Miss Quinn's Quandary (17 page)

He had no choice. Randall obeyed, shrugging off his coat. With
Lord Melton’s hardy slaps, he knew the wound had opened and he had bled through
his bandage onto his shirtsleeve. The red stain on his arm would be there for
all to see.

“May I ask how you sustained such an injury?” Mr. Lawrence
inquired.

“I don’t believe this!” Melton cried, his face grew red with
anger.

“I can assure you, you will find the answer very difficult to
accept.”

“The truth, Trent,” Melton ordered.

“Please, Lord Melton, it is my job to ask the questions,”
Lawrence interrupted.

“I was shot by
Bussin
’ Billy when he
held us up last night.”

“Preposterous,” Melton roared, spitting his words.

“I’m afraid we will need to search your room.” Lawrence nodded to
the two uniformed men who took up their post on either side of Randall.

Randall had searched his room after his discovery of the torn
jacket and muddied Hessians and found nothing then. However, he had not checked
his room this morning. Were the newly stolen items hidden in his room now?

By the time Lawrence returned, Larissa, Dorothea, Lady
Brookhurst
, and Lord William had joined the gathering.

“I have not found the stolen items, but your particular injury is
circumstantial evidence I cannot ignore. I must bring charges against you under
the suspicion of highway robbery, masquerading as the highwayman,
Bussin
’ Billy. You are under arrest.”

“No, it is a mistake!” Tears began to pool in Larissa’s eyes. She
grabbed on to Randall’s arm, tightening her hold as if it could prevent his
apprehension.

“I’ll see you hang for this, Trent!” Lord Melton exclaimed. “You
stay under my roof, try to seduce my fiancée, and rob me blind!”

“Whether he is guilty or not is up to a judge to decide,”
Lawrence silenced Melton.

“You’ve put the saddle on the wrong horse,” Randall claimed. One
of the constables wrenched his arms from his side and pulled them to the front.

“There’s been a mistake all right.” Lord Melton leveled an
accusing finger at Randall. “You’ve made it, Trent. Highway robbery is a
criminal act, but stealing from your host goes far beyond the pale. Hanging’s
not good enough for you.”

The second constable placed the manacles on Randall’s wrists. The
dirty, cold metal restraints locked with a sickening clink.

Lady
Brookhurst
, who stood at the top
landing, gave a cry and folded to the floor.

“
Maman
!” Dorothea cried and rushed to
her mother’s side. “Bring the salts!”

“Take him away!” Lord Melton ordered. The officers, with Sir
Randall between them, took a step toward the front door.

“Please,” Randall pleaded. “A word to my wife before I leave.”

Melton turned to his guests. “I will allow this for Lady Trent’s
sake, for it shall be the last time she may set eyes upon her husband if I have
anything to say about the matter. Three minutes in the parlor. And make sure
you don’t lose sight of him!” he thundered at the soldiers.

Larissa led the way to the parlor. The constables ushered Randall
in and stopped at the door, still in full sight of their prisoner. Randall kept
his back to them, shielding her from view.

“You are innocent!” she professed, keeping her voice to a
whisper. “You cannot let them take you away.”

He shrugged, raising his manacled wrist. “As you see there is
little I can do.” He took her trembling hands into his. “I’m afraid there is
someone who feels they have a serious score to settle with me.”

“But who? Why?”

“I don’t know. And I don’t know if I ever will discover the
reason.” This might be the last time he’d see her. He wanted to tell her how
much she meant to him. “I am only sorry there is not time for—” Mere words felt
inadequate. “I wanted you to know what I feel for you—” His voice strained, he
could not continue. He glanced over his shoulder and knew the soldiers listened
in. “My most fervent wish would be for you not to become further involved, for
I am already lost.”

“You must not say such things,” she protested.

“Time’s up,” one of the soldiers announced.

“Sweet Larissa, give me a kiss and bid me farewell.”

Larissa stood on tiptoe and leaned forward to press a kiss upon
Sir Randall’s lips. In the next instant, a soldier grabbed him by an elbow and
dragged him away, preventing their lips from meeting. In a final attempt to
touch him, Larissa reached out to stroke his cheek, only to meet with
emptiness.

