by Alec, Joyce
Emily’s fingers clenched tightly together as she moved towards Lady Millington, placing herself behind one of the large overstuffed armchairs. Her back was to one of the shelves of books, which meant that she could not be attacked from behind. It was a ridiculous consideration since she was to simply observe, but there was still the lingering fear that burned into her soul. She felt foolish in not having her own weapon, but since the only item left by the fireplace were the tongs, she did not think they would be particularly useful.
“All quiet now,” Lord Brighton murmured from across the room. He was waiting just behind the hidden door, knowing that it would open outwards and conceal his presence. Emily and Lady Millington were closer to the library door, ensuring they had a good distance between themselves and the entrance to where the assailant would enter, should all go to plan.
Emily hated the quiet. It rang through her bones and made her shiver. She felt frozen, her skin prickling with a mixture of fear and anticipation. No one moved.
Time passed slowly. She had very little idea of how long, but eventually, there came the sound of thumping. Thumping that Emily was sure was coming from the hidden passageway.
“Be ready!” Lady Millington whispered to Lord Brighton, who held the poker over his shoulder, training it to come down on top of the assailant the moment they came through the door. Emily tensed, her fingers digging into the fabric on the chair.
“Oh, my!”
It was not the assailant’s voice that echoed through the room, but rather the sound of Miss Martin’s voice. Lord Brighton stumbled back as the door opened on hearing it, the poker clattering to the ground behind him. Emily remained exactly where she was, feeling Lady Millington’s hand touched hers as she drew near.
“Thank you so much for showing me, my lord,” Helen breathed, looking over her shoulder at the dark passageway for a moment. “It is truly wonderful. However, I should return to the other guests now.”
There came a small dark chuckle. “I think there are a few guests here already, my lady.”
Emily’s breath hitched as Lord Franks stepped past Miss Martin, putting one hand on her shoulder. She saw Miss Martin wince and made to step out from behind her chair, only for Lady Millington to grasp her hand tighter.
“Franks!”
The door to the library flew open, and Lord Pallson stumbled in. His face was red with rage, the door closing behind him. Emily moved towards him without even realizing she was doing it, her stomach knotting as the implications of who had come through the hidden door slowly beginning to hit her.
“Stay there!” Lord Pallson said firmly, turning to lock the library door behind him. “Do not let him leave.”
Realizing that Lord Pallson had already blocked off the other door to the passageway, Emily took comfort in the fact that Lady Millington had a coal shovel with her and remained exactly where she was.
“Uncle?” Helen whimpered, as Lord Franks’ hand dug into her shoulder. “What is happening?”
“Do not worry, Helen,” Lord Pallson replied firmly. “Lord Franks, unhand my niece. You have already done enough damage.”
Lord Franks, however, did not look in the least bit perturbed. In fact, he was as Emily had never seen him. There was a dark smile on his face, his eyes glittering with an intensity that frightened her. His fingers were white on Helen’s shoulder, and as she watched, Helen began to weaken, bending under the pain.
“I am so sorry, Helen,” she whispered, feeling that she was responsible for why Helen was now under Lord Franks control. “This was not meant to involve you.”
Lord Franks chuckled as though he had overheard her. “I did wonder if it was all too easy,” he said with his eyes darting from Emily to Lord Pallson. “That stupid girl Sarah believed that you completely trusted her, Lady Emily, and told me everything. However, I have been blessed with a little more insight. When I saw and heard Miss Martin offer to walk with you, only for you to refuse and then to hurry towards the door with Lady Millington, I was perturbed. Thankfully, I took Miss Martin along with me, just in case I was correct.” His smile became a leer as he looked at Emily, sending frissons of fear down her spine. “It seems I was right.”
“Step away from her,” Lord Pallson grated, his eyes narrowing. “This has nothing to do with her.”
Lord Pallson made to step towards them, only for Lord Franks to produce a small, silver dagger in his free hand.
“I think not, Lord Pallson,” he said plainly. “I will, of course, allow your niece her freedom once you procure the Hatherley diamonds for me.”
Lord Pallson gritted his teeth. “I will not be blackmailed, Lord Franks.”
