The Outcast's Redemption (The Infamous Arrandales) (20 page)

‘Have you run all the way here?’ He asked, kneeling before her and clasping her trembling fingers. ‘Let me get you something to drink.’

‘No, nothing, thank you.’ She was still out of breath, but he noted now that her eyes were gleaming with excitement and not distress. ‘I think, I am sure, Meesden left us a clue about the necklace. On the gown she repaired for me. Her landlady said she had been working on it when Urmston came to see her. It was neatly folded and left on the table with her Bible resting upon it. I think that in itself was a message.’

‘Go on.’ He watched her intently. Just seeing her lightened his heart.

‘She had embroidered “M.K. Sixteen, sixteen” on the hem of the gown. I took it for some sort of trademark, but now I am sure it is something quite different.’ Her fingers twisted and gripped his own. ‘It is a biblical reference,’ she explained. ‘Mark,
Chapter
Sixteen,
Verse
Sixteen.’

‘And do you know what it is?’

She shook her head. ‘I am not familiar with that text.’

‘And you a parson’s daughter.’

* * *

Grace heard his teasing tone, saw the glint of amusement in his eyes and for the first time that day she felt like smiling. ‘Surely the Arrandales are not so degenerate that they do not own a Bible.’

‘Aye, of course we do!’ He rose and looked around the room. ‘The thing is, where to find it...’ He grabbed one of the branched candlesticks from the mantelshelf and strode across to the desk, where several large leather-bound books had been piled up. ‘Here it is... What was the reference again?’ Quickly he turned to the pages. ‘Mark... Mark... Chapter Sixteen, Verse Sixteen:
“He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned”.’

Grace had jumped up to join him, but as she listened her excitement faded.

‘Oh, dear. That is no use at all.’

‘Isn’t it?’ said Wolf, with an intense look that sent her heart skittering. ‘Baptism. She’s telling us the diamonds are in the font.’ He held out his hand. ‘Come along.’

Chapter Twelve

T
hey headed for the chapel, Wolf carrying a lantern to light their way through the heavy darkness that had descended. Grace pulled her cloak more tightly about her while he unlocked the chapel door and she followed him inside. The lantern threw grotesque shadows against the pale walls and she kept close to Wolf, resisting the temptation to clutch at the skirts of his coat. She took the lantern so he could use two hands to lift off the ornately carved wooden lid from the font and she peered in eagerly.

It was dry and empty.

Wolf lowered the heavy cover to the ground and ran his fingers around the rough grey stone of the basin as if he did not believe his eyes.

‘It has been ten years,’ she said gently. ‘Perhaps someone took it.’

‘Perhaps.’

He would not give up. Not yet. There were candles on nearby pricket stands, dusty with age, but once they were lighted he carried them closer and inspected the old stone font, looking for possible hiding places.

‘My great-aunt said the chapel had already been searched, so if the diamonds are here they will not be easily found.’

He bent to inspect the base of the font. There was not so much as a crack where anything might be secreted. The cover itself looked more promising, but there was nothing hidden amongst the intricate carvings of fruit, flowers and cherubs.

‘Nothing.’ He picked up the cover to put it back on the font, twisting it to give a cursory glance to the base as he did so.

‘Wolf!’

He had already seen it. The bottom of the cover had warped badly and split, providing a narrow pocket that stretched across the base. Carefully he reached in with a finger and thumb and tugged at the material tucked inside. It fell into his palm, weighted by something wrapped in its discoloured folds.

‘Wolf, is it...?’ Grace held up the lantern as he gently unfolded the linen.

‘Yes,’ he said, his voice not quite steady. ‘It’s the Sawston necklace.’

Grace reached out. He expected her to touch the diamonds twinkling on his hand, but instead she lifted a corner of the wrapping. It was a handkerchief with initials embroidered on the edge. The same letters and flourishing style he remembered seeing on Urmston’s perfume-soaked handkerchief. From the other side of the font Grace was smiling, hope shining in her eyes.

‘Do you still not believe in miracles? We can surely prove your innocence now.’

We. It was like a shaft of sunlight on a stormy day and it warmed his soul.

* * *

‘I will take that.’

The words echoed around the darkened church. Urmston was standing just inside the door, the light glinting from the barrel of a pistol in his hand.

‘I think not,’ drawled Wolf, ignoring the weapon aimed at his heart. ‘The diamonds are wrapped in your handkerchief. What more proof do we need that you stole them?’

‘You are not a fool, Arrandale. You know I will not let you leave here alive.’

‘Then you must kill us both,’ declared Grace. ‘I will not let you get away with murder.’

Urmston stepped a little further into the chapel.

‘Brave words, my dear, but that is precisely my intention. Only I shall say that Wolfgang killed you, before I shot him. I have already informed the magistrate that the fugitive is here.’

