Once Upon an Accident 01 - The Accidental Countess (9 page)

The ticking of the clock was the only sound in the library as Sebastian studied his guest, Mr. Jenkins.

“Gilbert thought someone was trying to kill him?” he asked as he rounded the corner of his desk. He had to sit. His knees were threatening to give way, and he didn’t want to embarrass himself.

“Yes, sir. In fact, he was positive his father had been murdered also.”

“Any suspects?”

“You were number one on my list.”

Irritation lanced through Sebastian. “I had no reason to kill my uncle or my cousin.”

“Other than the title,” Jenkins said with a sarcastic smirk on his face.

“I didn’t want the title.”

“Yes, he said as much. In addition, there is your trip to the continent, and then your injury in York that convinced me otherwise.”

“Really?” Sebastian couldn’t keep the lethal tone from his voice. He had been accused of many things in his life, a rake, a drunk, but never…

“Yes. You could have easily hired someone to do the job, but I have a feeling your situation up north was an attack on you. One by one, the heirs of Penwyth have been meeting with unfortunate
accidents
.”

“You think both of them were murdered?”

“I have no proof. But I do have an uncle in peak physical condition who suddenly drops dead, a cousin who is deathly afraid of heights who falls to his death, and you’re hit on the head and left for dead in the snow.”

Gilbert’s fear of heights was well known within the family. As boys, they had teased him constantly about it. He avoided anything past the second floor, and if he did need to be on the higher floors, he never approached the windows.

“And you suspected me?”

“You were my first suspect. Lord Penwyth was convinced you didn’t want the title. In fact, he remembered you saying you were happy when he married.”

“And that convinced you?”

Jenkins smiled without a trace of humor. “No. See, most murders are not done by strangers. Oftentimes, it is a member of the family, especially with an earldom at stake.”

“What changed your mind?”

“You were injured, if my sources are correct.”

No one but family knew about his accident. And other than Colleen, no one really knew just how close he came to dying.

“Ah, trying to sort it out? Well, you sent word of your return, where you were at the time, and all that. Servants gossip, my lord. Not viciously in this case, but this house is on edge with everything that has happened.”

Sebastian could believe that. The majority of these servants had served the Penwyth estate most of their lives. Two accidental deaths and a missing heir would send some, if not all of them into a state of worry.

“Any other suspects?”

“Several. Of course, there is the line of the earldom. Your heir, your uncle, James Ware…”

“James.” The name slipped off Sebastian’s lips as he remembered the uncle he barely knew. Much younger than his two brothers and from his grandfather’s second wife. A woman, who once his grandfather had died, had behaved like his own dear wife, with the morals of an alley cat.

“Yes, James. He does have an alibi for every incident, including yours.”

“So you don’t think it was him.”

He didn’t answer immediately, then said, “No, what I said was he had an alibi. But that doesn’t mean he’s not a suspect.”

“Explain.” It wasn’t a question, but a command. Irritation burned in his belly.

“You were still considered a person of interest when you were on the continent. You have money, and that is a motivator to some of the more unsavory elements of our society,” Jenkins remarked.

“You don’t think it was for the money?”

“No, all of you, through your grandfather’s good foresight, have money and estates to run. Your father, as did your uncle, worked hard on the estates, and their wealth grew. James accomplished neither.”

“Are you telling me he’s under the hatches?”

“No, he does well enough, although there are some indications he has a gambling problem. The motivator in this case, as I said, sir, is the title. And he has a daughter in her third season, with no offer in sight.” Jenkins’ voice had risen with his agitation.

“The title? You think that my uncle killed his brother and nephew all for a title? Then had someone attack me? That’s insane.”

“Yes. In my opinion. But some people revere a title more than wealth, more than happiness.”

“What do you want from me?”

“I thought I should warn you. When your cousin first called on me, I didn’t believe him. Thought he had an overactive imagination. Young lord, just lost his father, the mind can play tricks on a man who has a lot of time on his hands. But as I dug deeper, my instincts told me that there is something there. Someone is killing off the Earls of Penwyth. And in my opinion, you’re the next in line to die.”

