The next room was the kitchen. It was here Elisa hoped to find what she was looking for.
Strangely, it was Nicholas who’d given her the best insight to what to look for. His journal on deadly plants had given her some clues as to what to seek.
She searched every cabinet and every drawer. She sniffed the herbs and traced the pattern of the leaves she found, looking for the markers of nightshade or snakeroot. She found a few questionable items in unmarked jars.
She squeaked when she noticed a glass container that contained something live in it. Bringing the light closer, she saw it was a snake.
“Stay back,” Charles cautioned her even as he moved Elisa to stand behind him.
The snake’s confinement had a glass top as well with small holes for breathing.
Charles took a deep breath and asked, “Do you know this Gloria woman?”
“No, why?”
“It is said there lives a Queen of Poisons in England. She goes by other names. I wonder...” Charles stood nearly spellbound by the snake’s moves.
Nick had also mentioned a Queen of Poisons, but he’d said it mockingly. At the time, she hadn’t known she was real. Was she?
A chill went through her body. “I’ll work quickly,” Elisa told him.
Her voice seemed to break him. “Yes, it’s best you did.”
She got far away from the snake and looked on the other side of the room.
There was fruit. She sniffed it and thought the scent sweet, though she couldn’t place what the fruit was. It looked like cherries. She pulled out a collection of small sacks and took samples of everything in the unmarked jars.
She made certain to change her gloves before she touched anything, deciding to use one of the pairs Alguire had given her for this work. Once done, she tucked those gloves away into her pocket and resumed wearing the winter set her brother had purchased for her.
“If you disturb the items, she is likely to know someone was here,” Charles said.
“Perhaps someone but not us.” Taking a few more leaves, she stood and turned. “I’m ready.”
Once outside, Nick appeared again. “I’ll walk you back.”
They moved in silence for a while. He held her hand.
“Did you find what you were looking for?” he eventually asked.
She shrugged. “Maybe.” She bit her lip. “Do you recall when we spoke about the plants your father told you not to digest and what to look out for if someone happened to have it in their home?”
He glanced at her. “Is that what you were searching for? Poison?” His tone became harder.
“Never mind. Forget I asked.”
He stopped her. “Did you touch anything with your hands? I told you—”
“I remember what you said about certain poisons irritating the skin. I changed my gloves before I touched anything.” She sighed. “Now, please pretend that I said nothing.”
“Elisa, what is going on?”
“I can’t tell you. I hate that I ever brought it up.” She tried to march on ahead.
He pulled her back. His voice was as cold as his eyes. “This is done. Over. I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but it’s finished.”
“No.”
“Yes. I’ll tell your brother.”
Her eyes widened. “You promised…”
“I promised to keep you safe. Now you’re dealing with poisons? Even professionals have found themselves killed by the very handling of them.” He looked her over. “Did you take anything from the shop? Where is it? Give it to me.”
She swallowed. She was so angry that her chest burned. She couldn’t stop what she was doing now. She had to know the truth. She needed everyone to know the truth.
She needed to be certain for herself most of all.
“No, I can’t. I won’t.”
He reached for her purse.
“Don’t touch me!”
He stilled, shocked. “Have you lost your—”
“Don’t!” she cried. “Don’t you dare say it.”
She had not lost her mind. Not yet.
He grimaced.
Footsteps were coming near.
Wade appeared. “Do you need assistance, my lady?”
Nick stepped toward the man. “Stand down, Wade.”
“No.” Elisa turned and grabbed Wade’s arm. “Please, take me to Dr. Sparrow’s.”
“Elisa, you’re not thinking clearly.”
She couldn’t take Nicholas anymore. She couldn’t take his doubts, his accusations. They wouldn’t stop coming. She felt under attack. “You’re right. My feelings for you have blinded me to the truth. You don’t respect me. I can’t be around you right now, Nicholas.” She choked on the last of her words.
Nick stepped forward. His words grew quiet. “Elisa, you don’t know what you’re saying.”
Wade moved Elisa behind him. “The lady has asked you not to touch her.”
“Wade,” Nick warned. “You do know that I can bring you down if I wish, don’t you?”
“I’m aware,” the soldier said. “But if I may, my lord, I’ll remind you that the lady has asked that you do not touch her, and my orders come from Lord Bowland.” The Viscount of Bowland was Astger’s official title.
∫ ∫ ∫
4 5
* * *
Though frustrated by the circumstances, Nicholas backed down, not because he feared Astger but because Elisa had asked he not touch her and though he wanted to touch her, he would respect her wishes.
“You should go home, Nicholas,” Elisa said.
Nick’s heart raced. A voice inside him told him to give up and let her go.
He silenced the doubt. “Let me help you, at least with the poisons.” He feared her hurting herself. He feared her death more than he feared his own.
“Dr. Sparrow will help me.”
Fierce anger engulfed him. “You choose him over me?”
She narrowed her eyes. “He believes in me and listens.”
“I listen…”
“You don’t.” Elisa was upset. Tears built in her eyes. Her lips trembled. “You never do. I have told you over and over again. I will not defend my mind once more. If you cannot see...”
