“They were both on horses, blocking the road,” Jasper said, closing his eyes and picturing the scene. “One pointed a pistol at me. The other urged me to get down off of my horse, or they were going to kill me. I got down. As I did, I was able to pull my pistol. I used it to spook the horses. Then, I got back up onto Pilot and rode off.”
“What did they look like?” Stephen asked.
Jasper thought back to what had only just occurred. “Their faces were covered, except for their jaws, which were cleanly shaven. I—I didn’t recognize them.”
“What about what they wore?”
“It was fine clothing,” Jasper mused, taking a sip of his drink. “But given what they’ve stolen, they could have easily afforded nice clothing. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Did only one of them speak?” Stephen asked.
“Yes. He didn’t sound genteel. There was a definite roughness to his voice,” he explained. “I immediately thought that he wasn’t a gentleman.”
“Wait, Jasper—the other one never spoke? Tell me more about the one that didn’t speak,” Stephen said. He was drumming his fingers on the arm of the chair.
“He was seated on a horse, but I suppose he was about my height,” Jasper said. “That certainly doesn’t narrow down the search.”
“They’ve become quite bold, haven’t they?” Stephen remarked, leaning back in his seat. He was frowning thoughtfully.
“They have,” Jasper agreed. “The thing is, Stephen, the one, he said, ‘We want you dead, Your Grace,’ like they were looking for me, in particular. From what the others said, they weren’t specifically targeted. They were never referred to by name during their attacks.”
“They’re going after you,” Stephen said. “Why now, though? What’s changed?”
“Did they have a list, and now I’m next?” Jasper suggested.
“Or are you the one that they’ve always been after?” Stephen added.
“Good Lord,” Jasper uttered, his eyes widening. “What if you’re right?”
The horror dawned upon him. All of the victims, so far, were aristocratic. But with each robbery, murder, they got closer and closer to Jasper—his mother, his best friend, had both been targeted. What if they were trying to get him—trying to get him to make a mistake?
“Maybe nothing’s changed,” he remarked. “Maybe they were always trying to get to me.”
“Is there anyone who would want to get revenge on you?” Stephen asked.
Jasper thought back, over his life. “It started only just this spring,” he mused. As he thought, he couldn’t think of a single person he’d wronged. Not until recently. Lady Leah wouldn’t do such a thing. And Stephen had forgiven him.
* * *
Selina joined her Aunt and Uncle in the drawing-room, in the hopes that she had perhaps been forgiven, if only just a little bit. Thomas sat over by the window, reading a paper.
She crossed over to where Aunt Georgiana and Uncle Latimer were sitting, talking in low voices.
She curtsied. “Good morning, Aunt and Uncle.”
“Good morning, Selina,” Uncle Latimer said, smiling. Selina sat, relieved.
“The Duke was supposed to come and talk with Leah,” Aunt Georgiana told her. “He’s not shown up.”
“That’s unlike him,” Uncle Latimer said, frowning. “But he’s been doing quite a lot of things that aren’t like his usual self.”
Selina’s face felt hot as she blushed a deep shade of crimson. Nothing was forgiven, of course.
“Who’s to know what a gentleman is truly like,” Thomas mused, from across the room. “It’s only when the chips are down that a gentleman shows his worth.”
The door to the parlor opened. “Lord Sandbourne,” Mr. Wickes announced.
“My dear Lord Sandbourne,” Aunt Georgiana said. “What brings you here?”
“I’ve come in my friend’s stead,” he explained. “The Duke sends his regards and apologies. He was unable to come today, because on his way here, he was stopped and accosted by two masked men, who threatened to kill him.”
Horror, like a finger of ice on her spine, caused Selina to gasp.
“Is—is he all right?” she blurted out.
Lord Sandbourne smiled at her kindly. “Yes, My Lady,” he assured her. “He’s speaking with Colonel Fitz, as well as the Constable from Bridesdale. They’re trying to discern what to do next.” He pulled a letter from his pocket. “I was to deliver this for the Lady Leah.”
“I will take it to her, immediately,” Aunt Georgiana said, accepting it from Lord Sandbourne.
“I should inform the staff,” Uncle Latimer said. “I’ll need them to be on the lookout. Particularly if they’re targeting my daughter’s fiancé.”
“Of course, My Lord,” Lord Sandbourne said.
Once Aunt Georgiana and Uncle Latimer were gone, Lord Sandbourne pulled another letter from his pocket.
“I was told to give this to you,” he said.
Selina let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you. And he’s unhurt?”
“Just a little shaken,” Lord Sandbourne assured her. “There’s not even a scratch on him.”
Thomas stood up, walking over to them. “So, he means to move forward?”
