The Silver Snuff Box Page 4

  “But I have plans for tonight,” Gabby said. “We’re going to be stringing popcorn. That other matter will have to wait until later.”

  Chapter 5

  Gabby had started on her second strand of popcorn when the clock struck eight. Fergus had been gone for almost four hours, which was much longer than he should have been gone. Bonnie was awake, and she was in a better mood than she’d been in since they’d arrived. She was giggling and telling stories about Malcolm and Fergus as children, especially ones that dealt with Yule time. The two ladies were sitting with several maids, including Juliette and Lydia.

  She tried to concentrate on what Bonnie was saying, but the longer Fergus was gone, the more she worried that something had happened to him, that someone had attacked him, or given him poison as they had to Malcolm.

  “Ouch!” Gabby pulled her finger back from the needle and stuck her finger in her mouth. The metallic taste of blood made her grimace.

  Bonnie laughed. “Be careful there, the needle goes through the popcorn, not your finger.”

  “I’m a little distracted,” Gabby said after she’d taken her finger out of her mouth. “Fergus should be home by now.”

  “Don’t worry about him,” Bonnie said. She expertly strung the popcorn before she let the string drop in her lap. “Where did he go?”

  That was something Bonnie didn’t need to know, at least the actual reason. She’d been in such a good mood since her nap, that the last thing Gabby wanted to do was bring up the spiritualist. But it was always best to stick close to the truth.

  “I forgot to tell my staff something and he went into town to send a telegram for me.”

  “Such a good man,” Bonnie said. “My Malcolm was a good man, too. I still laugh when I think of the games they played. They used to play hide and seek with us, and I’m still not sure where they hid. They would be gone for hours while we searched. And then, boom, suddenly they were there.” Bonnie laughed, and then she continued, “They would never tell us where they were. Hiding under a bed, I suppose. Or up in the attic. They were smart boys.”

  “Fergus tells me you had a tradition at Yule time.”

  Bonnie laughed. “And he hated it, I can tell you that. We ate, of course, roasted goose and vegetables. We had plum pudding, my absolute favorite, for after the meal. Then I made them sit around the fireplace while we read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. We’d start on Christmas night and finish it by the first of the year. Malcolm enjoyed it, but Fergus always dozed off. I love that story.”

  Bonnie laughed once more, but then she sniffled and started to cry, small tears at first, which turned into huge racking sobs. “He’s gone. He’s gone. My son is gone.” She dropped the popcorn garland and buried her face in her hands.

  “Bonnie.” Gabby pushed the popcorn off her lap and crossed to where Bonnie sat. She put her arms around the sobbing woman just as the door to the drawing room opened and Fergus walked in. A mixture of sadness for Bonnie and relief at seeing her husband swept through Gabby.

  “What’s all this?” Fergus asked. He knelt in front of Bonnie. Gabby released the crying woman and Fergus stroked her shoulders. “It’s been a busy day for you. Perhaps we should get you to bed. Gabby?” Fergus glanced at Gabby and she nodded.

  “We’ll help, ma’am,” Juliette said.

  Fergus stepped back and Juliette and Lydia helped Bonnie to her feet. Her sobs had lessened, but she was still crying.

  “I’ll be up momentarily,” Gabby said to the ladies. When they were gone she wheeled around and demanded, “Where have you been?”

  “The pub,” he said. He dropped into a chair.

  “You were drinking?” She wanted to scream.

  “I was following our spiritualist,” he said. “When I came out of the telegram shop she was going into the pub, which is not far from there. I went inside to see what she was doing.”

  He paused and Gabby said, “And? Don’t pause for dramatic effect, Fergus. Tell me what happened.”

  “You’re no fun,” Fergus said. “But as you wish. I ordered an ale and watched the spiritualist as she spoke with a man sitting in the corner. They didn’t seem happy with each other. The barmaid said the man, who called himself Freddy, has come in for food and drink every night for a few months. He asks questions about local people, and those whose relatives have recently passed.”

