Deadly Engagement: A Georgian Historical Mystery (Alec Halsey Crimance) (15 page)

The Earl of Delvin stepped off the terrace via the French doors leading into the breakfast room, Sir Cosmo in tow. He was not his courteous self and barely controlled his temper when a sobbing Lady Sybilla pushed past him without a word of apology, closely followed by Lady Charlotte, who parried with the Earl for the door until he stood still and she was able sweep past him only for her to bump into Sir Cosmo who offered profuse apologies but was ignored by both ladies. Supremacy for the French doors offered Alec some light relief and he was able to collect himself enough to greet his brother coolly, although his face betrayed a heightened color.

“I want to know your movements of last evening,” Delvin demanded of Alec without preamble.

“Just up? Or have you already breakfasted? Good morning, Cosmo.”

“I don’t want any of your diplomat’s tongue! Just tell me what I want to know!”

Sir Cosmo looked uncomfortable. “Perhaps I should leave…?” he muttered lamely, not meeting Alec’s eye and retreating a step.

Delvin caught at his silken sleeve, eyes never wavering from his brother’s face. “No. I want you to hear what he has to say for himself. Well,
Second
?”

Alec raised his brows.

“Tell me. Tell me where you were last night, damn you!”

“Naturally I am flattered by your curiosity, but my habits are none of your concern.”

Delvin brought his fist down hard on the sideboard. Plates rattled. “Don’t be insolent with me! I won’t stand for it!”

Alec shrugged and turned a shoulder in dismissal.

The Earl’s face turned livid with rage. Whereas he had set out to intimidate his brother he found himself in a few short sentences losing control of a situation of his own making. He willed himself to remain calm. It wouldn’t do to appear totally out of control before he had even begun. He took out his snuffbox and the elaborate act of taking a pinch up one nostril calmed him.

“Perhaps if I tell you I have just come from an interview with the Duchess, you may change your mind?” he said. “She requested to see me as soon as possible this morning. I found her deeply upset and troubled.” He glanced at Sir Cosmo. “It took me a considerable time to calm her.”

“I’m sure it did,” Alec murmured.

“Is it to do with this maid business?” asked Sir Cosmo, pouring himself out a dish of coffee for want of something to do but look uncomfortable and out of place.

“That is only the half of it, my friend,” said the Earl with gravity. “I don’t suppose you’ve had a chance to speak with the Duchess?” When Sir Cosmo shook his head Delvin nodded gravely and gripped Sir Cosmo’s padded shoulder, causing Alec to roll his eyes at the performance. “I suspect she is still in great shock. Very difficult for her to speak about it… I’m in shock myself. Reason for my barging in here. But when you know what’s happened I’m sure you will forgive my lack of manners.” He took a turn about the long room, another pinch of snuff inhaled in a leisurely fashion. “I still can’t believe it. It doesn’t seem real or possible. When her Grace was able to collect herself enough to tell me, which naturally she would confide in me as Emily’s intended husband, I didn’t believe it at first. I couldn’t. I was stunned with disbelief. I was—”

“I’m sure there is a point to your performance?” interrupted Alec. “If you want a sympathetic audience I think you have it.”

Delvin viewed him with distaste. “You have the coarse sensibilities of Uncle Plant.”

“Thank you. He would be flattered to hear you say so. But you are keeping Cosmo in suspense.”

“Your flippant manner in this disgusts me!”

“As your melodramatic performance does me.”

“You think it nothing to be dramatic about when a young girl is violated in her own home?” asked Delvin in a thin voice. “Or perhaps you have reason to pass this violation off as something all too commonplace? Perhaps you would prefer we ignore it as a trifle? No doubt you have your reasons. I’m sure you understand my meaning.”

Alec stared at him, unblinking. “I beg you to elaborate. In fact, I am eager for you to do so.”

The brothers faced one another, one tall, dark haired and angular, the other of middling height, fleshy and very fair; a contrast in every way. Sir Cosmo’s mind’s eye saw the thick air of hatred that separated these two related strangers. He coughed self-consciously. “Pardon me, but did I hear you right, Ned? A girl was violated? Emily’s maid?”

“Not the maid. No. She was just part of a more sinister purpose…”

Sir Cosmo looked at one brother and then the other. “The girl broke her neck on the stairs, didn’t she?” In the silence which followed he added, “Is that why the Duchess sent out the servant regiment for you last night, Alec?”

