Darkest Death, page 17
part #2 of Darkest Series
“We would not think of it,” Clarence put in. “Oh, and if you see Lord Archer, please ask him to come to my house. I’m sure his sister could use the comfort.”
“As you wish, Your Grace,” Martin Smith said with a bow.
The other two men left as if in a daze, and Duke Clarence shut the door behind them. She walked over to a side window and watched them walk by the gas lamps littering the way. She didn’t breathe easy until they’d gone far enough down the block for her to believe they were actually leaving and not staying to watch the house.
“Well, Countess of York, I am quite impressed,” His Grace said.
“As am I.” Lord Archer’s voice surprised her, and she ran to him, and carefully hugged him.
“I… About what?” What was she supposed to say to that? Thank you hardly felt appropriate.
“One, you twisted that man around into so many knots, it’ll be a week before he figures it out,” Lord Archer said. She looked up into his eyes. The mischievous tilt to his smile had melted her heart for years, and now as no exception.
“But he will figure it out,” she said with confidence. “That man’s mind… Even though he didn’t see much, and though he acted the servant…”
“He was no servant,” Duke Clarence said. “The other two maybe. But Martin’s shoes were highly polished, of good leather, Balmoral style. His cloak was of good quality wool, and his demeanor was respectful, but he did not have that deference a man who has spent most of his life in servitude would likely have. The other two did.”
“Good observations about his shoes,” Lord Archer said admiringly.
“Whatever he started as, he’s now a first rate bobbie, and probably should be with Scotland Yard, not working in London at probably footpad cases,” she said, but then added thoughtfully, “but I think he knows it’s not. I think…I think he suspected more, and we gave him a lot more than he’d bargained for. But he was not taken aback by it all, or horrified. No, he was interested and filing all the pieces away, looking for the big picture.”
“Exactly my impression from what I heard,” Lord Archer said. “We need a plan.”
“Another plan,” she said wryly, and the others laughed.
“Yes, because, my dearest Sarah, you’ve hit the nail on the head. Lord Downing never had a reason to dislike me before, and could use me as he pleased as my immediate supervisor and because he has a higher rank than I do. So why is he trying to kill me off now? I stand in his way of you. And, I’m likely to figure out his plans. He doesn’t know I already know his long game, just not how he can pull it off or when.”
“We need to do something to draw him out.”
“We can figure it out in the morning. We all need sleep.”
“I couldn’t possibly sleep for a while,” Lady Lillian put in quietly. “There is too much. I was serious about the tea. I’m going to go make us some.”
“I’ll help,” Hermione interjected. “I need some, too.”
“I think we do need sleep, but I can see we are outvoted. An hour. We can do this for an hour, then we all need to sleep at least for a few hours.”
Lady Sarah stubbornly wanted to insist he was wrong, but her legs were hurting and now that the rush of having the police there began to wear down, exhaustion was trying to creep in.
“Fine,” she said.
“I am going to get some things I had on Lord Jarvis’ operation and ideas I wrote about who was really in charge. Jarvis definitely was a big man…but only a front man. And he abused that position. It’s how I initially found him when I was searching for my father’s killer. Anyway, it might help us now.”
All at once, everyone else had left, leaving her alone with Lord Archie. He pulled her close, and she allowed it, even though she could tell he still hurt by the way he moved.
“I’ve been thinking,” he said.
“Yes?” she asked, staring into his deep blue eyes.
“We need to be married in three weeks. Can you have everything ready by then? I will make sure my parents are there.”
She sucked in a breath. All her doubts fled, and joy filled her being. “Oh yes, Archie.”
“Good. Now, hold on, dear Sarah, because I need to kiss you.”
And kiss her he did. His lips found her with an urgency she met. Years of loving him, of waiting for him welled up within her. She felt his manhood near her midsection when he pulled her closer, and suddenly, she was almost angry at the three weeks. “Can we get married tomorrow,” she murmured as they broke apart for air.
He laughed softly. “Two weeks. You said a dress was almost ready? We will hold it at the church who can accommodate us. That fair?” he asked as he kissed his way down her neck, each word pushing warm air against her skin. Then he darted his tongue down near where her neck and shoulders met and blew across it.
She shivered in his arms. “Words. I know you’re saying them…”
“Two weeks, Sarah. That’s all you have.”
Her head dropped back to give him better access, and he didn’t disappoint her. He nipped and kissed to the other side, then up to her jaw before kissing her again. Her whole body melted as if all the bones became nothing. Each kiss amped up her need. She wanted him so much. By the time he kissed her again, she was ready to beg him to touch her.
When he pulled back, he said gruffly, “Two weeks, Sarah. Not a day more.”
She panted as he ran his finger down her neck then across her décolletage. Two weeks sounded like forever. She was about to tell him that when Hermione cleared her throat.
“Hey, you two. I know you’re engaged, but um, we have work to do.”
She wanted to pull away in embarrassment, but he held her closer, though his hand did move to her shoulder.
“My sweet sister. Always spoiling my most fun shenanigans. Well, you can be the first to know. We are getting married in two weeks. I just convinced her.”
