A Murderous Masquerade (Unrivalled Regency Book 2)

by Williams, Jackie

  Charlotte smiled at the offer.

  “Do you promise that I can ride everyday and you won’t tell me off for wearing breeches?”

  Anne gave her first real laugh in what felt like weeks. Her cheeks ached with the sensation.

  “I’ll let you fashion me some. I cannot bear a riding habit. So constricting!”

  Charlotte grinned back at her.

  “Yes, so I hear. Giles told me how he discovered your ‘natural’ seat on a horse. He was clearly very impressed.” Though it hurt to speak of him, she couldn’t help smiling at the memory of his tale.

  Anne blushed furiously.

  “We were out riding, Giles was being most proper as usual, but then he insisted on assisting me from my horse. The cheeky man put his hands everywhere he could without our friends noticing. I swear that I was on fire for a whole week afterwards.” She gulped at the thought that nothing so arousing would ever happen to her again. The thought of another man’s hands in contact with her body made her want to shudder uncontrollably.

  Callum drew the horses to a halt in front of the house and Craddock stepped down to help the ladies from the carriage.

  There was a commotion at the door as Geoffrey suddenly appeared. His face was ashen and his expression grim.

  “Charlotte, Anne, I...I, Oh God! I failed. I couldn’t do it and doctor Leven refused to help me in time,” he gasped out immediately. He couldn’t lift his eyes to meet theirs. His hands were shaking at his sides with the emotions that he tried to contain. He hated himself, hated the failure, and knew that he would hate the censure in the women’s expression, but he was knocked out of his self-criticism by Charlotte’s quick questions.

  “Where have you taken him? You did as I asked? Did you check that he had taken the medicine? I don’t want him to suffer any ill effects.”

  Geoffrey suddenly felt a little out of his depth. He couldn’t imagine how there could be any worse ill effects than being dead.

  Anne frowned at Charlotte.

  “What do you mean, child? What medicine was he supposed to take and how was it meant to help him? I can only thank you if you eased his suffering, but you should not have asked Geoffrey to participate in anything.”

  Charlotte snorted and stood right in front of Geoffrey.

  “So where is Doctor Michaels? Has he not arrived yet?”

  Anne took Charlotte’s arm as distress registered in Geoffrey’s eyes.

  “The doctor cannot make any difference now, Charlotte. We have to accept the fact that Giles is gone.”

  Charlotte wrenched her arm away from Anne as she registered the despair on Geoffrey’s face at last.

  “Where is doctor Michaels? I need to speak to him, I need...” She stopped as her family doctor stepped out onto the drive. His expression was grim and Charlotte let out a cry as she ran forwards.

  The doctor stepped in front of the door to bar her entrance.

  “I am sorry, my dear, but you knew that it was a gamble. I had no idea if it would work or even if the bottles were indeed the right ones. You must try not to distress yourself, he is at peace now.” His voice was gentle and soothing but Charlotte was past calming. She felt her heart thudding in her chest as she sidestepped the man and made for the front door.

  “You are lying. He is going to be fine. The medicine will work.”

  Anne stood by Geoffrey and looked up at him in confusion.

  “What does she mean? What medicine is she talking about?”

  The doctor took her arm and led her into the house. Geoffrey followed a few paces behind. He wanted to run from the place, but he had promised to remain with Anne until her claim on the property could be formally lodged. He listened intently to the doctor’s words as they followed Charlotte into the parlour.

  “Charlotte sent me word earlier on in the week. She explained that she needed her father’s old medicine cabinet. I had no idea what she wanted with it until I read that she wanted a sleeping draught and initially I was reluctant. Young ladies shouldn’t use such things, but she wrote again, urging me to return the cabinet and then to meet her here today. From what I gather, she must have assumed that the draught would send him to sleep so that he couldn’t be hung. Unfortunately it hasn’t worked like that.” He glanced over his shoulder at Geoffrey who had told the doctor the story on his arrival.

