Chapter Twenty-Eight
Charlotte and Constantine were halfway to his phaeton when a shot rang out.
“What the devil?” He lifted her into his arms, carrying her to his carriage.
“It’s from the front of the inn,” she said. “I hope it isn’t Merton.”
“You two stay there,” Matt called to them. Lengthening his stride, he headed to the road. “I’ll find out what’s going on.”
A few moments later, Jemmy came running full tilt from the front of the inn. “My lord, that woman is dead and the man that kidnapped Lady Charlotte disappeared.”
“What happened?” Charlotte asked, trying not to fall onto the bench seat.
“Somehow she got a gun. One of the outriders was trying to take it away from her, and it went off. Right into her chest. There was blood everywhere, and Lord Worthington said she were dead.”
“Oh, my God.” Charlotte felt a little faint. She was very glad Matt had ordered them to stay with the phaeton. “I suppose she knew she wouldn’t get away this time.”
Constantine picked Jemmy up and put him on the back of the carriage before climbing in himself. “Jemmy, how much did you see?”
“Not much. The footmen wouldn’t let me look, they just told me what happened.”
“Thank God for that.” Constantine closed his eyes for a moment. “We’re going back to Richmond. Merton and Worthington can handle the rest of this. I want you and Jemmy out of here before anyone sees you.”
Charlotte slipped her arm around Constantine. “We should stop at the Dove and tell the Crowes the matter is settled.”
He glanced back at the boy, who was still trying to get a look at what was going on, and whispered, “When I left Richmond this morning, a lady was asking about him.”
Her heart began to beat a little faster. “Do you think . . . ?”
“I believe it is a decided possibility, but we won’t know until we can get the two of them together.”
She sent a fervent prayer to the Deity that Jemmy had found his family. “What will happen to the gentlemen?” Using the term with regard to the scoundrels who had paid Miss Betsy left a bad taste in Charlotte’s mouth, even if they did deserve the title by birth.
Before they could start off, Matt signaled to Constantine. He handed her the ribbons. “I’ll be right back. Keep Jemmy here.” A few moments later her betrothed returned. “Worthington knows a sea captain who will ensure the curs are occupied for a very long time.”
“Good. After what they did, I hope they never return.”
“If they know what’s good for them, they’ll never grace England’s shores again.”
It appeared that almost everything was settled, except for . . . “What happened to the money she was paid?”
“Lord Merton has it, my lady,” Jemmy said. “He said it will be used to help her victims. Does that mean the people she hurt?”
“That’s exactly what it means.” Wanting the solid feel of Constantine, Charlotte leaned against him until they reached the main road. “Jemmy, when we get back to the Star and Garter, I want you to go straight up to May and tell her you need a bath and clean clothes.”
“Do I have to? I took a bath the other day.” Charlotte tried not to grin. She would never understand why young boys did not like to bathe. “Be that as it may, yes, you have to.”
They stopped at the Dove. As soon as they drew up into the yard, Mr. and Mrs. Crowe came out to greet them.
Constantine told them what had occurred, including the deaths.
“It’s hard to believe I was so taken in,” Mrs. Crowe said. “She was so pretty and refined.”
“I think it is always hard to believe the worst of people.” Charlotte patted the woman’s shoulder. “From what I understand, you were not the only ones she deceived.”
“All’s well that ends well. That’s what I say.” Mr. Crowe stepped away from the carriage. “Thank you for what ye done, me lord and lady. Ain’t many as would do what ye did.”
“And thank you for your help,” Constantine replied.
Less than twenty minutes later they pulled into the yard of the Star and Garter. Jemmy jumped down and ran inside.
“Despite what he said, he looked eager for a bath.”
“I do think he enjoys it more than he lets on.” Charlotte laughed. “My brothers are the same.”
“My mother will tell you that young boys are heathens, and she only had me.” An ostler came out to take the horses. “Well, my lady, let’s find out if Jemmy has a new family.”
“Yes, let’s.” She smiled as he came around to her side of the carriage.
Constantine lifted her down from the phaeton, lowering her slowly to the ground. “I have a feeling Worthington will try to make you return to Town with him.”
“I won’t, even if he orders me. We are to be married next week at the latest. He can be very intimidating. Yet, for good or ill, he doesn’t have the same type of power over me that he did over Louisa. If he pushes me, he will discover just how determined Carpenter ladies can be.” Constantine raised a dubious brow. “Aside from that, he wants this marriage. Dotty and Merton must accompany us in any event. I do not think either the innkeeper of the Hare and Hound or his wife will remember us fondly.”
“Not after the way we tied up their daughter,” Con mumbled.
