by Anne Mallory
He captured her lips and framed her cheeks in his hands, his fingers curling into her hair. But he didn’t make her eyes roll back, he didn’t cause her head to fall to the side, none of the tricks that would make her look away or lose contact with his eyes. No tricks that would hide his own completion, the expression on his face, the power that would give her. Their bodies met, their eyes held. And when they both fell apart moments later, he never looked away, and neither did she.
Gabriel picked up Abigail’s journal. He didn’t even like touching it, but Marietta thought all the answers were inside, and he had somehow known it to be the truth since the journal’s discovery. That was the reason he found himself unable to destroy it. And the reason he hadn’t been able to look through it.
He had a copy of Lady Dentry’s list. All he needed to do was go through the journal and check each name off, referenced with what he remembered of each. See if there were any discrepancies, any allusions to events that might have caused someone to become a murderer.
Turning the pages was a struggle, but he began to make headway. One servant identified. Another. A village boy. A summer guest. When he reached his own section, he began flipping the pages more quickly. He didn’t need to read it to remember.
He paused, his fingers in the act of flipping a page. Marietta had read most of this. Had probably gone back when he wasn’t looking and scoured the parts concerning him. She knew all of it, and yet she was still here. Still with him.
He flipped the page, his eyes barely skimming the pen strokes. Marietta saved her pity but extended her empathy. His feelings for her were already strong, but he had a feeling they were sliding down a terminal slope into the unknown.
Always searching for ways not to be broken, maybe he just needed the person who hid his seams.
And because he was skimming the entries that concerned him, he almost missed it. Only the hour chime of the clock woke him from his stupor.
His finger pressed into the page and the voice echoed in his mind. …just last summer. Horrible, as usual.
A firm knot settled in his stomach. The strange thing was the flicker of relief—from finally figuring it out, from never having to go through the journal again, from ending the nightmare. Only to begin a new one.
He pounded the table with his fist. And then did it again, for good measure.
Marietta ran into the room, scanning the space as if looking for a threat. “Gabriel?”
“I know who the murderer is,” he said grimly.
She stared at him, mouth agape.
He started penning notes. “Did my father, brother, and John say where they were going?”
“They are completing the task of tracking down the names on the list.”
“Good. When they get back we will need to discuss the plan.”
“Who is the murderer?”
“I’ll tell you when we are assembled.”
She started to protest. He reached forward to kiss her, to thwart her, and abruptly stopped.
He touched her cheek instead, rubbing his thumb along her soft skin. “Soon. This will be over soon.”
Marietta was nervous. She didn’t know why. Maybe because the nightmare was nearing its peak. Maybe because Gabriel was not telling her something, but at least not hiding the fact from her. Maybe because he never hinted at anything in the future. Anything after.
Jeremy, Alcroft, and Gabriel’s father returned around noon. They gathered around the kitchen table. Gabriel was twitchy, pacing.
“I was looking over the list and found a match. A stable hand. Lester Flume. He’s mentioned in Abigail’s journal, not by name, but Lady Dentry has all of the names written out by hand and he is on the list she gave me.”
“How do you know she has all of the names written in her journal? She hardly seems the type to do something so foolhardy,” Jeremy said.
Gabriel nodded, but his shoulders tensed further. “She threatened me with it. Before. Foolish, yes, but she considers it worth the cost. It’s a way to keep track for her. I saw a page near the beginning of her journal when I was looking through her desk, and indeed there were names, dates, details. I let her take it back before I looked further, but I am going to return tomorrow, to confirm my suspicions.”
“And you think she will let you have a look at the book, just by you asking?” Gabriel’s father asked skeptically.
“No, I’ll have to dream up a good story, most likely. Play on her titillations. She will let me see it in the end.” He shrugged. “And if not, I will take it. Give it to Dresden to end this.”
“You would allow your name to be ruined?” Alcroft asked, shock all over his face.
