Reckless Rules (Brambridge Novel 4) (24 page)

“That was the point, Agatha,” he muttered. “Where’s Victoria?” he continued in a louder voice.

“Right behind Agatha,” came a prim voice. Victoria’s hair was already back up in its elaborate swirls, and her blue eyes glinted again with ice. Bill couldn’t help glancing back across the untidy confines of the cart to where, in his coat, lay the offending list of reasons why Victoria should marry him. He had added two more practical ones to the list in the last week.

5. Lady Colchester shall provide Mr. Standish with an excellent replacement butler in the form of Carruthers.

6. Mr. Standish will no longer have to stay at Lord Lassiter’s residence when he is in London as he is wearing out his welcome.

Unfortunately, he had a suspicion that reason seven and eight might now include the words ‘undeniable attraction’, and furthermore, ‘can’t live without’. He swallowed, his throat suddenly dry.

“Agatha, would you mind leaving us please?” Bill put down the oil and stood. It made the cart seem very much smaller. He sat down again. As Agatha didn’t move, he glanced into her face. “I’ll be gentle,” he said softly.

Agatha nodded. “It’s not just her I’m worried about,” she whispered hurriedly, glancing back at Victoria, who was taking an avid interest in the pile of chains that Bill had brought with him in case he needed to change his act.

“You are acting just like your brother did with Harriet.”

“I’m nothing like my brother.” Bill thumped his mattress. “How can I act like my brother when I only found out last year that he
was
my brother?”

“Oooh. All men are the same.” Agatha stamped a booted foot on the floor of the cart, causing it to rock slightly. She glared at Bill. “I’ll give you ten minutes alone together. But I’m watching you, Mr. Standish.”

Despite her diminutive size, Bill did feel a little afraid. The last time Agatha had become really angry had involved gunpowder and a particularly nasty form of revenge. He nodded. “As you wish.”

“So, alone at last,” Victoria said brightly as Agatha climbed out of the cart. Bill answered her tentative smile as Victoria drew closer, stepping around the piles of discarded clothes on the floor. It made him conscious that he was still semi-naked. Hurriedly, he twisted and picked up a simple linen shirt that he had left on the bed. As he turned back, he flinched as Victoria brought round a small hand and slapped him sharply on the cheek.

“Ow, what did you do that for?” he shouted, putting his hand to his burning cheek.

“That, is for not turning up when I expected you to with the list of why I should marry you.” Victoria raised her hand, and faster than lightning slapped him on the other cheek. “And that is for asking me to marry you in the first place without meaning it.”

Bill could not help the small moan of pain that escaped from his lips. Both cheeks were now scalded. “But I did mean it.”

Victoria folded her arms and planted her small bottom on the bed next to his. “Huh,” she said, turning her head away.

Bill stared at the back of her nape where the golden hair twirled upwards. From the tightly controlled woman he had pursued a year ago, this was a very different being. He couldn’t decide which he liked better. There had been something unbelievably magnetic about the ice-like way she had dismissed him. And if that had been magnetic, then the unpredictable actions of this latest incarnation were like fire to his senses.

To think that he had ever thought that all he needed to do was to marry her and find his place in society. He would not be able to marry her without being
with
her. He would not be able to be with her without constantly wanting to kiss her, or
more
.

“So what is more important than wanting to marry me?” Victoria said quietly, her back still turned to him. He could just hear the tremble in her voice.

How could he tell her that where before his offer of marriage had been about himself, now he knew in his heart that it was about
them.
And
they
couldn’t be together until he had dealt with Pedro and he had worked out what he really felt. Feeling like a coward, he took the easy option.

“I’m working for the Crown,” he said brusquely. “I have to retrieve a man that I let escape with secrets.”

“And where is that man now?” Victoria turned her head to the side so that now he could see the delicate curls of her ear. Still she did not look at him.

“Here, in this fair. He is the son of the owner Pablo Moreno. I’ve been tracking him for the last month.”

Victoria nodded once. “On Granwich’s orders?”

It was Bill’s turn to nod. He bowed his head. “I tried to get out of it.” He scratched at his leg in embarrassment. “But I was the one to let him go.”

