Never Wager Against Love (Kellington Book Three) (21 page)

“Lawrence!” said Vanessa, as she hugged him again, then
allowed herself to be held slightly longer than Arthur thought was proper. 
“How did you find us?”

“Dumbarton, of course.  But had I known I would have this
warm of a reception I would’ve arrived sooner.”  The interloper Lawrence
released his hold on Vanessa – but only to arm’s length – then looked her up
and down, quite obviously liking what he saw.  “You seem well, especially
considering you’ve had to spend time with one of the most rakish lords in
London.  I know how you despise the peerage, after all.”

“Yes, well,” said Vanessa hastily, as she pulled back and
motioned for Arthur to join them, “I may have been a bit too inflexible in my
beliefs.  Lord Arthur Kellington, may I introduce you to Sir Lawrence Eck?  Sir
Lawrence is a fellow agent at the Home Office.”

Arthur studied the man before him.  Sir Lawrence looked to
be slightly younger than he and, Arthur gleefully noted, almost half a head
shorter.  He had sandy blonde hair and the build of someone accustomed to a
great deal of exercise.  Or padding from his tailor. 
Unfortunately
,
Arthur mused,
it wasn’t from the tailor
.

Sir Lawrence was dressed in riding clothes so fashionable
they wouldn’t look out of place in Mayfair.  He most definitely wasn’t wearing
the male version of Vanessa’s sensible gowns that she felt were so fitting for
her profession.

“Pleased to meet you, Kellington,” said Sir Lawrence.  “Your
brother the duke is a good man.  And I thank you for coming to ‘Nessa’s
assistance.”

Arthur shook his hand with a death grip that was quickly
reciprocated by the other man.  “Nessa” smiled brilliantly at the two men.

The butler cleared his throat.  “His grace is not expected
to receive guests for several more hours, Sir Lawrence.  Would you like to be
shown a room?”

“That won’t be necessary,” said Newcastle from the top of
the stairs.  “I doubt our new guest will be staying any longer than our old
ones, although you are welcome to freshen up, Sir Lawrence.”  Newcastle was
dressed immaculately and gave no outward signs of the contretemps from the
previous night other than shadows under his eyes due to lack of sleep. 
“Kellington, I understand you and Miss Gans wish to make an early departure
today.  I’m sure Michelson will do everything in his power to help you be on
your way.”  At that shaded command, the butler began giving orders to nearby
footmen.  “Shall I retrieve the chalice or do you, perchance, already have it
in your possession?”  He addressed the question to Arthur, having thus far
avoided all eye contact with Vanessa.

“We did happen to secure it,” said Arthur.  “Thank you for
asking.  Might we break our fast before departing?”

“Why of course,” said Newcastle, ever the gracious host. 
“Pray forgive me for not joining you, but I will take myself off for a ride.”

“Thank you for your hospitality, your grace,” said Sir
Lawrence, bowing deeply.

Newcastle looked down at the man, but said nothing else.  He
turned on his heel to go.

“One more thing, Newcastle,” said Arthur as he punched the
duke with enough force to knock the man over.  From the pain in his hand,
Arthur hoped he hadn’t broken any of his own bones, but figured it would be
more than worth it if he had.

“See here, Kellington,” said Sir Lawrence as he helped
Newcastle rise.  “That’s hardly the thing to do to a duke.”

“But it was most appropriate for someone who’s insulted a
lady’s honor.  Don’t fret yourself, Sir Lawrence.  I know Newcastle won’t be
foolish enough to press charges.”

Newcastle looked like he wanted to do considerably more than
press charges.  But instead he simply turned to his butler.  “Get them out of
here within the half hour.  They can break their fast on the road.” 

Twenty-nine minutes later, Sir Lawrence tied his horse to
the back of the carriage, then joined Vanessa and Arthur inside. 

“What news have you from Professor Dumbarton?” Vanessa asked
Sir Lawrence.

“It appears we are off to the wilds of Shropshire and the
Iron Bridge Gorge.  I confess myself wild to see it.  I have heard it is an
unimaginable piece of engineering.”  The Iron Bridge Gorge spanned the
wilderness of Shropshire, linking two areas that had previously been
traversable only by a circuitous route around a river.  The bridge was heralded
as an engineering marvel of the modern age.

“Where shall we drop you, Kellington?” Sir Lawrence asked.

