The Mistress of Hanover Square (10 page)

Amelia’s eyes flashed with anger. ‘Are you saying that Emily’s life is less important than mine? That is unfair, Gerard. She is a lovely person and I am very fond of her.’

‘I did not mean to imply that she was less worth saving.’ Gerard ran fingers through his hair. ‘Of course we shall do what we can, but once they know they have the wrong person…’

‘Are you saying that they will kill her?’ Amelia was rapidly becoming distraught. ‘No! How do we let them know that I will pay?’ She looked at him wildly. ‘This is all my fault. If I had given my brother what he wanted…Oh, no! It is too much.’

At that moment there was a disturbance at the door and then two people entered, their clothes sprinkled with a dusting of snow.

Amelia looked towards the door and saw her companion.
She gave a scream and ran to her. ‘Emily, my love! I have been out of my mind with worry! Where have you been?’

‘I went for a walk…’ Emily sobbed and threw herself into Amelia’s arms. ‘I was snatched from behind and thrust into a carriage. I had a blanket over my head and I did not know what was happening. After some time, perhaps half an hour or so, the carriage stopped and I was carried into a house. I was left alone in a bedroom. It was a very cold house. I screamed and tried to get out but both the window and door were locked. As they carried me in, I heard one of them say that if the money did not come through I was to be killed…’

‘Emily…’ Amelia drew back in shock to look at her face. ‘How terrifying for you, my love. What happened? How did you escape?’

Behind her, at that moment, she heard what seemed to be a quarrel break out. Turning her head, she saw that the man who had entered the house with Emily was the Marquis of Northaven. From the look of it, both Harry and Gerard were threatening him.

‘Please, you must not be angry with the marquis,’ Emily cried. ‘It was he who saved me and brought me back. Had he not come, I should still have been in that room.’

‘Is this true?’ Gerard demanded. ‘Explain yourself if you please, sir.’

‘I think we should speak privately,’ Northaven said. He took a few steps towards Emily. ‘I am sorry
that you were subjected to such an ordeal, Miss Barton. I tried to warn the earl that he must be careful, but I did not expect that they would take you. I understood Miss Ravenshead was their quarry.’

‘You tried to warn me…’ Gerard frowned as something clicked into place. ‘Was it you that sent the doll?’

‘Yes. A clumsy trick, I think, but I was not sure how else to do it. I wanted to alert you to the fact that Miss Royston might be in danger.’

‘Why did you not say so plainly?’ Gerard glared at him.

‘Would you have believed me if I had signed my name? Would you have received me had I tried to warn you in person?’ Northaven lifted his head proudly. ‘I do not pretend to be without vice. I have done many things that I might wish undone—but I am not a murderer, though you persist in thinking me one. If I caused the death of comrades by loose talk, I regret it—but it
was
careless talk, no more.’

‘I think you need to do more explaining,’ Gerard said. ‘Amelia, please take Miss Barton upstairs and see that she is cared for. You might wish to send for the doctor?’

Emily shook her head in alarm. ‘I am not harmed. I was frightened, but I am well enough now.’

‘I shall take you upstairs, my love.’ Amelia put a protective arm about her. ‘You are cold and trembling. You shall go to bed with a warming pan and a tisane. I shall sit with you and you may tell me all about it.’

Amelia drew her companion from the room. She would have liked to listen to all the marqu is had to say, but she knew that Gerard did not wish either her or Emily to hear all the details lest it frighten them more. They had both had a terrible shock and it was only thanks to the Marquis of Northaven that things were not much worse. Amelia could hardly bear to think of what might have happened.

‘Were you far from the house when they took you?’ she asked Emily as they walked upstairs together.

‘Only in the knot gardens,’ Emily told her. ‘It must have been within sight of the house, but of course it was very early. I dare say even the servants had not risen.’ She gave a little sob. ‘I lay awake all night. I was tossing and turning and thought that a walk might clear my head. I had forgot what we said—besides, I did not imagine anyone would try to snatch me. It was you I believed in danger.’

‘My poor Emily.’ Amelia squeezed her hand. ‘You were taken because they thought you were me. A huge ransom was demanded, but I should have paid it, my love. We were trying to think how it could be done when you came in. I could not have borne it had anything happened to you.’

‘Amelia! I am so glad you did not have to pay—and I am sorry if you were worried. I did not dream that anyone would try to kidnap me.’

‘I dare say they would not had you not been wearing my blue cloak,’ Amelia said. ‘You must not
wear it to walk in again until this rogue has been caught and dealt with, Emily.’

‘Have you any idea of who it could be?’

‘No, not truly. I suppose you heard nothing?’

‘They spoke of someone of whom they were afraid,’ Emily told her. ‘However, they did not name him.’

