“How could you know that?” Luke gasped.
“Because I know him, M’Lord. Like I said, he’s a clever sort. But not clever enough, by the looks of it.” Stuart turned towards the door. “I’ll leave ye te stew on that awhile and come back in a bit. I imagine it’s goin’ te take some thinkin’ te realize I ain’t lyin’.” With that, he left, leaving Luke to struggle to come to terms with everything he had just been told.
One thought pushed through all the rest, making bile rise up in an acrid geyser. Teresa… Teresa is in danger.
* * *
Teresa kept to her vow, trailing Lord Harpington as he went about his business. She was careful to keep her distance, lest he realize he was being watched. To her relief, and slight disappointment, she did not notice anything unusual or suspicious in his behavior. He ambled about the house like a ghost, never quite settling in one room or another.
As he emerged from the drawing room, where he had spent the last fifteen minutes, Teresa ducked into the shadows behind the stairs. He paused in the entrance hall, looking around absently. As if deciding on a course of action, he began to climb the staircase. Teresa waited until she heard him reach the landing before she crept out of her hiding place and followed him.
Crouching low at the top of the stairs, she glanced through the gaps in the banister and saw him approach her very own bedchamber. He knocked lightly, but he was not going to receive any reply.
“Miss Dowels?” he said. “Miss Dowels, are you in there?”
No, Lord Harpington, I am not.
“Miss Dowels, I was wondering if I might have a word?” he continued, only to remain unsatisfied as the door stayed closed. “Where is she?” He frowned, muttering to himself. With a small shrug, he carried on down the corridor until he arrived at his mother’s chambers. There, he knocked and was allowed entry, giving Teresa a moment to breathe.
Maybe I am mistaken. He was not acting in a way that would suggest any foul play. Although, she did not quite understand why he had sought her out first, before his mother. She knew that she had been the only one to offer him compassion after the terrible events at Lidderdale Castle, so she tried to convince herself that that was the sole reason. He wanted reassurance, no doubt, from the one person he could rely on for such a thing.
Hurrying down the corridor, she paused outside the Duchess’ chambers and pressed her ear to the keyhole, trying to listen in. Muffled voices drifted back towards her, but they were too far away to distinguish much.
“All is not lost, Mother,” she heard Lord Harpington say, in a fleeting moment of clear speech.
“But what if he does not return?” the Duchess replied.
“Then we will seek justice. Whoever has done this—they will not be permitted to congratulate themselves. We will punish them. Though I do hope Luke can be found.” Lord Harpington gave a quiet sigh, which was followed, shortly after, by the soft sound of someone crying. The Duchess… It was too feminine to be Lord Harpington, and Teresa did not think he was the sort to show his emotions with such vulnerability.
More confused than when she had begun, Teresa moved away from the door to allow them their private discussion. It did not sit well with her, to listen to a broken mother weep over her lost son. What disturbed her more was the fact that Lord Harpington had sounded very genuine indeed.
With her brain tied up in complicated knots, Teresa headed back down the stairs, only to be met in the entrance hall by the butler. He held the silver postal tray in his hands, a curious expression on his face.
“Miss Dowels, there is a letter addressed to you,” he said.
“To me?” She frowned. Who would be sending her correspondence?
He nodded. “Yes, Miss Dowels.” He took up the letter and handed it to her, before retreating up the stairs with the rest of the day’s post.
She stared at the letter, trying to place the handwriting. It was unfamiliar to her, and rather untidy. I doubt this day could become any stranger. Seeking solitude, she crossed the entrance hall and slipped into the empty drawing room, sitting down by the window. The gardens looked beautiful, but she could take no pleasure in them today.
There, perched on the edge of an armchair, she unfurled the letter and began to read:
Dear Miss Dowels,
I hope this letter reaches you, for the sake of someone whose life is in your hands. Naturally, discretion is advised. Do not speak with Lord Harpington about this. Speak only with the Duke and Duchess. We will know if you have disobeyed.
You may be wondering who we are, so I will put you out of your misery. We are the former employees of the Sphinx. A gentleman you know by another name. Indeed, he is the very gentleman who you are to keep this letter from, if you ever hope to see Lord Luke again. I know this will come as a surprise to you, but it is high time that everyone’s secrets were laid bare.
Lord Harpington is the one responsible for the capture of Lord Luke, although Lord Luke was never supposed to survive the entrapment. We were instructed to take him away and kill him, to ensure that nobody discovered the truth of Lord Harpington’s heritage and to destroy the true heir to the dukedom. If his position was ever threatened again, he planned to stage a similar tragedy with Lord Thomas, though he wanted to wait awhile before he put that into action.
It is our belief that Lord Luke discovered the secret—that Lord Harpington’s father is not the Duke and that the Duke was in discussions to legally alter the heirdom on the grounds of mental affliction. Or something to that end. Lord Harpington found out that he knew, and strove to bury the secret for good. After all, if the Duke and Duchess were ever to reveal it, they would be embroiled in a scandal beyond reparation. It was in their best interests to remain silent on the matter. It was only when Lord Luke found out that things became more complicated for the Sphinx, or Lord Harpington—whichever you prefer.
