The property stretched to the ocean. Getting to the lighthouse took nearly half an hour and he regretted immediately not sending a servant to tell Madison not to expect him.
He didn’t believe she’d think the worst of him. He had neither the intention nor inclination to be anywhere that she and his family were not. Leo could smell the coming rain.
Nick said, “It’s going to rain soon. Let’s hurry this up.”
They made it to the lighthouse, a white structure with brick crawling a third of the way up.
The light was on and inside, someone had thought to light the sconces on the walls. Nick led the way up the winding staircase, yet even before they made it up the first step, they heard what sounded like a grunt. The two shared a look and then they were up the racing upstairs.
The wind was heavy high up and carried the door open with a crash.
Oliver stood over a man who was chained to the railing.
When their brother stepped back, Leo recognized his face.
It was not the man Leo was prepared to see.
Instead of finding Mr. Gordon kneeling to the ground with his wrist shackled to the iron bar that circled the small space, he found Lord Berret.
The old man looked up once he saw Leo and Nick with relief. “Help me. Please. Your brother…” He shook his head. “I don’t know what’s wrong with him.” The man began to weep. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”
It was odd to see a man who Leo had only seen smile now crying. His lip was slit. His gray hair struck out this way and that.
Nick seemed just as disturbed as Leo felt. “Oliver, what’s going on?”
“He’s the leader of the Circle,” Oliver said.
Leo stiffened. He didn’t know Berret, but he wanted to tell his brother that he was wrong. He’d met Berret and nothing about the man had seemed vile in the least. He hadn’t even shot during the hunt. He’d only come to be social.
The word to describe him would be ‘jolly’ and surely, a man like that couldn’t have arranged all the murders Leo had heard about and witnessed.
Oliver looked calm, but Leo could see the rage burning in the way he held himself. He was tight and primed for a fight. But why fight Lord Berret?
“Are you sure?” Nick asked their brother.
Leo could say nothing. He backed away toward the door.
Oliver caught the movement and turned his eyes. “Where are you going? You’re a part of this. It was your letter from Judd that helped me realize the truth.” Oliver narrowed his eyes. “You’ve never backed away from a fight.” Then his eyes widened. “You think I’m going mad, don’t you? Like Father.”
Leo swallowed and again said nothing. Because his brother was right.
The feeling that came over him was much like he’d felt whenever he’d returned home and his father smiled. Nardo had both loved and hated Leo’s returns. On one hand, Leo was the son who seemed to understand him and didn’t hesitate in taking his father’s orders to hurt Oliver.
Yet, on the other hand, Leo’s willingness to stab Oliver showed just how weak his firstborn was.
The last time Leo had seen his father had been at this lighthouse. His father had asked him to slit Oliver’s throat. He didn’t want the ‘weak one’ carrying on his title.
But Leo had been the weak one for not stopping the madness. Yet how could he when he feared it so?
“Leo.” Nick grabbed his shoulder and shook him out of his thoughts. “Oliver isn’t Nardo.”
But I am, aren’t I? He looked at Oliver. “Why did you call us here? You don’t need us.”
“I always need my brothers,” Oliver said. “We’re family, and we shall end this together.” He held out the blade to Leo.
Leo felt a heavy sensation settle on his chest. It was disappointment. Of course, he’d choose Leo to stab a man who could be innocent. Leo had stabbed his brother, after all. Why not a stranger?
He was his father’s child. His father’s favorite. Nardo’s namesake.
Nick pushed the blade away. “Are you mad? We’re not killing Lord Berret.”
“Please!” the gentleman cried. “Don’t let him do this! I’m innocent.”
Oliver’s foot went flying and cracked the man across the jaw.
Berret’s head snapped back and then he went limp.
Leo’s heart stopped.
Nick gasped and ran over to the man. He placed his fingers on the man’s throat and frowned. “He’s still alive.” Then he looked at Oliver. “What has gotten into you?”
“Me? This man is responsible for everything!” Oliver shouted. “He tormented our father. He drove Nardo to hurt us, all for the sake of survival. He drove Leo away!”
Leo’s eyes widened. “I want to hear this evidence.”
“Only the best for our world.”
“What?” Nick asked.
Oliver repeated himself. “Only the best for our world. It is what Judd wrote in his letter.”
