The Deceptive Lady Darby (Lost Ladies of London Book 2)

by Adele Clee

Sitting on the top step, Lady Stanton sighed. Blood covered her hands and breeches. “It’s too late for the doctor, too.”

  Lord Stanton found his coat and shrugged into the garment. “We need to inform the authorities. For the life of me, I have no idea how we’ll explain this mess.”

  “It shouldn’t be too difficult to gather proof of the doctor’s nefarious dealings.” Rose took hold of Christian’s hand and held it tightly. “After all, we still have the blue book and the note requesting I meet him here. The mere fact he paid for private use of the garden creates suspicion.”

  “We’ll leave together and go straight to Peel. As Home Secretary, I believe he’ll have a vested interest in our case.” Lord Stanton withdrew his pocket watch and checked the time. “It shouldn’t be too difficult to locate him at this time of day. And that way the matter will be dealt with swiftly and with the utmost discretion.”

  Christian hoped Stanton was right. Peel was considered a fair man though one obsessed with combating crime in the city. “On the way, I want you to tell me what the devil Mrs Wilmslow had to do with it all.”

  Rose nodded, but her gaze drifted to the body sprawled across the path. “What about Dr Taylor? We can’t leave him here.”

  Lord Stanton shrugged. “Then we have no choice but to take him with us.”

  Rose shivered visibly. “You forget, the gate’s locked. The only way out is by boat.”

  “I found this in the doctor’s pocket.” Lady Stanton opened her blood-stained hand to reveal a small iron key. “I presume it’s for the gate.”

  “Let us hope so. After all that’s happened we deserve some luck.” Christian stood, took Rose’s hand and brought her to her feet. “Come. The sooner we get this business dealt with the sooner we can move on with our lives.”

  Christian caught himself. Could this truly be the end of his problems? After seven years spent in a miserable marriage, and two years spent living with the threat of constant sickness, he’d lost all hope of ever being happy again.

  Everything changed the day Rose came into his life.

  His throat grew tight when he thought of how close he’d come to losing her. Rose was his friend, his love, his everything.

  He recalled something she’d said at Everleigh. Often our greatest teachers are the ones who cause us the most pain. Now he understood Cassandra’s lesson. She had shown him all that love was not. Only now could he appreciate the value of sacrifice. Now he could appreciate the beauty of true love.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  It was seven o’clock by the time Rose and Nicole left Peel’s office. Through the patches of fog, a warm orange sky spoke of the sun’s slow descent. Thankfully, the testimony of two peers proved more than adequate to appease Peel. Indeed, the gentleman seemed more interested in the fraud committed at Morton Manor than the fact the reverend’s wife had killed a doctor in the apothecaries’ garden.

  Peel sent a constable around to every London address listed in the blue book. It soon became evident that some patients at the manor had not been mad at all. Greedy people often resorted to underhanded methods to rid themselves of their unwanted relatives. Peel agreed that the doctor could not have acted alone when he took the bribes. And the consensus was that Mr Watson, at one time, must have been his accomplice.

  As Oliver’s carriage rattled through the London streets, Nicole sat at Rose’s side, gripping her hand as she’d done many times during the six months spent together at the manor.

  “I’ll be glad to be out of these ridiculous clothes and in a warm bath.” Nicole’s weary tone conveyed the stresses of the day.

  Rose glanced down at the faint blood splatters on her breeches. She grimaced when she inhaled, and the vile stench of the river invaded her nose. “I don’t want to go home.”

  Nicole turned to her and frowned. “You don’t?”

  So much had happened in the last week it was hard to think clearly, but one thought remained constant. She loved Christian. The only place she wanted to be was in his arms. “Take me to Berkeley Square.”

  “But Oliver insisted we return home and wait for him there. They could be with Peel for hours.”

  “Berkeley Square is my home, as is any place where Christian happens to be.”

  Nicole scanned Rose’s coat and breeches and screwed up her nose. “But you need to bathe. You need clean clothes.”

  Rose shrugged. “Mrs Hibbet will see to it all.” When Christian told her he’d brought the children and his housekeeper with him to London, Rose’s heart soared. “Please, Nicole. I want to be there when Christian comes home.”

