Love's Harbinger Read online

  Tears stung her eyes, and she blinked them away. The lump in her throat made further words impossible. She clenched her hands into balls in an effort to control her emotions. Delamar stood uncertainly, still hoping to conciliate her.

  “I just wanted to keep you clear when the dirt flies,” he said, not quite truthfully.

  “Have you had Thomas arrested?” she asked. Her voice was flintlike, the only tone possible to her if she was to speak at all.

  “It will happen within the next few hours.”

  “What have you learned?”

  “I know where he’ll be and where he has the money. Elwood isn’t with him. He robbed Elwood as well. Noble behavior, indeed! But then we must remember his origins,” he said sardonically.

  She swallowed down her hot retort. “Where is he?”

  “It doesn’t matter. I know where he is.”

  “You must tell me!”

  “I think not. You’d spoil the story,” he said, and turned to leave the room.

  “Wait! You can’t leave me here!”

  “Can’t?” he asked, and looked at her for a long moment. “I don’t see why not.” He opened the door and said in a loud voice to Mather, “Book her, Officer. I’ll lay charges now.”

  Mather stared at him as though the world had gone mad. “Eh? You mean write it up in my book?”

  “Whatever the normal procedure is, follow it.” He scribbled his name on the sheet, stalked from the roundhouse, hopped into his carriage, and returned to the Royal Bath Hotel. Faith’s insults rang in his ears, raising his anger to such heights that he didn’t regret his rash acts for several blocks. Accusing him of exploiting his betters and wallowing in a pig sty was bad enough, but it was the slur on his journalistic integrity that cut the deepest. To accuse him of setting Thomas up for the sake of a story was unforgivable. He was tempted to print the news of her arrest, but discretion hadn’t abandoned him entirely. That was going too far, given the circumstances.

  He should go back now and have Mather free her, but she might find her way to Thomas and undo his work. She still loved Thomas, that was obvious. But for one wild, unbelievable moment it tasted like she loved him. There was passion lurking there—why couldn’t there be any common sense? A blind, foolish girl fascinated by Thomas Vane’s handsome looks—that was what it amounted to. She didn’t know, or care, a thing about his character. Yet she had said she had admired him before . . . He had begun to wedge his way into her affections, but it was hopeless now. He’d take a constable to the flats on Poole Hill Road and arrest Lord Thomas Vane. At least Eddie and Buck would get their money back—and the others, too, of course. Lady Lynne would recover her five thousand guineas. Perhaps Lady Lynne would put in a good word for him with Faith

  He shook himself back to reality when he realized what he was thinking. He never gave up: that was his strength, and his weakness. He always assessed his tools and talents, then determined how to do the job that needed doing. It had served him well in war, but in love . . . Why not? All’s fair in love and war. He could . . . No, some courses were too much for civilians. It would be unfair to take the money from the flat and plant it on Elwood, to say Thomas had only gone after him to recover the funds.

  Besides, it would leave Lord Thomas smelling of roses and free to return to Faith. Recover the money and let Thomas go free? It would give Eddie and Buck and the others their money back, but it would rob him of his journalistic coup. And it would still not publicly disgrace Thomas. The wedding might still go forth.

  He had to make Faith realize that Thomas was a bounder and a thief and that he himself was not so low as she thought. He wasn’t just after the story at any cost. What if he captured Thomas and the money privately without bringing in the police? She and Thomas would be spared public disgrace, but it would be acknowledged privately that Thomas was slime. Surely she wouldn’t marry him after that. She couldn’t be that madly in love. What would Thomas do then? Enough people would know the truth so that he couldn’t return to society. Lady Lynne, for instance, wouldn’t keep her tongue between her teeth forever. He’d disappear to America or France or wherever he felt the life would suit him. A pity to turn him loose on some other society, but the world contained many such creatures and folks must constantly be on their guard.

  That was it, then. He’d capture Thomas and send him packing. Once he was gone, he’d try to repair the damage done between Faith and himself. Elwood’s freedom was thrown in as an afterthought. He could hardly arrest the man when he wasn’t the one who ran off with the money, even if he’d intended to do so.

