Love's Betrayals (The Extraordinary Life of Amy Winston Book 2)

by Liza O'Connor

  Chapter 20

  By the time Antonio arrived at Nicolas’ home, matters were dire. He found Tomas forcefully protecting the unconscious body of Nicolas from an angry she-cat. Having the advantage of surprise Antonio pulled a cord from the curtains and captured Sicily’s hands before she was even aware of his presence.

  “I’ve sent for a doctor, but I’ve little hope,” Tomas said.

  “Put Nicolas into my carriage and take him to Ann’s,” he ordered. “I’ll take care of the distressed wife.”

  The butler objected. “Shouldn’t we wait for the doctor. He’s been called.”

  Antonio nodded for Tomas to follow his orders while he turned to Mars. “There’s nothing the doctor can do. His best chance lies elsewhere.” He spoke these words over the screaming curses of Sicily who struggled to escape Antonio’s hold.

  “Is there anything I can do to help?” Mars asked as he glared at Sicily.

  “Nicolas should have brought a sack with two bottles with him. One of them was laudanum. Your mistress is in dire need of medication. Clearly, her husband’s sudden collapse has left her hysterical.”

  “I am not hysterical, you son of a bitch. Let me go now or I swear I’ll slit your throat,” she screamed.

  “Yes, she most certainly is,” Mars agreed and sent a footman to the druggist for laudanum. He then searched the library and found a white substance already poured in a glass. “Could this be it, sir?”

  Antonio pushed Sicily onto the couch. She lay face up, with her hands secured behind her back with the curtain ties. He sat upon her stomach, causing her to scream in fury.

  “You are crushing me, get off!”

  “Won’t be here long, madam. You need only drink this glass and you’ll be crushed no more,” he assured her in his best valet voice.

  “You bastard, you are trying to poison me. Mars call the footman, call for a constable!”

  “Now you don’t want to involve the police, Sicily. The Metropolitan Police are cleverer than you think. It won’t take them long to determine you poisoned Nicolas, and I doubt he wants it known his wife has gone mad and tried to kill him. So, I’m just going to keep you calm until he can recover and decide what to do with you.”

  “He’s not going to survive. He was dead the moment he drank his scotch,” she said with a triumphant smile.

  “You poisoned his scotch? What if he had guests? What if he invited your lover, the General, over for a conversation? Poisoning a bottle of scotch is very sloppy and inconsiderate, Sicily, and all the proof I need that you are indeed irrational.”

  Holding her nose and mouth closed, he waited until she grew desperate for breath. He then released his grasp on her mouth and took the drink from Mars. When she gasped for breath, he poured the liquid into her mouth. She choked and coughed as some of the laudanum entered her lungs and cursed him to hell.

  By the time the doctor arrived, Sicily could barely speak, but the words she muttered were shocking curses never heard from a lady’s sweet mouth. Upon checking her pulse and listening to her heart, the doctor declared her fine. He complimented Mars on his fast thinking.

  “Even with laudanum she seems quite agitated,” the doctor observed.

  “Evidently, she became upset to learn that Nicolas had cut her allowance and he planned for them to return to the country for the remainder of the season. Nicolas left thinking she would calm down once he was gone, but she became most violent, threatening to slash my throat.”

  The doctor looked at Mars for confirmation. Mars nodded.

  “Where is the Earl? He should be notified at once,” The doctor walked over to the bar.

  Mars watched the doctor with concern. “A carriage has been sent for him. I wouldn’t drink the scotch, sir. One of the things that madam said during her ranting was that she had poisoned his scotch.”

  The doctor stepped back from the bar as if it were a serpent. “Dear God. This is more serious than I thought. I will remain here until Nicolas returns, for matters cannot be left as they are.”

  When the footman returned with more laudanum, the doctor commended Mars again on his quick thinking. Mars nodded and glanced at Antonio.

