Never a Mistress, No Longer a Maid (19 page)

“That’s beside the point.  What I’d like to know is what you
were doing with Wills Overton.  I thought you said you’d been cut by him and
his friends.”

“I’m sorry if I’m not enough of a social pariah,” said Jane,
her tone frosty.  “I didn’t plan today’s outing and was quite surprised by his
arrival, as I already noted.  But I’d like to know why you believe you have the
right to question me about my activities.”

“I have the right because I’m Vi’s father.”  Try as he
might, he could not sound calm and rational.  But, damn it, he did have a
point.

“That gives you the right to question me about her welfare. 
But you do not in any way have the right to interfere with my life.”

Even though Ned knew she was right, technically, it still
bothered him to have her categorically deny any relationship between them. 
He’d proposed to her, something he’d never done before.  And not only had she
turned him down, she’d been out driving with that fop Wills Overton.

Was she forgetting they’d had relations a few nights ago?   Ned
realized that didn’t necessarily tie them together, since he’d had plenty of
liaisons where he hadn’t cared in the least what his lovers chose to do
afterward.  But the other night had been different.  Meaningful.  Intense.  And
sleeping at the inn as a family had meant more to him than he could put into
words.

Good heavens.  He was becoming a pathetic romantical. 

“I have a right to look after Vi’s welfare.  You don’t even
know where she is right now, do you?  Perhaps you should spend more time
worrying about our daughter and less time in carriages with dandies.”

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he knew he’d
gone too far.   He started to apologize, but before he could even get a word
out, she turned on him.

“How dare you imply I don’t take care of my daughter!  How
dare you waltz back into my life, demanding a place when you never even gave a second
thought to your actions so many years ago?  There are ways to prevent
pregnancy, my lord, and you didn’t employ any of them that night.  And then,
without thought to how this might affect Vi or what my plans might be, you
informed me we’re getting married and that you have the right to make all our
future decisions.  Decisions which almost certainly mean leaving a life I hold
dear in order to join the mighty House of Lynwood.   I may not have always made
the right decisions over the years, but I love my daughter dearly and I’ve
protected her as best I could.  You’ve known you were a father for a week.  And
when things got tough, you came back to the safe haven of your family.  Well,
I’ve had no safe haven these many years.  Don’t you dare question my abilities,
until you’ve done my job alone.”

Jane was on the verge of tears and Ned wanted nothing more
than to pull her into his arms.  But he knew she wouldn’t allow it.

“Jane, I’m sorry.  I was a fool to say what I did.  You’re a
great mother.  I was just upset about Overton.”

None of this was making sense to Jane in the least.  “Why
were you upset about Wills?”

Ned looked at her.  Was now the time to tell her how his
feelings had deepened?  Perhaps it was the only way to a better future.

“Jane, I….”

They were interrupted by a commotion downstairs in the
foyer.  From the sound of it, an entire army was invading Lynwood House. 

When they reached the landing, everyone began talking at
once.  Lizzie was apologizing to Jane for something, Arthur and Hal were angry
and a woman Jane hadn’t met before was petting a puppy with Vi.  Finally,
Lynwood took over and in his usual calm way told them what had happened in the
park.

Jane and Ned ran down the stairs to hold Vi, to ensure she
was all right.  Not only did she appear unharmed, she could talk of nothing but
the puppy she’d found and that his grace had said she could keep. 

Jane was sick with relief and grateful to everyone for
keeping Vi safe.  But as she turned to Ned, she was stopped cold by the look of
pure rage in his eyes.

“He won’t get away with this,” was the last thing he said
before he ran out of Lynwood House.

“Your grace,” said Jane in a panic.  “You must stop him. 
I’m afraid he’ll kill my grandfather.”

“Heskiss, call for my horse and Arthur’s right away.  Hal,
stay with the ladies.”

With that Lynwood and Arthur ran out of the house.

*                   *                  *

As a soldier, then a spy, Ned knew vengeance made a person
irrational.  And it often got the wrong person killed.  He knew he should wait
to see Huntington until he was more level-headed, but it didn’t feel like he’d
ever get over this primal rage inside him.  The man had tried to kidnap his daughter
twice.   Ned had warned him once and the man had disregarded it at his peril. 
He wouldn’t stop at punching the man in the face today.  He wouldn’t stop until
his message was clear.

