by Joyce Alec
“If you will permit me,” Lord Stoneleigh interrupted, “I will accompany you. But only to see if the danger has passed, Lady Prudence. If there is no sign of him, then I shall leave you at once.”
Prudence shut her eyes. The thought of having a gentleman step into her bedchamber was both embarrassing and worrying, but she knew that she could not go into it alone, not if Lord Brunswick was going to be present.
“I shall not do anything other than ensure you are safe, Lady Prudence,” Lord Stoneleigh said gently, as though he knew the worries that were now flowing through her mind. “I shall not linger; I swear it to you.”
Prudence nodded and turned on her heel, still feeling a little wary and uncertain, but determined to do whatever was required.
“Might I ask if the box is kept in your bedchamber, Lady Prudence?” Lord Stoneleigh murmured as they quietly made their way toward Prudence’s bedchamber, which was up the large staircase and toward the back of the house. “Is there any chance that Lord Brunswick will be able to discover it?”
To this point, Prudence was glad to be able to answer in the negative. “I have hidden it away very securely, Lord Stoneleigh,” she told him, glancing back at him. “It is not in my bedchamber, no. Neither is it in my father’s study or in the library.”
She was glad when Lord Stoneleigh did not demand to know where the box had been placed, seeing only the relief on his face as she reassured him all was well. There was a trust in her heart when it came to Lord Stoneleigh, she realized, taking great care as she climbed the staircase for fear of being seen by someone.
“I will have to change and then quickly return,” she whispered, making very little sound as she made her way toward her bedchamber. “My mother will notice if I am tardy.”
Lord Stoneleigh nodded. “Once I am certain that Lord Brunswick is not within, I shall return at once,” he said quietly. “There will be a good deal of time between our arrivals, Lady Prudence. You need not fear.”
Indicating her bedchamber door, Prudence held back. “Do you think we should wait?” she asked, keeping her voice low for fear that Lord Brunswick, should he be within, would hear her. “What if he comes out unexpectedly?”
Lord Stoneleigh shook his head. “Surprise might be our only advantage. If you will permit me, might I go in ahead of you to look?” he asked softly. “I can assure you I will only stand at the threshold.”
She nodded, anxiety tightening around her heart as she watched Lord Stoneleigh step forward. He hesitated for a moment, then opened the door swiftly, pushing it back but not allowing it to bang hard against the wall behind. Prudence pressed her hands together and rested her fingers against her lips as she waited for him to speak, suddenly afraid that she would hear a loud exclamation from within.
Instead, Lord Stoneleigh backed out of the room and relief flooded her as he turned toward her, shaking his head. But when she held his gaze, she was rather troubled to see that his brow was furrowed, his eyes dark and his jaw set.
“Might you take a look within?” he asked quietly. “I would not like to state unequivocally, but I fear that there has been someone within.”
Prudence stepped forward, swallowing hard as she looked at her bedchamber. It was certainly not as she had left it.
“Someone has been here,” she whispered, seeing drawers left open and some items knocked from their place. “They have been here searching for something.”
Lord Stoneleigh let out what sounded like a small growl.
“I will return to the drawing room at once,” he said, rather angrily. “Lord Brunswick will, no doubt, be within but if he is not, then I must find him at once.” His hand touched her arm and she started violently, her skin clammy with the shock of what she had discovered.
“Will you be all right?” Lord Stoneleigh asked, no anger in his voice now but rather a gentleness that reached out and sent a little warmth over her chilled skin. “I know this is something of a shock, but I—”
“I will be quite all right,” she answered, giving herself a small shake as she tried to regain some of her composure. “I am a little astonished, certainly, but I must continue to behave as is expected of me.” She swallowed hard but lifted her chin and tried to smile. “I am sure that, already , my mother will be wondering what has become of me.”
Lord Stoneleigh held her gaze for another moment before nodding and stepping back out into the hallway. “We must speak again soon,” he said quietly. “Might you be able to accept a call from me tomorrow?”
