A Lady Most Lovely (40 page)

She hadn’t trusted him. She’d gone to Spencer and ruined Tom’s carefully constructed plan.

“I think she wishes now that she’d been more careful in picking a husband,” Richard said. “When she found out you were trying to sell off her property, she became positively livid.” He laughed. “I don’t envy you, my friend. You won’t have a good time of it when you go home tonight.”

“I don’t suppose you told her you were trying to force me into giving up the land.” Tom knew he was grabbing at straws, but he was desperate to prove Spencer’s guilt. If he could just get Spencer to admit to the extortion, he might still have a chance.

But Spencer was too cagy. “I believe Margaret and I talked about your sister,
Lady Somerville.
” He pronounced Lizzie’s title with relish. “Margaret knows you are awfully attached to your sister, of course. But I don’t think she knows about Lady Somerville’s sordid past. Are you afraid to tell her?”

Tom lunged across the table, grabbing Spencer by the neck as the two of them went crashing to the floor. Spencer’s head hit the floor hard as they landed, leaving him stunned. The table toppled over, slamming Tom in the back before rolling off him, but Tom was unheeding. His self-control had evaporated, and he began throwing punches, wanting only to kill this man. Blind fury propelled him.

Two men grabbed Tom and pulled him to his feet, dragging him away from Spencer. It was the men from the Detective Branch. Field knelt down by Spencer and tried to revive him.

As Spencer came to and looked up at Tom with satisfaction, Tom realized he had played right into his hands. “As I was saying, Poole, I hesitate to enter into contract negotiations with a felon who is about to lose his land to the Crown. Also, as a moral matter, I find the criminal evidence against Lady Somerville to be quite disturbing.”

*

No one was at Mr. Hawthorne’s place of business. When her repeated knocking went unanswered, Margaret decided to walk the short distance to his lodgings. She had to find him.

Mr. Hawthorne’s housekeeper informed her that he was indeed at home, but unable to receive visitors. “He was outside all day yesterday, watching the duke’s funeral procession,” she explained. “It seems he caught a chill after standing for hours in that nasty weather. But the doctor said there is nothing to be alarmed over. Mr. Hawthorne should be up again in a day or two.”

Margaret hated to leave without seeing him, but it appeared she had no choice. There was nothing for Margaret to do now but return to the Somervilles’ house. She would far rather have had Mr. Hawthorne’s advice before confronting Tom, but she would just have to go ahead without it. The joys of yesterday were long gone. Emotions, as she had always known, were fleeting. The only constant in her life seemed to be that she must face her problems alone.

T
om stalked up the steps to the Somerville home, still seething from the disaster. He had been unable to collect evidence of Spencer’s guilt; in fact, Spencer had made it plain that he was going to proceed with all of his threats.

His plans had been ruined because of Margaret’s interference.

Tom fully expected to see her when he walked through the door, and sure enough, she was standing in the front hall. She crossed her arms and glared at him. “We need to talk.”

“Not here.” Tom took her by the arm and led her to the study, slamming the door shut behind them. He was not about to have every servant in the house know their business.

“You were with Richard, weren’t you?” she accused.

“Tell me, why would you be paying a call to a man you hate so much?”

She bristled. “I wanted answers. You would not give them to me.”

“I asked you to trust me, Maggie.”

“Trust you!” she scoffed. “Why should I, when you are conspiring with my enemy to separate me from my land?”

Tom knew he ought to let it go, not try to justify himself. The more she hated him, the easier this would be. Even so, her single-minded focus, knowing she cared about her land more than him, still stung. “It’s always about your land, isn’t it? You don’t care about anything—or anyone—else. Well, then, let me ease your mind. I have, in fact, been working very hard to keep the land
out
of Spencer’s hands.”

Surprise—and uncertainty—shot across her face. “What do you mean?”

“Do you remember at our wedding—” He felt physical pain just bringing that day to mind. It seemed no easier for Margaret; he saw her flinch visibly. He forced himself to continue. “Do you remember what I said when we first noticed Spencer?”

She thought for a moment. “You said we’d be seeing more of him.”

“Yes. And that is because Spencer knows something about my past. Something he has been holding over my head.”

“Do you mean to say he’s been blackmailing you? What have you done, that he has such a hold over you?” He couldn’t tell whom her anger was directed at.

“Dueling, attempted murder, manslaughter.” He forced himself to say the words. Yesterday she had said she loved him. Today she must be thinking she had married a monster. She must be thinking only that she had given herself to him, and he had betrayed her. He steeled
himself against the pain brought on by this realization. “Margaret, you must listen to me. Very soon, the courts may bring me up on one or more of these charges. If I’m convicted, my goods and money may be forfeited to the Crown. Therefore, I have been working on a plan to revert the lands solely to you, along with a generous annuity. Also, I believe we should find a way to end the marriage.”

She stared at him, openmouthed. “You do not wish to be married to me?”

It was, to judge by her face, a painful idea. Tom took some comfort in that. Perhaps she did still harbor love for him. The memory of last night was seared on his heart forever, and he would always cherish it. But it was also the very reason why he had to take these steps now. “Your land will be saved, Margaret, and you will be free to do as you wish. This is your way out, and I advise you to take it. Otherwise, you may find yourself married to a convicted felon.”

She continued to stare at him without moving. “You really want me to go?” She spoke matter-of-factly, but her voice held a note of sadness.

He turned away from her. “Yes.”

There was silence. She was standing there, no doubt weighing his words, making her decision. But he knew, ultimately, what she would do. She was a strong woman. She had wanted to stand on her own. At last she said with a kind of shuddering sigh, “Very well. I am going home.”

