Redemption of a Fallen Woman(85)
‘That the two of you married in Burgos just before the push for Toulouse. You had to leave shortly after the wedding, and she didn’t know then that she was with child.’
‘It’s arrant nonsense! What proof could she offer?’
‘A wedding certificate.’
‘A forgery.’
‘She had your signet ring, Jamie.’
His brother’s jaw tightened. ‘I lost the ring. It was stolen not long before the push for Toulouse.’
‘I see.’
‘She must have obtained it somehow.’ Jamie ran a hand through his hair. ‘It’s incredible.’
‘It’s a carefully orchestrated fraud and, I suspect, by more than one person.’
‘They must have had enough detail about me to think they could get away with it. That argues it involves people whom I knew.’
‘My thought too.’ Harry paused. ‘The woman may be using an assumed name. Did you meet an Alicia while you were serving here in Spain?’
Jamie shook his head. ‘No. None of the officers’ wives anyway.’ Then he paused, frowning. ‘Wait. There was an Alicia, a lady’s companion or some such thing, attached to the household of a chap named Chambers. We attended a few of the same dinner parties.’
‘Can you describe her?’
‘Lord, let me think. Smallish build, blonde hair, quite pretty if that’s your taste. She was well-spoken and seemed to be educated, had a refined sort of manner.’
Harry smiled grimly. ‘That’s her, it has to be.’
‘If it’s the woman I’m thinking of I’ll go bail she didn’t dream up this plot herself.’
‘I doubt that too. All the same, she plays the part well enough.’
‘Surely the family must have looked into her story.’
‘Of course. Giles and Ross have made a concerted effort to find out more. It was their thought to seek out the chaplain who performed the marriage and the witnesses to the ceremony, but enquiry revealed them to be dead.’
‘How very convenient.’
‘Indeed. When those lines of enquiry drew a blank, they asked me to come to Spain and see what I could discover here.’
‘What beats me is how this woman got hold of my ring.’
‘You said it was stolen.’
‘Yes. I’d been socialising with some of my fellow officers and, to be frank, we were all rather foxed. I vaguely recall getting back to my lodgings, but nothing else until I woke up next morning. It was then I discovered the ring had gone.’
‘But surely none of your fellow officers would have taken it.’
‘I was reluctant to think so.’
‘Could someone else have come in while you slept?’
‘Maybe. I can’t think who though. The house had been requisitioned for military personnel.’
Harry looked thoughtful. ‘Then it would seem to be the work of someone connected with the army.’
‘I fought side by side with those men, shared all manner of hardship with them. It creates a bond like no other. I cannot think that one of them would have done such a thing.’
‘It is hard to believe,’ admitted Harry. ‘But I’ve a strong suspicion that if we discover who took the ring we’ll eventually find out who perpetrated this plot as well.’
‘You’ve been put to a great deal of trouble on my account, Harry. I can only apologise for it.’
‘You’re alive. That’s what matters.’
‘I feel so completely out of touch with everything and there’s so much I want to know.’
‘Dine with us tonight and I can tell you.’
Jamie smiled faintly. ‘Us?’
‘I’m married now.’
‘Good Lord! Congratulations!’
Harry returned the smile. ‘Thank you.’
‘May I ask the lady’s name?’
‘Elena. You met her briefly.’
‘Not that lovely creature I saw earlier?’
‘The same. If my wits hadn’t gone begging I’d have introduced you properly.’
‘Well, you’d had quite a shock.’ Jamie eyed him curiously. ‘When did all this come about?’
‘A few months ago.’
‘And you dragged your new bride the length of Spain on my account? I’m mortified.’
‘It’s not as you might imagine.’ Harry grinned. ‘I didn’t meet Elena until I arrived in this country.’
‘A whirlwind romance?’
‘In a manner of speaking. It’s another long story too.’
‘I can’t wait to hear this.’
He sat in silent astonishment as Harry related the essential facts regarding his meeting with and marriage to Elena. He omitted the personal detail, those things he would not share with anyone save her. All the same it was a lively and entertaining account and by the end of it Jamie’s eyes gleamed.