by Joyce Alec
“Whatever you have said to make Lord Strickland laugh so, I must hear it.” The jovial voice of Lord Richmond drew near to them before Duncan could respond and he turned to his friend at once, glad to see both him and Lady Richmond coming to join them. Lady Juliet also appeared relieved, for she greeted Lady Richmond fervently, striking up a conversation almost at once.
“It is of no importance,” Duncan replied with another quiet chuckle as Lord Richmond eyed him suspiciously. “Lady Juliet is excellent company, that is all.”
“I am glad to hear it,” Lord Richmond replied, glancing toward the lady. “Although I am surprised to see you so contented, given that you stated quite clearly that you did not think you would be eagerly pursuing her company.”
Duncan hesitated, his smile fading. He had not yet told Lord Richmond about what Lady Juliet had seen, nor had he said anything about the threat that he now felt hanging over his head. Was now the time to do so?
“There is something you are not telling me,” Lord Richmond stated, a grin spreading across his face. “If you have changed your mind, then please, do inform me at once so that my wife and I might gloat about such things together.”
“I am afraid no gloating can take place as yet,” Duncan replied as the two ladies continued to talk, with Mrs. Grey watching on. “But before I tell you everything, perhaps we might…” Seeing a footman, he caught his attention and quickly sent him off in search of a brandy for both himself and Lord Richmond.
“It is something rather serious, then,” Lord Richmond said slowly, eyeing Duncan with concern. “Although quite what Lady Juliet has to do with it all, I cannot imagine.”
Lady Juliet, clearly overhearing him, turned toward Lord Richmond with an enquiring look on her face, one eyebrow lifted gently. “You are speaking of me, Lord Richmond?”
Lord Richmond inclined his head, clearing his throat as he lifted his gaze back to Lady Juliet, clearly embarrassed by what she had overheard.
“It is only that Lord Strickland was about to tell me something of significance,” he said, keeping his voice a good deal lower than before. “I was merely wondering aloud what it could be that involved you, Lady Juliet.”
“I see,” she replied, tilting her head just a little. “Well, I presume Lord Strickland is to tell you?”
A little embarrassed, Duncan took the brandy brought to him by the footman, only to catch his arm. “Where is the one for Lord Richmond?” he asked, with the footman then immediately apologizing and hurrying away again. Aware that Mrs. Grey, Lord and Lady Richmond, and Lady Juliet were looking at him, Duncan waved a hand and took a small sip of his brandy. “Please, go ahead, Lady Juliet.” His lip curled and he looked down at his brandy, a trifle confused.
“Is something wrong, Lord Strickland?” Lady Juliet asked, taking a small step forward. “Is there—?”
“No, no, it is quite all right,” Duncan replied, taking another sip and giving her a small smile. “It was only that I thought this brandy tasted a little…unusual, but I am sure I was just being foolish. Lord Courthaven always has the very best, and I should not like to complain.”
This seemed to satisfy Lord Richmond, who turned back to Lady Juliet, looking at her expectantly.
“If you are quite certain,” Lady Juliet replied cautiously, before quickly explaining to Lord and Lady Richmond what she had overheard. Duncan watched as their expressions changed from joviality to horror, turning to look at him with wide eyes.
“Thus, Lady Juliet and I shall find a way to discover the truth about this particular lady,” he said, lifting the brandy to his lips again. “Although what we are to do next, I cannot imagine.”
Lord Richmond frowned hard and made to say something, but the footman interrupted him with his own glass of brandy. Taking it quickly, Lord Richmond brought it to his lips and took a sip, before shaking his head in Duncan’s direction.
“It is quite as you would expect,” he said, gesturing to Duncan’s brandy. “Whatever is wrong with yours, it is not the case with mine.”
Duncan opened his mouth to answer, only for a sudden pain to slice through his stomach, before another sharp pain ran across his forehead. Rubbing at it hard, he gave himself a slight shake in order to regain his composure, only for the pain to come yet again.
