Tainted Bride (30 page)

She would be a good wife to him. She wouldn’t complain about his mistress so long as he was discreet and she wouldn’t refuse him in the bedchamber. She would be a good mother to her son. She was certain it would be a boy and she would, hopefully, have more children to adore. They would keep her so busy she wouldn’t have time to worry about mistresses and the like.

She just had to get him home and everything would be all right.

* * * *

Surprisingly, the tea and toast stayed down and she was beginning to feel better. She had cook make her some more while she dressed for the ball. Thomas was to arrive at nine to collect her, but at eight-thirty there was a knock at her bedroom door.

“Tell the gentlemen I’ll be down in a few minutes. They are a bit early.”

The door opened and Dorothea floated in wearing a stunning gown of blue with intricately stitched gold thread. She looked lovely. Her hair shone in the same golden hue as the thread and her color was high and bright. Her smile indicated she was excited about some mischief.

“I wasn’t expecting you.” Sophia stood and hugged Dory.

“Markus brought me as a distraction,” Dory said.

Sophia didn’t like the sound of that. “This is not fun and games, Dory. It is dangerous and your brother should not have involved you.”

“A moment ago you were happy to see me. Besides, I’m a bit upset with you for not telling me what has been going on.”

“I’m still happy to see you. You are my dearest friend, which is why I don’t want you put in any danger.” She went back to her dressing table and sat allowing Marie to finish her hair.

To give the impression of Angelica she wore a black gown big enough to hide all her curves.

Dory watched quietly as Marie twined rubies through Sophia’s hair. “I really must have you do my hair one day, Marie.”

Marie smiled. “I would be happy to, miss.”

“Don’t change the subject. You cannot go to the ball,” Sophia said.

“You’re not my mother. Though, I would not mind if you were. My own has been beastly lately. She is so adamant that I find a husband she will drive me mad. We leave for the country next week and she is already plotting next season.”

Sophia had despised this plan from the beginning. It was bad enough she and Anthony were stepping into danger, but she hated the idea Dory would be anywhere near Alistair.

“I’ll not be in any danger. I’m only to talk to Mr. Pundington in full view of the garden doors and the entire ballroom, while you and your brother make your way out into the garden. The hope is he will excuse himself to follow the two of you out. Then, I’m to go directly to the carriage and wait for you to join me. There are more than a dozen footmen who will be watching the carriage and escorting us back here, where we are to wait for the gentlemen to join us.”

“You sounded just like your brother.” Sophia laughed.

Dory rolled her eyes. “He repeated the plan to me about fifty times in the last three hours. He must think I’m daft.”

“No. He knows he is putting you in danger. I don’t like it.”

She shrugged. “You have no other options at this point. I’m going and that is that. You look remarkably similar to your mother with your hair that way and in that gown. I think you shall age very well.”

“Do you ever say anything expected?” Sophia asked.

“I certainly hope not.”

Daniel lay flat on his face in his cell.

Pundington was dressed for the evening, in all black with a canary-yellow waistcoat.

It took a strong will to refrain from poking fun at the ridiculous garment, but he remained silent and still.

Another set of shoes, not as nice and much larger, entered with his captor.

Daniel assumed they belonged to Bill, the guard or one of the other apes working for Alistair.

“Marlton, I have the papers for your signature.”

Daniel didn’t respond or move.

“Get him up.”

Beefy hands dragged him off the ground and Daniel relaxed every muscle. He fell limply over Bill’s arm. He resisted fighting or making a run for the open door. He did neither. He would never make it past the guards and he had no real idea of where he was. Better to outsmart his captor then to try to overpower them. He remained lifeless while the guard held him up.

“What is wrong with him?” Pundington demanded.

“Don’t know, could be sick or dyin’.” The guard shook him.

Alistair pulled Daniel’s head up by his hair.

Pain seared through his scalp, but he remained limp. He kept his eyes open, but unfocused.

“You had better not die before I get my papers signed, or your wife will not live through the night.”

Daniel rolled his eyes.

Pundington released his hair. “Hit him.”