  “What is his last name?” Gabby asked.

  “She didn’t say,” Fergus said. “But I went back to the telegram shop and sent Mariella another message. Maybe she can link the two of them.”

  “Maybe so,” Gabby said. “I’m going to go up and check on Bonnie. Lydia told me the doctor left a powder that should help her sleep through the night. I think we should give it to her tonight.”

  “That is a fine idea,” Fergus said. “Then come to our rooms, because we have things to discuss.”

  She knew exactly what he was talking about, and it caused a wonderful fluttering in her stomach. “We shall see.” She left the room, a smile on her lips.

  The fire blazed, and there were a few candles lit to give off a little light. Gabby stood in the doorway and waited for her eyes to adjust to the low light.

  “You’ve been a bad girl, Gabby.”

  Those words made her tingle. Fergus sat in a chair near the fire. He wore his pants and shirt, and had taken off his jacket and vest. With his dark hair and beautiful eyes, he looked incredibly sexy, and she wanted to…

  “I did what was necessary,” she responded. “It brought you back to where you needed to be.”

  “You should have found a better way to get hold of me than you did.”

  “You’re blaming me for making you better?” Gabby snorted. “Maybe I should have left you to cry in the corner.”

  She knew Fergus loved what he called her “spunky attitude,” but she also knew she could push things too far. It was a possibility she was doing that right now. “I still think I should be rewarded, and not punished.”

  “Then we are in a quandary,” Fergus said. “What should we do? What sort of reward do you want?”

  “A spanking, but not one that leaves me unable to sit down for days.” She’d had a few of those in their four years of marriage, and she didn’t want another one, not just today, but any day.

  “Hmm.” He crossed his legs and ran his fingers through his hair. The desire she’d felt earlier deepened. She’d take a hard spanking right now, if it meant she could take him inside her after. The only problem was she didn’t get sex after a rough spanking, because it was for punishment.

  She needed to figure out a way to mix the punishment he wanted for her talking back to him, with the pleasure she knew they both wanted.

  Gabby put her hands on her hips and sashayed across the floor, keeping her gaze on Fergus’ face. He was smiling, which was a good thing. When she was inches away she turned and bent ever so slightly so her bottom was in full view. She wiggled it, and said, “Do you want this?”

  “Naughty, naughty,” he said. “You know I do. Not giving you a spanking is out of the question, though.”

  She wiggled her bottom once more, then darted away before he could grab her. She put her hands on the bedpost and said, “Shall I call the maid to undress me, or would you rather use your own fingers?” Gabby turned her head to where Fergus sat.

  At first, he didn’t move, and she thought he would not rise to her offering. But then he got up, slowly. He didn’t move toward her, but only stared in her direction. She waited for him to come to her, but instead he sat down.

  “Come here, Gabriella.”

  It did not bode well when he used her full name. She took a deep breath and let go of the bedpost. Then she turned and walked to where her husband sat.

  “Ten swats.”

  That wasn’t nearly enough for what had happened this afternoon, she knew. And if she gave in easily it would ring untrue.

  “How can ten swats be considered a reward?” She took a step back. “You wound me, Fergus.
I’m sorry, but I just can’t accept ten swats. I’ll be going to my room now. Good night.”

  She started for the door, but as she’d expected would happen, Fergus grabbed her from behind. He threw his arms around her waist and pulled her against his chest. “You will do as I say, Gabriella.” He carried her, with her legs in the air kicking, to the bed where he tossed her down, face first. He straddled her before she could move, his knees on either side of her hips.

  When his breath hit her ear, Gabby shivered. She wanted to tell him not to rip her dress, because it was one of her favorites, but her words caught in her mouth when he gently nibbled on her earlobe.

  “You’re a wicked girl, Gabriella, my little imp.”

  “I’m sorry if I stepped out of line, Lord Fergus.”

  “You will behave, imp.”

  “As you wish, Lord Fergus.”

  He was off her in a second, and disappointment surged through her. She’d expected a spanking, and then some good sex as part of her reward. Was the lead-up all she was going to get? She certainly hoped not.

