Darkest Death, page 14
part #2 of Darkest Series
“I wanted to, so many times,” he said. “You are always surrounded by people and having fun, and I just enjoyed watching you glisten and light up the room. Then I thought maybe you didn’t want me. You were so strong and independent, turning away suitors right and left. Making your own way, even when others pushed you.”
“I am independent. I will continue to be after we are married. I hope you know what you’re getting into.”
He threw his head back and laughed, and many heads turned her way. She didn’t mind, but then she saw the Earl of Lamberth bearing down on his daughter with an awful look on his face. “Well, my almost official fiancé, you may come and lend your power to what I am about to do.”
“Oh,” he questioned but didn’t resist the direction she pulled them.
“Lady Lillian’s father appears to be up to no good.”
They arrived right after the earl. “What is the meaning of this? My brother is dead. I don’t believe the suicide angle. He would never do that. I spoke to him the day they released him. He wasn’t supposed to be released. Yet, orders changed? Papers mysteriously lost so they don’t know who ordered it? No way. You had him killed.”
“Not so long ago, I’d have had you name your seconds for that insult,” The Dark Duke said with a good deal of menace behind his words.”
“Father!” Lady Lillian exclaimed. “How dare you insult my husband like that.”
“Or my best friend,” Sarah put in. “Explain yourself, sir, before I have the hostess throw you out. The person hosting tonight’s party does love for me to come.”
The earl paled. “What is the meaning of this? This is a private conversation between me and the duke.”
“No, it is not.” Lady Sarah refused to back down. Shee caught Lord Archer and Duke Clarence exchanging looks and narrowed her eyes. She’d deal with them later, if need be. “You’re trying to brow beat her like you’ve always done, and using the situation to get some of your own back with the duke for his humiliation he set you down with in front of the coppers with your son and brother.” She seethed. She’d waited for this day for so long.
“Now, I will make allowances as you have just found out your brother is dead, and criminal or not, it has to be hard. But you will not speak to her or her husband that way.”
It was immensely satisfying to see the earl’s face hang open.
The duke also laughed and raised a glass. “Her words are eloquent, and I happen to agree. Now tell me what you have found.”
The two of them moved off, and she took Lillian’s arm and Hermione’s arm, and with Lord Archer hovering at her back, they caught up on what they’d seen and figured out. She changed her mind and decided to tell her of the coincidence of Lord Downing.
“That man planning treason and the woman who hurt Lillian were seen together at her engagement party?” Hermione squeaked out at a high whisper. “What the hell has happened? How did we get ourselves into such a mess?”
Grimly, Lady Sarah met her gaze. “I don’t know. But the only thing that Lady Lillian has done to garner the attention of people like her is save King William, may he rest in peace. Maybe this goes back to that?”
Lady Lillian frowned. “And you know, I always thought it was odd. I originally had not even planned to go to that event. It seemed a paltry affair, and hardly worth going and having to pretend I cared about getting married or being presented. Father insisted because Jarvis wanted us to be there. Specifically asked Father.”
Now Lord Archer spoke up. “We need to tell the duke and figure out what it might mean. If the duchess—and the other two of you by association—are specific targets like that and not just in the way, it changes things.”
People started to hound them, though, all wanting a piece of the new duchess and some wanting to find out if she were engaged. They never reached the duke while he spoke with the earl. It could wait. The middle of a soiree was probably not the best place to discuss some of these things anyway. Having all their heads together whispering for any length of time would cause its own suspicions.
Many asked her to dance, which she accepted, and she spent a lot of time fielding questions. Then Lord Downing showed up suddenly in front of her. “Shall we dance?”
“No,” Lady Sarah said.
“Come now, Countess, that was quite the refusal. One would almost think you have a personal thing against me. For, although you came down on the arm of the esteemed Lord Archer, you’ve accepted many other offers to dance.
