Page 19 of A Lady’s Mishap (The Lockwood Family #5)

19

E lodie lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. She could hear the barking of the puppies drifting in from the window. But she did not dare move to the window. The thought of catching a glimpse of Anthony made her heart pound in her chest.

Her restless night had been plagued by memories of their conversation playing over and over in her mind. Anthony had said he cared for her. How had she been so blind? Had his teasing all along been an attempt to flirt? To express something deeper? She had missed it entirely.

And now he was done trying to win her over. He wanted to remain friends. But was that truly what she wanted? She cared for him, of course. There was no denying that. Yet perhaps it would be best to let things lie as they were, to remain friends and avoid the risk of making things more complicated.

The door opened, pulling her from her thoughts. Molly entered with a cheerful expression. “Good morning, my lady. Your mother has requested that you join everyone for breakfast.”

Elodie groaned and grabbed a pillow, pressing it over her face. “Tell her that I died.”

“You are not dead,” Molly said. “Is something truly bothering you?”

Tossing the pillow aside, Elodie forced a weak cough. “I feel sick.”

Molly raised an unimpressed eyebrow. “You are not sick, either. Do you want to tell me the real reason?”

Elodie sat up in bed. “I just feel discombobulated.”

Walking over to the wardrobe, Molly removed a green gown. “Then let’s dress you while you are trying to sort through your thoughts.”

“I doubt that will help,” Elodie replied, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

Molly draped the gown over the back of the settee. “Did something happen at the soiree last night?”

“Yes… no… I don’t know,” Elodie admitted, removing her white wrapper and placing it on the bed.

“You are being very decisive today, I see,” Molly teased.

Elodie moved to her dressing table and sat down in the chair. “What do you think of Lord Belview?”

Molly tilted her head thoughtfully. “I have never met him, but you speak rather highly of him.”

“He can be very vexing.”

“But he did buy you a miniature horse and a puppy,” Molly said as she started brushing Elodie’s hair.

Despite herself, she smiled. “He can also be very charming and kind. Do you see the problem?”

“I’m afraid I do not, my lady.”

When Molly finished with her hair, Elodie turned in her chair to face her lady’s maid. “He told me that he cared for me.”

Molly’s eyebrows lifted. “And what did you say?”

Elodie frowned, her hands twisting in her lap. “Nothing. We were rather rudely interrupted by Lord Montrose.”

Molly sat on the edge of the bed. “If you hadn’t been interrupted, what would you have said?”

“I don’t know,” Elodie admitted, standing abruptly and beginning to pace the room. “He said he was done trying to win me over. That he wanted us to remain friends.”

“Is that what you want?”

Elodie stopped mid-step, turning back towards Molly. “Yes… no. Maybe? I do not dislike him.”

Molly studied her carefully. “Do you care for him?”

“I think so.”

“You do not sound so sure.”

Elodie resumed pacing. “I have always considered Lord Belview to be the most vexing of men, but lately…” Her words trailed off. “It has been different.”

Molly leaned forward slightly. “Different how?”

She stopped again, this time looking out the window. “I find myself hanging on his every word, as though I need to know everything that he is thinking. He is the first person who has made me feel like I am enough.”

Molly gave her a knowing smile. “It sounds like you have developed real feelings for Lord Belview.”

“Perhaps, but it is too late.”

A knock came at the door, interrupting their conversation.

“Enter,” Elodie ordered.

A young maid stepped inside, her dark hair pinned beneath her cap. “Lady Dallington requests your presence in the dining room, my lady.”

Molly jumped up and retrieved the gown. “We should hurry. We can continue this conversation later.”

Once Elodie was dressed, she made her way to the dining room. She approached and heard the sound of a familiar voice drifting through the open door.

Melody !

Elodie hurried into the dining room and saw her entire family, including Melody and her husband, Lord Emberly, sitting at the table.

Melody spotted her and rose from her seat, rushing over to embrace her tightly. “Elodie! It is so good to see you.”

Taking a step back, Elodie asked, “What are you doing here?”

“We decided to cut our wedding tour short so we can enjoy the Season with you,” Melody explained, exchanging a loving glance with her husband.

