A Murderous Masquerade (Unrivalled Regency Book 2)

by Williams, Jackie

  Charlotte let her own tears fall.

  “Alexander has explained to me that White Briars will be mine and Giles’ share of his venture with you all will pass to me also. Caithwell will be left for your son...” she hesitated. “Have you considered what will happen if you have a daughter?”

  Anne gave a grim laugh.

  “Of course. She will be loved and looked after by all of us. Caithwell will go to whoever is next in line, I suppose.”

  Charlotte frowned.

  “But who is the next in line? There’s not much of the family left. My father and Giles’ were the only two brothers and Giles is an only child. The line would have to be followed back to beyond my paternal grandfather, though I suspect that our solicitor would know.”

  She and Anne looked at each other, both of them suddenly dry-eyed. Anne stood up quickly.

  “Alexander has a lineage book. It has all the titled families in it from the sixteen hundreds. I’d be interested to find out who inherits, wouldn’t you?”

  Charlotte nodded and stood up quickly as suspicions grew in her mind.

  “But Caithwell is a mouldering pile. Who on earth would want it? They would have to be desperate.”

  Anne swallowed back her fears.

  “Yes, they would and I know two people who are desperate enough to attempt to get it at whatever cost. I don’t think that they are interested in the actual house, but more likely what it contains. Everyone knew that the old Lord, your father, was a miser and that you brother John gambled nearly everything away, but hardly any of the contents of Caithwell have ever been sold and your mother was an heiress. I think they are expecting the house to be full of treasures!”

  Charlotte nearly laughed.

  “They are delusional then. There was only one treasure in there and I have that in my bedroom here.” She referred to the huge diamond that she had discovered in the cinnabar box.

  Anne pulled her wrapper around her, a determined frown upon her brow.

  “But no one else knows that. Your brother boasted of great treasures apparently. That’s how he managed to keep his creditors at bay. That’s what others expect to be there. Come on, let’s go and find that book of Alexander’s.”

  The both walked out into the corridor and down the stairs to the library.

  Alexander looked up and smiled grimly as they walked in. His cravat was pulled away from his neck and his shirt lay open at the throat. His coat was flung over the back of a chair. He had obviously not long arrived home. Lily’s head lay on his shoulder as she slept on the chaise beside him. He lifted her gently and moved a cushion to support her before standing up and going to the other women

  “So you couldn’t sleep either. Lily has only just nodded off. She had been up all night waiting for me and hoping for good news. She needs her rest.”

  Anne looked at him hopefully but tears leapt into her eyes as she saw his bleak expression. He had discovered nothing new. She lifted her hand and touched the streaks that marred his cheek. It was obvious that he hadn’t been able to hold back his own tears while in the presence of his wife.

  “She needs to sleep, but I cannot close my eyes. The thought of...I can’t think of it. It is impossible...” Her voice faded as she heard the hall clock ticking loudly and the unthinkable came ever closer. Shaking her head, she cleared her thoughts and came back to the present as she looked about the room. “We had a thought. Not that it will help at all now, but we are curious all the same. I wondered if you still had that book of your father’s. The one with the peerage listings in it. Charlotte and I would like to know who is going to inherit Caithwell if my baby turns out to be a girl.” She placed her hand over her stomach and rubbed it gently. Their child was the only thing giving her any comfort.

  Alexander’s eyebrows shot to the top of his forehead.

  “Good Lord! Why didn’t we think of this before? I just assumed...Well, you know what I assumed, what most men assume. Our first children will always be sons if we had our own way. Let me find it for you.” He turned to the book cases and began running his fingertip along the shelf.

  It only took a few moments before he discovered it. He turned to Charlotte.

  “It’s not an up to date volume but it may tell you what you need to know. I know that Giles’ family is small. Your father, John and you were the only ones he ever spoke of and that wasn’t very often. He mentioned you once when he returned from leave, Charlotte. Forgive me but he said that it was a relief to come back to war. He thought that it was possibly quieter on the battlefield than having you ask him a hundred questions in an afternoon.”