“Of course he does,” Lord Sandbourne said. “He loves Lady Selina.”
Selina was reading the note. “He wants me to meet him today?”
“Yes. It would be safe—I will be nearby, as well as Lord Munro and Lord Windermere.”
“He didn’t fulfill my one request,” Thomas pointed out.
“Unfortunately, he was not able,” Lord Sandbourne said.
“I’m going to see him, Thomas,” Selina said. “You can either come or stay. It’s entirely up to you.”
“Selina—”
“No. I almost lost him today,” Selina snapped. “I’m going to meet him.”
Thomas nodded. “Very well, then. Let’s be on our way.”
* * *
Leah had waited. It was unbearable, sitting and chatting pleasantly with her parents and Cousin Thomas when she was waiting for news of the Duke’s untimely demise. She’d waited all morning.
The stress of it had made her stomach turn. She’d finally excused herself to go and be alone in her room, where she wouldn’t have to dissemble any longer.
She was seated on her window seat, and she saw the moment when Lord Sandbourne, accompanied by a group of red-coated soldiers from the regiment, arrived at Kirby Hall.
It was only a few moments before her mother came in, and Leah stood up, her pulse thundering in her ears. Her mother looked devastated, as though something bad had happened.
“Something’s happened?” Leah asked.
“I’m afraid it has, my dear,” she said, holding out a letter to her. Leah frowned when she saw that it was the Duke’s seal and hand.
She broke the seal and unfolded it, shock and rage filling her the more that she read.
Dear Lady Leah,
I apologize for not coming today to speak with you. I was on my way over, when I was accosted by two masked men who threatened to kill me. Unfortunately, I will be unable to come to speak with you today.
It’s my greatest shame that I will be unable to continue the engagement. I know that you feel that it is something that you wish for. For this, I am truly sorry. I will come and we will talk at length. However, I hope that you will find it in your heart to let me go—without having your father duel me. There’s no reason for him to risk his life. Not when I am doing this for the best. You deserve a husband who loves you. You deserve love.
I hope that this helps you to soften your heart. Please, please don’t be angry with your cousin. Everything that she did was in the name of love, and—
Without finishing it, Leah crumpled the letter up and threw it onto the fire without finishing. She watched it burn.
“Leah?” her mother asked. Leah turned to see that she had never left. She looked surprised.
Now, the tears fell
, unbidden. They were real, hot, and flowing down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Mother. I’m just so frightened.”
“Come here, Sweetling,” her mother said, holding open her arms. Leah went to her mother, letting herself be comforted. She sobbed.
She couldn’t believe that she had to wait—to suffer through a thousand indignities. She would get her revenge. He had promised her, then sealed that promise with a kiss. He wouldn’t fail her a second time.
* * *
Jasper and Reuben walked to the meeting place, together. The Colonel and his regiment were out in full force, looking for any sign of the individuals who had perpetrated such violence.
As they neared, he saw that Selina was walking toward them—she was in the company of her brother, her lady’s maid, and Stephen.
As soon as she saw him, she broke into a run. He met her halfway. She threw her arms around him, and he held her close. Her head tucked perfectly underneath his chin as he wrapped his arms around her slim figure. She was dressed in a pale-green muslin dress.
“I thought—I thought that something horrible had happened to you,” she said, turning her face up to him. Tears were spilling from her beautiful eyes. He wiped them away with his thumbs.
“I’m sorry that you were allowed to fear,” he said.
“Did you get a good look at them?” she asked.
“I did, but they were masked,” he explained. “There was nothing discerning visible.”
She nodded, frowning. “I’ll keep my eyes open for anyone suspicious.”
“I know you will, brave lady,” he said. She smiled at him, her eyes lighting up. He wanted to remember her, this way, loving him as much as he loved her.
He laced his fingers in with hers. “It’ll all be over, soon, I promise.”
“I know. I have faith in you.”
He beamed down at her. That she trusted he was able to do it meant everything. He himself wasn’t so sure.
* * *
Just seeing him made everything better. He looked entirely uninjured. Not even a scratch—that she could see.
She could feel her brother, Lord Sandbourne, and Lord Munro watching from over by the tree. They all gathered underneath it.
Jasper followed her gaze. “We should go talk to them,” he said.
She held Jasper’s hand—so warm and real in her own. It was like a blessing, to have him whole and solid beside her.
“What’s our plan?” Thomas demanded.
“If the two of you need to leave Kirby Hall, then you can come to Gillingham Manor,” Jasper said.
“Out of the question,” Thomas said. “The impropriety of it.”
“Uncle Latimer says that we’re not to leave Kirby Hall until things are settled,” Selina said flatly.
