The Folly at Falconbridge Hall (19 page)

Julian’s ship docked. With a boom, the steamboat nudged the wharf, sending a spray of grey-green water into the air. Deckhands scurried to raise the gangplank. Hurrying from the ship, he shivered in the cold breeze off the Thames. He searched the crowd for Vanessa and Blythe. There was no sign of them.

Perturbed, but assuming the telegram had gone astray, he said his goodbyes to the men and went to look for an available Hansom. He crossed the road and walked past a shop newsstand. He glanced at it, came to an abrupt halt, and hurried back. blazed across it was,
Woman found murdered at Falconbridge Hall
. “Christ!”

Julian swung round, spied a free cab, and darted out into the traffic to hail it.

*****

When Vanessa reached the rose garden, Johnson ran across the lawn to take the reins. She jumped down. “Lovel has Blythe. He and a gypsy are waiting in the glade where the woman died,” she gasped. “Lovel wants money or they’ll hurt her.”

Johnson swore as he tried to catch his breath. “Beg pardon, my lady. What would you have me do?”

“Ring the inspector but tell him to keep the police away until I have Blythe in my care.” Vanessa was already running. She called back, “Impress on Knott that he must not take any chances with Blythe’s life. I’ll fetch the money. After I get Blythe safely away, they can arrest Lovel and shoot him for all I care. Make that absolutely clear, Johnson. And tell Mrs. Royce to make sure everyone remains inside the house. Absolutely no one is to wander the grounds.”

Showing remarkable speed, he raced past her. He reached the house and was on the telephone as she passed him to run up the stairs.

Once in Julian’s bedroom, Vanessa hurried to his underwear drawer and took out the piece of paper with the combination written on it. She pulled back the painting that hid the safe, relieved that Julian had shown her before he left. She twisted the dial left and right and left again, carefully following the instructions, held her breath, and pulled the leaver. She uttered a cry when it clicked and the safe door opened. Removing the velvet box, she emptied the necklace and earrings into her hand and shoved them into her skirt pocket. There was a wad of notes there, too as he’d promised, but also a pistol. Dare she take the gun when she had no knowledge of how to use it? She didn’t even know if it was loaded. Might the sight of it inflame Lovel and make him even more dangerous? Stuffing the money into her other pocket, she ran from the room.

Johnson waited for her below. “The inspector is on his way, my lady.” He hurried alongside her to the rose garden. Flora grazed the lawns where Vanessa had left her.

He grasped Vanessa’s foot and boosted her up onto the horse.

“Let me follow you, please, my lady.” He gazed up at her anxiously. “I don’t trust that scurf to keep his word.”

Vanessa didn’t trust Lovel either. She pulled on the reins. “I can’t take the chance. I must go alone.”

*****

A cart loaded with fresh fish from the docks rattled along holding up the Hansom cab. As soon as it turned off the road, Julian shouted at the driver to go faster.

“Can only go as fast as me horse will allow, guv,” the jarvie said.

Burning with frustration, Julian finally arrived at the house to find Johnson pacing at the gate. “What has happened, man?” Julian yelled.

Johnson hurried over. As they ran back to the house, he explained to Julian how Lovel had kidnapped Blythe and Vanessa had gone after them.

“I’ve rung for the inspector, my lord. I’m expecting him any minute.”

Julian’s chest felt crushed with anxiety. “Do as her ladyship instructed, Johnson. Wait for Knott. Tell him to hold off. I’ll handle it.”

Julian ran to the bedroom. Across on the far wall, the painting had been pulled back, the safe door open. His pistol lay on a table where Vanessa must have left it. He grabbed a box of bullets from the safe, and quickly loaded the gun.

He came down to find Mrs. Royce clutching her hands together in the hall. Her eyes widened at the sight of the pistol. “Keep the front door closed and everyone inside,” he said, “until you are instructed otherwise.”

“Yes, my lord. It will be done. Please be careful.”

Julian barely noticed her faint reply as he strode down the steps. The red-hot anger was so palpable he could taste it. He would kill Lovel if it were the last thing he did. He focused on his task. He couldn’t think of his two girls. They were alive. They had to be.

