Chapter 26

Unexpected Guests

L aura crept through the house in search of the large rifle. She knew her mistress was in trouble—no one in their right mind would ever describe Serena's cakes as delicious. Serena had already slipped out to alert the Bow Street Runners and fetch a doctor for Mr. Mason. With the staff unconscious, Laura decided it was up to her to protect home and hearth until help arrived. She had just reached the study when a movement outside caught her eye. "What the ‘ell is that tart doin’ ‘ere?" she muttered, watching a woman approach the house.

Before Laura could react, the woman began pounding her fist against the front door. Laura tried desperately to catch her attention through the window, gesturing frantically for silence, but the pounding continued.

"Open up this door now, Miss Walsh! You stealer of fiancés!"

Laura had just located the rifle when the drawing room door opened. Her mistress emerged with her hands raised, the Earl of Rochford following close behind with his pistol trained on her back. Laura melted into the shadows, hardly daring to breathe lest she endanger her mistress further.

"Whoever that bitch is, send her away or I'll put a hole in her head," the earl growled.

Briana nodded and moved slowly toward the door while the earl remained carefully out of sight.

Run

brIANA OPENED THE FRONT door to find a rather irate and flustered Lady Lydia Seymour.

"I have a bone to pick with you, you low-life guttersnipe! I refuse to stand by while you steal Victor from me. He is mine! I am a woman of aristocratic blood—I have more to offer him than you ever will, you trollop! To think, while I've been pining after him, he's been seen sneaking in and out of your house at all hours. Well, I shall not stand for it!"

Briana flinched repeatedly before struggling to contain her temper.

"Lydia! This is neither the time nor place. Perhaps we can discuss this later, not in view of the entire street."

"I did not give you leave to use my Christian name. This is exactly the sort of thing we cannot have polluting the Cambridge family name."

"Lady Seymour, you don't understand—now is really not the best time. I have far more pressing concerns, and you need to leave."

"Why are you acting so peculiarly? What's happening? Is Victor here? Have you seduced him with your bewitching spell? I insist you allow me inside."

Despite Briana's attempts to block her, Lydia shoved her way in with an entitled huff.

"You need to leave now, please—it's for your own good."

"How dare you tell me what to—" Lydia froze at the sight of a pistol aimed at her. "Who are you?" she asked the earl.

The front window exploded from a gunshot blast coming from somewhere down the hallway. "Get down, Miss!" Laura shouted.

Lydia screamed as Briana shoved her to the floor. A second shot struck the earl in the arm; he shouted in pain, dropping his pistol.

Briana whipped her head around to see Laura halfway down the hall, reloading a rifle. She dove across the hallway for the earl's pistol as he lunged to reach it first.

"What is happening?" Lydia shrieked.

"I'm under attack!" Briana grunted as she grappled with the earl.

"You're under attack? Who are you—the major general?"

"Would you stop screeching and help me?" Briana shouted.

The situation worsened when the earl's lackey charged into the hall and barreled into Laura. They struggled for her rifle until he knocked her unconscious with a punch.

"How dare you hurt her!" Briana shouted. Finally grasping the earl's gun, she aimed it at him before addressing his lackey. "Take one more step and I'll shoot your master. Who'll pay your bills if he's dead?"

The lackey hesitated before snatching up the rifle and aiming it at Lady Seymour. "If you hurt my master, I'll shoot her!"

Lydia froze, raising her hands in surrender. For once, she was silent, but then she looked aghast when Briana replied, "Go ahead—there'll be one less vexing person in the world."

The lackey's confusion gave Briana enough time to scramble to her feet, grab Lydia's hand, and drag her toward the side door leading to the gardens. They screamed and ducked as he fired, the shot striking the doorframe and showering them with plaster. Briana returned fire. "Run!" she screamed at Lydia, who for once did as she was told.

"Catch them, you imbecile!" the earl roared, staggering to his feet against the wall.

Briana ran, clutching Lydia's hand as they fled screaming across the yard, the earl's man in pursuit. They reached the back fence only to find it locked. Though Briana could easily scale it, Lydia proved a burden, falling back several times. Briana turned and hoisted Lydia over, but the delay left her no time to follow. "Go, save yourself, Lydia!" she shouted.

"No! You need to come too. I cannot leave you!" Lydia screeched from the other side.

"For heaven's sake, run!" Briana screamed. She heard Lydia's hesitant footsteps retreating down the alleyway.

The clicking sound of a trigger made her freeze. She raised her hands and turned to face the earl and his lackey, the pistol aimed directly at her chest.

