The Locket [The Rotherham Hall Mysteries] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Clair de Lune

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Alicia awoke feeling strange, as she had been doing for the last week. Again, someone had carried her back to her bed to protect her reputation. The rose was in her hand with the note wrapped around it as usual when she woke up. She had got up to put the note in her journal under the day’s date and had almost fallen over. She wondered if she was coming down with a cold, but just then Bessie entered with her washing water and said, “You are looking peaky, my lady. Are you not feeling quite the thing?”

  “No, Bessie. I think I have contracted a cold. Maybe I shall feel better after I have broken my fast.”

  So saying, she washed, dressed in the gown Bessie had put out for her, and allowed her maid to dress her hair. She was descending the stairs when she heard Jennings open the front door and wondered who could be visiting so early. An obviously ex-military man, to judge by his upright bearing, was shown into the breakfast parlour. As she followed him in, the strong scent of cigar smoke from his clothes reached her nose and she felt faint.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Squire Enderby was surprised when the young lady following him into the breakfast parlour suddenly collapsed on the floor behind him. Angel, being the nearest and the only one of the brothers on his feet. was by her side in an instant. He took her in his arms and lifted her from the floor. Antonio rang the bell and sent a footman, hurrying for her maid, and they took her into the drawing room, where there was a small fire and a comfortable day-bed. Laying her down upon it, Angel took a woollen shawl and covered her. Bessie tapped on the door and was admitted. She went over to her mistress and began to bathe her temples with lavender water, all the time crooning endearments. As this did not seem to be working, she took out a vial of smelling salts. Waving it under her mistress’s nose soon had her returning to her senses. Once she was conscious, Angel helped her up and, carrying her carefully, took her to her bedchamber. Bessie followed, exclaiming over her charge.

  Angel soon came down again and joined the others in the breakfast parlour.

  “Odd thing that,” the squire said. “My wife was the same when she was increasing. Nothing like the smell of cigar smoke to put her out of curl.”

  He said no more on the subject but went on to discuss the matter that had brought him to the Hall, that of the upcoming village fair. Once his business had concluded and he had left, the three brothers looked at one another.

  “Is it, can it be true?” Antonio asked.

  “It is certainly possible if she were at her most fertile when we were in town.” Rafael said.

  They all grinned boyishly and clapped each other on the back.

  Chapter Thirty

  Up in her bedchamber, Alicia was not having such a pleasant time of it. She had cast up her accounts into the bowl Bessie held and felt somewhat improved. Bessie washed her face and hands for her then said, “I know it ain’t none of my business, my lady, but this is not a cold.”

  “Well, what else could it be?”

  “As to that, you must know best, but if I may speak plainly?”

  “By all means if you know what ails me.”

  “When did you last bleed, my lady?”

  Alicia was stunned. She remembered her time in London and thought.

  “Two weeks before I met Rafael and his brothers at the Beaumont’s ball.”

  “Exactly so, my lady, and that is now six weeks ago.” This was said with a significant look, and Alicia coloured. Bessie was right. Two months and nothing, and she was as regular as clockwork. How had she not noticed? She thanked Bessie and dismissed her. She needed to think, but she was not granted time to think. A firm tap on her door heralded the three brothers, who beamed at her, and Rafael walked over to her, his brothers at his back. She was astonished as they all knelt before her, and Rafael held out his signet ring.

  “Lady Alicia, will you do me the honour of being my wife, our wife? The de la Torre betrothal ring is in my father’s keeping and will be yours as soon as we can procure it. Until then, I offer you my signet ring in lieu. Will you marry us?”

  Alicia looked at the three of them kneeling before her and smiled serenely as she realised this was exactly what she did want.

  “Yes. I will marry you and be wife to the three of you.”

  If she had had any doubts at all by now, which she did not, the sight of the expression of heartfelt delight that spread over their countenances would have been sufficient to reassure her that she was loved by all three equally, as indeed she loved them. They had their differences, but that endeared them even more to her. Rafael would protect and guide her. Antonio would amuse and entertain her, and Angel would soothe any hurt, however small. They would all stand by her side and help her face the world and the future. They all loved her and she them. It was not going to be easy, but they had worked it all out, she was sure, just as they had already worked out who slept next to her and when. With the discussions that took place over every matter, there would be no problem that could not be solved to everyone’s satisfaction.

  Antonio said, “The nurseries are in sad need of repair, and when you are feeling more the thing we can go up and look. There is a school room and accommodation for a nurse and her maid and the laundress for the nursery. You may decide on whatever you want in the way of decoration or send for a decorator from town to consult with you.”

  Rafael said,

  “We need to decide upon the date of the wedding. I will send a courier with the notice for the Morning Post, and we shall have to write and inform mama and papa.”

  Angel said, “We shall have them here then, before the cat can lick her ear. Mama will be in alt. It was her idea to send us to town after all.”

  Alicia felt her head was whirling, and she lay back on her day-bed.

  Angel said,

  “We have stayed too long and chattered you into exhaustion, my dear. We will leave now and return when you are recovered to finalise the details.”

