His Perfect Bride(40)

Greyson turned and went back into the room without waiting for a  response. Richard hesitated a moment before following his friend. There  were two other occupants, Nathaniel and another man, neither looking at  ease. Nathaniel waited in the back of the room, warily eyeing the other  man.



"Greyson, could you join me in the other office?" Richard asked in a casual tone.

Greyson opened his mouth, then closed it and nodded. There was no doubt  he didn't wish to comply, but he followed Richard regardless. Once they  were closed in the office, Richard turned to his friend.

"What is going on?" Richard asked again.

"The man you saw in the other room is a former employee named Martin. He was one of the men involved with the break-in."

"Are you sure? How did you find him?"

"I put the word out that I was looking to purchase our type of brandy  without using the proper channels. He contacted me through my man, and  once I was sure the bottle once belonged to us, it didn't take much to  get him to confess."

"You didn't think to include anyone else in your plan? Jonathan or I would have been more than willing to help."

"I didn't want to involve you until I had something to report. The  chances of success were slim, for I didn't expect to hear a response,  especially so soon."         

     



 

"That does not matter. You should have told us."

"This is my problem to fix," Greyson spat bitterly.

"How is this your problem alone? As I recall, you only own one third of the club, and therefore one third of the difficulties."

"I solely took on the responsibility to hire the staff. They were all  approved by me, making the fault mine. It's only natural for the  resolution to fall to me as well."

"That is nonsense, Greyson, and you know it. No one is to blame, and we will all do our parts to discover the culprit. Agreed?"

Greyson wordlessly stared at Richard. His cold emotionless eyes told  Richard his friend didn't hear one word uttered. Greyson's stubbornness  and self-reliance had gotten him far, but Richard would not sit back and  allow his friend to drive himself mad over this.



"What is the next step?" Richard demanded.

"There isn't one," Greyson countered with narrowed eyes. "Nathaniel and I  have questioned Martin thoroughly, and we have nothing. Whoever hired  him was smart and used a middleman."

"Then we take Martin back to the place he met the middleman. Once we  have an identification, we can take it from there. We will receive  answers from someone higher up."

"I'm not certain Martin would recognize him." Greyson walked over to the  cabinet and poured himself a glass of brandy. He raised his eyebrows in  question, but Richard declined. He had consumed enough today.

"Why not?"

"Martin continually insisted it was dark. The only knowledge we  ascertained was the middleman did not appear to be a typical thief.  Martin claimed the man acted uncomfortably in the surroundings, and his  clothing had a finer quality than you would expect in such an  establishment."

"Do you think he is under Kirkwood's employ?" Richard's hands  involuntarily made fists at the reminder of the insults he suffered only  moments before.

"I would say it's a likely possibility, but, as I discovered, it's not easy to prove."

"Then we let Martin loose and see where he goes. If he is lying, he will  immediately report to his boss. If not, he is useless, and we let him  go."

"That sounds reasonable," Greyson agreed, sounding more like himself.

"Now that this is settled for the moment, you need to go home and get some rest."

"Why? I have been perfectly comfortable sleeping here."



"There is no reason for you to do so. Anyway, I would like you well  rested because you and I are attending Lady Laramie's ball tomorrow  night."

Brianna gazed out the window of the drawing room. Such a lovely day, and  she hated being forced inside for so much of it. The medicine Madam  Hershal gave her worked wonderfully, and she longed to enjoy her new  pain-free days. Martha also remarked on how improved Brianna had become,  and her worry appeared to be satisfied. Brianna still didn't know how  or when to tell Richard of the baby, but she knew the time quickly  approached.

Peering at the clock, she was happy to see their obligatory time for the  At Home would soon be passing. With the lack of activity, Brianna  looked around at the faces expecting to see her boredom mirrored, but  she was wrong. Her mother calmly sewed, and Elizabeth had her eyes  fastened to the door. She was smiling and fidgeting in a nervous manner.  There was no doubt in Brianna's mind Richard's sister expected someone  and, from her behavior, it was not a lady.

