His Mischievous Bride: Regency Matchmaker Book Two

by Jones, Celeste

  On the surface it all appeared quite reasonable.

  Under the surface, my stomach roiled.

  * * *

  Tempest

  The servant who answered the door was unknown to me. Not surprising, considering the rapid pace with which they went through help as a result of their poor treatment. In retrospect, I realized it was only a sense of loyalty and protectiveness of me that had kept Mattie in their employ as long as it had. I thanked heaven every day that James had sent for her within a few days of our marriage. I believe it was then that I began to love him.

  Mattie had stayed in the carriage. She would be our lookout, though for what she was keeping watch, none of us had a clear notion, but we had agreed a lookout was a wise idea in sleuthing. When we left her in the carriage she had her nose buried in the book which Lady Calliope had freed from my uncle's study the night before.

  As it turned out, neither my aunt nor uncle were home, but Cousin Audra entertained us in the parlour.

  "What a surprise to see you, Tempest." She eyed me up and down, paying particular attention to my expanding girth. "I see you have not wasted any time since last we spoke," she said with a smirk.

  My fist itched to connect with her smug face, but I refrained. My job was to be pleasant and then excuse myself briefly and use that time to snoop through the house. I was faster and more familiar with the residence, so we had decided that would be my task while Lady Calliope occupied Audra.

  After the tea arrived and I had sipped enough to be polite, I excused myself to go to the kitchen under the pretext of seeking out a recipe from the cook. To my relief, she was still in their employ, or else my reason for leaving the parlour would be mute.

  Instead of the kitchen, however, I made a fast break for the servants' stairs up to the second floor and into Uncle Norbert's study, which I felt certain, as did Lady Calliope, would be the location of any incriminating documents we might find.

  Making my way quickly to the desk, I opened a drawer and pulled out a small leather-bound book. I recalled thumbing through it long ago but had no idea what any of the scratchings in it might mean. Now, I suspected it was the key to sending my relatives off to the Tower of London for their crimes against the crown.

  I tucked it into my reticule, which I had secured beneath my skirts. One of the benefits of being with child...no one would question the additional bulk.

  Feeling certain there must be more, I was frustrated when my uncle's study yielded no additional incriminating evidence. Determined, I made my way to his dressing room.

  Bile rose in my throat as his peculiar body odor met my nose. Whether the stench itself or just my own revulsion at recalling those times when I had been in his proximity, I did not know. Holding my breath, I quickly started opening drawers and going through pockets.

  "What the blazes are you doing in here?"

  The air left my lungs and my blood ran cold as the familiar voice met my ears. I took a moment to compose myself and then carefully turned to face my accuser.

  Aunt Hestia. She was the last person I expected to see anywhere near Uncle Norbert's private quarters. Her eyes blazed with fury and for the first time, I enjoyed knowing she had no power over me, even now, when she had caught me snooping in her husband's personal effects.

  "Hello, Aunt Hestia. How nice to see you." I gave her the faux smile which she had given me my entire life, on those limited occasions when the presence of others forced her to smile at me at all.

  "Do not give me that. You may have wiled your way into an advantageous marriage," her eyes landed on my expanded waistline, "but you will still always be a despicable, sniveling, heathen as far as I am concerned."

  "I would have you think of me in no other manner, aunt." I raised myself to my full height and glared into her beady eyes. "I believe my mother-in-law, Lady Calliope St. Clair, is waiting for me." I pushed past her to exit the room and she actually shrank away. Perhaps she was as eager to be out of Uncle Norbert's dressing room as I was.

  As she followed me down the hall, however, her vigor returned. "How dare you show your face in this house at all, not to mention scavenging around in your uncle's things. What are you up to?"

  I turned and confronted her. "It has come to my attention," I lied, "several items of my mother's jewelry were a part of her estate, and yet I have never once seen them. I have come to claim what is rightfully mine."

  Her face went pale and her hand went to her throat. "Who told you that?"

  I struggled to keep the surprise from my face at her admission, and pressed onward. "My sources are none of your concern, but I assure you I have the full backing of my husband, the Earl of Knox, to take every measure necessary to secure what is rightfully mine."

  "Fine," she said, scurrying off to her own dressing area. Curious, I waited for her.

  She returned quickly and shoved a small box into my hand. "It is not as though I have ever worn them. They do not suit me."

  Though tempted to open the box immediately, I knew it was imperative Lady Calliope and I exit the house as quickly as possible, even if I might have dissuaded Aunt Hestia from believing I was looking for anything more than jewelry in Uncle Norbert's dressing room.

  Chapter 9

  William

  Gibson and I sat across the street on a park bench pretending to converse and read the paper while keeping an eye on the home of Lord and Lady Freebush. Overnight, Gibson had investigated them further and found they were, indeed, highly suspicious individuals with no love lost on the crown.

  My plan had been to surveille their home to determine if any other characters might enter. When both Lord and Lady Freebush had exited the home earlier, Gibson and I took the opportunity to seek refreshments at my club and had only resumed our post moments before.

  I was correct in expecting characters. But when my own dear wife and her daughter-in-law, Lady Tempest, emerged from the home of the Freebushes, I became quite alarmed indeed.

