His Shadowed Heart ((Books We Love Regency Romance)) (20 page)

“Being that he is a magistrate, we are obliged to obey his orders. We cannot go against him. Therefore, our investigations must cease.”

Caroline resumed her pacing, not knowing what could be her next move, only being aware of a great reluctance to relinquish her cause.

Victoria watching her anxiously ventured forth a suggestion, “Do you think it would serve if I asked Henry to get involved? Although I think the intervention would carry more weight if it came from Waverly. It seems we are powerless when we come up against such opposition. Indeed, if Melchin is a magistrate, it will require someone with more authority than you or I to contest his orders.”

“I don’t know how much longer my husband will be away,” cried Caroline, frustrated at her ineffectiveness in such a situation. “He has been gone more than a month already. The matter cannot rest until his return. It will be pushed to one side and forgotten if it is not pursued now.”

“The fact that the youth will be seen as nothing but a poacher will go against hopes of reopening the case,” affirmed Millington.

“He was not a poacher,” cried Caroline hotly, and then more quietly, “His last act was to protect me and that is what I believe led to his death. It is only fitting that I should assure that justice is done and his murderer brought before the courts.”

“Then Henry seems our only option,” stated Victoria. “Although I know he will deny it, I am sure he will know exactly what to do. He always does in an emergency. I will send him to Lordings.”

“Do you think it would serve?” asked Caroline anxiously. “I owe it to Peter that his murder does not go unresolved. His death cannot be allowed to go unchallenged.”

“I will assign one of my men to
His Lordship when he arrives at the house,” said Millington. “Quite unofficially of course, but he may be of some help.”

“Then the moment Henry returns to town, he goes to Lordings,” affirmed Victoria.

Millington rose to take his leave. “I am very glad you are prepared to take the matter further, my lady,” he said confidingly. “From what you say, there is certainly more to the situation than immediately meets the eye, and even though the case is officially closed, it appears further efforts are needed to bring about a satisfactory conclusion.”

Caroline extended her hand in farewell, and smiled briefly. “I thank you for your understanding of the matter. I am sure my husband will show his appreciation when he returns. Until that time, I can only ask you to believe in my cause.”

Bowing, Millington took his leave to return to his constabulary and make the necessary arrangements, leaving Victoria to pen a note to Henry to tell him of her decision.

*****

The day of Julia’s birthday dawned crisp and bright and although she had shed a few tears that Papa had not chosen to arrive for the occasion, by the time the first guests started to arrive, she was consumed with excitement. Birthday gifts filled the hall tables as each new arrival presented their offering for the occasion and Julia giggled her enjoyment at each unwrapping. The children were eventually taken to the nursery floor where all manner of games and pastimes had been devised for their amusement, whilst the adult guests were in the large dining room where a hot meal was served. Victoria remained at Caroline’s side once the meal was over and they mingled amongst the visitors in the salon. Inwardly, she marveled at how much more confident her sister-in-law appeared from the new bride who had entered the family but scant months ago. Her shyness, which had formerly rendered her almost speechless when in company, now seemed to have completely disappeared as she greeted each guest with just the right mixture of openness and decorum, winning approbation from even the strictest of society’s forerunners who now so eagerly courted her attention.

It was when
Caroline thought the last guests to have arrived that she heard the footman announce Mr. Gerald Dent. Repressing a momentary feeling of irritation, she went forward to greet him, leaving Victoria sitting cozily discussing the engaging vagaries of the children with Diana.

“It is exceedingly good of you to invite me to the child’s party,” said Dent, smiling ingratiatingly and extending his hand in greeting. “Indeed, the celebration of the birth of my cousin’s child is an event I would have been loath to miss.”

“You are a member of the family and it would have seemed churlish to have excluded you,” replied Caroline, now at her most haughty and eager to be out of his company. She still had no liking for him. Politeness dictated that she extend an invitation to her husband’s cousin, but she had wholeheartedly hoped he would refuse in an attempt to snub her.

Seeing her discomfiture in his company, Dent seemed determined to detain her, even going so far as to draw her hand through his arm and lead her toward a chair so that she would be obliged to sit at his side. “Now that we are able to have this time together, we have the chance for a cozy tête-à-tête,” he said, with a smile so obviously false that it made him look ridiculous. “There are things that must be said to enable you to be easy in my presence
….”

“There is nothing you can say that would make that possible,” interrupted Caroline. “You and I can never be at ease.”

“That, my dear, is where you are completely wrong,” replied Dent attempting to pat her hand, but she drew it sharply away. He appeared not to be in the least put out by the action and instead continued in an indulgent tone. “Believe me, my dear, when I say that in the past I have done you an injustice. I thought you to have married my cousin for his rank and fortune, when indeed it is obvious to anyone with any sensibilities, that you are possessed with more than a passing regard for him.

“Much more,” replied Caroline stonily as she attempted to rise, but he laid his hand on her arm detaining her.

“In light of your regard, my dear, it appears churlish of Waverly to desert you, and for such a length of time. Where is my so dear cousin?”

“He is in the country on business.”

“Which part of the country?” asked Dent, appearing much interested.

“’Tis difficult to say, his dealings take him over several counties and I don’t know how long he intends to remain in each location.”

Dent tut-tutted. “Then it is very lax of him not to keep you informed of his movements. One would almost suspect him of negligence.”

“My husband is far from negligent,” snapped Caroline, stung into retaliation. “I know well enough where he is.”

“Then fie on you for attempting to distract me on the issue,” scoffed Dent. “Perhaps now you will tell me where my cousin is to be found.”

“Certainly not! My husband’s whereabouts are none of your concern.”

“On the contrary, my dear, my most estimable cousin’s whereabouts are now very much my concern.”

