Lord Ashford's Wager (24 page)

When Tony got home, he instructed his man to pack. “We are going home, John. I am not facing one more rout or theater party, especially after this morning.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“I will be out all day and part of the evening. We will leave first thing tomorrow.”

“Yes, my lord.”

* * * *

Tony spent the day taking care of all the business he had in town. He visited Claudia’s solicitor in the afternoon and made arrangements for his debts to be paid. “I want this allowance out of the money, Reresby, and the rest goes back into Ashford.”

“The allowance is rather modest, if I may say so, my lord.”

“For now, it is all I am willing to take. Perhaps in a year or so, when Ashford is in better shape, I will increase it.”

“That is admirable, my lord. I am happy that Lady Fairhaven’s faith in you has been justified.”

Tony gave him a quizzical smile. “I am sure you are relieved as well as happy, Reresby. I don’t imagine her changes made you happy.”

“No, my lord,” the older man admitted.

“I just wish I were able to do all this under different
circumstances.”

“Yes. A very cold and calculating man, Lord Fairhaven. I never liked him. And he had too many years of expecting everything to come to him.”

Tony got up to leave and then sat down again. “There is one other thing, Reresby. I would like to give some sort of gift to Gideon Naylor of Bow Street and a small allowance to Jim Rooke. Without them, Mark Halesworth would never have been caught. I think Lady Fairhaven would approve.”

Reresby smiled. “She would, my lord, she would.”

Tony was determined to thank Naylor before he left and so he headed for Bow Street early that evening. When he arrived at the court, he was informed he could find Naylor at the Garrick’s Head around the corner.

Gideon was at his usual table when Tony walked in and he lifted his eyebrows in surprise.

Bob looked over at the door. “Someone you know, Gideon?”

“You might say so. Anthony Varden, Lord Ashford.”

‘The swell you got off, eh. He must be looking for you.” Bob waved Tony over. “Here’s the man you’re looking for, my lord.”

Tony gave the actor a puzzled smile.

“Oh, we know all about you, my lord,” Bob said genially. “Sit down, sit down.”

“Gideon, I have come to thank you.”

“No need, my lord. I only did my job.”

“A little more than your job. I have just come from Lady Fairhaven’s solicitor.”

“So the will has been read?”

“Yes, and I know that I have you to thank that it was not read any sooner. Otherwise, I could hardly have been released on lack of motive!”

“Well, I had some doubts about the case against you, my lord. And even if I hadn’t, Lady Joanna would have convinced me.”

“Ah, yes, Lady Joanna, Jo, my oldest and dearest friend,” said Tony with a dramatic sigh.

“You sound as if you could use a drink, my lord,” said Bob, waving the barmaid over. “Just like Gideon here.”

“Oh?”

“You are both blue-deviled tonight over women, I would wager.”

Tony looked over at Gideon and smiled. “I’ll admit to it if you will.”

“Bob here is a little too free with his mouth when he’s had a few ales.” Gideon took a long swallow from his tankard. He was usually very careful, for a Runner couldn’t afford to suffer the morning-after effects of drinking. But tonight he didn’t care.

“Well, Gideon, who is she?”

Gideon turned toward Tony and gave him a look of mock despair. “Mrs. Spencer.”

“Mrs. Spencer! Mrs. Spencer whom you called an old whore and almost invited Fairhaven to kill?”

“Well, what choice had I, my lord? Let him know I cared about her?”

Tony thought about it for a minute. “You’re right. There wasn’t anything else to do. But you were so calm and cold about it.”

“As one has to be in this job, my lord.”

“Yes, but that aspect of you came as a complete surprise to me, as I suspect it did to Mrs. Spencer.”

“Better she sees what a Runner’s life is, then,” said Gideon bitterly.

“Have you been back to tell her why you did it?”

“No, and I won’t go back, my lord.”

“Well, I think you should, Gideon. I may call you Gideon? And you must call me Tony. We’ve been through too much together to stand on ceremony.”

Both men, although not cast away, were in that mood of bonhomie induced by the initial stage of drunkenness.

“In fact,” continued Tony, “I think we should both go tonight.”

After another two drinks, both were far enough gone to decide that it was an inspired and brilliant idea.

They took a hackney to Mrs. Spencer’s and were surprised to be met again by Jim.