Gasping, her heart pounding its way out through her ribs, Vanessa rode back to the clearing.

Lovel held the struggling child around the waist easily with one arm, the other hand on a knife tucked into his belt. “What have you got for me?”

Blythe’s wrists were tied, and a cloth gagged her mouth. When she saw Vanessa, her eyes grew huge in her white face. At the sight of the frightened girl, tears flooded Vanessa’s eyes, and she shook her head to clear them. Heart pounding, she urged herself not to weaken now. “Send Blythe to me and you can have the money!”

Vanessa drew the diamond necklace from her pocket and held it up. A shaft of sunlight caught the gems, and they flashed blue flame.

“You can have the rest when you let Blythe go,” she said to Lovel.

He began to move towards her.

Vanessa pulled the horse back away. Flora, sensing Vanessa’s distress, grew restless and whickered. “Move any closer and I’ll break this necklace apart and throw it into the long grass. It will take you forever to find them all. Send Blythe to me!”

Lovel drew his knife with his free hand. “You want this child back alive?”

Vanessa gasped, fear strangling her voice. “Let her go, please, Lovel. Take me instead.”

He nodded, with that knowing smile she hated. “Get off the horse.”

Vanessa jumped down.

Blythe might have been a bundle of rags in his arms. He threw her onto the saddle and secured her wrists to the pommel with his red bandana. “Get home, Flora!” he commanded.

Flora cantered off down the track.

Vanessa felt her legs go weak with relief. She pulled the money and the jewels from her pocket, hoping to distract him. “Here. This is what you wanted.”

Lovel strode purposefully to her side. His huge hand clamped down over hers snatching the cache of jewels and money from her fingers. He pocketed them and signaled his success to his accomplice who must have waited amongst the trees.

Vanessa swallowed as bile rose in her throat. “I’ve done what you wished. Let me go.”

“Why should I?” His black eyes shone with lust.

She shuddered.

He moved like a snake striking its victim and had his arm around her waist before she knew it. He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.

“You’re coming with me. I’ve always fancied a romp with you.” Breathing unwashed male sweat and rancid fear, she almost gagged as he strode on.

“
Johnson!”
Vanessa’s cry echoed around the clearing.

“Be quiet or you’ll never see your home again.” His strode with her towards the woods as his free hand roamed her body, touching intimate parts of her that made her sick to her stomach. His fingers roamed up her leg.

“Stop it.” She pummeled his back and kicked out at him violently.

Laughing, he put her down, his fingers sinking into the flesh of her arms. Lovel shook her so hard her teeth rattled. “By heaven I’ll have something to take away with me. Some memory of this cursed life.”

Vanessa pulled away from him as a shot ricocheted through the woods. She watched frozen as Lovel fell away from her. He crumpled with a foul curse and lay on the ground clutching his leg. Blood seeped through his fingers.

Shocked, Vanessa searched the bushes for the police as Lovel’s accomplice turned and disappeared into the trees.

She gaped as Julian ran across the clearing, a smoking pistol in his hand. “
Julian
!”

Julian shoved Lovel away with his foot and pulled Vanessa against him. “Are you all right?”

She placed her hand on his chest, afraid she was dreaming. “I am now.”

He nodded. “Go to Blythe, Vanessa. Send the inspector to me.”

Lovel groaned in pain, and watched as Julian leveled the gun at him. “We’re going to wait for the police, Lovel. You’ll be lucky if I resist shooting you dead.”

“You won’t,” Lovel said. “You don’t have it in you.”

“Don’t push it. You’ll find you’re very wrong.”

Julian’s tone was resolute.

Vanessa believed him. It would be wise for Lovel to do so.

She turned and ran.

Vanessa settled Blythe on the settee in the drawing room. Studying the girl anxiously, she rubbed each slender wrist ringed with red marks from the bonds. “Did they hurt you?”

Nestled in between Vanessa and Julian, Blythe shook her head.