Trying to recall all that she had planned for the following day, Prudence nodded. “Certainly,” she said softly. “Although my mother may remain.”
“I will find a way to have a few minutes of conversation,” he told her. “Now, I must hurry.”
She nodded, her throat constricting as she saw him walk away. With slow steps, she went to close the door and, soon after, rang the bell for her maid. Turning back to look at her bedchamber, Prudence felt her skin crawl at the realization that a gentleman had been present without her permission, searching through all her things, all her personal and private items. There was very little doubt in her mind that it was Lord Brunswick who had done so, for everything that had occurred thus far seemed to point to one person and one person only.
“Yes, my lady?”
Prudence turned quickly and looked at her maid, who was taking in Prudence’s stained gown.
“Yes, I must change,” Prudence said hurriedly, gesturing to her gown. “And these stains must be washed out at once.”
The maid nodded, stepping forward but then stopping again, her eyes roving around the untidy room.
“Quickly, if you please,” Prudence commanded, not wanting to come up with an excuse as to why her room was now this way, and knowing her mother would begin to wonder where she was. “I must get back to the guests.”
The maid bobbed a quick curtsy and then hurried to Prudence’s wardrobe, clearly deciding—wisely so—to keep any comment about the state of the room to herself. Within a few minutes, Prudence was changed and prepared to return to her guests. Casting a final glance behind her at her bedchamber and seeing the maid already beginning to tidy things away, Prudence drew in a deep breath and set her shoulders. She was going to have to return to the drawing room and behave just as normal. Lord Brunswick would not have known that she would return quickly to her room to change and perhaps might react to her changed gown, but she was certain that Lord Stoneleigh would be watching him closely. She herself had to give no indication that she had any suspicion about Lord Brunswick, ensuring that she appeared contented and happy throughout the rest of the evening.
Lifting her chin, Prudence left her bedchamber and descended the staircase before making her way back toward the drawing room. Hearing the laughter and the conversation did nothing to ease her anxiety, but she forced a smile to her lips as she entered the room, seeing how her mother’s eyes sought hers almost the moment she stepped inside.
“You are a little tardy, Prudence,” Lady Devonshire murmured, coming across to greet her daughter. “Whatever took you so long?”
Prudence sighed and shook her head. “My curls began to unpin as I was changing my gown, Mama,” she said, frustrated that she had to lie but knowing that it was the only thing she could do. “My maid has restored my appearance, however, and all is well.”
This seemed to satisfy Lady Devonshire, for she smiled and gestured for Prudence to sit down.
“Now that we are all together again,” Lady Devonshire said, her voice carrying over the other conversations and bringing them to an end, “perhaps we might have a little music?” She looked pointedly at Prudence but Prudence, feeling much too on edge to play for the group, kept her face turned away from her mother’s and did nothing to acknowledge the look.
“I should be glad to play, if no one else wishes to do so first,” piped up Lady Sarah, who was, by reputation, known to be very accomplished at the pianoforte.
“I would be very glad to hear you,”
Lady Devonshire replied with a quick smile as murmurs of agreement came from a few others. “Thank you, Lady Sarah.”
Prudence let out her breath slowly as she waited for Lady Sarah to begin to play. With all eyes turned toward the lady at the piano, she allowed her gaze to rove around the room, seeing how Lord Brunswick sat near to her father, an easy smile on his face as he listened to Lady Sarah’s performance. Her stomach tightened as she caught sight of Lord Stoneleigh, who was watching Lord Brunswick closely, his eyes narrowed. Her nerves began to swirl once more but she forced them to settle, placing her hands in her lap and turning her attention fully toward Lady Sarah. The music seemed to steal away some of her worry and she rested back in her chair, feeling suddenly quite exhausted. This had been a very trying evening indeed.
“Good afternoon, Lord Stoneleigh.”
Prudence rose to her feet at once as her mother greeted the gentleman. Quickly, she dropped into a curtsy and then looked up to see Lord Stoneleigh studying her with dark, watchful eyes.
