The Sanctuary (A Spencer Novel) (26 page)

Chapter 48

James stood at one of the tall windows in the library and peered out. It wasn’t the terraced landscape which held his attention, but the conversation in the room behind him. Initially taken aback to learn Anthony and Clairece were married, James realized he shouldn’t have been. Anthony was dogged in his pursuit of something he truly wanted, and clearly, he wanted Clairece.

James also knew how protective his uncles could be. Anthony should not be too complacent for he had yet to prove himself. James pivoted and leaned his hip against the windowsill to observe the others in the room. While Uncle Adrian asked question after question,
Don
Philippe and Stallings remained silent.

A chair creaked. James followed the sound to Jason Rutledge. Without a doubt, Jason was loyal to Anthony. If the man felt the others were maligning his friend in any way, Jason would speak out against it.

Adrian folded his arms over his chest. “What do you make of the attempts on my niece’s life, Rutledge?”

“I can only repeat what I was told,” Jason replied, albeit gruffly. “I am certain James shared all of the happenings with you in London. What he wouldn’t be privy to, was the recent attempt on Anthony’s life.”

“What attempt?” James demanded. “When?”

Jason glanced briefly at James. “The scar-faced man followed Anthony and Lady Clairece onto the train. The blackguard bludgeoned Anthony from behind when he went for food.”

“Are you saying Lord Anthony was able to fend off an armed attack by himself?” Adrian ventured, skepticism infusing his tone.

“That is
exactly
what I’m saying.” Jason rose abruptly. “Anthony carries a knife in his boot, and cut his assailant. The man jumped from the train and ran.”

“Gentlemen.” Farris entered the library, closing the door behind him. “I apologize for my late arrival, but Lady Clairece asked me to attend her daughter. For those of you who don’t know, I’m Doctor Benjamin Farris. I can attest to the attack. I examined Lord Anthony’s arm and shoulder shortly after the incident.”

Farris strolled farther into the room. “Lord Anthony is more than capable of defending himself. He is fast and calculated with his fists. Few chaps will spar with him so he’s forced to use a heavy bag. He’s only been bested once with a sword, and that, by his master instructor. The Master has since refused to fence against Anthony. With a pistol, he’s considered an outstanding marksman.”

Farris shook his head. “Some say a demon drives him, but whatever the reason, he excels at everything he attempts.”

Adrian glanced at Philippe. “What is your opinion?”

“I trust what Lord Anthony says to be the truth. I have found nothing to indicate he is other than what he seems. If anything, he is much more than what appears on the surface. As Farris has stated, Lord Anthony does not speak of his accomplishments. I believe him to be a good man, but one haunted by his past.”

James cleared his throat. “Every man has a past, some dark and hidden in shadows, but the sins of Tony’s were not of his doing.”

“You’re certain of this?” The stare Adrian pinned James with caused him to stiffen.

“Yes, I am.”

“Lord Windsford,” Jason began, “although you may disparage what’s been said about Anthony, it changes nothing. Two days ago, we were riding back to the Hall and a bridge collapsed under his feet. Anthony spent the first critical moments saving his horse. The whole structure washed away and he was left hanging onto a pylon. I grabbed his arm, but when it became obvious to both of us I couldn’t pull him up, he told me to let him go. He didn’t want me to risk my life.”

James’ body grew cold. “How did you save him?”

“Roxbury showed up. Just appeared and grabbed Anthony’s other arm. Together, we wrested him over the edge.” At the bravos from the other men, Jason raised his hand. “Don’t. I didn’t release him because I couldn’t live with myself if I let him die. Anthony sensed it and made the decision for me. I realized what he planned when he gave me a message for Lady Clairece.”

Jason stepped close, almost toe-to-toe with Adrian. “Should you still choose to vilify Anthony, I will ask you to step outside.”

Stallings moved to stand between the two men. “Do you believe it another attempt on Harding’s life?” he asked Jason.

“No. An uprooted tree swept into the side of the bridge.”

Stallings nodded. “I’ll note it as an accident.”

Adrian frowned. “Are you writing some damned report about all this? This is family business.”

“It’s never been just your family’s business, Lord Windsford. Its England’s business, which makes it mine. Whatever Harding finds . . .” Stallings’ mouth snapped shut.

“What has Lord Anthony to do with this?” Adrian queried softly.

“You may speak freely, Stallings. At this point there can be no secrets between us,” Anthony said from the doorway. He prayed his decision would not cost him everything he held dear.

All eyes swung toward him as he strode into the library, Joel at his side. Clairece’s father seemed a fair-minded man. Anthony could only hope he would understand.

“Lord Anthony was asked to investigate the rumor of a priceless heirloom resurfacing, namely the dog collar once belonging to Mary, Queen of Scots,” Stallings began.

“The artifact from the museum in New York?” Adrian asked.

“One and the same. Scotland Yard, under the auspices of Her Royal Highness, Queen Victoria, has used Harding’s particular talents in matters of some delicacy on numerous occasions. Her Majesty was insistent Lord Anthony be brought into this.”

James frowned. “I came to you for help, Tony, and you never mentioned any of this.”

“I’ve kept the extent of my connection with the Yard private,” Anthony admitted. “Both requests were made at the same time, James, but I would have helped you regardless. You should know without asking.”

“Did you marry my daughter as a means to an end?” Joel demanded.

This was the point at which Anthony could lose everything. “No, I did not. Clairece will never be a means to an end, unless it’s to the life I’ve only dared dream of having.” Anthony looked her father squarely in the eyes. “She’s a brave, courageous woman, one who acts impulsively without regard for her own safety. She’s been hurt many times by those she trusted, but still chooses to believe in me. What I feel for Clairece is between her and me. I will say I would gladly lay down my life for her. She is everything, and more, to me.”

