Fall From Grace

by Wendy Soliman

  ‘Not much different to the Cantrells,’ Jake said with a snort.

  Charles nodded his agreement as he accepted the decanter from Isaac. ‘I didn’t return to Bombay until a month after the incident,’ he said, ‘at which point I found Megan anxiously awaiting her father’s return. She was in a terrible state, unsure what to do. When her father failed to respond to her letters she decided that she and Sebastian should return to England and go to Luke’s family. I thought it was a bad idea and managed to persuade her to wait until I was in a position to escort her home. I hoped by then she would have either been reunited with her father or decided against communicating in person with the Cantrells.’

  ‘She had to try,’ Jake said softly. ‘She has her son’s position to consider.’

  ‘Which is why she bravely went ahead and called upon them, even though the two letters she had sent them from India after Luke’s death, telling them of Sebastian’s progress, had gone unanswered. She tried to convince herself that they must not have reached their destination, but I think she knew she was deluding herself.’

  ‘What was the general view in Company circles when news of Luke’s death spread?’ Isaac asked.

  ‘They were shocked but accepting. As I say, life is especially cheap in that part of the world, and no respecter of rank or consequence. Everyone was polite to Megan, offered their condolences and said and did all the right things. Even I suspected nothing, and I am trained to be suspicious. I feel like a bit of a fool now. I was so concerned with keeping Megan safe that I didn’t ask any of the questions that I ought to have asked.’

  ‘If something was being covered up, no one within Company circles would have known about it,’ Jake replied, ‘and if they did, they would have been bribed to keep quiet.’

  Charles shrugged. ‘Even so…’

  ‘If you intend to ask them about it now, I doubt whether they will tell you anything,’ Isaac said. ‘Besides, it will take a while for a letter to reach India and we do not have time on our side. Until we can get to the bottom of matters, Lady Cantrell and her son are in permanent danger.’

  ‘So too is Olivia, for as long as Lady Cantrell is her guest.’

  ‘I can arrange for her to stay with my people,’ Charles offered. ‘You have your marriage to think about, Jake. This is not your problem.’

  ‘You must have thought differently, otherwise you wouldn’t have brought the matter to me. Such impossible situations are what I excel at. Besides, Olivia will never let it be. She has taken your Megan under her wing and feels responsible for her.’

  ‘From my own perspective I am glad,’ Charles conceded. ‘Megan is in urgent need of a female friend and Olivia will not, I feel persuaded, permit her to wallow in self-pity.’

  Jake smiled. ‘You may depend upon it.’

  ‘Well then, since we are short of time,’ Charles replied, ‘it’s fortunate that I happen to know that Cedric Fordham has recently returned to London. He was at that hunt and is a good sort. If he thinks anything was amiss, he will tell me what he knows.’

  ‘Well then,’ Jake said. ‘Let’s start with him.’

  ‘I shall seek him out tomorrow. Fordham’s a man of habit and I dare say I shall find him at his club.’ Charles cleared his throat. ‘I imagine you will share the particulars of this discussion with Olivia, Jake, but I would prefer it if Megan didn’t learn that we suspect her husband may have been deliberately killed. She is not as strong as she makes out and that knowledge would distress her, perhaps needlessly. Until we know more, we could simply tell her that we need to discover who Faulk took his orders from when he abducted her son. I am sure that will be enough to satisfy her.’

  ‘Naturally,’ Jake replied, standing and slapping Charles’s shoulder. ‘You are right to say that Olivia will want to know it all. She will also know if I hold out on her and will lead me a merry dance.’ Isaac and Charles shared a look and then laughed. ‘All very well for you to laugh, gentlemen,’ he said. ‘I should have known better than to fall for an intelligent woman. Be that as it may, keep Lady Cantrell occupied in the drawing room, Charles, and I will appraise Olivia of our thoughts and intentions.’

  Charles nodded. ‘Thank you, I shall do that.’

  ‘Good. Right then, shall we rejoin the ladies?’

