Never Wager Against Love (Kellington Book Three) (27 page)

Ned reached down and pulled his daughter to him.  “I’m sorry
we woke you, sweetling.  But Uncle Arthur arrived home with a friend of his,
Miss Gans.  Miss Gans, this is our daughter Violet.”

If Vanessa had been wistful watching Ned with Jane, it was
nothing compared to the feelings that welled up in her when she saw Ned and
Jane with their daughter.  She imagined having a child with Arthur, then she
had to swallow the lump in her throat.

“How do you do, Miss Violet?” asked Vanessa.

Violet smiled up at her with a grin that was missing at
least one tooth.  “Very well, thank you.  How do you do, Miss Gans?  I’m six
years old.”

“That is a brilliant age,” said Vanessa, unable to resist
grinning at the girl.

“We’re here for Lizzie’s wedding!” said Violet.

“Where is Elizabeth?” asked Lynwood.  “There’s no way she
could still be sleeping, not with all this noise.  You’d think she would’ve been
the first one out here.”

The Kellingtons all turned to a door slightly further down
the hall, which Vanessa presumed was Lady Elizabeth’s.  But no one made a move
to knock.

A moment later, the door cracked just a bit and Lady
Elizabeth Kellington squeezed her way out, quickly shutting the door behind
her.  She was a beautiful woman, with black hair and distinctive green eyes
like her niece’s.  Even at a glance, Vanessa knew Lady Elizabeth hadn’t been
sleeping.  Her hair was quite mussed and the way she was fastening her dressing
gown made it seem like she’d rather hastily donned it.

“Aunt Lizzie!” said Violet.  “You said you’d show me your
wedding dress.  Can I see it now?”

Lizzie cast a rather frantic glance behind her, then said “I
promise we’ll do that tomorrow, Vi.  And what’s going on that….”  She spotted
Vanessa, then broke out into a grin.  “Vanessa!  How wonderful to see you
again.”

“Lady Elizabeth,” said Vanessa with an answering smile and a
curtsey. 

“I thought we were past that.  I am Lizzie, and you were Tara,
although now I understand you’re Vanessa.  Why don’t we all go down to Liam’s
study to learn what has transpired since we last saw you?”

Lizzie tried her best to herd everyone downstairs, but the
only ones who moved with her were Jane, Violet and Vanessa.  All her brothers
were staring at her closed bed chamber door.

She tried again.  “Liam, I believe a bit of your excellent
brandy would be just the thing.”

“Ned,” said Jane, as she pulled on his hand, “don’t you and
your brothers want to learn about Arthur and Miss Gans’s adventure?  We should
all go downstairs.”

But Ned and his brothers were now clustered around Lizzie’s
door.  Then it opened and a dignified, fully dressed Marquess of Riverton
emerged, as if leaving White’s after dinner with friends.  Marcus Redmond was
tall, blonde and blue eyed.  He was also, Vanessa had noticed at the Riverton
house party, head over ears in love with his fiancée, Lady Elizabeth
Kellington.

“Oh, no,” said Lizzie as she dropped her head into her
hands, then rushed to her fiancé’s side to protect him.

“My lord!” said Violet, as she ran over to him.  “Were you
looking at Lizzie’s wedding gown?  Is it as beautiful as mama says?  Can I see
it?  Do you want to see my tooth that came out?”

“Vi,” said her mama, as she came around to take her hand. 
“Why don’t we go to the kitchen to get some warm milk?”

“But I want to stay here with everyone,” said Vi eagerly, as
she looked at all her uncles looking at Riverton.  “I think they’re playing a
game.”

“I think we shall go for milk, anyway,” said Jane, as she
coaxed her daughter along.  “Ned, are you joining us?”

“No,” he said.  “I have business here.”

“Please papa!  Please come with us!”

And since Ned could refuse his daughter nothing, he
reluctantly left his brothers, leaving Riverton with one fewer Kellington to
face.

Understanding this was a family matter, Vanessa turned to
enter her room.  

“Not so fast, Vanessa,” said Lizzie.  “I was serious about
wanting to hear your story.  And, Marcus, you cannot let those brothers of mine
intimidate you.  Come join us downstairs.”

Riverton looked at the Kellington brothers.  They’d all
expressed their pleasure at the upcoming marriage.  But it looked like they
weren’t quite so sanguine about the premature celebration of it.  He turned to
Lynwood.  “I must apologize for acting in an ungentlemanly manner under your
roof.”