“That is wonderful news.”

Melody guided her to the table, her tone turning serious. “I understand that Lord Montrose has been bothering you.”

“He has, but it is nothing that I cannot handle,” Elodie replied, taking a seat next to her sister.

Her mother spoke up from the end of the table. “You certainly took your time in coming to breakfast this morning.”

Elodie did not want to tell her mother that she had been lying in bed for hours, dwelling on Anthony. She decided to lie. “I overslept.”

Bennett, sitting across from her, spoke up. “I do not know how you could have slept in with those puppies barking incessantly.”

“Barking does not bother me,” Elodie said, reaching for a piece of bread. She picked up her knife and began to butter it carefully. If there was ever a time she needed to eat something delicious, it was now.

Melody gave Elodie a curious look. “I understand that Anthony gifted you a miniature horse.”

“He did,” Elodie replied. “It is no unicorn, but it was a thoughtful gift.”

Winston interjected, “Unicorns are not real, Sister.”

Elodie set down her knife and fixed him with a serious look. “I want to live in a world where unicorns are real.” She did not know why but she needed to believe that the impossible could happen.

Melody laughed and leaned closer. “What did you name your miniature horse?”

Grateful for the change in subject, Elodie replied, “Lord Henry.”

“I like that name,” Melody replied.

Bennett sighed. “It is a dreadful name for a horse. You should have named it Lord Bennie.”

“Bennie is a nickname for Bennett,” Elodie remarked. “Why on earth would I name my horse after you when I am so fond of him?”

“I hope your horse bites you,” Bennett quipped.

Elodie laughed. “Lord Henry is rather ornery, but I like his spirit. It keeps things interesting.”

Her father stepped into the room and took his place at the head of the table. “My apologies for being late. There were matters at work that required my attention.”

“There always are, Dear,” her mother said.

Turning towards Melody, their father smiled. “Welcome home, Melody.”

“Thank you, Father,” she replied.

Their mother rose from her chair. “Now that we are all here,” she began, her tone suggesting she had been eagerly awaiting this moment, “I have the most wonderful news.”

Melody leaned towards Elodie and whispered, “This cannot be good.”

Elodie stifled a giggle behind her hand. “Definitely not,” she whispered back.

“I have decided that we will host a ball,” her mother announced. “It will be held here, in our ballroom, three weeks from now. Is that not wonderful?”

“I am still waiting for the ‘wonderful’ part,” Bennett joked.

Their mother waved a dismissive hand. “You will adjust. It will be in three weeks’ time. Plan accordingly.”

Elodie raised her hand.

Her mother shook her head. “Yes, Elodie.”

“Must I attend?”

Her mother furrowed her brows. “And why would you not?”

“I do not like dancing.”

“Yes, Child, you have to come,” her mother replied firmly.

Elodie took a bite of her buttered bread, savoring the taste. She hated dancing, but the thought of being in Anthony’s arms for even one dance made her heart flutter. Perhaps she would not fight this ball too much.

“Is that all, Elodie?” Bennett asked, bemused. “No dramatic protests? No declarations that you would rather die?”

Elodie shrugged. “What is the point? It is inevitable that I must go.”

Bennett pointed accusingly at her bread. “What kind of magical bread is that? Is it a bread that makes people compliant?”

“It is just bread, Brother.”

Bennett sat back in his chair. “Elodie is acting odd, and I intend to get to the bottom of it.”

“I am not acting odd,” Elodie countered.

Winston chimed in. “I agree with Bennett. The old Elodie would have declared she would rather be eaten by wolves than attend a ball.”

Elodie rolled her eyes. “You two are overthinking this.”

“Leave poor Elodie alone,” her mother chided lightly.

Bennett put his hand up. “Very well, but be warned, I am a master investigator. Nothing escapes my notice.”

Delphine patted Bennett’s arm. “Says the man who could not find his pocket watch this morning, even though it was in his waistcoat pocket.”

“In my defense, I do not remember putting it there,” Bennett said.

“That is not a good defense, my love,” Delphine teased.

