Notorious Deception (24 page)

“Were you just dancing with Lord Hampton?” Caroline asked. At Diana's curt nod, Caroline said, “You had best be careful around him, Diana. Hampton's the most notorious rake in London and probably the most dangerous.”

“I don't doubt it,” Diana said sincerely, feeling relieved she had escaped him.

“It really is a pity his striking good looks hide such a ruthless and dark soul,” Caroline said as she viciously fanned herself.

Diana shuddered involuntarily and glanced over at her friend. She momentarily forgot her ire over Lord Hampton when she saw Caroline's ashen features. “Are you feeling unwell, Caroline?”

“I am feeling rather warm,” Caroline said breathlessly. She continued to rapidly move her ivory fan.

Diana anxiously searched the crowded room. Tristan danced past them holding Alyssa in his arms. Morgan next whirled by with the dowager duchess, who was smiling with genuine delight while she danced with her eldest grandson. Finally, Diana saw Derek.

He was engaged in earnest conversation with several individuals, but he lifted his head the moment Diana fixed her stare on him. Derek quickly excused himself from the group and strode purposefully toward her.

“Caroline needs some fresh air,” Diana said the moment he reached them.

“It would be my pleasure, ladies” Derek said, gallantly offering them each an arm. He led the way, and they pushed passed the crowds milling about the French doors and stepped out into the clear starry night.

“I just had to get away for a few minutes.” Caroline sighed, breathing in great gulps of air. “It was so stuffy my head was spinning.”

They decided to walk along the outer balcony and enjoy the warm breeze. They conversed pleasantly until Caroline suddenly clutched her middle in extreme distress.

“I think I am going to be sick!” she exclaimed in true horror. Turning her head aside, she gripped the wrought-iron balustrade for support, leaned far over the railing, and threw up.

Derek was completely alarmed, but Diana firmly held Caroline by the waist and waited until she was finished. Keeping her face averted, Caroline whispered to Diana, “I am so embarrassed. Please send Derek away.”

Diana instantly turned to her bewildered and worried husband. “Please go find Tristan,” she said. “Caroline needs to go home at once.”

Derek hesitated a few moments, not wanting to leave the women alone in this secluded section of the balcony. He quickly lost his reluctance, however, when Caroline groaned loudly, thrust her head back over the railing, and began retching again. He muttered a few words about returning as soon as possible and left to search for Tristan.

Diana fumbled in the pocket of her gown for a handkerchief and wiped Caroline's damp brow. Caroline accepted her assistance, then began weeping.

“I feel like the veriest fool, Diana,” Caroline said, sobbing. “All I have done for months and months is complain about not being able to conceive a child. How desperately I longed for a baby! And now that my greatest wish has finally come true, I am a total disaster.”

“Oh, Caroline, you are not a disaster,” Diana said soothingly.

“But I am, Diana,” Caroline said with a sniff. “Just look at me. I look awful. My complexion is pale and sallow. I feel light-headed and dizzy for a good part of the day, and I start weeping at the drop of a hat. And now, in the middle of this lovely ball, I have gotten violently ill in Lady Harrington's shrubbery. It is pitiful.”

“It isn't pitiful.”

“Oh, it is so. You are just trying to be kind.” Caroline wiped her face with the handkerchief. “I certainly never suspected having a baby was going to involve all of this, Diana. I feel totally unprepared.”

“You are going to be fine, Caroline. The symptoms you have just described are all normal. You must not worry so much. The nausea and dizziness will pass after a time, and you still have many months to prepare yourself for motherhood.” Deliberately changing the subject, Diana asked, “Have you told Tristan yet?”

Caroline smiled slightly. “No. I just had to be certain I truly was pregnant before I mentioned it to Tris. I couldn't bear his disappointment if I were wrong.

“I think it is safe to inform him, Caroline,” Diana said, smiling. “You know he will be thrilled with the news. And it is important for you to discuss these fears and concerns with someone. Who better than Tristan?”

“Who better than Tristan for what?” a familiar voice said.