However, we have endured enough torment at the hands of the Sphinx, and have endeavored to take matters into our own hands. We know that the Duke will pay a generous sum for Lord Luke’s life. That is why we have betrayed Lord Harpington and have kept Lord Luke alive. We seek remuneration, so we may begin our lives afresh, with no debt, and no threats hanging over us.
You must be the one to see this done, as you are the only one we trust. You proved that to us, when you spoke with Mr. Bollands. You care for Lord Luke, so do not try to deny it. And we know that will make you obey our every word, down to the last letter.
There is a note enclosed, which details the sum we require, in exchange for the safe return of Lord Luke. Again, I implore you, do not reveal this to Lord Harpington, or you may put yourself in danger—a danger that you will not be able to escape from. He is a treacherous gentleman, and though I know you will be scared, you must be as courageous as you were, when you visited Mr. Bollands in the outbuilding.
See this done, and no harm will come to Lord Luke. He is alive, as of now, and is eager to return to you. However, that is not where this tale ends. I feel duty bound, now that we have parted ways with the Sphinx, to tell you that he is the one who attacked you that night. He is the one who has your necklace. I do not know how you may acquire that item again, but you must know that he possesses it. He has kept it close to him, all this time, as a reminder of your evasion.
Put that to rest for now, until Lord Luke may be returned to you. See to it that the sum is arranged and bring it to the St. George and the Dragon Inn on the road between the Rowfex Estate and Gresham Ford. Mr. Bollands will be waiting for you there, tomorrow at four o’clock in the afternoon. Come alone. No chaperone. Be there or lose any hope of seeing Lord Luke again. Do not disappoint us. If the exchange is successfully made, Lord Luke will be released, and will be given a horse, and will come back to you as soon as he is able.
His life is in your hands.
Yours Faithfully,
The Highwaymen.
Teresa’s head began to swim as she allowed the words to register in her mind. Indeed, she had to reread the letter twice ov
er, to make sure it was not a figment of her warped imagination. As she finally came to terms with what had been said, the pieces of the puzzle began to slot into place. Lord Harpington had been speaking with highwaymen in the woodlands, but not the ones who had written this letter. These individuals had betrayed him for their own benefit, taking Luke so they could use him for blackmail.
That meant that what she had overheard had been Lord Harpington’s frustration with the continued absence of Luke. Presumably, he had been anticipating word from his men, that would tell him that the job had been completed and Luke was dead. When that word had not come, he had been forced to take measures to understand what had gone awry in his plan.
You did not expect betrayal, did you? Fury burned like a furnace in her chest. Lord Harpington had been the one who had tried to besmirch her. He had been the one who had taken her necklace. And he had been the one to orchestrate this entire debacle, so he might fortify his position as heir to the dukedom—a right that, by birth, did not actually belong to him. He had wanted Luke out of the way, so there would be no future threat. And the Duke’s rash decision to speak with a lawyer had only exacerbated matters, no doubt fortifying the fear of a usurping in Lord Harpington’s mind.
You monster… Horror bristled in her veins, as she thought back to every kindness she had shown Lord Harpington. All the while, he had been the one to cause her nightmares. All the while, he had been the one in possession of her necklace. She did not know how he had managed to return to the house that night, before she and Luke did, but nothing seemed impossible anymore.
Taking a deep, shaky breath, she folded up the letter and slipped it into the neckline of her gown. No matter how much she hated Lord Harpington now, there were bigger matters to contend with. She did not believe the splintered band of highwaymen were bluffing with regards to Luke’s safety, and she would not jeopardize his life for the sake of her anger and disgust. They had asked her to keep the letter’s presence from Lord Harpington, and she planned to do just that. Once Luke was back in her arms, she would deal with Lord Harpington’s terrible inflictions.
Or, should I say, the Sphinx’s terrible inflictions. Rallying her courage, she got up and headed out of the drawing room. She knew that the Duke had gone back to Lidderdale Castle once more, which meant she would be able to speak with him alone, far from the gaze of Lord Harpington.
Racing as fast her feet would carry her, she sprinted out of the house and across the driveway, careening around the corner as she made her way towards the stables. She knew it was unseemly to travel alone, without a chaperone, but desperate times called for desperate measures. And, besides, the highwaymen on the road were no longer her greatest concern. Not when the devil himself resided within the wall of the Rowfex Estate.
Chapter 29
Teresa had always been a skilled horsewoman, thanks to her father’s teachings, and she was putting every ounce of that ability to use as she thundered down the road towards Lidderdale Castle. The stable master had been curious as to why she needed a horse, but she had explained that there was something urgent she needed to tell the Duke—she had been vague, insisting it related to appearance of more highwaymen in the fields surrounding the Rowfex Estate and the need to bring the guard back as soon as possible, for the sake of protecting the Manor. It had put enough fear into the man’s heart to urge him to ready a horse for her.
