“We’ve agreed to stop meeting, until the murderer is caught.”
The constable nodded. He was frowning. “I may have to question Lady Eleonora.”
“It would be best to do so with her sister,” he suggested. He was concerned for Lady Eleonora. She was unstable, at best. “I’m worried about how she’s faring after the news of my father’s death. It seems that she’s been waiting for him to show up.”
The constable sighed, sadly. He shook his head, rubbing his chin with his meaty hand. “I knew there was something that I was missing,” he commented. “I should have realized that her accident was the same night.”
“When did you hear of it?” Elijah asked. He was trying to put everything together. Including why this connection had been missed.
“It was only in passing from the physician in town here,” he replied. “The family never reported it as a crime, so I never thought to connect it.”
“Well, why would they?” Elijah pointed out. “They didn’t know that her lover was dead. Only that she had been meeting someone when she had fallen from the horse.”
“On top of that,” the constable said. “I now need to discern whether Lady Eleonora’s accident was actually an accident at all.”
It was a whole convoluted mess. Two people who loved each other, but had kept it a secret—one murdered, the other horribly injured. Elijah hoped that he and Diana would be able to find their way out of their own secret meetings.
Soon. Lord Lutterhall’s reaction to his talk with Diana is going to force the issue, one way or another.
Elijah and the constable sat, drinking the tea and discussing plans for moving forward. He was there for nearly an hour. Once they were done, he returned home to his large, mostly-empty house.
The constable had kept the letters, as evidence. Without them, Elijah felt as though he had given up a link to his father. It had been a symbol, that his father’s final days had been blessed. He hadn’t realized how much of a comfort they had been until they were no longer in his possession.
Chapter 31
It had been several days since Diana had last seen Elijah. Without him, her life consisted of a lot of sitting and thinking. She had too much time, and no inclination for doing anything.
She knew that she should have gone out, perhaps to visit Lady Albany. Diana had been remiss in her usual schedule. A letter had arrived from her friend and neighbor. Diana had claimed to feel unwell, and had said that she would call when she was feeling up to it.
Diana spent most of her days with Eleonora. Both sisters were saddened by recent news and happenings. They both sat together in silence. Sometimes, Eleonora would share things that she remembered. Diana felt encouraged, that her sister was slowly working her way to remembering that night. She sat and listened, asking her questions to help her recall more.
She was relieved when it was announced that her father would be arriving home. She had been waiting for his return nervously. Her whole future hung in the balance. She was confident that he would listen, and be moved to change his mind. Diana went with Aunt Clarabelle to meet him in front of Lutterhall Manor.
The two ladies stood with the household, everyone lined up neatly. No one spoke. She could hear someone cough, and then another person shift their stance in the gravel. Diana stood, back straight, hands folded in front of her.
She was nervous for her father’s return. He had promised that they would talk about her future. She knew exactly what she wanted to say. Appealing toward his love for her mother, and how they had shared a happy marriage, she hoped to make him see that her feelings for Elijah were not unfounded.
Finally, the carriage turned down the drive. Everyone seemed to tense up, attempting to pass muster like a well-trained army. When his carriage stopped, a footman stepped forward to open the door for him. When her father climbed out, he looked happy.
“How was your trip, brother?” Aunt Clarabelle asked.
“It went very well. Better than expected. I have news,” he said, clearly pleased with himself. “Come. We’ll all go and sit down.”
They went inside, to the parlor. Her father poured himself a glass of brandy. Diana wondered what the good news could be. She suspected that it had something to do with the businesses that he funded. He finally came and sat down across from them, crossing his legs.
“While I was in London, I met with the Duke of Morrow,” he said. “He’s asked me for my permission to marry you. I’ve accepted on your behalf.”
Diana stared at him. She felt cold all over. And sick to her stomach. It was like a door had been slammed shut in her face.
“You can’t do this to me,” she mumbled, still completely unable to believe what she was hearing.
“I am securing your future.” He raised an eyebrow. His smile foundered. This was not the reaction that he had expected. “The two of you seemed to get along very well when he was here.”
Tears were forming in her eyes, blurring the sight of her father. “I thought that we were going to talk,” she said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. “I thought you would listen.” Her voice broke on the final word.
Betrayal. That’s what she felt.
“Yes, we were going to talk,” he replied. “But it was going to be about finding you a suitable husband.”
“I will never marry the Duke of Morrow,” she stated angrily. “There is only one gentleman who I could ever presume to marry.”
“I will never allow you to marry Lord Cambolton, and that’s final. I will not have you ruin your reputation so horribly.”
“I love him,” she stated, tears falling down her cheeks. “If you don’t see that, then you’re utterly blind.” Her hands were in fists at her sides.
