Chapter 19
“Ladies.” Aragon strode into the drawing room and bowed. “How may I help you?”
Carenza glanced at Olivia, who nodded for her to continue. “We need your help.”
“Mine?” Aragon looked absurdly pleased. “Are you certain you don’t mean my brother’s?”
Carenza gestured to a seat. “As this matter concerns your brother, we think you are the best person to help us.”
“I’ll do my best.” Aragon sat down. “Does this have something to do with that pesky Walcott fellow?”
Olivia and Carenza exchanged a startled glance.
“Has Julian spoken to you about him?” Olivia asked.
“I spoke to him. I offered to go and have a word with Walcott to set matters straight, but Julian wasn’t very keen on the idea.” Aragon paused. “To put it bluntly, he thinks I’m too stupid to pull it off.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t—”
“He’s got a point, though, hasn’t he?” Aragon waved away Carenza’s concern. “I’m not exactly known for my intelligence. But I do want to help him. If you ladies have any ideas as to how I might do that, I’m all ears.”
“We think you need to convince Percival that you share a common grievance against your brother,” Carenza said.
“Because Julian is now wealthier than both of us?” Aragon nodded. “It’s never bothered me, but I’m fairly certain I could pretend that it did to gain Walcott’s confidence. I suggested to Julian that I should do something similar.” He looked at Olivia. “Then what?”
“This is the tricky part,” Olivia said. “You need to find out what Percival plans to do next.”
“I can do that,” Aragon said. “And not by asking, but by listening. You’d be surprised what you can pick up if you keep your mouth shut and everyone thinks you’re a dullard.”
“We don’t think that about you.” Carenza held his gaze. “It would be good to know exactly whom Percival is conspiring with and whether he’s been having Julian followed.”
“Followed?” Aragon frowned. “Devil take it, that’s not nice.”
“It’s the only way Percival could’ve known about Julian’s visits to the Cartwrights and Mrs. Mountjoy.”
“And to the Wheatsheaf,” Olivia added. “I’m particularly interested in how well Percival knows a Mr. Calloway and what particular interests they share.”
“Calloway isn’t the sort of man who anyone should befriend,” Aragon said severely. “He’s a disgrace to his family.” He paused. “Why would he be after Julian?”
Olivia said, “He saw your brother at the Wheatsheaf Inn when the lady who placed an advertisement for a lover was holding her interviews.”
There was a long silence as Aragon regarded them rather incredulously.
“I can quite imagine Calloway being there, but my brother? He hardly needs to answer an advertisement for a woman, they fling themselves at him constantly.”
Carenza went to speak, but Olivia got in ahead of her. “That was my fault. I placed the advertisement as a joke, and poor Mr. Laurent was attempting to defend my honor.”
“Ah, I see.” Aragon looked at Olivia. “No need for you to advertise, either, ma’am. I’d be more than happy to oblige you.”
“That’s very sweet of you, sir, but I have recently decided to embrace my widowhood and concentrate on good works.”
Carenza rolled her eyes, and even Aragon didn’t look quite convinced. He cleared his throat. “To summarize, you wish me to become Walcott’s confidant and to find out his plans and whom he’s associating with, yes?”
“Exactly.” Olivia nodded. “We have complete faith in you.”
“More than my brother does,” Aragon grumbled good-naturedly.
“I appreciate the vote of confidence.” He stood up.
“In truth, I’ve already made a start on gaining his trust. Walcott’s usually at our club at this time of day.
I’ll attempt to involve him in a conversation and see how willing he is to accept me as an ally.
And don’t worry, I won’t mention any of this to Julian or my mother. I’ll report back to one of you.”
He went out, leaving Olivia and Carenza staring at each other.
“I hope we haven’t made a terrible mistake,” Olivia said.
“I don’t think so,” Carenza replied. “Would you care for some tea, or do you have other errands to run? Allegra should be back for luncheon. She’s at the modiste’s getting a new gown for the charity ball.”
Olivia took a deep breath. “Allegra wrote me a note asking me not to come today.”
“I have no idea why.” Carenza walked over to the bell and rang it, her back to Olivia.
“She said she’d told you about Hector.”
Carenza wished she didn’t have to turn around, but she knew it was important that she did. “Yes.”
Olivia swallowed hard. “I know you won’t believe me, but I didn’t mean for it to happen.”
