Never to Part (27 page)

“What?” Geoffrey blinked, gaped.

“Only I shall go,” Eldridge said. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a bundle of bank notes.

“Your luck has changed,” he said and counted out twenty fivers. “There’s a game at Haskell’s this eve. You’ll find your fortunes greatly reversed.” He held out the bills.

Geoffrey licked his lips. He reached for the money then jerked back his hand. “It’ll be better if we both go. Daph’s my sister after all.”

“You still want her for Wardick?”

Geoffrey nervously took a step back when Eldridge pushed the bank notes at him. “‘Haps I’ll find another way out of the mess I’ve caused.”

“Your luck has changed. You will win,” Eldridge said.

For the first time the unctuous voice struck discord in Geoffrey. “You’ve baited me far too many times,” he said uneasily.

Eldridge threw an arm across Stratton’s shoulders. “I have, by mischance only, misguided you a touch now and then. I swear not this time.”

With a shake of his head, Geoffrey shrugged away from temptation. “Can’t.” He resorted to an old excuse that had seldom worked. “Daph’d ring such a peel over me if I did. No,” he repeated to convince himself. “Have to find her.”

With a derisive snort Eldridge tossed the fivers into Geoffrey’s face. Geoffrey lunged to catch them.

“Still the baby brother?” Eldridge laughed. “If you want to go crying to your sister, use my blunt to put an advert in
The Times
. Tell her all is forgiven and she can return home without fear of being coerced into marriage. That will succeed far better than accompanying me.

“You’ll not find your sister at Heart Haven. Dremore’d never permit it after she left without giving any explanations.

Long after Eldridge left Geoffrey stared at the bank notes he clutched.
A hundred pounds. ‘Haps he’s right. My losing streak could lay behind me. My luck has to change sometime
.

He paced back and forth considering what to do. Bits and pieces of Daphne’s scolds and her pleas drifted through the contemplation of how to increase the amount a hundred fold. Geoffrey threw himself into one of the leather covered chairs and ran a hand through his hair. He could hear Sir Joshua’s voice as if the man stood before him. Geoffrey shook his head.

“You have failed your sister. Continue to fail her with each new wager,” he repeated part of Sir Joshua’s lecture.

Who first encouraged me to gamble
? he wondered.

Eldridge
, came instantly.

Odd how the penny sheets said it was Dremore
, Geoffrey recalled.

‘
Haps not that odd at all
, long latent Reason asserted.

“He found Wardick for Daph,” Geoffrey defended but then went very still. The whole scenario grew clear. The magnitude of Eldridge’s manipulations staggered him. Elbows on his thighs he lowered his head into his hands. He reviewed his behaviour since coming to London. More appalled than he thought possible, Geoffrey leaped to his feet.

I almost sold Daphne to an old carping lecher. What a wretched, wretched creature I’ve become.
Geoffrey’s thought whirled.
If everything was lies, then Eldridge’s not telling the truth about Daphne and Heart Haven. But why
?

Can’t be good
, Reason declared.

Staring at the fivers still in his hand, Geoffrey smiled. “Eldridge. The bugger’s given me the shot to pay him back for all he’s done. ‘Haps I can save Daph yet.”

 * * * *

Eldridge carefully inspected his pistol. “You’ll be pleased, Father. “I’ll use your gift to procure the Dremore title if I can’t get him to drink the poisonous laurel syrup. But for an accident of birth it should have been ours. Now it will be.”

He put the pistol back into its case and then placed it in his portmanteau. One last look about the shabby flat assured him he had packed what little he valued. Eldridge left it for the last time and jauntily walked down the stairs.

“So it ends at Heart Haven. Wonder if that first old sod really hid a treasure there all those years ago. Nonsense more like. But treasure or not, Richard dies.”

That thought sustained Eldridge when the driver of the rented coach demanded payment before he’d drive him. This done, he ordered the driver to spring ’em with all speed.

Eldridge drew his coat close and settled on the hard bench in the cold damp coach. He almost regretted the money he had given Geoffrey. But then he thought of the ignoble end in store for Stratton. Eldridge only regretted that he would not be there to see the fool gamble away his last hope.