“Poor Agatha, it’s unbelievable.” Julian’s lips thinned. “I would expect my staff to be safe under my roof.”

“We will be safe now that you’re home, won’t we, Father?” Blythe’s asked.

“We are all perfectly safe now, Blythe.” Julian hugged her. “You have no need to worry.”

“I wrote to Agatha’s father as soon as I heard,” Vanessa said.

Julian nodded. “Good. I must send my sympathies too.”

He huffed out a breath. “But it’s not easy to understand why she took that painting.”

“Did you give her one of your drawings of a butterfly?”

He shook his head. “No, why?”

“She hid it in her drawer.”

“The
Nymphalidae.
I remember having to draw another after it disappeared
.
” He frowned. “Hard to know what motivated her. It wasn’t money. Odd notions swayed her from reality, her actions influenced by superstition. She scolded Johnson for opening an umbrella in the hall and cleaning shoes on the table. The gardener was criticized for walking under his ladder.”

“You should have seen Nessa riding Flora, Father. She can ride as well as you.”

Vanessa raised a challenging brow at Julian’s look of surprise. “I’m so proud of you, Blythe. You were awfully brave.”

“Lovel wouldn’t have hurt me,” Blythe said, snuggled against her father’s chest. “He needed some money, that’s all.”

Vanessa preferred Blythe to think this way, as did Julian, for she read it in his eyes. Better not for Blythe to know how dangerous Lovel was. “But what he did was very wrong.” Vanessa could only be relieved that Blythe had come through this frightening experience so well. Having her father safely home no doubt eased much of her fear.

“Thank God you arrived when you did.” Vanessa smiled at her husband, sitting there so big and strong. She would never forget how his quick action had saved them. She longed to snuggle into his arms herself.

Julian stretched out his legs and took a long sip from his glass of brandy. “If I’d considered it, I might have gone in search of the police first and lost valuable time. I’m learning to listen to my instincts more.”

“I’m profoundly sorry, Vanessa.” A sigh escaped his lips. “I would never have left you had I suspected. But Miss Lillicrop’s disappearance, along with that painting, happened over a year ago, and apart from the poor soul dying in the wood, I was led to believe everything had settled down.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I did feel uneasy though. Poor Agatha,” he said again, with a sorrowful shake of his head. “Her general knowledge proved not to extend much beyond poetry, although she tried to make a good show of it, and Blythe seemed to like her. I initially hoped she would work hard to raise the standard of her teaching. But I saw I would have to dismiss her. I disliked the thought of sending the poor woman out to fend for herself when she appeared so ill-equipped.”

“That must have been a difficult decision to make,” Vanessa said.

“Indeed it was.”

“Johnson and Mrs. Royce have been wonderful through all this.” Vanessa stroked Blythe’s hair. “She and Johnson plan to marry.”

“Really?”

“They wish to remain here at the Hall,” she added at his perplexed frown.

“I’m relieved. I wouldn’t want to lose them.”

“Blythe, I think you should bathe and change your dress,” Vanessa said, looking at the weary, dirty child. She went and pulled the bell cord.

Vanessa stood when Blythe left with the nursery maid. “I must go too; I’m filthy.” Vanessa dabbed ineffectually at her ruined skirt with a handkerchief.

“I’ll come with you,” Julian said.

*****

When they entered her bedroom, Vanessa didn’t want to discuss the terrible things that had happened in his absence. She just wanted to rest her head against Julian’s chest and smell his familiar reassuring smell, mixed with the tang of the sea.

Julian stalked the carpet, his face grave.

“What is it, Julian?” she asked, drawing in a breath.

He motioned to the pair of oyster-velvet button-back chairs by the fireplace. “I think it would be best if you sit down.”

How sad he looked. She wanted to stroke the tense dark ridge of his jaw but kept her fingers curled into her palms to prevent it, for she was afraid. He seemed determined to keep some distance from her.

His gaze roamed her face. “I want to explain to you why I’ve come home ahead of time.”

“I’m longing to know.” With an encouraging smile, she folded her hands in her lap to hide her trembling fingers and waited for what he might tell her.