‘I know everyone thinks it must be my brother and I fear it may be so, though I do not wish to believe it.’

‘It is so wicked. I do not know who could do such things.’ Emily shivered. ‘I was to have been strangled had the money not been forthcoming—but that was after I told them who I was. I believe they realised their mistake too late. They spoke of a ransom note and said that if the money was not paid they would amuse themselves before disposing of me.’

‘My love! How awful for you. I am so sorry that you were exposed to such wickedness.’

‘It was fortunate for me that the marquis came to get me.’

‘How did he know that you had been taken—and where to find you?’

‘I have no idea. I did not think to ask. I was simply grateful that he got me out of that house before…’ A fit of shuddering overtook Emily. ‘I have never been as frightened in my life.’

‘I am certain that Gerard and Harry will wish to know where the marquis got his information,’ Amelia said. ‘Come, dearest, let me help you undress. Martha will bring you a pan filled with hot coals and a tisane. Tomorrow I shall take you home.’

‘No, please do not. I want to go to the ball as we planned,’ Emily said. ‘I shall not let this frighten me—nor shall I dwell on what happened with Mr Sinclair. At one time last night I considered taking my own life, but what happened made me see that I want to live. It will be hard to meet Mr Sinclair again, but I shall bear it.’

‘My poor love.’ Amelia kissed her brow. ‘You are a very brave girl. You must forget Mr Sinclair; if he could not behave in a proper manner, he is not worth breaking your heart over.’

‘W
ell, I am waiting,’ Gerard said. ‘I am grateful to have Miss Barton back, but this begs an explanation. How did you know that there was a plot to kidnap Miss Royston and how did you know where to find Miss Barton?’

The marquis made a wry face. ‘I thought they had Miss Royston until I got there and realised that they had snatched the wrong lady. I persuaded them to drink some rum to keep out the cold and laced it with laudanum. As soon as they became groggy I snatched Miss Barton and brought her here.
He
will know that I tricked them and I dare say my life may be at risk, but I do not value it so highly that I shall lose sleep over it.’

‘You have still not told us how you knew what was going on,’ Harry objected. ‘And who is behind this business?’

‘Don’t look at me like that, Pendleton,’ the
marquis said. ‘If you must know, I was offered money to help capture Miss Royston. However, I believe he sensed that I was not going to do his bidding and so he moved ahead of time. I was told the abduction was planned for when she journeyed to Coleridge.’

‘You were offered money—how much?’

‘Ten thousand pounds.’ Northaven laughed ruefully. ‘A pittance, I dare say, when you consider her fortune. A few months ago I might have taken his money. I was in debt and the bitterness inside me was much stronger than it is now. You may thank a lady for that—and, no, I shall not name her.’

‘Why did you not come to us—tell us who we have to deal with?’ Gerard demanded.

‘If I knew his name, I would have told you. He keeps to the shadows and hides his face—though I have seen it since our first meeting. I let him believe that I would help him, learning what I could of his intentions. I have tried to follow him, and I think he spotted me, which may be why he did not trust me in the end. However, I knew where they meant to hold Miss Royston for the first few hours—and I was on my way here early this morning. I had decided that I could not handle this alone and meant to ask you to listen to my story. As I walked towards the house, I saw what I thought was Miss Royston being snatched. There was no time to warn you so I followed them. They had not changed the rendez-vous—and, thankfully, his rogues still trusted me.’

‘You have no idea of his identity?’

‘I know that he calls himself Lieutenant Gordon, but I doubt it is his name—though I believe him to have been an officer, for he has the manner of a military man. However, I do not recall that he ever served with us.’

‘It was not Sir Michael Royston?’

‘Miss Royston’s brother? Good lord, no! I would have known his voice. I played cards with him quite recently.’

‘Could he not be in league with this rogue?’

‘He could, but not to my knowledge.’

‘Why were you approached?’

‘He believed that I might want to bring you down, Gerard. He must have heard of our quarrel, which is known well enough in certain circles. His plans for Miss Royston were not simply to ransom her, believe me. Had you paid what he asked, he would have taken the money—and then I believe he meant to despoil her and kill you.’

‘My God!’ Gerard turned pale. ‘He must hate me.’ He took a turn about the room, then returned to where Harry and the marquis stood. ‘What have I done to him that he should hate me so?’

‘Only you can answer that,’ Northaven said. ‘Have you ruined a man at the tables or taken his woman?’

‘No…unless…Lisette—’ Gerard broke off and smote his forehead with the palm of his hand, a look of disbelief in his eyes.‘I do not know. My wife…was carrying the child of her lover when I married her. She was honest with me. Lisette told me that he had died
and that she was alone in the world. I married her to protect her, but if her lover were severely wounded and then recovered…to discover that she had married me…he may blame me for her death.’

