Surrender Your Grace

by Maddie Taylor

  Lady Winslow was bigger than Cici and struggled fiercely against her hold. But Cici was fighting for her life and had so much to live for. Planting a knee in the older woman’s stomach for leverage, she had a brief flash of satisfaction upon hearing her grunt in pain. Knowing she had the advantage of a dominant position she acted immediately. Taking both hands, Cici slammed the woman’s wrists against the floor as hard as she could until she released the gun. As it skirted away, Cici scrambled after it.

  The widow let out a howl of frustration and went after Cici who grabbed the weapon just a fraction of a second before the enraged Lady Winslow landed on her back. A hand twisted in her hair and yanked brutally until tears came to her eyes. Helpless and pinned in an inferior position, she decided to eliminate the threat of the gun and fired it. She pulled the trigger over and over until it was discharged and the chamber was empty. The widow in a fit of rage pulled back on Cici’s hair and slammed her head against the carpeted floor.

  Cici saw a white flash of light just as a crashing noise sounded behind them. An instant later Cici felt the weight lifted from her back. Unfortunately, the hand in her hair didn’t relent and her head was yanked back again painfully. Cici screamed as she reached back to claw at the hands attempting to rip her hair out by the roots, when sudden she was released. Slumping to the floor in exhaustion, her eyes streamed with tears of pain.

  Rolling to her back, she looked for her rescuers and found Andrew holding the squirming widow by the waist. Duncan was across the room subduing a still writhing and whining Lord Steven. “Be careful Duncan, he has a gun.” At her warning Lord Rothbury did a quick search of the cowed man and eliminated the threat.

  Cici fell back against the carpet and tried to catch her breath, her heart still racing. Thompson hovered in the doorway. “Shall I send for the police, My Lords?”

  Cici answered for them. “Immediately, tell them we have the murderers of the two previous Dukes of Sommerville. She admitted it. And a doctor for Maggie, she’s been hurt.”

  “Call the magistrate as well Thompson,” Andrew ordered. “I will see this nasty business ended, tonight.”

  Duncan, having tied up the Viscount with the drapery cords, moved to attend to Maggie. He lifted her in his arms and moved her to the couch.

  Andrew was holding a struggling Lady Winslow attempting to get her to be still. Cici rife with indignation decided she’d had quite enough of the woman and climbed to her feet. Walking up to the struggling widow, she did something she had only dreamed of before. She planted a wicked right hook straight to her jaw.

  Her head snapped backwards and she slumped in Andrew’s arms. Andrew and Duncan looked on in astonishment, trying to wrap their brains around the sight of petite, innocent looking Cici knocking out the larger woman with one blow. It had left them speechless.

  She looked at her tormenter and shook out her throbbing hand. “Andrew, I’d be happier if you put the bitch down somewhere. I’m not sure how much longer I can hold myself together.” He noticed then that she was trembling and pale.

  Andrew dropped the widow none to gently on the settee then rushed to catch Cici before she collapsed at his feet. “Cici are you injured? We heard several gunshots.”

  “No, I fired the gun to empty it. She planned to drug me and hold Maggie and me for ransom. That is Lord Windgate her accomplice. She also admitted they killed your father and James, Andrew. He did the actual dirty work, but she was the one who planned it. It really wasn’t Elizabeth, thank God.”

  “How in the world did they get past our security?”

  Duncan who was holding a groggy Maggie suggested, “I bet we find a maid and footman stripped to their underclothes somewhere.”

  Maggie now awake, groaned and put a hand to her head. “It they coshed them on the head like they did me, we need to find them and have them attended to. My head is throbbing.”

  “There’s water in a pitcher on the table, My Lord. Revive her and let’s ask her.”

  Duncan grabbed the pitcher, but hesitated before pouring it over her head. Despite her being a criminal, he had a hard time assaulting an unconscious woman.