Robbed of her kiss, Randall gave up hope he would ever set eyes
on her again. “Wills, take care of her,” he called out over his shoulder,
trudging between the guards through the foyer. His moist gaze met hers for a
fleeting moment before he was pulled out of the house.

William caught Larissa, preventing her from watching Randall
board the prison transport. He was glad she would be spared from that
humiliation.

Larissa hated how Sir Randall had been pulled from her, and it
infuriated her that he had been placed in this predicament. What was she going
to do? “Where will they take him?”

“To prison.” Lord William placed a sympathetic arm around her,
leading her away from the others for the privacy of the parlor and closed the
doors.

“He didn’t do it! He didn’t!” Larissa professed in quiet anguish.

“I know he didn’t,” Lord William agreed, when well out of earshot
from the others.

Larissa twisted out from under Lord William’s arm to face him.
“We have to help him. We have to discover who did this to him.” She grabbed his
jacket and shook him. There was no one else who would help her. No one she
could trust. Lord William believed in Sir Randall’s innocence as much as she
did. He just couldn’t refuse her. He couldn’t. “You have to help me. You must!”
she cried in desperation.

“Of course, Larissa. I will help you,” Lord William replied with
calm composure. “Please sit and try to calm down.”

The rattle of the tea cart grew louder, nearing.

“Would you care for something stronger than tea? Sherry?”

“No. Tea will be fine.” But she didn’t want even that. It was all
she could do to keep a civilized head. Larissa did not know where to start, or
how to go about an investigation. Hopefully, Lord William would have an idea.

After emptying her cup, she lurched to her feet and made a dart
across the room, feeling the need to move about. “Where shall we begin?”

“I think we should first question motive.” Lord William leaned
back in his chair and crossed his legs. “Who would want revenge against
him.
”

“He did not have any enemies that I know of,” she offered,
wringing the silk handkerchief she had used to dry her tears.

“He had made one recently, I believe …” Lord William’s voice
trailed off.

Larissa came to a standstill behind the sofa, bracing her arms on
the back, riveted in complete attention. “Who is it?”

He hesitated. “I do not think I should make hasty accusations.”
Larissa gave him a hard look, hoping to convince him to tell what he knew.
“However ….”

Lady
Brookhurst’s
shrill voice carried
through the house. “I will not stay here a moment longer! This has gone quite
beyond the pale, Dorothea.”

“
Maman
, we cannot just up and leave,”
Dorothea’s softer voice followed.

“We can do just that.” The groan of the risers told of Lady
Brookhurst’s
mounting the stairs, with the light tread of
Dorothea behind. “Now, I’m going to tell Regina to begin packing our things at
once. At once, I say, and we’ll leave this wretched place.”

Lord William reported to Larissa an hour later. “Lady Dorothea
and her mother are packing up and leaving for London.”

“Do you know why?” she asked.

“It seems Lady
Brookhurst
has taken offense
to my brother’s involvement in Sir Randall’s arrest. Terrance was quite taken
with Dorothea.” Lord William paused. “However, if revenge is what she was
after, then there is no reason for her to remain.”

“Revenge? Dorothea? Whatever do you mean?”

“From what I understand, Randall paid particular attention to
Dorothea. Almost as if—” Lord William appeared reluctant to continue, but did
so. “As if his intentions were toward marriage. But that was of course until it
was discovered you two were already wed.”

“I find it very difficult to believe Dorothea capable of such a
thing.” Larissa thought Dorothea had been so kind not to harbor any bad
feelings. Perhaps she had been too willing.

“Oh, she’s capable, all right.” There was no question of doubt in
his voice. “She has quite a reputation.”

“If she has such a reputation then why did Sir Randall, or for
that matter your own brother, become involved with her?”

“My brother is blinded by Dorothea’s beauty, polish, and good
manners. As for Randall, I cannot say.”