“Precisely why we need them with us.” Charlotte tried to suppress a giggle and couldn’t. “Merton is so very good at being a marquis.”
Her betrothed turned an outraged face to her. “Are you saying that I do not present the proper countenance for a marquis? I will have you know, my lady, that my title is older than his by at least fifty years.”
She went off into a peal of laughter. “Oh, no, my love. It’s just that he used to be so pretentious. Did you not know him then?”
“Not well,” he grumbled. “I do recall something about him being stuffy.”
“He was so puffed up in his own consequence that the younger children, Theo especially, used to call him His Marquisship.”
“That is bad.” Constantine’s face was still all lean, hard planes, but his eyes twinkled and the corner of one lip trembled. “I see your point.”
She tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. “I can’t wait to hear what Dotty has to say about Jemmy. And I am sure she will have the whole story out of us before my cousin returns.”
Con left Charlotte at the door to the parlor, and he went to his chambers to wash his face and hands, and get one small item he had not yet given her.
Once he had washed and changed his cravat, he called for his valet.
“My lord?”
“Bring me my jewel box.” His mother had given him three rings before they’d left Hillstone Manor. At the time, neither of them knew Charlotte well enough to guess what her tastes were. Now he knew that he would let her pick her own ring.
Cunningham placed the box on the dresser and opened it. “Which of them will you give to Lady Charlotte, my lord?”
“She shall decide.” Con picked out the rings. Each one had different stones and were from different centuries. The newest being scarcely a hundred years old.
“A wise decision, my lord.” His valet closed the box and took it away.
Holding the rings in his hand, he knocked before opening the door between their chambers. “Charlotte?”
Her maid finished tying a green ribbon in her mistress’s hair, and giggled. Charlotte had changed from her carriage gown into a frothy confection of yellow muslin trimmed with green grosgrain ribbon.
She met his eyes in the mirror and smiled. “You may go, May.”
The servant bobbed a curtsey, and disappeared through a door Con hadn’t noticed before.
“Forgive me, my love. I did not even think of your maid being present. Will she make problems for you?” he asked, thinking the girl might tell Worthington that he’d come into her bedchamber. Worthington was already unhappy with them.
“No, she has been with me for years. I told her we are going to marry, and she is ecstatic.” Con stood behind Charlotte, his hands resting on her shoulders. He didn’t dare touch more of her for fear he would not be able to stop before she looked thoroughly kissed. Her slim hand came up and covered one of his. “Not to mention that ever since Dotty and Merton married, my maid has wished for me to wed as well.”
Con didn’t understand. His friends’ weddings had not prompted a desire in his valet for him to join their new state. “Why is that?”
Charlotte laughed. “Dotty’s maid and my maid, May, are best of friends, but also rivals in a way. Now May will also be lady’s maid to a marchioness.”
“Ah, I understand.” Affecting a calm he did not feel, he leaned over, opened his hand, and spilled the rings onto her dressing table. “Speaking of marriages. My mother gave me these. Rather than choosing one for you, I decided you should pick the one you like best.”
She cast him the most brilliant smile he had seen yet. “They are all beautiful.” Her index finger fluttered over the jewels as she studied each ring. Finally, her finger hovered over a figured gold band set with a large emerald and flanked on each side by opals. “This one I believe. Green is my favorite color and my birthday is in October.”
Picking up the other two rings, he placed them in his waistcoat pocket. He took the one she had selected and held her hand as he slipped the ring on her hand. “It’s perfect on you.”
Forgetting his resolve, Con lowered his mouth to hers, slipping his tongue along the seam of her deep-pink lips. Charlotte opened, touching her tongue to his, as he tilted his head, wanting more, wanting to be closer to her. “I want to be with you more than I can say.”
His hands started to trail down her shoulders and arms, and her fingers roamed his back.
“Where is Charlotte?” Worthington’s deep voice seemed to bounce off the walls.
“Go.” She pushed Con through the door to his room. “I shall meet you in the parlor. Jemmy should be there soon. May said he was with Merton’s valet, dressing.
“I’ll be out in a moment, Matt.” Charlotte blew Con a kiss as he strode through the door.
A minute or so later when he strolled into the parlor, Dotty was there along with Worthington, Charlotte, and Jemmy.
Worthington met Con’s gaze. “I have told Charlotte that I want her to go back to Town with me. She has refused.”
“She told me she would.” He glanced at his betrothed and held her eyes with his. The warmth and love in her gaze told him everything he needed to know. Not bothering to look at his friend and future brother-in-law, he said, “If you would like, before we travel to the Hare and Hound, where she was held, we will stop by Doctors’ Commons, where I shall obtain a marriage license. I am positive Lord and Lady Merton will agree to witness our vows.”
