Stealing the Duchess

by Marie Higgins

  Silently, she prayed everything would work in her favor. Strangely, she felt Julian’s strength. In her mind, she heard him calling for her, begging for her to return. She must not let him down.

  Taking a deep breath, she scooted to the edge of the couch. Willing her limbs to work properly, she focused on her goal. Before she could talk herself out of it, she jumped from the couch and leapt to the poker. She grasped it tightly and turned to face her foe.

  Theresa had spun around and her eyes widened as panic etched itself on her expression. Color faded from her face. “Wh—what are you doing, Miss Templeton?”

  Alexandria really wished the insipid woman would get her name straight. “You don’t know?” she asked, finally feeling in control, and enjoying the power it gave her. “Can I assume you didn’t think of what would happen if I somehow became fearless?” She tightened her fingers around the handle, raising the poker slightly, almost as a shield.

  Theresa shook her head. “You are too weak because of your head injury. I can still over-power you.”

  Energy climbed higher inside of Alexandria, steadying her limbs, and remarkably enough, calming the pounding in her head. “Shall we test your theory?”

  She didn’t know if she was encouraging the other woman or not. But right now, she wanted this over with. She wanted to be back in Julian’s loving arms.

  She studied Theresa’s eyes, waiting for her next move. When color seeped back into her face, and she narrowed her eyes, Alexandria realized the snake was about to strike.

  Theresa lunged toward her, and Alexandria quickly jumped aside. Theresa smacked into the wall with a loud thud and crumbled to the floor. Alexandria raised the poker and brought it down soundly on the woman’s head.

  The sound of bones cracking made her stomach roil, but it was the sight of Theresa’s blood that made her gag. Sobbing, Alexandria stepped away from the woman, backing up toward the door. She kept her gaze on the woman’s unmoving body.

  Never before had she killed another person, and she prayed to God that she hadn’t killed one now. Yet, she didn’t know what would happen if Theresa was left alive to follow through with her threats. Neither she nor Julian would be safe.

  Her legs wobbled slightly as she ran out the door and to the lone horse grazing in the yard. She didn’t know how she got the strength to jump on its back, but she did. She kicked her heels into the sides of the horse and held on to the reins, riding as fast as she could.

  When her hand began to ache, she realized she was still holding the poker mixed with blood and some of Theresa’s brown hair. Another cry broke loose from her as she threw the weapon down as though it was on fire. Tears stung her eyes as she pushed the animal faster toward home. Nothing was going to stop her now. Her nightmare was finally over.

  TWENTY-NINE

  Julian was at his wit’s end and running out of ideas. He’d sent the servants scampering around the estate, and some of them even rode into town, just to find Alexandria. It had been hours since he realized she was missing, and helplessness washed over him, growing stronger by the minute. If he didn’t find her soon, he would go stark-raving mad.

  He couldn’t stay still. He paced the floor in his bedroom, in his study, in the dining room, and in the sitting room, but none of these rooms left him feeling at peace. He wouldn’t feel calm until he was able to see his wife and know that she was all right.

  Impatient, he marched outside. His leg ached and was swollen, but he didn’t care. For the sixth time since he first discovered Lexie was missing, he hurried to the stable, hoping by some great chance that she’d be there.

  The stable boy’s head had been bandaged, and although John had a headache, he still completed his duties. Earlier, Julian had caught the boy crying because he’d felt as if it were his fault that Lexie had been taken. Julian tried to convince the lad differently, but he refused to be swayed from the notion that it was his fault for not stopping his attacker before Her Grace was taken.

  If anyone was to blame, it was Julian. If he had stopped his cousin by now, Alexandria would be at home safe with him where she belongs.

  In the horizon, the sun had started its decent. If they hadn’t found Alexandria by nightfall, he didn’t know what he’d do. Naturally, he’d continue searching for her, but it would be harder in the dark.

  He moved to Buttercup and stroked her mane. Would he ever see the woman he loved more than life itself riding her favorite horse and enjoying life to the fullest? Tears glistened in Julian’s eyes. It was difficult not to think negatively, especially when so many horrific things had been happening in his life. He’d lost his father and brother, and Julian knew that losing Alexandria would literally kill him.

