All I Ever Needed (9 page)

"Pistol at the ready, no doubt."

"Of course." Eastlyn made no apology for it. "The baroness was in quite a state because her bedchamber had been invaded by the Gentleman Thief, and it was her very shrill contention that the scoundrel had taken his leave with her favorite necklace. I joined North in a search that came to nothing, except that it deprived me of a decent breakfast. I took my leave soon after and came straightaway to London."

"And?" The colonel drew out the single word, making it a question that prompted Eastlyn to continue.

"And I went to Number Fourteen Bowden Street," he said. "That is where Lady Sophia resides with her cousin and his family."

"There is nothing more?"

"Well, she told me she'd have more success making me a pigeon than a happy man."

"I believe you mentioned that."

"Did I?" He tried to recall, but his conversation with Blackwood was still blanketed in fog. "I left her shortly after that, on civil terms, I thought. I went home, bathed and changed my clothes, then came here. I admit things are not entirely clear after that."

"The belated effects of the drug. Apparently you did not take it in sufficient strength to cause you immediate distress. Doctor Keeble surmises that your symptoms were magnified by your fatigue and mental confusion."

"I was confused?" Eastlyn sifted backward through the snippets of conversation he could recall and found himself once again squarely set in Lady Sophia's garden. "The lady, you mean," he said, his half smile edging upward. "I suppose I cannot disagree. She was completely diverting."

The colonel allowed that this was an understatement. "She offered you lemonade, I believe."

"Yes. How did you know?"

"You mentioned it last night."

He must have, he thought, for there was no other way the colonel could have happened upon that information. What Blackwood was making of it, though, Eastlyn had no liking for. "You think Lady Sophie drugged me?" The absurdity of it was rife in his voice. "It was presented to me in a pitcher, and we both poured from it."

"And drank?"

Eastlyn remembered eventually draining his glass. He could not say if the same was true for Lady Sophia. In his mind's eye he could see her replacing her glass on the tray, but could not sharpen the image to know whether it was still full, half full, or empty. "We both drank," he said at last, unwilling to cast suspicion on the lady when his memory was at fault.

The colonel considered this as he tugged absently on a forelock of black hair. He swept it back with his fingertips as he came to a decision. "I did not think it was possible that the lady could be at fault, but it is the sort of thing that bears investigating. I will also make appropriate inquiries regarding the state of her health." He held up a hand as Eastlyn made to interrupt. "Never fear. It will be done discreetly. No one in the family will know they are being questioned. It's her cousin, did you say? Colley is the family name?"

"You will not make inquiries."

Blackwood's glance narrowed, and his eyebrows rose a fraction. "I won't?"

"No. What is between Lady Sophia and me is of a private nature, Colonel. It has nothing to do with any assignment you have ever given me. She is no threat to the peace or dignity of society—any society—and I do not want her treated as one. It is not possible that she was in any way responsible for my regrettable condition last night."

The colonel's dark hair was liberally salted with gray, and the line of it was receding. These things could be explained by the natural progression of age, except that Blackwood preferred to blame Eastlyn, Northam, Southerton, and West. This moment was one of many supporting that view. "I cannot persuade you?"

"No."

Blackwood picked up the poker in his lap and used it to stab at the fire while he considered another approach.

"I am set on this," Eastlyn said. He understood his mentor's silence and knew that he could expect a change in tactics. In point of fact, Eastlyn realized he could not stop Blackwood from doing as he wished; yet something between them would be altered if the colonel made his inquiries. "Can we not leave it?"

The poker went still in Blackwood's hands. "If you are wrong about the lady, then your life may be forfeit. Do you expect that I should make no effort to protect you?"

"I am not wrong," East said with quiet conviction.

"Who is she, East?"

"No part of my life. And it is better that she remain so."

The colonel reset the poker with the other fireplace tools. "Can you not humor me in some small way? Tell me at least how this engagement came to be. I heard of it, you know, but you had already left for the Battenburn estate when the news came to me."

"You were surprised?"

"I was skeptical."

Eastlyn felt himself relaxing. His fingers eased their grip on the arms of the chair, and he offered up a small smile. It was so very like the colonel not to accept the town gossip as gospel. "I took quite a ribbing from the others."

Blackwood nodded. "I should be something close to astonished if they passed on the opportunity."

"So would I." He rested his head against the back of the wing chair, and his chin came up slightly. "There is no engagement, sir."

"I am beginning to appreciate that, yet it has become what passes for common knowledge among the ton."

"I believe Lady Sophia's family encouraged the rumor once they heard of it. At the very least, they did not deny it."

The colonel rubbed his chin as he considered this. "Her family?" he asked. "Not the lady herself?"

"I accept that she is without blame in this." Eastlyn did not expect Blackwood to be so easily convinced. It was in the man's nature to probe at all aspects of a problem. "I heard nothing about my supposed engagement while I was in London. I imagine the rumor was just taking substance and strength as I was taking my leave for the Battenburn rout. I first learned of it from some of the baron's guests." He sighed, remembering the confusion he was forced to mask as he was congratulated for his good fortune. "They were tripping over themselves to wish me happy."

"Then you did not deny it either."

"Only to North, West, and South. To let it be acknowledged as a falsehood would have cast Lady Sophia in an unfavorable light. She did not deserve to be treated so shabbily. The trick that was played was meant to make things uncomfortable for me."

The colonel's eyes narrowed as he considered Eastlyn's assertion. "I take it you have a suspect for the source of the rumor."

East nodded. The tips of his steepled fingers tapped lightly together. "I have had no opportunity to confirm it yet. My first responsibility was to Lady Sophia."

