Wicked Earl Seeks Proper Heiress (The Husband Hunters Club 5)

Beth lost some of her glow; clearly she had not forgiven Rufus. “Is the earl here in London, too?”

“I have seen him. Briefly,” Averil replied evenly. “Will you stay for supper, James?”

But James had to return to Eustace, and Averil left them to say their good-byes and went upstairs with her letter.

With a sigh she sat down on her bed. So much had happened today, so much good had been done, there was no time to be sad. She smoothed out the letter and read it again. What if Violet was her sister? The more she considered the idea, the more solid it became.

But Sally Jakes had said Violet was her daughter and Averil didn’t know how she could find out the truth after all these years.

Rufus stood in the doorway, watching as Sally answered the police inspector’s questions. She was putting most of the blame onto Jackson, but Rufus knew that Jackson was doing the same to her.

The inspector glanced up and nodded to him, and Rufus came and leaned against the desk, folding his arms and giving Sally a long look.

“Violet,” he said. “Your daughter.”

Sally gave him a smile, but he sensed a tension in her that wasn’t there before. “What about Violet, Lord Southbrook? Does she take your fancy?”

He smiled back as if he hadn’t heard the insult. “Tell me, Sally, was Violet born while Lady Anastasia was at The Tin Soldier?”

Sally’s smile died abruptly. “What business is it of yours?” she snapped.

“I don’t think Violet is your daughter. I think Violet is the sister Lady Averil has been searching for.”

Sally snorted a laugh. “You’re talking rot, your lordship.”

“I don’t think so. Violet looks very like Lady Anastasia, according to my uncle, who knew her. And Lady Averil’s old nanny, who is still alive, will be able to confirm that. Come on, Sally, tell the truth for once in your life. Why did you take Violet and keep her? The Arnutts would have paid you handsomely for her. Why didn’t you offer her to them? Explain to me, Sally. If you do”—and he leaned closer, his dark gaze fixed on hers—“I’ll make sure you get a nice cell all to yourself.”

The inspector cleared his throat and stood up. “I’ll leave you to it then, Lord Southbrook,” he said. “Best I’m not a party to any conversation you have with Mrs. Jakes here.”

Sally watched him leave. “I’m not going to jail,” she said with a defiant stare.

Rufus shook his head at her. “Oh, but you are. Jackson will see to it, Sal. He’s singing like a bird right now. The only thing you can do is help me and allow me to help you.”

She looked away. He could see she was considering his offer but he was surprised when a tear rolled down her cheek, and then another. “She’s mine and I love her!” The tears might be to gain his sympathy, not that he had any for her, or perhaps they were for her own sake, and she had convinced herself of her lies all these years.

“I’m sure you do.” As much as Sally Jakes could love anyone.

“I wouldn’t ’ave given her away, even if Anna ’adn’t asked me to look after ’er when she died. Anna didn’t want the Arnutts to ’ave her. She said they’d only turn the child against ’er. She wanted me to ’ave her.”

Rufus wondered if that was true, or whether Sally had been so jealous of Anastasia she’d wanted the one thing the other woman loved so fiercely she’d refused to give her up.

“Thank you, Sally,” he said quietly.

“There’s something more.” Sally’s eyes had regained a little of their defiance. “Anna left a letter for ’er girls. I-I never gave it to ’em, but they may as well ’ave it now.”

“A letter?”

“It’s at the Soldier. In the ledger for 1830. I kept it the

re. Give it to ’em, will you? I always felt guilty about keeping it.”

But not guilty enough to be honest, Rufus thought wryly. “Very well, Sally.”

Sally nodded and another tear trickled down her cheek, but perhaps that was just more self-pity.

He turned away to hide the glitter of triumph in his eyes. Because now he had the thing he had promised Averil he would find for her. Her sister’s name. And better still, a letter from her mother. He could go to her and this time when he asked her to marry him she would say yes.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE