Married by Moonlight Page 22

  “I suppose I will have to return to my parents’ house before the ball arrives,” Portia said glumly, looking about the room with longing. “I do love it here.”

  “Carmichael might call on you at home, too, so his singling you out won’t seem so sudden at the ball. Society does love to gossip about budding romances,” Mrs. Lenthall remarked to Portia, as if that would cheer her up.

  “Indeed they do.” Portia grimaced. “I’ll go home early tomorrow. I’ll slip into the house before sunrise and convince my father I’ve been at home all along,” she promised. “He’s fallen for that before.”

  “He’s not that foolish,” Gilbert protested.

  “You have no idea how dumb he can be,” Lord Wade muttered under his breath. “It’s staggering what she gets away with.”

  Portia approached Lord Wade, her lower lip trembling a little. She set her hand on his folded arms. “I’ll be counting on you.”

  “Don’t do that,” he said, looking away quickly. “Don’t pretend that you’re not happy to know you’ll have Carmichael’s attention all night long. Your agreement in this little trap has very little to do with catching a killer.”

  “Fine,” she said, dropping her hand. “You think you know me so well. Just don’t get distracted by the other pretty faces you like to watch.”

  He scowled thunderously then. His jaw worked but he kept his mouth shut.

  Portia shrugged. “You’re so stubborn.”

  “So are you.” Anna punctuated that statement by poking her friend’s arm. “Are you not afraid?”

  “Yes, and no.” She chewed on her lip. “This is the right thing to do. Flirting with Carmichael will bring the killer out of hiding. Mrs. Lenthall and I discussed it over tea this morning, and we both agree it is worth the risk.”

  “But you could be hurt, killed even. I couldn’t bear to lose all my friends this season.” Anna hugged her tightly. “You must be careful.”

  Portia drew back, nodding. “Wade will teach me to defend myself. He’ll be in the shadows as he always is. I’ll be as safe as I can be.”

  “And after?”

  Portia kissed her cheek and turned Anna toward the staircase. “We will see what happens after the ball. We’ll talk again after this is all behind us.”

  “If you survive, we might,” Wade muttered as they passed.

  She glanced back at Gilbert. He’d stopped behind them, staring off into space. “Gilbert? Is something wrong?”

  He looked at her sharply. “Yes, and no. Let’s get home. We have a lot to do before the next ball.”

  Chapter 25

  So many things could go wrong tonight.

  Gilbert could have fixated on the wrong suspect, but he didn’t think he’d made a mistake. Davis was still gathering proof and would bring it to him here.

  They had reassessed everybody connected to the murder victims and to Carmichael. The conversation with Mrs. Lenthall had sparked an unpleasant memory that he could not shake. Carmichael had another confidant. Someone he told everything to, even things that were not strictly true.

  Gilbert strode into the ballroom with Anna on his arm, aware his wife was nearly shaking with tension. Gilbert tried to project a calm he didn’t quite feel, for her sake. His concerns ran deep. Miss Hayes might be defenseless should her protection fail her tonight. He could not let the killer escape again.

  A woman.

  A lady whose reputation was touted to be beyond reproach, beyond suspicion.

  He’d had no reason to suspect her of Angela Berry’s murder, because he’d believed the lie she lived.

  The jealousy of a woman thwarted by love was a terrible thing, even more so in this case.

  Not since Jane Peabody’s killer had been uncovered had he felt so sickened by his suspicions.

  The Bertram ball was already awash with guests and laughter, but to him the sound was strained. Anna was anxious to find Portia in the crowd, and she kept stretching up on her toes to look for her.

  “You know no matter how often you do that, you will still be painfully short,” Carmichael murmured behind them.

  Gilbert turned lightly, spotting Carmichael moving to Anna’s other side. He looked like he’d not slept again, despite the smile on his lips. Carmichael’s teasing of Anna, apparently an unceasing habit, annoyed the hell out of him. “Carmichael, do you not have something better to do?”