Wolf’s brain was racing. The lighted candles made him and Grace easy targets. He needed to catch Urmston off guard if he was to wrestle that pistol from him, so he must keep him talking and look for his chance.

‘So you admit you took the diamonds?’ he said, playing for time.

‘I did, but I put them back.’

‘Of course.’ Wolf nodded. ‘You did not need to sell them, did you, once you had Thriplow’s money.’

‘The young fool was ripe for the plucking. When I came back from Newmarket I hid the necklace in Florence’s room, behind the loose brick where she used to keep the key to her jewel box. Didn’t want the diamonds turning up again too soon. I wanted everyone to think you a thief as well as a murderer. Once you were hanged I would make sure they were discovered and returned to the Sawstons. After all I shall inherit them, eventually.’

‘Ingenious,’ said Wolf. ‘Tell me, Charles, were you and Florence lovers?’

Urmston’s lip curled. ‘Once she was with child she considered she had fulfilled her duty to you. We bribed Meesden to keep quiet, but although she disliked me she positively
hated
you for marrying her beloved mistress, and once she had begun taking money for her silence she was unable to say anything at all.’

Wolf had guessed as much and was surprised how little it mattered to him now.

He said, ‘So the night she died, Florence quarrelled with me deliberately, to leave the way clear for you.’

‘She did. That temper of yours made it surprisingly easy for us, Arrandale. Florence had given me a key to the servants’ door. I went outside to enjoy a cigarillo, then up the backstairs to join her. If anyone missed me I could say I had been wandering in the gardens.’

‘And you took the necklace.’

‘It is mine by right,’ snapped Urmston. ‘I was Sawston’s heir, not Florence. Why should I not have it? I needed the money. She laughed when I asked her for it, so I had to take it. She fought like a wildcat, followed me to the landing and tried to scratch out my eyes, so I—’ He stopped, a look of anguish contorting his florid features. ‘I pushed her away. She fell against the balcony rail and overbalanced. It was an accident. An accident. Then you came in, Arrandale. It was too good an opportunity to miss. I left the way I had come. By the time I was back in the drawing room everything was confusion. I rushed into the hall where you were kneeling over Florence. It was easy to suggest that you had killed her and to persuade your father to get you out of the country. He was glad to see the back of you.’

Wolf’s jaw tightened. He could not deny it. He had reminded the old man too much of himself. He looked at the pistol pointed at his chest. Perhaps he deserved this ending. For one black moment he could think of nothing to say to prolong the conversation.

‘And what of the necklace,’ said Grace. ‘Where was that?’

‘Safe in my pocket. Meesden’s shock when she discovered it was missing was quite genuine, but by that time Wolfgang was gone and everyone thought he had taken it.’

‘Of course,’ snarled Wolf. ‘After all, if I would kill my wife I would hardly balk at stealing the diamonds.’

‘Quite.’

Wolf’s sharp ears had picked up a faint noise. Thunder, or horses galloping through the park. If Braddenfield and his men had arrived they would see the light in the chapel.

He said quickly, ‘And having put the blame on me you went off to Newmarket.’

‘Well, I did not wish to intrude upon the family’s grief.’

‘Generous of you,’ drawled Wolf. ‘So you took young Thriplow’s fortune and left him to blow his brains out.’

Urmston shrugged. ‘If it had not been me, someone else would have relieved him of his fortune.’ He took another step closer. ‘Now give me those diamonds.’

Wolf’s hand closed over them and he held his fist across his chest. ‘Surely you would not kill us before explaining how the diamonds came to be here and not where you left them?’

‘Meesden,’ said Urmston tersely. ‘She caught me hiding the necklace. I paid her to say nothing, gave her enough for her to buy her shop in London. But she must have realised that it was I and not you who was responsible for Florence’s death and decided to have her revenge. When I heard you were back in England I posted here immediately, only to find the diamonds were gone.’

‘And you had lost track of Meesden, too.’ Wolf spoke quickly, trying to cover what was surely the sound of steps outside the chapel. ‘And just how did you know I was back in England, Charles?’

‘Your lawyer. I paid him to alert me if he should hear from you.’

‘And was it Baylis who gave you Meesden’s direction?’ asked Wolf.

Urmston stepped closer.

‘Yes. The fool thought I wanted her as a witness against you and was only too happy to help, no doubt thinking of the money he would make defending you.’

Wolf saw the merest flicker of light in the doorway and spoke his next words clearly, praying whoever was holding the light would hear Urmston’s answer.

‘So you forced brandy down Annie Meesden’s throat and took her to Vauxhall, where you murdered her.’

‘What else could I do? Oh, I tried to reason with her, I sat for an hour while she finished her mending, but she would not tell me what she had done with the diamonds. She even threatened to tell you. So I had no choice but to kill her. I thought the plan was pretty neat, dispose of Meesden and have her murder added to the list of your crimes. And this will be your final victim.’ Urmston stared hard at Grace. ‘I saw you at Horsemonger Lane. Wolfgang’s lady of mercy. Hatcham thinks you helped him escape.’