Elodie laughed. “Once I have had my fill of this magical bread, I will be back to my delightful self. No investigation necessary.”

Melody reached for her cup of chocolate and took a sip. “I also heard that Anthony gifted you a puppy. May I see this dog of yours?”

Elodie did not want to see Anthony right now. Her emotions were too conflicted and she needed to sort through them. “You do not need to see Lulu,” she said quickly. “It is just a dog. You have seen plenty of dogs before.”

“But I want to meet Lulu,” Melody pressed.

Elodie thought fast, trying to come up with a plausible explanation. “Lulu does not like meeting new people. He might bite you, and I could not live with myself if he did.”

Melody’s lips twitched. “I think I will take my chances.”

“Are you sure? I once heard that if a dog bites you, there is a higher chance your child will be born a werewolf,” Elodie said, trying another tactic.

Winston chuckled. “Where, pray tell, did you hear that nonsense?”

“It is common knowledge, is it not?” Elodie asked.

“Werewolves, much like unicorns, are not real,” Winston replied. “Now, what is the real reason that you do not want Melody to meet Lulu?”

Elodie adopted an innocent look. “There is no reason. If Melody wants to risk raising a werewolf, I will gladly show her the dog.”

“Then shall we go after breakfast?” Melody asked.

Elodie sighed in defeat. “Wonderful,” she muttered, nibbling at her bread to avoid further protest.

Anthony sat at his desk, the ledgers spread out before him untouched, his attention instead drawn to the window. His gaze lingered on the gardens, where Elodie and Melody were laughing as they played with the puppies. Emma flitted around them, joining in their playful chaos. The scene brought a smile to Anthony’s face. He wanted to join them, but he stopped himself. If his plan were to succeed, he needed to give Elodie time to realize she cared for him as much as he cared for her. He thought he had seen something in her eyes. But was it real, or was he merely being hopeful?

A knock at the door pulled him from his musings. Percy stepped in, his expression solemn. “My lord, Mr. Grady…”

Before Percy could finish, Grady strode into the room with purpose. “We need to talk.”

Anthony offered Percy an apologetic glance and gestured towards a chair. “Take a seat.”

Grady remained standing, gripping the back of the chair with white-knuckled intensity. “After you made the drop, I followed a man deep into the rookeries. I apprehended him and questioned him thoroughly. He is sitting in Newgate now.”

“That is wonderful—” Anthony began.

The Bow Street Runner cut him off. “He was just the middleman. It took hours, but he finally confessed to the mastermind behind the blackmail. And you are not going to like it.”

Grady’s voice put Anthony on edge, but his question needed to be asked. “Who is it?” he asked, bracing himself.

The Bow Street Runner’s voice dropped, his tone grave. “Your brother.”

Anthony blinked, stunned. “That is absurd. Why would Stephen blackmail me? His own brother?”

Grady leaned in. “I assumed you would feel that way, so I conducted further inquiries. Your brother promised his creditors he would pay them by the end of the day. He is desperate.”

Anthony rose from his chair. He walked to the window and looked out again, but the cheerful scene in the gardens brought no solace. Could Stephen truly be capable of such betrayal? Deep down, Anthony suspected the answer was “yes.” Stephen had always been selfish, and he would do anything to save himself.

“What would you like to do, my lord?” Grady’s voice broke the silence. “I can arrest your brother.”

Anthony closed his eyes briefly, then turned back to the room. “No. Let me speak to him first.”

As if summoned by his words, the door opened, and Stephen entered. His hair was disheveled, his clothing wrinkled and carelessly thrown on. He sauntered into the room. “You rang, my lord?” he mocked.

Anthony turned his gaze to Grady, who explained, “I anticipated you would want to address this immediately, so I had your butler summon him.”

Stephen’s eyes flickered to Grady, his expression critical. “Who is this man?”

“This is Grady,” Anthony replied. “He is a Bow Street Runner who is looking into an important matter for me.”

Unperturbed, Stephen flopped into the chair across from the desk. “So, what is this pressing issue that required waking me at such an ungodly hour?”

Anthony moved to lean against the desk, folding his arms. “Grady has brought me some distressing news.”

