“I’m frightened, My Lady,” Faith admitted.
“As am I.”
Setting down her knife and fork, she sighed. She pushed her dish away. “I don’t know if I can eat.”
“You must keep up your strength, My Lady. And you must keep your hope.”
She looked over at dear Faith, who was looking at her, smiling in earnest.
“Everything will turn out right,” Faith said, gently. “I’m sure of it.”
Selina smiled, holding out her hand. Faith stood and stepped forward, taking her hand. Selina pressed her fingers gently. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Faith.”
“You’d have no decent clothes left, My Lady,” she replied teasingly.
“You sly thing!” Selina said, laughing despite herself. Faith beamed at her. Selina turned back to her plate, spearing asparagus with her fork.
Despite being cooked in butter and fresh rosemary, it tasted of ashes. She speared another. She would make it through dinner, as well as whatever the next few days demanded of her.
She was resolute—she would prevail. She would do whatever was necessary so that she ended up with the gentleman that she loved. She would.
* * *
Leah had spent the night, sleeping fitfully. She kept waking, still full of anger. In the darkness, she promised herself, that all would be solved. She would be the Duchess. The next morning, she was taking her tea in her room, alone, when she received a letter.
“This has arrived for you, My Lady,” Mr. Wickes said, delivering it right to her hand.
“Who’s it from?” she wondered, looking at the unfamiliar wax seal, the unknown hand.
“It was delivered by a courier,” he replied. “I know not, My Lady.”
“Thank you, Mr. Wickes,” she said.
She broke the seal, which was made with green wax—it was of two intertwined snakes. She knew of no one with handwriting such as this—it was so fine, with exquisite flourishes. The ink was dark, very expensive. The paper was fine—very thick. It had to have come from a gentleman.
My Lady Leah,
I have heard all about your current predicament. I have heard the Duke of Gillingham speak of his plans, which are to end his engagement to you in favor of the Lady Selina. I feel that you have been wronged. I would like to offer you my assistance.
If you can, slip out this evening, and meet me in the garden of Kirby Hall at eleven of the clock. Tell no one. You have my word that no harm will come to you.
Warmest Regards,
A Gentleman
Leah folded the letter again. She placed it on her lap, then covered it with her skirt. She needed to consider how best to proceed. There was a great risk involved in this. It might be the evil individual who had killed Lady Langley.
Then again, it might be someone else. Someone was willing to fight for Leah. She needed someone strong on her side.
* * *
Selina breakfasted in her room the next morning, as well. She sipped from a cup of tea, chewing the fresh pastry that had been brought to her. It was of flaky crust with strawberry jam.
“So,” Thomas said from the door. “This is what it’s like to be under house arrest.”
She turned to look at him, swallowing the bite of pastry. “I’m only allowed to go into the gardens,” she murmured. “Can I interest you in a stroll?”
“Of course,” Thomas said, seating himself in one of the armchairs. Selina leaned against the writing table, taking a sip of her tea. She hoped that he was there to apologize. She waited for him to speak. At length, he did. “I’m sorry about what I said yesterday.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You were very mean.”
“I know. There was no reason for it,” he said, finally looking at her. “It’s hard to have you suddenly about to marry. Now that I’ve thought about it, I’ve realized that no gentleman will ever be good enough for you, not to me. Whoever it turned out to be was due to get eviscerated by me.”
“And?” Selina asked, smiling.
“And I apologize, I will do whatever it takes to see you married to the gentleman that you are so enamored with.”
“Apology accepted,” she replied, sipping her tea.
Thomas exhaled. “That’s a relief. I am sorry, Selina.”
“I know. We’ve never disagreed like that before,” she said. “Let’s never do it again.”
“But what will you do when I find the lady that I’m going to marry?”
“I’ll take your word that she’s an absolute angel and welcome her warmly into the family.”
Her brother seemed to deflate. “You’re so much better than I am.”
“Naturally.” She sipped her tea, turning her gaze toward the window. The sun was beaming down brightly over the bright spring grass. “I just wish that I could see him,” she commented. “That would make everything better.”
“Let me help,” Thomas suggested.
“How?”
* * *
After breakfast, Jasper and Stephen retired to his study to discuss plans for how to get him to see Selina when her brother’s arrival was announced.
“Lord Windermere,” Jasper said, surprised.
“Your Grace,” Selina’s brother replied, ceremoniously pulling a letter from his jacket pocket. “I come bearing word from my sister.”
“Thank you, My Lord,” Jasper replied, accepting it. “Have a seat.”
