Chapter Twenty-Three
It wasn’t far to the Duke of Talbot’s house.
Sitting back, he allowed thoughts to come and go.
He had been going through the motions of existing for too long.
Appeared to be happy and live his life as he chose, but in fact, it was the opposite.
He’d been hiding in plain sight. Now he had a child, a dog, and hopefully not a cat.
Him, the eternal bachelor; the thought was a sobering one.
He’d written to his mother yesterday, outlining all that had happened. No doubt that would send her into a frenzy, and she’d appear in Bidham when he arrived there soon.
Liberty slid into his head then. She deserved the truth from him, but Toby knew that in telling her he would have to speak of his days at Blackwood House.
He hated talking of that time. It made him vulnerable, and he’d fought hard to never again be that.
But perhaps to heal he must? What did he want from Liberty Talbot?
He didn’t have an answer, but he knew it was something.
Looking out the window he noted they were passing the street where she had recklessly spoken to that man in the warehouse, after both she and Helen had seen her brother delivering something there.
He tapped on the roof, and the carriage began to slow. Toby intended to take a quick look around, just to be sure nothing was out of place. Unlike his last visit, the property should be empty at this hour—or so he hoped.
“Is something amiss, my lord?” Rory asked after he’d stepped down.
“I just need to check on something. I will be only a few minutes if you will wait here, please.”
Entering the lane, he looked about him, which wasn’t easy as no streetlamps lit the area. But his eyes adjusted, and Toby made his way to the building at the end. He walked along the first side to the window, but could see nothing inside, so he continued around the warehouse.
Nearing the rear of the building, he saw light coming from a partially open door. Stopping beside it, Toby listened.
“We’ve had people here asking questions.”
“Doesn’t mean they know anything.”
“Doesn’t mean they don’t.”
“The women came, and they’re from the village, his lordship said. Then there’s the nobleman poking around. Plus, we know a man was questioning the villagers. So far, they’re too scared to speak, but that may change.”
“His lordship says to keep things as they are. They won’t speak, not after what we did. They’re scared.”
“This next shipment is big… the biggest. He wants everything to run smooth, so don’t get the wobbles now.”
“I’m not. It’s them nosing around that worry me.”
“He’ll take care of that. He’s a right mean one when he needs to be.”
Toby studied the building, looking for a way inside.
Those words had left him cold with fury.
Were the women they’d spoken of Liberty and Helen?
Had they murdered Sally Ackers to keep the Bidham locals quiet?
Who was this nobleman they spoke of? He needed answers to those questions, and he needed them now.
“What the bloody hell do you want!”
Toby turned at the words, but not quick enough and something came down hard on the back of his head. He staggered, but did not go down. The sound of running feet told him that whoever was inside that warehouse would be outside in seconds. Toby would be outnumbered.
He lashed out with his fist and connected. The recipient went down, and he ran back toward the carriage. The thud of feet told him they were following, but he could see Rory now.
“Is all well, my lord?”
“Make haste, Rory, I am being followed. To the ball, please!”
“At once.”
Toby climbed inside as they sped away. Pulling off a glove, he touched the lump forming on the back of his head, but there was at least no blood.
He should probably go home, but something stopped him, and he knew it was Liberty.
He needed to warn her to have a care now after what he’d learned tonight.
If anything happened to her, he would never forgive himself.
Resting his head on the back of the seat, Toby closed his eyes. Those men were talking about Bidham, but who was his lordship?
He would go to the ball and tell his friends what he’d overheard, and if the dull ache now throbbing in the back of his skull didn’t ease, he would leave. He thought about Florence then. She was his responsibility and if anything had happened to him tonight, who would look after her?
Tomorrow he would set that right. He’d make Anthony and Evie her guardians.
Forcing himself upright, as the carriage slowed to a crawl behind the others lining up to stop before the Duke and Duchess of Talbot’s townhouse, he took several deep, slow breaths.
Were his eyes unfocused? Blinking, he tried to clear them. The door opened, and he stepped down, looking at the house before him.
He’d never attended a ball here before. In fact, he’d never stepped foot inside the London Talbot residence.
Large and imposing, as befitted the duke’s standing in society, it was impressive, and rose three stories in gray stone.
Looking up, slowly, as movement did not help the pain, he wondered which room Liberty slept in, and saw a face pressed to the window, then a hand.
He waved back as Edward looked down at him.
That tug inside his chest was still there, but less fierce now as he thought about Mathew.
He, too, was something he’d forced down deep inside.
Toby hadn’t allowed his little brother to live on after his death.
His memory had died with him, and that wasn’t right. Florence, too, should know about him.