“One might think that, Lord Downing, as that is their right, I suppose. Who am I to police what you think of me? And pray tell, in what corner of that tiny little mind of yours do you actually believe I care what you think?” She purposefully pushed him, trying to see how bad of a temper he had. Nonetheless, her words were true. “As you have stated, I came down on the arm of my viscount. What need have I of suitors?”
Lord Archer’s arm came around her waist as he joined them. “Yes, Lord Downing. What need would she have of suitors?”
Chapter Sixteen
Lord Archer
London
The ballroom glittered with jewels and candles and gossip. Lord Archer socialized, doing the obligatory speaking with others, if only for their future in Polite Society, when all he wanted to do was hover around his countess, protect her from any and all vultures. The fact that she was unofficially taken would only bring out the competitive spirit in many of his peers. He knew that all too well.
However, he maintained his distance until he saw Lord Downing approach. No power on God’s green earth would keep him from poking his nose in there.
“As you can see, she has a fiancé. A fact which will be made public in tomorrow’s Times. I had the notices sent as soon as I returned from Scotland. Which reminds me. When I checked in at the agency, I found myself somehow skipped off the duty roster. Is that not one of the things you help with, Lord Downing? See, I know our boss does the actual scheduling, so I am wondering where and why he has the idea I was not returning? He seemed quite confused to find me alive and in town. Can you expound on that turn of circumstances?”
“Perhaps you have been in the game too long, Lord Archer,” Lord Downing said silkily. “Seems you are seeing conspiracies where there are none. I simply did not know the timeframe it would take you to ascertain Lady Lillian’s innocence. Instead, I see you seduced her friend. Was that just a part of the plan to get closer to the duchess? If so, I applaud your dedication to the agency.”
Lady Sarah stiffened next to him, and she took a sidestep away from him. That small step angered him, the lack of distrust it represented. Did she really believe that after all they’d been through?
“Deflect and create suspicion elsewhere when caught. That’s what you taught me and the others so long ago. Henceforth, I suggest you stay away from Lady Sarah and her friends. They are not treasonous. Quite the opposite. Perhaps you are unaware that Lady Lillian has her own titles for saving King William. No, I don’t think you are unaware. I think you wanted me out of the way for some reason.” Ah, that got a flicker out of him. Just a twitch, but he caught it. He leaned forward. “And I will find it. When I do, you will be brought down. Traitors are bad enough. Traitors presenting themselves as supporters are a class of dung all their own.”
Lord Downing held his ground. “I suggest, young Lord Archer, that you be careful whom you threaten. Or—”
“Or what? You’ll set someone from the agency on me? Tell them I’m a traitor? Perhaps, ask them to kill me for you.”
Lord Downing actually paled at that, but he recovered quickly. With a dismissive noise and wave of his hand, he said, “Why would I do that? What an extraordinary accusation, Lord Archer. I would not say such things if I were you.”
How had everyone missed what a power hungry ego walking around on two legs that this man was? Then again, he was a peer of the realm, a highly respected lord who ostensibly served the people. However, he probably had not had word regarding Andrea’s death yet. He would have to ask about her specifically to get through to the proper authorities in Scotland. Not like they were telegraphing her death. So he bluffed his way through now. For it had to be a bluff.
“Why? Andrea was quite talkative before becoming a casualty of your arrogance and deceit.”
Now, Lord Downing’s face turned a ruddy color so quickly, Lord Archer worried he’d drop at his feet from an apoplectic fit. That would be tedious. “You insufferable twit. I will see you lose your position in the agency.”
Lord Archer leaned forward and whispered, “I have proof and eyewitnesses. What do you have?”
The color drained as fast as it had come, leaving him white as the proverbial ghost from those dreadful gothic novels that were all the rage. A perverse satisfaction filed him as he turned and walked off.
He found Lady Sarah again, who’d gone to find Lady Lillian and Hermione to play guardian angel. And a fierce one she made. There could be no mistaking her hovering attitude. He saw many a gossip try to pry the new Duchess of Canterbury away for the gossip and favor. She obviously excelled in this element, even Lady Lillian had a certain je ne sais quoi about her that he had not noticed before. It was confidence but also a flavor of rebellion, almost like pirates invading the royal court in disguise. The picture amused him to think of them thus. The three musketeers, that was who they were. The three musketeers parading about as if peacocks on the show, no one the wiser as to what really lay beneath them.
