Mysteries of Lady Theo Read online

  Mysteries of Lady Theodora

  Agents of the Home Office

  Rachel Ann Smith

  Mysteries of Lady Theo is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locals are entirely coincidental.

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  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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  First Edition November 2019

  Developmental Edits by Gray Plume Editing

  Edited by Victory Editing

  Proofread by Monique Daoust

  Cover design by Impluvium Studios

  Copyright © 2019 by Rachel Ann Smith

  ISBN: 978-1-951112-04-2

  For my children that are forever my inspiration

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Also by Rachel Ann Smith

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Hadfield Hall 1815

  Perched on the side of the four-poster bed, Lady Theodora Neale held the dear hand that had wasted to skin and bone.

  Her papa squeezed hers in return, his grasp urgent and fierce despite his frailty. “My dear, please forgive me.” His breath was labored, his eyes recessed within dark circles. “Our family has been in service to the Crown for generations, and now it will be your duty to carry on.”

  A crushing feeling pressed against her ribs at the sound of her papa’s struggling breaths. He let go of her to lift a ledger from his bedside table, and she rubbed her wrists.

  He handed the volume to her. “You must not share the contents with anyone. Only trust those who bear the same mark as you.”

  The mark on her ankle burned as if it had recently been placed upon her.

  “You must guard it with your life. Our family has been responsible for this mission for generations, and you must follow the instructions carefully.”

  A tear rolled down her cheek. “I will, Papa. I will do as you ask.”

  His last words were an apology of sorts. “I am sorry we have limited funds remaining. I realize I should have been more focused on the estate than our mission. You will be reliant on your cousin’s generosity, and I only pray he will take care of you…”

  All color suddenly drained from his face.

  “Papa?”

  On a tortured breath, he whispered, “God be with you, child.”

  Hadfield Hall, a year later

  Facing the drafty drawing room window, her back to her aunt, Lady Theodora discreetly pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. The heartbreaking image of the late Earl of Hadfield on his deathbed refused to dissipate.

  The numbness that had seeped into her mind and body that day, leaving her devoid of emotion, was still with her. All her energy was devoted to fulfilling her promise to her papa.

  Theo recalled running her hand over the well-worn volume. While there were no visual markings on the cover, the pads of her fingers had rolled over faint ridges and lines of a carefully molded impression. She squeezed her eyelids tighter as she reflected on the image still seared into her memory, the outline of a horse with a falcon perched on its back, circled by laurel leaves, a replica of the mark she bore. The electric jolt of recognition shot through her once more, making her heart beat erratically and her eyes open.

  Words contained in the book came to mind:

  Only trust those with the Mark.

  Train daily.

  The sharp sound of a book snapping shut made Theo whip around in the direction of her aunt.

  Lady Henrietta Arcot Neale’s usually cheerful voice now contained a touch of desperation. “Theo, I do wish you would accompany me to town.”

  “Beg pardon, Aunt Henri. What was it you said?”

  “I was trying to inform you that Landon will insist we return to town with him.”

  “I’m perfectly happy to remain here. I prefer the fresh country air.”

  “Well, that might be the case, but we can’t hide here any longer.” Reaching for her cup of tea, Aunt Henrietta continued, “I haven’t been subjected to the ton in years. To be honest, I was rather relieved when my papa disowned me.”

  Theo smiled at the memory of her uncle, George Neale. His marriage to Aunt Henri had upended her ties to her ducal family. A second son who embarked on working as a barrister was not an appropriate husband for the daughter of a duke. But theirs had been a love match, and the Neale family had embraced Henrietta from the moment they met her. Her kindness and intelligence were valued by the Neales rather than considered a nuisance.

  The teacup rattled against the small saucer in her aunt’s hand. Theo was apparently not the only one unnerved by the ton.

  But Theo’s cousin Landon, the newly minted Earl of Hadfield, strode into the room, saving her from having to respond.

  “Mama.” Landon bent to give his mama a kiss on the cheek, then made his way to Theo’s side.

  Looming next to her, Landon twisted to peer out the window and quietly asked, “Fantasizing about being outdoors? Wishing you were anywhere but here, trapped in a stifling drawing room, listening to my mama?”

  “Landon, I was mentioning to Theo that we must venture to town and find you a wife.”

  Landon stiffened at the word wife. “Yes, we all should take up residence in town for the Season. Christopher has reassured me all is in order for our stay.”

  Theo was amazed at the ease with which he bore the brunt of his new responsibilities. Landon had not only inherited the title but also the neglected estate and the burden of caring for Theo. The only item he had not received was the family volume.