Larissa was glad he did not elaborate about Sir Randall’s
experience with the ladies and tried to keep focused on the problem of freeing
him from prison.

“If we could just speak to him, perhaps he would know why she
would wish to do this.”

“No. I cannot allow you to set foot near
Newgate
.
Under no circumstances would he ever want you there.”

“We must do something.” Then it occurred to her. “Dorothea could
not have done this alone. She must have had an accomplice, someone to pose as
Bussin
’ Billy.”

“It could be almost anyone.”

“It was a man, of that I’m sure.” The beginnings of a plan began
to form in her mind. “If an impostor has been instrumental in condemning Sir
Randall, perhaps an impostor can help vindicate him as well.”

“What exactly do you have in mind?” Lord William gave Larissa a
most peculiar look.

“We must return at once to London,” she announced. “And see if we
can persuade Lady Dorothea to aid us without her realizing.”

A few hours later, Larissa waited in the foyer with her bonnet in
place, her green traveling cloak fastened, and her bandbox in hand. The
solitary thought that repeated in her mind was,
The
sooner we leave, the sooner we get there.

“Are you ready, then?” Lord William inquired several minutes
later when he arrived.

Larissa nodded and hurried to the front door without waiting. “We
must be on our way.”

“Where the devil are you going?” Lord Melton shouted, striding
into the foyer. He appeared more short-tempered than usual. “William!”

Larissa stiffened. The
marquess
was
indeed in ill temper. Lord William remained calm and responded. “I am seeing
Lady Trent back to London.”

Melton grumbled to himself and glanced from his brother to
Larissa, considering his judgment on the matter.

“Terrance, surely you can see Lady Trent cannot remain here. Sir
Randall has entrusted her well-being to me. I must see her safely to Rushton
House,” Lord William explained.

The fact was all the other guests had gone. With Larissa and Lord
William leaving, Melton would indeed be all alone in his monstrosity of a house.
It appeared he was suffering and did not intend to suffer alone. Larissa
thought in his present condition the
marquess
should
not inflict himself upon others. He was not fit to share company with anyone.

“Oh, all right,” Melton blustered. “But I expect you to return at
once. Do you hear?”

With his brother’s blessing, Lord William hurried Larissa outside
to the waiting coach. He signaled for the driver to be off to their
destination. By the time they arrived, Larissa intended to have a feasible plan
to set into motion.

Lord William sat on the opposite bench from her. It did not take
more than a few moments before his body began to slouch in the seat and his
head lowered onto his chest as sleep overtook him.

“Oh, do stay awake.” Larissa prodded him.

“Awfully sorry,” he apologized. “It’s a bad habit.” He readjusted
himself so he sat upright, making a discernible effort to remain alert. “Where
shall we begin? Ah, yes. Think back to last night,” he prompted. “I’m certain
whatever you can remember about last night will be quite helpful.”

“Yes, you’re right. I must concentrate and recall every detail of
the robbery. There must be some hint that would lead us to
Bussin
’
Billy’s identity.”

“Was there something someone said or did, anything peculiar that
happened at the ball?”

Larissa clasped her hands together, setting them in her lap, and
leaned back against the squabs, taking a few minutes and staring at some
nonexistent point.

“All right, if nothing comes to mind, what about the robbery
itself?”

Larissa sighed. “The evening was warm. We took the curricle.”

“The curricle? Dashed bad form. Can’t imagine Randall would
suggest such an abominable thing.”

“He didn’t. It was Lord Melton who suggested it. He said it
didn’t matter. That this was only a country affair.”

He leaned closer to her and his voice softened to a whisper. “I
think the real reason was he wanted to be alone with Lady Dorothea.”

Larissa ignored Lord William’s last statement and concentrated on
his first. “It was warm that night, wasn’t it? Did Lord Melton not say Dorothea
had the pistol in a fur muff?”

“Why would she carry a muff?”

“I want to know why she would carry a pistol.” Larissa looked up
at Lord William, considering hers the more important of the two questions.

She knew. Dorothea must have at least known of, if not
orchestrated the robbery herself.

