James grunted and looked away. “I’m not surprised.” James had been an irritation to society before he’d vanished. Half the ton had wanted him gone while the other half had only kept him around for entertainment.
“I know who arranged my disappearance,” Clive said. “If Van Dero has led this all along, then it was Van Dero himself who wanted me gone, wasn’t it?”
Garrick nodded.
“Why doesn’t Van Dero like you?” Meri asked, seeming lost in everything that was going on.
Clive shrugged. “His daughter is in love with me. She never married. I’m sure he blames me for that.”
Van Dero most certainly did.
“And you?” Meri asked Garrick. “Who wanted you dead?”
“No one,” Garrick replied. “I was just easy to take. I couldn’t speak in my own defense.” He’d been young and small, but once released, Garrick had vowed to never be vulnerable again.
Clive translated. He was still watching Garrick with suspicion and now annoyance as he said, “You should have told me.”
“No.” He was stained by his actions. There was no redemption for him. All he had was Nora. She and Miriam were everything, all he would ever have.
“Clive is right,” Marley said. “You should have told us, though I should have voiced my suspicions before now.”
“Agreed,” James said. “From now on, you don’t work alone.”
Garrick looked around and then shook his head. “I was imprisoned the longest. This is my fight.”
“No, it’s everyone’s fight,” Kent said, heated. “You think you’re the only one who wanted vengeance? Who deserved it?”
“You had Lucy. James had Kim. Marley has Selena.”
“And me?” Clive asked. “Why didn’t you say something to me?”
Why?
The truth.
“I can’t do anything. Everyone does everything for me. I wanted to do this on my own.”
“I understand,” James said, running a hand down his scarred face. “We all have our cross to bear, but no more. Not alone. We’re in this together.”
“Wait,” Meri said. He shuffled his body forward, nudging Kent and Marley out of the way as he did. “You’ve been killing men all over London, yet you have the nerve to harass me over the death of a single girl?”
“She’s dead?” Clive asked.
Meri looked around. “It was an accident.”
For some reason, Garrick believed him. “And Joshua?” he decided to ask.
Kent interpreted for him.
“You mean my old valet?” Meri said. “The man who’s been spying on me on my sister’s behalf for years? I’d always known why he suddenly appeared. I like puzzles. It wasn’t hard to figure him out. He was proof that my sister still adored me, even from a distance.”
Garrick didn’t see it that way, but what did he know? Nora wouldn't let him kill her brother. She did care for him. “Is he dead?”
Meri frowned. “No. Unlike you, I’m not a murderer. I sent him after Lettie, or at least where he believes her to be.”
“How did you arrange that?” Kent asked.
Meri shrugged. “I pretended I was having a night terror and spoke about Lettie being at one of my properties in Scotland. The man believed me and left.”
“Without informing Nora where he was going?”
“I may have whispered something about killing her immediately. That got him out of the way for a few days.” Meri shook his head. “He believes he’ll come back a hero.”
Joshua was alive. It was more good news he could give Nora.
James said, “Either way, when we approach Lord Van Dero, don’t do anything. We shall handle this.”
Meri straightened. “All I want is my sister.”
“The man can’t be in the room when we speak to Van Dero,” Kent said. “And while I’m glad we’re all finally working together, we can’t kill Van Dero.” He looked at Garrick. “You cannot hurt him or anyone in his family.”
“I know.”
“What do you know?” Clive asked him accusingly.
“Wait a minute,” Meri said. “Are you saying I must stand outside the room like some common servant?”
“If you wish to see your sister, yes,” Kent said. Anger darkened his eyes. “And make no qualms, Garrick’s hands may be tied where your death is concerned, but mine are not.”
Meri sat as far away from Kent as he could. Then he looked around at the men. “You’re the true criminals. They call you the Lost Lords. You’ve all lost your souls and your minds.”
“Perhaps,” Kent said with a grin.
Meri said nothing more, and Garrick was thankful for that.
∫ ∫ ∫
5 7
* * *
Van Dero had to be stirred from bed. It was what a footman reported to the men before he left the drawing room to get his master.
“It’s unlikely he’d hurt Nora,” James said. “It would do him no good, especially if he cares at all for himself or his family.”
Garrick had begun to think the same since the moment they arrived at the house. What good would it do to hurt Nora? None, if he wished Garrick to leave his son alone.
And so that must be why Van Dero took her. He would give her back if Garrick agreed to let Lord Gregory live.
And he would. He’d spare the man’s life if Nora was returned to him whole.
Meri moved to a couch. “Then this should be over quickly.” His words were casual, but his expression was troubled.
“But this doesn’t seem right,” Marley said. “Van Dero is far too old to have gone after Nora.”
“His son,” Garrick said.
“Of course… You think Lord Gregory is involved?” Kent asked.
Garrick nodded. He looked over and saw Clive sitting in a chair by the empty fireplace. His face was averted from the group. He fisted his staff tightly. He was still upset with Garrick.
Kent said, “I think we should speak before Van Dero arrives.”
Garrick agreed.
They looked at Meri.
