Page 25 of Lady Louisa and the Carriage Clock (The Rogue’s Alliance #3)
L ouisa found herself seated next to Lord Kettering and across from his wife. Alicia sat beside Lady Kettering.
The soup course was served, and she endeavored to remain calm. Lady Kettering must be Venus. She still didn’t know what her connection to Lady Cairs might be.
“Lady Louisa, Alicia tells me a valuable clock you recently acquired was destroyed,” Lord Kettering said lightly. “By Lord Wycliffe, no less.”
Although she knew he must have heard about Lord Wycliffe burning the clocks from other sources, his wife’s recently formed friendship with the talkative Alicia made the news inevitable.
“Oh yes, what a tragedy,” Alicia responded. “How strange of Lord Wycliffe to burn two such costly clocks.”
Alicia said several more things that Louisa did not attend to. She was watching Lady Kettering closely and saw the lady wince at Alicia’s continued conversation.
When Alicia paused for breath, Louisa said in a low voice, “Lord Wycliffe believes the clocks were coveted by The Rogue’s Alliance, so of course he would destroy the clocks.”
Edith threw Louisa a surprised look from the end of the table while Lady Kettering laughed musically.
“The Rogue’s Alliance? That organization is merely a myth, is it not?”
“I don’t believe so.” Louisa pursed her lips as if she were giving the matter some thought. “The alliance has been known to murder, cheat and steal. It is quite shocking how without scruples their members are.”
Lord Kettering drew in a breath. “There have always been those who take from others in this world.”
“But to be so cruel, so without mercy.” She paused to sigh. “It is really beyond the pale.”
Louisa was weary of the RA. Tired of knowing what they had foisted on society. She knew too much of their murders and thievery. How much went on in the organization that she didn’t know about? In addition to his brother, the RA had stolen three years of Lord Wycliffe’s life.
She was sure Lady Kettering had befriended Alicia merely to find out what the girl might know about Lord Wycliffe’s movements.
There was a short silence. Nathaniel had an expression of confusion on his face while Edith looked slightly alarmed.
“Have you attended the Wilkie exhibition at Dulwich?” Edith asked Lady Kettering.
“Miss Alicia and I viewed the collection last week.” The lady exchanged a smile with Alicia. A smile Louisa realized did not reach her eyes.
“Edith and I visited Dulwich yesterday,” she replied and would have continued if Alicia hadn’t interrupted.
“Such a strange building. It looks like squares haphazardly put together. The skylights are quite different. I’ve never seen anything like them before.”
“I believe you are a devotee of Wilkie, are you not, Lady Louisa?” Nathaniel asked, jumping into the fray.
“Oh yes! Although I was struck by the magnificence of a painting without attribution.” She looked squarely at Lady Kettering. “Perhaps you know it well? It’s a work known as Venus and Adonis .”
The lady’s gaze flitted over Louisa’s face before she looked away. “I’m sorry, I'm not familiar with that work.”
The course was removed, and while the footmen placed the next course before them, Edith kicked her under the table. Her friend was right. She was playing with fire. The rest of the meal continued with increasingly aimless conversation until Edith rose to her feet, a signal that dinner was over.
Lady Kettering stood up as well and put a hand to her temple. “I’m suddenly feeling a bit faint.”
Lord Kettering rushed around the table to his wife.
“You do look a bit peaked,” Nathaniel said worriedly.
“I’ll get her home.” Lord Kettering smiled weakly at Edith. “Thank you for a lovely meal. I hope we haven’t ruined your evening.”
The gentleman whisked his wife away from the house as the rest of the party trouped into the drawing room.
“Poor dear,” Alicia said after she sat next to Edith on a settee. “Lady Kettering usually has such a strong constitution. She is a dear friend, and her marriage is one I hope to emulate one day. The Kettering’s have been married for many years. It was Lady Cairs who introduced them, you know.”
Both Louisa and Edith let out a sound of disbelief.
“The lady looked uncomfortable during most of the meal,” Nathaniel replied with a probing look at his wife and Louisa.
The baron knew something was amiss and didn’t look too pleased by the realization.
“Alicia, if we repair to the music room, do you think you’re up to entertaining us with an aria?” Edith asked into the strained silence. “I will accompany you.”
“Of course! I would never turn down an opportunity to perform.”
They all moved to the music room next door; Edith was seated at the pianoforte, and Alicia stood beside her.
Once the music had started and Alicia began to sing, Nathaniel said from his place beside Louisa, “I know something is going on. You were needling Lord and Lady Kettering about the RA and a painting. You must explain yourself.”
The baron frowned as she formulated a reply.
“Lady Kettering is our Venus. I’m sure Edith has told you about Cupid and Venus being the clues to the riddle of the second clock.”
“She has.” He paused. “How do you know Lady Kettering is Venus?”