“And why pray is that?” she snapped.

A sly look overtook Dent’s features. “I have a debt to him which I would repay,” he replied with some aplomb.

“You? Repay a debt?” she asked incredulously. “You, who are forever crying poverty?”

“On this occasion you do me an injustice,” he replied, inclining his head. “For once I have more than enough blunt for my needs. Shall we say the fates have finally smiled kindly on me? Indeed, should you find yourself in strained circumstances, I would willingly extend you enough cash to tide you over until Waverly’s return. I would not wish to see you in difficulties.”

“You have no need for concerns on my account,” assured Caroline sharply, as she escaped his restraining hand and stood determinedly before him. “Now, if you have no objections, I will return to my guests. It will be considered
ill-mannered of me if it is seen that I desert them.”

Seeing Victoria bearing down upon them, Dent also rose, smiling stiffly. “Now that I have made an appearance, I beg you will excuse me. ’Pon reflection, I remember that I am expected elsewhere within the hour,” and turning on his heel he was gone before Victoria reached Caroline’s side.

“What exactly did that little toad want?” enquired Victoria. “I will lay odds it was not merely to congratulate the child that he came. Was he looking to be bailed out again?”

“I’m not sure exactly what prompted him to attend,” replied Caroline, a small frown creasing her brow. “Though he did show an uncommon interest in Richard’s whereabouts and was at some pains to assure me that he was in no need of funds.”

“The man is positively deranged,” scoffed Victoria, linking arms with her sister-in-law and drawing her toward her guests, “but we will not allow his appearance to blight this happy occasion, especially when all seems to have gone so well.”

*****

Once the last of the guests had departed, Victoria retired to her chamber to change and Caroline, taking this opportunity for solitude, retreated to the small salon at the rear of the house. Sitting on the couch set before a roaring fire, she raised her feet and reclined against the silk cushions. It was when her eyelids began to droop lazily with the heat, that a visitor was announced, and before she could order the footman to deny him, Lord Massey pushed his way into the salon. Hastily swinging her feet to the floor she rose to face him as he strode determinedly across the room, a large parcel in his arms.

His face wreathed in smiles, he placed the parcel on the small reading table and flourished a bow. “You must forgive the lateness of my coming,” he said, as if it was the most natural thing that he should be paying a call. “I was out of town and regrettably arrived too late for the celebrations.”

“There is no need for regrets, sir, as you were not invited,” she snapped, her face much flushed. “I would ask you to leave immediately. You are not welcome in this house.”

“Tisk, my dear,” he admonished, smiling at his most charming. “I but bring the child a gift. Surely you would not deny me on that score?”

“She neither needs nor wants a gift from you. Please take it away. I will have nothing from you in this house.”

He removed his gloves and sat negligently on the arm of a fireside chair swinging one of the gloves by its tassel, the assured smile remaining on his dark countenance, leaving Caroline with a strong desire to slap his face.

He saw her discomfiture and his smile widened. “You must not think that by allowing Julia to accept such a trifle from me, that I would presume upon you, my lady,” he said, appearing amused by the situation. “I but bring the child a gift. Should she be deprived of a toy to satisfy your pride?”

“It is not my pride that prompts me to reject your offer, Lord Massey, but my complete dislike of you and also the knowledge of what would be my husband’s wish on the matter.”

“Ah, but you see, my dear, your husband is conspicuous by his absence, and has been this while. Surely it is not his intention to so readily desert you?”

She stiffened, resentment showing in her every line. “He does not desert me, sir. A fact that I have been at great pains to explain to Mr. Dent earlier today and which I would have thought him to have communicated to you, considering you are both so interested in the subject. My husband has business which keeps him out of London—nothing more.”

“Out of the country more like, my dear,” sneered Massey, halting the swinging of the glove and coming to stand before her. “Never fear, it appears that I am more informed of his actions than you. I know only too well his destination and intent, you may forget about Dent, he is nothing more than a keen amateur at the game.”

Caroline looked sharply at him. “I know not what game to which you refer, but you are quite wrong, my lord, my husband has not left England.”

“Why then, was he seen boarding a clipper bound for Portugal, if not to leave these shores? You must think me a fool, madam, to try to bamboozle me with your lies—I know you are fully aware of your husband’s actions. Though one cannot but wonder why you feel this desire to defend him.”

“He is in no need of defense. Indeed, it is not his motives that are suspect, but yours, sir. I will ask you again to leave this house, Lord Massey
—I have no desire to spend one more moment in your company. I still do not believe you blameless in Peter’s death.”

“Ah, yes, the boy,” he said thoughtfully, as he turned from her to resume his seat on the arm of the chair. “Such a tragedy was it not
—the constable apprised us of the circumstances of his death. Now, I may have it wrong, but surely he should have known better than to attempt to poach on Melchin’s land where he knew traps to be laid?”

“Exactly, my lord,” cried Caroline hotly. “He knew only too well. He would not have gone there of his own volition. I believe him to have been taken there and murdered!”

“Tut-tut, my dear,” sneered Massey, with maddening calm. “You must not put yourself into such a taking. Your imagination runs away with you. One could almost accuse you of reading fairy tales and allowing them to influence your judgment. Indeed, you are guilty of a very fanciful turn of mind. Most unbecoming in a lady of your station.” He rose and would have moved toward her but in that moment, Lady Victoria made a sweeping entrance into the room.

“I was told that you were here, Lord Massey,” she snapped, unable to conceal her dislike of the man, “but I scarcely believed that you would have the effrontery to dare present yourself in my brother’s house. However, I appear wrong, though I am sure even a man with your decided lack of sensibilities will realize I speak the truth when I tell you that you are decidedly de trop.”