Always Have Hope (Emerson Book 3) (18 page)

“Probably?”
said Colin, James and Nick as one.

“But
I promised not to tell. Win didn’t want to risk having all of you get in
trouble with the law by investigating on your own.”

“She
could have been sent back to Newgate! Or worse!” said Colin. “I wouldn’t care
what happened to me, but she risked everything. And I don’t know what she was
thinking by taking Rose.”

“You
can’t blame her for that,” said Nate. “Rose is one of the most stubborn,
independent females I’ve ever met. You cannot make her do anything she doesn’t
want to do. Win tried to make her stay home, but Rose refused. She’s really
quite willful.” Now, Stemple was really staring at him.

“What
did Lewis say when he found them?” asked James.

“He
reacted much as you did, which is one of the reasons I believe he likes her.
He’s very protective. When he and Win caught up to Rose and me in the tunnels,
he was trying his best to shield her from harm.”

“So
you and Lady Rose were alone together, my lord?” Stemple asked in a deceptively
calm voice.

Brilliant.
The butler was going to come back and kill him in his sleep.

“I
can’t believe they were so foolish,” said Colin. “I have to say something to
them.”

“I
hope you do not,” said Nate. “Lewis and I impressed upon them the danger they
risked. They promised not to leave the house again. But, in Win’s case
especially, I think it was important for her to do this. I believe she spent
too much time under someone else’s power. And I do not think she’ll repeat it,
if for no other reason than Rose would follow along again. However, I’m glad
you know, so you can keep an eye on them, just in case.”

Colin
took another long swallow of his drink. “It goes against my every instinct not
to say anything.”

“Nate
may be right,” said Nick. “We must protect Win, but we cannot smother her.
She managed to survive all those years without us. She’s stronger than we
think.”

“I
know she’s strong,” said Colin. “I just don’t like feeling powerless. It’s my
job to protect her. I already failed once.”

“I
believe,” said Lynwood, “that there are various forms of protection. We will
all keep a more vigilant eye on your sisters. But, perhaps, allowing her more
freedom is the best way you can protect the lady she has longed to be.”

There
was a moment of silence as the men considered this. Then Colin broke it by
saying “Bollocks! I suppose you’re right, Lynwood. But I don’t like it.”

“That
is the disadvantage to being a man who loves as well as protects.”

The
men sipped their drinks in silence for another few moments.

“There’s
one thing you didn’t tell us, Nate,” said Nick. “What were you doing with
Lewis?”

Nate
wasn’t sure what to say. He could trust the men in this room with his life,
even the surly butler. But he wasn’t ready to tell them about his work, even
though he knew they would keep his secret. “That is a story for another time.
Now, I’d like to get back to this ledger.”

With
that rather graceless dismissal, the men left. Stemple was the last to leave
and the look on his face very clearly said his threats remained in effect.

When
Nate was once again on his own, he hoped he hadn’t given too much away about
his own feelings for Rose. But he couldn’t think about that now. He wanted to
delve into the ledger because there were mysteries in those pages that had to
be revealed.

Whether
he wanted to see them or not.

“There is no estate?” Win was still trying to absorb
what Mr. Olson had just told her.

Mr. Olson took off his glasses and looked at Win. “I
regret to inform you, Lady Winifred, that your husband had no legitimate
assets. That doesn’t mean he didn’t have funds obtained through illegal means
spirited away someplace. Indeed, from what we uncovered, it would appear he has
been blackmailing several people over a period of years. But even if we were
to uncover those funds, it would be illegal for you to keep ill-gotten gains.
Even the house is mortgaged. I am afraid your inheritance is limited to the
value of the items in it, and from what Mr. Lewis witnessed, Pierce’s brother
and sister seemed intent on taking anything of value. There may not be much
left. I am truly sorry, my lady.”

