Page 58

Chapter Sixteen

Thomas hailed a hack and headed to Ashton House to find Tony Ashton, the apparent new spymaster. He didn’t for one moment think that Tony was not worthy of the position. He had left him in charge of his ward, Lucinda. He was intrigued by what might have brought about this change and what had happened to Stafford.

The butler placed him in the front parlor after taking his hat and coat. The room felt familiar even though he had been here a sum total of one time. Perhaps it was the feeling of Englishness about the colors and placement of furniture. The crispness of the air compared to the heat and humidity of Spain. A sense of being home.

The duke entered, and Thomas bowed, then sat in a chair opposite the duke.

“Goodness, Markham, you are alive. We all thought you dead. I am happy to see we are wrong.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

“My brother is going to be very glad to see you. He is not here unfortunately. He is at Ashtonvale before going on his honeymoon to the Lake District.”

“Honeymoon?”

“Ah, yes. Your ward, Miss Lucinda Sterling, stole the heart of my brother.”

Thomas raised his eyebrows. “That, I had not expected.”

“She is a sweet young lady, and I have given my blessing to the union. Is there anything I should know about her that would make me feel otherwise?”

“Well, that depends. I really do not know her, to be honest. I met her once, maybe twice in all the time I was her guardian. My father, who was her guardian before me, begged me to keep her hidden. There were some who may have wanted to hurt her for what she may know about an…issue.”

“Yes, yes, I know all about the secret in the ring and the people who wanted it. She threw it in the Thames after Stafford was killed.”

Thomas fell back in his chair. He knew nothing about a secret in a ring. “My father never told me of any ring, only that her father was murdered for something he stole and that her life might be in danger if she were known to be Foxton’s daughter.” He tapped his chin. “How do we know she is no longer in danger?”

“That,” he said, “is my brother’s department. Where are you staying?”

“At my lodgings on Hayworth Street.”

“I will let him know he can contact you there.”

“Thank you, Your Grace,” he said as he stood and bowed. He left the house, his brows drawn tightly together. Surely, Tony would make sure that Lucinda was safe from any who might still think she knew the secret that was within the ring. Now he was intrigued as to what the secret was.

He stopped on the way home to buy bread, cheese, wine, and pastries to keep them going until dinner. Thomas shook his head and gave a chuckle. Tony and Lucinda together, well, well, well. A lightness came over him as he realized that one of his burdens had been taken care of, maybe. However, he would wait to celebrate this fact until after he had a chance to talk to Ashton about it.

*

When Elena awoke, it was to find herself alone. She wandered around the apartment, her wool cape around her. It was chilly, and no fire had been made. She went over and decided to start it herself, so she would not freeze to death. There was a single candle alight, making the room seem full of shadows. She used it to start the fire and added more kindling until the fire was well alight. Satisfied with her work, she set about removing the holland covers from the rest of the furniture, though she still felt a little wobbly on her legs.

A knock sounded at the door, and she worried her lip as she went over to open it. It was an older lady wearing a cap, holding a teapot and cups.

“Captain Markham said you wanted hot water for tea but did not want any tea. So here you are.” The old lady thrust the teapot at her. Elena took it and set it down on a small round table.

“Gracias, I mean thank you.” The old lady smiled, passed her the cups and gave her a quick bob before leaving. Elena hurried to the trunk that contained all her supplies and made up her blend for tea. She was still feeling a bit off in the stomach, and she wished the floor would stop moving beneath her.

The tea settled her nerves, and she set about shaking out her clothes and hanging them in the armoire, but she soon became tired and went back to bed to rest. She was not used to being tired when she had done so little and blamed it on the long sea voyage and lack of sleep.

“Elena, wake up.”

She heard her name, but it seemed like it was called from another room, another lifetime.

“Elena!”

When she opened her eyes, it was to see the clean-shaven face of her husband. Would she ever get used to this different side of him? She preferred him with a beard, but a captain was not allowed to have a beard, she expected. Beards were for workers.

“Tomas, you are back.”