The Duke's Broken Heart Page 17
“Yes.”
“If you mentioned children. They would be bullied, you think?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Your father robbed your grandfather. Your father is no good. You’re no good.”
“Hmmm. I’m going to think on this.”
Charlotte laughed. “Good luck, we’ve all been thinking on this for a long time.”
***
Three days later, when he was sure the ladies had settled in, John told Genevieve he needed to go to London on business. Her face fell.
“Genevieve, you seem to be enjoying your stay. Is there something wrong?”
Genevieve said, “We’re your guests, not your sisters’ guests. Should we go back with you? What would they think?”
John laughed. “Do you have any idea how much my family loves you and Charlotte? Sometimes, I feel like the third wheel.”
Genevieve laughed. “And sometimes you are.”
“Then it’s settled?”
“As long as your sisters don’t mind.”
“Then it’s settled.” John grinned.
Chapter 20
Mad as Elizabeth was with Bernard, she laid the blame squarely on Phin. Bernard had spent the first month of the season with Charlotte, making good progress with her. Bernard thought he would marry, get her dowry, and pay down his debts.
Then Phin sailed into town and blew up all Bernard’s plans. If it weren’t for Phin, Bernard would probably be married now, or at least planning his wedding, keeping his debtors at bay with the promise of dowry money.
She was so sick of Phin. For years, she had nursed Bennett, fed his gambling addiction and made out well in the deal. Phin sailed in and literally ripped the paintings off her walls. It was time to screw with him again. As long as she lived, those rumours would never die.
Elizabeth walked into the ladies’ luncheon, happy to see the turnout. At least twenty, maybe close to thirty ladies. She picked out the ladies with the biggest mouths first.
“Lady Penelope, how nice to see you. Lady Martha, Lady Ellen,” she curtsied and smiled.
“Lady Elizabeth, a pleasure. It’s been too long. How are you?”
“Oh, I’m fine, thank you. I’ve been busier now that my cousin Phineas has returned from India. Had you heard? He came back last month.”
Lady Martha stepped in, “I did hear he returned for Mercy’s season.”
Elizabeth had the rapt attention of each lady, “Well, yes, he is Mercy’s guardian. I daresay he spent more time ogling Mercy’s peers than chaperoning. He had interest in one young lady, Charlotte something or other. She had a suitor who was a perfectly nice young gentleman. Phineas scared him off, then scared her away. She fled the city to get away from him. Can you imagine?”
With the gasps all around, Elizabeth continued, shaking her head, “My cousin can find himself in more hot water than anyone at all. Remember when he fled the country after draining his father’s bank accounts?” The ladies nodded.
Elizabeth swatted her hand through the air. “Enough of my wayward cousin. Tell me, what’s new with you?”
Elizabeth chatted with three other groups of ladies. By the time the luncheon was over, she would be shocked if there were one lady in the room who didn’t know what she had said about Phin. Serves him right, she thought.
***
Journal Entry – It was a great night all the way up to the end. Windsor cheats. I know he cheats. I told Maggie he cheats. She did nothing. Four good hands in a row. Cards were going my way. He dropped the cards on the floor while shuffling. I called for a new deck. Fine. The deck was cold. He was cheating. I was up. I should’ve left there with money in my pocket. Windsor cheats.
***
“John, welcome,” Everett boomed. He waved to a seat while heading for the sideboard to pour drinks.
“I understand the ladies are staying at your country estate. Are they enjoying their flight from London?”
John smiled. “It’s amazing. I was expecting a bumpy start and the slow settling in. They’ve taken to my family and don’t seem to need me at all.”
Everett laughed. “That’s the best outcome you could have hoped for. They should enjoy the ladies’ company.” Everett paused, looking into John’s eyes, “You know you’re boring, don’t you?”
John laughed. “Apparently, more so than I thought.”
“So, news. Phin’s a mess. He’s jumping to all kinds of ridiculous conclusions about Charlotte’s comings and goings since Mercy told him she’s thinking of leaving London. No matter what I do to assure him that she will eventually return, he doesn’t listen to me.
“We haven’t heard anything about the journal. I’m beginning to think it was thrown out long ago. Phin thinks it’s his only chance, so he’s despondent over that too.
“That’s it. I have thought long and hard about what we should do if the journal is never found. The only thing I can think to do is to call a Duke meeting and try to convince them he’s innocent. If they could tell their wives, mistresses, grown children their thoughts on the matter, it might filter down the ton. What is your opinion, John?”
John sat, swirling the whisky in his glass. “It’s an idea worth pursuing. It would be a better idea if we had the journal, and they could read the passages. It may cool the fire in the short term, but I’d be sceptical that it would work for the long-term. With no proof, speculation runs rampant. The fire lives and could once again roar.”