“Lud, Marcus,” said Lizzie.  “You could never be
ungentlemanly.”

“I should never have done anything under Lynwood’s roof that
he wouldn’t approve of,” he replied, looking Lynwood in the eyes.  “But I love
your sister and find myself unable to be parted from her.”

Lynwood studied him for a moment longer.  “Then perhaps we
should move up the wedding,” he said.

“An excellent idea,” muttered Riverton, which earned him
another look from the duke.

“I suppose we should take Lizzie’s suggestion and find out
what Arthur and Miss Gans have been up to,” said Lynwood with a sigh.  “Riverton,
you might as well join us.  You are, after all, family.”

“If he’s family, why can’t we hit him?” asked Hal as he
followed his brothers down the hall.  “Lord knows we’ve hit each other often
enough.”

Arthur pulled Vanessa’s arm through his.  “Welcome to
Lynwood House, love.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

What was originally supposed to be a brief update in the
study quickly turned into a light meal.  Apparently, Vi’s attempts to be quiet
in the kitchen had awakened not just Cook, but also Heskiss, the long-time
family butler.  When alerted that they had a guest, maids were immediately
dispatched to Vanessa’s room to ensure it was in tip-top shape and Cook quickly
laid out a “light repast” for the travelers which wouldn’t have looked out of
place at a state dinner.

By the time Ned and Jane entered the study, having put
Violet to bed once more, there was a veritable feast in front of them. 

“Thank goodness,” said Jane, as she loaded her plate with
the pickled herring Cook had kept in stock since hearing she was expecting. 
“It seems like the babe is always hungry.”

“No doubt it’s a son this time,” said Hal, as he too piled
his plate with food.  “Kellington males are known for our appetites. 
Sometimes, we are even in the mood for food.  And before you admonish me, Ned
and Arthur, I believe the females among us are not known to be easily
offended.  That goes twice as much for your intended, Riverton.”

They were interrupted by the knocker on the front door.

“Whoever could that be at this hour?” asked Lizzie.  “Do not
tell me your lightskirts have taken to making house calls, Hal.”

“See what I mean about being shameless, Riverton?” asked
Hal.

“It is Stapleton,” said Lynwood.  “I sent a footman asking
him to come.”

Inspector Joseph Stapleton was employed by Bow Street.  He’d
first become acquainted with the Kellington family earlier in the year when Ned
had been accused of murder.  A genuine friendship had developed between
Stapleton, the Kellingtons and Riverton.  He had been at the Riverton house
party when the chest was stolen. 

Heskiss entered the room, followed by Stapleton.  “Inspector
Stapleton, your grace.”

“Thank you Heskiss, and please give my thanks to Cook for
the meal, as well as the maids and footmen who should all be abed.  Please
start the day two hours later to help make up for the interruption.”

“I do not believe I can do that, your grace,” said Heskiss.

“Try your hardest to do it anyway,” he replied.  “Now take
yourself off to bed, Heskiss.”

The butler bowed his way out, nodding to Stapleton as he
went.

“I did as you asked, Stapleton, and let you know as soon as
they returned to town,” said Lynwood.  “Although I’m sure you didn’t anticipate
a meeting at four in the morning.  Please help yourself to some food.  Hal,
pour him a glass of brandy.”

Vanessa was only slightly acquainted with the Inspector from
the time they’d spend at the house party.  But she knew him by reputation.  He
was one of Bow Street’s best and was known for his bravery, integrity and
intelligence.  “Why did you ask to be informed of our arrival?”

“Because, Miss Gans, I believe you to be in grave danger.”

All heads turned to Stapleton and the eating stopped.

“Please explain,” said Lynwood.

“When I returned from the Riverton house party, I looked
into this matter with Mortimer and Cassidy.  I also,” said Stapleton, looking
directly at her, “investigated you.”

Vanessa nodded almost imperceptibly.  “I would expect
nothing less.  Lord Arthur had just run after someone who arrived at the party
under false pretenses.  You only had my word that I worked for the Home
Office.  I can imagine your professional curiosity was piqued.”

“It was not only that,” said Lynwood.  “I asked him to look
into your background, Miss Gans.”

“See here, Lynwood,” said Arthur with rising anger.  “That
was rather high-handed of you.”