  Chapter Seven

  Immediately upon her return to Cheyne Walk, Megan made her way up to the nursery floor. Her pleasure at being admitted to such elite and engaging company had been tempered by fears for her beloved son. She had imagined increasingly wild scenarios in which he was snatched from beneath the noses of those set to guard him. And yet she found Sebastian sleeping peacefully. Olivia’s son was spread-eagled on the bed beside him, covers flung off, one of his wooden soldiers still clutched in one hand. Olivia smiled, pulled the covers over him and tousled his hair. The child didn’t stir.

  ‘I told you all would be well,’ Olivia said as they crept back down the stairs.

  They entered Olivia’s drawing room and sat in chairs on either side of the fire as the maid brought them hot chocolate.

  ‘I wanted to enjoy my first evening in a gentleman’s drawing room but concerns for Sebastian held me back.’ She clapped a hand over her mouth. ‘Oh heavens, that sounded all wrong!’

  Olivia laughed. ‘I know exactly what you meant. You wanted to relax but found your thoughts constantly returning to Sebastian’s abduction. In your situation I should have felt just the same.’

  ‘Everyone has been so very kind. I did not expect it, not after the way I was treated by my husband’s family. Papa warned me that I was getting ideas above my station and that I would never be accepted by the aristocracy if I was foolish enough to marry into its ranks.’ She sighed. ‘It seems he was right.’

  ‘We have accepted you,’ Olivia pointed out.

  ‘Yes, but you are the exceptions, not the rule.’

  ‘Your father accused you of harbouring unrealistic expectations,’ Olivia mused as she stirred her chocolate and took a sip. ‘And yet he was the one who provided you with a governess and encouraged you to improve your mind. That is unusual enough to excite my curiosity, since there are many good schools he could have enrolled you in. Did it not occur to him that you might have enjoyed the company of other girls your own age?’

  ‘I asked him about that once, and he said that he wanted me to broaden my horizons rather than learn how to sew and knit.’

  Olivia smiled. ‘The girls in the rag schools, girls from impoverished backgrounds, are taught those skills. I imagine the school your father selected for you would have offered a wider curriculum.’

  ‘Papa said that it became apparent to him from an early age that I had an enquiring mind and he saw no reason not to encourage its improvement. He liked to keep an eye on the subjects I was taught, accounting for the governess rather than a school, and my learning to speak and act like a lady was high on his list of priorities.’ Megan paused. ‘It did not occur to me to wonder before now why that was so important to him, especially since he didn’t encourage my attraction towards Luke.’

  ‘I expect he wanted a better life for you than he had known for himself. There is nothing so very unusual about that.’ Olivia wrinkled her nose. ‘He thought you could be useful to him at the same time. You must excuse me if I speak too bluntly. Jake is always telling me it’s my worst failing.’

  ‘Not at all. I much prefer it when people say what they actually mean.’

  ‘I know you are concerned for your papa’s welfare, my dear. I should think considerably less of you if you were not. But facts must be faced. He didn’t care about your happiness and refused to give you his blessing because he had other plans for you. Plans that would enhance his own standing and which he expected you to fall in with.’

  ‘That much is certainly true. I had never defied him over anything before I met Luke.’

  ‘Well, there you are then.’ Olivia fell into momentary contemplation. ‘I wish I knew why he was so keen to see you united with Warburton,
’ she said. ‘However, I expect Charles and Jake between them will get to the bottom of things. Jake is very clever, occasionally devious and ruthless when necessary. He won’t let up until he gets to the truth.’

  ‘Luke and I spent hours wondering what was so important to Papa about Warburton. But other than enhancing his opportunities for more lucrative trading links, we were unable to think what it could possibly be or, more to the point, why a man of Warburton’s independent means would even consider the match.’ It was Megan’s turn to take a moment to reflect. ‘There is nothing about me that would cause a man to give me a second look.’

  ‘You underestimate your appeal, my dear. Luke saw something in you and, despite his precarious financial situation, he could have taken his pick.’ Olivia smiled at her. ‘He did take his pick, and he picked you.’

  ‘Luke was impulsive.’ Megan flapped a hand. ‘I am not saying that he didn’t love me but…well, I sometimes think he chose me to make a point.’

