Darkest Death, page 7
part #2 of Darkest Series
Still trying to quiet his body’s hunger, it took him a second to work through her words. “He is? That’s… That could cause some issues if he were to gain power in the House of Lords, and particularly if Parliament backs him. It could mean civil war.”
“It’s worse than that, I’m afraid. He is planning an assassination of Queen Victoria. He plans to control the regent. And…I think…I think he plans to marry me.” Her last words almost slipped under the shock of her first words.
He leaned against the fireplace mantel, rubbing his face. Numbness slipped over him like a mask. His agency persona came bubbling up to the surface as his emotions overwhelmed him. “I can’t… He’s been my hero since I started at the agency, an unofficial mentor to all of us there,” he said around a thick throat. “I need time to think of a proper plan to suss him out. In the meantime, I need all of you. Can you help?”
He turned to the duke, who’d sat up and forward. “On the way here, I came up with a plan which would help me fool Downing into believing I was investigating Lady Lillian while you the willing dupe. He also had originally told me I’d be investigating Lady Sarah, and she is now to be the secondary target. With what I have just learned, I think she is a backup plan. Otherwise, he plans to court her. Can I count on your help?”
“Yes. And you should know, I am a bow runner and do investigating on my own. It started as a way to avenge my father. Along the way, I found myself to be more than good at it. Also, I enjoy the work.”
Lord Archer looked around his little party of misfits as the plan solidified in his mind. Lady Sarah’s eyes gleamed at him, dancing with mischief. “As much as it will hurt to bring down a mentor and respected member of the agency, I take pride in protecting my queen. More in having the help of such good and loyal friends. Now, here’s what I have in mind.”
Chapter Seven
Lady Sarah
The next day, Lady Sarah picked at her breakfast as the talk swirled around her. Servants came in and out, bringing refills of the fresh goat’s milk and cured pork and bacon. She noted the different people as they moved around her, the better to remember them later for. Last night’s talk had provided a huge balm to her heart.
As they’d planned strategies for their eventual return, Lord Archer had found ways to brush against her often, and she’d laid awake all night wondering what it would be like to be married to him. To have the strong, courageous man be hers, to love her. She wanted him, had always. But was she ready to give up her lands, her control to a man, even him?
These questions and wants and needs had all ran in circular fashion through her mind until she’d finally fallen into an exhausted, light sleep in the wee hours of the morning. Now, she could barely stay awake, and her appetite, usually quite well developed for breakfast, had disappeared. With supreme effort, she worked to pull herself out of the daze of what to do about Lord Archer
Then the duke’s words hit her. “We should go back in a couple of days as well,” he said.
“What?” she asked.
At the same time, a servant dropped her tray. The head housekeeper came rushing in while the occupants at the table watched her fluster around. “Are you okay,” Lord Clarence asked her, though something in his tone had her gazing at him sharply.
He studied the woman for a long while. The head housekeeper, Charlotte, apologized profusely. “I am right sorry, Your Grace. She is new to us. She came with high references. Today is her first day. We were not expectin’ ye to come so soon. I had hoped to train her before your normal visit in two weeks.” She worked as she spoke, helping the maid to pick up the pieces.
The maid made some apologetic noises too, but to Lady Sarah’s ear, they came out contrived and not meant as any sort of apology at all. And the look she caught from her to Lady Lillian and Lord Archer appeared almost malevolent.
She put her fork down, grabbed the napkin from her lap, and dabbed her mouth it. More to hide her facial expressions than from need.
By the time the broken dishes and spill had been cleaned, everyone at the table sat passively and calmly. The only words spoken were to the head housekeeper. “I’d like to meet with you after I have finished here,” he said.
The woman paled and said, “Yes, Your Grace.”
Lady Sarah watched with interest as the one who’d dropped the tray was ushered out but managed to give one last menacing look at Lillian and Archer.
“We have a problem,” she said quietly as she stood up. “We should all withdraw to the drawing room once finished with our repast. I will await you there.”
