Never Miss a Chance (20 page)

The Marley siblings had no interest in swimming, so they sat
at a table near the lake telling Aunt Prue and Mariah of their latest
discoveries.  Miss Simon’s bathing costume fit perfectly, even if it was a bit
on the small side.  She was unused to walking over stones, so she asked for
Riverton’s escort, which he was only too happy to provide.  As Arthur was busy
tending to Miss Rennard – who looked like she needed little to no assistance –
Lizzie was unsurprised to find Stalford by her side.  He was less talkative
than usual and in the course of the quarter mile walk to the lake made only one
improper suggestion.  Lizzie was on the verge of asking if he was under the
weather, when they finally arrived.

Lizzie was overwhelmed with memories from the previous
evening.  She dreaded meeting Riverton’s eyes, to see the knowledge he had in
them.  But in the end, she couldn’t resist looking at him, only to see him
talking and laughing – laughing! – with Miss Simons.  She of the vulgarly small
bathing costume.  It was really outside of enough.  Lizzie left Stalford’s
side, then stormed past Riverton and Miss Simons without a word.  She waded out
into the water, then began swimming.  She wanted to get away from all of them,
even knowing she’d never be able to escape herself.

The water helped cool her down from the hot summer sun, but
did little to settle her emotions.  She knew she was doing the right thing in
letting Marcus go, but it didn’t mean she had to be happy about it.  It was
also quite irritating to be swimming in Edith’s bathing costume.  There was
more material than she was used to, and it was weighing her down.  She
continued swimming, distancing herself from the others.  When she reached the
middle of the lake she stopped, treading water as she watched the others near
the shore.  Riverton caught her eye and raised a hand as if to wave.  Unable to
look at him even another minute, she dove beneath the surface and swam
underwater.

The lake was murky, so she didn’t realize until it was too late
that there was a submerged tree in her path.  Unfortunately, Lizzie snagged her
costume on it.  She broke the surface, then tugged at it.  The costume didn’t
move.  She dove beneath the surface again, to try to move the tree.  She
surfaced for air, then repeated her efforts.  This time she was joined by
Marcus underwater.  He tugged at the tree with her, then something broke loose
from the log.  Lizzie grabbed the object, which felt like a small chest of some
sort.  Then Marcus dragged her to the surface.

“What the devil do you mean by swimming all the way out
here?” he asked as he held her to ensure she was all right.

“I’m surprised you noticed.  You were having such a good
time with your old chum.” 

“Manners dictate that I make all my guests feel at home.  My
association with Miss Simons has been a long one and we were simply reminiscing
about the past.”

“But you laugh with her!” said Lizzie, even knowing how
pathetic she sounded.

“I put on a show with her,” said Marcus, as his hands
caressed her waist.  “You bring me real joy.”

This was not the direction she needed to go with him.  So
she examined the small chest in her hand, instead.  “What is this curious box?”
she asked, as she held it up for his review.  It was a perfectly formed
container, but Lizzie could find no way to open it, even though the lid looked
to have a simple latch.

“I’ve never seen it before,” said Riverton.  “It looks to
have been in the water for a good long time.  Come back to shore with me so we
can examine it.  I don’t want you out here any longer with Edith’s costume hindering
your swimming.” 

“I’m sure Miss Simons floats across the lake like a swan.”

Riverton looked at her.  “Did you bump your head on that log? 
You’re not making much sense.  Let me help you back to shore.”

They swam side-by-side back to the others.  Lizzie thought
of the last time they’d been in the lake together and as she caught Riverton’s
eye, it appeared his mind was similarly engaged.

“Are you all right, Lady Elizabeth?” asked Miss Simons when
they reached the bank.  “I’ve never been so frightened in my life as when I saw
you flailing about in the water.  Perhaps I should give you swimming lessons.”

“How kind of you, Miss Simons,” said Prue, as she held out a
blanket for Lizzie, with Arthur by her side.  “But I assure you my niece is an
expert swimmer and rarely, if ever, flails.”

“Whatever are you holding in your hand?” asked Miss Marley.

“Oh, this?” said Lizzie as she held up the small chest for
all to see.  “It was caught in a tree underwater.  It’s most curious, is it
not?”