“Hopefully not from the bridge,” replied Arthur.

“Ho!  I’d heard you fancied yourself a wit,” continued Sir
Lawrence.  “No, I mean what is the best way for you to go back to London?  On
behalf of the Home Office, we thank you for your assistance up until this
point, but you are clearly no longer needed now that I am here.  I will take
over the planning and execution of this mission.”

Arthur was gratified to see that Vanessa looked as irritated
as he felt.

“Lawrence,” she said, “I cannot see why you should be taking
over the mission.”

Sir Lawrence smiled as if a dog had just walked on its hind
legs.  “You have done splendidly, ‘Nessa.  But now I am here and can take
charge.”

“Has Lord Willingham placed you in command?” asked Vanessa.

Sir Lawrence lost some of his bluster.  “Not in so many
words,” he admitted.

“Then Miss Gans is still in charge,” said Arthur with great
satisfaction.

“Yes, I suppose technically that is correct, but since I am here
now it is only logical I should take over.”

“Logical to whom?” asked Vanessa.

“’Nessa, think of what this could do for my career were I to
safely return all the items to London.  There is only so far you can go in your
career.  But I could ascend the ranks to the very top.  After all, I’ve already
been knighted.”

“For a mission I helped you with,” said Vanessa.

“Yes, and I believe I already expressed my gratitude for
that,” he said coolly.  “But the fact remains that this would be quite the
feather in my cap.  Say, Kellington, perhaps you could put in a good word with
the Duke of Lynwood.”

“Oh, I will definitely tell my brothers and sister about
this conversation,” said Arthur, who caught Vanessa biting her lip to keep from
laughing.  “But I do not anticipate seeing them until Miss Gans and I return to
London with the sword, the chalice and whatever it is we are to fetch from
Shropshire.”

“You will not return to London?” asked Sir Lawrence.

“No, but feel free to go yourself.  I shall even write a letter
of introduction to his grace if you leave now.”

Arthur could tell Sir Lawrence was torn between wanting to
hurry off for a meeting with Lynwood and staying to take over Vanessa’s
mission.  As much as Arthur wanted her out of harm’s way, he didn’t like seeing
her pushed aside, especially by an ass like Sir Lawrence.  But perhaps he could
be of some use in keeping her safe from Mortimer and Cassidy.

Shropshire was little more than fifty miles from Nottingham,
but given the condition of the country roads, they didn’t arrive until dusk. 
There was but one inn in the vicinity and it looked to be in need of a good
cleaning.  There were only two rooms available, so Arthur resigned himself to
sharing a chamber with Sir Lawrence. 

It was decided that they would keep the broadsword and
chalice in Arthur and Sir Lawrence’s room.  While thieves were certainly not
uncommon in inns, it was thought they’d be much less likely to break into a
room shared by two rather large men, than the lady’s.  Arthur paid extra to move
a guest so that Vanessa’s room was directly next to theirs.  But he would still
spend another night with little rest, keeping an ear out for her protection.

They were shown to a private parlor for their meal that
night by the solicitous innkeeper.  Sir Lawrence took his time ordering,
certain he would have to suffer through a meal that would not meet his
standards.  Arthur had low expectations for the fare, but was more than
satisfied with the game pie he and Vanessa shared.  Somewhere along the way,
he’d developed a liking for simple, hearty food.  And while he was looking
forward to meals at Lynwood House in the not so distant future, right now all
he needed was something filling.

“So Professor Dumbarton believes this is the final stop?”
asked Vanessa, as she finished the last of the pie.

“Yes,” said Sir Lawrence, picking over his quail with a look
of distaste.  “That’s what he said when I happened upon him in London.”

“What was he doing in town?” asked Arthur.

“He’d returned your Merlin to Lynwood House.  When I saw him
he was in Willingham’s office discussing the mission.  When he said he needed
to send word to you, I offered to go myself.  Dumbarton and Willingham thought
it was a grand idea.  They explained the mission in great detail, even drawing
a map of exactly where we needed to go.  It’s a good thing, too.  I don’t know
how anyone would be expected to find this place without one.  We are here to
secure a solid gold spike that was rather fancifully hammered into one of the
supports in the Iron Bridge.”

“Why the spike?” asked Vanessa.

“Why not the spike?  It’s worth a veritable fortune so it
would make sense that the villains would want to steal it.”