He knew he wouldn’t get through the front door after his
earlier visit, so he had the hack drop him by the mews.  He climbed a fence
onto Huntington’s property, then stole his way across the lawn.  The French
doors to the study were open and with any luck he’d find the old man in there.

Ned slipped through the doors then looked around the room.  Huntington
wasn’t at the desk, and he was surprised to find the room in complete disarray. 
There were papers everywhere.  On the floor, on the furniture.  It looked like
the room had been thoroughly ransacked.

He heard a noise from behind the desk.  As he walked toward
it, he saw Huntington on the floor, covered in blood, moaning.  When he saw
Ned, he lifted his hand and his eyes grew wide.   Then Ned was hit from behind
and a blinding pain flashed through his skull before he fell to the floor
unconscious.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

For the second time in his life, Ned awoke with the
skull-splitting headache that accompanies a concussion.  This time he was in a study
that was filled with a lot of loud men.  But somehow, the person he heard the
clearest was the one who was the most soft-spoken.  Liam was in the room.  Liam
would explain what had happened.

Ned must’ve moaned, because it got the attention of the
others in the room, who were slowly coming into focus.  There was Lynwood, a
worried Arthur, and another man, who was tall and lean, about Lynwood’s age,
with the look of a soldier. 

“Lord Edward, I’m Inspector Stapleton from Bow Street. Do
you know where you are?”

Ned started to nod, then immediately regretted the action.

“Good,” continued Stapleton.  “Can you tell us what happened
here today?”

Ned tried to look around him to see if Huntington was still
there.

“The earl?” he asked.

“He’s dead,” said Stapleton without emotion.   “How did you
come to be here?  The butler said he didn’t let you in.”

It took Ned a moment to remember.  “The French doors.”

“Do you always pay calls on earls through French doors after
sneaking onto their property?”

“I had to see him.”

“Why?”

“He arranged a kidnapping.”

There was no immediate response from Stapleton, who loomed
over him.  “The earl arranged a kidnapping?”

“Yes.”

“I see.”  But clearly he didn’t.  “Why didn’t you come
directly to Bow Street?”

“I wanted to see him first.”

“And what did you see when you arrived?”

As Ned began the story, his mind worked as best it could to
piece together what had happened.  There’d been someone else in the room. 
Someone who’d snuck up from behind and knocked him out.  That must have been
what Huntington had been motioning to.

“There was someone else here,” said Ned.

“But the butler said he didn’t let anyone else in.”

“He didn’t let me in, either, as you pointed out.”

“What were you looking for in the room, Lord Edward?”

“I wasn’t looking for anything other than the earl.”

“Are you saying the room was in this state when you
arrived?”

“I just told you it was.”

“I see.  The butler told me he’d been in here approximately
thirty minutes before you were found and the room had been in perfect order.”

“And, as I told you earlier,” said Lynwood, “my brother
didn’t have much of a head start.  I’m sure Lord Arthur and I arrived only
moments after Lord Edward did.  He wouldn’t have had time to search this room,
bludgeon the earl and knock himself out.”

“With all due respect, your grace,” said Stapleton, “at this
time I have only your word as to the timing.  And you have a vested interest in
this case.”

“Are you calling me a liar, Stapleton?” asked Lynwood in the
coolest voice he had.  The room grew unnaturally silent.

The Bow Street runner looked him in the eye.  “No, your grace. 
I’m simply pointing out your reputation as one who’d protect his family at any
cost.  And someone who’s that devoted to his brother might be mistaken about
the time.”

“I assure you I am not.”

The two men looked at each other for a moment.  Stapleton
wasn’t backing down.  In other circumstances, Ned would’ve found it admirable. 
In this particular case, he wondered why the one man perhaps in the whole of
London who wasn’t cowed by Lynwood was the one with the power to send him to
Newgate while this mess was straightened out.

Stapleton looked away first.  “Your grace, I’m releasing
Lord Edward into your care while we look into this matter further.  But please
know this.   I am dedicated to justice and won’t be swayed by titles.  I’m
releasing him at this time not because you’re the Duke of Lynwood, but because
it’s illogical to think he’d cosh himself on that particular part of the head. 
However, I haven’t ruled out the use of an accomplice.  If I find the facts point
to Lord Edward’s guilt, I’ll pursue the case to the fullest extent of the law.”