  “Stand up, and get in the position you in just moments ago.”

  Gabby stood, faced the bed and grasped the bedpost. Thank goodness she wasn’t going to lose her dress. She kept her hands tight on the post, as if a maid were about to lace up her corset. Fergus stepped behind her. He ran his hands up and down her sides. The caresses made Gabby shiver with delight. Fergus moved his hands to her hips, up her back, and settled on her shoulders.

  After a few moments, he started to undo the buttons on her dress, moving slowly and surely. The lace around her neck loosened and Gabby closed her eyes as his fingers gently touched her skin. She loved the feel of him, the way her body reacted to his touch. Her nipples tingled and her clit pulsed.

  Fergus gently caressed her neck, and then, all of a sudden, he grabbed either side of her dress and ripped down. The sound of popping buttons and tearing material jolted her, and she tried to pull away.

  “Keep your hands in place,” he said.

  Gabby trembled, not from fear, but from excitement. He pushed her ruined dress away from her shoulders, where it caught on her arms. She was left with her shift, petticoats, and corset.

  “Take it off, one arm at a time.”

  It took quite a while to get her arms free. She shrugged the material down, first her left arm and then the right.

  “So beautiful,” Fergus whispered in her ear. “Now, be a good little imp and lift your petticoats and bend over the bed.”

  Anxious to get into place, Gabby almost tripped over the dress that was now pooled at her feet. When her bottom was bare she awaited the first swat. She hadn’t seen any sort of implement, a piece of leather or a crop. So, when his hand came down on her bottom, she groaned in pleasure. There was nothing better than a good, hard hand spanking.

  And that’s what she got… ten, fifteen, twenty, much more than the ten he’d promised, but it was definitely not a punishment spanking. This was one that made her want him inside her, made her wet, made her want to scream. But Gabby was cognizant of where they were, of the fact that they were not at home in their house where she could make as much noise as she wanted.

  “Not as red as I’d like, but when we get home I will make up for it.”

  “I will behave, Fergus,” she said.

  “No, you won’t.” Fergus laughed. “And if you did, I wouldn’t like it. Now, for the pleasure.”

  He grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled. Since it was still pinned up, there was no small amount of pain.

  “Ouch!” She tried to turn and slap at him, but he pushed her further into the mattress. He let go of her hair and grabbed her shoulders, but Gabby managed to roll over and push him enough so that she could get away. But it didn’t last for long. He grabbed her and they tumbled to the ground in front of the fireplace.

  They rolled and pulled at each other, and Gabby started to laugh. “Get off me!” she said through her laughter.

  “And get in you? That sounds like something that needs to be done, and quickly.”

  They rolled together, and her petticoats gathered around her thighs.

  Fergus rolled onto his back. He pulled her on top of him, and Gabby worked to keep her petticoats from getting in the way. When he pushed up, she centered herself and took him deep inside her. She threw her head back and bit her lip to keep from screaming out.

  Fergus thrust into her, and she bore down on him, and his cock hit just the right spot. The world around her exploded. Gabby’s body shuddered and she threw her hands up in the air.

  “Fergus!” She collapsed on top of him and she felt him pumping inside her.

  He rolled them so she was on her back. She wrapped her legs around him as he continued to thrust into her. She held him close, and when he groaned into her ear, she kissed his shoulder.

  Fergus held her close, and when he left her she felt, as always, a great sense of loss. He helped her to her feet. They washed each other and then fell into bed, completely naked. Before she fell asleep, Gabby got up and blew out the few candles that still burned. She added a few logs to the fire, and then climbed into bed.

  “Fergus, darling, Bonnie was talking this afternoon about you playing hide and seek with Malcolm. She said she could never find you. Where did you hide?”

  For an answer, all she got was a snore. She wasn’t surprised he was sleeping, because that was usual for him after sex. But the discussion on hide and seek had bothered her, and still nagged at her. It had something to do with what they were facing, she was sure of it. She made a mental note to ask him about it in the morning, then curled against his chest and fell asleep.

