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“His lordship is in the breakfast room, Mr. Rose.” Peters, Hunt’s man at the front door offered a slight bow as he stepped back to allow Driscoll to enter.
Driscoll nodded and took the stairs two at a time to the first floor where the breakfast room was. He entered to see Hunt and Dante seated, sharing a meal. “I guess I am late to the party, then.” He moved to the sideboard and filled a plate with eggs, bacon, beans, toast, and smoked trout.
“We have news,” Dante said as Driscoll shook out his napkin and placed it on his lap.
“What is that?” He took a sip of tea one of the footmen poured into his cup.
Dante rested his forearms on the table and leaned forward as he studied Driscoll. “Although it was quite hard for me to believe, we have evidence that John, our trusted banker since we opened, was the one shorting Amelia’s receipts every night.”
Driscoll stopped with his fork halfway to his mouth. “John?” He took a moment to digest that. “I agree, it is very hard to believe that.”
Dante’s lips tightened. “I’m sorry to say he was also the one who took Lady McDaniel’s necklace.”
John? Not only was it hard to believe, but the only reason he gave credence to the story was because Dante was the one telling him. He resumed his breakfast as Dante continued.
“Since you were so adamant that Amelia was not stealing from us, I hired an outside man to investigate a couple of weeks before the ball.” Dante picked up a paper in front of him and waved it at Driscoll. “This is his report which came yesterday afternoon, but with the activities last night, I never had the chance to discuss it with you.
“Mr. Hartwell, the investigator, had no pre-conceived ideas about the employees since I told him nothing about any of them, so he was able to quickly check the stream of money and with careful observation and counting himself, he discovered where the problem was.”
Driscoll shook his head. “Why would John do such a thing? He was well-paid and I always thought of him as a friend.”
“A woman, why else? He got himself tied up with a woman who demanded things beyond his reach, so he did what many men do to make fools of themselves,” Dante said with a sneer.
Hunt, who had been watching the play between his brothers smiled. “Ah, Dante, I’m not saying either myself or Driscoll are not enamored of our women, but I can understand the playing a fool part.”
Dante stared at the two of them and shook his head. “You two are pathetic. I would never have a
woman lead me around by a nose ring.”
Hunt burst out laughing. “I would not concede that they are leading us around with a nose ring, but one day you will meet your match, brother. Mark my words.”
“Never.” Dante stood and pushed in his chair. “While the two of you bore each other to death with tales of your love life, I shall visit with my tailor and then spend a few hours at my gentleman’s club before opening The Rose Room later.” He offered a slight salute and made a quick exit.
“Poor bloke. He has no idea how easy it is to succumb to cupid’s bow.” Hunt withdrew a folded paper from his jacket pocket. “I have your special license here. I think the ladies are out today gathering what they need to turn your lady into a perfect bride.”
“Thank you, brother. I shall contact the vicar today and make the arrangements. Is it acceptable if we hold the ceremony here?”
“Of course. Diana has been happier planning this wedding breakfast than she’s been since our daughter was born. It gives her something else to focus on besides how fragile a babe’s life is and wondering if every hiccup or cry announces the arrival of a disastrous ailment.”
“I’m sure it will pass. As an impartial observer, your daughter looks quite robust to me, and I don’t know anything about babies.” Driscoll took the paper from Hunt’s hand and stood. “Thank you for breakfast. In my optimism for women to quickly put together a stunning outfit for my bride, I shall advise the vicar that the wedding will take place two days hence.”
“I will relate that to our ladies when they arrive from their shopping trip.”
Driscoll left feeling quite happy. In two days’ time he would be a married man, with the woman he would never want to live without by his side. Her despicable stepbrother will shortly depart these shores.
He and Amelia would have a fine wedding trip, followed by settling into their new home. Yes, he had much to look forward to. Who knew a woman, sopping wet and dressed as a man, falling through his window, would end up bringing him such peace and happiness?
* * *
Amelia held her hands up in the air as her wedding dress slithered down her body, the white satin fabric sliding against her skin like a brush of the gossamer wings of a butterfly.
“Oh, this is a beautiful gown, my lady.” Amelia’s newly hired lady’s maid whispered with reverence as she adjusted the shoulders of the dress and moved behind her to fasten it closed.
Amelia had to agree. She glanced at herself in the mirror over her dressing table and smiled. Diana was certainly a force to be reckoned with. They had arrived at Madame Moreau’s shop two days before and walked out with a promise for the beautiful gown she now wore. Diana had finagled, charmed and flat-out bribed the modiste to give them a gown she had finished for another woman whose wedding was still a month off.
“Surely you and your seamstresses are talented enough to make another one in plenty of time for—who did you say the gown was for?”
“Miss Frances Richards. A lovely young lady,” Madame Moreau said.
