Sari Robins (20 page)

F
ear constricted Heath’s chest as Tess fell to her knees. “Tess!”

With her hands clutched in his, she looked up at him, her gaze lost and searching, as if he could somehow supply the answer. “Fiona?” her voice cracked.

“Get her on the bed!” Ferguson cried, pushing past the Bow Street Runners.

“I’ve got her.” Heath gently lifted her into his arms. She was limp as a doll, terrifying him even more. She burrowed her head in the cradle of his neck, her pain palpable.

“Not Fiona,” she whispered. “Poor, sweet Fiona.”

Heath gently deposited her on the sagging mattress, trying to ignore the fact that they’d been blissfully happy in that very spot only moments before. He adjusted the pillow behind her so she could easily sit.

“She was a child,” Tess muttered, covering her face with her hands. “Barely eighteen…”

Heath’s heart was pounding like a race horse’s.
He willed his panic to recede; he needed to think! He needed to help Tess!

“When did it happen?” Heath demanded, knowing that Tess needed an alibi.

“Hold on there, sir.” The red-haired Runner raised his hand. “It’s none of yer business, if I’d say so—”

“The body was found last night,” Kelly interrupted as he gave his partner a hard glare. The man, it seemed, would give information while trying to glean it. Dagwood had said that the man was one of the better Bow Street Runners. Heath didn’t know if he was glad for it or terrified.

“Last night?” Heath swallowed his relief, knowing it couldn’t be that easy to overcome an arrest warrant. “Lady Golding was with me all night long. Ask her maid. And I’ll swear to it in any court of law.”

Kelly slipped the tipstaff into his pocket. “I said the body
was found
last night. She was pretty ripe.”

“Ripe?” Tess’s eyes widened and filled with unshed tears. “Oh, dear Lord in heaven.” Wiping her hands over her eyes, she shook.

Heath sat down beside her and wrapped his arm around her quaking shoulders. “It’ll be all right.”

Removing her hands from her eyes, she cried, “Not for Fiona! It’ll never be all right for Fiona!” She straightened. “Oh my God! Her mother! Mrs. Reed must be heartbroken!”

“She’s beside herself with it.” Officer Kelly agreed with a nod. “She went looking for her daughter when she didn’t come home and found the body in an alley near the house.”

The red-haired Runner’s lip curled. “And it was an ugly thing. The smell alone—”

“That’s enough, Kim,” Kelly interjected with a look of warning. “I think they get an idea.”

Somber silence descended in the chamber as the horrible images rose in each person’s mind.

With her hands balled into fists in her lap, Tess inhaled a shuddering breath and then moved to stand.

“Sit down, Tess.” Heath gently squeezed her shoulders. “You’re upset.”

“No. This is too important. I need…” Her gaze appeared lost for a moment, then it filled with determination. “I need to understand.”

She rose from the bed, straightened her shoulders, and faced the two Runners like a war-weary soldier—sorrowful yet resolute.

Heath stood beside her, moved by her bravery.

“Please tell me…” She swallowed, obviously at a loss for words.

“How did Miss Reed die?” Heath supplied.

“Beaten to death.” Kelly’s tone was cold as steel.

Reaching for him, Tess grasped Heath’s hand.

He moved closer, supporting her around the waist. “You can hardly believe that Lady Golding beat another woman to death.”

Kelly shrugged. “It’s not my job ta believe. I’m just here ta serve the warrant and see her ta Newgate.”

Tess licked her lips. “Why…? Why do you…?”

When no more words came, Heath finished her question, “Why do you believe that Lady Golding is responsible for this terrible deed?”

“Certain items were in Miss Reed’s possession…” Officer Kelly tilted his head. “Such items were recently sworn out in an affidavit as having been stolen by Lady Golding.”

Tess opened her mouth, but Heath squeezed her waist, advising, “Don’t say anything. It’ll be misconstrued, and we can work this out.”

The Runners glared.

Shaking his head, Heath said to the men, “There’s more to this than you know, and she won’t help herself or us to find the true culprit by saying anything here and now.”

“You can’t be her lawyer.” Kelly glowered. “You represent the king.”

“True. But I can be her friend.”

“Oh, so that’s what yer callin’ it now,” the redhead jeered.

Ignoring him, Heath turned to Kelly. “Take a look around the room; there are no other exits. Lady Golding needs to dress.”

The red-haired officer jerked his head toward the draperies. “What about the window?”

“We’re two stories up.” Kelly motioned for his comrade to proceed to the hall. “We’ll be outside the door. Have her ready in twenty minutes.”

“Thank you.”

After they’d gone, Heath looked down at Tess. Her face was wan and her eyes glazed with sorrow. He had a million questions, but only one was important now. “How are you holding up?”

