The Mysterious Lord Marlowe (19 page)

‘I want it, too,’ she said, her lips parting on a sigh. ‘Everyone is in bed. We are alone…’

George gave a husky laugh. ‘You have no idea how you tempt me, my darling. Yet I shall not anticipate our wedding. You are innocent and lovely and you would give generously, but I am determined that everything must be perfect for us.’ He stroked her cheek, then kissed her once more. ‘Go up now, dearest. I shall stay and have a brandy before I seek my own bed.’

‘I love you,’ Jane said and smiled. ‘I am so glad you are here now. Everyone has been asking for you.’

She left him and went back into the hall and up the stairs. Her godmother looked out as she passed the door of her bedchamber.

‘Lord George has arrived safe and sound?’

‘Yes, Godmother. He is here.’

‘I was certain he would be,’ Lady Mary said. ‘You will sleep soundly now, my love.’

‘Yes, I shall,’ Jane agreed and smiled.

She would not worry her godmother, though she was certain that Blake had not given up his quest for revenge.

Alone in the parlour, George sipped his brandy as he sat by the dying embers of the fire. The attempt on his life meant that he would have to be on his guard the whole time. An attack was unlikely to take place in Bath in daylight, but at night, on the road to Jane’s home—or on the day of the wedding—he would have to double the men protecting them all.

* * *

The next morning George accompanied the ladies to the Pump Room to meet and be congratulated by all their friends. After seeing Lady Mary comfortably settled amongst ladies of her own circle, he and Jane went walking together through the streets of Bath. Jane bought an impressive intaglio cameo brooch set in gold for her godmother and George insisted on purchasing a pretty turquoise-and-pearl, heart-shaped pendant on a fine gold chain for Jane.

‘You will spoil me,’ Jane said. ‘I did not bring you here to buy me a present.’

‘Would you spoil my pleasure?’ he asked, a teasing look in his eyes. ‘Am I wedding a scold?’

Jane laughed. ‘It is true that you hardly know me, but I promise I shall not scold you—at least not often.’

George laughed out loud. ‘Please do not make promises you cannot keep. You have scolded me from the first, my dearest one, and I would not have it different. This is the first time we have been shopping together, though it shall not be the last. I want to share all your pleasures, Jane—and I dare say I shall buy you many gifts on our honeymoon.’

Jane took his arm and they continued to walk along the street, stopping to glance into the windows of the shops they passed, ending by taking coffee and cake in the teashop opposite the library.

Reminded of the previous day, when she had been followed, Jane glanced over her shoulder, but could see no sign of the ruffian who had seemed to stare at her so oddly. She frowned, because the man had looked to be a rough sort and she was not certain he had been one of the Runners George was employing.

However, she decided against voicing her
doubts, because they had had such a happy time that morning and she wanted to put the shadows of the past few weeks out of her mind.

‘A penny for your thoughts?’

George’s teasing words brought her back from her reverie. ‘I was just thinking how pleasant this is,’ she said. ‘I am so very happy, George. I can hardly believe that we shall be together always. I never expected to be so fortunate.’

‘I had not considered marriage until I met you,’ George said and touched her gloved hand on the table. ‘And then, when I understood my heart, I thought you would never forgive me for what I had done.’

‘I knew that I owed my freedom—and perhaps my life—to you,’ Jane said, looking into his eyes. ‘At first I was angry with you, but my anger soon turned to admiration for your courage and resourcefulness. I know that you risked your life for Mariah and for me. Yet even then I was not sure I truly wished for marriage—but then I began to see that without you I should only be half-alive. I know that I would risk anything to share your life, even if we did not have for ever and a day.’

‘I would give my life for yours,’ George said. ‘Without you I should not wish to live.’

‘Then we are in perfect agreement,’ Jane said. ‘Tell me, where are we to live, George? I know you have a fine town house—but shall we live at the country house you took me to that first night?’

‘I dare say we may choose to spend some part of the year there. I have had some of the rooms refurbished since then,’ George told her. ‘The estate was left to me by my great-aunt, but I have another in Sussex. My father’s estate is small, but the house is very pleasant. I think we shall go there for a few days before we leave for our honeymoon so that anything you wish changed can be set in hand and ready for our return.’