“Yes.”

“Ah? Now that is a most interesting piece of information,” drawled Delvin. “Did you know, Cosmo, that last night some scoundrel forced his way into Emily’s bedchamber? A scoundrel staying under this roof forced himself into a young girl’s bedchamber—My God, I can hardly bring myself to tell you.” He put his hands to his face. “It is so shocking a circumstance. It is beyond belief that someone would dare to—to…” He looked up and turned away to collect himself, a hand to the sideboard to steady himself. “Excuse me. Cosmo, but I cannot speak of it without emotion…”

Alec stepped into the breech. His annoyance at his brother’s performance made him sound cold and detached. “Emily was attacked last night. Some scoundrel tried to rape her.”

Sir Cosmo felt as if he had been struck in the face. He stuttered for something to say. “The devil! What monster…Who…What-what happened, Ned? Alec?” He fumbled for his snuffbox. “Poor sweet child…And the maid…
murdered
?”

“So it seems,” Alec replied quietly. “My valet possibly disturbed the intruder before…” His voice trailed off and it was his turn to look awkward. Unconsciously he ran a hand through his hair, trying to find the words to continue. “I don’t know much more than that. Emily was given an opiate to calm her nerves and to make certain she had a restful night’s sleep, and I haven’t had a chance to speak with her Grace or Emily this morning.”

“Nor will you,” snarled the Earl. “I forbid you to go near her.”

“Now, Ned,” Sir Cosmo said soothingly, “I know you’re rattled but you can’t forbid—”

“I can and I will.”

Alec smiled. “She’s not your wife—yet.”

Delvin’s fists clenched. “You are devoid of all decency! You heard him, Cosmo! You shall bear witness.”

“I’m sorry, Ned. Witness to what?”

“Witness to his depravity!” the Earl sneered. “I’ve no proof yet. But I’ll get it! How convenient it was your valet who disturbed this scoundrel. How convenient he happened to be lurking about Emily’s apartments at that precise moment. I know all about your valet. He was apprenticed to a convicted sodomite; a worthless piece of scum who traded in male favors. That’s the sort of company you keep, isn’t it, Second? You’re depraved. You lust after Selina Jamison-Lewis and can’t have her just as you lust after my bride and she too is now out of your reach. How do you manage to slack your thirst, aye? Is your boy an adequate substitute? Does he give satisfaction? Well,
does he
?”

“Steady on, Ned! Steady on! You’re distraught, naturally. Who wouldn’t be? It’s a shocking business, but to take it out on your own brother. To accuse him of—of—Well, it’s just not done! It’s ludicrous besides.”

“Ask him then! Ask him if he doesn’t want Emily for himself. Ask him if he doesn’t think of bedding her. Ask him if he doesn’t hate me because she preferred me to him. Ask him what he was doing last night when this monster forced himself on my future wife. Well, Second? Speak up! Don’t just stand there putting on a brave face. Tell Cosmo your whereabouts. Tell him you don’t care in the least that it will be your elder brother in her bed on her wedding night. Eh, Second? Tell him.”

Alec stood rigid. How he wanted to strike his brother’s sneering face, to give back measure for measure. Yet he did not want him to see how deeply his words had wounded him. Thus he set his jaw and silently counted to ten.

The Earl smiled at Sir Cosmo. “You see. He can’t answer you.”

Sir Cosmo ignored Delvin, saying to Alec quietly, “It’s all right, Alec. Nothing, nobody, could ever make me believe—”

Alec cut him off. Far from appearing angry he looked concerned. “Dear me, Edward, you really do fear me. Does my very existence pray on your conscience?” He shook his head, hands shoved deep in the pockets of his frockcoat, broad shoulders slightly hunched over with embarrassment. “I love Emily,” he said to Sir Cosmo quietly, “and there was a time when I did hope to marry her but—”

Delvin gave a half-laugh of disbelief. “—now that you’ve ruined her you don’t want her any more? You piece of
filth
.”

“I certainly won’t stand by and let you marry her,” Alec enunciated bitterly.

“Gentleman! Gentleman! Please! Let’s not—”

“You can’t tell Cosmo where you were last night because it was you who forced yourself on—”

Sir Cosmo growled. “That’s enough, Ned! I won’t have you spouting balderdash about your own brother! When you come to your senses you’ll regret—”

“I regret
nothing
. Answer me,
Second
. Where were you last night?”