“Not well.” Still, she turned to her butler with stoic
grace. “Ferguson, if you would please ask Anna to assist me?”

“Of course, ma’am.”

“And thank you, by the way, for…for being so loyal.”

Ferguson’s eyes watered but he held himself stiffly in check. “Think nothing of it, ma’am. And I will have Cook prepare duck for dinner, your favorite, for surely you must be home by then. Surely you must.”

Biting her lip, Tess nodded. “Pray it be so.”

Heath squeezed her waist, trying to give her some support through this terrible ordeal. “I need writing instruments, please, Ferguson. David Bernard is a contentious prig, but he’s the best criminal barrister in town. I’m sure he’ll take the case if I ask.”

“Criminal…” Tess shuddered.

Nodding, Ferguson quickly left the room.

Her crystal blue gaze was so filled with pain, it almost broke his heart. “Thank you, Heath. I’m so sorry that you had to go through this—”

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

“But I’m so glad you were here.”

He squeezed her tight, realizing how precious she was to him. “Me as well. And don’t worry. I’ll see you through this.”

“It’s a mistake, Heath.”

“Of course it is; you didn’t kill anyone!”

“I mean it’s a mistake for you to associate with me. The scandal—”

“Don’t even say it,” he growled. His hands gripped
her closer. “I don’t abandon ship at the first sign of clouds.”

“Clouds? More like a gale.” Still, she stepped closer and leaned against him as if accepting his aid. He was filled with gladness and no small sense of responsibility for this courageous woman. “I hope you don’t come to regret this, Heath. I lead a complicated life—”

The door opened and the maid, Anna, peeked inside, her face pale. “The man says we have fifteen more minutes.”

Pushing back from Heath, Tess directed, “Pack five of my work gowns.”

“Five.” Anna’s eyes were wide with fright. “You’ll be there that long?”

“I don’t know. Besides, there might be others in need of clothing at Newgate. You know what to do otherwise, Anna. And pray, be quick.”

After Anna had moved into the dressing room, Tess looked up. “Heath, I need you to do something for me.”

“Anything.”

“I need you to go to the Bank of Newcastle and speak with Mr. Lowery. Tell him what happened. He’ll know what to do.”

Heath frowned. “It sounds like you expected something like this?”

She shook her head, muttering, “Never like this.” She bit her lip, suddenly anxious. “Please go, quickly; I haven’t much time and those funds had better be ready by the time I get to Newgate. Warden Newman is not an unreasonable man, but he is no philanthropist.”

T
he prison room was small and the furnishings sparse and shabby. It contained a little bed, a side table with a chipped porcelain pitcher and stained china basin, a scratched-up secretary set, a rickety wooden table and chairs, and, thank heavens, a hearth.

Tess exhaled with relief; no matter if it smelled musty and had a slight layer of dust, it was far better accommodations than she had feared. The warden, Mr. John Newman, continued the ancient practice of letting out a room in his residence and treating it as a part of the state side of the prison. The rental was costing Tess thirty guineas per week, a fee she considered well worth paying in view of the unspeakably overcrowded, pest-ridden accommodations she would have otherwise had.

Thank you, Mr. Lowery, and Heath, for coming through
. The funds had arrived by breathless courier just as Tess had been brought into the warden’s office. Even though she knew that the warden probably would
have accepted her word regarding future payment, for at least a day or two, a bird in the hand spoke volumes in this environment.

“There’s not much to it, sorry to say.” Warden Newman scratched his craggy cheek. “But for the moment, it’s the best I have to offer.”

“I’m glad for it, and I thank you, Warden Newman, for welcoming me into your home.”

Anna entered the room, a portmanteau in her hand and a fearful look in her eyes. She’d very rightfully never counted on this kind of service when she’d signed on as Tess’s maid.

Warden Newman tilted his head. “Yer maid won’t be able to stay, unless of course she pays her room and board as well.”

“She won’t be staying.”

Anna straightened. “I am, too!”

Tess sighed. “This is no place for you, Anna. You can come during the day to assist me, but can return home at night. I assure you, I’m fine.”

Anna’s face was horrified. “Begging yer pardon, ma’am, but my mother would kill me if she found out that I’d abandoned my post!”

“Not if I dismissed you for the night.”

Snorting, Anna pushed into the room, opened the portmanteau and began unpacking it.

Tess didn’t like putting her maid through this, but she was inordinately relieved that Anna didn’t want to go. She wasn’t looking forward to being alone in this frightening place.

“I got here as soon as I could.” Heath strode into
the room, his face flushed, his dark hair whipping behind him. He was such a welcome sight, it brought tears to Tess’s eyes.