  Other than his insistence to wait for Nicolas, the doctor proved to be a very helpful fellow, suggesting that Sicily be constrained when they carried her to her bed. “The insane are unpredictable. She may seem calm one moment yet have the strength and rage of ten men the next. You can never be too careful in these matters.”

  Thus Antonio, under the doctor’s orders, securely tied her to her bed.

  Once the mentally ill patient was safely restrained, they returned downstairs to wait for the Earl. As the time passed, Antonio declared he would go in search of the Earl, fearing that perhaps Sicily truly had poisoned the scotch and the Earl had consumed some before leaving.

  Anthony appreciated that Mars quietly had the Earl’s carriage readied so that he would not have to search for transportation. When he arrived at Ann’s, he found Nicolas sitting up, looking pale but alive. Amy kneeled beside him her hands pressed upon his chest. It looked to be a picture of two young lovers, and if he did not know her true purpose, it would have broken his heart.

  Anthony kneeled beside her. “How is he?”

  “He’ll be fine.”

  “Is he fine enough to return to his home?”

  “He’s not going back there,” Amy declared with fierceness.

  He smiled. She had every right to hate Nicolas, yet she’d fight to keep him alive. His smile faded. Was he perhaps wrong about his first impression of her rubbing his chest? Did she still love him after all he has done?

  “Amy, there is a doctor sitting in the Earl’s library waiting for him to return so he can tell Nicolas that his wife is insane and potentially dangerous. For your plan to work, we could not ask for a better turn of events. However, if that doctor waits much longer, he will call in the police. I need Nicolas to return and declare he does not want the police involved nor his wife put into an asylum. Instead, he will take her to the country and care for her as best as he can.”

  When she didn’t reply, he stroked her cheek. “Amy, this was your plan. It’s a good plan and it’s going very well.”

  “Going very well!” she exclaimed. “Nicolas almost died.”

  “But he didn’t,” Antonio reminded her. “If you wish to return with him to ensure his continued good health, you can do that. It increases the risk of the plan, but not terribly so.”

  “She’s not going anywhere near that place,” Gunter declared.

  Antonio looked up at him. “I wouldn’t have suggested it if I didn’t think it safe. Sicily is heavily drugged and tied to her bed. I can promise you she isn’t going anywhere.”

  “Not on her own, but she does have an accomplice in the house who might try and help her escape,” Domnika observed.

  Antonio cursed beneath his breath. “I rescind my offer, Amy.” He then looked at Nicolas. “Can you walk, or should I carry you?”

  “He’s not going anywhere!” Amy declared again. Her focus was completely on Antonio, so she never saw Tomas until he had a firm grip about her waist. He handed her to Gunter, who carried her up to his room, where no amount of threats and badgering would win her freedom.

  Chapter 21

  Nicolas entered his library and shook hands with the doctor. He listened as the man declared he believed Sicily was mad. “Has something happened recently to cause this break in her mind?”

  Nicolas sat and leaned back in his chair. “I fear I am to blame. Since I married Sicily, I’ve given her everything her heart desired. Unfortunately, my acumen with investments could not match the extent of my wife’s desires. Today, I told her we could no longer afford the lavish parties of the season and that we must return to the country. I had hoped she would understand, but she did not. I had never seen her so angry before and the things she said…” He shook his head as if the recollection still horrified him. “I left the house, hoping she would calm down. That was very
cowardly of me.”

  The doctor cleaned his wire rim glasses and replaced them on his broad nose. “Her reaction was not at all rational, sir. If this is all that has happened, then I must conclude your wife is indeed mad. I could provide you with the names of several places that could give her the care she requires.”

  “No. I will take her back to the country estate and care for her myself.”

  “Sir, you have no idea what the care of the mentally ill entails. I strongly urge you to reconsider.”

  “I can’t do that to her.” He looked at the doctor. “Don’t you understand? I have loved that woman with all my heart. I have allowed myself to go into debt for her love. I cannot toss her aside because something has broken inside her mind. I will take her home and make her as comfortable as is possible.”