  “I didn’t catch him well enough. The drop, his weight...He slithered through my arms and I believe he was strangled.”

  Anne began to waver. He legs suddenly buckled beneath her and she sank into the doctor’s arms. Mrs. Downham appeared from a side room and quickly led the way upstairs. Anne’s maid bustled about and settled her mistress into the bed while doctor Michaels felt for a pulse.

  When Anne came around again Geoffrey left the room and made his way back down the stairs. He noted the threadbare carpet and the smell of damp that pervaded the air. The house was clearly in need of a lot of attention but that was hardly his concern at that moment.

  His feet felt like lead as he walked back towards the parlour. He could hear gentle sobs well before he reached the room but nothing prepared him for the sight that met his eyes.

  Charlotte was prostrate on the floor beside the mourning table on which her cousin lay inside his coffin. The open lid revealed Giles’ peaceful features and made him look as though he was in the deepest slumber. If one didn’t know that he had passed into the next world hours previously, one would have expected him to blink and open his eyes. As it was, the draft from the open window ruffled his hair, lending an awful sense of reality to the situation.

  Geoffrey squatted down beside Charlotte.

  “Please forgive me, I beg you...”

  Charlotte made no sound other than to sob more earnestly.

  Greatly daring, Geoffrey brushed a rough knuckle against her pale, damp cheek as he spoke quietly.

  “Charlotte...I tried, but he was a big man. I would have done anything I could. He was a dead weight and just slipped through my grasp. I pleaded with Leven for help and he did eventually, but it was already too late.”

  The sobbing had stopped, only to be replaced with a terrifying silence. The next thing he knew, a pair of ice-cold orbs drilled into his soul. Charlotte’s obvious sorrow was horrible to see but the accusatory glare that pierced his heart was more than he could bear. Not needing her to tell him that he had failed them all, he stood up quickly and strode from the room.

  He left the house and made his way around to the stable block. He had to remain on the premises but he did not need to be inside; any visitors could be seen from a distance. Callum was already dealing with the horses and Geoffrey came up beside the young man to help.

  “It’s been a bad business. We are all awful upset.” Callum’s shoulders dipped up and down deeply and Geoffrey sighed as he pulled the boy into a rough embrace.

  “We will all need to help the ladies get over the shock. They will be relying on you especially. You cannot let them down, Callum. Giles would expect you to see to them. He liked and trusted you to look after them.”

  Callum nodded and gave a handful of oats to Lightning who had appeared at his shoulder. The horse nudged him for more of the treat but Callum ignored him. He pointed towards the stable door.

  In the half-light, a man on a horse could be seen approaching the house.

  “He didn’t bloody well wait long! Thieving, lying, jumped up piece of...” his last words were drowned out by the sound of hooves on the cobbles as the Earl of Lavenham stepped down at the door and proceeded to march right on in to the house.

  Geoffrey followed him at a discreet distance. He wanted to know exactly what the man was up to before he interrupted him. His only concern was that Charlotte was alone downstairs however he recalled how she had dealt with Ellesworth, Latham and Rookwood and decided that young Charlotte was perfectly capable of fending off one old man. He stepped quietly behind the Earl as he made his way into the parlour.

  The Earl of Lavenham stared about the room. He knew th
at the Duke of Ormond’s groom had brought the body straight from the gallows and he was hopping mad about it. He had had to remain in Oakley after the hanging. Saying goodbye to all of his friends had taken a lot longer than he had expected. They all seemed to believe that he would be standing them a lavish lunch at the very least. It had been what felt like hours before he could come in search of the diamond.

  He had already searched Caithwell briefly. The harridan of a housekeeper had not believed his story that he was actually a relative and he’d had to recite part of his family tree before she would even grant him entrance. She had followed him so closely about the place, almost bumping into his rear several times when he said that he was searching for a particular item that the new Lord needed.

