Chapter 24
“That’s two attempts on your life, Alexandra. We must keep an eye out for the killers,” Nicholas said the next morning. Shoulder to shoulder they moved down a splendid breakfast buffet.
“What if the killers we met last night were meant for you?” Alexandra scooped fluffy eggs on her plate, a sweet bread and black pudding. “And why didn’t you wake me last night when we returned?”
Nicholas whispered huskily in her ear, “You fell asleep on the ride home and I carried you to bed. I didn’t have the mind to wake you. In your condition, you need the extra rest.”
Alexandra’s cheeks heated and she turned from the buffet to see if anyone had heard him. Aunt Margaret smiled at one end of the table. Samuel, Anthony and Rachel were already seated and in a discussion about commerce. Nicholas’s father nodded to where a servant pulled a chair out for her next to him.
Nicholas sat across from her and gestured for a servant to pour a dark, thick liquid substance in her gilded tea cup, followed by a dab of whipped cream. “You must try the drinking chocolate.”
Alexandra lifted her cup and inhaled the sweet scent of chocolate and sampled the russet-colored brew. Silky smooth, heavenly bliss coated her tongue. She emitted an unladylike groan.
A servant brought a platter of golden crispy cakes oozing with melted cheese. “Fried goat cheese.”
Nicholas’s grin was so endearing, she instantly wished to lean across the table and kiss him. “You remembered as when I told you how I longed to see an opera.”
“Of course. It will be my delight to see you savor everything for the first time, and to make-up for all the hardships you’ve experienced.”
She cringed by being singled out. “I don’t know what to say.”
“I say you, enjoy,” opined Aunt Margaret. Everyone laughed.
Nicholas’s father, sat benignly at the head of his table, the benevolent leader of the family, dispensing charm and affection. He spoke of the days when his wife was alive, when everyone was together and no threat loomed over his family. After an hour of familial discourse and laughter, the Duke motioned for the servants to leave.
As soon as the door closed, Aunt Margaret fixed her gaze on Samuel. “Going into your history, I find it fascinating that Alexandra was not murdered nor kidnapped. You and your wife’s efforts to protect Lady Alexandra Sutherland all these years were courageous. May I extend my sympathy to the loss and sacrifice of your wife.”
“You can add my sentiments as well,” said the Duke. “Since Alexandra is with us now, we should finish our discussion from last evening about the carriage incident at the opera, and then the occurrence in Deconshire.”
“Now tell me, what new revelations have you come up with?” Aunt Margaret narrowed her gaze on Nicholas.
Nicholas cut his smoked salmon into neat even pieces. “One of the thugs we captured in Deconshire escaped and the other remains mum. I have turned him over to the magistrate and doubt if he can do any better. The best we can get him for is attempted murder. We must be careful and have full evidence before we make allegations against Lady Sutherland and her son. Those men were too scared to talk.”
“It was Lady Ursula and Willean who put me aboard the Santanas. Isn’t that enough?”
The Duke said, “Nicholas is correct. For us to clearly get Lady Sutherland and Willean we must be more cunning, and work through back doors…and that takes time.”
Aunt Margaret harrumphed. “To think I came face to face with that dratted woman and her son at Kensington’s soiree last week. Lady Sutherland puts on such a holier than thou presence. If I’d known what evil creatures she and her son were, I would have…I-I don’t know what I would have done, but it would have turned out badly, and you’d be fetching me from the magistrate.
“What about the runaway carriage? Was it Lady Ursula’s doing?” said Rachel.
Nicholas shook his head and Alexandra’s heart panged for he looked tired. “Nothing. We had runners question other possible witnesses but it was too dark to identify them.”
Anthony twirled his spoon, reflecting light across the table. “Perhaps the carriage incident was planned for an attack on the Rutland family and not on Alexandra.”
Nicholas leaned back in his chair, clasping his hands behind his head. “Father, we’ve had little time to discuss affairs. Who else do you consider an enemy of the family? Have you considered Lord Eaton, having his hand in the laboratory explosion and our kidnapping?”
