Page 23 of Masque of Deceptions (Shadows #2)

Two days later, Daniel and Anna arrived home in the middle of the afternoon to learn that the dowager and Rebecca were out paying calls.

‘Good,’ said Daniel. ‘And what progress has been made upstairs?’

‘I believe your lordship will be pleased,’ replied the butler sedately.

‘Let’s hope so.’ And to Anna, ‘Do you want to investigate while Flynn tells me if there have been any other developments that I should be aware of? I won’t be far behind you.’

She nodded and refrained from expressing surprise that his first thought had been the state of their rooms rather than any activity on Grimshaw’s part. She also refrained, as she might not otherwise have done, from asking Flynn to send her maid to her. Since The Kiss, Daniel’s behaviour had changed and, whenever they were alone, he frequently made small, affectionate gestures such as putting an arm about her waist and sometimes larger ones which left her pink and breathless.

Upstairs, the refurbishment of their suite was complete. Walls had been painted, new hangings replaced faded old ones and the freshly-polished furniture was back in place. Inevitably, there was a smell of paint but it wasn’t nearly as bad as before and, with the windows left partly open, ought soon to be gone.

Daniel arrived behind her to slide both arms about her and pull her back against his chest. Looking around his room, he said, ‘This is an improvement. Are you pleased?’

‘Very.Are you?’

‘Delighted. Clearly Mama has had every hand to the pump.’

‘Plus some additional help from outside, I should think,’ agreed Anna. And before he could remark on it himself, ‘The paint smell is strongest in here, I’m afraid.’

‘Ah. Well, it if becomes insupportable, you could always invite me to share your room for a night or two.’ Aware of the tiny quiver of shock that rippled through her, he released her and moved slightly away. ‘We’ve done it before, after all. But you don’t have to say yes. Just perhaps think about it?’

‘Yes.’ The word left her mouth before it had gone through her brain; before she’d given a second’s thought to what he might or might not be suggesting. Then, turning back into the parlour and hastening to change the subject, she said, ‘ Did anything happen while we were away?’

‘Three letters came for Mama which Flynn wasn’t sure about and which I haven’t looked at yet. And one of the under-grooms reported a man he didn’t recognise hanging around the gates two days ago … but when Flynn sent Jeffrey out to ask what he wanted, he’d gone. It was probably nothing of consequence. But Flynn’s been sending different members of the staff on largely needless errands in case he came back.’

‘But he hasn’t?’

‘Not so far.’ Not being entirely sure what she’d said ‘yes’ to – inviting him to share her bed or merely thinking about it – and suspecting that she didn’t know either, Daniel decided to give her time to work it out. ‘I’d better take a look at Mama’s letters and find out what other matters have arisen during our absence that demand my attention. Presumably, you’ll want to check on progress at Hawthorne’s?’

‘Yes. And meanwhile, I’ll have Ruth prepare a bath.’

‘An excellent idea. So to save work and since I doubt you are very dirty, you can tell them to save the water for me – and to let me know when you’re finished.’

Anna gave a rare and unexpected gurgle of laughter causing him to ask suspiciously, ‘What?’

‘Ruth puts scented oil into my bath – lavender or rose. Do you have a preference?’

Daniel grinned. ‘For myself?No.Do you?’

And walked out before she could answer.

Two of the three letters Flynn had set aside were innocent; an invitation to a card party and a bill from a Gloucester bookshop.

But the third sent a chill down Daniel’s back.

If your ladyship wishes to learn the secret that your late husband kept from you for many years and which your son is now also guarding, come alone to Saint Nicholas church in Gloucester at noon on the second day of October.

This offer will not be made again. Tell no one.

A friend.

It wasn’t in Grimshaw’s hand – or at least, it didn’t appear to be – but, like anything else, Daniel supposed writing could be disguised. Thoughtfully, he walked into Anna’s office and, placing it on the desk in front of her, said, ‘More or less exactly what you predicted might happen.’

She read it and then looked up at him. ‘Well, at least we know he’s not taking his tale to the newspapers so that’s comfort of a sort. Do you know the church in question?’

