Chapter 12
“At his best, man is the noblest of all animals;separated from law and justice he is the worst.”
Aristotle
Gwen paced up and down in the library, doing her best to wear a hole into the wooden boards of the floor. They once had a luxurious Aubusson rug in here, but her father had had it taken away the month before, which was why her footfalls were not dampened by its wool pile.
She was stuck in a strange netherworld. Her new life had not truly begun because she was still residing in her father’s house, which was becoming unrecognizable, piece by piece. When she and Aidan moved into their own residence, surely an improved life would arise?
Stomp, stomp, stomp.
Patter, patter, patter.
Buttercup evidently thought the pacing was some sort of game, chasing along behind Gwen.
But they were not to move for several more weeks, and Gwen needed to find a way to repair her error soon or their marriage would begin poorly. Aidan must be repelled by her na?ve statement, but there had to be something she could do to return them to the state of bliss from the night before.
She walked toward the towering shelves, then turned.
Stomp, stomp, stomp.
Patter, patter, patter.
She headed back toward the spindly library table where she preferred to work. Gwen mused that she did not sound like a spotted giraffe when she walked back and forth. Rather, she was a herd of elephants trampling the undergrowth in her frazzled state.
“Lady Moreland is here.”
She halted so quickly she nearly lost her balance. “What?”
Octavia repeated herself. “Lady Moreland’s here.”
Gwen glared at her, but Octavia just threw up her hands as if to say she had no more information to impart—a viscountess had come to call and Octavia could do naught to change it.
Huffing, Gwen considered the news. Truthfully, she had nothing useful to do but worry over where Aidan was. How could she mend matters between them, while waiting for the time when they would leave to start their new life together?
Perhaps a distracting visit was just the thing to occupy her agitated thoughts. Perhaps Lady Moreland might provide some insight that would assist Gwen in understanding Aidan better. Perhaps she had no choice but to receive her new mother-in-law, so why was she still standing about considering her lack of options?
“Where is she?”
Octavia scowled, as if talking to a fool. “In the drawing room, of course.”
“Bring a tea tray?”
The servant nodded. “Come, Buttercup.” She patted her leg to encourage the dog to walk with her, the two of them sweeping out of sight.
Gwen drew a fortifying breath, smoothed her hair and then her gown, and when she was certain she was not a sight, she left the library. Out in the hall, she stopped in front of a gilt-framed mirror, one of the few left in their home, to verify she was put together, then headed into the drawing room.
Lady Moreland was standing by the fireplace, evidently lost in thought. Her mother-in-law was an astute dresser, wearing fashionable colors that suited her complexion and coloring to perfection. Saffron, Egyptian Brown, Carmelite … all perfectly matched to an impeccable woman of fashion.
The older woman had been confident and composed in all their earlier encounters, but she seemed to be woolgathering at that moment.
“Lady Moreland?”
Aidan’s mother started, then turned to Gwen. A smile spread over her handsome face. “Gwen, please. Call me Mama Abbott. We are family, dear.”
“I have a tea tray coming, Mama Abbott.”
“Then I suppose we shall sit and talk.”
Gwen smiled politely, not sure what she was doing here, but she moved to take a seat across from her.
“I am not sure what I am doing here.”
Gwen blinked. It was like having her thoughts pulled out of her head. She waited.
“Lord Moreland and I are leaving London, and I have been thinking about you and Aidan.”
Gwen nodded in acknowledgment. She was aware that Aidan’s parents were headed to their country seat now that the wedding was a fait accompli.
“Perhaps when I return to London, you will have good news for me.” Lady Moreland gestured to her belly. Gwen felt the heat of a blush spreading over her face.
“It is just that since Lily’s attack, I feel that my family is keeping secrets from me and I cannot stop thinking about what the future might bring.”
Gwen straightened, certain she had misheard her mother-in-law.
“Lily’s attack?”
Lady Moreland had been staring down at her hands as she spoke, smoothing her skirts in a distracted manner. She raised her head at Gwen’s question. “Last month. Lily was attacked by one of the footmen after she discovered his involvement in the baron’s murder.”
Gwen surreptitiously pinched herself on the leg. Just to be certain that she was awake, and this was not some strange bad dream. The creeping suspicion that she was asleep was a common manifestation since her first meeting with Aidan, it would seem.
“The baron’s murder …” Gwen sifted through her memories. “You mean the late Lord Filminster, who was found dead last month?”
Lady Moreland nodded. “That is correct. One of the footmen was hired by the killer, and Lily figured it out, so he attacked her. If it were not for the butler, she could have been killed.”
Gwen gasped. “I have heard nothing of it.”
