Page 30 of The Allure Of Lord Devlin
“We have to stop this. I was looking forward to you becoming my sister-in-law. We would visit all the time and especially on the holidays. Our children would grow up together. This bloody woman is ruining everything.”
Rosemary stomped off to fetch the jewelry box and sat it on the bed between them. She ran her hands over the box. “I’ve always loved it because father gave it to me. It surprised me he came to my room that night, because he normally kissed me goodnight after dinner and nanny put me to bed and mother would come and read to me alone. However, when he was killed in the duel that very night, I couldn't help but wonder if he knew I would never see him again.
Lord Devlin let a man shoot him without putting up a fight. Rosemary was right, his visit was likely a goodbye farewell. The Marquis knew he was not coming home from the duel over his honor.
Dharma’s heart clenched at the idea of Lord Devlin’s desperation. He thought dying would help his family, but in reality, it made everything worse. His family, never learning the truth, kept the scandal alive. Everyone took sides. That is why Devlin couldn’t let it rest. The shadow hanging over his family would never drift away.
Rosemary looked up from her private memories. “My hands are shaking. How do I open the secret compartment?”
She showed her friend how to open the little latch hidden inside the left corner, but sat back as Rosemary pulled the latch and the bottom slid back. She watched Rosemary’s face closely. Her shaking hand reached in and drew out a folded piece of parchment. She looked up at Dharma with her lip between her teeth. With a nod of Dharma’s head, Rosemary unfolded the delicately faded parchment. She had to go slowly in case she ripped it. Finally, she had the document in one piece and she lay it on the bed, pressing out the wrinkles with her palm. The markings on the delicate faded parchment were still readable.
Dharma leaned closer. No, she wasn’t mistaken. The delicate inked words on the page clearly showed that they were not written in English. “What language is it?”
Rosemary shook her head. “I do not know. It’s not French. Is it Latin?”
“I don’t think so.” Dharma picked up the parchment and studied it. “Could it be Russian? I know a bit of Latin and I don’t recognize any of the words. Hold on.” She brought the paper closer to her face. “Is that word Longton?” She handed the note to Rosemary.
Her friend squinted to make out the faint markings. “It could be.” Rosemary lifted her head. “Why is his name on this document, and what does the rest of the writing say?” She jumped off the bed. “We have to give it to Devlin.”
“Wait.” Rosemary turned and looked at her questionably. “Do you trust Mrs. McTavish? If we give this to Devlin, will she see it? Is she really on Devlin’s side? What would she do if she knew we had this? I think we need to be on our guard.”
Rosemary sat down. “But we need to learn what this missive says. It must be important because father hid it.”
“Let us not make any hasty decisions. Why didn’t your father simply reveal this document to clear his name? There must be more to this. We need to learn who we can trust. Perhaps I should hold this note at my house in case Mrs. McTavish goes hunting through your things. She might know of this letter’s existence. Is that why she insisted on accompanying Devlin to London and staying in this house?”
Rosemary ran a hand over her face. “This is getting far too complicated. I feel I need to tell Devlin. If anything, it could stop him from announcing this ridiculous engagement.”
They sat there, both of them looking at the parchment and not sure what to do. Finally Dharma said, “Let’s tell Devlin, but not here. Not in this house where there are prying eyes and big ears.”
Before Rosemary could reply, they heard Betty’s voice and footsteps outside the door. Dharma, who was still holding the note, quickly folded it and shoved it between her breasts inside her corset. Just in time, because Betty knocked and entered, closing the door behind her.
“That Scottish woman is most odd, Lady Rosemary. She was standing outside your room when I said I’d announce her. She declined and walked away.” Betty kept walking as she talked and disappeared into the bathing chamber.
“See, I told you. She is spying on me.” Rosemary wrung her hands. “I need to tell Devlin.”
“I agree. He needs to be warned, and I will keep this missive at my house. Mrs. McTavish cannot gain entrance there.”
“I’m scared. She’s in our house. Perhaps Devlin is right. I should go to our country estate.”
Rosemary hugged her friend. “You are not leaving until you see where this promising romance with Hawthorne might go. Why don’t you come and stay with me? Tobin won’t mind, and I’m pretty sure Devlin will agree.”
Rosemary called for Betty. “Can you pack my trunks? Two weeks’ worth of clothes please, and organize for them to be delivered to Lord Clayton’s townhouse. You’ll need to come too.”
While they waited for Betty to organize the trunks, Dharma paced the room. “If Longton was involved, I’m in the best position to investigate. His son is paying court to me. Perhaps I could find out more about his father’s activities all those years ago. Did he know the late Lord Devlin? Were they enemies?”
“That sounds dangerous to me. I really think we should let Devlin know?—”
“Know what?”
Devlin stood in the doorway. The banging of the trunks had covered his arrival. Rosemary leapt to her feet and raced across the room to drag Devlin inside. She poked her head into the hall and looked up and down before closing the door behind them. She swung round to face her very confused brother.
He saw the trunks being packed. “Good. You’ve decided to go home.”
“Not exactly. I’m going to stay with Dharma for a few weeks. Lord Clayton is in residence, so there is no need to worry.” As his lips firmed, Rosemary added, “I don’t want to be under the same roof as Mrs. McTavish. There is something off about her. She was lingering outside my door mere moments ago. What is she doing here? And now I hear you’re engaged to be married?”
Devlin’s cheeks took on a bit of color. “I need information from her.”
Rosemary looked at Dharma and said, “You may not need her as much as you think. I found something. Show him.”