“What is wrong, Lord Strickland?” Lady Juliet asked as the others looked at him in surprise, evidently seeing the grimace that he could not hide from his expression.
“Nothing is the matter,” he lied, his stomach tightening with another stab of pain. Pressing one hand to it for a moment, he straightened and gave Lady Juliet a quick smile. “I am—”
He could not finish his sentence, squeezing his eyes shut as the pain in his head doubled. Whatever was the matter with him? Thinking to throw back the rest of his brandy in the hope that it might ease whatever trouble was going on within him, he lifted the brandy glass to his lips, only to be stopped by a loud exclamation.
“Lord Strickland!” Lady Juliet reached for him, tugging the brandy glass from his hand before he could drink it. “Wait a moment.”
He looked at her, confused, wincing hard as another pain shot through his head, his stomach still tight and sore.
“Did you not just say that someone is attempting to injure you in the most severe manner?” Lady Richmond asked, speaking very slowly indeed but a look of realization beginning to sweep across her features. “What is wrong, Lord Strickland?”
Duncan shook his head, then squeezed his eyes tightly shut as another stab of pain ran through his head. “Nothing,” he muttered, not wanting to appear in any way foolish. “My head is a little painful, that is all. My stomach…”
“And this has only affected you after you had taken some of your brandy,” Lady Juliet remarked, looking down at it and then back at him. “Lord Richmond believes there is nothing wrong with his, whereas you believe that it tastes a little unusual.”
Frowning hard, half from the pain and half from trying to understand what Lady Juliet meant, Duncan rubbed one hand across his forehead. “I am mistaken, I am sure,” he said but Lady Juliet shook her head, then handed the glass to Lord Richmond.
“If you might, Lord Richmond,” she said as he reached to take it from her. “If there is any difference, I presume you will notice.”
Lord Richmond nodded, his expression grim. Taking the smallest taste of Duncan’s brandy, he screwed up his face and shook his head.
“There is something very odd about that,” he said, looking toward Duncan. “That might very well be why the footman brought us one glass and then the next. So that they could be certain you could have this particular brandy.”
Lady Juliet took the glass from Lord Richmond and held it in her hand, lifting it a little higher so that she might scrutinize it. Her lips pursed as she studied it carefully. The pain in Duncan’s head slowly began to lessen, as did the cramps in his stomach, and he stood up straight again, his frown remaining in place.
“I cannot imagine what would have occurred had you taken all of it, Lord Strickland,” she said slowly, looking up at him. “I am certain that someone has placed something within your brandy in order to bring you pain and suffering.”
Blinking hard and feeling sweat break out across his forehead, Duncan pulled out his handkerchief and dabbed it away. “You believe that someone has deliberately placed something in my brandy?” he asked, looking around the room as his heart began to pound furiously. “Someone present this evening?”
“I believe so,” Lord Richmond said, and Lady Richmond’s eyes widened in astonishment. “It appears that Lady Juliet has been quite correct in her considerations yet again, Lord Strickland. If you had decided to throw back the entire measure of brandy, then I cannot imagine how ill you would have become.”
A sudden shudder passed through Duncan’s frame as he looked at the brandy in Lady Juliet’s hand, glad that the pain was fading all the more. He found himself taking in a deep breath, gazing into her eyes and finding himself more than
a little relieved that Lady Juliet had seen danger in the brandy glass where he had not.
“They must be here this evening,” Mrs. Grey interjected, catching everyone’s attention. “And we must speak to the footman who brought you the brandy.”
Duncan nodded slowly. “That would be wise,” he agreed, looking all about him. “Someone must have made certain that I was given a particular glass.”
Lady Juliet let out a heavy sigh. “There are so many guests, however,” she said, her lips pursing for a moment as she looked all about her. “Just how are we meant to discern who it could be, given that Lord Courthaven has invited so many guests this evening?”
“We cannot,” Lady Richmond answered, shaking her head. “There are too many of them. What we must do, therefore, is seek out the footman that served your brandy, Lord Strickland. Do you recall him?”
