Mistress of Misfortune (Dredthorne Hall Book 1): A Gothic Romance

by Hazel Hunter

  Thorne didn’t just feel like a new man. He felt like a different one. A man of hopes and dreams, not guilt and despair. Meredith had done that for him. It had started from the moment she had arrived in his life.

  He dressed quickly but carefully, choosing a conservatively-cut dark green tail coat and black breeches. His cravat he tied simply but elegantly. When he faced the Starlings, he wanted to present the image of a son-in-law, not a dandy.

  Emerging from his chamber, he took the stairs at a trot and followed the sound of Lucetta’s voice where it came from his study. Some of the men were busy cleaning up the last traces of the fire, while she was peering carefully up inside the hearth.

  “Miss Branwen.”

  “Colonel Thorne.” She straightened and marched over to him. “Well, sir. You are still intent on marrying my cousin after last night’s escapades, of which I have full knowledge, I might add?”

  He grinned. “The moment she will have me.”

  “Good show. Then I will not shout at you or drink up all your brandy.” She gestured toward the fireplace. “Harshad is up on the roof, inspecting the chimney for signs of tampering. In that bin there is what we removed from the ashes. Shattered lamp glass, and coals soaked with whale oil. You were correct about the fire being intentionally set.”

  “Is there anything you do not know?” he asked her gravely.

  Lucetta thought for a moment. “As of this moment, who is responsible for these attempts to harm you and my cousin.”

  Thorne uttered a short, humorless laugh. “I think you mean Meredith.”

  “The fire was not started until you both occupied the study,” his housekeeper told him. “The wood collapsed after you took my cousin into the tower. Since the evil work had to be done from a distance, I believe someone in this house is watching the two of you, and attacking when they know you are together.”

  What she said rang true to him, but for the motive. “What purpose would it serve to kill us both?”

  “I don’t think these attacks were meant to kill, only to harm.” Lucetta looked over as Harshad entered the study. “What did you find above, Mr. Naveya?”

  “Black boot marks on the side of the chimney, Miss Branwen, and some broken shingling.” The steward regarded Thorne. “A large brute with careless feet did this. Not one of us, Master.”

  No, his men would never be so clumsy, and all of them still wore brown calvary boots issued by their army. “None of the workmen I hired wear black boots.” He glanced down at his own Hessians. “I do, however.”

  “I think we can rule you out as the perpetrator,” Lucetta chided. “But I think it wise to perform a search of the house quickly. Someone may be hiding in one of the rooms, waiting for another opportunity to strike.”

  Thorne wanted to delegate the task to Harshad so he could go to Starling House to see Meredith. He expected Lord Starling would want reassurances about their engagement, and when to expect the wedding to occur. Lady Starling would likely want her pound of flesh before she consented. Yet in the back of his mind he could still see Meredith’s skirts catching fire. Whoever had done this had to be stopped.

  “Summon the men from the stables,” he told his steward. “We will begin in the attics, and work our way down. I want a man on every stair case and terrace. Mind the rot. I want no more accidents in this house.”

  Annie left a tray outside Meredith’s door for luncheon, but otherwise no one came near her bed chamber. She readied her clothing and belongings for hasty removal in the event her parents ordered her to go, but as the hours dragged on, Alistair made no appearance. Tea time came and went and still no one came for her.

  Had Lucetta neglected to mention that she had gone home? No, Alistair knew what she would be facing. Perhaps he expected her to come back to him. Meredith wasn’t sure what to do but wait.

  At last she decided she might try to talk to her father, who would have had enough time to calm down, and might be better persuaded to accept her decision. She put on a lavender dress, a color she knew Lord Starling favored, and used a bit of rice powder to help cover the marks on her cheek. She would say nothing against her mother; that was the surest way to rekindled hostilities. Instead she would be forthright and adamant, but gently so.

  Knowing the servants would be eager to eavesdrop, and anxious to avoid her mother, she took the back stairs down to the hall outside her father’s book room, and went into the study adjoining it.

