Clarisse and Talbot greeted them. “Edward is being fashionably late. He is not here yet,” Clarisse said just above a whisper.
Katherine’s stomach twisted with nerves. If he did not come, it would spoil the affect they were hoping a public admission would have. “What should we do if he does not come?”
Matthew gave her hand a squeeze. “We’ll think of something. We may confront him at his apartments tomorrow. I think I’d prefer a few minutes alone with him anyway.” His expression promised a more physical retribution than planned.
“Lord Leighton and Mr. Drake,” Hampton announced at the door.
Katherine sighed in relief and turned to face her uncle.
Edward greeted the Willinghams then turned to her and Matthew. Bruises from his recently broken nose gave the area around his eyes a yellowish look. He pointedly ignored Matthew and bowed to Katherine. “Greetings, Niece. I am glad you have returned safely from Birmingham.”
She wondered how he could face her so calmly after what he had done to her mother. She had to swallow back the nausea that rose in her throat before she could answer. “We are safe, but I am afraid Summerhaven is not as it was before. Or has Mr. Drake had an opportunity to tell you?”
“Tell me what?” Edward frowned.
“We were attacked by the highwaymen once again, Edward. Summerhaven was set ablaze. The house was nearly burnt to the ground.”
Edward’s jaw went slack with shock. “But—but—” He wheeled about to face Garrett Drake. “Drake did you know of this?” His voice rising in pitch drew the rest of the guests’ attention.
“Yes, Edward. I was in Birmingham staying at the same inn as Captain and Mrs. Hamilton when it happened. I am sorry I did not think to prepare you for the news on the way here.”
Edward’s expression settled into a stilted composure as he tried to gain control of his emotions.
“The house can be rebuilt, Edward,” Matthew said.
“We are hoping the men might yet be captured,” she said. “It might have profited you to be more aggressive in your search for them,” Matthew said.
Edward looked as though he had swallowed something, and it had lodged in his skinny neck. “Perhaps so.” “In any case,” Katherine added, “had it not been for Matthew, I would have been killed. One of the men locked me in a closet and left me to burn to death.” She became aware of how closely their conversation was being observed when there were several gasps. A twittering of voices followed. Fresh gossip was hard to come by, she thought bitterly. How often she had been the brunt of it because of Edward? Her resolve hardened.
“I am sorry you have had to go through another ordeal, Katherine.” Edward said, his eyebrows drawing together in an expression of sincerity.
For a moment, she almost believed him. “It has proven beneficial in some ways, Uncle. I have begun to remember things from that night. I am certain I shall remember it all—eventually.”
Edward’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he looked a little pasty around the eyes and mouth. She allowed herself a little satisfaction from his discomfort. She felt hungry for revenge and wondered how it might feel to plunge a butter knife into his black, hateful heart. “I am glad you are able to join us tonight. We shall be sailing at the end of the week. This will be our last chance to visit with one another. You must sit with me at dinner.”
“I am certain there are others who would wish the opportunity to enjoy your company, Katherine.”
“Indeed,” Garrett Drake said. “I had hoped to sit beside you, Mrs. Hamilton. I am fascinated by your artistic abilities. I had hoped to discuss with you the
possibility of commissioning a painting for one of my drawing rooms. With your husband’s permission of course.” He gave a slight bow in Matthew’s direction.
She felt both surprised and a little wary of his sudden interest. She found anyone so closely associated with Edward a little suspect. “Since we are due to leave so soon, Mr. Drake, there would not be time for me to complete such a work.”
“There would be no rush. It could be shipped to me, at your discretion, from Charleston.”
“My wife will be too busy settling in once we arrive in Charleston. When we return at a later time, if you still wish to discuss it, I would not mind Katherine taking on the commission, if she desires to.” Drake smiled. “When do you hope to return?”
“We haven’t discussed any long term plans, other than enjoying being a family. It should be within the year, if possible.”
Drake nodded. “I will keep that in mind. Come Edward, we have monopolized enough of Captain and Mrs. Hamilton’s time. There are others who wish to speak with them.” he drew Edward aside.
Katherine watched Drake push a drink into Edward’s hand as the next guests stepped forward to greet them. Katherine felt more than a little frustrated by the man’s intervention. She had hoped to keep Edward close.