I won’t break down. Not now. Not ever.

She looked down, pretending that she was smoothing her skirts while she collected herself. This was going to be a difficult morning and she needed to be strong to get through it. Her biggest fear was that Heath would abandon her. She knew that he cared for her, but she was going to test that fondness, and the threat of losing him was more than she could bear at the moment.

Looking up, she gave him a wobbly smile, and the look he shot her warmed her down to her soul. He was the best of men, mayhap he’d understand…

“Warden.” Reaching out, Heath shook John Newman’s hand.

“Mr. Bartlett. Are you prosecuting Lady Golding?”

“No, sir. I am here to lend my support.”

“Support. I didn’t know that Officers of the Crown did such things.”

“My role here is to see justice done.”

The warden’s gaze was knowing. “I see.”

Bills entered the small room, huffing and pressing his hand to his chest. “It’s a blasted maze getting through this place.”

“What are you doing here?” Heath asked.

Bills’s gaze was confused. “The letter was signed Lady Golding, but I thought you were behind it.”

“Not I.”

Both men’s gazes moved to Tess. She clasped her
hands before her to keep her nervousness from showing. She felt like a juggler in a carnival with too many plates in the air. She just prayed that nothing broke. Especially not her relationship with Heath…“Thank you for coming, Bills.”

Warden Newman bowed. “Since you have so many visitors, I will take my leave, Lady Golding. If your maid will come with me, I will show her where she can find certain necessities.”

Tess licked her lips, fearing to insult the man, yet unwilling to take any chance with Anna’s well-being. “Thank you, Warden. I feel I must ask…Anna’s safety…I would not want—”

The warden held up a hand. “Have no fear, Lady Golding. You maid will be extended every courtesy and will be perfectly secure within these walls.” His gaze sharpened. “No one shall molest her or you.”

Tess exhaled. “Thank you, sir. Very much.”

After Anna and the warden had left, Heath pulled Tess into his arms. “Are you all right?”

She sighed. “I’m better now. Thank you for coming, and for taking care of the funds.”

“Of course I’d come. I won’t leave you.”

His words were so sweet, she smiled. Inhaling his rich, earthy scent, she leaned her head on his shoulder, relishing the shelter of his embrace. It was amazing how much his touch inspired confidence. It was as if she were a well running dry and he a welcome spot of rain. She prayed that it would not end, not anytime soon, anyway. Even though all good
things inescapably ended…just not today, please not today…
I need him.

The thought was more than a bit unsettling. She hadn’t relied on a man since her husband…

His hug tightened, and then he pulled away, looking down at her. “I believe we have much to discuss.”

Silently she nodded, sad for the intimacy to end, but sensible that this discussion was inevitable just the same.

Holding open his hands, Bills asked, “Do you want me to step outside?”

“No, Bills, I asked you here because I wish to retain your services.” Tess motioned for them to sit at the table. “If you would?”

Moving away from Heath, Tess sat. She needed to be strong and not depend too heavily on anyone. She had to resist the desire to crawl into Heath’s arms and ignore the world. She understood from past mistakes that only she could navigate her future.

Bills lowered himself into the chair opposite her. “As I told you at Marks-Cross Street Prison, I’m not a criminal lawyer.”

“I know. But what I need is counsel and I trust your opinion.”

“You don’t have to retain me for that.” Bills chuckled. “I’m quite free with the stuff.”

“Yes. But I want all communications between us to be privileged.”

Bills nodded. “I see. Very shrewd of you. Then yes,
I will take you on as a client. But I set my fee at one guinea.”

Tess smiled, touched by his gallantry. “You hardly know the nature of the services.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

Reaching across the table, Tess squeezed his hand. “Thank you.”

Heath sat down beside Tess, his nearness reassuring. “We’re both here for you. You can count on us.”

Bills jerked his head toward his friend. “You do realize, Tess, that any communication with Heath is not privileged. Heath can only represent the Crown.”

Heath stiffened. “Don’t be ridiculous! I’d never share a word!”

Looking up at his dear face, she understood that she needed to give him one last chance. “Heath, I don’t want to put you in a situation where you have divided loyalties.”

Heath held her hand in a cocoon of warmth and reassurance. “My only concern is protecting you, nothing else.”

Bills shifted in his chair. “I feel I must speak up on this issue, Heath. I know that you are the most loyal, best friend anyone could have. But let’s be realistic, you do prosecute cases. What if helping Tess conflicts with your work for the solicitor-general?”

Shaking his head, Heath looked determined. “It’s impossible to have a conflict when seeing justice served is my primary goal.”

Tess smiled, touched. “You believe I’m innocent.”

