Chapter 19

 

As much as they hated the idea, Taylor knew they needed to return to London for the remainder of the Season. A pile of invitations waited. Sifting through, they picked the ones they would accept, and unanimously agreed to avoid the opera. Taylor agreed to take her to the Gardens at night, promising she would not end up on the floor of his carriage this time.

He also waited patiently for her to realize what he already knew. They had been married over six weeks when Taylor learned Phoebe was with child and remembered what Heather had told him in the first dream. But Phoebe hadn’t said a word and he wondered if she had any idea. Though he wanted a child, needed an heir and knew Phoebe would be a wonderful mother, it was also a time of fear. He prayed daily that this wife lived a long life and was able to bring this child into the world.

For two weeks Taylor pretended he knew nothing and escorted his wife to constant functions, letting her sleep late into the morning.

 

* * *

 

Tonight would be the last ball they would attend and it was to be a masquerade. Phoebe bubbled with anticipation. She had been unable to decide on a costume when they first read the invitation two weeks earlier. It took her another two days to make up her mind. It seemed everyone was choosing a Greek theme but she wanted to be different. Taylor had actually suggested the costume idea she decided on, though at the time, he had only been teasing her.

Noah met them at their home before accompanying them to the party.

“Aren’t you wearing a costume?”

Taylor grinned. “Of course I am.” He studied his brother-in-law. “A domino isn’t very creative.”

“You are lucky I wore this. Victoria insisted.”

Taylor glanced to the doorway. “Ah there is my lovely wife now.”

She appeared with her dark hair flowing down her back, as a young girl would wear it, dressed in pure, virginal white. In her hands she carried a small basket.

Noah took the basket from her hands to look through it. “We have a cake, a pot of butter and a book.” He glanced up at his sister. “I don’t understand.”

The butler came forward and placed a red cape on her shoulders. Phoebe pulled the red hood up.

Noah laughed. “I can assume the book in your basket is Stories or Tales from Times Past, with Morales, Tales of Mother Goose.”

Phoebe smiled back at him.

“Now I understand completely.” Noah turned to Taylor. “You wouldn’t by chance be portraying the wolf innocent young women are warned of in Le petit chaperon rouge?”

Taylor only gave him a wicked grin and proceeded to attach his mask. Noah reached into the basket and withdrew the book. “Now let me see, how did that warning go?” He thumbed through the pages until he came to the one previously marked by Phoebe and began reading.

 

“Moral

Young children, as we clearly see,

Pretty girls, especially,

Innocent of all life’s dangers,

Shouldn’t stop and chat with strangers,

If this simple advise beats them,

It’s no surprise if a wolf eats them,

And this warning take, I beg:

Not every wolf runs on four legs.

The smooth tongue of a smooth-skinned creature

May mask a rough and wolfish nature.

These quiet types, for all their charm,

Can be the cause of the worse harm.”

 

Noah put the book back into the basket. “I can certainly see why you would feel Phoebe resembles that young woman.” He continued to chuckle as they exited the townhouse.

 

* * *

 

The ball was the most well attended they had been to all Season. Costumes of various colors and types filled the room. Phoebe stood at the side speaking with the friends she had made this Season. On the other side of the room, Taylor stood with Noah, Chambers, Parker, Sir Lavins and Martin while they had a good laugh at Phoebe’s costume and remembered the different wolves Taylor had saved her from.

“It appears you and Phoebe are not the only ones who borrowed from Perrault’s book.” Chambers gestured to the door. They all turned to look at the tall man, with broad shoulders and dark hair. He wore a long shaggy black beard with glints of blue.

“I don’t recall that particular character,” Taylor acknowledged.

“Did you read the entire book?” Noah asked.

“No. Phoebe had been reading it to me, but there were a few she didn’t share.” Taylor shrugged. It hadn’t really mattered to him one way or the other as it was Phoebe who had gotten the enjoyment from the tales. He just enjoyed listening to her.

Noah and Chambers shared a look. Taylor was about to question them when a voice approached from behind.

