Sacrificing the Untamed Lady Henrietta: A Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 18

  Henrietta had not expected that. Indeed, she had been certain that Seth’s talk of a family had been mere subterfuge to try and throw Ewan off the scent. And yet, here stood his sister, as plain as day. A figure that Henrietta had never seen or heard of in all the time that he had worked at the Oliver house.

  “How can that be?”

  Isobel arched an eyebrow. “Well, he and I share the same mother and father. It is very simple,” she replied curtly.

  “Have you always lived here, or have you recently found yourself here?”

  Suspicion radiated out from Isobel. “What business is it of yours?”

  “I am a friend of Mr. Booth,” Henrietta lied. “I spotted him several days ago and sought to speak with him.”

  “Then why follow me?”

  Henrietta shrugged. “Call it curiosity. I did not know if, perhaps, he had married at long last, for I have always known him to be a bachelor. Nor has he ever spoken of a wife.”

  Isobel snorted. “My brother will never find a woman patient enough to engage in matrimony with him. She would likely end up in gaol for murder.”

  This shocked Henrietta, to hear a young lady speak so bluntly of a family member. She had endured her own challenges with her mother and father, but she would never have resorted to such coarse language and sentiment.

  “So, you have recently moved here?” Henrietta would not be deterred.

  “If you must know—yes, I have.” She sighed in exasperation. “Now, if you are quite finished, I should like to go inside and see to my sickly mother. The physician is due any time, and I do not want to have to explain your presence here. My mother is fragile enough as it is, without worrying if we have done something to offend. If you have an issue with my brother, then speak with him. Do not chase me through the streets like a common vagrant.”

  “I meant no harm by it, Miss Booth.”

  “Nevertheless, you have caused me concern.”

  “My apologies.”

  She tapped her foot impatiently. “Was there anything more you wished to discuss about my brother?”

  “Was he the one who brought you here to Scarborough?”

  “He sought employment at the house of Lord Averson, and we followed him. My mother is unwell, as I have already told you, and I have been recently poorly myself. Otherwise, I would take employment of my own, so I did not have to traipse across the country after my brother,” she grumbled. “He had secured employment at his last position, and he had to go and ruin it with his pride and arrogance. I always told him it would get him into trouble and, lo-and-behold, it has. But does he listen? No, of course he does not.”

  Henrietta could feel the bitterness flowing off Isobel in waves. Evidently, there were some unspoken emotions between her and her brother, and some lingering resentment at being brought here. Still, Henrietta could not fathom this change in events. How could Seth have had this family and said nothing about them, for so long? Then again, you did not think to ask. Why would he have told you? He would have no reason to.

  “Tell me something—one last thing,” Henrietta urged.

  “What is it?” Isobel snapped coldly.

  “Were you with your brother earlier today, between noon and two?”

  Isobel looked puzzled for a moment. “Yes, he was here at the house, seeing to my mother and I.” A frightened expression passed across her enormous doe eyes. “You have come from the Averson residence, haven’t you? Oh heavens, I have said too much. Please, I beg of you, do not tell Lord Averson where my brother was today. You must not! If he loses this position, then we are done for. Have mercy. Please, have mercy.”

  “I will not speak a word of it, Miss Booth,” Henrietta assured. “I only wished to discover where he had been, that is all. I am certain that Lord Averson will understand.”

  “No, you must not say anything of my mother and I,” she begged, her entire demeanor shifting to one of desperation.

  “Why ever not?”

  Isobel’s cheeks burned a livid red. “It is too disgraceful to mention.”

  “You must, if you wish to buy my silence.”

  She looked up, her gaze pained. “You see… I was not unwell this past year. At least, not in the ordinary sense. I found myself in some… trouble, I suppose you would call it, at the end of last year. An encounter with a roguish gentleman who sought to defile and dishonor me. Needless to say, he succeeded, and my brother has been fighting to keep the scandal quiet ever since.” Her shoulders sagged. “Indeed, it is probably for the best that we have ended up here, out of the way of polite society.”

  Henrietta’s heart ached for the poor young woman, despite her former coldness. Any woman who had been through such trials had something of a right to be terse. Although Henrietta had led a sheltered life, she had heard of despicable men who ruined women without a care for the consequences. It was a fate she did not wish upon anyone.

  “Was there a child?” Henrietta asked in a quiet voice.

  “The child was lost,” she replied, tears glinting in her eyes. “I do not know if I ought to feel fortunate or not, but I have not been the same since. Sometimes, I fall into a terrible depression. It is why my brother has endeavored to keep us near to him, after his recent dismissal.”

  “I am sorry for that, Miss Booth. I promise you, I will say nothing to Lord Averson of this. However, I have one proviso.”