  At the mention of Landon’s younger brother, Theo couldn’t prevent her lips curling into a grin. Christopher was of a similar age to herself and had been a boon companion during their childhood. Was he still a carefree fellow? She hadn’t seen him but for a brief moment during her papa’s funeral a year ago.

  Theo straightened her spine, took a deep breath, and prepared to reiterate her arguments for the hundredth time as to why she should remain in the country. “Cousin, I’m perfectly fine remaining here at Hadfield Hall. Papa often ventured to…” Having read the family volume, it was clear her papa had not only left her behind to travel to London but often ventured much further in his investigations. On an outward breath, she finished. “…to town without me.”

  Landon’s hazel eyes were no longer on Aunt Henrietta. Instead, they bore into Theo. “Don’t be ridiculous. I will not leave you here alone with the servants.”

  Theo donned a mask of cool indiffere
nce. The unfeeling woman she had portrayed this past year was in stark contrast to the bubbly little girl he had played with in their childhood. Remaining aloof was the only way she had conceived to keep Landon from finding out the truth about her inheritance. It was imperative he did not find out about the family volume and their familial duties to the Crown.

  In the driest tone she could manage, Theo asked, “Why must I accompany you?”

  His grin revealed the dimple that rarely graced Landon’s features. “You will assist me in becoming better acquainted with my peers.”

  “Me? I’ve only been thrown to the wolves once, my debut Season. You were fortunate not to have been there. It was a complete disaster.”

  Landon’s dimple deepened at her response. Damn the man; he had managed to crack her cool exterior. Why was he so determined that she participate in the Season? Was he intent on marrying her off? Landon had mentioned he had set aside a modest dowry for her. It was impressive how he had managed to fatten the estate coffers within such a short period. Her cousin was not averse to hard work and had used his personal funds to invest in some lucrative ventures. They proved successful, resulting in his amassing a small fortune worthy of the Hadfield title.

  “Theo, you will accompany us to town come Monday. I’ll hear no more excuses as to why you should remain here in the country. Am I clear?”

  As if she was swallowing toads, she answered, “Yes, cousin.”

  Theo fought the urge to fidget as Landon’s gaze raked over her. He eyed her haphazard coiffure. Would he notice her raven-colored hair was now streaked with lighter strands due to the hours spent outdoors practicing?

  Her mourning clothes sagged in places where her body had reduced as a result of her training regimen. She ran her hand over the well-worn material. The nervous reaction drew Landon’s attention closer to her garments.

  Landon sighed. “I will ensure you are both outfitted with new wardrobes.”

  Aunt Henrietta chimed in, “Landon, you will escort us to the theater—balls and such—will you not? As the patriarch, it is now your duty.”

  “Mama, I will be busy in town. I still have a law practice to run with Christopher in conjunction with all the estate matters.”

  Her aunt’s nostrils flared. “Christopher is quite capable of running the practice without you. You now have other responsibilities. One of them is to find a wife and produce an heir.”

  Theo lowered her gaze to the floor in an attempt to avoid her aunt’s attention. However, Aunt Henrietta had not forgotten her. “And you, my girl, will accompany me into town. We shall set out after we break our fast on Monday.”

  Not having grown up with a mama, Theo hungrily sought out Aunt Henrietta’s opinion and favor. Her aunt had willingly taken on the parental role and treated Theo as one of her own children. Theo was extremely grateful, for it allowed her to relinquish the management of the household and gained her the freedom to train.

  Raising her eyes to meet her aunt’s, Theo said, “If that is what you wish, Aunt Henri.”

  Upon hearing Theo’s agreement, her aunt smiled and clapped her hands together. “Now that is settled, who would like a cup of tea?”

  Now was her opportunity to escape. “If you will excuse me, I think I will go outdoors and take advantage of the clean country air while I can.”

  As Theo made her way to the door, Landon ordered, “Don’t stay out too long. You will need to start preparing for your departure. Monday will be here before you know.”

  Midstride, Theo turned, nodded. I have three days to plan and prepare.

  Theo stood straight with her right foot slightly in front of her left. She raised her arm, holding the blade next to her ear, elbow up, and with a smooth release, she let it go. The blade flew through the air and landed perfectly in the trunk of the tree she used for practice.

  Retrieving her knives, she put more distance between herself and the tree. It had taken months to perfect short and medium throws infused with enough power to drive solidly into her target. From farther away, however, she still struggled.

  Theo inhaled deeply and raised her arm, preparing to throw the knife again, but her thoughts were muddled and conflicted. She had practiced daily since Papa’s death, and now Landon was ordering her to town. How should I go about contacting Archbroke? How and where to conduct practice sessions? When and how would I find the time?

