Swept Away (34 page)

“So what?” Pamela tossed her head. “That doesn't mean anything!”

“There is the landlady. She said that the only times Teasely came to his rooms were when he received a packet and when he came with his ‘fancy piece.' That was you, wasn't it? You carried on an affair with Edmund Teasely. You conspired with him to steal money from your own son's trust. No, wait! Now that I think about it, it was probably
your
idea. You doubtless seduced the poor man into doing it!”

“You've gone mad.”

“Have I? You know, that landlady had a good eye—and a good memory. She identified Teasely immediately. I wonder what she'll say when we show her a drawing of you?”

“She couldn't! I always wore—” Pamela stopped abruptly, realizing how she had just indicted herself.

She whirled and started to run from the room, but Julia threw herself on the other woman, and they fell to the ground. They rolled across the floor, kicking and hitting, while the other occupants in the room looked on in horror. Finally Varian pulled himself out of his daze and ran over to the two women. Putting an arm around Julia, he lifted her up and set her on her feet. She tore away from him and started after Pamela again, but Pamela had used the momentary reprieve to grab her reticule and stick her hand into it. She pulled out a small pistol and aimed it at Julia's heart.

“Ha! That stopped you, didn't it?” She stood up, never taking the gun off Julia. “Miss High-and-Mighty. You always know everything, don't you? You're always right. Easy for you to say that I had ample money. Selby was exactly the same. ‘Oh, no, that doesn't justify the trust's expending money on it,”' she mimicked, her face drawn into bitter lines. “You would have thought the money was his, not Thomas's, the way he acted.”

“You—you killed Selby?” Phoebe asked shakily.

“It was his fault!” Pamela screeched. “All of it was. I wouldn't have had to do any of it, if only Selby had cooperated. But no, Saint Selby was too good, too pure.” Her voice had slipped into caustic mimicry again. “He couldn't even be unfaithful to his wife. Precious little Phoebe!” Pamela shook the gun wildly at Julia. “Do you think I wanted to do it? Do you think I
wanted
to sleep with that fool Teasely?”

“I am sure not, Pamela,” Varian said soothingly. “We understand. You didn't want to do any of it. Why don't you put the gun down? Then we can talk.”

“Do you think I'm a fool?” Pamela's lips curled with scorn.

“No. I think you're a black-hearted villain,” Julia replied, facing her with cold defiance.

“At least you're honest.”

“You put Teasely up to it, didn't you?” Julia asked. “Somehow you learned that he had a skill for copying other people's writing, and you seduced him into writing those letters. No doubt you were the one who knew about Jack Fletcher and added that little twist.”

“Of course I did. Walter was forever laughing about Selby's idiotic made-up name, as if it were a grand joke. Schoolboy pranks! I thought it was a grand joke to use the name on him.”

“Naturally. It was a wonderful way to get revenge on the man who had spurned you, wasn't it? To make it appear that he had been the one who embezzled the money.”

“Yes, it was.” A malicious sparkle appeared in Pamela's eyes. “It was wonderful, watching him topple—seeing all the Armigers brought low.”

“What did it matter if you had to give yourself to a nonentity, a clerk, in order to accomplish that?”

“Nothing! It mattered nothing at all!” Pamela's eyes glittered, and bright spots of color stained her cheeks.

“Tell me,” Julia continued in the same hard voice, “what did you have to do to get him to kill Selby?”

“Kill Selby! That coward? He hadn't the nerve for it. Why, he couldn't even get rid of you. He bungled it every time. How could he have gone up against a man like Selby? All he could manage was to write that paltry note.
I
had to go up there and do it!”

“Mama!” Thomas cried out. His face was ashen, and his eyes huge and staring. “Mama, how could you?”

Pamela turned toward him, and for an instant even she looked abashed. Then her face closed down, and she snarled, “Don't look at me like that! You don't know what it was like! None of you! I couldn't stand having to take handouts from the trust, having to beg and crawl for every bit of money….”

She backed up as she spoke, as if she had to move away from her son's appalled expression. She reached the open doorway of the room.

Suddenly an arm lashed out from the other side of the door, slamming down hard on Pamela's gun arm. The pistol dropped harmlessly to the floor and skidded away. In the same smooth motion, Stonehaven stepped from his hiding spot beside the door, both his arms going around Pamela tightly and lifting her up off her feet. She began to shriek and kick back at him, her face contorted with fury.

