The Ghost Who Loved Me (27 page)

Annie snatched up the piece of paper and eyed her suspiciously. “That’s all you want from me? Just like that? I don’t believe you!”

“Unlike you, I’m not in the habit of lying to people,” Elizabeth pointed out sharply.

Annie had the grace to flush. “And I’m free to go?”

Simon handed her a writing instrument and an inkwell. “Just like that. And if word of any of this ever comes to light, Lady Westerleigh has the means to have you all arrested. Consider it some assurance for her that you keep your word in the future.” 

Annie regarded them both with considerably less bluster. She dipped the quill into the inkwell. “Do I include what Simon was doing as well?”

Elizabeth smiled coolly. “Write all of it down. Leave nothing out. I want the names of all the others you tricked as well. Simon said we were not the first people you all have done this to.”

Annie wrote all down under their watchful gazes and slid the paper across the desk. Simon picked it up and read it, nodding before handing it to Elizabeth. He eyed Annie in warning.

“You would do well to collect Wesley from whatever rock he hides under and leave the city, Annie. If I learn you are at this again, all I have to do is make sure the authorities learn of this.”

“Wouldn’t you go to prison with us?” Annie’s look of gloating was short-lived.

Simon shrugged and smiled coldly. “Actually, I think they would be far more lenient with me than the rest of you. It’s the risk I must take to make sure you trouble Edward and Elizabeth no more. So be it.”

Annie left quickly. Elizabeth stared down at the document, her hand shaking in anger to read of how she and Edward were played for fools. It was not an easy read, knowing every move had been coldly orchestrated against her and her husband for years.

“Do you think we have seen the last of her?”

Simon nodded. “She and Wesley don’t want to go to prison. If I know them, they’ll take what they got for your jewels and be on their way. Now, do we finish it?”

Elizabeth set the document aside and nodded. “I hope this works. I don’t have any more tricks up my sleeve.”

Simon grinned and shook his head. “You have many, my dear. Well-played, Elizabeth. This will work.”

~ ~ ~

Anthony was speaking with the many guests at his and Jane’s engagement party. A footman approached and whispered in his ear. He frowned and excused himself, smiling at Jane and her mother who stood with a circle of ladies at the party.

Augustus was regarding him warily from across the room. By his guarded expression, Anthony could see he was far from festive as he stood speaking with several gentlemen.

While the man was pleased he and Jane were engaged, Augustus wasn’t happy at the speed in which it was all happening, suspecting more to the tale than love at first sight as both claimed.

Anthony stepped out of the ballroom and went to his mother’s formal salon, drawing up short to see Elizabeth sitting there waiting for him. Another woman was in the room with her back to him at the window.

“Elizabeth, this is quite a surprise,” Anthony said with a slight stammer in his voice after he got over the shock of seeing her. “I didn’t know you were in London.”

“I decided to come to the city and get away for a time,” Elizabeth responded tightly, her eyes narrowed to slits. “I believe you already know Mrs. Forrester?” The older attractive woman at the window turned and regarded Anthony coolly, her lips tightening in displeasure to see him again. “I believe I met you both at the same time. You were in her company, nearly a year ago at Lady Gephardt’s musicale. It’s quite strange how one forgets certain details, but it all comes back to them in an instant.”

Anthony frowned, his eyes narrowing. “What is it that you want? And why did you bring her here?”

“She had the misfortune to have the same problem as I do, Anthony. The very minute she began seeing you, she began having to pay to keep your association hidden,” Elizabeth explained patiently and stood up, her face filled with disgust. “You nearly bankrupted her before the death of her husband. You do recall that, don’t you? Only you didn’t do it yourself, did you? You had Wesley Renstadt do all of your dirty work for you.”

“This is ridiculous! I’ve done nothing of the sort! Your pettiness and jealousy over my upcoming marriage is truly appalling, Elizabeth. I’d ask you both to leave now or I’ll be forced to have you removed.”

Elizabeth enjoyed seeing him squirm. “Annie signed a confession of all your parts in this, Anthony. She told me everything. She was wise enough to know her and Wesley would wind up in prison while you marry your rich heiress and leave for America.”

“I don’t even know such a man!” Anthony glared at her, his green eyes filling with sudden panic.

