That Infamous Pearl (23 page)

Rowena decided she
couldn't take his sarcasm for another minute. This coldness where she used to
find warmth was more distressing to her than she had thought possible. She
gathered up her letters and stood up.

"May I go?"
she asked.

Alaric looked
surprised. "You are totally in control of your own actions, Rowena. Have I
indicated that you must ask me for permission to move about?"

Rowena shook her
head.

"Do not try to
paint me as an ogre, my dear. I am the wronged party, not you." Alaric's
gaze hardened as he watched her. How could someone so soft, so tender, so
seemingly generous, betray him in such a manner, he wondered. It seemed
impossible that such beauty hid so devious a heart.

"I told you the
truth yesterday," Rowena burst out, despite a feeling of hopelessness. She
knew that Alaric would not listen to her.

"It is useless
to belabor the point. Please, do as you wish today." Alaric turned back to
his breakfast and did not look up when Rowena ran from the room, her letters
clutched in her hand. But after she had gone he pushed his plate aside and
gripped the edge of the table with taut fingers. It had been almost impossibly
difficult to face her. He had wanted simultaneously to seize her by the
shoulders and shake her furiously and to snatch her up into his arms and make
love to her. But he would not lose control. She would never know how close she
had come to making a complete fool of him.

Rowena looked down
the Queen's Walk anxiously, wondering where Malcolm might be. Green Park, which
was not a fashionable gathering place and therefore relatively unknown to
Rowena, stretched before her, but she could not bring herself to concentrate on
its bucolic beauty. She felt as though if her brother did not appear in a
moment she would scream. Lack of sleep and anxiety had stretched her nerves to
the breaking point. She had to tell her brother that it was necessary to mend
her marriage before she could help him any further. Perhaps he might be
convinced to return to the Continent until she could find the true killer. She
couldn't imagine living with Alaric, trying to repair the damage she had done,
while knowing that Malcolm might be arrested at any moment.

She stepped back
towards the shrubbery when she heard the clatter of horse's hooves. It was
important that no one see her and perhaps mention to Alaric that she had been
seen unattended in Green Park. It had been difficult enough for her to convince
Lawson to return home from their shopping trip without her and to find a
hackney to convey her here. If anything went awry, her situation would only
become worse.

There was a sudden
commotion in the bushes behind her, and Malcolm stepped out, a jaunty grin on
his face. He was dressed in sober black and wore a brown wig over his hair. Rowena
had to smile when he swept her a courtly bow completely at odds with his
costume.

"I seem to have
quite a knack for this sort of thing," he said cheerfully. "Perhaps
when this matter is cleared up I will become a spy for the government."

"I thought you
simply wanted to become Lord Wroxton," teased Rowena.

"It might be
rather dull after the exciting life I've led. Just think of it, Rowena. I could
be a gentleman spy. It sounds like quite the life, doesn't it?"

Rowena shook her head
at his irrepressible enthusiasm. She could tell that it was his high spirits
and volatile nature that both made him so charming and caused him so much
trouble.

"Perhaps you
would enjoy it. But I cannot abide this skulking about. Malcolm, you must tell
me where I can reach you. You aren't staying with Lady Bingham, are you?"

"Lord, no."
Malcolm shrugged. "She may have brought me here, but she won't risk her
neck by keeping me in her house. I've got a room at the White Swan. It's not a
nice part of London, but I'm used to that. You can reach me there."

"You will
probably be glad to settle down and become a sober peer, managing your rolling
estates," said Rowena thoughtfully. "I would think you've had enough
of excitement in your life."

Malcolm shuddered. "Never.
I won't be like father, holing up in Yorkshire all year 'round. I need gaiety
and fun. And I'll have enough of it soon. You found the pearl, didn't you?"

Rowena bit her lip. She
had been wondering ever since she arrived how much she should tell Malcolm
about what had happened. She had no desire to further inflame his anger towards
Alaric, but it was imperative that he understand he must not interfere.

"No, I didn't,"
she said. "The pearl wasn't in the safe."

"Are you sure? Perhaps
you didn't search thoroughly enough. Did you look in every box and corner?"
Malcolm appeared to be quite agitated.

Rowena nodded her
head firmly. "I looked everywhere. I promise you, Malcolm, Alaric does not
have it in his possession."

