Chapter Sixteen #3
“Of course, you only had eyes for Blackhurst, even then. None of us stood a chance.” He looked at her then, his expression one of regret.
“Such a terrible thing that happened to you. I’m afraid people will believe anything, if they hear it often enough.
” He looked contrite. Was he apologizing for believing the rumors? It could not be.
“Thank you, Lord Dalmere. That means a lot to me.”
“I do want to make it up to you. I have heard they are having a balloon ascension at Vauxhall Gardens tomorrow afternoon and later there will be fireworks. I would be honored if you and Bellamy would join me. His brother, Henry, and I had planned to watch one but unfortunately… we never got the chance.” He shrugged.
“It would mean a lot to me if you would.”
She had always wanted to see a balloon ascension. “Well, I would have to talk to Bellamy first, but I am sure he would be… pleased.”
“Excellent. I will send a note around in the morning with the details. Until tomorrow, have a wonderful evening, Lady Blackhurst.”
With that he stood, bowed over her hand, and left her sitting with her plate in her lap and her mind in confusion. Perhaps she had misjudged Dalmere after all. Maybe he had simply been as wary of her as she had been of him. Perhaps she had let her own feelings of unease rule her judgment.
She danced a quadrille with Bellamy when he returned, managing this time to make it through the whole dance. She told him of Dalmere’s invitation.
“I think that would be wonderful. He has been a good friend to me. Declining would hurt his feelings. Besides, I have never seen a balloon ascension before, have you?”
“No, I haven’t. I think it will be quite spectacular.”
“Then it’s decided.”
“Anna, I mean, Lady Forsham, said she would call on me tomorrow morning. And mid-day tomorrow is Grandmother’s luncheon. She said she has sent an invitation to your aunt.”
Oliver raised a brow and smiled. “There, you see? I told you that Lord Anthony and his lot were of the good sort. Well, my girl, you will be busy tomorrow. I had better take you home before your social diary fills up completely.”
“I doubt that will ever happen, but Lady Forsham is very kind to think of me. Do you think your aunt will come to the luncheon?”
“I am not sure. She is getting on and she sometimes forgets where she is. I am sure her companion will advise me on whether or not she is well enough to go.”
“I had not realized she was so frail. You must worry about her.”
“I do. She is my last living relative. When she is gone, I will be the last.”
*
When Lisbeth arrived back at Blackhurst House she was met at the door of the carriage by a very dour Rollands with an umbrella. Once inside, he took her coat. Oliver saw that something was amiss.
“Do you want me to stay?”
She looked at Rollands, who gave her a subtle sign which told her this was not something she most likely wanted to share with Bellamy. She shook her head. “No. I’m very tired and we have a big day tomorrow.”
He kissed her hand. “Are you sure?”
“Of course. I will see you tomorrow.”
She missed his warm presence as soon as he left, but tried to focus on the matter at hand.
“What has happened here? You all look like we ran out of jam,” she said as she followed Rollands into the parlor. Mrs. Rollands was standing in the parlor wringing her hands and looking very anxious.
“Whatever can be wrong?” Lisbeth asked in concern as she came up to her housekeeper.
“Hahmm. It appears that Mrs. Rollands has something she needs to tell you, your ladyship.”
She looked from one to the other. “Really? Should I sit down for this?”
Mrs. Rollands nodded. Lisbeth felt even more apprehensive now. She sat.
“It is just that I wasn’t sure what they were when I first saw them,” Mrs. Rollands said, still wringing her hands.
“You have me all at a quandary. Please just tell me what you found,” Lisbeth asked, wondering what on earth she could have found.
“A book.”
Lisbeth blinked. “A book?”
“Well, two actually,” Mrs. Rollands replied looking paler by the minute.
“And where did you find these books, Mrs. Rollands?”
“In the master’s study. When I were cleaning up after, well, after you two made such a mess in there. I couldn’t leave it like that you understand.”
“I understand and I am sorry about that, Mrs. Rollands, but my husband had many books in his study.”
“Not like these two,” Rollands supplied.
That got her attention. “Can I see them, please?”
Mrs. Rollands turned and picked up two books.
She offered them up like a sacrifice to her mistress.
