Lord of the Abbey (10 page)

“
That is a splendid idea Aunt Frances! Simply everyone will attend!” Rowena immediately agreed. “Balls and large parties are not common here, Harry. There are a few dances held in the assembly rooms from time to time, when the fairs are held and such. Everyone attends. We will have you and your friends who can circulate and help us talk to people about the Abbey and the Manor.” Rowena looked to Harry who did not appear to be convinced.

Balls and parties! Bah! Exactly the reason he left London. No, in truth, it was the match making matrons and their young charges following his every move who caused him to vacate Town. He was targeted long before his father’s death as a good match for young ladies seeking wealthy and eligible husbands. His father’s death only increased the determination of the white and pastel-clad, wide-eyed, empty headed, young things and their manipulating mamas who flocked about him seemingly everywhere he turned while he was in London these past months. There was only one unmarried lady who captured his interest, and she was right here in Glastonbury, sitting right across from him. And he was, he realized, seriously interested in Rowena Locke.

Harry noted Rowena and her aunt waited with polite but expectant expressions. He sighed. Frances and Rowena were correct. It was a perfect way to question people without their deducing there was any reason for it. The questioning would help determine if anyone was overly curious about the Abbey or the treasure. Or if, in fact, there was another reason Stonedown Manor was broken into and the Dulac family books stolen. A reason for the theft might present itself.

Harry did not deny the fact that Lady Rowena and her aunt possibly remained in danger. He could not know for certain if they were still in danger unless he knew why the books were stolen. The Ball or party the ladies suggested would be a very good opportunity for Harry, along with the help of his trusted friends, to subtly question the townspeople in attendance.

It served another purpose as well. He wanted to reacquaint himself with the society and inhabitants of Glastonbury. He was the new Earl after all. His father behaved as many nobles did. The Earl of Glaston was the Lord of the Manor. The elder Harold Bellingham never made himself accessible to his people. The former Lord Glaston held himself above all people, even some of his peers.

That was something Harry waited long to change. The new Earl of Glaston was going to be a good and active overlord. A valuable part of his town and county, here in Glastonbury and in the other places he held land and property.

“
It is a very sound idea, ladies.” Harry smiled. “I cannot fault your reasoning. I suggest we start with a picnic or fair on the abbey grounds, to encourage talk of the history of the Abbey. We might even let slip a few of the myths relating to the treasures, to encourage such conversation. We can culminate the evening with a Ball at Abbey Grange.”

“
Harry, your mother and your sisters can’t possibly be here as soon as next week to begin planning such an occasion. I shall be your host, or I could host the night’s entertainment here at Stonedown if you’d rather?” Frances proposed. Every social event needed a hostess. A man should not host such events the likes they were planning. It just was not done.

“
Thank you, Frances. I shall leave all the details in your capable hands, and will provide all you need.” Harry knew full well the dictates of proper society. “It does seem the clues to the treasure might be centered here at the Manor.” Harry weighed the choices. He shook his head. “I prefer we keep people from Stonedown, for your own safety, ladies.”

“
I agree, Harry!” Sir John spoke up. “It may be dangerous, Frances,” the snow-haired man cautioned his Lady sternly. At least as stern as Harry guessed Sir John ever was with his Lady.

“
I realize, it may be a risk, but if someone is looking for the same things we are, a chance to be an invited guest here at Stonedown would be hard to refuse, don’t you agree, Aunt Frances?” Rowena posed.

Harry didn’t wait for Rowena’s aunt to answer her, “Yes, Lady Rowena, the thief who stole the books would love to be an invited guest here, but we do not want them to find what they are looking for. We are not even certain what
we
are looking for as yet. Nor do we even know where to look. This person or persons might even know more than we do on the subject of the treasure. They might easily make off with it, or worse come back at a later date when the two of you are here alone. Sir John is correct, ladies, it is just too dangerous for the both of you!” Harry stated in a stern, matter-of-fact tone which invited no more entreaties. He expected nothing further to be said about a Ball at Stonedown. He found out in a matter of seconds that he was utterly and completely wrong.

“
But, Harry!” Rowena rose from her chair and approached him. “If you and your friends are here at Stonedown we will not be in danger! Our thief might not be able to pass up the chance to come to a Ball at Stonedown.” Rowena’s blue eyes were alight with hope. She looked very pleased, her full, rosy lips parting slightly as she waited expectantly for an answer.

Oh, hardly an Angel! Though she had no idea what she was doing, she was quite a natural seductress. Her pleading expression tugged at Harry’s resolve despite knowing he was being coerced. By two obviously persuasive, stubborn and willful women.

“
Rowena has a good point, Harry.” Frances came to her niece’s defense, “Our thief will not be able to pass up an invitation to Stonedown. I think we can safely assume our thief will be at the Ball if it is here in the Manor. He may not be looking for the Abbey treasure. We do know he is interested in
something
here at Stonedown. Something that has to do with our family, and something to do with our house.”

Frances continued, “Rowena and I scarcely entertain on a grand scale. Ladies come for tea and to visit. But other than Sir John, we scarcely receive any gentlemen callers. And Seth was chasing a
man
on the grounds today. So, the prospect for our thief to enter Stonedown Manor would be too tempting, I’m guessing.”

“
Harry, please?” Rowena stood before him. Her hands were clasped together, her crystalline eyes upon him.

The Angel’s innocent seduction was breaking his resolve. He could say yes right now. But, no. No, he wouldn’t. There was still the danger to the Angel and her elder aunt.

Rowena began anew, “Harry, I insist the Ball should be held here at Stonedown! The gallery in this original wing should be large enough, though we have a small ballroom or music room of sorts in the newer wing which can be used if necessary. It is not like this shall be a huge crush like in London. We are only talking about a guest list of around fifty or so persons for a Ball. The picnic will be larger with younger family members and others attending. This is only Glastonbury, after all.”