Trepidation built in Nick’s chest. He held up his hands to try and stop her. “Elisa—”
“We can’t be together, Nicholas. I’m sorry.”
“Elisa, we need to talk about this.”
“I’m not your Maria.”
He didn’t understand what his former wife had to do with this. “I already told you that you weren’t.”
“Then you tell yourself.” She looked at Wade and ignored him. “Please, take me away from here.”
Wade turned her away and began to walk.
“Elisa!”
She didn’t turn around.
Charles spoke from behind him. “My lord, it may not be the best decision to say the woman’s name so loudly.”
Nick cursed. He’d completely forgotten what they were about. She was in disguise. He was clearly the one not thinking clearly.
He turned and walked in the other direction and then he started for Cassius’ house.
The duke was awake and available, but Lady Milly was with him. They sat on the couch together. His wife lounged with her head on her husband’s chest, reading a book. He was reading one of his own. The novel sat across his thigh.
From a glance, Nick could see the book was a normal book, not one full of the secrets of men. The entire scene was a pleasant one to behold. So normal in its nature that Nick was taken aback by it slightly.
Milly smiled at him. “Hello, Nicholas. Have you come to speak to my husband?”
“I have, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.” She started to stand, but Cass halted her with a hand. Then the duke stood and assisted his wife to her feet. She was showing now, but there were many months to go before the baby’s arrival.
The duke and duchess shared a look, one that communicated something w
arm and beguiling. Then she touched his cheek and left.
Cass turned to Nick. “Are you all right?”
Nick shook his head. He wasn’t sure why he’d come. Cass had never been known for his advice when it came to relations between people, but his perspective was changing. He, as a man, was changing nearly every day.
“Something troubling you?” Cassius asked. “Anything I can help you with?”
“I came to speak to Cass,” Nick told him. “Not the duke.” He needed his friend, not his employer, though sometimes the two blended into one. Cass had already used his power to save Nicholas
Cassius moved to the sideboard and poured brandy for the both of them. “Is this about Elisa?”
Nick had sworn he’d not tell Elisa’s brother her secret, but he wondered if the secrecy extended to the duke as well. “What do you know about what Elisa is up to?”
“Elisa is up to something?” Cass asked.
Nick stared at his friend. “You didn’t know?”
Cass grinned. “Don’t look so surprised. It’s impossible to know everything. Besides, I’ve been dealing with my own situation.”
“Is something wrong with Milly?” Nick looked back toward the door Milly had left though. She’d seemed fine when he’d seen her.
“Milly is fine. It’s something else. It’s me.” Cass sat on the edge of his table and looked away. “I’ve been thinking about God more than ever. So much is out of my control. It’s humbling. It’s good to stay humble.” Cass looked at Nick. “I’m sure it keeps me from making too many mistakes.”
Nick blinked and thought about how Cassius’ words related to his own situation. Indeed, there was much he couldn’t control, but he, Cassius, and Sirius had always dealt with matters believing that if no one acted, the world would cease to be a pretty place.
“Have you closed the boy fights?” Nick asked.
“Most of them, but it would be impossible to stop the abuse on all human life,” Cassius told him. “I’ve been thinking about women’s issues recently. There are so many without aid. Imagine if Elisa hadn’t had a brother who cared and what her life would have been like.”
“Planning to save the world?” Nick took the seat in front of Cass.
The duke shook his head. “No, just my world. I pray that when I die, the last impression Society has of me is not fear. I wish to leave a sound legacy.”
Nick understood now. “This is about the baby. You think Milly carries your heir. Are you nervous?” It was actually nice not to talk about his own issues. He knew Cassius was troubled most of the time. If he could alleviate some of his friend’s burdens, he would.
It was no secret Cassius feared children. He’d never wanted to be around them. There was a young boy who’d grown attached to him. He was the son of one of Cassius’ friends, Lord Ganden. Whenever the young lord saw Cassius, he began to follow him around.
It was a wise decision on his part to be conscious of the man he was and would become. One’s character was often the only thing one could control.
Nick thought about when Elisa accused him of not listening. Was that true? Was he not listening? Just because he didn’t agree with what came out of her mouth didn’t mean he didn’t understand.
“You and I had never wanted children,” Cassius said. “It was always Sirius who enjoyed our young counterparts.”
“Where is Sirius?” Nick asked.
“Looking for something for me,” Cassius said. “Actually, it’s a gift for Milly after she has the baby.” Changing the subject, Cass said, “Tell me about what’s troubling you. I’ll try and help if I can.”
Though he’d told Elisa he would tell her brother what was going on, he had no intention of telling Avery a thing. Nor Cassius. “You’ve met Elisa, twice now. What is your impression of her?”
“You mean what is my impression of her mind?” Cassius asked. “It’s changing. I spoke to Astger about her after our first meeting. I wanted to know everything I could about her. I thought it would help me find her when she was missing. I don’t think her anymore crazy than Milly.”
Nick’s eyes widened. “Milly?”
“You do recall the beginning of our marriage, don’t you?” Cass asked. “She stole a great sum of money from me. Many people would call that foolish.”