“I would expect nothing less,” said Lynwood.  “Lord Arthur,
will you please help me with our brother?”

Moments later, they were in the main Lynwood carriage, which
the duke had sent for while they’d been waiting for Ned to regain
consciousness.  The three of them were silent on the journey home, a silence
Ned was thankful for, given the state of his head.  But it also irked him.   He
felt his brothers were afraid to ask the obvious question.

“I didn’t do it, you know,” he said.  “Although I’m not sure
what I would’ve done if I’d arrived and Huntington had been sitting there.”

“You would’ve beaten him within an inch of his life, but
left him alive,” said Lynwood in a matter of fact tone.

“How do you know that?”

“Because it’s what I would’ve done.  We must figure out how
to clear your name because I have no doubt Inspector Stapleton won’t hesitate
to charge you if he believes you did it.  I actually rather admire the man, so
I would just as soon not have him as an adversary.”

When they arrived home, they were met at the door by Hal and
an extremely worried Jane.  But instead of falling apart weeping in concern,
which Ned felt might’ve been at least a little nice, she immediately examined
the lump on the back of his head, which made it hurt even more.

“Woman, are you trying to kill me?”

“I’m trying to ascertain the degree of your injury, if you’d
only stay still.  You fuss more than Vi when she’s skinned her knee.”

“Why don’t we escort Edward to his room, where Miss Wetherby
can more closely examine him,” said Lynwood to his brothers, who were highly
amused by the scene. 

“How’s Vi?” asked Ned as they helped him upstairs.

“She’s doing well,” said Jane.  “She and Lizzie are playing
with the puppy in the nursery.”

“That pup ruined my best waistcoat,” said Hal.  “Not to
mention the mess he’s made in the house.”

“What mess?” asked Lynwood.

“I’m sure it doesn’t signify,” replied Hal, “although I
wouldn’t walk around without shoes for a while.”  

They laid Ned on the bed, then Jane continued her
examination, calling for a bowl of hot water, soap, bandages and a bottle of
whiskey.

“Not the whiskey,” said Ned.  “Please not the whiskey.”

“I must ask you, Miss Wetherby,” said Lynwood as he watched
her attend Ned’s injuries, “if you know of anyone who might’ve wanted to harm
your grandfather.”

“I’m afraid I can’t be of much help.  He and I haven’t
communicated much since Vi was born.  You may want to talk to his solicitors.”

“I’ll send a note to my man.  Can you think of anything
else?”

“No.  But couldn’t this business today have been a simple
robbery gone wrong?” asked Jane.

“I don’t think so,” said Ned.  “There were too many
valuables in plain sight.  There was no need to ransack the study if someone had
simply wanted to steal expensive items.”   He looked down to see that somehow
his hand had become entwined with hers. 

Lynwood must have seen it, as well.

“If you can think of anything else, either of you, please
let me know.”

  He then left the room, leaving the two of them alone.

“What were you thinking?” she asked, as she gently brushed hair
from his forehead.

“I don’t think I was.  I was out of my mind with rage and
helplessness because I hadn’t been there to protect her.  I wanted to do
whatever I could to make things right.”

Jane brought his hand to her lips.  “No one can keep
children from harm at all times.  It’s a hard lesson to learn when you’re a
parent.  I’m just glad you weren’t more seriously hurt.  You’ve become too
important to Vi for her to lose you now.”

But was he important to Jane?  The question tugged at Ned’s
gut.  He needed to know the answer.  He needed to feel her lips on his own.  He
was just about to do something about it when a parade of servants entered the
room carrying medical supplies.

He wouldn’t be able to continue the conversation until
later. But continue it, he would.

*                   *                    *

The invitation arrived at Kellington House just before
dinner.  Their Aunt Agatha, Countess of Crenshaw, was holding an impromptu ball
two nights hence.  An accompanying note said she expected the entire Kellington
family to attend.  She mentioned them by name and told them rather pointedly
not to bring their houseguest.

“This is outrageous,” said Lizzie over a late dinner, since
the entire family was once again staying in for the evening.  Vi was upstairs
asleep, but the rest of the family was at the table.  “Who is she to exclude
our guest?”

“Your aunt is a well-respected hostess of the
ton
,”
said Jane.  “It is completely her prerogative to choose whom to invite.”

“She’s insufferable is what she is,” said Lizzie.  “And I
for one don’t want to go to her ball if she’s only inviting some of us.”