  “Anything…”

  “You must report to me if you hear of your brother doing anything untoward. There are suspicions surrounding him at the Averson residence, and we must discover the truth behind these rumors.”

  She frowned with worry. “Rumors of what?”

  “Foul play against those who dismissed him.”

  “He would not,” she insisted. “He was angry and remains bitter, but he would not raise a hand to hurt anyone. All he wants is the chance to start his life anew and forget the ill-judged steps that led to his dismissal in the first place. He wishes to forget the Olivers entirely.”

  “Regardless, I would appreciate it if you would report to me of any strange activity. Do not tell him of this, and do not tell him of our meeting today, do you understand? If I hear that you have said anything, I may be forced to speak with Lord Averson.” She hated the harshness in her voice, but she was desperate, too—desperate to put an end to the threat upon her. It was forcing her to do things she would not ordinarily do.

  Isobel nodded effusively. “I will do as you have asked. Please, where must I report to?”

  “I shall meet you in the alleyway behind the postal office at this hour next week, and you may tell me anything you have learned then.” She took a breath, the adrenaline making her heart pound. “And, once again, I am sorry to hear of the tragedy you have suffered. I wish your mother well. Indeed, I wish both of you well in your recovery.”

  “And you will not say anything to Lord Averson?”

  “If we each keep to our ends of the bargain, then no secrets shall be uncovered.”

  Isobel grabbed at Henrietta’s hands and pressed them to her lips. “Thank you for this kindness, Miss. Please, please, accept my apologies for the crass way in which I spoke to you. You took me by surprise, that is all.”

  “There is nothing to forgive. Now, go inside and see to your mother, and I shall visit with you again in a week’s time.”

  “Thank you.”

  Henrietta turned away from the young woman and headed back down the street, rounding the corner and almost running headfirst into Ewan. He reached out his hands to steady her, her palms bracing against his strong chest as she looked up into his eyes. She always forgot how handsome he was. Indeed, she felt something akin to relief in seeing him there.

  “Is it done?” he asked, taking his hands away.

  She nodded. “It is done. I have discovered some surprising truths.”

  “You have?”

  “Oh yes,” she said. “I will tell you everything on the way back to the Old Bell. Indeed, I fear that what I have learned will only
serve to muddy the waters some more.”

  “How so?”

  “The ruse that we suspected is not a ruse. His mother and sister are as he said they were,” she explained. “If Mr. Booth has accomplices, then we must look elsewhere.”

  But where? It no longer seemed to Henrietta that seeking out the accomplices would get them anywhere fast. No, in order to catch the villain in the act, they were going to need to set a trap. And she had thought of the perfect setting. A delicious snare that Seth would not be able to resist stepping into.

  Chapter 27

  “Now that we are almost at Scarborough, might you tell me what all of this is about?” Tabitha asked, scowling from the velvet squab opposite.

  Aaron had not been able to rest since the journey had begun, his nerves a fractious mess and his heart beating far harder than it had ever done before. His eyes itched with lack of sleep and his muscles were wound tight. Truly, he would have preferred a battlefield to the prospect of his daughter in danger. Although they did not always see eye-to-eye, he cared about her more than he knew how to put into words.

  “It is best that you do not know,” he replied.

  “If it involves Henrietta, then I surely have a right to know?”

  “Please, Tabitha. I implore you to trust me on this matter.”

  He was as much a victim of his own upbringing as Henrietta was of hers, though he had come to realize that he had not behaved in an entirely genteel manner. To have Henrietta married off in such haste now felt like a mistake, though there was nothing they could do about that. He just hoped that Ewan was taking care of her, as a good husband ought to. Indeed, more than anything, he prayed he was not too late to keep her from danger.

  All he had ever known was the military. His father had been a General and had laid certain expectations upon Aaron. His childhood had been strict and severe, with rules and regulations surrounding every detail of his life. Ever the dutiful son, he had obeyed his father’s every wish and followed in his footsteps. There had never been any other option.

  How you hated your father back then, for forcing you in one direction. He had briefly thought of practicing law, but his father had put an end to such outlandish dreams. You have done the same to her, haven’t you? You took the ability to choose away from her. Pray that she will forgive you one day, as you forgave your father. Otherwise, you will have lost her for good.

  He could not bear the thought. Although he lacked the ability to convey and show deep emotion, he felt it keenly from time to time. Indeed, he never knew what to do with such feelings. The only thing he knew for sure was that he loved his wife and daughter with all his heart. He had simply built up walls around himself, so high that nobody could exit or enter. Now, he feared he had formed a prison for himself without even realizing it.

  In the days that had passed since leaving their home, he had thought a great deal about his future. He did not wish to be alone on his deathbed, with no loved ones around him. He did not wish to hear of his daughter only via secondhand means.

  If she would allow him, he would do all he could to make amends. He could not change the past now, but he could at least do something about the years to come.