However, as much as he enjoyed watching some of society’s matrons try to coerce them into spilling the gossip, he needed to have them home.
“They are incredible, are they not?” the duke said from behind him.
Though startled, not even a twitch betrayed him. “I was just thinking the same thing. However, I have some things I need to set in order, and we need to talk. Can you escort the ladies to your place? I’m sure that Lady Sarah will balk, but we can send for her maid in the morning. Between the Earl of Lamberth’s attitude and the scorn and anger of Lord Downing today, I do not want her alone, or just with servants. Lord Downing would surely talk his way around them.”
“Yeah, we have quite a bit to talk about. Come to my townhouse. I will stay and protect them, and you come when you’re ready. I shall have a room made up for you as well.”
It made sense. “Agreed.”
Lord Archer went to Lady Sarah and pulled her into his arms for one last dance. “I am having the duke take you to his townhouse. All of you. I will meet you there later.”
“What? Why? I want to stay with you.”
“You can’t, and you know it.” He pulled her against his groin, already pushing the boundaries of propriety. He bent and spoke into her ear. “Besides, I’m not sure I can keep my hands off you if we are alone again.”
Her blush pleased him, and the sparkle in her eyes had him smiling at her, feeling as if God smiled down on him direct. “I know I can’t keep my hands of you, my love. Remember, it was me who initiated that last kiss in the carriage.”
Her breathing had turned erratic, and his body responded to her obvious signals of lust. “I have missed you so much. I can’t wait to make you my wife and be damned with people saying married people have to live separate lives. Unless I am working, I will escort you everywhere, just so I can kiss you senseless on the way there and home again.”
The way she looked at him tempted him to do just that. But no. He would give her the wedding she deserved. That vaunted self-control of his would be getting a firm testing though.
Too soon, the dance ended, and the duke took them all away, but he had parting words for him first. “Be careful. Too many irons in the fire, I think. I find it odd that Jarvis died early this week—the same week Andrea was supposed to keep you away from London at all costs, up to and including death, apparently. It feels as if they must be related somehow, and the Earl of Lamberth wants someone to blame for his mistakes with his brother and how they affected his daughter. I am it, unfortunately. Because he really is a good man to have by your side in a fight, I would prefer he take responsibility and atone. I will have to tell you about it some time.”
“I’d love to hear about it. But on the whole, your words make sense. I shall not be long. Mayhap the women would wait up as well?”
The duke threw his head back and laughed. “My wife and your sister have already mutinied being sent to bed while ‘the men fix everything,’ but your fiancé? She has threatened to do you bodily harm, good kisser or not, if you even try to keep her away now.”
“Welp, that settles it, I see,” he said, laughing. They’d have their hands full with those ladies. And soon, his sister would have a baby. He frowned, scared at what those three would be like with kids at their feet. Though he’d like a large family, he did not want to imagine what the three could do together. However, something about his sister tonight?
Then he realized what it was. She’d dance a few dances, but only with one person did she dance repeatedly with, and he looked damned familiar. It might be time to put his skills to work for the family and make sure no one was pulling a fast one like the marquess had.
He made his way to a back room to drink a brandy. The room, ornate as the rest of the house, held copious amounts of smoke from all the cheroot smoking, card playing men. One of them was young Robert, the earl’s heir and quite the ass, according to his sister.
Much as he’d like to take him in for personal reasons, he had no proof of crimes, so he instead, held up the mantel as if he hadn’t a care in the world. He would wait out Lord Robert’s stay. He turned and set his brandy down when something hard pushed into his back. “This is my father’s pistol,” Robert said. “Don’t make me shoot it. I do so detest the sight of blood.”