The others remained silent, only an occasional creak of a chair to indicate they were listening.

Anthony shifted his gaze to include Adrian. “You are her family and she loves you. I allowed you into my home knowing you would try and take her from me if you found I had played her false. I would expect no less from those who care for her. But understand this, the only person who will ever separate the two of us is Clairece herself. The day we married, I pledged my life to her. Although it was not the wedding I wished to give her, I meant each and every vow. I will never, in any way, play false or loose with her, nor will I ever intentionally place my needs above hers.”

Joel stared at him intently. “And her daughter? Can you accept Miranda as you stated earlier?”

“As easily as I have accepted Sophie,” Anthony replied, knowing he was opening his life to these people.

Phillip Michael leaned forward. “She’s not yours?”

Anthony shook his head. “She is not of my blood, but in my heart, she is mine. Only a few know of her birth. For her sake, let it remain that way.”

“She’s the reason behind the children’s home,” Jason added thoughtfully. “I’ve always wondered.”

“Partly, but had circumstances been different, a foundling home might well have been my fate.”

James’ hand came down on Anthony’s shoulder. “There is no need to disclose this, Tony.”

Anthony clapped his hand over his friend’s. “It all must be said.”

“How does any of this figure into the puzzle?” Stallings queried.

“Clairece found a short woven strip of leather in my mother’s jewelry box. She’s positive it’s from the stolen artifact.” The room exploded in a pandemonium of men’s voices. Anthony waited for the outburst to subside before he continued. “We also discovered a letter from my mother’s lover.”

“I’m having trouble making the connection, Harding,” Stallings retorted.

“My birth father was a Scottish Laird. Apparently, his family had been protecting the collar for hundreds of years. My guess would be one of Queen Mary’s Ladies-in-Waiting was a distant relative. In the letter, Duncan gave the artifact to my mother in the event she needed to start another life for the two of us.”

Stallings withdrew the ever-present black book, pencil poised.

“After my mother died, her husband had her personal belongings burned. By the time I arrived home, only a pile of smoldering debris remained. I was able to retrieve the charred jewelry box from the embers, but the lock had been broken.”

Stallings lifted his gaze from the notes he’d scribbled. “You believe the relic was stolen?”

“It appears so.”

“Do you suspect the late earl?”

A dropped pin would have echoed in the silent room. Knowing where these questions led stripped Anthony bare, the horrors of his past revealed. “The estate was near bankruptcy at the time the late earl . . . died. It took years to make it solvent and clear of debt. I’ve refurbished most of the interior and found neither the collar nor the blunt from such a sale, anywhere in the Hall.”

“Is it possible our scar-faced man stumbled upon the box?” James wondered.

“I see no logical reason for a man from the London slums to be in Somerset, much less in the country outside Harding Hall.” Anthony shook his head. “No, it’s more likely someone from around here. However, in all the years since Mother’s death, there’s not been a significant change in lifestyle for anyone from the village. Most have family here. That sort of financial windfall would quickly be noted.”

“Still, it’s worth following up on,” Stallings determined.

“Could someone from the Hall have found and sold the collar?” Adrian asked.

“The same thing applies to the staff, both here and at Roxbury Abbey. The majority have families in the village and have lived here all of their lives.” Anthony thought of his own staff. “Many are working here now.”

“What of Roxbury? Where was he at the time?” Philippe spoke up.

Anthony met Philippe’s gaze and held it. “He said he was in London.”

“And you believe him?”

“I want to.” Anthony swallowed, pushing back the dark thoughts plaguing him.

“Who is this Roxbury?” Adrian’s gaze swept from Philippe to Anthony.

“His name is Gerald Wade, Baronet Roxbury, and my cousin.” Anthony sighed.

“The same man who helped pull you from the river?” Joel broke in.

“Yes.”

Stallings rubbed the bridge of his nose. “It has been my experience that when a man loses everything, he is capable of anything.”

“Gerald is many things, but I cannot believe he’s the monster responsible for all these deaths.”

Adrian’s head jerked up. “What?”

Stallings shifted his gaze to Adrian. “The American who originally purchased the collar was found in his home, apparently slain by the scar-faced man.” He explained the connection made between the London deaths and Anthony’s maid. The room once more fell silent as they realized the significance for Clairece.

“I sent an inquiry to the Metropolitan Police in New York to see if there were similar murders at the time of the theft. If so, we finally have a lead in the serial killings, and proof the man trying to kill Lady Clairece and our perpetrator is one and the same.”

“My God.” Adrian bounded to his feet and began pacing.

“We believe there are two men. The man with the scar takes his orders from another who is described as a gentleman. That man is the most dangerous,” Anthony interjected.

“What are you doing about it?” Adrian ground out, a clear challenge directed at Stallings.

“All that is possible, I assure you.” Stallings glared back. “Men are checking the archives at different departure points for the name of anyone traveling to and from New York within a month or so of the theft.”

Philippe rose and the room quieted. “A message was sent to Rafael asking for men to help patrol and search the village.”

Adrian rubbed his forehead. “How long before they arrive?”

“Soon,” Philippe assured. “While we wait, there are only enough men to guard Sanctuary Park and the Hall.”

“With the four of us, added to the four of you, we’ll make a fair showing by riding through the middle of town,” Adrian suggested. “We might not have the resources to search, but we can demonstrate our intent to help the villagers and show the culprits we mean to stop them.”

James spoke up. “Gentlemen, one more thing. I hope the information Tony shared will remain inside this room. For a man to lay open the sins of his family to save others, is more than commendable. He should not be punished, as society would surely do, should any of this become known.”

Adrian moved to stand before Anthony, his hand outstretched. “Family business remains family business. To be clear, name does not make a family, nor does blood. People make a family, and we are family.”