  Guy went to his room and took a pistol from his valise. As he was leaving the hotel, he met Millie and Tessie loitering in the street. They eagerly pointed out that Mr. Elwood was hanging around the promenade.

  “That guy up on the balcony waved a hanky at him when you went in,” Millie added. “A signal for him to follow you, likely.”

  “That’s just what I don’t need. Tessie, you get into my rig. Quick, before he sees who enters. Keep your head clear of the window. Better yet, tuck your hair up under this,” he said, and handed her his hat. “Have my groom drive you around for a couple of hours—out in the country, I think. That will draw Elwood off. Lead Elwood back here later. I’ll want a word with him.”

  “What do I do?” Millie asked eagerly.

  “Stay here and keep an eye on Lady Lynne. Has she left her room?”

  “She might’ve done that, but she didn’t leave the hotel. They put me and Tessie out long ago.”

  “Do you think you could stop her if she came out?”

  “I don’t know that I could, not in broad daylight,” Millie opined. “Unless I bashed her over the head and hog-tied her.”

  He gave a rueful laugh. “That won’t be necessary. Tell her—no, don’t bother. If she goes anywhere, it will be to the roundhouse. She can’t do much damage there except to Mather.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’ve found out where Vane has the blunt. He won’t leave without it. I’ll be waiting for him.”

  “How did you find out?” Millie asked.

  “Your employer and a girl called Belle told me.”

  “That Belle is a moonling, I swear.”

  “Yes, but Maggie is sharp as a razor. She’s the one who figured it out.”

  He waited till his carriage, with Tessie wearing his hat, had driven off at a fast clip heading west on the Bath Road. In a few minutes, Mr. Elwood’s rig followed it. Guy hailed a passing hackney and directed the driver to Poole Road.

  In her chamber, Lady Lynne’s patience had come to an end. She had given up hanging around the lobby an hour ago. What was the point? Guy would come to her when he returned. What could possibly be taking Mr. Elwood two hours to fetch Faith home? Either the man was incompetent or he was running some new rig. There was nothing for it but to go after the chit herself. And she didn’t even have her carriage. She’d have to go in a hired cab.

  Before leaving the hotel, she sent a boy up to Mr. Elwood’s room with a note on the off chance that he was there. She was told that Mr. Elwood had not taken occupation of his chamber yet. This gave rise to a hope that he had spotted Guy and followed him. That would account for his tardiness in not fetching Faith. It restored her humor somewhat as she was jostled along the busy street to the roundhouse.

  Millie watched uncertainly as Lady Lynne left, then decided she’d best hop into a hackney and follow her to be certain she went where Guy said she would. And on top of it all, it was getting late. She and Tessie needed to be back at the abbey by six-thirty for work.

  Chapter Eleven

  Officer Mather, already sick with regret at what he had done, was ready to embrace Lady Lynne as a savior when she arrived at his door with fire in her eyes and brimstone in her speech. Devilish though she looked, to him she was an angel of mercy. If only he could propitiate her, he might squeak through this imbroglio with his skin intact.

  She cast one withering glance at his ignob
le premises and demanded, “Who is in charge of this hovel?”

  Mather stepped forward manfully. “I have the honor, madam. That is—I—me. I am responsible. I did it, but it’s all Delamar’s fault, I swear an affeydavey.”

  Though truculent, Lady Lynne was by no means sure of success in her endeavor. She was more relieved than propitiated by Mather’s manner, the word fault in particular encouraged her. “Where is Lady Faith Mordain?”

  “She wouldn’t have a solicitor. I offered to get her one myself.”

  “Bring her out,” Lady Lynne commanded.

  “That I will. Not to say that she’ll come—an uncommonly determined young lady, if I may be so bold.”

  “No, you may not. What charge is laid against her?”

  “It’s the watch, you see. The one she stole—took—borrowed—er, has that belongs to Mr. Delamar. He’s the one laid the charge against her.”

  “What, Lady Faith has Delamar’s watch?” she asked in confusion. “Where the deuce did she get it?”

  “From his pocket, he says. He insisted I arrest her.”