“Lord Sandlin, I hear congratulations are in order young man.”

So, he had finally returned. Heather’s father had been traveling when she died. The two had corresponded occasionally since, but the man had not been able to return to England. Taylor dreaded facing him, feeling like he had let the man down. Slowly he turned. “Lord Caruthers.” Taylor inclined his head. Their friends, knowing this was a first meeting since the death, retreated to other areas of the ballroom.

“You have married a lovely woman, again.” The man appeared more at ease than Taylor.

“Yes, she is.” What does one say to the father of a dead wife?

“You don’t have to be so ill at ease, son. I couldn’t expect you to stay in mourning forever.” The man smiled encouragingly. “I am well aware of the pressure you are under.”

“I am glad you understand, sir.” Taylor was getting warm. Why did he feel so guilty for having married again? He had truly cared for Heather and had a great fondness for her father.

“Let’s find someplace we can talk alone.”

Taylor followed Lord Caruthers out onto the balcony.

“You needn’t feel guilty for moving on with your life. I know you cared for my daughter and perhaps loved her.”

“I did, sir.” Taylor’s tension eased.

“I also know she was very happy with you and ecstatic over the fact she was going to have a child. You are still young and have a duty to your family and title.”

“You don’t blame me then?” Taylor had to finally ask

“Blame? No, how could I? It was an accident. A very unfortunate one.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“This is where you have gone off to,” Phoebe exclaimed from the door. Taylor would like her to leave. He was just coming to terms with Heather’s father and didn’t welcome flaunting his new wife in front of the man. Despite his secret wishes, Phoebe glided towards them, a bright smile on her lips.

“I assume this is Lady Sandlin.” Heather’s father bowed.

“Yes, sir. May I introduce Phoebe Qualls, my wife. Phoebe, this is Lord Caruthers.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Sandlin.”

“And you, Lord Caruthers.”

“She is as dark as my daughter was fair.” The man smiled warmly at Phoebe.

“Your daughter, sir?”

“My daughter was the late Lady Sandlin.”

The smile froze on her face.

“Lord Caruthers is Heather’s father.”

Phoebe’s face was transformed into sympathy the minute she heard the name. “I am so sorry for your loss, Lord Caruthers. Taylor has spoken quite fondly and lovingly of your daughter. I wish I would have had a chance to meet her.”

The man’s eyes softened. “I believe she would have liked to have met you as well.” Then he turned toward Taylor. “You have chosen well, young man. I think Heather would have approved.”

“I would like to think that, sir. Thank you.”

“I stopped by your estate on my way to town, but didn’t see my daughter’s grave with your other wife.”

“No, sir. She is not buried there. She is in her garden.”

The man’s eyes softened. “I should have realized.”

“Lord Caruthers, we will be leaving for the country in a few days. Please come by anytime you wish to visit your daughter’s grave or to simply visit.” She had reached out and grasped his hand.

“Thank you, my dear.” He straightened. “Now, I must be returning to the ball.”

Taylor was grateful to her beyond words. He should have known Phoebe would make him feel welcome in their home.

“Heather had a garden?” Her voice intruded on his thoughts.

“Yes. I haven’t returned since I buried her.”

“It is on the estate then?”

“Yes, further away from the formal gardens, more of a hidden, wild paradise she cultivated.”

“You do still have the gardener’s tend it, don’t you?”

Taylor was almost shocked by her accusing tone. “Of course. I just haven’t returned myself.” He shouldn’t have been surprised that Phoebe would want the garden kept up.

 

* * *

 

Taylor was dancing with Janine when screams came from the far wall. Flames licked the curtains in the very spot he had left Phoebe standing. He broke away from Janine and dashed across the room, pushing guests out of his way until he found her. Phoebe lay on the floor with Parker hovering over her. He was pressing his jacket to the back of her legs.

The blood drained from his face as he focused on his wife.

Parker lifted his coat and revealed the lower portion of Phoebe’s dress, burned. The cape had been tossed to the side, still smoldering. He rushed to her side and knelt down.