Helen let out a small cry, as Lord Franks flashed the dagger in front of her face. “Are you quite sure about that, Lord Pallson?”
Emily could not take it any longer, feeling her tension rising with every moment. “You can have them, Lord Franks!” she cried, throwing off Lady Millington’s restraining hand. “Just do not hurt Miss Martin, I pray you!”
Lord Franks’ eyes turned to her, sending yet more shivers all through her. “But you do not know where they are, Lady Emily. Lord Pallson has them, does he not?”
Emily shuddered violently, walking a little closer towards Lord Franks. Her eyes widened just a little as she saw Helen’s eyes began to fill with tears, her cheeks a little pale.
“Now, now,” Lord Franks murmured, his brows furrowing. “Just wait there, Lady Emily. In fact, no one needs to move other than Lord Pallson, who is to go and find my diamonds.”
Lord Brighton, who had been slowly trying to pick up the poker and doing a rather useless job of it, straightened as Lord Pallson waved one hand at him, gesturing at him to stop. Lady Millington moved towards Emily, her hand tight on Emily’s arm, whilst her other hand held the small coal shovel behind her back.
“Your diamonds, Lord Franks?” Lord Pallson asked, his voice echoing around the room. “Come now, we all know who it is that is seeking them.”
Lord Franks chuckled, his weak chin wobbling just a little. “I think not. Lord Hatherley may claim they are his, but I know their worth. I will use them for myself. Lord Hatherley, Lady Emily, and Lord Rawson will never see them again!”
Emily caught her breath. “Lord Hatherley is not the one seeking the diamonds?”
Lord Franks snorted, as though such a question was a mockery. “You need not to consider that foolish gentleman. When he is drunk, the man talks much more than he ought.”
“So, Lord Hatherley has not been the one seeking the diamonds?” Lady Millington queried, sounding as astonished as Emily felt. “It has been you…from the very beginning?”
“I need those diamonds,” Lord Franks grated, the dark smile fading from his face as he glared at Emily. “I do not care what you think of me nor what you think you will do once I am long gone from this place. I will be saved. This is the only way.”
Helen let out another cry as Lord Franks’ fingers gripped her shoulder all the more tightly. “Fetch the diamonds, Lord Pallson.”
Emily saw Lord Pallson frown, his entire body tensing as he looked at Helen. Feeling desperate, afraid that Lord Pallson would react with anger, Emily took another small step forward. “And my maid, Sarah?”
Lord Franks barely glanced at her, his gaze trained on Lord Pallson. “What of her?”
“You have been using her to get what you want,” Emily stated, her breathing ragged. “Why?”
Lord Franks shook his head, as though in despair at her question. “Because, Lady Emily, I needed someone to help me search for the diamonds. Someone within your house. When she could not find them, she helped me enter your father’s house. Unfortunately, your father was injured during my search, and I had to run for my life. You cannot imagine my delight on hearing that not only had you brought the diamonds with you, but that you intended to attend Lord Brighton’s house party!” His lips curved into a cruel sneer. “That stupid maid has proven very useful, and it has taken very little money to ensure
her loyalty.”
“Money,” Emily whispered, her heart sinking to the floor. “You gave her money.”
“And affection, although it pained me to do so,” Lord Franks stated, with an ugly look. “Her ideas of grandeur helped. For heaven’s sake, she even allowed me to deliberately injure her out by the lake so as to provide a cover for her absence! Foolish girl.”
Realizing it was all just as they had thought, Emily felt her head begin to throb, rubbing her forehead for a moment. This was as though a thunderclap had sounded directly over her head, sending tremors all through her. Lord Hatherley was not the one who had been after the diamonds; he had not been the one to write the notes and had not been the one who had attempted to injure her. It had always been Lord Franks, right from the very beginning.
Her fear began to boil away, leaving only a fierce anger. She found herself growing angry with the man standing in front of her now, threatening all she held dear. She found herself hating that she had been so easily duped by him, blaming Lord Hatherley from the very beginning. She took in Helen’s tearful expression, saw Lord Pallson’s furious glare, and felt her own rage rise. This was all his fault. This was nothing to do with her, her father, Lord Pallson, Miss Martin, Lady Millington, or Lord Brighton. Lord Franks’ greed had caused him to try and frighten her into giving up the diamonds. He had attempted to drown her and then choke Lord Pallson.