“Can I help?”

Bill raised his head sharply. Victoria continued to stare away from him. She hadn’t said a word about the list. And now she was asking if she could help him track a man wanted by the Crown.

“I’m not sure how you can help me.”

Victoria gave a small bitter laugh. “Oh, you would be very surprised by the things I know and what I can do. I may look like butter wouldn’t melt in my mouth and a prissy-faced member of the ton but—”

“You’ve had your ten minutes,” Agatha whispered through the cart door. “People are starting to look at me very strangely.”

“I had better go.” Victoria glanced at him once. “Be safe, Bill.”

Before he could say anything, she had pushed herself off the bed and left through the door that Agatha held open.

Her last words had held a finality to them that Bill could hear echoing around his head. It was as if she didn’t expect to see him again. Was that it? Just when he thought he was going to be able to close the Pedro business. Just when he was beginning to work out what his offer of marriage really meant. She was throwing it all back at him because he was late?

She hadn’t heard the end of this. Even if she wished to close her ears to him.

The air in the cart had become stifling… and empty since Victoria had left. Without bothering to wash, Bill stepped out of the cart and onto the dry earth of the square. He jerked back into the shadow of the steps as two figures walked past.

“I’m telling you, Jimmy, something ain’t right about Pedro. He’s been back a couple of days and he won’t let anyone in his tent. Even when he ain’t here I’m sure I can hear moaning from it.”

“It’s not our business, Fred. Mr. Moreno’s told us quite firmly that Pedro’s a changed man and not to interfere. And you know what happened to the last people that interfered with one of Mr. Moreno’s schemes.”

“Did they ever find the bodies?”

“No.”

“Oh. At least Pedro’s gone again. He gives me the shivers, he does.”

The figures of Jimmy and Fred disappeared off into the gloom towards Jimmy’s tent. Bill stepped back out from behind the steps. Pedro had only been back for two days? But surely Pedro had been there all the time? Each time he had tried to enter Pedro’s tent he had heard noises from within and had carefully moved away, assuming that the man was in there. Bill cursed his stupidity. At least he didn’t need to worry about Pedro recognizing him. Since he had been back, Bill had tried to keep out of his way and yet at one point had come face to face with him. Whilst Bill’s step had faltered slightly Pedro had kept on walking. He hadn’t recognized Bill at all.

If Pedro had left again, then perhaps at last there was a chance to search his tent for the list.

CHAPTER 23

Agatha pulled at Victoria’s sleeve for what felt like the twentieth time that evening.

“Quick,” she said hoarsely, edging behind a bandstand that emerged incongruously in the middle of the encampment. “Come on, Victoria, do what I say for just once today.”

It was true that Victoria hadn’t especially listened to her friend since she had realized that Bill was the strongman. It was as if someone else had taken over her body. Someone who was much stronger and more angrily
passionate
than her usual self. That person had bent the rules to their own whim, creating actions that were out of step with her carefully constructed and defined character. As she dutifully followed Agatha behind the bandstand, the heat receded from her body. In a small corner of her mind, a black beast blinked lazily and rumbled as if to wake up. She thumped herself lightly on the forehead.

“What on earth are you doing?” Agatha whispered furiously. “Look normal.”

“Er, why are we standing behind the bandstand?” Victoria blinked to clear her vision. “I thought you said that no one would recognize us out of place here?”

“Because Pablo Moreno is on the other side of the bandstand!”

“So? Isn’t that a risk you would take, given that we did come to his troupe’s attraction?”

“Yes, but I thought I might be able to avoid him by doing exactly what we are doing now. Hiding.”

“Agatha Beauregard Anglethorpe, that is the worst example of straightforward thinking that I have ever come across.”

“Yes, Victoria.”

“Now point him out to me.”

“Why?”

“Just do it, Agatha, or I will walk around the bandstand myself.”

“No! Alright, keep your hairpins in. He’s the man standing in the shadow of that post just
there
.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure. That man took me captive!”

“Because that man over
there
is called Mr. Durnish, otherwise Paul Butterworth and an old friend of my dear departed husband.”