“Why are you still here, lad?” Gideon asked. “You’re safe now. You can return to a clerk’s job.”

“Things are all at sixes and sevens, Mr. Naylor. I am not sure what I want to do, so I decide to stay on here a week or two,” Jim said with an embarrassed smile.

Tony was glad that he had set aside some money for Jim and for Gideon. Jim would have more choices with a small but steady income. And in the meantime, he certainly added a touch of class to Mrs. Spencer’s establishment.

“Is Mrs. Spencer in, Jim?” Tony asked, afraid Gideon wouldn’t.

“Yes, my lord. If you will go into the parlor, I will get her.”

It was hard for Gideon to be back in the parlor and not see Mark Halesworth’s hands around Blisse’s throat. It had been a horrible few minutes that he didn’t think he would ever forget.

When Mrs. Spencer entered, she was dressed in midnight-blue satin that clung to every curve. She saw Tony first and greeted him with one of her rare smiles that reached her eyes. When she noticed Gideon she ignored him.

“I am surprised to see you, Lord Ashford. Shall I ring for some brandy?”

Tony laughed and refused. “I am afraid I’ve had quite enough for tonight. We were surprised to see Jim still out front.”

“Jim’s excuse is that he is looking around for something else in his time off. I suspect that the truth is he has gotten quite fond of Nancy, one of my girls. Are you here for anything in particular, my lord?”

“Uh, no…that is, I hadn’t thought further than a short visit to see how you have recovered from your ordeal of the other night.”

“I am quite restored, my lord,” said Blisse coolly. “But thank you for your concern.”

“But maybe I am interested in some, er, company tonight.”

Gideon shot Tony a quelling look. “I thought we couldn’t stay long, Lord Ashford.”

“Stay as long as you like, Gideon,” said Tony with an irritating wave of his hand.

Blisse went to the door and had Jim summon Carrie. “You have met her before, my lord, and she is one of my most refined girls.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Spencer. I’ll see you in a few hours, Gideon.”

He was gone quickly, leaving Gideon and Blisse to stare at each other. Gideon noticed that Blisse’s mouth was set and was looking almost as hard as her eyes. There was no tenderness there, and he decided his case was hopeless.

“Were
you
looking for some company too, Mr. Naylor?” she asked in her most businesslike tones.

“No. Yes. But not one of the girls,” he added quickly as she started for the door. “I was hoping I could have some time with you, Blisse.”

“I am afraid I don’t see customers, Mr. Naylor. The only time I relaxed my rule I lived to regret it.”

“It was only talk I meant,” protested Gideon. “Here, if that feels more comfortable for you.”

“I can give you a few minutes, Mr. Naylor,” she said as she sat down on the edge of the sofa.

Gideon was too nervous to sit. He moved over to the side table and lifted the Chinese vase. “Jim was supposed to drop this, you know.”

Blisse turned. “Drop my Ming vase! That was a gift from my younger days.”

“If he had been able to do so, we would have gotten in before you and saved you from those terrible minutes.”

“It was not so terrible and I was able to cope quite well, Mr. Naylor.”

“Then you are even more hardened than I am, Blisse,” Gideon said, coming closer. “It was the most awful two minutes of my life.”

“Surely the death of an old whore would hardly make a difference to you, Mr. Naylor,” Blisse said with bitter sarcasm.

“I am sorry I had to speak of you that way. I had no choice. Had I let him know what I really felt, he could have used you as a hostage. He had to think that there was nothing he could do to stop me. And he knew that once he killed you, there would be nothing between me and him.”

Mrs. Spencer’s posture softened slightly, although Gideon didn’t notice.

“You did what you had to do, then,” she said. “And you only spoke the truth, after all. I am an old whore,” she said with a rueful smile. “I accept your apology, Mr. Naylor. And now I must get back to work.” She started to get up, and Gideon, who was now behind her, moved closer and placed his hands on her shoulders, gently but firmly.

“You may not forgive me, but please, at least believe me. When I told Halesworth that I didn’t care what happened to you, I was lying. I do care, Blisse, very much. Now you have seen me at my worst. I can understand why a woman would not wish to be intimate with a Runner. But I wanted you to know that I think of you as a very admirable and desirable woman.” Gideon took his hands off her shoulders. “Tell Lord Ashford I will be waiting across the street in the pub.”

