Read Whisper To Me of Love Online
Authors: Shirlee Busbee
Whisper To Me of Love (26 page)
Just about anyone else, Royce would have floored with a powerful right fist, but Zachary was his favorite cousin and he cared deeply about the boy. Controlling his rising temper with an effort, Royce said quietly, “It is a long time since I have made excuses for myself, and I'm not about to start now ... not even for
you!
I know you are unhappy about the current situation, but giving me killing looks and treating me as if I were a leper is not going to undo what happened.”
you!
I know you are unhappy about the current situation, but giving me killing looks and treating me as if I were a leper is not going to undo what happened.”
Zachary continued to look at him in that unfriendly manner, a contemptuous snort his only answer to Royce's even words.
Royce completely understood Zachary's displeasureâhell, he wasn't proud of what had happened himself!âbut there were limits to how much disapproval he was willing to take, and he had just about had enough! His face grim, he said levelly, “I think instead of continuing to cast me in the role of blackest villainy, you need to remind yourself of a few thingsâsuch as the fact that I didn't force her. You didn't hear her come running or screaming from my embrace, did you? Nor did I set the price or even suggest she become my mistress.” Some of his old hurt and anger at Morgana's actions came flooding back and he snarled softly, “No, my young man,
that
was all her connivance! I was just the poor besotted fool who couldn't keep his hands off of what was offered me!”
that
was all her connivance! I was just the poor besotted fool who couldn't keep his hands off of what was offered me!”
Furious for saying far more than he had meant to, Royce sat up violently, the legs of his chair hitting the carpeted floor with a loud thud. “Jesus! Believe me, I wish to hell I had never laid eyes on her!” Standing up, he walked over to where Chambers had set the tray and poured himself a generous glass of wine. His back to Zachary, he muttered, “Get out of here. We obviously have nothing to say.”
While angry and distressed about Morgana's seduction by Royce, Zachary was finding it hard going to maintain his distance from his cousin. Not only were there years of affection and admiration between them, but London had opened Zachary's eyes to many things that once would have shocked and repelled him. He had been astonished to discover that very few members of the ton thought that there was anything out of the ordinary about Royce's actions. Many applauded him, for as his friend Jeremy had said reasonably just the other evening, “What else is a man to do with a lovely wench like that? Waste of fine feminine flesh to keep her as a
servant!
Besides, if not your cousin, then some other lucky fellow would do the same thingâand he might not be as generous!” Warming to his theme, Jeremy had leaned forward and continued earnestly, “Thing is, delectable little creatures like her either find themselves a protector or they end up in a bordello or on the streets. Think your cousin did her a favor!”
servant!
Besides, if not your cousin, then some other lucky fellow would do the same thingâand he might not be as generous!” Warming to his theme, Jeremy had leaned forward and continued earnestly, “Thing is, delectable little creatures like her either find themselves a protector or they end up in a bordello or on the streets. Think your cousin did her a favor!”
Zachary hadn't reached that conclusion, but during his time in London, he had become sophisticated enough to recognize that there was a great deal of truth in Jeremy's statementâno matter
how
cold and unfeeling it might sound. It was apparent, too, from the steady stream of boxes and packages arriving at the house daily, that Morgana was benefiting greatly from the arrangement, and it hadn't escaped Zachary's notice that she had made no attempt to enlist help to escape from Royce, nor had she refused any of the expensive objects that came her way.
how
cold and unfeeling it might sound. It was apparent, too, from the steady stream of boxes and packages arriving at the house daily, that Morgana was benefiting greatly from the arrangement, and it hadn't escaped Zachary's notice that she had made no attempt to enlist help to escape from Royce, nor had she refused any of the expensive objects that came her way.
Prompted as much by a desire to heal the breach with his cousin as the knowledge, distasteful though it might be, that Royce had acted no differently than would have the overwhelming majority of men placed in his position, Zachary muttered, “Royce, we can't go on this way... . I-I-I don't like being at daggers drawn with you.” Taking a deep breath, he added magnanimously, “Perhaps I was too hasty in my condemnation of youâit was none of my business. It is just that I
like
Piâ
Morgana,
and I overreacted to what happened between you. It was not my place to pass judgment on you. I'm sorry.”
like
Piâ
Morgana,
and I overreacted to what happened between you. It was not my place to pass judgment on you. I'm sorry.”
It was an exceedingly handsome apology, and while Royce was enormously relieved to hear Zachary's words, they also shamed himâhe should never have allowed a situation that put Zachary in this position to arise. Turning to face his cousin, he smiled crookedly and said, “There is no need for you to apologizeâI think it is I who owe you an apology for creating this damnable situation!”