‘That may be your answer,’ Northaven said, eyes narrowed in thought. ‘If Gordon believes that you took her from him, he may wish to take what you love in revenge. Since Miss Royston is wealthy and you have your own fortune, he thinks that he may also have some financial gain from it.’

‘But I did not take her from him…’ Gerard shook his head. ‘When I found her she was close to death. She was lying at the side of the road, bruised and beaten. She told me that some French soldiers had raped her—more than one, I believe. I nursed her back to life and then I married her to keep her safe. She was very ill after the birth, but then she recovered…’ He paused, a nerve flicking in his cheek. ‘Lisette took her own life. I believe because she wanted more from me than I could give her.’

‘Good grief!’ Harry cried, shocked. ‘I had no idea…My dear fellow. I am so sorry.’

Gerard shrugged off his sympathy. ‘I told no one until recently. Miss Royston knows some of it, but not all—and I ask you both to keep my secret. I believe Lisette took her own life because I did not love her.’

‘
He
blames you for her death,’ Northaven said grimly. ‘It is as plain as the nose on your face! This Lieutenant Gordon—whoever he is—
he
blames you for the death of the woman he loves.’

‘In a way I am guilty, though I never meant to hurt her. I thought Lisette understood that I had married her simply to offer my protection, but she wanted me to love her. I failed her…and her death has haunted me ever since.’

‘I believe you have established a motive, Ravens-head—now you need to know who he really is. She did not give you the name of her lover?’

‘No. I never asked; I believed him dead and it did not matter.’

‘Does he know the child is his?’ Harry asked. ‘If so, he may feel that you have stolen her as well.’

‘I doubt he knows it,’ Gerard said. ‘She had not seen him since he rode away to battle some weeks earlier—one of his friends told her he had been killed. She was trying to discover more when she was set upon by those rogues who raped her and left her for dead.’

‘Then it is best that Gordon never knows the truth,’ Harry said. ‘Until you can discover the identity of your enemy, Gerard, you must be very careful.’

‘Yes, you are right,’ Gerard agreed. He looked at Northaven. ‘Are you willing to help us?’

‘Of course. You had only to
ask
.’ Northaven’s eyes gleamed. ‘Tell me what I may do for you and I shall do my best to oblige.’

Amelia sat with Emily until she drifted off into sleep. After some tears and a fit of the shudders, she had finally settled. Leaving her to rest, Amelia decided to change for the evening. She was thoughtful
as she sat for her maid to dress her hair into the new softer style, caught up in an intricate swirl at the nape of her neck. During one of her crying bouts, Emily’s deep sadness at the loss of her child had come tumbling out.

Amelia had comforted her as best she could. She had made up her mind that she would definitely speak to someone soon about employing an agent to make inquiries. It might not be possible to trace the child, and even if Emily’s child could be found they might not be able to recover her. She would have a family, perhaps a mother and father who loved her—but perhaps it would be enough for Emily to have news of her daughter.

Amelia would do what she could to find the child, but she would say nothing until she knew whether or not it was possible. Having settled that much in her mind, she went down to the parlour where guests had begun to gather for drinks before dinner. She saw Susannah and several of the other guests but there was no sign of Gerard or Harry.

‘They went out earlier and have not yet come in,’ Susannah said when Amelia asked. ‘Harry told me what Northaven had done. I could hardly believe that he had acted so heroically. He was not always courteous to me in the past—and yet I am not sure that he is black as he is often painted.’

‘I owe the marquis a debt of deep gratitude,’ Amelia said. ‘I do not forget that he once fought a duel with Harry and that you were wounded, my love. However, I do not believe he meant to injure
you—and perhaps he has gone some way to redeeming himself by bringing Emily back to us.’

‘Oh, I forgave him for that long ago.’ Susannah smiled. ‘He watched us when we walked from church after our wedding, you know. There was something in his eyes…I think he meant me to know that Harry was safe from him, as he has been.’ Susannah looked thoughtful. ‘He is undoubtedly a rake and has almost certainly done things that would shock us if we knew the whole—but everyone is entitled to a second chance.’

‘Yes, I am sure you are right.’ Amelia frowned. ‘I wanted to speak to Harry, but it will keep.’

‘Is there something I can help you with, Amelia?’

‘No, Susannah. I need a man’s advice about something, my dear. I had thought to ask Harry, for I believe that Gerard has enough on his mind at the moment—but another day will do.’

‘Well, I dare say they will not be long, though Harry told me not to hold dinner.’

‘I expect they have some business.’

‘I dare say they do. It seems very odd that the Marquis of Northaven is involved; Harry was much against him at one time.’