“Good afternoon,” he said in a rather grave voice. “Thank you for allowing me to call.”
“Oh, but of course,” Lady Devonshire said with a smile. “You are always welcome, Lord Stoneleigh.” Pointing to a seat near Prudence, she smiled brightly at him. “Perhaps you would care to sit.”
An idea quickly came to Prudence and she stepped forward. “Although I do recall how taken you were with the seats out in the garden,” she interrupted, aware of the astonishment in her mother’s eyes. “Perhaps we might adjourn there for a short time?”
Lord Stoneleigh smiled and some of the darkness seemed to be pulled from his hazel eyes. “You are kind to recall such a thing, Lady Prudence,” he told her. “But only if that would not be too much trouble. I would very much like to return to the gardens. They are very lovely indeed, Lady Devonshire.”
This seemed to please Lady Devonshire greatly, for she nodded eagerly and quickly rose again. “My daughter will take you, of course,” she said with a broad smile. “I must fetch a parasol for I feel it is very warm today.”
“But of course.” Lord Stoneleigh inclined his head and then looked expectantly toward Prudence. “I thank you, Lady Devonshire—and you, Lady Prudence, for your very kind suggestion.”
“Certainly,” Prudence murmured, hoping that her eagerness to speak with Lord Stoneleigh was not too apparent to her mother. “You will join us soon, Mama?”
Lady Devonshire frowned at her daughter from behind Lord Stoneleigh’s back and made an impatient gesture with her hand. “But of course,” she said quickly. “I will not be a moment.”
Prudence did not say a single word to Lord Stoneleigh as they made their way through the house and then out to the gardens. The staff had clearly been quickly informed that trays of refreshments were to be taken to the gardens for no sooner had Prudence sat down than trays were laid out for them both. Lord Stoneleigh sat down opposite her and smiled, although there was a touch of concern in his gaze.
“How do you fare today, Lady Prudence?”
She smiled back at him. “I am glad to have you here, Lord Stoneleigh,” she answered honestly. “After last evening, there is a good deal we must discuss, I think.”
Lord Stoneleigh’s smile was rueful. “I think there can be little doubt that it was Lord Brunswick, Lady Prudence,” he told her. “When I returned to the drawing room, Lord Stephenson mentioned to me that I had only just come a few short minutes after Lord Brunswick.” One shoulder lifted. “Of course, the explanation was that he was recovering from his fall, although I cannot believe that to be true given that I saw Lord Nethergate in that room but not Lord Brunswick.”
“And Lord Nethergate was so dazed, he would not have known whether or not Lord Brunswick was meant to be present in the room with him,” Prudence added as Lord Stoneleigh nodded again. “Then we conclude that Lord Brunswick is seeking the box?”
Lord Stoneleigh hesitated and then nodded. “I must believe so,” he told her. “I think that the way he has gone about such a thing speaks of a desperation that concerns me.”
A stone dropped into Prudence’s stomach. “It concerns you?”
“It does indeed,” Lord Stoneleigh replied gravely. “Could not Lord Brunswick have simply asked you whether or not Lord Yardley had given you something for safekeeping, if it was not of particular importance? He would not have to explain himself a good deal to you but might simply have stated that Lord Yardley had taken into his care something that belonged to him and he was now looking for it.”
“I suppose he could have done, yes,” Prudence murmured. “But instead, he has behaved in a surreptitious manner and, if I am truthful, a rather threatening manner also.”
Lord Stoneleigh pressed his lips tightly together, then let out a small sigh. “I should also inform you that I went to Lord Yardley’s townhouse and spoke to the staff still present there. In short, I asked whether or not Lord Brunswick had been present in Lord Yardley’s home to pay his respects and the butler told me that yes, Lord Brunswick had been present twice. The first time was shortly after the accident—apparently the man was horrified and wanted to make certain that it was true—and the second time was some days later.”
Prudence swallowed hard, her heart quickening into a panicked rhythm. “You believe he was looking for the box?”
