Chapter 43

Theresia wanted nothing more than to dance with Rolland. The strong desire to return to him motivated her to be brave one last time. She threw herself in front of the ballroom door just as Lord Caspar reached for the handle.

"What is this?" Lord Caspar drew back, a scowl crossing his small mouth.

"Theresia!" Helena stepped forward, relief lining her face.

"Don't be a fool, Helena." Lady Caspar held her back. "You mustn't draw unwelcome attention to yourself by acknowledging Theresia in public." Lady Caspar faced Theresia. "Senseless girl. Will you disgrace yourself by coming to a duke's ball uninvited, especially after deceiving them like you did? It's positively shameful. You must remove yourself at once."

Theresia noticed a few eyes turning their way. She refused to cower, but her body shook disobediently. "I was invited."

Lord Caspar smirked. "A likely story. Move aside. We are in a hurry."

She had sacrificed her reputation many times, but never in front of so many people. Even so, she wouldn't move, no matter how many insults they flung at her.

"She's telling the truth." Rolland stepped up beside her, followed by two footmen. "She is here as my special guest."

"But she's practically a servant!" Lady Caspar cried.

Theresia cringed. Several couples were drawing closer. Rolland's name would be tied to hers now. He deserved better.

"I am not certain how you could say such a thing about your stepdaughter," Rolland answered loudly enough for those behind him to hear.

"What is going on here?" Lord Barrack stepped up next to Lord Caspar. His eyes widened at the sight of Theresia.

"Let's take this matter into the drawing room, shall we?" Rolland said quickly.

Lord Caspar eyed the footmen behind Rolland and gave a reluctant nod.

Rolland stepped out first, leading the party down the corridor and into the drawing room. After the others entered the room, Rolland discreetly instructed a footman to fetch His Grace from the guest wing upstairs. Theresia was the last to walk through the drawing room door, where Rolland waited for her.

He snagged her by the waist, pulling her close. "Are you well?"

"A little shaken."

He rubbed her arm. "I thought the plan was for you to stay by my side."

Before she could answer, Lord Barrack interrupted. "Rolland, what is going on?"

Theresia's bravery was nearly used up. She couldn't bear seeing the disapproval in Lord Barrack's eyes.

Rolland only tightened his grip around her. "I thought you ought to know that I am to marry Lord Caspar's stepdaughter after all. Not Miss Shields but Miss Dvorak."

"Another stepdaughter?" Lord Barrack's head swiveled toward Lord Caspar. "What is this? Since when have you had two stepdaughters? This is the first I have heard this."

Sighing, Lord Caspar nodded. "It appears so. I haven't even had a proper introduction, but one seems unnecessary now."

Rolland gave his father a quick explanation about the relations and how Theresia had been hidden away at a boarding school for years. "I received correspondence from Mrs. Stone confirming Theresia's presence there." Theresia raised her brows at that part but let him continue without interruption. "Miss Dvorak returned home of her own accord only to discover Lady Caspar had sold a rare crystal vase that was to be Miss Dvorak's dowry. She chased the vase to this house party, where we discovered a unique link from the new vase's owner to our suspected murderer."

Rolland did not miss how Lord Caspar's jaw tightened and his eye noticeably twitched.

"That's absurd," Lady Caspar argued. "I admit I sold her father's vase. The girl had no potential suitors and no need of it. However, the vase and whatever threat is against Lord Barrack are unconnected."

"I don't like what you are insinuating, Captain." Lord Caspar shifted, the contempt in his voice making it hard to discern whether he was angry or nervous. "Neither my wife nor that vase have any connection to any murder suspect."

"Mr. Lewis told us everything tonight," Rolland said, his tone raising in challenge. "Right before he died."

Theresia stilled, as did everyone else in the room. Would they believe Rolland's half-truth?

His deep voice layered on more tension. "The vase would bring in a great deal of money, especially if the owner tracked down the treasure related to it, but other investors were needed. And who would be more motivated to invest than a man with deep knowledge of foreign affairs and an agenda of his own?"

Lord Caspar's hands tightened into fists at his side, and Lady Caspar's eyes grew wide and round.