It was telling that no one pushed her to finish eating or asked about her abrupt departure. And she didn’t have to wait long for the others to join her. To her satisfaction, Lord Archer stood nearest her so their bodies could brush up against each other with the slightest of movement. Her face warmed as if flushed, her stomach tingled, and she wanted to smile like a loon every time it happened, but she kept herself tightly reined in.
Before she could really begin to proffer up the things she’d noted, the housekeeper rushed in.
The woman bowed many times, short little nervous tics, by Lady Sarah’s estimation. “Charlotte. Please, come in.”
“I am so sorry, Your Grace. I do not know what came over the maid to drop a platter like that. I expect nerves, but she seemed so competent and has such glowing references. I was happy to finally have someone who could fit our standards. But then this.” Charlotte wrung her hands together, and her voice held a plaintive quality which, from the position she held, Charlotte didn’t often get.
“You have done nothing wrong. Accidents happen, even for one as experienced as you, I suspect. I have a few questions about our new maid, however. Make sure no one is in the hallway and close the door.” Lord Clarence’s voice never rose, but the power in it had the hairs on her arms standing up.
This man was the sort who made kings without needing the noble titles to affirm their place in the hierarchy of life. And Lord Archer? His voice also commanded as he spoke, but his had more subtlety, like fine whisky.
“Tell me, what is her name and when did she start?”
“Her name is Louisa. She started just yesterday.”
Lord Archer’s tension reverberated through her. She quietly slipped an arm through the crook at his elbow, attempting to help calm him. He placed his other hand over hers, and contentment washed through her, even as everything else kept her nerves on alert.
“I see. Did she say why she searched for work at this time?”
“Well, begging your pardon, Your Grace, but we put a call out for servants. Spread the word unofficial like. We lost a couple this year to the big city. No matter that we pay more than most lords, it can still be hard to find them’s who want to stay in the country like this.”
“Of course, Charlotte. Do we have any other new servants?”
Lady Sarah tilted her head. She was impressed by Lord Clarence more every time they were in each other’s company, though she could hardly focus on his words because Lord Archer’s thumb caressed the back of her hand in slow, lazy strokes. Her blood pumped as if rushing to meet where he touched her. Though in the relative privacy of Lord Clarence’s drawing room, he had made a declaration. Did he mean it, or was it part of the cover, to get the servant’s to talk? Then again, she’d been the one to initiate contact.
“Aye, Your Grace. They will be starting on Wednesday next, seeing as how my day off is Tuesday. I started with Louisa because she had the strongest references.”
“Sounds like you are doing an exemplary job. However, I have a question. Do you intend to let Louisa go, or do you think she should stay on?”
“Well, your lordship, I be having a tender heart and had thoughts as to how to help her, thinking mayhap she be a bit nervous with His Grace and Her Grace showing up unexpected and all, and the extra people. And of course, the dowager duchess is a personal favorite amongst all the servants. We’re all simply excited and beyond ourselves trying to impress your lordship.”
“Charlotte, you are not known for your long speeches,” the dowager said. “Do not worry. We are simply seeking information.”
Charlotte visibly relaxed, and her hands dropped to her side. “Of course, your ladyship. Forgive me.”
“Nonsense. There is simply nothing to forgive. You were doing your duties by the household. Don’t you agree, Clarence?”
“Of course, Mother,” he replied. “Earlier, your explanation about a tender heart sounded like you were going to keep the new maid. Can I ask if that is your plan?”
“Well, Sir, Your Grace, normally, one accident on the first day would not prompt me to send her off, but she…” Charlotte stopped and took a deep breath. “She was rude upon being corrected and spoken to, and particularly, well, Your Grace, she seems particularly against the duchess here. Your wife.”
The flash of grin which passed over his face gave Lady Sarah a glimpse into why Lillian had never feared him, not really. Not like the rest of the ton. “I am well aware the duchess is my wife,” he said, the laughter spilling into his tones.
