Sweet Enemy

by Heather Snow

  Her eyes flitted to the weapon he kept trained upon her, as she analyzed her chances. A standard flintlock pistol wasn’t known for accuracy, particularly at a moving target. If she could just get ahead of him far enough, he’d have to stop chasing her in order to aim, and maybe—

  “Stay here with the carriage,” Wentworth said to the man on the box. “Keep it at the ready. I’ll want to leave quickly when I return.”

  When I return. Liliana’s stomach dropped despite the tight reign she kept on her emotions. Either Wentworth intended to let her go when she gave him the treasure, or he planned to dispose of her before escaping himself. Neither option boded well, for she hadn’t a treasure to give.

  She wondered if she had any chance of appealing to the driver’s humanity to save her, but then he turned his face and shock ran through her—it was the man who’d searched her library. Wentworth must have sent him after the treasure. He would be of no help. She clenched her fist, drawing a breath meant to calm. She could only pray that she’d be able to string Wentworth along until she found a way out of this mess or until—

  Wentworth stepped to her, taking her above the elbow. “Shall we?”

  Liliana nodded, pretending a meekness she didn’t feel. Her muscles tensed with adrenaline. She tried to will her body not to waste the energy before she could use it, but it wouldn’t listen. Blood pumped through her and her skin tingled with the anticipation of flight.

  Wentworth led her to the edge of the tree line. He was taking her into the woods? She could feel the thumping of her heart in her ears as breath became harder and harder to catch. Had he seen through her ruse? Was he planning to cut his losses now that she knew him to be a villain?

  “Where are you taking me?” she asked, unable to control the fear in her voice.

  “You didn’t think we’d just enter the front gates and stroll to the folly, did you?” Wentworth scoffed.

  Her chest eased. He still planned to take her as far as the folly at least. The rest was up to fate.

  Or to Geoffrey. She gambled on his distrust of her, a sorry state of affairs that just might save her life but would ultimately shatter her heart.

  As she and Wentworth approached the edge of the forest, the markings of an old footpath became visible. It was well grown over now, but there was a definite, albeit tiny, break in the trees.

  They walked in relative silence for several minutes, the noises of nature echoing around them. Wind blew through the trees, birds chirped as they flitted about feeding their young, twigs rustled as small creatures went about whatever business they had. Life in the forest carried on, oblivious to the drama unfolding within it.

  A profound regret settled upon Liliana as realization became devastatingly clear. Her time with Geoffrey had shown that she had stopped living that long-ago December night when her father had been taken from her. Oh, she’d carried on outwardly, had made plans, had achieved successes, had imposed purpose to her existence. But she hadn’t lived where it mattered. She hadn’t lived in her heart. She had closed out those around her. She’d never really given people a chance. Not her aunt and uncle, who in their own way had wanted what they thought best for her. Not other girls who had tried to befriend her over the years. Not even men who had expressed interest. She’d never let any of them in, fearing to allow anyone close lest she lose them, too.

  Until Geoffrey. He’d broken through her resistance with his gentle prodding, with his sense of humor, with his ability to nettle and challenge her yet his willingness to listen and affirm her. And what had she done? Broken his trust. Broken any chance that he could love her.

  She should have told him everything the moment she realized he didn’t know about her father. She should have trusted him as the honorable man she knew him to be. But she’d selfishly wanted the magical time with him to never end, and because of that, she’d lost him, too.

  And if a miracle didn’t happen, she’d never get the chance to tell him that he’d changed her, that he’d unlocked a part of her that maybe, someday, would heal. Though she’d lost his love, she wanted to thank him for opening her heart.

  The footpath ended at a small stone circle. The rocks appeared ancient, and weathered boards covered the top. Liliana could now see that the footpath curved around it, heading off to the right.

  “What’s this?” Liliana asked as they passed.

  “A dead well,” Wentworth said.

  The well Geoffrey had mentioned, which meant they were in the grove of trees behind the folly.

  “It used to supply some of the manor’s water, but my brother had it closed off when a man from Town told him the water was bad.”

  Liliana’s head came up. Could that be how her father had met Geoffrey’s?

  “Here we are,” Wentworth said as they turned another corner. The folly’s dome stuck up over the tree line now.

  The adrenaline that had been flowing through her now settled like a sickness in her belly. Soon Wentworth would know that she’d lied to him, and who knew what he’d do then? Please, Geoffrey. Be there.

  And yet part of her prayed he would not be. Geoffrey couldn’t be expecting an armed man, much less his uncle. He’d be taken completely by surprise. If Wentworth were as desperate as she suspected, he might not blink at harming Geoffrey, too. Whatever she had to do, she couldn’t let that happen.

  Wentworth led her to the back entrance. He reached out and tried the door, jiggling the latch when it wouldn’t give. “Damn it,” he said, kicking the door.

  Here was her opportunity to enforce his misconception that she was after the treasure for herself. She pulled the key Geoffrey had given her from her pocket. “Here. I filched the key before I left Somerton Park.”

