The Robber Bride (The Daring Debutantes, Book 1)

by Jerrica Knight-Catania

Damn it all, what the devil was he going to do with that headstrong woman? She heeded none of his warnings. She showed no regard for her own life. And there was no doubt she was going after that bloody prince tonight. Damned foolish girl!

  Well, if he couldn’t control her, and her parents couldn’t control her, perhaps Tom might be able to convince her to let go of this ridiculous scheme. That meant telling Tom everything and betraying Victoria’s confidence, but he’d rather she be alive and angry with him than dead.

  Unsurprisingly, he found Tom in an alcove in the garden, his arms wrapped around Lady Beecham in a nauseating embrace. He wasn’t one to interrupt a romantic interlude, but this particular matter could not wait.

  He cleared his throat, but no one seemed to notice. He cleared it again.

  “Damn it, Tom, would you bloody come up for air?” he finally shouted.

  The two of them turned abruptly to look at him. “What the devil is the matter with you, Leyburn?” Tom asked.

  “We need to talk.”

  “The gentleman is otherwise occupied, Lord Leyburn,” Lady Beecham cooed seductively as she stroked a finger along Tom’s jaw line.

  “Yes, I can see that,” Fin replied acerbically. “And I don’t much care. This is important.”

  Affronted, and probably perturbed that he showed no signs of jealousy, Lady Beecham stood with a huff. “Fine. You may come and find me when you’re finished here, Thomas.”

  Tom looked as if he was going to tell her not to go, but clearly thought better of it when he caught a glimpse of Fin’s grave expression. “What is it?”

  Fin took a deep breath. Where to begin? “It’s your sister. She might be in trouble.”

  “What kind of trouble?”

  Fin opened his mouth to speak, but couldn’t decide what to say. This was going to be harder than he’d originally thought.

  “Out with it, Leyburn. You didn’t interrupt my evening to hem and haw, I hope.”

  “Your sister is a highwayman,” he hissed out all at once.

  Tom’s mouth fell open. “I beg your pardon?”

  “The highwayman that we’ve been hearing about all over town, the one robbing the wealthiest of the ton, the one that robbed Lady Beecham and me…it’s your sister.”

  “Impossible.”

  “I assure you, it’s not impossible. I figured her out weeks ago. She’s begged me to leave her alone about it, but I can’t. I won’t. I…love her too much to let it go.”

  Tom’s eyes widened a bit at this latest piece of news, but thankfully he stayed on topic. “How the devil did she fall into such a profession?” he asked, his outrage showing in his eyes. “And what the devil does she need money for? Father gives her a healthy allowance. This is ludicrous.”

  “Except that she’s not using the money for herself,” Fin said. “She’s funding a bloody hospital in Southwark. And donating to the less fortunate. How do you think she contracted that fever? She was the one who found Caroline and Sally.”

  “Good God.” That seemed to be all Tom could say as he processed the information. “She’s bloody Robin Hood.”

  “Yes, well, that’s fine when you’re preying on idiots like Lord Culver. The only place that man might run is to the kitchen. There wasn’t much chance of him catching Victoria. But tonight is different, and it could end very badly, I’m afraid.”

  Tom finally stood from the bench he’d been sitting on. “What are you talking about?”

  “She’s going after Prince Vladimir. I’m certain of it. She tried to deny that she had any plans regarding the man, but I know her too well now. I know when she’s just trying to shake me and get me to leave her alone. Vladimir is ruthless and proud. He won’t let her get away with robbing him, even at gunpoint.”

  “She uses a gun?” Clearly, that was more shocking to Tom than the fact that his sister was about to chase down a powerful, Russian prince.

  “We have to stop her,” Fin said.

  “Lead the way.”

  They made their way back up the garden stairs to the ballroom. Fin scanned the room several times, looking for Victoria’s shiny, dark hair and flowing white gown. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

  “Do you see her?” he asked Tom.

  Tom shook his head.