  As a little girl Meredith had often hidden in the study, giggling when she heard her father’s footsteps approaching. He had always scowled at her as he coaxed her from her hiding place to send her back to her nursemaid, but sometimes she would glance back and see him smiling faintly. He had never been openly affectionate, but he liked her more than her mother did.

  Yes, her papa would listen to reason, she was sure of it.

  Hearing her parents’ voices from the other side, Meredith stood by the connecting door to listen. Even if she couldn’t talk to her father just yet, perhaps she could find out why they objected to Alistair’s proposal.

  “–will do as he’s told,” her mother was saying. “He means to preserve the family honor. He’s been trying very hard, you know.”

  “Percival is a simpleton,” Lord Starling replied. “He is too busy preening to be of any use. Just as your sister is witless and useless.”

  Meredith winced. So much for her parents’ adoration of her cousin and his mother.

  “Our nephew is the future of the Starlings, my dear,” his wife said soothingly. “Have patience. He may not be especially clever, but we can guide him along the path, just as your parents did.”

  “I swore to my parents that we would never allow a Thorne to keep his bride,” her father said heavily, as if invoking a sacred oath. “Just as every generation has since Emerson Thorne stole Robert Starling’s betrothed from him, and ruined our family.”

  “Yes, but Robert got his vengeance,” Lady Starling said. “I often wonder how it might have been, had she married him instead of eloping with Thorne. The Starlings would never have been ruined. We would be living as we should, not scrimping and scraping on a pittance. Lettice Hardiwick would be begging for my cast-offs.”

  A cold knot formed in Meredith’s middle as the words from Emerson Thorne’s journal came back to her.

  He took her from me, but I cannot prove it. I only know it in my heart, as surely as I know his rage at being denied his prize.

  Alistair’s ancestor had been writing about Robert Starling. If he had murdered Emerson’s wife, and made his descendants carry on his terrible retribution… Icy horror filled her as she finally understood. Meredith’s family was responsible for the Thorne curse.

  “Now a Thorne means to wed our daughter,” her father said, snarling the words. “I’ll strangle her myself before I allow it.”

  “She will never marry him,” Lady Starling scoffed. “No one will ever again be the mistress of Dredthorne Hall. My dear, don’t you see the simplest solution? He is the last living member of his cursed family. We will see to it that the bloodline dies along with Alistair Thorne tonight.”

  Meredith clapped a hand over her mouth to stop herself from shrieking, and slowly backed away from the door. Turning on her heel, she fled.

  Had her parents hired a killer to slip into Dredthorne Hall? Was he even now creeping up on Alistair? Her mother had said tonight, so there still might be time to warn her love.

  She went out through the back of the house, intent on running to the stables to saddle a horse. Then she heard the sound of a wheels coming up the drive and rushed out to the front, where Percival appeared with his rig.

  “Cousin, I am so glad to see you.” She raced to his side. “Can you take me to Dredthorne Hall?”

  He frowned at her. “Why should I do that?”

  “Colonel Thorne is in terrible danger,” Meredith told him as she climbed up beside him. “Really, Percival, it is a matter of life and death. We must go this instant.”

&nb
sp; “As you wish, Cousin.” He tugged on the reins and headed back for the road. “I say, have you given any more thought to my offer?”

  Chapter 11

  It took several hours, but Thorne and his men slowly searched each floor of the hall, stationing sentries as they checked every room, bath and closet from the attics to the ground level. Once they had ascertained that no one had hidden in any part of the house, he sent his men to search the stables, barn and other outbuildings while he met with Harshad and Lucetta in the front entry hall to discuss what they had found on the first floor.

  “We found no trace,” he told the housekeeper as he watched her take something from her pocket.

  “I’m afraid we did.” She extended a blackened piece of metal. “I sifted through the ashes from the hearth in the study, and found it among some bits of glass.”

