Belong To Me (book 4) (The Fielding Brothers Saga) (29 page)

Her heart dropped a notch. First they had to clear him from these false charges and clear his good name.
But how?
Instead of letting her mind slip into rest, she stewed about all the ways they could prove his innocence. Somehow they had to catch Ewan in the act, and for some reason, Jacqueline’s name kept popping into her head. Jacqueline
Fonteneau
was the only way to get to Ewan.

Suddenly, an idea struck her. “I have it,” she exclaimed, sitting up straight in bed.

“What do you have, my love?” Ian pulled her back down and into his arms.

She leaned up on her elbow and gazed down into his sleepy eyes. “How much do you trust Jacqueline?”

His forehead creased. “Why are you thinking about her at a time like this?”

She quietly laughed at his shocked, and quite disturbed, expression. “I wasn’t really thinking about her. I was trying to think of a way to get you cleared of these ridiculous crimes, and Jacqueline crept into my mind.”

“And why is that?”

“Well, I don’t believe she’s clever enough to be in on the theft with Mr. Stout and the commissioner.”

He laughed. “Sweetheart, Jacqueline cannot be considered clever in any aspect of the word. She’s as dim-witted as they come.”

“So, does that mean you don’t trust her?”

“I don’t know. If she’s the commissioner’s mistress then I’m not certain we can trust her.” He paused. “Why?”

“Because, I was just wondering if she would be able to get into Mr. Stout’s house to see if the stolen items were in there.”

“It’s a good idea, but like I said, I don’t think we should trust her with my life.
Mainly because of Jeffrey Franklin.”

Charlotte leaned over him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “There has to be a way. I’m certain there’s some reason she keeps going back to him. She would have cheated on him with you, and now with Mr. Stout, so why doesn’t she just move to another man? There’s got to be a reason, and I’m going to chum up with her tomorrow and find out what it is.”

His eyes widened. “Oh, no, you’re not!”

A grin spread across her face. “I bet I can convince you otherwise.”

His hold tightened around her. “And how are you going to convince me, my love?”

“Any way I can,” she answered huskily before kissing him.

* * * *

Charlotte sat patiently in the drawing room and waited for her guest to arrive. Early this morning she sent a note over to Jacqueline
Fonteneau
, inviting her to tea here at the castle. O’Toole informed Charlotte that Miss
Fonteneau
had quickly accepted. Of course, Charlotte wondered if Jacqueline was more eager to see the castle or Lord Thatcher than anything else.

Charlotte planned to have a heart-to-heart talk with the woman whose reputation was deplorable. Charlotte chuckled. If high society were to discover she was having tea with one of
those
kinds of women, Charlotte would be banned from interacting with any respectable woman of the
ton.
Maybe
if Charlotte could help Ian through this mess and put away the commissioner and Mr. Stout in the process, perhaps Jacqueline would change her immoral ways?

From down the hall, voices carried into the room. Her guest had arrived. Charlotte rose and waited for O’Toole to show Jacqueline in. Instantly, Charlotte’s attention was drawn to Jacqueline’s brilliant pink dress, pink parasol, and frilly pink bonnet perched atop her red head. The poor woman looked like a walking flower bush and probably had trouble swatting off the bees on her way over. No matter how silly Jacqueline looked in pink, her red hair and delicate skin radiated her beauty.

Charlotte smiled. “Thank you for coming.”

“The pleasure is all
mine
.” Her gaze flew around the room. “I can’t believe the grandeur of this place. I thought it would be spooky with cobwebs and boarded up windows.” She giggled. “But it’s nicer than anything I’ve ever seen.”

“You should have seen it when I first arrived. I was afraid to even set foot in this room.” She flipped her hand through the air.
“Enough about the castle.
Would you care to join me for tea?”

Jacqueline nodded and took a seat while Charlotte poured.

“I must confess,” Charlotte began, “I had a purpose in asking you here today. Although I’m fond of small talk, I need to be forthright and ask you a personal question.”