Leo thought and his eyes widened. “That’s the motto for the Order of the Good Fellows. You don’t think…”
“I looked at everything Father had ever written last night,” Oliver said. “I kept much of it. I have all his journals. He talked about circles, plural. Lord Berret says the Order goes back many generations, even before the founding of England.”
Nick crossed his arms. “And you think Berret is behind this? Are you mad?”
“He was listening at the door last night,” Oliver said. He turned to Leo. “While we were speaking with Rivers and Gordon, Berret was listening.”
“Why?” Leo asked.
“He was scared,” Oliver said.
“Of what?” Nick said.
“Of me.”
Leo turned and watched Gordon step through the door.
∫ ∫ ∫
6 1
* * *
There was a gun in Gordon’s hand. His eyes were on Berret.
“The Circle killed my father,” the officer said matter-of-factly. “Now, I’m seeing to their end.”
“You mean, Berret is a part of this?” Leo asked.
Gordon nodded. “He is the leader of the Good Fellows Brotherhood and The Circle.”
Leo was still finding is all very hard to believe, but he had to ask. “Did you kill Judd?”
“Lord Arland?” Gordon asked. Then he smiled cruelly. “No. I had Lord Anson’s father do it. Then I had another lord kill him and then another poison the ones who’d attended Mr. Cullen’s party. It was only right.”
“It was only right to turn friends against friends?” Nick asked.
Gordon shrugged. “Berret had my father killed. You men just started this hunt. I’ve been looking for the one in charge for years. It’s him. I spread word of the possibility of the murderer from Oxford being in the house. I followed him around today. He ran around the estate like a wild chicken, aware that he was about to meet his end.”
“How many others are connected?” Leo asked. “Do you plan to kill Oliver as well?”
“Every man who died had blood on their hands by even joining that brotherhood.” Gordon turned to Leo. “Once Berret is dead this all ends.”
“Anson? Hivers? Are they...?”
“Alive,” Gordon promised. “Matthew isn’t a member and Anson is new to the brotherhood. He won’t matter once Berret’s gone.”
“And you think we’re going to allow you to kill Lord Berret?” Nick asked.
“Why not? You all seem to want him dead just as much as I do.” He looked at Oliver. “I didn’t know where he’d disappeared to. I followed you here. Let me finish him. Let me avenge my father’s death.”
Oliver stared at the man and then stepped back.
Leo grabbed Berret’s shoulder. “No.”
Oliver looked surprised. “Is this not what you wanted?”
The question was a good one.
A few weeks ago… even a few days ago, Leo wasn’t sure he’d have stopped Mr. Gordon.
But now?
Gordon tried to make a move so Leo
kicked him in the back of the legs and took him down.
Nick moved to grab the man’s other shoulder.
And Oliver’s foot went flying again.
Nick cursed as Gordon’s limp body hit the ground. “Really, Oliver? Your foot is like being met with a brick wall.” He crouched down and felt Gordon’s throat. “He’s alive.” He glared up at Oliver.
And Leo crossed his arms.
Oliver looked outraged. “They’re both alive! I’m being merciful. Did you really expect less from me? I’m an assassin. I was just challenged on my own property.”
Leo let his anger go. “Well, keep being merciful because killing either of them wouldn’t be right,” Leo said. “We’re not murderers. We’re not Nardo. It doesn’t matter what my name is.” Leo took a breath. “Killing Berret will only make this family worse. If Berret is guilty, by killing him we’d be proving our father a success. We’d be seeing to his agenda.”
And Leo didn’t want to do that, not anymore.
“We should send him to the prison with the others,” Leo finished.
Nick smiled.
Oliver frowned and then tucked his blade away. “I only did this because I thought it would bring us closer. I thought this would finally get you to stay.”
Leo was struck once again by Oliver’s sentiment. He was truly wanted here.
“I love you, Oliver,” Leo told him. Then he looked at Nick. “I love you as well, yet for a long time I hated myself, because I thought I was him, but I’m not him. I also believed that eventually you’d both open your eyes and see the truth. I’m Nardo’s true heir, the heir to his cruelty.”
“You’re not.” Nick looked pained. “And we’d never hate you. Never.”
“Never,” Oliver chimed in. Then he looked toward the light and whispered, “We have to forgive him.”
