Liam shook his head, and Win saw the gesture echoed among the other Kellingtons. “I do not care about any punitive actions the court could take. I will not see you convicted. And I speak for the entire Kellington family when I say that.”
“They would impugn your honor. I cannot allow it.”
“Not a person in this room would think I behaved dishonorably. That is all that matters.”
“Win,” said Colin. “I think you should take Liam up on his generous offer.”
She smiled wanly at him. “I cannot do that to him or any of you. While I recognize that having a sister who is a convicted murderer will hardly be any less shameful than having one who ran away, at least you could distance yourself from me. If I were to run, you would always be suspected of harboring a fugitive. No. I cannot do it.”
“We will always stand with you,” said Nick. “We will always be proud to call your our sister. Indeed, none of this would have come to pass if we’d done our duty as brothers. We should have removed you from that house. Or, even killed the monster ourselves.”
“Please, Win,” said Rose. “Please go to safety. I’ll accompany you.”
With tears in her eyes, Win shook her head.
“Then I think,” said Aunt Prue, “that it is time to speak of the past. It is a story which has never been told in its entirety before today. My own niece and nephews don’t know it. It is an event which occurred a quarter of a century ago, though its repercussions are still felt today.
“At the end of the last century, I was a young woman and my beloved sister Anne was married to the former duke, Michael. They had three children and she was about to give birth to a fourth. We were all at Lynwood Manor in Hertfordshire for her confinement and I’d just made Mariah’s acquaintance. She was betrothed to a man in the next county.” She paused to take a deep breath and Win noticed that Mariah looked rather pale. “The first time I met Mariah, her betrothed, Mr. Stevens, had just broken her nose, though at the time she said she’d tripped and hit her head in the stables. Two months later he broke her jaw. She tried to run away from him but when Stevens found her, he beat her so severely the surgeon believed she would lose sight in her left eye. Fortunately, my sister and her good husband agreed to take my friend in.
“Michael went to talk to the brute. He said Mariah had changed her mind and was breaking the betrothal. Stevens laughed at the duke, saying he’d bought Mariah from her father and was going to marry her, regardless of whether she changed her mind. The way he saw it, her wishes didn’t matter. He owned her. Or he would as soon as they were wed. Michael offered to pay to end the betrothal, but Stevens refused. He laughed, then let the duke in on a secret. He said he liked hurting women. He’d done so to his first two wives. And he looked forward to beating a third.
“Stevens’s first wife had died in childbirth, which had been brought on by a beating he’d given her while she was six months pregnant. His second wife had killed herself to get away from the beatings. Stevens declared he wouldn’t give Mariah the chance to deny him the experience he’d only previously had with animals. He bragged to the duke about how he was going to kill Mariah and there was nothing anyone could do about it.”
Miss Prudence had to stop for a moment to compose herself. She had the attention of everyone in the room. It was obvious most of the Kellingtons had never heard this story before. Win’s heart went out to Mariah, a quiet, gentle woman who looked like she was about to be ill.
Prue continued. “Michael challenged him to a duel. He told Stevens he would meet him at dawn two days hence to end his life.
“My sister was beside herself when she heard. She’d been appalled, of course, to hear Stevens’s plans. But her solution had been to spirit Mariah out of the country. However, the duke had calmly explained that Stevens was responsible for two deaths and had confessed to plans for a murder. Plans that Lynwood had no doubt would be carried out. There would be no punishment, just as there had not been for the deaths of his first two wives, as well as the babe. Stevens would stage Mariah’s death in such a way as to give the authorities doubt of his guilt. They would never convict a peer when there was the possibility he was innocent. Well, the old duke – much like the current one – had a deep respect for justice. He would not allow another woman to be killed. And the only way to stop that was by taking Stevens’s life. Michael didn’t believe he could do nothing and still be an honorable man.
“My sister realized she would never win an argument about her husband’s honor. But they had two days to say their good-byes and make preparations for any eventualities.
“I believe the rest of this story is Henry’s to tell.”
Hal, who – like all the Kellingtons – had been part of the rapt audience, shook his head. “What do I know of it? This is the first time I’ve heard any of it.”
“I wasn’t asking you, love,” said Prue. “I was referring to your namesake.”
“I thought I was named for Henry VIII.”
Prue smiled. “No, dearest. They only let you believe that because your true namesake was too modest. What say you, Henry? Is it time to confess?”
She turned to the longtime Kellington butler, Henry Heskiss.
Who looked most uneasy.
“I cannot betray his grace, Miss Prudence. Loyalty extends beyond one’s passing.”
“No one could ever accuse you of being disloyal, Henry. And unless I miss my mark, I believe the family wants to hear the rest. They deserve the truth. And this young woman’s life lies in the balance.”
“Please,” said Liam. “Please tell us…Henry.”
Heskiss nodded slowly. The butler, who was the odd combination of dignified but warm, looked like he wished to bolt from the room. He was perhaps in his early sixties, but still spry. It was obvious he was well liked – well loved – by the Kellingtons. Yet, he still seemed nervous to tell his story.