She laughed delightedly. “That’s fantastic. I was worried you’d wait until all of this was over. We can’t do that. You two have waited long enough. Especially our Countess of York.”
“What’s fantastic,” Lady Lillian asked, with His Grace shortly on her heels.
“We are getting married in two weeks. We’ve decided not to wait. You two must stand by me, of course. We will go see the modiste tomorrow and plan your dresses.”
“Two weeks? How will they get three dresses done?” Lady Lillian asked.
This time, Lady Sarah laughed almost pityingly. “Yes, Lady Lillian. I know you’re not very up on these things, but money talks. They’ll hire on extra hands as needed. My dress is nearly completed already. I was having something special made just because I wanted it. It will work nicely.”
They all shared hugs and made some noises then settled down again.
After some talk, Lady Sarah finally had enough. “This is too much speculation. We need to draw him out, and the best way is to use me as bait. We have an engagement party on Sunday. Invite everyone who is everyone, and hold it at Hampsteads,” she said decisively.
“I forbid it,” Lord Archer said.
“You forbid what, exactly?” she asked through narrowed eyes. She’d like to see him try it.
“Making yourself as bait.”
“So, I am okay to be an agent as long as I don’t do anything dangerous?”
He opened and shut his mouth while the others laughed. “She has you, Lord Archer. You may as well give in. You can’t have it both ways. She is either competent enough to be an agent, or not.”
“Remind me that next time I have an argument, to hire you for my barrister.”
“Then it’s a yes?”
“Yes. I have a feeling if I said no, you’d simply hold a party anyway.”
“Okay, so I will have my servants work on it.”
“And my mother,” His Grace said. “You will never get away with it if you do not include her. You know that.”
Lady Sarah smiled hugely. “I would be honored to have her help and backing.”
“Well, that works out nicely because she loves to throw a party.”
“Then it’s settled. Now, I must get some rest before putting all this into play. As it’s now dawn, at least one servant will likely be moving around. I suggest you send a message around to the dowager and tell her the plans. Have her meet us here at three for a trip to the modistes. We can make further plans from there.”
Lady Sarah gave Lord Archer a chaste peck on the cheek and went to her rooms in a much better mood than the last time she’d climbed the stairs. From doubting his sincerity to planning her party. Even with the danger, she couldn’t help the excitement at having her engagement party. She even knew the dress she’d wear.
As she lay in bed, her hands touched her lips then down her neck where Lord Archer had kissed her. Two weeks couldn’t come soon enough. But first, they had a traitor to lure out.
Chapter Twenty One
Lord Archer
The back of his head still tender to the touch, he brushed his hair gingerly, preparing for his engagement party. The Dowager Duchess of Canterbury had proven as formidable as her son. Between her and Sarah, the party had been planned and invitations sent within a day. Beaucoup sterling passed hands, and he dreaded to think what they’d all spent total.
However, he did not dread getting married. He could hardly wait. Their friendship layer, which he had been afraid of losing, had only solidified. It morphed into some sexier without losing that strong base of trust and caring.
And the combination had his libido and his heart warring as one to claim her as his own. But the dance to get there, this play of not being able to fulfill their deepest desires, but more than enough chances to feed that desire, push it to the limits, give it a sharp edge which pierced through any doubt that he should have waited any longer.
His whole body wanted her. Her mind, her intelligence, her odd combination of confidence and insecurity. It all called to him to protect and mate, be partner with, have conversation with her to explore that mind of hers. Her courage just sealed the deal.
The reminder of what her courage currently demanded of her pushed a scowl across his face for a moment. That beautiful, scary, frustrating courage pushed her to put herself at risk to save them all. He’d been right that she’d make a good agent. In fact, he held a sneaky suspicion that she enjoyed the work, the stretch and use of that brilliant mind. For someone like her, Polite Society must be dull, particularly with the limits put on women. If she were middle class, she’d have a chance at being a secretary at least, something to challenge her mind.
He grinned at his reflection as he fixed his cravat. He could have had his footman do it, but his nerves wouldn’t let him. Never on a mission was he this agitated. No, it wasn’t the mission. It was the getting married. He knew himself to be good catch in the ton, but Lady Sarah could do way better than himself.
When had he gone back to thinking of her as Lady Sarah? Then he realized it was just a part of her, part of who she was, and that sometimes, he would think of her that way—when he wasn’t thinking of her in other ways more intimate.
Well, whether she could do better or not, she’d chosen him. The smiles wouldn’t stop. Despite the reason for this tonight, he could not wait until they married, and this was one step closer to that happening. And, he would be allowed to dance with her multiple dances without causing a scandal. Then he decided he would dance with her one too many times and really give those old biddies something to gossip about.
He moved swiftly down the hall and to his carriage which he’d ordered to be readied at this time. The worry tried to make its way to the top again, but he reminded himself that tonight was to draw them out. The real danger would likely be tomorrow when they weren’t around a couple of hundred of the elite of society all trying to out peacock each other. Which meant that, tonight, he could simply enjoy being a groom-to-be to a delightful, intelligent, sexy woman who would soon be his.
