The Lady and the Vixen

by KT Grant

  “Yes, I do, Marchioness.” Teague slipped his ruined cigar inside his jacket pocket. “This is what you’re going to do if you don’t want the police showing up on your doorstep. You won’t reveal your engagement to Aidan tonight, and you’ll tell him you’re rescinding your offer of marriage. You’ll leave the Daughertys and Mrs. Endcott alone. You’re banned from Pythos and every one of my other clubs for life.” He paused when she spun around. She opened her mouth, but he lifted a finger to silence her. “In the next few days, you’ll receive a letter from your parents who have asked you to stay with them for an extended visit. I’m thinking six months away from London will be the best thing for you.”

  But what about Colby’s debt? Lucy bit the inside of her cheek to stop from blurting out her question. It could still backfire because it was Irena’s legal right to expect payment due from Colby.

  Irena averted her gaze and studied the rug. Her arms hung limply at her sides, and her face had lost all its color. “If I do everything you’re asking of me, the investigation into my husband’s death will remain closed and still be considered a robbery gone wrong?”

  Lucy inhaled sharply. “Is she admitting to the crime?” she whispered to Tisha.

  “It’s not an admittance of guilt, but she’s not proclaiming her innocence either.” Tisha squeezed Lucy’s hand.

  “Exactly.” Teague scratched his chin, looking mighty pleased. “We can talk more tomorrow about the issue with Colby’s debt, and I’ll speak to Aidan about you breaking things off with him.”

  “Some of these terms are acceptable, while others are not.” Irena faced Lucy. “Mrs. Endcott and I came to an agreement earlier about repaying her brother’s debt. Under the law—”

  Chase moved away from his spot and toward Irena. “Now see here, you bi—”

  A loud popping sound came from outside then screams and pounding of footsteps. Chase threw open the door, and a wave of people huddled together, chatting in loud voices.

  “What’s happened?” he asked a group.

  A man with a harried expression asked for Irena. She ran past Chase to meet with the footman.

  “My lady, there’s been an accident in the garden. Mr. Lovett shot one of the guests.”

  “Accident? Aidan shot someone? Ridiculous.” Irena marched down the hall.

  Teague broke into a run, and Lucy, Tisha, and Chase shadowed him to the ballroom, where the music had stopped. They hurried out on the balcony and down the steps. Colby sat on the edge of the fountain with a handkerchief on the side of his head. His mouth was bleeding, and his hair was in disarray.

  “Colby!” Lucy and Chase yelled and hurried to his side.

  He blinked rapidly and rose on unsteady feet.

  “Can someone explain what’s happened?” Irena scanned the faces around her.

  “Aidan has gone mad. He pulled out a gun and threatened to shoot me. When he grabbed Abbie, I tried to stop him, but he hit me in the head with the gun and punched me in the face.” Colby clutched the front of Chase’s shirt. “He rambled on about making Father pay and finally putting an end to it all.”

  Lucy covered her mouth. “Oh dear God, you don’t think he’s going to—”

  “I have to stop him before he goes too far.” Teague ran back inside the house.

  “Da, wait!” Tisha chased after him.

  Lucy lifted her skirts to go after them, but Irena seized her by the arm.

  “Let them or the authorities deal with that madman. You’ll stay here,” she ordered.

  She wrenched her arm away. “Don’t ever touch me again or tell me what to do.” With her mind spinning and panic rushing through her body, she took off, intent on finding Tisha. Chase called for her, but she ran inside the house. When she couldn’t find Tisha or Teague, she hurried out to the front of the house. Both argued outside.

  “Da, we need to go to the police and—”

  “I’ll take care of it.” Teague shook off Tisha and turned to walk away. Tisha darted in front of him.

  “What are you two doing?” Lucy asked.

  “Da doesn’t want the police involved. He thinks he can talk to Aidan and calm him down before he can hurt anyone else.”

  “We’re wastin’ valuable time jabberin’ on about what to do.” He grabbed Tisha by the arms and shook her. “The minute Aidan knows the coppers are waitin’ for him, he’ll fly off the handle and he’ll be lost to us. I won’t lose him like I lost his mother.”