Vanessa placed her hand on his arm, then under the watchful
gaze of everyone in the room, she quickly removed it.  “His grace had every
right to worry about you.  Indeed, it was his responsibility as the head of
this family to do so.  You are aware that while I have worked for the Home
Office these past few years, I was a common criminal before that.  It is only
through the grace of God that I am having a late meal in Lynwood House rather
than living in a gaol in Australia.  It is only right that the rest of your
family know, as well.  And it is certainly within his rights for his grace to
have me removed from this house at any time.”

“Lynwood,” said Arthur, beside himself, “you cannot
possibly…”

“Arthur,” said Lynwood with a raised hand, “before you
explode in anger or call me out or whatever it is you plan to do, pray listen
for a moment.  We are all acquainted with Miss Gans’s past, but only concerned
about her current and future well-being.  I certainly have no plans to ask her
to leave this house.  But do let Stapleton give his report.  He did feel it was
important enough to come here in the wee hours of the morning, after all.  
Stapleton, please proceed.”

“Thank you, Lynwood,” said Stapleton.  “Miss Gans, I did
look into your past, as well as your service with the Home Office.  As I have
told the Kellingtons, I am most impressed with your work.  You have proven
yourself to be brave, smart and extremely capable.  Indeed, were it not for
prejudices about your gender, I believe you would have risen far above your
current position.”

“It is most unfair,” said Lizzie, “that Vanessa has been
held back simply because she was born a woman.”

Riverton, who was sitting next to her on the settee, raised
her hand to his lips and kissed it.  “Not now, love.  I believe there is more
to Stapleton’s report.  You can continue this lecture tomorrow.  The world will
still be unjust.”

Stapleton continued.  “As Lynwood said, I looked into
Mortimer and Cassidy’s criminal records.  They have been quite successful in
their endeavors and, in the case of Cassidy in particular, quite ruthless.  But
there is something odd about their involvement in this business with the
chest.  According to my sources within the Home Office, the chest was deposited
in the lake on Riverton’s estate by a former spy for the French.”

“Is he in custody?” asked Vanessa.

“No.  And no one can tell me who he is or what exactly he
did for the French during the war.  Your spy appears to be a ghost.”

“So you don’t believe he exists,” said Arthur.

“No, I don’t.”

“Neither do I,” said Vanessa.  “I’ve been thinking about the
three items we were set to recover.  There was an ancient sword in an armory
swarming with guards, a jeweled chalice in the safe of a duke who would go to
any means to protect it and a golden stake embedded in a bridge far off the
ground.  All three items were valuable and all three would be almost impossible
for the ordinary thief to steal.”

“So, someone had us do the work for him,” said Arthur,
voicing the suspicion he’d had for days.

“Exactly,” said Vanessa. “What better way to get the items
than to have the Home Office take them?  And while Mortimer and Cassidy have stolen
two of the items from us, I do not believe they are the masterminds behind the
crime.”

“Why not?” asked Stapleton.

“Because of the chalice Frederick Mortimer did not steal.”

Vanessa and Arthur then filled them in on everything that
had happened since leaving the Riverton house party, only omitting those
details concerning their personal relationship.  Everyone listened with rapt
attention.

“Who do you think is the Judas?” asked Ned.

“I may be able to help you there,” said Stapleton.  “I did
not look into just your background, Miss Gans.  I also investigated a few of
your colleagues.  Three of them stood out as suspicious:  Sir Lawrence Eck, a
Professor Dumbarton at Cambridge and Lord Willingham, your superior.”

“Lord Willingham!” said Vanessa with genuine surprise. 
“Surely not.”

“Do not get me wrong,” said Stapleton, “I am not sure of
anyone’s guilt.  But the three of them stood out for various reasons.  Sir
Lawrence comes from humble beginnings, though he does much to disguise that
fact.”

“He is a snob,” added Arthur quickly.

“While Sir Lawrence avoids speaking of his background as
much as possible,” continued Stapleton, “he is the son of a farmer, and not a
particularly well off one.”

“Just because the man doesn’t come from the gentry doesn’t
mean he is a criminal,” said Vanessa, bristling slightly.

Stapleton smiled at her.  “Miss Gans, I am the last person
who would cast aspersions on someone coming from a low background, since I am
from the lower classes myself.  And, with the notable exceptions of the people
in this room, I care little for rank and even less for privilege.  My point
isn’t that Sir Lawrence is the son of a poor farmer.  It is that he not only
spends a great deal of money on housing and clothes, he also pays his bills. 
He has wealth that cannot be attributed solely to his salary at the Home
Office.  How did he get the money?”