Her mother-in-law dabbed at her eyes with her forefinger. “It was all rather shocking, but only the family knows of it. It is only right you be aware because you are family now, dear.”
Gwen nodded in awe. “Thank you.”
“It is a frightening prospect, to think of losing a child. I find myself thinking of you this morning. I wanted to assure myself … that you would take care of my boy. He has carried such a burden of guilt since Lily was ruined. He feels he should have been with her that night, you see.”
Gwen did not see. She had no clue what her mother-in-law was speaking of. Aidan was burdened with guilt over Lily’s ruin? Was that why he had offered to marry Gwen when they had been discovered together on the terrace?
“Which night?”
“The night of the coronation, when Lord Filminster was murdered. Lily stepped forward as an alibi to Brendan Ridley, stating she had spent the night with him. She did not, of course. Lily is a young lady and would never do such a thing, but she said it because Ridley’s paramour would not come forward. Lily ruined herself to prevent his arrest.”
Gwen’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. What bizarre intrigue was this?
She had been vaguely aware of the murder, and the ensuing scandal with Lily and her husband when Lily had informed the coroner that she and the new Lord Filminster had spent the night together. Apparently, that had been a lie.
Did that mean that Lily’s husband, Gwen’s new brother-in-law, could have murdered his father?
But no, Lady Moreland had implied that there had been a legitimate alibi who would not risk her reputation, so Lily had taken it upon herself to step forward. Gwen took a moment to marvel at the young woman’s courage.
What, if anything, did that have to do with her and Aidan?
“It is very odd that Aidan managed to ruin a woman so soon after Lily’s scandal. I am still at a loss why this happened to both my children. Do you think I raised them correctly?”
Lady Moreland was staring at her with brimming eyes. Eyes that reminded her of Aidan. Gwen’s heart twinged in sympathy to see her mother-in-law so troubled. “Of course! Aidan is a perfect gentleman. What happened between us was an aberration. We were overcome by the majesty of the moon, and such exquisite poetry … so now we are married. He did right by me.”
“I am glad it is you, my dear. You seem resilient. Intelligent. You are a good match for my boy. When I first learned of this, I did not know what to think, but after meeting you, my mind has been at ease. At least … regarding your suitability for my scholarly son.”
Musing over the revelations, Gwen stood to move around the table and place herself on the settee next to Lady Moreland. “Lily and Aidan are honorable people. Lily stepped forward to help Lord Filminster, and Aidan did not hesitate in offering for me. Your children are a credit to you, La—Mama Abbott. You raised them to stand by what they know in their hearts to be right, and they did so. The fact that their scandals were so close in time is … a coincidence.”
“You think so?”
“I do.”
It was not altogether true. Gwen wondered if Aidan’s proposal was because he did not want to see a young woman ruined as Lily had been. Perhaps his resolve to marry her had not been so much about their mutual attraction, but merely his conscience driving his actions. He certainly was in a strange and distant mood now that their wedding night was over.
Yet … their wedding night had been sublime. Something from a gothic novel or a poem by Lord Byron. Surely he must entertain feelings for her if he could spend so many hours in her company? It had been like they were marooned on a remote island, the only people left in the world. The way he had spoken to her had implied a deep regard.
One thing was certain. There were secrets to Aidan that he was not disclosing. His sister had been engaged in a scandal just a few weeks earlier, and this was the first she knew that he had blamed himself for what had happened.
And one more thing was certain. Gwen had been so absorbed by her own issues, her own needs and wants, that it had not struck her to think what Aidan might need.
Learning he was shouldering guilt over his sister made her realize her own selfishness over the past two weeks. What of her husband’s needs?
He had stepped in to save her from scandal when he could have walked away. His family had been generous in negotiating financial terms because her father did not have the funds for a large dowry.
Instead of moping around, she needed to forge a true connection with Aidan. To become his partner and assist him with his burdens. They were to traverse life together, so she must stop feeling sorry for herself and demand her place at his side.
“You are a good girl, Gwen. My son and my future grandchildren are fortunate to have a woman like you to steer their lives.”
Gwen was touched. When she first met Lady Moreland, she had thought the viscountess would be like the other mamas of the ton, dismissive of Gwen and her appearance. But from their first meeting, she had been warm and welcoming, embarrassing her and Aidan with talk of babes.
“You are a good mama, Mama Abbott. Watching over your children.”
Lady Moreland sighed. “I do wish they would not keep secrets from me. They think I cannot handle the truth, and I confess it has been a trying time, especially after Sophia’s troubles last year. I will allow them their privacy for now, but it does not prevent me from visiting you to secure your promise that you will take care of Aidan while we are gone from Town. He is a true gentleman, but he needs you. He attempts to carry his burdens without assistance, but do not allow him to do so.”