Meri frowned. “Are you really going to dismiss me in order to share some silly secret? I think I’ve heard enough. There’s no shocking me now.” Garrick begged to differ. “Besides,” Meri said. “I thought we were all in this together?”
“Out,” Kent said.
Meri stood and glared. Then he pointed a finger at Garrick. “You better get my sister back alive and unharmed or I swear, I will wreak havoc on this city.”
Garrick didn’t doubt it. He bowed to Meri and then watched Lord Thinbrook retreat.
∫ ∫ ∫
5 8
* * *
Kent closed the door and spoke immediately. “I am not my father’s true heir. My mother had an affair before they wed. I am the bastard of a footman.”
Everyone looked on in surprise; even Clive turned around, shock widening his eyes.
Garrick gave no reaction.
Kent caught his eyes. “You knew.”
Garrick nodded.
“I’m not surprised,” Clive murmured as he moved to stand near the others. “Does Lord Ven Dero know?”
Kent nodded. “I’ve also known for some time that he was in charge of what happened to us, but in order to keep my secret from the public, I was forced to keep silent about his involvement.”
Clive’s mouth fell open. “What?”
Marley ran his hands through his dark hair and shook his head. Rage flashed in his gaze. “How long have you been keeping this to yourself?”
“A few years now,” Kent admitted. “I kept it secret for Lucy’s and George’s sake. If it were just my reputation at stake, I would have told you.”
“Does Lucy know?” James asked calmly.
“She does, and she doesn’t care. She still loves me,” Kent said with a hint of pride.
“Then that is all that matters.” James turned his eyes from one man to the next. “While we’re all confessing sins and misdeeds, does anyone else have
anything to share?”
“No,” Clive said quickly. “Unlike some people in this room, I share my secrets with my friends.”
Garrick wondered how long Clive would be angry with him.
There was a knock on the door and Kent was forced to move so that Lady Irene Hiller could enter. The woman was smiling, but her dark gaze was hostile. “I was informed that my father has been woken from his sleep for guests. It is far past midnight. He is a tired man. What is the meaning of this?” Her cheeks were stained red. She looked to have dressed in haste. Her dark brown hair fell from the chaotic mass of curls she’d placed on her head. She pursed her unusually large lips and lifted the left side of the single brow that stretched across her forehead. The expression made her face look comedic.
She was not a pretty woman, but that had never hindered Irene socially or otherwise. “I will have an answer from you, my lords. Now.”
“My lady,” Kent began.
Irene lifted a hand, cutting off the earl, a man who outranked her profoundly. Such an act, under any circumstance, was rude. “Actually, the only acceptable answer is for you to leave.”
Kent was left speechless. He’d likely never been insulted so forcefully by a woman before.
“I would like to apologize, my lady,” James said. “We have come on an urgent matter. It is life and death that hang in the balance.”
Irene lifted her chin. “Well, then that is different. I will allow my father to see you then.”
Allow her father?
“But please, he is very ill. Do not do or say anything that will trouble his heart.”
Clive laughed. “What heart?”
Irene’s gaze snapped to Clive, but instead of hardening, it softened, and she smiled. “Clive.”
“Irene,” Clive replied.
Irene said no more, but her smile was both warm and condescending, as though she held a secret that pleased her considerably. “You’ve lost weight. Have you been eating properly?”
“What I eat is none of your concern.”
“Of course.” She chuckled. The sound was the height of arrogance.
Then Lord Van Dero came in with the aid of a cane. “Irene, you should return to bed.”
“I think I’ll remain to make sure you’re all right.”
“To bed, Irene.” Van Dero looked at her.
Irene’s gaze challenged him as though they were equals.
Ven Dero sighed. “Please.”
Irene turned back to the men. “Remember what I said.” She narrowed her gaze and then with a twirl of skirts, she was gone.
James whispered in Garrick’s ear. “Are you certain Irene isn’t the leader in this?”
Garrick would have laughed if he wasn’t so concerned for Nora.
“That was strange,” Marley said to Clive.
“Was it?” Clive asked, pretending as though there hadn’t just been a moment between him and Lady Irene Hiller. An odd and uncomfortable moment.
A footman closed the door from the other side.
“What’s this about?” Van Dero said, looking more tired than ever. Irene was right. He was ill. His face more gray than usual. A second later, Van Dero was falling.
There was a shout from Clive.
James caught Van Dero. Marley helped him to a chair.
Garrick’s heart raced. The man could not die before he found Nora. “Where is my wife?”
“Where have you taken Lady Coalwater?” Clive asked.
Van Dero frowned. “What are you going on about?” His words were slightly slurred. Had he been drinking? “I don’t have your wife,” he said to Garrick. “Look at me. I don’t have the strength to commit such an act—”
“Do not pretend to be weak of mind,” James warned. “We know what you’re capable of.”
Van Dero pulled in a breath and slumped slightly to the side to meet James’ eyes. “If you know what I am capable of, then why are you here?” He looked at Kent. “You know what happens if you harm me or my family.” He turned to Garrett. “And I have no additional reason to make you my enemy.”
“You could have taken Nora so that I would leave you and your family alone.”