Stepping in through the large front doors, he joined the queue of people waiting to greet the hosts.
“Lord Corbyn? You know my daughter, Miss Waltham?” The man in front of him turned to speak with Toby.
“Of course. Good evening.” Toby bowed, and smiled at the woman, although it was likely more a grimace.
A man of good fortune, titled, and single, was a hunted species in society. He didn’t blame the young women, and knew their purpose was solely securing a good match. Was it right? Possibly not, but as it had always been that way, Toby doubted it would change anytime soon.
“Well now, this is good timing,” a voice said from behind him. Turning, he looked at Anthony, who had his wife at his side, both looking ridiculously happy still, he noted.
“Hello, Toby. That is a fine waistcoat.”
“Good evening, Evie, you look lovely.”
“Friend here,” Anthony drawled as Toby kissed her cheek.
“Anthony.” Toby bowed deeply. He would get his friends alone soon and tell them what had transpired, but not here, where anyone could be listening.
Whomever this lordship was could walk among them, and he did not want him alerted they were on to him.
“My night has improved vastly with your appearance in it,” Toby added.
Anthony harrumphed.
“We are excited to be journeying to Bidham in a few days,” Evie said.
“Don’t. Seriously, Evie has the household in an uproar, and is obsessed with packing this and packing that,” Anthony said.
“Good evening, I have arrived so you can all rest easy,” Jamie said appearing.
He’d like to be resting, Toby thought as the dull ache in his head had him wanting to sit somewhere in a dark corner and close his eyes.
“That is untrue,” Evie protested. “I just like order, and there is nothing wrong with that. Good evening, Jamie.”
“Are you to open the fair, Toby?” Jamie asked after he’d kissed her cheek.
“I have, and yes, I will. It seems they may forgive me for turning my back on the village.”
Evie, Anthony, and Jamie looked at him with varying expressions.
“What?” Toby said, knowing exactly why they were staring at him. He would like to say it was the blow to the head that had loosened his tongue, but after that business in his townhouse with the staff, he couldn’t. He knew he was changing, and unlike before, would embrace it. It was time.
“You never talk of your past,” Anthony said.
“None of us are open books,” Toby added. “Now move along. We are in a receiving line and holding everyone up.
Jamie stepped around him, then stared into Toby’s eyes. “You look different.”
Were his pupils dilated?
“Exactly how do I look different when my body is the same?”
“Your eyes are squinty. Has something happened, Toby? Are you in pain? Florence—”
“Is well and tucked up in bed as we speak.”
Toby nudged him back a few steps.
Anthony turned to study him. He then said softly, “What has happened?”
“Not here,” Toby said, realizing they wouldn’t believe him if he kept denying it. “After we have greeted the Talbots, I will tell you.”
They walked a few more paces and then he could see their hosts. Liberty stood beside her mother, and her expression was polite, but he knew her well enough, even after all these years, to know she hated being the center of attention.
His eyes traveled down from the top of her sunset locks, pinned on top of her head with something that sparkled. She smiled as another guest greeted them. This one was genuine, and everything inside Toby that wasn’t already clenched did so. She was beautiful.
“Your Lady Liberty is looking lovely this evening,” Jamie whispered in his ear.
He refused to punch his friend right here in front of some of the more voracious society gossips, but the need was there. He was jealous.
Liberty was wearing white, but the bodice was lower than she usually wore, and showed off the tops of her lovely breasts. Beneath the bust was an overskirt in sheer blue that opened down the front. Around her neck was a matching satin ribbon.
“Your mouth is open,” Jamie whispered.
“Shut up.”
“At least the color is returning to your cheeks,” Anthony added. “Did you eat something off today? Is that why you look as you do?”
“I told you I will tell you everything soon. Shut up.”
Toby kept his eyes on Liberty, and he let the feelings inside him come. His friend, and so much more. What he’d done had forced her from his life, but he wanted to rectify that. Wanted her back.
She squinted then, attempting to focus on something. Liberty should be wearing her glasses, and it was wrong of her mother to not allow that. She could easily walk into something and hurt herself.
Her hands hung at her side, one clenched in a fist. Why had she not married before now?
Liberty was as beautiful as many, and more so, Toby believed.
The accident had her entering society later than others, but she was a duke’s daughter.
Clearly the bachelors like him were fools not to see she was worthy of their attentions.
She bent slightly at the waist to hear something a guest said to her, and Tobias watched Mr. Parker leering down her bodice.
“Did you just growl, Tobias?” Anthony asked.
“No.”
But he had, because he wanted to be the one to look at her breasts, and knew he’d lost all rights to Liberty Talbot many years ago. But that was about to change.