by Lynda Hurst
“Your future duchess?” asked Lord Masterton. Everyone in their group turned to glimpse in the direction Devlin was looking. Familiar with his cousin, Lord Benjamin Avery, it wasn’t hard to spot him on the dance floor with Faith. However, Devlin should not have underestimated the powers of observation his friend possessed when Lord Masterton pointed out, “Isn’t he dancing with your ward, Lady Faith Revelstoke? Is that who you mean?”
Brave enough now to admit his feelings to his own set of friends, he said, “She’s the one. I’m sure I wasn’t in love with her when I accepted guardianship of her. After all, I had known her since she was a child. But now, I can’t envision my future without her.”
He was far enough gone that it didn’t bother him when his friends looked askance at each other in response to his admission. Shooting him a pitying look and clapping him on his shoulder, Lord Masterton said, “Sorry, old chap. What you’ve got, we don’t want just yet. And if what you got is catching, I hope you don’t mind if we stand clear.”
Smiling at his friend’s jest, Devlin replied laughingly, “No, I don’t mind. You confirmed bachelors should enjoy yourselves and your unmarried state until you’re good and ready to be leg-shackled. I, on the other hand, am anxious to let my future bride know her marital status is about to change.”
“Good luck,” Lord Masterton threw over his shoulder as he and his companions melted into the crowded room. With single-mindedness, Devlin turned towards the dance floor to await Faith until the current set was over.
Faith danced a pretty waltz number with Benjamin and knew that Devlin wasn’t far; she could almost feel his gaze boring into her, she was that aware of him. Benjie kept her occupied with his charming anecdotes and witty comments concerning the people he knew present at the ball as he led her through the required steps and twirls. “So, you see,” he was saying, “that is why Lady Thursdale never fails to wear her colorful turban at crushes such as this one. She would absolutely hate for that wig of hers to go flying off if caught on someone’s epaulet once again.”
Faith giggled at the tale, enjoying herself even if it was at a stranger’s expense. The last few bars of the band’s current set announced its imminent finale, and Faith hurriedly asked, “Benjie, if you don’t mind, would you deposit me next to Devlin once the set’s done please? I have something of an urgent nature to discuss with him.”
The set had finished, and Benjamin laid her hand in the crook of his arm to lead her to her requested. Leaning close so she could hear him, he asked, “Does this have anything to do with your planned journey? The one you are sure he’ll say yes to once he hears your reason?” She nodded, and he continued, “If you would allow me the courtesy, you can confide in me. Unlike Devlin, I will promise to not yell first and think of consequence as an afterthought. What is it that has you wanting to hie off to the country so badly?”
Faith really had no reason not to trust him, given his attentiveness and the hand of friendship he had extended to her since her arrival in London. However, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she shouldn’t trust him with the entire story. So, she decided to tell him the truth, just not all of it. “Benjie, you’ve been nothing short of amazing, so I will tell you this: I have been searching for clues as to why I haven’t heard from my mother or Devlin from his father all this time. I believe that through my mother’s journals she had laid out clues for me to find that may tell me what she had been up to before their disappearance together.”
Raising a brow, Benjamin inquired, “And you’ve found out something of worth?”
“Yes and no. It’s a hunch, but can only be confirmed until I revisit Revelstoke Place. With Devlin as the current owner, I would have his permission to go back before I leave.” Before Benjamin could form an answer, Devlin had met them at the periphery of the dance floor.
“Ah, there you two are. Might I steal Faith away for a moment?” he asked Benjamin.
“Of course,” Benjamin said amicably. “As a word of warning, cousin, you’re about to be bombarded with an order in the guise of a request. Good luck! I’m off to find Margaret.”
Faith winked at Benjie as he turned to leave, yet cried at his back, “Traitor!” Benjie waved a hand in reply as he walked away.
Aware that they were in the midst of a multitude of people, Devlin leaned down so only Faith could hear, “Might we go somewhere private? I have something I’d like to speak with you about.”
Faith beamed up at him. “As do I. I’m not familiar with the house, so you must know where we can go.”
Neither was he, but she didn’t need to know that. Devlin did know of a place, and he took her by the hand to lead her there. With the intention of making her his bride, hopefully sooner than later, he led the way to the front entrance, intending to take Faith home where there would be no one to witness his ardent marriage proposal.
Benjamin and Margaret had watched the two lovebirds leave the Havershams ballroom and exit the front hall into Devlin’s awaiting coach.
“What did I tell you, cousin? They had been keeping their affair a secret and Devlin hadn’t wanted you to know, knowing it would hurt you so.”
“That wench! You were right to tell me that Faith had no designs on Jackson, even when I didn’t believe you,” Margaret wailed.
Benjamin urged, “Now that you know, I believe it’s up to us to intervene. This is your chance, darling, to seek your revenge. I know how hard it was for you to swallow what vitriol you wanted to spit at that woman, and now you can expose her for what she is: a fortune-hunting opportunist.”
