Page 37 of The Smuggler & the Society Bride

‘I appreciate this exceedingly, ma’am,’ he said, walking over as she entered to take the sealed note she held out.

‘My niece is very dear to me,’ she replied. ‘I would do anything in my power to assist her. May I ask, Captain Hawksworth, why you are doing this for her?’

‘Because I admire her. Because so flagrant an injustice perpetrated against an innocent outrages me. Because even if the wrong cannot be righted, if I can offer her a reason for it, she may find living with the consequences a bit easier to bear.’

‘You admire her, you say. Do you realize that, should your quest be successful, her innocence proven and her position in Society restored, you would be returning her to a life that would distance her from you, probably resulting in the permanent loss of your friendship?’

‘You mean that Miss Marie Foxe, a connection of the influential Carlow family, would be far above the touch of a Captain Hawksworth of the Flying Gull?’ Gabe asked bluntly. ‘Yes, I realize that.’

‘I think perhaps you more than just admire her,’ Aunt Foxe said softly.

Just how deeply engaged his emotions were, Gabe didn’t truly know yet himself. He did know he cared passionately about Miss Foxe’s welfare and that resolving her predicament had inspired him to the fervour almost of a holy quest, one he simply had to pursue.

Of course, with his true position in Society being a good deal more elevated than Aunt Foxe was aware, he had hopes that even should her niece’s reputation be restored, as long as he left Cornwall without destroying his own, he might entertain some hope of a future for them.

However, since he wasn’t prepared to reveal any of this yet, he said simply, ‘What man could encounter such a brave and vibrant spirit and fail to fall under her spell?’

‘She does possess a brave and vibrant spirit, one that has already been gravely wounded. I should be as angry as you appear to be now if some…careless rogue intent on his own pleasure were to wound her again.’

Gabe recognized a test—and a threat—when he heard one. ‘I promise you, ma’am, upon my most solemn oath, that I desire only your niece’s welfare.’

Once again Aunt Foxe studied him. He returned her steady gaze unflinchingly.

Finally she nodded. ‘I believe you do. Then I must wish you luck, Captain, in all your endeavours.’

‘Thank you, ma’am. If you would be so kind as to convey my compliments to your niece? As my presence will be required back in Cornwall shortly, I intend to leave for London today and so will probably not have occasion to take leave of her.’

‘You will not be speaking with her again before you journey to London?’ Aunt Foxe said in surprise.

‘No, I mean to depart almost immediately.’

‘I see,’ she replied, frowning.

‘Is something wrong?’ Gabe asked, sensing some anxiety in the older woman. ‘Some reason I should not go now?’

After a moment, Aunt Foxe shook her head. ‘N-no. It’s not my place to intervene; anything else that needs to be said should come directly from my niece. So, you wish me to convey to her only your compliments?’

Gabe thought about what he might say—wished he could say, but neither the place nor the time were yet right. He had a mystery to solve, at least one more shipment to transport and a future to determine before he could make any decisions—or declarations—regarding Miss Marie Foxe. ‘Tell her I thank her for the honour of her friendship, and will do my best.’

Aunt Foxe offered him her hand. ‘If you should find this varmint, Captain, I would appreciate your landing him another kick in the teeth for me.’

Gabe gave her a wolfish grin. ‘I would be most happy to comply.’

She escorted him to the parlour door, then hesitated, her wise eyes studying his face. ‘I do hope you are prepared for whatever you might discover.’

‘If Miss Foxe could endure what she has been forced to endure, I expect I can face whatever truth my quest might reveal.’

She smiled slightly. ‘Thank you for being such a friend to my niece. She is worth every bit of your effort and devotion.’

‘I know,’ he replied softly, and walked out the door.

Chapter Seventeen

In the early afternoon little more than a week later, Gabe waited in an elegant anteroom in a Mayfair town house to be received by Aunt Foxe’s London friend, Lady Alicia Porter.

Too restless to remain seated now that he was so close, perhaps, to obtaining the information he needed to identify the blackguard who’d injured Miss Foxe, Gabe paced the room, mulling over what he’d accomplished since leaving for London.

