The Secret of Castlegate Manor (17 page)

She joined his laughter. "Of course not."

They spent the pleasant drive to Bath chatting over plans for their future. As they neared the city, they both grew quiet. Caroline knew Geoffrey shared her ominous feeling regarding Lord Humphrey when he said, "I have asked Nottington to make discreet inquiry with Lord Humphrey's servants as to the recent whereabouts of their master. Perhaps he will find something of use."

"I do wish we could find some way to end this dangerous affair. I shall never feel safe as long as he is determined to become master of the manor. And if he discovers your identity, you shall not be safe, either."

Geoffrey took her hand, enjoying the softness of her glove and the delicate substance of its content. "But we shall be safe. I shall find a way to be rid of threat that the Viscount presents."

"I hope so. I should not want to marry you only to worry that you might be murdered at any moment."

"You shall not lose me. This is one battle the Viscount will not win."

The carriage left them off at the Circus.

They lunched at a small tea room, then walked about while Geoffrey gave her a tour of this part of the town.

"Nottington is meeting us back at the Circus late in the afternoon. Until then, our time is all our own," Geoffrey told her.

She had managed to put the Viscount from her mind and was having a marvelous time when they stopped for afternoon tea. The sight of Lady Ruyter with an elderly woman brought her back to her senses.

Caroline whispered, "What shall I do if I am seen with you? How shall I explain?"

"She has never seen me. Simply tell anyone you meet that I am an old friend from India," Geoffrey suggested.

Lady Ruyter greeted them politely.

"Caroline, it is such a pleasure to see you. I assumed that you accompanied Lady Aberly and Lavenia to London."

"I was going to do so, but some unavoidable business detained me in Bath."

"What a pity." Her eyes fell on Geoffrey.

"I would like you to meet an old friend from India, Mr. Geoffrey...." Caroline hesitated.

Geoffrey bowed. "Geoffrey Nelson, my lady."

Caroline gave him a quick glance.

She must remember in future introductions that he had borrowed the last name of his favorite military leader, Lord Nelson.

Lady Ruyter nodded. "This is my mother, Lady Amelia. You must join us for tea. I want to hear more about India."

"If you are sure we are not intruding," Caroline replied, wishing she could think of an excuse to decline.

"I insist," returned Lady Ruyter.

They joined Lady Ruyter and her elderly white-haired mother.

It was a relief to have Geoffrey present to regale the ladies with true stories of India and exciting accounts of battles with Lord Nelson.

Caroline was required to do very little talking and the time passed quickly.

After polishing off a pot of tea, Lady Amelia stated, "I have enjoyed our visit very much but my daughter forgets that I covet my afternoon nap. I shall be required to seek our departure."

"It was lovely meeting you," Caroline offered sincerely.

Lady Amelia smiled graciously. "It was lovely meeting you too, dearie, and your charming friend."

After the ladies departed, Caroline and Geoffrey adopted a slow stroll back toward the Circus. It felt so right to Caroline to be walking beside Geoffrey, her hand tucked upon his arm.

She had quite forgotten that Mr. Blois officed near the circus and that it was time to end work for the day. As they passed his establishment, they came face to face with him as he descended the steps.

"Why, Miss Stewart, what a pleasure," he began.

His smile faded as he took in Geoffrey's presence at her side. Caroline snatched her hand away. Her face grew as warm as though she were a small girl caught stealing a pastry.

"Mr. Blois, how nice to see you," she returned. "I would like you to meet Mr. Nelson, an old friend from India."

Caroline knew she would someday be caught in these lies. She only hoped by then it would not matter.

Mr. Blois bowed, his expression carefully guarded. "How nice to meet you, Mr. Nelson. I hope that you shall have a nice visit in Bath before you return to India."

Geoffrey surveyed the young man and the covert look that he gave Caroline.

"I shall not be returning to India, Mr. Blois. I have decided that a country life is more to my liking and Miss Stewart has encouraged me to stay."

"I see." Mr. Blois bowed again before adding curtly, "Miss Stewart, Mr. Nelson, good-day."

Caroline fought back laughter as the young man trod down the street in a huff. "I think you have discouraged my only suitor, Mr. Stewart."

"If you are waiting for an apology, I can assure you it shall not come."

They sobered as they spotted Nottington waiting for them at the entrance to the Circus.

"Perhaps he has some news." Caroline felt her pulse quicken.

"What did you learn?" Geoffrey inquired of the old hostler.

"Lady Aberly and her daughter left for London early this morning."

"Good. Then it is safe for us to return," Geoffrey stated.

"Did you learn anything about Lord Humphrey?"

Nottington nodded. "I did some checking with Lord Humphrey's servants. I found a footman whose lips could be loosed with a shilling. I am afraid, though, that you might not like what I learned. This morning, Lord Humphrey left for London."

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Lord Humphrey had made it known that he wished his carriage ready early that morning. The servants had gone about their duties with an urgency that bespoke the master's impatience to be off. His destination had been a fact entrusted only to the butler. However, because his servants felt little loyalty, before the carriage left the gate, everyone including the cook and the scullery-boy knew his itinerary.

The butler swabbed his forehead as the carriage drove out of sight. He guessed the other servants shared his relief to be rid of the irritable Viscount, who had been in a rare old mood, snapping at everyone for the last week. The servants knew that something had gone badly wrong and chalked it up to gambling losses.

The butler sighed as he turned back to his duties. He feared, if the Master continued to combine his lavish lifestyle with his customary bad luck, his butler would soon be looking for another employer.