He finally began. “Her grace was beside herself with worry, which was alarming since she was with child. That was his grace’s greatest concern – how his death would affect his wife and children. He loved her and the rest of you dearly and he hated to think of missing a life with you. On the eve of the duel, he said good-night to the children, then they retired early, closing themselves up in the duke’s suite. I wasn’t sure if her grace would allow him to leave the next morning. But an hour before dawn, he came downstairs alone, looking grim. I didn’t need to ask if he still intended to go through with the duel. I was certain her grace had already asked that question numerous times.
“He and I rode out to the appointed place in a cart. Stevens arrived shortly after we did, a smug smile on his face. Neither he nor his grace had arranged for a surgeon because both knew this was to the death. Stevens hadn’t even bothered bringing a second. That made his grace and me suspicious. It meant that Stevens likely wouldn’t be playing by gentlemen’s rules. I wanted his grace to call off the duel. But he wouldn’t.
“They took their places and his grace even allowed Stevens to count them down. I couldn’t breathe. I could barely stand there watching. I knew Stevens would cheat. His grace was a formidable shot and no man in his right mind would wish to face him. As Stevens counted down, I held my breath. And then it happened. Stevens was a coward and shot on two, wounding his grace. Blood exploded from the duke’s arm and Stevens was exuberant, thinking he’d inflicted a mortal wound. He was reaching for a hidden pistol to finish the job when his grace shot calmly and true. Stevens was shot straight through the heart. He had a look of shock on his face as he died. His end was quick and more peaceful than it should have been.”
There was a collective breath in the room as the two families took in what had happened. Finally, the duke spoke.
“Through the years I heard the occasional rumor that father had been in a duel,” said Liam. “But every time I brought it up he changed the subject. I wish he would have told me so I could have thanked him. Not that he did it for the appreciation. It was second nature to him to do what was right. I
t’s who he was.”
“Thank heavens he was successful – for many reasons,” said Lizzie. “Including the fact I wouldn’t be here today if he’d been killed. But most of all because Mariah was safe.”
“But here’s the thing,” said Prue quietly. “I found out later she was always going to be safe, regardless of whether your father had survived. Finish your story, Henry.”
The butler looked quite uncomfortable to be the focus of so much attention. “If his grace had died, I was going to kill Stevens in cold blood. That is why his grace scheduled the duel in forty-eight hours instead of the next morning, as was usual. He wanted to make preparations to get me out of the country in the event of his death. He wasn’t going to allow Stevens to harm Mariah or any other woman. If he was unable to stop him, he wanted me to, instead.
“I would have gladly done it. Not just for Miss Mariah,” here he nodded to her. “But to avenge his grace’s death. I owed him everything. We met one night near the docks. His grace had just come out of a….an establishment and two men had tried to rob him. I was living on the streets at the time and came to his aid. I was wounded and he brought me home. He saved my life and then when he made me his valet, he gave me purpose.
“I had no qualms whatsoever about ending Stevens’s life if it came to it. We were also afraid that if I didn’t follow through her grace would, instead. Or, years later, one of the children. We couldn’t allow that. But his grace was an excellent marksman, so my role was minimal. I simply had to tend to his wounds.
“I will say her grace was livid – with both of us. She’d known about the plan, of course. But she couldn’t stand seeing his grace injured. On the way back from the duel, he was trying to convince me we could keep his injuries a secret. But I saw to it that he had proper medical care and her grace was with him every minute until the danger had passed.”
“Yes,” said Prue with a wicked grin. “I seem to remember they remained in their bedchamber most of three days, other than time spent with the children. She must have been ‘giving him proper medical care.’”
Heskiss, once again the proper butler, only said “I would not know about that, Miss Prue. But I can attest I was never as proud to be his servant or – if I may be so bold – his friend, as on that tense morning.”
There was silence at the end of Heskiss’s recitation. Then Liam rose and walked over to him. The duke bowed, then shook his butler’s hand.
One by one, the male members of the Kellington family did the same. The ladies hugged him. They were followed by the Emersons.
Then, finally, Prue and Mariah did the same. There was a long embrace between Heskiss and the shy Mariah.
Prue continued. “When Hal was born, Anne insisted that they name him after Henry Heskiss, but Henry wouldn’t allow it. He was afraid it would raise too many questions. They compromised and said he was named after Henry VIII, hoping the heroic side of the former king would be the bigger influence than the monarch’s dissipated youth.”
“Turns out our Hal was both,” said Arthur with a grin. “But I’m not sure anyone could live up to the heroism of Henry Heskiss. Hal, pour us all a drink so we can toast.”
“Why do I always have to pour the drinks?”
“Tradition,” said his brother.
“Well, Win,” said Lynwood, as he waited for Hal to fill his glass. “I hope this means you’ll allow us to help you, the way our father helped Mariah. You wouldn’t deny us the opportunity to live up to his standards, would you?”
“I shall consider it,” said Win, carefully. She couldn’t continue to refuse in this room filled with friends.
Then everyone raised a glass to the bravery and loyalty of Henry Heskiss.