"Damn it!" Malcolm's
expression changed from one of anxiety to sheer rage. He swung his arm as
though he wished to punch something. "The bastard must have learned what
we were up to. He knew you would be looking for it. He hid it somewhere else. I
should have known he'd be a step or two ahead of me."

Rowena seized his arm
and pulled on it, trying to calm him down. "Malcolm, you mustn't get
upset. Remember, you promised me that you would believe that Alaric was not the
murderer if the Pearl of Sirsi was not in that safe. You can't imagine that he
has it somewhere else, when it is so clearly where he keeps all his most
valuable items."

Malcolm stared down
at her, his eyes full of pain. "I cannot believe that he had no knowledge
of this. I know the man; he's in league with the devil. He must have somehow
found out about our plans."

Rowena looked away. Alaric
had known that she would search the safe because Lady Bingham had told him. But
if she told Malcolm that he would be sure that Alaric had removed the pearl. She
had to somehow convince him to believe her, and to leave the country for now.

"Malcolm, you
must let go of this wild notion of yours. Alaric does not have the pearl. Another
person plotted to cast the blame for this crime on you both, because he or she
craved the pearl. You must not blame my husband any longer. He is as much a
victim of circumstance as you are." Rowena gripped Malcolm's arm as she
spoke, willing him to believe her.

Malcolm shook his
head. "It cannot be. This was my last chance, Rowena. If Brayleigh does
not have the pearl, there is no hope for me." His voice trailed off.

"Nonsense,"
answered Rowena, trying her best to sound certain. "Just because Alaric is
not guilty doesn't mean we cannot find out who is. It will just take some time
and effort. I will be glad to help you, but you must promise me you will stop
pursuing Alaric."

Malcolm stared at the
ground. "I was so certain it would be in the safe. Do you think he might
have hidden it somewhere else?"

"No, I don't,"
snapped Rowena. "Really, Malcolm, you are impossible to talk to. Alaric is
innocent, and you must accept that."

Her brother looked
up, and Rowena could see that his face was very pale. "But I have believed
that for twelve years. How could it be anyone else?"

"Many people
also believe you are guilty, but that does not make it so. I am losing all
patience with you. Malcolm, you must promise me that you will leave England
until I can begin to unravel this mystery. I swear I will contact you as soon
as I have information that can help you."

Malcolm looked at her
thoughtfully. "You really believe Brayleigh is innocent, don't you?"

"Of course I do.
He is very kind, Malcolm. He would no more be capable of doing such a thing
than you are."

"Perhaps he has
simply seduced you with his charms. He always was a ladies' man. He could wrap
them around his little finger."

"I am not
infatuated, Malcolm. I see quite clearly what is going on around me. Please,
you must promise that you will do as I ask."

"I can't go back
to the Continent, Rowena. I don't ever want to leave England again. I belong
here." The spirit seemed to have drained out of Malcolm, and Rowena was
torn to see him looking so wounded.

"It is only for
a little time. I promise I will write to you and tell you what is happening. I
don't want to lose you again."

Malcolm put an arm
around her shoulders and drew her to him, hugging her close. "Perhaps you
are right," he murmured. "Perhaps I have wasted twelve years blaming
the wrong man."

Rowena felt a great
surge of relief roll through her. She would be able to convince him that she
was right. Then she could restore her relationship with Alaric and begin an
investigation into what had really happened. In time, everything would be all right.

"What a pretty
picture." The words cut across Rowena's pleasure, and she gave a gasp when
Malcolm let go of her and swung around. Alaric was standing only a few feet
from them, his green eyes filled with anger.

Malcolm bit out an
oath at the sudden appearance of his old enemy, and Rowena took a hasty step to
stand between the two men.

"What are you
doing here, Brayleigh?" demanded Malcolm.

"I believe I
should be asking that question of you, Arlingby," said Alaric. "You
are the one wanted by the law."

"Because of you,"
spat out Malcolm. "You and your greed and spite. You ruined me, damn you."

"You ruined
yourself." Alaric's voice was harsh. "Don't blame me for your
stupidity." He reached out and grasped Rowena's arm, pulling her towards
him. "But I do not care what you think. I came only for my wife."

"Why are you
here, Alaric?" asked Rowena hurriedly. She must find a way to get rid of
him. Malcolm was so close to acceding to her wishes.