  Nicole pursed her lips and nodded. “Who am I to stand in the way of true love?”

  Christian hadn’t told her what number Berkeley Square, only that he had a house next door to Lord Marlborough. Nicole refused to allow Rose to knock on doors while wearing a gentleman’s coat and smelly breeches and so they waited in the carriage while Jackson made the rounds.

  Eventually, he returned to the carriage and opened the door. “It’s this one, my lady.”

  Rose hugged Nicole before alighting and mounting the three small steps. She expected to see the butler, but Lord Trevane stood at the door in his shirtsleeves.

  “Lady Rose.” Trevane inclined his head but smirked as he perused her unconventional attire. “I received a note to say Farleigh won’t be back for a few hours.”

  “I know. He asked me to wait here until his return.” It didn’t matter if she lied to this man. “I thought I might spend time with the children.”

  Trevane raised a brow. “You wouldn’t happen to have a calming influence by any chance? Three glasses of brandy and still the noise is deafening.”

  Rose smiled as she imagined mayhem within. “The only way you’ll find out is if you let me inside. Or are we to spend the evening conversing on the doorstep?”

  Trevane stepped aside and gestured to the hall. “You’re certain you wish to enter the house while I’m in residence?”

  Rose’s heart raced. Trevane knew how to intimidate without saying much at all. “I assume your sister is here,” she said marching past him.

  “Do you think that will stop the gossips?” He closed the door and then inhaled deeply. “Good God, you smell as though you’ve spent a week sleeping in the gutters.”

  Heat flooded her cheeks. “I’ve been swimming in the river, though not out of choice.”

  Trevane stared at her neck and narrowed his gaze. “And if that wasn’t foolish enough you thought to enter the home of two unmarried gentlemen, without the aid of a chaperone.”

  Rose waved her hand down the front of her coat. “As you can see, my sense of propriety abandoned me long ago. And as you obviously enjoy playing butler will you not at least offer to take my hat and gloves?”

  Trevane’s eyes flashed with amusement. “Now it’s clear why Farleigh dragged me around half the ballrooms in London to find you. Originals don’t come along often. But allow me to point out that in your effort to appear scandalous you seem to be minus both items of apparel.”

  “Rose! Rose!” The children’s excited voices rang through the house. “Rose is here.” They came bounding down the stairs, their little legs moving so fast they were liable to fall. “Rose.”

  Trevane winced. “I’ll be in the drawing room, cradling a decanter of brandy if you need me.”

  Jacob reached her first and flung his arms around her waist. Alice was but a second behind. “We missed you,” they both cried.

  Rose closed her eyes and hugged them with every ounce of strength she had left in her body. She knelt down, cupped their tiny faces and kissed their cheeks.

  “We kept your letters.” Alice’s innocent blue eyes widened. “And we did what you said.”

  Jacob raised his chin. “I filled a glass with brandy without spilling a drop and brought it to Papa.”

  “That is a feat. Crystal decanters are extremely heavy.”

  “And I brought him a flower from the garden and left it on his desk.”r />
  Rose’s heart swelled. “And did he appreciate your small gestures of love?” She’d hoped the tasks would distract their minds and make them focus on the one person who truly loved them and was always there.

  Alice nodded. “Papa told Mrs Hibbet he’ll teach us our sums from now on.”

  “That’s wonderful.”

  “I’m sure we’ll have another governess soon.” Jacob conveyed a relaxed, carefree air, exactly as a child unburdened with problems ought to be. “Papa sometimes mumbles to himself and stares out of the window, and then he forgets what he’s told us.”

  Tears formed in Rose’s eyes. Happiness blossomed in her chest. This was where she belonged.

  “Are you crying because of that terrible smell?” Alice pinched her nose. “I know I said I don’t want to be a lady but breeches pong.”

  “They do.” Rose chuckled. “And so I suggest you stick to wearing dresses.”

  Mrs Hibbet rushed down the stairs. She took one look at Rose and sniffed. “Oh, saints preserve us, we’ll need a ton of soap to rid you of that awful smell.”

