Everly eyed him a long moment. “Look, you’ve concocted some sort of mad reality in your head. Likely all that sun in Egypt. My mother is a sweet old woman. She’s not going to have anyone killed.”
“What sort of sweet old woman hires men like these and locks a household full of people in a cellar?”
Everly glanced at the lantern-jawed footmen and frowned.
“Promise me this, Everly,” Robert said, pressing his advantage. “When your mother orders them to take me off somewhere, you’ll come too. You should at least witness the price of your inheritance.” If Everly actually came to understand his mother’s evil, he might, just might, act against her.
Everly’s frown deepened into a scowl. He shrugged and nodded his chin toward the board. “It’s your move again, Hadler. If you beat me, I’ll make that promise.”
Robert slid his queen over three squares. “Checkmate.”
Everly blinked rapidly down at the table. “Devil take me,” he muttered.
“What’s that, dear?” Missus Everly said as she bustled through the doorway, flower embroidered gown swishing about her.
The two raised legs of Everly’s chair clunked back onto the rug. “Hadler’s just beaten me in chess again, Mother.”
“That’s to be expected, dear. You really shouldn’t play chess with the duke. Not if you wish to win.”
Everly flushed and glanced about, as if hopefully no one else heard his mother’s words. “That’s hardly kind, Mother. I’ll win one of these days.”
“I’m afraid it won’t be today, Edmond.” She came to stand beside her son, whom she looked down on fondly. “I’ve decided our guest must make ready to leave.”
“You see, Hadler, you’re off to London,” Everly said cheerfully.
Robert looked to Missus Everly, eyes narrowed. Somehow, he doubted that was her plan.
“Oh no, dear, he’s headed north.”
“North?” Robert repeated. He shot Everly a meaningful look. “There’s nothing north but infrequently traversed paths and trees.”
Missus Everly smiled sweetly. “Exactly. You’re going hunting. Time to take the forest trail. Four of my men will escort you.”
“Everly,” Robert said in a low voice. “You gave me your word.”
“What’s this?” Missus Everly’s bow-like mouth pressed tight.
“I’m going with him, Mother,” Everly said.
“No, Edmond, you’re coming with me,” she said crisply. “We’re personally conducting all the lovely documents Lord Robert has signed to London, where we shall file them with an attorney.”
Everly jutted out his chin. “I gave my word. I’m going with Hadler.”
Missus Everly regarded her son for a long moment. Her ice-blue eyes glittered. “Very well, dear. Perhaps it will be educational for you.”
“And my people?” Robert asked.
“You mean, Edmond’s people,” Missus Everly said, her smile back in place. “Two of my men will remain here to let them out of the cellar, once you’re well into your hunting trip.”
Which meant two were going with her to London. One to act as coachman and one to ride rear guard, most likely. “I have your word everyone here will be left unharmed?” Not that he placed much value on her promises.
“But of course.” Her tone was earnest. “What do you take me for, my lord? I wouldn’t harm innocents in my son’s employ.”
“See, Hadler?” Everly put in.
Robert favored her with a flat stare. “And Cecilia?”
“Lady Cecilia will have received your note quite some time ago.” Missus Everly shook her head. “I’m sure the poor thing was devastated. Such a sweet young woman. After such a betrayal, she’ll likely be relieved to get the papers annulling your union.” Her lips curled in a parody of a smile. “Maybe, once he joins me in London, Edmond can comfort her.”
An idiotic grin spread across Everly’s face. “She is a pretty little thing.”
Robert didn’t bother to hide the loathing that radiated from him. He also didn’t waste his breath on threats. Even if Everly was too thick to read Robert, Missus Everly knew how he felt, and what he would do to her son if he lay a finger on Cecilia.
Missus Everly’s eyes went wide. “Come to think of it, she’s likely already found someone to comfort her. Your defection was almost certainly a great shock.”
Robert refused to so much as clench his fists. He wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. Besides, Cecilia was too clever to believe Robert’s note, he was certain of it. “Swear to me you’ll leave Cecilia alone and I won’t give you any trouble.”
