Simon Bingley's Resolve, page 21
‘Evidently,’ Mrs Rochdale replied, smiling.
‘What are you doing here?’ Simon addressed the question to Nadia, wishing his heart hadn’t stuttered at the sight of her. Wishing she hadn’t been manipulated into accepting Molineux. Wishing so many things.
‘Caroline has confided in me,’ Nadia replied calmly. ‘She has told me everything.’
Simon narrowed his eyes at both ladies. ‘She should not have worried you, or got your hopes up.’
‘Caroline and I agreed to rise early.’ Nadia blithely ignored Simon’s chastisement. ‘She was particularly keen to avoid being interrogated by her odious husband—who, I am sure she will not mind me saying, is a bully and a brute—and naturally she is terrified of him.’
‘Well, that certainly used to be the case,’ Mrs Rochdale said, smiling as though a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. ‘But I politely declined his invitation to return to London and resume taking the medicines that assure him of my docility.’ She seemed smugly satisfied with her act of defiance. ‘I have never questioned his treatment of my presumed insanity, and he doesn’t know how to react to my lucidity or my acceptance here at Pemberley. Albert puts great stock by the respect accorded to him as a pathfinding doctor, and would hate to have that reputation tarnished as a result of a public spat with his wife, especially if he can no longer pass off her behaviour as the product of a warped mind.’
‘Well said,’ Simon said softly. ‘It must have taken courage to stand up to him.’
Mrs Rochdale swallowed. ‘It was long overdue, because it has taken me years to realise that I was being manipulated, you see.’
Simon nodded. He did see, all too clearly, and was not impressed by the view.
‘Caroline retired early and locked her door so that he couldn’t get her alone last night.’ Nadia beamed. ‘And thus far this morning he has also been unsuccessful.’
‘We make no apology for following you gentlemen,’ Mrs Rochdale said. ‘It is obvious that you require our help, and we are here to offer it.’
‘Out of the question!’ Spence snapped.
‘Ah, so you have already thought of a way to make the miscreants admit to their misdeeds.’ Caroline smiled at them. ‘Please tell us all about it.’
Simon shared a helpless look with the other men. Spence shrugged, and indicated a bench close by.
‘We’ve been outmanoeuvred. Be seated, ladies,’ he said with a flourishing bow.
Simon waited until they had settled themselves side by side on the small bench. The gentlemen then pulled up another and lowered their backsides onto it.
‘My aunt should not have told you about Molineux’s little game and raised your hopes.’
‘Tosh!’ Nadia said impatiently, sitting forward, breathless and alert. ‘I have more invested in the truth coming out than you do, and I refuse to be kept out of things.’
Simon’s gaze lingered upon her profile. Upon eyes that widened in curiosity and expectation. Upon her lips, shiny and moist, as they parted and curved upwards into an intoxicating smile that curdled Simon’s insides and made him determined to save her from the not-so-tender attentions of a man like Molineux, who most definitely did not deserve her. He shifted his position on the uncomfortable wooden bench, anxious to conceal his very obvious reaction to her sensuality.
‘Tobias should take the credit for what we have learned about Molineux and your husband,’ Simon told his aunt. ‘He has a happy knack for being in the right place at the right time and is an accomplished eavesdropper.’
Tobias grinned, stood and swept a bow. The ladies smiled and applauded politely.
‘You mean to unmask Molineux’s involvement so that even Papa will no longer be able to force me into matrimony with such a man.’ Simon had only just mastered control of his previous reaction to Nadia’s provocation, but the uncontrived hope in her expression undid all his good work. He crossed his legs and rested his hands in his lap, touched to see tears of gratitude sparkling on her long lashes. ‘Thank you.’
Simon sent her a softly intimate smile. ‘The pleasure is entirely mine. Although we haven’t done anything yet and it may all come to nothing anyway, so your thanks are premature. Please don’t get your hopes up. I should hate for you to be disappointed, which is partly why we didn’t want you to know.’
‘Tell me everything,’ Nadia said, looking endearingly determined. ‘Caroline has told me the bare bones of it, but I want to hear you tell it.’
