Chapter 16
Tristan adjusted the glove on one hand as he made his way toward the club.
He was decidedly not in good humor. The previous evening, once Georgiana had retired to her chamber after they had returned to the townhouse, he and Helena had spoken briefly of their growing concerns regarding Lord Ravenscroft's intentions.
Beatrice had joined the discussion and readily agreed that, given the baron's past conduct toward Helena, she could not look favorably upon the prospect of a match between him and Georgiana.
His mood had only worsened that morning. While he and Helena had been meeting in his study after breakfast, a lavish arrangement of flowers had arrived from Lord Ravenscroft for Georgiana.
The gesture had done little to reassure him, and he was unsure of how to proceed. Coupled with the anonymous notes that remained unresolved, it left him with the uncomfortable sense that too many matters lay beyond his influence, and he disliked the feeling intensely.
The club soon came into view. Its stately Portland stone fa?ade overlooked the street with understated grandeur, the classical entrance as familiar to London's aristocracy as the House of Lords itself.
Admission was reserved for gentlemen of rank and standing, and within its drawing rooms and card rooms, the affairs of Parliament, the fortunes of great estates, and the latest society gossip were debated as readily as the outcome of a game of Whist.
To Tristan's surprise, Nathaniel was approaching from the opposite end of the pavement.
They had agreed to meet at the club, but the fact that Nathaniel was on time had Tristan raising his eyebrows.
They reached the entrance at nearly the same moment, and after exchanging greetings, climbed the broad stone steps together.
Nathaniel cast him a sidelong glance. "You do not appear to be in good spirits."
"I am not," Tristan admitted, his tone carrying more irritation than was customary. He opened the door and gestured for Nathaniel to enter beside him. "Come. I find myself in need of your counsel."
A liveried porter relieved Tristan of his hat, gloves, and cane as he entered, while another servant accepted Nathaniel's hat and coat.
The familiar murmur of conversation drifted through the entrance hall, accompanied by the rustle of newspapers and the occasional clink of china from the tearoom.
Several gentlemen acknowledged Tristan with polite nods of the head, but he was in no humor to pause for conversation.
He led Nathaniel beyond the principal rooms to a smaller parlor overlooking the terrace, where only one gentleman sat absorbed in the morning paper.
Satisfied they would not be disturbed, Tristan selected a pair of armchairs near the open French doors.
Beyond them, the terrace looked over the club's garden, where a handful of members had chosen to enjoy the fine weather rather than remain indoors.
A servant appeared almost immediately. "Coffee, My Lord?"
"Yes, thank you." Tristan glanced toward Nathaniel.
"The same for me."
The servant bowed and withdrew.
Nathaniel waited until the door had closed behind him before turning back to Tristan. "Now then," he said. "What has put you in such a temper?"
"Georgiana and Lord Ravenscroft," Tristan muttered.
"Separate irritations, or one and the same?" Nathaniel asked.
Tristan reclined in his armchair, resting one ankle upon the opposite knee, and released a breath.
"I owe you an apology." He made a conscious effort to release the strain from his expression.
"I am in ill humor, yet I asked you here for your counsel.
Scowling at you and offering nothing but curt replies is hardly likely to encourage it. "
Nathaniel gave a faint smile but said nothing.
"It appears Lord Ravenscroft has developed an interest in Georgiana," Tristan continued, "and has been remarkably successful in persuading her to return it. At Lady Norwood's card party last evening, he stood up with her for two dances before asking my permission to call upon her."
Nathaniel's brows rose, though the look that followed carried more displeasure than surprise. "I take it you do not approve, which is both understandable and advisable, given his conduct toward Helena. Still, you are head of the family. You need only refuse."
"Indeed, I need only refuse," Tristan agreed.
"The difficulty is that Lord Ravenscroft has concealed his intentions with considerable skill.
Looking back, I suspect he waited until he believed he had secured Georgiana's affections before approaching me.
I had observed them together during a walk along the promenade, and she has received rather more letters than usual since Helena and I married. "
A servant entered a minute later carrying a silver tray upon which rested a polished coffee pot, two porcelain cups and saucers, a jug of cream, and a small bowl of sugar. He poured a cup for each gentleman before withdrawing as quietly as he had entered.