As Arthur looked around, he saw that the Marley siblings
were most curious, indeed, to see the chest.  And so was Miss Rennard.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Dressed in a new gown after her bath, Lizzie turned the
stone box in her hands.  She wasn’t sure why she was so fascinated with the
tiny chest.  Perhaps it was the distraction her head needed to stop thinking
about Marcus.  God only knew her heart wouldn’t let go of the matter for even a
moment.

But as she turned the box over yet again, a solution came to
mind.  One that was quite unpalatable, but could solve the problem facing her.

She set out in search of Stalford and found him in the
library, drinking Riverton’s best brandy.  He languidly rose when she entered
the room.

“I hope you’re feeling better after your mishap in the
lake,” he said.

“Lud, why is everyone making so much of that?  I simply
snagged Edith’s bathing costume on a branch.  And I wouldn’t have done that if
it hadn’t been too big for me.”

“There’s nothing wrong with Edith’s size,” said Stalford
defensively, before throwing back the rest of his drink.

“I didn’t say there was.  It was simply too big for me.”

“Perhaps you should gain weight.”

“Stalford, what is wrong with you today?  I’ve come here on
a very difficult mission only to find you acting most irregularly.”

“You can’t even insult a person properly.  Edith does it
much better, you know.”

“I’m sure she’s had a great deal more practice.  Now before
you go off in defense of Edith once again, I need you to listen to my, uh,
proposal.”

Stalford raised a brow.  “What is it?”

“Well,” said Lizzie, as she began to pace.  “I was wondering
if you might like to become betrothed to me.  Not to be married, of course,
just betrothed.”

“Excuse me for being dim-witted – a state I’m told I’m in
quite often – but what other betrothals are there, besides marriage?”

Lizzie sighed and looked at him.  He wasn’t going to make
this easy.  “The betrothal would appear to be for marriage, but I would cry off
at some point down the line.”

“And what reason would you give for doing so?”

“I’m sure I could find any number of them.  No offense, of
course.”

“Of course.”

“The important thing is that everyone must believe we’ll
marry.”

“Don’t you already have a fiancé?”

Lizzie felt the blood drain from her face.  “Yes.  But I
cannot marry him.  And you cannot ask me why.”

“I have no intention of it.  But what’s in it for me?  If
I’m to be jilted in a matter of months…”

“Perhaps weeks,” she said, eyeing the nearly empty decanter
of brandy that was next to him.

“If I’m to be jilted at all, shouldn’t I be compensated for
the inconvenience?”

Why was everything so difficult?  “Yes, I suppose.  Would
one hundred pounds be sufficient?”

“Not in the least.  Let’s try one thousand, shall we?”

“It will be two hundred fifty and not a ha’penny more.  All
you have to do is pretend you persuaded me to marry you.”

He looked at her consideringly.  “I can’t imagine your
brothers will be pleased.  Or your fiancé.  I don’t want to get a blacked eye
over this.”

“For two hundred fifty pounds, you shouldn’t complain about
a few bruises.”

“Ah, my dear lady, you know me not at all.  I’ve never been
one to risk any type of physical injury.  Especially any about the face.  If
I’m to agree to your proposition, you must give me the funds and protect me
from bodily harm.”

“Very well.  We shall put the plan into effect today.”

He bowed mockingly as Lizzie turned on her heels and left. 
Without thinking about what she’d just done, she ran up the stairs and down the
corridors to her bed chamber.  She hoped to remain there shut away from
everyone.  Especially from Marcus.

But solitude was not to be found.  As she was nearing her
room, Arthur caught up to her.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to ask about my blasted mishap
in the lake,” she said.

“Of course not.  I wanted to talk about the chest you
found.”

“Why?”

“Because Kellingtons are curious by nature.”

They opened the door to her bed chamber, only to find it
ransacked.

Arthur put Lizzie to his back, as he looked about the room. 
Every drawer had been opened and emptied onto the floor.  The clothes from her
wardrobe were strewn across the room.

Lizzie surveyed the mess.   “Mansfield may need to hire new
maids.”

“This isn’t a joke, Lizzie,” said her brother, who looked
more angry than she.  And he wasn’t even the one to have his best gowns thrown
on the floor.  His favorite beaded slipper wasn’t currently hanging from a
bedpost.  He walked to her wardrobe, then reached inside.  “The chest is gone.”

