Page 53 of A Match of Misfortune (Bachelors of Blackstone’s #7)

Chapter Thirty-One

“ R emember, a pawn cannot be moved sideways or backward,” Cecily said, placing Jamison’s chess piece where it had been previously.

She had offered to teach him how to play chess in an attempt to distract herself from thoughts of Nash and why he and the others had not returned yet.

When she had come downstairs that morning, Mrs. Markham had shared the surprising news that the Dawn of India had been spotted and the men had gone to intercept it before it could reach the East India Docks.

But the day had come and gone, and there was still no word as to what had happened or if they’d been successful with their endeavor.

“It is no easy thing being left behind, waiting for news,” Bridget said, as though reading Cecily’s thoughts. She bounced Theo on her lap, his tired eyes closing as she did so.

“If they do not return soon, you are welcome to stay the night here, Lady Bridget,” Mrs. Markham offered.

“Thank you. I very well might take you up on the offer.”

Mrs. Markham collected Theo from her, and he nuzzled into her shoulder. “Jamison, it is time for bed. ”

“Not yet,” he said with pleading eyes aimed at his mother. “We have not finished our game.”

“It is already past your bedtime. You will have to finish tomorrow.”

Jamison released a small groan.

“Don’t worry,” Cecily said. “We can leave the pieces where they are so we needn’t start over.”

“Very well.” Jamison stood, and with woeful, dramatic steps, he made his way to Mrs. Markham to take hold of her outstretched hand as the three of them left the library.

“Have you heard from Lady Rothsburg?” Cecily asked, moving onto the settee next to Bridget and across from Adelaide.

“Yes, actually.” Bridget picked up her cup of tea.

She took a sip, seemed to realize it was no longer warm, and returned it to the table.

“Through her sister’s dogged determination and their efforts at nursing her brother-in-law back to health, he is slowly improving.

She believes she will return to London within the fortnight.

Likely not long after my parents arrive from the Continent. ”

“I’m relieved to hear it.”

“And when is your father expected?”

“He will be here in just over two weeks,” Cecily said, her chest constricting at the thought of all the people she would disappoint when she ended their betrothal.

Unless she didn’t. Perhaps Nash could go to India, and they could marry upon his return.

Years from now. If that was even what he wanted to do. She didn’t know.

The sound of the front door opening and closing had all three ladies listening in eager anticipation. Heavy footsteps sounded down the corridor.

“Hester?” It was Mr. Markham’s voice.

Cecily hurried to her feet and toward the door, waiting for him to come into view. “She has just brought the boys upstairs but will be down shortly.”

Mr. Markham appeared slightly disheveled, and his weary smile gave Cecily pause.

“Would you care for some refreshments?” she asked, gesturing him inside, worried he might go directly upstairs and not share what news he had. “Mrs. Markham also had the servants make up a dinner plate for you if you are hungry.”

Mr. Markham glanced at the stairs, as if debating what to do. Then with one more glance at Cecily, he stepped through the library door. “I shall have dinner brought up when I go to change, but a cup of tea sounds delightful.”

He took the wingback chair nearest Adelaide, and Cecily poured him a cup, bringing it to him before returning to her own seat.

“I expect you would prefer to wait to share any news until Mrs. Markham arrives?” Bridget asked, clearly as eager for information as Cecily was.

Mr. Markham glanced toward the door again. As if willed there by her husband, Mrs. Markham stepped through.

“Edmund!” Her cheeks colored slightly, likely at having used his Christian name in company. Or perhaps at how relieved she was to see him. “I hope you were not waiting long for me.”

“I just arrived, but I have much to tell you all.”

Mrs. Markham hastened onto the settee and took Cecily’s hand in hers as if she too needed the support. Cecily did not mind at all.

“First, to ease all your minds, Nash and Fredrick were able to intercept the Dawn of India before it reached the East India Docks.”

Relief flooded over Cecily, and with the way Mrs. Markham gave her hand a gentle squeeze, she knew she was equally glad to hear it.

“It took quite a while for Nash to receive permission to have the ship docked at the London Docks instead, given the sheer size of it and that it was not expected, but he managed it eventually. I suppose the delay was fortunate, as it gave Nash an opportunity to send for his agent, who arrived just in time to oversee the unloading of the cargo.”

“So, where are the others?” Bridget asked.

“Still at the docks. I assume they will work through the night to make certain the cargo is safely transported and secured in storage.”