  Cici on the other hand, had no qualms and pulling out of Andrew’s arms, took the pitcher from him and swiftly dumped it on the woman’s head. “A gentleman to the end, I see. I have no such reluctance.”

  The police arrived just as the widow awoke, spitting and screaming in outrage. They removed her to detention the initial charges included attempted murder of a noble.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Maggie and Cici looked as perfect as ever as they sat side by side on a couch in the salon. Maggie had been examined by the physician and the ladies had both retired to their rooms to have their maids repair the damage to their appearance. When Andrew and Duncan walked in the room, they found their women relaxing and sipping champagne as if nothing had occurred.

  Duncan stood over his fiance frowning in concern. “Margaret Anne! I doubt if champagne is recommended after a blow to the head.”

  “But Duncan, my headache is gone. I don’t even notice unless I touch the lump on my head.”

  He sat next to her and gathered her close. “Even so, that will be the last glass for you tonight.” He pressed a kiss against her forehead as he issued the order, surprised when the slightly inebriated Maggie didn’t make a fuss and instead smiled sweetly up at him. Duncan shook his head in confusion, but made a mental note to stock champagne at home in the future if it made her this agreeable.

  Andrew moved to Cici’s side and sat next to her, wrapping a strong arm around her shoulders and squeezing reassuringly. “There is a bit of gossip among the guests about our absence, but nothing to worry about. Mother has no idea that anything occurred but she has been looking for you Cici. I spoke to Thompson and he is reassuring the servants. Fortunately, with the library at the back of the house and with the noise from the music and the guests, a few of the servants were the only ones to have heard the gunshots.”

  “Good, then the evening is not ruined and we can continue on as planned.”

  “Are you sure you want to return to the ball?’

  “Yes Andrew. I really am not a hot house flower. Besides, I won’t let that woman’s dreadful actions spoil this special night. Maggie and I put too much into the planning, we are not leaving until it’s over.”

  Maggie chimed in then, “Cici’s right. I feel fine and I refuse to miss my one and only engagement ball.”

  “Plus, this champagne has wonderfully restorative effects.” Cici tapped Maggie’s glass in a celebratory toast and both ladies laughed.

  Andrew shook his head, picking up Cici’s right hand and tenderly kissing her slightly bruised knuckles. “I’d have to agree that you are no hot house flower. Most women would be lying in bed requiring salts to recover from their swoon. But not our women, Duncan. No, they are veritable pillars of strength and fortitude. And you…,” He said, looking at Cici with a tender grin on his handsome face. “Who would have thought you’d have such a good right hook. My duchess, the Gentleman Jackson of her time.”

  Duncan grinned, nodding his head. “I laugh every time I relive that moment when she poured the entire pitcher over the widow’s head. Maggie darling, you missed quite a show.”

  “It would have been preferable to a vase to the head or being tied up and locked in a closet.”

  “Poor Jenkins and Sarah.” They had found the villains unsuspecting victims tied up in an upstairs closet wearing nothing but their underclothes. It seems Lord Windgate had attended as the escort of one of the invited guests. As a noble, he had not been questioned by security when he arrived with a respectable lady with an invitation.

  “I’ll make sure they are compensated for their troubles, Cici.”

  “Yes, I heard you told them to take the week off to recuperate with pay. You are very generous, husband. What about Lady Finlay? What does she know about Lord Windgate? Do you think she is involved?”

  “The investigators are going to look i
nto it. All we know is that she is a distant relative who offered to escort her this evening.”

  “I know Lady Finlay, Andrew. She is a good friend of mother’s.” Maggie shook her head at the deviousness of the villain’s plot. “I bet he knew that and was easily able to arrange to accompany her. She is a widow and often has difficulty finding an escort. He must have known as mother’s close friend she would be on the guest list.”

  “Mm-hm, I think we have put all the pieces of this puzzle together. There is just one thing I need to know. You need to explain to me why you left the ballroom and how you got trapped with them in the library.”

