A Little Mischief (19 page)

“Do you really think someone will love me and want to marry me? Someone strong and handsome like Chilton?”

“I’m sure of it,” he answered. Tom Wright had been very interested in calling on Gretchen once he knew Daniel was in favor of it. The poor fellow had no hopes of ever courting the daughter of an earl until Daniel approached him.

Daniel took a deep breath. Since Gretchen met secretly with Throckmorten, he might have very well written their meeting down in some kind of an appointment book. That would never do.

Daniel had already made plans to ride with Chilton the first thing tomorrow morning, and he wouldn’t cancel that. But he would send a note to Isabella tonight and tell her what time he’d be by to pick her up tomorrow for their second visit to Throckmorten’s house.

***

Daniel didn’t know when he’d seen the sky so blue or the sun so bright. At last it looked and felt like spring had arrived. Just yesterday had been dreary, cold, and gray. Daniel and Chilton had chosen a fine day to ride their horses outside the streets of London and take pleasure in the clean air of the countryside.

The midday sunshine warmed their backs. Daniel had enjoyed the morning with his friend, talking about old times when they were in school together and later when they had toured France and Portugal with two other friends. Daniel also filled Chilton’s head with stories about his pilgrimage to visit all the estates in his holdings.

They had ridden their mounts hard for a short while, and then let their horses rest and graze while they ate a meal of cheese, bread, pork, and wine. Now they were letting the geldings walk back to Town.

Daniel had deliberately avoided the two subjects that were most on his mind, Isabella and Throckmorten. He didn’t plan to discuss Isabella with Chilton, which signaled a big change in his relationship with his friend. Before he became the earl, Daniel always confided everything to Chilton. He no longer felt the need to tell his friend about the latest lady to catch his fancy. Throckmorten was a different matter. He had every intention of talking to Chilton about him.

Daniel had sensed that something troubled Chilton the first time they talked. And even today while they joked and had their fun, his friend seemed more reserved than usual, but Daniel couldn’t put his finger on why. Chilton had warned him about Throckmorten his very first day back in London. And Isabella had been certain she’d seen his card. Now Daniel wanted to know what was going on between Throckmorten and his friend.

As the sun beat against the back of his neck, Daniel said, “Do you have any idea what happened to Boswell Throckmorten?”

Chilton threw Daniel a curious glance. “You mean other than he was stabbed in the chest and thrown in the river?”

Daniel nodded.

“Not a thing,” Chilton said as calmly as if they were talking about the beautiful weather. “How about you? Have you heard anything more?”

Daniel took it as a good sign that Chilton didn’t seem reluctant to talk about the man. “No. Did you see much of him this past year?”

“No more than usual.”

Daniel couldn’t help but wonder what amount of time had been usual of late. “I assume you’ve seen him at White’s, a house party, or maybe at a private game of cards?”

“Could be,” Chilton said, eyeing Daniel curiously. “Why the hell are you so interested in a dead man you hardly knew?”

Daniel wasn’t sure how much he wanted to tell Chilton, so he only said, “As you told me, Gretchen had a few dances with him this past week and naturally she was upset to hear of his death.”

“Right. I remember telling you about that your first day back in Town. His violent death proves that he was not the kind of man you wanted calling on Gretchen. Did you have the opportunity to speak to him about her?”

“No. I had tried to, but the chap was killed before I had the chance. Obviously the man had dealings with the wrong people.”

“He was known to gamble with men in the hells as well as with gentlemen of the
ton.
No doubt he got around Town with ease.”

Daniel closely watched Chilton’s face as he asked, “So I’ve heard. Any idea who might want to do the poor fellow in?”

“Probably a few, but I don’t think any of them did. I assumed he met his unlucky fate by a common footpad out to steal his purse, didn’t you?”

“I don’t know. As you said, he had dealings with many different people. Perhaps he owed someone a gambling debt and couldn’t pay.”

Chilton shifted in his saddle, and the leather creaked beneath his weight. “Or maybe someone owed him and didn’t want to pay up.”

“True.”

“Well, no one needs to be worried about the man anymore,” Chilton said. “I’d say he’s played his last game.”

“No doubt about that,” Daniel agreed.

It was clear Chilton wasn’t going to mention his visit to Throckmorten. Daniel had given him ample opportunities. Daniel would like to just ask his friend what his card was doing at Throckmorten’s house, but for now he had to be careful. He didn’t think for a minute Chilton had anything to do with the murder, but he might know something more about the man’s liaison with Gretchen.

He’d wait until after he’d paid his second visit to Throckmorten’s house later this afternoon, and if need be, he’d question Chilton again.

***

Three hours later Daniel stood on the front steps of Throckmorten’s house with Isabella by his side. He knocked on the door where a black crepe ribbon had been placed, before turning to look at her. She smiled innocently at him, but that didn’t keep a knot of desire from tightening his lower body.

Daniel stuck a finger down his tight collar and tried to loosen it. He didn’t know if it was Isabella or the sun that suddenly had him hot.

The day was really too warm for her to be dressed in the wig, oversize cloak, and bonnet, but it didn’t seem to be affecting her at all. She looked cool, calm, comfortable, and tempting as ever while his collar and trousers felt too tight for his skin. He wondered if she were truly innocent to the effect she had on him. At times it seemed that she had complete control over him.

He chuckled as he looked at her. “I must be a crazy fool. I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

“There are some things a brother must do to protect his sister.”

“I keep telling myself that.”

“If we don’t find any kind of appointment book or day record that mentions Gretchen’s name, we should feel better about this whole dreadful affair and can be done with it. Besides,” she added, “it’s not as if you want to steal anything. And any information we find out is not going to hurt Mr. Throckmorten at this point. He is beyond being hurt.”

