Not because of big losses. They all had been repaid by Lord Hayden. That restitution was designed to salve the victims’ anger and abort their laying down information. They had learned how Longworth had forged names and documents to sell out the securities that his bank held for them, but a man made whole forgets much quickly.
With most of the victims, Lord Hayden’s plan had worked. Except these men here had not been satisfied. Restitution had not been enough for them in the end.
Slowly they had found each other. They joined together in the cause of finding Longworth and bringing him back. In the months since there had been scant news.
Norbury sniffed the air for more objections. “He will be found soon, I am confident. However, even if Royds goes to every town in Italy, it is money well spent. No doubt Longworth dines in high style and laughs at the fools he robbed while he does so. Some of you may be willing to live with that image, but no man of honor can do so.”
That insinuation ended all discussion. An informal vote was taken. They charged Norbury to write to Royds and promise the necessary payments.
Bodies rose and farewells flew. Kyle held back while the others departed. It was time to test the water in the shallow pond named Norbury and see just what the temperature might be.
His host pretended to ignore him for a few minutes while he shuffled papers. Eventually the tawny head rose and the pale eyes acknowledged him.
“You were silent today, Kyle. That was wise.”
“I had nothing to say.”
“You used to. I remember the fine speeches about the why and the why not, about the poor men hung every week for much less because they have no rich friend to buy their lives from the victims. You preached moral resolve like a vicar or a damned philosopher, except you are neither and your opinions do not signify.” His lids lowered and brittle lights blazed in his eyes. “You think to imitate the high-grounded ideas taught you by those books and tutors, but you forget it is impertinent for such as you to dare lecture your betters.”
“I lecture no one.”
“The hell you don’t. Your performance at my dinner party spoke loudly enough.” Norbury’s expression pulsed petulantly. “Lord Hayden has gone out of his way to let it be known you did not enjoy the prize you bought that night. You did it only to—”
“What do you care why I did it? You made tenfold what you would have otherwise, and you are free of her. As you said, the opinions of such as me do not signify to such as you.”
Norbury averted his gaze. He appeared to achieve some calm. Kyle took his leave. He had reached the door when Norbury spoke again.
“I tire of your presumptions, Kyle. Your simple ideas are better suited to the ignorant miners of your village.” His voice rose to a snarl. “Do not cross me again.”
“I lived here for almost ten years. It is very modest, but the street is safer than it looks.”
Lady Phaedra swept up to the door of the house in question. Her billowing black dress and cape flapped in the wind, revealing the unexpected Apollo gold lining of the latter. Her rippling red hair hung like a curtain of fire along one side of her face while she bent to poke her key in the lock.
Rose waited, valise in hand. Lady Phaedra’s last sentence reassured her a little. This street, not far from Aldgate, did not appear especially safe. Lord Elliot’s coachman must have agreed, because he sat at attention with whip at the ready.
The houses were old and the lane narrow. A beggar woman sat not fifteen feet away from Phaedra’s door. Another woman at the open window across the way called with suspicious familiarity to passing men.
Lady Phaedra noticed and laughed. “Elliot warned that you would be shocked. He said that we should let a better place and present it as mine and you would be none the wiser. Alexia, however, said that you are too proud to accept such charity, and I am not good at living a lie.”
“I am glad that you did not do that. If you lived here for almost ten years, I think I will be very happy for several days.”
Phaedra threw open the door. “You will need to air it. It has been closed for over a month.”
The house was as unusual as the woman who owned it. The sitting room also served as a library. Tall bookcases filled one wall, and odd paintings and engravings the others. An old divan stood in front of the windows, covered in an array of colorful shawls that did not entirely hide its worn upholstery.
“I will send a servant to stay here with you, so you will be more comfortable,” Lady Phaedra said.
“Please do not. You have already been too generous, and very gracious to display no surprise when I showed up at your door. You do not even know me.”
“I know all about you, though, and I know that Alexia loves you dearly. I also know what it means to be the object of whispers and scorn. It matters only if you allow it to, Roselyn. There are many people who do not abide by society’s dictates and who will accept you without prejudice.”
Rose understood the lesson that Lady Phaedra tried to give. She knew that there were circles that held to different rules. Phaedra Blair had not conformed and according to Alexia had led an interesting, colorful life prior to agreeing to marry Lord Elliot. From the looks of things, her benefactress was one lady who would never completely fit into polite society, because she chose not to.
However, Rose also knew that she was no Phaedra Blair. She had not been raised in radical, artistic circles and would feel silly trying to join them. Lady Phaedra tried to show that there was yet one more choice for her future, but it was not one that Rose considered practicable.
“It is easy to find hackney cabs on the next street,” Phaedra explained while she gave a tour of the kitchen and dining room. “The shops are there as well.”
Up above, Rose left her valise in one of the two small bedrooms. It looked out over a tiny garden in the back that needed some tending.
“I will leave you to rest,” Lady Phaedra said when they went back downstairs. “You have been in the carriage too long and that always takes a toll. I will come tomorrow to see how you fare.”
