A Debt From the Past (15 page)

‘It is not a game!’ He spoke with menace.

‘No, and I suspect that you do not care whom you hurt whilst carrying out your dastardly scheme.’

‘I have already told you that I will not allow anyone to stand in my way. I made a solemn promise to my father, and I will keep that promise, no matter what I have to do.’

‘Will you care for the casualties you leave in your wake?’ Beth asked.

‘No!’

She mounted, turned her horse and cantered away, tears clouding her eyes. During the last few weeks she had become fond of Alice, Alex was a likeable boy, and Daniel Edgemont had an aura of quiet strength about him. Even his lordship was an impressive man, and if he had not been so ruthless ... She gave a mental shrug. It was useless trying to analyze her feelings towards him, for he was clearly a danger to her and everything she held dear.

‘Helen, I want you to leave here.’

Beth’s friend clutched the dress she was holding close to her body, and the colour drained from her face. ‘I can’t leave you!’

‘It is for the best.’

‘But what have I done to anger you?’ Helen gasped.

‘Nothing.’ Beth made her sit down. ‘I am concerned for your safety. I don’t like what is going on here. It clearly involves Sir Peter, and I believe him to be a dangerous man.’

‘Then you must come away as well.’

‘No, I cannot abandon the estate and its workers.’

‘I shall not leave you!’ Helen stood up and straightened her shoulders. ‘I know you are only trying to protect me from any scandal, but whatever is going on, we can face it together. We have been friends since childhood. You stood by me when Father killed himself, and now it is my turn to do the same for you.’

Beth smiled affectionately at Helen. ‘I remember the time when you kept that fierce dog from reaching me and got bitten yourself.’

‘We were nine years old, and I would do the same now.’

‘I know, but I would be more at ease if I knew you were away from here.’ Beth removed the dress from Helen’s fierce grip and smoothed out the creases. ‘You have suffered enough of late, Helen, and for that reason I shall find you somewhere pleasant to stay until this wretched business is over.’

Helen shook her head. ‘I will
not
leave you.’

Beth sighed but knew it was useless to argue further. Helen’s stubborn streak surfaced rarely; when it did, nothing would turn her. ‘Very well, you may stay. To be truthful, I should be very frightened without you here.’

The smile of relief was dazzling. ‘We shall do well enough, and your fears may be unfounded. His lordship has kept his dubious activities away from the estate so far.’

‘I agree, but I have a premonition that it will not remain so.’

‘Whatever happens, we shall face it together, Beth.’

‘Of course we shall.’ Beth tried to shake off her anxieties; she was letting her imagination run away with her. ‘I admit that I do like Alice and Alex, and Daniel appears to be dependable, but we would be wise not to trust anyone.’

‘They are very pleasant,’ Helen agreed, ‘but they are all embroiled in his lordship’s schemes and should be treated with caution.’

Beth smiled. ‘How very sensible you are, and I am glad you refused to leave, for I should have missed you quite dreadfully, but I felt I should give you the opportunity to leave if you so wished.’

‘Well, I do not wish! Nothing would have made me go,’ Helen declared stoutly. ‘I survived one scandal, and if another one should come upon us, then we shall weather that storm as well.’

There was a knock on the door and Helen opened it to reveal Jenkins.

‘Sir Peter Gresham has called, Miss Langton.’

‘Oh dear. Quickly, Helen, help me change.’

‘Shall I tell him you will be down shortly?’ the butler asked.

‘Yes. Where is his lordship?’ she wanted to know.

‘Disappeared as soon as the gentleman arrived.’ Jenkins smiled grimly. ‘Just as before.’

‘What about Lady Trenchard?’

‘She is also unavailable,’ he told her. He bowed and went back down the stairs.

Beth muttered in irritation. ‘So they leave me to face him. I do believe they are cowards.’

Fifteen minutes later Beth and Helen entered the drawing room.

‘I apologize for keeping you waiting, Sir Peter.’

‘That is quite all right.’ He smiled and watched while they sat down. ‘My call was unexpected, but I was concerned after that scandalous business yesterday. I trust you are quite recovered?’

‘Yes, thank you, sir; we are over our fright. Would you partake of some refreshment?’

He shook his head. ‘Alas, I cannot stay. Is Lord Sharland at home?’