“Tris!” Caroline's voice rang out with relief as she embraced her husband.

“Did Derek find you?” Diana asked.

“No,” Tristan said, his arms automatically encircling his wife. “I finished my dance with Alyssa and came searching for Caroline. Lord Hampton said he noticed Caroline strolling on the balcony with you and Derek. Is everything all right?”

“Yes,” Caroline said. “Everything is fine. I do feel rather tired, Tris. I should like to go home.”

“Of course, sweetheart. I shall make our excuses to Lord and Lady Harrington.” Tristan tried to break away, but his wife refused to relinquish her tight hold on his waist. “We rode to the ball with Morgan, so I will have to take his carriage and driver. I'll send the coach back for Morgan, Alyssa, and Grandmother later. Grandmother will be riding home with them since she is staying at their London house. I know my brother was ready to make his departure hours ago, but Alyssa and Grandmother are enjoying themselves too much. He will just have to wait until they are ready to leave.”

Caroline nodded in agreement, but even in the dim outdoor lighting, Diana noticed the absence of color in her face. She was afraid Caroline was going to start retching again and then become completely distraught over her queasy stomach.

“I shall be happy to explain about the coach to Morgan, as well as make your excuses to Lord and Lady Harrington, Tris,” Diana said. “I think it is best that you take Caroline home right away. She really isn't feeling well.”

Tristan was immediately solicitous of his wife. “You are right, Diana. She is very pale.” Tenderly he brushed back an errant wisp of hair from Caroline's forehead. Then he turned his attention to Diana.

“I don't want you staying out here alone, Diana. Promise me you will return immediately to the ballroom,” Tristan said, sweeping his wife up into his arms. Caroline protested weakly that she could walk, but he ignored her and she clasped her hands around his neck.

“I shall go back inside now, Tris,” Diana said. “I will call on you tomorrow afternoon, Caroline.”

With a small wave, the pair disappeared into the darkness, Tristan electing to carry his wife around the outside balcony rather than through the crowded ballroom. Diana took a last breath of clean air and turned to leave. The moment she took a small step forward, a large gray shadow blocked her path. Alarmed, she looked up, but the figure remained in the shadows, and in the darkness of the night, she could not discern the features of the person standing before her.

“Leaving so soon, Countess,” the stranger said in a low voice. “Now that I have finally succeeded in getting you alone, I was so hoping we could have a long, private conversation. It is vastly overdue.”

Diana felt a chill ride up her spine. “You have me at a disadvantage, sir. Knowing my name when I am unaware of yours,” she said, forcing a calmness into her voice she did not feel.

“I prefer to keep it that way, Countess,” the stranger insisted. “For your safety, as well as my own.”

“And I prefer not to have conversations with mysterious strangers,” Diana said haughtily in her best imitation of the dowager duchess. “If you will kindly excuse me, sir.” Shaken, but determined, she took a step forward. The stranger again blocked her way, but still remained in the darkness.

“I regret that I cannot excuse you, Countess,” the stranger said. “I have no wish for our remarks to be overheard nor I suspect, will you.”

“That is not my concern,” Diana said, trying yet again to move past the man. She was in a relatively secluded section of the balcony and was uncertain if she could scream loud enough to bring attention to herself if necessary. Thus far, the man had made no threatening gestures toward her, but his detaining her, along with his refusal to reveal his identity, bespoke of the possible danger.

Diana strained her eyes in the darkness to see him, but could only briefly make out his silhouette and not his facial features. Her heart began to beat more rapidly in her chest.

“I often told Giles you appeared to be a woman of more intelligence than he credited you with,” the man said in a silky voice. “Please don't do anything foolish to belie my confidence in you, Lady Diana.”

Diana gasped at the mention of Giles. “Who are you?” she whispered in horror.

“Ah, I see I have finally succeeded in capturing your attention, Countess,” the stranger said mockingly. “Have you changed your mind about leaving?”

Despite the dryness of her mouth and the thudding of her heart, Diana was able to keep her voice steady when she asked, “What do you want of me?”