‘Yes. Unless it’s changed, there are only services on Sundays – which October the second isn’t. And visitors to Gloucester tend to look at Saint Nicholas’s leaning spire, then move on to explore the cathedral instead.’ He thought for a moment. ‘It’s an old church, so lots of nice shadowy corners in which to lurk. Grimshaw has chosen well.’

‘It’s odd, though,’ mused Anna. ‘ This offer will not be made again , for example. And he doesn’t tell her to bring money. Why not? He must still want that, mustn’t he?’

‘One would think so.’ Daniel picked the letter up and read it again. ‘You’re right. It is odd. Aside from come alone and tell no one , the tone isn’t remotely threatening, is it?’

‘No.’ She frowned up at him, struck by an idea. ‘I could be wrong but I’ve a feeling this isn’t from Grimshaw at all. I think … I think it was written by a woman.’

He stared back at her, his mind making the same leap hers must have done.

‘The widow?’ And when she nodded, ‘Yes. Possibly. Grimshaw’s haste in separating us made me think she doesn’t know what he’s been up to. But, with hindsight, it could equally have been because she does know and has an axe of her own to grind – hence this. Unfortunately, the only way to find out for sure is to take the bait.’ He held up a staying hand as Anna opened her mouth and said flatly, ‘No. I know what you’re going to say – and you’re not doing it.’

‘Well, somebody has to and obviously your mother can’t. So if –’

‘No. We think the widow may have written the note and we could be right. But that doesn’t necessarily mean she will be the one waiting in the church. It could be Grimshaw himself. So no. You are not going to this meeting in Mama’s place.’

Anna leaned back in her chair and eyed him irritably over folded arms.

‘What, then? Or let me guess. You are going yourself. You’ll arrive early and hide in the shadows until whoever it is turns up. If it’s Grimshaw, you’ll confront him – with goodness knows what result. If it’s the widow, she’ll likely flee the church, screaming. No, let me finish.’ This as he would have spoken. ‘How is any of that better than you hiding behind a pillar while I explain to whoever turns up that the dowager viscountess is too frail to come herself but trusts me to deal with the matter on her behalf? A lie that would work equally well with Grimshaw as with the widow.’

‘No, it won’t.’ Daniel thought he saw a weak spot and pounced on it. ‘Grimshaw would believe Mama doesn’t know anything about this. He won’t believe that you don’t.’

‘Why not? As I told you once before, he doesn’t know me. And he doesn’t really know you either. How many husbands would confide something like this to their wives? Not many, I’ll wager. But how many wives go behind their husbands’ backs when they think it necessary? More than those husbands would like to believe.’ Anna grinned at him, triumphantly. ‘Go on. Argue your way out of that .’

It was the grin that did it. Daniel didn’t know whether to laugh or shake her. Instead, he hauled her out of the chair and kissed her, long and hard. Then, taking advantage of the fact that she was temporarily speechless, he said, ‘You are the most stubborn, impossible woman in the world. What am I to do with you?’

‘I daresay you’ll think of something,’ she replied breathlessly. ‘But for now perhaps you could admit that my plan is better?’

‘It … might be,’ he allowed.

‘Thank you. So let’s use the three days we have before the meeting to make sure we’ve thought of everything, shall we?’ And tell me the paint smell is too strong in your room so I can say you are welcome to sleep in mine because otherwise I won’t know how to offer.

But she didn’t say it … and to her intense disappointment, Daniel said nothing either.

***

Anna might have felt less disappointed had she been able to read her husband’s mind.

For some little while now, Daniel had been trying to come to terms with an unexpected discovery. He wanted his wife; and he wanted her to want him , not merely offer to share her bed for some practical reason.

Although still a little shy, she seemed to welcome his gestures of affection and to enjoy his kisses – which was a step in the right direction. The problem was that, for him, those same things had reawakened an appetite for something he hadn’t had for a very long time. He’d spent a number of sleepless hours pondering the question that raised. Did he just want sex … or did he want Anna? And the answer, when he was sure he had it, surprised him. He wanted brave, clever, insightful, straight-from-the-shoulder Anna. Anna of the shy smiles, the rare laughter and the sardonic sense of humour. Anna with the sleek fall of brown hair, the slim waist and the elusive scent of lavender. Anna who never asked anything of him … or even seemed to want to.