  The doctor sighed. “Then allow me to gather some items you will need and to suggest a different drug, one more certain to keep her calm and resting.”

  “Thank you.”

  The doctor stared at him. “Sir, you do not look well yourself. Did you by chance drink any of your scotch before you left the house?”

  Nicolas looked at Antonio, who stood behind the doctor. Antonio held up his hand as if pinching something small. Nicolas returned his attention to the doctor. “Only a sip, then the fight began, and I left.”

  “Sir, from comments your wife made concerning the scotch, we should have it tested. I believe it is possible she poisoned your scotch in an attempt to kill you.”

  “Dear God! She offered to pour me a drink today. She had never done that before…but why? I had not yet told her we were leaving.”

  Antonio spoke up. “I may have mentioned something yesterday, sir. I’m sorry, I did not know you had told me that in confidence.”

  Nicolas didn’t respond.

  “Your lord, the Metropolitan Police must be called,” the doctor insisted.

  “No. Nothing came of it. I’m fine now. Everything will be fine in the country.”

  “Sir, you should let your staff there know, if not someone could get harmed,” Mars suggested.

  “Your butler is correct,” the doctor said. “I understand your desire to keep the police from knowing, for then she would be taken to Bedlam, and that is not a good place, even for the mad. However, you must not underestimate the clever cunning of the insane. The staff must be told, or someone will be harmed.”

  “I’ll see to it,” Nicolas promised.

  “Perhaps if the doctor would write a letter explaining the situation to the local doctor, so he will be more prepared as well,” Antonio suggested.

  “An excellent idea,” the doctor said and asked for paper and pen.

  Chapter 22

  Antonio knocked on Gunter’s door. After a moment, Gunter opened the door and let him in. Amy sat by the window. She stared at Gunter with a surly look that left no doubt she hated her current incarceration.

  “We set the final pieces into place. I brought Nicolas back with me.”

  She stood up and suddenly looked worried. “Is he worse?”

  Antonio raked his fingers through his long black locks. “He looks fine to me, but go down and see for yourself.”

  Amy glared at Gunter, who sat in a chair placed in front of the door.

  Gunter returned her glare. “I won’t be moving until I get an apology.”

  Antonio looked back at Amy. “Should I tell Ann the two of you will have dinner up here then?” He tried very hard not to smile.

  Amy frowned. “Did you find out who is helping Sicily?”

  “No, but whoever it was tried to untie her during my absence. My knots were more than they could handle. I left Tomas hiding in her room. Hopefully, he’ll find the culprit before the night is out.

  “Is that why you brought Nicolas back?”

  “That and I knew you’d be worried. He had a job to do, and he did it well. Leaving him in that house after he performed his job wouldn’t have made sense. We’ve no idea what this servant is willing to do for Sicily.”

  Amy released a heavy sigh. “You were in the right. You have acted most rationally, and I have not.” She looked at Gunter. “I have been a very bad soldier and I do apologize. However, in my defense, Nicolas is not as well as he might appear. Without further care, I don’t think he’ll make it.”

  “How much time do you require?” Antonio asked.

  “At least another day. There was so much damage done.”

  “We had planned to move her out tomorrow, for I am very concerned that if the general gets wind of this he will attack with a formidable rescue attempt.” Antonio smiled. “Perhaps we will simply move her elsewhere.”

  Uncle John grinned from his seat on the window sill. “My money is on Antonio. He can outmaneuver the general in his sleep.” He then looked at Gunter. “Let the poor girl go downstairs, Gunter. She apologized very nicely, and Nicolas does need her assistance. He is trying to keep up the pretense of health, but he is on the verge of collapse…and there he goes.”

  Amy ran so fast to the door, that Gunter was barely able to move his chair out of the way before she grabbed the door and disappeared.

  Antonio stared in shock at the flurry of events.

  Gunter moved the chair back to its normal place and ordered Antonio to close the door and join him.

  “First tell me what caused Amy to dash from the room.”