Gabriel nodded once. Decisively. “I am willing to take the chance.”
Alcroft slowly nodded back. “Very well. I will support you, you know that.”
“Yes.” Gabriel’s voice was soft. “I know you will.”
“As will I,” Marietta said.
All eyes turned to her.
“I will go with you to the estate tomorrow,” she said.
He nodded slowly.
“So will we all,” Gabriel’s father said. “Then we will find Lester Flume.”
Jeremy and Alcroft nodded, and it was done. The date was set.
The other men had left not ten minutes past, Gabriel speaking to each one individually and alone before they left, while Marietta gathered papers. He hadn’t stopped shifting and tapping at the kitchen table since, all the papers still spewed across the top in a disorganized fashion. He looked up. “I need to go to the Dentry estate.”
“What, now? I thought you said we were going tomorrow?” she asked.
“We will. But I need to go now.”
She was quiet for a second. “You think there will be an attempt made today? That we can’t wait for tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
She nodded. “I’m coming with you.”
He shook his head. “Aside from the danger, if Lady Dentry sees you, she’ll make it her mission to destroy you.”
“Why?”
He looked away. “She just will.”
“I will deal with it. I’m coming.” She laughed lightly. “You can’t get rid of me so easily now.” She just hoped that was true.
Not twenty minutes later they were inside Gabriel’s carriage and leaving London proper.
Marietta shivered. She remembered a poem she had read just last year. She was finally going to meet the wicked witch.
Chapter 21
Upon arrival, they were immediately shown into a spacious library. Gabriel barely needed to present a card. Glittering panes of glass encased one side of the room, while books rimmed the others. Display cases and stands with curios dotted the space.
An icy blonde stepped forward to greet them. Marietta had seen her before at ton functions but never spoken with her. Lady Dentry was far above her socially and had reveled in staying apart from the other women in the ton, standing in her own space, putting her beauty on display at each event. Removed—an icy diamond separated from the paste.
Her gaze swept Marietta and dismissed her. Then immediately connected back. To Gabriel’s hand at her waist, to Gabriel. Wintry eyes narrowed on Marietta, and she suddenly understood Gabriel’s warning.
“I’ve never seen you so protective, Gabriel. This little sparrow deserves more of my attention.”
“You grow duller in your waning years, Lady Dentry, if you think that I will let you touch Miss Winters.”
An unexpected tingle swept through her at his tone.
Lady Dentry smiled. It was a pleasant smile, all the more chilling for the complete insincerity behind it.
“Come. Have some tea and biscuits.” She swept a hand toward the service on the table.
Marietta perched on a chair after Lady Dentry was seated and thought of the lesson of Persephone, never to eat at the dark table.
Lady Dentry smirked and sipped her tea. “Today is the day, is it, Gabriel? That I will be cruelly murdered? You, my white knig
ht come to save me.”
Gabriel was as tense as he had been from the first. Marietta wished she could squeeze him, hug him, do anything for him. She squeezed her hands in her lap instead.
“If the knight suddenly decided to save the dragon, I suppose your statement would be true.”
Lady Dentry laughed, a light, breezy laugh. “Of course, dear Gabriel, of course.” Her eyes watched him, pleased. “But you are here. You returned.”
He tapped a finger on his chair’s arm. “You would see it that way. At this point I find myself disinterested in playing.”
Lady Dentry’s eyes turned chilling. She switched her gaze to Marietta. “You must tell me about yourself, dear.”
Gabriel spoke before she could answer. “We are only here to finish this, Lady Dentry. I doubt Ma—Miss Winters is interested in making your acquaintance.”
His slip turned Lady Dentry’s icy lips. Marietta could see the satisfaction combined with the anger in her smile.
“That may be true, Gabriel, but here we are. And you did say you wanted to initiate how this drama would play. Go, shoo, while I chat with your Miss Winters.”
Gabriel’s face was unamused.
