“I shall, but it won’t be for a while. We leave for Meadows tomorrow. I’m taking Thea and her grandmother to meet the earl.”
“Ah, yes, but of course. Your grandfather. How is he?”
“Unfortunately, he’s not in the best of health.”
“Oh, how sad. Highworth must be pleased to learn of this engagement. He will be eager to meet your fiancée.” She paused as the butler brought in wine. “Wasn’t what happened to poor Lord Spencer dreadful? Cut down by a footpad a few steps from his house. What is the world coming to? We’ll be afraid to leave our houses.”
Ash accepted the glass of claret from the butler. When the door closed on the fellow, Ash said, “It wasn’t footpads, Aunt. It is all part of a scurrilous plot. A hideous injustice is about to be committed.”
Her hand went to her jet beads. “My goodness. How you intrigue me.”
Ash hesitated to tell her too much. “It involves Miss Julia Bannockburn. I am in need of your font of knowledge once more. It’s my hope that you might have heard mention of the girl’s relation, Miss Meredith Bannockburn. I wish to find out where she resides.”
“Bannockburn? That’s Diana Farnborough’s former husband. Is it to do with Lord Spencer’s death?”
“I believe they murdered him because of some trust. It’s my understanding that Julia’s stepfather, Eugene Farnborough, wishes to get his hands on the funds.”
“Monstrous!” She stared into the fire. “I never met Miss Bannockburn, and I do not know…but wait… I know someone who might. An old friend of Diana’s. I shall have to write to her. She lives in Bath.”
Dash it!“Will you send the information to my rooms if you learn anything? As soon as you hear from her?”
“I shall be happy to.” She frowned. “You are still at Albany?”
“Yes.”
He recognized one of her sage looks. “You must move into Highworth Court before the wedding. The London house has been shut up long enough. Your grandfather would agree. This puts an end to a sad period in your life, Ashton. The future will be a pleasurable and fruitful one,” she added in her cryptic fashion.
“Thank you, Aunt.” Ash was used to her proclamations. But in this, he felt she might be close to the truth. He had resisted moving on with his life after the tragedy. Marriage would be the catalyst for change. He believed Thea and he could be happy together. They had been drawn together uncovering this mystery and had become friends. And while he didn’t wish for a love match because love would confine him too much, he was confident he’d chosen well. He admired her courage and sense of adventure, and when seated beside her on the sofa, his gaze roamed the curve of her hip and thigh beneath the thin muslin, and smelled her flowery fragrance, which stirred desire in him. He saw no impediment to a short engagement, their marriage might follow close after Thea’s sister, Catherine’s, wedding, whose fiancée, Crispin Braithwaite, was a friend of his.
“Please convey my best wishes to the earl,” his aunt said, breaking into his thoughts. “I hope to see him at the wedding if he’s well enough.”
Ash left her with the same fervent wish.
Chapter Twelve
Thea rose fromher bed as fragile dawn light filtered through the gap in the curtains. She left the bed and drew them back. The sky was a clear pale blue, dotted with fluffy white clouds. She retreated into the room, eager to wash and dress. Today, they would rescue poor Julia from the clutches of her wicked stepfather. Thea undid her plait, thinking what a wonderful heading it would make for a story. She picked up her hairbrush as Sarah came in with her chocolate.
After her drink, she washed and dressed, taking special care of her appearance because it gave her confidence. And, she admitted, she liked to look nice for Grainger.
Thea took out her pelisse of celestial blue satin, trimmed with frog fastenings in the military-style, to wear over her sprigged muslin carriage gown with its high white collar and a matching blue bonnet crowned with white ostrich feathers. Aware Ash would arrive punctually at nine o’clock, Thea forced herself to be patient while her maid coaxed curls to frame her face.
Thea approved of the flattering style. “I am sorry I cannot take you with me, Sarah. I don’t expect to remain long at Meadows. Grandmama has to return because Mama and Catherine are soon to arrive in London.” And that would be the end of Thea’s quest to join Grainger in his search for Julia’s aunt, she thought darkly. She would be caught up in Cathy’s preparations, the fittings, the bridal dinner, parties, and teas, all of which would be frightfully dull. While pleased for her sister, who seemed terribly in love, Thea had far more important matters on her mind.
Was it possible Julia’s mother still lived? But where could she be? And why hadn’t she contacted her daughter? And there Farnborough was, lurking in the shadows, with murder on his mind. She shivered and rubbed her arms.
“It will be nice to see your mother, Miss.” Sarah held lemon-colored shoes of kid leather for Thea to put on.
“Yes.” Thea smoothed her stockings and slipped her foot into one. What choice did she have? Either she returned with Grandmama to London or permitted Grainger to shut her away with his grandfather while he investigated Farnborough and found Julia’s aunt. Frowning, she pulled on the other shoe. He was doomed to disappointment if he expected her to agree.
She stood and studied herself briefly in the glass. Approving of her choice, she smoothed the pearl bracelet on her wrist and went downstairs to breakfast, carrying her pelisse and hat with her. Her stomach rebelled at the thought of the large breakfast her grandmama would insist she eat. Breakfast was the most necessary meal, in her grandmother’s opinion, for it set one up for the day.
When his grandfatherbecame a virtual recluse after the accident, the family coach had been brought to London, repaired, and stored in the Highworth Court stables, gathering cobwebs, the coach horses growing fat in their stalls. The coachman, still in residence among the skeleton staff at the Mayfair mansion, would welcome the chance to be on the road again. Ash’s groom, Jed, was to accompany them on the journey.
Ash settled his hat on his head and crossed the driveway to the black coach, which had undergone an extensive overhaul, the gray horses tossing their heads in their traces. As he climbed inside, Whisky greeted him with a welcome woof. Ash eyed the handsome peacock blue velvet squab and silk-walled interior hung with gold tassels. “This is entirely too grand for the likes of you, Whisky. You’d better behave yourself on this trip.”
The dog turned around, and panting, settled on his pillow, Ash’s insult ignored.
When they stopped before Lady Trentham’s townhouse, Ash jumped down and ran up the steps to where the butler waited at the open door, the luggage piled in the entry hall. “The ladies have just breakfasted, my lord. I shall advise them of your arrival and have these taken out.”
