his next question.The Countess didn't give him much choice. "Out with it, man. I've never been one to mince words anddon't appreciate anyone coating what they say to me. Just have it out."
"How did Riley's mother die?"
She blanched, but only for a moment. "There was an accident. Her carriage overturned, and she was killed."
He nodded. "And her husband?"
"Shot by brigands."
Mason pushed a little further. "And the smith who married them?"
"There was a fight in a pub. He died of a knife wound."
Mason leaned forward. "Did Riley tell you about the attempts on her life?"
Her grandmother shook her head. "The close-mouthed little jade! She spoke not a word."
"Well, the morning you called her over for tea, a man broke into my house and tried to kill her. Luckily, it
was prevented."
"The servant who fell out the window," the lady muttered. She glanced up. "I thought there was something odd about that."
"There was," Mason told her. "And I believe they are all connected."
The lady's eyes narrowed. "What are you trying to say?"
"Don't you find it an odd coincidence that all these people died in such violent accidents, or that Riley has been plagued by a long string of murderous threats?"
"'Tis only fate," the lady said, waving her hand at the matter, but her tone didn't sound all that convinced.
"Fate or careful planning," Mason said. "My lady, I have good reason to believe there was nothing accidental about any of these events."
"You mentioned Cariston." She shook her head. "He couldn't be involved in this, at least not the earlier deaths. He was but a babe."
"But his father wasn't."
Lady Marlowe frowned. "Whyever would my husband's cousin, a Marquess in his own right and one of the wealthiest men in England, go to such lengths to secure the Marlowe lines? My husband's title isn't that old, and certainly the properties offer a good income, but nothing like Cariston's holdings."
"They did when Cariston held them, but the lands you refer to no longer belong to that family. They haven't for years."
"What?" Lady Marlowe's mouth gaped.
"From what I've been able to gather, Cariston is broke."
She sat back. "That can't be."
"It is. Having been a bit up the River Tick myself until recently, I know all the signs. But I've also made some quiet inquiries about town, and your nephew has enough vowels floating around to sink an armada."
"Everyone falls on hard times," she said, shaking her head. "It hardly leads one to murder, as I assume you are suggesting. Cariston is many things, but capable of murder? He hasn't the stomach for it. His father, on the other hand, I could believe him capable of any evil, but not his son."
Mason shrugged. "Not all men think rationally when faced with disgrace-and your nephew is a very proud man." He nodded toward McElliott, who stood waiting in the doorway. "Lady Marlowe, I would like to introduce you to Mr. McElliott, a Runner I hired to help me investigate these matters and the man the Marquess of Cariston engaged yesterday to murder your granddaughter."
"Murder! If that is what is afoot, what in heavens are you doing here?" she asked. "Why aren't you home protecting my granddaughter?"
Mason stared at her. "That is exactly why I'm here. To take her without delay to Sanborn Abbey, where she'll be safe until I can have Cariston arrested and transported so far away, he'll never see England again."
But his words hardly seemed to be reassuring Lady Marlowe, for she frowned at him as if he'd already failed her granddaughter. "But Riley isn't here-she's at your house."
Mason's heart lurched, then his temper flared to life. "That lying, conniving-"
"Go ahead and say it," Lady Marlowe told him. "She's played us both false. I'll wager she's been down at that theatre of hers. Determined she was to pay you back, and on her own terms. Stubborn, impossible girl."
"Determined or not," Mason said, bounding to his feet, "her play is about to have the shortest run in the history of Covent Garden."
Chapter 21.
O pening night of any new production found the Queen's Gate fraught with problems, and this one was no different. Riley was being pulled in all directions as squabbles and questions erupted from the deluged box office out front to the prop room in the basement. Much to her delight, tonight's performance had sold out, and even now there was a tremendous crowd outside clamoring for additional tickets.
She'd never seen such excitement surrounding an opening. It was as if the entire city of London wanted to see her production.
If only, her greedy heart wished, she could sell a ticket to all of them this very night. As it was, she'd sold tickets for every spare inch of the floor and added chairs for the patrons who'd begged to be allowed additional guests in their boxes.
Mason would be pleased with his portion of the receipts.
If she could get him to accept the money, she thought with a measure of chagrin. Then again, considering what Louisa had implied today, he didn't need her money. He was probably escorting the ever-perfect and respectable Miss Pindar somewhere highly exclusive this evening and far from the nefarious reaches of Covent Garden.
Riley shook off her pitiable thoughts. She still had to check with the lighting master, soothe the mutinous orchestra, and get into her costume and makeup.
"Riley, my love," Aggie called out as she scurried past the men's dressing room. "My ensemble is incomplete." He strode out in the coat and breeches Jane Gunn had sewn for his first act role as the King, albeit missing the fur-trimmed robe, crown, and scepter they always kept handy for such parts. "Send that worthless Nanette to fetch my royal accoutrements."