His Grace slipped into the room, followed by Lord Cadogen. Rolland turned to them. "Gentlemen, meet Mr. Lewis's investor." He pointed to Lord Caspar.

"Utter rubbish!" Lord Caspar's voice wavered, and he mopped his head with his handkerchief.

"Caspar?" Lord Barrack eyed his friend. "Why on earth would you want to kill me?"

"For France, you idiot!" Lord Caspar fisted his hands again, and his face purpled. Beside him, Lady Caspar gasped.

"For France?" Lord Barrack shook his head.

Lord Caspar's chest heaved. "Castlereagh saw the wisdom of France joining the conference, but you talked him out of it. The greatest game of all time is underway, and you were too shortsighted to see that your greatest enemy is not just the one right in front of you."

Lady Caspar took a large step away from her husband while Lord Barrack stepped toward him. "So you were going to kill me for it?"

Lord Caspar snarled. "Sometimes you have to sacrifice a few pawns to beat the enemy."

Lady Caspar gasped again before the room fell deadly quiet. Theresia leaned closer to Rolland.

Lord Barrack's voice broke through the silence. "People are not pawns, and they never will be. World peace cannot be bought with money, achieved through murder, or forced through coercion. For many months I have known the importance of our committee uniting, for if we could not make a concord of our opinions, how could we have hope negotiating in Vienna?" Disgust marred his features. "There are no shortcuts to change. It starts here"—he thudded a finger against his chest—"with us."

"It wasn't supposed to be personal, Barrack. At the end of the day, this is about who has the most power. It should be us!"

"Not personal?" Lord Barrack's jaw tightened. His gaze swung to Theresia and Rolland. There was sorrow there. Regret, even. "I asked my son to give up a future of his choosing. I see now you were simply easing your conscience with the union. I cannot believe I did not see you for the man you are. A man without morals."

At this Lord Caspar dropped his gaze to the floor. "I was assuring a well-connected marriage for your son that would benefit his career." He met Lord Barrack's gaze again. "I have England's future as my priority. You still don't see that."

"There is no honor in murder," Rolland interjected.

Theresia had to close her eyes as the fresh memory of Lewis lying still on the floor flashed before her.

The duke stepped forward. "You will be tried in the House of Lords, and I will see you stripped of your title and lands. The profit will be sent to the families of those who were murdered, and the rest will be donated to the Crown."

Lord Caspar paled when footmen came up on either side of him, taking him by the arms.

Lady Caspar put her fingers to her lips and shook her head.

It was done. Or so Theresia thought. Rolland stepped forward, pulling her with him. "Lady Caspar, your role in this will not be overlooked, starting with your making recompense to your stepdaughter for her lost dowry."

"Of course. I was only obeying my husband's orders. Money is nothing to me." Her voice rang false, and she put a shaking arm around Helena. "Helena and I only desire to reunite with Miss Dvorak. Isn't that right, dearest? We do regret our missed time together."

Theresia's jaw dropped. Even now her stepmother wanted to leach herself to Lord Barrack and his son's good name.

Rolland tightened his hold on Theresia. "Any visits will be made on my wife's terms. Miss Shields will be welcome to our house, but never you. The courts will decide your fate, along with your husband's."

"Court? Me?" Lady Caspar's laugh was shrill. "Surely not. Is this about the London house? She can have her father's miserable house."

"Follow us, Lady Caspar," His Grace said, motioning the footmen to escort Lord Caspar from the room.

Lady Caspar hurried forward, her hand striking the back of her husband with a slap of her hand. "You have ruined me!" She turned suddenly on Theresia. "No, this is all your fault!" she screamed.

"Mama, please!" Helena cried.

But it was too late. Lady Caspar dove at Theresia.

Theresia instinctively turned to wrap her arms around Rolland, who curled his own protectively around her. Lord Barrack rushed forward just in time, taking hold of Lady Caspar and holding her back.

"Control yourself!" Lord Caspar thundered, looking over his shoulder. "We did nothing wrong and will plead our case with dignity."