  Identifying a location where she could train, riding bareback, mounting and dismounting while the horse was in motion would be extremely difficult. Not to mention finding a partner to refine her hand-to-hand combat skills. The servants at Hadfield Hall never blinked an eye at her odd requests, always more than willing to assist, with the utmost discretion regarding her activities around their new lord. With the exception of a few key personnel who would travel with them, Landon had installed a full complement of new household staff, all unfamiliar to her. Theo’s muscles tensed, and her pulse raced alongside her mind at the enormity of the task before her.

  She could not fail.

  Theo released the knife.

  It wobbled through the air and landed in the dirt with a thud.

  Nowhere close to the intended target.

  “Aargh!” Leaves and twigs cracked under her foot. Irritated at her childish response, she let the crisp clean air hit her lungs. Slow, controlled breaths. Inhale deeply through the nose and release through slightly parted lips. The directions had been repeated many a time throughout her reading of the volume along with still your thoughts and focus. Eyes closed, a whisper of wind brushed against her cheeks, accompanied by the scent of cedar. Muscles relaxed, mind clear, she pictured the blade securely lodged in the tree trunk.

  Theo’s eyes popped open as her brother’s voice filtered through the woods. Stepping closer to a tree, she hugged her body to it. Peeking around the trunk, she searched the forest for any sign of Baldwin.

  What was she doing? Baldwin was dead.

  Theo shook her head and rubbed her eyes.

  Her name being called was louder and clearer now. “Theo! Where are you, girl?” Landon stood with his hands firmly planted on his hips, eyes narrowed, searching the trees.

  Theo rested her forehead against the tree. Landon. As her pulse and breathing slowed, the idea of Landon catching her practicing had her heart rate increasing once more. If he were to discover her real activities, there would be no hiding the truth from him. She was not a liar. But this was an excellent opportunity to test her skills at evading detection. Landon had the hearing of a bat.

  Carefully, Theo retrieved her blades and placed them in a satchel along with the drawing materials used to disguise its purpose. Careful to tread with care, Theo made her way through the trees. The open space between the tree line and the servants’ entrance was in Landon’s line of sight. She needed a distraction. As she searched the ground for something to use as a decoy, horse hooves thundered down the drive. Landon turned.

  With her cousin distracted, Theo raced across the clearing.

  Once she reached the servants’ entrance, Theo relaxed and smiled. Only after she closed the door to her chamber did she release the giggle that had been building inside her. She had successfully outwitted her astute cousin. With renewed confidence, Theo sauntered over to her hidden valise and emptied the contents, ensuring each item was necessary.

  Was she ready? How would Lord Archbroke and Lord Burke, patriarchs of the other families tied to the Crown, take the news of a lady assuming the family’s duties rather than the heir? Then again, her papa would not have broken tradition if he hadn’t believed she was capable. Why did she continue to doubt herself?

  Chapter Two

  Irritated his day had been interrupted by a visit from a total stranger, Graham walked briskly down the narrow hall lined with oil paintings of the countryside to the room where outsiders were allowed to wait. Agents nodded as he passed. His ever-present frown prevented them from accosting him. Most only dared address him in his office.

  But someone gripped
his shoulder, and Graham halted. “Waterford. Remove your hand.” Graham peered closely at his most senior agent’s features. “Whatever is the matter?”

  Lord Waterford didn’t meet his gaze but shrugged. “Nothing. Slow down before you bowl someone over.”

  Graham glanced about and took in Lord Waterford’s bloodshot eyes and sunken cheeks. “You need rest and a delicious beefsteak. Join me later.”

  “Is that an order?”

  “No. But perhaps we both could do with a night off.”

  “Impossible.” Lord Waterford shook his head and took his leave.

  Graham stood rooted to the spot as Lord Waterford disappeared down the hall. What was impossible? Rolling his shoulders, he continued to the room where the Earl of Hadfield was waiting.

  He swung the door open and entered the sparsely furnished room. “Lord Hadfield, to what do I owe the pleasure of your presence today?”

  Lord Hadfield turned, and Graham was confronted with an incredulous look. Graham released a sigh. He didn’t have the patience to deal with the man’s obvious skepticism. It was not uncommon for strangers to expect the Home Secretary to be a gentleman with silver in his hair and a portly physique. He was neither of those things. Although his midsection had increased as of late. He could hear the mental question as clearly as if the man had spoken. Could England’s home security be in the hands of a man who didn’t sport gray hair?