  “Mr. McGrath, my half-brother—I just found out about a day ago—is not in his right mind. He almost killed Colby, abducted Miss Hale, and is on his way to my father’s home with murder on his mind.” Fear settled deep in Lucy’s belly, and her breath clogged in her throat. “My sister and my newborn niece are there and could also get hurt. We don’t have time to stand here and argue!”

  “What do you expect us to do, Lucy? Storm the house and take out Aidan?” Tisha asked in frustration.

  “The longer we wait, the more unbalanced Aidan becomes. I’m going to drive to the Daugherty house and see if he’s there. If so, I’ll talk to him. He’ll listen to me.” Teague hurried down the street, calling for his driver.

  “This is madness!” Tisha followed her father with Lucy behind her.

  He opened the door to the carriage, but, before he could get in, Tisha blocked the entrance.

  “Da, this is dangerous. We should wait for the author—”

  “The authorities?” He ran a palm down his mouth. “Girl, there’s no time. They’ll shoot Aidan and ask questions later.”

  Lucy longed to point out how Teague had said he had friends within the police department, but he didn’t look like he could be reasoned with. Time was of the essence, and they had to act fast.

  “We’re wasting precious minutes arguing about this. It’s less than a ten-minute drive. We might even reach the house before Aidan gets there, if he has decided to go there and not to Pythos.” She pushed aside both Teague and Tisha and jumped in the carriage.

  “Wait, Mrs. Endcott. You and Tisha are staying here,” Teague demanded.

  “You’ll have to throw me out of the carriage then, because I’m coming with you.” She slid over the seat to make room for Tisha, who got in next to her.

  He cursed and climbed in the carriage, slamming the door shut. His eyes shot daggers at both Lucy and Tisha, and he hit the top of the ceiling. The carriage started moving.

  Tisha clasped Lucy’s hand in a tight grip. Lucy started to pray.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  “Damn it, we’re too late.”

  Teague threw open the door as the carriage came to a halt and jumped out. The lump in Lucy’s throat expanded, and her stomach clenched at the sight before her. The staff huddled in front of the house. Freddy paced, clutching his hair.

  She swallowed the bile rising in her throat and got out of the carriage. Tisha, still holding her hand, climbed out after her. They both joined Teague, who talked with Freddy.

  “Lucy!” Freddy rushed to hug her.

  She embraced her brother-in-law. “Where’s Aunt Sera, Rue—”

  “He has them...locked in the salon…a gun…will kill….” He trembled, and his eyes overflowed with tears.

  Walter came forward, haggard and ashen. “Less than half an hour ago, there was a knock on the door. A man brandishing a gun and clutching a sobbing woman rushed in screaming for Mr. Daugherty. Mrs. Toulson and Mr. and Mrs. Dalton rushed out to investigate before I warned them. The man ordered us all in the back salon and said if we didn’t do what he wanted, he would shoot us. He made both women sit and told us to go get Mr. Daugherty. I told the man Mr. Daugherty wasn’t in the residence and he would have to be sent for. The man ordered Mr. Dalton and me to leave, and he and the ladies would stay in the room to wait for Mr. Daugherty to return.”

  “I didn’t want to leave, but the lunatic shot the wall near my head and screamed for me to get his father or he would start shooting the women.” Freddy wrapped his arms around his chest.
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br />   “They’re still inside? Where’s Daugherty?” Teague asked.

  “Mr. Daugherty is still upstairs in his bedroom with the nurse. I thought it best to lie and make the man believe Mr. Daugherty isn’t on the premises,” Walter announced.

  “The man holding Aunt Sera and Rue hostage is Aidan Lovett, father’s illegitimate son and my half-brother.” Lucy braced for the bombardment of questions.

  “What? How can it be?” Freddy shook his head in disbelief.

  “There’s no time to talk about that now. How many people are still in the house?” Teague asked.

  “The staff is outside and all accounted for. Six in total are still inside. Mr. Daugherty and his nurse are upstairs in his room. Mrs. Toulson and Mrs. Dalton, including the baby and the woman Mr. Lovett dragged in with him,” Walter said.

