“My lady, you seem to have lost your train of thought.”
The throaty depth of his voice sent a pleasant feeling to curl in her belly. “I did no such thing.”
“Why do you do that?”
“What?” The warm feeling in her belly dissipated.
“Deny the truth.” He straightened, and even in the darkness she could feel his gaze pinning her to her spot. “Pretend to be someone other than you are.”
“Are you suggesting I live in pretense?” She tried to keep the hurt from her voice, but it managed to slip out. Perhaps he would not notice.
“I am not maligning you. I am simply curious. You’re a caring person with great emotional ranges. It’s in your paintings and in the way you treat children. Yet you wear a facade of practical indifference. You pretend that daydreams are not for you.”
Somehow Amelia swallowed past the boulder that crowded her windpipe. She peered out the small window. Weren’t they close to their destination now? She did not want to answer his accusations, did not know how.
Her silence tainted the air.
Lord Ashwhite cleared his throat. “Forgive me, my lady. I’ve spoken out of turn.”
“You certainly have,” she said pertly. And could not think of another thing to say. Did not know which words to formulate and could not bring herself to acquit him of his intrusion. A gentleman would not be so common, so...personal. Hadn’t he acted this way from the start, though?
She’d found his blunt and unpracticed ways refreshing.
Not when they came so close to the truth, though. Not when his words pierced the armor that kept her safe from pain.
The carriage drew to a halt. Finally.
“You may want to move to the side, as we’ll be having company.”
“Your brother?” Lord Ashwhite peered out his window, and the lamplight caught his frown. “No, we are on the other side of town. What is going on here?”
“Exactly what I want. Mr. Ladd shall be accompanying us.”
“Please tell me this is lawful.”
“And what did you think I’d be doing in the middle of the night, pray tell? Combing my hair? Dancing at some crush? No, indeed.” Excitement stirred within her. She leaned forward, commanding his attention. “I have much bigger goals to pursue. In fact, my worries about Lord Dudley may be well founded. There is something strange going on, and I shall tell you about it as soon as Mr. Ladd arrives.”
“If it is a problem for the constable, then you should allow him care of the matter.”
“Perhaps, if the situation comes to that, but at this point I am simply searching...”
“Searching?”
“For something.” She pushed her spectacles firmly against her nose. “I know not what. But I will.”
The carriage door opened, and Mr. Ladd stepped inside. “We are heading to White’s?”
“Yes, our usual,” she said while briskly waving him in.
She noted the glance he gave Lord Ashwhite before settling beside him. She rapped the top of the carriage, and off they went. As before, her pulse began to quicken and her palms sweat. Nerves, or perhaps the pants she wore beneath her skirt.
She could feel Lord Ashwhite’s disapproval, and it did not settle well. “Do not stare at me so. This is a common practice of ours, and if all goes to plan, I will be averting a great disaster.”
The priggish quality to her tone caused her to flinch. Did she normally sound so stuffy? So much like Eversham? A snuffled snort told her that someone was laughing at her. She scowled into the darkened hackney.
“Forgive me, my lady. I just did not take you for melodrama.” The amusement dripping from Lord Ashwhite’s tone carved the frown deeper into her face. She could feel her lips pressing tight. No doubt an unattractive quality, but then again, she’d never been known for beauty.
“What you have taken me for is of no consequence to me. The reason I invited you is because you are good friends with Ev, and I’d like a witness, as this will personally affect all of us.”
“I am confused.”
She sighed. “You need not know the details, only that you shall silently witness a confession from a man who I am quite sure is not only disreputable but also a criminal. I shall not allow him to take advantage of my brother.”
“What are you talking about? I ask again, my lady, why isn’t the law involved?”
“I am the law.” Mr. Ladd’s answer didn’t dent the palpable tension in the carriage.
“You’re a runner. Nothing more.”
“That is only one of my many occupations,” he said, voice cold.