He undid the seal—with its black wax, a letter “S” intertwined with the letter “D.” He had never received a letter from her before. Anticipation made his palms tingle.
“We were just talking about how we were going to get the two of them together,” Stephen filled Lord Windemere in.
“That’s the very reason I’ve come,” Thomas replied.
They both spoke in low voices. Meanwhile, Jasper read and cherished every word of Selina’s, written in her flowing, slanted hand.
Dearest,
I’m sending my brother, who promises me that he can sneak out far more easily than I can, and that he will not be stopped on the road. According to him, he’s completely invincible. If you’re reading this, then perhaps he is.
I need to see you. The past twelve hours have been a trial. I tried to apologize to Lady Leah, and was promptly and violently rejected, which, I admit, is a little deserved.
I miss you, and just seeing your face will immediately make everything better.
Although I would have rather it gone another way, all current suffering is being borne as best as I can. If all of this leads me back to you, then it will all be worth it.
I love you.
Yours,
Selina
He stared at it, reading it through several times. He didn’t deserve her. But he would have her—and do his best to deserve her. He looked up, to where Stephen and Lord Windermere were waiting, sitting quietly.
“How did you get out of Kirby Hall?” Jasper asked him.
“I took the servant’s hallway out,” Lord Windermere replied simply. “Few people watch it. It’s a dark, gloomy thing, but it lets out right by the stables.”
“Can you get Selina out that way?”
“I could, and we could have Faith cover for her,” he stated. “After all, Selina has been confined to her rooms until further notice.”
“We’ll meet you both out by the World Tree,” Jasper said. “She knows where that is.” He looked at Stephen. “We’ll all be armed, and then if you and I bring Reuben, as well, that will make four gentlemen.”
“Very good.” Stephen nodded his agreement.
Jasper stood, holding out his hand to Lord Windermere. They clasped hands. “I can’t thank you enough,” he said.
“Don’t thank me,” Lord Windermere said. “I come on my sister’s behalf. I have one thing to ask of you before I help you.”
“What’s that?”
“End things with Lady Leah,” Lord Windermere replied. “Then I will bring my sister to you, freely.”
“I’ll go to
morrow morning,” Jasper promised. “First thing.”
“Very good,” Lord Windermere said, bowing to him. “We’ll wait for your word.”
* * *
Leah lay in bed, wide awake. In the darkness, she could hear no one moving about. She got up, moving as silently as she dared. She crept down the hall, with no light to guide her.
She opened the door to the servants’ passage. It was cool and dark. She could smell wet stone. Her shoes crunched in the dust. She let out a held breath, then made her way, slowly.
When she exited, she found herself at the back of the house. She pulled up her hood, covering her head as she walked in the direction of the gardens. In the dark, she could just make out the path.
Her heart was pounding in her chest. She had never been in a situation where she was nervous like this. She’d never taken such a risk like this before. The reward, however, was tantalizing.
She walked all the way to the very edge of the garden, where she sat down on the small white wrought-iron bench. In the night, it was damp with dew, which soaked through her skirts.
Leah looked around. She saw no one in the gloom. She sat, waiting, for how long, she didn’t know. There was a step in the grass. Leah stiffened. He must have been hiding, watching her to make sure that she’d come alone.
“Do not turn,” a masculine voice said, from behind her.
“I know who you are,” she said, shocked to her core.
“It would be best if you could honestly say that you didn’t see me,” he growled. His voice was dangerous. She had never experienced this side of him, which gave her a delicious chill.
“The Duke trusts you.”
“He’s stupid enough to trust most people. It’s why he’ll never catch me.”
“You said you’d help me,” she reminded him, now seeing how conveniently he’d placed himself.
“Yes,” he said, outlining his plans, quickly. Leah listened, half in awe, half in shock at what he was planning. “Do you agree?”
“I agree,” she said, feeling a little like she was making a deal with the Devil himself. It was worth it, though. It was all worth it.
He laughed. “No one will ever find out that we conspired.”
“No, no one, My Lord,” she said, “And no one will hear of my involvement, at all, in the event that you are caught?” That was what she feared, the most. A lady didn’t conspire with evil individuals on such matters. A lady didn’t creep out of the house for dark deeds in the middle of the night.
“Not a soul, My Lady. Close your eyes,” he said. She closed her eyes as he stepped forward, pressing his lips roughly to hers. She moaned as a flash of desire filled her. She kissed him back.
Then, he was gone. When she opened her eyes, she was alone. She turned toward home, a smile spreading slowly across her lips.
I will have everything that I want—and more.