“La, Gabriel, your companion can handle herself, can’t you, Miss Winters?”
Marietta nodded. She hadn’t been dealing with Mark for all of these years not to know how to deal with difficult people and petulance. Even if Lady Dentry was above her set and had taken viciousness to another level, she couldn’t show fear.
Gabriel seemed to understand this, and she had observed that he never interfered before allowing the person to take care of their own issues first. It was one of his many admirable qualities. He rose and walked to the fireplace. Lady Dentry rose as well, motioning for Marietta to do the same. She put her arm through hers. “Come view the gardens from the window, Miss Winters.” She led her over to the window, and Marietta had to wonder if this was what walking to the gallows felt like.
She could see Gabriel watching them from the corner of his eye as he inspected the fire screen, crouching in front of it and looking over the top edge.
“The azaleas look lovely this time of year. And the roses magnificent. Do you enjoy horticulture, Miss Winters?” Her voice was soft, so it wouldn’t carry to the other side of the spacious room. Not that it would stop Gabriel from eavesdropping, with his finely tuned hearing.
“No more than the average person, Lady Dentry.”
“Please, call me Melissande. A close friend of Gabriel’s cannot stand on ceremony.”
“Mr. Noble calls you Lady Dentry.”
“Is that what you call him when he is inside you, Miss Winters? Pushing cries and plumbing your depths? Seems a bit formal. Oh, Mr. Noble, your cock is so large.”
Marietta tried to pull away, but Lady Dentry held firm.
“But then Lord Dentry has never called me anything but Lady Dentry. Annoying, don’t you think? To be so formal?”
Marietta stopped struggling, suddenly understanding this game. “I think that you are jealous, Lady Dentry.”
“I am, Miss Winters. Terribly jealous that you have my little avenger.” The name rolling from those lips made her ill, made the bile rise again. “Not that he is little, no. He is terribly lovely in that department. In all departments. My jealousy is boundless. He was delightful at sixteen, and he is delicious now. You must set him free.”
“Set him free?”
“He is besotted by you.” Marietta couldn’t help but display her doubt. Lady Dentry gave a tinkling laugh. “You don’t see it. How wonderful. And better that way. You two will never last longer than it takes for your brother—the younger one, if the papers I finally procured were correct—to go free.”
She knew it was the truth, but couldn’t help asking. “Why would you think that, Lady Dentry?”
She laughed again. “Oh, it is obvious why. You are from two very separate classes and spheres—in all respects. I do so hope you break his heart. Perhaps he will return to me.”
“You are delusional.”
“Perhaps. But it is all I have now.” Her fingers tightened on Marietta’s arm.
Marietta found herself free of Lady Dentry and beside Gabriel just as quickly as she’d been freed from Kenny so many days ago that it felt a lifetime.
Lady Dentry stuck one delicate finger into her mouth and sucked it, her lips making a little pop as she pulled it out. “Naughty, Gabriel.”
“I grow tired of this. Hopefully the murderer will spare me your antics and show up soon.”
A faint whistle echoed. He motioned toward the screen, which he had moved closer to the desk. “Marietta, behind the screen. Lady Dentry, sit at your desk.”
Marietta immediately ducked behind, then watched Lady Dentry saunter to her chair, only her straight back and tensed shoulders belying her concern.
Gabriel crouched next to Marietta and they waited a moment. A minute. Two minutes. The room sat in silence, Lady Dentry even feeling the need to remain quiet and focused. Another minute passed. Marietta was about to say something to Gabriel when the door opened.
The person stepped into the room, the face going from the shadows into the light, and Marietta couldn’t believe her eyes.
John Alcroft stepped into the room. Gabriel heard Marietta inhale sharply, and John’s attention turned to their corner before his eyes shifted back, narrowing on Melissande sitting primly in her chair.
“Lady Dentry.”
“John.”
Marietta started to rise and Gabriel tugged her back, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to keep her in place.