“
’Twas thoughtful of me to ask Jermand to offer Stratton a pistol when all was said and done.
He chuckled maliciously as he savoured the image. The only thing better would have been for Daphne to witness her brother’s last desperate act.

“Daphne Stratton,” he murmured. “You have caused me far too much grief. I’ll wager the
honourable
Richard has kept you an innocent. Sampling wares that could have been his will be well worth the loss of the guineas I could get for you at a brothel. I’ll get something e’en for ‘damaged’ goods.”

His low evil chuckle filled the coach. “Oh, yes, Miss Stratton, you shall pay for falling in love with Richard when you could have chosen me. I once would have made you my baroness.”

 * * * *

Richard whipped his horses up to the fastest pace they could bear.
Thank God I sent riders out to secure fresh horses ahead of me. I’d be miles from Heart Haven if I hadn’t
.

Moroseness pulsed strongly in Richard.
I should have been there already. If I had left last eve—

Something jostled hard against Richard’s side. He gasped, righted himself and glanced to the empty space on the seat. There lay sprigs of laurel.

“Damnation,” he swore and turned his gaze back to the road.

Lord Ricman put an arm across his wife’s shoulders and twirled one of her dark tresses around a finger. “Regular glum Gus, ain’t he?”

“But a handsome one,” said Lady Laurel. “Much like thee.” She caressed his cheek and then returned her gaze to the man seated beside them.

“Wouldn’t he be less gloomy if he understood the last verse?” her husband asked.

“Richard still struggles with pride but he will come to understand it once he is reunited with Daphne.”

“If he doesn’t shoot her at first sight,” Lord Ricman scoffed.

“Did you ever think to fire a pistol at me?”

“It entered my mind a time or two. Especially after the incident with the theatrical troupe.”

Lady Laurel chuckled. “That was quite a sight.”

A sharp “damnation” from their coach companion drew their gaze.

“Give it up my boy,” urged Lord Ricman. “Only a fool fights a battle he cannot win.”

With a shiver Lady Laurel leaned into her husband’s strength. “What of Eldridge?”

“He’s an embittered man who has wasted his life lusting after what he can’t have.”

“But he will try to interfere or do worse.”

Lord Ricman pulled his wife snug against his side. “Thou willst think of something if he does.” He frowned at the scowling figure beside them. “More’s to fear that Daphne and Richard will play at fools and miss what we found those long years ago.”

“No, Saddie, you can’t come with me,” Daphne repeated as Miss McRae helped her with her pelisse. “You’d be transported as a thief if we’re taken at Heart Haven.”

“You could tell him the baroness invited us.”

“I mean to take the man’s treasure.”

“Oh Miss Daphne, don’t say it aloud,” said Saddie. She wrung her hands. “’Haps you shouldn’t go either.”

“The cart be here,” Nanny Hayley called from the door of the cottage. She offered Daphne a small sack. “Things that’ll offer a bit of shield ‘gainst new moon. Angelica root and a bit of salt,” the old nanny explained. She thrust the bag into Daphne’s hands. “’Tis near All Hallows Eve it be.”

Daphne stared at her. “From what will these protect me?”

“Ghosts and goblins and the devil’s kin.” When Daphne made a face Nanny Hayley shook a finger at her. “Don’t you look that way. Have you ne’er sensed a presence? Not e’vn in that mausoleum at Biddl’age?”

Her words halted the chortle of laughter in Daphne’s throat. The question summoned memory of the mausoleum door locked and unlocked at will. Touched by, if not trusting in these amulets, Daphne took the pouch and hugged her former nanny. Next she bestowed a kiss on Saddie’s cheek.

“I’ll take great care,” Daphne told them. She put the pouch in her reticule and then picked up the small satchel Nanny had loaned her. The fear that nagged her all night made Daphne’s knees rather weak but she refused to bow to it.

“Neither of you fret. If I am unable to return, I’ll ask thet Farmer George’s cart and horse be sent to him.”

Saddie began to cry quietly behind her handkerchief. She sniffed loudly when Nanny Hayley shushed her.

“Keep your wits about you,” Nanny advised as Daphne climbed into the cart and took up the reins. “Follow your heart.”

