Once Upon A Diamond

by McCarthy, Teresa

  “Devil take it!” He grabbed his wrinkled jacket off the chair and glanced at the wide-eyed expressions of the tired men before him.

  “What is it?” Robert asked, stiffening.

  Tristan wondered how much he could tell them. “I recalled some information. Gaston might have contacts in Seven Dials. It’s a slim chance, but if anyone knows something, we’ll find out there.”

  Devin shot off his seat. “You’re not leaving without me.”

  “She’s my daughter,” Robert said firmly. “I’ll not be waiting while she’s still in danger. If you think she’s there, then I’m going with you." He turned toward his friend. “Bartholomew, you wait here. She may need you.”

  An hour later the men found themselves in the seedier district off Seven Dials. The distinct odor of garbage swept through the streets. Dirty urchins scuffled about the alleys. Dogs sniffed about the rubbish. Poverty permeated the air while prostitutes slept off their night of debauchery.

  Hope and fear took over Tristan’s brain. Devin and Robert were inquiring at the nearby tavern while Tristan found himself searching the alleys, asking early morning risers if they had seen a golden-haired lady in the vicinity.

  He met up with Robert and Devin an hour later at Snoops Pub located off Nottingham Court. The three gentlemen were the only occupants.

  They sat at a pine table at the far corner of the room.

  The air smelled of smoke, garbage and human body odor. The sun barely peeked through the window, allowing only a modicum of warmth. The proprietor, Mrs. Snoops, a hefty woman with white, straggly hair and yellow teeth, served them a plate of bread and a bit of cheese.

  “Snoops Pub ain’t in the business of serving peers of the realm, ye know. But if you’ll wait a bit, I’ll have some ale for you.”

  Tristan flipped the lady a coin and her pale eyes lit with pleasure. “If ye be wantin’ anything else, just let me know, guvnah.”

  After the lady wobbled to the backroom, Devin glanced at Tristan and gave him a wry smile. “She’s taken with you. Must be something about those green eyes of yours.”

  Tristan chewed on the bread and swallowed. His friend was trying to humor him, but it wasn’t working. They still hadn’t found Kate, and Headquarters was in an uproar over the missing diamond.

  Robert dipped his head against the table, his hands covering his face. “Haven’t cried since my wife died. But the thought of Katherine gone...” He shook his head.

  “She’s alive, Robert,” Tristan said harshly. “Don’t you dare give up on her.” He shoved his chair back and strode toward the kitchen. But fear knotted in his stomach like a lead ball. Why did Gaston have to take Kate? Because of the diamond, he answered back. Because she was the captain’s way out of England.

  Mrs. Snoops jumped off her seat when Tristan entered. “Oh, it’s you, guvnah.” A wide grin spread across her face, giving him a clear view of her stained teeth. “Can I help you, dearie?”

  Tristan pulled out his purse and slapped it on the table. The lady gasped, throwing a shaking hand to her large bosom. “I ain’t what you think I am, guvnah. I’m a good girl. Just funnin’ ye.” Her eyes darted to the side door. “Me husband’s in the next room.”

  Tristan stared at the lady, stunned. “I want information. I’m looking for a golden-haired lady who might have been in this vicinity last evening.”

  The elderly woman let out a relieved breath. “Well, why didn’t you say that in the first place? She your ladybird then?”

  Tristan gave an irritable tug on his waistcoat. “No. She’s my wife.”

  The lady’s eyes narrowed. “What she be doing in Seven Dials then? You hit her?”

  Tristan looked the lady in the eye. “She was kidnapped.”

  The lady threw a pair of beefy hands onto her ample hips and swore. “What’s the scoundrel look like who took her?”

  Tristan gave her the description of the captain and Kate. He had no name of the man who had given the letter to Headquarters, and left that fact unsaid. If this didn’t prove helpful, he would contact Whitehall asking about the carrier’s description.

  “The captain was found dead,” he said to Mrs. Snoops. “He came back to Mayfair last night. We don’t know what happened to my wife or if she’s even alive.” His voice lowered on the last two words.