Tristan continued. "My concern with forbidding the match outright lies with Georgiana herself.
She is affectionate, generous, and unfailingly kind, but beneath all that she possesses a remarkably stubborn disposition.
I saw it often enough as we were growing up.
Once she has convinced herself she is right, she would sooner endure the consequences than admit she has erred. "
Nathaniel listened without interruption.
"She has always looked upon me as her brother before anything else," Tristan said. "If I simply forbid the match, and Lord Ravenscroft were to propose an elopement..." He shook his head. "I fear she might accept."
Nathaniel was silent for a moment, his gaze drifting toward the terrace beyond the open doors. "Even so," he said at last, "if the rumors concerning the baron's finances are true, would he truly risk an elopement? He would forfeit Georgiana's dowry."
"I am not convinced he would lose it entirely." Tristan sighed. "We both know I could never leave Georgiana destitute. Whatever the circumstances of her marriage, I should see her provided for." His expression darkened. "I suspect Lord Ravenscroft knows that as well."
"Georgiana seems to have formed quite an attachment to Helena. Could Helena not speak with her? Encourage her to look elsewhere? Warn her against Lord Ravenscroft?" Nathaniel suggested.
"I believe that might once have succeeded, but over the past week or so Georgiana has become decidedly cooler toward Helena.
" Tristan shook his head. "The more I consider it, the more convinced I am that Lord Ravenscroft has been turning Georgiana against her.
If Helena were to warn her now, I fear Georgiana would dismiss it as jealousy or resentment. "
"He is a calculating man." Nathaniel lifted his cup and took a thoughtful sip.
"There is another matter concerning Helena." Tristan broke the silence that had fallen on them.
Nathaniel's mouth curved into a knowing smile. "You have at last realized you are in love with the lady who is already your wife? I rather suspected as much, after the Harbury Ball. You looked thoroughly captivated."
A laugh escaped Tristan, though it faded almost as quickly as it had come.
"We have been friends for more than half our lives, so I shall be honest with you.
" He met Nathaniel's eye. "I do have feelings for her, but whether she returns them, I cannot say.
But before I concern myself with that, there is another matter that must be resolved. "
He set his empty cup upon the table between them.
"The day we married, I received an anonymous note.
It instructed me to ask Helena about the letters.
I assumed it referred to those she found in Lord Ravenscroft's study, the very letters that ended their engagement, but I could not be sure.
Then a second note arrived, urging me to seek out the nurse who cared for Elinor, if I wished to learn the truth of what Elinor discovered. "
Nathaniel frowned. "That is... peculiar. What has Helena said of it?"
"I have not told her," Tristan admitted with a frown.
Nathaniel stared at him for a moment. "It is unlike you to act so foolishly. Why have you not spoken to her? Whoever wrote those notes clearly wishes to reveal something. If Helena is connected to Elinor, and Elinor to this nurse, surely the obvious course is to ask your wife what she knows."
"I should have spoken to her after receiving the first note," Tristan confessed with a sigh. "Now, if I show her both together, it will appear that I deliberately concealed the first."
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. "You did."
Tristan gave a rueful smile.
Nathaniel continued, "At least do not pretend otherwise. Better an honest coward than a dishonest one."
Another laugh escaped Tristan. "I suppose I have been a coward.
" He leaned back in his chair. "You are right.
I have also been reluctant to pursue the second note and seek out the nurse.
It has been three years since Elinor died...
since I lost so much of my family." His gaze drifted toward the terrace beyond the open doors.
"I have had little desire to reopen that chapter. "
"That is only natural," Nathaniel replied quietly. "But there are too many unanswered questions to leave them unanswered."
"Such as who is sending these notes?" Tristan responded.
"Precisely. Who is writing them? Has Helena received any herself?
What did Elinor discover? And why wait until now to reveal any of it?
" Nathaniel regarded his friend steadily.
"You are frustrated because you have allowed events to dictate your actions instead of taking charge of them.
Since you asked for my counsel, here it is.
" He set down his cup. "Speak to your wife.