“Don’t you?” Elizabeth laughed lightly, her blue eyes shooting sparks of anger. “You set Mr. Renstadt up to work for Edward years ago. When he failed to get anywhere with him, you learned of Simon through him. You then used Wesley to get to my maid. That is where it began. Mrs. Forrester can recall an identical experience with her own servant. She can also identify Mr. Renstadt as the one who picked up the money each week. Mr. Renstadt is being sought for questioning by the authorities for another matter. He recently fenced my jewels that I just reacquired. What a dilemma for you if Wesley is found, Anthony. When he learns Annie confessed why would he remain loyal to you?”

“What do you want?” All attempt to deny what he did was absent from his cold expression. “You can prove nothing, Elizabeth.”

“Perhaps, but I have Annie’s word she and Wesley and Simon were all working for you. It won’t be long before Wesley is found by the men I hired,” Elizabeth said harshly. “What I want is for you to return Mrs. Forrester’s money before you leave England. You are to never return to London or I shall have you arrested. You can marry Miss Fennimore as you planned. We need only put this unpleasantness behind us. If not, your fiancée will receive a tremendous gift from me today. I will tell her how you made your fortune. I’m sure the authorities will also be interested.”

“You have nothing but some maid’s word for this and her opportunist lover?” Anthony asked caustically and rolled his eyes. “You wouldn’t want society to know all of you and Edward’s dirty little secrets. I know you quite well, don’t I? You won’t expose me. We both know it. A pity, you should have gone through with the divorce and married me. But you couldn’t bear what people would say, could you?”

“I thought you might say that,” Elizabeth replied brightly and looked behind him, gesturing to the man standing in the doorway. “I believe you know this man, do you not?”

Anthony spun around and stared in shock, his face paling slightly as the man strode forward, grinning widely.

Simon smiled in relish to see his composure slip. “I’m very much among the living as you can see, Anthony. Wesley had poor aim. I’m prepared to confess my part in this just to put an end to it. If I go to prison, so be it. You go away far longer. You were the one who masterminded it all. How many people have we done this to now? I lost count five years ago when it all started. No matter, the authorities will listen to what I have to say.”

Anthony seemed to have lost his tongue. Augustus Fennimore walked into the salon at that moment, his daughter fast on his heels. They both came forward, looking at the three other occupants in the room questioningly.

“It’s time to open the wedding gifts, Anthony,” Jane said with a bright smile, looking at the people in the room with a slight frown on her pretty face. “Who are all of these people, my darling?”

“They came to render their felicitations on our upcoming marriage, my dear,” Anthony informed her with a forced smile. “They can’t stay to join the festivities, unfortunately.” Anthony eyed Mrs. Forrester meaningfully. “I have business with Mrs. Forrester on the morrow. She is one of my investors.”

“Investors?” Augustus looked at the woman and back to Anthony, a confused frown upon his face. “I thought the investments were all your own.”

Anthony was quick upon his feet, seeing the suspicion forming in the man’s face. “Mrs. Forrester only lost her husband recently. She asked that I invest her monies for her as well.”

Mrs. Forrester smiled smugly, her eyes filled with satisfaction. “Yes, and Anthony did such a fine job at it. I’m very pleased with my high returns.”

Elizabeth wanted to laugh outright as Anthony promised to see Mrs. Forrester the very next day. He bade them farewell and ushered his future father-in-law and Jane out of the salon.

Simon grinned as he escorted the ladies from the Wakefield’s home, seeing Mrs. Forrester to her coach first.

“You amaze me, Elizabeth,” Simon said when he joined her in their coach, shaking his head. “You should seriously consider gambling as a career. For what you did in there was nothing next to bluster at its very finest. We could make a fortune at the tables.”

“Anthony doesn’t know we never found Wesley. I imagine he and Annie left town by now. It was just fortunate I knew about Mrs. Forrester,” Elizabeth explained quietly. “She seemed so pleasant when I first met her. Many months later, she was quite cool towards both Anthony and I when we ran into her at the opera. It was only a feeling I had that he did this to her.”

Simon waved at Mrs. Forrester as her coach moved away from the curb. “Do you think he will make good on giving her back all of her money?”