  “You’re an idiot. You have certainly misunderstood Mr. Delamar’s instructions. Why, the two of them are close as inkle weavers.”

  “More like Punch and Judy, it sounded like to me.”

  The matter became more confusing by the moment. “Has Delamar been here? Has he been talking to her?”

  “You might call it talking. A shouting and screaming match is what it was. Aye, and a blow or two exchanged as well, it sounded like. He stormed out of here madder than when he come in. ‘Book her,’ he says. Book her I did.”

  “Then you must unbook her immediately and expunge her name from your list of felons. I will not have my niece’s name listed in a book with thieves.”

  “Do you have a solicitor at all?” Mather inquired doubtfully. He liked to be told what to do by persons with some authority. A lady was intimidating, but she made a poor witness in court.

  “Unlock that door this instant or I shall bring a magistrate down on your head, you stupid little man.”

  It was a hard decision. Prisoners were not allowed to walk free, but this prisoner was patently innocent and, worse, a lady. “If you’d care to deposit bail . . .” he suggested.

  “How much?”

  “A shilling,” he said, to ensure acceptance.

  Lady Lynne tossed a shilling at his feet, and he scampered forward to unlock the door. Faith had overheard every word and stood ready to leave.

  She directed a stem look at Mather and said, “You have not heard the last of this, sir.”

  His shoulders fell, and he muttered to himself, “Don’t I know it.”

  He watched as the ladies went to their carriage and were driven away. He wondered what that saucy piece of a Millie was doing, following them. Guy was running one of his rigs certainly, and he was glad he was out of it. Then he pocketed his shilling and went to vent his ill humor on his other felons.

  Lady Lynne’s manner became more friendly when the ladies were alone. “Poor girl,” she said, taking Faith’s hand to comfort her. “Are you able to tell me how a simple trip to a few hotels to look for Thomas landed you in jail?”

  At the first word of sympathy, tears oozed out of Faith’s eyes and she collapsed on her aunt’s shoulder. In bits and pieces, the story came out, very jumbled and very emotional. “He called me a bounder and says he will print in the Harbinger that I was arrested.”

  “I hope you didn’t take that sitting down!”

  “Oh, no! I called him worse. I don’t know what all I said,” she replied, but remembered a few of her choicer insults, every one of which brought forth another tear or hiccough.

  “I really do not understand Guy,” the aunt admitted. “He has a very odd kick in his gallop. Why would he subject you to such an indignity? I hope—Faith, I hope you did not steal his watch!”

  “He put it in my reticule himself. He was angry because I caught him with Millie in the lobby.”

  “I daresay it has something to do with Thomas, if the truth were known,” Lady Lynne said. “He was upset, no doubt, about that little wild-goose chase I sent him on. He was afraid you’d find Thomas and warn him. We must get busy . . .”

  Faith turned a startled face to her aunt. “Delamar has already found him. Did I not I tell you?”

  “Found him! You never mean it! Why didn’t you tell me! Where is he?”

  Faith explained what she had learned, and her aunt filled her in on the strange appearance and disappearance of Mr. Elwood. As they talked, Lady Lynne noticed that concern for Thomas had taken second place to vexation with Guy Delamar. What a troublesome gel Faith was turning out to be. Bringing Emily and her viscount to terms had been a holiday compared to handling this chit.

  Faith noticed that the carriage was returning to the hotel. “What should we do now?” she asked.

  “I don’t know about you, but I intend to have a stroll in the Pleasure Gardens. This whole matter has gone beyond my grasp. No matter. Guy will certainly get my money back, but I cannot help regretting that Thomas must be exposed and your skirts splattered with the filth as well. Pity.”

  Faith drew a deep sigh. “As much as I despise Mr. Delamar and everything he stands for, he is at least right about Thomas. He had every advantage. There was no excuse for him to do what he did. Stealing from innocent people, and people who needed their bit of money, too.”

  “It is kind of you to worry about me,” Lady Lynne said.

  Faith blinked at such colossal insensitivity. “You, of course, Auntie, and others who are much worse off. Some friends of Mr. Delamar put all they had into the fund. That is why he is so determined to catch Thomas. I begin to regret some of the harsh things I said to him. My temper, alas!’’

