Chapter Thirty

CHAPTER THIRTY

T HEY TURNED AND ran for the carriage.

It took fifteen minutes to reach Robert Douglas's narrow redbrick house, and Nathan spent the whole time careening between deep satisfaction at unraveling the mystery and frustration at not figuring it out earlier. "Why didn't I think of this before?"

"You aren't omniscient, Nathan," Verity told him. "I'm the supposed investigator—if anyone should have realized it earlier, it was I. You have to admit that it was a rather convoluted motive."

"Yes, but who would have had such intimate knowledge of the details of Malcolm's birth besides someone in his family?" Nathan shook his head. "Truth is, I took Robert at face value. I should have been more suspicious."

"Don't fret. We'll save Malcolm," Verity said confidently. "Surely his uncle won't have done away with him this quickly—not after everything that's happened."

They tumbled out of the carriage and raced to the front door. Nathan's knock was thunderous. It was only a moment before Douglas's butler opened the door. He looked startled at the sight of them, dirty and disheveled from their explorations in the tunnel, and his eyes widened as they went to Verity's suddenly augmented stomach. But he managed to keep his voice smoothly polite. "Sir. I'm afraid Mr. Dou—"

Nathan stepped into the entry without waiting for an invitation. "I have to speak to Malcolm."

"But, sir, Mr. Douglas has guests—" He stepped back, gaping, as Nathan and Verity swept past him toward the sound of voices and laughter coming from the drawing room. He hurried after them. "Sir. Miss, er, ma'am, there is a gathering in—"

Verity and Nathan rushed through the open double doors and stopped. There were several people in the room, dainty teacups in hand, and they all turned toward the couple at their sudden entrance.

It took only a glance to see that Malcolm was not among them. His uncle was, and Robert came forward. "Why, Mr. Dunbridge. And, ah, Miss, Mrs., um..."

"I need to see Malcolm. Where is he?" Nathan asked.

"Ah, well, you see, he's not here at the moment. We were just having a bit of tea and cakes while we wait for him to return. Why don't you come in and have a bit of refreshment?" Douglas's eyes went to Verity again in some horror. "Or perhaps you'd rather wait for him in another room."

"I'm sorry, sir, but I only want to speak with Malcolm. If you could tell me—"

"Oh, I'm sure he will be back any moment," Robert went on in a tone of forced joviality. "The dear boy wouldn't want to miss you. Why don't we just go over here—" He took Nathan's elbow in one hand and Verity's in the other and tried to steer them toward an alcove in the rear of the room. "You must be tired, uh, in your condition, Mrs., um... I'll just have some refreshments brought for you, and you can wait right here for Malcolm."

Nathan resisted his pull. Why is the man so intent on us remaining here? "I wouldn't want to disturb your party. If you'll just tell me where he went..."

"Not a party, really, just a few of my friends who want to welcome Malcolm to London."

"Yes, where is the lad, Robbie?" one of the men asked. "We're all eager to see him. I haven't seen Malcolm since he was a schoolboy."

Robert's smile was fixed. "Yes, I am so sorry. Malcolm had to run an errand. I'm sure he will return before long."

"What errand?" Nathan said flatly, no longer even trying for a polite veneer.

"Well! That's a bit rude," one of the women murmured.

"I'm sorry, madam," Nathan said, sending a nod her direction. "But at the moment, Malcolm's safety is my uppermost concern." He looked straight into Robert's eyes, his own usually warm gaze now stony. "I am certain Mr. Douglas will agree with me."

"Safety?" another guest said, puzzled.

"I urged him to visit my doctor," Robert replied. "I'm sure you understand that ."

"Then we shan't bother you anymore," Verity said cheerfully, turning and going out into the entry hall, where the butler hovered, and asked him, "Could you tell us where Mr. Douglas's doctor is located?"

Nathan followed her, but Robert was right on his heels. "Really now, you mustn't disturb the good doctor."

"No, I'm afraid we must." Nathan looked at the butler, his voice steely. "The lady asked for his address."

The man's mouth opened and closed, and he glanced over at his employer, then quietly gave them an address.

Verity and Nathan started out the door. Nathan had thought that Robert might give up his efforts to keep them there, but, as was evident by the footsteps behind them, that was not the case. Nathan turned to see Robert hurrying out of the house after them.

His suspicion deepened. It seemed very much as if Robert wanted to delay Nathan's talk with his half brother—though he couldn't know what they planned on telling Malcolm once they found him. Nathan had the uneasy feeling that Robert's actions meant that something was happening to Malcolm right now, and Robert didn't want Nathan to interrupt it.

Clearly Verity agreed. "There's some mischief here," she whispered, moving more quickly to the carriage. "Who has a welcome home party in the afternoon?"

"And then sends the honoree off to the doctor before guests arrive?" Nathan added as he opened the door to the hansom. He turned to give her a hand up, and he saw Malcolm down the street, walking toward the house. Nathan relaxed in relief. "Thank God."