  To his surprise, the lady began to curse any man who would dare hurt innocent ladies. “There, there, guvnah. I ain’t been called Mrs. Snoops for nothing. We’ll find that wife of yours. You give me an hour or two to spread the word. Stay here until I get back to you, dearie”

  A few minutes later Tristan paced the floor at Snoops Pub while Robert and Devin took another look about the area. It had been three hours since he had left home this morning to search for Kate, and he was growing frantic.

  He glanced up when the back door flew open and Mrs. Snoops ambled in. “Anything?” he asked, his heart in his throat.

  Mrs. Snoops brought him a warm scone and smiled. “Your wife, does she have brown eyes as big as a pup’s?”

  Tristan sank onto the nearest chair and his throat tightened. “Like a deer. Beautiful and big. Almost a chocolate color.”

  “Well then, might this be her?”

  Tristan raised his gaze to the back door. A small silhouette swayed in the sunlight. It couldn’t be? His eyes were playing tricks on him. “Kate?”

  “Tristan?”

  The sound of Kate’s voice shook him from his dreamlike state. Stunned, he pushed away from the table and ran toward her. “Kate.” He wrapped her tightly in his arms and lifted her off her feet. “You’re alive.”

  She cried his name and entwined her shaking arms around his neck.

  He swallowed tightly and lifted her away from him. She was clad in her dirty blue gown and covered with a ragged brown shirt that shielded her from the crisp morning air.

  And she looked absolutely wonderful.

  He pressed her head to his chest, putting a hand to her hair. “I never meant for you to leave, sweetheart.”

  She sobbed into his cravat. “I know.”

  He let out a groan and kissed her hair, her lips, her neck, her cheeks. She felt so perfect in his arms. He didn’t know how long he held her, wiping away her tears and asking her forgiveness. All he wanted to do was to take her away from the filth of London and make love to her. Tell her how much he needed her. Tell her how much she meant to him.

  “Katherine?"

  They both turned at the sound of Robert’s voice. He stood at the front door, the sun shining past his broad shoulders. “You’re all right?” The man’s voice was filled with tears.

  “I’m all right, Papa. I’m fine.”

  Moving to her father, Kate looked up at Devin who walked up behind them.

  “Katherine,” Devin replied with a hitch to his voice. “We thought we’d never see you again.”

  Kate blinked back her tears. “I’m fine. I ran from the captain. He’s–”

  “Dead,” Robert said calmly. “And no, my dear, I didn’t kill him. He was hit by a rolling carriage and killed by a horse.”

  Kate closed her eyes and stumbled against a chair. “I see.”

  Tristan hastened forward and scooped her into his arms. “She’s exhausted.”

  Robert looked on with a gleam of interest in his eyes, but said nothing. After thanking Mrs. Snoops with his purse and giving her a kiss to her blushing cheek, Tristan deposited Kate in the carriage.

  “You don’t have to tell us what happened, darlin’,” Robert assured her, patting her trembling hand.

  “It’s all right, Papa. There isn’t much to tell."

  “Did he hurt you?" Tristan’s expression turned dark as he looked her over. “Did he?”

  “No,” she replied, stopping him from asking the question that was on everyone’s mind. “No, he didn’t - not that way. But he would have followed through with his plan if it weren’t for Peter."

  “Peter?" Devin asked.

  Kate’s voice broke as she pu
shed the loose strands of hair away from her face. “He’s a street urchin. He took me to an old building where he’s lived for the past year. The captain could never find us there. So we stayed the night until everything looked clear. Peter was the one who told me questions were being asked at Snoops Pub.” She peered out the window as they traveled back to better part of London. “And here I am.”

  But in her heart, she feared for the small orphan boy who had pulled her away from the murderous villain. She looked back at the men. “Peter has to scrape for every meal. He’s all alone in the world. His parents died last year from the fever. I don’t know what will become of him. Please, Tristan, we have to go back.”

  “Not now,” Robert said, his eyes narrowing on the couple.

  “Your father’s right.” Tristan looked up at Robert. “I’ll hire a Runner to look into Peter. We’ll find him."