  The echo of horse’s hoofs pounding from up the hill pulled him from his dismal thoughts. Hopeful that someone had heard something and was coming to inform him, he rushed out of the stable to see who was riding toward the manor. At first he recognized Dominic’s tall frame and the gray stallion his friend rode, but the horse and rider following behind didn’t look familiar. Both men stopped their horses, and as the dust around them settled, Julian could clearly see the other rider.

  He gritted his teeth. Martin! What was he doing here?

  Julian broke into an odd mix of skipping and running, all the while cursing his wounded leg for slowing him down. As he approached the two, he noticed his cousin’s hands were tied in front of him and attached to the saddle horn. Martin aimed a burning scowl at Julian. He didn’t care, and countered back with his own glare.

  “What is the meaning of this outrage?” Martin snapped. “I was taken from my house against my will, shoved on this animal, and tied to the beast. And if that wasn’t degrading enough,” he narrowed his eyes and scowled, “I was then forced on a jarring ride here...a place I have had little desire to visit of late. I demand to know why I am being treated like a prisoner!”

  Dominic jumped off his horse and strode to Julian. “I’d heard about Alexandria’s disappearance, and the first thing that came to mind was to bring your cousin here so you could talk to him.”

  “Talk?” Julian arched an eyebrow. “I’d rather discuss this matter with my fists.”

  “You have got to be jesting,” Martin snorted his comment toward Dominic. “You actually believe I’m involved with the duchess’s disappearance?”

  Julian limped to the horse his cousin sat upon and looked up at him. “Can you give me a good reason why I shouldn’t think you’re involved?” He growled and pointed to the ground. “Hawthorne, would you take my cousin off the horse and put him in front of me? My neck is getting a kink from looking up at him.”

  “Yes, Your Grace.” Dominic didn’t remove the rope from around Martin’s wrists, but he untied him from the saddle horn and pulled him off to stand in front of Julian.

  Martin threw a glare at Julian, hot enough to burn right through him. Julian matched his cousin’s expression, tossing back his own angry glares.

  “Why do you think I’m trying to hurt your wife...my own sister-in-law, mind you?” Martin snapped.

  “You were eager enough to be rid of her before I returned. Shall I remind you how you wanted to sell your sister-in-law to the highest bidder?” Julian shook his head. Martin’s face paled. Julian quickly continued, “Ah, so you recall that now, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I recall...I know you will not understand, but the truth is, I sought to marry Alexandria off, not because I wanted to harm her, but to harm my wife.”

  Julian’s eyes widened at his words. “You make little sense, sir.”

  “Because the two sisters are so close, I knew by marrying Alexandria off, it would hurt my wife.”

  “Are you telling me you don’t know where she is?”

  His cousin swallowed hard, but he kept his chin erect. “I will not take responsibility for your wife’s disappearance. I had nothing to do with it. I swear on my father’s grave.”

  Julian studied his cousin’s fierce—but most serious—expression. Although he
didn’t know whether to trust Martin, he did recall his cousin having a very close relationship with his father. Julian remembered hearing that his father’s death nearly shattered Martin. Could he be telling the truth now? Julian didn’t know what to believe. He just wanted answers...and to find his wife quickly.

  “Tell me truthfully,” Julian said, stepping closer to his cousin, “did you have anything to do with my father’s and brother’s deaths?”

  Martin’s eyes widened and he shook his head. “Absolutely not! I looked upon your father as my own, especially after my sire died. After you had left to join the military, your father helped me out of many embarrassing scrapes, and he put me on the path to a better life. I wouldn’t even think of harming your father. He was my mentor.”

  Julian’s mind wanted to doubt Martin, yet his heart actually believed him. Julian’s father would have been generous to one of his own family members. He would have tried to help Martin the best he could.