Tobias did the honours and by the time he ran out of words, Nadia looked furious.
‘You are angry,’ Simon said, stating the obvious.
‘I am angry because I know how it’s managed from the Jamaican end,’ she said, puffing out her cheeks with indignation. ‘I understand as well why Molineux was so incensed when his chief overseer died unexpectedly. Molineux trusted him absolutely, and he would have been a key player. The man didn’t have a moral bone in his body and was on good terms with all the sea captains who put into Kingston.’ She paused to reflect. ‘I thought Molineux’s anger was out of all proportion at the time. Death is nothing out of the ordinary in that part of the world—diseases, disputes, criminality all play their part in depleting the population, and men like Molineux look upon it pragmatically, secure in the knowledge that there are plenty of others ready and willing to take the place of those who depart this world.’ She flapped a hand. ‘A normal person would have felt sadness at the demise of a man he had worked closely with for some years, but there is no place in Molineux’s world for sentimentality.’
‘Life is cheap,’ Spence said softly.
‘Quite. Anyway, the man who took over from the dead overseer was equally unprincipled and seemed very pleased with his new position. Perhaps now I understand why. It wasn’t just a promotion. He must have known about the smuggling—if he wasn’t already involved with it in some way, and receiving a cut for ensuring the drug’s smooth onward transmission.’
‘The drug is what Albert has been feeding to me all these years,’ Mrs Rochdale said through gritted teeth. ‘I knew it, but I couldn’t find the strength to question its debilitating qualities, which I suppose was the entire point. I became addicted and went through life in a permanent daze.’
‘I admire you for weaning yourself off of it,’ Spence said. ‘It can’t have been easy. How did you do it?’
‘Not intentionally. I knew that Albert had long since stopped feeling any affection for me, if indeed he ever had, but I believed him when he said that my mind was unbalanced. I mean, what other reason could possibly account for my irrational behaviour?’ She shook her head, clearly not expecting an answer. ‘I accepted everything he told me without question, until a few months ago when I was unwell. Being physically sick must have rid my system of the drug. I felt fragile, decidedly odd and very afraid. Fortunately, Albert was away so I couldn’t ask him what was happening to me, as I otherwise would have done. Had he been there, he would have known and made sure I remained addicted.’
‘You must have been bewildered,’ Simon said.
‘I was, but after a night of shivering and shaking, I woke feeling relatively clear-headed for the first time in a very long while. It caused me to question Albert’s behaviour and my own fragilities, about which he never failed to remind me until I simply believed he must be right. He is, after all, a leading authority in his field. Even so, I slowly ate less and less of the biscuits that Albert forced on me, suffering through the withdrawal period without realising what I was putting myself through. Eventually, I found that I was lucid, my head clear and my body stronger than it had ever been.’ She smiled at the three men listening avidly to her account. ‘It felt as if I was slowly emerging from a long hibernation and claiming back responsibility for myself. I could see things so clearly and wanted to live again.’
‘Your husband’s reaction?’ Tobias asked.
‘I’d begun to realise what had happened to me by that stage and I realised that he didn’t want me to be well. I wasn’t sure if I had the strength to fight him over it and so I made it appear as though I was still withdrawn from the world. Not that he was home that often, and when he did honour me with his presence, he took precious little notice of me.’ She shrugged, attempting to give the impression of not caring when she must be hurting a great deal inside at the loss of all those years. ‘One of the benefits of always having done what I was told was that it never occurred to him I would…well, get better.’
‘I admire your strength of will,’ Simon said, meaning it.
‘He wanted you never to question his activities or realise that you were in fact perfectly rational?’ Spence suggested.
‘I would imagine so.’ She smiled. ‘His reaction when he arrived here yesterday and saw for himself that I have outwitted him was both terrifying and liberating, if that makes any kind of sense.’ All three men nodded. ‘However, I know I shall not be allowed to get away with it indefinitely. He will find a way to exert his authority and probably force worse treatments on me.’ She shuddered. ‘Albert does not like to have his authority questioned—especially not by me. Don’t be taken in by all that charm and supposed concern for my welfare. It isn’t genuine. I cannot stay here forever and the moment he gets me to himself again…’ She shuddered. ‘Well, I don’t care to think about how he will react.’