“How do you mean particularly against her,” Lord Archie finally spoke up. Being this close with her arm encased the way it was, she felt it vibrate in his chest, and her breath caught.
“She made comments about false ladies marrying higher than their stations. And I heard her muttering a bit later about how she should be in goal.”
Anger hit her smack on. How dare anyone speak of her friend that way.
“Sounds ominous.” Lady Sarah glanced up at him. His chin held taut as the muscle in his jaw worked. He was as furious as she was. Somehow, that gave her a sense of rightness and pushed her to be even more loving.
“It concerns me, my lord. I know not everyone finds pride in serving others, but this sounded dangerous. As if she may hate the upper class, sir.” Charlotte turned to Clarence. “I know ye treat us better than a lot of the nobility. Everyone here does. Ye even helped another woman get a job with a scientist, running his labs. I guess…we forget how badly other servants have it. But even so, I do nae need that sort of bigotry and trouble here, Your Grace.”
“Understood and completely agree. Her reaction seemed a bit over the top for a simple dropped tray. As I recall, the duchess said nothing to her.”
Come to think of it, the duchess had been much quieter lately. Lady Sarah narrowed her eyes at her friend. Usually, she was in the thick of things. Lillian caught her eye then shook her head, as if she understood her friend’s thoughts and wanted to forestall the questions. Giving in to the plea in Lady Lillian’s eyes, she held her tongue. But first chance she had, she planned to ask.
“Though I do have a favor to ask,” Duke Clarence said. “Keep her on until Tuesday, at least. Though, if my suspicions are accurate, she will leave shortly after the rest of us. We are leaving to London Sunday night. I have business to attend to.”
“Of course, Your Grace. Is there anything else?”
“My wedding came on suddenly, and I wanted a few days with my new bride, but life has interceded. We will come back for a week in March if my duties at the House of Lords allows it. Thank you, Charlotte. You may go.”
“Wait,” Lady Lillian spoke up. “Can I ask a boon as well?”
Everyone stared. “Of course, Your Grace. We are at your service.”
“No, really, if it is too much, please say no, but I find I want a cake. A large, beautifully decorated cake. Everything has been so hard, and my recent ordeal… I want to just enjoy things for a while. I want my friends to have more than one day of treats from the most wonderful day in my life. And please, if you do this for me, make sure there is enough for the servants as well. All of them, from the gardener to the stable boy to you.”
“We will ha’ it for ye on the morrow, tea time, Your Grace,” Charlotte said, her voice suspiciously husky as if tears tried to fall. “Thank ye for thinking of us. Ye are a bonnie choice for our duke.”
She curtsied as she backed up, then turned and practically fled. But the smile on her face as she opened the door assured Lady Sarah they would have cake as promised.
“Lady Lillian, Your Grace, I am going to need to let out my gowns if you keep pulling stunts like that.” Lady Sarah gave her friend an approving look.
Everyone in the room laughed, as she’d intended, then settled back down, though she noticed Lord Archer kept ahold of her hand. Well, she would stay that way as long as he allowed it.
“The housekeeper confirmed what I saw and what I wanted to tell you. That Louisa has a personal hatred of Lillian. I saw it in her glares. Though she looked upon none of us with favor, the malevolence toward her bordered on obsessive hate.”
“Why did I think that things would become peaceful when you two married?” the dowager teased. “I foresee that life will not be dull with these friends around.”
Lady Sarah grinned back at the dowager. “Quite right. I always hated a dull afternoon.”
“Louisa is from the agency,” Lord Archer said when the laughter died away.
“What?” Lady Sarah exclaimed. “How do you know?”
“Louisa is a name we have set up for undercover female operatives who need to be disguised as servants and Williams for the male.”
“They are set up with impeccable references. I cannot decide if they sent her ahead just in case, or because they do not trust me to do the job they’d originally intended. Maybe both?”