Damn , he thought ruefully. I’ve let the situation between us go on too long and become too comfortable. It’s high time I changed that … but there always seems to be some other bloody thing getting in the way. Such as now.

***

Anna entered the church of Saint Nicholas veiled, garbed head to foot in black and glancing nervously around her every third or fourth step. From his vantage point behind a pillar in the north transept where he had been for some time, Daniel watched her tread down the south aisle to the fifth pew from the front and take another look behind her before she sat down, fussing with her skirts. He couldn’t help smiling a little. She was the very picture of a lady with a clandestine assignation.

Although it seemed a long time before the church door creaked open again and another pair of feet trod hesitantly down the aisle it was probably no more than ten minutes. Daniel risked a swift peep around the pillar and was immensely relieved to see that the newcomer was female.

Not Grimshaw, then , he thought. Thank God for that .

Anna was equally relieved that her instinct had been right. But she merely inclined her head when the other woman sat beside her and waited for her to speak first.

Finally, in a timid voice, she said, ‘Lady Reculver?’

‘Yes. But not, I’m afraid, the one you were expecting.’ Composedly putting back her veil, Anna took a cool look at her companion. ‘And you are?’

‘Alice Grimshaw. But I don’t – ’ And then, ‘Oh. Of course. You are married to the – the new viscount?’

‘Obviously. And I am here on behalf of his mother. The dowager viscountess’s nerves are delicate and she was deeply disturbed by your letter – in particular the insinuation that she could not trust her son.’

‘Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to upset – ’

‘You write about long-standing secrets kept by both her husband and her son and you didn’t intend to upset her?’ asked Anna glacially. ‘What else could you have intended? But let us get this over with. I presume that, in return for this secret, you want money?’

‘ Me? No. That isn’t it at all.’

‘Then what is?’

‘I want to make my brother-in-law stop what he’s been doing all these years. And the only way I could think of to do it was to tell her ladyship the truth because then there wouldn’t be any secret to keep, would there? I hoped that now Gervase – now her husband is d-dead, she might not find it so very painful.’

Wishful thinking or gross stupidity? wondered Anna. But she said merely, ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about. What exactly has your brother-in-law been doing?’

‘Making Gervase pay, over and over again for – for an affair that didn’t even last three months but which resulted in the birth of a – a child.’

Anna stared at the widow under raised brows. Then, even more coldly than before, she said, ‘Let us be clear, Mrs Grimshaw. You are talking about a love affair, an illegitimate child … and, if I understand you correctly, blackmail. Yes?’

‘Yes.’

‘The affair being with you and the child, yours?’

‘Yes.’ The widow’s eyes filled with tears and she searched frantically for a handkerchief. Then, the words tumbling over each other, she said, ‘My husband had not long died and I was lonely. As for Gervase … he never said it but I think things weren’t right at home just then and he took to visiting when Harold, my brother-in-law, was away. He never loved me – I knew that. Only then I was expecting. He promised to look after me and the baby and he did. Generously, too, even though the affair was over. But Harold knew .’

She stopped to dry her face and blow her nose. Anna gave her a moment to compose herself, then said, ‘Harold knew and used that knowledge to extort money from the late viscount. Is that what you’re saying?’

‘Yes. At first, he made excuses for needing extra money. He’d say it was for things like paying the doctor and buying medicines because William – my son – was ill. Later, he pretended William’s school fees had got a lot more expensive and that books he needed cost four times what they really did. I told Gervase over and over that Harold was cheating him, that the money wasn’t for Will and me but he still paid and the longer it went on, the greedier Harold got. Eventually, the amounts of money he asked for got too big to explain away and Gervase finally admitted he couldn’t afford them. That was when Harold told him that, if he wanted his secret kept from his wife and son, he’d better find a way.’ She hauled in a long, shuddering breath. ‘I tried to make him stop, my lady – and I tried to persuade Gervase to bring it all into the open so Harold would have to stop. But neither of them would listen. Harold wasn’t going to give up such easy money. Gervase said he couldn’t bear his Mary to know he’d betrayed her. And so it went on, year after year.’