“How did you know where it was?” she asked.

“I must be a good guesser.”

“Arthur, what’s going on?”

“I don’t know yet, but have my suspicions.  You must promise
to stay by Riverton’s side for the time being.”  If he noticed her suddenly shuttered
expression, he didn’t remark upon it.  “In the meantime, I’m off in search of
answers.”

Arthur grabbed her hand, then ushered her out of the room
and down two flights of stairs to find the foyer teeming with servants rushing
back and forth.  Trunks were being carried in and Mansfield was directing his
troops like a battlefield general.

“Find Riverton,” Arthur told Lizzie.  “And don’t go back to
your room.  I’m off in search of someone.”  Then he quickly left. 

The front door opened and a grim-faced Riverton entered,
followed by the equally somber Lynwood, Hal and Inspector Stapleton. 

“Liam, what is wrong?” Lizzie asked as she rushed to Lynwood. 
Her brothers and Stapleton looked like they’d raced to Riverton Farms from
London.  Whatever news had brought them in such haste couldn’t be good.

“I was about to ask you the same question,” he said as he
bent to kiss her cheek.  “But perhaps Stalford can clarify.”

Lizzie turned to see the earl standing near the library door,
looking both defiant and ill at ease.

“What does Stalford have to do with anything?” asked Lizzie.

“According to the
Times
, the two of you are
affianced.” 

At her look of shock, Hal handed her a copy of the paper.  Lizzie
was astounded to find the notice in stark black and white.  She looked first at
Stalford, who’d somehow found another drink, then at Riverton, who would not
meet her eyes.  Lizzie didn’t know what was going on.  Was this someone’s idea
of a joke?  If so, it had fallen disastrously wide of its mark.  Riverton would
be so hurt and angry.

Lizzie thought about his likely reaction.  If he thought
she’d placed the announcement in the
Times
, it would create a rift
between them.  Likely a permanent one.  She’d hate knowing she’d hurt him, but,
perhaps, that was the only way to save him.  It was as good of an opportunity
as any to enact her plan.    

“Yes,” she said, to stunned looks from all around.  “Lord
Stalford and I have been secretly engaged these many weeks.  I’m sorry Marcus. 
So very sorry.”

Riverton met her gaze for only a fraction of a moment, but
it was enough for Lizzie to see the tremendous hurt in his eyes.  Pain she’d
inflicted.  Then he looked away and cleared his throat.

“Welcome to Riverton Farms, gentlemen,” he said to Lynwood,
Hal and Stapleton.  “I’m sure Mansfield will have you settled directly.  If
you’ll excuse me, I have business elsewhere.”

He left without a single look back.

*                    *                    *

Arthur found Tara in the stables, trying to saddle a clearly
reluctant Merlin.

“I’m going to end your charade right now,” he said, as he
grabbed her arm.  “How dare you steal from my sister!”
“It wasn’t me,” she said, as she tried to pull away.

“I don’t believe you.”

“All right.”  She was vividly aware of his hand on her arm. 
It made her feel odd and heated all over, but the more she tried to pull away,
the more resolutely he hung on.  “I was going to search her room, but was too
late.  They’d already been there.”

“Who?”

Tara looked away from him.

“Was it the Marleys?” he asked. “Is that who got there
before you?”

“Yes.  And they’re nowhere to be found on the estate.  They
have the chest, now I must find them.”

“Out of the question.  They could be dangerous.”

Tara finally pulled her arm away, then immediately felt the
loss of his touch.  “It is not for you to say what I can and cannot do.”

Arthur rolled his eyes at the obstinacy of women.  “At least
tell me what’s going on.”

“I already told you.”

“But this time I want the truth.”

She looked at him, as if deciding how much to reveal.  “It’s
not a treasure map, but I can’t tell you what it is.  All you need to know is
it’s vital I find the chest and look at what’s inside.”

“You mean this?”  Arthur held up a piece of parchment
wrapped in leather.

She reached for it, but he pulled it away.  “Give that to
me,” she said.

Arthur shook his head.  “Not without an explanation.”

“How did you get it?”