  ‘Whatever his reasons, you must never feel that you don’t belong amongst us. We all have chequered pasts that we prefer not to advertise.’ Olivia smiled. ‘Your fiercest critics are very often the ones with the most to hide. Double standards abound in our world, I can assure you. Anyway, once Jake resolves things, you and Sebastian will be able to take your rightful place in society.’

  ‘I cannot imagine that I will ever live at Cantrell Court, not after the way I was treated there on my first visit. They have made it abundantly clear that I am unwelcome and, in truth, I am equally keen to avoid their society.’

  ‘It is Sebastian’s home now, by law.’ Olivia flashed a mischievous smile. ‘Perhaps you should turn them out.’

  ‘Oh no.’ Megan straightened her shoulders in a gesture of steely determination. ‘But I shall certainly keep control of the purse strings.’

  Olivia placed her empty cup aside. ‘How do you mean?’

  ‘Luke did very well in India, and the contracts he negotiated cannot be terminated just because he is dead. I checked into that with Charles’s help.’

  ‘Where will the profits go?’

  ‘To Luke’s bankers. His lawyers are his trustees and if Charles manages to raise doubts about the dowager duchess being his rightful beneficiary then only living expenses will be released to her until the matter is resolved.’ Megan set her chin. ‘Since I am his legal wife and Sebastian his heir, it will be proven eventually. Lady Cantrell and her daughter would have done better to court my good opinion since they will soon discover that they are dependent upon me for the roof over their heads.’

  ‘Good girl!’ Olivia beamed at her. ‘I am proud of you. I cannot abide wilting violets who denigrate themselves in an effort to gain favours that will never be forthcoming. The Cantrells, you can be sure, will come running to your door when they realise the precariousness of their situation. But if you are taken in by them and they persuade you to cede control of your husband’s fortune to them, they will take everything and cast you to the wolves without a second thought.’

  ‘At least they will have to acknowledge Sebastian openly as the new earl.’

  ‘Hmm, possibly.’

  It was obvious that Olivia had thoughts of her own in that regard which she declined to share with Megan. Megan didn’t press her since she herself was well aware that Sebastian was still not safe, and would not be allowed anywhere near his father’s relations until the mystery behind his abduction was resolved. And perhaps not even then. Someone wanted Sebastian and her dead and that threat had not gone away just because their first attempt failed.

  Olivia yawned and stretched her arms above her head. ‘Well, I am for my bed. I had intended to whisk you off to Marshall and Snellgrove’s tomorrow. With the advent of these new-fangled sewing machines they are able to produce surprisingly good quality ready-made gowns and I thought you might like to select one or two. You do not need to continue wearing full mourning, you know. It has been over a year since Luke died. I know the common practice is to continue for longer, but it’s not strictly necessary.’ Olivia grinned. ‘Indeed, I couldn’t wait to shed all that dreary black. And Eva raised brows by marrying Isaac a year to the day after her horrible husband died.’

  ‘Thank you, Olivia, but I am comfortable in black for now. Given the problems I face, what I wear hardly signifies.’

  ‘I thought you would say that, so I had Susan look out my black day gowns. I expect she will have one or two ready for your inspection in the morning.’

  ‘You are very kind.’

  ‘It’s probably just as well that you don’t want to go shopping, because Jake is being very dictatorial. I do so hate it when he decides that he knows what is best for me. However, on this occasion I agree with him that it would be better if I keep you and Sebastian hidden away in this house, at least for the time being.’

  ‘I expect he’s just being vigilant, at least until Faulk meets with the man who employed him. We shall soon know more after that.’

  ‘Well, you cannot escape the matter of new clothes all together,’ Olivia replied without, Megan noticed, making any comment about Faulk leading them to the guilty party. Megan had not wanted to believe Charles when he had first suggested she wouldn’t be welcomed by the Cantrells. Just because he had been proven right in that regard, her husband’s relations’ disapproval of her and their unwillingness to acknowledge Sebastian was a long way from actually attempting to abduct her beloved son. But facts had to be faced. It was looking increasingly likely that they were culpable. ‘My modiste is engaged to call tomorrow with suggestions for my wedding gown. It might upset you so there is no need for you to see the sample designs if you would prefer not to.’