  “If you’re looking for your sister, she already left.” Lady Beecham’s voice came from behind them, the tone even more malicious than usual.

  “How do you know?” Fin turned to face her. The smile she wore was positively evil.

  “Because the prince left already.” Her smile grew wider and she let out a little laugh. “Best of luck, gentlemen.”

  Bile rose to Fin’s throat. She knew. The bloody woman knew about Victoria, and by the sound of things, she’d set her up. But if Victoria had already left, it might already be too late.

  ***

  Victoria was surprised that the prince wasn’t nearly as protected as she’d thought he would be. He rode with only one companion inside the carriage, and the driver in the seat. Odd for such a man, but she didn’t question it, but thanked the fates for being so kind to her.

  Since it was so late, there were few people out and about, so she and Gil waited until they were in a nearly deserted part of Marylebone to descend upon the carriage. Gil pulled in front as always and announced a broken axel to the other driver. As expected, the driver rushed to help, and Victoria slipped out the door on the other side, ready to attack. And tonight, she had a personal vendetta to see to. The prince had been rude and lascivious, and his biggest mistake had been following her into that library.

  On quiet feet, she approached the carriage, flung open the door, and said, “Your money or your life.”

  “I don’t think so, madam,” came a voice from behind her, and Victoria’s blood turned to ice.

  From inside the carriage, the prince emerged, peeling off a fake moustache as he stepped into the street. “Well, that was much easier than I anticipated.”

  Whoever was behind her grabbed her arms and pulled them backwards before binding them at her back. Victoria didn’t put up a fight. She didn’t even utter a single word. There was nothing she could do or say to get her out of this predicament. She’d always known the dangers involved, but her cause was greater and more important than any threat. It was only a matter of time before they caught up to her, she supposed. At least she could hang with pride now, and that was all that mattered.

  Except… “Gil! What will you do to my driver?”

  “He will hang beside you for being an accomplice to your crimes.”

  No. Oh, God. She couldn’t allow that. “Please, he is innocent in all this. He was only doing what I told him to do—”

  “You waste your breath, Miss Barclay,” the prince—or whoever he really was—said. The clip-clop of horses interrupted their discourse. “Ah, your chariot awaits, madam.”

  Two horses carrying a large wooden box, complete with a lock and key on the door, pulled up before them. Victoria was shoved inside after Gil, and the door slammed hard behind them. As they pulled away, another carriage approached from down the street. She knew exactly who was in that carriage, and it broke her heart into a million pieces. He had known all along what she was up to, and he’d come to rescue her. But it was too late. She couldn’t be rescued. And he would be forced to see her hang.

  ***

  Fin descended on the office of a High Court judge the morning after Victoria’s arrest. He had to do something. He couldn’t simply sit back and watch her be hanged. He would rather die. And he certainly wasn’t going to let them take her to her death without a trial. She had a right to speak. She had a right to a jury. She had every right to live and be free.

  The judge looked up from his mahogany desk. “Ah, Lord Leyburn, what brings you here today?”

  “Justice Powell.” Fin gave a slight bow and then quickly got to the point. “I am here about Miss Victoria Barclay.”

  Justice Powell shook his head sadly. “Such a shame. I hate to th
ink of sending her to the gallows. What in the world would have driven her to a life of crime?”

  Fin stepped forward, desperate to plead her case to the man. “You see, Your Honor, that is just the reason I am here. Her life was not truly one of crime, but rather of good deeds. She did not steal for her own gain, nor did she do it out of some sick obsession. She did it to help others. And if you’d only hear me out—”

  Justice Powell held up a hand. “Lord Leyburn, I would love nothing more than to acquit her of her crimes, whether good-hearted or not. It truly pains me to have to sentence such a bright, young woman to death. But my hands are tied. Too many victims have come forward and demanded her punishment. The evidence stands hard against her.”

  “At least let her have a trial,” Fin pleaded. “Please, Your Honor.”

  The judge sat quietly for a moment, staring out the window before finally turning kind eyes on Fin. “I don’t see what good it will do, Leyburn, but I can tell you won’t let anyone rest until she is tried in a court of law.”