“Your purpose in this is so transparent it’s laughable,” Alec said dismissively.

“You raped Emily because you wanted your revenge on me!”

“Revenge? Don’t be absurd,” Alec said coldly. “Your hatred of me is making you appear ridiculous.”

“Then tell us where you went after you so rudely barged in on me
in flagrante delicto
.”

Sir Cosmo stared wide eyed at the brothers. “
In flagrante delicto
?” He gave Delvin a friendly nudge. “You sly dog, Ned.”

Alec scoffed at his brother’s small mindedness. “You think because I caught you out that I immediately went off to Emily’s bedchamber to avenge myself? You’re pathetic.” Alec turned on a heel. “Cosmo, excuse me…”

Delvin grabbed his brother’s arm. “Stay where you are! I haven’t finished with you yet.”

Alec stared at the Earl’s hand. “How dare you,” he drawled and shrugged him off, a nod to a hovering footman who came up to him then and in a whispered aside informed him the Duchess awaited him in the rose garden.

Delvin, who had let go at the tone of command in his brother’s voice, instantly regretted having done so. He was infuriated to think Alec had once again gained the upper hand. “Damn you!” he thundered, following his brother across the room. “Stay where you are and answer me!”

Alec stared at his brother then, face white. “Where were you in the time between leaving the drawing room and arriving at Mrs. Jamison-Lewis’ bedchamber? Oh spare Cosmo your look of offended sensibility that I mention the lady by name. I’m sure your sordid little affair is well-known in your circle.”

Sir Cosmo regarded the Earl anew and the silly grin was replaced by a storm of mixed emotions. “Ned. Not Selina. Never Selina…”

“Believe what you like!” the Earl threw at him as he lunged for Alec, but he recoiled when his brother took a decided step toward him, remembering their one sided encounter in the hallway. “You can’t answer me because you’re guilty! And don’t think to use your valet as an alibi. He’s in this with you! But I’ll find out! If not from you then from him: he’ll have a price. Don’t turn your back on me, damn you. Where were you last night? Answer me.”

Alec looked over his shoulder as he quietly closed over the door. “Entertaining your mistress.”

The Rose Garden was the oldest section of gardens at St. Neots House. With a moss-covered stone wall on three sides and beds that had been laid out in Queen Mary’s time, and little altered since, it was private and inaccessible. No coincidence then that at the gate two workmen were repairing flagstones. They tipped their hats to Alec and continued on with their work.

The air was heavy with scent and a light breeze came up off the Thames. Altogether an idyll he had no desire to disturb. He waited a little way off from the small group, in no hurry to interrupt the animated discussion on rose varieties. He needed those few moments to calm himself. In the breakfast room he had come close to accusing his brother of exactly what he was being accused of himself. He had no proof, no reason to think he was the intruder and when he thought about it he knew it to be logically absurd. Delvin had everything in his favor as it was. To jeopardize it all in that way was indeed the act of a madman. For his brother to accuse him was no surprise. Even if Delvin did not really believe Alec to be the rapist, an opportunity to ridicule and belittle him, to cast suspicion in his direction, all to strengthen his own position with Emily and distance Alec from her and her family and friends, was an opportunity not to be passed up.

He hoped Delvin wasn’t the intruder. He may be estranged from him, loathe and distrust him, but he did not want to think him capable of raping an innocent girl and killing her maid. Just as he did not want to believe his brother capable of luring a friend into a duel for the sole purpose of killing him. As for Delvin’s affair with Selina, this cut him to the quick and more than he cared to acknowledge. Watching her now as she talked to Emily amongst the flowerbeds he felt a curious lump form at the back of his throat.

They were a contrast in every way: Emily dressed prettily in a simple muslin gown without hoops, her blonde curls as bright as the sun, she smiling at something Selina whispered in her ear, it was easy to think the events of the previous night just a hideous nightmare; and Selina, her mass of tight apricot curls framing a flawless complexion, the blue-black of her velvet gown with its many layered petticoats of silver tissue and gauze tippet of the same shimmering fabric, looked every bit the majestic self-assured widow of the world to Emily’s sweet naiveté. And both women belonged to his brother…

The Duchess saw him first, and in a piece of deft maneuvering Alec found admirable, she directed the group’s attention to a row of yellow rose bushes Heath had recently staked, so she could slip away and join him in a stroll down a path of tall pink and white climbing roses.