The hour was late when the carriage rolled into Town. Larissa and
Lord William had only just arrived and had not yet had a chance to sit when
Laurie appeared, announcing Lord Fenton Harding’s arrival.

“By all means, Laurie, show Lord Fenton in,” Larissa responded.

“Harding? Whatever is he doing here?” Lord William mused, taking
up a crystal tumbler and heading for the liquor decanters.

“We’ll never find out unless we ask him, will we?” She removed
the glass from Lord William’s grasp and pointed to the doorway to an adjoining
room. “You’d better get out of sight, or all our plans will be ruined.”

“Me, hide?” he cried, half taken by surprise and half insulted.
“How undignified.”

“Better undignified than discovered. Go on now.” She gave him an
encouraging push in the direction of the side door. William reclaimed his glass
and snagged the brandy decanter before making his exit.

Larissa settled on the sofa, looking calm and manageable, since
she didn’t know what to expect from her guest.

Lord Fenton bounded up the stairs, fairly running to Larissa’s
side. He settled next to her and took her hand, lending comfort. “I heard the
terrible news. I came as soon as I could,” Lord Fenton said this without a
trace of the temper he had displayed on the day of the barge party.

“If you had arrived any sooner, you would have been here before
me.”

“I hope you are not making jokes at a time like this,” he replied
in all seriousness.

“I am sorry. I am feeling rather fatigued.”

“It is I who should be sorry. How inconsiderate of me to overlook
your comfort.”

“I appreciate your efforts, Lord Fenton.”

“Please, I do wish you would call me Fenton.”

She smiled. “Fenton, then.”

“I want you to know I shall be here if you should need me.”

“How very kind of you.” Larissa found she almost could forget his
momentary burst of anger, as if it had been a dream that she had long ago.

“He didn’t deserve you,” Fenton whispered. “Sir Randall was not
at all as attentive to you as a husband should be. He carried on despicably
with other women right under your nose. I cannot imagine that you would ever
have tolerated his vulgar behavior.”

“I did not find his behavior suspect in any case,” she replied.

“You cannot deny, you in turn sought solace from another quarter.”
He made it sound like an accusation.

“Well, I …” Larissa found it quite impossible to refute. How
else would it appear when one saw her situation through his eyes?

“Regardless of your past circumstance and because of our prior
association, I wish you to know I shall be entirely at your disposal. I beg
you, do not hesitate to depend on me.”

After kissing her hand in farewell, Fenton drew her into a warm
embrace. She could feel herself tremble within the solidness of his arms.

“Remember, my dear Larissa,” he whispered against her hair, “I
shall be here for you.” He released her and strode off, pausing at the top of
the stairs to glance back at her as if to assure her of his stoic resolve.

“What do you think of all that?” Lord William drawled. He emerged
from his hiding place, holding an open decanter and stopper in one hand and his
half-filled glass in the other.

“I’m not entirely sure,” Larissa replied, drooping into a
thoughtful repose.

Lord William finished his drink and refilled his glass. With a
practiced single motion he set the near-empty container on the sideboard and
replaced the stopper.

The next morning, Larissa made straight for the
Brookhurst
residence on Green Street.

Waiting in the morning room, Larissa gathered all the warmth and
kindness she could manage to present a genuine display. The success of the plan
depended upon how well she could convince Lady Dorothea of her sincerity. This
would be the performance of a lifetime.

“How kind of you to receive me,” Larissa offered with a warm
smile.

“Think nothing of it, Lady Trent,” Dorothea said in a kind and
understanding lilt.

“Please, you must not hold with formalities,” she begged. “At
Carswell
Castle, you called me Larissa.”

“Yes, of course, Larissa. I feel sympathetic with your plight.
The only marginally less scandalous thing that occurred was Lord Melton turning
in Sir Randall. I’ll never be able to forgive him for that.” She gave an
exasperated sigh. “My only distress is that I could have been interested in him.”
Dorothea’s gaze darted back to Larissa. “I refer to Lord Melton, of course. I
do not for one minute believe Sir Randall is
Bussin
’
Billy.”