“Clarisse has placed Edward beside you at the dinner table. You’ll have time to keep him off balance until Lord Harcourt brings Badger in to identify him,” Matthew said, his lips close to her ear.
Lord and Lady Abington approached with their daughter, Amelia, and her fiancé, Morris.
Katherine dragged her thoughts back to the moment at hand, and turned to smile at them. Lord and Lady Abington passed on after only a few words, but Amelia lingered with Morris, a tall thin young man with a rather prominent nose.
“I have brought you a small token of thanks for what you did the day you visited, Mrs. Hamilton. You truly saved our wedding from disaster,” Amelia said, her voice soft.
“I did not do anything that your mother would not have done eventually. She wants your happiness above all other considerations.”
“I know she does, but she did have her heart set on my wearing her wedding gown.”
Morris motioned to one of the maids serving drinks.
She set aside the tray and rushed to bring him a parcel.
He handed it to Amelia.
“I hope you shall be able to use these to draw with while on your journey to Charleston,” Amelia said as she presented Katherine with the paper wrapped gift.
Katherine pulled the ribbon tied around the parcel.
Her gaze fastened on the pale blue strip. She blocked out the memories that threatened, and folded back the paper.
A smile leaped to her lips. Two fresh quills, a bottle of ink, several sticks of charcoal, and two sticks of sepia colored chalk lay in a protective cushion of paper.
“Thank you, Lady Amelia. This is a very kind and generous gift.”
“It is just a token of our thanks and our support.” Morris spoke for the first time. “We have both been most impressed with the courage you have shown in your pursuit of justice, Mrs. Hamilton.” His eyes moved about the room. “There are quite a few here who feel the same.
If it is support you need, all you need to do is ask for it.” Surprised and amazed, Katherine extended a hand to Morris. “Thank you.”
“Who is that young man?” she asked Matthew when the couple drifted back to Amelia’s parents.
“His father is Lord Hallowell, an advisor to the King,” he said as he helped her bundle the gifts back inside their wrappings. “You could probably gain the King’s ear if you wanted it. What was it Amelia meant about your saving their wedding from disaster?” Katherine crumpled the ribbon in her hand as Matthew motioned to one of the maids. The woman took the gift away with instructions to put it in their room.
“Lady Abington desired to pass down her wedding gown to Amelia. It was an ugly creation and completely unsuited to her. I just stated the obvious to the lady and drew a gown more flattering to Amelia.”
“Which I doubt made you very popular with her
mother.”
“Actually, Lady Abington was very open to my suggestions once she saw how thrilled her daughter was with the drawing. She even thanked me later for having saved her from pressing the matter and causing Amelia unhappiness.”
Matthew shook his head. “I didn’t realize you had such a gift for diplomacy.”
She laughed. “At the time, I was not intent on diplomacy, just honesty. I did not think I had anything to lose by being honest with Lady Abington, since I had already been rejected as unsuitable by the ton anyway.”
“It seems that tide has turned now,” he commented as other guests came forward to greet them.
For a time, Katherine found it difficult to track Edward’s movements about the room. She worried that he might find a way to slip away and avoid the coming confrontation. She experienced a wave of relief when Hampton appeared at the door and announced dinner.
Edward’s displeased frown looked fierce as he held her chair for her at the table and waited for her to sit down. He turned away from her immediately to speak to the woman at his right.
Her gaze wandered around the room taking in the subtle lighting of the candles overhead, the minute care that had been taken with the centerpiece on the table. For a moment, she wished that the occasion could be one of celebration, instead of one fraught with tension and subterfuge.
Hampton slipped into the room and bent over Talbot’s left shoulder to murmur something in his ear.
Katherine looking down the table at him, saw his brief nod of encouragement. She laid the crumpled ribbon beside her uncle’s plate and smoothed it out.
She caught Garrett Drake’s attention focused on the ribbon. His green gaze touched her, his square-jawed features taut, his mouth compressed. She shivered as Jaime Stone’s features came to mind.
Edward reached for his wine glass, spied the ribbon, and jerked his hand back. “What is that?” He pointed to the ribbon with equal parts revulsion and anger in his expression.