  Fin nearly cried with gratitude. “Thank you, Your Honor.”

  “Gather your witnesses. We will assemble the jury and set the date for late next week.”

  Twenty-One

  Victoria sat alone in a dark and dirty cell in a prison somewhere in London, but where exactly, she didn’t know. Nor did she know what day it was or how long she had been there. Several times a day, someone brought her food, but it was always the same awful bowl of gruel—nothing to indicate what time of day it might be.

  She had long ago accepted her fate. She’d accepted it from the moment she decided to become a highwayman. And the end was near, so she didn’t worry about how dirty she was or that rats and vermin came out to nibble on what was leftover of her meal. It didn’t matter that she had to relieve herself in a hole in the middle of the cold, stone floor—the same floor upon which she slept at night. Nothing mattered anymore, except one thing. She’d never had the chance to tell Fin how much she loved him, and she would go to her death regretting it.

  What a foolish woman she was! Not for putting herself in danger night after night for two years, and not for getting caught. No, the only thing foolish about Victoria was her silly pride, and her refusal to admit when she cared for someone.

  When a key turned in the lock of the door to her cell, she didn’t pay it much attention. It was probably the guard bringing her next meal. Besides, she was done getting her hopes up. After all this time, no one was coming to rescue her. Her parents were certainly disgraced, and Fin probably hated her. But what about Tom? He was her only hope, if she had any at all.

  “Well, well, well,” came a familiar female voice. “You look like the dregs of the earth, Victoria.”

  Victoria looked up, and her mouth dropped open. Before her stood her cousin Katherine in all her crimson glory. Her black hair was pulled into an elegant coiffure, jewels dripped from her neck and wrists, and her dress was probably worth more than all of Victoria’s combined. She looked decidedly out of place in the dank prison cell.

  “What—” Her voice caught, having not used it in a while. She cleared her throat and tried again. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’ve come to tell you that we’re doing everything we can to clear your name.” Katherine’s eyes turned soft, and she gave her a sad smile. “I can’t make any promises, Vickie. There’s too much evidence against you to even bother with a trial, but…”

  “What?” Victoria wondered. It had to be good news, whatever Katherine was about to say.

  “Oh, Victoria, you’ve done so much good, despite your criminal activities.” She knelt down in front of Victoria. “There are people out there—nearly a hundred of them—demanding your release. They all have some story of how you helped nurse them back to health, or paid for medicine when they couldn’t afford it, or made a family member’s final days comfortable.”

  Victoria swallowed over the lump in her throat. She couldn’t believe she’d touched so many lives. Yet, it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough.

  “When William and I heard,” she continued, “we knew we had to do everything in our power to clear your name. And we are trying, we promise you that, Victoria. You will not be taken to Gaol without a fight.”

  Victoria couldn’t speak. She hardly knew her cousin, the elusive Duchess of Weston, who spent most of her time in the country with her brood of children now. Yet here she was, calling upon favors for her thieving relation.

  “I must go,” Katherine said, rising again to her full height. “I pray to God I will see you again soon.”

  She turned to go, but Victoria stopped her.

  “Wait, please,” she begged.

  “What is it?” Katherine asked, turning back to look at her.

  It was time for Victoria to swallow her pride. This was an opportunity she’d been given that might not come again. She couldn’t go to her death with this regret.

  “I need you to deliver a message to Phineas Dartwell, Lord Leyburn.” She paused, screwing up her courage, but when she opened her mouth again, she couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. “Tell him…tell him that I love him, please.”

  Katherine smiled. “I’m certain he already knows that, my dear Victoria. But I will tell him just the same.”

  And then she was gone. Victoria wondered how Katherine would know how Fin felt about her. Perhaps she was only being kind, but it didn’t really matter now. Victoria could go to her death peacefully, knowing her message would be delivered.

