Tenacious Trents 02 - A Perfect Gentleman (35 page)

Of course he didn’t since no one had pushed
Mr. Cooper but Matthew wasn’t about to share that bit of
knowledge.

“What promises did he make you? Was he paying
you to kill her?”

“Once he inherited, I would mine for the ore
and we would split the profits.”

“Do you have a written agreement?” Jordan
asked.

“No, he said we shouldn’t have anything in
writing so neither of us was carted off to Newgate.”

“Which is where you will be going,” Jordan
reminded him.

The man paled and sank back into the bed.

“When suffocating her with a pillow didn’t
work, you thought to shoot her instead,” Jordan prompted.”

The man began shaking his head and started to
sit. “That wasn’t me. That was Richards and he wasn’t supposed to
suffocate her.”

“What do you mean?” Matthew demanded.

“He was supposed to kidnap her and take her
off to Scotland. Once married the deal was set and Stillwaite would
just sit back and wait for the money.”

“Then why try to kill her?” Matthew turned to
find Brachton standing in the door. He was glad the man hadn’t
arrived earlier given Jon would have undoubtedly tortured Draker
further if need be.

“He didn’t want a wife and decided it would
be more expedient if she were dead. Given her father’s state, Mr.
Cooper would probably decline and die as well, leaving everything
to us.”

Brachton stepped out into the hall and spoke
to someone. He returned a moment later. “I sent two of my servants
after Richards to bring him here.”

“Stillwaite was in a rage when he found out
the guardianship had been denied him and decided that Richards had
it right and to just do away with his niece.”

“And you went along with this outrageous
plan?” Brachton demanded.

“You have no idea how far in debt I am. If I
weren’t going to Newgate I would be in debtor’s prison. What
difference does it make,” the man spit out.

“I am assuming Thorn will now make an attempt
since both you and Richards have been unsuccessful?” Matthew asked.
He would need someone to keep watch on Grace around the clock, and
her father as well. If Stillwaite was becoming unhinged neither one
of them was safe.

“No,” Draker answered. “Thorn didn’t want
anything to do with this madness. It was one thing when the three
of us made a pact to marry Miss Cooper and mine the land. He would
have nothing to do with harming anyone. As soon as we left the day
after Mr. Cooper was pushed down the stairs he broke the agreement
and left town. He didn’t want to be around and risk being accused
of murder.”

“It was so kind of him to warn us first,”
Jordan offered dryly.

Draker jerked and looked up at Jordan. “He
did?”

His brother chuckled. “You are an imbecile,
aren’t you?”

Matthew pulled away from the bed. They knew
everything they needed. John tied both of Draker’s hands to the bed
so he couldn’t go anywhere and they left Dr. Norton to tend the
man’s leg. It could fester for all Matthew cared. The man had tried
to kill Grace and he was finding it difficult to have any pity for
him.

The gentlemen gathered in the parlor where
Perkins waited. He poured them each a glass of brandy as they took
seats. Grace entered a moment later. Instead of brandy, Perkins
splashed a spot of whiskey in her glass much to Matthew’s surprise.
What else was there to learn about his future wife? Elizabeth asked
for wine and sat next to her husband.

Brachton remained in the hall and spoke with
a few more of his servants. Matthew could only assume that they
were being sent after Stillwaite. The man would not come here
easily. Lord Crew arrived a moment later.

“Grace was shot?”

“I am fine,” she assured him from her place
by the fire.

Matthew quickly explained what they had
learned. “It is best that you are married immediately. I’ve already
written to the Bishop and I should hear back in a few days.

“If you need a special license, I am sure
grandfather has a stack of them still waiting to be used,”
Elizabeth laughed.

“Yes, he was very adamant last winter about
marrying off his grandchildren.”

“I am sure they aren’t blank otherwise I
would ask for one,” Matthew grumbled. Now that he made up his mind
and knew this was what he wanted, he couldn’t wait to marry Grace.
Not only did he want her in his life forever, and in his bed, but
marriage was the only thing that would protect her from
Stillwaite.

“Regardless, I am not sure it is safe to
wait. The two of you should head to Scotland,” Lord Crew
suggested.

“I will not leave my father,” Grace
insisted.

“We should wait until Brachton’s servants
return with word of Stillwaite. If we can apprehend the man, then
there is no need to rush,” Matthew offered though it was in exact
opposite of what he wanted to do.

Grace glanced over at him and bit her bottom
lip. Matthew leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Perhaps I
should amend my statement. I don’t wish to rush our wedding.”

She smiled and he lowered his voice further,
“night.”

Jordan stood. “I am going to find Stillwaite
myself.”

Brachton’s men returned shortly before dinner
with word that Richards was gone, along with his clothing and any
other personal items. According to a maid, he left the day before
after leaving instructions to close up the house for good. He would
not be back and Grace didn’t really care where he was, only that it
was unlikely he would try to harm her again.

Mr. Trent returned a few moments later. He
could not find Stillwaite, but his things were still in his room at
the inn. Nobody had seen him in hours and a feeling of foreboding
settled into the pit of her stomach. “I did go through his
belongings, however,” Mr. Trent offered. “The man is so far in debt
I am not sure it is possible to recover.”

