Promise Me (31 page)

“
If you hadn’t noticed, this isn’t Carson City.” Before Irma climbed the stairs she added, “Careful with those pistols, Trinity. I wouldn’t want you to trip and shoot your foot. Or worse...my ample backside.”

“
They’re not loaded,” he told her, his nervous gaze darting around the back stairwell.

“
Someone watching us?”

“
Not that I noticed.”

“
Something has you spooked.”

“
I was just thinking. With you dressed as a fierce Indian, I sure would be embarrassed if a lady spied us strolling along arm in arm.”

“
I see your point.” Once they reached the second floor, she pulled up short. “Oh, curse the luck. I left my tomahawk in the carriage.”

“
And your misfortune could very well save Uncle William’s life.” He opened the door and moved aside. “I’ll wait for you outside.”

“
And miss my grand entrance?”

“
I’ve seen it before.”

“
All right then. Bring the carriage around front in half an hour.”

He tipped his hat.

Irma walked the length of the narrow passageway until she reached the interior door to the editor’s private office. After determining that her brother was alone, she thrust the door open and stood in the archway, her legs spread in a wide stance.

William’s head turned in her direction but instead of showing concern for his well being, his casual gaze ran the length of her costume before settling again on her face. “Do come in, Irma Louise, and close the door.”

She frowned. “How’d you recognize me?”

“
No one but my dear sister would dare dress so gaudy,” he teased. “And she has the only key to that door.”

“
I hadn’t thought of that.” Irma drifted to the center of the room. “I received your vague message late yesterday.”

“
And instead of hurrying to your loyal brother’s side, you waited until the next morning, no doubt enjoying a leisurely breakfast before setting out on your journey.” He eyed her costume with disdain. “Seems you stopped by my townhouse first.”

“
I didn’t think you’d mind.”

“
I apologize if your ridiculous outfit did not serve its intended purpose. You were hoping I’d beg for my life?”

Irma grinned. “The thought crossed my mind.”

“
A pity then. What’s the occasion?”

“
Trinity and I have been invited to Lord Greyson’s Bal Masque this evening.”

“
Well, isn’t that nice?”

“
William, you didn’t ask me here to debate my wardrobe or the necessity of social gatherings. What’s so urgent?”

“
Maria Santiago paid me another visit yesterday afternoon.”

“
What did she want this time?”

“
To discuss blackmail.”

“
She told you of her disgraceful plans for Chase?”

“
No. She thinks to blackmail me.”

“
Good God, Willie! You’re as dull as laundry water. What could that tart possibly lord over you?”

“
Irma Crandle’s true identity.”

Her gaze narrowed. “She’s bluffing.”

“
I think not. Our conversation began with Lady Westwood’s noble portrayal of a gossipmonger and ended with you and me being related.”

“
No one knew about Irma Crandle except me, you, and Trinity.”

“
Have you forgotten Chase?”

She shook her head. “I never told him that you and I are brother and sister. Besides, the duke wouldn’t whisper secrets to a conniving doxy. What about that imbecile secretary you employ? Wasn’t he fond of placing his ear to your door? You should at least interrogate the man.”

“
Davenport’s work had become unacceptable. I let him go two days ago.”

“
There’s your snitch,” Irma concluded. “Sniveling little coward. What does that Spanish trash want in exchange for her silence?”

“
She’s put together several pages of tongue-wagging tidbits along with names and titles. The list goes back some five years. It’s quite good actually.”

“
Why would she ask you to print something that could very well jeopardize her business as well as her life?”

“
I asked the same question. She claims she intends to leave England shortly.”

“
Good riddance. Did she leave the list with you?”

He shook his head. “I explained I needed to speak with Lady Westwood and requested she return in three days.” He sighed. “That list will cause a nasty stir among the nobles, will it not, Irma Louise?”

“
No doubt, but I’d advise against printing it.”

“
What? Why the devil not?”

“
I suppose because gossip no longer interests me.”

“
That’s a shame, my dear, for you were quite good at it. You realize I have no choice but to do as Miss Santiago asks?”

“
If you submit to her demands, do you believe she’ll keep her word concerning my identity?”

“
Unlikely.”

“
Then why agree to her terms? Listen to me, William. Tell that conniving doxy that Lady Westwood will not be threatened by a blackmailer’s demands.”

“
She won’t like it, and you know what she’ll do.”

Irma nodded. When England’s nobility finally learned the true identity of the
Standard’s
gossipmonger, not only would she lose Lady Chase’s respect, but her friendship as well. This bothered Irma more than her endangered social status.

“
There’s something else,” William said.

His peculiar tone drew her attention away from self-pity.

“
Several days ago, my man followed Miss Santiago’s carriage to a rundown tavern on the south side of London. The driver went inside. Half an hour later, he returned with two ruffians in tow.”

“
Why is this of interest?”

“
After they spoke with Miss Santiago, both returned to the tavern, jingling a fair amount of coin in their pockets.”

“
Obviously she hired them to do some sort of work.”

“
Agreed, but what?”

“
Well it wouldn’t be respectable, now would it?”

“
Hardly.”

“
I doubt the driver would be willing to talk.” Irma tapped her fingers on the desk. “Here’s an idea, William. Have your man locate those two ruffians. If he can discover whatever mischief they were hired to do, perhaps it will give us the means to bargain with our blackmailer.”

###

Standing in the empty corridor just outside the chief magistrate’s office, Nicolas caught a whiff of strong perfume a second before the click clacking of heeled boots sounded on the polished marbled floor behind him. He cleared his expression of all emotion before turning.