Alexandra stroked the pearl ring Nicholas had given her, like a touchstone that helped orient her. Lord Eaton was the father of the man Nicholas had killed in self-defense.
“Lord Eaton died of a lung ailment, a month following his son’s death. I understand he’d been sick for some time and would not have had the stamina to carry out a disciplined and orchestrated plan.”
Anthony helped himself to more eggs from the sideboard and returned to the table. “Cuthbert Noot had an ax to grind, and was ready to tell us who was the one responsible for trying to kill Anthony when he was shot dead. The same thing happened to Percy Devol in Boston. He was ready to kill Abigail when he, too, fell to a pistol ball. Whoever is accountable is thorough in covering up any loose ends, and he must have unrestricted assets to have had Cuthbert Noot and Percy Devol released out of Newgate to perform their vengeances.”
Rachel lifted a brow at Alexandra over her tea cup. “Interesting that Lord Cornelius tired of the opera and left just before the runaway carriage affair.”
Silence filled the room. Alexandra widened her eyes. Rachel’s plucky spirit bred in the Colonies made her bold enough to comment on a close family friend.
Was Nicholas wary of the Duke of Westbrook’s possible intrigues? He did not indicate his thoughts. She darted a glance to Nicholas’s father. His hand fisted around his fork. She couldn’t wait to get Rachel aside and inquire about the Duke of Westbrook.
Duke Richard smoothed butter over his sweet bread with deliberate strokes. “I’m thinking of Lord Drummond. I’ve fiercely opposed his policies in parliament. He stands to lose a lot if the war in the Colonies is abandoned. He has many military contracts that have made him rich and will continue to do so if the war proceeds.”
Aunt Margaret stared at the Duke as he calmly took another bite of black pudding.
Nicholas’s expression remained impassive. “He certainly has the means and motivation. I’d start there,” he said.
The Duke brushed a thumb over his chiseled jaw. “Alexandra, per Nicholas’s request, I have taken personal action on your behalf and have begun my own investigation into your heritage. Your father, Baron Stephen Sutherland, was a great friend of mine years after our time spent at Cambridge, and I knew you as a baby. When I first saw you, I knew you were a Sutherland for your eyes are unmistakable. Normally estates go to the closest living male heir, but in a private conversation with your father, he indicated he was leaving the estate to you upon his death. In no way was the Sutherland fortune to go to Lady Ursula or her son, and I’m sure Baron Sutherland being as thorough as he was, put his wishes in writing.”
What? He knew her fath— So taken aback, Alexandra opened her mouth, but no words came. Was this true?
“You were about one and half years and already he was thinking of your future.”
The sadness she’d kept long buried rose inside Alexandra. All the senseless murders. “Thank you, Your Grace. I am overwhelmed you knew my father and would take such an interest on my behalf.”
The Duke scoffed. “You are to be family, and the fact remains, I’m indebted to you and I always pay my debts. I have also enlisted runners to investigate Lady Ursula’s poisoning of your father as told to you by Molly, the only eyewitness. The Runners have inquired of the servants, but they are either too scared, or fear losing their jobs. Unfortunately, investigators have come up with no leads and Samuel’s testimony would be considered hearsay. I am trying to find a money trail. Lady Sutherland had to pay someone to put you on the Santanas.”
Alexandra picked at her eggs. “Calling me Lady Sutherland, will be fraudulent unless I can show clear title. To verify who I am, I must have evidence. Despite my untried youth, there is one recurring memory of my father. He would close the library door and have me trip a secret compartment in the desk into opening repeatedly. For my father to do this, meant it was important for me to know.”
Aunt Margaret pulled herself up to her full height. “Nicholas, you are a very bright young man and must understand, Alexandra’s right. There is a lot at stake.”
Nicholas’s nostrils flared. “Alexandra, I don’t give a rat’s ass if you are titled or not. Your belief is a childhood dream. Look where you ended up—kidnapped and to be sold into slavery. I can see where this is going and will not allow you to be anywhere near your ancestral home as long as Lady Sutherland is about.”
