Rogue's Reward by Jean R. Ewing

Author:Jean R. Ewing [Ewing, Jean R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1995-09-15T04:00:00+00:00

* * *

Lee rode quietly though the park. He realized idly that it was the first day of May. Some of his acquaintance acknowledged him publicly, some did not. He was used to it. His fertile brain was involved with other matters. He had indeed received no satisfaction from his confrontation with the major.

They had faced each other across the table at the Dog Inn two weeks before. Major Crabtree’s features had been familiar to Lee since childhood, yet he had spent most of the years since out of England. How well did he really know the man?

“I would like you to know, sir,” Lee had said, “that I am aware of the work that Frank Garth’s brother did for you many years ago. I took the liberty of examining the roses in the library paneling for myself.”

Major Crabtree’s honest face colored above the military mustaches. “Then you know of certain papers pertaining to your birth?”

“Indeed, sir. But you may be interested to know that the most critical of those papers no longer exists.”

Sir Robert looked away for a moment while different expressions raced across his features. Lee watched him carefully. It seemed for a moment that the predominant emotion was anger, but that made no sense, so he dismissed it.

“You destroyed them?” the major said at last. His voice was almost choked.

“Yes, the marriage papers are burned. Did you think I would proclaim the contents to the world: my father was a bigamist; my sister is a bastard? I understand why you would not wish to destroy Lady Augusta and her daughter, but why did you kept my mother’s marriage secret from me? Good God, I would have thought you could have trusted me better than that! And if you didn’t, why not destroy the papers yourself?”

Major Crabtree looked down so that Lee couldn’t see his face. “It wasn’t my place,” he said.

“Well, I thought it was mine,” Lee said. “You have kept silent about this for twenty years, sir. I trust nothing will change now?”

The major glanced up. He looked ill. “Of course not.”

“You should also know that I am aware of your predicament over Lady Acton’s letters.”

“For God’s sake, you young puppy!”

“Frank Garth told me of other hiding places in the house.”

The major glared at the younger man. “Then you know that I have already recovered the letters myself.”

“So it would seem, sir. They are now in my pocket, along with the note demanding a ransom to be sent to Red Lion Street. I have already been to the bookseller. He knows nothing, except that he expects a packet from Lady Acton to be picked up by a gentleman who will identify himself. It’s a popular spot, of course. Every gentleman in Norfolk goes in at one time or another. But since you retrieved the letters, we can hardly expect him to show up. I gave instructions for the packet to be sent back to Lady Acton. You will have no objection to my delivering the letters to her forthwith?”

Lee had discovered the letters with genuine astonishment.

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