"I followed you,
my dear. Did you think you had fooled me this morning? It was obvious that
missive was from your prodigal brother." Alaric gave her a scornful
glance. "You are not a very talented conspirator."

"I have not
conspired," protested Rowena.

"Yesterday I
find you searching my safe, and today I find you meeting your brother, despite
my express orders forbidding you to do so. That looks like conspiracy to me."

"He discovered
you searching the safe? You didn't tell me that," said Malcolm. "Are
you all right? Did he hit you?"

"Of course not--"
began Rowena, but Alaric's voice cut across hers, heavy with anger.

"I would never
hit a woman, even one who treated me as your sister has. I was taken in by your
plot, Arlingby, but you will get no satisfaction from it. You can't cast me as
a murderer. I don't have the pearl."

"Why didn't you
tell me of this?" demanded Malcolm. He seized Rowena's other arm and shook
her slightly.

"Because I knew
you'd act like a fool," she said sharply. "Exactly as you are now. And
you are no exception, my lord," she snapped, turning on Alaric. "It
was unnecessary that you follow me. I can handle this on my own."

"I will not
allow my wife to conspire against me," said Alaric. "You married me,
and although you did that only in an attempt to destroy me, you are still my
wife. You will behave properly."

"What is he
talking about?" asked Malcolm.

"He thinks we
have been plotting for many years to destroy him," said Rowena wearily. "He
is convinced I married him so I could prove him to be the murderer."

Malcolm looked
stunned. "What a marvelous idea. I wonder why I didn't think of it?"

Rowena made an
exasperated sound as Alaric jerked her out of Malcolm's grasp.

"Don't
dissemble, Arlingby," snapped Alaric. "Your plot has been revealed to
me. I did not believe Rowena would stoop to such a level, but when I found her
searching my safe, I knew it was the truth. But it shall go no farther than
this."

A look of dawning
enlightenment covered Malcolm's face. "So you didn't discover her
accidentally. Someone told you that she would be there."

Alaric snorted. "Your
friend, Lady Bingham, was kind enough to inform me. You should choose your
friends better. I could not believe my wife would do such a thing, but I soon
found out she was truly your sister and capable of any crime."

"So he did have
time to remove the pearl!" A look of triumph came over Malcolm's face. "You
see Rowena, he does have it. He simply moved it somewhere else. I knew I could
not be mistaken."

Rowena wanted to fall
into strong hysterics as she saw all her plans collapse around her. She had
come so close to achieving her goal, and now everything was ruined. Alaric and
Malcolm were equally convinced the other was a criminal, and there was now no
chance she would be able to get them to work together.

"Be quiet,
Malcolm. You aren't helping."

"Damn it, I won't
have him bullying you."

"He's not
bullying me," answered Rowena. She looked at Alaric, and the frozen glare
in his eyes made her heart sink further.

"Come with me
now, Rowena. I'll take care of you. We'll think of a way to clear my name."
Malcolm pulled her towards him, and Alaric promptly tightened his grip on her
other arm.

"Let go of me!"
said Rowena, her voice rising. "Both of you!" she continued, when
they glared at one another accusingly. The men released her arms and she turned
towards Malcolm, determined to mend the damage caused by Alaric's appearance.

"Please Malcolm,
be sensible. A few minutes ago you were willing to accept the fact that Alaric
is innocent. What has happened since then?"

"First, he crept
up on us like some sort of spy," said Malcolm fiercely. "What
business does he have following you about? Arlingbys are trustworthy."

"I found your
sister searching my personal safe in an attempt to prove me to be a murderer."
Alaric's voice was heavy with sarcasm. "Hardly the act of a trustworthy
person."

"And,"
continued Malcolm, as though Alaric had not spoken, "I found out that
Marguerite had been meddling and told him of our plan. So that makes your
search null and void. The pearl has simply been moved."

"Now, you see
what you have done?" demanded Rowena, turning on Alaric. "I had
everything under control until you ruined it all. Now I don't know how I will
ever reconcile the two of you."

Alaric raised an
eyebrow. "You planned to reconcile the two of us? What a charming scheme,
Rowena. But impractical, considering I would as soon rot in hell as trust an
Arlingby. And now, my wife, you are returning home with me."