"She has absolved you?"

"She was everything gracious."

"How fortunate for you. It could have been difficult to extricate yourself if she had been in expectation of a proposal."

Eastlyn's gaze fell to his hands, and he stared at them a long moment, saying nothing. "Yes," he said finally. "It was as you say, fortunate." He looked up and caught the colonel still watching him closely. He smiled easily, stretching his long legs before him. "I suppose I've always been lucky that way, haven't I?"

Blackwood was struck by the tone that was a bit off the mark for one reveling in his luck. It made him more curious about the lady. "I do not believe I am at all familiar with her," he said. "How long have you been acquainted?"

The question forced Eastlyn to recall again the circumstances of his first introduction to Lady Sophia. "It was at one of Lady Stafford's musicales. Mozart, perhaps. Or Bach. I don't know. It was a tedious affair, but then they often are. Dunsmore was in attendance with his wife and—"

"Dunsmore?" the colonel asked, interrupting. "Dunsmore is Lady Sophia's cousin?"

"Yes. A second or third cousin, I think. I'm not certain. I have never made a point to inquire."

"Then Tremont is—"

"Her cousin also. The earl is Dunsmore's father."

"Of course." The tumblers fell into place in the colonel's steel-trap mind. "Lady Sophia is the daughter of the late earl. Francis... Franklin..." He held up his index finger to stop Eastlyn from supplying the correct name. "Hah! It was
Frederick
Colley. A thorough bounder if there ever was."

"I take it you were acquainted with him."

"No. Good heavens, no. My acquaintance is with his reputation. You're familiar, no doubt."

"I am not," Eastlyn admitted. "My knowledge of Lady Sophia's family is slight."

"You should have found out more before you got yourself engaged to her."

"Amusing," Eastlyn said sarcastically. "I hope you do not mean to entertain me with your wit this morning. My headache of last night will most certainly return."

The colonel apologized easily. "Forgive me. As you noted, it was a poor attempt at levity." He adjusted his spectacles, pushing them down the bridge of his nose so he could peer at Eastlyn over the gold rims. "I suppose the particulars of the late earl's life are unimportant now that you have settled this matter with Lady Sophia." He fell silent, his features perfectly neutral, while he waited to see if Eastlyn would take the dangled bait.

East did not. What he did was find the humor of the situation and offer up a slim, slightly mocking smile. "How little I would have learned from you if I snapped at that. Confess, you would be disappointed."

Blackwood sighed. "Hoisted with my own petard."

Eastlyn's smile widened a fraction. It was not often that he could catch the colonel out so neatly. "Tell me about the late earl, or not," he said. "But I will not inquire because it is of no consequence to me. I doubt I will have reason to seek Lady Sophia's company again. After speaking with her yesterday, I am free to deny the rumors without causing her distress. She, of course, has always been free to do the same."

"Her family might be of a different mind."

"They are. But I believe she means to rein them in."

"You are highly eligible. Tremont has—"

Eastlyn shook his head, interrupting the colonel. "Lady Sophia doesn't think so."

"What?" Blackwood pushed his spectacles back up over the bridge of his hawkish nose and regarded East intently. "How is that again?"

"Lady Sophia doesn't think we would suit, though I think she means I would not suit her. I have a vague recollection of telling you that she called me a murderer. And a gambler. A drunkard also."

"Then you were serious?"

"Completely. So was she."

The colonel's frown deepened as he considered this. "But you are quite wealthy."

"I believe she was the one to point that out. It did nothing to make my character flaws more palatable."

"Dunsmore cannot like that," Blackwood said. "There are debts, I believe. Heavy ones. Bad investments also."

It did not surprise Eastlyn. It was not an unusual circumstance with inherited titles and lands, especially ones that were entailed, as he surmised was the case in Sophia's family. Although the colonel had not offered the information yet, East gathered that the late earl was the reason for the empty pockets. "Lady Sophia does not seem to be of a mind to lay the problem of her family's finances at my door."

"Someone was," Blackwood reminded him.

"Yes. But she was not the one. Dunsmore, perhaps Tremont as well, might not be above trying to take advantage of the rumor, but as I mentioned before, I most sincerely doubt they are the source of it."

The colonel had his own idea who was responsible for starting the gossip, but he did not test his hypothesis with Eastlyn. He'd make a wager, he thought, with South or perhaps West. They were also likely to be privy to some information that he was loath to ask East. "When do you mean to confront this individual?"

"Soon."

"I have an assignment for you," Blackwood said. "If there is to be bloodshed, I would be obliged if you would make certain it is not yours."

"I have always been heartily grateful for your concern," East drawled. He sat up straight as his mind turned to the matter of his business with the colonel. "What is it you would have me do?"

"There has been serious discussion of establishing a settlement in Singapore. The East India Company would like to see it happen as early as next year, and I don't have to tell you how important a settlement would be to the Crown. If such a thing could be accomplished without an excess of political posturing, we would all be better served for it. You will see to it, won't you, East? You know the stage and the players. The Prince Regent's announcement that he is in favor of the settlement has had the unfortunate consequence of merely raising suspicions. There are more questions in Parliament about the soundness of the venture, and the East India Company wants to be assured of wider support."

"Military support, you mean."

"If it comes to that."

East was silent for several minutes as he applied his thinking to the problem. For all of that time it was as if he were alone in the colonel's study, every sense concentrated on the task before him. "It will mean negotiating with Helmsley and Barlough. They are among Prinny's most vocal detractors. I suspect something of substance will have to be offered to bring them around. Shares, perhaps, in the Company."