Secrets of the Heart (39 page)

Devlin said, “Let us go inside, Snoop. I want to show you the house. And I insist that you take a nap.”

Victoria stopped and looked behind her before going through the door. She sensed the gentleman’s eyes on her, yet she could not see him. Her intuition told her life was about to change in ways she couldn’t imagine. She turned her back on the street and felt a thrill of excitement race through her as she stepped into her brother’s home.

Witt watched from across the street. So she was Ravensmoore’s sister. Seeing her again would take some doing since Ravensmoore and he were not on the best of terms. Still, there were ways to get what one wanted, when one wanted badly enough. What exactly did he want? He’d just met her. So why did he feel as though he’d just looked into the eyes of his future?

He knew that Ravensmoore had just come from Parliament. The House of Lords session for the day had ended, and there were several issues being discussed. He was certain that the Lord Doctor, as Ravensmoore had been dubbed, was not at all happy with the direction the last discussion had taken related to reforms of the mental asylums. It was bound to make his life even more controversial than it already was at the moment.

A page from the palace approached him. “Lord Witt? I was asked to give this to you.” The boy put the note in his hand and disappeared before he could offer a coin. Witt scanned the note and frowned. Returning to the street, he looked for his coach and signaled his driver.

The team of horses moved onto the muddy street just as rain splashed gently across his face. Witt jumped into the interior of the coach.

“Where to, sir?” called the driver.

“Carlton House, Denton.”

After a short ride Witt entered the home of the Prince Regent. Grand chandeliers, marble floors that went on forever, and ceilings painted with scenes of myths and legends greeted him—a wonderful place to visit, but not his kind of purposeful, long-term living. He much preferred the country. What could be so urgent that Prinny would send for him so soon after their recent conversation?

A young page approached him, a serious expression clouding his young features.

“Lord Witt, His Royal Highness awaits you. Follow me, please.”

Witt smiled. “Thomas, you’re far too serious this day. Why the frown? I enjoy the sound of your laughter much better than the stern look you wear.”

“You will know soon enough, and you will understand.”

An edge of uneasiness rippled down his back as he followed the boy in the direction of the royal guestrooms. As one of the preferred spies for the Crown during the war, he’d never lost the senses he’d honed from that time. But those days were past, and he enjoyed his quiet life in the country now.

The page knocked on a door and bowed out of the way as the door swung open. A dozen men occupied the chamber. All wore serious expressions.

“What has happened?”

“Stone has been attacked,” said the Regent, stepping from the circle of men who surrounded a large four-poster bed with drapes drawn.

“How? What happened to him?”

“We are not entirely sure… that’s why I sent for you. When word gets out of what has happened…” Prinny threw his arms in the air. “What must be done? This is unacceptable! His family must be informed, and that will create chaos if not outright panic.”

The look of fear on everyone’s faces said much. “Tell me what happened.”

Lord Whitby came forward. “Take a look for yourself.” He pulled the drapes back from the bed.

Witt thought he had seen every manner of injury during the war, but this, this was hideous. “That’s Stone?” The slashing of the face and neck appeared to be the work of something with sharp claws. “Has the royal physician seen him?” Witt swallowed hard as he studied the ghastly features of Lord Stone.

Prinny looked to Witt for direction. “We must decide the best course of action, and soon. Never has anyone dared to attack a member of Parliament since Bellingham assassinated Prime Minister Spencer Perceval, and that was six years ago. Stone is near death, and his wife and eldest son have been summoned. It won’t be for long that we can keep this flagrant attack quiet.” Prinny slammed both fists on the desk.

Witt took charge. “We must proceed with caution. I suggest we pull Lord Ravensmoore into this conversation immediately. It may be that having a physician who is a peer proves to be most helpful.”

The Regent paced and mumbled to himself, seemingly in a struggle to make a decision. Finally he declared, “Send for him.”

“Well, my dear sister. What did you think of your trip?” Devlin cut into a juicy piece of beef but kept his eyes on her.

“The trip was an adventure and a delight, though I doubt that Nora saw it that way. You would not believe how overprotective she’s become. She hovers about like a bee on a tulip.”

Devlin imagined that Snoop had lived up to her name throughout the trip and been more than difficult to keep track of at every stop along the way.

“You look healthy. A nice glow in your cheeks and the usual mischievousness in your eyes assures me that you are quite well.”

“And you, brother, look as though you haven’t slept for days. There are dark circles under your eyes, and I gather you have been busy caring for someone quite ill.”