He arrived, but became stuck in the tangle of carriages waiting to drop of their passengers. He jumped out and told his driver to come back at the arranged time, that he’d walk the rest of the way. Besides, it allowed him to walk off some of the excess energy burning in him as anticipation kept his emotions churning with excitement.
He bounced up the front stairs two at a time, decorum be damned. He wanted to see what new confection of dress Lady Sarah had concocted for tonight’s gala. Maybe he should have been more prepared when he finally found her, but his heart stuttered, his hands grew clammy, and his very being felt as if it reached for her. The beaded soft pink dress matched the blushes she wore whenever he kissed her. Her hair was done up with some sort of ringlets he couldn’t figure out how women made. But they caught the shimmer of the chandelier lights, and beckoned him closer. She bowed her head to whomever she spoke with and peered around her.
His heart gladdened as it occurred to him that she watched for him, anticipated his appearance as much as he had seeing her. He made his way toward her, then she suddenly jerked her head up and looked straight at him. He felt the heat of her gaze from where he stood. Eyes for no one else. He didn’t stop until he reached her, then he took her hand, and kissed the gloved palm, then kissed her briefly on the lips.
“Archie,” she said in surprise then looked over at the person next to her.
“Lord Archer,” the dowager said, a grin in her voice. “Delighted to see you again. Your father once helped my husband and I out of a tight space with some opium smugglers. I hadn’t realized who you were until they showed up today.”
And why was he surprised? Of course they knew his family. “I am glad they were of assistance, Your Grace,” he said with a half bow.
“Please tell me you are not honestly that stuffy. Our countess needs someone who can have a bit of fun, adventure. She has had enough stuffiness and sorrow in her young life. Perhaps I should stand in as her surrogate mother since hers can’t be here, the poor dear, and have Countess Sarah postpone the wedding until we are sure about you.”
“Your-Your Grace,” he stuttered out at the same time Countess Sarah said a very emphatic, “No.”
The dowager’s laugh and twinkle in her eye allowed him to breathe again. “Your face, Viscount. I believe you really do want to marry her. You went positively white. And you, Countess, your face looked as mutinous as my Clarence’s when I would deny him something. Ah, you two will do.” She patted his hand and intercepted the next group of guests coming in.
It gave he and Lady Sarah a minute to themselves. “I have missed you,” he said softly. “But everything is in place.”
“I don’t know whether to hope if this works or not,” she whispered.
Love whooshed through him again, stronger and better than before. “I hope it works, so we can get married in peace.”
She giggled. “That doesn’t sound very adventurous. Mayhap I should do as the dowager suggested and postpone the wedding.”
He glanced around to see if anyone was watching then yanked her to him. “If you do, I will bend you over my knee and spank you.”
“Your words say one thing, but your tone and voice sent shivers down my spine, and I find myself intrigued.” Her low tones gave him his own shivers.
“I will help you unwrap that mystery one swat at a time if you still find yourself intrigued down the line,” he promised her. “I will teach you anything you want to know.”
“Lord Archer, Lady Sarah.”
He abruptly stood a little farther apart and dropped the hand he held. “Lord Downing.”
“You two are beyond cozy,” he said.
The anger in the man’s voice surprised him. Almost as if he had emotional feelings for her rather than just thinking her a good match.
Lady Sarah curtsied next to him. “Quite right, my lord. The two of us grew up together. We often forget that others do not know this.”
Lord Downing’s face cleared as if it explained everything. “I had forgotten you grew up together. Of course there is an air of familiarity. When is the wedding?”
“In ten days,” my lord she answered before he could.
“Well, I’d say it’s rather sudden, but you have known each other since childhood. I suppose that is what your guardian is thinking.”
Her guardian? He hadn’t even thought to ask her…he was under the impression she didn’t have.
“I do not have one, Lord Downing. I came into my inheritance at eighteen. I am the only one with agency and say over my person,” she said, her voice going harder than he’d ever heard her.
Something slick crossed Lord Downing’s face, and the smile he gave them set his instincts roaring danger. “Well, I shall leave you two to your…pedantic displays of affection. No accounting for manners anymore.”
Lord Archer wanted to punch him even as he slid away like a snake. That’s how he saw him. How had he never seen how smooth and controlled and fake the man was? Well, because the man was a superb agent, and Lord Archer, though very good, did not have the experience needed to out a man like that until now.
People arrived in droves. Their engagement party became the event of the season. His Sarah shone like the sun on a cloudy day, sparkling on everyone, especially him. Dapper gentlemen, fancy ladies, jealousy, real congratulations, it all abounded within the dowager’s townhouse. He caught Lord Downing giving him some dark looks more than once, and he made a note of anyone who spoke with him for any length of time. He also tried to see if anyone paid his group of friends any undue attention.
Hard to do when one of the main stars of the Season’s crush. He bowed and smiled and said all the right things. Then his parents caught up with him.
Mother pulled him into a hug. “My dear, I am so pleased. I’d always hoped the two of you would end up together. So did her parents.”
“Really?” His eyebrows went up, and he canted his head as he looked from one parent to the other. “I had always enjoyed her company, even when she and Hermione and Lady Lillian tended to annoy me. It wasn’t until her coming out that I really thought of it. She was always my kid sister’s friend and also my friend.”