  * * *

  Henrietta looked up in horror as she and Ewan walked through the main doors of the Old Bell. Standing in the foyer, talking to Mr. Chambers, was her mother and father. Seeing them, she gripped tighter to Ewan’s arm and wondered if they might still have the chance to sneak back out. However, before she could move a muscle, her father turned and spied her.

  “Ah, there you are,” he said with forced brightness. “Mr. Chambers was just telling us that he did not know when you would return. We thought we might have to wait awhile in the dining room.”

  Henrietta swallowed her immediate anger. “What are you doing here?” she asked simply. Her mother looked tired, a glitter of annoyance in her eyes. Ah, so this little trip was not your idea, Mama?

  “We thought we ought to see how you were,” Aaron explained. “You disappeared from Nightingale so quickly that we barely had the chance to speak with you.”

  “You had plenty of opportunities to speak with me before the wedding,” she shot back. “Instead, you chose to have me locked inside my own bedchamber and guarded by your minions.” It flowed out of her before she could stop it. So much for keeping restraints upon my anger.

  “Has it not worked out most fortuitously?” Aaron replied. “You two seem to be the picture of happiness.”

  “You could not have been certain of that, but it did not stop you from doing what you did. You forced me into this, and I find it rather disconcerting that you feel you can show up whenever you please, without so much as a written warning.”

  Tabitha took a step forward. “Come, my darling, are you not pleased to see us?”

  “You are as bad as he is, Mama,” she said sadly. “You would not stand up to him, though you knew those actions were wrong. I cannot blame you entirely, but there is some fault against you still.”

  “Please, darling, let us be civil.”

  “I am sorry, Mama, but I cannot discuss these matters with you now. I am weary after a tiresome, troubling day, and I wish to retreat to my bedchamber.”

  “Surely, you must be hungry? Might we have dinner first?”

  Henrietta shook her head. “I find that I have quite lost my appetite.”

  “Henrietta, your mother and father have come a long way,” Ewan said, playing devil’s advocate. “A brief dinner might not be such a terrible thing.”

  “Are you asking me or are you demanding this of me?”

  He looked wounded. “Asking.”

  “Then I must politely refuse,” she said. “My side is causing me some difficulty, and I should like to attend to the bruising to make sure it has not worsened.”

  He frowned. “Bruising?”

  “Yes, I have some bruising where I fell. It is nothing that a bath cannot solve.” She turned to Mr. Chambers, who was awkwardly attempting not to listen to the tense conversation. “Mr. Chambers, might you have one of the chambermaids draw me a bath?”

  He dipped his head. “Certainly, My Lady.”

  “Please, Henrietta, won’t you have dinner with us first?” Tabitha was earnest, her eyes glimmering with tears that were yet to be spilled. As furious as Henrietta was, she could not deny her mother. Even so, she had not been lying when she had mentioned her side aching. Her breaths had grown more ragged after chasing Isobel, and she feared she may have caused further damage to the initial injury. Every inhalation burned with a vehement sting.

  “I will consider having dinner once I have bathed, Mama.”

  “Did you mention bruising?” Aaron asked, his brow furrowed.

  “I did.”

  “Have you been hurt?”

  She tried hard not to roll her eyes. “I tumbled from my horse, that is all. I should like to attend to my injuries, to make sure there is nothing too severe occurring.”

  “Shall we send for a physician?”

  Henrietta shook her head. “It is nothing I cannot deal with myself, Papa. You see, those books have come in handy at last.”

  “But you will dine with us?” Tabitha urged, sensing that a more serious dispute was about to begin. Talk of those medical journals was always bound to add flames to a still-burning fire.”

  “I will contemplate it whilst I bathe.” Without another word, she headed down the main hallway and up the stairs to her room. Ewan followed close behind her, though he did not say anything. She was grateful for that, for she did not need to be made to feel guilty when she was in such pain.

  * * *

  “You did not tell me it was so serious,” Ewan said, as the door closed firmly behind them. He stood in Henrietta’s side of the adjoining chambers, where a fire had been laid to warm them through the cold evening.

  “It is nothing I cannot endure,” she assured him, though her face twisted up in a mask of agony as she attempted to sink down on the chaise. She clutched at h
er side, a thin sheen of perspiration gathering on her forehead.

  He walked over to her and knelt at her feet, lifting his hand to her head to check her temperature. A worrying heat touched his skin. “You are feverish, My Lady.”

  “I will be well enough. I just… I just need to catch my breath.” Every time she drew oxygen into her lungs, he could see how greatly she suffered.

  “Do not think me impolite, but might it have something to do with your corset?” he asked, his throat constricting. He had sworn not to touch her, but if she needed his help, he would not pull away.

  She grimaced. “It is restricting me somewhat.”