Speak to Georgiana. Find the nurse. And stop waiting for matters to resolve themselves. "
Tristan regarded his friend with appreciation. "Indeed. That is precisely what I ought to be doing."
"There are, however, two wise decisions you have made of late," Nathaniel replied.
"First, you have finally admitted to yourself that Helena means rather more to you than you initially cared to acknowledge.
Second, you had the good sense to seek my counsel.
" He smiled. "I cannot decide which required greater courage. "
Tristan laughed, and a grin spread across Nathaniel's face. "How fortunate I am to possess such a modest friend."
Nathaniel lifted his head with exaggerated dignity. "It is one of my finer qualities."
Tristan chuckled again before rising from his chair. "Come. Shall we take a turn through the park before joining my family for afternoon tea?"
"With pleasure," Nathaniel responded.
After leaving the club, the two gentlemen took a leisurely turn through the park, speaking of less pressing matters as they enjoyed the pleasant warmth of the early summer afternoon. They eventually made their way to Blackmere House, where the family would soon gather for afternoon tea.
A footman opened the front door almost as soon as they reached it. Stepping inside, Tristan handed over his hat, gloves, and cane, while another servant relieved Nathaniel of his hat and coat.
Before either gentleman could proceed farther, the butler approached with a silver salver in his hands. "This was delivered during your absence, My Lord."
Tristan accepted the letter, his attention immediately caught by the absence of any direction upon it. There was neither address nor name, only a plain, unmarked seal of wax securing the fold.
"Who brought it?" he asked.
"I cannot say, My Lord. It was not the usual postman, nor was it delivered by any footman or messenger known to the household."
Tristan's gaze remained on the seal for a moment before he exchanged a meaningful glance with Nathaniel.
Nathaniel's expression grew sober. "Another anonymous note?"
Tristan gave a slight nod. "Come," he said quietly to Nathaniel. "Let us go to my study."
Once the study door had closed behind them, Tristan crossed to the pair of armchairs before his desk and took one, while Nathaniel occupied the other.
Without a word, Tristan broke the unmarked seal and unfolded the contents, it was neither a letter nor another cryptic note. Instead, several closely written pages had been copied from what appeared to be a merchant's ledger.
Dates, shipments, destinations, payments received, outstanding sums, and brief remarks filled the neat columns.
Certain entries bore Lord Ravenscroft's name, while others referred only to initials or vessels Tristan did not recognize.
Along the margins, additional notes had been inserted in the same hand as the anonymous messages, drawing attention to mounting debts, overdue payments, and increasingly desperate attempts to secure further funds.
Silently, Tristan passed the papers to Nathaniel, who studied them for several moments, his expression growing steadily more grave.
His eyes traveled once more over the figures. "If these entries are genuine, they are ruinous." He looked up. "They suggest Lord Ravenscroft is financing his way of life through smuggling." His brow furrowed. "And failing at it. These debts are substantial."
"No wonder he seeks a wealthy bride," Tristan said quietly.
Nathaniel nodded. "It appears he owes money to the men supplying these shipments." He tapped one of the columns with a finger before handing it back to Tristan. "If these figures are accurate, I imagine they are not men who appreciate delayed payment."
"Dangerous men," Tristan agreed. He folded the papers, though his thoughts remained fixed upon Georgiana.
After a moment, Nathaniel held out his hand. "May I borrow them?"
Tristan looked up.
"I cannot allow Georgiana to become entangled in something like this if there is truth behind it.
" Nathaniel met his gaze. "While back in London, I have become acquainted with Mr. Markham, one of the Bow Street magistrates.
He is a prudent man, and discreet. If anyone can determine whether these records are authentic, it is he. "
Without hesitation, Tristan handed him the papers. "You would have my gratitude."
Nathaniel accepted them with a nod.
"In the meantime," Tristan continued, "I shall do as you advised. I will speak to Helena... and to Georgiana."
"Then I shall forgo afternoon tea." Nathaniel rose from his chair, slipping the papers carefully inside his coat. "I shall call upon Mr. Markham without delay. If I learn anything, you shall hear from me at once."
Tristan rose with him. "Thank you, Nathaniel."
His friend offered a reassuring smile. "Let us hope we are chasing shadows."
Neither man truly believed it.