It was going to be difficult not to brace himself for the blow. He would just have to take it if he was going to escape and save Sophia.

“Sir?”

“You heard me. Hit him hard, in the gut.”

“But, Sir, ‘e’s barely conscious. Wouldn’t be right to ’it ’im now.”

“I told you to hit him. If you want to be paid, you will do just that.”

Drooling, Daniel was hauled to the back wall. Bill held him up with one hand under his right shoulder.

Daniel allowed his knees to buckle, making the guard hold all of his weight.

Bill’s large fist struck Daniel’s stomach like a head-butt at a full run. A whoosh of air and a groan issued from Daniel’s mouth. He wished he could have vomited for effect, but they had given him so little to eat, his stomach was empty. The grunt and more spittle would have to be enough.

“He must be dyin’.”

“Bring him to the house. I’ll call a doctor in the morning if he is not better. In the meantime, lock him in the last bedroom and keep a close eye on him.” Disgust dripped from his words.

Bill tossed him over his shoulder.

Unable to draw a full breath, he pulled small gasps. His ribs hurt so bad, he might actually lose consciousness. In all his time in France, he’d never given such a performance as he had tonight. He continued to think about the war and his time in France in an effort to keep himself from passing out.

The ground went by upside down, as he hung over Bill’s back. Each step up to his new cell brought a new kind of agony. His ribs burned and his head ached with the blood rushing through his ears. He counted and knew he was two flights up and then down a long hallway. He didn’t hear any other voices in the house, but he assumed Susan was in one of the other rooms.

Bill dropped him on a bed, which smelled of mold, but it was soft and far warmer than the floor of his last cell.

He was thankful for the softer surface. He was so battered he didn’t think he’d survive another beating.

The door clicked shut and the lock turned. He waited a full quarter of an hour before he opened one eye and made certain he was alone.

Four walls, a bed and a dresser comprised the small, shabby bedroom. A small window faced the street, but it was barred and even if it had not been, it was a two-story drop. All the drawers were empty and it was a miracle the bed still stood. He could tear a leg off and use it to hit Bill over the head, but he had no idea how many other guards there were. His death wouldn’t secure his wife’s safety.

* * * *

Sophia clutched Anthony’s arm. The waiting was killing her. They’d spent a full twenty minutes skulking in a dark parlor. She prayed no one walked in.

Thomas poked his head in and she jumped. “Relax Sophia. Dory is moving Pundington into position. It won’t be long now.”

“I don’t like her being so close to that fiend, Tom.”

Anthony pried her fingers loose of his jacket, already severely wrinkled. “It will be fine, Sophie. It’s only for a few moments.”

“Listen to your brother. I will not let any harm come to her. As soon as Pundington sees you, or rather, your mother and Anthony, he will leave Lady Dorothea.” Thomas stepped out.

“I don’t think any of this is a good idea, Tony.” If only she could be as calm as Thomas.

Anthony patted her hand. “It’s the only way to find your husband. Hold on just a few more minutes.”

Thomas opened the door. “It’s time. Walk straight out to the garden. Do not stop for anyone or anything. Sophia, keep your head tilted down so no one gets a good look at your face.”

It was less than twenty feet from the parlor to the French doors out to the garden. Pundington might not even see them in that time. Still, the urge to run through undetected pulsed through her.

Anthony kept her at a steady pace.

The garden was just as Sir Michael had explained, dark with tall, dense shrubbery. Sophia couldn’t see Markus or Thomas, but they were hiding within sight of her. As agreed, she and Anthony walked through the garden talking, but she acted the part imitating Angelica’s voice the entire time.

“You are too young to marry,” she said.

“But she is the only one for me,” Anthony complained.

“There will be others,
Tesoro
.”

“I don’t want any others, Mamma. I cannot live without her. I would like your permission, but I have enough of my own money now to do as I wish.”

She gasped dramatically. “You will use your father’s money against my will?”

“Mamma, please.”

They stopped in a small courtyard, which had niches cut out of the shrubs. Sophia backed into one of the niches and Anthony stood in front of her, so no matter where Alistair was listening from, he would only hear her voice and never see it was not Angelica.

