Secrets of a Fair Lady: A Historical Regency Romance Book

by Abigail Agar

  No, she sensed that there was a joy underneath it all. It may have been well-hidden, but she could not believe that a man like that was so serious all the time. Surely, even if he didn’t like to show it, he had his moments of laughter and amusement.

  Georgiana scolded herself for thinking about him at all. He clearly did not like her. Not simply from a romantic perspective, but even as a fellow human being. He clearly had no respect for her at all.

  So why did that bother her so badly?

  Chapter 14

  Hamish flipped through the pages of the books. He needed to get a better idea as far as the accounts of Gregory Reid.

  So far, all that he had seen was not overly suspicious. It was not abnormal for a man’s business to suffer. Nor was it unusual for him to be trying to hide such a thing. Still, Hamish wondered if there was more that was being hidden.

  If, indeed, he was behind on accounts, it was possible that his lenders were no longer going to be soft with him. They may begin to insist on taking everything he had.

  And if that was the case, perhaps he had begun to engage in more criminal activities.

  As it was, Hamish did confirm the loan and his struggle to repay. Whatever debts he had, they had not been settled. And it was a large number.

  “You see here? It is showing that he is three months behind on full repayment. Full. He has barely managed to repay a quarter of that,” Hamish said, showing John.

  “So, it is possible that someone has had enough? That he is going to be in a good deal of trouble quite soon if he does not manage to catch up even a fraction,” John said.

  “I imagine so. I have scarcely seen a lender allow for such a late repayment and it leads me to believe that whomever this is, he must be known to Mr. Reid. Otherwise, there is no way at all that he would allow for this,” Hamish reasoned.

  These debts were, in themselves, no evidence that Mr. Reid had anything to do with sending Rachel away. The debts were only evidence that he had failed in his business.

  As far as Hamish had found, there was nothing illegal taking place either. It was all, quite simply, for investments.

  However, it was possible, Mr. Reid may have been worried that Miss Smithfield had told the family. Or rather, that she would tell them.

  More than likely, his wife and children were not aware of the debt. After all, that was not the sort of thing that a husband and father would share. More than likely he was ashamed.

  Regardless, Hamish had to admit defeat in terms of finding reasonable evidence for criminal activity.

  “So? What do we think this means for us?” John asked. “Does it point toward any form of guilt? I fear that I cannot see such a train, but perhaps you have noted something I have missed.”

  “No, indeed, I have not. I think he must be a very frightened man in many ways, but not as such that it is going to lead him down such a path as sending away a maid. He is too untouchable for that. Even with a man who is in terrible debt, I would not think him likely to cower in fear that a maid is going to destroy him,” Hamish said.

  “Nor I. However…” John said, trailing off.

  “It could point to something else. Something criminal behind it,” Hamish said, finishing the thought.

  They looked at one another in understanding.

  Although there was no reason to question him from the perspective of the law, Hamish was still intrigued, wanting to know if Mr. Reid had anything to do with Miss Smithfield’s vanishing.

  At least they could figure out whether or not he had been the one to tell her to go. Even if it had nothing to do with his accounts, it would be information.

  “All right, then. He may have had nothing at all to do with Miss Smithfield, but we cannot yet rule it out. What we have seen is not criminal, but it is cause to question him further,” Hamish reasoned, knowing it was a flimsy excuse.

  “Do you believe that there is something illegal in his activities?” John asked.

  Hamish chewed his lip, wondering the same thing.

  “He is a London businessman. I have scarcely heard of a London businessman who is not engaged in illegal activities. We have just as many reasons to question him as we have not to question him. We may as well cover our tracks and write him off our list of suspects if he has done nothing wrong,” Hamish said.

  He saw a protest in John’s eyes, but his sergeant did not speak up.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  John hesitated.

  “What exactly are we investigating? Miss Smithfield has been found. It is all very mysterious, to be sure, but beyond that…” he said, shrugging.

  “I know, I know,” Hamish said, annoyed that he had to be faced with the question all over again.

  He had given his reasons to Miss Reid and was now trying to convince John, but at the end of it all, he figured he would do nothing more than destroy a family who was currently living in ignorant bliss.