He leaned back as if utterly confident in his knowl
edge. “Of course. You are incapable of harming anyone, and certainly not someone you love.”

“I can’t help but agree,” Bills intoned.

For a moment, Tess couldn’t speak, emotion constricted her throat. She busied herself with taking a linen from her pocket and wiping her eyes.

She exhaled. Maybe this wouldn’t be quite as terrible as she’d feared. “I am innocent of…” The words wouldn’t come as sorrow lashed through her once more.

Wrapping his arm around her shoulder, Heath hugged her, giving her his strength. “Do you know of anyone who would want to harm Miss Reed? Do you know anyone who might want to blame you for this terrible crime?”

“Whoever did it needs someone to blame,” Bills interjected. “It may be directed at Tess, but it may be simply a way to deflect a murder charge. Kill Miss Reed and then cover it up by implicating Tess. If the murderer has a gripe with Tess, all the more reason to point the evidence her way.”

“Well, he’s doing a bang-up job of it,” a lilting voice intoned.

A short man with wild gray hair framing his ghostly pale face stood in the threshold, a rectangular satchel in his arms. With his untamed mane, bushy brows, and large gold spectacles bordering dark eyes, he reminded Tess of a barn owl staring down at her.

Heath jumped from his seat, his hand extended. “Mr. Bernard, thank you for coming. May I introduce
Lady Golding. Mr. David Bernard, Esquire, the barrister I told you about.”

Bills rose, a look of distaste on his face. “Mr. Bernard.”

Bowing to Tess, the little man shoved his spectacles up the bridge of his pointy nose. “Lady Golding. I wish I had the pleasure under better circumstances.” He lifted his nose in the air. “Mr. Smith.”

The little man made a drama of taking a seat and adjusting his papers while Bills stood behind Tess, with Heath sitting beside her.

Mr. Bernard began, “I will get right to the crux of the matter, if I may, Lady Golding. The charges against you are quite serious and the evidence against you compelling.”

“What evidence?” Heath asked. “What could possibly tie Tess to this crime, since she had nothing to do with it?”

From the pile on the table before him, Mr. Bernard pulled a sheet of foolscap with chicken scratch on it. “The victim in question was found with a satchel of jewelry in her possession, that very same jewelry having been sworn out in an affidavit claiming that Lady Golding had stolen such property.”

The muscle in Heath’s jaw worked. “George Belington lied. Tess never stole those jewels.”

“If you would allow the lady to speak,” Mr. Bernard chided, his eyes boring into Tess.

Tess licked her lips. “The jewelry was a gift, given to me by Mr. Belington. I tried to return it on two occasions, but he refused to accept it. A third time I even
left it at his residence, and later that afternoon it was delivered to my door.”

“You see!” Heath pounded his fist on the table.

Shoving his spectacles up his nose, Mr. Bernard asked, “Why, then, do you believe that Miss Reed had them in her possession?”

“I asked Miss Reed to deliver them to Mrs. Catherine Dunn, Headmaster Dunn’s daughter-in-law and the current mistress at Andersen Hall Orphanage. The institution is struggling financially since Headmaster Dunn’s death, and I thought…well, I don’t like the jewelry, I will not wear it, so it might as well go to some good use.”

“The jewelry is hardly indicative of a murder,” Heath insisted.

Mr. Bernard nodded, his face impassive. “Perhaps. But I have a friend at the magistrate’s office who tells me that the case is hardly insubstantial.”

Heath shouldn’t have been surprised that Bernard had a “friend” at the magistrate’s office; he’d always suspected as much. The man was too clever by half, but for the first time Heath was glad for it.

“Hardly insubstantial?” Bills straightened. “What the blazes does that mean?”

Heath nodded. “Yes. What could possibly tie Tess to this terrible crime? The jewelry can be explained. Belington lied, and once we interview him, I’m sure he’ll recant. So what else could they possibly have?”

Pulling the sheet of foolscap closer to his nose, Bernard pursed his lips. “I concur that the jewelry, although not a favorable bit of evidence, can be dealt
with. Especially if Belington’s servants can testify that what you say is true. The other evidence is more troubling and much more difficult to refute.”

Heath smacked his hand on the table. “How can it be difficult to refute? Tess is innocent! So whatever the evidence is, it’s faulty!”

“They have someone claiming that Lady Golding is not who she appears to be. That she is wicked and has engaged in some kind of terrible act.” Bernard rubbed his nose. “The words are quite damning.”

“Well, he’s lying, and once we get him on the stand, the truth will win out!”

Removing his spectacles and cleaning them with a monogrammed handkerchief, Bernard sniffed. “That might be hard to do. Since the person making the claims is dead.”