Stephen, studying his fingernails, barely glanced up. “Oh? And what is it?”

Taking a deep breath, Anthony decided it was time to just say what needed to be said and be done with it. “Are you blackmailing me and Lord Westcott?”

Stephen’s hand froze mid-motion, but his expression remained disinterested. “What? No. Why would you even suggest such a ridiculous thing?”

Grady stepped forward, his voice sharp. “A man in Newgate says otherwise. He confessed to working for you, retrieving money left in an alleyway.”

“That man is clearly lying,” Stephen said, standing abruptly. “I do not have time for such baseless accusations?—”

“Sit down, Stephen,” Anthony interrupted.

Stephen’s eyes flashed with anger. “I do not answer to you.”

“No, but I could have you arrested for your part in blackmailing me,” Anthony said.

His brother glared at him, his face contorted with fury. “You would not dare!”

“Do you want to take that chance?” Anthony asked, stepping closer.

Reluctantly, Stephen sank back into the chair, though his body remained tense. “Why does it matter, anyway? You don’t need the money. I do.”

“So you admit it?” Anthony pressed, his voice hard.

His brother shrugged. “I needed money, and you were being stubborn about not paying off my debts. I had no intention of ruining anyone’s reputation.”

Anthony stared at his brother. “Do you feel any remorse for what you have done?”

“Why should I?” Stephen demanded. “If I do not pay my creditors, I will be sent to debtor’s prison. What choice did I have?”

“Do you care about anyone but yourself?” Anthony asked.

Stephen scoffed. “Why should I?” he asked, repeating himself.

Anthony frowned, knowing what he needed to do. “I want you to leave and never come back.”

His brother shot up to his feet, his face twisting with outrage. “You are disowning me?”“I am.”

“You have been looking for a reason to get rid of me since Father got sick,” Stephen spat out. “What would our parents think of this?”

Anthony stood firm, his expression unyielding. “I do not care. It is time that you find your own way in the world.”

“With what money?” Stephen demanded. “If I leave here, I will end up in debtor’s prison. Is that what you want?”

“It is what you deserve.”

Stephen narrowed his eyes. “Why should I be punished for being the second son? You are the precious heir, and I have been left with scraps my entire life.”

“You were given the finest education,” Anthony shot back, his voice rising. “And you squandered it when you were expelled from Oxford for cheating.”

Stephen moved to stand in front of Anthony, his nostrils flaring. “I will leave, but you will give me the money that is owed to me.”

“Nothing is owed to you. Not anymore,” Anthony replied.

Stephen’s lips curled into a sneer. “Fine. Then I will take Emma with me.”

Anthony’s jaw tightened. “You will do no such thing.”

A smug smile spread across Stephen’s lips. “Our parents adore that little girl. Imagine their devastation if I take her away. What do you think will happen, Brother?”

“You do not even want to raise a daughter.”

“Does it matter?” Stephen asked, his sneer morphing into something colder. “She is my golden ticket. As her father, there is nothing you can do to stop me.”

Anthony grew tense. He could not let Stephen take Emma, but the law was clear. Stephen, as her father, held the power. Helplessness gripped him as he struggled to find a solution.

Grady’s voice broke the tense silence. “If I may interrupt, I believe I have something of interest to say.”

Stephen shot the Bow Street Runner a withering look. “Nothing you have to say interests me, Runner.”

Grady smiled at Stephen, appearing unbothered by the insult. “After I got your middleman to confess, I took the liberty of visiting the gambling establishments you owe money to. Let’s say they were very unhappy to hear you would not be paying your debts.”

Stephen’s face paled slightly, though his sneer remained intact. “Why would you do something so foolish?”

“Because I suspected that this was your plan all along,” Grady replied. “You are a rich, entitled lord who thinks nothing of trampling others to get your way. That kind of arrogance deserves a comeuppance.”

Stephen’s mask slipped, and for the first time, real fear flickered in his eyes. “What did you do?”

Grady turned towards the door. “Constable Chandler, if you would join us?”