  ‘Oh no, I should be delighted to help you choose.’

  ‘That’s settled then,’ Olivia said, standing. ‘And we dine here tomorrow evening. Jake and Charles will join us late in the afternoon and we shall learn what progress they have made.’

  ‘I am very impressed by the speed with which Lord Torbay makes things happen.’

  ‘He certainly doesn’t believe in wasting time.’ Olivia smiled at some private memory. ‘Anyway, be aware that we will be inundated with callers tomorrow once the announcement of my engagement to Jake is published in the newspapers. It’s a dreadful bore, I know, and it would probably be better if you made yourself scarce when I receive those whom I cannot afford to offend. They are all bound to know the Cantrells, and I don’t want your presence here becoming common knowledge.’

  ‘I can easily occupy myself with a book, or play with the children up in the nursery. Please don’t concern yourself about me.’

  ‘How I envy you. Especially since I wrote to my family today and that letter is bound to see the lot of them descending upon me.’ She linked her arm through Megan’s as they headed for the stairs together. ‘You are not the only one with rapacious relatives.’

  ***

  Jake ordered a half-dozen new shirts in Irish linen, two new suits of clothes in the finest serge and four silk waistcoats. He had just dismissed his delighted tailor when Parker entered the library.

  ‘What news?’ he asked.

  ‘Faulk has left a message for the man who employed him. My people couldn’t tell if he was trying to double-cross anyone, on our side or theirs.’

  ‘He’d be a fool if he attempted it, and Faulk’s no idiot. He wouldn’t have survived for so long and have half of the canniest paupers in London scared witless of him if he was.’

  ‘His message will be passed on. It was impossible for my people to loiter and draw attention to themselves so we’ll have to wait until this evening to see who he meets with.’

  ‘At what hour?’

  ‘Early. Six or thereabouts.’

  ‘Very well.’ Jake slipped his arms back into the coat he had removed so that his tailor could check his exact measurements. ‘Right, now we wait. Hopefully Charles will have success with Fordham.’

  ‘You’ve have a few callers,’ Parker said, grinning as he proffered a s
alver containing a dozen or more cards. ‘All wanting to convey their best wishes and trying hard not to let me see how desperate they were to see you before anyone else, just so that they can gossip about how you’ve been hoodwinked.’

  ‘Good heavens! How could Olivia hoodwink me?’

  Parker shrugged, still grinning broadly. ‘She’s a scarlet woman, and well you know it.’

  ‘I’d find their pettiness amusing, but for the fact that it will hurt Olivia, much as she pretends not to care. She has done nothing wrong, other than to marry a man she didn’t like for the sake of her family.’

  ‘She’s stronger than you think and well able to withstand being talked about.’

  ‘Even so, this ought to be a happy time for us.’

  ‘Well anyway, I told all your callers you were engaged and turned ’em away.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Jake said with feeling, flipping through the cards and seeing what Parker meant. Some of the foremost gossips within the ranks of the aristocracy were amongst them. ‘At least I have given them something to talk about. Poor Olivia. I dare say they will beat a path to her door now.’

  ‘And have no better luck, I would imagine.’

  Left alone again, Jake’s thoughts briefly dwelt upon Olivia. He wondered if her appointment with her seamstress had proved successful and allowed himself the luxury of imagining what creation she might deem suitable to wear in which to exchange their vows. He chuckled, knowing he could rely upon his beloved to sparkle, inspire and shock the old biddies senseless.

  With a sigh, he forced himself to concentrate upon the pile of correspondence awaiting his attention. Whilst he could be “not at home” to visitors, he couldn’t ignore the letters of congratulation so easily. He hadn’t even ploughed through half of them before Parker returned.

  ‘What is it?’ Jake asked, looking up from a missive from Lady Prescott, an ape-leader and one of Olivia’s worst detractors. She offered guarded congratulations, simultaneously implying that Jake had run completely made. ‘Damned interfering old harridan!’