Her eyes widened as she approached the grim castle, with its imposing spires and unwelcoming fortifications. In her mind, she had pictured it rather differently. But that did not matter. Her sole purpose was to find the Duke and tell him about the blackmail, whilst keeping Lord Harpington out of it. She had already come up with a suitable lie, and she hoped that the Duke would not see through it.
Riding along the driveway and over the rickety drawbridge, she dismounted and approached the door. Knocking violently, she awaited an answer. It came, a few minutes later, as an elderly gentleman peered through the gap.
“Might I be of assistance, Miss?” he asked, staring at her with rheumy eyes.
She nodded. “I was wondering if you might tell me where I can find His Grace, the Duke of Rowfex?”
“They are within, Miss, partaking in some luncheon.”
Relief washed over her. “Might there be a room where I may speak with the Duke in private? It is a very urgent matter, regarding his son.”
“That can be arranged, I should imagine.” The butler opened the door wider and allowed Teresa to step inside. “Follow me.” He led her through the medieval foyer, complete with empty suits of armor that looked like frozen phantoms, paused in mid-battle. Though it was warm and bright outside, within this castle it was cold and gloomy.
Walking along a wide hallway, where crests and coats of arms adorned the walls, alongside rusted blades and flickering sconces, the butler paused beside an iron door and opened it. He ushered Teresa inside. Beyond, lay a dusty drawing room of sorts, though it was too small to be used for any sort of entertaining. The floors were solid stone, the walls made of wood, with carvings of vines and vases and shields etched upon it.
Nothing about this place made Teresa feel comfortable, but then she was not here on comfortable business. She waited nervously as the butler went to fetch the Duke. He appeared several minutes later, looking somewhat troubled by this unexpected interruption.
“Miss Dowels? You should not be here,” he said. “Have you no chaperone?”
She shook her head. “There was no time, Your Grace. I had to come to you as swiftly as possible, for there is some dire news that you must hear of. News that I may only tell you, which is why I had to come alone.”
He frowned. “What news? Have you heard from my son?”
“Not exactly, Your Grace.” She took a shallow breath. “I have received correspondence from a blackmailer—they have Lord Luke in their possession, and they wish remuneration if they are to release him.” She took the smaller note from her pocket, detailing the required sum, and handed it to him.
“What cruel trickery is this?”
“They are under the employment of the Sphinx, who wishes to extort you for money, in exchange for Lord Luke’s life,” she replied. “I know you will be wondering why I was the one to receive the correspondence. In truth, I do not have an answer for you. I believe it may be something to do with the fellow that was captured and placed in the outbuilding. He knew that I valued my position in the household, which may have led him to the conclusion that I would be the most trustworthy.”
The Duke stared at the note. “This is extortion indeed, Miss Dowels.” He looked back up at her. “Tell me, have you spoken to anyone else of this?”
“I have not, Your Grace. The kidnappers told me not to tell another soul, aside from you, or they would kill Lord Luke.”
Truly, there was nobody else she needed to inform. The letter had told her to keep it from Lord Harpington, and she did not wish to alert him to what the blackmailers had offered, lest he discover them and kill Luke before his freedom could be purchased. Which was why she had not waited for the Duke to come back from Lidderdale Castle.
The Duke nodded slowly. “Very wise, Miss Dowels.” He sighed wearily. “But what am I to do with this? I… I cannot take it to the constables, nor can I take it to the other magistrates. If I were to do that, it may put my son’s life in further peril.”
And you would have to admit the secret that has plagued your family for thirty years. She did not say so out loud, for she did not wish to embarrass the Duke, or reveal what she knew.
“Then what will you do, Your Grace?”
The Duke ran an anxious hand through his hair. “I must give them what they have asked for. They will kill my boy if I do not.”
Now that she was sitting before him, Teresa could not help but examine his features. His hair was graying, but the color beneath was the same dark shade of brown as Luke’s. Lady Philomena, Lady Elspeth, and Lord Thomas all shared the same color, too, and possessed the darker, sapphire blue in th
eir eyes which Lord Harpington lacked. It was blatantly obvious, now that it had been brought to her attention.
“And what of Lord Harpington and the Duchess? Will you tell them of this?” She held her breath, hoping for the right answer.
He shook his head. “No. No, I will not trouble them with this matter. It is my duty, and my duty alone, to see my boy returned. It says here that I am to pass the money to you, and that you are to make the exchange.” The blackmailers had written a less detailed account of matters on the smaller piece of paper, giving the Duke only what he needed to know.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Why would they do that?”
She shrugged anxiously. “Perhaps they fear that, if you were to be the one to make the exchange, you might bring men with you.”
“Have they told you where you are to meet?”
She shook her head, hating that she was deceiving this gentleman. “I received another note, that said only this: “Meet us tomorrow at four o’clock along the road. Ride south, and you will be found. Bring nobody with you, or Lord Luke will die.” They gave no further details, Your Grace.”
An Untamed Governess For The Rogue (Steamy Historical Regency) Page 24