Amelia watched the two men as best she could in the darkened carriage and hoped things went to plan. She couldn’t stop now. Somehow she must repair the damage she’d caused to her relationship with Eversham.
“Very well.” Lord Ashwhite let out a heartfelt sigh. “Do you care to disclose what exactly we will be doing and where we are going?”
Amelia swallowed away her regrets and forced the no-nonsense tone that more often than not got her the results she desired. “First we shall go into White’s and make conversation. During the course of mingling, we will spread out and find Lord Dudley. Whoever finds him first must mention that he has heard of his new venture and would like to invest in it.”
“Wait.” Lord Ashwhite held up his palm. “And how do you plan to get into White’s?”
“A disguise, of course.”
“You realize this is disreputable and dangerous.”
The corner of her lips tickled. “Never fear, my lord. Ladd and I have everything under control.”
* * *
Lady Amelia and Mr. Ladd had thrown Spencer’s world into chaos. Disbelievingly he watched the two round the room, stopping to talk to various gentleman. Not a one seemed to realize that Lady Amelia was a woman. How could they fail to notice?
Granted, the room was not well lit, and most of the gentlemen had been in their cups a tad too long. But who could miss the fine structure of her jaw or the fullness of her lips? And the way she walked... If she was going to wear trousers and pass herself off as a man, she must do better than this.
Before his very eyes, he watched a man greet her with a broad grin. It looked as though he called her by a false name... Spencer frowned. How long had she been doing this? Ladd needed a thorough talking-to. Surely he knew such a game was not safe.
Jaw tight, Spencer gripped his drink and harnessed every ounce of self-control he had to keep from dashing over, scooping her up and getting out of there.
“Cards not going your way this eve?” Lord Dudley came up beside him, a supercilious smile on his face.
“Not quite,” Spencer answered. He was supposed to say something but for the life of him could not remember what. Lady Amelia and her plans! He ground his teeth and tore his gaze from where she stood with a foolish group of young men too stupid to realize they told ribald jokes to a lady.
“Lord Ashwhite, correct?” The man beside him shifted on his feet. “Though we are distant cousins, we’ve not been introduced. You are newly a marquis.”
Spencer nodded. Dudley recognized him after all. A sudden ache crept into his chest at the remembrance of how he’d become a marquis. He rubbed at the spot. “And you are Lord Dudley.”
“Yes, I saw you briefly at Almack’s. You’re a family friend of Lady Amelia?”
“That’s right.” Spencer studied the man beside him, feeling a dark foreboding sweep over him. “I have a matter of a sensitive nature to discuss with you. It is fortuitous that we’ve met tonight.” He gestured to a quieter corner. “Perhaps we can discuss it somewhere...private?”
“Quite fine, my lord.”
Spencer saw the greed lighting the earl’s squinty eyes. Feeling grim, he led the man toward Mr. Ladd, who had spotted them and waited by a potted palm tree well removed from the bustle of the gaming tables. There was something amiss here, something he had no doubt the indomitable Lady Amelia should not be dabbling in. So why did she?
What was driving her to take these risks with her reputation? Not to mention her safety. A gentleman’s club was no place for a lady. He gave Mr. Ladd a brisk nod, then turned to Lord Dudley.
“This is my business partner.”
“Ladd.” They shook hands.
“Now, about that sensitive subject...”
* * *
It was an hour later when the three of them finally made it back to the hackney. Spencer was so angry he could hardly form a coherent word. Whether at Lord Dudley or Lady Amelia, he could not fathom. They clambered into the carriage, each silent and withdrawn into their own thoughts.
Once on their way, Spencer turned to Mr. Ladd. The man was uncomfortably close. He’d rather sit next to Lady Amelia, who was a sight smaller than Mr. Ladd and more pleasant overall.
“What do you make of it?” he asked the runner, studying him carefully for any signs of dissembling.
“Definitely a scam. Though to stop it will take some work.”
“I agree. Any chance you can get the constable involved?”