How she managed it she did not know. She grasped Lady Millington’s hand, the one holding the coal shovel and, taking a breath, stepped forward and swung it wildly at Lord Franks’ head. Whether or not it was due to the shock of it, Lord Franks stumbled back, the implement leaving a dark sooty mark across the side of his face. Miss Martin immediately stumbled to one side of the room, half falling into Lord Brighton’s waiting arms – and Lord Pallson reacted at once.
Lord Franks’ dagger flashed dangerously as Emily staggered back towards Lady Millington, her body suddenly weak from what she had done. Lady Millington grasped her tightly, just as Lord Franks let out a roar of rage, looking to pounce at Emily, only to be tackled to the ground by Lord Pallson. Emily let out a shriek of fright as the men crashed to the floor, a small table overturning in the process and falling directly on top of Lord Pallson. There were grunts and groans of pain as the men fought, with all their strength, until Lord Brighton – looking a little wane himself, brought Miss Martin to Lady Millington’s attention and went to join the fray.
It was all over very quickly after that. Lord Pallson and Lord Brighton held Lord Franks firmly and, rising to their feet, quickly bound Lord Franks’ hands behind his back, thanks to a short length of rope Lord Pallson had left in the library previously, evidently prepared for this very situation.
“It is over now, Lord Franks,” Lord Pallson said in between gasps of air. “It is finished. Done. You will never have your hands on those diamonds.”
Lord Franks let out a scream of rage that set Emily’s teeth on edge, her hand around Miss Martin’s waist as they watched together. Lady Millington came to stand close to them, her arm linking with Emily’s. Emily’s breathing was harsh and ragged, even as she watched Lord Franks being marched towards the library door by the two men. She did not know where he was to go and certainly did not want to ask, but the fact that it was now all at an end was somewhat difficult to accept.
“We will be back shortly,” Lord Brighton murmured, in a low voice as they quit the room. “Please do remain here, all of you.”
“No!” Lord Franks shouted, his face blood red. “Those diamonds! I need them. I need them!”
“That is quite enough,” Lord Brighton replied firmly, giving the man a stern shake as they half dragged him towards the door. Emily felt herself jerk with a sudden fear as Lord Franks tried to lurch away from them and back towards her, but Lord Pallson and Lord Brighton held him fast.
“You will pay for this!” Lord Franks shouted, his eyes narrowed to small slits as he glared at Emily, evidently holding her responsible for his lack of success. “I will have you and that stupid father of yours! I will get those diamonds!”
“Enough!” Lord Pallson tugged Lord Franks’ arm hard. “Enough from you, Lord Franks, else I will knock you so hard that you will not be able to open your mouth.”
Lord Franks fought against his bonds and against the two men for another moment, before quietly giving up. His teeth were bared, his eyes filled with fury, and yet there was nothing he could do.
Emily’s gaze found Lord Pallson. He was not looking at her and, in the flickering firelight, looked somewhat pale. One of his arms was moving a little stiffly, and as much as she wanted to question him, to fly to his side and inquire as to whether or not he was all right, she found herself rooted to the spot, simply watching him as he dragged Lord Franks out of the room.
“I want those diamonds!” Lord Franks yelled, as Lord Brighton pulled the library door shut behind the three of them. “I–!”
His speech was cut short, although quite for what reason Emily could not say. She felt herself begin to shake as Lady Millington stepped away from herself and Miss Martin, ringing the bell for tea and then walking to the brandy tray, setting out five glasses and pouring three of them a small measure and two a more hearty one.
“My goodness, Emily,” Lady Millington exclaimed, bringing over two of the glasses and handing one to Emily and one to Helen. “It is all at an end now, is it not? Come, you must sit. You too, Miss Martin. My goodness, you have both done extraordinarily well.”
Miss Martin, who was clearly still quite at a loss as to what had occurred, nodded slowly and tottered a few steps towards a chair, sinking down into it carefully. Emily did so also, her eyes fixed on the flames of the fire whilst her mind tried to accept everything that had just occurred.