  When she had asked what this item might be so that she might be able to help him in his searches he had immediately aroused suspicions by suggesting that Charlotte had sent him to gather her valuables as she was in dire need of money for immediate expenditures. Mrs Downham had assured him in her most haughty manner that Lord Caithwell already had her interests at heart and had already set up an allowance that would more than cover her needs. She had been about to shoo him from the house when he had stated that he was going to be the next title holder so she had better get used to him taking what he liked or she would be out of a job.

  She had lowered her eyes and given the pretence of acquiescence but had also asked for a few days to settle her own mind over the affair and to write to Lord Caithwell asking his permission to let the Earl inside.

  Rather than cause an argument, Lavenham had agreed. A few more days wouldn’t matter and then he could search in earnest without the nosey old bag watching his every move.

  Now the house seemed deserted although he knew that the body of the previous Lord was lying in front of him. He moved forwards quietly and peered inside the coffin. Caithwell looked far too peaceful and still too handsome for his liking. The man could have at least had the grace to look ugly in death, but it seemed that even that wasn’t to be granted to him. Giles Denvers looked as handsome and dashing as ever in his well fitting suit and perfectly tied cravat about his neck.

  It suddenly occurred to the Earl that if there was a huge diamond, Denvers was more likely to carry it upon him than leave it hanging around for any old thief who chanced upon Caithwell in the dark. He stared down at the body again before he leaned over and went to slide his hand into Denver’s coat pocket.

  “Father? What are you doing here?”

  The Earl leapt into the air like a scalded cat as Anne appeared at the door. After catching his breath, he turned to face his daughter. He dragged his shoulders back and attempted to look fearsome but the affect was somewhat subdued as his frame still shook from the fright he had received.

  “I could ask you the same thing, daughter. You have no right to be here. You should be on your way to Lavenham to await me. I have big plans for you, my girl. Foxcombe will be there come the morning. He really would be good for you and he wouldn’t be too demanding.”

  Anne shuddered at the very thought.

  “Get out of my home. Leave now and don’t come back until you can prove ownership.”

  Lavenham gave a superior smile.

  “But I can do that already. I am the next heir after Denvers. His death has secured me the title and the estate.”

  Anne drew in a deep breath. Her father was not going to intimidate her now, especially when she knew that Geoffrey and doctor Michaels stood just outside the door.

  “Unfortunately for you, neither your new title or the estate can be declared yet. As Giles’ expectant wife, I have full ownership of the property and all its contents until my child is born. At that point, if the babe is a boy, your claim will be forfeit. Only if the child is a girl will you inherit. You have nearly eight months to wait before you can secure anything.”

  Her father’s startled gasp gave her some satisfaction before he began to laugh.

  “Don’t think that you can fool me. There has been no marriage and there is no child. Why, you were with that Chartris for over three years and there was no child. You are barren and clearly out of your mind.”

  Anne narrowed her eyes.

  “I am clearly far more sane than you.” She held out the marriage certificate for him to look over. “And as to the charge of being barren, perhaps you would like to speak to my doctor. He is within calling distance if you would like to clarify the situation.”

  Lavenham began to feel faint. He was running out of options. He heard himself groan in despair. He had been relying on finding the fabled diamond to clear all of his and Edward’s debts. What with Edward now apparently deceased, he was doubly accountable. He groaned again and then stopped dead as he realized that the groans were not only coming from him.

  He turned slowly as the moaning gained volume and stared at the coffin that sat behind him.

  His mouth fell open as the late Lord Caithwell suddenly sat up and stared at him with glassy eyes. The body’s arm lifted and pointed an accusatory finger at him. Lavenham’s breath left him and he heard a strange ringing in his ears as the dead man opened his mouth and spoke in croaking tones.

  “You! You are the one who killed me! I demand...” Whatever Giles’ possessed body demanded the Earl never discovered because a sudden shudder swept through the apparition and it spewed a load of very real, black vomit onto the Earls polished boots.

  Lavenham screamed and ran, his terrified yells echoing down the hall before disappearing into the night as he burst through Caithwell’s front door.