“I’ll send him a note, give him a tip, but the plot is fairly thick, and the ones involved aren’t going to be happy about this. They might fight the information in the hopes of retaining their dignity and money.”
Both men glanced at Lady Amelia, whose face remained in the shadows. He’d pay a purse of farthings to know what she was thinking. Surely her practicality could see a way out of this for her brother.
Spencer’s gut twisted at the thought. His friend Ev stood to lose a great deal with this investment. Besides that, there was Lady Eversham and her miscarriages. Spencer’s mouth tightened. Ev was a fine man. Good-hearted. He didn’t deserve to be completely wrecked.
“Any ideas on how to force Lord Dudley to return everyone’s money before it sinks with that false ship?” Several peers believed they were investing in a cargo of tea to be shipped to the Americas.
“I have a few,” said Lady Amelia. Her perky voice set his teeth on edge.
“This is not a game, my lady.”
“I’m well aware of that.” Her chin lifted. “I have a dear friend who is married to a captain. He is the one who informed me that Lord Dudley’s ship does not exist. I shall check with him again, but in the meantime, I believe we should force Lord Dudley’s hand somehow.”
“Blackmail?” Incredulity laced Mr. Ladd’s voice.
“No, sir. I believe we can find a legal way to convince Lord Dudley that it is in his best interests to pay everyone back their investments.”
“It is naive to believe he still has that money,” said Spencer.
“I’m with you.” The hackney shuddered to a stop, and Mr. Ladd rose. “Lord Ashwhite has friends in high places. It could be they’ll accomplish more than the constable and his men.”
“I’ll see what I can find out,” said Spencer. This was a delicate situation.
Mr. Ladd jumped out. “Take care of her.”
The hackney leaped forward, leaving Mr. Ladd at his door.
“Take care of me? Whatever is he thinking?”
Spencer’s anger revived. “My lady, I believe he is worried about your safety.” He gestured to the trousers that did nothing to conceal her womanly form, and to the hat she wore, in which she’d tucked up her hair earlier when she’d changed. He wished he and Ladd had never stepped out of the hackney to allow her the “moment of privacy” she’d requested. Now her dress lay in a frothy heap beside her. “How often have you visited White’s? And do you think it will go unnoticed? You will create a scandal for yourself, and I’m at a loss as to why you’re taking such risks. It’s not practical. You pride yourself on pragmatism and doing the logical thing, but your actions are born of emotion.”
“I do not need to explain myself to you,” she said quietly.
“On the contrary. You have dragged me into this. An explanation is most certainly owed.” He hated the stern tone of his voice and the long, thick silence that ensued.
He would rather have Lady Amelia’s eyes flashing at him with mirth or her mouth forming witty and saucy words that she flung at him like well-aimed bullets.
Not this deep quiet pebbled with the sound of hoof and wheel against cobblestone.
“You are right,” she said at last. Her voice sounded strained. “I have importuned you in the worst way. It seemed the right decision at the time, but I see now the mistake I’ve made. Forgive me, my lord.”
“An answer, Lady Amelia, is what I’d like.”
“Shall I drop you at home first?”
Changing the subject. A rudimentary diversionary tactic. “No, I’ve instructed the driver to drop you off first.”
“He’s not your driver to instruct.”
“I feel responsible for you, especially since you seem to have no care for your own safety. This was to be a simple arrangement. You find me a wife. I pay you. Not strange adventures in the middle of the night.” Irritation and concern mingled together, making his voice gruff and unyielding. Lady Amelia was no sensitive miss, though, and he did not get the impression he was hurting her sensibilities.
In fact, he had the distinct impression her chin was lifting, and as they passed beneath lamps, their flickering glow played across her face. He thought he saw her eyes flash.
“Do not take that tone with me. You had the opportunity to back out and you did not take it. In fact, your curiosity compelled you to join Mr. Ladd and me on our excursion. Is this not true?”