Rose watched the black drapery billow out to the street and into the carriage. The coach would take Phaedra back to that nice house in Mayfair that she now shared with Lord Elliot. It was not far from the one on Hill Street where Alexia lived.
She pictured Alexia walking through that house. It was not hard to conjure up images of her cousin in every chamber. They had both lived there a mere year ago. It had been the Longworths’ home then, where they had all gathered as a family.
Much has changed since then.
Everything had changed since then.
Rose heard the carriage stop outside the next morning. She jumped up to look out the front window.
She recognized the carriage. As she anticipated, Alexia had learned from Phaedra about this visit and had come to see her.
Her heart dropped a little when the carriage door opened. A tall, stern man stepped out of its shadows, then turned and handed down her cousin. Lord Hayden Rothwell had accompanied his wife.
Perhaps that was just as well. She had questions for him and it would be best to ask them directly.
She opened the front door as they approached. Alexia beamed delight at seeing her. Lord Hayden was too busy frowning at the beggar and whore to smile.
“You used to visit Phaedra here?” she heard him ask. “Alone, before we wed? Even after?”
“On occasion,” Alexia said, ignoring her husband’s dismay. She stepped over the threshold and embraced Rose. “Do not scold me, Rose. When you returned my letters unopened you made it clear that you would not allow any risks, but even Hayden agrees that it is unlikely that this meeting will be reported to the harpies. The denizens of this neighborhood do not know us, and do not gossip in polite drawing rooms in any event.”
Rose brought them into the odd sitting room. Lord Hayden occupied his attention with the bizarre engravings hanging on the wall.
“I am glad that you came, Alexia. And you too, Lord Hayden
. I was hoping that you would. I do not intend to stay long, so your prompt visit is most welcome.”
Alexia’s face fell. “There is no need to rush back to Oxfordshire. You can surely remain in town until after Christmas. I had hoped we could dine together then, if not before.”
“That would not be wise. If not for your sake, then for my sister’s we must accept the penalty of my fall.” She took her cousin’s hand and squeezed it. “Please sit, Alexia. I have need of your advice.”
Alexia perched on the divan. Lord Hayden moved his examination of Phaedra’s possessions to the bookcase.
Rose sat in a chair where she could see his profile. No matter how carefully he read those spines, she doubted that he would miss one word of her conversation with her cousin.
“Alexia, a most unexpected thing happened four days ago. Mr. Bradwell proposed marriage.”
Alexia’s astonishment was honest. Lord Hayden’s lids merely lowered a fraction.
“Did you accept?” Alexia asked.
“I was so startled that I begged off making a decision at once. My inclination was to turn him down immediately. I fear that he does not comprehend the consequences of such a match. Indeed, I cannot imagine why he would speak so rashly. Unless, of course…”
“Unless what?”
“Unless he had been encouraged to do so by someone’s promise of a settlement.” She glanced at Lord Hayden but saw no reaction to her insinuation.
Alexia turned her attention to her husband too. “Hayden, did you have a hand in this?”
He faced them. “I did not bribe Mr. Bradwell.”
“To be sure,” Rose said. “However, a settlement is not normally thought of as a bribe.”
“Why do you assume that this offer is dependent on my meddling? It could be that Mr. Bradwell comprehended the consequences very well, perhaps better than you do. Such a marriage is of mutual advantage. In your case, Miss Longworth, marriage will transform this scandal into one much less damaging.”
Rose granted Lord Hayden his brilliance, but his little speech did not speak well of his strict honesty. It sounded as if he had thought it out at leisure, not in the last half minute. Nor had he explicitly said he that he had not offered a settlement.
Husband and wife exchanged an eloquent gaze. Lord Hayden bowed and strolled toward the doorway. “If this is the reason for your visit to town, Miss Longworth, I expect that there will be much feminine talk now, and confidences that no man should hear. I will say good day to you and return to the carriage.”
Rose waited until the door closed behind him. “I am not sure that I believe him.”
“If he speaks so plainly, you should believe him. He can be very clever but he is rarely sly.” Alexia unpinned her mantlet and let it fall off her shoulders. “I assume that you do not want to accept this offer and are looking for an excuse to refuse.”
“Why do you think that?”
“I know how you loathed proposals in the past that had financial incentives. You found the best excuse to convince your heart to decline Mr. Bradwell. Only you are wrong about the settlement, so now what reason will you use instead?”
Alexia waited for an answer, as if Rose had one.
“Must I enumerate the benefits of this match?” Alexia asked. “Hayden is correct, and I saw it immediately too. If you marry Mr. Bradwell it will transform this scandal. He is not a gentleman, but his honor toward you will make Norbury appear an ass and a rogue all the more. The assumptions that people have made will be rethought. I daresay many will even believe there was no affair with Norbury prior to that scandalous night.”
That transformation played out in Rose’s mind. Mr. Bradwell had alluded to this, but it took Alexia’s firm gaze to make it plausible.
“It is brilliant, actually,” Alexia said, indicating all the nuances were lining up in her mind too.
“And in return he gets what?”
“Your blood and your connections, Roselyn. You are a gentleman’s daughter. You have a cousin related by marriage to a marquess. And, of course, he gets a most beautiful wife.”