  The proof of who had caused the explosion confirmed Thorne’s suspicions. “I must go to Starling House. Harshad, get the carriage.”

  The sound of one approaching made Lucetta go to the door. She glanced back at him. “It is Meredith, and Percival.”

  A moment later her cousin burst through the door and flung herself at Thorne. “Alistair, you must leave at once. I will go with you to the magistrate.”

  “She is very distraught,” Percival said as he came in and closed the door. “She believes your life is in danger, Colonel. Something about a killer.” He looked around the hall. “Where are your men?”

  “They are out searching the property.” Thorne stroked his hand over Meredith’s wind-tousled hair before he put her at arm’s length. “I must talk to the lieutenant now, my dear.”

  “There is no time for that, truly, Alistair.” She gripped his sleeves. “I know why all these terrible things have happened.”

  “So do I.” He eyed Percival as he placed the bit of metal in Meredith’s hand. “It appears one of your medals is missing, Lieutenant. The one denoting valor in battle, I believe.”

  Her cousin tucked in his chin to examine his jacket front. “Egad, I think you are right.” He touched a torn ribbon. “I will have to obtain a replacement straight away.”

  “No need. I found it in the hearth in the colonel’s study,” Lucetta told him. “I imagine it fell off while you were on the roof, dropping that lamp down the chimney. Just as you scuffed your boots against it.”

  Percival’s expression went from puzzled to guarded. “Don’t know what you mean, Cousin.”

  “I don’t understand,” Meredith said slowly, staring at the broken medal before gazing at him. “Why would you do such a thing?”

  “He knew we were together in the study,” Thorne said. “Just as he knew when we entered the staircase tower. He has been hiding in the house and spying on us. He was jealous.”

  Percival folded his arms. “That is nonsense.”

  “I daresay it’s not the first time he’s tried to hurt you, Meredith.” Thorne walked over to the lieutenant, close enough to make him take a step back. “In the crowd at the ball he might have easily tripped you. Sabotaging your rig so that it would come apart also would prove simple. When he found the overturned rig and realized you had been rescued, he smashed it to hide what he had done. How many other times have you caused Meredith to suffer mishaps, I wonder? Dozens of times? Every time?”

  A cunning look came over the lieutenant’s face. “You can’t prove any of that.”

  Lucetta slowly shook her head. “Oh, Percival.”

  Thorne drew back his fist and punched him squarely in the face, sending him staggering backward.

  Meredith clenched her hand around the medal. “You did these things to me on purpose, Cousin? You arranged all these accidents?”

  “I did nothing of the sort. The colonel is obviously mistaken.” He wiped his bloody nose on his sleeve. “I would never harm you, Meredith. You know that. I want to marry you.”

  She glanced at Thorne. “My death would bring him nothing. The estate is entailed, and when my parents die Percival will inherit everything. He has no reason to want me dead.”

  “I don’t believe he wished to kill you. He did these things to create chances to rescue you,” Thorne said. “What he desired was the admiration he received each time he came to save you from some terrible mishap.”

  “He is deceiving you, Cousin,” Percival insisted. “I adore you; you know that. How many times have I come to your aid? Remember the poacher's trap? I freed you from that terrible contraption.”

  “That may have been the only time he genuinely rescued you,” Thorne told Meredith. “As a child I expect he would have been overly praised for his heroics.”

  “My parents did make much of it,” she murmured.

  “Some people become so gratified by such acclaim that earning more consumes them. I have seen many such men in the Army, who will charge recklessly into great danger, all for the chance at glory.” He gestured at the lieutenant’s heavily-decorated jacket. “Yet I doubt he was awarded any of those medals. He probably purchased them or stole them from their true owners.”

  “You are the jealous one, Thorne,” Percival said, sneering at him. “She will be my wife. She has always been mine.”

  A terrible calm came over Meredith’s face.

  “It was you, all these years. Admit it to me.” She threw the medal at his head and shouted, “Tell me the truth.”

