Christian took a sip of his brandy. "What I don't understand is why you don't just wait for Helene to discover the identity of this gentleman for you."
"Because Violet and Jack had already been threatened and I was afraid that if we waited too long, one of them would really be killed." Richard groaned and buried his face in his hands. "And Violet threatened to take on Mr. Brown by herself."
Christian consulted Philip's note. "Father says that Jack's death seems to have been accepted by the majority of the ton, and that he is going to arrange for the burial on Friday. In the meantime, how do you intend to clear Vincent's name?"
"I don't need to. If we get our hands on Mr. Brown, we can blame him for everything and reinstate the Lennoxes' reputation and hopefully their father's estate to them."
"And if you don't?"
"I can't even contemplate that." Richard rose from the table. "I need to go and see if Violet is awake, and tell her how things are progressing. You'll make sure that none of the staff gossip about her presence here?"
"Naturally." Christian inclined his head. "Might I suggest that she dresses as a woman while she is here? That will definitely confuse matters."
"I'll suggest it to her." Richard hesitated before he turned to the door. "Thank you, Christian."
"You are welcome. I only wish someone had thought to include me in all the excitement." He smiled at Richard. "I also think Violet Lennox will make you a fine wife."
Richard grimaced. "If she'll have me."
"She's in love with you. She'll have you."
"If only it were that simple."
Christian sat forward. "It is, Richard. Just don't let anything else get in your way."
"I'll do my best. By the way, when Ambrose comes back, will you tell him that Philip wishes to see him?"
"I will."
Richard left Christian drinking his wine in the kitchen and walked slowly back up the stairs to his bedchamber. As soon as he opened the door his gaze went to the bed and his heart seemed to jolt in his chest. Violet wasn't there. He checked the whole room, but there was no sign of her. With a curse, he turned on his heel and ran back down to the basement.
As he burst into the kitchen, Seamus Kelly came in through the back door.
"It's all right, Mr. Ross. Patrick followed her. She's gone back to Harcourt House."
Richard sank down onto the nearest solid surface and struggled to breathe. At least she was safe-at least he knew that. But it wasn't enough.
"Why in damnation did she run?"
"Because she is a woman and she loves you."
"What?" He slowly raised his head to stare at Christian, who was still sitting calmly at the table.
"She wants to protect you."
"Then she is a fool! I'm the one who should be protecting her!"
"If she is anything like the other women in our family, she probably doesn't see it like that."
Richard looked down at his trembling hands and imagined them around Violet's throat. "When I find her, I'm going to . . ."
"May I give you some brotherly advice?" Christian turned fully to look at him. "At the moment, Violet is safe and well protected at Harcourt House. I'll send more men to make sure of that. Why not leave her there until your temper settles down and she realizes she needs your help?"
Richard glared at Christian for a long moment. "You're right. Do you think she'll realize she needs me?"
"I'm always right." Christian smiled. "Hopefully she'll realize it before she puts herself into any more danger."
"That isn't very reassuring," Richard muttered.
"I know."
24.
"Ah, Ambrose. It is so good of you to assist me in this matter."
Ambrose waited until Lord Knowles sat behind his desk before taking the seat in front of him. When Christian had told him that Lord Knowles wished to speak to him, Ambrose had briefly considered not going. Emily had told him to wait until she had spoken to her father about their decision to marry, and she hadn't told him anything to contradict that.
He straightened his spine anyway. If Lord Knowles wished to discuss his relationship with Emily, he was more than willing to do so. After speaking to a delighted Jethro the evening before, he now knew he had a secure job to move on to and a place for Emily to call home that wasn't associated with the pleasure house.
He realized Lord Knowles was speaking and refocused his attention.
"As I was saying, Emily told me about her conversations with Thomas Smith and the excellent advice you gave her to seek my help anew."
Ambrose shrugged. "I thought it best, my lord."
"And I'm glad you did. Emily can be rather stubborn. From what I understand from my wife, you are one of the few people she listens to."
"You know that Miss Ross and I are friends?"
"How could I not?" Lord Knowles's smile was warm. "The minx has spent more time chatting to you in the kitchens of the pleasure house than she has dancing at any ball."
"I hope that hasn't given any offense, my lord."
"Why should it? You are an exceptional man and a good friend of Christian's. Who better to trust my daughter with?"
"As to that, sir . . ."
"I wanted to talk to you about Seamus Kelly." Philip talked over him and Ambrose subsided. "I understand from Emily that on your instructions, he followed Mr. Smith to a different address. Did Seamus locate the journal?"
"Unfortunately, Seamus didn't have time to get into Mr. Smith's rooms, but he did find out where he was lodging."
"Excellent. Do you think he could show me where it is?"
"You intend to confront him, my lord?"
"I do." Philip's expression hardened. "I intend to retrieve that journal and make certain that Mr. Smith never troubles a member of my family again."
"Might I accompany you, my lord?"
Lord Knowles studied Ambrose for a long moment. "You may. I intend to surprise him tonight."