“While Lizzie was in the bathing chamber, I took a look at
the chest that had garnered so much interest.  I have a certain skill with
latches, so I was able to open it.  What I found inside was most interesting,
but it’s not a map.  At least not to your dear family’s treasure.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because it’s written in code.  In French.  So now are you
going to tell me who you really are?”

She stared at the parchment, then slowly met his eyes.  “I’m
with the Home Office.”

*                    *                    *

Lady Riverton could not believe her very good luck.  The
Duke of Lynwood himself was in her formal sitting room, along with his youngest
brother Henry, with yet another unmarried Kellington somewhere on the estate.   Thank
God that dreadfully common Inspector was off with Elizabeth for some reason.

Lady Riverton’s only problem was Lady Nicholls, who seemed
intent on jumping the queue with Melissa, that annoying daughter of hers.  The
chit should be more than satisfied with Riverton.  It was true that Lynwood was
a duke, while her Riverton was “only” a marquess, but the girl shouldn’t be
greedy.  And she should certainly be grateful for everything that was being
done to get Elizabeth Kellington out of the way.   Of course, Lady Riverton
didn’t know exactly what was being done to get rid of Elizabeth.  But she had a
feeling Edith was up to something.  She was a sneaky one, that Edith.  Blessed
with none of Charlotte’s beauty, but she knew how to get things done.  Once
Charlotte became the Duchess of Lynwood, they’ve have to see about finding
someone for Edith.  Perhaps the Duke of Fallmoor.   The man was in need of a
legal heir.  Edith could get the job done and Lord knew the girl wouldn’t care
what it did to her figure.

But there was Lady Nicholls to be rid of first.  She’d
cornered Lynwood and Lord Henry into drinking a spot of tea, but now they looked
ready to bolt.  That had to be avoided at all costs.

“I’m so glad you have come, your grace, Lord Henry,” said
Lady Nicholls as she stared like a vulture at the two of them.  “My Melissa
will be most pleased to converse with you at dinner.  Perhaps she can sing for
you later.”

Lady Riverton took advantage of the breath Lady Nicholls was
drawing to jump into the conversation.  “Lady Nicholls, while that is a most
charming suggestion, I had rather thought you’d like to be on your way now that
your carriage has been fixed.”

“But the damage was so extensive,” said Lady Nicholls with a
clenched jaw.  “I wouldn’t like to risk a journey, only to have it end in
calamity.”

“You are more than welcome to take Riverton’s carriage,”
said his fond mama.

“Or perhaps we might make the journey in his grace’s
carriage,” said Lady Nicholls with a smile at the man.  “With his escort, of
course.”

Lady Riverton looked like she’d take great joy in using his
grace’s carriage to run Lady Nicholls over, but instead turned to Charlotte,
who was on the settee next to Lynwood.  She’d started off the proper distance
away, but was steadily inching closer and closer to him.              

Good girl, that Charlotte.

Lady Riverton turned her attention to the other brother. 
“Lord Henry, how delightful it is that you should have joined our party.  I
hope we have not taken you away from the delights of London.”

“While I do, indeed, avail myself of the, uh, delights of
London whenever possible,” said Hal, “I was most anxious to come here with my
brother.”

“Have I mentioned how very much my Melissa is looking
forward to seeing the two of you?” asked Lady Nicholls. 

“As I said earlier,” replied Lady Riverton, barely keeping
her anger in check.  “I can have your carriage waiting downstairs in a quarter
of an hour.  You don’t even have to pack.  I’m sure you can trust my maids to
bundle up your trunks and send them to you.  The clothes have seen better days,
after all.”

Just as it appeared Lady Nicholls was about to bundle Lady
Riverton into a trunk, Hal set down his tea cup.  “If you’ll excuse me ladies,
I must set off in search of our aunt.”

“That is an excellent idea, Henry,” said Lynwood, who began
to rise, but was pulled back to his seat by Charlotte’s hand on his thigh,
hidden by her skirts.  And when the devil had she moved so close?

“Thank you Lynwood, but I’ll leave you to attend to the
ladies.”  Hal bowed and was quickly on his way out the door, feeling Lynwood’s
wrath even at that distance.

Lynwood rose from his seat, disentangling himself from the
surprisingly strong Lady Charlotte.  “And I shall find my sister.  If you’ll
excuse me, ladies.”

They very much did not want to excuse him, but in the end he
gave them no choice.