“What do you need to know?”

Charlotte set her own teacup down on the end table in front of her. “Are you having a relationship with the commissioner?”

Jacqueline’s face paled slightly. “What makes you think that?”

“I’ve got a quick wit about me and I figured it out by the way you talked so personally about him. I know how you felt about my husband, and I think you and Mr. Stout are lovers. I’m not blind or naive.”

Jacqueline’s gaze dropped to her lap. “You are correct. Unfortunately, Jeffrey thinks he has claim over me.”

Jacqueline’s voice trembled, and Charlotte became suspicious. “Are you saying you’re trapped in this relationship?”

Jacqueline lifted her gaze and met Charlotte’s. “I suppose that’s what I am.
Trapped.”

“Would it be too personal to ask why?”

“All I will say is Jeffrey knows something about my past. For his silence, I agreed to be his mistress.”

“What does the commissioner think about you and Mr. Stout?”

Jacqueline laughed. “He doesn’t know.”

“Did the commissioner know how you felt about Ian?”

“Yes. He discovered Ian leaving my house one afternoon. Nothing had happened between us, mind you, but Jeffrey didn’t know that, and he wouldn’t believe me when I tried to tell him what an honorable man Ian was. Jeffrey was going to let out my secret, but I talked him into beating me, instead.”

Charlotte gasped. “No, Jacqueline! He flogs you, too?”

“Only when I don’t please him.”

“Are you worried he will find out about Mr. Stout?”

Jacqueline chuckled again. “No. Why would Jeffrey suspect me of spending time with him? If you remember right,
Ewie
isn’t the kind of man who has a lot of women admirers.”

“But they are good friends, are they not?” Charlotte asked perplexed.

“I wouldn’t say they’re good friends. I think Jeffrey is blackmailing
Ewie
too.”

Charlotte widened her eyes as shock vibrated through her. “Are you jesting?”

“I don’t have proof, but I can sense
Ewie
doesn’t have good feelings for Jeffrey. Every time they talk,
Ewie
gets very angry.”

Charlotte paused for a moment while her mind spun in circles. She still couldn’t come up with any link between Ewan and the commissioner and Ian besides Jacqueline. “Did Mr. Stout know about your feelings for Ian?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know.
Ewie
knew Ian was helping me, so...” She paused and scowled. “I loathe Jeffrey Franklin and would do anything to get out from under his thumb.” Jacqueline’s eyes lit up like midnight stars.
“Why all the questions?
Do you have a plan?”

Charlotte patted Jacqueline’s arm. “Not quite, but we have an idea and might need your assistance. Would you be willing to help?”

Jacqueline’s smile was genuine.
“Certainly.”

“Unfortunately, I think we may end up with Mr. Stout in the snare, too.”

“My
Ewie
?
Why?”

“That bracelet you showed me yesterday was a piece stolen from none other than Mrs. Pendleton a few weeks ago.”

Jacqueline
gasped,
her hand flying to her throat. “Stolen?”

“Yes.”

Jacqueline sighed. “I wondered how he could afford something as expensive as that.”

Charlotte squeezed Jacqueline’s hands. “Thank you for agreeing to help.” She sat up straighter as she and Jacqueline began making plans.

* * * *

“It won’t work,” Adam told Charlotte that night over dinner.

“What do you mean it won’t work? All Jacqueline has to do is get into Mr. Stout’s house and look around. Ian can take over after that,” Charlotte said.

Adam shook his head.
“My dear, Charlotte.
Miss
Fonteneau
isn’t an actress. I highly doubt she can act innocent at all. I don’t think Mr. Stout will detect anything, but the commissioner will definitely become suspicious.”

Charlotte sighed heavily and sipped her wine. “I think she’s going to surprise you. She’s very angry that they lied to her. Besides, all she has to do is look through Mr. Stout’s house. She has already told me, she plans on giving him some sleeping powder for his tea.”