He began to talk, and it spilled out of him, a tale so awful it brought gasps of horror from her lips. The thing that stuck in her mind was how dangerous it had been. She realized Julian’s life had also been under threat, although it might take quite a bit of coaxing to get him to tell her the details. When he told her about Charles and Clara, she released a long sigh.

“Charles Frobisher was an awful man,” she said. “That must have hurt you terribly.”

He studied his hands where they grasped his knees. “I lost my temper when he admitted to the affair. If we hadn’t fought …”

“What man would not react in the same way?” She wondered if Julian had fought to protect Clara’s memory. Was he still deeply in love with her? “What happened to Charles had little to do with you. Charles told you what he planned to do. He must have known the danger. Remember the Gospel of Matthew? ‘All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword’
.
He ravaged native women and defied the villagers’ traditions so surely that prophecy has come true.”

“I should have told you a lot of things.” He reached across and took her hand. “I had time to think and get things straight in my mind while in the jungle. The mighty Amazon affects you strangely. You face your own mortality by witnessing the cycle of life every day. The small and weak are eaten by the strong. We are infinitesimal in the scheme of things, Vanessa, and our time on earth is brief. How important it is to do and say that which matters.” He pressed his soft lips against her palm. “You asked me why I didn’t choose Miss Patterson.”

“Oh yes, I meant to tell you, Miss Patterson—”

He leaned forward and stilled her with his finger on her lips. “I didn’t ask Miss Patterson to marry me because you were the one I wanted, from that first day when you came into my study, nervous and worried about your sketchy knowledge of botany.”

She wrinkled her nose. “And you teased me.”

“Did I? I’m sorry. I must have been seeking a connection with you. Subconsciously.”

She smiled as her heart lifted. “What was the reaction you wanted from me back then?”

He gave a lazy smile. “You know quite well.”

“Perhaps I do now.”

He opened his eyes wide. “I certainly hope so. I have taken great pains to show you. Perhaps I should show you now?”

She giggled as she climbed to her feet. “The servants …”

“The servants have been schooled in discretion.” He stroked her arms, looking devastatingly appealing.

“The inspector,” she said weakly, as her body yearned for him and her resolve slipped away. “I must change.”

“Yes, I know. It’s broad daylight and the inspector will be here any minute and, no doubt, Blythe is wondering where we are.” He cast her a regretful glance and sat down. “I suppose we must wait until this evening.” He folded his arms. “Now what’s this about Miss Patterson?”

Vanessa began to change out of her soiled gown. She slipped it off her shoulders and stepped out of it. “I believe the man she had been seeing was Charles, but she wouldn’t confirm it.”

Julian drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair as he watched her. “It might well have been. Charles could have seduced Queen Victoria herself if he set his mind to it.”

“I heard through staff gossip that Miss Patterson might be pregnant.”

He looked startled. “If it’s true then I’m extremely sorry for her.”

“If it is true, she will be devastated, particularly if Charles was the father. She doesn’t like me very much, but I wish there was something we might do to help her.”

“Let’s solve our own problems first. I want to hear what Knott has to say.”

“She believes herself to be a modern woman, but I don’t know that it sits well on her shoulders.” Vanessa removed a dress from the wardrobe and laid it on the bed. “My uncle described someone who looked very much like Miss Patterson coming out of a hotel with Charles early one morning.”

His brows shot up. “Your uncle?”

“He came to see us at Christmas, bearing gifts.”

“Another surprise. Was it a welcome one? Do you want to continue to see him?”

“I don’t mind him becoming part of our lives if he wishes it. He has put me in his will. A property my father was to have.”

“And that makes you feel better about him?”

She saw that the hem of her petticoat was muddy and unbuttoned it, sliding it down over her hips. Picking up the clean gown, she said, “It was after all an argument between his father and mine. It’s too late for my parents, but I expect it makes my uncle feel better.”

“You’ve never told me what happened in Cornwall before your parents died.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat as painful memories surfaced.

“Don’t, if it upsets you. You’ve been through enough for one day.”