"Well, my dear, you've proven rather difficult to contain. It seems my plans have changed. With the kerfuffle you've caused, no doubt there'll be do-gooders for miles calling the watchmen. 'Tis a pity—I rather liked you."

The earl addressed his henchman: "Get rid of her and burn the house down. We're leaving."

Briana stared down the barrel of the gun, her hands raised, her entire life flashing before her eyes. She thought of Victor and how she would never see his beloved face again. She worried for her staff and hoped they would survive, lamenting that Hortensia Investigations would end before it truly began. With her back against the fence, she braced for the worst.

The lackey raised the rifle and as if in slow motion, she watched him pull the trigger. Briana screamed as gunshots rang out, covering her head and chest with her hands, eyes squeezed shut. She heard a roaring sound and running footsteps in the distance. After several seconds, she opened her eyes to find the lackey face-down in the dirt with a bullet wound to his neck, the rifle beside him.

Looking up, she saw Victor sprinting across the lawn toward her, his short pistol still smoking as he shouted her name.

The earl stood with his hands raised as men seemed to pour in from everywhere.

Briana didn't hesitate. She bolted straight toward Victor.

Hero

VICTOR THREW HIS PISTOL aside just in time to catch Briana as she flung herself into his arms. She burst into tears, clinging to him desperately. During his frantic ride to her home, he'd thought his heart would beat out of his chest. He'd made it just in time, and now he held her tight. "I'm here, love. I'm here. You're safe."

Briana clung to Victor, then pulled back to kiss him several times, needing to ensure he was real. Victor returned her kisses with ardor. Lost in their world of elation and relief, they didn't notice anyone else until someone cleared their throat. Victor set her down, and they both realized what they were doing.

Briana blushed as she became aware of their audience.

Victor saw Lucas grinning beside him.

"Pardon the interruption you two," Lucas said, "but Joseph Planta is currently holding court in your drawing room with the Earl of Rochford under Officer Maxwell's watchful eye. I think this meeting is long overdue."

Briana suddenly remembered her household. "Oh! Mr. Mason was hurt, and Laura... and Lady Seymour—"

"All is well, Miss Walsh," Lucas assured her.

When Briana entered the house hand in hand with Victor, she found chaos. Bow Street Runners milled about while a Dr. Barry examined a scowling Mr. Mason—much to Briana's relief. Another male attendant fussed over Laura, who seemed to be enjoying the attention. Most surprisingly, Lady Seymour was being questioned by a runner. Upon seeing Briana, she leapt from her seat and rushed forward. Briana barely had time to brace herself before Lydia embraced her. "You saved my life! Even after I've been so hateful to you."

"Really, it's all right."

"No, it's not. I am a terrible sport indeed, and you don't deserve it."

"Truly, Lady Seymour, you weren't to know what you'd find when you called."

"No, I have to confess something. Many months ago, when I knew Victor was falling in love with you, I made up an abominable lie about what he says when he makes love to a woman."

"Lydia, is there a point to this story?" Victor growled.

Briana shushed him. "Let her finish."

She lowered her voice. "I feel I must apologize to you also, Victor. You see, I was in your house when Miss Walsh spent the night."

"It was you? I knew someone broke in that night!"

"I know, and I apologize. It was beneath me, but I was desperate. Then I heard the endearing words you said to Miss Walsh—words you never spoke to me. You also allowed her to share your bed. Well, I felt the need to lash out."

Victor gritted his teeth. "You shouldn't have done that. You owe Miss Walsh the apology, not me."

"I know, that's why I'm doing it now. I lashed out when I saw Miss Walsh at the Montagu Ball. I pretended that you said those words to me and every woman. I pretended she meant nothing to you. But it wasn't true. I see that now, and I apologize."

Briana remembered—it was one of the reasons she'd kept her distance from Victor, believing he spoke those words to every woman.

"That's why you wouldn't speak to me all those months, even though I tried?" Victor asked Briana. She nodded.

He glared at Lydia, but Briana intervened. "Lady Seymour, it takes a good heart to apologize as you have. So please believe me when I say, you are forgiven, and perhaps we can all put this unpleasant incident behind us."

Lydia looked relieved. She hugged Briana once more before taking her leave.

After ensuring her staff were well, Briana and Victor finally stepped into the drawing room.

What she saw surprised her. Her dearest friend Caitlin Cambridge, the Marchioness of Winchester, was bandaging the earl's arm under Officer Maxwell's watchful aim. Sebastian and Miles Cambridge sat on a settee, deep in conversation with a distinguished gentleman—the Right Honorable Joseph Planta.