“Does that mean you’re in trouble or some sort of danger from the agency?” Hermione asked the question that Sarah had wanted to but couldn’t because her heart beat too fast.
“Quite possibly. I will not know for sure until I return to London.”
“What does this mean for the plan?” Hermione held her baby bump again.
This stress could not be good for the expectant mother, but she was loath to exclude her friend. Besides, she was much safer around them than alone.
“Come, Hermione,” the dowager said and stood up. “Help an old woman to her room,” she added as if she’d read Sarah’s mind.
Hermione stood and moved next to her, but refused to leave until he answered her question.
“We stick with it. It is still our best bet. However, we will all need to be more careful of even casual words spoken around any of the servants.”
Hermione’s face still showed a large dose of skepticism, but she acquiesced to the dowager’s request. “I will not be left behind. I may not have mother’s sense of right and wrong, or her ability to adapt so quickly, but I am not stupid. I can be of help.”
“Of course not, little sister. Now that I know how much you like to help with these things, I may recruit you for other jobs when I need the cover a sister would provide.”
Everyone stood as they left the room.
The plan was well done for such short notice, but it entailed a lot of hurry up and wait for things to happen, and Lady Sarah’s possession of patience could be contested. However, she held her tongue until Hermione left with the dowager.
“Did you mean it about the plan,” Lady Sarah asked as soon as they’d left.
“Yes. It will still help me flush Lord Downing out. Hopefully catch him and anyone else helping him. We will probably have to make changes as we go along. All plans usually need some modification when people act unexpectedly.”
Lady Sarah nodded. Duke Clarence took Lillian’s hand and drew her into him. “I am taking Lillian on a ride around the estates.”
Sarah took in a breath to ask to join, but he leveled a look on her. “Alone.”
Lady Lillian blushed about as hard as Lady Sarah felt she did. Somehow, those connotations, even the knowledge of what Hermione had done, had never really affected or embarrassed her. Now, with Lord Archie at her side, tingles of awareness went through her, and flashes of what she’d like him to do to her danced in her imagination.
The silence in the drawing room unnerved her. She stared at her feet, then found her courage. When she met his gaze, she saw a hunger in his eyes which called to her viscerally, and she took a step toward him almost involuntarily. It brought her chest to his. and she had to look up even higher to see in his eyes.
“Sarah,” he groaned and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’m going to kiss you. If you want to stop me, do it now.”
But nothing in her wanted to stop him. She wanted to feel his touch, to be claimed by him. She lifted her chin in answer. His lips met hers. The heat seared her, traveling to her heart, melting it. She gasped at the joy coursing through her. Definitely not something she’d expected.
He coaxed her mouth open, and his tongue thrusted in. She tentatively matched his moves, her hands sliding up his arms until she clasped them behind his neck. The kiss became more and more wild, until she’d lost all sense of time, of place, and only knew that she wanted more.
Wanted him to show her what it meant to be a woman. Always had, but now, the need clutched at her like a vise, begging for release, begging for anything to ease the pain this deep seated want of him caused.
When he finally broke the kiss, they both were panting. She didn’t say anything, but tried to let him see that she wanted more. Wanted him to kiss her again, just like the last.
He pulled her into him again and kissed her roughly, more of a claiming rather than an exploration of needs. She pressed her body up to his, the aching in her breasts needing the pressure, needing him. His erection pushed against her even through her gown.
Her insides twisted, and the wetness between her legs seemed to cause her lust to boil over, or had she boiled over? One of his hands dipped into her coiled hair and the other covered one of her breasts. She moaned against him.
Then someone cleared their throat. She jumped back and away from him, barely able to think. He held her around her arm. “What is it?” he asked harshly.
“I was told to clean the drawing room,” Louisa said, the sullen in her voice causing Lady Sarah’s hackles to rise.
“As you can see, we are still here. Lady Sarah has just conceded to be my wife. Leave us to celebrate our engagement in peace.”