Elizabeth nodded and grinned delightedly. “Anthony has no choice but to pay her back. He’s worn out his welcome. It was the reason he latched onto Miss Fennimore when I refused him. Mrs. Forrester suspected him from the start. She feared for her husband to find out. I can only assume the other women he’s done this to put all together. He has little choice but to marry Miss Fennimore, only with considerably lighter pockets.”

“If I were a betting man, I’d say Augustus Fennimore will know very soon what he’s getting for a son-in-law,” Simon said with a pleased smirk.

Elizabeth eyed her cunning companion with a knowing smile. “What have you done now?”

Simon chuckled and winked down at her. “I forged a copy of Annie’s confession and mailed it on to America. Augustus Fennimore will get it when they return to Boston. He won’t be too happy but he has the means to control Anthony for the rest of his life.”

Elizabeth laughed under her breath. “You missed your own calling on being a positively brilliant blackmail negotiator, Simon. I need never worry now that Anthony will ever come back here again. He will be too busy currying favor with his father-in-law for the rest of his days.”

Simon preened under her compliment. “A life on the stage prepares you for such moments. Will you not miss me when you return to Westerleigh?”

“Dreadfully, but it is my home,” Elizabeth said with a smile of gratitude. “I don’t know how to thank you, Simon. If not for you, I might not have gotten through this.”

“I can think of something you can do to show your gratitude,” Simon offered and grinned. “Be at the opening of my first play when I return to the stage next year.”

Elizabeth nodded with a smile. “Send me word of it. I won’t miss it for the world.”

It was late August that following year when Elizabeth received word from Simon in London that the last estates sold for a greater profit than anticipated. It pleased her immensely. She felt tremendous relief to know Westerleigh was no longer in jeopardy.

Simon moved back into his rooms in the city. He returned to the theatre. She insisted upon deeding him the place. She gave him a bit of money to get him started. He had a purpose in his life once more since Edward’s death in late January. Simon was good for his word. He never left Edward’s side until he breathed his very last breath.

And she, good for hers, travelled to London in March to see him star in his first play since returning to the stage. It was likely the worst rendition of Macbeth she ever saw, but Lady Westerleigh’s rousing applause was duly noted by many reviewers at the Gazette that night. Simon was now quite sought after.

William and Lavinia were full of empty threats when it came to challenging Edward’s father’s will. They backed off with their intention to fight her in court when they learned she was expecting a child. It squashed any hope of them inheriting Edward’s title. Now they hovered like spiders, waiting to learn if she bore a male heir.

Elizabeth was sitting in the solar that day, sewing a tiny garment for her baby, shaking her head in disgust at how large she was getting. She tired easily these days, her hand in the small of her aching back more often than not, grumbling under her breath at how tedious it was waiting for a child to be born.

Sadness filled her heart to go through this alone. Her sewing was forgotten as she looked out the tower window, thinking of James again. Every now and then she dwelled upon such melancholy thoughts.

She jumped suddenly to feel a cold tingling at the nape of her neck. She shivered and became startled as she stood and looked around for some sign of him. She wondered if it was James seeking to comfort her.

“Is it you?” She looked about wildly, hope filling her eyes. “James, are you here still? If you’re here, my love, show me some sign.”

Elizabeth sobbed and hung her head after several moments and nothing happened. She would never see another sign of him at Westerleigh again after that day. She felt his absence everywhere she looked now. 

James was truly free, and for that she rejoiced.

That night, close to the hour of midnight, her water broke. She woke to call for her new maid who slept in her sitting room as her time grew near. The castle flew into an uproar.

Mr. Pettigrew started the drills for the birth of her child months ago. Everyone had his or her task to perform. He pushed them mercilessly when everyone awoke and ran about in their nightclothes to make all ready.

At exactly dawn that morning, the fourth Duke of Westerleigh, James Robert Simon Carlisle was born, his loud lusty cries echoing from upstairs. The servants were all misty-eyed as the doctor came down to the hall and announced mother and son were healthy and doing well. The servants cheered and there was much merrymaking before they all sought their beds.

The servants were all given the day off to seek their lost sleep from the night before. Elizabeth stared down at her son, marveling at his thick midnight dark hair, already knowing his baby blue eyes would eventually turn as light as quicksilver. She counted every finger and toe, marveling at his utter perfection.

James would be very pleased indeed.