“Don’t be an idiot, Robert. There must be two hundred people here. You’ve already made it back from the brink of death once. Didn’t you learn anything from it?”
He narrowed his eyes at him. “I learned that people are easily manipulated if you’re injured. Now, unless you want me to start shooting the others, you will follow me out the back way.”
Lord Archer would not be able to handle it if another bystander was hurt because of him, so he complied. As soon as they were out back in the service entrance, Lord Robert shoved him away. So he turned to face the dishonorable coward. “What do you want?”
“I want you to convince the duke and my sister to drop the charges.”
“Are you daft?” He meant to say more, but Lord Robert’s head swayed. He was drunk?
“Do not call me that!” he said, his whining tones like that of a child.
“Daft? You must be to pull a gun on me here.”
“Stop calling me that!” he said a gain, his yell echoing in the back alley. “You don’t know me,” he added.
“I’m quite glad of it, from what I hear.” It really was more fun to needle him. Then Lord Robert shot at a glassed sconce. He barely had time to admire his handiwork before he was attacked. Lord Archer did a defensive move which caused him to lose his grip on the weapon. He ripped it right out of his hands.
He punched Lord Robert, who stumbled back against the wall. “Go home, Robert. You’re drunk. Do not embarrass your family any further.”
Lord Archer returned to the party for a short time, then left. He had his answer. Lord Robert definitely was involved one way or the other. Jarvis’ dupe running scared, or being controlled by someone else. Either way, how could he use that?
Before he made it very far, he heard a rustling of clothing behind him and whirled to protect himself, but it was too late. Something hard hit him on the side of the head. Though he fought back, the pain in his head caused a severe dizziness, so the second hit knocked him out. His last thought was of Lady Sarah’s sparkling eyes as she looked up at him.
Chapter Seventeen
Lady Sarah
The carriage ride home, Lady Sarah stared out into the night through the crack in the curtain, lost in her thoughts. Absently, she noted the passing gas lamps, how they spread farther and farther apart, the darkness growing. And that’s how she felt now.
When Lord Downing had mention Lord Archer seducing her in order to get closer to Lady Lillian, it had upset her, but the glitter of the night, then the way he looked at her, as if she were the only person in existence, and their dance? His words seduced, and he’d held her as if he couldn’t imagine having anyone else in his arms. The lightness in her had dazzled
But now, alone and away from him, doubt crept in. For the first time, she understood a little better how Hermione could be fooled. Her heart believed in Lord Archer, believed that he was the man she’d grown up with, honorable, but he was an agent. He was after a traitor. Part of her could logically even see his point. The rest of her wanted to vehemently reject the thought. A deep ache started in her heart. Her soul screamed in denial.
But her mind said it made sense.
Otherwise, why did he wait so long? How many suitors did he watch vie for her hand while he just stepped back, not saying a word, treating her like a friend, or worse, a sister. Her breathing became erratic, and she concentrated on controlling it.
“Lady Sarah?”
“Beg your pardon?” she said, shaking herself out of her stupor.
“Lord Archer agreed that the ladies needed to hear. He’ll meet us at my townhouse soon. You can wear something of Lillian’s for your night’s stay.”
“Of course. Thank you, Duke.” She nodded her head slowly, trying to be casual, like she was simply tired.
But the pain wrenched through her. It couldn’t be a fake. Her life, his words on the dance floor, surely he hadn’t just said them because of a part he played for the agency? Maybe if she repeated it enough, her broken heart would believe it. She’d sworn never to be taken in the way Hermione had, but how close had she come on the way from Edinburgh? What would have happened if Andrea hadn’t abandoned them on the road?
And had he used the memories of their childhood together to get her to drop her guard? Suddenly, she grabbed Hermione’s hand. “I’m so sorry. I know I’ve been rough on you for your lack of discretion with the marquess. Mostly, I do not judge you, I judge him. But we women know that we are the one who are punished when such discretions become public. I had anger at you for putting yourself in danger, not because you fell for the Marquess of Oxford.”
