by Jane Charles
The meal had helped clear some of the fog from his brain and Mrs. Thomas was a wonderful cook and he hoped he could engage her services in the future. After all, she had cooked for the Coopers since the accident so there was no reason why she could not continue with the same employment.
Everyone had finished eating but nobody moved from their seat. It had been a late night, especially for Grace.
The silence was disturbed by knocking on the front door. Mrs. Thomas stood before anyone could react and left to answer. A moment later she was back in the room, followed by Jordan.
“What did you do, Matt?”
Matthew straightened. “What do you mean? I haven’t done anything.”
He laughed. “Well, according to Mrs. Montgomery, that isn’t the case.”
Matthew glanced across the table at Grace. Her cheeks were turning a lovely shade of pink. “She has embellished an innocent situation.”
“Then you didn’t spend the night in Miss Cooper’s room.”
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas gasped and Matthew looked at them. “Miss Cooper had a nightmare and was frightened. I slept in the chair in front of the fire.” He turned and glared at Jordan. “And, the door was wide open all night.”
They nodded as if that explained everything and went back to drinking their tea. Well, at least not everyone thought lowly of him and Miss Cooper.
“I told you the woman was mistaken. This is Matt. Father’s perfect gentleman and vicar.”
John walked in behind Jordan with Elizabeth on his arm. Great, his entire bloody family was here. Well, half of them anyway.
Matthew stood and walked to his brothers. “I thought you were going to see Elizabeth’s grandfather and then be off to Scotland.”
John glanced behind Matthew and seemed to take in the room. “Our plans changed. The friend I was seeking is no longer there.
“I am sorry to hear,” Matthew said. “Do you know where your friend traveled to?” They all needed to know where Adele and Julia were, especially if they thought to travel to London. John needed to stop them before they ruined the lives of Rose and Madeline. After all, it was Adele who chose to leave. What right did she have to return only to disrupt everyone’s lives?
“No, but I hope to catch up to them when I do learn.”
Jordan took a seat at the table and Mrs. Thomas poured him a cup of tea. “John and Elizabeth were visiting when that lad came for me.” This time Jordan glanced at the occupants in the room. “Has something happened to Mr. Cooper?”
“He is recovering,” Grace answered before Matthew could.
“Then why the urgency?”
“There was an attempt on Miss Cooper’s life last night.
Both John and Elizabeth stiffened and looked at each other. They shared a look but Matthew couldn’t read anything into it.
“What happened,” John asked.
Matthew quickly explained. John and Elizabeth both nodded and kept looking about the room, into the foyer. Matthew wasn’t certain what to make of it because it wasn’t as if they were being nosy and snooping, but checking windows and such.
“I need someone to keep an eye on the family and the house. And, I need to find someone to fix the back door.”
“I can fix the door,” Mr. Thomas offered.
“I would be very grateful,” Grace thanked him.
At least that was one thing off of his mind.
“Why would someone want to kill Mr. Cooper and then try to kill Miss Cooper?” Jordan asked. “I find it hard to believe Stillwaite would go to such extremes, but he is the only one who would have anything to gain.”
Matthew didn’t answer. It was not his place to tell the truth behind Mr. Cooper’s fall. It was a private family matter, though he and the Thomas’ knew. “I am more concerned with who would wish to do Miss Cooper harm,” Matthew finally stated. “We are not certain it is the same person.”
“It would be odd that two separate people are trying to do them harm,” Jordan insisted.
As much as he would like to enlighten his brother, Matthew would not do that.
“You may tell them,” Miss Cooper said after a moment, her voice low.
“I don’t think that is necessary.”
“You asked your brother here to help, did you not?” Her eyes bore into hers.
“Yes,” Matthew answered after a moment. He knew he could not protect the family alone and it had been his intention to simply ask Jordan to stay with Grace while he hired staff and guards. But he wasn’t even sure who he could trust. What if he hired the very person who had broken in here last night? Grace looked to Jordan, then John and lastly Elizabeth. “I just ask that you never breathe a word of what Vicar Trent tells you.”
They nodded and looked to Matthew.
“Let’s clear the table,” Grace announced and began gathering dishes. Mrs. Thomas did the same. “Why don’t you go to the library and you can explain to your family.”
“I’ll see about fixing the door.” Mr. Thomas walked off into the kitchen.
“I’ll bring tea in a moment,” Mrs. Thomas offered.
It was as if none of them could leave the room quick enough.
“What is going on, Matt?” Jordan asked when they were in the hall.
He led them into the library and closed the door. Once his brothers and Elizabeth were settled he relayed the truth behind Mr. Cooper’s fall and all the details he could recall up until this morning. “I originally thought it could have been Stillwaite or one of the suitors who tried to kill Mr. Cooper.”
“But suitors would gain nothing in the demise of Miss Cooper,” Elizabeth insisted.
“Exactly,” John agreed.
“And the only person who would gain anything by Miss Cooper’s death is her uncle,” Jordan surmised.
“Those were my thoughts, but the man I encountered in her bedchamber was younger. Or at least he moved as a much younger man would.”