Buoyed at Benjamin’s words, Margaret readily agreed. “Come, we’ll follow them and confront her without an audience. I don’t want Devlin’s reputation hurt in any of this.”
“I agree. There’s no need to drag the entire ton for this family affair. We’ll give them a head start and then we’ll grab a hansom cab to get home. The Ellesmeres will still need the other carriage to arrive back home.” Margaret nodded and turned to a footman to send a message for Jackson that they were heading home early and that the second Prestonridge coach would be available for the twins when they were ready to leave the ball.
Benjamin smiled a secret smile, hidden from his cousin since her face was turned away.
19
Faith did not expect to leave the ball so early in the evening but didn’t care overmuch as she was bursting at the seams to share her earlier discovery with Devlin. What did it matter where they went to discuss something of great import to her?
The ride home was silent but charged electrically with anticipation. Both Devlin and Faith were anxious to get home, but both for different reasons of which the other was not aware. Fortunately, the staff were told not to wait up for any of them as they estimated they would be arriving home at a late hour, and each guest had a key.
Devlin unlocked the front door, waved Faith inside, and instructed, “The library. We’ll talk there.” Of all the times for his imperious nature to surface, Faith decided that she appreciated his forthright thinking as she was too giddy with excitement. Following her into the library, Devlin closed the door softly behind them as Faith had just lit a nearby candelabra for some illumination within the vast room.
Snatching her to him, Devlin crashed his lips against hers, catching her unawares, but the feel of their lips enmeshed together was enough to soften Faith’s response through her answering kiss. Devlin didn’t want the glorious kiss to end, but he had come here with a purpose, one he meant to carry out before the night was through. Slowly drawing away, but just enough to separate his lips from hers, he rested his forehead against hers, trying to slow his heaving breaths before speaking.
Calm once more, Devlin whispered, “Marry me, Faith.”
Still wallowing in a blissful stupor, Faith blinked at his words. “Wh-what?” She was not expecting those words, but the thrill of them shot through her just the same, freezing her body and stealing her breath.
“Marry me,” he repeated, staring into her widened
eyes, searching their depths for the answer he sought.
Clearing her throat so her voice wouldn’t come out high and shrill, she said, “As proposals go, I’m not sure that’s how they’re done. Are you asking me or telling me, you pompous man?”
He chuckled against her mouth, and said, “I’m telling you.”
“Try again, Devlin. I’m not giving you a proper answer until I get a proper proposal. I’ve had visions, you realize, of you on your knee.”
“As you wish,” he said, eyes never leaving hers as he knelt down on one knee before her, her hands in his. “Lady Faith Revelstoke, will you do me the honor of accepting my offer of marriage?” Impatient, he stood back up to bring their gazes level with each other and said, “If you don’t put me out of my misery and say yes, I might do something terribly drastic.”
“Really? What could you possibly do to coerce me into marriage with you?”
“For instance, I can make it known that you are currently carrying my heir and the only way to save your reputation is by marrying his father.”
Outraged, Faith screeched, “You fiend! You would dare, wouldn’t you?” But she was smiling all the while. “You have one more chance to convince me.”
Sobering once more, he lowered his voice, and said, “Faith Revelstoke, I knew I loved you before I met you again in Atwell Cottage. I just didn’t realize it then, but I do acknowledge that’s when I fell hard. When you were a little girl, I worried about you, hoping you were safe and cared for, and I realized I had always cared. Now, that fondness has grown into something more, something I want to explore, with you as my wife. Will you marry me? Please?” If she hadn’t believed his words, she had only to look into his eyes to witness the desperate plea there.
Her heart had squeezed a little more at each statement he revealed, and happy tears leaked out of her eyes. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she exclaimed, “Yes, yes! An infinity of yeses!”
A celebratory kiss was shared, and Devlin’s whoops brought Hugo running from his bed. “Sir?” the poor butler inquired.
“Congratulate me, Hugo,” Devlin triumphed. “Faith has agreed to marry me. Break out a bottle of champagne, will you? We’re celebrating this momentous occasion.” Looking to Faith for confirmation, Hugo must have been satisfied with her answering smile and nod, and left momentarily to fetch the requested bottle. Arriving back with two filled champagne flutes, Hugo excused himself to retire for the rest of the evening.
“Good man, that Hugo,” Devlin commented, and the happy couple partook of the bubbly offering. After a glass of the crisp liquid, Faith remembered she had yet to tell Devlin of her latest discovery. Seated as they were on the library couch, Faith turned her head a little too quickly to tell him what she knew, and the room spun. Trying hard to blink away her sudden double-vision, Faith thought, Poison!
Next to her, Devlin slurred, “What’s happening to me?” And he immediately slumped over, unconscious. Alarmed, Faith tried to rouse him but found she couldn’t use her arms at will. Panicked, Faith tried to keep her eyes open for fear of Devlin’s state, but it was no use, her eyelids felt like iron weights ready to slam closed over her sight. The last thing she heard before she went under, was a woman’s voice say in shock, “What did you do?” Then she knew nothing more.
