Wynthall Manor- The Wynthall Manor Trilogy

by Brianne E Pryor

  “We might succeed in lessening that hour if we hurry,” Grey insisted, knowing their time was precious.

  “But, my lord—”

  “We will slow once we’ve reached the Lochson border.” Grey left no room for argument, intent on reaching his destination before it was too late.

  “When we do, I shall send a man up ahead of us to get authorities from Lochson so that we might take Lord Alexander and both his accomplices in hand.”

  Grey nodded, barely hearing the magistrate’s voice over the clamor of horses behind him. “So long as you possess the order from the crown for their arrest, then you may take his accomplices, but I’ve a score to settle with Vastel myself.”

  “You intend to challenge him, my lord?”

  “I am quite certain I’ll not need to, the moment he lays eye on me his blood will run hot.”

  “And what of this other man, Avery Vastel? I knew not that his lordship had fathered a son.”

  “Nor I,” Grey shook his head then chuckled dryly. “According to the word of His Grace the Duke, his brother was wed most secretly to a merchant’s daughter from the town as a very young man but soon after Lord Alex abandoned her in fear that her inferiority to his rank would shame him. He knew not of the child until it was left on his hands upon the death of the mother. Of course he also could not admit he had fathered a son and whisked the child away to be raised by one of his good friends.”

  “And now they are both contenders to this awful scheme.”

  Grey nodded. “Precisely. And we have only to take the three of them in hand and restore Lady Eva to her father. I only hope we do not arrive too late to save her.”

  ~ 30 ~

  Grey pounded on one of the many doors of Lambly, the greatest estate in all of Lochson, extending across the clearing to overlook the beautiful grounds and rolling hills beyond. Gardeners and stablemen moved about the yard, casting glances of interest and some stopping to look upon the arrived men who stood by on their mounts while Grey and the magistrate addressed the house’s butler. “We must speak with your master on a matter of business that cannot be delayed,” the magistrate informed the man who only nodded and stepped back, allowing them and two of their men to enter.

  “If you’ll wait here, sir, I will fetch him.”

  “Be most hasty if you please,” Grey’s concern for the lady’s state of being grew stronger still as time elapsed and he feared that she had been taken away to a location which her captor’s would not reveal. A long few minutes passed and Grey grew more burdened still before he whom they searched appeared in the room, his face full of question though Grey knew he must know full well why they were come.

  “Grey? I must say I am surprised to see you and with a legion of men. To what do I owe the honor?”

  “Tell me where she is, Bondeville,” Grey demanded of his father’s old friend, the man whom he had confided his troubles to since childhood.

  “What in the world are you talking of, James? Who do you mean?”

  “You know well who I mean, my lord. The Lady Eva, whom you enabled Alexander Vastel and his son to steal away from my home when I told you of her presence there.”

  “Upon my honor, James! Have you taken leave of your senses?” Bondeville cried with abhorrence. “How dare you accuse me of such a crime as this?”

  “Because it is the truth, Bondeville. I learned it only just this dawn from His Grace the Duke who—contrary to the word of his brother and yourself—is living still at Covingdell, though his days are short. He informed me that for eighteen years—since the boy was only two years of age—you’ve raised Alexander’s son as your own though with the knowledge that he was in fact the nephew of the Duke of Dawcaster. You were old friends and you like a father to Alexander, who then left his son at your door. And I’ve no doubt it was you who presented the idea to his father of marrying him off to the duke’s daughter, wherefore they would both gain access to the title and lands.”

  “You may as well admit to it, my lord,” the magistrate spoke. “A confession and aiding us in finding her ladyship would surely do you some good before a court of peers.”

  Bondeville’s eyes grew dark as they fell on Grey. “You have no way to prove any of these absurd accusations, Grey. I have not and would not become a part of anything so underhanded. Nor would I consort with the likes of Alexander Vastel much less accept the son of a commoner into my home.”

  Grey raised his brow as the earl ended his speech. “I do not recall saying anything to you of the boy’s blood, whether it was common or of any other sort. How did you come to know of it?”