“Of course not. I know you believe in him as much as I do.”
Larissa watched Dorothea’s expression. “You’ve been the kindest friend. That’s
why I came to see you myself to give you the good news.”

“Good news?” Dorothea’s interest was piqued.

Larissa gave an exhilarated smile. “Sir Randall is being
released. They’ve caught the real
Bussin
’ Billy.”

“Released?” Dorothea looked suitably shocked and stammered,
“H-how? W-why?”

“I am so very relieved,” Larissa sighed.

“How fortunate for you and for him as well.” Dorothea added, “I
can see that he loves you very much.”

“Can you?” Larissa prompted for conversation’s sake. There were
times she had detected a genuine look of adoration in Sir Randall’s eyes.

“It is unmistakable.” Dorothea’s tone flattened, at odds with her
usual musical inflections. It sounded as if she were quite envious.

A scant half hour later, Larissa boarded the carriage and
traveled down the street, turning the corner away from the townhouse. She
called to the driver to stop and leaped out. She ran back toward the house to
find Lord William watching the house she had just left.

“How did it go? Do you think she believed you?” Lord William kept
his eyes focused on the front of the residence.

“I think so,” Larissa said. “I hope so.”

“Then she should be making her move soon. Why don’t you go back
to Rushton House and I’ll meet you there when all this is over.”

“I hope you’ll have good news.”

“I hope so too.” Lord William sighed. “Now, go on before we are
both discovered.”

Larissa rushed back to the waiting carriage and
reboarded
. It continued down the street toward Portman
Square.

Larissa paced in front of the blazing hearth in the drawing room,
unable to read or to hold a hoop and needle steady to embroider. For the
hundredth time, she spun her skirts around her legs to change direction. It had
been more than two hours. Yes, two hours, she confirmed when she glanced at the
mantle clock. How much longer could this possibly take?

The sound of footfalls ascending the staircase. Finally Lord
William had returned. She wrung her hands with impatience, anxious to hear of
his findings.

“Larissa, my dear!” The voice of Lady Rushton echoed from the
stairs. She greeted her niece with wide open arms.

“Aunt Ivy?” Larissa squeaked out, bearing her aunt’s embrace.
Lord Rushton joined
them
only moments later. She felt
more shocked than relieved at their unexpected arrival. “You’ve returned early.”

“Your aunt had the most frightful notion that some terrible fate
had befallen you or some such thing.” Rushton gave a hearty laugh and strolled
past them into the drawing room. Ivy followed, leading Larissa by the hand.

“You see, my dear, your niece is fine.” Rushton moved to the
sideboard and poured himself a brandy.

Larissa kept quiet, unnaturally so.

“If all is well, then I believe I shall take the opportunity to
rest a bit. It was such a long trip and I was in such a hurry to come home and
see you.” On her way out, Ivy pressed Rushton’s hand. “I apologize for causing
you to race home.”

“Do not give it another thought, my angel. I am only too glad to
comply with your every wish.” Rushton smiled and kissed her cheek.

Ivy smiled and gave a wistful sigh. “I fear I am more fatigued
than I thought. I shall see you at dinner, my dear.” She turned to Larissa
before leaving. “Have you done something different with your hair? In any case,
it looks lovely.”

Rushton waited until Ivy had climbed up the next set of stairs
before asking, “Pray tell, where
is my nephew
?”

“My lord,” Larissa began, sinking into the sofa to face him. “I
fear there is bad news.”

“My nephew again, is it?” By the tone of Rushton’s voice, she
suspected the earl already knew the answer even as he asked the question.

Larissa fortified herself to make the explanation. She knew he
wouldn’t be at all pleased. Before she could reply, Lord William entered.

“My word—William
Felgate
!” Rushton
spouted.

“Lord Rushton….” Lord William blustered, equally surprised.

“He and my aunt have just this minute returned,” Larissa informed
him. “The earl is asking about Sir Randall.”

“Randall…. Have you told him?” Lord William’s already grim
expression became more so. “The news is most grave.”