  Wentworth turned and looked at her over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing in a speculative gaze.

  Liliana tried for a smarmy smile.

  He snatched the key from her outstretched hand and turned to open the lock. “You know, Miss Claremont, you’re craftier than I’d thought,” he said, the words sounding much like a compliment, but to Liliana, they rolled over her like slime. “I knew you were clever, of course. And I was quite impressed by the way you cozied up to my nephew, but going so far as agreeing to marry him publicly and then running off only to double back and double-cross him? Sheer genius.” He chuckled as the lock clicked open.

  His words evoked dueling emotions. On the one hand, relief that for now, at least, Wentworth seemed to buy her story. On the other, anguish at the thought that Geoffrey might take her actions the same way.

  Once Wentworth ushered her inside, he reengaged the double-sided lock and pocketed the key, killing any chance she might have to run. He directed her to open some shutters for light. “Only the ones in the back that can’t be seen by passersby.”

  As the room lightened, Liliana knew she’d run out of time. She’d need to be convincing, stall as long as she could. She decided to be aggressive.

  “Now,” she said, whirling around as if to convey a great hurry, “we need to find where Geoffrey hid the letters.”

  “Letters?” Wentworth asked, his face screwing up in confusion.

  “Yes,” Liliana snapped. “The coded letters your brother and my father exchanged. My father divulged where he hid the corselet in his last missive, but before I could decipher it, Geoffrey took the letters and hid them here in the folly. That’s why I agreed to marry him. To buy more time at Somerton Park until I could figure out where he stashed them. When we find the letters, we find the treasure.” Hopefully the search would take some time, giving either Geoffrey a chance to get there if he was coming, or her a chance to think of another plan.

  Liliana turned her back on Wentworth and pretended to search the shelf in front of her. He didn’t move for some time, and Liliana held her breath, certain he’d finally seen through her. But then she heard a shuffling gait followed by the sounds of Wentworth rifling through Geoffrey’s desk.

  She prayed she wasn’t simply delaying her own demise.


  Outside the back window of the folly, Geoffrey froze, the words floating from the open sash kicking him in the gut.

  That’s why I agreed to marry him. To buy more time at Somerton Park until I could figure out where he stashed them. When we find the letters, we find the treasure.

  And yet…

  In his heart, he knew they weren’t true. Not entirely, at any rate. Though he wasn’t certain why Liliana had agreed to marry him—was afraid indeed that she’d agreed only so she could stay long enough to retrieve her evidence—he was the one who’d decoded Liliana’s father’s letters, and he knew very well there was nothing about the location of the treasure in them. Liliana was shamming someone in there, and he’d wager it was his uncle. Which meant Liliana could be in danger.

  Geoffrey fought to keep panic at bay. He’d need a clear head if he were to be any help to her. Instincts honed over a dozen years in the military took over. He edged closer to the window, hoping to get the lay of the battlefield before him.

  He caught sight of Liliana, only feet from him, and anger threatened to burst through his tight control. Damn his uncle for putting her through this. Liliana’s face was pale, and her hand shook as she moved books around on a shelf. She was trying to hide it, but Geoffrey could see her fear growing.

  Movement drew his eye to the right, and Joss came into view, pulling items out of Geoffrey’s desk drawer and piling them on the surface.

  A glint of metal caught the light, buried beneath the papers Joss was haphazardly tossing onto the desk. Could that be a gun? Had Joss threatened Liliana with the weapon? Rage fired his brain, but Geoffrey tamped it down. Knowing Liliana was in immediate danger changed his battle plan entirely. He gauged the shuttered window. Could he get the tip of his own pistol through the slat and fire, killing Joss or even just wounding him enough that he was no longer a threat to Liliana?

  He considered the angle of the slat and knew it would be impossible. The shot would have to be fired up and would be well over Joss’ head, giving Joss ample opportunity to pull his own weapon and either fire back at Geoffrey or fire at Liliana.

  There was no time to return to the house for reinforcements, either.

  He’d have to take the man by surprise, then. If he kicked in the back door, Joss’ attention would be on him, giving Liliana the chance to run or at least hide. She didn’t deserve to be caught up in this. She never should have been. His uncle had done her a horrid disservice, and so had he. He’d apologize a thousand times when this was all over. For now, he needed to save her life and end this thing with his uncle.

  Geoffrey slowly ducked below the window and crept toward the back door.

  Gooseflesh rose on Liliana’s arm. Geoffrey. He was near. Though she couldn’t see him, her body told her it was so. He’d come.

  A shadow caught her eye from the left. She glimpsed dark hair moving toward the back door just beneath the window. He was going to try to come through the back door, but it was locked. Even if he’d brought a key, the sound of it clicking the mechanism would give him away.

  Liliana’s heart kicked into a fluttery rhythm. Geoffrey couldn’t know his uncle was armed. He would be shot for sure, and it would be her fault. She was the one who’d run away, who’d allowed herself to be lured into Wentworth’s carriage. She’d led the villain here, counting on Geoffrey to save her, knowing it was her only chance.