She smiled up at him.

Only Phoebe would smile when she had been injured.

He looked up and the flames continued to climb the curtains, yet they couldn’t be ripped down and extinguished until she was moved. “I need to get you out of here. I know it is going to hurt and I am sorry.”

“That is okay,” she mumbled and Taylor feared she was about to go into shock.

He carefully rolled her over and lifted her in his arms, supporting her behind the knees, careful not to touch her burned calves, and carried her from the ball. He passed Dr. Tompkins on his way and asked the man to join him at his townhouse.

The ball was forgotten as Taylor held Phoebe on his lap in the carriage. “How did this happen?” He asked when they were half way home, when his voice no longer betrayed his emotions.

“I am not sure.” Her voice was low. “I was standing where you left me, speaking with Lady Bettina, when someone knocked over some candles. My cape caught fire before anything. Parker tore the cape from me, then threw me on the ground. Apparently I was on fire.” She gave him half a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She had to be in tremendous pain.

“You could have been killed,” his voice choked.

“I wasn’t.” She lifted a hand to touch his face. “Taylor. Accidents happen. They often happen to me. I will survive.”

He grasped her hand and squeezed and once again found himself praying for her life.

Once the doctor had attended Phoebe and left her sleeping, he assured Taylor that though she had burns to the lower portion of her legs, it was unlikely there would be any scarring. However, she would be very uncomfortable for a few days and should rest. He gave instructions to Holly on changing the bandages and applying the ointment. Taylor was just walking back down the stairs from checking on his wife when the butler opened the door, allowing Taylor’s friends to enter. Without a word spoken, the six men adjourned to his library, where they closed the door and poured drinks.

“Have you learned what happened?” Taylor asked.

“The candles were knocked over and Phoebe’s cape caught fire,” Parker offered.

“There is more?”

“We have suspicions,” Martin began.

Taylor’s blood chilled and he wondered if he were caught in a nightmare, one visited too often. “Go on.”

“We asked around, to find out who was near Phoebe and the candles at the time,” Lavins offered. “Apparently, the only person she was speaking to was Lady Bettina.”

“So?”

“The other person in close proximity to Phoebe and the candles was the person dressed as Bluebeard.”

“Who was he?”

“Nobody knows.”

“Why is this significant? Do you think he intentionally knocked over the candles?” Taylor didn’t want to believe such a thing, though it wouldn’t be the first time he had wondered if someone was intentionally harming, no, killing his wives.

Noah pulled at his cravat. “Perhaps I am becoming as paranoid as you, but do you know the story of Bluebeard?”

“No. It was in the book Phoebe read, correct?”

“Yes, and I know very well why she didn’t share that particular tale with you. Given the circumstances of tonight, I think you should hear the story.”

“Go on.”

“Bluebeard had lots of wives, and bad luck as well, as they all died.” The hair rose on the back of Taylor’s neck with Noah’s words.

“Then he married a last time, instructing his wife that she could go anywhere in the castle she wished, except one room, for which she had a key. While he was away, her curiosity got the better of her and she unlocked the door and found all of Bluebeard’s wives, dead, apparently murdered and kept in the room.”

Taylor sat in silence for a few minutes while he absorbed the tale. No wonder Phoebe hadn’t read the story to him. “But I didn’t kill my other wives.”

“We know that, but all of us wonder if tonight was an accident, or if the carriage was, or...”

“Or a drowning or a throw from a horse,” Taylor finished for him.

“Perhaps it is all a coincidence,” Martin offered.

“Do you believe that?” Taylor’s eyes met his friend’s.

“I am not so sure anymore,” Martin’s voice was almost hushed.

“Find out what you can,” he ordered as he stood to leave the room. “I am taking my wife to the safety of the country as soon as she is well enough to travel. Also, find out what my cousins have been up to. They are the only ones with anything to gain if I don’t meet the stipulations.” He left the study, slamming the door behind him.