"I hope you don't mind, Miss Walsh," Lucas said. "I sent word for Caitlin to be here, as she is skilled in medicine."

Caitlin added, "The message arrived when Sebastian and Miles were visiting and eating us out of house and home, so they insisted on accompanying me."

"You are very welcome in my humble home, my dearest friend. I just wish it were under better circumstances."

Lucas closed and locked the door and bid everyone be seated. Though the earl was under arrest, he insisted he had things to say in his defense—hence his continued presence rather than immediate removal to Newgate Prison.

After Lucas made the formal introductions, Briana properly met Joseph Planta.

"Well, it seems you have caused quite a stir, Miss Walsh. I haven't had this much excitement in quite a while," Planta said.

"Believe me, neither have I."

"So, shall we start from the beginning?"

"WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO say for yourself, my lord?" Joseph Planta asked the Earl of Rochford.

"This woman has been conspiring against the Crown. She ought to be taken into custody, for she is Agent X, the notorious thief and murderess. She should hang for the jewels she has stolen and the lives she has cut short through her greed."

"May I ask what evidence you have as proof?"

"She has been smuggling notes across the Atlantic, using jewels to do it."

"Please explain how she does this."

"The Bow Street Office has a list of all the jewels stolen. Encased in each one is a note with coordinates—messages for French spies."

"And how do you know this?"

"Because I receive word from my contacts that secrets are being distributed to the highest bidder."

"And you have access to these jewels to prove your point?"

"Of course not. She stole them and sold them on. There's no finding them now."

"May I ask why you were trying to murder Miss Walsh when we arrived?"

"I was merely trying to prevent her from escaping. I was intent on apprehending her."

Victor snorted, and Briana just rolled her eyes.

Joseph Planta turned to Briana. "Miss Walsh, what evidence do you have regarding the stolen jewels and murders?"

Briana spent the next ten minutes outlining her history with the earl and how she was forced to steal for him to pay off her father's debt. She explained that every murdered person had once been in the earl's employ as a thief. He found his agents through Newgate and Fleet Prison, where several wardens were paid a tidy sum to feed information about the prisoners' talents to the earl. The earl would then pay the debts of those prisoners, who would become indebted to him. He had them murdered when he no longer needed their services. In this instance he was trying to frame Briana for their deaths.

"Do you have paperwork to prove your story?"

"I do. I have kept meticulous records, including the coordinates and names I found hidden in the jewels." Briana handed over a shoe-sized box.

She noticed the earl pale at the sight of it.

"Sir, to prove I am no thief and was hired against my will, I wish to state that nothing has been stolen. Neither am I a murderer."

"That is preposterous," the Earl of Rochford scoffed.

"Is it? All these jewelry heists you speak of—have you asked the lords and ladies what they say of it?"

Rochford laughed. "I know for a fact all those pieces are missing. Everybody knows; it's even in the scandal sheets.”

"You would only know that if you planned it all yourself," Victor said.

"Miss Walsh? What say you?" Joseph Planta asked.

Briana replied, "Hold one moment, sir. There is one other person I notified about this meeting, and I was counting on him being late." She checked her timepiece. "If I know him, he should be arriving about now."

Victor gave her a quizzical look.

Just as Briana spoke those words, they heard a loud commotion in the hallway and a male voice declare, "Good gods! It's the battle of Waterloo in here. What the devil are you all about? Bree? I have come with reinforcements."

"In the drawing room, Thomas," she replied.

Moments later, Thomas Walsh entered the room, accompanied by several ladies of the ton. All of them had reportedly been robbed of their jewels in the past year by someone named X. Each one held a jewelry box in her hand.

"Mr. Walsh, care to enlighten us?" Officer Maxwell asked.

Thomas replied, "These fine, upstanding women are here to report that none of their jewels are missing. In fact, they have brought them today as proof."

"No, that cannot be! Agent X stole the jewels," the earl said.

"Oh, not at all," Lady Grosvenor declared as she held a box of the Grosvenor diamonds. "About a fortnight after they were stolen, they miraculously appeared again."

"They must be fakes!" the earl declared.

"How dare you? I assure you they're not. I had them valued just yesterday by Rundle & Bridge!"

One by one, each lady showed proof she possessed the real jewels, irrefutably checked by each jeweler to be the genuine article.

Joseph Planta thanked the ladies, and Thomas, in his charming way, ushered them out with a promise of tea at Fortnum's. When they were leaving, Victor asked how he had managed to convince the ladies to appear at the meeting.

