The Temptation of a Gentleman (13 page)

“
A long while then,” Marion said with a smile. Perfect.

“
A while.” The girl nodded and her brown eyes flashed up before she went back to her work.

“
Then you knew the last Mrs. Lucas?” In the mirror she saw Sally’s back stiffen and her hand clenched into a fist to smash the corner of the blanket she held.

“
Aye,” she whispered. “Mrs. Lucas had just married Mr. Lucas when I came to Toppleton Square.”

“
It’s sad that she died so young.”

Sally returned to her work, though Marion couldn’t help but notice how much slower she moved, as if unpleasant thoughts waylaid her. The maid glanced over to meet Marion’s eyes in the reflection.

“
Very sad.”

“
What was she like?” She turned in her chair to look Sally in the face. Now that the mirror didn’t distance them, the maid dropped her eyes to the floor.

“
Like?”

Marion stood up and came a few steps closer. She didn’t want to frighten the girl or push her too far so early in their acquaintance, but she felt the young woman had something to reveal. Something important.

“
Yes. She and I were nearly the same age,” she explained. “I wonder if we had anything else in common.”

Sally bit her lip as she turned to look Marion up and down. “Well, you look a bit like her, I suppose. In the hair and eyes, but you aren’t as curvy as Mrs. Lucas was. Begging your pardon, Miss Marion, but why do you want to know?”

Marion backed away and gave a careless shrug. “Bored, I suppose. My father and Mr. Lucas aren’t exactly stimulating companions. Poor Georgina’s portraits have drawn me to her. I wonder what a woman her age must have done here to relieve her own ennui. Or perhaps she was too much in love with Mr. Lucas to suffer boredom?”

Sally laughed but it was a brittle sound that came from the back of her throat. “No, I wouldn’t say that. Madam was certainly not enamored with Mr. Lucas.”

Immediately Sally gasped and stared at Marion while she covered her mouth with one hand. “Oh, pardon me! I shouldn’t have spoken so freely.”

“
No.” Marion stepped forward to touch the girl’s arm. She was surprised that it trembled. “You may trust me. I’d never repeat anything you said to me in confidence.”

Except to Noah, she added in her head, feeling just a little guilty that she was forced to lie to the girl. But she assured herself that her actions were honorable. How could they not be when Lucas was the prime suspect in a murder?

Sally lowered her hand and looked at Marion through wide eyes. Finally she nodded. “I suppose you
should
know, considering…”

“
Considering?”

“
Mr. Lucas was obsessed with his wife, Miss Marion,” the girl burst out. “He followed her everywhere, and had a man on her when he couldn’t go with her. He was afraid she was off cuckolding him with some young man. Any young man who looked in her direction was suspect.”

“
That poor girl,” Marion whispered. “Had she given him cause to be so suspicious?”

“
None except to be young and beautiful.” Sally set her jaw defiantly. “And honest, perhaps too much so. She didn’t want to be with Mr. Lucas and never pretended otherwise.”

Marion’s eyes grew wide. “If that is the case, she must have been very unhappy.”

The maid nodded sadly. “She was. Her father and mother had given her to Mr. Lucas against her will, though I heard they came to regret their actions far too late.”

Marion thought of what Noah had told her. Georgina’s father had asked that the case be investigated, probably out of guilt. She had to wonder if her own father would even care enough to do the same if his arrangement with Josiah Lucas led to her death. Sadness filled her at the answer. Probably not.

Sally sighed. “Madam was a fighter and she fought him every chance she got. Oh, the screams from that bedroom…” The girl tilted her head down and wiped her eyes with the corner of Marion’s blanket. “I shall never forget them.”

Marion shivered as she realized what Sally was describing. Lucas had forced himself on his young wife. Just as he promised to force himself on her if she ultimately refused his advances.

“
Poor Georgina,” she whispered hoarsely.

“
Over the two years they were married, she grew more and more unhappy. She cried nearly every night, though she never spoke to any of the servants about her troubles. She was too proud for that. But then she had her accident.” Sally’s eyes narrowed and hatred filled them. “Or what was called an accident.”

Marion’s heart leapt to her throat and kept her from speaking for a moment. “Y-you mean you don’t believe it
was
an accident?”

She held her breath as Sally stared at her. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes uncertain and guilty. Marion couldn’t blame her. As a servant, Sally could lose her position… even her life, if she spoke too freely. But still, Sally seemed to
want
to confess whatever she had kept inside for so long. Finally, the maid set down the blanket and took two hesitant steps toward Marion.

“
Oh please, Miss,” she whispered, looking around her even though the door was securely shut. “You mustn’t tell anyone. You must swear to me.”

Marion nodded. She took both Sally’s hands to reassure the young woman that her vow was one she meant to keep. “I would never endanger you, Sally.”

The maid swallowed hard. “I don’t think Mrs. Lucas fell.”

“
Why?” Marion was surprised to realize just how tightly she gripped the other woman’s hands. Releasing them, she repeated her question, this time with gentleness. “Why do you believe that?”

The young woman lifted her face. Her brown eyes were brimmed with unshed tears and she looked as miserable as any person Marion had ever seen. “Mrs. Lucas was the most graceful woman I ever knew. She held herself like a lady. She
never
would have tripped and fallen like they said she did. She didn’t have that kind of clumsiness in her.”