“But aren’t there easier targets for Mortimer and Cassidy?”
asked Arthur.  “Why would anyone go to the risk of stealing the spike?  For
that matter, how are we going to get it?”

“Leave that to me, old fellow,” said Sir Lawrence.  “I have
in my possession several ropes and harnesses of the kind they used to build the
bridge.   Willingham was so good as to get them for me.  Quite capital of him,
really, going about town with me personally to track them down.  I think he’s
taken quite a liking to me, which of course, will bode well for the future.”

“Of course,” said Arthur.

“Have Mortimer and Cassidy been sighted?” asked Vanessa.

“No,” said Sir Lawrence.  “They seem to have completely
disappeared.  Ah, dessert.”

The innkeeper’s daughter served an apple tart, which was
quickly set upon by Arthur and Vanessa, while Sir Lawrence picked at his piece
with a fork as he complained about the lack of sophistication at country inns.

Shortly after they finished the tart, Vanessa suggested they
retire.  Arthur suspected even she had tired of Sir Lawrence’s constant
complaints.  Apparently, he had developed a taste for the finer things in life
and a trip to Shropshire was very much not on his list of places he wanted to
visit.

Arthur tried to find a few moments alone with Vanessa, but
was thwarted by Sir Lawrence’s constant questions about the best Bond Street
tailors.  Resigning himself to going to bed without even the chance to kiss
Vanessa good night, he walked her to her room – with Sir Lawrence in tow.  The
smile she gave him warmed Arthur’s heart.    

The experience of sharing a room with Sir Lawrence proved
just as irritating as being in the same carriage with him had been.  He laid
out his clothes with the fastidiousness of a valet.  “The jacket’s by Weston,
don’t you know,” said Sir Lawrence as he brushed it once again.   “You should
take better care of your clothes, Kellington.  I’m surprised you don’t have a
valet to tend to you.  My man is excellent, but his mother died and he needed
to go bury the girl.  I let him go to the funeral – without pay, of course. 
You can’t let that sort get ideas above their station.”

So
, mused Arthur,
Sir Lawrence was a bit of a
snob.
  He wondered if Vanessa knew.  Then he wondered how quickly he could
tell her.

Arthur removed his jacket, cravat, waistcoat and boots, then
lay down on his half of the bed and wondered how Vanessa was faring.  How
quickly he’d grown accustomed to being with her.  He lay awake late into the
night, serenaded by Sir Lawrence’s snoring, which was particularly loud and
grating, in keeping with the man himself.  Arthur knew it wasn’t just the noise
keeping him awake.  He missed having Vanessa near him.  He liked being with
her.  He needed to be with her, and it had little to do with keeping her safe. 
That was essential, of course.  But he was beginning to think he was a better
person when she was with him.  And he would like to be that person more often.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

A very groggy Arthur awoke the next morning to the sounds of
Sir Lawrence doing his morning exercises.  As Arthur watched the man do his
deep knee bends he had to resist the urge to throw something at his bobbing head. 
A knock on their door revealed that Vanessa was dressed as a lad again.  They
couldn’t get to the bridge with the carriage, so they’d agreed to hire horses
for Arthur and Vanessa while Sir Lawrence would ride the one he’d tied to the
back of the coach. Arthur was pleased to see she looked like she’d slept as
little as he.

Vanessa glanced warily in Sir Lawrence’s direction as the
man continued to bob up and down at the knees.  He finished with a flourish,
then put on his jacket.  “We should take the sword and chalice with us,” he
said. 

“But don’t you think the sword and the chalice would be
safer back here in the carriage?” asked Vanessa.  “I’m sure Professor
Dumbarton’s coachman and groom would guard them.”

“Best not to chance it,” said Sir Lawrence.  “You really
don’t know whom you can trust.”

Arthur agreed with Vanessa, but he was most concerned about
getting on the road so they could finally complete their mission.  He wasn’t
normally a superstitious man, but he had an odd feeling about the day ahead. 

“I can pack the chalice in my saddlebag,” said Vanessa.

“And I shall take the Larsen,” said Sir Lawrence, as he
lifted the sword with one hand, then promptly set it crashing to the floor. 
“It’s a bit heavier than it looks.”  He tried again to pick up the sword, but
was barely able to move it.  Finally, he was able to lift it to hip level, but
then struggled to swing the case over his shoulder.