“
As much as I hate to admit it, ladies. Your logic is difficult to defeat.” Harry struggled to think of another alternative. The pleading look in the Angel seductress’ eyes again rendered him incapable of thinking clearly. “It does seem the thief might be unable to pass up the opportunity to come here for an event such as a Ball. With many people milling about here and there, the music and the dancing to occupy most guests, a thief could search the house virtually unnoticed and with much more ease than an additional break-in would afford. He might even try for the book he missed. If left on the library table in plain sight as bait we might catch him. Still, I feel we take a chance with your safety, ladies.”

“
Won’t you agree, Harry? It seems such a good idea to hold the Ball here, at Stonedown,” Rowena pleaded yet again. “Aunt Frances and I will both promise to stay in plain sight at all times. If you like, Sir John can stay near Aunt Frances the entire night and you, or one of your friends if you prefer, will stay near me throughout the Ball.”

How could he refuse such a request from an angel? Why would he refuse the chance to remain by her side for an entire evening? Claim all her waltzes. Yet, Harry could not shake the feeling that there was danger involved, and he felt responsible for the well-being of the ladies. He thought for a few moments. This was something he needed to mull over. To look at from all angles. “Let us discuss everything tomorrow upon the arrival of my comrades. I wish to make certain they can be on hand for such an event. Watching our guests would be much easier, for we all will be quite busy entertaining, questioning, and observing our guests at both the picnic and the Ball. If we remain in agreement tomorrow, the Ball will be held at Stonedown. Otherwise, it
will
be at Abbey Grange.”

“
I agree with Harry.” Sir John patted Frances’ hand. “There is a lot to think about, and your safety is of the utmost concern.”

“
The
utmost
concern.” Harry echoed Sir John’s words as his gaze rested on Lady Rowena Locke, the Angel seductress extraordinaire. No, he did not want a guinea gold curl out of place on her head, nor a scratch to mar her porcelain skin.

“
There will be a Ball here, mark my words. It is a very sound idea.” Frances shared a conspiratorial glance with Rowena. “We can start on the guest list first thing tomorrow morning. Either way, whether it is held here at Stonedown or Abbey Grange, I am hosting a picnic at the Abbey and a Ball somewhere in Glastonbury to welcome Harry to the town!”

“
Of course, Aunt Frances.” Rowena looked to Harry, “We will have the list ready by the time your friends arrive tomorrow morning.”

“
Very good,” he said with more authority than he felt he truly possessed in the present company. Harry’s eyes narrowed somewhat. Normally when someone conspired against him it grated on him, but in this instance it was an Angel and her aunt. Though he should mind, he found that he did not. Over much. There was a part of him that enjoyed it.

Unable to sleep, Rowena tossed and turned. It was disconcerting knowing that Harry Bellingham was sleeping here at Stonedown. Exactly why it bothered her so, she didn’t know. She tried diligently not to think of him. Over and over she lectured herself that being on her own and mistress of her own house, this house, without any man who would exert control over her, was what she wanted. So why was she wasting her time thinking about
him
?

Rowena witnessed the unhappiness a bad marriage brought to her mother, Anne. Her father, Edward Locke, was a hard, controlling man. He ruled her childhood home, Thornwood Place, with a tight fist. Her mother was virtually a prisoner in her own home. The staff, Anne, and even Rowena feared the wrath of Lord Heathcote upon his occasional visits.

As Rowena grew older, she watched her mother become a shadow of the woman she remembered from her early years. Anne Locke had been so strong and beautiful then. Always happy and smiling. So spirited. Not unlike Frances, her mother’s sister, was to this day. During Rowena’s childhood, when her father was in residence, there were heated arguments between her parents. Anne sometimes seemed in pain or her cheek might look flushed or bruised afterward. There might be a few days following her father’s visits that Anne took to her bed, pleading illness. Rowena didn’t understand until she was older that her father beat her mother when he was angry with her. At least a dozen times that Rowena remembered.

In later years, when Anne walked the house, pale and thin, there were no more arguments between her and Edward Locke when he was in residence. Anne remained compliant and cast her eyes downward when in her husband’s presence.

Rowena’s brother, Richard, though he loved his mother in earlier years, went off to school at a young age and spent his young adult years with his father in London. He, nor her father, came to Thornwood Place often in the later years. The years that illness ravaged her dear mother.

Her brother married. His wife, Almena, was a spoiled, selfish girl. They lived in London in the years before Edward Locke’s death, never returning to the family seat at Bath until the funeral. Edward Locke died alone in a riding accident while visiting one of his cronies who lived just outside London. His neck was broken. He died instantly. Rowena did not even cry upon hearing the news. Her mother had. Anne fell in love with Edward before they married, and she never stopped loving him.

Rowena hoped her mother might gain some of her strength back after the death of her father. But Richard, the new Earl, and Almena, his Countess, came to take their rightful position at Thornwood Place. Anne Locke tried to please her daughter-in-law and son, but to no avail. They both resented the presence of Anne and Rowena in their new home.

Anne Locke followed her husband in death not even a year later. And Rowena was left with her brother and his scheming wife. Aunt Frances did take her to Italy during the mourning period. Upon Rowena’s return, as soon as the family’s mourning period officially ended, Richard and Almena whisked her to London for the season. Rowena was allowed no say in her choice of suitors. She was paraded about the ballrooms like a prize pony, dressed in garish and flamboyant gowns that were not of her choosing. It did not take her brother long to find her a wealthy husband. Lord Dalworth. A man whose three prior wives all met with mysterious accidents.