  Trust her Angel to notice she was fatigued. He never failed to see to her comfort. They left and sent Bessie to her. Bessie was overjoyed at the news, but looked concerned.

  “What is it, Bessie?”

  “Well, my lady, I shall be sad to leave you after all these years.”

  “Leave? Why?”

  “You will want a new maid, with more modern ideas and more able to dress you for the balls and parties.”

  “There will not be many balls and parties except the ones we hold here. I do not wish to cut a dash in town, and Rafael lives here most of the year. The stud, the stables, and the farm all need constant management. Besides, I prefer the country, and I want you, Bessie. This is not going to be an easy time with all the new things we have to learn, and I trust you and want no other.”

  “Thank you, my lady. I will be happy to serve you as long as I am able,” Bessie said, the relief in her voice evident to Alicia.

  “Well then, let’s hear no more. I am to go and visit the nurseries and the nurse’s accommodation and would be obliged if you could go up and look at them so we can discuss what might be done.”

  Bessie looked delighted to be consulted and rushed off at once, but not before she was warned to say nothing to the other staff until Rafael told them officially.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  The Conde de la Torre y Saavedra and his countess arrived the following evening. They brought the betrothal ring, and Rafael, reclaiming his signet ring, slipped it on her finger. Both the count and countess were delighted with the news, and when they were told she was increasing, the countess took her on one side and sat her down to discuss the future, holding her hand and patting it all the while. Alicia listened as she promised to look out some baby clothes belonging to the three of them and bring them over for Alicia to see. She recommended the seamstress in the town for plain sewing, especially for baby items. She herself would attend the birth and so on.

  Alicia was overwhelmed. She had wondered if their parents would accept her, a widow, but they did. She also wondere
d if their mother knew that she would be having only one daughter-in-law. Time would tell. She did not know the countess well enough yet to try and find out, but a beginnning had been made, and she was happy. She looked at her three men and saw they were happy, too. They were talking estate affairs with their father, but one or other of them kept an eye on her, she could see. Then the countess surprised her, and she found herself bereft of speech.

  “I am convinced, my dear, that you will make my boys, all my boys happy.”

  Alicia let out a strangled gasp.

  “They still think their mama does not know? Foolish beyond permission. Of course I know. I have always known, and I knew that eventually they would find the right lady, and now they have. Come, let us say no more on the subject. They are looking this way, and it would not do, you know, to let them know all our secrets.”

  Alicia gave a little crow of laughter and felt rather than saw the brothers relax their vigilance. She had found a friend and ally in their mother.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Angel had come up with a plan, and when he received a packet from London he was ready to tell the others. The time to put it into practice was during the village fair. It had to be soon because it involved Lady Alicia, and they did not want to risk her health and the babe’s in any way. He had had a copy of the locket made.

  “The man who wants her will see the locket and make an attempt to take it, and then we will catch him. We must do it now. We have to get this sorted out before the wedding and the birth.”

  They all agreed, and it was decided that she would attend the village fair wearing the locket, and one or other would be close by her while the other two were ready to follow whoever made any attempt to take the locket.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  The day of the fair dawned warm and sunny and promised continued good weather all day. Alicia was feeling better than she had been but needed to rest in the afternoons, so it was decided to have an early luncheon, allow her to rest, then go in the late afternoon, which was when most of the gentry were expected to attend. Strolling down the street on Rafael’s arm, they were stopped by many people who had heard the news and wanted to congratulate them. She was wearing the betrothal ring, and all wanted to admire it.

  They stopped at the stall in front of the local inn to sample the lemonade and ale on sale, and the blacksmith who had done the same was keen to consult Rafael over an idea he had for horseshoes. Rafael was deep in conversation with him when a small girl tugged at Alicia’s dress and said, “I have lost my mama. Will you help me to find her please?”

  Alicia was not too happy to leave Rafael’s side, nor to venture down the side street where the child said she had last seen her mama. The street was darker than the main street and cobbled. Alicia did not want to fall in her condition. The little girl was distressed, however, so Alicia took her hand and went with her. Rafael was still in earnest conversation with the blacksmith and she had no wish to interrupt them.

  “Do please hurry, my lady, or I shall never get my mama back!”