“I overheard her call her husband Adonis as we went into dinner. Cupid is Lady Cairs. It all fits.”
“Your behavior at dinner was careless. If Lady Kettering is Venus, it was not a good idea to taunt her like that.” Nathaniel shook his head. “You should feign sickness and allow me to escort you home. Do not go out. Once you are home, I will locate Cecil and tell him of your suspicions.”
“Edith has also guessed that Lady Kettering is Venus.”
Nathaniel replied gruffly, “My wife has promised not to involve herself further with the riddle. I will see you home and then seek Cecil out. Alone.”
She could do nothing but agree. Her behavior had been reckless. When Alicia’s aria ended, Louisa rose to her feet.
“Edith, I feel a migraine coming on. Your husband has offered to see me home.”
“That is terrible.” Alicia rushed to her. “Might I do anything to help?”
“I think I merely need some rest,” she replied softly.
“There is something important I must discuss with Cecil.” Nathaniel stood up, walked to where his wife was seated, and bent down to kiss her cheek. “After I see Louisa home, I will depart straightaway for Curzon Street.”
Edith nodded her understanding. “Goodnight, Louisa, do take care.”
* * * * *
W hen Cecil returned from his stroll around the edges of Mayfair, Bones greeted him in the entry hall of the house.
“What now?” he asked grimly.
“I thought you would like to know the coachman and groom have decided to stay on. And Henry wondered if you would be interested in supper. He will have your meal ready in a few minutes.”
“Supper sounds splendid. Tell him I will proceed to the dining room after I wash off the dust of Town.”
Having a meal in his own home would be a nice change. When he finished his ablutions, Cecil found a covered platter full of food on the dining room table with one place set. A decanter of port and a glass of small beer were at his place. Henry did know how to cater to the needs of a bachelor gentleman.
Cecil ate heartily of roast, carrots, and potatoes. Henry entered the room carrying a plate of cheese, fruit, and a few pieces of shortbread.
“This was an excellent meal,” Cecil told the man. “And your shortbread is the best I’ve ever tasted.”
“It was always Eliza’s favorite. I need to get around to Grosvenor Square and visit her. She worked for Lord Daventry in Northamptonshire when I left for the continent. I haven’t seen her in an age.”
“Eliza was employed by Lord Daventry?” Cecil asked, a chill running down his spine.
The other man nodded. “Until he passed. Eliza became something of a nurse to him in his last few days.”
Eliza was in Nathaniel’s household. In all likelihood, if the girl had worked for Daventry, she was in league with the RA.
And Bones had vouched for her.
Daventry and Cecil’s cook had been poisoned. Poison was usually a woman’s weapon. Even if Eliza poisoned the cook, she couldn’t have moved him out to the mews on her own. The men who ransacked Cecil’s home must have moved the body.
He jumped to his feet.
“My lord?”
“I have to go out.” He would say no more. Both Bones and Henry could be involved with the RA. Bones had seemed rather eager to dispatch the RA member he’d knifed in the stables on Swallow Street, and the timing of Henry coming to work for Cecil was suspect.
Cecil heard a disturbance in the corridor outside the dining room before Nathaniel barged into the room.
“Come with me, Cecil. Now.”
He followed his friend without question out to the street and into Nathaniel’s carriage. “Where are we headed?”
“Kettering House. Lady Kettering is your Venus.” The coach lurched forward.
“That can wait.” Cecil struck the coach ceiling with his walking stick, and the carriage halted. “Grosvenor Square!”
“What is the difficulty?” Nathaniel asked.
“Right now, I’m more concerned with my former maid Eliza residing in your household. I just learned Eliza tended to Lord Daventry before he died.” He relayed the conversation he’d had between himself and Henry. “You should also know that my cook was found murdered in the mews today.”
Despite the low light in the carriage, Cecil could see Nathaniel turn pale. “Faith! What was the cause of death?”
“He was poisoned,” he replied grimly. “By arsenic, I would wager, just like Lord Daventry.”
“We have to get Eliza out of my house.”
“Exactly.” He added, “I am so sorry, Nathaniel. If anything were to happen to Edith, I would never forgive myself.”
“Right now, I’m more concerned about Louisa.”
Nathaniel recounted the conversation between Louisa and the Ketterings at the dinner party that evening.
“Louisa surely waded into it.” He shook his head. “What was she thinking?”
“I escorted her home myself. She is safe.”
Cecil wasn’t so sure that was the case. There was no way of knowing whether the RA had infiltrated Carstairs. He’d trusted Bones and look where that had gotten him. He had to hope having a father and four brothers in her home was more than enough to protect Louisa.
For Nathaniel’s peace of mind, he calmly replied, “We will be in Grosvenor Square in a matter of minutes. I’m sure all is well.”