The Masked Heart (Sweet Deception Regency #2) (26 page)

"I gather there's been some disaster," he said.

"It's all my fault!" Fleur wailed.

"Stop that bleatin', girl," Sarge snapped before anyone could say a word.

Instantly, Fleur stopped her crying, sniffling into a soggy handkerchief Robbie must have given her. Drew was much impressed and saluted the enormous bodyguard before he turned back to his brother.

"I just got here myself, Drew, but, as near as I can figure it, Val, Jamie Wildebrand and Lady Yates are missing," Robbie blurted out.

"All of them?" Drew asked in amazement. "Where did they go?"

"The lads was with me, your lordship," Sarge ground out. "I had taken Val and his friend Jamie out for the day. We were on our way to the docks. To see the ships."

"How long were you there before the boys disappeared?"

"We never arrived." Sarge's brows met over his nose in a line of thunder. "We had just started off and the traffic was heavy. The boys was ridin' up top with me. All of a sudden Val shrieks that he feels mortal sick. Then Jamie says he'll help the lad back to the house since there's not enough room to turn around. Afore I can make a move, the little bleeders are off, racing back toward 'ome."

"They weren't here when you got back," Drew finished, before the man could spit out the words. "It sounds to me like it was planned. Did the boys mention anything like a fair or a cockfight?"

"All they talked about was the ships." Besides being worried about the boys, Sarge was clearly furious that he had been so easily tricked.

"It would seem to me that the boys are clearly off on a lark. There is little we can do, without at least some idea of where they have gone," Drew concluded.

"Should we alert Jamie's father?" Robbie asked.

"We will hold for the moment. Val is a responsible child and I cannot believe he is unaware of the upset he is causing. I would hope the boys would return shortly with a very good explanation for their conduct. And it better be good," he said grimly. "Now then. Where did Lady Yates go?"

In the midst of the silence, Drew's eyes roamed the room, settling at last on the figure pressed to his brother's chest. There was a stillness to the blond girl that did not fool him.

"Sit up, Fleur." Drew's voice indicated he would brook no nonsense. When she complied, her violet eyes began to overflow and he fought back the desire to shake her. "Stop that immediately and tell me where Lady Yates went."

"To the park," she whispered.

"What?" Drew shouted, expecting anything but that.

"I say, Drew, there's no need to shout at the girl," Robbie said as Fleur cowered in the circle of his arm.

"There is every reason to shout at her. They are all playing a May game." Drew waved his hand at the still figures of the servants, hovering behind the sofa. He fought down his temper and leaned toward his brother, his voice calmer. "Listen to me, Robbie. It is time that you knew at least some of the truth. There is no Aunt Haydie. She doesn't exist. The woman you know as Lady Yates is Fleur's sister, Blaine."

"Devil, you say!" Robbie leaped as though he'd been stung, his face set in denial. At the low moan issuing from the blond girl at his side, his eyes widened in confusion. "Fleur, is this true?"

The girl continued to moan and finally even Robbie lost patience with her. "Look at me this instant, Fleur Meriweather!"

The note of sharp authority, brought her head up. It was amazing that despite her tears the girl still was lovely. Her eyes shone like violets after a rain and there were rosy spots of color high on her cheeks. Robbie swallowed convulsively but continued to command her attention.

"Is Lady Yates your sister?" he asked.

"Yes," was the whispery reply.

"Why was she pretending to be your aunt?"

"For the moment it does not matter, Robbie," Drew said impatiently. "I am sure, later on, Fleur will be delighted to fill you in on the details. What is of immediate concern is the whereabouts of Lady Yates. Or Blaine. Whichever you prefer." Drew held Fleur's eye as he asked, "Where is Blaine?"

Now that the terrible secret was out it appeared that Fleur was prepared to cooperate. She seemed to think she had no more to lose. Drew had seen the agonized glance she had given Robbie but he suspected she had little to worry about on that head. Despite the shock of the news, his brother was as much under her spell as he had ever been.

"There was a note," Fleur began. "It said that he was going to tell everyone in London about Blaine. He said we would all be ruined unless I met him. Even though I was frightened, I would have gone, but Blaine said I mustn't. She would go in my place and meet Lord Stoddard."

