Never Miss a Chance (Kellington Book Two)

by Maureen Driscoll

  “Actually,” said Lizzie. “I think you should use me as bait.”

  “Never,” said Riverton.

  “That sounds like an excellent plan,” said Edith.

  “It’s the only solution,” said Lizzie. “They must find me alone, so they can ransom me for the chest. But you all will be lying in wait, so we can capture them like in a gothic novel. I think if I ever stop writing treatises – and don’t get too excited, Lynwood, for I can’t see a day when that shall happen – I should like to pen a novel. It would be ever so much fun.”

  After a stunned silence, broken only by a snort from Stalford, Lizzie’s loved ones once again tried to disabuse her of the plan. However in the end, after much debate, Lizzie finally got them to agree to her idea.

  But Riverton still didn’t like it.

  * * *

  For the next day and a half, the ladies and gentlemen who were privy to the plan were on edge, alert for any sign that the Marleys had returned. Stapleton had stationed Riverton’s most trusted staff at different locations on the estate so they’d be notified the moment the Marleys were spotted. By late afternoon of the second day, the diligence had paid off. The wife of one of the tenant famers spotted two outsiders masquerading as fishermen passing through the village. While they were purportedly two men, the smaller of the two could easily be a woman in disguise.

  It was then determined that the Marleys were using an abandoned cottage near the river as their hiding place. They’d been very quiet, but a woodcutter had seen them and alerted Riverton. He’d wanted to storm the cottage right away, but had been persuaded to stick to the original plan.

  Now it was Lizzie’s turn to do her part.

  She set off for the lake shortly after tea. It was a challenge to walk through the woods pretending not to have a care in the world, knowing the Marleys were in the vicinity and more than likely had her in their sights. But she hadn’t wanted to draw them to the house, when too many innocents could’ve been harmed. She needed them to make their move where it was safest for others. As she got closer to the lake, she was beginning to think they hadn’t seen her leave, when she heard the cock of a pistol.

  “Stop right there,” said Miss Marley, as she stepped out from behind a tree near the water. “I should hate to have to kill you.”

  Lizzie faced her attacker. “Somehow, I don’t think you’d mind a bit. But you need me alive to get what you want.”

  Miss Marley’s lips curved in a cruel smile. “I do need you alive, but not necessarily unharmed. A nice flesh wound would even lend some urgency to the proceedings, don’t you think? I can only imagine how quickly Riverton would act to free his beloved. Despite being the dry stick that he is.”

  “He is not a dry stick,” said Lizzie, vehemently, even as she eyed the pistol. “He’s a passionate, wonderful, loving man and you’re not fit to say his name.”

  “Then perhaps I shall take advantage of his ‘passionate’ nature when he comes to your rescue.”

  “He won’t come,” said Lizzie, wishing that were true. The last thing she wanted was for Marcus to be put in harm’s way trying to protect her. “I am betrothed to the Earl of Stalford.”

  “I think not,” said Miss Marley. “Any imbecile can see he’s utterly besotted with Riverton’s cow of a sister.”

  A twig snapped nearby. Miss Marley turned her head toward the noise, while keeping her pistol trained on Lizzie. “What kind of animals do you have in these woods?”

  “I haven’t the foggiest idea,” said Lizzie. “But one can hope they’re particularly hungry.”

  “Then perhaps they should set their sights on Edith. After all, she has plenty of meat,” said Miss Marley. Who was then hit on the forehead with a rock that had been thrown with considerable force.

  Edith came running out of the woods and pelted Miss Marley with another one. “Bitch!” screamed Edith, as she wound up to throw the next rock.

  But Miss Marley ducked the third. She brought her pistol up and aimed it right at Edith. Lizzie threw herself over Edith, just as the Earl of Stalford ran past them and tackled Miss Marley. The pistol went off harmlessly into a tree.

  Lizzie looked up to see Stalford holding Miss Marley down. “How dare you try to hurt Edith, you witch!” he snarled at her.

  “Nincompoop!” hissed Edith. “You’re supposed to be protecting your betrothed.”

  “I am, Edith! You’re going to marry me,” he said as he struggled with the writhing Miss Marley. “Now help me tie her up.”

