The Unwanted Heiress (29 page)

A constable is not authorized to enter any house or premises, for the purpose of seeing for nuisances…
—
Constable’s Pocket Guide

Nathaniel shook his head and briefly considered staying in front of the Archer townhouse until Charlotte arrived. When he glanced at his watch, he thought better of it. It was almost one in the morning. Not particularly late, considering that many of the balls he attended did not end until after three, but Charlotte was probably still hysterical after her recent experiences. She needed quiet to recover.

He pounded on the roof of his carriage to signal Lansbury to continue home. Upon their arrival, he strode into the hallway to find his entire staff lounging around, yawning and awaiting further orders.

“Send them to bed, Michael,” Nathaniel said. “Miss
Haywood has been found.” He thought about the impromptu story Archer had devised and smiled grimly before adding, “She was visiting my sister. They neglected to mention it to anyone, I am afraid.”

“All this for naught, then?” Michael asked, waving at the rest of the men staring dazedly at Nathaniel.

He shook his head and handed his hat to the butler. “It appears that way. The important point to remember is that Miss Haywood is safe.” Some of his insouciance returned. He smiled. “And I commend your readiness to continue our search. Thank you all.” They’d all get bonuses in the morning—it was the least he could do.

There were a few grumbles about the loss of what could have been a fine adventure. However with the exception of Michael, they soon wandered away, bones creaking and hands covering their yawning mouths.

“You will want me to check your bedroom, then?” Michael asked.

Nathaniel’s grin faltered. “Yes, but be quick.
I am exhausted.”

Michael didn’t take long in searching his quarters and Nathaniel was soon stretched out in bed. H
is muscles ached from tension, but his mind would not rest. Over and over again, he pictured Lady Anne and Miss Suzanne Mooreland. Their eyes stared at him, dull and hopeless.

And who had kidnapped Charlotte? Was it really Red? Did he truly have the effrontery to hide her in Dacy’s attic?

He rolled over, jerking the quilt strait. However, despite his worries, the events eventually took their toll. Near dawn, he managed to fall asleep and the next morning, his mood lifted when he saw the early paper, delivered to his chambers along with his morning chocolate and roll.

Heiress Found
! The headlines blazoned the news across the front page.

The American Heiress missing for the last week has been located at last. She was never missing at all! It seems
Miss Haywood has been staying in comfort at the home of Lord Dacy and his wife, the sister of the Duke of Peckham. This must be a great relief to all of our readers, who have been fearful that this young lady may have been the third victim of the madman still unidentified and free in our proud city.

Public outrage over his continued freedom increases daily. We fear for the fate of our fair daughters if he should remain loose and strike again. Even our famous
Bow Street runners have been ineffectual in preserving our safety. We can only pray for a rapid detainment and subsequent trial of the monster….

While it was comforting to know Charlotte was safe at the Archer’s residence, it annoyed him that the newspapers still considered him to be a depraved killer.

There had to be some evidence to support Nathaniel’s protestations of innocence. He—or Cheery—had to find it soon, or he wouldn’t retain his freedom much longer. The newspapers were correct on that score.

Of late, Nathaniel had studiously avoided many of his favorite haunts. Meeting the father of either murdered girl mean
t a confrontation and challenge. And if they refrained from that action, the grieving families still had one more avenue to explore if Nathaniel could not find the murderer: they could demand that Nathaniel face the House of Lords based upon the evidence already available. His blood-soaked clothing and the fact that Miss Mooreland was found in his carriage, when combined with Bolton’s claims of having seen Nathaniel running through the garden at the time of Lady Anne’s death, would be sufficient to see him hang.

He had to do something. However, the nascent idea lingering in the back of his mind
stubbornly refused to spring to life.

After dressing, Nathaniel called for his curricle. He had to get out of the house. Despite yesterday, he also wanted to see Charlotte. He had to explain
and obtain her forgiveness, or at least her understanding.

If she had recovered, she might even be convinced to go on a drive through the cool morning mist. The sun shone for the first time in days, and it was perfect weather for a leisurely drive. He could make her understand that she should marry him if he could just speak to her alone.

When he arrived at the Archers, he was lead upstairs to a sitting room and told to wait. The house was strangely hushed. Nathaniel’s stomach clenched. Had something else gone wrong? Was someone ill?

Archer joined him before Nathaniel decided to try to find Charlotte.

“What’s wrong?” Nathaniel asked.

Archer took a seat. “That is an interesting question. We had a letter yesterday from Charleston, South
Carolina.”

“Does this have to do with Charlotte?”

“Yes. When she arrived, I sent word to some men I trust to verify her estates. Since I am responsible for managing her inheritance, I wanted to understand the condition and productivity of her land and investments. From Westover’s records, her income appeared to be steadily declining.”

A
cold feeling poured through Nathaniel. “Is she poor?”

Archer shook his head. “Not precisely. Not poor, but certainly not as well off as we had been led to believe. It seems the estate manager had been selling off parcels of land over the last eight years.
I am unable to determine what became of the money he must have received in return for the property. He is now missing. There is little left except a rather large, drafty house in the town of Charleston and a few investments. We would not have received word so quickly if a man had not already been on the way. Some old friends of the family sent him when they saw the state of her farmlands.”

“How bad is it?” All he could think about was Charlotte’s face when she spoke about Egypt and her determination to travel to Cairo. Would she even be able to afford the boat fare?