Thomas replied, "Dramatic storytelling. Everyone loves to be involved in a little mystery and suspense."

WHEN THEY WERE BACK to the original occupants, the earl said, "What have you done, X?"

Briana replied, "You once told me I should never trust the devil. Well, if you had been paying attention, you would have realized that at no point did I ever trust you."

"What are you saying?" the earl asked.

"There's an ancient Latin saying: 'Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus' —false in one thing, false in everything. I knew someday you would betray me."

"How did you do it?"

"Every piece I stole on your behalf, I had replicas made."

The earl replied, "But I inspected each piece to ascertain their validity and even had a jeweler sign the papers to attest they were genuine."

Briana said, "You did, because I handed you the real ones to inspect. But what you didn't realize is that after you had them appraised, I stole them from you and swapped them out with paste. What you handed over to your contacts were fake jewels with the proper documents. The notes contained inside—I also swapped those out, replaced them with fake numbers and letters. You see, you are not the only one with friends in this city."

The earl paled, suddenly realizing how thoroughly he had been duped. "Touché, Miss Walsh. I see I have grossly underestimated you."

"It happens a lot."

Victor knew he had underestimated her from the beginning. Fool that he was—they all were. He had always prided himself on being sharp and astute, but at this moment, he realized something incredibly profound: Briana Walsh was the smartest person in the room. Devastatingly so. He had never been prouder or admired anyone more than he did now, watching the move she was making. All this time he had been thinking about protecting her, but she hadn't needed him at all. She had handled it perfectly herself. He had a feeling 'Hortensia Investigations' would become very busy in the coming months.

Victor had found his true and greatest match, his equal, his soulmate.

Briana walked to a drawer and pulled out a small velvet pouch. She handed it to Victor and said, “This is the final piece left to return. I could not risk discovery so kept it safe until now.”

Victor took the pouch and when he tipped the contents into his hand it was ‘The La Peregrina Pearl.’ He merely nodded his acknowledgment.

The earl said, " 'Et tu, Brute' —What of you, Brutus? Your betrayal is worse. But I commend you for turning the tables so readily."

Briana replied, " 'Gladiator in arena consilium capit' —a gladiator makes his plan in the arena. You forced me into this role. But it wasn't until I was in your world that I figured out a way to beat you."

Miles whispered, "Can someone please tell me why they're trading barbs in Latin? I'm finding it difficult to keep up. Who's Brutus? Is that another brother?"

"Brutus was one of the senators who stabbed Caesar in the back," Sebastian replied.

"Was Caesar her brother?" Miles asked.

"No, you dolt. He was the emperor of Rome. Did you not pay attention to any of our classical tutors?" Sebastian asked.

"Obviously not as closely as you, it seems. And what the devil does the emperor of Rome have to do with Miss Walsh?" Miles asked.

"Nothing, it's a turn of phrase," Sebastian replied.

"Be quiet!" Lucas said, exasperated with his brothers.

"I'm so confused. Does Miss Walsh have another brother or not?" Miles asked.

"No!" Sebastian hissed.

Lucas glared at them to be quiet. They simply grumbled in return.

"I think I have all I need. Thank you, Miss Walsh." Joseph Planta called upon two men waiting outside. They entered and took the earl away, kicking and shouting his innocence.

Caitlin merely stood, crossed the room to Briana and gave her a hug. “Well done, Bree,” she whispered, before excusing herself to check on Dr. Barry and the other patients.

The room was deathly quiet as each person wrapped their head around how truly remarkable Briana's feat was. Even Officer Maxwell looked contrite.

"A heist within a heist," Victor said. "Very impressive, my love."

"What happens to the earl now?" Officer Maxwell asked.

"He shall go before a secret committee that deals with foreign spies. Either way, you have done tremendous work, Miss Walsh. I take it the notes you found in the jewels are real coordinates?"

"I'm not sure, but I made is so they did not find their way back into circulation."

"Well, gentlemen, ladies, it has been a pleasure. I shall take my leave now. But Miss Walsh, should you ever be interested in working for our office, you need only tell this fine gentleman here and it shall be arranged."

Briana smiled. "No, thank you, sir. I think I shall stick to regular clientele."

When the undersecretary was about to leave, Serena came in carrying a huge platter that looked like some type of dessert with the tail of a fish sticking out of it.

"Pardon me, sir, would you like a piece of madeira salmon cake?" she asked.

Before the undersecretary could answer, Briana and Victor, with panicked looks, shouted, "No!"