Daphne flicked them and set the horse and cart in motion. Their cautions called her to stop while she could.

Circumstances decree
, Daphne thought,
that I can neither heed them nor the desire of my heart not to go.
But in that Daphne tried to fool herself. In her heart, she very much wanted to see Richard again.

 * * * *

The delights of the bright unusually warm late October day were lost on Richard. He rode from Dremore House toward Heart Haven with grim determination. Dismay settled over him. He had questioned his servants after he arrived at his estate. They had not heard of Miss Stratton being in the neighbourhood nor seen her. Richard tried to think of the verses but thoughts of Daphne intruded too frequently for any serious deliberation.

Filled with worry and frustration, he urged his gelding into a gallop. This failed to hush the insidious fear that had descended during a poor night’s rest. It sharpened with breath stealing force when Heart Haven loomed into view.

A couple of furlongs from the house, Richard reined his gelding to a walk. He recited the first verse while he looked about for anything resembling grove or bower. He stumbled over the word
lovers
each time he said it.

“
Laurel’s magic will free new moonbeam’s power; And reveal the secret lair
,” Richard quoted as he dismounted before the rarely used stable behind the ancient house. While he unsaddled and then wiped down the stallion, Richard went over the plan he had formed on the journey from London.

“It seemed perfectly sensible at one time that the brooch was the treasure,” he muttered as he finished tending the gelding. “But now I wonder why Lord Ricman would hide a gift to his wife.”

You admit the treasure exits?
an Inner Voice challenged.

“The original drawings of the Heart Haven’s construction plans reside in the library,” Richard said aloud to combat the voice. “After I take a look at them I’ll check every piece of woodwork in the house with laurel inscribed on it. If there is a secret compartment I will find it.”

 * * * *

Eldridge rode into the small village that lay four miles from Dremore Park at two in the afternoon. Disguised once again with a dark beard and a wide brimmed hat pulled low over his face he did not fear being recognized.

Dismounting in the rear of the Hare and Hound he handed his rented hack to the hostler. Inside the small inn he went straight to the public room. A pint of ale purchased, he took a seat at a table in the dimmest corner.

In a short time the few patrons present forgot about the nondescript stranger quietly hunched over his ale. Speculation about Baron Dremore’s sudden return to the country resumed.

Eldridge listened with intense interest. Throughout the afternoon no mention was made of Daphne Stratton. His hopes for a double success waned. He was about to leave when a footman in Dremore livery swaggered into the bar.

Intent upon speaking with the young man, Eldridge approached him. When his target plunked down a guinea, Eldridge whistled lowly. “Must have a wealthy guest stayin’ at your lord’s house. Be it a generous man or,” he winked, ”woman?”

“Yer best pint,” the footman told the barmaid. Seeing an admiring gaze from the stranger he preened. “Not a guest. Lord Dremore hisself.” He took the pint and drank.

“A fine favour you must’ve done him,” Eldridge drawled. “Help conceal his lordship’s mistress?”

The footman bristled. “Ain’t thet kind o’ man, my lord ain’t,” he said proudly. “He were open handed for a trifle.”

“Say you,” Eldridge said with a knowing nudge.

“All I did was take a basket o’ food to Heart Haven,” the footman retorted. “Weren’t ‘nuf but fer him fer a few days.”

“No offence intended,” Eldridge said with a shrug.

“Lord Dremore be a good man.” The footman turned to those at the tables and raised his pint high. “A toast ta Lord Dremore.”

As one, those present raised their mugs. “Dremore,” they said and drank. Eldridge curbed a snarl and joined them.

 * * * *

Daphne reined the cart horse to a halt at the ruins where she had found the verse in the metal box. She pulled the parchment from her reticule and smoothed it across her knees.

“
Tis sad the couple didn’t seek some covert nigh at hand; A shady grove not far from their goal; Twined lovers plait the obvious foil; That promised aid the tempest to stand with love true and spy Blanchard’s house’s special bower; Where love confirmed, laurel’s magic free’d by new moonbeam’s power; Reveals the secret lair at strike of midnight, the hidden depths as yet unknown
,” she read aloud.