  Alice giggled. “Rose needs to look pretty for when Papa gets home.”

  The thought of spending time alone with Christian caused Rose’s stomach to flip.

  Mrs Hibbet clapped her hands. “Come on now. You two run along upstairs. Rose needs to bathe. I’m sure she’ll come and read to you when she’s clean again.”

  The children stood at Rose’s side and took a hand each. Clearly, they had no intention of leaving.

  Mrs Hibbet shook her head but smiled. “It’s good to see you back, my lady.”

  “Thank you, Mrs Hibbet. In my heart, I never left.”

  “We’re not expecting his lordship home for a few hours. By that time, we’ll have you washed and dressed and looking your best.”

  Alice squeezed Rose’s hand. “I’ve got a pretty pink ribbon you could use for your hair.”

  “That sounds lovely. Pink is my—”

  Lord Trevane yanked open the drawing room door, and they all jumped. “There are rooms in the house. Must you loiter in the hall?”

  Mrs Hibbet smiled sweetly. “We’re heading upstairs now, my lord, and shall leave you in peace.”

  Trevane nodded and returned to converse with his brandy.

  Mrs Hibbet ushered them all upstairs. “We’ll speak to Lady Lillian and see if she can lend you something to wear for the time being.”

  Rose had been keen to meet Lady Lillian Sandford ever since hearing snippets of gossip at Lord Warner’s ball. Regardless of what people said, Rose trusted Christian’s judgement when it came to picking friends. Besides, after the events of the last week, surely Rose held the title of the most scandalous lady in all of London.

  “You’ll like Lillian,” Alice said knocking on a bedchamber door. “She’s kind and funny and loves to eat cake.”

  Lady Lillian opened the door. She smiled warmly at Alice but took one look at Rose’s filthy clothes and matted hair and gasped. “Good heavens. What happened to you?”

  “Rose has come for a bath,” Alice said as though she regularly brought in waifs and strays off the street.

  Mrs Hibbet stepped forward. “Forgive us for disturbing you, my lady, but we’re in desperate need of a dress.”

  A smile touched the corners of the lady’s mouth, she reached out and grasped Rose’s hands. “Oh, I was hoping to meet you. Lord Farleigh has told me so much about you.” She winked at the children. “And I’m told you love sweet treats, too.”

  At the mere mention of sweet treats Rose’s heart lurched. “As to that, I think we should all refrain from such things for a day or two.” When everyone looked at her with some confusion, she added, “I heard tell that there’s a problem with contaminated sugar.”

  Mrs Hibbet jerked her head back. “Contaminated with what?”

  “I’m not sure.” Over the top of the children’s heads, she mouthed, “Arsenic.”

  “Goodness gracious.” Mrs Hibbet put her hand to her chest. “Then I’d best mention it to Cook.”

  “I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about, but I suggest she replaces her current stock as a precaution. I’m sure Lord Farleigh will say the same when he returns.”

  Mrs Hibbet hurried to the stairs. “Lady Lillian will look after you, and I’ll get a maid to come and light the fire and have the tub brought up, and some water heated.”

  Still gripping Rose’s hands, the lady pulled her into the bedchamber. “I’ve fresh water in the bowl so you can wash your face. And you can change into my bathing gown while you wait.” She scrunched her nose. “The sooner you change out of these clothes the better.”

  The children were right. Rose felt an instant connection to Lillian. She possessed a serene quality that put one at ease. While her brother’s hard stare could frighten the devil, her hazel eyes brimmed with compassion. Even so, she possessed a regal air, aided by the conservative cut of her high-collared dress.

  A maid appeared at the door. “Come now, children. Mrs Hibbet said I’m to settle you in your beds.”

  Jacob looked most put out. “But we want Rose to read to us.”

  “I’ll come and see you once I’m out of these smelly clothes.” Rose kissed both children on the forehead and with some reluctance they followed the maid.

  “They’ve done nothing but talk about you since they arrived,” Lillian said helping Rose out of her coat. “I don’t mean to speak out of turn, but I think their father has told them he’s come to take you back to Everleigh.” She threw the coat to the floor and then looked Rose in the eye. “Will you go with them?”