“But Charlotte, you seem to forget one piece of vital information.” He paused for exaggerated affect. “She’s his mistress.”

“What difference does that make?” she asked.

“I don’t think Jacqueline will have an easy time getting into Ewan’s house.”

“She’ll find a way.”

He shook his head. “Mr. Stout isn’t a stupid man. He’ll surely see through her.”

“She’s willing to take that chance.”

Adam pushed himself away from the table and stood. “Charlotte, would you like to go for a walk? The moon is full tonight and we won’t stray far.”

She snapped her attention to him and met his gaze. “I’d love to. Maybe the cool air will clear our heads and give us more ideas.”

Taking her hand in his gloved one, he led her from the dining room and outside the castle. They walked in silence. Charlotte remembered Ian telling her about the secret tunnels starting from somewhere outside the castle, and she wondered if she’d be able to spot the entrance. But as of yet, nothing looked like an opening. She squinted, trying to peer closer.

“Charlotte, my dear?
Is something amiss?”

She jumped from the sudden noise, and then turned and looked at him. She smiled. “Well, um...yes, in a way.”

He stopped. “Pray, let me know what it is so I can fix it.”

“I was just…just looking...well, I was hoping to find—”

His chuckle came out deep and scratchy, interrupting her. “Charlotte, quit stuttering and tell me.”

Stopping in her tracks, she turned toward him. “Ian told me about the secret passageways in the castle.” She pointed to the stone wall. “He told me they all come together at a point and exit out one of these walls. I just wondered, well...I hoped you would show it to me.”

His gloved hand cupped her face tenderly. “Charlotte, there’s no need for you to be nervous. I’ll show you anything your lovely heart desires. As a matter of fact, I’d consider it a privilege to take you through the tunnels.”

He linked her arm back through his elbow and led her to the secret opening toward the outside wall where two walls connected. They finally reached the spot where the secret tunnel opened up, and stopped.

Charlotte stood, staring right at the rock wall. This couldn’t possibly be it. This was just a wall, for heaven’s sake. “This is it?”

“Yes.”

“But where?” she asked.

He smiled. “Walk up to the wall and stop.”

She snapped her head around to him, giving him a skeptical look.

“Go ahead,” he urged.

Charlotte did what she was told. The night shadows surrounded her, making it impossible for her to see the opening.

“Look to your left.”

She looked. “Adam, I—” She reached her hand out in front of her and felt for the wall, but nothing was there. She gasped.

“You found it, my dear.”

Her hand stayed out in front of her as she slowly walked into the passageway. “I can’t believe this. It looks as if I’m walking into a wall. This is incredible!” Once inside the passageway, blackness surrounded her like a thick cape. A cold draft swept over her, chilling her spine. Not even the moon from outside shone through. She stopped as soon as she lost light.

Adam came behind her, his hands gently touching her back, reassuring her, but it was impossible to steady her erratic pulse.

“So, now we are in the secret passageway,” she stated, hearing the slight echo through the cave. The smell of mustiness hung thick through the air, and she sneezed.

“There’s a candle somewhere around here,” he said. “Ah, here it is.”

Charlotte heard the scratch of a match and smelled the smoke as he lit the candle. She was relieved when a light brightened the tunnel, but she wished there was
more light
. But from what she could see, the dirt ground and slimy stone walls were not that impressive.

“Here, hold this and I’ll light another.” Adam handed over the first candle. A few seconds later, he had a lit candle in his hand. “Keep close to me and you’ll be all right. These passageways can be a little tricky, but I know my way.”

Her free hand clung tightly to the arm he held out for her. She was very excited about finally being in here, excited he trusted her enough to show her this ever so secret spot. With Adam beside her as they walked, peacefulness settled in her chest. There really wasn’t much to see. It was exactly as Ian had told her it would be: dark, long, and mysterious. They walked a long time it seemed.