“You had a prearranged assignation with my husband at a house party where you knew morals were lax, and you’re suggesting it all happened by accident?”
Olivia raised her chin. “I did agree to meet him, yes, but I didn’t want things to go as far as they did. I also expected you to be there.”
“To prevent you both from indulging in adultery? Surely you know that Hector was quite capable of fucking another woman in the bed I was supposed to share with him at such events?”
Olivia winced. “I didn’t—”
“And were you aware of the reason I didn’t accompany him?”
“He … said that you were indisposed.”
“I suppose it didn’t occur to you to wonder why I was so conveniently absent?”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
Carenza held her gaze. “Hector was so desperate for me to not accompany him that he ordered me to stay home. When I protested, he hit me so hard I fell down the stairs, which caused me to miscarry our child.”
All the color drained from Olivia’s face. “He … couldn’t have known.”
“You’re defending him? He knew he’d hurt me, Olivia. He had to step over me to get to his waiting carriage and scolded me for being in the way. But I’m glad you enjoyed bedding him. I hope it was worth it.”
Olivia’s hands clenched into fists. “Firstly, I am a widow, and whom I bed is up to me. The only adulterer was Hector.”
“I’m fully aware that Hector is to blame and that what happened before he arrived at the house party is hardly your fault. What hurt was your disloyalty to me,” Carenza said. “Your friend.”
“As to that, and you may choose to believe me or not”—Olivia’s voice shook—“I thought to expose Hector publicly as the adulterer he was. I thought that when he brought me back to his room you would be there. I intended to cause a really loud scene and finally force you to condemn him in public.”
“Except I wasn’t there.”
“And I misjudged Hector’s strength and intent,” Olivia said. “He had no intention of allowing me to leave without paying the price for my stupid plan.” She shrugged. “I knew how to lie quietly under a man and pretend I wasn’t there, but he still enjoyed hurting me.”
Silence fell as Carenza struggled to understand what Olivia was telling her.
Olivia’s smile was wry. “I don’t expect you to feel sorry for me. I was the fool. I became yet another of Hector’s conquests, and I ruined my friendship with you. I should not have interfered.”
“No, you shouldn’t have,” Carenza said.
Olivia’s face crumpled. “I’m so sorry about the baby.” She turned and ran out of the room.
The butler appeared with the tea tray, looking startled. “Thank you.” Carenza took a deep breath. “Mrs. Sheraton had to leave rather suddenly.”
“Do you still wish to have the tea, my lady? Cook is already preparing lunch.”
“Yes, please, but could you also bring me a small glass of brandy?”
Jones, who had known her since she was a child, gave her a concerned look. “Is everything all right, my lady?”
“Everything is fine.” She summoned a smile. “Please don’t tell my father that I’ve taken to drink.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it, my lady.” He bowed. “I’ll fetch your brandy.”
Carenza realized how badly she was shaking only when she tried to pour the tea and spilled it all over the tray. A moment later, Jones returned with the brandy and left. She swallowed it quickly, hoping it would calm her nerves enough to allow her to go over her conversation with Olivia again.
“Carenza?” Allegra came in, her expression concerned. “I saw Olivia leaving the house in tears. She wouldn’t even speak to me. Is everything all right?”
After Carenza explained what had happened between herself and Olivia, Allegra sat carefully on the sofa, looking stunned. “Good Lord. I could murder Hector for all the hurt he’s caused.”
“I suspect you’ll have to join a very long queue for that,” Carenza said.
“More to the point, did you believe what Olivia told you?”
“Yes.” Carenza looked at her sister. “She had no reason to lie to me, and it sounds just like something Hector would do.”
“To force someone?” Allegra made a face. “Ugh.”
“I don’t know if my friendship with Olivia will survive this,” Carenza said miserably.
“But isn’t that just what Hector would’ve wanted?” Allegra asked. “He probably encouraged Olivia, because he knew she was your friend.”
“Mayhap she shouldn’t have taken the bait.”
“This is Olivia we’re talking about. She thinks she’s right about everything.
She probably thought she was helping you.
And, let’s be honest, Carenza, she ended up being hurt by Hector as well.
” Allegra set down her cup. “In my opinion, the blame lies completely with Hector. If you can find it in your heart to forgive Olivia, you will deny him the very thing he wanted—to split you apart.”
“I’ll have to think about it,” Carenza countered.