Wearing an overconfident smile, Maria Santiago strolled up to him. “Good afternoon, your Grace.”

He bowed slightly. “Good afternoon.”

“
I’m told you are recently betrothed.” Her bold perusal roamed the length of him, like a mongrel bitch in heat. “I would offer my congratulations but since your intended is Miss Sheridan, I’ll offer my sympathies instead.”

“
Still jealous of the earl’s beautiful daughter?”

“
Clearly you do not understand me. I held no affection for Lord Adrian other than the fact that he eagerly satisfied my needs.”

“
There’s no misunderstanding. You poisoned Adrian in order to dupe him into believing he could trust you. After his death, you tried every underhanded trick to destroy Leah Sheridan’s reputation.”

Her smile deepened. “Polly was never good on her back, but now I see she cannot keep her mouth shut. Did she tell you she murdered her own child?”

“
Miss Wharton is a valued servant in my household, and I will not discuss her past or her present with the likes of you.”

Her smirk slowly vanished. “You have the document?”

“
My solicitor has it. Ah, there he is now.”

Harcourt hurried up to them. “Good afternoon, your Grace.” He nodded to Miss Santiago. “Madam.”

She ignored his greeting and instead held out her hand. “The document?”

Harcourt cleared his throat before addressing Nicolas. “You’ve explained the situation?”

“
No, I was waiting until you arrived.”

“
Explain what?” Miss Santiago’s demeanor changed from unpleasant to hostile. “If you think to trick me--”

“
You’re too clever for trickery, are you not?” Reluctantly, Nicolas slid his hand beneath her elbow and guided her to a bench below the high windows. “My solicitor recently discovered a clause in my grandfather’s will which prevents me from giving away or selling partial shares of my shipping company.”

“
Lies!”

“
Would you care to see the will?”

“
Crafted by an expert forger?”

“
The will is authentic. As to the finer points of forgery, who would know that subject better than you?”

She held out her hand. “Let me see the will.”

He withdrew it from his breast coat pocket. “Glance down the page to the last paragraph.”

She did, and one Spanish curse after another spewed through her blood red lips.

Nicolas allowed her ranting to continue until it no longer amused him. “Mister Harcourt and I came up with a solution which we believe will be to your satisfaction. Since I cannot legally give you what you demanded, I sold the entire company to a trusted friend.”

“
Imbecile!”

“
Calm yourself, madam, and I’ll explain. Harcourt, have you brought a copy of the document I signed this morning?”

“
Yes, your Grace.” The solicitor reached inside his satchel. “Now where did I put...oh, yes, here it is.”

After Nicolas received the paperwork, he passed it on.

Miss Santiago read through it. “Who is M. Spence?”

“
The new owner of Drake Shipping.”

“
I beg your pardon, your Grace,” Harcourt said. “It’s Spence Shipping now.”

“
Yes, of course.”

“
The offer you accepted is low,” she said. “I’ve heard you have a clever mind for business. Surely you could’ve gotten twice as much.”

“
Yes, but patience was not a luxury I could afford,” Nicolas replied. “You demanded half of Drake Shipping. I couldn’t give it to you without considerably lowering the price.”

“
Do you think me a fool? How can you give me something you do not own?”

“
I purposely set the price at half the value in order to bargain for your forty-nine percent of the company shares.”

Her expression acknowledged this strategy, but it must’ve dawned on her that she now had little say in how the company would be run. “Forty-nine percent? That is not what we agreed upon.”

“
Yes, and I’m sorry, but the new owner did not wish to give up the controlling percentage. Still, you’ll make a decent living from the proceeds of your half.”

“
Unacceptable,” she snapped. “You must explain to Señor Spence that you’ve had a change of heart.”

“
That will not solve our problem. Besides, I’ve already used the monies from my half of the sale plus a substantial amount from my own coffers for another venture.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What venture?”

Nicolas walked around her, purposely avoiding her gaze as well as her question.

She spewed a string of Spanish curses, her tone betraying her growing impatience. “What venture, your Grace?”

After a lengthy hesitation, Nicolas faced her. “This morning I purchased a South African diamond mine.”

“
Diamonds?” Greed swirled in her eyes, anticipation blanketing that one word. “You have the proof?”

He waited until her impatience almost exploded before he finally produced what she’d requested.

She snatched it from his hand. The longer she read, the more her fingers shook with excitement. “You paid a handsome price.” She studied his face. “You must have coveted this particular property for years.”

“
No, I just recently became aware of it. Forget the diamond mine. You and I must come to some sort of agreement regarding Edwin’s future before we’re called before the chief magistrate.”

“
An agreement?” Maria Santiago tapped the document in the palm of her hand. “I believe we just did.”

Chapter Twenty-One

On the last note of the Schottische, Leah curtsied to her partner, a short but valiant knight. Catching her breath, she made her way across the packed ballroom, around the somber squires and priests, between the dazzling czars and queens, past the dashing cavaliers and other brilliantly costumed guests, to the refreshment tables.

Out from under the gas-lit chandeliers, the air didn’t seem so oppressive. She picked up a glass of lemonade and stole a few moments of privacy beneath a potted palm.

Just after the Caledonian Waltz began, a cowboy with two six guns holstered at his hips approached her. The man’s black Stetson and fashionable black mask obscured all but his eyes and mouth.

She smiled. “Good evening, Mister O’Connell.”