* * *
The next day dawned bright and clear. Jasper dressed and breakfasted, a note for Lady Selina in his pocket. He would leave it for her, downstairs. The direction was in Stephen’s hand, but the contents were in Jasper’s.
He rode Pilot along the road that ran in between Gillingham Manor and Kirby Hall. He was going to talk to Lady Leah and put an end to it all. He felt free and light. Soon, it would be over. Then, Lord Windermere would be willing to help him meet with Selina.
Not being able to see her at all over the past few days had been interminable torture. He missed her. She was all that he could think about. He’d pored over all of his memories of her—pale substitutes for the real lady.
He turned a bend in the road. Pilot came to a stop, tossing his head. Jasper sat back, tugging gently on the reins as he beheld two riders, their horses stopped in the center of the road.
They were both dressed in dark clothing, hoods pulled up over their heads. They wore dark cloth masks, which covered their faces. Here they were, at last—two of the demons who had plagued Gillingham County.
One pulled out a pistol, pointing it in Jasper’s direction.
“What’s this?” Jasper demanded. He wasn’t going to cower in front of them. He would not. His own pistol was holstered at his hip. He cursed himself for not pulling it sooner.
“Get off your horse,” the one ordered.
“Absolutely not.”
“Get down, or he’ll shoot, Your Grace,” he said. Jasper didn’t recognize his voice. He wondered if he was speaking lower than normal, affecting that Northern dialect, which was uncommon in Gillingham County.
His pulse raced, at the same pace as his mind—looking for anything that he recognized of them, he slowly got down. As he did, he slipped his hand to his pistol.
“What do you want?” he asked. “I carry nothing of value.”
“We want you dead, Your Grace.”
Ice filled Jasper’s veins. If he didn’t shoot first, he was going to die. Before the one spoke again, he pulled his pistol in one quick motion, aiming not at the armed man’s horse, but near enough to spook it. The horse reared, dumping his rider, who pulled his trigger. The shot went into the sky.
Jasper shot in the direction of the other horse, who took off. Jasper quickly got back onto Pilot’s back, turning his horse back toward home in a gallop. He should never have gone alone.
He recalled the man’s words—for that was no gentleman—We want you dead, Your Grace. He was being targeted.
* * *
Leah sat in the parlor, with her Mother. Her embroidery hoop lay, untouched, on her side table. She was too nervous to work. She hadn’t eaten more than a few bites of toast at breakfast. She drummed her fingers nervously on the chair’s arm.
“Darling, you look pale,” her mother said, looking up from her own embroidery.
“I’m fine, Mother,” she insisted.
“The Duke should be here, any moment,” her mother said. “Are you worried?” They’d received word that he planned to call on Leah just that morning. She knew that her own special gentleman planned to follow the Duke closely.
“He’ll stick to what he’s promised,” she replied. “He’s an honorable gentleman.”
“Leah,” her mother said, setting aside her embroidery. “Wouldn’t you rather have a husband who loves you, and not your cousin?”
“You don’t need love to make a marriage work.” Leah glared at her mother.
“Leah—”
“Honestly, Mother, it seems as though you’re on Selina’s side,” Leah snapped. “She’s the one who urged him to be unfaithful to me.”
Her mother nodded, lowering her eyes. “I’m on your side, sweetheart. I’m always on your side.”
Her mother was then silent. Maria was seated a few feet away, thankfully quiet.
Leah stood, then walked to the window.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Jasper arrived home, breathing heavily. His mind was a frantic storm. He knew that he wasn’t thinking clearly.
Is there anything that I saw that would give them away?
“My Lord? Is something wrong?” Sotheby asked. Jasper blinked, surprised to find himself at the door to his own home.
“Send word to the Constable in Bridesdale, as well as Colonel Fitz,” he said. “I’ve just been stopped by the individuals who murdered Lady Langley.”
“What’s happened?” Stephen asked, coming inside. He was dressed in a dark jacket. It looked like he’d come from the stables. “I saw you riding like the Devil himself was after you.”
“I was stopped out on the road,” Jasper explained, as he made a beeline straight for the parlor, where he always kept a decanter of bourbon. Stephen followed after him, a look of concern on his face.
Jasper poured himself a drink. He paced, thinking back to the attack. “They said that they wanted to kill me.”
Stephen sat down in an armchair, watching him.
“You saw them both in broad daylight?” Stephen murmured, leaning forward in his seat. “Did you notice any defining characteristics?”
�
��They were masked.”
“Perhaps if you go through what happened, exactly, you’ll remember something important,” Stephen suggested.
Sins 0f An Intoxicating Duchess (Steamy Historical Regency Romance) Page 25