  Rose didn’t need to time to think. “In a heartbeat.”

  Lillian smiled. “That’s what I hoped you would say. I believe Mrs Hibbet loves you as much as the children do.”

  Rose fiddled with her cravat but struggled to pull the silk free of the knot. “My brother prefers the fancy styles, though they’re a devil to untie.”

  “Let me try.” Lillian stepped forward. “There are not many brothers who would allow their sister to don gentleman’s attire.”

  Rose recalled Oliver’s growl of disapproval while finding her suitable clothes. “I’m afraid he had no choice in the matter. Nothing would deter me in my course.”

  Lillian untied the knot and jerked her head back. “Heavens, where have you been?”

  “I took a dip in the Thames, though it wouldn’t have been so bad if I could swim. Christian … I mean Lord Farleigh rescued me. He truly was the hero of the hour.” And the love of her life.

  Lillian dropped the cravat on top of the coat and ambled over to the window. “What’s it like?” She pulled the curtain to one side and stared down at the street below. “I mean, what’s it like to feel loved and cherished?”

  How could one answer such a question?

  “Do you mean by a man?”

  Lillian nodded. “I’m sure you’ve heard talk of my scandalous encounter with a rogue. With my ruined reputation, I don’t hold out much hope for a love match.”

  Rose could feel the pain behind Lillian’s words. “There are good men in the world, ones willing to look beyond society’s rigid rules.” Men willing to forgive a lady’s mistakes.

  “When my brother finally stops blaming himself for what happened and allows me some space, the best I can hope for is a gentleman in dire need of funds.” She gave a weak chuckle. “Forgive me for rambling on. It’s just that it’s been an age since I’ve spoken to anyone other than my brother.”

  Rose sat down on the stool next to the dressing table and tugged on her boot. “From what I hear, your brother is rather protective.” While waiting in Peel’s office, Christian spoke fondly of his friendship with Lord Trevane. “Though I’m sure he has your best interests at heart.”

  With a sudden gasp, Lillian shot back from the window. She stood frozen for a moment, her eyes wide as she gulped.

  “Is everything all right?” Rose yanked off one boot, and it landed with a thud on the floor.
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  Lillian jumped. “What? Yes. It’s nothing. A carriage stopped outside, and I thought it might be Lord Farleigh, but it’s moved on now.”

  As an expert in lies and deceit, Rose suspected the lady was not being entirely honest. Indeed, she would have pressed her further had Mrs Hibbet not arrived with a maid and two footmen in tow.

  “All sorted in the kitchen.” Mrs Hibbet stepped aside as the footmen came into the room carrying a copper bath tub. “After the sickness at Everleigh, it’s best not to take any chances.” Mrs Hibbet scanned Rose’s dirty breeches. “The water is almost ready. Let’s get you out of those clothes before his lordship returns.”

  The room erupted in a sudden flurry of activity. There was no time to continue her conversation with Lillian or probe her further about what she’d really seen outside.

  Christian would be home soon, and Rose would be ready and waiting for him when he walked through the door.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Christian’s carriage rolled to a stop outside his house in Berkeley Square, but he chose not to alight. He needed a few minutes alone. The day had brought one shocking revelation after another, and yet it all amounted to the same thing in the end — greed.

  Accepting one’s fate and making the most of opportunities were said to be the secret to happiness. Dr Taylor might have found a miracle cure for the pox had he focused on his skills in botany. But a bitter heart is its own poison. Every wicked deed is like another dose.

  Christian closed his eyes as his head fell back against the squab. He waited to feel a crippling bitterness, too, and yet love was the only sensation burning in his chest.

  Sucking in a breath, he opened the door and jumped down to the pavement. The soft glow of candlelight broke through a gap in the drawing room curtains. Hopefully, someone was waiting to share a brandy with him, even if it was Mrs Hibbet.

  Bamfield opened the front door as Christian approached. “Welcome home, my lord.” The butler took his hat. “Have you eaten? I can arrange for a light supper.”

  “There’s no need. I had dinner with the Home Secretary.” Indeed, Christian had sent for a clean change of clothes. Still, the smell of sewerage clung to his nostrils.