  Faith had no more temper than a teapot. Her coolness was considered her greatest virtue, but at that moment the carriage reached the hotel and Lady Lynne was thinking of something else.

  “Who is in that hackney behind us, Faith? I swear it followed me when I left; it was at the roundhouse, and now here it is, still on our heels. Good God, it couldn’t be Thomas, seeking our help!”

  The look in Faith’s eyes had nothing of hope or joy in it. Fear and anger were more like it. The ladies entered the hotel, taking peeps over their shoulders to see who followed them.

  “That’s Millie, the lightskirt who was at the dock with Guy this morning,” Lady Lynne exclaimed. “He was hiring her to help him find Thomas and not to warm his bed as we thought. There’s something havey-cavey afoot her, Faith. I’ll have a word with her.”

  Faith so far forgot propriety as to accompany her aunt back out to the street to accost Millie. The wench ran back to the carriage when she saw what was happening, but she was no match for Lady Lynne. The dame let out a bellow that would have deafened a sergeant major, and a very reluctant Millie came forward.

  “Why are you following us?” Lady Lynne asked imperiously.

  “To see where you were going, mum.”

  “Brilliant. Did Delamar put you up to it?”

  “Oh, no, mum!”

  The dame got a tight grip on the girl’s elbow and entered the carriage with her, for she had no desire to be seen on the street in such low company. Faith followed them in. “Now see here, miss, I didn’t come down in the last rain. I recognize the fine hand of Delamar at work here, and you’ll sit in this rig till you tell me what you know.”

  “I don’t know nothing. I’ve got to go to work.”

  “Not one step till you open your budget. And if you don’t, I’ll have you delivered promptly to the roundhouse.”

  Millie cast a sly smile at Faith. “I wager there’s a cell free right about now.”

  Lady Lynne’s eyes narrowed and she turned to her niece. “She’s in on the whole affair, you see.”

  “She was with Guy when he put his watch in my reticule,” Faith pointed out.

  “Aha! Collusion in a fraud! Direct the driver to the roundhouse, Faith.”

/>   “I’ve got to go to work!” Millie howled.

  “Your regular line of work is also against the law, if you don’t know it already,” Lady Lynne added in her most threatening voice.

  Millie shook her head in resignation. “Well, if you two ain’t a pair of sapskulls. You’d think you’d be happy to set back and let Guy look after you. He’s only trying to get your money back, milady,” she said to the elder. Then she turned a pair of dancing black eyes on the younger. “And he was afraid you’d whiddle the whole scrap to that Lord Thomas. Why you think the world of a common thief when you could have Guy Delamar is above and beyond me.”

  This reasoning had the marvelous effect of conciliating the ladies, but it still didn’t quite satisfy their curiosity.

  “But where is Delamar?” Lady Lynne asked. “We are only trying to help him. Lord Thomas is a wicked fellow with a pistol. He will certainly have a pistol. If he shoots Delamar, it will be on your head.”

  “Oh, my God!” Faith gasped. “You’re right! Thomas will have a pistol! And if he’s already stolen, who is to say he won’t kill as well?”

  ‘‘Belle did say he was mean when he was in his cups,” Millie said.

  “Belle who?” Lady Lynne asked.

  “The girl he . . . At the Cranborne Arms, where I work,” she said vaguely.

  “The lightskirt he was with, is that it?”

  It didn’t hurt Faith at all to hear in so many words that Thomas was carrying on with the muslin company. Fear for Guy’s safety overrode it. “Auntie, we’ve got to warn Guy,” she said.

  They both turned to Millie. “Where is he, Millie?” Faith asked. Her voice wasn’t hard or demanding or arrogant, but something in her face commanded an answer.

  “I don’t know. Maggie—that’s our madame—figured out where Thomas had the blunt. Guy said he’d be back for it before he hopped the ship and he’d be there waiting for him, but Guy didn’t say where it was.”

  “Then we’ll have to talk to Maggie,” Faith said calmly.

  “You can’t go there!” Millie said, deeply shocked.

  “Please direct the driver to the Cranborne Arms and tell him to spring the horses,” Faith directed.