Lynwood cleared his throat.  “While I apologize to Miss
Wetherby on Lady Crenshaw’s behalf for neglecting to invite her, it’s important
for the rest of us to attend the ball in light of Ned’s situation.  I’m sure
word has already spread about today’s events.  We must stand as a united front
and there’s no better place to do that than at Lady Crenshaw’s ball.”

“Then we’ll stand as a united front with Jane in
attendance,” said Ned, firmly.  “What better sign to send to the
ton
than
to have the support of the earl’s granddaughter.”

“Ned,” said Lynwood.  “This is not the time to become more
firmly embroiled in scandal.  We can talk about this later in private, but I
believe it would be best if Miss Wetherby remained at home.”

“Best for whom?” asked Ned.  “My legal difficulties or for
the vaunted Lynwood name?”

Arthur, Hal and Lizzie solemnly watched the two men. 
Disagreements at the table were not uncommon, but rarely did they involve this
much heat.

“Ned,” said Jane, “this is not the time to pressure his grace.”

“Don’t defend him,” said Ned.  “More than my life is at
stake here.  I’ve got to protect my daughter.  You and she are part of this
family, whether you choose to accept my proposal or not.”

“And do you think parading the girl’s fallen mother in front
of the
ton
will accomplish that?” replied Jane.  “Would it help our case
to have Lady Crenshaw refuse to admit me?  Right now, I’m concerned with only
two things:  how to keep you from the gallows and how to protect Vi from
another kidnapping attack.  Public opinion will be just as important in
clearing your name as any evidence Inspector Stapleton thinks to find.  I will
not be responsible for bringing you to harm.”

“But it’s time for everyone to stop protecting me, when I
have so utterly failed to protect others,” said Ned.  “I want you standing by
my side at that ball.  Liam, my apologies for being so glib before.  As
Lynwood, you have the right to expect the best behavior from us all.  But I
won’t back down.”

Lynwood stared at his brother in silence, then rose from the
table.

“In that case, I’d best write to Lady Crenshaw and tell her
to expect an addition to the party.  She won’t refuse you admittance, Miss
Wetherby.  I am, after all, Lynwood.”

*                    *                    *                               

It was a typical night at Schaefer’s, the gaming hell
currently enjoying the most acclaim among the
ton’s
blades.  It was a
little past two in the morning, as Inspector Stapleton walked through the crowd
of lordlings gambling away their inheritance, cheered on by nearly naked and,
in some cases, completely naked women supplied by the house.  Alcohol poured
freely and you wouldn’t have to go far to find opium if that was your drug of
choice.  But tonight, Stapleton cared only about following up on one of the
leads he’d found in Huntington’s study.

After perusing the room one more time, he found the man he’d
been looking for, perfectly described by a disgruntled lightskirt he’d
interviewed earlier.

The man was playing commerce with three partners, each
drunker than the man next to him.  All except his quarry, who only appeared to
have drunk too much liquor, but was as sober as Stapleton, which might explain
how he was cheating so well.

Stapleton watched the men play several hands, then when his
man collected his winnings and left the table, he caught up to him.

“Evan Cantwell?” asked Stapleton.

“Who are you?”

“Inspector Stapleton of Bow Street.  I’m investigating the
death of the Earl of Huntington.”

“Poor bastard.  But what’s that got to do with me?  I barely
knew the man.”  Cantwell walked toward the club’s exit. 

Stapleton followed.  “But you knew him well enough not to be
surprised he’s dead.”

“It was in the evening papers.  Anyone who can read would
know he’s dead.  I’m assuming that’s not how you came about your information,
since I’ve never met a runner yet who could read.”

“Oh, I can read,” said Stapleton, evaluating the man he was
questioning.  “It’s how I learned you’ve received hundreds of pounds from him
during the past few years.  Some of the earl’s papers had gone missing, but I
was able to find enough to lead me to you.”

Cantwell walked outside the club with Stapleton one step
behind him.   “It’s not a crime to receive money from someone.”

“Depends on what you did to get it.”

“The old man and I had a business deal.  I guess now I’ll
have to find someone else to do business with.”

“Like his granddaughter?”

Cantwell lit a cheroot.  Good, thought Stapleton.  He’s
stalling to think of his answer.

“I know the granddaughter.  A bluestocking in the country. 
Fancies herself a surgeon.”