  ***

  The days that followed Fin’s visit to the judge were filled with family meetings—with her family, of course—interviews with witnesses and audiences with her victims, including Lady Beecham, who was the most difficult of all of them.

  “That little witch robbed us,” she cried, clearly outraged that Fin even had the gall to show up on her doorstep asking her to drop the charges against Victoria. “She took my precious rubies!”

  “Yes, we are all aware of what she took from you, Lady Beecham,” Fin said to her. “But does it not help to know that the sale of those precious rubies went to good causes?”

  She skewered him with her glare. “I donate quite a bit to charity, Leyburn. Why, last year alone we gave nearly fifty pounds to…to…a charitable cause.”

  “Generous, indeed,” Fin agreed. “And your rubies were worth how much?” he asked. Those rubies were worth quite a bit more than the paltry fifty pounds.

  “You may goad me all you want, Leyburn, but it doesn’t change the fact that she took what was not hers and she should be punished accordingly.”

  “I’m sure your husband would feel similarly about the other men in your life.” It was a low blow to bring up her numerous affairs, but Victoria’s life hung in the balance. He couldn’t let this harridan get in the way of saving the life of the woman he loved. “Perhaps we should put all of them on trial for taking another man’s wife. Certainly you are more valuable than a few ruby baubles.”

  There was silence as Lady Beecham seethed at him, her nostrils flaring with every breath she took. Fin held his peace, waiting for her to make the next move.

  “I am not the only victim in this, Leyburn,” she said at last. “There is no possible way you could get everyone to agree to drop her charges.”

  Fin smiled and nodded. “It was not an easy task, of that you can be sure. But you are the last hold out, the only one that stands between Victoria and her freedom. Surely you don’t want the ton to think of you as the woman who sent that young do-good to Gaol.”

  Another pause. And then, “You will finish painting me.”

  “Happily.” He would see to Victoria’s freedom and deal with the nude painting later.

  Her brows rose. Clearly she didn’t believe him, but for some reason, she pretended she did. “Fine,” she said with a sigh of exasperation. “I will drop the charges.”

  Fin could hardly believe his ears. He wanted to jump up and down with joy and happiness, but he refrained for the tim
e being. “You will not regret your decision.”

  That interview with Lady Beecham was the day before Victoria’s trial. Her ladyship, along with all the other witnesses would appear in court to publicly declare that they were dropping the charges against Vickie. But the most compelling arguments would come from her witnesses. All one hundred twelve of them. They were all ready to speak of her kindness and generosity. Sarah and Holly would be there as well to tell of all the good Victoria had done for the hospital. And Sally, of course, would tell the judge how Victoria had found her on the street and taken care of her and her mother.

  It didn’t hurt that Victoria’s extended family comprised of some of the most powerful and influential members of the ton. When Fin and Sally entered the courtroom that morning, they were all there. The Duke and Duchess of Weston, the Marquess and Marchioness of Eastleigh, and the Viscount and Viscountess Hastings were all piled into the same pew right behind Victoria’s parents and Tom.

  Fin took his place next to Tom, and Sally settled in beside him. He was jumping with nerves, filled with hope and dread at the same time, desperate to see Victoria. Was she well? She’d been in prison for more than a week now. It was no place for a lady—of that he was certain. But if any lady could survive such a place and still keep her spirit intact, it was Victoria.

  “How are you holding up?” he asked Tom.

  Tom looked like he hadn’t slept at all the past week. “Better than my parents,” he whispered back.

  Lord and Lady Grantham had been disgraced when the news came out. No amount of cajoling from Tom and Fin could persuade them to believe that what she’d done was actually good. But when they saw the outpouring of love and support from those she’d helped, they’d had a change of heart. Perhaps their attitude toward their daughter would change going forward. Fin just hoped it wasn’t too late for Victoria to see how proud they were of her.

  The door to the courtroom banged open at the back, echoing loudly in the large chamber. A hush fell over the crowd as Justice Powell proceeded to the bench. Once he was settled, all eyes turned back to the doorway where Victoria was being led in by two guards.