‘I am afraid you have just missed him again.’ She did not like the look of Sir Peter; he appeared rather agitated.

‘Your guardian is elusive.’

‘He has much to do at the moment.’ She smiled in apology.

‘And Lady Trenchard – is she also busy?’

‘She is resting,’ Beth lied, not caring for the derisive tone in his voice. ‘The hold-up has unsettled her.’

His expression turned thunderous. ‘I shall find out who those villains were; you can be sure of that. I already have my best men tracking them down.’

Beth’s insides lurched, knowing that, if found, they would be traced to this house, but she managed to contain her panic. ‘I expect they are well out of the district by now.’

‘That will not save them! The country will be scoured for them. They cannot escape.’ He slapped the whip he was carrying against his leg.

‘Everyone will be relieved to see them apprehended.’ How she managed to say that, she did not know. Her greatest fear now was that they would be caught and she would be accused of harbouring criminals. At that moment she hated James for placing them in such danger. ‘Now the railways are so popular, I thought the days of highwaymen were long past.’

Sir Peter nodded and stood up. ‘One would have thought so! I must leave now that I know you are all right. Our masked ball is next week; I trust we shall have the pleasure of your company?’

‘We are looking forward to the occasion.’

‘Perhaps we will be able to meet Lord Sharland at last.’ Without waiting for an answer, he walked out of the room.

Beth let out a pent-up breath and sat down. ‘He is becoming suspicious, I am sure of it. Let us hope he doesn’t track down the highwaymen. If he does, then we shall be in dire straits.’

‘There is one way to protect yourself,’ Helen said gently.

‘I know. I should go to the authorities and have them arrested.’

‘But you will not!’ His lordship strode into the room.

She was bristling with anger at his demanding tone. ‘How do you know I will continue to protect you?’

He poured himself a drink, sat down and gave her a smile that did not reach his eyes. ‘Because you cannot decide if I am really a criminal.’

‘That is a preposterous notion!’ she declared. ‘There is no doubt in my mind that you are. I have seen you with my own eyes.’

‘Ah, but have I harmed anyone or stolen anything?’ He raised a brow in query.

She frowned at this statement. If he was involved in the burglaries at Sir Peter’s homes and the highway hold-up, then it was true that he had not taken anything.

‘Well?’ he asked when she didn’t answer.

‘Now that I think about it, what you claim appears to be the case, but you have still acted unlawfully.’

He dipped his head in acknowledgement. ‘But the law is not always right, my dear Elizabeth.’

She did not understand his answer, but the last three words made her glower at him. ‘I am not
your dear Elizabeth
.’

‘You must allow me a small dream,’ he emptied his glass in one swallow and stood up. Then he strode from the room, his expression grim.

‘What did he mean?’ Helen came and sat beside her.

‘I don’t know. He seems to talk in riddles.’ Beth chewed her lip anxiously. His words had held so much bitterness that they had touched her heart and made it ache in sympathy. It was almost as if he was sad about the hostility between them. Just for a moment he had let his guard slip, and she had almost blurted out that she did like and trust him. It was a complete mystery why she should feel like this, and she decided that the uncertainty was making her over-sensitive.

‘He is correct in one thing,’ she told Helen, ‘I would not turn him over to the law, for I have the nasty feeling that if I did, then we would all suffer.’ She gasped as the realization hit her. ‘I do believe my wits are becoming addled. I am beginning to care what happens to him!’

‘My goodness, what a crush.’ Beth gazed around the ballroom in astonishment. ‘And just look at the magnificence! No expense has been spared in decorating the place. The flowers alone must have cost a fortune.’

Alice nodded. ‘And the whole of London society is here, by the look of it. More out of curiosity, I suspect, for the man has a bad reputation.’

‘No doubt.’ Beth moved aside to allow an exuberant couple to reach the dance floor. ‘I have never seen so many jewels.’ Then a thought struck her and she whispered, ‘Is his lordship coming?’

‘He is already here,’ Alice told her.

‘Where?’ She scanned the crowds. ‘I cannot see him.’

‘No one would recognize him, my dear – not even you.’

‘I will if he is wearing black,’ she declared with confidence, ‘and anyway I only need to see his eyes to know him.’

‘He is not wearing black – quite the opposite, in fact. I have never seen him looking so bright.’

