Debra Mullins (23 page)

“I will.” The admiral hurried away.

Marc looked at Vaughn. “The two of us might be able to carry him, or I can call for a litter.”

“Carry him.”

“Very well.” Marc and Vaughn positioned themselves to lift Rome’s weakening body.

“Wait.” Barely able to keep his wits about him, Rome grabbed Vaughn’s sleeve. “The Black Rose. Who?”

“Emberly.” Vaughn shook his head, clearly surprised. “It was Emberly.”

“Oh, God.” He turned pleading eyes to Marc. “Look after Vin…”

“I will. Now stop talking and save your strength for healing.”

“This is going to hurt,” Vaughn warned, and when they lifted him, his head spun with searing pain, and his stomach churned, and the rest of the world faded blissfully away…

T
he news left everyone reeling in shock.

Upon waking to discover that her husband was not only dead but had tried to kill her brother, Lavinia fell into numb despondency. The added news that Rome hung on to life by a thread sent her completely into hysterics. The surgeon prescribed laudanum.

Anna lingered around the house like a ghost, waiting for news of Rome. She sat in the parlor, her embroidery hoop dangling from her unmoving hands as she stared out the window at the bright, spring day.

The doctor had deemed his condition extremely serious. The good news was that the blade had missed his heart. The bad news was
he still might die from the excessive blood loss.

No one would tell her more than that, and she wanted to scream at the frustration of it. To the casual observer, she was nothing more than a future relative. How could anyone know that if Rome’s heart stopped beating, so would hers?

Henrietta bustled into the room. “Lavinia’s mother has arrived, thank goodness. That poor girl will need her family about her at this difficult time.”

“I feel for Mrs. Devereaux,” Anna said quietly. “Her son is at death’s door.”

“Yes, we mustn’t forget about dear Mr. Devereaux.” Henrietta sat down on the sofa next to her daughter. “He uncovered the plot, after all. Imagine, that killer dined with us and played cards with us, and all the while he was a member of that terrible Black Rose Society.”

“We were all fooled,” Anna agreed. She poked her needle through the cloth.

“And did you hear what Mr. Vaughn said about Anthony? That he was helping bring the society to justice? Oh, my poor son.” She sniffled. “You were right, Anna. His death was the result of foul play. I only wish we’d listened to you.”

“He was doing what he thought was right, and it was smart of him to go to Mr. Vaughn with his findings. He is a hero.” Anna touched her locket for a moment, content that the truth about her brother’s death had finally been brought to light.

Henrietta pulled a lacy handkerchief out of her
pocket and dabbed at her eyes. “The surgeon came by this morning.”

Anna dropped her embroidery. Taking a calming breath, she leaned down and scooped it off the floor. “What did he say? I hope Mr. Devereaux is recovering.”

“He is still not doing as well as we’d hoped, though both the physician and Lord Haverford are quite close-mouthed.” Henrietta eyed her daughter. “You appear to care very much for Mr. Devereaux.”

“He will soon be family, won’t he?” Her heart pounded, and her fingers shook as she tried to maintain her composure. “And he was helping Mr. Vaughn learn the truth about Anthony.”

“Yes, I like him quite a bit. He’s a brave man, and an honorable one.”

Anna set aside her embroidery, unable to sit still for another moment. “I believe I will seek out his lordship and see if he is willing to take me into his confidence.”

“Excellent idea, daughter. Begin as you mean to go on.”

Anna found his lordship in the garden. She paused on the path, the leaves of a hedge hiding her from sight. He was not alone.

“I cannot fathom the events of last night,” Charlotte said. She sat on a stone bench with a handkerchief crumpled in her two hands. “Dennis insists we leave today.”

Haverford sat next to her, leaning forward, their shoulders barely touching. His clasped hands dangled loosely between his knees. “I’m sure your brother just wants you to be safe.” His gaze swept Charlotte’s face in a moment of unveiled affection.

“But the danger is past. I do not understand his haste to be away from here.”

“Would you like me to talk to him?”

“Oh, would you?” She turned to face him, her lovely face filled with hope.

He nodded, clearing his throat. “Of course.”

Silence fell between them, and such an intimate silence that Anna wondered why she had not seen it before.

“Thank you, my lord,” Charlotte finally whispered.

Haverford just nodded again.

Anna came forward, deliberately scuffing her shoes against the stone pathway. The two jolted, and Haverford sprang to his feet, guilt flickering across his face as if he’d been caught with his hand in her reticule.