20
The bright morning sun streaming through the coach window woke Faith with its warm rays. Groggily, she stirred, trying to recall what she was doing in a moving coach when the last thing she remembered was celebrating her engagement with Devlin. At the Prestonridge Townhouse.
Abruptly straightening in her seat, she was acutely aware of staring down the barrel of a pistol, held steadfastly by Benjamin. In her struggle to move out of the way, she found her hands bound at the wrists with rope. “Ah, you’re finally awake. Your fiancé and I had been waiting until you woke up.” She spotted Devlin sitting on the opposite seat, to her right, awake and fuming in silence. He was bound in a similar fashion and next to her on her side of the coach lay Margaret, unconscious. She must have projected fear that the girl was dead until Benjamin assured her, “No, she’s alive. Unlike you two, I couldn’t drug her fast enough to keep her from calling the whole house down upon my head. I had to resort to a quicker method.” Faith could see a spot of redness near Margaret’s temple where she must have been struck.
“So, you have a fondness for knocking ladies unconscious?” Faith said with a bravado she was far from feeling. She quickly made the connection that the person who struck her in the library must be the same one holding a gun to her head. Alarmed at Faith’s audacity and fearing Benjamin’s reaction, Devlin struggled against his bonds, and cautioned, “Faith, don’t say any more. The bounder is crazed.”
Benjamin clearly disliked that comment and turned towards his cousin to slam the butt of his pistol hard against Devlin’s shoulder. “You be still, or I’ll do more than strike you. Misbehave and I will be forced to cause your lovely fiancée some discomfort.” Devlin groaned at the contact, and Faith cried, “Stop! Don’t hurt him!” Turning to Faith, Benjamin sneered, “I won’t if you behave as well. Do everything I say, and this will all be over soon.”
Helplessly, she looked about the carriage, seeking aid where there was none, and finally glanced back at Benjamin. “Where are you taking us?”
With a cold smile, Benjamin replied, “Why, my dear, I’m glad you asked. We are currently en route to Donnesbury and the place of your birth, Revelstoke Place.”
“But why are we all here? What do you want with us?”
Margaret had chosen that moment to let out a moan, signaling to everyone that she was slowly coming round.
Waving her question away as if a buzzing gnat was about, Benjamin said, “I really only need one of you, but seeing as how I need you, Faith, to cooperate, my cousins are along for the ride to ensure that you do. As for the why, ask Devlin here. While you were still taking your little snooze, I had explained the relevant parts to Devlin.”
Faith looked wide-eyed at Devlin, who calmly watched her as he began, “He believes you can help him find your family’s legacy. He knew about it from the beginning, as far back as when your mother was searching for it herself.”
“I don’t understand why, Benjie,” Margaret croaked from her corner of the coach. “Why would you want this legacy that belongs to the Revelstokes? You’re titled and rich as Croesus.”
Benjamin tutted. “The title is all I have, cousin. By the time I came into my title, I discovered that my late father had squandered most of my inheritance, leaving me virtually penniless. Your father knew of my impoverished state, but out of love for me I suppose, he kept it under wraps and gave me the bare minimum in funds to keep myself afloat.”
Faith said, “But how do you know about the Revelstoke legacy? My mother had only discovered it even existed six years ago.”
Instead of directing his answer to Faith, he focused instead on Devlin and Margaret. “You know how often I’ve visited your townhouse in London, don’t you? I came around as soon as your father’s financial supplement ran out, and he was kind enough to supply me with enough to see me through the month. I needed the money and heard about this treasure by listening at doorways. To my mind, that legacy is for whoever finds it first. And I intend to be the first.”
The coach came to a stop, and Benjamin took a brief glance out the window. “Ah, we’ve arrived, it seems. Devlin, Margaret, you lead the way slowly, no sudden movements now. And I will accompany Lady Faith the rest of the way.” The siblings did as they were told and Faith alit from the coach, followed closely by Benjamin who held his pistol pressed against her back.
“Now, this is where I need Faith’s assistance,” Benjamin announced. With Faith in front of him, he bade her turn around so they were facing each other, the pistol still between them. “I only know that your mother hid the first piece of the treasure which also contained the next clue for the next piece’s location. I overheard her mention as much, but I have no idea where. I need yo
u to search for it.”
“How are you sure I can find it?” Faith asked while her mind raced, aiming to distract Benjamin long enough for Devlin and Margaret to slip away and get help.
“It’s not wise to play dumb with me,” he said, narrowing his eyes at her. “I overheard you and Faust discussing your mother’s sketchbook which I thought to take and discover its secrets for myself.” Devlin growled at his cousin’s admission, angry that he hadn’t suspected him for hurting Faith just to steal that infernal sketchbook.
Continuing, Benjamin said, “But I couldn’t make heads or tails of what would constitute as a clue to a treasure in there, so I left it back in the library. And I was amused that no one suspected me for the deed! Then I later heard you with the Ellesmere girl when you finally unraveled its first clue. I knew you were close to uncovering the location of the first piece when you mentioned a doll. The very doll I recalled from your mother’s book.”