A weight lifted from Zachary's shoulders, and grinning a bit shamefacedly, he admitted, “I've been acting very starchy, haven't I?”
“Very!”
Royce said with a laugh.
Royce said with a laugh.
Harmony restored between them, they conversed for several more minutes, and at first it was rather awkward until they firmly reestablished their affectionate rapport. As the moments passed and they brought each other up-to-date with their various activities, the unpleasantness of the past several days was forgotten as if it had never occurred.
It was only after they demolished the tray of food and had finished off one of the bottles of wine that Royce brought up the subject of the locks. His face serious, he asked, “Did Chambers tell you about the locks being tampered with last night?”
Zachary nodded, his own face concerned. “Yes, he did first thing this morning. I looked at all of them, and it is apparent that someone made a rather amateur go at attempting to force their way into the house.”
“Amateur?” Royce asked, one black brow raised skeptically. “The one-eyed man is no amateur, nor, if I am to believe Jacko and Ben, does he consort with amateurs.”
Zachary shrugged his shoulders. “Perhaps I'm wrongâyou'll just have to see them yourself and see if you don't agree with me.”
An hour later, just having completed his own inspection of the doors and their various locks, Royce agreed that Zachary's assessment had been correct. The attempted break-in had been an unmistakably amateur attempt, the scratches and marks on the doors clearly revealing that someone had ineptly tried to either force the locks or pry open the doors. But the attempt itself puzzled Royce, and after a great deal of thought, he came to the unsettling conclusion that last night's occurrence could not have been the work of the one-eyed man or his minionsâthe attempt was too, well,
amateur.
Royce kept coming back to that one thought. An amateur. Someone who was not familiar with the tools of housebreaking. Someone, he was fairly confident, who was not connected with the one-eyed man... . But if not the one-eyed one ... then who? And why?
amateur.
Royce kept coming back to that one thought. An amateur. Someone who was not familiar with the tools of housebreaking. Someone, he was fairly confident, who was not connected with the one-eyed man... . But if not the one-eyed one ... then who? And why?
All through the next few days, that particular line of thought kept swirling around at the back of his brain, even as he went about various tasks. The transactions involving the purchase of Lime Tree Cottage went very smoothly, and shortly, Royce found his bank account hugely depleted; but in exchange, he held the deed to the property. He and Morgana. It gave him a peculiar feeling to see her name on the deed next to hisâalmost as if she were his wife and they had bought the property together... .
Infuriated with himself for even allowing such a nonsensical idea to cross his mind, he pushed the silly notion aside and concentrated determinedly on other things. Such as why he had heard nothing from Roger Steadham, his business agent, about a sailing date for the Fowler brothers. Now that Morgana had become his mistress, there was no question of her going to America without
him,
and he decided that he might as well see Mr. Steadham; in the course of discovering why he had heard nothing from him, he could also relay the information that the number of passages had changed from four to two.
him,
and he decided that he might as well see Mr. Steadham; in the course of discovering why he had heard nothing from him, he could also relay the information that the number of passages had changed from four to two.
Consequently, at two o'clock on Monday afternoon, Royce was seated comfortably in Mr. Steadham's office exchanging polite banter with him before they settled down to discuss business. If he thought Mr. Steadham seemed a trifle nervous, he told himself idly that it was because the man must have other pressures on his mind, and he didn't immediately connect Steadham's odd behavior with
his
business.
his
business.
At the first mention of the passages, however, Steadham's face paled, his eyes dilated, and he stammered, “The p-p-passages you requested? Oh, I'm sorry, but it seems that there are none available until late summer. Possibly August or early September.”
Steadham's reaction would have alerted even someone far less astute than Royce Manchester, and Royce was instantly suspicious. His polite smile fading and the golden eyes narrowed, Royce asked quietly, “Are you telling me that there is
nothing
sailing from England to America until then?”
nothing
sailing from England to America until then?”
Steadham smiled sickly. “Nothing that would be suitable for you,” he offered weakly.
Royce sent him a long, thoughtful look. There could be all manner of reasons to explain Steadham's behavior, and under different circumstances, Royce might have accepted Steadham's actions and words at face value. But that was before he had learned of the mysterious one-eyed one, and Royce could be forgiven for wondering sourly if Steadham wasn't just another poor devil caught in the toils of the one-eyed man. Or was Steadham telling the truth? It would be no problem to double-check the accuracy of the information Steadham had given him, but with a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach, Royce was certain he would discover that Steadham was lying to him and that the one-eyed man was behind his odd behavior. That particular conclusion was inescapable and ... chilling. But was it coincidence or design that the one-eyed man had learned of his visit to Steadham? Or had he been warned by someone of what had been planned?