"Damn!"

Drew jumped to his feet, glaring furiously around the room. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the uneasy glances between Tate, Frau Puffentraub and Sarge. He started to speak but was checked by a slight shake of the little dresser's head. Unconsciously his eyes dropped to Fleur's youthful face.

It was obvious that Fleur did not know of her sister's life as an actress. Blaine had sacrificed much to protect her sister and brother and to keep this intelligence from them. Since she had chosen not to tell them, could he break her confidence. He understood that Stoddard's letter referred to La Solitaire not Lady Yates and he suspected that Blaine was in grave danger. He fought to control his impatience. He wanted to dash out of the house to her rescue but he couldn't until he got all the information.

"Robbie," Drew said. "I want you to take Fleur into the music room. It is quiet in there and she will have a chance to recover from all the upset. She can tell you all about Lady Yates while I remain here to discover what has become of her missing relatives. Not to mention the abominable Jamie."

Despite the lightness of his tone, Robbie stared at him sharply. He suspected there was more to this business than he was aware of and he disliked the fact his brother was obviously trying to get him out of the room. If the idea of soothing Fleur hadn't appealed to him, he might have put up more of a battle. As it was, the chance to be alone with his love and his curiosity over the impersonation of Lady Yates won out. He helped the girl to her feet and, with his arm around her, left the room. There was silence after the door closed, and Drew met the hostile stares of the three servants without flinching.

"I know Blaine is La Solitaire," he said and the tension in the room eased.

"He took her, Lord Farrington," Sarge said. "She went dressed up as Lady Yates and he took her anyway. When she didn't come back, I went to the park. There were no sign of her at the spot where they met. There was holes from her walking stick leadin' off into the brush and the wheel marks of a carriage. It were beside the path, what I found this."

Grimly, Drew reached out to take the reticule. He remembered seeing Blaine with it several times when he had escorted her in her role of Lady Yates. His fingers stroked the jet beads and they were cold to the touch. "Where was it?" he asked hoarsely.

"Underneath the hedge beside the bench where she met Stoddard. The strings ain't broke. Looks like she throwed it there."

"Good girl." He grinned at Sarge and there was an answering twinkle in the otherwise glum face. They both knew that it was a fair indication that although Blaine might be frightened, she was still thinking. Drew was filled with a wave of warmth for his brave lady. Then he returned to the business at hand. "Did you go to Stoddard's?"

"He were gone." Sarge's mouth hardened. "He took his carriage afore noon. There was two thugs on the box according to one of the grooms. Stoddard's expected back tonight."

Every muscle in Drew's body tightened at the realization of the danger Blaine was in. He was only slightly heartened that she was dressed as Lady Yates. It would give her some protection unless her impersonation was detected. One false note and she would give the game away. What would Stoddard do when he discovered that he had the woman he was obsessed with right in his hands? Drew knew and the thought terrified him.

Blaine had fought so hard and suffered enough lonely years that he would spare her if he could this final indignity. It would make no difference in his feelings for her. He loved her for herself, for the character he knew she possessed. If the worst happened, she would be devastated. Drew vowed he would spend the rest of his life making her happy again.

To do that, he had to find her and he hadn't a clue where to look. His grim thoughts were interrupted by a commotion in the hallway and the sound of a boy's high-pitched voice. Drew threw open the doors and strode into the foyer.

"Jamie!" he cried as he glanced at the disheveled boy.

"Lord Farrington. Goodo!" Jamie grinned and the flash of teeth was all the brighter for the streaks of dirt that lined his face.

"In here, lad." Without a word, he whisked the boy into the parlor and closed the doors once more. "Before I call you to book, where's Val?"

"He's still following the bloke that nabbed his old auntie." Jamie grinned again at the thunderstruck expression on Lord Farrington's face. He had never thought to hand the man such a facer and was thoroughly proud of himself.

"Spill it, Jamie."

"It was Val's idea, but I did help him out," he admitted as he sat before the spellbound audience. He avoided Sarge's eye, embarrassed that he had tricked the man. Focusing his eyes on Lord Farrington's face, he began. "Val wouldn't tell me much because he had sworn a blood oath and he would die a most grievous death if he broke his word. He did say as how his aunt was meeting a sly boots in the park and he was right worried about her. So we thought it would be good experience to be right on her trail. We're planning to join the Bow Street Runners, you know."