Everett nodded, agreeing with what John said. “Go back to your family, John. I’ll send the messenger if anything changes, either way. We’ll meet again and figure out what to do. In the meantime, giving the ladies a nice respite from London is help enough.
***
Phin sat in his study at his desk, head in hand. How had it gotten this bad? He never considered himself one of those people who didn’t take responsibility for his actions, but in this case, he truly believed it was not his fault that he was in this predicament.
At White’s last evening, in the corner of the third-floor main room, he and Everett sat on wine coloured tufted leather chairs, enjoying a drink. Everett mumbled, “Look who’s coming.” Ross Hunter was bearing down on them. He and Phin hadn’t seen eye to eye on investment ‘opportunities’ for many years. Phin said no. Hunter was short of the cash to invest. He held a grudge.
“Collins, Warren,” he said inclining his head slightly, instead of bowing.
“Hunter,” Everett said, inclining his head the same.
He sat. Neither Everett nor Phin asked him to, yet there he was, sitting in front of them.
“To what do we owe the pleasure?” Everett said dryly.
“I thought you might like to know,” he said with glee. Phin thought he might stand up and jump in the air, clicking his heels any minute, he was so happy. “My wife came home from a luncheon today where you were the topic of conversation, Collins. Your dear sweet cousin let thirty ladies at the luncheon know about your latest misdeeds.”
Hunter held up his index finger and wagged it back and forth. N-n-n-n-no he said in time with his finger’s movement.
“Shame on you, going after a debutante already spoken for. Ran her out of town, did you? You should play nice with children.
“Oh, and in case my wife or the other ladies at the luncheon forgot, Elizabeth reminded them of you stealing your father’s money and leaving the country. But don’t worry, Collins, the ton will stop talking about you in about a decade.”
Ross Hunter rose from his chair and laughed. “Good evening, gentlemen.” And he was gone.
Everett leaned into Phin and, with his mouth close to Phin’s ear, said, “Do not say anything. Keep your poker face on and slowly finish your drink. We will walk out of here slowly and casually.”
Phin nodded. They pretended to talk and laugh while they sipped their drinks. An excruciatingly long 15 min
utes later, they left.
***
In the carriage, Phin turned to Everett, “Where’s Charlotte? Why didn’t you tell me she wasn’t in town?”
Everett sighed and threw up his hands, “What difference does it make? She won’t see you.”
“Where is she?”
“John Beasley’s. Apparently, Genevieve and John have been courting, if you can call it that at their ages. John asked them to go, and Genevieve showed a great deal of interest. That’s all I know.”
“How long is she to stay?”
“That’s all I know.”
“Is she receiving visitors there?”
“That’s all I know.”
“Is she ever coming back?”
“Dammit Phin, that’s all I know. Send a letter to John and ask him. He’s a very decent man. He’ll tell you what he can.”
“I should go there. I know he lives less than two hours from here.”
“You should write him and send a messenger there. Don’t make this more difficult than it has to be.”
“What’s that supposed to mean, Ev?”
Everett shook his head in frustration. “We need to address your cousin. What’s up with her?”
Now it was Phin’s turn to shake his head. “No idea. I thought she got over me taking what was willed to me a while ago.”
“Apparently not,” Everett breathed deep. “Can we muzzle her once and for all?”
“We need to get something on her. I’ll get Whitaker to come in and get started. My own flesh and blood are my own worst enemies. Thank you, Bennett and Elizabeth.”
***
Journal Entry – I know Elizabeth is cheating me. The Gainsborough was worth three times what she came back with. At least three times. I need that money if I’m going to win back Mercy’s dowry. I know she’s cheating me. There’s no way she’s giving me all the money for pawning this stuff. I need the money!!! I need to win back Mercy’s dowry. Yes, yes, she won’t be 18 for two more years, but that account weighs heavy on me. I must win it back. Then I’ll never touch her dowry account again. I’ll never, ever touch it again.
***
Phin wrote to John and Charlotte. He thanked John for helping the ladies although Phin new John had an ulterior motive. He was still helping all the same. Then he met with Whitaker. His time ignoring Elizabeth hoping she would go away was over. No wonder the rumours of him and Bennett would never die.
Silas walked into Everett’s study knowing both he and Phin would be there. He sat next to Phin, crossed one ankle over the opposite knee, and waited.
“Hello, Silas. Nice to see you. Are you here for anything in particular or do you finally want to learn the family business?” Phin asked dryly.
“I thought you’d never ask.” He put his leg down and swivelled in the chair to face Phin. “She’s done it again.”
“We know,” Everett said. “How bad is it?”