“Only if you’re attempting to get me murdered,” Worthington scoffed. “Grace and the children, not to mention her aunt and uncle, would have my head if they were not present at Charlotte’s wedding.” Rising, he paced the room for a few moments. “Charlotte, does this mean that much to you?”
She kept her eyes on Con, but nodded. “Yes. I must see this through.”
“Matt,” Dotty said, “no one can object to all of us traveling together. And they are betrothed. If you go home and tell Grace to begin planning the wedding, she will ensure the entire ton knows about it.”
“Lady Bellamny and Kenilworth’s mother will be happy to help,” Charlotte added. “Even those who traveled to Belgium will know before a week is out that we are marrying soon.”
Worthington’s gaze flicked from Charlotte to her friend as he appeared to consider their argument. “Very well.” He took Charlotte’s hand. “You are not as easy to intimidate as Louisa was. Then again, I had eighteen years to work on her.” Charlotte flashed him a smile. “I shall have to trust that you know what you’re doing.”
She rose up on her toes and bussed his cheek. “You have been the best guardian a lady could ask for, and I thank you. But I shall take it from here.” She smiled at him. “Grace will understand. I promise you.”
“She had better,” he muttered. “I do not like being in my wife’s black book.”
“Give her my love, and I’ll see you soon.”
Not more than five minutes after he left, a knock came on the door.
“Come,” Dotty called.
A footman opened the door and a middle-aged lady dressed in dark gray bombazine sailed into the room.
“Lady Merton.” The woman inclined her head.
That was interesting. She was either of the same rank as Dotty, or a higher rank. Con studied her carefully from her light brown hair, still free of gray, to her sharp blue-gray eyes that reminded him of... “Jemmy?”
“Yes, my lord.” The lad stood from behind a sofa, and immediately went to Charlotte. What the devil had he been doing back there?
The older woman gasped, her hand going to her throat.
“My lady,” Dotty said, “may I introduce Lady Charlotte Carpenter and her betrothed, the Marquis of Kenilworth. Lady Charlotte, Kenilworth, the Marchioness of Litchfield.”
“Lady Merton told me how this child came to be with you. I commend you, Lady Charlotte, for rescuing him.” Her lips formed a thin line. “There is only one way to know the truth. The boy must remove his clothing.”
Jemmy grabbed Charlotte’s hand. “I already had a bath.”
She glanced down at him. “Yes, I know, sweetie.” Addressing Lady Litchfield, she asked, “For what purpose?”
“If he is who I think he is”—oh good, they were all dancing around the issue—“he will have two birthmarks, one on his shoulder and the other on his thigh. They are both a brownish color.”
“Rather than making Jemmy shed his clothing for a stranger—” She arched a regal brow. Lord, she’d make an excellent duchess, but Con wasn’t giving her up, so she’d have to settle for being a mere marchioness. “—I suggest we call in my lady’s maid. She has been in charge of his grooming and will be able to tell you if he has the birthmarks.”
“A lady’s maid?” Lady Litchfield said, doubtfully.
“Yes,” Charlotte stated firmly. “She has a number of younger brothers and sisters, and has a way with children.”
“Very well, call her in.”
“Will you have a seat, my lady?” Dotty asked, ushering the woman to the sofa as she spoke.
After their visitor was seated, Dotty yanked the bell pull and one of Merton’s numerous footmen appeared. “Tea, please.”
He bowed, and was leaving the parlor as Charlotte’s maid entered.
“You wanted me, my lady?” She bobbed a curtsey.
“I do. May, can you tell me if Jemmy has birthmarks? One on his shoulder and another on his thigh?”
“Yes, my lady. I mean he does. Brown they are, and in odd shapes. One looks like a horseshoe and the other like a bird’s nest.”
Charlotte glanced at Lady Litchfield. “Does that answer your question?”
“It does.” She rose and looked at Charlotte. “I am sorry to have imposed upon you.”
She and Dotty shared a crestfallen glance. It was a deuced good thing none of them had said anything to Jemmy.
“Can I change into my regular clothes now?” he asked.
“Charlotte gave him a quick hug. “Yes, you may.”
The child ran out of the parlor, and Con wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sorry.”
“As am I. With two birthmarks, I thought surely we had found his family.” She blinked back tears, determined not to allow them to fall.
“Yes, indeed.” Dotty stood next to her, and Charlotte hugged her friend. “It is their loss.”
“He has a family. Us.” Con’s voice seemed gruffer even to him. It must be because he had come to care for the lad. “Forever or for as long as he needs us.”
He would do his best to find the boy’s family, but if he could not, he would raise the child with the ones he and Charlotte would have. Someone had to teach him not to jump on the back of carriages.