Gentleman's Guide 01 - His Impetuous Debutante (26 page)

It took Holly a few hours to pack
Phoebe’s belongings. Noah had grown impatient. He entered the
chamber and began throwing items into trunks so they could leave
immediately. Once settled in the carriage and well away from the
estate, brother and sister relaxed.

“
I am still not sure as to
the necessity of your performance back at the house.”

Noah looked over at her. “Taylor
suspects the two servants who disappeared were behind the deaths
and accident. He did not want to risk that there was a third person
involved.”

Phoebe sighed and looked out the
window.

The two estates were only thirty miles
apart so the trip was short. Upon arrival, Phoebe was escorted from
the carriage and taken directly to her mother’s room.

“
Phoebe, how are you
dear?”

“
I am well, Mama. And
you?”

“
As well as can be
expected. Oh how dreadful for you, having to go through all this.
And to think, what could have happened.” Tears clouded the emerald
eyes Phoebe had inherited.

“
I know, Mama. I am sure
Taylor will work everything out, find who is behind this and return
before we know it.”

“
I pray you are right,
dear. Now go to your room and rest. You need to take care of
yourself. Especially now.”

Leaning over, she kissed her mother on
her cheek. “I will, Mother.”

Alone in her bed that night, she
wondered how long it would be until she saw Taylor again. She knew
he couldn’t come to her often as he needed to find his cousins, but
that didn’t make the longing any easier. It didn’t help that she
was in her old bed now, instead of the one she had shared with her
husband. She hadn’t slept in this bed since before they set off for
the Season, which seemed like a lifetime ago.

The following morning she received a
surprising visitor. Entering the parlor, she found Lord Caruthers
waiting to see her. Phoebe panicked for a moment. Had the man read
the paper and now wondered about what type of man Taylor was? Was
he wondering if his own daughter had suffered? How could she assure
him without revealing anything? She hadn’t counted on seeing him
when the plan had been hatched.

“
Lady Sandlin,” he greeted
her.

“
Phoebe,
please.”

“
Very well, Phoebe. I can
see the concern in your eyes. Is there a place where we could walk
and talk in private?”

His eyes only held warmth and
understanding. If he was concerned about his own daughter’s fate,
wouldn’t that be revealed? Did he know the truth? “Perhaps a walk
by the pond.”

“
That would be excellent.”
She took his offered arm and he escorted her from the house. Once
they reached a bench, they stopped and sat.

“
I want you to know Taylor
confided in me his plans before leaving.”

Phoebe exhaled and realized she had
been holding her breath, waiting for him to speak.

“
I promised I would watch
after you and help him. When I read the account of how you feared
him, it gave me the perfect excuse to come calling.”

“
You realize I have
nothing to fear, nor did your daughter,” Phoebe reassured him in
case he had doubts.

Patting her hand, he too, reassured
her, “I know that dear. I just pray he finds the man who killed my
little girl.”

Tears formed in her eyes. “He will do
his best, I am sure.”

“
I know he
will.”

Taylor had no contact with Noah in two
weeks. All communications went through one of the other four
friends who, for all appearances, stayed friends with the two men
at odds. If Noah and Taylor saw each other in public, they ignored
the other’s presence. Taylor spent his nights in the worst gaming
hells London had to offer. If his cousins were going to be found,
this was the best place to look.

When those turned up nothing, he
visited the brothels. The stench of cheap perfume, unwashed bodies
and opium being smoked in back rooms almost made him ill, but he
continued, questioning anyone and everyone.

After a month of visiting every type
of establishment catering to the degenerate gentlemen of the ton
unwelcome in polite society, Taylor had to face the fact that none
of his cousins were in town and his frustration reached new
heights. Unsure of what to do with himself, Taylor found himself
standing outside 13 Bond Street. He had not been here in well over
a year, but exactly what he needed.

He pushed the door open and was
greeted with the sounds of fists again skin, grunts, groans and
cheers. Taylor had been spoiling for a fight and Gentleman
Jackson’s was just the place to be.

*

“
Have you had enough?”
Taylor stared down at the young man he just fought, the third since
he stepped into the ring. Sweat dripped off his nose and his shirt
was plastered to his back. He felt good and he felt alive, some of
his frustration disappearing each time his fist connected with a
body, but it wasn’t enough. It wouldn’t be enough until he knew
Phoebe was safe.

“
Aren’t you tired yet,
Sandlin?” Someone called form the back. He didn’t know who and he
didn’t care.

“
Why don’t you just go
home to your wife before you kill the lot of us.” This came from
the young pup on the floor at his feet. And, the man was right.
There was no rule in this game he played that said he couldn’t
visit Phoebe, and maybe that was exactly what he needed.

Taylor reached down to help the man to
his feet. “You know, I think I will do exactly that. It has been a
month. Surely she can’t still be angry.”

He grabbed a towel and dried off his
face and head before putting his jacket back on. Everything he
owned would need to be laundered thoroughly. No doubt his valet
would have more than a few words for him when he arrived
home.

“
Flowers, take her
flowers,” someone called.

“
And a trinket,” another
yelled. “Something large and sparkling. That should do the
trick.”

Taylor allowed a smile. Both were good
suggestions and he would see about doing just that.

*

If she didn’t know it was
because Taylor was looking for his family she would be quit put out
with him. The letters she received from those
friends
who still resided in London
left nothing out. And, if they did, she wasn’t sure she wanted to
know what else her husband had been up to. Goodness! And he had
lectured her on reckless behavior.

“
Are you still angry with
me?”