“You’re being dramatic again, Hadler,” Everly said. “Mother isn’t going to do anything to the lovely Lady Cecilia.”
“Of course not, dear,” Missus Everly agreed. She watched Robert with her cat-like smile for a moment longer, then gestured to one of her men. “Go ready the horses. It’s time for the duke to leave for his hunting trip.”
“You mean, now?” Everly protested as the man hurried away to do Missus Everly’s bidding. “So late in the afternoon?”
“Yes, Edmond, now.” Missus Everly frowned slightly. “If you’re set on accompanying him, you’d best make ready, and don’t be long about it.”
Muttering under his breath, Everly pushed back his chair. “See you in a jiff, Hadler,” he said as he stood.
Robert watched Everly stroll from the room, then turned back to his hostess. “Shall I make ready as well?” he asked, a bite in his tone.
“I daresay you’re as ready as you’ll ever be, Lord Robert.” She glanced toward the remaining footman. “Once he’s on the horse, tie his hands behind his back.”
“Yes, my lady,” the man said, bowing.
Missus Everly came to stand across from Robert, small hands resting on the back of the chair her son had vacated. “I want to assure you, my lord, that once your escort returns here to apprise the men who remain behind of the permanence of your hunting trip, no one in this manor, or on any of my son’s properties, will be harmed. The people here will be set free of the cellar, and everything will return to normal.” Her smile turned brittle. “But if, by the dinner hour, my men have not been assured of such, I cannot be held responsible for what they’ll be forced to do. Do I make myself quite clear?”
“Eminently,” Robert snapped.
She nodded. “Wonderful.” Her bright little eyes studied his face. “My mistake in London was in staging the kidnapping to cover your death.” She shook her head. “It’s all a matter of priorities. I was so worried about being caught that I forgot the most important goal of any such plan is not to establish our innocence, but to make sure you die. This time, my men will see to that first, and then worry about the details of making your passing look like an accident.”
“I’m happy you have that sorted out.” Robert’s tone dripped sarcasm.
“Oh, as am I,” Missus Everly said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, my lord?”
“Of course.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll come see you off.” She whirled in a swirl of floral fabric and bustled from the room.
Robert turned to the remaining guard, who watched him with wary eyes. “I’ll pay you double what she does.”
The man shook his head. “You won’t get anywhere that way, my lord. She has something on each of us.”
Robert should have known. Missus Everly wasn’t the sort to inspire loyalty. Not when she could take it.
His gaze went to the row of leaded glass windows. How much damage would he take if he jumped through one? Once he stood, there wouldn’t be time to get one open. Or should he try to overpower the remaining guard? Could he free his people before the other seven found him? Would the smattering of maids, young footmen and aged retainers who hadn’t gone to London to man his home there be able to overpower Missus Everly’s men? How many would be injured, or worse, in the process?
Robert dropped his gaze to the chessboard. An insidious, vile inkling of defeat snaked through him to wrap abo
ut his heart. Even if he managed to free his staff, asking them to fight Missus Everly’s ruffians was almost akin to letting her shoot them. They would be hurt, maybe even killed. As their lord, his most solemn duty was to protect them. More and more, Missus Everly was giving him but one way to accomplish that.
One by one, he replaced the chess pieces in their starting positions. All the while, he wracked his mind for a plan. At least he’d have Everly with him. If he could bring the man over to his side, that might accomplish something.
And if it didn’t? If these truly were his last moments on earth?
He lifted the delicately carved white queen. Livonia’s favorite piece. She hadn’t been able to beat Robert at chess either, but she’d never tired of trying. Would he, at last, be reunited with her? Hollow solace indeed, especially when he thought of what the evil Everly would unleash on his lands and people, and the pain his death would cause Cecilia.
It seemed as if hardly any time had passed when three more footmen entered the room. Together, the four of them escorted Robert through his home. The manor was eerily quiet, bringing to mind his visit to the Everly’s estate. He hadn’t fully grasped the grim portent of that silence. He did now.