“I think so,” Lord Stoneleigh answered quietly. “The butler did tell me that Lord Brunswick had been left alone for a short time within the house so that the gentleman might console himself and gain some composure, given the state of his grief.” His brow furrowed hard and a flash of anger came into his eyes. “No doubt it was entirely staged in order to gain the butler’s sympathies. I am certain Lord Brunswick did nothing more than search what he could of the house and, since he did not find it, then began to consider who might have been given the box for safe keeping.”
“And he turned to me, given that Lord Yardley was married to my cousin and we were a little better acquainted than others,” Prudence finished. “Goodness, Lord Stoneleigh, whatever are we to do next?”
Lord Stoneleigh did not immediately answer. Prudence resisted the urge to say more, to state that she was quite at a loss and feeling entirely useless. Instead, she waited for Lord Stoneleigh to speak, praying that her mother would not choose this very moment to come and join them.
“I think, Lady Prudence, that we must do nothing for a short time,” he said eventually. “Lord Brunswick is obviously suspicious of you and even though he has searched the house, I am not convinced that he is simply going to give up considering you. Therefore, you must simply behave as normal and carry on without any thought of the box or what it contains.”
Prudence let out her breath slowly, looking up at Lord Stoneleigh. “And you?”
“I should like to continue with our acquaintance such as it is,” he said, surprising her. “Would you consent to that, Lady Prudence?”
Aware that her cheeks were warm and that his eyes were lingering on her, Prudence dropped her gaze to her hands. “I would be glad to,” she murmured, feeling rather abashed. There was, she realized, a growing affection for Lord Stoneleigh. He had done so much for her and had made such a great impression upon her heart that to hear him ask her such a thing sent a wave of delight rushing straight through her.
“I am glad to hear it,” Lord Stoneleigh said, although with a little more firmness than she had expected. “It would look rather odd if we were no longer in each other’s company for a time, only to come back together again in a sennight or so.”
Prudence blinked rapidly, now feeling rather foolish. “I see,” she said slowly, looking up at him and seeing, much to her frustration, her mother now coming toward them both. “Yes, of course, Lord Stoneleigh. I quite understand.”
“Wonderful.” His smile was still as warm as ever, but Prudence did not feel it enter her heart. Instead, she reached forward to pick up the refreshments and to offer them to Lord Stoneleigh, just as her mother took her seat. Her cheeks wer
e still hot, but it was not from the delight that had warmed her only a few moments before. Rather it was from the embarrassment of allowing herself to believe that Lord Stoneleigh was eager for her company.
The beginnings of affection were within her heart and now she felt all the more foolish for allowing them to even begin to take root. She could not permit them to grow any further, particularly now that she knew how he felt. For the next week or so, she would consider him as nothing more than a close acquaintance, someone who would soon be gone from her life entirely. There was no need to allow herself to feel any more than that.
8
The guilt that had flared in his heart as he had spoken to Lady Prudence had still not left him some two days later. He had told her that he thought they ought to do nothing for the time being, that she should leave Lord Brunswick to his own considerations and go on as usual. That, of course, had been the truth, but he had not mentioned to her that he himself had intentions to do quite the opposite. In fact, he was fully determined to go on with things in his own way, to make certain that Lady Prudence was kept out of danger.
Having been sure that Lady Prudence would have been eager to involve herself in whatever it was that he might propose, Felix had chosen to remain silent about his own plans. He did not need to find the key and take it with him, but he certainly would find a way to search for what it might open. Now being quite certain that the answer to why those items in the box were of such great importance lay with the key, Felix was fully determined to do whatever he could to discover the truth.
Meandering into White’s—fully aware that Lord Brunswick was present thanks to a quick question to one of the footmen—Felix made his way a little further inside, immediately spotting the gentleman in question. Lord Claverhouse, whom Felix had asked to aid him in this particular matter, was already seated next to Lord Brunswick and was evidently deep in conversation with him. Raising a hand, Felix immediately caught Lord Claverhouse’s attention and heard the man call him over almost immediately.