“Perhaps Stillwaite hired someone.” Elizabeth suggested.
Matthew didn’t know the answer and simply shook his head. “I need to hire guards and a staff. Miss Cooper cannot go on without anyone else in the house except her father and a valet.”
“No you don’t,” John answered.
“Yes, I do,” Matthew insisted. “Who is going to protect her and I can’t be here all of the time. Already Mrs. Montgomery has shredded her reputation with her vicious tongue. I can’t remain here a third night or Miss Cooper’s reputation will never recover.”
“Who would you hire?” Jordan asked.
“That is the problem. I have not lived here long enough to know who to trust.”
“You know us,” Elizabeth smiled at him.
It was kind of Elizabeth to want to help but the most she could do was act as a chaperone. “Thank you, but I need someone who can protect Miss Cooper.”
Elizabeth turned to John. “I believe your brother just insulted me.”
John chuckled and lifted the back of her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “He simply doesn’t know you the way I do.”
Yet another woman he did not understand. Though he certainly hadn’t meant to insult her, Matthew wasn’t certain how he had.
John continued to hold his wife’s hand and let it rest in the space between them on the settee. “As you have shared your secret, I will share mine and Elizabeth’s.”
Jordan and Matthew both leaned forward. What could they possibly tell them that nobody could know? Was Elizabeth increasing? They had certainly been married long enough for that occurrence to happen, but if that were the case, it wouldn’t remain a secret long.
“Why do you think I was on the Continent?” John asked.
“Gallivanting and avoiding buying a commission,” Jordan chuckled.
“Would you be surprised if I told you I worked for the Home Office?”
It took a moment for his words to sink in. “What exactly were you doing?”
“For the most part working in the stables at Tuileries and gatherin
g information about Napoleon and the French and passing anything pertinent on.”
Matthew looked between Elizabeth and John and back again. His brother was serious.
“Did father know?” Jordan asked.
“Not until I returned. I was able to tell him right before he died.”
“You were a spy?” Matthew asked for clarification.
“As was I,” Elizabeth interjected.
“I thought you were a widow living in the south of France until my brother stumbled across you.” Jordan said. “Are you telling us that isn’t true either?”
It was hard enough to believe his brother had been working as a spy, but Elizabeth? She was a gently bred lady. Her grandfather was the Duke of Danby and her father a vicar.
She smiled at the look of confusion on his face. “I was a maid. I had the opportunity to search Napoleon’s office, often, and passed onto John any information I gathered.”
Both John and Matthew fell back into their chairs at the same time.
John laughed. “I do love telling people. The look of utter astonishment is always enjoyable.”
“Yes,” Elizabeth agreed. “But if we tell many more people, it won’t remain a secret and we still work for the Home Office.”
“You didn’t quit when you were married?” Matthew couldn’t believe John would allow his wife to remain in such dangerous work.
“We can’t return to France right now.” She shrugged. “There are things we can do in England, for the moment.”
“I am still not sure how you can help Miss Cooper,” Matthew said after a few moments.
This time Elizabeth laughed. “One can’t be a spy without being able to know how to protect oneself.”
“Or know how to shoot, fight, maim or even kill,” John added.
“We can search without anyone knowing we were there,” Elizabeth continued. “I know the weakness in this home already.”
Matthew looked around the room.
“If I wished to break in, I already know how I would go about doing so and you would never know.”
The thought that this home was so vulnerable sent a chill up Matthew’s spine.
“Trust me, Matt.” John leaned forward. “You don’t need guards you simply need me and Elizabeth.”
“You don’t need servants either,” Elizabeth added.
“Someone has to cook, and help with the house.”
Elizabeth grinned. “I will.”
“You?”
“I started off in the kitchens at the palace and worked my way up to maid.” She shrugged. “Besides, it is better if you don’t have others in the house since you don’t know who tried to kill Miss Cooper.”
“You have a caller, Miss Cooper.”
Grace glanced up from her chair beside her father’s bed to find Mrs. Thomas in the doorway. “Who is it?” Please don’t let it be Richards, Thorn or Draker.
“Lord Crew.”
Relief shot through her body and she jumped from her seat. “Thank goodness.”
She rushed out of the room to find him in the parlor with Vicar Trent and his brothers and sister-in-law.
He stood when she entered. “How is your father?”
“He will recover.”
“There hasn’t been a hearing yet, has there?”
“No.” She quickly assured him. “Lord Brachton wanted to wait.”
“I will have a word with that young man as soon as I leave here.”
“That won’t be necessary.” She glanced up to find the man they were just speaking of standing in the door.
Grace quickly came to her feet. “Lord Brachton, welcome.”
He sauntered into the room and bowed before her. “I was sorry to hear about your father. Did I hear correctly that he is recovering?”
“Yes.”
“Good. For his sake and yours.”
“Please, have a seat. I will ring for more tea.”
Lord Brachton nodded to the occupants in the room and settled into a chair beside the settee where Mr. and Mrs. Trent sat. Everyone already seemed to know each other so Grace didn’t bother with introductions.