‘Two country estates and a town house.’ Jane arched her right eyebrow in a teasing manner. ‘Am I marrying a wealthy man?’

‘I do not think myself the richest man in England, but we shall go on very comfortably—what makes you ask?’

‘When I ran away from Blake that morning, I was lost in a maze of poor streets near the river,’ Jane said and a shadow passed across her face. ‘The children wore rags. Their feet were
bare and their faces were covered in sores. The men had sullen eyes and the women looked as if all hope had gone. If we are rich, George, could we not do something to help the poor in those slums?’

‘I sit on the board of two charities for orphan children,’ George replied and his look was one of warm approval. ‘I am certain that you would be very welcome to join any charity you wished or you could even set up your own, Jane.’

‘I shall begin by joining an established board,’ Jane said. ‘I need to learn about the way things are done, but then I should very much like to set up a charity of our own, George. Something we could take an interest in together.’

‘I should be delighted to join you in your venture when you are ready,’ he said. ‘As my wife you will have an independence of your own and may do as you wish with your own money, but I should certainly contribute and I have generous friends.’ He smiled. ‘Does that ease your mind a little?’

‘Yes, it does. I had not realised how hard life was for some people until that morning, George. I have seen poverty in the country
when the mines close or a hard winter means the crops are scarce, but I have never seen anything like those slums.’

‘The area you were in is one of the most deprived in London,’ George agreed. ‘I have heard talk of a slum clearance, but sometimes all that does is to move the problem on, because the people are driven from their homes.’

‘New homes must be provided before the houses are pulled down, I think.’

‘I agree with you,’ George said. He took out his gold pocket watch. ‘I believe we should return to the pump rooms now, Jane. Lady Mary will wonder where we are.’

* * *

The following days had been spent as pleasantly as the first, Jane discovering day by day how much she liked the man she was to marry. He was charming, amusing and generous, well liked by everyone. They visited friends, welcomed others who called with wedding gifts and prepared for the dance to celebrate their coming nuptials.

‘People are so very kind,’ Jane said on the morning of the dance. ‘I have received so many gifts today. Most are flowers and bon-bons,
little tokens for the dance, but some of the wedding gifts are very generous.’

‘That diamond bracelet from Lord and Lady March is very handsome,’ George said. ‘Lady March is a great friend of my sister, you know.’

‘I hope Lord and Lady Markham will come to our wedding, George. I have invited them both.’

‘Then I am sure they will. My sister is most eager to get to know you better, Jane.’ He hesitated, then, ‘You might care to know that she has told her husband everything. He asked about the brooch that was lost and she decided it was best to confess. He had suspected something and was glad it was over. I think they will do better together in the future.’

‘I am glad for her sake that she has done so. I suspected that he knew something the evening I was invited to dine. Her confession will clear the air between them.’

‘Had she been brave enough at the start, perhaps none of this business with Blake would have happened.’

‘Your sister might then have been his victim. What happened, happened, dearest. It is over and forgotten.’

‘It is almost over.’

‘Surely he must have given up and gone off abroad by now, do you not think so?’

‘I hope so.’ He smiled at her. ‘If you would care for a drive about town this morning, my love, I am at your service. I have sent for my curricle and the groom will have it ready in an instant. I know you plan to spend the afternoon quietly at home to prepare for this evening, but the day is fine and a short drive would be pleasant.’

‘I should like that very much, if you will wait one moment while I run upstairs and put on my bonnet and pelisse?’

‘Of course.’

George nodded his approval as she went off, then turned to Andrew, who had just entered the room.

‘I have had a report that Blake was seen here yesterday,’ he said. ‘I do not think he will dare to try anything in Bath, but we leave the day after tomorrow. It is then that we should be on our guard.’

‘You think he will not dare to attempt anything in Bath?’ Andrew frowned. ‘You have your people watching for him, I know, but the man is sly and may adopt a disguise. Be careful, Marlowe. His pride was mortally wounded
when Jane floored him and escaped. For a man of his nature I think that would be more galling than my shot, which merely winged him.’

‘I would to God you had killed him,’ George said, then lowered his voice as he heard Jane returning. ‘Not a word of this to Jane. I do not want her pleasure in the dance to be overshadowed.’