Outside, six horses stood saddled, along with the Everly carriage. He realized Missus Everly had meant her words. She would depart as well. By tomorrow, the papers he’d signed would be in London.
They permitted Robert to mount, then bound his hands. His horse’s reins were lengthened and tied to the back of one of the footmen’s saddles. Soon, all was ready, waiting for the Everly’s to make their appearance.
They stepped from the manor together, Missus Everly on her son’s arm. Everly frowned as they descended the steps, his eyes on Robert. At the bottom, he turned to his mother.
“Is the duke bound?”
“Yes, dear. Now up you go. You insisted on accompanying Lord Robert, after all.”
Robert kept his mouth closed. He had things to say to Everly, but not in front of his mother. Robert was sure she would order him gagged if she thought he might influence her precious son.
“But Mother, why is Lord Robert bound?” Everly asked with almost childlike confusion.
Missus Everly lay a hand on his cheek. “Listen to me, dearest. You are meant to be duke. You were born to the title. This man, who’s had forty years to live in this grand manor and rule this estate, but instead hides away in Egypt, is terribly undeserving, and yet would still stop you. He doesn’t want his place as duke, but he would deny you the right. Is that correct? Is that good?”
“I suppose not,” Everly said.
“You do not need to suppose, dear, because I am telling you.” She patted Everly’s cheek. “It is not right. It goes against the natural order of things. All we’re doing is restoring what is right. God smiles on work such as this. He must, or how else would Lord Robert have come here, alone, and into our hands?”
As Robert was there because of a note Missus Everly sent him, he found her opinion of herself rather inflated.
“Do you really think so, Mother?”
“I know so, dear.”
Everly nodded.
Missus Everly pulled his head down and planted a kiss on his cheek, then turned him and pushed him toward his horse.
Everly hoisted himself onto his mount, then maneuvered to ride beside Robert. The footman who had Robert’s reins tied to his saddle led the way, the other three forming up around him and Everly. A glance showed the younger man wore a confused look. They headed north, taking a path toward the trees. Ahead, the ancient forest of Solworth loomed dark against the afternoon sun.
Chapter Eighteen
Cecilia jerked back from the window of the coach, shock and fear shooting through her.
“What?” Grace asked from the backward facing seat.
“That was the Everly carriage,” Cecilia whispered, though there was no way the occupants of the other conveyance, already rumbling off down the lane, could hear them.
Grace let out an explosive breath. “It’s a good thing we listened to Dodger,” she said, glancing upward in the direction of the boy, who rode outside in the tiger’s perch. “Do you think they saw you?”
Cecilia shook her head, equally relieved they’d listened to Dodger and rented a nondescript carriage, not taken the Solworth one. Not only were they hoping the multi-day trip in an unmarked conveyance had thrown Mister Porter, they could now hope the lack of a crest kept their presence secret. “The curtains were drawn, and I doubt the driver would recognize me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him before.”
Grace nodded, looking ill at ease, as she had for the entirety of their hurried journey.
Cecilia sympathized. Many miles ago, her nerves had passed frazzled and entered into some new, heretofore unexperienced level of torment. They were speeding toward the estate of a man who’d proposed to her, wed her, left her and told her he was annulling the union, all in the course of a handful of days. Cecilia couldn’t fathom what their reception would be. Harder on Grace, they were making the journey mostly based on her assertion that Robert loved Cecilia, even though he’d expressly informed her that he did not. Cecilia bit her lip.
“Don’t bite your lip. He loves you,” Grace snapped.
Cecilia ignored her and kept biting her lip.
The carriage slowed and started a turn.
Grace’s eyes flew wide. She stuck her head out the window, then pulled it back in. She reached up and pounded on the roof, signaling a stop. They halted halfway through the turn.