  The earl’s lined face grew pale and his butler’s otherwise startled eyes fell on him in disgust as his true character was exposed. “That boy was like a son to me,” Bondeville spoke with all dispute drained from his voice. “I only wanted to see him succeed in this world of nobility despite his common roots. When Alexander came to me with his scheme to inherit his brother’s peerage, I naturally thought it a foolhardy inclination. He could not murder his own niece when his brother’s death was so anticipated then not be suspected by every man from here to the far ends of England. However, if she were to run away and marry her cousin, then all would seem rather natural and the two would take over the duchy together. Alexander thought this the plan of a pure genius, and together we were able to accomplish it. He stole her away from Covingdell himself with the help of his valet, who then paid some wagon driver to deliver her to Avery who brought her here. From the beginning it had all fallen perfectly into place.”

  “Until her ladyship escaped and I found her on the road.” Grey began to piece together all that had occurred over the past few days and soon saw every place in which Lord Bondeville had taken part.

  The earl nodded, defeated by the truth of what he had done. “When she escaped and word arrived that she had been seen between Lochson and Calgar, we knew she must have still been very near to Wynthall. Alexander sent you a communication, asking for your help in the hunt, desperate to discover her before she related her kidnapping to anyone of authority who might aid her. Of course you refused to help him and it was then that I—believing my opinion of worth to you—encouraged you to have your people join in the search. When you still refused and we were certain she must be near Calgar for she was in neither my region nor his, Alexander decided to tell you that his brother had died in hopes that the thought of himself becoming duke would force you to join us. We had no way of knowing that the very man whose help we desired was hiding she for whom we searched in his own home.”

  “It was you, Bondeville, who caused me to come upon the realization of who my mysterious guest truly was. Your description of her fit perfectly.”

  Bondeville nodded. “I feared as much the moment Alexander came to me in a rage saying that you had been keeping her at Wynthall and that she and you had been wed. I was on my way over to see for myself if what he said was true when you sent for me and told me the whole of it. I then told Alexander there was no truth to your outrageous lie and during the night we were able to steal her away.”

  “How did Alexander know of her presence in my home if you did not know it yourself?” Grey inquired, this fact puzzling him greatly.

  “He only suspected at first,” Bondeville began to explain. “When the messenger from Covingdell arrived to tell you of His Grace’s death the lad saw the doctor leaving and just so happened to catch a glimpse of who he thought was the Lady Eva looking out from one of the upper windows but could not be certain. The lad knew of our scheme and was glad to do whatever Alexander said for a price. So naturally he told him what he had seen. Alexander began to fear you had her ladyship and knew all that he had done. So he himself journeyed to Wynthall in hopes of seeing her there, but he did not. He only told you of his intentions to become duke and then you cast him out. After some hours of searching, Alexander convinced himself that she must have been hiding at Wynthall and that is when he saw her for himself. After he was assured that there was no truth to you
r claim of a marriage, then we were free to take her away again using my key to the back gate given to me by your own father many years ago and my knowledge of Wynthall’s interior for you yourself told me she was settled in the Orange Room.”

  Grey nodded. “Indeed I did, for I thought you a trusted friend, Bond. I might have known that my father would keep no respectable company.”

  Bondeville chuckled dryly. “Indeed you might have, Grey, for your father was a devious man, much like myself. And now it seems my days of deviation have come to an end.”

  “Where is she, Bond?” Grey asked again, “Tell us before it is too late.”

  “She is here, Grey,” were the earl’s words, which caused Grey’s heart to rise. “In the east wing, the nearest chamber to the gallery. You will find Alexander and Avery close by.”

  “Take his lordship outside and then send men to aid us,” the magistrate instructed as he and the baron moved toward the east wing of the grand mansion. The duke’s men took hold of Lord Bondeville and moved to escort him outside when his call for Grey stopped them both. Pausing in his exit and turning to face his father’s dear friend, the baron raised his eyes in question.