  Groaning, Julian rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes. As much as he wanted someone to blame for all the horrid things that had been happening to him lately, deep down inside he knew his cousin was not the culprit. Not now. Not after peering at the man who talked about Julian’s father with tears in his eyes...as though he missed the older man as much as Julian.

  But if Martin wasn’t responsible, then who was?

  “It just made sense,” Julian muttered, “that you would want the title since you were next in line.”

  “Julian,” Martin’s voice softened. “I have never wanted the title. Even after it was given to me, I tried to find someone else to take it. The duke’s responsibilities are too much for me to handle. If you don’t believe me, ask my wife. She can attest to the fact that I struggled to accept the title.”

  Julian lifted his head and met his cousin’s gaze again with renewed anger. “And what about your wife? Why did you want her dead?”

  “Dead?” Martin paled. He shook his head, almost as if he was trying to deny involvement, but Julian was having none of it.

  “The carriage accident—the two imbeciles you paid not long ago to create the accident. Have you forgotten about that so soon?”

  Martin exhaled deeply and shuffled his feet in the dirt. “In hindsight, I never really wanted to do bodily harm to my wife, but I did not wish to be married any longer.” A groan escaped him. “I was at a low point in my life. I’d just been given a title I didn’t want, and I realized I was married to a woman who wanted to run my life. I also realized she had never loved me. I don’t know why she still agreed to be my wife, though.” Frowning, he shrugged. “But I wasn’t thinking straight that night I paid Walter and Sam. I’d been drinking heavily, and I was desperate for a new life. I will always regret paying those two. In fact, after a few days of sobriety and no accident occurred, I wondered if they had somehow cheated me out of my money. My wife had made me a very unhappy man, but I decided I didn’t want her dead only to make her suffer for her treatment of me.” He boldly met Julian’s stare. “That is why I would not allow Alexandria to visit her sister and why I wanted my sister-in-law married off. I wanted to make my wife as unhappy as she had made me. And by keeping her sister from her would indeed make my wife very unhappy. I never meant to harm Alexandria.” He shrugged. “I should have tried harder to call off the accident, but as I said, I thought the men had simply took my money and labeled me a fool.”

  Julian glanced at Dominic. His friend’s expression relayed the same conclusion that Julian had come to—that Martin was being honest with him.

  “Can you tell me why you were at the inn with them yesterday?”

  Martin nodded. “I always frequent that drinking establishment, and when I saw them, I asked them for my money back. I was well into my cups, and so when they explained they had spent my money, I didn’t push them for it. I knew they would never return it, anyway.”

  “Did you know my driver was involved with Walter and Sam?” Julian bunched his fists, recalling the horrible events of the day. “Yesterday my wife and I were in the coach when it tumbled down the hill into a ravine. I couldn’t help but wonder if you had something to do with it. Did you go and demand a return on your investment? After all, they failed to kill your wife so they owed you. Did you wish me dead, too? I was in the vehicle as well.”

  Martin’s face lost color again and he shook his head. “Forgive me, cousin, but I never thought it would have happened to you. Indeed, I had been a drunken fool that night when I paid Walter and Sam. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?” He stepped closer. “If you will untie me, I shall do everything in my power to help you find Alexandria. Although I’m not in love with Joanna any longer, I still care about my wife’s and her sister’s welfare.”

  Julian nodded and untied the ropes at Martin’s wrists. “Currently, I need all the help I can get.” He met his cousin’s stare. “I’m putting my trust in you. Do not let me down, or you will never get another chance to gain my grace.”

  “I won’t disappoint you.”

  Julian turned to the butler who stood nearby. “Higley, show my cousin into the house and see to it that he is washed and fed quickly, but make haste. We need him as soon as possible to help find my wife.”

  “Yes, Your Grace.” Higley led Martin into the manor.

  Sighing heavily, Julian turned to Dominic. “Do you think I made the right decision to trust him?”

  Dominic nodded. “For some reason, I feel you did. After watching his expression, I felt he was telling the truth.”

  In the distance, another rider came toward the manor. Julian swung his attention toward the cloud of dust. All he could see was long, dark-blonde hair flapping in the wind, and a dark blue jacket and skirt.