“I do not quite understand,” Miss Martin murmured, her eyes flickering from Lady Millington to Emily. “You are not Miss Thorpe then? You are Lady Emily?”
Emily found she could not speak, and so she gave a jerky nod instead.
“Let me explain,” Lady Millington said gently, and so she launched into a short explanation that had Miss Martin catching her breath at various points. Emily, feeling somewhat miserable that she had inadvertently managed to embroil Miss Martin in all of this, kept her gaze straight ahead of her and tried to pray that Miss Martin would not be too upset.
“Oh, but I quite understand.”
Astonished, Emily looked at the girl.
“You had to assume another name. It makes a good deal of sense, and I am not in the least bit surprised that you were forced to do so, Lady Emily.”
“I–”
Emily’s voice was thin and broken, compounded all the more by Miss Martin reaching across and taking her hand. Her emotions burst forth like a tide that had been held back, and she found herself crying.
“I am truly sorry that he hurt you, Helen,” she whispered, dabbing at her eyes ineffectually. “I did not mean for that to occur.”
“But I am quite all right, am I not?” Helen asked, sounding a good deal brighter than Emily had expected. “I am not hurt, save for a small pain in my shoulder, and whilst I will confess that I was shocked and afraid at times, it is all at an end now. There is nothing to be afraid of any longer, is there?” Her hand squeezed Emily’s gently. “I find that I am glad for you about that.”
Emily sobbed for a good long while, letting out every single fear and worry as she did so. She cried with relief and with gladness, hearing Helen murmuring comforting words and with Lady Millington patting her shoulder gently. It was at an end. Somehow, she knew that Lord Franks would not be a danger to her again. She still had her maid to deal with, but without Lord Franks present, Sarah herself was not a danger. She could return to her life with her father, enjoying every moment of her freedom without ever having to be afraid again.
“There you go,” Lady Millington said quietly, a smile on her face as Emily’s tears slowly abated. “Now, why do you not take a sip of your brandy? The tea tray should be her
e soon, and you will want a steaming hot cup too, I am quite sure.”
Doing as Lady Millington had asked, Emily took a small sip of her brandy and let the fiery liquid burn down her throat and through her limbs. It made her gasp whilst giving her a strength she had not expected.
“There, you see?” Lady Millington continued, her smile spreading all the more. “Wonderful stuff, is it not? Besides which, you will need your strength to speak to Lord Brighton and Lord Pallson when they return. I am quite sure they will be just as proud of you as I am.”
“Proud of me?” Emily asked softly. “Why?”
Lady Millington’s expression softened. “My dear, you were the one who struck Lord Franks with the coal shovel! I confess I was more than astonished at your quick action but so was Lord Franks! The look on his face was one of utter shock, and it worked marvelously well, did it not?” She glanced at Miss Martin, who herself was smiling. “You saved Miss Martin from his clutches and prevented him from getting a hold of your diamonds. All in all, my dear girl, you have done marvelously well, and I am quite sure that Lord Pallson will think much the same as I.”
“Indeed he will.”
Emily turned her head at once to see Lord Pallson standing framed in the doorway with Lord Brighton just behind him. He was smiling at her, an expression of relief etched onto his face as he walked inside.
“You did excellently, my dear,” he continued, walking to stand closer to them all. “Helen, are you quite all right?”
Helen smiled, lifting her shoulder slightly. “An ache but nothing more. I have heard everything from Lady Millington, and I quite understand it all. Lady Emily saved me from Lord Franks, and for that, I shall always be very grateful.”
Lord Pallson’s smile grew warm. “You astonished me considerably, my dear,” he murmured, taking Emily’s cold hand in his warm one. “But I confess that I do not think that anything else would have worked. Lord Franks was expecting me to react, or perhaps Lord Brighton, but he did not for one moment think that you would wield something like the coal shovel!” He chuckled softly, bowing over her hand and kissing it. “It is all at an end now, my dear Lady Emily. You are quite safe. Your father can return from hiding, and you will both be able to go home.”