  Still, he had made a promise.

  “She may have been found, but that does not mean there was no crime that took place which led the family to sending her away. Let us at least put a bit of time and effort into this until we know for certain. Or until a more urgent investigation arises,” he said.

  John nodded, understanding that he had no choice in the matter. What Hamish decided was the final decision.

  With that, Hamish and John decided to leave. They made their way out into the town, a short distance away from their division, to Mr. Reid’s offices.

  “Mr. Reid, good afternoon,” Hamish greeted.

  Gregory Reid looked up, surprised and immediately anxious.

  “Gentlemen…to what do I owe this visit?” he asked.

  “Well, Mr. Reid, we are here to ask you a number of questions regarding your business and accounts,” Hamish said.

  His face fell.

  “M-my accounts? For the business?” he asked.

  “Indeed. That is not going to be a problem, is it?” Hamish asked.

  “No, certainly not. Not at all. What do I have to hide?” he asked with a nervous laugh.

  “Well, I suppose that is the question, now, is it not?” Hamish asked.

  “What do you insinuate by that?” he asked.

  “That you may or may not have taken part in some nefarious activity,” Hamish said, quite boldly.

  Mr. Reid looked quite furious. As though he had every reason to be angry at them for even questioning such a thing.

  Hamish could not necessarily disagree. After all, they had no evidence of any ill behaviours. Still, they needed to know the truth.

  “How dare you suggest that I am a man who is…what is it that you are trying to say?” he asked, spluttering.

  “Mr. Reid, we are well aware of the fact that you are in quite serious debt. We wish to know what is behind all of that, what you intend to do about it, and whether or not you have something illegal behind it. Perhaps reason enough to send away Miss Smithfield,” Hamish said.

  “How dare you? Just because my daughter is anxious about the young woman’s disappearance does not mean that I had anything to do with it. You have already questioned me,” he said.

  “Yes, but that was before this information came to light. You must tell us if Miss Smithfield knew anything about your debts,” Hamish said.

  “My debts? Most likely. She cleans everything. But she would never speak about it,” he said.

  “Can you be sure?” Hamish asked.

  “Yes, I am sure. She wouldn’t. I could relieve her of work if she did,” he said.

  “And have you told your family? Do they know about your financial situation and the debts that you have incurred?” John asked, before Hamish had a chance to speak up again.

  Mr. Reid looked at them as though they were mad.

  “Ha! You think I would tell them about it? My wife who is cold as ice and never hesitates to tell me I am a disappointment? My son who is always running around, trying to prove what a man he is because he is wealthy but has no title to go with it?”
he asked.

  “And your daughter?” Hamish asked, confronting him.

  “My daughter hardly recognises what the world is really like. If she did, she would not be running around trying to enlist your help in a maid going and getting married and leaving us behind,” he said.

  Hamish thought it was quite a dreadful thing that Mr. Reid had not told his family. After all, it was rather unfair that he had not. Why would such a man keep things from them?

  He understood that pride often led men to do such a thing. In fact, it was simply the way of a businessman. But it was not the sort of lack of integrity that Hamish thought he would ever show.

  “Mr. Reid, why are you so certain that Miss Smithfield had left you in order to marry?” Hamish asked.

  “What other reason could it be?” he asked, shifting awkwardly in his chair. A light sheen of sweat glistened upon his forehead and Hamish could tell that he was nervous, wanting to keep something hidden.

  “Is there nothing more you can tell us?” Hamish asked.

  “No. Nothing,” he said, irritation in his voice.

  Hamish and John looked at one another, not believing him.

  “Well, if that is the case, Mr. Reid, I should like to say something to you,” he said.

  “Oh? What now? You haven’t spoken enough?” he asked.

  “I have not even begun to, Mr. Reid. What I wish to tell you is that I expect you to tell your family about this. All of it. Your accounts. The debts. The loans. They deserve to know,” Hamish said.

  Mr. Reid gaped at the suggestion.

  “You want me to tell them all of that? What sort of fool are you?” he asked.

  Although Hamish was urging him to do so for the sake of honesty and fairness, he also didn’t like to think that he might have to lie to Georgiana.