*

Silk sheets slid over her skin as Colleen turned over on her back.
Silk sheets
? Her eyes shot open, panic cramping her stomach. She squinted but couldn’t make out the room. She wiggled to the edge of the bed, found a nightstand then her spectacles. She donned them, and when she was finally able to see, looked around the room. She was home, but she wasn’t. Her new home was one of silks and fine china, of priceless vases and expensive furnishings. Of a husband who sent her pulse racing.

Where had that thought come from?

Truth was she felt like an imposter. She was the Countess of Penwyth, and she was a fraud. She longed for her tiny cottage with the smell of baked bread. She didn’t want fine things, or a husband who didn’t want her in return.

She sighed. Weak winter sunlight streamed through the window, casting shadows around the room. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood only to have them buckle beneath her. She grabbed onto the mattress and eased step by step to the bedpost. Her legs shook with each step, her head whirling.

“What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing?”

She winced at Sebastian’s harsh tone. Then irritation and anger rode high. She glanced over her shoulder as he approached.

“Trying to escape,” she said, knowing she sounded like a small child.

“Here, let me help you.” His voice was full of aggravated male. He grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her in his arms. “What are you about?”

“I was going to walk to the chair,” she said, pointing in the direction of where they had sat when they shared their meal.

He switched direction and gently placed her in the chair.

“I’m not an invalid, you know.”

He sighed. “No, but you are still weak. I’m sure you’ll be full of insults tomorrow.”

She looked up at him as he stared down at her with narrowed eyes. “What?”

“You don’t look well. In fact, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were at death’s door. You’re too pale, and you’ve dark circles under your eyes.”

“Oh, my lord earl, you know how to romance a woman.” The sarcasm dripped from her words. She couldn’t help it. Even though she knew she shouldn’t care, the fact that he found her lacking hurt.

He threw back his head and let go of a laugh that bounced off the walls of the room. She stared at him, transfixed by the sight. His usual cool mask had disappeared. He was replaced by a man so charming, so completely free, she blinked at the transformation.

When he stopped laughing, he focused on her and his lips curved seductively. Her heart slammed against her chest, and she had to look away. His blue eyes sparkling with humor sent a shiver of something she couldn’t define sliding through her system, leaving her lightheaded. “I can always count on you,
my lady
, to put me in my place.”

She ignored the curious warmth that curled in her belly when he called her my lady. She didn’t want to be his lady. She didn’t want to be
anyone’s
lady.

“I have no doubt you will have much more interesting insults tomorrow.” He stretched out his long legs, brushing the bottom of her wrapper with the tops of his boots. She moved her feet. “Now, I wanted to warn you. Mother is insisting on a trip to the modiste’s tomorrow. If you don’t feel well enough, tell her. She’ll complain, but in the end she’ll understand.”

There was a knock at the door. Sebastian bid them to come in. A footman entered holding another tray laden with food.

“Thank you, Stephen,” Sebastian said. “I took the liberty of having your meal arranged for you.”

Stephen, a young man with light hair and a ruddy complexion, placed the tray on the table beside her.

“Thank you,” she said.

He hurried out the door.

“You are not going to complain about my highhandedness?” Sebastian asked, his voice infused with laughter.

“I’m really too tired to bother,” she replied smartly as she filled her plate. Then she shot him a smile. “I’m also hungry.”

He chuckled. “One of these days that sarcasm is going to get you into trouble.”

“Hmm. Aren’t you going to eat?”

“No. I’m going to my club later. But I wanted to make sure you were attended to.”

She just bet he was heading to his club. He probably intended to spend the evening with a ladybird in a cozy little property. She looked down at her plate and applied herself to eating. She couldn’t fight the irritating feeling he was deserting her. He’d brought her to the capital, and now he planned on running off to have fun with some beautiful woman. Why, they hadn’t even been in the capital for a day, and he was already forsaking his marriage vows. She swallowed her comments, knowing she had no right to question and definitely no right to judge him. Good night, she barely knew the man.