Trying to remember, Duncan fought for clarity. “I did not pay much attention,” he replied, a little awkwardly. “However, I am sure that if I saw him again, I would recall him.”
“Then you must look about the house at once,” Mrs. Grey said firmly. “Take Lady Juliet’s arm, Lord Strickland, and make your way around this room and, thereafter, to the hallway, the music room, and then the drawing room.” She gave him a firm nod as though all was decided. “I will attend with you, of course.”
Duncan blinked rapidly and then, seeing the urgency of the situation, offered Lady Juliet his arm. She accepted it at once, her hand tight on his arm as they turned and walked together. Nothing was discussed, no words were said, but rather they walked in silence, looking not at the guests but at the footmen that stood around the room. Some were making their way from one guest to another, trays of refreshments in their hands, whereas others stood quietly to one side, waiting for a summons from one of the guests or to fix their attention to some duty or other.
“Are any of them recognizable?” Lady Juliet asked, her voice low. “None of their faces spark any awareness?”
“None,” Duncan replied, frustrated with his own lack of alertness. “To be truthful, I do not often pay great attention to the servants or the like.” He gave her a rueful smile. “Mayhap I should do so in the future.”
“If you are to be poisoned in a brandy glass, then yes, I should think you ought to,” Lady Juliet replied with a small smile, glancing up in his direction. “Perhaps we should go to the music room? He might be there?”
Duncan suddenly caught his breath, his eyes catching sight of one particular footman. A footman that was, he noticed, now quickly making his way from the room, glancing behind him in Duncan’s direction.
“There,” he said, keeping his voice low although he did not miss Lady Juliet’s swift intake of breath. “I believe that is he. Come now, Lady Juliet. We must catch him.”
7
Juliet stumbled after Lord Strickland, her hand tight on his arm. She had feared that Lord Strickland would be unable to identify the correct footman but now, it seemed, he had recognized him. Lord Strickland walked quickly, making his way through the guests without hesitation and, no doubt, gaining attention from some of them. She did not allow herself to be embarrassed by this, however, making certain to do just as he asked her, her heart pounding furiously as they followed the footman.
She had felt herself growing all the more anxious as she had slowly begun to realize the truth about Lord Strickland’s brandy. What would have occurred if he had drunk the full glass, she was not at all sure, although she had begun to question whether it was merely injury that the as yet unknown lady now sought for Lord Strickland.
“There, he has gone away from the library and is making his way through the house,” Lord Strickland said hoarsely as the footman’s strides quickened all the more. “Lady Juliet, I should leave you and—”
“Mrs. Grey remains behind us,” she said hastily, not wanting him to even consider for a moment for fear that he would take his eyes from the footman. “Please, Lord Strickland, we must hurry. Go after him. We will come after you.”
This appeared to make all the difference for Lord Strickland did not so much as glance behind him to make certain Mrs. Grey was following. Rather, he simply let go of her arm but continued to stride after the footman, making his way past the drawing room and hurrying down the hallway. Juliet went after him without hesitation, Mrs. Grey joining her now, as Lord Strickland shouted aloud in an attempt to stop the footman from hurrying away.
“You there! Stop!”
The footman turned his head and looked back at Lord Strickland, his eyes widening with fear. He stared for a moment, making Juliet wonder if he would remain where he was as Lord Strickland had asked—only for him to turn on his heel and break into a run. Lord Strickland did so also, hurrying after him and leaving Juliet and Mrs. Grey to catch up. Juliet’s heart began to burn as they rushed forward, knowing what would occur should the footman disappear below stairs. They would lose him for good, unable to simply make their way to the servants’ quarters and demand to see all the footmen present.
The footman disappeared through a door and Lord Strickland went after him, only a moment or two behind.
“There!” Mrs. Grey exclaimed, hearing a loud shout. “He has him now, I am sure.”
