The Scarlet Bride

by Cheryl Ann Smith

  “I will reserve judgment for now.” He glowered at Simon. “This may yet change. I expect that you will do whatever is needed to keep my household free of turmoil.”

  Simon nodded. “I will do what I can, though I do need your help. The case is stalled. I have come up with a way to move it forward. But I need your agreement.”

  Her Grace faced Simon. “Does this have anything to do with your request for a party?”

  Simon sent Laura a reassuring glance. “Only Laura knows the men who were at the town house the night of the murder, and they have scattered like rats in daylight. Not one has come forward as a witness to the events of that evening. If we can get enough noblemen gathered in one place, like here at Collingwood House, she should be able to recognize one or two.”

  “That means we will have to invite a murderer into our home,” the duke said sharply. “I’ll not put my wife in danger.”

  “Danger will not necessarily follow us here,” Simon countered. “The killer might be a merchant, a slaver, or a ship captain. We know nothing of those men. And even if he is someone we know, the bastard has already been moving in society without rousing suspicion.” He scrubbed his hands over his head. “If we find Westwick’s killer, Laura won’t hang and the Ton will be a safer place for everyone.”

  The duke and duchess locked eyes. “We have to help,” Her Grace pleaded. “Laura cannot come to harm. And if I am proven wrong about her, I will call for the Runners myself.”

  Laura saw the remaining tension leave His Grace. His wife had his complete trust.

  “I will not do anything to cause danger to the duchess,” Laura assured His Grace. “We will find a way to fulfill Simon’s plan and be gone without anyone knowing I was here.”

  The duke stood and went to the fireplace, where Miss Eva joined him. Simon came to sit next to Laura as the duke and duchess talked quietly together.

  “His Grace will help us. He may be settled in marriage and his ducal duties, but there was a time when he took a bullet for his wife. There is a man of adventure under those well-cut clothes. He’ll help us for no other reason than to keep the killer, if he is indeed a nobleman, from living freely among us. He’ll not want anyone he cares about put in danger.”

  Laura agreed. “His Grace is not weak willed.” One glance was all she needed to discover that truth. He cut a powerful figure. “He really took a bullet for her?”

  “He did.”

  She sighed. “What a romantic story. No wonder she loves him so much. He is her hero.”

  Laura’s wistful sigh took Simon aback. In spite of the hardships she’d endured, she had a romantic heart.

  He found that hard to believe. Her recent past had been anything but the stuff of sonnets. Yet she’d spent only about an hour with the duke and Eva, and was sighing wistfully, as if that one bullet were part of the greatest love story of the ages.

  The beast, jealousy, rose inside him and pricked his emotions. Laura stared at the duke as if he’d flown down from the heavens on Pegasus to vanquish evil and save the world.

  Simon pondered His Grace. He was handsome enough. Most women would think so. But it irked him that Laura’s gaze had taken on a dreamy cast.

  “The man is not a god,” Simon snapped, far harsher than he’d intended. “He is just a man.”

  Laura turned away from the duke and duchess. She scanned his face for a long moment before a knowing smile spread across her face. “His Grace is very handsome. He saved Miss Eva’s life. Why should I not admire him?”

  “He is also arrogant and ill-tempered.”

  The patient smile remained. “Then the two of you are well suited to be friends.”

  Simon grumbled, “You have certainly changed from the woman I rescued from the footmen.” He noticed he’d put an emphasis on “rescued.” She seemed to forget that he was heroic, too. “I never suspected that beneath your reserve was a woman of such devilish humor.”

  “There are many things you do not know about me,” Laura replied. “I used to smile quite easily. Now that the gray clouds have thinned and the sky has regained its blue in my eyes, I am rediscovering happiness.” She gave him a curious look. “Perhaps you will grow to like the real Laura Prescott.”

  “And perhaps not.” Simon crossed his arms.