  But she would not be responsible for Geoffrey’s death. She’d have to create a distraction when he came into the room. If he were quick thinking, he could take advantage of Wentworth’s distraction and get to safety.

  She looked around her, scrambling for an idea. She thought about just yelling that she’d found the letters, but that would bring Wentworth to her, making her easily captured and used as a hostage. That would put Geoffrey at a disadvantage, because no matter how angry he was with her, she knew him to be too honorable to just let her be killed. He would try to negotiate for her life, thus endangering his own.

  Her eyes lit upon Geoffrey’s paint supplies. Oils, rags, brushes…

  Turpentine—highly flammable, with possible explosive tendencies. That might work. She reached into her pocket, her hand closing around the decorative tinderbox with her experimental accelerant inside. If she could get it lit and drop it inside the container of turpentine, she should have time to move to a safe distance. But even if she couldn’t, it wouldn’t matter as long as Geoffrey got away.

  The door burst open with a loud crash that sent Liliana a foot into the air. Geoffrey must have kicked the door in, aiming for the element of surprise.

  Wentworth shrieked like an old woman but quickly swiped his gun from the desk and pointed it at Geoffrey.

  Liliana’s world stopped moving.

  Geoffrey kept his eyes on his uncle’s face and tried not to focus on the pistol aimed right at him. His own pistol was cocked and tucked in the waistband of his breeches, behind his back where his uncle wouldn’t notice it. He raised his hands slowly. He had to make no sudden movements, had to keep Joss focused solely on him so that Liliana could make it to the door.

  As much as he wanted to look upon her, to ensure himself she was fine, he kept his gaze trained on Joss. Geoffrey’s chest eased a bit as he glimpsed Liliana inching toward the entrance.

  “Are you planning to kill me, Uncle, as you did my father?”

  Uncle Joss flinched, but the gun did not. “I hadn’t planned to,” he finally answered. “I’ve lived with the guilt of your father’s death for years, although things were good for me when your brother was earl. It was easy to divert money when I needed it from beneath his unwatchful eye. But you aren’t the fool Henry was. I had hoped to blackmail you long enough to cover my gambling losses—and then I was going to quit. I swear it. But then she showed up.” Joss bobbed his head in Liliana’s direction, but to Geoffrey’s relief, he didn’t turn to see her inching away. “I recognized her surname, of course, so I knew why she must have come. I figured if I could follow her, figure out where she was searching and get to the corselet first, I could break it up and sell the jewels. I could have paid my debts with no need to involve you, but without it, I may have to kill you after all. Then I will be earl and I can pay what I owe.”

  Liliana stopped moving toward the door and bent down. Why didn’t the foolish woman run? Damn it. If she would just get clear, he could finish this. He needed to keep his uncle talking until she got the hell out of the way.

  “Who would loan you so much money you fear for your life?” Geoffrey asked.

  “Percenters, a nasty lot of them,” Joss answered.

  What in the blazes was Liliana doing? Geoffrey couldn’t tell, as she was simply a blur in his peripheral vision. He daren’t take his eyes off Joss, but he wanted to shout with frustration. She was crouched too close to Uncle Joss, only two arms’ lengths away.

  “Let me pay your debt,” Geoffrey offered, straining for a soothing tone. “Let me get you help for your problem.” Though it galled him to say the next, he said it anyway. “You’re my family.”

  Joss’ gaze wavered, and it seemed as though he wanted to accept. But then his face hardened. “As if you would help me now that you know I killed your father.”

  It seemed his uncle wasn’t a fool, after all.

  “Of course, I’ll have to kill Miss Claremont, too,” Joss said. He took a quick step back and snatched Liliana up to him, turning the gun on her.

  Geoffrey stopped breathing. It took everything in him not to reach for his own weapon. But he’d never be able to kill Joss before the man pulled the trigger, and he couldn’t risk Liliana. He dropped to his knees. “Please, Uncle, don’t harm her.”

  Liliana forced herself to hold perfectly still, even though every nerve in her body screamed to get as far away as possible from the explosive she’d just lit. Four…five…six…She had no idea how long it would take for the turpentine to ignite, but as contained as it was, when mixed with the ingredients in her tinderbox, she expected at least a flash explosion somet
ime soo—

  The force of the blast knocked Liliana to her stomach. Pain exploded in her head as it came in contact with the floor, and heat licked up her legs, but she paid it no heed, rising to her hands and knees and looking frantically for Wentworth. Screams rent the air behind her, and she whipped around.

  Flames ate their way up Wentworth’s breeches. He’d dropped to his knees but hadn’t lost control of his weapon, which he now aimed at Geoffrey. Liliana turned her head to where Geoffrey was still on his knees. Why hadn’t he run, blast it? He reached behind his back, pulling his own weapon, but from the corner of her eye, Liliana saw the flex of Wentworth’s hand as he pulled his trigger.