  First, Callie had assured me she intended to spend the afternoon resting and settling her items into our home. Second, what in blazes was she doing here? I supposed it was possible she was being courteous and making a call to thank Lady Freebush for her hospitality, but why did she not mention that to me?

  And why was Lady Tempest, whose husband had banished Calliope and me from their home only the day before, accompanying her?

  With Callie, it was possible her plans changed on a whim and it was vaguely possible her son had come to his senses. So, I did not give their appearance too much of an unfavorable opinion until I saw Calliope and Lady Tempest were rushing from the house and quickly hopping into a hired carriage, telling the driver to take off at a high rate of speed.

  My suspicions were significantly aroused. I jabbed Gibson with my elbow and the two of us rushed to our coach and followed them in hot pursuit.

  I kicked myself for a couple of things as we rushed through the streets of London. I had left my own transportation for my wife's use and given strict instructions to my drivers, though they were military personnel, to follow my wife's directions as though they were my own. I had no idea why they had arrived in a hack. Additionally, Gibson and I had also taken a hack to do our surveillance on the home of the suspected traitors, the Freebushes, reason being I did not want to draw undue attention to myself or my companion with the regalia which adorned my carriage, giving it authority and color, but hardly incognito.

  Similarly, we had both worn civilian clothes to not draw attention to ourselves.

  The streets of London were crowded but our hack driver used impressive skill to maneuver until we were right behind our target.

  Gibson opened the door of the carriage and leaned out, shouting to the driver ahead to stop. The only thing he accomplished for his efforts was getting mud splashed in his face at the same moment that I, watching out the window, noticed the driver of my wife’s carriage look back, thereby obscuring Gibson's face and no doubt giving the other driver the impression he was being pursued by
a lunatic.

  * * *

  Callie

  I had never been so happy to see the inside of a carriage as I was when we exited the home of the loathsome Freebushes. While attempting to charm the uncharmable Lady Audra, Lady Hestia had returned and insisted upon finding Tempest immediately.

  I suspect she was suspicious and her suspicions were correct.

  Of course, I could do nothing, as my role in the charade was to provide cover and distraction as a well-bred lady making a call to thank her hostess for a lovely dinner the night before. It would have been unseemly to react to raised voices, though Lady Audra and I both made uneasy glances in the direction of the argument which clearly involved Tempest and her aunt.

  Fortunately, the heated words ended quickly and soon Tempest returned carrying a small box in her hand. How she had the nerve to so blatantly carry the evidence with her, I had no idea, but if Lady Hestia did not object, I would not either.

  Inside the carriage I gave a hearty rap to the roof signaling the driver to take off. Though we had told him we were in a hurry, I gave a couple more raps to let him know we were in earnest in our desire to leave quickly. The carriage lurched into traffic and I fell back against my seat.

  Though I had been exceptionally anxious for Tempest, I had to admit espionage was exhilarating. I glanced across at my companions. Mattie, who had finally put the book down when the carriage jolted from its parking place, seemed to feel my enthusiasm for a high-speed getaway. Tempest, however, was engrossed in the small box in her hands. Her eyes shone with unshed tears and she smiled wistfully while her fingers traced the delicate pattern on the cover. This was hardly the way I would expect a person to examine contraband.

  "Tempest," I said, "what did you find?"

  Before she could answer, the carriage took a corner at a high rate of speed and we were all thrown into the far wall, with Mattie landing atop Tempest since they were seated next to each other. We righted ourselves and gathered up Mattie's hat which had gone flying.

  We hit a smooth patch and Tempest pulled her reticule out from beneath her skirts and tossed it to me. “Look inside,” she said. “I believe that may be the evidence we seek.” I opened a book filled with odd markings. A code perhaps? My heart pounded. Had we actually achieved our goal?

  “Congratulations, ladies, I believe we have done it.”

  My companions smiled with pleasure but soon another sharp turn had us sliding again. Mattie stuck her head out the window to admonish the driver, yelled up at him, turned to look to our rear and then pulled back inside. "We're being chased!" Her eyes were bright, and she poked her head out for another look, this time glaring behind us in order to take in the view of our pursuers.

  "Who is it?" I pushed her aside and shoved my face into the fresh air, but the carriage behind us was a hack, the vehicle and driver unknown to me. The only crest on the side was of the company by which it was owned, not the insignia of a family of wealth.

  Of course, no self-respecting traitor would use their own carriage to take down the band of sleuths who had uncovered their dastardly deeds. Even I knew that, thanks to a serialized mystery novel I had been reading in my favorite magazine. If only I had read the last installment, I might have a better idea how to go about responding.

  I yelled up at the driver, "Can you lose them?"

  "Yes, my lady." He nodded. "You had best get back inside and hold on."

  Before I could follow his instructions, our vehicle took flight. I have never moved so quickly in any conveyance in all my life and my stomach gave a lurch. I glanced over at poor, expecting Tempest and she had a firm hand around her stomach while Mattie did her best to secure the two of them by pushing her legs against the wall and her back against her mistress.

