirror on her dressing table.

  She gave a rueful smile. ‘Perhaps it would be as well if you fetched me up some hot water.’

  Betty hurried away and the smile faded. Although the pain of the past few hours was lessened a little by being home, she felt so tired and unhappy that she wanted nothing more than to curl up on her bed, but that would have to wait. Papa would want to know why she had arrived in such a precipitous manner and she was not quite sure how much she could tell him.

  * * *

  ‘Papa?’

  Grace peeped into the study. Her father was sitting at his desk, staring out of the window, deep in thought. At the sound of her voice he looked up and smiled.

  ‘My love.’ He rose and held out his arms. ‘We did not expect you until dinnertime!’

  ‘I rode on ahead,’ she said, walking into his embrace and surreptitiously scrubbing away a rogue tear on his shoulder. ‘I have such a lot to tell you...’

  * * *

  An hour later her tale was done. She was sitting on a footstool next to her father’s chair. He had kept his hand on her shoulder throughout and shown no signs of censure or approval as she told him everything that had occurred since she had left Arrandale.

  Well, not quite everything, she thought now, as she rested her head against his knee. She had not mentioned the way Wolf had held her, kissed her.

  ‘So you helped Wolfgang Arrandale to escape, then rode through the night with him.’

  ‘Yes, Papa. Was it very wrong of me?’

  ‘I am sure you believed you had good reason, my love. How much of this do you intend to tell Sir Loftus?’

  She looked up at that. ‘Everything I have told you.’

  ‘Oh, my love, he is a magistrate, and in helping Wolfgang to escape you have broken the law.’ He sighed. ‘I blame myself for this. It was I who insisted you and Mr Arrandale should travel to London together. I do not doubt you thought it your duty to help him, but I had not expected you to go this far.’