‘You need not remind me,’ Andrew replied. ‘I am truly fond of her, as you know.’

George inclined his head, going into the hall to meet Jane. ‘You are lovely as always,’ he said. ‘That shade of green suits you very well, my love. I have noticed that you often wear green—is it a favourite?’

‘Yes, I do like green,’ she said. ‘It suits my colouring. What did Andrew have to say?’

‘Nothing that need concern us this morning,’ George said. ‘Just some business. We have an appointment at my lawyer’s office this afternoon—just a mere detail to clear up.’

‘I see.’ Jane took the arm he offered and they went out into the warmth of an exceptionally sunny late August day. ‘This is the first time you have taken me in your curricle, George. I should like to drive a rig when we are married. Will you teach me?’

‘Yes, certainly,’ he agreed. His groom had a very smart curricle with yellow-painted wheels drawn up at the side of the road. George offered his hand to Jane and helped her up, then went round to climb up himself. Just as he was putting his foot to the step someone called out a warning. An instant later a shot rang out, followed instantly by a second.

‘George!’ Jane cried as the horses shied and one of them reared up. The groom, who was at their head, held on to the reins for dear life and managed to stop them bolting and trampling over the body of the man who lay in the road. ‘George, my dearest love.’

Jane hurriedly dismounted and ran round the back of the curricle to where George lay on the road. A moan of distress trembled on her lips as she knelt down and turned him. She could see that the assassin’s ball had passed through his coat sleeve and his arm was bleeding. The impact had knocked him down, but he was recovering and opened his eyes, attempting a smile of reassurance.

‘It’s just a flesh wound. I’ll be fine in a moment.’ Jane rose and offered her hand just as a man came up to them. He bent down and
helped George to his feet, supporting him as he swayed.

‘You, sir! Did you shoot my fiancé?’

‘No, it is all right,’ George said, his face very pale. ‘If I am not mistaken, it was this gentleman that shouted a warning and then—did I not hear a second shot?’

‘Blake will not be troubling you again, sir,’ Stark said grimly. ‘I shot to kill. If I had shot first, I should be guilty of murder. I am sorry you were hurt, but I tried to warn you, sir. I was not sure he meant to fire until that moment. He has been following Miss Lanchester and your good self for days. You had the note I sent you earlier?’

‘Yes, I did,’ George said. ‘I shall…’

Whatever he meant to say was lost as he gave a slight moan and fainted. Jane cried out in distress, but Andrew had come out of the house and rushed to help Stark support George into the hall. Glancing behind her, Jane saw that two men were bending over a body on the ground at the far side of the street. A small crowd of onlookers had begun to gather and some were looking at her curiously. She hastily followed George and her brother into the house.

It was most unfortunate, but the tale would be everywhere by the end of the day.

‘I’ll go for the doctor,’ Stark said once they had George sitting on the daybed in the parlour. ‘I’d best go to the magistrate as well and report Blake’s death.’

‘Leave that to us,’ George said, coming out of his swoon in time to hear what was said. ‘We’ll see to this, Stark. If you tell them you killed a man, they will put you in prison and ask questions later. It may be best if you fetch the doctor and return with him. You should be on hand to answer questions. Andrew, you go to the magistrate and tell him what happened here. Stark undoubtedly saved Jane’s life, for had Blake disposed of me, he might have finished the job by killing her.’

‘Lie still while I look at your wound,’ Jane said. ‘I think your coat is ruined, George. You will not mind if I slit the sleeve? The doctor may not come at once and I think we should bind your arm for the moment.’

‘It is deuced painful. I believe the ball may be lodged in my arm after all,’ George said and leaned back against the cushions. ‘Forgive me, Jane. I am so sorry to have ruined your dance.’

‘Foolish man,’ she scolded and fetched her
scissors from her sewing box. Slitting the sleeve of his coat and his shirt, she saw the neat hole where the bullet had pierced the flesh of his arm. Blood was still oozing, but slowly. There was no corresponding hole at the other side, which seemed to confirm that he was right and the ball was lodged in the fleshy part of his upper arm. ‘I fear the surgeon will have to cut for the ball. We should perhaps get you to bed before Mr Stark goes for the doctor.’