“It has been almost a year since you visited, John. I thought you hated it here?”
“I do. This is an unplanned visit. I planned to wait another week, but matters have forced my hand.”
John walked toward them, toward Lady Dentry, stopping suddenly upon seeing the journal on the desk, all buttery leather and malicious intent. His lips crushed together. “Gabriel.”
“Have you decided to call me a pet name, John? How thoughtful, though I question the choice of moniker,” Lady Dentry said.
Gabriel silently swore at the bitch, her mocking not helping the situation.
“Silence,” John hissed, his gaze gleaming and vicious. “Gabriel? Where are you? Under the desk? Down on your knees before her? How upsetting.”
Gabriel squeezed Marietta’s shoulder and rose from behind the fire screen.
“Ah, there you are. A preferable choice of seating, with the option to pitch yourself into the fire to relieve the irritation of her presence, at the very least.”
“John.”
“Gabriel. And Marietta too, I assume?” He looked to the screen, and Gabriel cursed as her head popped over the edge. John looked satisfied. “And here we are.”
“John, we don’t need to—”
“Wrong, Gabriel. I think we do. How did you find out? And when?”
“Earlier. I read Abigail’s journal. The entries concerning someone else, tied to me. The rest happening after I left. And then I remembered you saying you had been to the estate last summer. She”—he motioned sharply toward Lady Dentry—“mentioned losing her letter opener around that time. I remember that letter opener. Hideous, large.” He looked at John’s left hand, at the gilt tip sticking out of his sleeve. “It all made a sick sort of sense.” He lowered his voice. “They got you too. I never knew.”
“I know you didn’t, Gabriel.” John’s chest heaved before he took a deep breath, shoulders straightening.
Gabriel took a step away from Marietta, putting distance between them and willing her to stay put. “Why didn’t you say something? You never even pretended to know about their club before a few weeks ago.”
“What was I to say? You left me there. You weren’t the buffer for me.”
Pain sliced through him. “I didn’t know. I never thought they’d touch you. She said they couldn’t—”
“They did,” he said savagely, a growl erupting as Lady Dentry sno
rted, though her knuckles were white around the chair arms. “A week before you disappeared. I thought it a grand lark at first. I had no idea what was happening. Who wouldn’t want six women panting over them? But they were planning other entertainments. I heard them whispering about it. Saw the looks. Read the journals, later, much later, their planned entertainments for the both of us. As soon as you left, things changed. I didn’t understand why, but suddenly it wasn’t just a weekend’s lark. I was in their clutches. Couldn’t escape. And you left me there, Gabriel.”
“I’m sorry, John,” he whispered. “I didn’t know.”
“You didn’t even write to let me know you were safe.”
Gabriel swallowed, unsure how to handle John’s swing. “I was hiding in London. The network protected me until I rose to the head. Until I had more than enough power to deal with the likes of them.”
John stepped forward. A friendly step instead of a threatening one. “It was magnificent of you, of course. I was ever so proud when I discovered your actions.”
John’s eyes were sincere. Lady Dentry chose that moment to show her continued disregard for life. “Gabriel is always magnificent. You never quite measured up.”
The tip of the letter opener became the blade as it slid smoothly into John’s hand, and he took a step toward her. Gabriel could have happily planted it between her ribs himself, but he stepped between them.
“John.”
John stopped, cocked his head, and the blade merely tipped from his sleeve once again. “I should have anticipated you’d be here. I panicked. Bad decision on my end.” There was something in his eyes…
“You sent Rockwood to Marietta.”
John banged his free hand against the back of Lady Dentry’s guest chair. “There you go! Took you long enough, Gabrie.”
“You wanted me to know.”
John sat on the edge of the chair. His view of Lady Dentry thus impeded, he seemed almost relaxed. “You have incredibly good resources and a knack for choosing the right options. The emotion blinded you for much of this investigation, but even with that handicap I hoped you would figure it out. That you would join me.”