The Rakehell Regency(34)

"And someone would have got careless, spending their ill-gotten gains too freely, or acting suspiciously. Father investigated that supposition as well, but he's come up with nothing even after all these months."



"Hmm. All the more reason to think it is one of our nearest neighbors. If not the nearest," Henry insisted.



Clifford sighed. "I know you think Vanessa's illness confirms all your suspicions, Brother, but as Malcolm says, we have no proof. Mere speculation is not enough to convict anyone. And fences down, beasts missing, fields flooding, is certainly not the same as murder."



Henry gave his brother a long look. "Then I say we get proof."



"If Gerald is guilty, he's going to be extremely cautious now. Fearful that someone will suspect him. Besides, the estate is far too large to patrol in its entirety night and day," Clifford said. "The culprit can slip in and out at will if he's careful enough. Tthere's very little we can do to stop him."



Henry's frustration became ever more evident from the set of his jaw and tone. "Then lay a trap for him. Catch him in the act!"



"Even if I could bait the trap in some manner, you're asking me to disgrace my wife's half-brother?"



"You and Vanessa are not married yet. Perhaps if you catch him in the next day or two, you needn't go through with this wedding."



Clifford rubbed his eyes and sighed. "Would it were that simple. But Gerald is nothing if not clever. He will behave far more circumspectly if, as you firmly seem to believe, his plan to poison his sister has gone awry.



"I'm sorry, Henry. I can see how strongly you feel about this, and our losses in recent months. I know you're only trying to help. All of you are, and I'm very grateful.



"However, we're not going to get proof all at once unless he is so lost to reason that he does something unspeakably rash. Since Malcolm and I are still not entirely convinced that he's guilty in all of this, we will have to bide our time to get proof. Never forget that Peter Stephens would also stand to gain from harming us and securing Vanessa for his own."



"How?" Emma asked innocently.



Malcolm blushed. "I'm afaid to say that it is a common enough practice to invite a girl out for a seemingly innocent carriage ride and have her end up with her virtue compromised either by word or deed. If Peter or his two brothers are intent upon Vanessa's fortune, they could take advantage of her naive and trusting nature and ruin her easily."



"Oh my. How dreadful."



Clifford nodded. "Which is why I can't take the risk and delay in marrying her. She can't be allowed to go back to Hawkesworth House, or to her aunt at Stephens Manor. The only way to prevent either of those two occurrences is by taking her home from here as my wife."



Josephine shook her head. "You'll have to get her to agree first. I fear that will be impossible. I have no doubt Gerald has done and will do everything he can to poison her mind against you, since he resents you so."



"Most certainly." Emma nodded. "He does it to everyone he meets. To hear him tell it, you would think you had populated all of the local orphanages single-handedly."



Henry laughed. "Well, not quite with-"



Clifford shot his brother a quelling look. "This is no joking matter. Gerald has done everything he can to damage me, and injure Vanessa. I know she will be confused and angry about the card game, as any respectable woman would. I'll simply have to convince her of my decency and sincerity. Vanessa will marry me as soon as she is well, and there is an end to it."





CHAPTER TWELVE



Clifford and his companions, keeping watch over the semi-conscious Vanessa, stayed up all night discussing the best way to deal with the poor girl's predicament. They came up with numerous suggestions, but in the end they all reluctantly agreed that Clifford was right. By taking her to wife, he would be ensuring her safety from her untrustworthy kin in the most effective and unobjectionable manner possible in the eyes of Society.



Clifford charged Henry and Malcolm to make all the necessary arrangements with the local vicar, Mr. Grayson, while he and the Jerome sisters would nurse Vanessa. Henry also agreed to go back to Hawkesworth House to ask a few subtle questions in order to ascertain what the chain of events had been which had led up to Vanessa becoming so ill.



John Gold returned at seven in the morning and ordered breakfast for them all. The kind older man looked Vanessa over, but there was no change.



Clifford had to admit he was exceptionally impressed with his friend. They had known each other socially for quite a few years, and he knew him to be a most excellent doctor. He had never seen him before in a professional capacity himself, but was certain that if anyone could help Vanessa, it was this intelligent man with prematurely gray hair and eyes which looked as though they had seen far too much.