“From my calculations, she is not precisely a pauper, but her inheritance as it stands today is roughly one third what it was eight years ago. I am afraid her previous guardians were not particularly astute men.”

“Damn it!” Nathaniel stood up and paced. “Does she know?”

“Yes. I discussed it with her this morning after she expressed her intentions to leave immediately for Cairo. I explained I will do my best to invest what remains, but I recommended against any plans to spend large amounts for any purpose until we can complete a review of her finances.”

“Thank you,” Nathaniel said, threading his fingers through his hair. “Did she…did she agree to stay?”

“For a while.”

“Excellent. That gives me a chance—” Nathaniel stopped abruptly. He was despicable to feel such relief and near happiness at the news that Miss Haywood had lost most of her fortune.

However, her misfortunes did grant him time to make amends.

If they couldn’t repair her fortunes, then he would offer to fund a brief trip for her, under certain conditions.
While he wasn’t a killer, he wasn’t above a little blackmail.

Charlotte could go to Cairo after she married him. She might not love him, and might, in fact loathe him, but he’d settle for that if she’d marry him.

His love would be enough for the both of them.

And perhaps she would agree if he pointed out that they’d at least have moderately intelligent children. She was blue-stocking enough to appreciate that aspect of his proposal. Although after the last few days, he wasn’t sure he could convince her of that, either.

“Now, nevvy, I have been thinking about your prospects with regard to my ward. Despite the hardship of losing her fortune, it might—”

“Be quiet. I don’t need any more suggestions, if you don’t mind. I refuse to see her loss of fortune as a possible advantage.” He was lying, but the last thing he wanted was any more interference from John Archer.

“Of course. She would be pleased to hear you say that.”

“That fails to reassure me. Did she—did she mention me
at all?”

Archer laughed, looking rather Puckish and sly. “
I am not one to listen to idle, female prattle.”

“
She did, then. Is she furious?”

“No. Not precisely furious, but it was not to our advantage when we found her in Oriana’s attic. She rather assumed that you kidnapped her and kept her there in order to convince her to marry you.”

“And why would she think that?”

“
Circumstantial evidence.”

“Which in this case, is partially true. Except we failed utterly and were not the ones who actually kidnapped her. Have you any idea who that bastard might have been?”

“None at all, but I am sure Mr. Gaunt will figure it out. He was here this morning before visiting the Dacy residence again to question the staff. I gather he also spoke to Miss Haywood’s new footman, Tom Henry, for what that information is worth.”

“Well, I wish him luck.” Nathaniel didn’t understand why Charlotte claimed never to have seen Red Smythe before, but Red didn’t look like the kind of man who would go haring off to kidnap an heiress on his own
, assuming he had been involved at all.

Red Smythe definitely had a partner giving him instructions. Unfortunately, getting information on the identity of that man would not be easy. If Nathaniel read him right, Red would keep his mouth shut. His face was scarred from taking punches
, so a few questions wouldn’t rattle him, particularly since Charlotte had illogically chosen to defend him.

“
May I speak with Charlotte?”

Archer considered it, and then nodded. He rang for a maid and asked the girl to fetch both Lady Victoria and Miss Haywood.

When the ladies arrived, Charlotte’s blue eyes focused anywhere but on Nathaniel’s face.

He almost groaned with frustration. “Miss Haywood,
I hope you have recovered?”

“
Quite. Thank you for asking.”

“We
have been considering your experiences. I was hoping you could give us a better description of the men who kidnapped you.”

“I gave all the details I care to give to Mr. Gaunt this morning. Perhaps you should speak to him.”

“I would rather speak to you.” This earned him a quick glance. When she caught his gaze, she flushed and hurriedly looked down to her clasped hands. Her fingers twisted in her lap and then plucked at the pale yellow embroidery running down the front of her muslin gown. Nathaniel longed to cover her restless hands with his own.

The last few weeks had been horrendous for her. Charlotte’s fair skin was even paler than usual and dark circles smudged her eyes. Although she didn’t know it, she had been wagered and lost to perfect strangers. Then, she had been kidnapped and subsequently informed she had only one-third of her fortune left. And now she had reason to believe that her guardian’s nephew murdered two women.

He desperately wanted to put an arm around her, hold her, and assure her that she was safe and had nothing to fear.

Most of all, h
e wanted to tell her he loved her in such as way that she would believe him.

She looked at him defiantly and sat up straighter. “I
cannot imagine what more we have to say to one another.”

“More than you might think,” he replied, keeping his tone light. “Do you remember any details of your kidnapping, or anything that might help us to find the men responsible?”

Her blue gaze caught his. He felt her waver. Her lips parted. He leaned forward, but she closed her mouth again without saying more.

“Will you be attending the
soirée
tonight at the Gilroy’s?” Lady Victoria said, breaking the silence. “Or would you rather go to the Italian opera? You’ve barely made use of your box at Haymarket, Your Grace.”

“The opera? I
had not considered it,” Nathaniel said. Once more, something shifted in his mind, some clue that continued to elude him.

“Why?
” Lady Victoria asked. “We intend to go. Miss Haywood has indicated she would be willing to attend.”

“
I see,” Nathaniel said.

So t
hey were planning to attend this event to prove Charlotte was indeed safe, thereby disputing the kidnapping tale. Using his box would put her on display.

Put her on display
…. An idea grew like the proverbial bean stalk. Perhaps there was a pattern to the murders, after all.

“
I will reconsider, then,” he said, “and attend. In fact, I will escort you.”