  Hamish was proud to be an honest man. The idea of having to lie to her for the sake of her father’s guilt was more than just a nuisance. It was deeply unpleasant.

  He had come to truly respect her. Although he was slow to show it, he found her to be quite magnificent even in just a short period of time.

  There was something so unique about her. When it came to integrity, he saw that she had it fully. True and significantly.

  “He is right, you know,” John said. “You need to tell them. My wife knows all my secrets. I could never keep them from her. That is the beauty of having a wife, is it not? Someone to share your secrets with?”

  “My family is not like yours, if you truly believe that. We do not share secrets if we can help it,” he said, almost humorously.

  “Why not? Why do they not deserve the respect of being told what you are struggling with? Does it not affect them as well?” John asked.

  “It hardly matters. They would be terribly ashamed of me if they learned the truth and I won’t have that,” he said.

  “That is a shame. It is every father’s duty to be honest. For the sake of his family,” John said.

  Hamish thought about that statement for a moment. It was the duty of every father. Every husband.

  He had been eager to start a family at one point, but much of that had been put aside. With his duties as an inspector, he was not always given the freedom to choose something so lovely as family.

  Nevertheless, Hamish tried to be strong. He tried to be brave and diligent and good. He would see what the future held, and he would live it to the best of his ability. Until he knew where life will take him, he just had to live to the best of his ability.

  Chapter 15

  “Georgiana! Come!” came the voice of her father as Georgiana finished practicing her pianoforte.

  She really did not enjoy playing all that much, but had always been expected to be proficient and had done her best to appease her mother.

  Pianoforte aside, Georgiana rushed down the stairs to find her father, whatever the reason he needed her. When she reached him he looked alarmed, anxious, relieved, and a whole host of other emotions.

  “Father, what is it?” she asked.

  “My dear, I need to speak with you, your brother, and your mother. In the drawing room. Please, do not hesitate,” he said, ushering her forward.

  She did as instructed and made her way to the drawing room, wondering what this could possibly be about now.

  Her mother was already seated, lips pursed and an eyebrow raised in uncertainty.

  “Mother? What is this all about?” Georgiana asked.

  “I have no idea,” she replied.

  Soon enough, her brother came in, followed by her father at the last.

  Curious as to the purpose of this gathering, Georgiana waited, quietly and patiently, for her father to tell them what it was that he had wanted them all to be together for.

  “My dear family,” he said, “I need to tell you something.”

  There was an uncharacteristic humility in his face, leaving Georgiana even more full of wonder. She had not seen her father behave this way very often and she couldn’t quite understand what might have led to his sudden change.

  “And what is this all about? Why are you in a sudden haste to speak with us?” her mother asked.

  “I am in earnest because we must discuss a very important matter. Something that affects our entire family,” he said.

  Georgiana’s stomach turned. She wondered if he had learned anything about Rachel or if there was something else, something more at work.

  “I wish for you all to be made aware of something that I have done,” he said.

  At the edge of her seat, Georgiana waited. Was this it? Was he going to confess to having cast Rachel out? Would he share the true reasons behind it?

  “I took out a loan for my business. And then…then I took out anther,” he began.

  Georgiana’s anxiety settled. It was about the debt. That was all he wished to share with them.

  “I got myself into a great deal of debt and have been unable to repay the men who lent me money. I have not paid back a single one of them and I have not invested the money very well,” he said.

  Georgiana’s mother scoffed and threw her hands in the air, dramatically, in disappointment.

  “One of the loans is very large and I cannot come close to repaying it. The man who lent me the money is nearing his wits’ end. I believe he shall come to claim the value of the loan soon enough,” he said.

  Her brother gasped.

  “But, Father! What does that mean?” he asked.

  “It means that we are at risk for losing everything,” he said.

  Georgiana froze again. She had learned from Rachel that her father had debts, but she had no idea that it was to such an extent as this. They were very nearly destitute. They had nothing.

  Nothing.

  “I had hoped that I would be able to repay it all. The last thing I anticipated was being unable to find success in this venture and I did not think it possible that I would fail,” he said.