  Edith was, for once, at a loss for words.

  But of course it passed.

  “Stalford, you have a lamentable…”

  “Shut it, Edith! You’re marrying me and there will be no further discussion. Now tie her hands.”

  Lizzie stood over the struggling Miss Marley, as Edith delighted in tying the knots. “Where’s Marley?”

  “I’m not telling you a thing.”

  “Yes, you will, if you expect to live.”

  “You wouldn’t kill me,” snarled Miss Marley.

  “Probably not, but Edith would. Isn’t that right?”

  “In the blink of an eye,” said Edith, as she tied off Miss Marley’s hands tighter than strictly necessary.

  Miss Marley considered Edith for a moment, then turned to Lizzie.

  “He’s got something of yours. Wants to make a trade for the papers from chest.”

  “What does he have?”

  “Your brother Arthur. Take the chest to Marley and your brother won’t be hurt. If you don’t, he’ll kill Arthur then burn this place to the ground. And one more thing…you’ll need to take me to him, too.” She looked at Edith, then hastily added. “Alive and unharmed.”

  “Damn it!” said Edith.

  * * *

  Marley was holding Arthur at the old caretaker’s cottage, adjacent to the river. Lizzie ran all the way there, only to find Riverton waiting nearby.

  As Lizzie ran up to him, Riverton took a half step toward her as if he wanted to pull her into his arms, but then held back and nodded. His eyes, however, searched her from head to toe, ensuring she wasn’t injured.

  “What happened?” asked Lizzie.

  “Arthur didn’t want to place Miss Rennard in harm’s way, so he more or less made himself a hostage. Lynwood, Hal and Stapleton are most displeased.”

  “Is Arthur in there?” asked Lizzie, motioning toward the cottage.

  “Yes. He and Marley have been in there for nearly an hour. Why did you lie to me about when you were going to the lake? I was out of my mind with worry.”

  “It was better that way. Where are Liam, Stapleton and Hal?” asked Lizzie, wishing she could hold Riverton.

  “Circling around. What about Edith and Stalford?”

  “Bringing the prisoner. How did you know the Marleys would split up?”

  “It’s what I would’ve done.”

  “I should’ve known,” said Lizzie with a sad smile. “Always the calm, logical man,”

  “Not with you,” said Riverton as he took her hand. “Never with you.”

  “Marley!”

  They turned to see the rather unexpected sight of Miss Rennard approaching the cottage. She was unarmed, out in the open. And holding the papers in her hand. “I’ll give you the documents for Kellington.”

  There was silence for a moment, then Marley’s voice shouted out from the cottage. “How do I know they’re real?”

  “You’ll know when you match them to what’s in the chest.”

  There was another moment’s silence, then he continued. “Come in here – alone. Then we’ll decide.”

  Arthur called out from the cottage. “Don’t do it Tara! He has a pistol and a knife. He’ll kill us both.”

  There was the sound of Arthur being hit. Then Marley yelled out once again. “Where’s Lucinda?”

  “I’m here, love!”

  Lizzie and Riverton turned to see that Edith and Stalford had just arrived with Miss Marley. Her hands were bound, but her
feet untied.

  “Release her!” yelled Marley from the cabin.

  “Not until you come out,” said Lizzie, praying her brothers and Stapleton were in position.

  The door to the cottage opened and a battered Arthur walked out with Marley holding a knife to his throat. He held a pistol in the other hand, trained at Tara. “Lucinda,” hissed Marley, “take the papers, then come over here.”

  After a nod from Riverton, Edith released Miss Marley, whose hands were still tied. She very smugly walked to Miss Rennard, whispered something in her ear, then took the papers from her. She walked over to Marley and gave him a kiss.

  Marley glanced at the papers, then told Lucinda to grab their bag from the cottage. She’d no sooner gone into the cottage than Lynwood, Stalford and Hal appeared with pistols trained on Marley. Arthur broke away from Marley, who escaped back into the cottage. Arthur and the others followed, only to see the Marleys escape out the back window and run toward the river. They followed, then saw the most astonishing sight as the Marleys jumped over the embankment.

  As the others reached the bank, the Marleys were just disappearing around a bend in the fast-flowing river. As Tara made to jump in the river after them, Arthur caught her.