  “Come, Simon, it isn’t as grave as all that,” Laura said, her eyes dancing. “His Grace is handsome, but I find you more so. And you saved me from certain death. If anyone is heroic, it was you, charging out of the darkness to scoop me up onto your large gray destrier. I nearly swoon every time I think of that moment.”

  He said nothing. It still irked him that she’d cut him to the knees earlier, when the offer to find a room had been a half jest. Though he suspected her reasons had little to do with him and more to do with her desire to start a new uncomplicated life, her attention to the duke had not eased his injured ego. However, the last comment had certainly helped soothe his tweaked feathers.

  Laura reached for his hand and continued softly, “It has been a long time since anyone cared about me as you do. You are my friend, my only real friend. I will always cherish you for your kindness. No man, not even a duke, will ever rise to your level in my eyes.”

  All the annoyance drained from him. He felt like an ass.

  “I will forever be your friend,” he said firmly and meant it. “I was born an arrogant bastard, confident in my charms. Of late, my inflated sense of importance has taken a battering.” His mouth twitched. “First Lady Jeanette refused me and then you slobbered after the duke. I was certain I’d grown a horrid boil on the end of my nose.”

  Laura smiled. “No slobbering and no boils. Thank goodness. It’s only that I have finally emerged from a dreadful situation and must plan my future with a clear mind. And you are very much a distraction. I hope you can understand?”

  He did understand. It wouldn’t keep him from lusting after her, but he did see her point. He had his own worries. Maybe keeping to friendship would help them both complete their goals.

  “Then we shall put our focus on catching the killer,” he agreed, trying not to notice her delightful scent. He suspected this self-imposed celibacy would be a difficult promise to keep. “Though if you become overwhelmed with desire for me, I’ll not push you away.”

  Laughing lightly, Laura nodded. “I shall remember that should the occasion arise.”

  The duke and duchess returned and the conversation ended. Eva was obviously displeased. “We are not comfortable knowing that the two of you could be stepping into danger. However, we cannot in good conscience let a killer run about free. So on Friday next, we will throw a grand ball here at Collingwood House.”

  Laura looked at Simon. Apprehension marked her features. “I hope you understand how high the stakes are here. It would be easier for everyone if I simply left the country.”

  The idea of never seeing her again left him at odds. Having her out of his life would make his hunt for a perfect wife easier. She already spent too much time in his head. But was he ready to let her go?

  “You escaped sometime during the murder,” Simon countered. The killer may suspect that you fled because you witnessed something. If that is the case, he won’t rest until he finds and silences you.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Laura shuddered. According to the Times, the killing had been gruesome. The thought of the murderer slicing her up like a Christmas goose stuck in her mind. She knew she’d never be safe until he was locked up in Newgate Gaol.

  The arrival of the butler drew all eyes to the door. “Mister Crawford, Your Grace.”

  A tall and lanky man with a limp crossed the room on an uneven gate. He bowed to the duke, then turned to the duchess. Miss Eva’s mouth twitched when he made a grand bow.

  “I see you are doing well, Your Grace,” he said and took her outstretched hand. “Marriage suits you.”

  Miss Eva smiled and her eyes took on an evil glint. “I am trapped in marriage to this arrogant man and it is all your doing
. I should have you banned from the property.”

  He released her hand. “Alas, I have no regrets. Who’d have believed that my investigation of you would lead to such a happy union?” He glanced at His Grace. The duke was also smiling. “I suspect your husband would not have it otherwise.”

  Laura watched the curious exchange. This Mister Crawford did not look like a member of the gentry in his common clothing, yet he seemed very comfortable in the presence of the duke and duchess.

  The duke smiled at his wife. “Indeed, I would not.”

  Mister Crawford cast a quick glance at Laura and Simon before turning back to the duke and lowering his voice. “I wish my call was under more pleasant circumstances, but I fear I have news of some concern. It is about the Earl of Westwick. May we speak privately?”

  Laura’s breath caught.

  She darted a glance up at Simon. His face hardened as he stepped close and rested a hand on her shoulder. The action did not go unnoticed by Miss Eva. She sent Laura a reassuring smile.