She dragged her attention back to him. “It is the ribbon Jaime Stone tried to strangle me with,” she lied without compunction. “I carry it in hopes that it will help me remember what happened that night.” Edward’s expression smoothed. “That is not the ribbon. It was discarded.”
“I am not speaking about the first time, Edward, but while we were in Birmingham. He broke into our room at the inn and tried to strangle me. Matthew fought with him and Jaime attempted to stab him, would have stabbed him, had I not shot him. I killed one of the men responsible for my mother’s death.” She focused on Edward’s face searching for any hint of guilt or regret. His gaze held nothing but a glassy, startled look. Katherine purposely touched the ribbon with her finger.
“You-you must not dwell on what happened, Katherine.”
“I could understand the enmity others felt toward my father. But my mother never hurt anyone. She was gentle and kind and loving. Johnny’s one fault was his insatiable curiosity. What harm could he have done to anyone?” She pressed her finger up and down the ribbon.
Edward placed a hand over hers stopping the movement. “They were just in the wrong place at a most inopportune time, Katherine. Their deaths were not punishment for any action they took.” His touch made her skin crawl. It took all the control she could muster not to jerk her hand from beneath his.
“It was my mother who was punished, Edward. I heard her begging them not to hurt her.” She pulled her hand loose from his to rub at her temples as though in pain. She looked from the ribbon to Edward’s face. She saw the rising panic in his expression and rose to her feet.
“I saw you there, Edward. I know it was you.” Edward grasped at her arm, and she jerked aside.
Conversation died at the table, and every face turned in her direction. “You were standing amidst them, buttoning your pants. Did you take your turn upon my mother before you allowed Jaime Stone to strangle her?” A slurred voice came from the doorway. “He is not man enough to do that.”
Katherine turned to see Avery Rudman standing in
the doorway. His sparse hair stood on end and his clothing appeared wrinkled and stained, as though he’d worn them several days. He weaved on his feet as he took a step further into the room.
Matthew rose to stand close to Katherine.
Hampton stepped forward to intercept the inebriated man. Rudman raised a flintlock and pointed it at his chest. The butler came to a halt, his eyes round. Rudman waggled the flintlock, and Hampton backed away.
“You assured me the man was only after Katherine and Hamilton, Edward. There would be no danger to anyone else. I wanted to believe that. I wanted rid of him,” Rudman pointed the flintlock at Matthew.
Katherine’s heart skipped a beat as the man’s focus came to bear on her husband. “I knew I would never be able to live up to Jacqueline’s memories of you. I just wanted a chance.” His bulldog-like features crumpled and tears of self-pity filled his eyes. He wiped them away with his coat sleeve.
“It is not your fault she is dead. It is mine. And his.” Rudman poked the flintlock in Edward’s direction. “I am going to kill you, Edward then I will end it for myself.” Edward grasped at Katherine’s arm and jerked her in front of him. She stumbled, and he looped an arm around her throat holding her back against him. “It was Jacqueline’s fault.” His voice rose in pitch to a falsetto.
“The randy whore could not do as she was told. She would not have been touched had she not continued to chase after him.” He threw out an arm to point at Matthew.
Rudman’s complexion took on a heated red, and his finger tightened against the trigger.
Matthew lunged against both Katherine and Edward, shoving them off their feet. They tumbled sideways to the floor. The loud report of the flintlock going off rang through the room. Screams and shouts erupted, and the guests, frozen by Avery Rudman’s appearance, moved to take cover.
Matthew’s weight pressed down on Katherine, and for a moment, she feared he was injured. Edward wiggled in an attempt to crawl from beneath them. Matthew shoved up on one knee. He grabbed Edward by the jacket.
She scrambled from between the two men and
hastened to her feet. Talbot stood against the door, shielding Clarisse with his body. Others peeked from beneath the edge of the table.
Lord Harcourt stood at the door. Two of His Majesty’s guards held Rudman against the wall, disarmed. “My apologies, Captain Hamilton. We did not know of his escape, until just now.”
His features taut with rage, Matthew frog-marched Edward toward the guards and shoved him forward. The man stumbled and would have fallen had one of the men not caught his arm. “We know you arranged for your brother and his family to be killed, Edward. We know you hired someone to forge a will leaving everything to you.