CHAPTER TWENTY
As Alex walked through the dark corridors of chambers, he thought back to the half dozen years he’d been in residence there. At first, he’d been thankful to have not only a profession – and a respected one at that – but also a home. His beloved mother had died while he’d been at university, so he’d had no home to return to when he finished school. Had he not been accepted as a barrister at this chambers, he wasn’t sure what he would have done.
The first few years had been a blur. He’d been consumed by work, intent on showing he was any man’s equal. Hard work and skill had seen him rise to the rank of King’s Counsel. He hadn’t cared about how small his suite was or how devoid of human warmth it was. He’d viewed his austere surroundings as befitting the seriousness of his work. Now he simply saw dark hallways adorned with portraits of long-dead legal scholars, bedchambers that were freezing in winter and sweltering in summer, and everything being in need of a good cleaning.
As one of the senior members of chambers, Sir Wilfred’s personal quarters were on a floor with only three other occupants. Alex had never been invited to partake of a drink there, as other barristers had been. He’d tried to tell himself he hadn’t felt the slight, when in fact it had hurt. He worked harder than just about anyone else, but at the end of the day your station in life was still more important than one’s accomplishments.
Well, the good thing was that after tonight none of it would matter.
As he approached Sir Wilfred’s door, he steeled himself for what was about to happen. He finalized his strategy, then knocked. There was no light coming from the room and for a moment he feared the older man was out. He knocked again. Just as he was about to give up, there was a noise from within.
“Who is it?” asked Sir Wilfred from the other side of the door.
“Lewis. Pardon the intrusion, Sir Wilfred, but we need to talk.”
There was a brief hesitation, but then the door opened, revealing Sir Wilfred in his dressing gown and night clothes. He looked like he’d been awakened, but a strong smell of spirits made Alex wonder whether the man had been asleep or passed out from drink.
“What the devil is this about, Lewis?” Sir Wilfred was clearly irritated, but motioned for Alex to enter.
The room was a combination den and library. One wall of shelves reached from floor to ceiling and was filled with various legal tomes, as might be expected. But there were other books that were more unusual. A Shakespeare folio that appeared to be quite old. A book of Chaucer behind glass. There were book ends that looked to be made of jade and a painting on the wall wouldn’t have been out of place at the Louvre.
“Well, what is it, man?” asked Sir Wilfred.
“I have come to ask you to drop all charges against Lady Winifred.”
The request left the older man momentarily speechless. But then he became indignant. “Have you gone mad? Or are you simply foxed?”
“Neither. There has never been any evidence indicating Lady Winifred’s guilt.”
“She was caught bending over his dead body, covered in blood.”
“She was also so badly beaten she was barely able to walk. No one in a weakened condition such as that would be able to carry out the murder. Yet no other suspects were presented, despite the fact Pierce was a ruthless businessman with scores of enemies.”
“Yet none of them was seen in the house.”
“I didn’t finish. Pierce had scores of enemies and a ledger detailing his many bribes to government officials.” He tossed a ledger onto a table.
Even in the dim light, he could see Sir Wilfred go pale. “I don’t know what you’re implying, but before you go making any accusations, I would remind you of the penalties for slander, not the least of which would result in your expulsion from the bar.”
“I’m not implying anything, although it’s good to know you’re exceedingly nervous about the contents of that ledger. And while I am well aware of the penalties for slander, I also know truth is a defense. And it is that very truth which could get any number of officials expelled from their positions and thrown in Newgate. What a lovely copy of the Canterbury tales. However did you afford it?”
Sir Wilfred turned to pour himself a drink with shaking hands. “I cannot imagine how this pertains to the case at ha
nd,” he said. “It’s not like Pierce bribed people to find his wife guilty in his own death.”
“No,” said Alex carefully. “But he was meticulous in his payments, recording who was paid what for which actions. I believe it was his way of ensuring he would never be prosecuted for any of his crimes. And he wasn’t, despite a long record of questionable dealings.”
“What do you want, Lewis?” snapped Sir Wilfred as he downed a glass of whisky, then poured another.
“I told you. I want the charges against Lady Winifred dropped.”
“For what purpose?”
“To find the real killer.”
“And how do you propose to do that?”
“You do not need to know the particulars. All I need you to do is exonerate her and announce to the world that she is no longer a suspect, but we are close to making an arrest.”
“You can’t order me around.”
“Actually,” said Alex, picking up the ledger, “I can.”
“Bloody bastard. I never should have hired you. I’ll put an end to that, of course, as soon as this is over.” He narrowed his eyes. “Unless you’re of a mind to keep blackmailing me.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll only be staying long enough to prosecute the real killer. Your dirty secret is safe with me.”
Sir Wilfred looked him over, as if trying to determine if he could trust him. “Who did kill Pierce? I’m sure there’s no shortage of men who wanted the blighter dead. More than a few women, as well, though I doubt the wife had it in her.”
“Who told you to arrest Lady Winifred?”
“If you’ll recall, Lewis, we don’t arrest people here. I didn’t hear of the case until I was contacted by Bow Street. The only thing that interested me was Pierce was dead. Didn’t care much who they said did it. I just didn’t want people looking too closely at the deceased’s business dealings.”
“Why’d you try to have Lady Winifred remanded to Newgate?”
Always Have Hope (Emerson Book 3) Page 19