  Alicia thought that was an odd thing to say but put it down to the child’s distress. The child tugged on her hand and almost dragged her down the cobbled side street. Alicia felt uneasy and she did not know why.”Perhaps it’s because I am parted from Rafael.” She always felt protected when she was with him.”Megrims of a pregnant lady.” The little girl continued to tug on her hand, and Alicia followed her. Soon they reached the end of the road, where a coach was waiting. Alcia wondered if the coachman had seen the girl’s mother and, as she was approaching to ask him, the girl’s mother was pushed out of the coach. Two men came around the back and bundled Lady Alicia into the coach, and it set off immediately.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  The girl’s mother screamed and went running down the road towards the inn. By this time, Rafael had missed Alicia and was looking for her. He heard the scream and went to meet the woman, who explained what had happened. The inkeeper, hearing what had occurred, offered his mare. It was saddled and ready for a gentleman who was refreshing himself in the parlour before continuing on his journey. The blacksmith ran to inform Angel and Antonio of the direction the coach had taken, and Rafael set off in pursuit. The mare was a solid mount and none too fast, but he managed to keep the coach in sight. It was travelling fast, and he was terrified that the bouncing of the coach might cause Alicia to miscarry. He heard hooves behind him, and soon the brothers caught up with him. They had their own faster mounts, as they had envisaged pursuing the “swell cove.” Rafael shouted to them to go on and he would catch up, so they urged their horses on. They saw the coach turn into a house ahead. It was Alicia’s grandmama’s house. By the time they arrived, the gates were closed, and a belligerent gatekeeper was not inclined to open them again. They were still arguing the toss when Rafael arrived, took out the pistol he was carrying, and offered to shoot the gatekeeper in the head if the gates were not opened immediately. This had the desired effect, and soon the three were riding up the drive.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Lady Alicia was feeling queasy. The bouncing of the coach had made her feel faint and ill. When at last it stopped and the door was opened, she was too dazed to get out herself and had to be helped out by the burliest of the ruffians. She was conducted to the parlour, and by then her wits had returned and she recognised the house. It was her grandmama’s. She rose unsteadily, but the door to the parlour opened and her cousin Sir Basil Henderby came into the room.

  “Alicia, my dear. I am sorry I have had to drag you all the way here, but you have made my life difficult over the past few weeks and I need something you have.”

  She clutched the locket in her hand, and he smiled evilly and said, “Just so. I see you have realised what it is that I want. Now you can give it to me of your own free will or I can take it from you.”

  Alicia did not want him to get anywhere near her, and she did not want to risk a fall in her condition, so slowly she took off the locket. She knew that Rafael, Antonio, and Angel would be on their way.

  Sir Basil came over to take the locket from her hand, and she shrank back from his leering expression.

  “I would have preferred to have married you and had both the locket and your delicious person at my disposal.”

  He took her chin in one fat, pudgy hand and forced her head up. “But now you are engaged to de la Torre that is not possible. Your loss, my dear.”

  He took the locket and left the room. She was trembling, and she sank down onto an armchair. She knew she ought to try and escape, but she could not yet stand up, and she felt sick and faint. The door to the parlour crashed open, and Sir Basil barrelled in. He slammed the door behind him. Gone was all pretence at pleasant urbanity. He was furious. He went over to her dragged her to her feet and shook her.

  “Where is the real locket? You jade, you have tricked me.” As he said it he continued to shake her, and she felt she would faint, but the door crashed open again, and Rafael, Antonio, and Angel entered. Rafael pointed his pistol at Sir Basil and growled.

  “Unhand her. If you do not, I will shoot you where you stand, you dog!”

  Sir Basil let go of her, and she would have fallen to the floor had it not been for Angel’s strong arms holding her up.

  “Has he hurt you, my love?” Rafael asked.

  Sir Basil shook his head.

  “No, I did not hurt her. I merely wanted the locket. It is mine after all.”

  “If in truth you had the right to it, you could have approached Lady Alicia and requested its return rather than try to take it or her by force,” Rafael ground out. “Why do you want it so badly?”

  “The safe will not open without it. We have not been able to find the will or my grandmother’s jewels, so they must be locked in there.”

  “Why did you not ask Lady Alicia to allow you to use the locket to open the safe?”

  Alicia said, “So he could keep all he found for himself. Grandmama said I would be an independent woman wi
th what she left me, but the will has never been found.”

  “And never would have been if he’d got that locket, I’d wager,” said Rafael. “Come, sirrah, let us go and open this safe and discover the truth.”

  As Alicia thought, the will and Alicia’s grandmama’s jewel case were in the safe. Both were taken to the lawyers, and when the will was read, it was revealed that the contents of the jewel case had been left to Alicia. The beautiful pearls alone were worth a fortune, and the other necklaces, brooches, rings, and bracelets, although many were in old-fashioned settings, were of the finest workmanship. Her grandmama had indeed left her sufficient wealth to be independent for the rest of her days. The house and estate were left to Sir Basil as the eldest male heir. In deference to Alicia’s wishes, no further action was taken against him. It was not to the taste of any of the brothers. She persisted in her view that she had not been harmed and did not want a family scandal to spoil her wedding, and to this they had to aquiesce. Given her condition, they would have granted any request. A stern warning was issued to Sir Basil that if any breath of harm were to come to her at his instigation, they would horsewhip him to within an inch of his life. In fact, he later sold the house and estate, deciding it to be more prudent to remove himself from the district. It was a relief to all concerned.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  The marriage of Lady Alicia Fitzroy to Rafael de la Torre y Saavedra took place the following week in the local church by special license.

  The vicar Reverend Simpkins officiated. It was a fairly quiet ceremony, as not many of the haut ton were able at such short notice to be summoned from their estates. Alicia was beautiful in cream silk and ivory lace, and the wedding breakfast at Rotherham Hall was attended by all the local gentry. Apart from Lady Gwendoline and her daughters, Alicia had no family to invite, and as they were not welcome at the Hall she made do with the local gentry and her husband’s parents and counted herself very lucky.