  “I have made some mistakes in the past, Cousin.” He wiped at his bloody nose. “Only when we were nippers. As I grew older, I saw the error of my ways. I joined the military.”

  “That is why I had no mishaps while you were gone,” Meredith said dully. “You were not here to cause them. You were too far away to hurt me.”

  “Did someone discover what you were doing to your cousin?” Thorne asked. “Your mother, perhaps? Did she insist you take that commission, not only to send you away, but to protect Meredith from you?” When Percival blustered, he added, “Do you think Lavinia will lie for you again, Starling?”

  “That is why Aunt does not want you to marry me.” Meredith looked sick. “She knew what you had done. What you would keep doing.”

  “Meredith, please.” Percival reached out to her. “Thorne can never understand how much affection we have for each other. Did I not offer you my heart? How could I ask you to be my wife if I–” Percival's head rocked back as her hand slapped his cheek.

  “Do you have any notion of what you have done?” As he gaped at her, she slapped him again. “You have torn my flesh and burned my limbs and broken my bones, over and over. You have terrified me and scarred me and filled my life with pain and despair.” She almost hit him a third time, but she could not bear to touch him again.

  “You don’t understand.” Tears filled Percival's eyes as his lower lip trembled. “I am a Starling.”

  “You are a monster,” Lucetta said softly.

  “We will let the magistrate decide what to do with him.” Thorne put his arm around Meredith’s shoulders. “Come away now. We have much to discuss.”

  The loud crack of gunfire made him whirl, and he saw Lucetta stiffen and look down at the spreading, wet red stain on her gown. As she sank to the floor, Harshad shouted and rushed to her, and then was flung backward as Percival shot him. With a cry Meredith dropped down beside the housekeeper, gathering handfuls of her skirt and pressing it against the wound.

  Thorne rushed at Percival, stopping short as the lieutenant produced another double-barreled flintlock and aimed it at Meredith.

  “I told you, she is mine,” Percival said, smiling. “And if I cannot marry her, well, then, no one will.”

  The door opened behind him, and Lord and Lady Starling came to stand beside their nephew.

  “Well, my dear,” Meredith’s mother said. “It is a good thing that you brought two pistols.”

  As Percival’s gaze shifted Thorne lunged at him, shoving him into the Starlings and sending the three of them sprawling. He then seized Meredith by the arm and dragged her to her feet. “Run.”

  Me
redith dragged her skirts up with both hands as she ran with Thorne into the sitting room and through the second ballroom into a small storage room. That led to the arch to the staircase tower opposite the one that had been sealed off for repairs. There he ducked under the stairs to try the door that led outside, only to find it locked.

  “Up,” he said to her.

  As they climbed Meredith heard Percival shouting for her, his voice growing closer. “Leave me behind, and hide,” she told him, tugging at his arm. “They won’t hurt me.”

  “I am never leaving you again,” Thorne told her, and led her up another flight until they reached the third floor. There he led her through the arch and out toward the servants’ quarters. He stopped by a table filled with the carpenter’s hand tools and some bricks they had removed from one of the hearths. “We’ll lure them up here, then return to the first floor and take Lucetta and Harshad into the hidden library.”

  Meredith was almost sure her cousin and the steward were dying, if not dead. Percival likely knew every hiding spot in the hall. She looked down at the blood on her hands, and then at the landing in front of the staircase tower. She knew of only one way to end this feud forever and picked up a brick.

  Could she do this, to save Alistair? They were her family. He was the man she loved.

  “I love you,” she said as she put her arms around him.

  Thorne kissed her. “We will survive this night, I promise you.”

  She nodded, and then hit him with the brick. He gave her a single, stunned look before he fell to the floor.

  Moving Thorne took all of her strength, but she managed to drag him over and prop him against the wall by the landing. She knelt down, smearing his brow and face with Lucetta’s blood before she did the same to one of the carpenter’s hammers. She then stepped carefully to one side of Thorne, keeping to the part of the flooring that had already been replaced.