Diana and her father stared at each other for a long moment. He was looking at her in concern. “I think that in time, you will come to love His Grace. You will look upon your marriage with joy.”
So that’s how he feels.
Diana stood up and then walked out of the room without another word. Her pulse was racing, her heartbeat thundering in her ears. She couldn’t do it. Marrying the Duke of Morrow made her skin crawl. She had reached the end of the rope. She was going to elope with Elijah. There was simply no other recourse. She wiped at her cheeks, then composed herself.
* * *
Elijah had finally called on Lord Forstall at his home. He had been his father’s closest friend. Elijah hadn’t seen him since the funeral. Lord Forstall had been away for the past few months.
“I spent some time in Scotland,” he was telling Elijah. “They have some of the best hunting I’ve ever done. I bagged the most magnificent buck.” He held out his arms open wide. “He was taller than I am.” He laughed. Lord Forstall was silver-haired, with pale hazel eyes. He had large bags underneath his eyes, and laugh lines carven deeply into his face.
“That is quite the accomplishment.”
They were both seated on the terrace outside, partaking some of Lord Forstall’s excellent stash of Bordeaux wines.
“How has the countryside been in my absence?” he asked Elijah.
“It’s been largely quiet,” he replied. “Though, I’ve been quite concerned of late.”
“Has the constable found any clues to your father’s murder?” The older gentleman frowned in concern.
Elijah felt struck by the word—so cold and brutal that it gave him the chills. But so true at the same time.
“No,” he said. “But I have.”
“Tell me,” Lord Forstall urged, leaning forward in his seat. “I will do anything to help you, of course. Nicholas was my dearest friend, ever since we were children. I still can’t believe that he’s gone.”
Elijah knew this. He had hoped that he would get help from Lord Forstall. If his father had confided in anyone, it most certainly would have been him.
“I’ve found out that he was meeting Lady Eleonora Dunkeld on the night of his death,” he said. “That very same night, she had an accident, out in the woods. I�
�ve come find that it was not quite as much of an accident that everyone has been led to believe.”
“Of course he knew Lady Eleonora,” Lord Forstall said. “They met at the ball that I threw here, during the autumn of the year ten. It was immediately clear that they cared deeply for one another.” Lord Forstall sighed. “I even threw a few gatherings, just so they would have an excuse to meet. They were madly in love, from almost the moment they met. They danced at the ball,” he said, his eyes going distant as he remembered.
“And everyone could see it. We were all talking about how it wouldn’t be long before they were at the altar. Elijah, I just want you to know—those last two years were good for him,” he said. “Nicholas was so happy.” He nodded, wiping his eyes. “He was starting over. Lady Eleonora gave him a new reason to have hope again, after—after your mother was taken from him.”
“My Lord,” Elijah began, his heart beating like a caught bird. He felt very close to all of the answers that he had been looking for. “Do you know why they never formally courted?”
He frowned. “Your father was cagey on that front, to be honest. Something happened, to prevent them. They never went to her family at all. He had that falling out with Lord Lutterhall, years ago. He probably would have been rejected before he even set foot in the door.”
“He did?” Elijah’s ears perked up. This was, perhaps, what Lord Lutterhall had against Elijah. It was the falling out with his father. He hadn’t known that there was a history there. No one had brought it to his attention. Not even Lord Lutterhall himself.
“The ton is always talking. I’m not entirely sure if it’s true or not. I’m inclined to doubt it. They say that Lord Lutterhall’s business dealings have not always been above board, so to speak. He has quite the reputation of his own.”
“Do you think Lord Lutterhall might have done it? Killed my father?” The thought sickened him, for that would mean that Diana might be in danger. Lady Eleonora, too. His mouth had gone dry.
“Him? No. He’s harmless,” Lord Forstall said with certainty. “He doesn’t even hunt. Can’t stand the sight of blood.” Lord Forstall sighed. “Not to mention, I doubt he would have done such a devastating injury to his daughter. He could never have hurt Lady Eleonora.” He shook his head. “His daughters have always been most precious to him.”
“Surely, my father would have told you why they couldn’t openly court each other,” Elijah pressed. There had to be something.
“I wish that I could help you,” Lord Forstall said, his eyes filling with tears. “I wish that I could have helped your father. He was such a good friend to me. I feel like I failed him. And poor Lady Eleonora. Her heart must be utterly broken.”
Elijah nodded, smiling, though it came out as more of a grimace. He felt overwhelmed. Whoever had killed his father was hiding in plain sight. He or she was going about day to day, the weight of his death on their soul. Yet, they were able to smile. They were able to pretend that they were as innocent as the next person.
Instead of giving Elijah answers, Lord Forstall had only given him more questions.