Cecilia looked out the window, taking in the base of a broad drive. The slate-clad rooftop of a manor peeked up over a low, tree-dotted hill. “Why are we stopping? Isn’t this the right place?” Above, she heard Dodger scramble down.
“Yes, but we can’t simply drive up there,” Grace said, eyes wide.
“Why ever not? If you’re so sure Robert loves me, then I must speak with him immediately.”
“Because something doesn’t feel right,” Grace said. “All else aside, the Everlys must have come from there. We have to know where things stand before showing ourselves.”
Dodger scrambled up on the step and stuck his head in the window. “I agree.”
“Hey, mind the door, scamp,” the driver called.
Dodger rolled his eyes. “As if it ain’t rented.”
“Isn’t,” Grace said.
“What it isn’t is the Solworth carriage,” Dodger said. “So it don’t matter if I scuff it a bit. We paid too much for the use of it, anyways, and his lordship’s driver’s treated it right fine.”
“I don’t care about the carriage,” Cecilia’s voice crackled with strain. “Or Dodger’s grammar. Not today. Are we going up there or do I have to get out and walk?”
“I’ll go take a quick look, your ladyship,” Dodger said. “No one will see me.”
Before Cecilia could protest, he hopped down. She caught a glimpse of him as he sprinted up the lane. His ragged brown apparel blended in as readily in the countryside as on London streets.
“Someone needs to take that boy in hand.” Grace folded her arms across her chest. “And find out his real name.”
“What if he doesn’t know his real name?” Cecilia asked. “He’s been an orphan a long time.”
“Someone, sometime in his life, must have called him something other than Dodger.”
Cecilia shrugged, straining to see up the driveway, though it would obviously be some time before Dodger returned. “Maybe he should be allowed to pick a name.”
“Lanora showed me the paperwork. He’ll have a last name, at least, soon enough.”
Cecilia shot Grace a surprised look, a bit sad she hadn’t been a party to the decision, then went back to studying the drive. Silence stretched between them for a long moment. “Should we go up, on foot, so he doesn’t have to run all this way back?”
Grace pressed her lips together. After a moment, she nodded. She pushed open the door and hopped out, then turned back to offer Cecili
a a hand.
“My lady, what are you doing?” the Solworth coachman called from his perch.
“We’re going up the drive a ways so we can meet Dodger on his return, Stevens,” Grace replied, pointing.
“Is that wise, Miss Birkchester?”
Grace turned back, hands on her hips. “Stevens, you’ve known me the entirety of my life. There is no reason to call me Miss Birkchester, and even less reason to question my judgement.” She whirled away and started up the drive.
Cecilia offered the coachman a shrug and hurried after Grace. Behind them, she heard Stevens climb down. He murmured something to his team. His boots settled into a steady tread as he followed them.
Grace left the drive before they crested the hill, setting off into the tall grass. Cecilia followed her toward a dense cluster of pines near the flat hilltop, bright green blades tugging at her hem. When they reached the group of pines, thick with holly among their trunks, they skirted the edge to peer toward the manor.
It was a lovely, large building constructed of gray stone, several stories tall. The slate roof was peaked, and fanciful gargoyles decorated the corners. The gravel drive arced at the top, leaving plenty of room before the broad front steps, likely granite. Ornate lampposts stood to either side of the imposing entrance. Even as they watched, Dodger slipped out a second story window and slithered down the stone façade to the ground. Ducking low, he ran up the hill.
Grace stepped out and waved once, then ducked back behind the trees. Dodger altered his course. Moments later, he reached them. Of unspoken accord, they all moved farther back behind the trees.
“Well?” Grace demanded.
“Everybody’s locked in the cellar,” Dodger offered, puffing from his exertions.
“What?” Cecilia gasped, startled. “Why?”
Dodger sucked in several breaths. “Well, there’s two big ugly fellows in Everly livery,” he said, trying to catch his breath as he spoke. “They’re arguing. Far as I can tell, some more fellows are to come, and then they’re to let everyone out of the cellar, on account of the deed will be done, whatever that means.”
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