He heard her footsteps retreating, the door closing behind her. His heart was breaking, but he told himself he was doing the right thing.

*

Margaret had been expecting bad news ever since she received Mr. Hawthorne’s telegram notifying her he was on his way to Lincolnshire. “What has happened?” she asked as soon as the butler had ushered him into the library. “Has Tom been arrested?” This was her greatest fear.

“No, he hasn’t been arrested. Nor is he likely to be. You may rest easy on that score.” He set down the satchel he’d been carrying and opened the flap. “What I’ve come to talk to you about is the future of Moreton Hall.” He began to pull out a stack of papers.

“Is it in danger, then? Tom said it could be seized by the Crown.”

“Did he not also tell you he’d been taking steps to assure that never happened?”

“Well, yes, but…” So much about their last encounter was a blur to her now. There had been anger and hurt and recrimination on both sides. Tom had told her that their separation was the only way to assure the safety of her lands, and so she’d gone. But she’d been plagued with doubts and worry ever since.

Hawthorne laid out the papers on the desk. “Mr. Poole wishes to transfer complete ownership and control of Moreton Hall back to you. He will relinquish any and all claims. These documents will begin the process, although it will take some months to complete it.”

Margaret looked at the papers. Such news ought to thrill her—the land would soon be safe. But whatever she was feeling, it wasn’t joy. “Is he absolutely sure he wants to do this?”

“Oh, yes. Quite adamant. In fact, Mr. Poole first
approached me about this not too long after your wedding.”

“You’ve known all this time, and you haven’t told me? You let me worry that my husband was trying to give away all that I hold dear?”

“I regret that it was necessary to keep you in the dark,” Hawthorne acknowledged. “But we were dealing with a very sensitive matter, and the utmost secrecy was required. As you know, Mr. Spencer’s aim had been to ensure you lose Moreton Hall. He had damaging information about Mr. Poole’s family that he was prepared to capitalize on in order to accomplish that goal.”

“His family?” Margaret repeated in surprise. “I thought it was just Tom who was in trouble.”

“A few years ago, Mr. Poole fought a duel with a Mr. Freddie Hightower. He wished to avenge the honor of his sister, whom Mr. Hightower had seduced. I’m sorry to state it so bluntly, but there it is.”

“You can’t be talking about Lizzie—about Lady Somerville?”

“Sadly, I am. Today her life is above reproach, but she does have what one would call a checkered past. Spencer knew about it and used it to force Mr. Poole to agree to his demands. Mr. Poole was doing all he could to keep this information from becoming public. Unfortunately, we were not able to do so.” Hawthorne pulled a newspaper out of the satchel. “Here is today’s paper, which I brought up with me from London.” He handed it to her. “You may read it for yourself. It isn’t pretty, I’m afraid. It will do serious damage to her reputation and standing in society.”

Margaret had only to glance at the beginning of the
article before her heart went out to Lizzie. “They cannot just brand her as some sort of fallen woman! She’s the most upright woman I know.”

“She and Lord Somerville are both facing it bravely. They know the worst of the effects will lessen with time.”

“But what does this have to do with Moreton Hall?” Margaret asked. “Her scandal alone would not endanger this estate.”

“Mr. Poole found himself under a double vise, as it were. Spencer was going to try any means, whether by law or threats of scandal, to get what he wanted. Mr. Poole has been valiantly acting to protect the two women he cares for most.”

*

“What’s the news?” Lizzie demanded as soon as Tom and Geoffrey entered the room. She was alert and sitting up in her bed, but her face was pale with worry.

She was slowly recovering from the stress of childbirth, but Tom was still troubled by how frail she looked. He knew her fears for him were compounding the problem. After Margaret’s departure, and with the possibility of charges being laid against him, Tom had been forced to tell Lizzie all that he had been keeping from her. He had been reluctant to do so, but there had been no way around it.

Happily, today he had good news.

“It’s all right,” Geoffrey assured her, leaning down to place a kiss on her forehead. “The magistrate is not going to pursue the matter further. Tom has been cleared.”

“Thank God!” Lizzie beamed. “I suppose this means you will be returning soon to Moreton Hall? We will be sorry to lose you, of course. Perhaps you and Margaret
can still join us on Christmas? We might get back to Kent by then, and the Somerville grounds are lovely, even in winter.”

How like Lizzie to automatically assume all problems had been so easily solved. She always did have rather simplistic notions about everything. But it was time to set the record straight, although he knew they would not like what they were about to hear. He had not even told Geoffrey of his plans. He wanted to tell them both at the same time. “I am in fact planning to return to Australia. This was my original plan, after all. I believe I should stick to it.”

As he had expected, this announcement brought looks of alarm from them both. “Has Margaret agreed to this?” Geoffrey asked. “It’s asking quite a lot of her to leave England.”

“I have not spoken to her. I plan to return alone.”

“Tom, you cannot leave without your wife,” Lizzie remonstrated.

Wife
. The very word pained him. “Actually, I was thinking about a divorce.”

“You can’t be serious!” Geoffrey protested. “Aside from the very important moral issues, the legalities are next to impossible. It takes an act of Parliament to approve it.”

“I am well aware of that,” Tom said. “As for the approval—you are in the House of Lords; I thought perhaps you could use your influence.”

“But, Tom,” Geoffrey persisted, “you should be reconciled with your wife. You know that is the Christian thing to do.”

“She has no desire to reconcile with me.”

“Have you asked her?” Lizzie said gently.

Tom didn’t answer. He could not imagine Margaret would want him back after all he had done.

Lizzie gave him a sympathetic smile. “You have spent most of your life trying to solve other people’s problems. I have often been the beneficiary of your efforts, and believe me, I am grateful.”