  “Oh dear, little Dinah.” Lucy barely kept back her tears, unlike Freddy, who looked ready to faint.

  “Have the police been sent for?” Teague asked.

  “Yes. They should be here soon,” Walter replied.

  “We don’t have much time. Once the police arrive, things will get worse. Aidan may snap further.” Teague stared up at the house. “I have to go inside and talk to him. He’ll listen to me.”

  “I’m coming in with you,” Tisha said.

  “Are you crazy? Aidan could end up shooting you!” Lucy couldn’t believe Tisha would endanger herself in such a way. She wouldn’t allow it.

  “Da and I are the only ones who can stop him.” Tisha reached for Lucy.

  She stepped back, shaken to her very depths. If Tisha got hurt—or worse, killed—she wouldn’t be able to stand it.

  Tisha dropped her hand and pain floated in her eyes.

  “Mrs. Endcott is right, darlin’.” Teague drew Tisha to his side. “Aidan isn’t thinking correctly. I have no idea how he’ll react when he sees me.”

  “Da, you’ve told me before it’s all about taking chances. You’re a perfect example of that. You’ve succeeded where most would fail.” She rested her palms on her father’s chest. “If anyone can help Aidan, you can. He’ll listen to you and, hopefully, to me. Something is telling me it will all turn out for the best. Trust me on this.”

  He curved his hand around the back of her neck and kissed her forehead. Tisha turned her face toward Lucy and mouthed, “Trust me.”

  She couldn’t stop the trembling hammering her bones, and when Freddy hauled her into an embrace, she gladly conceded. She needed his support now more than ever, knowing Tisha would accompany her father into an extremely dangerous situation.

  Teague gave Tisha another kiss, this time on her cheek, then looked at Freddy. “Mr. Dalton, I wish there was a better way but there’s not enough time to come up with a better solution. I take full responsibility for myself and my daughter, and if something should happen to us because Aidan refused to listen to reason, you shouldn’t feel any remorse. I’ll try my best to rescue your wife and daughter, as well as anyone else he’s holding captive.”

  Freddy nodded in resignation. “You have until the police arrive, which won’t be long. I do wish you would reconsider because you may do more harm than good.”

  “But if we don’t do something, we may all lose,” Teague pointed out.

  Neighbors from the surrounding houses came outside to investigate the commotion. Lucy turned when she heard her name. Viola and Polly ran to her. Before she could answer the questions thrown at her, Freddy, along with Teague and Tisha, walked up the front steps of the townhouse.

  She excused herself and followed them, but Walter caught her elbow.

  “Mr. McGrath told me to move everyone away from the house.”

  “I can’t believe they’re doing this!” She wiped angry tears from her cheeks.

  Teague opened the front door, and he and Tisha entered. Freddy shut the door behind him.

  The rest of the staff withdrew to a safer distance. Lucy did the same and paced. She would be a complete and utter wreck until everyone inside was safe and sound.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  The bong from the grandfather clock in the hall broke the silence. Tisha jumped. Da pressed a finger to his mouth for her to remain quiet.

  “Mr. Dalton, where did Aidan take the women?” he whispered.

  “The day salon facing the backyard. Rue likes to sit there and rock our daughter to sleep.” Mr. Dalton lifted a shaking hand and motioned down the hall.

  “Tisha and I will head that way. As quietly as possible, go up the stairs and check on Daugherty and his nurse to see how they’re faring. Stay with them until it’s safe to come down.” Da opened his coat, showing off a firearm.

  “Where did you get that?” she asked, startled he would have a weapon on him.

  “I always keep my pistol on me.” He tapped the firearm.

  They would have a long talk after this was all over. But first they had to settle things with Aidan.

  “Please be safe, Mr. McGrath. Save my wife and child and the other two women. If anything happens to them.…” Mr. Dalton shut his mouth and clutched the staircase banister.

  “You have my promise: I’ll try my best to keep everyone safe.” Da patted Mr. Dalton’s back. “Now, go upstairs and check on the old man.”

  He nodded and slowly trod up the stairs. When he reached the second landing and turned down the hall, Da took her hand, and they moved toward the back of the house.