"I am sure they will be delighted that you will be expanding their ranks," Drew said drily. He was relaxed for the first time since he had entered the house. If his suspicions were correct, they would soon have the solution to Blaine's whereabouts. He smiled fondly at the filthy child, who was looking uneasy at the tone of his voice. "Go on, lad."

"We got there early so we might get an idea of the set up. Val had copped a peek at some letter with directions so we knew where to go. I found a smashing climbing tree. We skinned up it and waited and sure enough along comes this bloke and, believe it or not, Lord Farrington, the man leaned right up against our tree."

"Good God!" By his triumphant smile, Drew knew that Jamie had little conception of the danger they had been in. He hoped Val was more perceptive.

"Along comes Val's aunt. There was a lot of flapping back and forth and I can tell that the old lady's not best pleased. I didn't 'azactly' understand all that was said and when I look up at Val he's just as confused as me. There was a lot of talk about cards. The man wanted some card game and the old lady wouldn't give it to him."

"Solitaire?"

"Righto, guv!" Jamie congratulated Drew for his guess. "Well, sir, they nattered awhile and then the fancy dress bloke whistles up two real mean types and they haul off the old lady. Val wanted to jump down right away but I couldn't see any sense in it. We waited a few minutes and then as soon as we could, we lit into the bushes. They were just stowing Val's aunt in the carriage."

"Did all three of them go with the carriage?"

"Yes, sir. The two bruisers on top and the fancy Dan inside."

At a growl from behind, Drew glanced back at Sarge who was gripping the back of a chair with both hands. He had been so caught up in the boy's story that he had quite forgotten that he was not alone. Tate's usual expression of disapproval was replaced one of unvarnished fear and Frau Puffentraub sat on a chair, her face pinched and white. Drew turned back to the child, anxious to hear the end of the story.

"When the rascals moved forward to talk, Val crept along the ground to the boot. I followed him, of course. We climbed in all right and tight just before the carriage took off. I can tell you, Lord Farrington, I'm never letting Momma put my turtles in the boot. It's a very nasty ride."

Drew hid a smile behind his hand at the disgust in Master Wildebrand's voice and marveled at the bravery of the boys.

"We bounced and jounced for ever such a long time until I felt like I had a touch of the quinsy. Then all of a sudden the ride seemed to smooth out, even though the horses were going a fair clip. Val could see a bit of the road and he told me we were going out of London. He told me as how I would have to get out so that I could tell someone where he had gone."

Here the boy's voice broke and there was a suggestion of dampness to his eyes. Drew leaned forward and clamped a comforting hand on the small shoulder.

"The ground was moving frightfully fast and I knew it wasn't going to be a great comfort when I smacked up on the flat. To my shame, sir, I didn't want to jump."

"Ah, Jamie. You would have been stupid to want to jump. War heroes know the danger but still do what they have to do," Drew said, as he squeezed the scrawny shoulder. He ruffled the boy's hair. "I think you've shown great courage all the way. And so I will tell your father."

"Wizard, sir!" An enormous smile erased the doleful expression and he wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve, distributing the dirt into a more uniform design.

"The proof of your courage is that obviously you did jump," Drew said.

"Well, more or less. Val called me some names and then gave me my instructions. When he threatened to shove me out, I decided it was time for my move. We waited until we clattered into some woods and then I rolled out of the boot."

"Bravo, lad," Sarge interjected much to everyone's surprise.

Jamie winked at the giant before he took up the tale. "I was rather winded at first. My ears were ringing something fierce but all in all I was in good shape. Val had told me to lie perfectly still until the carriage was out of sight. In actual fact, sir, I couldn't have moved at all. After I cast up my accounts, I walked as fast as I could until I finally was able to hitch up with a carter who was going to London. And here I am."

The low-key triumph at the end of the boy's tale was more touching than a shout of joy. Drew could well imagine what the child had been through, more from what was left unsaid than what he had mentioned. Beneath the dirt, there was a gray pallor to the boy's face that indicated his exhaustion.