Gwen took hold of Lady Moreland’s hand and squeezed. “I promise to assist him.”
Lady Moreland nodded. “Then I shall leave you to it. I hope to hear news of a prospective grandchild soon.”
Gwen smiled, not precisely sure what came next, but determined to figure it out somehow. She must convince Aidan to talk to her about his problems.
Reaching Ridley House,Aidan discovered it was in chaos. Servants were rushing about with trunks, and Michaels only nodded toward the drawing room at the top of the stairs before striding off to address some unnamed household emergency.
A terror in his chest propelled Aidan up two steps at a time to race into the room where he found his sister and Filminster in an embrace.
“Lily!”
Her elfin face rose from her husband’s chest to peek at him. “Aidan, please do not panic.”
The terror he was feeling only grew. “What is happening?”
Filminster dropped his arms and stepped back. “We had another attempt to breach Ridley House.”
“Your letter informed me of that. Why are the servants packing?”
Lily fluttered her eyes, walking away to stand at a window facing the street. “We have determined it is too dangerous to remain in residence. I … went into the library this morning to fetch a book before breakfast. It was still rather dark. I was in there for several minutes before I realized that there was a draught in the room. When I looked over to the window, I saw a man climbing in and screamed for help.”
Aidan winced, realizing her voice was hoarse. Lily must have screamed bloody blue murder if it had inflamed her throat so. Unless …
“Did he … hurt you?”
His little sister, his tiny, barely five-foot sister, who had been lifted by her throat by a hefty footman at the beginning of the month, shook her head. “He jumped down and ran off as soon as I started screaming.”
Aidan’s eyes burned as he ran forward and swept her into a hug. “I am so sorry, Lily.”
“It is not your fault, Aidan. You must not blame yourself.”
“How can I not?”
She pulled back, staring up at him from a pale face. Lily had experienced far too much danger in a short span of time, and the strain of it was evident. “I am happy. I love Brendan. This is the fault of the madman who killed the baron.”
Aidan swallowed, nodding. “If anything happened to you …”
…it would kill me.
“What happens now? Are you finally leaving for Somerset?”
Lily shook her head. “Briggs still believes that traveling out on the roads will leave us too exposed. Whoever is hiring these men is becoming more brazen.”
Filminster coughed into his hand, clearly reluctant to interrupt. “Lily and I have been invited to stay with the duke and my sister at their London home. They have hired guards so that our servants and the Johns can remain on duty to defend Ridley House.”
For some reason beyond Aidan’s grasp, Filminster referred to the guards as Johns. Lily had told him it was because they were all named John, which he supposed was possible but not likely given how many Filminster had hired.
“Thank God. Lily must be protected at all costs.”
“Agreed.”
Aidan let Lily go, raking a hand through his hair while he tried to think. “Surely at this point, if the killer is becoming so bold, we should report what we know to the authorities? Then he will lose interest in Ridley House if his secret is out.”
His brother-in-law sighed. “I have thought of that. That we could end his interest in us if we simply disclose the matter to the Home Secretary. But the perpetrator still believes that there is a possibility that he can cover this up, and that the baron’s letter has not been found. Which means we can continue to lure him out and eventually catch him. If we report the matter, the killer could vanish to avoid arrest.”
Lily interjected. “I agree. As long as the killer believes the letter is in Ridley House, and that we do not know why the baron was killed, we have a chance to discreetly investigate. If the Home Secretary opens an investigation, it will all be over. The killer would likely make a run for it, and we will never find him if he leaves England. He must be brought to justice. The more desperate he becomes to protect himself, the more mistakes he will make.”
“But what if he suspects that you and Filminster have found the letter?”
She shook her head. “I do not know, but he still believes there is a possibility to maintain his inheritance, so we must act as if that is the case.”
Aidan was impressed with Lily’s resolve and resilience. “When did you become so clever?”
“I am not a girl anymore, Aidan Abbott. While you were away, I grew up. I improved my French and read books on military strategy. Much happened in the past few years.”
It was true. Aidan had returned home to find his cousin married to a notorious rogue, and within weeks his little sister had ruined herself to save Filminster from the gallows. The Abbott women were a force to be reckoned with.
This brought Gwen to mind, along with a wave of heat, as he recalled their activities in bed the night before. Gwen was an intelligent woman with thoughts of her own, but would she prove to be as resilient as Lily if Aidan was forced to bring her father to justice?
“Faugh! This is such a tangled web!”
Lily and Filminster burst into unnerved laughter. Even Aidan managed a chuckle. It was incomprehensible what a farce this entire matter had become.