  Kate gave a grim nod. She felt drained from the horrendous night. Gaston was a despicable man. She couldn’t say she was sorry he was gone from the world.

  She glanced at Tristan and her brief happiness began to falter. Oh, he had rescued her, and was probably quite fond of her. But love? That didn’t fit into his plans.

  When they returned to the duke’s townhouse, her hope began to fade like the bloom of a flower. Though she knew Tristan desired her as a man did a woman, she would not give herself to him. He didn’t love her. The man loved the diamond, if he loved anything at all.

  Her experience the last twenty-four hours helped her make up her mind. She would stay at the duke’s home, and give Tristan a few more days to profess his love. She would use the excuse that she needed more time to tell her father of their marriage. She loved Tristan, but if he refused to open his heart, she would leave with her father.

  And then there was Mr. Bartholomew Travis. She was surprised to see him in England. He was such a dear friend of her father’s. He had always wanted her to marry his stepson Jake, even though it wouldn’t be a love match. But at least her heart wouldn’t suffer like it was now. Perhaps, she thought sadly, if things didn’t work out here...

  “You’re my wife,” Tristan said later that afternoon when they were alone in the duke’s gardens. “I want you home. With me. I’ve already apologized, what more do you want?”

  Your love, she thought. Tell me you love me.

  An hour later, Matthew and Devin watched in awed silence as the married couple separated to different homes and different beds.

  That evening Tristan and Edward made their way to the club.

  “A drink?” Devin asked with a twinkle in his eye. “No doubt you need one after the last twenty-four hours."

  Tristan sent him a disgruntled look and grabbed the brandy. “How is she?"

  “My sister, or your wife?"

  Tristan’s head jerked up and he turned to see Matthew’s pale form laid out on the settee behind him. “What the devil are you doing here? You look as if you’re about to die on the spot.”

  Matthew waved his hand. “Gets a bit stuffy at the duke’s. Devin took pity on me. Besides, I needed some fresh air and to tell you a thing or two. Why in the name of King George did you not take her home with you?"

  Tristan glared at his brother-in-law. “I couldn’t very well take her from your father, not after what had happened. Now get yourself back home, you idiot!”

  “Why the devil couldn’t you take her?” Devin demanded.

  Tristan’s lips thinned as he turned toward Devin. There were two reasons why not. One, Kate didn’t want to be married to him. And two, even in the unlikely event she did, she would never forgive him if he spoke to her father about their marriage before she did.

  Either way, he vowed he would no longer be the domineering fool he had been most his life. He would get Kate back. He’d been given another chance with her. He would be a fool to throw it away. But the diamond had put a crimp in his immediate plans. Headquarters believed the gem still here in London and Tristan was ordered to find it.

  He would be seeing Andrews tomorrow. The retired Bow Street Runner had finally been informed of the true reason for the return of the diamond. The man was adamant in not being paid for his services, for he was working for the Crown now, and England depended on him.

  Switching subjects, Tristan turned to his brother. “Now that things have calmed down, what about your upcoming marriage?"

  “Calmed down?” Edward gasped in outrage. He held his brandy glass tightly and gulped the liquid down his throat.

  “Ah, getting cold feet already?" Devin slapped the table in amusement. “I shall have to call you out if you cannot honor your proposal to my sister."

  The gentlemen all laughed, all except Edward.

  “I’ll be speaking to the duke tomorrow.”

  Tristan gave his brother a hard pat on the shoulder. “Nothing to be nervous about."

  “Easy for you to say,” Matthew laughed. “You never had to approach my father on the subject.”

  “Ah, true. But I sense he knows something."

  Tristan lifted his glass. The other gentlemen followed in turn. “A double toast. To the safe return of my wife and the upcoming marriage of my dear brother.”

  His wife. Tristan prayed she would stay his wife or he would die trying.

  After downing their drinks, Devin leaned forward and gave Tristan a wry smile. “Hear the latest on-dit? Before you entered, Matthew and I overheard some rather interesting gossip.” He tilted his head toward the table across the room.