  “Make Alexander tell you the truth of it, Grey,” the earl called to him. “He knows who it was who ended the life of your Dahlia.”

  Grey’s face fell cold, his breath catching in his throat. “Was it him? Was it Alexander?”

  Bondeville shook his head. “No, but he can tell you who.”

  Turning without a moment’s hesitation, Grey ran hastily through the halls, galleries, front rooms, and apartments of Lambly, which he knew well from days of his childhood. He and the magistrate reached the east wing after only a few passing minutes and ran with great speed down the gallery into the upper hall lined with doors. They had no more stepped foot into the hall when from within the first of the four chambers emerged a young man, whose resemblance to Grey’s former friend caused the baron to recognize him immediately! Raising his eyes and beholding his unexpected and most unwanted company, Avery Vastel’s face fell as his body froze in place. “Who are you? What do you want here?” Lord Alex’s son demanded, unable to conceal his inward fright.

  “I am the magistrate, Raymond Newton, from Covingdell and this is Lord de Grey of Calgar. We’ve a warrant for your arrest, sir.”

  “But first you shall tell us the whereabouts of Lady Eva,” Grey spoke with warning, prepared to force the man’s compliance.

  Avery Vastel’s face hardened as he pulled shut the door from which he emerged. “I know not of whom you speak, my lord. Nor of why I have apparent charges that warrant my arrest. What have I done to be treated so?”

  “Sir, you are charged with the unlawful imprisonment of her ladyship Eva Vastel and of your aid in her abduction from first Covingdell Castle and then Wynthall Manor,” the magistrate informed the young man, who only scoffed at the prospect.

  “I know nothing in regards to either of these charges, nor do I know the whereabouts of her ladyship. This is utterly ridiculous!”

  “Then let us see into the room there,” Grey challenged the man whose expression faltered.

  “I will not stand for this intrusion of my privacy so that I might be insulted in such a fashion! Take your leave, sirs, or I shall be forced to call the guard!”

  “I’m afraid a guard will do you no good, young man,” the magistrate warned. “This is an act of the law to carry out your arrest, and I warn you, your fate is a cruel one lest you show us to the Lady Eva.”

  His eyes filled with fear, though nearly overwhelmed by the determination not to be apprehended, young Avery made a move to open again the door that he had closed and take refuge within the room where Grey was certain Eva must be. Leaping forward and taking hold of Lord Alex’s son, the baron threw him aside so that he toppled onto the floor just as three of the duke’s men arrived to take control of their thrashing prisoner. Wasting no time, Grey pulled open the chamber door with hopes of being met by the sea-blue eyes of she who had been his company for the past few days but was soon severely taken aback, his anxious body frozen in place as he was met with the sight before him. Standing by the canopied bed, her eyes wet with tears and overcome by fear was Lady Eva, restrained by the arms of her uncle, whose knife was pressed to her throat!

  “Let her go, Alexander! There is no need for this to carry on any longer.” Grey hoped his words would somehow penetrate any good that Lord Alex might possess, but in reality he knew there was none to be had.

  The duke’s brother huffed. “You think your words can now change what has already come about? Did they change your father or brother, James? Did your words bring Dahlia back or stop Owen from trying to murder you in your bed? No! Then why do you think they would accomplish anything now? You are a fool. You have always been.”

  Though Grey’s innermost being screamed with anger as the name of his beloved was spoken on Alexander’s lips while he too called out the truth of his father and brother’s character that was otherwise known to few. Despite his inward rage, Grey answered with calmness. “Yes,” the baron admitted without hesitation. “Yes, I am a fool. Yes, my words are worth nothing in any regard, but at least I have not turned into the man you now are, Alexander. Filled with hate and a selfish desire for what you cannot have that you are willing to sacrifice even your family to have it. You are lower than the dirt beneath this house and more vile then the devil himself.”

  “Watch your words, James!” Lord Alex warned, tightening his hold on his niece. “You forget who now holds the winning hand.”

  “Let her go and I will see to it that you do not hang for these crimes that you have committed,” Grey hoped to negotiate with his former friend but to no avail.