“He wanted the land for the ore,” Matthew
reminded him.

“Yes, but that could take years. I don’t know
how he thinks this will solve his problems.”

“With the promise of riches in the future
perhaps he hoped to keep the creditors at bay,” Lord Crew
suggested.

“It also makes him all the more dangerous,”
said Matthew.

Mr. Trent moved toward the foyer. “I’ll
return to the inn and remain there. Maybe he will be back.”

Matthew nodded.

“Well, there is no need for me to remain
here. I’ll be at home if anyone needs me.” Lord Crew stood and
left.

“I will, as well.” Brachton picked up his
hat. “Send word if you find Stillwaite.”

“I am taking Draker to Brachton’s where he
will be secured and held for trial,” John moved toward the
door.

“Can he even travel,” Grace found herself
asking.

“I don’t really care,” Matthew answered. “I
don’t want him near you.”

“I’ve already instructed my servants to put
him in the back of the carriage,” Brachton informed them. “He will
remain secured in my home until he can be brought to trial.”

It seemed as though her parlor had been
filled with people all day, now only she, Matthew and John
remained. Perkins had long ago returned to her father’s bedside.
Elizabeth entered a few moments later. “I’ve placed super on the
table.”

Silently they followed her. Grace wasn’t even
sure she had an appetite left. Her arm ached and all she really
wanted to do was crawl into bed, but not alone. She wanted to be
held by Matthew. Would he remain with her tonight? After these last
few days she wasn’t certain she wanted to be alone in her room
tonight.

There was not much conversation around the
table and Grace assumed everyone must be as exhausted as she.

“Would you like something for your arm,”
Elizabeth asked.

“No thank you. All I need is to sleep.”

“I am going to stay downstairs.” John pushed
back from the table.

“I am taking the room at the top of the
stairs and my door will be open,” Elizabeth announced and began
clearing the table. John helped her stack the dishes. Grace knew
she should assist but she couldn’t bring herself to move.

“I’ll escort you upstairs.” Matthew rose to
stand by her chair. She allowed him to assist and guide her from
the room. Why was she so numb? Or was she simply tired?

His hand settled at the small of her back and
Grace couldn’t help but lean into him as they took the stairs to
the upper level of her home. This is where she belonged, by his
side.

They paused outside her door and Matthew
leaned and kissed her forehead. “Call if you need me. I will be
right across the hall.”

“I will.” Grace turned and entered her room,
closing the door behind her. There was chill in the air and she
bent to stir the embers before adding logs. She went through her
evening ritual and readied herself for bed. The sheets were cool,
but they would warm from her body shortly. She often was cold at
first, but her bed never seemed so empty before.

The fire crackled and hissed. Shadows danced
on the wall and limbs scraped the windows.

Grace pulled the covers up to her chin. She
was being a ninny. Nothing could harm her now. Three people were in
the house to protect her.

But what if her uncle still got in?

She rolled over to her side and willed
herself to sleep but the thoughts kept coming. First the pillow and
then the gunshot.

She knew she was safe, but that didn’t
matter. Pushing the blankets aside, she rose from her bed and
crossed the room. There was only one way she would find rest
tonight and it wasn’t in here.

Matthew bolted up in bed as the door to his
room was pushed further open. Grace stepped inside, a lamp held in
her hands.

“What is wrong?”

“I can’t sleep.”

She stepped further into the room and closed
the door behind her. It clicked in the silence and Matthew became
aware of only her. Slowly she walked toward the bed. She set the
lamp on a table and turned down the flame before she crawled into
bed beside him.

Every part of Matthew became alert. Did this
woman have any idea what a temptation she was? He did not have the
strength to remain in this bed with her and not touch her.

Grace sighed and laid her head on his
shoulder. “This is better. It is much warmer than my bed.”

“I don’t think you should be here.”

“Why not? My reputation is already
ruined.”

“Because I don’t trust myself.”

She pulled away and looked up at him. He
could see the reflection of the flames in her emerald eyes. “You
would never hurt me.”

“No, never intentionally, but I can’t promise
that I won’t touch you.”

“Like you did the other night.”

“Yes.”

Instead of leaving as a wise woman would, she
leaned in and kissed him.

“Grace, this is not right.”

She pulled away. “I know. I just don’t want
to be alone.”

Of course she didn’t. He wasn’t sure he would
wish to sleep by himself if someone had tried to murder him twice.
Matthew pulled her close and pressed her head against his chest. It
would be along night, but they would get through it. In a few days
they would be married and he would no longer need to restrain
himself from making love to her.

She sighed and the palm of her small hand
rested on his chest. He hoped she didn’t touch him anywhere else
because she might be shocked to find him completely naked in the
bed. He had considered keeping his breeches on in case he had to
leave the room in a hurry, but they were over the edge of the bed
and he could put them on quickly enough. At least Grace wore her
nightrail, not that it was much of a deterrent. The linen was so
thin he could feel her heat penetrate the material, almost burning
him where they touched.

“Grace, I cannot lay her like this with
you.”

She pulled away. “I understand. You are
probably not used to sleeping with someone else.”