She felt she could face it now. Somehow, the pain had lessened, and she wanted to share it with him. “It seems to be the day for unveiling secrets. Mother passed away first. She had been sick for some months with influenza. We could no longer afford servants by that time. Father was ill too and became irrational after she died. He left his bed and staggered down to the sea during the night. I had to wade in and pull him out in my nightgown. I was afraid we would both drown.”

Julian sprung from his chair to take her in his arms. “My poor darling.”

“He died the next day. The doctor said his heart gave out.” She leaned her head against his chest, drawing comfort from his familiar smell and the sympathy in his voice. “That’s when I discovered there was no money. Even the house wasn’t ours.”

“I’ll make all that up to you. I promise.”

“You already have.” Her gaze traced his features that she’d come to love. “No more trips, darling?”

He shook his head. “I just wish to sit by the fire in my slippers.” His grin as his hand slid down over her hip, drawing her close against him, made a mockery of his words. She laughed. His lips found her throat, as his hands wandered over her body. The atmosphere in the room became charged. He tugged down the strap of her chemise and pressed his lips to the rise of her breast below her collarbone.

Suddenly, her hands found his dark hair, sliding through the silky straight locks. Her heart beat faster and her breathing quickened. “But the inspector—”

“Damn the inspector.” Julian took the gown from her hands and threw it onto a chair. “Your hair’s like burnished bronze in this light.” Pins flew everywhere as he freed it from the bun she had repined on returning to the house. Twining his fingers through her curls, he gently brought her face closer to his. “My love.” The sheer delight of his slow kiss heated her body with yearning, making her feel so intoxicated she could hardly stand.

He drew away and smiled. “I’ve missed your mouth.” He kissed her nose. “And that tip-tilted nose of yours.”

His hands trembled, and he looked so vulnerable she wanted to hug him to her. “I missed you too, Julian, oh so much.”

“I love you, Vanessa. I’ve been an idiot not to tell you. I suppose I was gun-shy after Clara. Afraid of being hurt again.”

The revelation brought her such pleasure. She gasped and reached for him, silencing him with a kiss. “And I love you.”

“Clara was the daughter of a diplomat and grew up in Paris. She was used to an exciting life, and grew quickly bored here. I knew there was someone else, but I didn’t know who. She returned to Paris and died in the carriage accident soon after. I struggled with grief and guilt that I’d let her down by being away so much, and I struggled to deal with Blythe missing her mother.” He sighed. “I was a bit of a mess for a long time, I’m afraid.”

Vanessa put her hand to his cheek, “Darling…”

“Let’s get these damn clothes off.” He fumbled impatiently at her corset. “Why did you wear this infernal thing today?”

She laughed and put her hand over his. “Let me help.”

He was hers. She had been prepared to fight for him, even if it meant wrestling him away from Abigail Patterson. But it was Clara she had been afraid she couldn’t win against. She would always remain young and very lovely.

He pulled off her corset, while she tugged his shirt from the waistband of his trousers, as impatient as he. It drew a husky laugh from him.

His laugh sent joy spiraling through her. He had been through so much, and she longed to comfort him, with her love and her body. To ease the hurt caused him by two selfish and immoral people. She let her bloomers pool at her feet. Emboldened by her feminine power, she stepped out of them and shamelessly stripped off her chemise. Naked, she unrolled her stockings as Julian’s trousers joined the rest of his clothes on the floor.

A moment later, they both tumbled naked onto the bed.

His weight settled over her. Skin to skin, she hugged him close. Everything would be all right now. Her fingers stroked over his ribs, feeling each bone, more pronounced than before his trip, moving down over the curve of his lower back to his rounded buttocks, reassuring herself that he had returned unhurt. He was still a fine specimen of a man. He slipped a hand between them and stroked her, stoking the fire that burned for his touch. She opened her legs and drew him in, her thighs clasping around his hips, and he pushed into her with a groan of delight. It brought her close to crying before his thrusts carried her away. She’d felt like a cello string strung too tightly over the past months, so missing his body and this essential part of their lives.