Agatha peeped out from behind the bandstand again. “No, that gentleman is definitely Pablo Moreno. He’s still wearing the same large hat that he had when I met him.”

“An oversize top hat?”

“That’s correct.”

“
Interesting
.”

“As interesting as knowing that Pablo is also the same name as Paul in Spanish, wouldn’t you say?”

Victoria jumped and Agatha let out a muffled scream as the speaker emerged from the interior of the bandstand to join them where they stood.

“Did you know that one could hear most of what you have been saying from where I was stood?”

“Henry, you low down devious—”

“I told you he would know where we were,” Agatha said smiling.

“I didn’t actually,” Henry, Lord Anglethorpe and Agatha’s husband said calmly. “I was here anyway keeping an eye on Pablo Moreno.”

Victoria frowned. “Because of me?” she asked.

Henry shook his head. “No; why, is there something I should know?”

Victoria narrowed her eyes at her brother. There was family business, and
family
business. Dealing with Paul Butterworth was her affair. “No,” she said airily. “I came into contact with Mr. Durnish when he asked me to recommend somewhere to find some new maids. Why are you looking out for him?”

“I can’t tell you. It’s Crown business.”

Victoria cocked her head on one side. “Have you seen Bill recently?” she asked innocently.

Henry turned to face her. “No. We’ve all been wondering where he has got to. He’s meant to be going after Pedro Moreno but Bill has disappeared just as much as that greasy fellow has.”

“Hence why you are here keeping an eye on Pablo,” Victoria said grimly. Her brother shrugged and didn’t try to persuade her otherwise. If Victoria didn’t do something to help Bill, Henry would foul up all of Bill’s plans. It was testament to Bill’s skill that Henry hadn’t realized he was within shouting distance. Victoria shook her head at Agatha, hoping she would understand what she was trying to say without words.

“But…” Agatha frowned.

Victoria shook her head harder. Agatha subsided but gave Victoria a look that showed that Agatha would be demanding questions later. Victoria was determined there would be no later. She needed to confront Mr. Durnish, Paul Butterworth and Pablo Moreno in one go.

“So will you be escorting me home, dear brother?” she said, smiling sweetly.

Henry gazed down at her, perplexed, but nodded decisively. “Of course. Where is your carriage?”

“We came in mine,” Agatha broke in hastily. She glared at Victoria and took Henry’s arm. “I told them to wait for me at Bartholomew Gate. We’ll find the coach there.”

The ride back to Upper Brook Street was silent. Victoria could feel Henry’s eyes on her. When they reached the steps to Colchester Mansions, Henry stepped out first and handed Victoria down.

“Agatha, I’d like you to stay here please. I need to have a word with my sister.”

“But—”

“Agatha.”

“Oh, alright then.” Agatha sat back with an audible thump on the seats. Victoria wished that her friend would join them. She didn’t like the tone in Henry’s voice.

Carruthers opened the door and ushered both of them in. As he made to close the front door again, Victoria shook her head.

“Our guest will be leaving shortly. Please leave the door open.” Carruthers stood silently as Victoria stopped in the hall and peeled off her gloves. Henry put his hands behind his back and looked up at the large painting of her and Lord Colchester.

“Why did you marry him, Victoria?” Henry said unexpectedly.

Victoria swallowed. “Please leave us alone, Carruthers,” she said, handing him her last glove. Carruthers bowed and left silently, but not without a wink. She turned to stare in the same direction as Henry. “Why are you asking now, Henry?”

“You can’t counteract a question with a question, Victoria. You know that implies something nefarious about the answer that you are refusing to give.”

“I believe that my answer is very relevant to the question that I asked you. You see, no one at the time questioned my intentions. It is not to say that nobody cared…” Victoria closed her eyes to the hurt on her brother’s face. “It was more that everyone else was preoccupied with their own troubles.”

“But you are a sensible woman. For goodness sake, he was seventy years old.” Henry thumped the hall table. Victoria opened her eyes again.

“Again I ask, this is all quite sudden. What has prompted you to ask now?”

“Someone asked me,” Henry admitted sheepishly. “You are right. I have always been preoccupied with my own problems…”