“Very direct and to the point. I like that in a person, especially in a woman. It is such a rare quality. Giles was a fool to prefer Henriette to you. But I digress.” Diana could not be sure, but she thought the man smiled in the darkness. “Giles stole something from me of extreme importance. And I want it back. Unfortunately, he met with his rather tragic and untimely death before he was able to reveal precisely where he was keeping my property.”

Diana lifted her hand in confusion. “What does this have to do with me?”

“The item in question is of a sensitive nature. I am certain it is hidden somewhere in the London house you are now occupying. I expect you to find my property, Lady Diana, and return it to me.”

In spite of the absurdity of the situation, Diana's curiosity was piqued. “What exactly is this item?”

“It is a small, leather-bound book containing the names of various members of the peerage. I assure you it has little value to anyone but myself.”

“It sounds as if it might have great value, sir, if you are so very anxious to retrieve it,” Diana said, feeling a bit less anxious. “Why should I assist you in finding this book?”

“Because I have in my possession a page from the church register from St. Michael's in Chippenham. This particular page verifies the marriage of Giles Rutledge, Earl of Harrowby, to one Diana Crawford. It is dated several months prior to the earl's marriage to Henriette. Now that Giles is dead, the charge of bigamy no longer applies, but I strongly suspect you would prefer this marriage not be made public. If you don't cooperate with me, I shall be forced to send the evidence of your previous marriage to the newspapers. British society feeds on scandals such as this one. I am sure the
Times
readership will find yours a fascinating story.”

Diana felt the knot in her stomach tighten. This man knew everything. Her mind raced ahead, trying to formulate some sort of response. Then like a bolt of lightning, it hit her.

“Jonathan Marlow.” Diana was so surprised by the revelation, she did not realize she had spoken aloud until she heard Marlow's voice.

“Ah, so you have guessed my secret, Lady Diana.” Marlow clicked his tongue in admiration. “I am pleased. It proves to me what a very clever young woman you really are. Clever enough to locate what I want.”

“If you know as much as you claim to about me, Mr. Marlow, then you are certainly aware I have no knowledge of where Giles kept any of his personal papers.”

“Yes, it was rather shocking the way your husband treated you, Lady Diana.” Marlow almost sounded sympathetic. “I confess, I was a party to some of his more lucrative transactions involving your inheritance. However in this case, it should not be too difficult for you to find my property. You are currently living in the house.”

“And if I refuse?”

“That would be unnecessarily foolish. Make no mistake, Lady Diana. I will make your marriage to Giles public knowledge.”

Diana did not doubt his intentions. She squinted in the darkness, hoping to catch a glimpse of his features. Even though she had correctly guessed his identity, Marlow still remained in the shadows. She could easily meet him again in the light of day and not know him.

“Despite what you have said, Mr. Marlow, I know this book must be of extreme value. If I find it for you, what will you give me for it?”

Marlow laughed. “You sound almost eager, Countess. I propose we make a fair exchange. You find the book for me, and I will give the church register page to you.”

Diana nodded her head in agreement. She had no idea what she would do if she was able to locate this mysterious book, but she was not about to infuriate Marlow by refusing him outright. For now, it was best to agree to his demands and remove herself from his secluded company.

“How shall I contact you when I find your property?”

“There will be no need for that, Lady Diana. I shall be in touch with you.”

“All right.” Diana stepped forward, hoping he would let her pass since their business was concluded.

“Two days.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“You have two days to find the book, Countess. And I must insist you not tell you husband about our little arrangement.”

“If you wish.”

“I have kept a close eye on you, Lady Diana, from the moment you set foot in London. The shots fired at you in St. James's Park were intended to instill doubts about the earl, and the disastrous fire at Snowshill Manor was necessary to assure your return to London. But I sent your crushed bonnet to Ashton's house to convince you of the vast network of people I command. If you try to cross me, Countess, I shall know of it. And if your husband interferes in any way, I will have him killed.”