He bit back a groan. “What is the reason for this? Why not just tell Ev the whole thing is a hoax? Why seek out Lord Dudley and gain...what? What exactly did we gain? No proof it’s a scam, certainly. Besides what you already have, which is the word of a captain who may not have all the information at hand. I fail to see the reason behind this trip. Or the logic behind your clothing and sneaking into White’s.”
He fixed her with a hard stare. She was not a young woman ignorant of repercussions. No, she was smart and independent, and that was why he could not explain this odd behavior.
“I...”
“You...” he prompted her, ignoring a twinge of conscience at how he pressed her for information. But they were almost to Ev’s, and he owed his friend at least the responsibility of watching over his sister.
A broken sigh. The sound of her feet shifting on the floor. And then, “Very well. I shall tell you something I haven’t told anyone else.”
He leaned forward, his gut twisting at the tone of her voice.
“Eversham is... He is very angry with me. Perhaps he even hates me.” The fleeting shadows showed her hands twisting in her lap. “I must fix this somehow.”
“By sneaking into White’s dressed as a man?”
“No, by getting proof. By saving him. I have already damaged so much...” Her voice trailed off, and the strange, forlorn quality to her tone sent ice down Spencer’s spine. This was not his normal Lady Amelia.
He reached for her, then withdrew. “Damaged?”
“Don’t you see?” Her pitch rose. “My antics have caused Lady Eversham to miscarry. Not once, but three times.”
They rolled to a stop, and Spencer had no time to speak past his shock when the hackney doors opened. Ev stood before them, peering into the carriage, face haughty with anger.
“Amelia, get into the house. Ash, I shall speak with you in my library. At once.”
Chapter Thirteen
Amelia watched her brother settle at his massive desk. A cold and desperate dread scuttled through her, weighting her limbs as she plastered herself against the farthest wall. Lord Ashwhite seemed completely disaffected. He sprawled on Ev’s armchair, a relaxed look upon his features.
She wished she could be so blasé about the situation, but she was quaking. Such an unknown feeling. She had felt this massive fear of the future when she and Eversham were twelve and their parents died. Where would they go? How would they survive? But Eversham had been capable and strong. He’d overtaken their estate duties and given her a Seas
on at eighteen.
And she’d failed him.
Hadn’t caught a husband, had done nothing to add to their waning coffers. Wasted money on clothing and fripperies and parties. Then, when she’d had The Great Disappointment, she’d languished. Poor Ev had had to lift her from melancholy. He’d rented the London house for her, and she’d thrown herself into painting and reading, gradually earning money by helping a friend with her Season.
Things had progressed until she’d felt independent and no longer a drain on her busy brother. He’d married, and while she dodged Harriet’s various attempts at control, she had overall felt successful at being someone of whom her brother could be proud.
Until now.
Everything within her protested meeting her brother’s eyes, but she made herself lift her gaze, only to find Ev staring hard at Lord Ashwhite.
“What exactly is going on, Spencer?”
Her brother’s use of Lord Ashwhite’s given name took Amelia aback. This was serious indeed. And his name was Spencer? She rolled the name in her head, tasted it silently on her tongue. The temptation to call him by name was already growing inside. She must not be so ostentatious as to use his given name.
Lord Ashwhite—Spencer—gave Ev an indolent grin. “A mad adventure that’s over now. There’s no need for you to worry or get angry. Let your sister go to bed and me return home. I don’t have patience for histrionics.”
A muscle in Ev’s jaw quivered. “You were out alone with my sister. Care to explain?”
“Actually, I don’t.”
“Why, you—”
Amelia jumped forward, grabbing her brother’s arm and positioning herself between the two men. “Please, Ev...” She swallowed hard, glancing back at Lord Ashwhite before turning her attention away. “It’s not Lord Ashwhite’s fault. He is merely trying to protect me, which he doesn’t need to do. The truth is, I did this for you.”
“For me?” Eversham snorted. “Do you pretend this is the first time you’ve snuck into places dressed as someone other than yourself?”
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