  Chapter 6

  Three days later, Gabby felt ready for the party, but knew anything to do with the spiritualist was fading away. The woman had not been back since Fergus had kicked her out, which was a good thing. Bonnie’s mood had improved, and at times they caught her laughing.

  “I’m so glad you’re here,” Bonnie said to Fergus once, holding him in a tight hug. “I wish you could stay.”

  Fergus had glanced in Gabby’s direction, and she’d sighed. She knew Bonnie was here on her own, but their life was in London. They couldn’t stay in Scotland. The look he gave her told her he felt the same way. As much as he wanted to be with his aunt, he couldn’t stay here. The only way it would happen was if they brought her to London.

  They’d been to the pub two nights in a row, and had not caught sight of Freddy, the man they thought was Honoria’s accomplice. They had hired Juliette’s cousin and his bandmates to play at the party, which was in three nights’ time. They’d yet to receive a response from the telegrams they’d set about Honoria, which surprised Gabby. Mariella was usually right on the ball with such requests.

  “The house looks spectacular,” Fergus said as Gabby helped Juliette place a garland over the French doors that led to the garden. They were waiting to decorate the fireplace mantles until the day of the party.

  “Thank you from us all,” Gabby said. “Everyone has worked so hard to get things ready. And the food… Oh my, Lydia has prepared things that will amaze our guests.”

  “That’s good to hear,” Fergus said. “Hopefully none of Bonnie’s neighbors will try and steal the cook away.”

  “Lydia is very happy where she’s at,” Juliette said. “We all are.”

  “Also good to hear,” Fergus said.

  “Ma’am?” The three of them turned to where Bud stood in the doorway. “There is a woman here to see you.”

  “Show her in,” Fergus said.

  Gabby set down her end of the garland, then her mouth dropped open as Mariella D’Acosta stepped into the room.

  “Forgive me, Gabby, but I thought what I had to say needed to be said in person.” She nodded in Fergus direction.

  “Indeed,” Gabby said. “May I ask who is taking care of the newspaper?”

  “Lord Ellington,” Mariella said. “I will head back early in the morning.”

  Gabby
turned to Juliette. “Prepare a room for Miss D’Acosta.”

  Juliette nodded, then hurried from the room.

  “What is it?” Fergus said.

  Mariella looked around, and Gabby felt as if her newspaper manager was worried she would be overheard.

  “Bud, tell Lydia we’ll be three for tea,” Gabby said. “And please have the maids check on Bonnie and send tea to her room.”

  When it was just the three of them in the room, Gabby crossed to her second in command. “I’m shocked to see you.”

  “I didn’t want this to be sent where anyone could read it,” Mariella said.

  They waited to get to the point of things until tea had been delivered and the door closed.

  “Tell us,” Gabby said after she’d poured the tea.

  “This woman, Honoria, my source at Scotland Yard believes her to be a confidence woman whose real name is Mary Beth Carnard. She’s been arrested several times for theft, but officers can never make the charges stick. She works with her husband, Freddy Carnard.”

  “That nails it,” Fergus said. He explained to Mariella about the man named Freddy. “Contact your Scotland Yard friend and tell him to get up here as soon as possible.”

  “I will tell him when I return tomorrow,” Mariella said.

  “Not soon enough,” Gabby said. “They are trying to steal from Bonnie!”

  Mariella held up her hand. “Please, let me finish.”

  Gabby stared at Mariella, and then nodded. “I should have known you wouldn’t come all this way just for theft.”

  “Try murder,” Mariella said.

  Gabby felt her breath catch in her throat. “Whose murder?”

  “A maid in Bath,” Mariella said. “Honoria pretends to be a spiritualist and her husband steals from the people she bilks. In Bath, he was in a bedroom taking jewelry while his wife held a séance downstairs when a maid walked in, or so the officers have deduced. She was found dead, and jewelry from the owners, and several guests, was missing.”