His Grace stepped forward and took Lady Caspar's other arm, and he and Lord Barrack escorted her from the room.

When the door swung shut behind them, Lord Cadogen sighed. "The new duke certainly knows how to throw a party."

Theresia's short laugh sounded more like a cry.

"Forgive me," Lord Cadogen said. "I should have started with congratulations." He set his hand on Rolland's arm. "Not just for saving your father and who knows how many other lives but for finding someone special to share your life with. I wish you all the happiness in the world."

Rolland released Theresia and swung his arm around Lord Cadogen's back. "Thank you, for everything. A man learns who his true friends are in times like these, and you and Marcus will always be family to me now."

Lord Cadogen gave a slow nod. "The same goes for the two of you. You will always be welcome at Braitwood Hall. And if Andalin has her way, you'll be visiting before Christmas."

Theresia stepped away from the men toward Helena, who stood silently in the background, her gaze glossed over and her skin pale. She'd lost a great deal in a single moment and was not at all to blame.

"Helena . . ."

Helena blinked a few times and swung her gaze to meet Theresia.

"I... I am so sorry you had to see this."

Helena's face crumpled, and her hand covered her mouth, silencing a sob before it escaped.

Theresia wrapped Helena carefully in her arms, not certain the embrace would be welcome. Her fears were erased a moment later when Helena returned the hug, clinging to her as if Theresia would keep her rooted to a world that was quickly slipping away.

"No matter what happens, Helena, you will always have a home with me."

"Th-thank you." She pulled back slowly. "Would anyone mind if I turned in for the night? I do not think I could face the ballroom again."

"Go right ahead," Theresia said. "I will check on you later." Her heart squeezed inside her. Maybe she hadn't lost all her family after all.

Lord Cadogen opened the door for Helena, and after she disappeared through it, he said, "I will leave you two and find Andalin before she worries about me—which, I am sad to say, probably happens more than I care to admit." He dipped his head toward Theresia and Rolland and left the room.

Rolland turned to her and held out his arms. She could not refuse his invitation. A few steps later and she had her arms around his waist. Unfortunately, the pleasure was short-lived. The door burst open.

Andalin and Tansy stumbled into the room.

"Theresia!" Tansy cried. "You're back!"

Rolland released her, and the women simultaneously embraced her.

"Our apologies, Captain," Andalin said. "My husband did try to stop us."

"I did," Lord Cadogen said at the door. "Come, now. You've welcomed her back. Let Rolland have some time alone with his intended."

"Intended?" Tansy grinned at Andalin. "So we were right."

"Now you are never getting rid of us," Andalin said.

They let Theresia go and promised to steal her entire morning on the morrow for all the details.

"We're leaving too," Rolland said, capturing her hand.

"Where are we going?"

"You might recall I reserved the library. It might be the only privacy we have in this house."

She laughed and let him pull her into a run until they reached the library. Mr. Hobson held the door for them and gave them a reassuring nod.

After they shut themselves inside, they fell against the door with a laugh.

"Are we safe?" Theresia asked.

Rolland leaned down and rested his forehead against hers. "Finally."

"How can I thank you for putting Lady Caspar in her place? Knowing she won't be near me or our home means a great deal. You're my hero."

"And you're mine." He circled his arms around her, pulling her close. " Our home? It has such an enticing ring to it, wouldn't you say?"

"It does." She sighed, melting against him. The last of her fears were assuaged, leaving a freeing peace behind. "Do you want to know what is even more enticing?" She clasped her hands around his neck and stood up on her toes, bringing her mouth to his. His kiss was tender, just enough to send fire through her veins before she pulled away. "I thought I admired your broad shoulders and smoldering eyes, but your lips... I have missed them. I think they are my favorite."

"Is that so?"

She nodded. Everything she had experienced in her life had led her to this moment. To him. "I love you, Rolland Reese."

His grin was the widest she had ever seen. "It brought me so much joy to say those words to you, but it is infinitely better to hear them."

He kissed her once more, slow and long. Her soul rejoiced. She belonged somewhere again. Truly belonged. Right here in Rolland's arms. And she always would.