Once Clive finished saying the words, Van Dero’s eyes opened in understanding. He seemed to come to some sort of conclusion.
And so did Garrick. The man was innocent of stealing Nora, but his son was not. “Where is your son?”
“I don’t know.” Van Dero answered Clive. “But I did share my troubles with Gregory recently. I can feel my time coming. I wanted him to be prepared for any of you coming after him.” He shook his head. “I didn’t know he would act in a way to prevent his death, but this makes sense.” He looked at Garrick again. “If I tell you where he might be, you must promise not to kill him.”
The door opened again, and Meri walked in. He marched right up to Van Dero and pointed his gun at the man’s head. “Is he guilty? Can I kill him now?”
Van Dero’s lips trembled. “No… I…”
If he died before Garrick could get the name of the place Nora was located...
James spoke slowly. “He’s not guilty of this crime, but he might know where Nora is. Put the gun down—”
“A list.” Meri waved the gun in the air. “Give us every location you think she may be, and we’ll search them all at once.”
It was a fine idea.
Van Dero spoke quickly, seeming to find the energy from somewhere. He clearly cared for his life much more than he’d led Garrick to believe.
∫ ∫ ∫
5 9
* * *
Gregory stood and looked up. “They’re here.” He suddenly looked nervous as he stared down at Nora. He’d been calm for hours, but as the time went on, he seemed less sure of himself. Now, he seemed to come undone altogether. “This was a terrible idea. There’s no guarantee your husband will spare me.”
“I’ll ask him to.” But that hadn’t spared her brother.
“This was a terrible idea.” The look in his eyes filled her with terror. “If I die this night, I will not go alone.” The man was going mad.
“Help! Help me!” Nora screamed.
She heard voices upstairs. Someone called her name.
Then there was rushing.
Gregory unbound her and then quickly lifted her from the chair and pulled her against his front. She ceased her wrestling when a blade pinched the side of her throat. She stiffened just as the door from upstairs opened and Garrick came down followed by Kent, Marley, …
“Meri?” The others were there, but it was her brother, alive and well, that grabbed her attention. Garrick hadn’t killed him.
She went limp with happiness, but the blade had her lock her knees.
Her brother, for once, didn’t return her smile. Instead, Meri looked her over and she saw something flutter in his gaze that cooled her blood. “You’re hurt, Rah Rah.”
Nora had almost forgotten she’d been injured by Gregory. She still felt the pain, but the slap seemed to have taken place so long ago, though it had only been a few hours since she’d come to the basement.
She heard heavy breathing and looked over at Garrick. “I’m going to kill him for what he did to you. Tell him that.”
Nora leaned away from the blade and said, “My husband is very upset about my face.”
Gregory jerked her backward with him. “Did you kill my father?”
“No,” Kent said. “Your father still breathes, but it is not looking so good for you.”
“I will release Lady Honora once you all are gone and agree to let me live.”
“He doesn’t leave alive.”
“What did he say?” Gregory asked.
Nora didn’t think she was supposed to deliver that particular message.
“You’re only making this worse for yourself,” Clive said. He gripped a stave in his hand. Nora recalled seeing what he could do with it. Garrick had one hand bare. The other was hidden.
“Let the woman go,” Kent said. “We’ll talk ab
out this.”
“I’m innocent,” Gregory said. “I didn’t arrange any of your kidnappings.”
“What happened to my sister’s face?” Meri asked as he calmly tilted his head and took a step forward.
“Stay back!” Gregory warned again.
Nora gasped when the blade pressed into her skin.
“Did you hit her?” Meri asked as he continued to advance.
“I’ll kill her!” Gregory told him.
Someone cursed.
“Get him,” Kent said. “Before he does something stupid.
Gregory continued to retreat. He was getting close to the wall. Soon, Nora would have no space for leverage. The moment he’d pulled her from the chair, she’d begun to think of ways to get away from him. She remembered the moves Garrick had taught her. Though she’d been more focused on the pleasure that followed, she’d listened.
She looked at Garrick and saw him gesture for her to wait.
“Please.” Nora waved her hands close to her face. “Don’t cut me. I’ll do anything you want.”
“Quiet!” her captor said. His breathing was ragged against the back of her head.
“Thinbrook, get back here this minute!” Clive shouted. Then he threw his stave across the room. The sound of glass shattering startled everyone, including Gregory, and gave her the moment she’d been waiting for.
The minute the blade no longer touched her throat, Nora lifted her hands, grabbed his wrist, and jerked her shoulder up. Using all her strength, she twisted his arm and ducked out of his hold.
He jerked at the last minute and Nora fell back.
A bang went off and Gregory fell to the ground with a silent thump.
She stared at him and waited for him to get up, but he didn’t. He didn’t even moan in pain.
She didn’t get a chance to see more. Suddenly, Garrick was in front of her. He tossed his gun to the side and took her head between his hands. He looked her over.
Meri came over next. “Rah Rah. Are you all right?”
“Meri!” She wrapped her arms around her brother. “You’re alive.”
He pulled her away and lifted her chin. “You want me to live?”
Wounds of A Viscount: (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) Page 28