Juliet did not reply, her heart still pounding furiously as they hurried in through the door, only to see Lord Strickland standing in front of the footman, who now appeared to be utterly terrified of the consequences that Lord Strickland might bring. There was a small fire in the grate, candles lit on almost every surface and a few small tables set about the room. It took Juliet a moment to realize that they had entered a small parlor which, she presumed, had been prepared for any of Lord Courthaven’s guests who wished to play cards. Perhaps some gentlemen would do so later in the evening.
“It was you who gave me that brandy, was it not?”
Lord Strickland’s voice spread out across the room, shattering the silence and making the footman step back from him, his hands held up in a defensive gesture.
“There is no need to deny it,” Lord Strickland continued, his voice hard. “You did not expect me to be able to come after you in such a fashion, I presume, given that I was meant to be in so much pain that I would either be already on my way to my own townhouse, or unconscious from it all, is that not so?”
The footman’s eyes were huge, his face as pale as milk as he took another step back, his eyes drifting to something to his right. Juliet frowned hard, noticing at once that there was another door there. Clearing her throat, she caught Lord Strickland’s attention and gestured toward it.
“And there is no need to attempt to escape from me again,” Lord Strickland continued, making his way to the second door and leaving Juliet and Mrs. Grey to stand in front of the first. “I will have the truth from you, in any way I can.”
“You may as well speak it,” Juliet told the footman quietly. “There will be consequences piled upon your head if you do not.”
“That is what he said,” the footman groaned, seeming now to shrink before them as his way of escape was quickly cut off by Lord Strickland. “If I did not, then I would have my employment here brought to a swift end. I wouldn’t get any references. I need my position here, my lord.” His eyes flew to Lord Strickland, as though he might understand. “What else was I to do?”
Juliet saw Lord Strickland frown, feeling her stomach twist furiously within her.
“Then it was not a lady, as we thought,” Mrs. Grey said quietly, and Juliet nodded.
“It must have been the gentleman I heard speak,” she said, reminding her companion of who she had overheard in the bookshop that day. “As you might recall, I spoke of two that were present.”
“What did this fellow look like?” Lord Strickland demanded, his tone giving no leeway for the footman to avoid the question. “When did he approach you?”
The footman dropped his head. “I will lose everything I have here if I tell you,” he said hoarsely. “I have done as he asked but if I speak of it—”
“If you do not speak of it, then it will be all the worse for you,” Lord Strickland interrupted harshly. “You may have caused me a great deal of agony by your actions and, whilst you were threatened into doing such a thing, you are still responsible. I must know.”
Juliet held her breath, her fingers pressing together in front of her as she watched the footman lower his head, his shoulders slumping.
“The servants’ entrance is at the back of the townhouse, as you would expect,” he said, speaking in a dull voice as though he had given up and lost all hope. “I was making my way back inside when a fellow stepped out of the shadows and grasped my arm. I didn’t know what was happening, until I felt the tip of a knife at my throat.”
A chill ran over Juliet’s frame as she heard Mrs. Grey catch her breath. It seemed that the people responsible for this attack on Lord Strickland were ruthless and determined, ready to do whatever was necessary to gain what they required.
“He told me that I was to watch for you, Lord Strickland,” he said heavily. “That I was to put a vial into your brandy. That is all I know. I have been keeping a close watch on you since the moment you arrived, fearful of what I must do and yet knowing there was no other choice for me but to do it.”
Lord Strickland laughed harshly. “You mean to say that you did not know anything about what the vial contained?” he asked, as though he could hardly believe what was being said. “That you were unaware of the consequences?”
“I did not!” The footman lifted his head and turned to face Lord Strickland, his voice holding more determination than before. “I swear to you I did not. But the man threatened me with such violence and with the loss of my employ that I had no other choice. If I am thrown from this house without reference, then what future is there for me?” His voice broke and, despite herself, Juliet felt a swell of sympathy pulling through her heart. “I had hoped to become a butler one day. But if I did not obey, then even my position as footman would be taken from me.”