She ran her finger on the border of her tea cup. Nicholas had reason for his outrage. Perhaps not with her, but it was human nature to blame those closest, the ones he wanted most to protect. “I am going.”
Nicholas dropped his chair to all fours. “I’m not taking any chances. My job is to keep you safe.”
“I cannot marry you unless my name is secured.” And if he thought she was going to change her mind, he was as addled as the town drunk back in Deconshire.
“You will marry me,” Nicholas stated.
“Her musing is not a childhood vision,” Samuel spoke up. “Molly had seen the secret drawer. She had gone to the library to get the baby Alexandra for her nap. In fact, Molly heard Alexandra laughing and since the door was partially open, she peeked in to see what was amusing the child. Baron Stephen had Alexandra open and reopen the compartment. The week before we departed, Molly tried repeatedly to open the compartment in case there were papers that proved Alexandra’s birthright. No matter how many attempts, she could never find the trip lever.”
The Duke spread marmalade on his buttered bread. “I agree with Nicholas that it is too dangerous for Alexandra. You could tell someone how to do it. One of my men could break-in.”
That comment drew stares from everyone except Aunt Margaret who snorted. “I would expect nothing less of you, Richard.”
“It won’t work,” said Alexandra. “If there is any hint of activity in the library, and your man fails, Ursula will have everything in the room burned because she will realize the importance. I must be the one to locate the compartment. I’m the only one who knows the desk.”
Nicholas slammed his fist on the table. The dishes jumped and so did Alexandra. “Absolutely not. I will not have you risk your life or the— Lady Ursula is on alert and probably expecting you. She will not make the same mistake twice. You will be dead.”
Tears pricked the back of Alexandra’s eyes. He wanted to protect her and the baby. “I was so close the last time…I have to avenge Molly’s death and this is the only way…by proving who I am.”
Aunt Margaret released two lumps of sugar into her tea and stirred, the spoon clanking loudly against the cup. “Your nobleness is to be admired, Nicholas, but it is not a serviceable substitute to getting things done correctly.”
Rachel rebalanced her cup in the saucer. “Your Lordship, could you not have your men canvas the house to tell us when Ursula and Willean are out?”
“Yes.”
Nicholas scowled. “What good will that do if it is guarded?”
Alexandra clasped and unclasped her hands. The women were circling the stubborn men and working in her favor. Keep it up, ladies.
Aunt Margaret drummed her fingers on the top of her cane. “We need a ruse to get Ursula and Willean out of the house.”
The Duke spoke up. “Easy. I’m friends with the Somer’s and will ask a personal favor to send an invitation to Lady Sutherland and Willean to his famed ball which is two days away and ample time for us to prepare.”
Aunt Margaret stamped her cane on the floor with a sharp crack. “Strike Ursula at her vulnerable spot—her arrogance. She’d never decline a social occasion hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Somers. The ball is to be the crème de la crème of the season.”
Nicholas narrowed his eyes on Alexandra. “I’m not happy with you involved in this idiocy at all and you know what I mean.”
She paled at the innuendo. Indicating she was with child was his last trump card to gather the family against the scheme of sending a pregnant woman into danger.
Aunt Margaret huffed. “Alexandra has shown strong constitution in everything she has gone through. I’m sure she will be careful, won’t you.”
Bless Aunt Margaret.
Alexandra lifted her chin. “More than careful.”
Nicholas’s nostrils flared. “I have demands. I’m going with you on this foolishness and you are going to follow my instructions.”
Alexandra didn’t want Nicholas involved and was ready to protest but when she saw the storm clouds brewing, she changed her mind. Stubborn man. “Agreed.”
Nicholas turned to his father. “For the next two days, I want your men posted near the manor for surveillance. They must remain undetected. On the night of our break-in, I want them posted around the perimeter in case there is any trouble.”
“I have my own demands,” said Duke Richard. “I want you armed.”