Win sat back in the comfortable chair in the Lynwood
House sitting room. The sole reason her father had sold her into marriage had
been because of Pierce’s wealth. Her husband had never given any indication he
had lost his money. But she didn’t doubt Olson’s information. He was not the
sort of man to make mistakes.

“Are you all right, Win?” asked Colin.

Her whole family was looking like they expected her to
break down in tears. But the money had never meant anything to her, not when
it had come at the expense of the loss of her family. Alexander Lewis was also
there, but sitting slightly apart from the others.

“I only have two regrets at the money’s loss,” she
said. “One is that I will have to borrow the funds to pay Mr. Olson for his
excellent work, and, I suppose, to compensate Mr. Peyton for his efforts.”

“Peyton should be paid what he is worth,” said James.
“And even I could afford that.”

“Don’t worry about Olson’s fee,” said Nick. “I’ll
ensure he’s paid.”

Colin shook his head. “No, Nick. You’ve already
taken on too much. And if Simon learns you’re paying for Win’s defense…”

“I hope the day never comes when I keep from doing
what is right for fear of what Simon Chilcott thinks. What is your second
regret, Win?”

“I would have liked to help my family. Instead, I may
have to ask for your continued charity until I set a course for my future –
providing, of course, that I am not hanged.”

Something flashed across Alex’s face, though Win did
not recognize the emotion. Perhaps embarrassment that she was so dependent on
others when he’d worked so hard for his independence.

“Win,” said Colin. “It is not, nor will it ever be,
charity. We do not wish for you to be anywhere else but at home with us. It
is not a very luxurious setting, though there are many who make do with much less
than us. But it is a home filled with love, with room to spare. Please come
home.”

“Oh, Win, please do,” said Rose. “We have two new
sisters to enjoy and three brothers to plague.”

Win smiled and tried hard to keep from crying. “I
believe it sounds most wonderful, but first I must be acquitted. Does anyone
have any ideas about that?”

“I do,” said Alex. “But I’m afraid there’s a certain
amount of risk involved.”

“James, Nick and I will do anything to have Win
acquitted,” said Colin. “We would risk everything.”

“I’m afraid we’ll be putting Lady Win at risk,” said
Alex, “though it goes against my every instinct.”

“I will do anything to clear my name,” said Win.
“And, dear brothers, as much as I love your protective nature, this is a battle
I must wage. What do we need to do?”

“Well, I believe this starts with a visit to Sir
Wilfred’s office,” said Alex. “And an explanation of a certain ledger.”

“And I have a visit of my own to make,” said Nick.
“As much as I dread it.”

*

Simon Chilcott lived in his childhood home in
Mayfair. Nick hadn’t been there in years, but he was paying a visit now
because he would do anything for Win. As he looked up at the building, he
could see it was showing signs of wear. The stone was discolored in places,
the walk hadn’t been shoveled recently and only a few of the windows showed
light, despite the gloom of the overcast day. It looked like Simon was either
too cheap to properly illuminate his house or was running out of blunt.

Nick rapped on the knocker. The door was opened by
the butler, Irving, whose look of disapproval was immediate.

“The Earl of Layton to see Mr. Chilcott,” said Nick,
when the man remained silent.

For a moment Irving stood rooted to the spot. “Is he
expecting you?”

“I cannot imagine he is, but he’ll want to see me
anyway.”

Irving seemed dubious, but went in search of his
master after letting Nick in. But only so far as the foyer.

Once the butler departed, Nick looked around the
foyer. It had changed little since the last time he’d been there, some five
years earlier after the death of Simon’s father. There was nothing to indicate
Simon was in need of money. There were no missing tapestries. No lack of
furniture. Two vases held hothouse flowers. No, Nick suspected Simon’s tireless
efforts to take the title weren’t motivated by money.

He just wanted to be earl.

Irving reappeared then rather surprisingly ushered him
to the study, where Simon was in a wingback chair, drinking. He didn’t rise to
greet his cousin.