“Exactly. That is the only reason I’m agreeing to this wild scheme of yours. Once I know Gretchen is in no danger of having her reputation ruined by the circumstances of this man’s demise, I’m forgetting all about him.”

The door opened and once again they looked into the stiff face of the butler. His eyes rounded in surprise. “Lord Colebrooke,” he said, looking from Daniel to Isabella. “I didn’t expect to see you here. I can only assume you have heard what happened to my employer.”

“Yes, I’m… we… That is, Mrs. Vanlandingham and I were very sorry to hear about Mr. Throckmorten’s untimely death.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

“I know it’s an upsetting turn of events. Do you mind if we come in?”

The butler looked puzzled but said, “Not at all.”

They followed the servant into the same parlor where they had been shown before. “Would you like to sit down, my lord?”

“No. Again, we won’t stay that long. I was hoping that I might in some way be of assistance.”

“I believe Mr. Throckmorten’s brother has been notified by now and should arrive in London within the next few days. Perhaps you should come back after he arrives.”

“Yes, perhaps that would be the thing to do.”

“Oh, oh.” Isabella put the back of her hand to her forehead and let her eyelashes flutter rapidly.

“Mrs. Vanlandingham, what’s wrong?” Daniel asked with as much fake concern as he could muster.

“Suddenly I don’t feel so well. I think I might need to lie down.” With that, Isabella crumpled to the floor at Daniel’s feet.

Daniel couldn’t believe she actually hit the floor. Was she trying to hurt herself?

“My heavens!” the butler exclaimed.

“Mrs. Vanlandingham, are you all right?” Daniel said as both men dropped to their knees beside her.

Isabella kept her eyes closed, her breathing shallow. Daniel looked at the butler and said, “I think she’s fainted. Do you mind if I lay her on the settee for a few minutes?”

“By all means, my lord.”

Daniel slid one arm around her shoulders, and the other he hooked under the backs of her knees, and he lifted Isabella without effort and placed her on the settee in the drawing room. The butler placed a pillow behind her head.

Isabella pretended to flutter her eyelashes again as if she were trying to wake up. She moved her head back and forth and moaned softly. Daniel remembered that the first time he saw her he wondered if she might be an actress. That could still be true. He would have sworn to anyone that she had really fainted.

“Perhaps you could see to getting her a cup of tea,” Daniel said to the butler.

“Of course,” the man said and immediately left the room.

As soon as he was out of sight, Daniel whispered, “He’s gone.”

Isabella’s eyes popped open. “Then go. Find the room with his desk in it and search it thoroughly. If the butler gets back before you do, I’ll tell him that you have gone in search of him to let him know I’m feeling better.”

Looking down at her lying on the settee, Daniel knew all he really wanted to do was kiss her. She must have realized that, too, for she said, “You’re wasting time, Daniel, go.”

Daniel strode to the hallway and looked in both directions. It was clear. He stole down the corridor, carefully peeking in every room, except the kitchen.

He took a left turn that led to a closed door. He quietly opened it. The room was dark, but he saw enough to know it was the room he sought. He crept over to Throckmorten’s desk. He couldn’t risk lighting a lamp or parting the draperies.

He quickly scanned several sheets of vellum that lay on the desk, but nothing implicated Gretchen. He opened each drawer of the desk one at a time and quickly looked through the papers searching for anything that looked like an appointment book, a journal, or even a sheet of vellum with names on it.

There was something different about the last drawer he opened. It didn’t look right. He studied it for a moment and realized that it wasn’t as deep as all the others had been. He looked it over carefully and discovered that it had a false bottom. He emptied it of the foolscap it contained, and using the paper knife that lay on top of the desk, he took out the fake bottom. Underneath it lay a black leather journal.

He picked it up and fanned the pages. It was filled with names, dates, and amounts of money.

Daniel’s heartbeat raced like a Thoroughbred horse nearing the finish line. No doubt the book contained information about Throckmorten’s gambling. Those who owed him money and those he was indebted to.

Daniel hesitated.

He doubted Gretchen’s name would be in there. He should put it back, but instead he slipped it into the pocket of his coat.

Daniel quickly replaced the bottom of the drawer and put the loose sheets back inside. He eased out of the room and quietly closed the door. He took a deep breath and walked back in the parlor to see a puzzled butler staring at Isabella.

“Oh, there you are,” he said with all the confidence of an earl but feeling very much like a thief. “I was trying to find you to tell you that Mrs. Vanlandingham is feeling better.”

“Yes, I just told him so,” Isabella said, rising. “I feel I must have become overheated. I’m not used to so much sunshine.” She placed the teacup on the table in front of her.

“Here, let me take your arm and walk with you.” He helped Isabella to the door.

He turned back to the butler and said, “If you think of anything I can do, don’t hesitate to call on me. Good day.”

Daniel let go of Isabella as soon as the door was shut behind them. They walked quietly and swiftly away from the house. Isabella reached into the carriage for her own cloak, but Daniel stopped her.

“No, you don’t. Not this time, my dear Isabella. We will go to the same spot to take off this disguise as we did for you to put it on.”

She questioned him with her eyes as she said, “It only takes a moment.”

“I know,” he said impatiently, knowing he couldn’t withstand her kneeling before him again. “We need to get away from here as soon as possible. Now up you go.”

When they were seated on the cushion and the team was under way, Isabella turned to him and asked, “Did you find anything?”

Daniel’s heartbeat raced. Should he tell her? He could easily keep what he had done a secret. No one need know but him.

“I had very little time and couldn’t possibly look at all the documents and papers the man had in his desk, but I didn’t see Gretchen’s name on anything.”