Riley groaned. All actors were responsible for retrieving their costumes from the wardrobe room and their accessories from the prop room. For some unknown reason, Aggie always found it difficult to find either room on opening night, demanding every sort of indulgence before he went on stage.
"Nanette is busy," she told him. "You'll have to do it yourself."
Aggie's look of horror told her only too well he was about to throw a majestic tantrum.
She sighed and made her way through the chaos of sets and props lining the back hall and awaiting their turn on stage. She went downstairs and along the hallway, when she saw the prop room door wedged open. The heavy door had a way of swinging shut and leaving the unhappy occupant trapped inside until someone else came along to free him.
'Twas probably the reason Aggie didn't like the room-he'd spent a rather uncomfortable night down there last winter after he'd sneaked in to borrow a pair of prop pistols.
As she was about to call out to whomever was inside, she heard a voice that sounded vaguely familiar.
"Say it again," the woman entreated. "Tell me how much you love me, Roderick."
Damn him, Riley cursed.
She should never have hired the man-there was just something about him that didn't play true, and now
he was using his role as leading man to romance every female who came within his orbit.
First Louisa, and now some unsuspecting underling was getting her chance to worship him fifteen minutes before the curtain was scheduled to go up.
"Yes, I love you," Roderick was saying. "With all my heart and all I have, I pledge you my troth."
An earthy groan followed, with the sounds of kissing, and the rustle of clothing being displaced.
Riley yanked the door open the rest of the way, only to find a very familiar face glaring back at her.
"Louisa!" Riley said. She caught the girl by her arm and yanked her free of Roderick. Hauling her out of
the prop room, she demanded, "What the devil are you doing?"
Louisa straightened, swiping at her tousled hair and flushed cheeks. "I am here to follow my heart. I want
to act. To live my life with Roderick. And since I know my uncle will never give his blessing, we plan to elope."
"Louisa!" Roderick groaned and shook his head. But to give him his due, he came out of their hiding spot
and took his place beside his intended as if that was his right and due.
"Elope?" Riley repeated. "Have you lost your mind? You can't marry him," she said, pointing atRoderick."Now, see here-" he began."Oh, stow it!" Riley snapped. "If this wasn't opening night and your understudy wasn't already too drunk to go on, I'd fire you this very minute."Roderick straightened up. His stance and demeanor reminded her of Mason when he was being hisstuffiest. "Don't bother," he said, in a high-handed, overly tonnish voice. "I quit. All I ever wanted was this one chance to act on stage, and I'll have that after tonight. But I won't be alone out there." He tookLouisa's hand. "This is my Aveline, or I won't go on."Louisa? Play Aveline in front of the entire ton? Was the pair mad?Apparently they were-for Riley realized Louisa was wearing Aveline's peasant dress."Louisa, go upstairs and get out of that costume," Riley ordered.Louisa glanced up at Roderick, and then at Riley. She shook her head."I am sorry to do this, Madame," Roderick said.Before Riley could protest, Roderick caught her by the waist and carried her into the prop room, dumping her into a pile of leftover curtain fabric. Riley landed in a whoosh and a thud of old canvas. As she struggled to right herself, her arms and legs flailing about, Roderick and Louisa pushed the door shut.
"Will she be safe in there?" she heard Louisa ask.
"Yes," Roderick told his paramour.
Riley gained her feet and flew across the room, grabbing at the door latch. She twisted and pulled, but it held firm against her. "Let me out," she yelled, pounding on the sturdy oak door. "Louisa, unlatch this
door immediately!"
Outside Riley could hear Roderick saying, "Oh, don't look like that, my love. We'll send someone to let her out once we are well on our way to Gretna Green."
Then to Riley's dismay, she heard their departing footsteps. "Louisa, Roderick! Don't do this! Let me out!"
For a time she pounded on the door and screamed until her voice started to crack, but no one came to rescue her. Overhead, she heard the footsteps of the patrons coming in to take their seats. The orchestra first tuned their instruments and then began playing a selection of popular pieces to entertain the audience before the main theatrics began.
And they were about to begin without her.
She looked around for Aggie's props, but found they weren't there. They'd probably been in hisdressing room the entire time and he'd found them the minute she'd come to fetch them for him.
Riley put her face in her hands and groaned. This was a disaster.
"I'm sorry, milord, but the curtain is up and the house is full-even with a ticket, I can't let you through."
Mason turned from the doorman in frustration. What if Stephen was inside? There was no telling what the man would do when he found out there was a warrant for his arrest.
Glancing about, Mason considered how he could get inside-then he remembered the side entrance he'd
used the day Riley was attacked. Running around the edge of the building, he found that door guarded as