Wishing to travel as quickly as possible, he’d booked passage on the mail coach rather than travelling post. After departing from the Ship and Castle in Penzance, and with the extravagance of booking two inside seats so as to not be crowded by some onion-breathed farmer, he arrived at the Bull and Mouth at St Martins-le-Grand in London a little more than thirty-six hours later.

After repairing to the inn to sleep and bathe, he’d presented himself at Lady Alicia’s town house that same afternoon, only to meet with the disappointing intelligence that her ladyship was out of town visiting a friend and would not return for another three days.

Deciding to delay searching for the Gypsy gem dealer until after he’d learned what Lady Alicia could tell him about the Carlow scandal, he turned his efforts instead to investigating merchants who might be willing to handle the schoolgirls’ knitted goods.

After strolling Bond Street, inquiring at several shops that dealt in lady’s furnishings, he learned as expected that the discriminating clientele who patronized these shops preferred gloves fashioned from a variety of fine leathers. Except perhaps for cotton net gloves for summer wear, the merchants there weren’t interested in stocking knitted goods.

On the recommendation of the innkeeper’s wife, he’d next stopped at a variety of stalls in the Shepherd’s Market area. Here he had better luck, finding several who admired the intricate patterns in Mrs Steavens’s handiwork and allowed that they might be willing to accept some for sale.

His inquiries among the art dealers had been even more promising. After paying his shilling admittance to the European Picture Gallery in Haymarket, which contained oil paintings by well-known artists as well as prints and sketches, he sought out the proprietor. Mr Avery was most impressed by the charcoal drawing Eva had made of Miss Foxe, and when Gabe told him she would be producing landscapes of Cornish scenes, he grew even more enthusiastic.

One of England’s rising young artists, a Mr Turner, the proprietor told him, had spent some months at St Ives, completing there a series of Cornish landscapes that had created a great stir among collectors. He had many knowledgeable clients who admired the Turner canvasses and would be very interested in acquiring similar works. If the artist Gabe represented could provide him with drawings or paintings of the same subjects rendered with the level of skill demonstrated by the charcoal sketch he’d just seen, Mr Avery assured Gabe he would have no trouble selling them. The price he named, Gabe felt sure, would put a smile on the face of Miss Foxe—and might go a ways toward getting Eva’s sister away from the unsavoury John Kessel.

He had just reached that satisfying conclusion when the butler bowed himself back into the room. ‘Lady Alicia will receive you now, sir,’ he said, motioning for Gabe to follow.

He escorted Gabe into a drawing room of even greater magnificence. Seated on an elegant divan near the hearth was an older lady dressed in the first stare of fashion.

He bowed before walking over to kiss the hand she extended. ‘Thank you, Lady Alicia, for receiving me.’

She inclined her head regally. ‘I’m delighted to offer hospitality to a young man recommended to me by one of my dearest friends. Living at the end of the world as she does, I seldom get to see Alexandre. But I note that the passage of years has not robbed her of her discerning eye, for I make no doubt, you are a handsome rogue!’

While Gabe felt his face redden, she laughed and said, ‘So, Captain Hawksworth, how can I help you? Alexandre mentioned you were searching for information.’

‘Yes, your ladyship. It concerns a scandal that occurred some twenty years or so ago, involving a prominent family named Carlow.’

To Gabe’s delight and rising excitement, her eyes widened and she leaned forward. ‘The Carlows? My, yes! No one then living in London will ever forget it! The most delicious scandal, with accusations and counter-accusations, illicit affairs, the attainder against the convicted man’s family. Though, unlike the recent scandal, I should have said the earl’s friends were more nearly involved in it than he.’

‘The earl?’ Gabe repeated. When Lady Alicia raised her eyebrows, he said apologetically, ‘I’m not well acquainted with London Society.’

‘George Carlow, head of the family, is Earl of Narborough. Won’t you have a seat, Captain, and let me call for refreshments? This shall require some time to recount. How kind of Alexandre to send you to me, for I do so love telling a good story!’

After allowing that a glass of wine would be delightful, Gabe seated himself. His first, startled reaction was that Miss Foxe was much more well-connected than he had imagined. Although he probably shouldn’t have been surprised. The more elevated her connections, the greater her disgrace would have been, and she’d already admitted to him that she’d been one of Society’s Diamonds.

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