  We hit what must have been a large mud puddle in the street for the carriage took a deep bounce and brown water covered the windows, making it impossible for us to see out.

  Storming through the streets of London, pursued by any manner of unknown, unsavory persons and our windows covered in mud, so we could not see what was happening.

  I had never had a more exciting time in my entire life.

  Tempest, thanks to being braced against the limber and apparently muscular Mattie, appeared to be feeling better and her eyes shone with excitement.

  "This is thrilling!" she shouted over the thunder of hooves. "I have never done anything so daring."

  The three of us shouted with the thrill of it all, heedless of the fact we were being pursued and might be in danger. For the moment, we were caught up in the thrill.

  We rounded another corner, and all went sliding again, though Mattie kept her position and held Tempest stable. "Thank you, Mattie," my daughter-in-law said.

  "I promised Lord Knox to take care of you and take care of you I shall." Mattie glanced over at me. "Your son can be rather strict, you know."

  The carriage had found a straightaway and apparently no other traffic for we were making good time and no further bumps or curves. I was relieved but since our speed continued, I had to believe we were still being pursued.

  Curiosity took over and I opened the door to peek out to determine our situation. I did not recognize the area at all and a bit of fear crept into my soul. Where were we? Glancing back, I saw the same hack following closely.

  At the same time, I noticed the door to the rear carriage open and to my shock, William poked his head out.

  I shouted up to the driver to stop, telling him it was my husband in the carriage behind us. He slammed on the brakes and the force of it tossed me from the carriage. I hung on to the door handle for as long as I could, bouncing along, banging my shins on the side of the carriage until I saw a patch of grass approaching. Like a daredevil, I let loose the carriage and rolled to a stop upon the hard ground with a thump.

  By the time I rolled onto my back and caught my breath, my view of the sun was blocked by the angry visage of my husband.

  "I…I—we were trying to capture the spies. The traitors who want to topple the king."

  He stared at me, slack-jawed.

  "What did you just say?"

  By this time Tempest and Mattie as well as Gibson had joined the gathering around me.

  William glanced over at Tempest and then back at me. "And you endangered the lives of Tempest and your unborn grandchild."

  I looked at Tempest and Mattie, their faces flushed with excitement and fear and both of them in disarray. The bulge of Tempest's belly a reminder of the grave risk I had taken with her life and a life yet unknown.

  And why?

  "I wanted to help you," I said. "I did not want you to think I was only a silly woman. And I could not bear having Jimmy believe such horrible lies about you.”

  William paused, then bent down to pick me up. "You help me in more ways than you will ever know, Calliope." He nodded toward Gibson. "You take Mattie in that carriage.” He gestured with his head. “Lady Tempest shall ride with us. We will meet up, at a careful pace, back at the residence."

  Mattie did not move immediately but when Tempest gave a nod and said, "I am sure the colonel and Lady Calliope shall be able to see to my safe delivery," Mattie complied, though she shot Gibson a scornful look when he attempted to assist her into the carriage.

  * * *

  Callie

  "What in blazes did you have in mind, going out on your own, sneaking around inside a house where you could have not only been caught but injured? Have you no sense at all?"

  We were in our bedchamber. After our escapade we had delivered Tempest and Mattie to their home and summoned the doctor to ascertain Tempest and the baby were unharmed. I had been forced, my husband refusing to allow me to avoid the chore, to explain to my son why I had allowed his expectant wife to accompany me on a dangerous, and foolish, undertaking.

  These revelations did nothing to improve my standing with my son.

  Eventually, William persuaded Jimmy to allow him a moment of private conversation. Looking dubious. Jimmy took Wil
liam to his study. The two of the emerged within a few moments, Jimmy appearing significantly less distressed.

  I heaved a massive sigh of relief.

  “The colonel has explained the situation to me,” Jimmy said to me. “I appreciate his candor and have vowed secrecy.”

  “Oh, good,” I said, a wide smile spreading across my face for the first time in what seemed hours.

  “You, however,” Jimmy continued, “endangered my wife and unborn child.”

  My heart sank. I hated myself for my foolishness.

  “I know, Jimmy,” I said, my voice hoarse with regret. “There are no words to adequately convey to you how sorry I am.”

  “The colonel has assured me appropriate wifely discipline will be administered. I trust his judgment in this matter. He has given his word.” My son turned and left the room. His dismissal pained me, but I understood his anger. William and I left soon thereafter.

  And now it was time for me to pay my penance. The dogs, which had happily greeted us upon our return had quickly discerned my husband's mood and all had scampered to hide beneath the sofa in the parlour. I wished I could join them.

  "Honestly, Calliope, I thought you had better sense than that."

  "I am sorry, William. Truly I am."

  "How am I going to explain this to my superiors? You nearly exposed the entire operation by getting in the way. What if you had been hurt? Do you know the implications of this plot if it is successful? I have years and years of experience in these matters and you decided you could take a pregnant woman and a maid and carry out a mission which had flummoxed a trained army officers for months? Are you that arrogant or that foolish?"

  I hung my head and dared not answer. Heat suffused my face and tears of shame pricked my eyes. My chest squeezed with anxiety and I struggled to take a breath.