‘And when my husband’s father died?’ asked Anna. ‘What then?’

‘I thought that must be the end of it,’ replied the widow miserably. ‘Only then your husband came to see Harold and something told me it wasn’t the first time. That’s when I realised that it wasn’t ever going to stop unless I did something.’

‘And that ‘something’ was to write to the dowager viscountess?’

‘Yes. It was all I could think of. I’d rather have gone to your husband but I wasn’t sure he’d listen to me any more than his father did. I didn’t want – I never wanted to upset anybody. Thanks to Gervase, William had a good education and has a promising future in a law office. I don’t need your family’s money. Neither does he. And, by my reckoning, Harold has had more than his share of it.’

‘Well, there I must agree with you.’ Throughout this entire recital, Anna had been aware of Daniel edging gradually closer in order to overhear their conversation. ‘I also appreciate your honesty. However, everything you have told me would much better have been said to my husband. I can assure you that he would have listened.’

‘And has done so most intently,’ remarked Daniel quietly, emerging from the shadows. And when the widow shot to her feet, clutching her throat, ‘Please don’t be alarmed, Mrs Grimshaw. I am only here because I wasn’t sure whether my wife would be meeting you or your objectionable brother-in-law.’ He made his way slowly across the nave towards them. ‘I don’t blame you for anything he has done.’

‘You – you don’t?’ she asked faintly.

‘No. I’m merely grateful to you for confirming what Anna and I either know or have guessed.’ He smiled, then added, ‘But I am going to ask something of you.’

‘What?’

‘Would you would be willing to tell my man-of-law everything you know so that I can bring a charge of extortion against –?’

‘ No! ’ A look of horror crossed her face. ‘I’m sorry – but I can’t. I just can’t! ’

Both Anna and Daniel opened their mouths to ask why she couldn’t but, before they could do so, a voice from the back of the church said clearly, ‘ She won’t. But I will.’

All three of them spun around but the widow reacted first with a despairing moan.

‘Will? No! You mustn’t! And what are you doing here? How – ?’

‘I followed you.’ The young man strolled towards them, his expression grim. ‘I knew you were up to something – you’ve been acting strangely for weeks. I should have known it might be this.’ He stopped and faced Daniel across the width of the pews. ‘Lord and Lady Reculver, I presume? I didn’t hear everything my mother told you but I heard enough and most of it I knew already. So –’

‘You can’t have done!’ exclaimed his mother. ‘How could you? I was so careful! ’

‘ You might have been,’ he agreed. And with barely suppressed anger, ‘My bloody so-called uncle wasn’t.’ Then, stiffly, to Anna, ‘Forgive my language. But you and his lordship can’t possibly hate the man more than I do.’ And even more stiffly to Daniel, ‘The reason my mother won’t help you act against him is that he owns our home. He shouldn’t. I’ll bet that when your father handed over the money for it he intended the house to be lifetime security for my mother. But it’s Harold’s name on the deeds, not hers. I know because the law firm I work for handled the purchase and I’ve seen the documents.’

In the grip of an odd sense of unreality caused mostly by the younger man’s uncanny resemblance to Rebecca, Daniel said, ‘So he could evict you?’

‘He could try – though it might not be as easy as he thinks.’

‘And yet you said that you would supply the evidence I need?’

‘Yes. Even going by just the things I know about – which probably amount to less than a quarter of the whole – my existence cost your father thousands over the years so I reckon I owe you that much. And if he throws us out, we’d manage. I’ve just been made senior clerk so I could afford decent lodgings and – ’

‘Stop,’ said Anna firmly. ‘Let us cross that particular bridge if and when we come to it. For now, may I suggest that we take the rest of this conversation to more comfortable surroundings?’

‘There’s no need for that, my lady,’ said Alice hastily. ‘People may see us –’

‘And if they do?’ asked Daniel, crossing to where William stood. ‘Admittedly, I haven’t yet become accustomed to having a brother … but that can be mended easily enough. What do you think?’ And he held out his hand.