‘She is innocent, Charles. Let her go.’

‘Oh, no. I have seen the way you look at her, Wolfgang. I think her death will hurt you more than the others.’

A boot scraped on the doorstep. Urmston’s head came up. He swung the pistol towards Grace. He was so close, he could not miss, but even as he squeezed the trigger Wolf pounced.

He saw the flash from the pistol, felt the searing pain in his side but he kept going, landing against his opponent with such force that they both fell to the ground. Even as the blackness closed in on him he heard voices and the heavy tread of boots on the stone floor. Grace was safe.

* * *

Grace froze as the pistol turned towards her. In that same instant she saw Wolf drop the necklace and throw himself in the way. A shot reverberated around the little church and the two men fell, but although Sir Charles continued to struggle there was no sign of movement from Wolf, whose dead weight pinned his opponent to the ground.

The urgent shouts of the men running into the church broke the spell. Grace flew towards Wolf, helping the men to roll him away from Sir Charles. A red stain was slowly darkening Wolf’s coat and Grace closed her eyes, praying harder than she had ever done in her life that he might be spared.

‘Grace! Are you hurt?’ Loftus was lifting her from her knees.

‘He is innocent,’ she said urgently. ‘Wolfgang is innocent.’

He nodded, scooping up the necklace and the handkerchief that was wrapped around it and putting them in his pocket.

‘I heard enough to know that, my dear. Come out of the way now.’

She sank down on one of the pews as everyone bustled about. Sir Charles was marched away, Wolf was carried to the house, but when Grace went to follow, Loftus stopped her.

‘May I ask what you are doing here?’ he asked. ‘I received your father’s note, saying you had but today returned to Arrandale.’

Grace exhaled. ‘I have a lot to tell you, Loftus.’

Then, in the soft, flickering light of the church candles, Grace made her confession. She related everything, from the moment Wolf had first arrived at the vicarage to their night-time flight back to Arrandale. The only thing she kept to herself were the savage kisses they had shared. Those memories were too intimate, too precious to be divulged.

‘I have been very careless of my reputation, Loftus,’ she said at last. ‘I helped him escape from prison and spent last night alone in the woods with him.’ She raised her chin. ‘I cannot regret it, I did it to save an innocent man. But I
do
regret the pain this must cause you. I beg your pardon for that.’

Silence fell in the chapel. Grace hung her head. Loftus really could not be expected to marry a woman who had behaved so badly. She would go home to Papa. If Wolf lived, if he decided to remain in England after all...

She would not think of that, not yet.

‘I cannot deny that I am shocked by your confidences, Grace,’ Sir Loftus began, with heavy deliberation. ‘But I am also proud. You have integrity, the courage to act upon your convictions and I admire that. I am aware that the world would censure you most severely, if your actions should become known, but you shall not hear a word of reproach from
me
. And I shall not break our engagement. I have always considered it my duty as a magistrate to see that justice is administered and I am not such a hypocrite to turn away from you when you have followed your conscience. No, my dear, with your permission we shall instruct your father to call the banns next week and we will be married within the month. You shall have all the protection my name can give you.’

She felt his hand on her shoulder, a gesture of comfort and reassurance. To Grace it felt as heavy and confining as a yoke.

* * *

‘He’s stirring.’

Wolf was aware of the faint smell of lavender and a cool cloth wiping his brow. He opened his eyes.

‘Grace.’

The frail whisper must have been his own voice, for she took his hand and squeezed it gently, smiling at him in a way that made him wonder if he was in heaven, being tended by an angel.

‘You are safe now, Wolf.’ She added softly, ‘You saved my life.’

He glanced down at the bandaging around his chest.

‘And who saved mine?’

‘That was Raoul.’ Lady Cassandra came closer, her husband at her side. ‘You should be thankful that he brought his surgeon’s case with him.’

Raoul grinned. ‘I have learned that where there are Arrandales, there is trouble. However, on this occasion your life was not in danger. The bullet skimmed the ribs. A glancing blow merely.’

‘Aye,’ said Richard, coming up. ‘Another inch to the left and it would have killed you. How do you feel, Brother?’

‘Damnable,’ muttered Wolf. ‘Where am I?’

‘In the morning room at Arrandale,’ Grace answered him. ‘The day bed here was more convenient for everyone to look after you than trailing all the way up to your bedchamber.’

As she spoke Wolf glanced past the four persons gathered around him. Of course. The room was familiar, although in the bright light of day it looked much shabbier than he remembered. Neglected. Like the rest of the Arrandale estate. Ten years without a master was taking its toll. He frowned.

‘How long have I been here?’

‘The constables carried you in here last night,’ said Richard, ‘after Urmston shot you.’