  Charlotte pouted.

  “Well, of all the nerve! And here I am distraught by what is happening. If it wasn’t for the fact that I love him so much, I would never speak to him again.” She suddenly realized what she had said, that she really would never speak to him again and tears welled in her eyes. She turned away from Alexander and Anne. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean...” Her voice trailed off as Alexander caught her shoulders and pulled her into his embrace.

  “We know what you meant. Come, let’s sit and see if we can discover who might be coveting any wealth that may reside at Caithwell.” He turned the girl and gently brought her to the chair beside Anne. Alexander knelt on the floor between them and flicked through the book. “Caithwell...” he turned another page. “Caithwell...” his finger slid down the entries. “Ahhh!” He remained silent for a long moment before closing his eyes and turning the book towards Anne.

  “Oh no!” The misery in her tone was tangible. She placed her face in her palms and sobbed as if her heart would break.

  Charlotte picked up the book from where it had fallen to the floor. She quickly found the relevant page again and ran her own fingertip down the entries.

  “George Ellesworth? He married my great grandfather’s sister...” She looked up at Anne. “That’s your family name. This doesn’t go far enough but the name is there in black and white. Anne, your own family are going to inherit Caithwell. Giles was in their way and they orchestrated this whole thing to get rid of him.” Charlotte rose to her feet, angry hands fisted at her sides. “We have to go to the judge! We have to tell him this. Now!” Her impassioned tones rang through the library.

  Anne turned from Charlotte to Alexander, horror written on every feature of her beautiful face as she suddenly realized that she could see more than she should be able to. She turned her head towards the windows. The sun was already rising over Ormond.

  Dawn had come and it was all too late.

  Giles had been awake for some time. His stomach churned at the thought of what was to come. It struck him as odd because he had never felt real fear on the battlefields even with the enemy so close that he could smell the heavy scent of garlic and stale red wine on their breath.

  A glimmer of light cast a beam through the barred window and he glanced above his head. Dawn was just breaking. There were some sounds across the square and he stood up quickly. He picked up his coat and cringed as he noted the creases that had formed over night as he used it as his pillow. He nearly laughed as he imagined the look on Craddock’s face when he saw it.

  He brushed the coat down, attempting to remove the worst but his hand stopped as it felt the small box in his coat pocket. He lifted it out and stared at it. The two hearts were not obvious, especially in this light but he knew where to look now and found them easily. He pinched them together with his fingernails to make the cloverleaf shape and pulled. He hadn’t realised that he held his breath until it whooshed out of him as the secret door opened. He tipped the two bottles from the compartment and took a deep breath as he opened the stoppers. He gave them a sniff and squeezed his eyes shut as the strong scents caught at the back of his throat.

  Could he actually take it without knowing what Charlotte had planned? It was obviously something that she had shared to a certain extent with Alexander or he wouldn’t have slid the box into his pocket. He wondered how much she might have told him. There wa
s the sound of movement right outside his door. The hanging was scheduled for seven. Charlotte’s instructions had said take at dawn. Did the potions do something that needed a couple of hours to begin to work? The key was slotted into the lock. It was now or never.

  He closed his eyes, sent up a prayer to a God that he often called to for entirely different reasons, and tipped the contents of both bottles down his throat.

  Nothing could have prepared him for the taste that hit the back of his tongue. It took everything he had not to gag the whole lot back up again. He squeezed his eyes shut as his fingers fumbled with the bottle stops before sliding the bottles back in the box.

  He snapped the box shut just as the door opened and slid his hand into his pocket.

  Nate stared at him for a long moment as he sniffed the air. The man’s nose twitched and a slight crease formed between his brows.

  “Cor! That’s some fancy perfume Craddock’s given you. You ‘oping to woo the angels?”

  Giles gave the man a good natured smile.

  “At least you seem to think I will be seeing angels and not demons. Sounds like there is hope for me yet.”