The Viscount sat stiffly in the carriage, unaware of the glorious scarlet sunrise that ushered in the new day. A morning fog, gray and drizzly, would have better suited his mood. He smoldered at the botch made of his plans by Benson and his associate.

He had regretted the order to dispatch Lady Aberly, not because of any personal solicitude, but because his plans had been frustrated to such a infuriating degree by Caroline that he was driven to risk murder. He could not have known the two men he had entrusted with the task would murder each other instead and let the intended victim escape.

Now, he must chance allowing his interest in the estate to be made known in London. He would call upon Lady Aberly's solicitor and have the particulars of the will explained to him. Perhaps he would learn of some other way he could depose Lady Aberly, the stubbornly surviving heiress.

He arrived in London on the second day of his travel. It was late and the solicitor's office was closed. The Viscount settled upon an inn not far from the office. He had a belated supper, then headed for the local pub where he incurred more gambling debt and a dizzy head from his potables.

The next morning, he awoke in a surly state to demand his footman bring round the carriage while he choked down coffee and a light breakfast. He intended to see the solicitor as soon as possible.

He arrived to find that the office was not yet busy. An apprentice showed him into the plush office of the departed Lady Eleanor's trusted solicitor, Mr. Grable.

Mr. Grable greeted him with a bow. "Good-day, Lord Humphrey. I hope that I may be of service to you,"

He was a short fleshy man of advanced years. His quiet, deferring manner bespoke his position of service to the gentry of London. The Viscount pegged him as a man of refined tastes. Perhaps, they would do business together.

"I think you shall be able to help me. I know my great-aunt had the greatest respect for your judgement."

Mr. Grable smiled, showing even white teeth. "She was one of my favorites, a very great lady. I have missed her immensely."

Lord Humphrey nodded. "I fear she may have been in a declining mental state in the last months of her life. She had told me she intended to amend her will." The lie rolled easily off his tongue.

Mr. Grable frowned. "She mentioned nothing to me."

"I believe her health prevented her from making the changes that she desired. Lady Aberly is not suitably caring for the estate and I fear it will fall into disrepair."

"Lady Aberly?"

"Lady Eleanor's niece, I believe."

"Lady Aberly did not inherit Castlegate Manor."

The Viscount sat forward in surprise. "You will have to excuse me. I was not able to attend the reading of her will. However, I was informed by Lady Aberly that she had become heiress."

"I am afraid she was mistaken. I can show you quite plainly that it is not true." Mr. Grable called for his clerk.

"Fetch Lady Eleanor's will. I shall read it to this gentleman."

Lord Humphrey sat in silent astonishment as Mr. Grable read the contents of the will. He had no interest in the London estate which was rightfully left to a son and his wife. The country estate, named a grand-nephew, Geoffrey Stewart of India as heir.

He sat in silence as the reading was concluded.

"And Mr. Stewart? Has he come forward to claim his estate?"

Mr. Grable shook his head. "He has not. It is quite a mystery as he had written saying he planned to come over from India. He has surely had time to arrive by now."

"Did ever hear Lady Eleanor make mention of her grand-niece from India, a Miss Caroline Stewart?"

"I cannot say that I have."

"I see."

Suspicion formed in the Viscount's mind. Had Caroline accompanied her brother from India, then kept his identity hidden? If so, someone must have overheard the plans the Viscount had made to dispose of anyone who stood in his way.

Caroline had called the groom Geoffrey. He had arrived suddenly at the stable. Suspicion turned to understanding. The young man Benson had reported going on unchaperoned rides with Caroline was, no doubt, her brother. That explained so many things.

He rose from the over-stuffed chair. "You have been a great help in clearing up my understanding of the will. If this gentleman from London does not appear, I will return to stake my claim upon the estate, as I am also a grand-nephew."

Mr. Grable nodded. "Indeed, it would seem likely that it would be Lady Eleanor's next intent."

"Then we shall likely meet again."

Lord Humphrey strode from the office, letting his visage change from studied mildness to rage that he had been blind to the truth. He had wasted time, time that had been costing him a nice profit to pay off his debts.

"Drive to the West End. I wish to visit the home of the departed, Lady Eleanor." He slung the words in caustic command to the waiting coachman.

They arrived in London's fashionable West End and found the home now occupied by Lady Eleanor's son and daughter-in-law. Lord Humphrey had been there on occasional visits to London with his parents before their deaths.

Lady Eleanor's disapproval of his father had extended to include his entire family, a disposition for which the Viscount had not forgiven her. Now, he would have the final revenge. He would thwart her wishes and have her beloved estate for himself. But first, he had to understand how Caroline fit into the plan.

He presented his calling card with the butler.

"The master is not home at present. I shall see if Lady Adela will see you."

He returned to escort the viscount to the parlor. "The Lady will see you momentarily. Please make yourself comfortable. I shall have tea delivered while you wait."

Lord Humphrey fought his impatience as he watched a maid deliver his pot of tea. On impulse, he asked, "Do you remember a Miss Caroline who lived here just before Lady Eleanor's death?"

"A Miss Caroline, sir? The only Caroline I remember was a lady's maid to Lady Aberly," she answered timidly.

"Lady's maid?"

"Yes, sir. This Caroline served here ever since she was a small girl."

"I see."

Lord Humphrey fell silent. He was so deep in thought, he nearly forgot to rise when Lady Adela made her appearance.

"I am sorry to have kept you waiting, my lord."

Lady Adela gushed with charm. She wore a pink gown that did not become her middle-aged frame, but make her look foolishly girlish.