This she had to see! ‘Do tell me where he is?’

‘He is quite close to us.’

Beth frowned behind her mask. ‘I still can’t see him, and I would have thought his height would have made him stand out.’

‘He has disguised that as well.’

‘How can he? Is he walking on his knees?’ she joked. ‘And all three are above average height; they would stand out in any crowd.’

Alice laughed again. ‘Daniel is a master at blending in unnoticed, and he has taught them well.’

‘Ah.’ So it was imperative that their identities remain a secret.

‘If you are wondering whether he is going to steal a few of the magnificent baubles on display, then you can be at ease, Beth. He doesn’t want them or need them.’

‘Oh, I did not—’

‘Yes, you did, and understandably so, after that last escapade.’

Beth sighed. ‘You understand that I cannot trust him, or any of them, don’t you?’

‘I do, and I am not in agreement with you being kept on tenterhooks in this manner, but I am sworn to silence. Not that I have been told the content of Edward’s will.’ Alice sighed. ‘And I too would do anything to help my boys.’

‘Even if they are breaking the law?’ Beth asked.

‘Yes, the most heinous crime would not make me betray them.’

By that statement, Beth knew she would not be able to rely on Alice as a friend. ‘I do admit to being all at sea with his lordship. One moment I feel I could like him, and the next I am terrified of him and what he might do.’

‘You do well to be cautious, Beth, for although I love him dearly, I would not vouch for him behaving like a gentleman at the present time.’

‘Alex is of a gentler nature, though.’ Beth studied the crowds again. ‘Is he also here?’

‘They are both here, along with Daniel.’

There was so much concern in her voice that Beth cast a sympathetic glance in her direction. However much she told herself not to get too close to this woman, she could not help liking her. ‘I can see you are very worried about them.’

‘They are my life.’ Her sigh was heartfelt. ‘And I wish we had never left Scotland. It was wrong of Edward to place this burden on James. He should have dealt with it himself, but he did have a very bad habit of leaving tasks until tomorrow. And, with Edward, tomorrow never came.’

‘I know, and my father was the same. That is why I find myself in this predicament.’ Beth cast Alice a curious glance. ‘You appear to know my godfather well.’

‘Of course I do, my dear; he spent a good deal of time with us over the last few years. Didn’t James explain that to you?’

‘No, he didn’t!’ Beth could hardly believe this. Her godfather often disappeared for long periods, but she had always assumed he was dealing with his many businesses. ‘Why did he never mention visiting you?’

‘Because I was looking after his son and he didn’t want anyone to know about us.’ Alice patted her hand. ‘I’m sorry, Beth. This is all very confusing for you, but I see no reason for secrecy now.’

When Alice turned her attention back to the crowded room, Beth knew the subject was at an end. Sensing the tension in the woman beside her, she asked, ‘Is there to be trouble this evening?’

‘No!’ Alice smiled, clearly trying to banish her fears. ‘We are here to enjoy ourselves like everyone else; that is the sole purpose of this evening.’

Beth sincerely hoped that was true! She studied the throng again but gave up after a while. If the three men were here, then she could not pick them out in the swirl of bright colours. His lordship always wore subdued basic colours, and she could not imagine him in anything else.

‘Gresham has spared no expense,’ Alice murmured.

‘I agree, though I can’t understand why he has given such a lavish affair. He doesn’t have the reputation for entertaining or spending money.’

‘Except on his home.’ Alice brought her attention to the huge glittering chandeliers. ‘Venetian glass, and paintings by every artist of note.’

‘Perhaps he is trying to find a husband for his sister and is hoping to impress with his wealth?’ Beth suggested. ‘She has been a widow for many years, I believe.’

‘If that is his intention, then he is wasting his time and money.’

Beth was taken aback by the bitterness in Alice’s voice. ‘She is no beauty, but she is quite presentable.’

‘That is so, but no man of standing would have her, not even if Gresham gave this fine mansion as her dowry.’

‘I would have thought the gentlemen would have been queuing for her hand if he did that,’ Beth joked. ‘Is there some great scandal attached to her that I do not know about?’

‘Not that I am aware of. Now –’ Alice led Beth and Helen into the banquet room – ‘let us see what delicacies are on offer, for I am quite famished.’