"Before Mr. Jack Lennox's funeral." Ambrose cleared his throat. "Will Miss Ross be attending the funeral?"
Philip sat back and folded his hands together on the desk. "I can hardly keep her away when she considered herself affianced to the man, can I?"
"And if she wasn't engaged to him?"
"Emily will make her own mind up as to exactly where her feelings lie."
Ambrose took a deep breath. "I think she already has, my lord."
"And why might you think that?"
"Because I would like to ask for her hand in marriage."
Philip considered him. "Does she return your regard?"
"I believe so. I will no longer be working at the pleasure house. I have savings and I have secured a position as a schoolteacher at a new Methodist school in east London." Ambrose remembered to breathe. "I will be able to support her quite well, if not to the style to which she is accustomed."
"I don't think Emily will care about that if she loves you."
Ambrose met Lord Knowles's calm gaze. "I think she does, and I love her more than anything." He shifted his feet. "Unless you feel that a man of my color should not marry someone of hers?"
"Why should I care about that? It is for Emily to decide, and having turned down several very eligible gentlemen of the ton, I suspect she knew what she wanted all along."
"I have no knowledge of my parents or my family, my lord. If Mr. Delornay hadn't rescued me from the streets, I'd probably be dead by now."
"But he did rescue you, and you have grown into an estimable young man of good character. A man I would be proud to include in my family-officially. You have always been part of the pleasure house family."
Ambrose struggled to speak. "Thank you, my lord."
"Thank me after we have dealt with Mr. Smith and gotten through the funeral tomorrow. Then we will have time to discuss your plans with Emily." Philip stood and held out his hand. "I'll tell my wife, if that is acceptable to you. She has long been your champion and suspected which way the wind was blowing."
"She has?" Ambrose shook Philip's proffered hand.
"Helene is a remarkable woman in many ways. Now, do you wish to stay and dine with us, or do you need to get back to the pleasure house?"
"I need to speak to Seamus and bring him back here with me for tonight."
"That's true. Perhaps you could both meet me here at nine?"
"Certainly, my lord." Ambrose turned to leave. "And thank you."
It wasn't until he was out on the street that he managed to breathe again and promptly startled an elderly couple by letting out a whoop of pure joy. Lord Knowles hadn't ordered him from his sight for daring to fall in love with his daughter. In truth, he had made Ambrose feel as if he would be a welcome addition to the family.
Family.
Ambrose stopped walking and his vision blurred. Emily loved him and her family seemed ready to accept him. As Jethro had been telling him for years. He was, indeed, truly blessed.
Violet studied Jack carefully, but he looked remarkably well for a man who was to be buried the next morning. The Delornay family had managed to find a suitable corpse to substitute for Jack in the elaborate coffin that now sat in state at the local chapel. Jack had been secreted in the attics of Knowles House and was apparently unaffected by all the uproar.
"You seem well," Violet said.
"What did you expect?" Jack stood up and stretched. "I've a few bruises from when the horse came down on me, but other than that I'm fine." He studied her carefully. "In fact, I look a lot better than you do. What happened?"
"I finally met Mr. Brown."
"And?"
"It wasn't a pleasant experience. He gave me time to attend your funeral, and after that he expects me to leave Richard and come to him."
"I assume you told him to go to the devil."
"I did. Richard and I had already agreed that there was no point in me pretending I could kill you and not suffer for it. When I refused to go to him, Mr. Brown grew angry." She drew an unsteady breath. "He said he would have Richard killed if I didn't obey him."
Jack sat down on the side of his bed. "So you decided to be noble and run away from Richard again." At her look of surprise, he shrugged. "I might be dead, but I've been listening to all the gossip from the staff."
Violet winced. "Don't say it like that." She sat next to Jack on the bed. "I can't let Richard be killed. I love him. I have to stop Mr. Brown by myself."
"Violet, if Richard had ordered you to keep out of the way while he saved you from Mr. Brown, how would you have felt?"
"He did try, but when I refused, he understood it was important for me to be involved."
"Then why can't you see that he needs to be involved in this too? Whether he has mentioned it or not, the man loves you, Violet. You need to give him the opportunity to feel like you are in this fix together."
Violet sighed. "I just want this to end. I want to live out the rest of my life in a sea of quiet tranquility. Is that too much to ask? I want a home and a family, but it is so hard to trust anyone, isn't it?"
Jack squeezed her hand. "After our past, indeed it is, but I think Richard would die for you if you let him."
"But that's the whole point. I don't want him to die."
"Then work with him and save each other." Jack kissed her cheek. "I can't wait to attend my own funeral tomorrow. You are going to be there, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am. Even though I am under suspicion, no one has been able to prove I did anything to your horse. I doubt I'll be welcome, but the Knowles family name will protect me."
Noises floated up from the stairwell below and Violet stiffened. "I should go. I don't want Richard finding me here."
"Still skittish, my love?" Jack walked over to the door and pushed it open a crack. "I don't think they are coming up. You're quite safe."
Violet crossed to the small attic window and pulled back the tattered curtain. She carefully climbed out on the roof and smiled back at her twin.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Jack."