  “No! That’s a suicide mission.”

  “But I was supposed to guard those papers with my life,” she said, struggling in his hold.

  “That’s one sacrifice I won’t allow you to make,” he said.

  “Lord Riverton,” said Tara, “what is the best way to catch up with the river?”

  “I’m afraid, Miss Rennard, that it would be almost impossible to do. The rapids are so fast you cannot hope to outrun them. Indeed, I cannot imagine the Marleys will survive. It is nearly dark now. It’s better that we take this up again in the morning.”

  For a moment, it appeared like Miss Rennard would give chase anyway. But Arthur put his arm around her waist and escorted her back to the manor.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  They all made their way back to the house, only to find the other ladies waiting for them in the side garden. Aunt Prue and Mariah had been beside themselves with worry. Lady Riverton and Charlotte were most pleased to see that the Duke of Lynwood had survived unharmed and still unmarried.

  “Riverton,” said Stalford, once they’d met up again with the ladies. “I suppose this is as good a time as any to ask for your sister’s hand in marriage.”

  “My sister?” said a surprised Riverton, as he turned to Lizzie. “I thought you and Lady Elizabeth were to be married.”

  “No,” said the earl, seemingly insulted by the very notion. “It appears I have fallen most inelegantly in love with your sister.”

  “Really, my lord!” said Charlotte. “I thought I told you that any proposal must be accompanied by a certain amount of courting. For the record, I prefer diamonds and cannot countenance any stone small enough to be swallowed without choking.”

  “Charlotte,” said her surprised mama, “while I’m completely delighted by the thought of your being a countess, didn’t you set your sights a little….higher?” With this, Lady Riverton waved her hand in the general direction of the Duke of Lynwood, who looked like he’d rather jump in the river and give chase to the Marleys than be the subject of this conversation.

  “But I’m afraid I’ve not made myself clear,” said Stalford. “The sister I’m referring to is Edith.”

  “You want to marry Edith?” asked a dumbstruck Charlotte.

  “That Edith?” asked Lady Riverton, pointing at her elder daughter as if the lawn were suddenly peopled with Ediths.

  “Yes, this Edith,” said Stalford, as he looked at the lady in question. “If she’ll have me.”

  Edith turned to Stalford. “I suppose I shall consent to be your bride, provided you can endeavor to be less of a moron on a somewhat regular basis,” she said, smiling. “And for the record, I also like diamonds. Big ones.” On that last point she was deadly serious.

  “But, Stalford,” said Riverton once again. “You’re betrothed to Lizzie.”

  “No Marcus,” said Lizzie as she took his hand. “I tried to be a good enough person to give you up, but find myself falling short. There’s never been anyone other than you. There never will be. I’m so dreadfully sorry they’re punishing you in Lords, but I shall try my hardest to be a good and at least somewhat proper wife.”

  “What are you talking about? Who’s punishing me in Lords?”

  Lizzie turned to the earl. “Stalford told me I was hurting your chances for advancement, that you’d never be successful with me bringing you down.”

  “That’s preposterous,” said Lynwood, taking one menacing step toward Stalford. It was enough to make the earl edge closer to Edith, who’d acquitted herself quite admirably in the fight with Miss Marley. “Marcus is highly respected. And between the two of us, we’d certainly punish anyone who tried to sully your name.”

  “I don’t give a damn about rising in Lords,” said Riverton as he pulled Lizzie into his arms. “All I care about is you. Be mine, dear Lizzie. You already own my heart.” Then he brought his lips down on hers for a kiss to seal his words.

  “Good God, I’m about to cast up my accounts,” said Edith.

  “So, Stalford,” said Arthur as he walked up to the man. “Was this why you wanted me to bring Lizzie to the house party? So you could trick her into marrying you?”

  “Arthur,” said Lizzie, reluctantly breaking her kiss with Riverton. “What are you talking about?”

  “I cannot tell you how sorry I am,” said her brother. “But I lost a great deal of blunt to him on an evening I cannot remember. And to relieve part of the debt, I promised to bring you here.”

  “You did what?” said Lynwood.

