Regency Rakes 02 - Rescued By A Viscount (11 page)

“Of course we shall leave at once,” Mathew said.

Simon then watched as Claire reluctantly took one of her brother’s arms and Lady Belmont the other, and soon they had disappeared from his sight.

Simon could not rid himself of the feeling that in the three days since he’d visited the Belmont family, something very bad had happened, and although he had no right to pry into what that something was, he wanted to know. All of them were tense and unhappy, and the look in Claire’s eyes would stay with him for the rest of the evening. Thirty minutes later, he realized he did not want to stay at the musical any longer, either. He would have an early night and be on Daniel’s doorstep when Claire arrived. He would then question her, and this time she would bloody well answer him.

Claire waited until the house was quiet before sneaking into her brother’s study. She placed her lamp on top of his desk, opened the drawer, and found the note. Her fingers were not steady as she copied it word for word before replacing the original and folding her copy before pushing it into her dressing gown pocket. She then looked through the other drawers until she found a pouch of money. It was wrong to steal, especially from her brother, but he had left her with no other choice. Hurrying out into the hallway, she then made her way back to her room. She had walked these halls at night on her own before, however tonight she had a mission, and the fear of someone seeing her was making her nervous. Only when she was safely inside her room with the door locked did she exhale loudly.

When she had realized her brother had no intention of going to rescue Anthony’s child, she had made plans to do so herself. Unfolding the note she had just copied, Claire re-read it, making sure it was clear and concise, as it would be the only aid she had in locating her niece or nephew.

I saw what happened to you in Tuttle Lane, Miss Belmont. Therefore I have decided to give you one more chance, however this time you will have to go to Liverpool to retrieve your brother’s possessions. Anthony Belmont’s battalion passed through my family’s village, and when they left, my sister was carrying his child. She has now passed away, but before her death, she told us who the father was and that she was to contact you, should she need help. My brother and I will wait for seven days at the Anchor tavern every day for an hour from midday. If you do not come, then we will have no choice but to abandon the child, as our ship will leave the following day. I have proof it is of your blood.

She had to go or live with the guilt for the rest of her life. She had pleaded with both her mother and Mathew, both had refused to yield, and now it was up to her to do something. She did not care if the child was French or English or any other nationality. It was Anthony’s; therefore she would care for it as her own.

Tomorrow she was supposed to accompany Eva, Daniel and Georgia to Stratton at ten o’clock, and this had given her the opportunity she needed. In the morning, Claire would send a note to the duchess explaining she was sick and could not accompany her. She would pack her things and make her way to their house at eleven o’clock. She would then send her brother’s carriage home and hire a carriage to take her to Liverpool. Failing this, because she had never hired a carriage, nor knew where to go to do so, she would catch the stagecoach. Mathew would think she was at Stratton, as he did not believe Claire would defy him. Of course, so many things could go wrong with her planning. Eva and Daniel could decide to leave later, for instance, or someone could see her departing London. Yet she had to try. She couldn’t discuss things with anyone, so she had to manage the journey herself, and the thought was terrifying. However, she was an intelligent woman. If her wits did not help, then she had the money she had saved, plus the full purse she’d stolen from her brother to bribe people. Dear lord, she hoped Mathew didn’t blame the staff for the missing money. Claire dismissed this thought; she would deal with that upon her return if it needed to be dealt with.

She would be a young lady traveling alone, as she dared not take her maid because she was a terrible gossip; she had told her she would be using Eva’s for the duration of her visit at Stratton. The journey to Liverpool would take three days, possibly four, and this would create curiosity. But she would have to worry about that, too, as the journey progressed. Claire could not allow herself to waver, because then she would think of the mammoth task before her, and the doubts would choke her.

The night was long, and she thought and re-thought her plans until they were organized in her head. She pictured the child and wondered who the mother was. Would it have Anthony’s eyes or even hers? Eventually exhausted, she dozed, and it was her maid who woke her a few hours later. “Would you like a bath, Miss Belmont?”

Who knew when she would have another? “Yes, please, Janet.”

She ate again in her room and then directed Janet to have her luggage taken down to the carriage. She dressed in peppermint, the color she had been told made her eyes seem almost green instead of the muddy hazel they were, and pulled on a darker pelisse. Tying the ribbons on her straw bonnet, she then studied herself in the mirror. This was a favorite hat of Claire’s and, looking at the mirror, she thought the façade she presented was exactly as it should be: a woman about to embark on a jaunt to the country with her dearest friend. The bonnet framed her face, and the few curls Janet had coaxed free made her look younger than her twenty years. Pinching her cheeks, she tried to put some color in them.

“You may leave now also, Janet, to visit with your family, and I will expect your return one week from today.”

“Oh thank you, Miss Belmont.”

Drawing in a deep breath, Claire then left her room. This would need to be the best acting performance of her life if she was to carry it off.

She tapped on the parlor door minutes later and opened it to find her brother and mother seated in silence. Her brother’s eyes were wary as they looked at her, and he did not rise as he normally did. Lady Belmont looked pale and did not meet Claire’s eyes when she entered.

“I am leaving to accompany the duke and duchess to Stratton. I bid you good-bye, and I have no idea when I will return.”

“Claire, you should eat something.”

“I have no appetite.”

“Please, daughter, do not leave like this–”

“I have nothing further to say to either of you,” she said, cutting off her mother’s words.

It hurt to turn away from them, even knowing they did not want the child. They were her family. Her mother, especially, had been a constant companion in her life since Anthony’s death. She was about to defy them with her actions, and in doing so, would likely ensure they played no part in her future, especially as there would be a child in it.

“We are only–”

She didn’t listen as Mathew spoke. Instead, she walked back out the door before they could see her distress. She closed it firmly behind her, praying silently that it did not open again.