“My lord, there you are. I’ve been looking for you.” Anna smiled at the other woman. “Good afternoon, Charlotte.”

“How are you, Anna? I trust you have recovered from your terrible ordeal last night.”

“I am well, thank you.” Anna looked at Haverford. “May I speak to you a moment, my lord?”

“Of course.”

Charlotte got to her feet. “I’d best go find my
brother.” She glanced one last time at Haverford. Anna only caught a moment of it as the woman turned toward her, but the longing and misery in Charlotte’s eyes matched what she saw in her own gaze in the mirror.

How could she have been so blind?

Haverford watched Charlotte walk away, then gave Anna a benign smile. “How can I help you, my dear?”

“I’d like to know how Rome is doing.”

Haverford’s expression grew serious, and real worry deepened his voice. “Not well. He’s been running a fever since last night. We must hope for the best.”

“Will he die?”

“I won’t lie to you. It’s a possibility.”

“Dear Lord.” She turned away from him, taking a moment to tame her unstable emotions before she betrayed herself.

“I didn’t realize you cared so much for my cousin, Anna. It pleases me that my family is so dear to you even after so short a time.”

She squeezed her eyes shut. How could she bear it? The man she loved lay on the brink of death, and she could not even comfort him. How would she go on without him?

“Anna? Are you all right?”

She opened her eyes, and through her blurry tears, saw the sapphire-and-diamond engagement ring on her finger. How could she go forward with her life, living a lie?

She turned to Haverford, searching his face for some grain of truth. “Why did you ask me to marry you?”

His unguarded look revealed a moment of surprise before the polite mask fell back into place. “Because I admire you, of course.”

“I don’t think that’s the only reason.”

He frowned. “Anna, what are you about? These questions are most unseemly.”

“Not as unseemly as marrying for the wrong reasons.” She took a deep breath and plunged forward. “I don’t love you, Marc.”

His expression cleared. “Is that all? Love will come, Anna. I believe mutual respect and friendship make for a harmonious union.”

“And I believe the truth makes for a harmonious union. So please trust me enough to tell me. Did you offer for me because you want me to be your wife, or because you were honoring a promise made by your father?”

“Well, of course, honor comes into it,” he blustered. “I’ve always known I would ask you to marry me when the time came.”

“And I’ve always known I would accept.” She looked down at her ring, then slid it off her finger and handed it to him. “But I realize now I made a mistake. I would make you a terrible wife, Marc.”

Shock wiped the courteous façade from his face. “But you have accepted my offer! Are you jilting me?”

“I am.” She folded her hands over his, closing
his fingers over the precious heirloom. “I love your cousin, Marc. I am hoping you will not be angry about that. We met and developed feelings for each other before you ever proposed marriage to me, and I was wrong to accept you when I knew my heart lay elsewhere.”

“You’re in love with
Rome
?” He nearly shouted the words. He raked his hand through his hair in a frustrated gesture she had never seen him use.

“Yes.” She stared imploringly at him. “Neither one of us chose this, and neither of us wants to hurt you. Rome may die—” The words nearly choked her. “He may die, and I would rather live the rest of my life alone with the memory of our love than wed for the wrong reasons.”

“I don’t know what to say. I cannot fathom it. Twice this has happened to my family.
Twice!
”

“It’s not the same. Look past your wounded pride.” She pried open his fingers so the sapphire glittered in the sunlight. “Isn’t there someone else you would rather give this to? Someone your heart longs for?”

“I…it doesn’t seem right.”

“Nothing could be more right.”

“You love him that much?” Marc asked. “Enough to withstand the gossip that may surely come of this?”

“If tongues wag, I shall not care. But I don’t think there will be any gossip. The only people who know you and I were engaged is the intimate
circle of friends and family here with us. A notice was never sent to the newspapers.”

“No, I had planned on doing that once we returned to London.” A hint of hope lit his features as he stared down at the ring.

“Even if it meant I would be branded a jilt for the rest of my life, I wouldn’t change my mind.” Anna touched his hand, then waited as he raised his gaze to hers. Joy glowed in his eyes as he began to accept the possibilities, and she smiled, glad that someone might find happiness in this complicated tangle. “Go and find her, Marc. Ask her to be your bride. Follow your heart.”

Still he hesitated, searching her eyes. “Are you certain, Anna?”

She laughed. “How typical of you, Marc, to still question the rightness of this. I am more certain than anything in my life.” Her eyes misted. “There will be no scandal. Go and ask Charlotte to marry you. And whatever happens, be happy.”