Phoebe whipped around at the sound of
his voice. She wasn’t expecting him so soon. With a squeal she ran
into his open arms. “Oh, Taylor, I’ve missed you so
much.”

His arms tightened around her and he
buried his face in her hair. “I’ve missed you too. You have no idea
how much.”

Phoebe pulled away and looked up at
him. What had Taylor done to earn the black eye, now an ugly shade
of green? She brought her fingers up to trace the swollen line of
his jaw, shaded in colors of brown and yellow. He clasped her hand
in his and brought her fingers to his lips.

“
What have you been
doing?”

“
Fighting”

“
Obviously, but with
whom?”

“
Three whoms to be exact.”
Taylor led her to the bed and pulled her down to sit. “I used my
pent up aggression at Gentlemen Jacksons.”

“
I had no idea you liked
to fight.” His face didn’t look too terrible, given he fought three
men, but what about the rest of his body? He didn’t appear to be
hurt. He seemed to walk fine.

“
I don’t.” He grinned.
“Now I remember why I gave it up.”

Taylor reached into his pocket and
withdrew a small box which he handed to her. Phoebe slowly opened
the lid and gasped. Inside lay a delicate necklace. A single
emerald with a smaller diamond on each side hanging from a gold
chain.

“
Will you forgive me and
let me back in your bed?”

It took her a moment for his words to
register and she tore her eyes from the present. Her momentary
confusion must have been evident.

“
The men I fought
suggested I buy you a trinket and beg.”

Phoebe bit her lip to keep from
smiling. “Is this for the frequent trips to the gaming hells or the
brothels?”

Taylor winced. “I hoped you had only
heard of the gaming establishments.”

“
You should know by now
that nothing is missed by the gossips.” She tilted her head and
looked at him. “Had you known I knew about the brothels, would you
have brought more?”

His eyes widened and his brows drew
together. “Phoebe, you must know, I was only there for my cousins,
I didn’t do anything. I swear, I barely talked to a
woman.”

He was practically babbling and Phoebe
couldn’t help but laugh at him. “If I know anything else, I know
you wouldn’t betray me.”

His shoulders relaxed and Phoebe
couldn’t believe he was worried about her actually believing the
gossip. His hand slid around her side and drew her to him before
his lips descended to her neck. “Well, am I forgiven?”

“
For the time being. Until
I kick you out again.”

*

The reunion was short lived as Taylor
knew he couldn’t stay with her long. At the end of two weeks Noah
arrived home.

“
There has been word of
two of your cousins down by the docks.”

It was the best news Taylor had heard
in a long time and he knew it was time to go.

“
I don’t care,” Phoebe
shouted after him as he stormed down the stairs. “Go back to London
and stay there for all I care.”

Taylor turned midstep and looked up at
her. “I will go now, but, I will be back. You have a duty to me and
I will not let you shirk it.”

Noah stepped from the library and into
the hall and silently pointed to the parlor. Two elderly neighbor
ladies sat taking tea with Phoebe’s mother. Their eyes were wide
with shock and fascination.

“
You cannot make me do
anything I don’t want to do.” She whipped around and stormed down
the hall, a door slammed in her wake.

“
I think it is time you
left.” Noah sauntered up to him.

Taylor lifted his eyebrows. “I suppose
you think you can throw me out.”

Noah’s hands fisted and he drew
himself up. “Do you really want to test me?”

Taylor rolled his eyes and continued
toward the door. “I will leave her now, but we are not done. There
is nothing you or anyone can do to keep me from my
wife.”

He didn’t wait for an answer and
marched out of the house.

*

Phoebe stood at the window and watched
Taylor ride away and brushed the tears from her face with the back
of her hand. She hated fighting with him, even if it was pretend.
It just didn’t set right with her. She turned at the quiet knock on
her door. “Come in.”

Noah stepped inside and closed the
door behind him. “This went off better than we could have
planned.”

“
Why?” Phoebe took a step
toward him. She had thought the argument was a waste but Taylor
insisted they keep up the pretense in the event someone was
listening who would report back to London that the Sandlins had not
reconciled.

“
Lady Willoughby and Lady
Johnson are in the parlor having tea with Victoria.”

Phoebe could feel her eyes go wide and
she brought a hand to her mouth to suppress a giggle. “Oh, my.
Those two will have this story spread before Taylor even makes it
back to London.”

Noah grinned. “Like I said, we could
not have planned this better had you tried.”

*

The rumors were false. Even if the
cousins had been at the docks, they were long gone. Taylor wished
he was still with his wife, but it was best that he left when he
did. A longer stay would have brought into question the rumors of
their relationship and if it appeared his wife was allowing him
liberties, it would put Phoebe back in danger.

No, this was for the best. Even if it
killed him.

Once again Taylor made the rounds to
the seedier gaming hells and brothels. Each night he bathed himself
thoroughly to get rid of the stench. He wanted this over soon,
tomorrow preferably, but his cousins had vanished completely. The
last anyone had seen of them was right before the end of the
Season, before the masquerade ball, but none of them were at that
event, that he knew of. It was a masquerade so they could have been
cleverly disguised, though Taylor doubted any of them had the
intelligence or creativity to pull off such a feat. Still, it was
enough to make Taylor continue to proceed with caution. In all
likelihood, one of them was behind the fire and had then followed
Phoebe and him to the country. Somehow, they had learned of his
wife’s condition. For all those reasons, he would not relax his
guard. He sent investigators into the country in search of the
three cousins. At the moment, he was betting the Little Season
would bring them back to London.