“You disappointed me in court today,” said Simon as he
took a sip of his drink.

“Oh?” Nick sat in the chair opposite.

“I thought you were on the verge of a heartfelt
confession to being the murderess’s brother, but then that arse of a prosecutor
interrupted you. I told Sir Wilfred to sack him.”

“I have never made it a secret that I’m proud to be
Win’s brother. I’ve never shied away from my relationship to the Emersons.
And if you ever call Win a murderess again, I’ll start by blackening your eye.
Who knows what I’ll do after that? Why are you conspiring to get her
convicted?”

“What makes you think I am?”

“Your trip to the Old Bailey. Your consultation with
Sir Wilfred.”

“What do I have to gain from getting the murderess –
excuse me, alleged murderess – convicted?”

“To hurt me.”

“I would have to care about you to hurt you. And I
don’t. I do think you’re an embarrassment to the Layton line, but I don’t care
about you as a person. I want you to admit to your relationship with her in
open court. But other than that, I care as little about Winifred Pierce as I
do about you.”

Nick knew he shouldn’t let the comments hurt him, but
they did. He was incredibly fortunate to have the love of the Emerson family.
But he was both part of and apart from them. Nick didn’t have the luxury of
having the Emerson surname. He was still expected to live as the Earl of
Layton. And he’d been thinking more and more about just how lonely of a life
that was.

When Win was safe, he’d think about fixing his own
life. His two brothers had found true love. Perhaps it was time for him to do
so, as well.

But for now, it was all about Win. Nothing else
mattered.

“Where were you the night Pierce was murdered?” Nick
asked his cousin.

“Clayton and I were at Madame Thurmond’s. It was a
big night – her annual Winter’s Tale ball. The whores were dressed up as their
favorite Shakespearean character. A house full of Juliets and one saucy chit
named Bottom. I reckon she made some blunt that night. When we heard Pierce
was dead we came here to tell you about it, if you’ll recall.”

“What about last night? A maid was killed at Win’s
house.”

“We tried to go back to Thurmond’s, but it was
closed. We spent the rest of our time in some hell. Clayton will vouch for
me. Perhaps when you lose the title, you can join Bow Street. You seem to
have a knack for investigations.”

“How do I know you didn’t hire someone to kill either
of them for you?”

“Because I intend to be the Earl of Layton. I couldn’t
very well enjoy the title if I were hanged, could I? Besides, I don’t have to
kill for the title. I’ll simply continue turning your very own peers against
you. There’s no need to involve myself in your sordid family drama.”

Nick had to admit that did make sense. “If you had to
wager, who would you say killed them?”

Simon took another sip of his drink as he considered
the question. “Pierce’s brother. He frequents the hells and plays deep. He’s
lost more blunt than he can afford and rumor has it the late Mr. Pierce stopped
paying Clive’s vowels long ago. He needs the inheritance and couldn’t count on
his dear sister-in-law to help him out. With Pierce dead and the widow hanged,
he’d have enough to restore himself to rights.”

Yet Nick knew there was no estate to speak of. It was
interesting that Simon didn’t know it. He wondered if Clive did. “How do Clive
and Mrs. Warren get along?”

“They positively loathe each other. I guess ours
isn’t the only family like that. Of course, they’re actually related to each
other and we are not. This conversation has grown tiresome. You may leave now
to enjoy your remaining days as the Earl of Layton.”

Nick had no desire to linger. He rose to take his
leave. “You know, Simon, you might not actually enjoy being earl. There’s
some money, but a great deal of responsibility to go with it. And at the end
of the day, you’d still be the same man you are today.”

“If you don’t think it’s that grand, why not simply
give it up?”

Nick had asked himself the same question on more than
one occasion. “Perhaps because it’s a destiny I did not want, yet still feel
obligated to make my own.”

“Enjoy it while you can. It will soon be gone.”

Nick left the house wondering if that might actually
be a good thing.