“I’m so sorry, your ladyship, but I didn’t want to bother you unless I knew for sure if they were something worth bothering you about.
When I showed Mr. Rollands, he was angry at me for keeping them to myself. ”
“She showed me just this evening, my lady. I am sure they are a ledger and a journal.”
“Not just any ledger, I’m guessing, Rollands?” Lisbeth asked as she took the longer book from the housekeeper. She hoped they could not see how her hands were shaking.
“No, my lady. I believe it is the ledger from the last speculation. The names on the list are very familiar to me. Many are on the list we compiled.”
The book from the speculation? Lisbeth felt the blood drain from her face.
This was the evidence she had been looking for but now she had it in her hand, she felt reluctant to open it.
The ledger would help ascertain who put in what amount of money, but not that she had nothing to do with it.
What would everyone think if she were just to announce this evidence had only come to light right now?
Would it in fact make it worse for her? She studied the book on her lap for a moment.
“You are right. Many of these names are on my list.”
This would mean she would know exactly who had invested with her husband.
How much they invested and how much she would have to pay back.
Who had the most to lose and who had the most motive to kill Nathaniel.
She should be overjoyed, but instead she felt anxious and unsure.
These two books changed everything. They had the potential to destroy all she had worked for or give her all she needed to finally put this horrible mess behind her.
She needed time to read them, think things through.
The thought of being able to pay back all the investors should be a happy one.
It wasn’t that she worried over her own finances.
She led a fairly simple life and gave herself a modest allowance.
She paid her staff well and on time every quarter and she dined sufficiently for one who lived mostly on her own.
She ran her finger down the list. Oliver’s brother was there, so were Dalmere and several other men she had met this season, thanks to Bellamy.
There were a few on the list she had not known to be investors.
Perhaps tomorrow, while watching the balloon ascension she could hint that she knew Dalmere was an investor and question him on it.
Should she tell Dalmere or Oliver about the ledger?
First, she must be sure it was for the right speculation, for her husband had been dealing in investments for many years.
When she knew for sure, then she would tell him.
She turned then to the other book. The journal.
What would it say? Did she want to know?
She could skip the parts about her and just look for entries where he may have spoken about the speculation.
She already knew he had despised her; it was no use upsetting herself further by knowing exactly how much.
Lisbeth knew, despite her reasoning not to read about herself in the journal, she would read every damning word Nathaniel wrote in that infernal journal.
She should be celebrating; these two books could contain the evidence she needed to prove her innocence. She could be holding in her hands the ticket to her salvation or the name of the killer.
She looked up. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rollands were waiting for her to say something.
“Thank you for bringing these to my notice. I will read them and decide what is to be done with them.”
“Are you sure you want to read them?” Rollands asked.
She knew he was trying to tell her it was all right to ignore them if she wished. How could she? They were hard and real in her hands.
“Where were they hidden?” she asked her housekeeper.
“They were sticking out from beside one of the bookshelves. I only noticed because I was putting the other books away on the shelf.”
Lisbeth gave Mrs. Rollands a reassuring smile. “You did the right thing, bringing them to me. However good or bad the contents may be. You can both go to bed now.”
She waited until both of them had left the room and then she opened the journal to a random page towards the back.
My preparations are nearly complete. I have made good my finances and prepare to disappear.
Lisbeth gasped. He had planned to run away and take everyone’s money with him? How typical. She shouldn’t have been so surprised.
I will be rich and live like a king! Those fools will never find me.
Lisbeth slammed the book shut and let it drop to the floor like it had burned her fingers.
He really had planned it to the letter. What had he planned to do with her?
Leave her to bear the consequences? Probably.
Take her with him? No, why would he bother to do that?
She was nothing but a burden to him. Then why did he leave her all the money?
It still didn’t make any sense. Maybe he had planned for her to be blamed for his disappearance.
It was quite likely he had planned to empty his coffers and then run off to destinations unknown, leaving her with his mess.
Perhaps the journal would tell her, but she felt sick to her stomach at the thought of reading it.
Lisbeth picked up the ledger and, reluctantly, the journal and went upstairs to bed. Tomorrow she would decide what to do.