  His hopes lifted as he ran toward the rider barreling down upon him. Was he seeing things that weren’t there, or was this truly the woman he loved so much finally coming home? “Alexandria!”

  “Julian,” she cried out, waving her hand frantically.

  When the horse drew near, he reached for the reins, pulled hard and brought the animal to a stop. He reached for her, and she fell from the horse and into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Tears of happiness and relief streamed down his cheeks as he pulled her closer. He kissed her face, not staying in one particular spot, and kissed her as much as he could.

  “Oh, Julian.” Her voice cracked. “I never thought I’d see you again.”

  He braced his hands on each side of her head and looked into her watery eyes. Scratches marred her beautiful face, but nothing that appeared to be too bad. Her hair was very dirty, making it look darker than its original color and streaked with dried blood. Her riding habit was caked with dirt and mud, and the material was torn in several places. “Where have you been, my love?”

  Dominic and other servants joined them, each wearing wide smiles. Alexandria moved her gaze to each one, until stopping on Dominic.

  “I was in his cottage.” She returned her focus to Julian. “The same one you had taken me to the first time we met.”

  Confusion swept through him and he looked at his friend. Dominic appeared as confused as Julian felt. “Why were you at the cottage?” he asked his wife.

  “Well, you see,” she adjusted in Julian’s arms so she could stare at Dominic, “Miss Theresa kidnapped me and took me there.”

  Dominic’s eyes widened in shock, and Julian felt his eyes would bug out of his face, as well when he peered quizzically at Alexandria. “Miss Theresa?”

  Lexie nodded. “She knocked me unconscious and took me there. She wanted to...kill me. She thought I was standing in her way of becoming your wife.” Her voice broke again.

  Julian held her tight as she explained what had happened. Her body trembled, which made him hold her closer. Anger built inside of him, deeper than it had ever done before. He wanted to throttle that woman, and torture her for what she’d done to his poor, defenseless wife. Yet, pride filled him as love for Alexandria grew in leaps. She was definitely an incredible, brave
woman to fight her abductor and get away.

  “I hit her in the head with a poker and escaped. Julian,” she paused, calming herself before she added, “I...I...think I killed her.”

  “Miss Theresa is dead?” Dominic asked with skepticism in his voice.

  Alexandria nodded. “I believe so, but I didn’t stay around long enough to check.”

  Dominic turned to one of the stable hands standing next to him. “Come with me and we’ll ride out there to make certain.”

  The other man nodded. “I’ll saddle a horse.”

  “No, take this one,” Alexandria said, pointing to the brown horse she’d been riding. “This was Miss Theresa’s horse.”

  Dominic quickly mounted his gray steed, just as the stable hand climbed on the other. Together they rode toward the cottage.

  Never had Julian hated a woman as much as he did Miss Theresa. And he prayed God forgave him for having such harsh feelings. But he truly hoped when Dominic arrived, he’d find a dead woman.

  THIRTY

  Moaning, Alexandria rubbed her head. Julian’s heart twisted. He hated to see her in pain. But as her fingers moved against some dried blood matting her hair, Julian noticed the gaping wound on her scalp. His heart dropped.

  “Lexie, we need to get you to your room.” He glanced at John. “Are you up to locating my physician?”

  The boy’s shoulders straightened and he smiled. “Yes, Your Grace.”

  “Tell him my wife has had a serious head injury.”

  John nodded, turned and bolted toward the stable to fetch a horse.

  Julian lifted his wife into his arms. She clung to his shirt as he gently carried her into the house, up the stairs, and to their room. Her maid, Johnson, rushed to them, eager to help.

  “Draw a bath for Her Grace,” he told the maid, “and help me get her ready for the physician.”

  “Of course, Your Grace.” She curtsied before rushing to do her duties.

  Julian sat on the loveseat with his wife on his lap. Her eyes were closed as she leaned her head against his chest. With great tenderness, he stroked her face, happy to be doing this once again, and grateful that God had given him the opportunity to take care of his wife. Thank God she had come back to him alive.