“That’s why I’m a doctor, Snoop.” He never could fool his sister; she’d always had an uncanny sense of knowing how people felt, probably because she’d fought her own sickness for most of her life.

“I do hope you have arranged to take some time off while I’m here so you can show me about and not leave that to someone else.” She accepted more rosemary potatoes from the server and ate with a hearty appetite. “Mmm, how wonderful these are.” She sighed her enjoyment. “I’m surprised you’re not fat, brother. The food is most enjoyable.”

Cook brought the dessert in herself. “He’s rarely home to eat his food, Lady Victoria. He’s far too busy a man. Perhaps he will be makin’ himself more at home now that he’s got your company. I hope you’ll be enjoyin’ this puddin’. ’Tis special for tonight.”

Cook set a bowl of bread pudding between them with clotted cream to accompany the decadent dessert. Beside the dish she added a small bowl of mixed fruit.

“Cook, you’ve outdone yourself. Thank you. I can see from the sparkle in my sister’s eyes that she is most grateful.” He grinned and raised his glass in a toast. “To health.”

Victoria did likewise. “To health and to adventure. May this visit prove to be the beginning of many more adventures.”

Henry appeared. “Your lordship, a message.” He held a silver tray with a note upon it, which in itself meant nothing until Devlin saw the seal.

“Interesting. It’s from His Royal Highness.”

“The Prince Regent?” Victoria leaned close to her brother. “What does it say?”

“If you let me open it, then I shall know.” He ripped the missive open and read, “You are needed at the palace. Come at once.”

“May I come with you, Devlin?” Victoria pleaded, her eyes wide with interest. “Please.”

Devlin wondered what this could possibly be about. The Prince Regent had his own physician. What could he possibly want?

“Dev, please. It would be a wonderful way to begin my adventure in London.”

He pinched her cheek gently. “No.”

“But why not?”

“Because I don’t know what’s going on and you’ve not been summoned. It’s me that must go. You must rest from your long journey and settle into your room. I think you’ll like your room. I’ve left you a surprise under your pillow.”

“Drat, I’d much rather go with you than stay in my room. That’s what I’m trying to escape, if you remember.”

“And so you have.”

“Ravensmoore.” Witt greeted Lord Ravensmoore instead of sending Thomas. He’d wanted to escape the chamber upstairs and have some time to think about what had happened. He was certain there was more to this story, but Prinny had made it clear that he wanted Ravensmoore on hand before the conversation proceeded further.

“Witt. I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”

“Nor I you, but as fate would have it, the Prince Regent asked me to fill you in on events. Follow me.”

“Follow you where, and what events?”

“Upstairs. You have a patient who needs tending.”

“A patient?” Ravensmoore raised an inquisitive brow.

Witt nodded, admiring the man’s ability to refrain from asking who. “Follow me.” Ravensmoore had made it clear when he allowed that monster of a dog to remain on top of him that it was his idea of getting even for the interrogation, at Prinny’s behest, of working as a physician and a peer. Witt had no doubt that if he hadn’t caught Lady Victoria, Ravensmoore would probably have encouraged the dog to finish him off. A razor-sharp ache gnawed up his back. He flinched.

“You all right?” Ravensmoore asked.

He’d already caused enough upheaval for one day. “Yes. Just an old war injury.”

“I understand that you prefer to live in the country since the war.”

“You aren’t listening to rumors, I hope.”

“Rumors sometimes hold a grain of truth, Witt. I’m just curious.”

“Curious why I’m here and not in the country? I’m sure you are wishing I’d remained in the country.”

“The thought had crossed my mind.”

“Lord Stone was attacked. He has been seen by the royal physician and is sedated with laudanum, but it’s complicated. Everything you are about to hear must be kept in the utmost confidence. Do you understand?”

“Of course.” Devlin stopped as they were climbing the steps. “What kind of attack?”

“He’s been slashed about the face. But we don’t know how or why. He’ll not likely survive. But there’s more. You have been called in out of desperation because you’re a doctor and a peer.”

“What can I do?”

“That’s what the Regent wants to know, I believe.” Witt opened the door to a meeting room this time, just as Thomas had opened it for him less than an hour ago at the chamber where Stone lay.

The Prince Regent, known for his frivolous lifestyle, appeared to Witt as though he might fall into an apoplectic fit. This was in contrast to his usual jovial manner. He rushed to meet Ravensmoore when they entered the room. “Thank you for coming so quickly. We need to treat this situation with the utmost of care.”

Prinny’s hair and clothing were disheveled, and that in itself showed just how out of sorts the Regent was this day. He would not want to fall below the standard that Beau Brummel set for the
ton
.