  “What if Aidan is so far gone he won’t listen to us?” A foreboding she’d never experienced before bombarded her.

  “Let’s not think of the worst.” He tightened his grip around hers.

  They walked past the dining room and other rooms. Turning a corner, they came to a room with the door slightly open. Light shone from within, and there were voices and crying.

  He thrust her behind him. “Aidan, son, it’s Teague. Tisha is with me also. We would like to come in and talk to you.”

  No response. He lifted his gun and stepped forward.

  “Aidan, I promise you it’s only me and Tisha.” He paused and waited. Still, no answer.

  She dug her nails in his back. “Aidan, Da has never lied to you before.” She expelled a shaky breath and steadied her voice. “You can trust us. We’re here to help.”

  The sounds of muffled movement from in the room reached the hall and then a man’s and woman’s voices, along with some floor creaking.

  Abbie appeared at the door with Aidan behind her. The side of her mouth was marred by a purple bruise. Her hair was also snarled and her eyes swollen from crying. She whimpered as Aidan held the back of her hair.

  “Hello, Abbie, may we enter?” Da asked politely.

  She opened the door, backing away with Aidan to allow Da and her to enter.

  Da shoved his gun in his jacket and curved his arm around her shoulder. They stayed side by side, only stopping when Aidan turned the gun on them.

  She glanced at the couch where two women sat. One was older, the other much younger, rocking a sleeping baby. They sat together, silent, unlike Abbie, who sniffed and trembled.

  Da lifted his hands. “Hello, son. As promised, it’s just me and Tisha. Why don’t you put down the gun so we can talk?”

  Abbie sobbed as Aidan pulled her along until he sat on a chair and forced her to the floor in front of him. He looped his fingers in her hair and dug the edge of the gun under her chin.

  “You can sit next to those two.” He nodded at the women on the couch.

  Tisha sat next to the one with the baby. She smiled brightly, hiding her nervousness. “You must be Rue. Lucy’s told me about you,” she whispered.

  Rue nodded, pulling her sleeping daughter in closer. “Yes.”

  “What are you two whispering about?” Aidan asked.

  “I’m just introducing myself to your sister.” She smiled at Aidan as if it was just a social call.

  Rue gasped, along with the older woman.

  “I haven’t had time to tell her about our association.” He curved his hand aro
und Abbie’s throat. “This one won’t shut up, trying to make excuses for her whorish ways.”

  Da sat on the arm of the couch. “Aidan, you’ve caused a lot of grief here. Why didn’t you come to me first? I would have—”

  “Would have what, Teague? You couldn’t fix this or my Abbie fucking around with another man, my own brother!”

  Abbie whimpered when Aidan sat her on his lap. He rocked and rubbed his mouth along her cheek and her hair, mumbling under his breath.

  “So, instead of acting like a rational man and asking Abbie, whom you’ve loved and trusted for many years, what really happened between her and Mr. Daugherty, you overact and throw a tantrum?” Da asked.

  “You don’t understand!” Aidan threw Abbie to the floor, jumped up from his seat and raised the gun in Teague’s direction.

  “Abbie, come here.” Tisha beckoned the hysterical woman.

  She crawled and landed on Tisha. She hid her face in Tisha’s lap.

  Da didn’t act nervous as Aidan pointed the gun at him. He tapped his fingers on his knee and sighed. “You enjoy scaring innocent women like your sisters and your sweetheart?”

  “No! I-I came here to talk to my bastard of a father. I’m sick of him ignoring me.” Aidan growled, slapping the gun on the side of his leg. He paced, running his fingers through his hair. “Where is he? They said they would bring him to me!” He landed back in the chair and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, staring at the entrance of the room.

  “This was a way to get your father’s attention?” Tisha lifted Abbie up and had her take her seat. She approached Aidan even though Da said her name in warning.

  Aidan sat back when she knelt before him. He ran the side of his hand down her cheek.

  “You’re not afraid of me, are you?” he asked in a petulant tone.

  “Not at all. I’m your best girl and the one who loves you the most.” She rested her cheek on his knee, showing him how much she trusted him not to hurt her. He spread his fingers through her hair, playing with the strands that had unraveled from her pins.