For a moment, the young woman cried, then she straightened and wiped her face. Her eyes locked with Marion’s as she said, “I swore I’d never saw those words, but you’re so much like her, Miss Marion. And you’ve been kind to me when I’ve received no kindness in this house for a year. I see the way
he
looks at you, Miss. The same way he looked at her.”

Marion’s spine stiffened. Suddenly their conversation had turned to the uncomfortable subject of her own personal safety. That was a topic she didn’t much like to think about, let alone chat about with the servants.

“
The way he looks at me?”

Sally nodded adamantly. “Mr. Lucas wants you, just the way he wanted her. And not to offend you, Miss Marion, but your father don’t seem like the kind who would go out of his way to protect you, especially if money was on the line.”

“
Why do you suspect money is involved?” Marion forced past dry lips.

Sally shook her head. “With Mr. Lucas, money is
always
involved.

“
I see.”

“
If you can get away from here I’d go before you’re forced into the same trouble as the last Mrs. Lucas.”

Bile crept up Marion’s throat to taint her mouth. She wasn’t willing to confess that the same life had already been planned for her. Not when she couldn’t even bring herself to reveal it to Noah.

“
You think those are his plans for me?” she asked.

“
If I didn’t I’d keep my thoughts to myself,” Sally said. “I hope I’m wrong, Miss Marion. But if I’m not I’d advise you to keep your bedroom door locked and leave this place as soon as you can.”

Marion nodded slowly. “I appreciate your concern, Sally. I assure you, I’m doing my best to do just as you say, but I’m afraid it might take some time.”

The bravado and candor left Sally’s eyes. “Excuse me for speaking out of turn then, Miss Marion. I didn’t mean to frighten you or say too much. I hope you won’t go back on your promise and tell Mr. Lucas or your father about what I said.”

Marion smiled to reassure the girl. “I made a vow that I wouldn’t tell Mr. Lucas, and I intend to keep it. If you want honesty, I despise the man, too.”

The fear eased from Sally’s gaze. “Then perhaps we can help each other.”

“
How?”

“
We could look out for each other. If that isn’t too forward a suggestion.”

Marion’s smile broadened to a grin. “On the contrary, I think it’s a very good idea. From now on I’ll watch out for you and you’ll do the same for me.”

She held out her hand to the girl who stared at it for a long moment. Finally she took it and they shook. “Thank you, Miss Marion.”

As Sally blushed and returned to her bed making, Marion hugged herself. Once again, Noah had been right. The servants were a fount of information and she had just befriended one who not only had intimate knowledge of Georgina Ross’s life and death, but was willing to share it. Noah would certainly be impressed by that when she got the chance to tell him.

***

Noah glanced over the latest message from London with a frown. Lord Golding had given him more information about the case, but none of it made Noah feel any better about leaving Marion in Josiah Lucas’s house to garner evidence. The more he found out about Lucas and his dangerous obsession with his late wife, the more uncomfortable he felt.

He ripped the missive in half and tossed it into the glowing flames in the fireplace, watching as the sparks ate away the words on the page.

What choice did he have about leaving Marion where she was for the time being? His first allegiance was to Golding and the case he’d taken on. If he removed Marion, his intervention would completely cut off any ability he had to investigate Lucas. A man like Lucas would be less than understanding that Noah had stolen the woman he intended to marry.

He smiled at the eager look on the boy’s face. After a few years of service, he trusted the young man. And his huge size and intimidating strength made him an asset.

“Yes sir, just as I said I would,” the boy replied with a wide smile.

“And what have you discovered?” Noah motioned for the young man to come inside the study for his report.

“Yesterday Mr. Lucas and Mr. Hawthorne went into the village for a game of cards. I believe Mr. Hawthorne lost a small sum of money.”

Noah shook his head. “The man never learns,” he muttered.

He’d never been one for games of chance. He preferred to play where he knew he could win. Where depending on his wits and his intelligence would lead him to victory, not the lucky throw of the dice or the turn of a card.

Noah frowned. He hated to think of her upset with no one to talk to about her feelings. But he wasn’t sure if he was the best confidante for her, even if they could be alone. It seemed whenever he had a few moments with her, all he could do was accost her, and that probably wouldn’t help… although the image was a pleasing one to him. He could still feel the soft curves of her body molded to his, her breath coming short as he kissed and touched her.

“My lord?”

Noah jumped as the boy brought him back to reality a second time. “What was that?”

“Nothing sir.” He cocked his head as if he were unsure of his master’s state of mind. “I just asked if you were pleased with what I found?”

“Yes, of course.” Noah waved his hand in dismissal of the question. “But what about today? Do you know of their plans?”

Rothschild nodded. “Yes, my lord. Mr. Lucas asked their cook to prepare a picnic luncheon for three. Apparently he and the Hawthornes are going to be going for a ride across the estate and the shire. They plan to lunch by Perchta Lake.”

Noah smiled. “When do they plan to depart?”

“I believe sometime before noon, my lord. Would you like me to find out a more specific time?”

Noah glanced at his pocket watch. It was already nearly eleven. “No, Rothschild, that will be all. Tell the groom to have my horse ready and find my valet. I’ll be riding today and won’t be home for luncheon.”

“Yes, my lord.” Rothschild gave a smart bow before he hurried from the room to make the arrangements.

Noah strummed his fingers across the oak desktop with a smile. If Josiah Lucas thought he would get some time alone Marion at the enchanted ‘fairy’ lake, he was wrong. Noah would make sure of that.

With a laugh, he bolted from the room and climbed the stairs two at a time. He had to change to look his best when he broke up Lucas’s party.