“No. This is why I spoke to the barrister as soon as your poor papa died. I have made it impossible for you to control your father’s money on your own until you are twenty-five.”

“Mamma, what have you done?” He raised his voice.

“I have made arrangements for you to manage the business with the help of Lord Marlton. Your sister’s husband is a good business man and we agree on many things.”

“Such as?”

“Alistair helped your father build the business and he should be paid for his half. Your father was stubborn on the subject, but it is not right what he did to his partner. Now that Charles is gone, I want to make peace with him. Alistair was a good friend to us for many years.” Her thick Italian accent made the words easier to say. It made it theatre, and she kept Daniel in her mind the entire time.

“That is a lot of money.” Anthony raised his voice.

“I wanted to turn over the money two days ago, but I need Lord Marlton and he has not been seen. Not even your sister knows where he is. She believes he has taken a mistress.”

“The money is mine, Mamma. It is not right to do this to me.”

“There is plenty of money, Anthony. You will be well cared for and when you are twenty-five, you shall take control. You are too young now. I can see by the way you fall all over this girl, you are not yet a man.”

They walked deeper into the garden. After only a few yards, Markus stepped in front of them. “He’s gone. He listened to every word and then dashed away faster than you would believe a man his age was capable of.”

“Do you think he will lead you to Daniel?” Sophia’s voice shook.

Markus smiled reassuringly. “Thomas and Michael are already following him. Let’s get you into the carriage and back home safe. Then, we shall see.”

Markus handed Sophia up into the Marlton carriage. She had not expected to find Elinor there with Dory, but somehow her presence seemed right. The door closed and they rolled down the street with a dozen footmen, Anthony and Markus surrounding them.

“Are you all right?” Dorothea asked.

“I’m fine.”

Elinor’s eyes were wide. “Did he take the bait?”

“Wherever did you hear such a term?” Dorothea asked.

“In Mrs. Radcliffe’s novels.” Elinor twisted her hands in her lap.

Sophia’s eyes filled with tears she didn’t shed. “It is rather like a dramatic novel. The really funny part is, not long ago I was living a quiet life in Philadelphia and no one knew who I was.”

Dorothea put her arm around Sophia. “That man really is awful, Sophia. He looked at me as a snake might a rat about to be devoured. I had no idea.”

“I’m sorry you got involved, Dory.”

Dory rubbed her arms as if there were a chill in the air. “No matter. As soon as he saw you, he bolted across the room. I turned to introduce Elinor and he was gone. Elinor said he headed out to the garden.”

Sophia asked, “How is it you are here, Elinor? I thought I’d kept at least one of my friends out of harm’s way.”

Leaning across the carriage, Elinor patted her hand. “My own fault. I followed Dory into the carriage, forced her to tell me everything and refused to leave.”

It was nice to have friends. “I’m glad you are here. I don’t know how I would survive London without the two of you.”

Dory hugged her tighter. “You shall never have to. You will be living a quiet life in England very soon. You and Marlton will live in peace as soon as this Pundington business is over.”

“If they find him and he’s alive. Otherwise, the baby and I will move to the country.”

“What baby, Sophia?” Elinor asked.

Her tears won the battle and tumbled over. “I’m going to have a baby.”

Elinor shrieked with excitement.

Dory bounced and kissed her cheek. “That is wonderful news.”

“Do you think so?”

“Of course, we think so. It is the most exciting thing I have ever heard.”

The carriage stopped in front of the townhouse and the ladies moved to the parlor. The footmen and butler were given instruction and Markus left the house.

Anthony stayed with the ladies.

“Why are you upset about the baby, Sophia?” Dory asked.

“What baby?” Anthony demanded.

“I’m not. I’m only worried that Daniel will not return or if he does, he will be so angry with me he will not want the child.”

“Of course he will want the child.” Elinor said.

Anthony interrupted, “All men want children.”

All three women looked at him. He was sitting in a large overstuffed chair with his feet up on another. He looked every bit a young lord.

“What do you know about it?” Sophia used a curt, doubtful tone, one she reserved strictly for Anthony.