“By Debenham?”
“Yes, but it gets better. Lady Julia and…you’ll never guess it…Mr. Cranborne. Mr. Stephen Cranborne. Furthermore, Lord Beecham sounded quite threatening. As if he meant to do Lord Debenham harm. But of course, that would be no good as you want to ensure that Debenham gets his comeuppance through official channels. Ralph, did you hear anything I had to say?”
He looked up, his eyes alight. “Every word, my love. I’m still digesting the fact that Stephen Cranborne had dealings with Lady Julia Ledger that Lord Debenham found it worthy to blackmail him over. It doesn’t sound like it was a mere liaison.”
“You don’t think that Lady Julia being married is enough?”
“I do not, and I will have to quiz him on it. He admitted he was being blackmailed, but even I had not the clever cunning and charm to prize the truth out of him. Obviously, when he learns what you’ve told me it’ll be another matter.”
“Perhaps that’s something I can discover.”
“While I don’t wish to sound dampening, I think you’ve learned about as much as you’re likely to. Lady Julia isn’t going to go into details. Obviously, Beecham knows what the story is. I believe he’s besotted with her. No, Stephen Cranborne must make a clean breast of it when I approach him. Likely we’ll be able to keep his secret and charge Debenham with three counts of extortion and, with the testimony of Smythe and Buzby,
add a charge of high treason. My dear, you’ve done very well.”
“‘N ‘ow is that sister of yers?” Mrs. Nipkins asked, leaning across to pour them both a cup of tea.
Lissa looked confused. “Lady Debenham?”
“Lordy, no. The sweet-natured one. That famous actress wot’s so determined ter get ter the bottom o’ all this.”
“I don’t know that’s quite how I’d describe her.” Lissa smiled at Ralph, but Mrs. Nipkins clicked her tongue.
“If ever I seen someun wantin’ ter do good ‘n atone fer her wicked ways—not that they’s so wicked in me book as I dunno ‘ow else a girl’s ter get enough victuals ‘n a roof over ‘er ‘ead if she don’t ‘ave support—it were ’er.”
“She wants to because she thinks it’ll somehow make Lord Silverton more kindly disposed toward her, but it’s a hopeless situation and sadly, the sooner she realizes it the better.”
“You’re very uncharitable toward your sister,” Ralph remarked, stirring his tea. “Why do you resent her?”
“I…I don’t,” Lissa defended herself. “I was always the first to see that Kitty was all right. I was the one who ensured she had a clean apron, and a decent pair of shoes. I did her hair and dried her tears. Not Mama. But then Kitty ran away without ever telling anyone anything. The agonized letters I got from Mama were heartrending. Kitty has always thought only of herself, and now she’s enjoying the high life.”
“She chose her path just as you chose yours. I do think Kitty deserves a bit more sympathy. But let us not stray off the topic. You’ve been a wonder, my dear. And if I could raise my glass with something stronger, I would.”
Chapter 21
The season was coming to an end, and Kitty’s performance had been lauded in all the gossip sheets and newspapers. She was looking forward to a rest between performances, but worried about the length of time she’d be without income.
Thoughts of Silverton tugged at her, but she forced them away. Within two weeks he’d be married. The thought made her want to weep, but she was a professional. Each night she forced herself to smile and carry on.
The public appreciated her efforts. There were often tokens of regard from all manner of gentlemen that made her fellow actors envious.
Rarely, though, did she receive something as lavish as the bouquet that arrived for her one Thursday afternoon.
Kitty felt the thorns pricking into her as she read the card for the third time. It was an unusually lavish bunch of roses—long-stemmed, with blooms that smelled as if they’d been picked that afternoon.
“Why, they’re lovely! But what are you looking like that for?” Jennie asked as she passed by. “Lord Nash wants you back again? Or is Lord Silverton asking you to marry ím, though I don’t think you look too joyful about it.”
Kitty didn’t reply as she put down the bouquet and started to dress. If only it were Lord Nash. She knew how to manage him.
But Lord Debenham? Why would Lord Debenham wish for her company? And with such an offering? Surely he couldn’t be thinking…
It was a horrifying thought. No, she didn’t want to imagine he thought anything of her other than an accomplished professional. Still, the churning in the pit of her stomach didn’t abate. Lord Debenham was not a man to admire anyone or anything publicly without wanting something.
So what did he want of Kitty? And did she have the courage to meet him, as he’d requested?
Was it something to do with the necklace? Did he know of her desire to find incriminating information about him? A tremor of fear ran through her. She wanted nothing to do with the man, and yet he desired to meet her after the performance. Could she somehow slip away before he arrived?
By the time the performance ended, Kitty had bolstered her courage. She’d remembered her duty to her sister and she was ready. Lissa had been the one person in her life on whom she could rely, and clearly, Lissa felt that Kitty had let her down by running off to London. Well, Lissa needed help in finding her heart’s desire, and Kitty had been handed an opportunity on a platter. She’d find out exactly what Debenham wanted. Whether he intended to threaten or bully, she would deftly question him so that she had something of value to deliver to Lissa.