‘That is why we intend to help you to expose him and Molineux for the criminals they are,’ Nadia said with determination. ‘You must be able to see that we both have a vested interest in having them brought to account for their crimes.’
‘Quite so,’ Simon said, ‘but it could be dangerous, and we will not permit either of you to place yourselves at risk.’
‘Heaven forbid,’ Nadia said with the sweetest of smiles that set alarm bells ringing in Simon’s head. ‘All the same, kindly have the goodness to explain how you plan to have them admit to their misdeeds.’
‘Ah well, that’s the thing.’ Spence sent an uncertain look Simon’s way. ‘I’ve been thinking about our original ideas and upon reflection am not sure if they will serve.’
‘What ideas?’ Mrs Rochdale asked.
‘We have sent your husband’s mistress an urgent summons from Molineux, pretending that something has gone wrong with the shipment and that they need to discuss the matter in person, it being too sensitive to commit anything to writing.’
‘Tobias took a look inside Molineux’s room at the inn and found an example of his handwriting,’ Simon added, grinning. ‘I’m not sure how he managed it and think it better not to ask.’ Actually, he knew very well but preferred not to explain to Nadia and his aunt that the barmaid was besotted with Tobias and would do anything he asked her to. ‘He’s mimicked his hand and signature closely enough to be confident that Mrs Hanson won’t question it, always supposing she’s familiar with his writing.’
‘Mrs Hanson will arrive here tomorrow afternoon,’ Spence said, taking up the story. ‘We will find a way to get Rochdale and Dayton there as well. Simon will invite Rochdale to join him at the tavern for a tankard of ale; a request that he could hardly refuse from his wife’s nephew, especially if he implies that he wants to discuss your behaviour during your visit here, Mrs Rochdale.’
She nodded. ‘That will certainly tempt him,’ she said. ‘If he thinks one member of the family considers me to be deranged he won’t hesitate to exploit that situation.’
‘When he arrives, we plan for him to catch a glimpse of his mistress with Molineux. Naturally he will wonder what’s going on,’ Tobias explained, ‘and excuse himself from Simon in order to find out.’
‘I will invite Dayton to the Lamb separately,’ Spence said, sharing a look with his fellow conspirators. ‘We were just now discussing how best to get them to admit to their dishonesty in front of Dayton.’
Simon watched Nadia and his aunt share a complicit look.
‘It seems as though you are in urgent need of our help, in that case,’ Nadia said. ‘Or my help, to be more precise.’
‘No!’ All three men said together.
‘Absolutely not,’ Simon added alone. ‘They are unpredictable and won’t hesitate to use violence if they think their misdeeds have been exposed. It’s simply too dangerous.’
‘Do stop being so annoyingly protective!’ Nadia snapped impatiently. ‘Use the intelligence those expensive educations are supposed to have brought out in you all and take a moment to consider. With Mrs Hanson there, the meeting will have to take place in a private parlour. I dare say you are familiar with the layout of the tavern and know which one will be offered to them.’
The three men looked at one another and nodded in unison.
‘I can make an educated guess,’ Tobias said, ‘if only to prove that my education didn’t go entirely to waste. Not that mine was anything like as fancy as theirs,’ he added, jerking a thumb at Spence and Simon, ‘which only goes to show that I must have more natural intelligence than either of them, despite their fancy degrees.’
‘Don’t push your luck, Porter,’ Spence said, grinning.
Nadia tutted impatiently. ‘Concentrate on the matter in hand, gentlemen. It’s vitally important to Caroline and me, even if you three look upon it as a diversion.’
‘I can assure you that is not the case,’ Simon replied softly.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said contritely. ‘I’m anxious not to squander this opportunity to evade Molineux’s clutches, and it’s making me nervous. Anyway, the tavern. Presumably there is an adjoining room in which you can conceal yourselves and listen while I encourage the scoundrels to boast about their achievements. With you strong gentlemen just next door ready to rush to my rescue, nothing can possibly happen to me.’
‘She has a point,’ Tobias said.