  “You may speak freely, Crawford,” His Grace said evenly. “We were just discussing the matter ourselves.”

  This man, Crawford, shifted from foot to foot. He clearly preferred if Simon and Laura were not present. He lowered his voice again. “It involves a certain place of which the duchess is intimately connected.”

  “The courtesan school?” Simon interjected.

  The stranger’s eyes widened. Laura knew then that he was privy to the secret.

  Miss Eva stepped forward. “Mister Harrington and Miss Prescott are aware of my school. If you have information that concerns my courtesans, please tell me now.”

  At her urging, Mister Crawford nodded. “I do not mean to upset you, Duchess, but this is a matter of great importance. A man came to me this morning, a servant by his clothing, and asked to hire my services to locate a missing courtesan. He believed she was involved in the murder of his master.”

  Laura froze. Her stomach pitched.

  “What did you tell him?” His Grace asked tightly. He took his wife’s hand and tucked it under his arm.

  “As soon as he said ‘missing courtesan,’ I suspected the woman might have gone to you for shelter, so I put him off. I said I had too many cases to take on another.”

  “Did he give you her name or the name of the dead man?” Simon pressed.

  Crawford shook his head. “He offered no further information, though I suspected he was speaking of Lord Westwick. His courtesan is a suspect who has gone missing, and I have heard of no other murdered men who fit that information.”

  Eva slumped onto the settee. “I trust your instincts. Thank you for your discretion.”

  The room fell silent for a moment. Then Simon asked, “How would a servant have the money to pay an investigator and why?”

  “I was wondering the same thing,” His Grace said. “If what I’ve heard about Westwick is true, the servants would be pleased to be rid of him.”

  Laura nodded absently. Westwick was a horrid master. He terrorized everyone in his employment just for the pleasure of doing so.

  “It’s true,” Laura said, her voice thin. “They hated and feared him. If not for constant threats to hunt them down and have them whipped, or worse, they would have fled him in droves.”

  Crawford stared. Laura felt his keen eyes take her measure. After a long pause he spoke. “You are the missing courtesan?” He didn’t wait for her answer. “I expected only an Amazon of a woman could take down Westwick. He was reputed to punish his courtesans with his fists.”

  Simon spoke up. “Do not let her size confuse you. Laura is a fighter.” He briefly explained her history.

  When Simon finished, Laura looked Crawford straight in the eyes. “I assure you that I did not kill Westwick. Unless wishing for his death is what killed him. When I escaped, he was still breathing.”

  “We believe the killer used her disappearance to cover his guilt and make her the main suspect,” Simon added. “It was an unfortunate coincidence and may have saved her life.”

  The investigator crossed his arms. “Interesting. I thought the servant’s arrival was odd. Now I believe someone else put him up to the query, a man who wanted to distance himself from the crime.”

  “The murderer?” Miss Eva said.

  “Possibly,” Simon replied. “But other than the servants, and half of the fathers and brothers in London, why would anyone kill Westwick? He was just another spoiled lord who never had to account for his misdeeds. If every nobleman who fit that description were executed for those failings, half of the Ton would be dead.”

  “Yes,” His Grace agreed. “Why Westwick?”

  “That seems to be the question plaguing this situation,” Simon replied. “I believe Laura is at the root of the crime.” Crawford lifted a brow and Simon continued, “From what Laura told me about her time with Westwick, his evil deeds go back years. He’d collected enemies since boyhood, when he attacked his first housemaid. Surely there were many times since when someone wanted to kill him but hadn’t the courage to murder a peer.”

  “It is the timing of the murder that I find suspect.” His Grace briefly explained the auction. “The auction ended with the killing.”

  Crawford’s eyes darkened with anger. He stared at Laura. “Lord Westwick received a just punishment. The killer should be knighted.”

  Heads nodded all around. Laura took comfort in the tide of sympathy from those gathered. If the Runners did find her, she’d have a small group of powerful voices speaking for her.