  “Not right now.” He looked across the room and nodded. “Lady Scott is here.”

  Gilbert looked at him quickly to see if he was worried about that, but his comment seemed nothing more than a commonplace observation rather than a warning.

  Anna smiled widely. “Do excuse me while I go and say hello to her.”

  “Yes, better run along and keep her happy,” Carmichael said quietly.

  Gilbert kept an eye on Anna, even though now as a married woman, she should be safe.

  “I haven’t seen you for a few days,” he remarked to Carmichael. “Where have you been?”

  “You know that.” Carmichael smiled. “You’ve had men following me and my staff for days.”

  “How did you know?”

  “I’ve learned a thing or two about following people these past weeks.”

  “I need to tell you something.”

  “It can wait. Miss Hayes and her parents have arrived.” He began to smile widely to the group across the room.

  Portia Hayes responded with her own smile and fluttered her fan before she turned back to her parents.

  Well, that seemed to be an un-missable flirtation. He glanced about the room, wondering how many people might have noticed. “You called on her.”

  “Oh, yes. Took her driving in Hyde Park too.” He grinned again. “Miss Hayes put on a good show, waving to everyone we passed and leaning into me time and again.”

  “So people are talking already?”

  “I imagine so.”

  Carmichael turned his back on Portia, craning his neck over the crowd. “Can you see a footman with drinks anywhere?”

  “Might be a better idea to keep a clear head tonight.”

  “Keeping in character,” he promised. Carmichael waved over a footman who hurried to his side with a tray of drinks. The fellow moved away after a few words, leaving Carmichael with nothing to drink.

  “What was that about?”

  “Wait for it.” He grinned, glancing toward Miss Hayes as the footman stopped at her side with a tray filled with champagne. She took one, blushing brightly.

  “There we go.”

  “Don’t get too carried away on this false flirtation. We don’t want her reputation in tatters.”

  “A bit of smudging is inevitable,” he conceded. “She knows that.”

  Anna hurried over, apparently done with her little chat with Lady Scott. She pulled Carmichael down to whisper in his ear. Even so he managed to hear every word. “Did Portia mention who else her father had in mind for her to marry the other day?”

  “No, she never said. Why?”

  Anna frowned. “He keeps gesturing toward Lord Grindlewood to join them.”

  Portia Hayes’ expression appeared downright hostile as she stood beside her father. “She’s supposed to look like she’s smitten,” he worried.

  “Grindlewood will not get in the way,” Carmichael promised. “I know how to deal with him.”

  “What will you do?”

  Carmichael tugged down his waistcoat. “What I must. Excuse me.”

  Gilbert watched him go, striding across the room to convince others he was pursuing Portia Hayes. Anna curled her arm through his, worrying her lip. “I do hope he doesn’t get carried away with this,” Anna promised.

  “He won’t but this has to stop tonight.”

  Anna looked up him. “I can barely breathe.”

  He placed a hand at the small of her back and drew a soothing circle. “Shall we dance? There’s time.”

  Anna shook her head. “I fear I am too nervous to dance well.”

  “A stroll
about the ballroom then? We could step out onto the terrace for a moment to look at the stars above.”

  She nodded. “I’ve always wanted to do that.”

  “Hmm, I think that is easily the finest idea I’ve ever had. Come with me.”

  Gilbert escorted her about the room at a slow pace, pausing to accept congratulations on their marriage. He kept an eye on Carmichael and Miss Hayes, as well as their friends. Gilbert couldn’t stop grinning but when he glanced at his wife after leaving another group of well-wishers, he saw he’d lost her attention.

  “You’re not looking at me,” he whispered.

  Anna looked up, startled. “Oh, I do beg your pardon.”

  “Quite all right.” He smiled gently. “I now have some inkling of how you must have felt the first time we danced together.”

  Anna laughed softly, too. “Then, I had no notion you might have liked to know me better. It is different now.”