He closed his hand around the ring. “If you’re sure this is what you want.” He started to walk away, then stopped and turned back to face her. “About you and Rome…I understand. And if it all works out, you have my blessing.”

“Thank you.”

He hurried off, his pace as animated as a schoolboy’s.

And Anna let the tears finally fall.

“You did
what
?” Henrietta shrieked.

Anna didn’t even flinch at her mother’s shrill tone, having known when she returned to the parlor that the news would not be taken well. “I have given Lord Haverford back his ring. We are no longer engaged.”

“I cannot fathom it. This is a nightmare. That my daughter could be so foolish as to
jilt
an
earl
!”

“I didn’t love him.”

“Love! Dear God, I have birthed a romantic!” Henrietta laid a hand over her eyes and slumped on the sofa, moaning softly.

Anna sighed, well acquainted with her mother’s histrionics. She went to the door and caught the attention of the butler. “Leighton, please have Bliss fetch my mother’s hartshorn. Oh, and if you know where my father is, would you send him here?”

“Right away, miss.”

She turned back to her mother, who lay barely moving on the sofa. “I have sent for Bliss, Mother.”

“You have killed me,” Henrietta moaned.

Anna shook her head and moved to the window to look out on the sunny gardens. She caught a glimpse of Marc walking with Charlotte, both of them chattering and laughing. The sapphire ring glittered on Charlotte’s left hand.

A small smile touched her lips. Whatever happened, she had done the right thing.

The admiral rushed into the room, Mr. Vaughn on his heels. “Henrietta? What’s happened?”

“I’m afraid I gave Mama some bad news,” Anna said, turning away from the window.

The admiral sat on the sofa beside his wife and patted her hand. “Henrietta? Henrietta, it’s Quentin.”

“I’ve broken off my engagement to Lord Haverford,” Anna said.

“What? Well, no wonder she swooned.” Her father patted Henrietta’s cheek. “Come now, my dear. It isn’t as bad as all that.”

Bliss entered the room, as implacable as ever. “Here is the hartshorn.” The admiral took it from her and waved it under her mother’s nose.

Henrietta sat up, coughing, waving away the pungent agent with one hand. “Enough, enough!”

“There you are.” Quentin handed the smelling salts back to Bliss, who sat down on the other side of her mother and began comforting her.

“My word,” Vaughn said with a shake of his head. “And I thought all the excitement had already happened this morning!”

Anna’s puzzlement must have shown on her face.

“We searched Emberly’s things,” her father said, “and we found a membership list for that dratted society. Emberly was the leader.”

“I have the list in a safe place.” Vaughn grinned, a glint of danger in his eyes. “We will disband the villains soon enough, and the other
two leaders will be arrested as soon as I get back to London.”

“My heavens,” Anna whispered, raising trembling fingers to her locket. It had been so long since she had first started her quest, that it was hard to believe it had come to an end.

“Have you all lost your senses?” Henrietta rasped, still catching her breath. “Does no one else understand that my daughter has thrown away her future?”

“Now, Mama.”

“A countess!” Henrietta exclaimed, spreading her hands. “You would have been Lady Haverford! Love comes, Anna. You don’t always have it at the beginning, but over time—”

“I’m in love with someone else.”

Silence greeted her words, then Henrietta exploded to her feet. “Someone else! Who?”

Anna swallowed hard as all eyes focused on her. “Roman Devereaux.”

“Mr. Devereaux? You had an earl for your fiancé, and you jilted him for a
mister
?” Henrietta’s eyes rolled back in her head, and she swayed again. The admiral and Bliss caught her beneath the arms and helped her sit down on the sofa.

Vaughn stepped forward as everyone else fussed over her swooning mother. “Devereaux is a good man,” he said quietly. “He will make a good diplomat. I wish you all the best.”

“Thank you, Mr. Vaughn.”

“A mister!” Henrietta cried again.

Vaughn turned his attention on her mother. “Yes, a mister. Mrs. Rosewood, that mere ‘mister’ saved your daughter’s life and brought a dangerous criminal element to justice. You should be grateful your daughter has such good taste.”

“But the earl—” Henrietta began.

“The earl is engaged to Miss Fellhopper,” Anna said.

“Miss Fellhopper?” Her mother’s eyes bulged. “I told you she was dangerous,” she muttered.

“I’m sorry, Mama. I know you wanted me to be a countess, but my heart did not agree.” Anna folded her hands in front of her and held her mother’s gaze. “I’m in love with Rome, and if he asks me to marry him, I will accept.”