  Anne, Geoffrey and the doctor all stared open mouthed at Giles as if unsure that their eyes could believe what they were seeing. A few seconds later Charlotte burst into the room. She ignored the staring trio and launched herself at her cousin, who caught her in his arms and belched loudly before he kissed her on the top of her blonde curls.

  It was one of his strangest ever dreams. The whole thing had been bizarre from the moment he had begun to see visions after drinking Charlotte’s two phials of potion. He recalled that a big, belching bullfrog and a slithering snake had featured largely in the dream. The pigs had come later. Jenkins’ whole herd had appeared with his prize porker leading them.

  The pig’s wet nose had grunted something at the herd and then Giles was suddenly beneath the huge beast. He had attempted to fight the pig, but even though he felt as though he could have wrestled an elephant, the animal was too strong. While he had been rolling around with the pig, the snake had not been idle. It had been tightening its coils relentlessly around his neck as the huge pink pig, clamped its muddy trotters around his thighs. Its wet snout snorted somewhere above his head the crushing feeling in his chest made him realize that he was no match for the two animals together.

  The snake tightened its grip one more time and he knew that it was over. His breath became harder to catch and despite a sudden relief, darkness came only a few seconds later.

  It seemed that he had drifted off to sleep and had begun to dream of his beautiful Anne.

  She had been naked beneath him and he had surged into her, taking her deeply while watching her exquisite features as ecstasy swept over her. His fingertips had skimmed every inch of her skin. She felt as soft as a hot house peach and her body was just as juicy. It was as though they lay together for hours. He’d taken her so many times that his body felt weak from the exertions and as if it was one with hers. He couldn’t decide where her heat became his.

  He’d wanted more of her, wanted to taste every inch of her. One day wasn’t enough. His whole body craved her touch, her scent and he had been about to turn back towards her when the dream had suddenly changed and instead of his beautiful bride opening her arms and giving herself to him again, he was suddenly lying somewhere far too tight for comfort. His shoulders felt trapped and his back was killing him. He could hear voices coming from somewhere to his left and for an instant he thought he must be in heaven. An angel was speaking and it sounded just like his wife. He rel
axed back and listened, only to discover that it was no angel but really his wife attempting to fend off her pathetic father.

  He’d tried to move but it had seemed impossible. He heard Lavenham begin to groan and Giles groaned along with the man. Knowing that he could vocalize something somehow gave him some impetus and he suddenly found his shoulders free of the box. He sat up immediately and groaned even louder as his cramped back muscles protested at the sudden movement.

  Lavenham was blocking the view of his wife. He wanted to brush the man out of the way and he tried to push the man to the side, but something lurched in his innards and the contents of his stomach suddenly could not be contained. A vile, mushroom smelling liquid spewed from his mouth, but he didn’t care. He was alive and looking at the woman he loved and she was staring right back at him.

  He might have risen further from what suddenly registered as a coffin, if a whirlwind of blonde curls hadn’t thrown herself at him and knocked what little wind he had managed to drag inside his lungs, right back out again. It was all he could do to hold back another load of the black vomit.

  Instead, he let his eyes wander over the woman he loved while he dropped a kiss onto the head of the woman who he suspected had probably saved his life.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The ride had taken the Earl of Lavenham several days and his horse had become lame five miles from home. He dismounted and cursed the animal at the same time as he cursed his son.

  If the boy was dead then where was the body? He had set up such a hue and cry that it seemed that most of England knew that Lord Edward Ellesworth was missing. Someone would have seen him by now if he had been alive.

  As he plodded on beside his horse, his mind drifted back to the sight of Caithwell’s dead body rising, blue lipped and deathly pale from the coffin. He shuddered at the mere thought of it. The spectre was a sight that he never wanted to behold again. Whatever happened with his daughter and her bastard child, he swore that he would never put a toe inside Caithwell’s walls ever again. The house was cursed.