  It was different. He couldn’t take his eyes from Anna no matter where they were. He felt extraordinarily proud to be her husband, to have discovered a rare jewel to keep for his own. But he wanted to know how Anna felt about him, too. “How so?”

  “Well, we are married, and I know we will return home together when this night is over.”

  “To our bed,” he stressed in a tone that was decidedly husky. He couldn’t wait to be alone with his wife after this was done. He might just keep her in bed all day. She had shown a delightful inclination toward bedroom sports. Would it shock her if they dallied in other parts of the house, too? He couldn’t wait to find out.

  He drew her toward the terrace doors and the moonlight. He stopped within viewing distance of the doors and noticed Davis lurking in the shadows. He held Davis back a moment so Anna could enjoy the view. “There.”

  Anna looked up into the heavens, a smile playing over her lips. “When I was a girl, I always thought it would be romantic to marry under a moonlit sky.”

  “Well, it might not be strictly official but I do happen to know the marriage vows by heart. When this is over we could slip away and speak our vows again by moonlight.”

  “Married by Moonlight? You’d do that for me?”

  “Anything for you.” Gilbert pulled her close, considering his chances of stealing a kiss from her lips, but Davis was watching. He bent down and brushed his lips across her cheek instead. “As many times as you want”

  Her eyes lit up and she leaned against him, her hands resting on his chest. “How did I get so lucky as to marry such a romantic?”

  He cupped her face. “I’m lucky too.”

  Davis chose that moment to clear his throat.

  Gilbert turned away from his wife. “You wanted to see me?”

  “Yes, my lord. I do apologize for the interruption but it is rather urgent.”

  “Go,” Anna urged, nudging him away.

  He hurried into the shadows, keeping an eye on his wife. “I take it you have news for me.”

  Davis nodded, casting a worried glance at Anna.

  “She will learn the truth eventually.”

  “Yes, my lord. Our investigation of Lord Carmichael is complete.”

  “And.” Gilbert shuffled his feet, anxious to have his suspicions confirmed or disproved.

  “The earl is without question innocent, however, an irregularity was uncovered that implicates the person you mentioned.”

  “Such as?”

  “Purchases made from a silversmith of a rather pointed design. Several of them over the years…and another just yesterday.”

  “So she will strike again. How is the weapon concealed?”

  “A fan, my lord.” Davis frowned. “I have compared the blades and they are a match. The silversmith also recognizes his own work and has described the lady in precise detail. There can be no doubt.”

  Gilbert raked his hand through his hair. Part of him had hoped to be wrong. “Hell.”

  “Indeed my lord.” Davis reached inside his pocket and extracted an elegant ladies fan of his own. “The handle detaches like so.”

  Silver flashed in the moonlight but Gilbert heard voices coming close. “Put that away quickly.”

  “Given the evidence, should we detain the lady?”

  He considered what to do. “Arresting my wife’s friend in such a setting will be problematic. Remember, she is armed.”

  Davis looked beyond him toward the ballroom. “The fewer guests around, the easier it will be to prevent accidental injury.”

  “We will continue with the plan we have. Watch her. Do not lose sight of her. Be ready to enter the library at the first hint of alarm.”

  “Very good, my lord.” Davis backed into the shadows and disappeared without a sound.

  Gilbert returned to Anna’s side and put his arm around her.

  Anna shivered as the dance before supper was called and looked up to him. “It’s almost time.

  Gilbert took her hand in his. “Carmichael’s note will have already been delivered.”

  “Can you see Portia?”

  “Gone already, I think.”

  “We should go, too.” She looked at him. “Gilbert, do you know who it is now?”

  “Yes.” He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “Which makes what I have to say all the more difficult. Do you know why women are being killed?”

  “Because they allowed Carmichael to steal a kiss.”

  “Yes and no. I suspect there has always been a preferred bride for him,” he confessed.

  She wet her lips. “Me?”

  “Yes, you.” He let her digest that suspicion before he spoke again. “I know our plan depends on catching the killer in the act, but you must prepare yourself for the shock and do nothing to prevent her making the attempt.”