  “Hang? I daresay I shall not leave this house alive today. You’ve gotten in my way once too often, James, and now you shall see her die before you run me through for I shall not let you have the last laugh!”

  Grey’s heart beat wildly so that he was certain all around must hear it. Eva’s tears fell in a rush down her pale cheeks, her body stiff against her uncle’s hold and her eyes locked on Grey’s.

  “Alexander, if you kill her, I shall do more than run you through,” Grey spoke now with threat through his hardened jaw. “I swear to you I will make you wish you had never been born!”

  Again Lord Alex huffed. “As you now do I suppose? As you have done for your entire life! Your father was right on that score. It would have been better that your brother Owen had become baron rather than yourself! He deserved the life you now live which you took from him!”

  Grey only shook his head, his fingers encircling the hilt of his sword. “No man deserves the life I now live, Alexander, except perhaps my brother. Had I known it was Owen in my room that night, I would have gladly let him do with me as he pleased so that he might have been forced to live in this world rather than set him free of it.”

  “It is a bit late now to be reminiscing. He is dead as soon my niece and I shall be, leaving you to bear the torment of it as you have for twelve years. Only then you may know that it was you who caused not only the death of Dahlia but the death of Eva and myself as well.” Alexander Vastel pressed the knife against Eva’s skin, causing her eyes to close tightly against the thought of a death which was sure to come.

  Dear Lord, save us! Grey’s heart cried out in prayer as his hand pulled the sword from its sheath and his body lunged forward, seeing first Alexander’s hesitant hand and then his own as it plunged the shining steel into his opponent’s left side, paralyzing him so that his arms went stiff around his niece, the knife falling from his hold and then together they toppled to the floor!

  In an instant Grey threw his sword aside and bent to pull Eva’s trembling frame from her uncles limp arms, hers clinging to Grey’s waist as he turned her away from the sight of her dying uncle. Open and closed his eyes fluttered, his hand pressed to his side where blood now stained his shirt. “Tell me who it was, Alexander!” Grey demanded desperately. “Tell me who
killed Dahlia!”

  The duke’s brother struggled to speak as the air seeped out his pierced lungs. “It—it was a mistake…” Alexander spoke with his dying breath. “Your—your father wanted her scared away. He—he told Owen to—to force her—to—to leave you. Owen—he told me—when I saw him on the road. He had s-struck her and—and accidentally k-killed her. When he heard you—he ran.”

  Grey’s throat grew unusable as his breath got caught within it. “Owen…,” he whispered his younger brother’s name. The name of his father’s favorite son whom he would have had become his successor had it not been for Grey. Alexander’s eyes fell closed and his breathing stopped, his body falling limp against the floor. Grey tightened his arms around Eva’s crying frame, laying his cheek against her forehead as tears of his own threatened to fall. The duke’s men entered to collect Alexander’s body and Grey moved Eva into the hall, feeling her small frame tremble in his arms. “It is all over,” he whispered into her ear, hoping to calm her though he spoke also to himself. “This nightmare will come no more…”

  Eva lifted her head from the baron’s shoulder; her blue eyes met with his, set in a sea of red from crying, and again pierced his soul, causing his heart to melt away under their soft gaze. “Thank you,” her voice whispered, filled with thick emotion.

  Grey only shook his head as he looked down at her, feeling her labored breath on his chin. “It was not I,” he breathed the answer, thinking only of the hesitance in Alexander Vastel's hand, granting him the moment which was needed to free Eva, a deed which Grey could not have done.

  “Lord de Grey?” the magistrate interrupted, causing Eva’s face to flush as she stepped back from Grey’s embrace, attempting to cover her nightclothes. “We will call for one of Lord Bondeville’s carriages, which you may use to return the lady to Covingdell, my lord. You will accompany her?”

  Grey nodded, glancing at Eva’s downcast eyes. “I will.”

  “Then we shall finish here and see to it that both Lord Bondeville and Avery Vastel are put into the proper custody.”