“She’s quite effective, you know,” Silas marvelled at his cousin’s efficiency. “It’s everywhere. Even places you wouldn’t think had time for this nonsense are caught up in it. You know, non-ton places. My theory on why this is rearing its ugly head again? The new component of the beast – Charlotte. It gives everyone another thing to grab hold of. No one will ever believe she left town for any other reason than to escape you.”
“My life in India was so tranquil. It was so ordered. There was no drama. My life in England is anything but. Maybe I’ll sail to America. Now that the war is over – no, never mind. What should I do?” Phin looked at Silas and Everett. He saw blank faces.
Everett shook his head. “Do you and Silas want to go on the grand tour?”
Phin and Silas looked at each other and laughed. “Don’t you remember, Everett? Father told us to go on it, and we said no. He was trying to get rid of us He was trying to hide his gambling.”
“Well, let’s all keep giving it some thought. We’ll take care of Elizabeth then address her handiwork.”
Silas perked up. “What’s going on with Elizabeth?”
“We’ve got Whitaker digging up what he can about her. We need dirt to blackmail her. To shut her up.”
“She’s Merritt’s mistress. Doesn’t that at least kick her out of the ton?”
“Merritt?” Everett said, “Are you sure? He showed interest in Mercy.”
Silas rolled his eyes at Everett. “He isn’t the first man to show interest in a woman with a large dowry.”
Everett looked at Phin. “You’ve got to tell Mercy about this.”
Phin nodded.
Chapter 21
Whitaker came back two days later with information on Elizabeth. Phin sent a footman over to his townhouse to see if Silas was available to join them. He wasn’t, so Whitaker started.
He told Everett and Phin that she and Merritt were essentially living together. They spent almost every night together but were rarely seen together during the day. Whitaker believed, based on the people he interviewed, that she was in love with him. Phin thought getting at her through Merritt was an option.
Elizabeth worked. It had surprised Whitaker, and now both Phin and Everett were surprised.
“Wasn’t she left anything when her father passed?” Phin asked.
“She got everything,” Whitaker said. The townhouse, his bank accounts, investments. Unfortunately, he was not a man of great wealth. She can live modestly off her father’s investments. I don’t get the impression she is the type to live modestly.” He shrugged.
“Which brings us back to Merritt. He and Elizabeth are close, but he is shopping for a large dowry. If they were in love, her knowledge and permission, he could marry and produce an heir. They would carry on as before. Not unusual.
“It is unclear from my interviews if Merritt knows about Elizabeth’s job. As I said, they are not seen together during the day; her income doesn’t allow her the lifestyle she desires. Yet, she manages to travel in the same circles as others with wealth.
“Her job is in a warehouse near the docks.” Both Everett and Phin gasped. “She walks there when the ship unloads antiques and puts them in the warehouse. She examines each one and places them into categories. Sotheby’s, antique shops, private sales. She dresses in her normal way that is acceptable to artists, that free-flowing unstructured way. She meets potential buyers in the warehouse or at their gallery or store. She works on commission, and she does very well. From all accounts, she’s very good at her job and enjoys what she does.”
Everett and Phin turned to one another. They knew how to shut her up.
“Excellent, Whitaker. Was there more or does that about do it?”
“No, Your Grace. I believe we’ve covered it all.”
Phin stood and fished a few coins from his pocket. “As usual, Whitaker, you’ve done the job. Here is something for you until the next time.”
With head bowed, “Until the next time.”
Phin called for Everett’s butler. It didn’t seem odd to him or Everett to do that. “Show Mr Whitaker out, please, Stevens.”
***
Bernard walked down the street in the shadows, his head swiveling to the front, side, back and all over again. His head still pounded from the beating he took at the hands of the mate’s henchmen. Two black eyes, broken nose, three broken teeth, his ribs. The ringing in his left ear hadn’t stopped since the beating two days ago. He feared his hearing was gone.
He had to wait a few more days before he could attempt to see Charlotte again. He couldn’t go there looking like this. She wasn’t receiving him before the beating. If she got a glimpse of him now, she would never receive him again. She was still his only hope, but he could no longer count on her.
Bernard walked up to Elizabeth’s townhouse and knocked. Warren answered and let him in without blinking an eye. Bernard loved butlers. They made you feel all was right with the world.
“Lady Elizabeth is not expected back for another hour Lord Bernard. Would you like to wait or shall I give her a message.”
/> “I’ll wait, Saunders. I’ll get myself a drink and search for something I lent Merritt.”
“As you wish, My Lord.”
And Bernard was alone.
An hour should give him plenty of time. Anything small, of any value at all, was taking the trip to the pawnshop. It might not get him what he needed, but he had to start somewhere.
Bernard opened the door to Elizabeth’s bedchamber and walked in. He closed and barred the door behind him. She was unusually neat, Bernard thought, not knowing if that was good or bad.