  Nate settled the tray he had brought with him on the bed.

  “Well, that bit is obvious. You ain’t a bad man like that Lord said but we can’t do much about that now. The judge has spoken, so that’s it. Now come and eat this up. Mister Gates says that you should only ‘ave a light breakfast. Lots of folk chuck up in the moments before the drop...Makes a ‘orrid mess if you ‘ave anyfing too rich.” He nodded towards the dish of greying porridge.

  Giles held down the already rolling contents of his stomach.

  “Thank you so much for that piece of information. It’s just what I needed to know. I think I’ll give it a miss. Stomach’s a bit queasy at the moment. Wouldn’t want to be an inconvenience to anyone.” At that instant a large pocket of wind made its way from his stomach to his mouth and he belched uncontrollably.

  Nate waved his hand in front of his face.

  “Blimey! That’s a bit rich as it is! You sure you ain’t been drinking that perfume, cos your breath smells somefing awful strange.”

  Giles apologized profusely. The taste in his mouth was appalling; he could not imagine what his breath must have been like.

  “I am most dreadfully sorry. Can’t think what came over me. I can assure you that I’m not normally quite so vulgar.”

  Nate shook his head.

  “Tha’s all right me Lud! Must be nerves. Nothing like going to your own ‘anging to put the wind up ye! You’re lucky that you don’t get to dangle in front of the masses. They made you a nice scaffold with a private drop. That Duke who’s been visiting arranged for it. Old Lavenham was mightily annoyed and said that your demise should be public but the Duke insisted it’s your due, you bein’ a Lord an’ all.”

  Giles rolled his eyes. As if a private drop would make things any better.

  “Yes, very decent of him and I like the thought of disappointing Lavenham.” He cocked his ear as the church bells rang out the half hour. Thirty minutes until his demise and all there was to look at was a plate of congealing porridge. Nate looked at the porridge too. The man’s yellow furred tongue slipped out and he licked his top lip. Giles took pity on him. “You can have it if you like. I’m sure I can resist the temptation for the last hour of my life.”

  A big grin broke out over the man’s face.

  “You are a true gent, Sir.” He picked up the wooden spoon and started shovelling in scoopfuls. After eating for almost a minute he wiped his sleeve across his mouth. “I told the wife about you. The family ‘as been eating like royalty. It’s a bloody shame that they brought your trial forwards. We could ‘ave done with keeping you alive for another couple of weeks. Would ‘ave set us up for the winter what wiv me wife drying the hams. Reckon we can make it last through to November though, so we’re grateful all the same.” He dipped his spoon in the watery oats again.

  Giles couldn’t help laughing. This was the most bizarre conversation he could have ever imagined having on the morning of his own execution. He looked at Nate again and laughed even louder as the man’s nose appeared to elongate and dip over his mouth and into the porridge. Giles shook his head and gawped as Nate’s eyes bulged suddenly. Giles leaned towards him.

  “Are you alright. You’re not choking are you?”

  Nate glanced over at him.

  “Nah, I’m fine. Just enjoying a breakfast. Could ‘ave done with ‘unny or preserves, but food is food. You sure you don’t want a mouthful, you know, just to keep your strength up while we’re waiting.”

  Giles shook his head.

  “No, you enjoy it while it’s still warm. You have a hard day’s work in front of you, unlike me, though if I tell you the truth, I feel as strong as an ox.” He puffed out his chest. He really did feel strength surging through him. He strode around the room several times before he noticed that Nate had put the spoon down and was staring at him strangely. Giles stopped dead and stared back at Nate. The man’s skin on his face looked as though it was melting. Giles staggered back against the wall, but now when he looked Nate appeared perfectly normal. It must have been a trick of the light.

  The guard watched him suspiciously.

  “What’s wrong with ye? You’ve gone as pale as a ghost.” Nate stood up from the bench and peered up at Giles.

