Chapter 14 #2
“Yes, well, you will understand that I am not a rich man. And I suspect that this actress has had many protectors. It is quite possible that the child is not my brother’s at all.”
Pevensey shrugged. “Then, if you’ll pardon me for speaking plainly, why worry about it? Let her tell her story. It will last all of two days in society gossip. Your brother is dead and cannot be inconvenienced by either a by-blow or by rumors of one.”
“Of course.” Mr. Aldine hesitated. “But there are others that would be harmed by such a rumor coming to light. My mother, and…my wife.”
“I did not realize that you were married,” said Pevensey. “Felicitations. Who is the happy bride?”
“Happy may be too optimistic a description, given recent events. You will be surprised to hear it, but I was recently married to Helena Angiers, my brother’s former betrothed.”
Pevensey stared. He knew that Lady Helena’s brother had planned to foist her on some fellow to avoid the shame of exposure.
What he did not know was that the fellow who had been chosen as bridegroom was the brother of the dead man.
He wondered if Miss Cecil had learned of this strange turn of affairs?
She had been Helena Angiers’ sole friend throughout the grueling investigation that had taken place at Christmas.
She had known about Helena Angiers’ pregnancy—a pregnancy that her husband had, so far, failed to mention.
“My wife can know nothing about Miss Clifford’s allegations.”
Pevensey nodded. “Your consideration for your wife’s feelings is understandable. Am I to understand that Miss Clifford has threatened to acquaint your wife with the matter?”
“Precisely. But I see no reason to meet her terms when it is unclear whether the child she carries is any relation to Will. Can you undertake a private commission to determine what other lovers this actress had or has? I can pay you a modest sum.”
Pevensey wrinkled his nose. Looking for adulterous affairs had some merit when it was connected to motive for murder.
But when it was simply connected to money?
It was sordid, it was salacious, and it was his least favorite kind of case.
Miss Clifford was the talk of the town with her current role in Mozart’s opera.
She was the kind of actress who could have half a dozen young blades frequenting her favors.
“Please,” said Mr. Aldine. “It would be a kindness to a family who has already suffered much.”
Pevensey groaned. “Very well, Mr. Aldine. I shall take the case. And if I find anything, to which address shall I send word?”
Mr. Aldine gave a tentative smile. “My wife and I are currently in residence at Carham, near the border.” He gave Pevensey the direction of a guest house on the property of Carham Hall.
It was not unusual for newlyweds to remove from London, but the place to which they had removed was as far from London as one could go and still remain within the borders of England.
Pevensey omitted to write down the direction as it was easy enough for him to remember.
Rising from the narrow space behind the small desk, he shook Mr. Aldine’s hand and waved him out of the closet that doubled as a private office.
As he saw the back of the solicitor’s steady shoulders, Pevensey gave a little sigh.
He leaned against the doorframe of his office.
Here was yet another case that he could not write about in his letter to Miss Cecil.
For although she was keenly aware that her friend’s former betrothed was a thoroughgoing cad, he had no intention of dragging her even further into the seamy stories of his profession.
No, he would confine his remarks to the weather in London and the state of the hostilities with France.
He would inquire about the weather in Sussex and her progress on her latest embroidery.
He would draw her a picture of an overturned potato cart and stalled carriages.
That would be enough to fill a page. She would think him as dull as a dairy farmer’s diary.
But what other words were appropriate to go between a genteel country lady and a common thief taker?
Ralph could not leave London without a quick visit to his future brother-in-law. The duke did not even give Ralph a proper greeting before he crossed his arms and skewered him with a steely glance. “And what have you done with my sister?”
“She is quite safe in Carham,” Ralph assured him. “The lady of the manor has taken her under her wing.”
“And why are you in London?”
“I had some business,” said Ralph vaguely, letting Geoffrey assume that it had something to do with his former role as a solicitor. “I wonder, do you think it would be possible to send more of Helena’s things?”
“What sort of things?” asked Geoffrey. The tall fellow had been incapacitated by a gunshot wound when the details of his sister’s departure had been discussed, and Helena had brought nothing more than a trunk and her maid. “Does she need more of her dresses?”
“She misses her pianoforte.”
“Oh ho! That’s not so easy to pack into a trunk and send by coach. Would it not be easier to buy her a new one in Berwick?”
Ralph gave a faint smile. “She has fond memories of her own pianoforte here in London.”
Geoffrey shook his head. “Good heavens, Aldine! I would have thought you’d be able to dissuade her from something so impractical.
But never mind, I’ll arrange it. It will give me a welcome project other than worrying over this wedding.
I must say, I envy you the ability to drive to the border and have it all over and done with in less than four days. ”
“Is there something amiss with the wedding plans?”
Geoffrey sighed. “No. It’s just that Maud wants her friend Lady Fremont there, and I would rather Maud not cross paths with Lady Fremont’s sister.”
“Anthea Wedgwood?” Ralph had lived between two worlds all his life and was familiar with both the upper echelons of society and the merchant class.
“The very one. She spent the entire last season angling for me like a fisherman, and even after my betrothal was announced, she hasn’t stopped sending out her lures.
The worst of it is that she is unpardonably direct—comes in with all sails flying and delivers her shot with a full broadside of guns. ”
“I’m sure Maudie can handle herself.”
“I’m sure she can too. But Miss Wedgwood may make a scene at the wedding, and so I’d rather spare myself—and all of us—the embarrassment.”
“Can you not invite Lord and Lady Fremont without the sister?”
“She is staying with them at present. It would be good manners to include her.”
Ralph clapped Geoffrey on the shoulder. “Well, after a Gordian knot like that to untangle, I’m certain that travel arrangements for a little pianoforte across the length of England should be no problem at all.”
“Yes, indeed,” said Geoffrey with furrowed brow. “When do you leave?”
“Tomorrow.”
Geoffrey shook his hand and walked with him to the door. “I am sorry that you and Helena cannot come to the wedding, but there’s no help for it. She must stay out of society, and she will be near her time at Midsummer’s.”
“Indeed,” said Ralph. A journey of such length at that late stage of her pregnancy would be unpardonably dangerous.
He would hate to miss Maudie’s wedding, but he knew she was in good hands with Geoffrey.
And it was up to him to ensure that Helena was just as cared for over three hundred miles to the north.