“Damn you! Damn you! Let me go!” Her voice dissolved into unintelligible gabblings and high-pitched screeches.

Geoffrey appeared in the hallway beside Stonehaven, and behind him came two footmen. Geoffrey stepped around Deverel and his wriggling, screaming burden and rushed into the room.

“Phoebe! Love, are you all right?”

“Geoffrey!” Julia ran to him. “It was horrible! Thank God you're here.”

“Of course, dear. Where else should I be?” Geoffrey set himself to the task of soothing her.

Stonehaven turned over the raving Pamela to the footmen. One of them took her legs and the other her torso, and they carried her out of sight. Stonehaven hurried into the drawing room and drew Julia into his arms. Julia, who had been standing rigid throughout the whole scene, surprised them all by collapsing into tears against him.

“It's all right. It's over,” Deverel murmured, stroking her hair and back.

“I'm sorry,” Julia sniffled, trying to control her wayward tears. “I—I don't know what came over me. I'm not usually like that.”

“I know.” Deverel smiled. “But I don't mind. Actually, it's rather nice to find that you are not always made of iron.”

Julia smiled weakly. Their arms loosened around each other, but she continued to lean against him. “I think it was the shock. All this time, I never even considered Pamela. No matter how much I disliked her, I would never have dreamed that she was capable of murder!”

“I know. I've had some experience with her when she didn't get her way, and I knew she could be vindictive and even cruel, but I didn't suspect her of this.”

“Poor Thomas,” Julia sighed, looking over at the boy. He sat slumped in a chair, his head in his hands. “He knew she had many faults, but still, she was his mother. He must be in agony.”

“I know. We'll help him all we can.”

“What will become of him?”

“He can come and live with us. We'll have to be his family now.”

Julia looked up at Deverel with glowing eyes. “You are so kind.”

He smiled. “Nonsense. Merely practical. I can scarcely have my wife running down to Kent every week or two to see how Thomas is doing, now can I?”

“Say whatever you like. You can't fool me.” She laid her hand against his cheek. “You are the finest man I know.”

“Only a man who is very much in love with his wife.” He took her hand and pressed his lips into her palm.

“That's enough for me.” Julia smiled and stood on tiptoe to kiss him.

J
ulia linked hands with her husband as they strolled across the ballroom toward Phoebe and Geoffrey. “Wasn't it a lovely wedding? Didn't Phoebe look beautiful?”

“Radiant,” Deverel agreed, smiling down at her. He bent and placed a quick kiss on her forehead. “But not as beautiful as you.”

“Oh, you.” Julia smoothed a hand down the front of her dress. “I feel as big as a house.”

“Nonsense. You hardly show yet. And even when you do, you will still be the most beautiful woman in the room.”

“How fortunate that I am married to a man with vision problems,” Julia joked, but his words warmed her.

They reached the other couple, and Julia stretched out her hands to take Phoebe's. “Phoebe. Cousin Geoffrey. It was the most wonderful wedding.”

“I thought it came off rather well,” Geoffrey said. “Had a bad patch there when I ruined three cravats in a row. I was afraid the whole day would go the same way, but then the next one turned out perfectly. It just goes to show.”

“Doesn't it?” Deverel agreed solemnly.

“Auntie Julia! Uncle Dev!” They were interrupted by Gilbert, who had spotted his aunt and uncle and raced through the crowd to them, followed as usual by his harried nursemaid. He flung himself against Julia, wrapping his arms around her legs, and looked up at her.

“Gilbert, my little love.” Julia bent to kiss him and ruffle his hair.

“Have you seen my new pony?” he asked, shrugging aside the kiss and going straight to more important matters.

“No, I haven't. What's he like?”

“He's a real ‘goer,”' Gilbert announced proudly. “Cousin Geoffrey got him for me.”

“Did he really? Then I am sure he
is
‘a real goer.”'

“I can keep him in London and ride him in the park.”

“That will be fun.”

Gilbert nodded. “Then it won't be so boring there.” He grinned and cast a mischievous look up at Deverel. “But not as much fun as Stonehaven.”

“Good gracious, no,” Stonehaven responded, grinning.