“How bad can it be?” Rushton sat in a chair, remaining
unconcerned for the most part. “Randall is one of those lads whose behavior
rivals a saint’s.”

“Not this time, I’m afraid.”

Rushton returned a hard stare at Lord William. “I’ll have your
hide if you’ve had a hand in this.”

“My lord, Lord William has been most kind and is doing everything
he can to help Sir Randall from his unfortunate predicament.”

“Help?” Rushton looked from Lord William to Larissa and back
again, narrowing his eyes. “What kind of trouble is the lad in?”

Larissa and Lord William exchanged glances, a silent interaction
of who would relay the tale to the earl of his nephew’s fate. Lord William’s
look told her if she couldn’t do it, he would take on the responsibility and
the violent reaction that was sure to follow.

“My lord, I regret to inform you Sir Randall is presently
incarcerated,” Lord William bravely stated.

“Prison!” The brandy sloshed out of Rushton’s snifter when he
bolted upright.

“He has been arrested for robberies under the identity of the
highwayman known as
Bussin
’ Billy.”

“Robbery!” Rushton snorted in outrage. “This is preposterous. I’d
stake my title on his innocence.”

“We are fully convinced of that as well,” Larissa concurred.

“We’re trying to discover who did this horrid thing,” Lord
William continued.

“Do you know?” the earl questioned.

“We have our suspicions.” Again, Lord William and Larissa
exchanged looks. “But the evidence against Sir Randall is irrefutable.”

“But still circumstantial,” Larissa added in a ray of hope.

“Speaking of evidence,” Lord William began, “I’ve managed to
recover my brother’s family crested ring and matching stickpin.”

Rushton arched a brow, giving a suspicious glare. “And how
exactly did you come by this stroke of good luck?”

“I made a point of checking some pawnshops in hopes of retrieving
further clues.”

“
‘Pon
my oath, my nephew had no part in
this. Someone has framed him. Who do you think is responsible for this outrage?”

“Lady Dorothea
Brookhurst
,” Larissa
enunciated each syllable in a concise tone. She went on to explain the further
details of how it came to be that she and Sir Randall accepted the invitation
of Lord William after their secret marriage had been discovered.

Then she explained how the arrival of Melton and his party
changed the laconic country stay into the beginning of tirade of thieves by the
highwayman
Bussin
’ Billy. How the thief’s torn
greatcoat and muddy boots planted in Sir Randall’s wardrobe at
Carswell
Castle were discovered after the Bow Street
Runners were called in. The gunshot wound he incurred the same night as
Bussin
’ Billy convinced the earl of the intricacy of the
plot.

After Larissa had finished, Rushton sat silent for several
minutes. “I see.” is all the earl said, taking a brief pause. “And precisely
how did you think to free my nephew?”

“We thought if we could convince Dorothea he had already been
released, she would have her accomplice appear again as
Bussin
’
Billy to
reimplicate
Sir Randall. If Billy were to
strike while Randall were in jail, the authorities would have no choice but to
release him.”

“Speaking of accomplices,” Lord William spoke, “I followed our
bird to Albemarle Street.”

“
Grillion’s
?” Rushton wondered and Lord
William nodded.

Larissa shook her head. The name did not mean anything to her.

“It’s a fashionable hotel where single gentlemen stay,” Lord
William explained.

“That doesn’t tell us any more than we already know,” Larissa
said. She had hoped something more would be learned by following Dorothea.

“If we were to capture the highwayman,” Rushton went further to
postulate, “we could solve this puzzle once and for all.”

Rushton eased back into his chair.

“It’s time to move on to stage two,” Lord William advised.

“And what would that be?” Rushton inquired.

“To parade the newly released Sir Randall about town,” Lord
William declared. “By donning his clothes, darkening my hair and escorting my
friend’s new wife about town, I believe I can successfully convince the
citizens of our fair city I am Sir Randall Trent.” Lord William gave a gracious
bow in an imitation of the baronet’s finest.

Rushton pursed his lips and nodded his approval. “Yes, I think it
just might work.”

“I think it’s a stroke of genius,” Lord William praised.