  “I’m truly sorry,” replied Arthur to Lynwood and Lizzie. “And I deserve whatever punishment you deem appropriate. I already owe Stalford ten thousand pounds. I shall be paying for my mistakes for a good long time. But the shame will last even longer.”

  “Here’s the thing old boy,” said Stalford, truly in the spirit of the day. “You weren’t quite yourself that night. You weren’t even at the tables. I drugged you, then made the whole story up.”

  Arthur’s response was a straight left to Stalford’s jaw. The earl was knocked to the ground.

  Edith was outraged.

  “Why would you tell him that?” she asked the prone Stalford. “He was going to pay you ten thousand pounds! I should hit you myself!”

  Then she turned around and hit Arthur, knocking him to the ground.

  “Enough!” said the Duke of Lynwood, loud enough to get everyone’s attention. “Lady Edith, I must ask for an end to this violence, although your hitting my scapegrace of a brother did offer a good deal of satisfaction. Elizabeth, am I to understand you are now betrothed once again to Riverton?”

  She was about to say yes, when Lady Nicholls cleared her throat. “I’m afraid, your grace, that your sister cannot be engaged to the Marquis of Riverton, because my daughter has been set to marry him these many years.”

  “With all due respect, Lady Nicholls, that is not true,” said Riverton. He wasn’t sure how Lady Nicholls could so wholly misunderstand the situation, then was chilled to see the calculating smile on her daughter’s face.

  “Perhaps you do not see this in the appropriate light,” replied Lady Nicholls. “Is that Bow Street person still in attendance?”

  Stapleton, his senses on alert, stepped forward. “Madam?”

  Lady Nicholls gave a sickly sweet smile, then continued. “I hesitate to mention such an unsavory subject, especially in the presence of my dear Melissa and Lady Charlotte, but it has come to my attention that there is a….shall we say…most unnatural attachment between Lynwood’s aunt and her companion. A most unnatural attachment. I daresay it’s even criminal.”

  Lizzie immediately went to Aunt Prue and Mariah, who were both pale. Miss Rennard joined them, as did Arthur and Hal. Even Edith pushed Stalford in their direction, the
n stood alongside.

  Stapleton studied the situation in front of him. “I see. And what do you propose I do about it?”

  “Well,” said Lady Nicholls, “the law on this subject is really quite clear. But I believe we could be counted on to look the other way about the deviants in our midst if my dear sweet Melissa were to get married.”

  Stapleton considered the matter further. “You’re saying you won’t swear out a complaint if Miss Simons marries Lord Riverton.”

  “Or she could marry the Duke of Lynwood. One of those creatures is related to him, after all. To think of the scandal that would rain down on the House of Lynwood if word got out. Disgraceful.” She turned to her daughter. “Which would you prefer, my dear? Do you want to be a duchess or a marchioness?”

  Melissa looked at the two noblemen as if choosing a very expensive bonnet. “I daresay I shall be the envy of the ton with whomever I take. Perhaps I shall let them fight for the honor of marrying me. That would be fun indeed.”

  “You’ll marry either of them over my dead body,” said Aunt Prue. “Take me to gaol, Inspector. I’d rather be hanged than let those women hurt either Lynwood or Riverton. I’m truly sorry, my boy,” she told Lynwood with tears in her eyes.

  “Enough, Aunt!” said Lynwood. “You cannot be sorry for who you are. You will not apologize for an offense not committed.”

  “Oh she’s committed a crime,” said Lady Nicholls. “Against God and in the eyes of man.”

  “But not in mine,” said Lynwood.

  Lady Nicholls turned to Stapleton. “You there! Arrest those women. Or do I have to call your superiors and get you fired?”

  Mansfield, who’d been hovering nearby, stepped directly in front of Aunt Prue and Mariah and put up his fists to defend them if necessary.

  Stapleton considered the scene before him and looked at first Riverton, then Lynwood – both of whom were passive but tense. “I have no other choice but to arrest these women.”

  Lady Nicholls and Melissa smiled.

  Stapleton approached them. “Lady Nicholls, Miss Melissa Simons, I arrest you in the name of the King. The charge is blackmail. My lord Riverton, I shall require two maids to act as chaperones on the ride back to London.”