Allowing curiosity to propel her, Brianna stood and crossed the room to sit beside Elizabeth.

"I simply hate these things. What about you?" Brianna inquired.

"I don't mind them." Elizabeth cast her eyes downward.

"Since we have yet to have visitors, would you care to see if Mother would allow us to leave early? I long for some sunshine."

"No," Elizabeth proclaimed before Brianna had a chance to close her  mouth. Then she seemed to calm herself. "As lovely as that sounds, it  would not be proper for us to leave too soon."

"Are you expecting someone?"

Elizabeth's eyes widened as she lightly bit her lower lip. Pleased she  had guessed right, Brianna sat back and studied her friend's reaction.  Knowing how badly Elizabeth wanted to be in London for the Season,  Brianna was pleased the girl made progress in her husband search. A pang  of guilt assaulted her as she thought about how her own problems  prevented her from being a good companion.



"What makes you believe that?" Elizabeth asked as her eyes rounded in innocence.

"Your preoccupation with the door as well as your uneasiness is a clear  indication. Now, tell me. Which gentleman has earned your favor?"         

     



 

Elizabeth's gaze shot around the room before she leaned forward to  whisper. "I would prefer your mother not know in case he does not  appear. His name is Lord John Knox, Viscount Winsler. We shared several  dances over the past week, and he asked to call upon me today. I'm  feeling more apprehensive at each passing minute. I fear he will not  come."

"Don't worry about that. I'm sure he has only been momentarily detained."

"I do hope you are correct. I would enjoy seeing him again."

"He sure made quite an impression on you with only a few dances,"  Brianna remarked, tilting her head slightly. "Is there something more  you have not shared?"

"We did take a walk through the garden at Lord Gremish's ball. It was very lovely."

"Did he kiss you?"

"Brianna!" Elizabeth gasped. "Your mother will hear you."

"Our voices are too low. In addition, she isn't paying us any mind. If  you don't tell me, I'll only assume your blush means it was much more  than a simple kiss."

Elizabeth's quick intake of breath coupled with her hand flying to her  chest nearly made Brianna laugh out loud. Considering her reaction,  Brianna wondered what Elizabeth would think about her first meeting with  Richard. She imagined the girl would faint from shock.



"Lord Winsler is a perfect gentleman and would never take any liberties with my person," Elizabeth declared.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

Elizabeth sighed and then pressed her lips together as she averted her gaze. Brianna suspected her friend agreed with her.

Suddenly Elizabeth's head whipped back to her, cocked to one side. "Does Richard not act with gentlemanly manners?"

"Yes, he does." Brianna attempted to put the correct amount of regret in  her voice. The urge to place her hand over the living proof that  Richard didn't always act as a perfect gentleman engulfed her. Once  again, the vision of a perfect baby boy identical to his father filled  her mind. Would Richard be pleased or angry? Knowing his response would  make telling him much easier.

"If Lord Winsler feels a portion of what I suspect Richard feels for you, I would be content."

Before Brianna could respond, the butler entered and announced the  arrival of Lord Winsler. Elizabeth's face lit up, and Brianna hoped her  friend found what she was looking for with Lord Winsler.

The jovial conversation swirled around her, but she was not paying much  attention. She could not stop hearing Elizabeth's words. Surely the girl  was mistaken. Richard didn't harbor feelings for her. His marriage  proposal had been nothing more than an obligatory response brought on by  their lust-filled encounter. If he felt more, he would have used it in a  way to further encourage his suit.

Shaking her head from the thought, she reflected on the discussion she  would soon have with him. She hated the idea of accepting his forced  marriage proposal, but the other options were decidedly unpleasant. In  order to prepare herself for her new life, she would have to start  thinking of herself as a marchioness. Then perhaps one day she could  imagine herself happy.