Daring Deception Part 22

"What was the date of that letter?" asked the earl. He had replaced the poker in its stand and now leaned on the mantelpiece, looking quite indecently handsome.

Frederica fought to keep her thoughts on the matter at hand. "jUne of 1810."

The earl raised his brows.

"A full year before Christabel's birth.

Obviously, he did indeed visit Amity again. We still have nothing to show that they married, however. I fear your theory will have to remain just that, Cherry," he said regretfully.

"I had thought, perhaps, that we might make enquiries across the border.

Surely if they were married, even in Scotland, there would be some record of it?"

"You are tenacious, aren't you?" said the earl with a chuckle.

"I see little hope in it, but if you wish to write the necessary letters, I will frank them and have them sent off. Christabel is lucky to have such a champion." His gaze lingered on her face, and Frederica felt her colour rise.

"What of your own investigations, my lord?" she asked hurriedly.

"Were you able to discover anything about your uncle?"

DA~ING DECEPTION.

He shook his head.

"Not yet. I asked a few discreet questions, but they may not bear fruit for some time, I fear. I have also requested my man of business to send for the more complete account books. I would be grateful for your a.s.sistance when I receive them."

"Certainly, my lord." Again she found herself hoping that some explanation besides treason could be found to account for the disappearance of the Sea brooke fortune.

"I can understand why you must proceed slowly with your questioning."

"Yes, even more than Christabel's presence here, a scandal about my uncle's political sympathies would likely sour my upcoming nuptials. Perhaps I should be more forthright in my suspicions." He obviously meant it as a joke, but Frederica thought she caught an underlying seriousness in his voice.

"Pray, do not say that!" she exclaimed.

"Not only is your family honour at stake, but perhaps your happiness, as well. You may well find that your betrothed is everything that you would want in a wife."

She knew, suddenly, that she was expressing her own hopes rather than his.

"I'll bid you good-night, my lord," she said breathlessly, turning towards the door to avoid his searching regard.

"I have letters to write." Before he could reply, she hurried from the library, her heart pounding in her throat at her unexpected discovery. The unimaginable had happened. She had fallen in love with the man she was being forced to marry!

CHAPTER TEN.

FoR an-m ~x'r s~ DAYS, Frederica made it a point to avoid Lord Sea brooke.

Until she could untangle her conflicting emotions, it seemed wisest that she keep her distance from him.

Letters to the most likely border towns in Scotland were duly written, but rather than handing them to the earl herself, she left them on his desk when she knew he would be out. She also penned a letter to her brother, which she intended to mail from Miss Milliken's house on Thursday to avoid prying eyes.

Thomas would be wondering by now why he had not heard from he rand she had no wish for him to come searching for her.

Christabel was growing increasingly fond of he rand that affection was reciprocated. In fact, Frederica found herself frequently falling into the trap of imagining that she would always be there for the child, watching her grow into a young lady she could be proud of. Once or twice she even caught herself musing over what it would be like to sponsor Christabel for her come out an experience she hors elf had shunned. She perceived the danger inherent in such thoughts and strove to suppress them, difficult though it was.

When she visited Miss Milliken on Thursday afternoon, Frederiea's former governess greeted her with some disturbing news.

"My dear, I believe it would be best if you left this post as soon as possible," Miss Milliken said as soon as they were seated in the par lout

"Rumours have begun to circulate about Lord Sea brooke. It has become common knowledge that an illegitimate child is in residence, and people are drawing the obvious conclusions."

"Mr. Coorobes!" Frederica fairly spat the name.

"I suspected that he would do this." she related the events leading to the butler's dismissal from Senbrooke House. Miss Milliken nodded in sympathy, but said, "I fear the source of the rum ours makes little difference. Once gossip begins to spread, it takes on a life of its own. And there is more."

Frederica looked at her questioningly.

"There has also been some talk about you, my dear. Or rather, I should say, about Miss Chen'ystone. Her name is being linked with Lord Sea brooke's."

Frederica gasped, not having foreseen that wrinkle.

"More of Coombes's malice, I doubt not. What an evil man!"

"Yes, it would appear so. In this case, however, he may have done you a fay our Those two rum ours combined may well be enough to persuade your brother to call off your unwanted betrothal to Lord Sea brooke." The woman's warm brown eyes searched Frederica's face.

"If it is still unwanted, that is," she added gently. Frederica sighed.

"Oh, Milly, I don't know anymore. Something rather dreadful seems to have happened." She did not notice her friend's sudden stiffening.

"Lord Sea brooke and I have somehow become friends."

Miss Milliken relaxed, smiling in her relief. "That doesn't sound so terrible. Is it not what you have wanted in a husband all along?"

"I--I suppose so," said Frederica uncertainly.

In truth, she had come to realize that she wished to be far more than a friend to Lord Sea brooke, but she was not ready to admit everything to Milly--not yet.

"I still hate to give Thomas the satisfaction of tamely agreeing to his scheme," she said finally.

"I shall continue as Miss Cherrystone for now. Perhaps in that position I can work to silence the rum ours Then, when the time seems right, I shall reveal who I really am."

In vain Miss Milliken sought to dissuade her from this course.

"If it becomes known that you have been living in his house all this time, totally unchaperoned, your reputation will be ruined whether you wed him or no," she insisted. "Please, Frederica, do not go back. You may write him a letter from here telling him the truth."

Frederica shook her head. She could think of no more certain way to make him despise her. If she could not have his love, she at least hoped to retain his friends.h.i.+p, and his respect. Besides, as Miss Cherrystone she might be able to discover what his feelings towards her were--and what they could become.

"I promise to leave his house before making my public appearance as Miss Chesterton, Milly, if that will make you easier. But I must go back, if only for Christabel's sake."

Miss Milliken gave it up.

"Very well, Frederica, though your course of action still seems most unwise to me. To think that it was my idea to place a spy in his household in the first place!"