“The beauty will dim soon, and the blood is badly tainted. Nor do I think he cares much about social connections. Can you see why I am suspicious of your husband’s frankness? No doubt he fears I will reject it outright if I know the truth, since it is one more debt to him that I can never repay.”
“If you are right, then the debt is mine and there are no accounts to be balanced between Hayden and me. We do not play such childish games.” Alexia stood and crossed her arms. Her expression grew strict while she began pacing out her thoughts. “Do you dislike this man, Rose?”
“Not at all. Although, in truth I do not know him very well.”
“I would say you know the most important things about him. Does he repulse you?” A little pink spotted her cheeks. “You know what I mean.”
“No.” At least not as far as she knew. She would not admit to Alexia that the notion of the carnal side of marriage left her chilled, however. Alexia was so passionately in love that she would not comprehend that problem at all.
“Do you hope for better? Another rescuer, but this time one more appropriate to your birth?”
“Hardly.”
“Then I do not understand. Perhaps you think me too practical, but if the choice is between poverty and ruin or security and salvation—”
“There is another offer.”
Alexia halted in mid stride. Astonishment widened her eyes. “Another offer? Not another rescuer, though. Pray, do not tell me that you are being pursued by another Norbury, and have received an offer to be some gentleman’s bought possession.”
“It is not that kind of offer. I received another letter from Timothy. He begs me to join him, to live with him.”
Alexia’s face fell into a mask of sorrow. She closed her eyes to hold in a private pain. Rose said nothing, but her heart joined Alexia’s in experiencing the poignant grief that mention of her brother evoked.
“And you are considering going to him?” Alexia asked.
“Yes. I had made my decision before Mr. Bradwell spoke to me.”
Alexia sat on the divan again. Her violet eyes misted. “You worry for him now, of course. Now that he is alone. He was always the weakest among you, and now—I want you to know that I understand, Rose. And I understand how tempting that must be, to have travel and a new life dangled in front of you. But—”
“Yes, it is tempting. Very tempting. I will take a new name. No one will know about me, about Norbury, about Tim. No one will know about anything.”
She heard the force and bitterness in her own voice. Alexia bowed her head and allowed the vehemence to roll over her.
“You will know, Rose,” she said gently. “You would not take that five thousand. You would not accept Hayden’s support. Will you now live off the fruits of that crime?”
“It need not be that way. I can find employment. Tim can serve as a secretary and support us both. I can convince him to return the money—”
“He never will. It is probably mostly gone already, to drink and gambling. You have been in constant sorrow since his ruin, and not yourself. I understand why you want to run away, but you are not thinking clearly.”
“I doubt that you do understand.”
“Doubt that if you want, but do not doubt my love, Rose, or my sympathy for why you seek escape. You admitted that you lied to yourself about Norbury. Do not lie to yourself about this now, I beg you.”
Every word that Alexia spoke added stones to a wall that gradually enclosed a very small place from which there was no escape. Rose wanted to scream that Alexia was wrong and arrogant. A bitter corner of her heart snarled that Alexia was too smug in her own happiness to be capable of all the knowing and understanding that she professed.
Seeing that wall looming, she yearned to run home and back up that hill. She wanted to lie beneath the sky and again know the hopeful joy that had filled her that day.
A sound broke through her fur
ious distraction. A small voice intruded on her anger and resentment.
“It is cold in the carriage and Lord Hayden said that I might come in now. Should I have waited longer, Alexia?”
A surge of emotion crested Roselyn’s composure. She looked at the doorway through pools of brimming tears.
Irene stood there. Her sister appeared fashionable and fresh. Her long blond hair hung below a lovely bonnet, and her apple green carriage ensemble enhanced her youth and beauty. The garments were all new ones, gifts from Alexia.
“Do not look so angry, Rose,” Irene pleaded. “I have been so unhappy since you left, and grieving that we would never speak again. Alexia said I could see you today, and even Hayden agreed that no one would know.”
“I am not angry, darling. I am surprised and grateful and moved beyond words.” She stood and held open her arms. Irene rushed to her embrace.
She held Irene close. She looked over her sister’s shoulder at Alexia. It was clear that Alexia considered their argument over.
CHAPTER
EIGHT
He saw her at once, standing beside the canal in her blue cloak. Her letter had given detailed instructions on where to meet her in Regent’s Park. No more than five other bodies could be seen at this hour.
He had not known what to expect when she finally contacted him, but he had not anticipated the brief letter requesting a meeting here in London. There had been nothing encouraging about those few sentences.
As he walked toward her, he debated whether to plead his case further. He doubted it would make a difference. If she had decided to decline his offer, her reasons would be ones he had no answer for.
She noticed his approach. The sun caught the golden rim of her hair visible beneath the blue bonnet. Her smile could at best be called polite, but it still blotted out half of his mind.
He would probably be better off if she made short work of this mad idea.
“Thank you for coming, Mr. Bradwell. Especially at such an early hour.”
“I always visit the parks at nine in the morning, Miss Longworth, so we have something in common.”
Secrets of Surrender Page 9