Page 27 of Beth: A Regency Romance Novell

“Please do sit, Mr. Nyeland,” Jenny said.

They sipped wine and chatted, but all the while listened for the sound of a carriage. After warmly thanking Marcus and praising his swift actions, Jenny questioned him about what had taken place at the old house. He did his best to answer, but Beth could see he didn’t want to describe what had happened between him and Ramsey.

“Marcus was remarkable, Jenny. His skill at swordsmanship was superb. Ramsey didn’t have a chance.”

Jenny’s gray eyes widened, supposedly at Beth’s warm response and her casual use of Marcus’ given name.

“You remained to watch the bout?” Marcus raised an eyebrow. “I thought we agreed you and Lilly were to leave the grounds. Come to think of it, you didn’t get very far, did you?”

“Well, I…” Beth firmed her lips. “I did stay to watch.”

A faint smile tugged at his mouth. “I should have known.”

She felt herself flush. “I am glad I did. You were magnificent.”

“Hardly that, but thank you.” His brown eyes sought hers, making her warm all over.

“I wish Andrew would come,” Jenny said seemingly too distracted to take any notice of what passed between them.

“If he’s not here soon, I’ll go to Twickenham,” Marcus said. “But I expect I shall meet him on the road.”

“Would you, Mr. Nyeland?” Jenny said. “I hate to ask it of you, but I would be so grateful. You could take some of our staff with you.”

“Let’s wait a while longer.” Beth tried to keep her voice from trembling. She did not trust Ramsey. “There could be any number of reasons why Andrew was detained. A horse might have cast a shoe.”

“Yes, perhaps you’re right.” Jenny sighed. “The whole thing has been so unnerving,” she explained to Marcus. “Travelling back to Castlebridge with the fear William had suffered a serious riding accident. Then finding the letter had not been written by our doctor at all, for there was William, as strong as ever, playing draughts with Barbara. I’m afraid I hugged him, and he hates that.” Her smile trembled on her lips. “He considers himself too old for such displays of affection.”

A clatter of wheels on the gravel sounded outside the window. Beth and Jenny rushed to look out. “It’s Andrew!” Jenny cried. “He’s home.”

“There’s a horse tied to the back of his vehicle,” Beth said, turning eagerly to Marcus.

With a pleased smile, Marcus came to the window. He stood beside her and leaned his hands on the windowsill to peer out as she drew in a breath of his now familiar clean male scent and a hint of sandalwood. “Well, I’ll be! It’s Ramsey’s horse. The one with the four white feet.”

“Oh, I’m so pleased he has rescued that poor animal,” Beth said.

A few minutes later, Andrew came in bringing the cool damp night air with him. He ran a hand through his dark hair and straightened his cravat. Then he kissed Jenny’s cheek and joined her on the sofa as the butler hastened to pour him a glass of claret. “I’m sorry I’m late.”

“Tell us everything, Andrew,” Beth said, breathlessly.

“Yes, Andrew. What happened with Ramsey?” Marcus asked as impatient for news as Beth was.

Andrew rubbed a hand across his jaw. “Ramsey is dead.”

Marcus frowned. “He died of the sword wound?”

“No. I found the coachman and the surgeon still there when I arrived. After Ramsey declared that his family was cursed, he ran up into the tower and flung himself off it. As they were both unsure how to proceed, I remained to call in the magistrate.”

“What an extraordinary thing to do,” Marcus said. “Why cursed?”

“A litany of unsavory happenings within that family, including the aunt’s body in the cupboard which the magistrate, Sir Lionel Carr was extremely interested because that lady has been missing for some years. He intends to write to the family doctor before the inquest is held. Lady Moncrief, who died recently, had said at the time of her sister’s disappearance, that Agnes had gone to relatives in Scotland. Carr and I went in search of some sort of clue as to what happened to her.”

As everyone spoke at once he held up his hand with a slight smile. “We discovered Lady Gertrude Moncrief’s diary in a secret drawer of her escritoire. She wrote that she pushed her sister down the stairs late one night after an argument. While the servants slept she secreted Agnes’ body in a disused bedchamber with the help of her loyal lady’s maid.” Andrew frowned and shook his head. “Sir Lionel told me that Ramsey’s mother died in Bedlam. It is not common knowledge, but from what Ramsey’s told his coachmen, it appears he was always afraid he had inherited insanity from her.”

“Dear heaven,” Beth breathed. She sought Marcus’ gaze. She was so glad of his presence so they could hear the explanation together. It seemed as if they were inextricably bound together by what they’d experienced. And the trouble was, she didn’t like to think that it would end.

“Well that’s a mystery solved,” Jenny said.

Andrew nodded. “You have an excellent eye for horseflesh, Marcus. I brought the thoroughbred back for you,” Andrew said. “You’ve earned it.”

---