  Giles’s eyes opened wide in horror as Nate’s face bulged below his jaw-line, the skin blowing out as though the man had turned into a huge bullfrog. Nate let out a great croak and continued croaking at him until the door of the cell suddenly opened again and Gates marched in followed by two other guards. Giles spun towards Gates, relieved to see that he looked perfectly normal. Nate came up to his side and Giles did a double take. The man looked perfectly normal again too. What the devil was going on?

  He ran a hand over his now perspiring face but didn’t speak. His tongue suddenly felt as though it was too large for his mouth. Another belch came out and this time Gates staggered back.

  “Bloody hell! You smell as though your guts are rotting already!” He wafted his handkerchief in front of his face.

  Giles stared down at the little man who appeared to be shrinking even further with every second that passed. My goodness! Charlotte’s potion had made him grow...had turned him into a giant. His shoulders were widening, becoming huge. If they didn’t take him out of the cell soon he wouldn’t fit through the door. A great guffaw spilled forth at the thought.

  Gates stared up at him and Giles waggled his finger under the shrinking man’s nose.

  “You’re too small to hang me. You’ve made the scaffold the wrong size. I am a giant amongst men!” He hunched over as his shoulders threatened to hit the walls and sniggered into his coat sleeve as if the whole affair was a great joke.

  Nate shrugged his shoulders as Gates looked on in surprise.

  “He’s been a bit odd right since I came in. We should get it over and done with before the poor sod turns completely mad. Some of ‘em don’t like the confined space. Seen it lots of times when I was at sea. Some of the crew ‘ad to be out on the deck whatever the weather. The walls pressed in on them, they said.”

  Gates nodded at Nate, an obvious font of wisdom.

  “It’s nearly seven anyway. Probably best to get him strung up before the crowd arrives for the main event.” He referred to the other poor souls whose lives were to end that day. He cast his eyes over the now chuckling Giles who appeared to be fascinated by the light coming in at the window. Gates scratched under his wig as Giles raised his hands and twisted them in the beam of light. “Looks as though that could be a good idea.” He paused again. Giles had stopped all movements of his hands and was now talking to the brickwork. Gates gave himself a shake. “Make sure he’s tied up good and tight. He’s gone off his rocker alright. Don’t want him trying to make any sort of escape...You know that the Duke’s man has arrived to take the body? He’s waiting below as we speak. The doctor has arrived to
o. Make sure that he signs the death warrant before he leaves.” He gave Giles a last look up and down and then left the room to take his place by the scaffold.

  Anne closed her eyes as the sun broke over the landscape. She placed her hands over her stomach and wept uncontrollably. For Giles to be wrongly accused was more than enough but for him to lose his life over her own father’s and brother’s greed and stupidity over their own finances was just too much for her to take in. She wondered if her father would be gloating at the scaffold as she stood there weeping over the only man she had ever loved.

  The only thought that kept her upright was that her baby might be a boy and therefore the rightful heir to the Caithwell estate. Anne was relieved when Alexander informed her that he wasn’t leaving anything to chance. He had already given the marriage certificate to his solicitor for safe keeping. Carter had made an entry into his files proclaiming sight of the certificate. It was as much as they could do to safeguard Caithwell.

  Charlotte came up beside her and held her gently. Giles’ cousin cried tears of her own, but Anne was relived to discover that the young woman wasn’t resentful of her own relationship with Giles’ murderers.

  Murderers! That’s what her father and brother had become. Fury began to work its way through her body. She narrowed her eyes. She would see that justice was done. She had to. There was no way that she could let the pair of them get away with this travesty.

  Charlotte broke her desperate thoughts by kissing her on the cheek. The woman smiled gently at her through her tears.

  “Don’t lose hope Anne. He has one last chance, if he dared to take it.”

  Anne turned to her curiously.

  “What do you mean? It is already too late. The clock just chimed seven. He is lost to me forever.” Her words came out in a choked keen, such was the pain that seared her heart.

  Charlotte gave a tender, if watery smile.

  “I want him to be taken to Caithwell. The family vault is there. Will you come with me?”