Slowly reddening, William stared into Daniel’s face for a moment. Then he gripped the outstretched hand and said, ‘Yes. I think it could.’

***

‘How long have you known about me?’ asked William. He and Daniel lounged by the window of the inn’s coffee-room with tankards of ale while his mother and the viscountess presided over a tea tray. ‘Come to that, how did you find out?’

‘Not very long. And I didn’t so much find out as guess,’ replied Daniel. Then he went on to recount his second meeting with Grimshaw, ending with, ‘So that was when I realised he’d been blackmailing Father and knew there was some secret. I had a muddled idea of talking to you and your mother in the hope that you could tell me something useful and I’d heard where you were going so I followed you.’

‘But you didn’t speak to us. Why not?’

‘Because the instant I clapped eyes on you, I no longer needed to. I knew without a shadow of doubt that my father was also yours.’

‘How?’ asked William, baffled. ‘I could understand it if we looked at all alike … but we don’t.’

‘No,’ agreed Daniel with a wry smile. ‘My looks come from my mother’s side of the family. Yours, like those of my younger sister, are from my father’s. You and she could be twins.’

‘Seriously? There’s that degree of resemblance?’

‘Yes. It’s a pity you can’t meet her. But I hope you understand why you can’t?’

‘The dowager viscountess?’ guessed William.

‘Yes. I’d like to continue keeping Father’s … lapse … from Mother if at all possible. And if Rebecca knows, she’s likely to let the cat out of the bag by accident.’

William nodded, drank some ale and then said, ‘So how are you going to bring a case against Harold without the cat running yowling through the streets?’

‘I can’t. But I’ll make him believe that I both can and will.’

‘You’re going to bluff? ’

‘What other choice do I have? My lawyers already have Grimshaw’s demands for the four thousand pounds he claimed was owed him, along with a letter from Hoare’s bank which I believe is a forgery. Ah. And that reminds me. Do you have a middle name, by any chance?’

Startled by the sudden shift, William blinked and said, ‘Yes. It’s Thomas.’

‘And an account at Hoare’s bank in Cheltenham?’

‘No. Why are you –?’

‘Because there’s an account in the name of W.T. Grimshaw there. If I had to guess,

Harold falsified your date of birth to make you appear a minor so he can control it as your supposed trustee. I suggest you find out – though perhaps not immediately. Now … going back to everything you and your mother know about Harold’s dealings with my – our – father; all of that should be sufficient to bring a case against him, shouldn’t it?’

‘Probably. But what am I to say about our … kinship?’

‘The truth.’

‘You don’t want it hidden?’

‘From my mother and the world at large, yes. But if my lawyers aren’t discreet, I need new ones.’ Daniel pulled out his watch, glanced at it and added, ‘It’s only a half after one and Longhope’s offices are no distance away. If we go there now and I introduce you, you can make an appointment for a time that suits you without me being present.’ He paused and added, ‘But before you keep that appointment, think very carefully about whether you want to get involved in this – for your mother’s sake if not for your own.’

‘Try and stop me,’ growled William. ‘It’s time he got what he deserves.’

‘Undoubtedly.But –’

‘No. Like you, I don’t know anything about having a brother but this seems as good a place to start as any.’

‘Then, thank you.’ Daniel thought for a moment. ‘I’ll tell Longhope to find and reserve convenient lodgings for yourself and your mother in case they’re needed.’

‘I can do that myself,’ offered William.

‘I know. But it covers your tracks better if Longhope does it. I’ll instruct him to pay for them and also to act on your behalf if and when things start to get messy. In fact, in the hope of avoiding or at least delaying that, it might be best if we communicated through Longhope for the time being.’

William said slowly, ‘You aren’t at all like I’d thought you’d be.’

‘Better rather than worse, I hope,’ said Daniel, still busy scouring his brain for anything he hadn’t thought of yet. Then, not finding anything, ‘Let’s go. If there is anything else I can do, tell me. I have resources that you don’t so let’s use them. For example, I don’t know how you and your mother got here today but after we’ve seen Longhope, I’ll hire a chaise to get you home again.’ He grinned suddenly. ‘We are in this together, William – and I’m extremely glad to be able to say that.’

~**~**~