“That is probably wise,” Mrs. Markham said. “What with Mr. Steele’s efforts against him.”

“It seems Mr. Steele’s malfeasance went much farther than we initially thought.

Captain Carter reported that near the Cape Verde Islands, a smaller unmarked ship came from the direction of the islands, getting dangerously close as if attempting to steer them toward the rocky shoals off the islands’ coast. The cannons had all been tied down due to rough seas, and though initially he had his men readying the guns, he soon realized, since the other ship was not firing on him, his bigger threat was the shallow sea he was navigating.

He redirected most of his men to the front of the ship and the net near the crow’s nest and had them watch for signs of concealed rocks and reefs. ”

“They made it through without incident, though?” Adelaide asked, concern touching her brow.

“Miraculously, they did. But likely because the other ship did not.”

Cecily’s lips parted, her expression matching those around her. “It ran aground?”

Mr. Markham nodded. “Apparently, they were too focused on the Dawn of India , and they overlooked a concealed outcrop of rocks just beneath the water’s surface in their own path.

Captain Carter said the bow of their ship took such a blow, the thunderous crack of it sounded as though his own ship had taken a hit. ”

All four ladies sat in stunned silence.

“Upon hearing Captain Carter’s account, a surveyor for the Thames River police reported the occurrence to the constable.

What the constable found most interesting, and most condemning, was the fact that Nash had been told the exact location of the supposed wreck before news of it could possibly have reached England.

And that over a full week after the reported date of the supposed wreck, a ship attempted to run the Dawn of India aground in that same area.

“But that’s not all. The sailors who had made the initial report were long gone, but the dockworker was brought in for questioning.

To avoid punishment for his part in it, the man admitted that Mr. Steele had paid both him and the sailors a decent sum to make the false report and deliver the news to Nash.

” Mr. Markham paused, as if to be sure everyone was listening.

“He also admitted to delivering a letter to Mr. Woods at Mr. Steele’s request.”

“Aunt Agnes’ solicitor?” Mrs. Markham asked, wide-eyed.

“The very one.”

Cecily was having trouble making sense of it all. “It was Mr. Steele who submitted the second will?”

“There was no second will, it turns out. That is where I have been for the last few hours, at the Court of Chancery with Mr. Woods, verifying that fact. The forged letter seems to have been an attempt to stall the distribution of Nash’s inheritance.

We are assuming a similar letter was sent to the Church Court in Dover, as otherwise he should have been approved as executor by now. ”

Again, the room fell silent, each of them seemingly lost in thought.

“What is to happen to Mr. Steele?” Mrs. Markham asked, ending the silence.

“He is to be held accountable. He was apprehended at the East India Docks, taken off a ship that was about to set sail. We suspect he heard news of the Dawn of India ’s arrival, something he was clearly not expecting, and meant to flee.

The constable said if Nash wants to offer further evidence for the case, he’d share it with the magistrate.

Though with the severity of the allegations, I assume Mr. Steele’s case will go to the Old Bailey for trial. ”

“All this time,” Mrs. Markham said, looking as bewildered as Cecily, “it was not bad luck at the root of Nash’s sufferings and poor reputation. It was Mr. Steele.”

Bridget’s lips parted, and she covered her mouth with her hand.

“At the McMillans’ card party, Lady Victoria mentioned that the night of the Darlingtons’ ball, she was certain Mr. Markham had tripped on Lord Chatting’s cane.

That she had seen the whole thing. At the time, I thought nothing about it, since even if it were so, it seemed likely an accident.

But now, considering that dreadful man’s role in things, I wonder if he had purposefully tripped Mr. Markham. If Mr. Steele had put him up to it.”

Bridget’s comment triggered Cecily’s own memory of Lord Chatting.

Of something Lord Harlow had shared with her during his last visit.

“Lord Harlow mentioned overhearing Lord Chatting speak of the reason he’d proposed Nash’s name for White’s.

He had told the other gentlemen he’d only done so because he was unduly pressured .

I’d assumed it was a lie and he was falsely accusing Nash, but I wonder if it was Mr. Steele who had been the one pressuring him in order to make Nash’s misfortunes and poor reputation a matter of concern for the ton . ”

“Nothing would surprise me at this point.” Mr. Markham shook his head. “Thankfully, it seems as though his luck has been restored.”

Cheerful glances passed around their small group, but an uncomfortable niggling inside Cecily seemed to dampen her smile. If Nash had gotten his luck back, where did that leave the two of them?