  She seemed to breathe very fast. “Why?”

  “We spoke of a woman with Mrs. Lenthall the other day. My investigation has focused on one person ever since. I know your father has never hidden the fact he wanted, expected, Carmichael to marry you. You know there is someone else who wanted that too, don’t you.”

  Anna gasped. “No. She wouldn’t!”

  “She is ruthless and clever and very angry at anyone who gets in her way. And I am in her way now that we have married. I want you to stay away from her at all costs, no matter what happens to me.”

  She stared at him in shock. “Nothing will happen to you. I won’t allow it.”

  It was nice to be the recipient of such sweet words, even if she’d not the power to prevent him being harmed. “I’ve been shot before.”

  “Where? I saw no wound.”

  “My leg,” he replied and kissed her brow. “I will show you the scar when this is over.”

  “I’ll protect you.”

  He believed she meant her promise. However, he would not allow her to put herself in harm’s way. She and Carmichael were, most likely, the only two souls safe from this killer’s wrath. They were destined to be together—or so the killer believed.

  Gilbert was determined to stop her by any means, including putting his own life at risk.

  He tucked Anna against his side and slowly strolled toward the library via the deserted terrace. They had a very short time before the supper bell rang. That was the signal to enter the room. They needed to be ready to sweep in and save Miss Hayes.

  Once they reached the terrace door to the library, Anna shivered. He brought her hand to his lips for luck and kissed her knuckles once more.

  The door to the library had been left unlocked on purpose to allow them easy entry.

  He pressed a finger to his lips, and then slipped into the room first, knowing Anna would follow.

  Instantly, he sensed the presence of others…breathing and the rustle of cloth. He could not identify anyone, but he saw two bodies standing in the moonlight. One small, the other towering over her.

  Carmichael had his hands wrapped around his godmother’s throat.

  “What the devil are you doing? Stop!”

  “No,�
� Carmichael replied in a shockingly deadly tone. There was another sound in the room, the gasp of someone being choked. “She has to die.”

  Bow Street’s men, led by Davis, charged into the room from every doorway and encircled them. Gilbert looked around for Portia Hayes, sighing as he saw her whole and healthy with Lord Wade at her side.

  “Not by your hand, my lord!” Davis cried out.

  “You won’t stop me. The ladies will be safe now. I promise you that!” Carmichael swore.

  Gilbert moved quickly to intercept his friend, as did Davis.

  “It was Bess all along,” he answered without releasing his grip. “She killed Lydia and Myra and my Angela. Perhaps more. I’ll never forgive her for this betrayal. I confided in her! Trusted her!”

  Lady Scott’s eyes were bulging, her hands growing limp on Carmichael’s crushing hands. If Carmichael killed her, the other victims’ families would never see her live to be charged. Carmichael would suffer for killing her, too, and he’d suffered quite enough already.

  Gilbert pried them apart, keeping hold of Lady Scott when she was free. Davis held Carmichael back.

  Gilbert dumped Lady Scott, still alive and gasping for air, into the closest chair.

  Before he could speak, Anna had stepped between Lady Scott and Carmichael but her attention was only for their friend. “You cannot kill her. You’re nothing like her.”

  “I could for what she did to Angela!” Carmichael cried, fighting against Davis.

  “Angela would not want such a revenge,” Anna promised him, patting his chest. “She was a gentle soul and would want you to live a long and happy life without a death on your conscience, no matter how much it might be deserved.”

  Lady Scott coughed and then lifted her fan, holding it with two hands.

  Gilbert wrestled the weapon from her grip, revealing to all that the handle was attached to a long sharp blade. “An exact match to the blade found in Miss Lacy’s breast.”

  Carmichael paled and took a pace back.

  “How could you do this to him?” Anna stared at her mentor with tears in her eyes. “You had to know how much Angela meant to him? They were in love!”

  “Empty word, love. Said many times and never meant.” Lady Scott turned eyes as cold as winter on Anna. “What could you know of love yet?”