  Tristan scowled. “Never thought I’d see the day you two gentlemen would turn to the latest gossip. You’ve been with my wife too long, eavesdroppers the lot of you.”

  Devin chuckled. “Truly, we couldn’t help overhearing.”

  “He’s correct,” Matthew defended. “The gentlemen were so loud, we couldn’t help listening to the news of the baron."

  “Lord Douberry?" Edward interrupted, leaning closer.

  Devin took a long sip of his brandy. “What baron do you think we’re talking about?”

  “What news?” Tristan asked, growing impatient.

  Devin cocked a dark brow. “Man’s dead.”

  “Dead?” Edward asked.

  “Dead,” Matthew repeated.

  Tristan couldn’t believe it. The baron dead? He had just seen the man at the ball. “How did it happen?"

  “They say the old man didn’t wake up this morning,” said Matthew. “Poor buzzard died in his sleep.”

  Edward leaned back in his chair and gazed pointedly at his brother. “That takes him off your list then."

  “I would say so,” Tristan said, his mind reeling with the information. Douberry dead?

  “Who knows,” said Devin, “Douberry may have been the man concocting all those attempts on your life.”

  Tristan tapped his fingers on the table. “I’m thinking the same. The baron is dead. Gaston is dead. Two of the most likely people wanting to kill me are gone. That leaves only one other person that might wish me dead. Though I highly doubt Lady Helen could be behind all these schemes.”

  Devin frowned. “It can’t be her. The chit was only looking for a husband, and you were her first choice. Hell’s bells, the other night, I saw her digging her claws into Viscount Rushting. Digging for gold, I might add."

  “Well, hope she digs hard.” Tristan grabbed his glass and smiled. “Man deserves everything he gets if he marries that chit.”

  “It looked like Rushting was more than interested," Devin suggested. “By the way, thought you’d like to know, tomorrow afternoon, my uncle will be driving Kate about Hyde Park.”

  Tristan nodded. “I’ll be there.”

  Devin glanced at the two brothers. “Don’t forget, both of you are invited to dine with us tomorrow. Should prove interesting.”

  “Interesting?" Matthew replied. “Entertaining, would be more like it.”

  Tristan scowled at Matthew. “You should be in bed, you fool.”

  Matthew chuckled, placing one hand over his heart. “Ah, let
me leave you with a few lines from Shakespeare’s famous play, Taming of the Shrew. ‘Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper, thy head, thy sovereign; one that cares for thee, and for thy maintenance commits his body to painful labor both by sea and land.’”

  He paused and grinned at Tristan’s grim expression. “Act 5, to be precise, my noble brother-in-law. Remember it well."

  Chapter Nineteen

  Kate could not deny her father’s offer of taking a turn at the reins of the duke’s phaeton while they drove through Hyde Park. She was still in ecstasy over the ten baskets of red roses Tristan had sent her. In his letter, he begged her forgiveness once again. But most of all, he wanted to stay married, if she would have him.

  Though her mind still played havoc with the fact that he had never professed his love, he did seem to care for her, and that was a step in the right direction. Though she had gone against her principles and married someone who didn’t love her, she reminded herself that she would not have married any man if she did not love him.

  She also decided that today would be a perfect time to explain to her father about her recent nuptials. Then, she could be with Tristan and give him the chance to tell her the words she desperately needed to hear.

  Her feelings about someone wanting to kill Tristan had vanished. Gaston was dead and so was the baron. She had heard of Douberry’s death after breakfast. To her, the baron didn’t seem like the sort of man who could concoct a villainous scheme to kill Tristan, but he had held a grudge against her husband. Either way, she felt certain that Tristan was no longer in danger, and in effect, he would no longer try to protect her with his unseemly demands.

  Kate parked the phaeton beneath the shade of a large oak and reflected on the best way to break the news of her marriage to her father. “It is nice here, Papa, don’t you think?”

  Her father smiled and nodded. “Is something wrong, darlin’?"

  “No,” Kate said, suddenly feeling anxious. “I was thinking about the oak tree back home. Remember when we used to picnic under the cool shade in the heat of the summer?"