“I’m going to come to speak to Lady Leah on the morrow. This business needs to come to an end,” Jasper said raggedly.
Selina glanced over at him. The combination of Leah’s not letting go, coupled with the attack earlier in the day was wearing on him, and it was beginning to show. He had dark circles, pressed underneath his eyes.
“Whatever you decide to do, I’ll follow suit,” Selina promised.
“You can make no such promise,” Thomas said.
“I will and I am,” she replied, her obstinacy about to brook no debate with her brother. The two siblings stared at each other. Finally, Thomas rolled his eyes, sighing heavily.
“Fine,” he snapped, folding his arms. “If Father’s angry about it, then you’ll be the one to answer for it.”
“Of course,” Selina replied evenly. She was glad that he was finally letting her choose what happened. She turned to Jasper. “As soon as Uncle Latimer releases us, we’ll come.”
He nodded, smiling. Jasper spoke to Thomas. “I’ll have everything settled, I promise,” he said.
Thomas looked doubtful.
* * *
Leah was in her room when she received another letter from her Gentleman. It was delivered by Mr. Wickes.
She waited until the butler was gone, and then she tore it open, her eyes devouring the precious message.
My Lady,
The Duke will come to speak to you on the morrow. You are to arrange it so that you are both in the gardens. Take him to where we met, and then we will take it from there.
Regards
She threw the letter on the fire, watching the paper curl up and turn to ash. Now, she was going to be an active participant. Obviously, he needed her to play a part.
It would not fail with her assistance. She would make sure of it. She walked over toward her dressing table, sitting down, and looking at herself in the mirror.
When did I become so pale and bitter?
She looked the same as she had, before all of this began. She was still the same dark-haired beauty who had been engaged to the Duke.
Something dark had taken root within her. An inner strength and fortitude that she had never known existed inside of her. She was stronger than anyone had ever expected. She smiled to herself.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Jasper arrived at Kirby Hall the next day without incident. Lady Leah came down to the entranceway.
“I thought we could take a walk through the gardens,” she said. She was stiffly formal. Her lady’s maid trailed along behind them, like an ever-present ghost, always watching.
“Very well, My Lady,” he replied, bowing to her. He offered her his arm, and she perched her hand into the crook of his elbow. They both began to walk through Kirby Hall’s maze-like hedgerows, which were surrounded by lush floral displays. They were silent as they walked.
“My Lady,” he began. “I’m sorry for how things have fallen out. You should never have had to find out about it in the manner in which you did.”
“You’re right,” she said. “You shouldn’t have done it at all.”
“I should have told you what my feelings were,” he said. “I wanted to wait until things were less complicated. But instead, everything’s even more snarled than it was weeks ago.”
“All you have to do is give her up, Your Grace.”
“That’s the thing, Lady Leah—I cannot give her up. I’m in love with her, and I cannot go forward and marry you.”
She stared at him, coldly. “I had a feeling that it would come to this,” she said. “How dare you betray me like this?”
“I’m sorry,” he says. “I’m so sorry. But I cannot marry without love.”
“Love?” she mused, her lip curling.
“Yes, My Lady.”
“There’s no such thing, Your Grace.” Her stubborn refusal to believe in love baffled him entirely. How could someone be so blind to the reality of something that was, in his experience, so wonderful?
“Yes, there is,” he said. “I know that it exists. I hope that someday, you’ll find it, too. Because you deserve to be loved and cherished.”
“Like you do Selina.”
“Exactly.” He smiled at her. What she said next shocked him to the core.
“I hope that you learn what it feels like to be so cheated,” she replied, turning her face away from him.
“I’m so sorry,” he said because he was. He froze when he heard the metallic crack of a pistol being cocked, from behind them.
* * *
“We meet again, Your Grace,” a masculine voice said. The Duke turned. Leah watched his face as he looked at the three masked men who were now separating both of them from the safety of Kirby Hall.
One of them was holding Maria, one hand over her mouth—the other wrapped around her middle so that she couldn’t escape. Her face was pale with fright.
“Oh, Maria!” Leah gasped, playing her part. She gripped the Duke’s arm, pretending to be in terror.
In an attempt to protect Leah, the Duke stepped in between Leah and the three men. Leah watched. Suddenly, she realized that she was about to watch the Duke die. It was both terrifying and exciting as a prospect.
The Duke was not armed! He had left the
grooms who’d accompanied him back at Kirby Hall.
“Please,” the Duke begged, “let the lady and her maid go.”
“I don’t believe that we will,” the one man said. Leah knew that her Gentleman wouldn’t speak. She knew which one he was. He’d given her a little wink.
Sins 0f An Intoxicating Duchess (Steamy Historical Regency Romance) Page 26