‘Gentlemen are contrary creatures,’ Amelia teased. ‘They can be at odds one minute and the best of friends another.’

‘Do you think we can trust him?’ Harry asked as they entered the house, shaking a light dusting of snow from their coats. ‘I must admit I should not
have given him a chance to speak had he not brought Miss Barton back to us. I should probably have told the footmen to throw him out.’

He went over to the magnificent mahogany sideboard in his library and poured brandy for them both, giving one to Gerard and holding the other to warm it in his hands before sipping.

‘At the moment I do not have much choice,’ Gerard confessed. ‘His tale of a Lieutenant Gordon might be a falsehood, but I am inclined to believe him. Lisette had a lover. She believed he had been killed, but it is possible that he still lives. Men fall in battle and are reported dead and then turn up somewhere…’ He sighed with frustration. ‘If he went looking for her and heard tales of her death, it would explain why he hates me. He probably thinks I am a monster and that I treated her ill. I gave her everything I could, but she needed so much more.’

‘If you could speak to him, tell him what happened…’

Gerard shook his head, dismissing the idea. ‘I doubt he would listen. In his place I would want revenge.’ He groaned his frustration. ‘What am I to do, Harry? How can I marry Amelia, knowing that by doing so I am endangering her life? When I thought she was in danger from her brother it was one thing, but now…’

‘You cannot be sure of anything. This tale of Northaven’s may be a ruse. He could still be in league with the rogues. Besides, you cannot wish to withdraw? You do not wish to jilt Amelia Royston?
Think how it would look? Susannah would never speak to you again.’

‘Of course I do not wish to jilt her! Good God! It is the last thing I want—but if the marriage is rendering her the target of a madman…’

‘I can only advise you to wait. We shall see that she is protected,of course. Northaven says that he will try to discover the true identity of thi sman…getasclose to him as he can and then bring you news of his whereabouts. We must hope that he will keep his word.’

‘Yes, though, if he drugged the rogues who snatched Miss Barton, Northaven’s life could be at risk. Lieutenant Gordon will have him shot on sight.’

‘He knew that was possible when he agreed. This may be his way of atoning, Gerard. Even if he did not betray us that time in Spain, it was his loose talk while drunk that led to the deaths of several men. The French knew we were coming. Our mission was secret. Only the four of us knew, for we did not tell the troopers where we were going. They followed us blindly to their deaths—and Northaven did not turn up that morning. He says that he woke too late after a night of heavy drinking and gambling, but I am still not certain I believe him.’

‘We sent him to Coventry and branded him a coward and a traitor,’ Gerard observed grimly. ‘He always swore that he was innocent, but in his heart he knew that his loose tongue was to blame. He provoked you into a duel and would have killed any of us in anger—but I believe he has changed, though I have no idea why.’

‘He said it was a woman.’

‘If rumour does not lie, he has ruined more than one in his time.
She
must be remarkable if she has reformed him. I am not certain that his story is the true one, but I have no other clues. So far this Lieutenant Gordon has managed to cover his tracks. I have set my agents to looking for him, and I am having Northaven watched too. I do not trust him entirely even yet.’

‘Then you must carry on as if nothing has happened. If you change your plans, Gordon will become suspicious. There is no guarantee that he will leave Miss Royston in peace, even if you give her up. If I were in your shoes, I would double the number of men watching over her and Miss Barton and go ahead with your plans.’

‘I must make Amelia aware of the danger—but I think you are right. We did not tell many people, but these things get out.To draw back now would lookas if we had quarrelled. I shall just have to be vigilant.’

‘It is all you can do for the moment. I shall come to Coleridge a few days after you, Gerard. In the meantime I will send some of my grooms with you. I know you have your own men, but they will do better in the shadows. My grooms will be armed and ride with you.’

‘Thank you, but I hardly like to involve you in this business, Harry. You have a wife and child to think of and this may be a nasty affair before it is ended.’

‘We swore to help each other that day in Spain,’ Harry reminded him grimly. ‘We survived that day
because the three of us defended each other’s backs. You were there for me when I needed you—I shall not desert you in your time of need.’

‘You believe that all this may be because of Lisette’s lover?Someone she knew before you married her?’ Amelia stared at Gerard in the moonlight.Hehad come to her as she was about to go up to bed, requesting that she stroll with him in the gallery. The candles had burned low in their sockets, but the moonlight filtered through the long windows, giving them light enough to see each other’s faces. Had it not been for the subject under discussion, it might have been romantic. She did not think that he had mentioned that Lisette had had a lover before this,though perhaps she had not perfectly heard him. ‘Gerard—how can that be? I am at a loss to understand. Why should this man blame you for what happened?’