Royce didn't like the direction of his thoughts. Even if he could dismiss it as pure accident that his business agent was someone who, for whatever reasons, owed the one-eyed man alliance, and further convince himself that it was sheer coincidence that the one-eyed man had learned of his desire to purchase the four passages to America, the fact that the one-eyed man had obviously ordered Steadham to lie about the availability of those passages was definitely ominous. But was the one-eyed man simply being inordinately cautious or had he known that those passages to America were for the Fowlers?
Aware that he would learn nothing further from Steadham and not wishing to betray the tenor of his thoughts, Royce finally said easily, “Very well. If there is nothing before that time, I shall simply have to settle for what you can find for me.” Sending Steadham a charming smile, he added, “Perhaps it is just as wellâmy plans have changed slightly since I last spoke with you, and I now just require two passages.” Only polite inquiry on his face, he asked guilelessly, “Do you think that would make any difference on securing an earlier departure date?”
Steadham moved restlessly in his chair, and not meeting Royce's gaze, he muttered, “I'll look into it, but I believe that I will have to stick to my previous estimate.”
Steadham's reply didn't surprise Royce, especially if the one-eyed man didn't want those passages secured in the near future, and rising lightly to his feet, Royce took his leave as speedily as possible. His thoughts were very busy and
very
dark as he walked away from Steadham's office, and he wasted little time in checking out the truth of Steadham's story, stopping at the first shipping office he came to and inquiring into possible dates for sailing to America. What he learned confirmed his suspicion that Steadham had been lying to himâthere were two ships sailing within the week, and both still had passages available....
very
dark as he walked away from Steadham's office, and he wasted little time in checking out the truth of Steadham's story, stopping at the first shipping office he came to and inquiring into possible dates for sailing to America. What he learned confirmed his suspicion that Steadham had been lying to himâthere were two ships sailing within the week, and both still had passages available....
So. Steadham had lied. Royce supposed that if he wanted to waste time in idle speculation, he could come up with several possible reasons for the business agent to act as he had, but there was only
one
reason as far as Royce was concernedâthat bloody damned one-eyed man!
one
reason as far as Royce was concernedâthat bloody damned one-eyed man!
Returning to Hanover Square, he was scowling blackly as he entered the house, knowing that it was imperative that he meet with the Fowler brothers, and knowing that in order to do so, he was going to have to go to Della's... . Retreating to his study, he paced back and forth, cursing the day he had ever laid eyes on Morgana Fowler!
Unfortunately, his mood was not any better some time later when Chambers knocked timidly on the door (the master's moods these days was extremely volatile!) and informed Royce that dinner was being served. He was expecting to dine aloneâZachary was dining with friends and there were no invited guests. His features moody, he stalked to the dining room only to be brought up short by the sight of Morgana confidently sitting at the head of the table and
wearing the ruby gown!
wearing the ruby gown!
Suddenly Royce had a very good idea of what it felt like to be apoplectic with rage. “What the hell are you doing here? And where in the
bloody
hell did you get that blasted gown?”
bloody
hell did you get that blasted gown?”
Despite the quaking in her limbs, Morgana's chin lifted. It had been quite brave of her to coolly inform Chambers that she would be dining downstairs tonight, and, she realized nervously, unaccountably foolish to wear the ruby gown. Since the afternoon at Madame Duchand's, she had been immured in the elegant suite of rooms upstairs; except for Hazel, who had been hastily assigned as her maid, and Chambers, who served her meals, she had seen no one, and quite frankly, while being both remorseful and angry, she was tired of being treated like a leper. She bitterly regretted her hasty bargain, and the long, penitent, solitary hours she had spent these past days had left her with a great deal of time to reflect upon just how very,
very
repulsive her position was ... and how much more so it was going to be once Royce had procured the house she had so rashly demanded. The arrival of each new purchaseâluxurious, brightly colored muslin, silk, and satin gowns, delicate chemises, lovely petticoats, shoes, hats, as well as several bottles of exotically scented perfumes, soaps, and powdersâwas a silent reproach, and she viewed each new item with horrified revulsion.
very
repulsive her position was ... and how much more so it was going to be once Royce had procured the house she had so rashly demanded. The arrival of each new purchaseâluxurious, brightly colored muslin, silk, and satin gowns, delicate chemises, lovely petticoats, shoes, hats, as well as several bottles of exotically scented perfumes, soaps, and powdersâwas a silent reproach, and she viewed each new item with horrified revulsion.
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