* * *
Diana walked directly to her room. She walked with confidence. The time had come for her to elope with Elijah. She had been waiting for the sign, which told her that it was the right thing to do. This had been it. Her father had made it so that she had no other choice. She had thought that he was different. She was deeply disappointed in him.
I had always thought that I was going to be able to convince him. As it turns out, it’s not possible.
Tears fell from her eyes, slipping down her cheeks. She loved her father. She hated that she had to destroy her relationship with him in order to be happy.
Quickly, she wiped away her tears, closing her bedroom door after her. Walking over to her armoire, she pulled out a cloth bag, then grabbed several gowns down.
Her heart was thundering in her ears as she packed her things. Elijah had promised that the day she was ready, he would take her to Warwickshire. It was that very day. She focused on that. By sundown, she would be married to Elijah. That night, she would fall asleep in his arms. The thought comforted her.
The door opened and she whirled around, panicking. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that it was Mary.
“My Lady? What’s happening?” she asked.
“Close the door,” she ordered and then went back to packing. She stuffed in a cream and blue-striped muslin. It would suit as a wedding gown in the absence of anything better.
Mary did as she was told, then waited quietly. Diana knew that she needed to explain. She glanced at her jewelry box. There was no reason to bring it. Elijah had more than enough money. She opened it, pulling out the heart-shaped locket, which had once been her mother’s. She put it on.
“I need you to cover for me,” she said, stuffing another gown in the bag. She could only take what was necessary, enough to wear to get to Elijah’s friend’s estate in the north.
“Very well, My Lady.” Mary stood, her hands folded in front of her.
“I’m not going to tell you where I’m going. It’s for the best, I think.” Diana wanted to protect Mary. She had the worst feeling that something awful had happened to Sarah.
I couldn’t protect her, but at least Mary will be fine.
“Are you coming back, My Lady?”
She paused, going to her. She had become very fond of her lady’s maid. “No, Mary. I’m not.”
She nodded. “I’m going to miss you, My Lady.”
“Thank you. For all your help,” Diana said. “I’m sure that they’ll reassign you to Lady Eleonora. She seems to be feeling better these days.”
Diana teared up at the thought of never seeing her sister again. She wished that there was time for her to say goodbye. There wasn’t. She needed to leave, immediately. She planned to be long gone by the time that her father or aunt came looking for her. After she had stormed out, one of them would come to see how she was doing. Most likely, her aunt. Though, she would give Diana time to compose herself before coming for a motherly chat.
“Will you be all right, My Lady?” Mary asked.
Diana looked at her. She wasn’t all right. Not at all. She was devastated by the turn of events. But in time, that would change. She would be with the gentleman that she loved. He would help her heal. “I will be, Mary.”
“Good luck, My Lady.”
“Thank you, Mary.” They both clasped hands. Diana felt a lump, in the back of her throat. She swallowed it. This wasn’t the time to break down in tears. She needed to get moving.
She stepped quietly into the hallway, then moved as silently as she could, entering the servants’ hallway. She stood there, listening for a moment. She heard nothing, no one. She wasn’t yet in the clear. The groom didn’t know that she needed her horse. Not at this hour.
So far, so good. She burst into a run, heading for the stables. When she arrived there, she crossed to Delilah’s stall. No one stirred. She didn’t see the groom, or any of the stable boys. She bit her lip as she realized why.
The servants have their own supper now. They won’t be back for a while.
She was determined to be off. She had seen how a saddle and a bridle were put on, but had never done it herself.
How hard can it be?
She put down her bag, then went into the tack room, where she lifted her heavy side-saddle up and off of its rack. It weighed as much as a small child.
“Diana,” her father said, from behind her, causing her to freeze. “Where are you going?”
She turned slowly, the saddle tumbling out of her arms. It hit the ground with a loud thump. His face was twisted in anger. He grabbed her by the arm, twisting it painfully.
“No!” she yelled, pulling her arm out of his grasp.
“Are you going to him?” he demanded. He was leaning in, his breath hot on her cheek. Diana cringed. She had never felt so afraid of her father before.
“Yes, I am.” She glared at him defiantly, then
tried to pull her arm out of his grasp. He held on, his fingers tightening.
“I ended the courtship a week ago,” he growled. “I will never change my mind. I will never allow you to marry him.”
“That didn’t stop us from meeting,” she replied. “You can’t keep us apart. I love him, and I will never stop loving him. I will keep going back to him, as long as I draw breath.”
There was a cold smile crossing his face, his eyes were dark. He twisted her arm, forcing her to walk with him. She stumbled a little. When she tried to escape, he only gripped her harder.
Sinfully Bound To The Enigmatic Viscount (Steamy Historical Regency Romance) Page 22