‘Certainly she does,’ Mrs Rochdale agreed. ‘I can assure you that Albert has a very low opinion of the female sex as a whole. We are incapable of thinking for ourselves and he certainly doesn’t consider any one of us capable of gainsaying even the dullest of men. He will be infuriated when he learns that Nadia knows of their plans, but I’m sure he will also find it hard to resist boasting about his brilliance.’
‘Not so very brilliant if Miss Dayton knows about it,’ Tobias pointed out.
‘I will say that I had arranged to meet one of the other ladies in the village. I couldn’t find her so went to the tavern to ask if she was waiting for me there. I recognised Molineux’s voice coming from the parlour and became curious, so I listened.’
‘Will he believe it?’ Simon asked dubiously.
Nadia shrugged. ‘I would imagine so, especially when Doctor Rochdale’s mistress discovers that her summons didn’t come from Molineux. They will be rattled and they won’t know what to think.’
‘Even so, I don’t like it,’ Simon said frowning. ‘Any number of things could go wrong.’
‘The room next to the best private parlour is small and the walls are thin,’ Tobias pointed out. ‘We should be able to hear what’s being said, and even if we can’t, we can pretend that we did. It’s your decision, gentlemen, but I can’t think of a better way.’
‘If you do this, Miss Dayton,’ Simon said, ‘you need to go prepared to defend yourself. If one of them threatens you before we can get to you, I don’t care to think of the consequences. Carry a dagger in your reticule, and—’
‘A dagger?’ She raised both brows. ‘I don’t think I could bring myself to deliberately stab anyone.’
‘If it’s you or him, I think you will find that self-preservation kicks in,’ Tobias said.
‘Well, I suppose Molineux isn’t aware of my disinclination for violence, especially since he holds me responsible for the death of his overseer.’ A whimsical smile graced her lips, filling Simon with a desperate urge to whisk her away from danger. Even so, he understood her need to prove herself, especially since they had failed to come up with an alternative plan. ‘Perhaps he considers me to be more ruthless than I actually am. Possibly that’s true. If doing this saves me from marrying the brute, then I think it safe to say that I can manage a little ruthlessness.’ She looked at them each in turn. ‘What do you say, gentlemen?’
‘I suppose we have no choice,’ Simon groused, ‘but we need to make sure that we can hear what’s being said so that we can intervene immediately, if necessary.’
*
Lizzy sat with Jane in the drawing room after dinner that evening. The other ladies were conducting a conversation amongst themselves and the sisters were assured of a moment’s privacy. Lizzy was well aware of the subject Jane most wanted to discuss.
‘I am so grateful to you for agreeing to make Caroline welcome, Lizzy. It cannot have been easy for you, even after all this time. I am not sure I could have been so generous in your position.’
‘And I am equally sure that you could.’ Lizzy patted Jane’s hand. ‘There is more depth to Caroline’s character than I realised, and I have taken that husband of hers in extreme dislike.’ She frowned. ‘I can’t precisely say why, but a part of me wonders if he has deliberately hampered Caroline’s recovery for reasons of his own, rather than helping her.’
‘I have never liked him much either, which is why I make excuses not to accompany Charles when he goes to London to visit his sister. There is just something about him that makes him seem too good to be true. But as to hampering Caroline’s recovery, whatever can you mean?’
‘I don’t actually think there was ever anything wrong with her mind other than her extreme jealousy of me—and all of us Bennets for that matter. She considered us inferior, but we all made very good marriages. Anyway, her resentment became an obsession and she behaved very irrationally.’ Lizzy paused, attempting to articulate her half-formed thoughts. ‘I rather think she is as sane as you or me, although it suits her husband’s purpose to have the world think otherwise.’
‘Because he is possessive?’ Jane shook her head. ‘I don’t see it myself.’
‘We shall probably never know why, but I suspect that after all these years Caroline is finally ready to fight back. He should have been pleased to see her looking and acting so well and accepted by her family again but he had trouble hiding his annoyance. You have told me once that Rochdale often said that it was his dearest wish to see her reunited with us all here in Derbyshire, but if that is the case he has an extremely odd way of showing it. Anyway, it’s not really our business.’