  Simon stepped away to refresh his drink. “Though I have no proof, I think Laura became the object of a twisted desire. The man may have disposed of the earl to have her.”

  The investigator settled his attention on her. Laura tried not to fidget. The duke and duchess clearly respected Crawford. She somehow knew his opinion of her would solidify her innocence, or guilt, in the mind of the duke.

  Finally, he nodded. “That is quite possible. Westwick was a man who did not discriminate with women. He abused at will. He would find Laura’s spirit challenging.” Crawford paused. “It isn’t improbable that she could inspire another man to feel the same passion. Throw shrews together in the same bucket and eventually they’ll cannibalize each other.”

  “You know much about the man,” Simon remarked and his eyes narrowed. “How much?”

  Looking at Simon, Crawford answered, “Years ago, I worked a case for him. My only and last. I learned enough about the earl during our brief association to keep clear of him in the future.”

  Laura closed her eyes. Crawford did not look like the sort of man to be intimidated by anyone. For him to consider Westwick dangerous confirmed that she was lucky she wasn’t dead.

  “I would like to hire you to look into the murder.” Simon returned to his place beside Laura. “There were men at the auction who travel in circles of which I am unfamiliar. If you can find any information from that quarter, then we can certainly cover more avenues. This could lead to a rapid conclusion of this matter.”

  “Mister Crawford is a skilled investigator,” Miss Eva stated confidently. “He has helped on several cases of which I am familiar.”

  Laura didn’t like feeling more beholden to Simon than she already was. And yet she hadn’t the funds to hire Crawford herself. Although if he was as good as the duchess claimed, he was well worth any cost.

  “When I find a position, I will repay you for whatever you spend,” Laura said softly.

  Simon shook his head. “I expect no repayment.”

  “I insist.” She met his eyes. Her level stare showed she’d accept no argument. “I will not allow it otherwise.”

  He frowned. “You are a stubborn woman.”

  She indicated her agreement with a wry smile. “I was kept and imprisoned for over a year by a monster. I will not accept charity from any man not my husband. We will have an agreement, or I will not cooperate with this fool’s mission.” She darted a glance at the other three people as they watched
to see if Simon would agree. Miss Eva nodded her approval.

  Finally, he tipped his head. “I agree.”

  Satisfied, she reached for her teacup. She glanced at the duke over the rim. She thought she detected a glimpse of admiration, but the moment was fleeting.

  Though Miss Eva and Simon thought her innocent, neither truly knew her. They formed their opinion not on facts but emotion. The duke, however, had no connection to her and would look at her situation through facts alone. So far, he seemed to lean toward believing her. Hopefully, by the time the day ended, her innocence would be solidified in his mind.

  The maid returned with a tray of mixed pastries. She fussed over Miss Eva before the duke dismissed her.

  “Perhaps we should get to business.” Crawford claimed a chair beside the fire. “There are still many paths to cover.”

  Simon would never take money from Laura, but knew she’d remain steadfastly stubborn if he refused. He also knew that unless she found employment, there was little chance she’d ever have funds for repayment.

  The chances of her gaining a respectable position were minuscule. Who would hire such a beauty if the household was full of men? A wife or mother would see future trouble arising from her presence and chase Laura off.

  He watched Crawford press Laura with clipped questions. The interrogation was meant to draw out facts. She held herself well, answering each with an emotionless tone.

  “How many men were in attendance for the auction?”

  “My guess is thirty. There may have been more,” Laura answered, pressing her clasped fists to her mouth. “I was terrified by the tension in the house. Some of the men were frightening and I worried that I would be caught alone in a hallway or darkened corner and attacked. As for my escape, it was luck that left me unattended for those few minutes.”

  “You said the men were not all noblemen?”

  She shook her head. “Some were dressed impeccably and others were a bit frayed. I wouldn’t have known their occupations had I not eavesdropped on their conversations.” She paused and scrunched up her face. “I remember there was an Italian merchant and at least two slavers from some faraway place. They were dressed in unusual clothing. I believe there was a French count and several merchants from America.”