“'Cause we're going fishing.”

“Absolutely.”

“And riding.”

“Of course.”

“And 'sploring in the woods.”

“You may count on it.”

Phoebe laughed. “I can see how much he is going to miss me.” She stooped to plant a kiss on her son's head. “Now go on with Nurse, you scamp. I'll be up to see you in a few minutes.”

As the nursemaid led her charge off, Phoebe turned to Deverel and Julia. “Thank you for taking Gilbert with you while Geoffrey and I are on our honeymoon.”

“It's no trouble,” Julia assured her.

“Speak for yourself,” Deverel laughed. “That rascal will run me ragged.”

Julia chuckled. “And you will love every minute of it. Besides, it will be good practice for you.”

“You're right.” He turned to Phoebe. “I am only joking, of course. We love the boy and are happy to have him.”

“Thank you. I did so hate to leave him with just Nurse and the staff. And he would be unhappy at my sister's house. But I could not imagine hauling him all around Europe on our honeymoon.”

“Good God, no,” Geoffrey agreed, paling at the thought. “It's bad enough traipsing to all those places with just the two of us. Had the devil of a time packing, you know—not sure what one wears in Venice. Actually, I'm not sure what one
does
in Venice, either.”

“Soak up the atmosphere, I believe,” Deverel told him.

“Do you? By Jove! Sounds like a rum sort of place.” Geoffrey looked thoughtful.

Quickly Phoebe changed the subject. “Where is Thomas? I haven't seen him today.”

“Across the room.” Julia gestured toward the opposite corner, where Thomas was in an animated conversation with another young man. “He's enjoyed being back at Farrow this last week and has been getting reacquainted with his friends.”

“He looks well. I mean, he seems happier and more relaxed than I would have dreamed.”

“Being away from Pamela has probably been soothing to his nerves,” Deverel said dryly. “I think it's been good for him to be at Stonehaven since the scandal broke. The gossip about his mother hasn't been as bad there as it would be here in Whitley.”

“No one there would dare offend Stonehaven,” Julia said impishly.

Deverel let out a chuckle. “I had heard it was more fear of the new
Lady
Stonehaven, who is as fierce as a lioness protecting her cub.”

“I see you two still can't agree,” Geoffrey commented. He cocked a brow at Stonehaven. “You'll never win, you know. Known Julia all my life, and I can tell you, it's easier to give in from the start. Saves a lot of time and trouble.”

Deverel's eyes twinkled. “Ah, but I would not have married Julia Armiger if I wanted life easy.” He raised Julia's hand to his lips in a graceful gesture and kissed it. “Isn't that true, my love?”

Julia smiled back. “But of course.”

Phoebe took Julia's hand and pulled her aside. “You truly are happy?” she asked in a soft voice.

“Of course!” Julia responded, surprised. “Can't you see it in my face?”

“Yes.” Phoebe smiled. “I just wanted to be sure. The way you were married…the way you used to feel about Stonehaven…well, I wanted to know for certain. You are still my sister-in-law in my heart, you know.”

“You're terribly sweet.” Julia hugged the other woman. “But you needn't worry.” She turned her glowing gaze on her husband. “I am very happy. Deverel and I have the most fun—whether we're fighting or making up or just laughing ourselves silly over something or other. I always dreamed of it, but I was never sure that I could find a husband whom I could love so much. But I find that every day I love Dev more and more.” She blushed. “Do I sound like an utter fool?”

“No. Like a very happy woman. And I am so pleased.”

“It's exactly what I wish for you, Phoebe.”

“Oh, that is what I have,” Phoebe assured her calmly. “Geoffrey would not do for one such as you, but for me he's perfect.”

“The orchestra's started, my dear,” Geoffrey said, turning toward them. “I believe that we are supposed to lead the dancing.”

“Yes.” Phoebe smiled as he led her onto the dance floor.

Deverel turned and cast an inquiring look at his wife, his hand extended toward her. Julia paused, savoring the sweetness of the moment, then smiled and went to him.

“Penny for your thoughts,” he murmured, brushing his lips against her hair.

“Oh, no. They're worth much, much more than that.”

“That good, eh?”

“Good enough for a lifetime.” Julia smiled and leaned against him as his arm went around her tightly.