Her feet felt leaden and her heart heavy as she walked down the stairs, her steps faltering when she saw Plimley at the base. If anyone would know she was lying, it was him, so she settled on a version of the truth. “Plimley, I am leaving for the Duke and Duchess of Stratton’s house now.”

He looked at her steadily as she continued down the staircase. “And is Janet to accompany you, Miss Belmont?”

“She is not. I have given her time off to spend with her family. She will return when I do.”

Again, a steady look as she stopped before him on the last step. “I would ask that you send word if at any time you need assistance, Miss Belmont.”

It was silly to want to cry because her brother’s butler was there for her when her family was not. “I…I shall be all right, Plimley, and the country air will be wonderful.”

“And I will reiterate that should you find yourself in any situation that you are not comfortable with, then you need only to send word, and I shall come.”

“Th-thank you, but the duke and duchess will care for me, Plimley.”

He didn’t speak again, simply helped her down the stairs and through the door. He then opened the carriage and settled her inside. “Good-bye, Miss Belmont.”

She wanted to urge Plimley inside with her, make him accompany her to Liverpool, but she could not, as he would think her reckless and alert Mathew. “Good-bye, Plimley.”

She didn’t look back as the carriage made its way out onto the street.

The skies were still grey, although the rains had stopped, and her journey to the Stratton residence took ten minutes, as the hour was early and the traffic light. By the time her brother’s carriage pulled into the driveway, she was beyond nervous. Claire had managed to leave her house without raising anyone’s suspicions; now she had to get Toddy, her brother’s driver, to drop her off and leave before he was aware that the duke and duchess were not in residence.

“Thank you, Toddy,” Claire said in a brisk manner as the driver opened the door and handed her down. “You may leave after you’ve placed my bags on the front step. I shall simply tell the duchess I am here. We are to leave immediately.”

“I can’t see the carriage,” the driver said, looking around the spacious driveway.

“It will be here in a few minutes, Toddy. Now please, just leave my bags there,” Claire said, pointing to a space beside the steps.

“I’ll knock on the door for you, Miss Belmont. Not right for you to be standing out here alone.”

This was what came of having servants who’d known you since you were a child. They tended to forget you had grown up.

“There really is no need, Toddy–” The rest of Claire’s words died in her throat as she heard the front door open.

Dear god, I am doomed.

“Wernham, you are a prince among men.”

Why did it have to him, of all people, who was about to step outside after, apparently saying good-bye to the Stratton butler?

“The house will be quiet without–Claire?”

“Lord Kelkirk, how wonderful to see you. Are you to accompany us also? What a merry little party we shall be.” Claire made herself smile as she hurried up the steps towards the door, where he now stood. Had she not been terrified, the confused look on his face would have made her laugh.

“Ah, Claire, they have already-”

She dug her fingers into his arm and squeezed, which made him wince. Claire needed to shut him up quickly before he alerted Toddy to the fact that the duke and duchess had already departed for Stratton. Standing on her toes, she brushed a kiss on his cheek and whispered the words. “Please, I’m begging you, just follow my lead.”

He looked from her down to the driver who waited at the base of the stairs, and then he nodded.

“Yes, a very merry party, Miss Belmont.” His voice was flat and serious and his eyes were now leveled on Claire.

“That will be all now, Toddy, as you can see I am no longer alone,” she said, dragging her eyes away from his to address the driver. Toddy gave her a bow, and in seconds, was in the seat and driving the carriage away.

“May I be of assistance, Lord Kelkirk, Miss Belmont?”

“Not at this moment, Wernham, thank you,” Simon said. “If you will just give us a few minutes of privacy, I shall let you know if you are needed.”

The butler closed the door quietly, and Claire now stood on the doorstep alone with Simon.

“You’re pale, Claire. Why?”

She closed her eyes as he brushed the pad of his thumb beneath them. Unlike her, he liked to touch and be touched–put a hand on a friend’s shoulder or place a kiss on a cheek. Simon Kelkirk liked people to know he cared about them. Claire didn’t want his touch because she needed to keep herself in control, and his kindness would prevent that from happening. Taking a step back, she said, “There is nothing amiss, my lord. I simply wish to make another journey. Now if you will excuse me, I must be on my way.” Turning away, she walked calmly back down the stairs, and then, picking up her bags, she started towards the gates. She had been fooling only herself by thinking she would reach them.

“You think I will just let you walk away from me with your luggage, alone, without either a carriage or servants?”

“Yes,” Claire said, trying to shake off the hand he now had wrapped around her arm. “You are neither my husband nor brother. Therefore you have no say in what I do, so please release me, Lord Kelkirk.”

They were still partially hidden from the road, but Claire knew that if someone moved close to the fence, they would be seen. Therefore it was imperative she made her escape soon and hire a hackney before someone recognized her.

“If you do not give me some answers soon, Claire, I will pick you and your luggage up and carry you into my carriage and drive around until you talk to me.”

She needed to remain in control; if she did, there was a chance she could walk away from here without him. “I would ask that you simply turn your back and let me walk away, my lord. Will you do that? Because I must leave for somewhere at once, as there is not a moment to lose.” Claire had managed to keep her voice calm while her heart thumped loudly in her chest.

“No, Claire, I cannot do that.”

She couldn’t outrun him, and there was no way she could manipulate him, as he was too clever for that. So what was she to do? Claire thought about the child who was reliant on her arrival in Liverpool as she looked at the man before her. She knew he was a good man. Yes, they always appeared to be at odds with each other, and in truth, that was mostly her fault. No one was closer to Eva and Daniel than he, and that was testament enough, surely. She had precious minutes to make a decision before someone saw both of them and her bags, so, taking a deep breath, she said what she had to. “I-I need to do something, alone. It will harm no one. I will return to London soon in perfect health, my lord.”