  “You told me I couldn’t leave the first floor, Andrew. The library is on the first floor.”

  Maggie jumped in to explain, instantly championed her friend. “Cici just stepped into the hallway. I went into the library and Lord Windgate forced Cici to follow.”

  “He threatened me, leaving me no choice.”

  “In the future, Maggie, you are not to leave a ball or event of any kind without informing me first. I will decide if it is permitted or not.”

  Maggie stared at Duncan in shock. “You’re joking.”

  “That rule will stay in place until the memory of walking into that library and finding you unconscious has faded. That may be a very long time.”

  Maggie looked up at her betrothed, her eyes bright with emotion. His rule was absurd and she was sure he knew that. It was also said out of love and concern, because she knew how much he cared she didn’t argue further.

  “That sounds like and excellent plan to me, Cici.”

  “Is that another rule, dear husband?”

  “Without a doubt, dear wife.”

  “I’m really going to have to start writing these rules down.” Her aggrieved sigh caused the others to hoot with laughter. A burden had been lifted from their shoulders and they relaxed in one another’s company, relieved that the mystery surrounding Cici’s “accidents” was finally solved.

  “What will become of her, Andrew?”

  “The widow, as a peeress will be tried in the Court of the Queen, in The House of Lords. As a lesser noble she could be sentenced to imprisonment, but I suspect she will be offered penal transportation and made to forfeit all titles, properties and monies held.”

  Duncan scoffed at that, “More likely, she will leave the country in the cover of night, humiliated but basically getting away with conspiracy to murder. With the privilege of the peerage, they’ll prefer to avoid the spectacle of trying a woman in The Lords and allow her to leave the country.”

  “True Duncan, but Lord Windgate will not be so lucky. We will push for a full trial and no doubt he will face execution for the murder of two Dukes of the realm and my child.”

  “So she gets off scot-free?” Maggie protested, then blushed as she realized she may have offended her Scottish fiance. “Sorry Duncan.”

  “No offense taken sweetheart, I hear that one all the time.” He squeezed her shoulders affectionately before agreeing with Andrew. “The Lords will not want the spectacle of a trial, but we will insist. He cannot be allowed to escape punishment like that a woman.”

  Cici sat silently fuming. The widow deserved to pay for her crimes against Andrew’s family and herself. “You don’t seem very upset that the widow will get off so easy, Andrew.”

  “For a woman like Angela, this is a fate worse than death. What’s left of her fortune will be seized by the crown. She is nothing without money. The old Earl was no pauper and she sold off her father’s ship building enterprises for a goodly sum after his death. How she went through her vast inheritance in such a short time is astounding. She has little resources left except her few properties and whatever she has received from her uh… shall we say benefactors.”

  Cici gave an unladylike snort at that. Andrew ignored it, not wanting to bring up the fact that he had been one of her most recent financiers.

  “In the end, being shipped off to the rustic colonies will be a far worse punishment than execution, my dear Cici. She will have no wealth or social standing and will probably have to marry again to survive, to a commoner at that.”

  “I feel sorry for the poor Yank who gets her as a bride.”

  They sat in companionable silence for a moment until Andrew, ever a stickler for details, asked, “What did you need from the library in the middle of a ball?”

  The girls looked at each other blushing.

  Duncan and Andrew eyes met over their heads and they knew their naughty girls were hiding something.

  They earned an unexpected reprieve from the inquisition however when the Dowager came in. “Children, in case you have overlooked it, there is a ball going on in this house. Dinner is about to be served and the guests are looking for their hosts and the guests of honor.” She then swiftly shooed them out of the salon to attend to their guests who were thankfully oblivious to the events that had gone on behind the scenes that evening.

  Later on, after supper had been deemed a success, Duncan and Maggie’s engagement had been roundly toasted, and the crowd had started to dwindle following the last waltz, Andrew turned to see his pink-faced bride winding her way through the crush of guests. “What is it sweetheart? Is something amiss?”