A tall, dark-haired man stepped into the room. He tipped his head at Grady before turning to Stephen. “Is this Mr. Sackville?”

“It is,” Grady confirmed. He turned back to Stephen. “Your creditors have called in your debts. Since you are unable to pay, Constable Chandler will escort you to King’s Bench Prison.”

Stephen’s eyes widened with panic. “No! This is just a ruse. I am the son of an earl. You cannot send me to prison!”

Constable Chandler stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. “You will remain in prison until you settle your debts.”

“But I have no funds!” Stephen shouted, his desperation mounting.

“Then you could remain in prison indefinitely.” Constable Chandler extended his hand. “Shall we?”

Stephen spun towards Anthony, his expression frantic. “Would you truly do this to your own brother? Have you no mercy? No soul?”

Anthony kept his face expressionless. “You blackmailed me and threatened to ruin Elodie’s and Lady Eugenie’s reputation. And now you would use Emma as a pawn. Yes, Stephen, I think it is time you learned there are consequences for your actions.”

His brother jabbed a finger at him, his face red with fury. “You are no better than me. The only reason why you are not in my position is because you were born first.”

“I never claimed to be better than you.”

Stephen puffed out his chest, his voice shaking with rage. “This will not end well for you, Brother. I will get out of that prison, and when I do, I will take what is owed to me.”

Constable Chandler stepped forward and took Stephen by the arm. “It is time to go.”

Stephen tried to yank free, but the constable held firm. “Let me go! I am the son of an earl.”

“A broke son of an earl,” Constable Chandler responded with a smirk.

As Chandler dragged Stephen towards the door, he twisted around to glare at Anthony. “You will pay for this!” he bellowed before being hauled out of the room.

Once they were gone, Grady met his gaze and said, “You did the right thing, my lord. Your brother left you no other choice.”

Anthony exhaled deeply and dropped into a chair. “I know, but I wish it had not come to this. What am I going to tell my parents?”

“The truth, my lord.”

He winced. “I worry how this will affect my father’s health.”

Grady placed a hand on Anthony’s shoulder, a rare showing of compassion. “You are protecting your family by sending him to prison. Do not lose sight of that.”

“Thank you.”

Grady released Anthony’s shoulder and took a step back. “If you need anything further, you know where to find me.”

With that, Grady left the study, leaving Anthony with his thoughts. He stared at the ceiling, knowing he needed to face his parents. They deserved to hear the truth from him before news of Stephen’s imprisonment reached the newssheets.

Rising, Anthony made his way to his father’s room, hesitating before knocking. The door opened promptly, and he stepped inside to see his mother sitting beside his father in bed, both leaning back against the pillows.

“Anthony,” his mother greeted warmly. “You were just here. Is everything all right? You look troubled.”

He came to a stop beside the bed, his hands clasped tightly. “I have come bearing bad news.”

His father furrowed his brow. “What has happened?”

“Stephen has been sent to debtor’s prison,” Anthony revealed.

His mother gasped, her hand flying to her chest. “Dear heavens, we must get him out of there immediately!”

Anthony moved to sit in a chair positioned next to the bed. “His debts amount to nineteen thousand pounds. A sum that would drain the family coffers. When I refused to pay, Stephen turned to blackmail.”

“Who did he try to blackmail?” his father asked.

“Lord Westcott and me,” Anthony admitted. “He threatened to ruin Lady Elodie’s and Lady Eugenie’s reputation over an incident that happened many days ago.”

His mother sat up in bed. “We cannot let Stephen stay in prison?—”

“It is where he belongs,” his father interrupted firmly. “Anthony, you made the right decision.”

“Surely there is another way?” his mother pleaded, glancing between them both.

Anthony paused before sharing, “Before the constable came, Stephen threatened to take Emma. He planned to use her to manipulate us into giving him money.”

His mother’s face crumpled. “Stephen would not do something so cruel.”

“He would, Mother,” Anthony said.

His father reached for her hand. “I love Stephen, but it is time that he is held accountable for his actions. We must protect Emma, at all costs.”

Anthony nodded, though the heaviness in his chest remained. The truth had been spoken, but the pain of it would linger far longer.