It had been foolish. She’d been trying to pull her brother out of a debt of his own making. Cass had caught her brother and held him prisoner. In exchange for her brother’s freedom, Milly had married the Duke of Van Dero.
“Astger doesn’t know what she put me through at the castle.”
Cass’ lips twitched. “Actually, he knows very well what she put you through, since it was he who advised her on how to drive you away.”
Nick leaned forward. “Explain.”
“By the time you began to take an interest in Elisa, she’d decided the match would not suit, so she tried to drive you away. Knowing Astger to be strategic, she asked for his help.” Cassius chuckled and Nick knew it was at his own expense.
Nick stood and placed his brandy on the table. “Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
Cassius shrugged. “I was under the impression that Astger did speak to you. Perhaps, you weren’t paying attention.”
Or Nick wasn’t listening. He thought about what he’d learned and said, “Elisa could have just told me no if she didn’t want me.” Just like she’d done that very night.
“I am led to believe that Elisa did want you. That was the problem. She wasn’t strong enough to move on, so she wanted you to step away.”
Perhaps, it would be the noble thing to step away now, but he couldn’t. His heart wanted Elisa.
Nick remembered how Astger had asked how Nick was doing a few after Nick had failed to sleep because of Elisa’s nightly visits. Astger had grinned as though he knew precisely what Nick was going through.
The restlessness and the strange questions had all stopped days later. Indeed, it was starting to make sense that it was all an act.
He wanted to punish Elisa for her act. “I should hit Astger in the face,” he said instead.
“If you do that, you’ll be giving the man exactly what he wants, but I can’t afford for either of you be fighting now. I plan to call Avery to my office next week and I’ll need both of you here.”
Nick looked at him. “You’re going to ask him not to run for Prime Minister?”
Cass nodded. “A deal is a deal.” But it was clear he didn’t want to do it.
“Do you want Avery as Prime Minister?” Nick asked. “The man is a tyrant, even more than you.”
“His motives are purer than most. He’s younger than Bush. His ideas are sound and will help many.”
Nick groaned. “I’ll speak to Bush and see if there is anything I can give him instead.”
Cass lifted his brow. “I can’t think of a thing he’d want more than either this position or your death.”
“There has to be something.” Nick stood. “Thank you.”
Cass shrugged. “I’m not sure I helped.”
Nick grinned. “You did.” He patted Cassius’ shoulder. “You’ll be a fine father, Cassius.”
“Thank you.”
“But should you fail, at least the babe will have an excellent uncle.”
Cass threw a punch and Nick ducked it before laughing his way out of the room.
∫ ∫ ∫
4 6
* * *
Sparrow slid a sheet of paper across the breakfast table to Elisa a few days later. “They’re all poisons. It was very good that you touched nothing before you brought it to me.”
Elisa took the paper and saw the list of things that should never be present in a candy. “Don’t you think it strange that she’d just have these poisons lying about in her shop?”
“Not at all,” Sparrow said. “Better the shop than at home where her own cook might actually slip it into her meal.”
Elisa hadn’t thought about that.
“Also, there would have been no nee
d to hide them, since no one but you is looking for them.” Sparrow crossed his arms. “We might need to take this matter to Cassius, and he’ll want to know what’s going on. I want to know what’s going on.”
Elisa looked up from the list. “Are you certain all these things were poisons?”
Sparrow’s eyes widened. “Quite positive. I tested them in my laboratory.”
“How?”
“You don’t want to know,” he told her.
Elisa’s stomach turned. “Did someone… die?”
He covered her hand with his own. “Elisa, I have never killed a man in La perfide Albion.”
Elisa took a breath and nodded.
Avery walked into the breakfast room and Sparrow took his hand back before he stood.
“As promised, your sister is well.”
Avery hardly paused to listen. Elisa was in his arms a second later. “Elisa, you frightened me terribly. I’m so glad you’re well. I see no signs of the disease. Your skin is just as beautiful as it was before.”
Elisa returned her brother’s embrace. When they parted, she slipped the paper into her pocket and smiled. “I’m ready to go home.”
Avery grabbed her hand and gazed over her. Elisa allowed it and continued to smile even though she was slightly ashamed for the lie she’d told him.
A flash of sorrow filled his gaze before he nodded. “Let’s go home.”
Sparrow walked out with him. As it would happen, he had plans to meet with Upton that very day. Both men planned to discuss their various trips.
Avery thanked the doctor and paid handsomely— ignoring Sparrow’s refusal to take the funds— before then escorting Elisa to the coach. “How are you feeling?”
“Well.”
Avery nodded and looked at the doctor’s house before he turned back to her. “You and Dr. Sparrow seem close.” For some reason, her brother seemed nervous. Agitated. She wanted to ask him how he was feeling. That seemed far more important.
“Dr. Sparrow is a friend. He was present at Lord Nicholas’ castle while I was there.”
Avery stared at her. “Do you have… feelings for him? It’s been known to happen. After all, he is responsible for your present health. It would be completely natural for you to find yourself enamored.”
A Knight of Vengeance: (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) Page 22