“What would you tell me, Crew, if there were a hearing?”
“That despite his inability to talk, Mr. Cooper is of sound mind.”
Brachton nodded. “I suspected as much.”
Grace turned to him, a bit surprised. “You did.”
“I’ve known Vicar Trent too long. Had he been concerned about your father’s mental capabilities he would have let me know without hurting you in the process.”
Relief flowed through her.
“But Stillwaite isn’t about to give up. He visited me this morning demanding that a hearing be held immediately.”
“I don’t know what he hopes to gain,” Lord Crew announced. “Even if my friend is found in need of confinement, guardianship of Grace would not go to him.”
Brachton leaned forward. “What do you mean?”
“Of course, I am only assuming. But in his will, Cooper named me Grace’s guardian if anything to happen to him. If I could not see to the task, Vicar Merker was named. He was very clear, at least vocally, that his brother was to have no control over Grace or the estate.”
“When did he write this will?”
“Five years before his accident.”
A slow smile came to Brachton’s lips. “I now know what to do.”
“You do,” Grace asked anxiously.
“I will agree that guardianship is necessary.”
“But it isn’t,” Grace interrupted.
Brachton held up his hand to silence her. “Stillwaite is insisting on a guardianship, and I will agree. However, I will name Lord Crew as that guardian.” He paused and looked around. “Who might have a copy of the will?”
“Mr. Larkin,” Crew answered. “He is the solicitor and took over when Cooper was injured.”
“I will read it myself and I assume that what your father wanted for you goes for himself as well.”
Lord Crew chuckled.
“It is up to Lord Crew to decide what to do with you and Mr. Cooper, and I can wash my hands of this mess.”
“He won’t have a chance in the courts,” Mr. Jordan Trent offered.
Grace wheeled on him. He worked for her uncle and they had just talked openly about this in front of him. “Are you going to help him fight Lord Crew?”
“No,” he insisted. “As Matt, I suspect Stillwaite was behind the attack on you. The moment he started harming someone he ceased being my client. Besides, I was only to help him purchase land, not commit a man to Bedlam or murder his daughter.”
“Thank you.”
“This entire situation has gotten out of control, Grace,” Lord Crew stated, his light hazel eyes boring into hers.
“What do you mean?”
“I was in town before I came here. There are some unflattering rumors floating around with regard to you and Vicar Trent.”
Her face began to heat. She could only imagine what Mrs. Montgomery was telling everyone. Someone had to speak the truth before Vicar Trent was ruined in the eyes of the community.
“Audrey will dispel the rumors. She was here with her mother.”
“I am not sure even Miss Montgomery can stop the innuendos and what people are beginning to believe.”
There was no hope for it. She needed to distance herself from Vicar Trent before the entire town turned on him, though they should know better than to listen to anything Mrs. Montgomery said. “I am afraid I must ask you to leave, Vicar Trent.”
“Pardon?” He stood and turned toward her.
“You heard me.” She pointed to the door. “I thank you for the assistance you have been the past few days, but I want you to leave now. It is for the best.”
He stepped toward her. “We did nothing wrong.”
Grace moved back. “It doesn’t matter. It is best that you distance yourself from me. I will not have your name sullied further. Please go.”
Vicar Trent glanced
around the room as if looking for help from someone, but even his brothers nodded their head in agreement with Grace.
“Very well.” He turned and stomped from the room. The sound of the front door shutting reverberated through the house. She felt the loss of his presence immediately.
Matthew settled behind his desk to work on his sermon and stopped. What he had already written and his books were at the Cooper household. Was that a good enough excuse to return? He had missed Grace last evening. After he returned home he bathed and had a light meal, but had nothing to do until bedtime. For most of his adult life he had lived alone and never was without something to occupy his mind, but he was at a loss and it took everything in him not to ride to her home and check that she was safe. Despite how tired he was, it had taken hours for him to fall asleep. He tossed and turned; worrying that someone would get into her house and do her harm. It didn’t matter that John and Elizabeth were there to protect her, he should be the one.
This morning hadn’t been much better because he found a note on his table that the young woman he had hired to clean, cook and do laundry resigned her position. Her parents thought it best that she not spend time in his home, despite him being a vicar.
It didn’t really matter because soon he would be living with Grace in her home, as her husband. Perhaps the marriage would repair any damage Mrs. Montgomery caused. He could only pray that was the case.
“I thought you might need these.”
Matthew glanced up to find Jordan standing in the door with the items he had left at the Coopers. “How is Miss Cooper and her father this morning?”
“They are doing well. Mr. Cooper is awake more and has even eaten food.”
“Miss Cooper must be relieved.” Matthew took the books and foolscap from Jordan. “Nobody tried to break in?”
“John and Elizabeth said it was a quiet night.”
As much as Matthew was pleased that Grace was safe, it galled him that she didn’t need him.
Jordan settled into the chair before his desk. “What are your plans?”
“What do you mean?”
“The people in the town have nothing better to talk about but the fact that you remained in the household two nights.”