Blisse stood up and walked to the door, and Gideon felt as though his whole life was walking out of the room. And then she stopped, and looking back over her shoulder, said softly: “You don’t have to wait there, Gideon. This old whore would be very pleased to have a Runner as a special…friend.”

Gideon was next to her in a minute. “You mean that? It is a hard life, Blisse. I’ll have to break promises. That is indeed the only thing I can promise you.”

“My life hadn’t been an easy one, Gideon. But I think we can agree to give each other a little loving, can’t we?”

Gideon put his hands on either side of her face. “I thank God you are a hard woman, with the presence of mind to pretend to faint in Fairhaven’s arms. I would have let him get away, luv, if it had come down to it. I want you to know that.” He leaned down and covered her mouth with his, stroking her face and throat, and rejoiced in the strong pulse that was racing in response to his kiss.

Tony had not been with a woman since his return from the Continent.
Rouge et Noir
had been his passion, and he had easily avoided the lures put on by
ton
widows, and the Fashionable Impure he encountered in the hells. His hour with Carrie was a wonderful release, and freed him for a while of the guilt he still felt about Claudia and the uncertainty of his new feelings for Joanna. He was generous with his thanks and his money, and told Carrie that if he weren’t leaving for the country, he would surely have returned.

When Jim informed him that Gideon and Mrs. Spencer were still “occupied,” he smiled and slipped out the door. Jim stepped outside with him and offered his hand very hesitantly. “I am very glad I could help you, Lord Ashford, both for your sake and Lady Fairhaven’s.”

Tony took Jim’s hand. “And I am forever indebted to you, Jim. I was going to let Reresby tell you, but I have set aside a small sum of money for you out of Lady Fairhaven’s bequest to me. I know she would have approved. If you go back to your clerical world, it will supplement your salary. Enable you to marry, if you wish.”

Jim was speechless for a moment and then effusive with his thanks. “I have always wanted to set up my own business,” he confessed. “I only became a clerk to please my parents.”

“Good luck, then, Jim. I am happy to have the chance to help you to your dream.”

* * * *

Tony was on his way back to Ashford before noon the next day. He didn’t arrive until after midnight and went straight to bed. He slept late and was groggy and disoriented in the morning. He stubbed his toe on the nightstand and cursed John for moving it to the other side of his bed before he realized he was at Ashford and not on Clarges Street. He suspected that a part of him wanted to be back in London, getting up late after a night of gaming. The idea of taking Ned’s place terrified him still. He drew on his dressing gown and stood looking out the window. He could see their old gardener out amongst the roses, clipping off the deadheads. He was being followed by one of the parlor maids, who carried a basket to collect flowers for the house. His mother had always made sure there were fresh flowers in the hallways, and she particularly loved roses. She had written him from her sister’s, where she had taken refuge, and accepted his invitation to come home. He hoped it was true. He hoped she had forgiven him for haring off to London and leaving all behind. He hoped she could stand the fact that he was not Ned.

Well, at least he would be bringing Ashford back to what it once was. That should gain him some welcome from his mother, his neighbors, and his tenants. It would go a long way to make up for the fact that he wasn’t his brother.

* * * *

For the next few weeks, Tony was so busy that he hardly had time to worry about whether he was living up to his older brother. He interviewed very carefully for his new estate manager, having retired old Buxton. He could sense his mother’s disapproval and that of the tenants when he did so, but he had decided that he had to find his own style and needed someone who could start afresh with him. The atmosphere of disapproval grew even stronger when he hired Will Farre. Farre was a veteran of the Peninsula recently invalided out after the loss of an arm. He had made his way to Ashford on the recommendation of Tony’s commanding officer, and Tony hired him almost immediately. Lieutenant Farre’s father had managed a larger estate in Northumberland and Farre had acted as an assistant before joining the army.

“We will both start out together, Will,” said Tony, pouring two glasses of Madeira for a toast.

“I promise I won’t disappoint you, my lord.” The lieutenant had not really hoped for much from the interview. He had been turned down so often that he was ready to go home in defeat when Colonel Bain had suggested Ashford. He took a few sips of wine and began to feel himself relax at last. “I never thought I’d be grateful to the French for anything,” he said with a grin. “Here’s to them for taking my right arm. They were not to know I am left-handed!”