Malcolm was still a good distance away, and Nathan started toward him, Verity by his side. Unfortunately, Robert Douglas followed only a few steps behind them.

"Malcolm," Nathan called as they grew closer. "I was looking for you."

"Dunbridge." Malcolm looked disgruntled, and Nathan assumed his displeasure was at seeing his half brother until Malcolm went on, "Uncle, why the devil did you send me to Dr. Norton? His surgery was closed." He glanced toward the front of the house, where his uncle's guests had gathered, watching curiously. "And who are those people?"

Verity pinched Nathan's arm, and he nodded, positive now that Robert had had something planned. Perhaps he was establishing an alibi for himself while someone else did away with Malcolm?

"Oh. Well..." Robert glanced toward the gathering and back to his nephew, then gave a little chuckle and said, "I'm sorry, my boy, but I had to get you out of the house. I invited a few of my friends over to see you, and I wanted to surprise you."

"Oh," Malcolm said unenthusiastically. He looked at Nathan. "Is that why you're here?" Noticing Verity for the first time, Malcolm goggled at her miraculous transformation. Verity was too busy looking around for signs of danger to notice.

"No, I came to talk to you," Nathan said.

"Come, let's go inside," Robert said with hearty good cheer. "You must meet everyone." He clamped a hand on Malcolm's arm and urged him toward the door.

Nathan stepped into Malcolm's path. "Stop. I'm serious. There is something important I need to discuss with you."

"Why are you acting so strangely?" Malcolm asked, frowning. "Both of you." He looked from Nathan to Robert, then turned to Verity. "And why in the world are you, um—" He made a vague gesture toward her, finishing lamely, "whatever you are?"

"I'll explain everything," Nathan told him. "But I need to speak with you. Now. Without your uncle."

"What?" Robert looked offended. "How very odd."

"Would you please just tell me?" Malcolm asked crossly. "I am tired. I'm not quite back to myself and I'd like to sit down."

Verity seized the reins of the conversation, saying bluntly, "Nathan's afraid your uncle is going to kill you. He is just too polite to say so in your uncle's presence. I am not." As Malcolm gaped at her, she went on, "Robert Douglas is behind everything that happened to you. He hired the two men who kidnapped you. He hired Will Tolliver to pretend to be you. It was all his scheme."

"Have you run mad?" Malcolm stared. "Nathan, what—I don't understand."

"We found Will Tolliver's body this afternoon," Nathan replied. "We believe he was killed to keep him from revealing who paid him."

"I—why—"

"The story Tolliver told us would never have stood up in court," Nathan said. "It would have resulted in nothing except to prove that you are illegitimate, that Flora is really your grandmother."

"What does that have to do with Uncle Robert?"

"For pity's sake, Malcolm," Verity snapped. "Think. If your illegitimate birth came out, who is the one person who would benefit?"

"Is there nothing a Dunbridge won't do!" Robert thundered, his face reddening. He turned to his nephew. "Malcolm, don't listen to him. He's trying to cause trouble, just as his father did."

"Stop." Malcolm held up his hands. "Stop. All of you. I don't know what you're doing, Dunbridge—if you believe this nonsense or you're playing some bizarre prank. But this is ridiculous. I'm going inside." He started away.

"Malcolm, wait." Nathan took a step after him.

Malcolm turned, his eyes flashing. "No. Go away. Leave me alone."

Sending a triumphant glance at Nathan, Robert Douglas turned and sauntered after his nephew. Nathan let out a curse, watching his half brother walk away.

"Blast it. How do I convince him?" Nathan said.

"Well, now that you've accused him of it, Robert may decide he can't kill his nephew after all without looking incredibly suspicious."

"Only if we spread it around. And even then, we'll have no proof of his scheme, with Tolliver dead."

"Rumor is a powerful thing," Verity said. "One doesn't have to prove anything. If we tell Lady Lockwood, it would be all over town within days."

"Yes, but the scandal would hurt all of them, not just Robert."

"I suspect Malcolm would rather be the topic of scandal than dead. And if he's too stubborn and foolish to—Nathan!" She broke off midsentence and pointed, but before he could turn to look in that direction, Verity had broken into a run.

A team of horses charged down the street toward them. They were moving at far too great a clip for both the busy thoroughfare and the large wagon they pulled. A man crossing the street dodged out of the way, and the driver of another carriage shook his fist and shouted as they sped past him.

Nathan knew at once what Verity was thinking. He sprinted after her, calling out to Malcolm, who was walking near the edge of the pavement, his head down. Robert, trailing some distance behind his nephew, stayed suspiciously close to the row of houses.

Nathan hadn't quite caught up to Verity when the wagon suddenly veered across the street, heading straight at Malcolm. Nathan yelled his brother's name again, and Verity called, "Watch out!" but their cries were drowned out by the shrieks of the party guests.

For the first time Malcolm raised his head and saw the horses bearing down upon him. Nathan was still too far away; he knew he wouldn't reach Malcolm in time. Then he saw Verity jump, and the two of them went flying.