The emotion burning in her chest caused her appetite to sour. She sipped a bit of tea and thought about it. Why was she so upset that he was going out tonight? She should be happy he was leaving her alone. That’s what she wanted, wasn’t it?

The thought of Sebastian with his arms wrapped around another woman sent a searing heat of anger rolling through her. She blinked as she tried to swallow her food. She wasn’t jealous, was she? No, there was no way she could be jealous of a woman who had to endure Sebastian’s company.

Her appetite now completely dissolved, she said, “I guess I am not as hungry as I thought.”

She couldn’t meet his eyes, but the whisper of his concerned gaze sent a vibration down her spine. He helped her back to bed, pulling the covers to her chin as if she were a child.

“Get some rest, Colleen.” His voice was absolute. She glanced up and had to look away. The worry in his eyes bothered her and made her feel comforted at the same time. Before Sebastian, it had been so long since she’d been cared for. It was disconcerting how much she yearned for his attention.

He was out the door a second later, and she was left to ponder her disturbing thoughts.

*

Victoria sipped her tea, laced with a heavy dose of brandy, in the privacy of her sitting room. It had been a long trip home. Sighing in contentment, she closed her eyes and thought of her daughter-in-law. There was something so familiar about Colleen. Her eyes had struck Victoria from the moment they met. Grey, no hint of blue, very unusual.

Her mind drifted back thirty years to her first few years of marriage. She’d been so happy, so thrilled to have married the man she loved. A memory she’d forgotten rose, of a young woman, the granddaughter of a duke. The young girl had been considered the catch of the season and should have been having the time of her life. But there was a sadness about her, something Victoria realized many people didn’t see. Didn’t want to see. The ton liked their entertainment, and they wanted their Incomparable of the Season to adhere to their ideal.

Again, the image of the woman flashed across Victoria’s mind. Impeccably dressed, statuesque, demure, all of these described the woman, but the thing that Victoria always noted when she saw the other woman was bone-deep sorrow in her eyes. Victoria’s own eyes snapped open; her heartbeat sped up a beat or two when she thought of the color of the sad woman’s eyes. Clear, cool grey, fringed with dark lashes, so like Colleen’s.

Her mind twisted through the memories, trying to remember the woman’s name, trying to remember what happened to her. It had been a simple name, something…
Jane
…that was it. She remembered there had been some kind of a scandal attached to her. Scores of men had been attracted to her, not just because of her position as a duke’s granddaughter, but because of her beauty, her poise. There had been rumors hinting that she’d received at least a half a dozen proposals, all of which she had refused. A duke’s son had offered, but she had turned him down. Her father had thrown a fit.
What was her father’s name?

Duke of Ethingham. She had forgotten about the old bastard. And for good reason. The man was an excellent example of a lazy aristocrat. Word was he had peculiar tastes, especially for inflicting pain and for young girls. Victoria shivered. He’d died several years later, killed in a duel.

The young woman’s father had insisted on the match, or at least that is what everyone had said. But the scandal had involved another young man, Scottish, the younger son of a laird…they had run off together.

Now, Victoria just had to come up with a plan to discover if her theory was right or not.

*

Upon entering his club, Sebastian claimed a seat next to a blazing fire. It had been over nine months since he’d entered White’s, and after dealing with women for the past six days, he needed a break. He took a healthy swig of brandy and allowed it to seep into his muscles and relax him.

“Ho, Sebastian,” a voice bellowed from behind him. “When did you get back into town?”

He turned and watched as Daniel, Earl of Bridgerton, walked across the room. Only an inch shorter than he, Daniel contrasted him in looks with light brown hair and golden brown eyes. Many matchmaking mamas wanted their daughter to be the man’s countess, much to Daniel’s irritation. Even with his reputation, most of it deserved, debutantes tried their best to capture his attention. As far as Sebastian knew, Daniel still swore to never marry.