“Quite understandable.” Allegra nodded. “And while you’re thinking, you’ll still have to work with her to stop the gossip about the advertisement and the slurs against Julian. It’s the only thing to do.”
“I am well aware of that,” Carenza said. “But whether Olivia is willing to continue is another matter entirely.”
“Oh, she will,” Allegra said. “She has everything to gain and nothing to lose.”
Julian entered the Wheatsheaf and strode through into the pub. His gaze immediately fixed on the landlord. “Good afternoon, Mr. Cox,” Julian said as he approached the bar.
“Mr. Laurent.” Mr. Cox looked anywhere but at Julian. “I’m afraid I don’t have much time to chat. There’s a coach due in.”
“I’m sure someone can handle it for you,” Julian said easily. “My business won’t wait.”
“Then come through to my parlor.”
Julian followed Mr. Cox into the house next door. A woman he hadn’t seen before was making bread at the kitchen table.
“Good afternoon, ma’am.” Julian took off his hat.
“Don’t mind me, sir,” the woman said. “I’ll keep to my own business.”
“You should probably leave, Betty, love,” Mr. Cox said somewhat nervously. “There’s no need for you to bother your head about my business with Mr. Laurent.”
“I disagree,” Julian said. “Surely Mrs. Cox would like to know you’ve been blackmailing the lady who employs your daughter?”
“What’s that?” Mrs. Cox thumped the dough onto the table and stared at her husband, her floury hands on her hips. “I told you to leave Mrs. Sheraton alone!”
“Unfortunately, Mr. Cox hasn’t heeded your wise counsel, ma’am,” Julian said. “He’s also been attempting to blackmail me simply for helping the two ladies who paid him in good faith for the use of his parlor.”
“Is this true, Reginald? I told you to take care!” Mrs. Cox’s face took on an alarming hue. “You’ll be the one who will suffer, not those toffs!”
Mr. Cox swung around to stare at Julian. “I was going to stop, sir, but that Mr. Calloway told me he’d ruin me if I didn’t persist!”
“Did he?” Julian said. “I don’t suppose he was foolish enough to commit those words to paper?”
“Show him, Reginald,” Mrs. Cox commanded. “Maybe he can help get you out of this mess.”
The look Mr. Cox gave Julian and his wife was full of doubt.
“This one hasn’t threatened to ruin you, has he?” Mrs. Cox said. “He’s a proper gentleman. That Mr. Calloway is just a bad man.”
Mr. Cox scurried over to the sideboard and produced a letter. He handed it to Julian, and Julian noted the Calloway seal before reading the letter’s contents.
“May I keep this?” he asked.
Mrs. Cox nodded. “You can do what you like with it if you promise to get my Reggie off the hook.”
“I think I can manage that.” Julian put the letter in his pocket. “Thank you, ma’am.” He turned to Mr. Cox. “I’ll be in touch with you very shortly to confirm that all is well. In the meantime, I’d appreciate it if you kept this meeting to yourself.”
“He will,” Mrs. Cox said grimly as she went back to kneading her dough. “Or he’ll have to answer to me.”
When Julian arrived home, he went straight into Simon’s office, where his secretary was busy with the accounts.
“Good afternoon, sir. You’ve received an invitation to a ball.”
“And…?”
“It’s a charity ball for the Cartwrights and Mrs. Mountjoy.” Simon looked at him. “Were you aware that such an event was in the offing?”
“Who is the invitation from?”
“The Duchess of Grantleigh and her committee, which includes the ladies Carenza and Allegra Musgrove and Mrs. Sheraton.”
“Then accept it,” Julian said. “Do you know which club Calloway’s father belongs to?”
“I believe it’s the same as yours, sir,” Simon said. “I also have his home address if that helps.”
“We’ll try both.” Julian turned on his heel. “Come along. I’d like a witness to my conversation with the earl about his son’s blackmailing attempts.”
“Blackmailing?”
Julian barely heard Simon’s reply as he strode toward the front door. His secretary came after him as he climbed into his carriage and paused only to give the coachman directions before he got in and sat across from his employer.
“Would you care to tell me what’s going on, sir?”
“Oh, you’ll find out soon enough. I have no intention of concealing any of the younger Calloway’s indiscretions from his father.” Julian tapped on the roof with his cane, and the carriage moved off. “In truth, I’m quite looking forward to it.”