  She stepped to his side shaking her head and waving off his concern. She then signaled for him to bend down so she could speak privately into his ear. “Remember how you wanted to know why Maggie and I were going to the library?” At his nod, she continued. “She was going to expand my knowledge of all things French.”

  When Andrew just looked at her puzzled, she rolled her eyes. “Never mind, I simply need for you to escort me to our rooms immediately.”

  “Why? Are you ill?”

  Cici’s frustration was clearly apparent in her tone. For a smart man sometimes he could be quite obtuse. “No, dear husband. I need you urgently in our rooms because… I just learned the definition of soixante-neuf and am dying for a demonstration.”

  A stunned silence followed, then heads turned as the ninth Duke of Sommerville threw back his head and laughed in shameless delight before dragging his scarlet faced bride from the room.

  Epilogue

  The little red headed boy squealed as his father swung him up on his broad shoulders. They had been playing on the grassy yard in the back of the house. Slightly winded and warm in the mid-July heat, they headed for the shaded gardens where their ladies awaited.

  “Papa, can we go to the stables now? I have an apple to give to Daisy.” The little girl was the image of her father with dark blonde wavy hair, deep blue eyes and a dimple in her cheek. Andrew grinned at her as he lowered his three-year-old son to his feet and watched him run gleefully to his mama wrapping his arms around her legs.

  “Did you see how high papa swung me, mama? I almost touched the sun.”

  “Oh James, don’t be silly. If you touched the sun you would burn up in flames.” His older sister corrected her brother’s silliness.

  “Now Caroline, don’t be so harsh with your brother. His wonderful imagination will take him places one day.” Cici corrected her daughter gently, but her eyes were on her husband. He was dressed in his shirt sleeves and tight buff colored breeches. At thirty-five he was in his prime, young and robust and the twinkle in his eye gave him a mischievous look. She watched him cross the brick patio and approach her. Regardless of the children who were used to their parents affectionate ways, he gathered her in his arms and planted a scorching kiss on her lips. When she was breathless and the children were giggling, he lifted his head. “You look stunning as always, sweetheart.”

  Cici let out a shaky breath and whispered, “thank you, my lo-.” She stopped abruptly as he gave her his patented censorious stare and added hastily, “uh Andrew.”

  “Back to my lo-uh Andrew, is it?” He bent his head and grazing her ear with his lips whispered, “We shall have to work on that some more tonight.”

  “Yes please,” she breathed as a shiver of anticipation ran down her spine.
They hadn’t been together for over a week, which was a tortuously long time for them. Although an old married couple of seven years, they still craved one another. Andrew was stunningly adept at keeping things fresh and exciting in the marriage bed. He even pulled out the forbidden sex manual and played pick a page at least once a week.

  He chuckled at the lusty look in her eyes, enjoying her heated response. Turning her toward a wooden swing that was hidden in a shaded alcove in the garden, they settled to watch their children play in the sandbox as they relaxed, gently swinging. He then asked about her recent trip home.

  “You found your parents well?”

  “Yes, they enjoy good health even though papa will be sixty next month. Mama thinks he is too grumpy by half, but they are well.”

  “And Elizabeth and her vicar?” He asked this in a detached tone, his demeanor always cool and remote whenever they discussed her sister. She couldn’t blame him. Neither had been able to forget her mistreatment of Cici and the pain that she caused.

  “He is very good for her, Andrew. I am thankful that my parents stood firm and made her stay in the country. Otherwise they may have never met and fallen in love.”

  He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, efficiently bringing the swing to a halt. Cici’s hand rose to his back and she stroked him, comforting him knowing the depth of his feelings for her sister. “I’m grateful that you changed your mind and allowed me to visit. She is truly contrite and prays daily for God’s forgiveness as well as ours. Jonathan is very supportive, keeps a careful eye on her and she has become an asset to the church and community. They are expecting their first child this fall and I pray for their happiness.”