  “Nicolas collapsed, which means she was correct in her assessment that he wasn’t well yet. But she’s with him now, so all should be fine. And don’t look so worried, she’s mad at me, not you.”

  Antonio did not relinquish his look of worry. “Perhaps, but you have the advantage of a solid foundation of love beneath your actions.”

  Gunter nodded. “True, I didn’t have to kill people or put people she loves in danger during those impressionable first moments.” He paused. “Hell, she was a baby, probably wouldn’t have known the difference anyway.”

  Antonio could not be distracted with baby stories from the first thing he had said. “So, she still loves Nicolas?”

  “He was her first love, and she was absolutely certain they would marry,” Gunter said. “He never mentioned he was searching for a bride, never mentioned the engagement. Then he sends her a letter, which mentions his marriage as if she had known all along. ‘Sicily is settling in very nicely at the estate. Everyone, including Mrs. Cole is quite taken with her’.”

  Gunter was quiet, but Antonio could tell by the clenching and unclenching of his fists that he remained very angry about that letter. “So much cruelty in those two sentences. Had the colonel not already gone down to give the boy hell, I might have done so myself. In retrospect, it was good that I didn’t, for I would have killed the bastard and then where would Amy be?”

  “But she still loves him,” Antonio replied unable to believe it was possible he would lose Amy to Nicolas Winston.

  “The colonel wants me to clarify something. She loves him, but she is no longer in love with him. That she can still love him, after all he has done, bodes well for you. I’m speaking for the colonel here,” Gunter added. “He agreed with the risks you raised in your conversation with him. You might lose her to a gent and you might lose her because she discovers your dark side, before you can build a foundation of love, but once you get that foundation laid, nothing will stop her from loving you. The colonel thinks you will be a fine man for her—so do I if that matters—and you should go slowly but firmly ahead. He’ll be glad to assist you however he can, as will the Silent Three and myself. We had already decided you’d do best for our Lil Bit. As soon as we get Nicolas settled, Sam wants to break the news that you’ll take his place permanently. He’s bought a damn fine ring and wants to get back to Switzerland to see how it looks on his lady’s finger.”

  Antonio smiled. “Is the colonel here now?”

  Gunter pointed at the window.

  “Thank you, sir, for permission to court your niece. I will gladly welcome any advice you can give.”

 
; Gunter chuckled. “He says you should be far more concerned with your new job. It’s going to be quite a challenge when she enters society.”

  Chapter 23

  Antonio and Brick returned at dusk and assisted Tomas in moving Sicily and her now captured footman to his house.

  They had no more than secured their captives and locked down the house when Tomas whispered there was activity in the mansion. They watched from the window as a shadow crept up the side of the house and into the window.

  “I’d like to see them try that here,” Tomas whispered and pantomimed the guillotine slicing off his neck.

  Antonio smiled but never took his eyes off the activity across the way. He saw a light in Nicolas’ room. “He’d be dead now if we hadn’t taken him back to Ann’s.” He had no doubt these men would silence any interruption permanently. Still, he hoped to get a glimpse of one of them—to know his enemy.

  Once the men searching Nicolas’ home realized they had missed their quarry they left the house as silently as they came.

  “I’m going to try and follow them,” Antonio said. “Tomas, Brick, you should return to Ann’s and keep special watch just in case.”

  “We’d rather go with you. Three is better than one when tracking.”

  Antonio smiled. “It is. It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone I can trust at my back.”

  Chapter 24

  Antonio woke to a pleasant feeling of warmth upon his chest. Amy sat on the edge of his bed, with her hands pressed upon him. He was naked beneath the thin sheet that covered him and just the thought caused his manhood to come to attention. He pulled in his leg so that his knee held the sheet high in the air.

  “Am I in need of healing?” he asked, his fingers stroking the top of her hands.

  She stopped and tried very hard to frown at him. “You broke my concentration.”

  “And what were you concentrating on?” he teased.