“Who?” Nick asked.
Leo was expecting to hear his own name, but then Oliver surprised him.
“We have to forgive our father,” Oliver said. “Otherwise, there will always be hate between us and Leo will always think that one day we’ll hate him as well. We must let the pain and anger we feel for Nardo go. Truly and completely this time.” Oliver looked at Nick and then Leo. He sighed deeply.
Leo wanted to fight the idea but knew Oliver was right.
They had to let go.
And once Leo thought about it, he knew it was possible. “I forgive him.” He was done with Nardo.
He would no longer let pain and anger control him.
“I forgive him,” Nick said.
They looked at Oliver, w
ho frowned. “Can’t I just cut him a little?”
Berret groaned as he spoke. He frowned at the sight of the brothers. “What are… why am I…?” Then he looked down at Gordon and gasped. “Is he dead?” They looked at Oliver. “I confess! I confess to it all! I only bothered your father because I thought it fun for a time. I’ll give you any evidence you need, but please don’t kill me. I have money. I’ll run and I’ll never take another child against his or her will. I’ll stay away from children. I’ll stop killing.” He started to cry again. “It doesn’t even matter anymore. They’re gone. They’re all gone.”
His confessions turned Leo’s stomach but made him see Oliver had been right.
All along, Berret had been behind it all. Yet since Gordon had killed the order, only Berret remained.
“I kind of want him dead now,” Nick said.
So did Leo.
“No,” Oliver said. “We made a decision. We’re sticking with the one that offers us the most amount of peace. He’s going to jail.”
“Newgate?” Berret asked. “I can handle that. It will be hard living in such a cold and dark place, but it’s what I deserve.” He hung his head.
Leo finally saw past his mask.
“You’ll not be standing before a magistrate. We’re not fools. You likely have most of them paid off.”
Berret’s head snapped back up.
Nick smiled. ‘The prison you’re going to is one made especially for the rich and powerful, built by Lord Van Dero himself.”
“You’ll never see freedom again,” Oliver said.
Berret began to weep.
Thunder cut across the sky.
Oliver nudged Gordon with his foot, “Let’s chain this one up and leave them here.”
“We can’t leave him chained out here,” Leo said as he stared at the spot Lord Berret currently knelt. “You did reinforce that part of the railing, didn’t you? It’s where Father fell off.”
“I did,” Oliver looked over. Then a moment later, he said, “I love that woman.”
Both Leo and Nick knew who he meant.
Lady Serveck.
She’d killed their father. She’d had the railing loosened and then she’d pushed him.
For them.
She was a fighter, just like their wives. She’d come late into her grandchildren’s lives and had ended their physical torment.
Tonight, the men had ended the mental one. It had taken a great amount of love and sacrifice to get them to this point.
Leo took a deep breath of the thickening air. “Let’s get them back to the house.”
Berret wailed for the first part of the journey and only quieted down when Oliver volunteered to quiet him himself.
They had some of Van Dero’s soldiers hold Berret and Gordon in the basement. The duke would decide where they went next.
∫ ∫ ∫
6 2
* * *
Madison stood by Leo as Van Dero held another meeting.
The duke was captivating as he stood in front of those who’d assembled in the music room. Not only were Oliver’s guests present, but about two dozen others who’d apparently been living on the land for years, some hiding in a large cave on the property for a long as half a decade.
They were reunited with the friends who were present. There were tears of joy. These people had been hiding from Gregory and then from The Circle that seemed to have been tied with the old duke.
Now, they were free.
Van Dero’s wife Milly stood a few feet away from her husband. Her smile held deep admiration and affection toward her husband.
Van Dero’s hazel eyes held a shine of great joy as he looked around the room. “The war is over.”
There were great sighs from everyone. Smiles were shared and though Madison was new to everything, she felt her own sense of relief at knowing her sons and husband were safe.
Leo squeezed her hand and they shared a look before the duke began to speak again.
“For the last year and a half, many of us came together under the desire to make the world a better place. Commissioned by our beliefs and consciousness, we willingly gave up the comforts of Society to make a difference.
“We made promises to ourselves and to each other and tonight those promises were fulfilled, each of us having a hand in that effort.” He paused for a moment and then turned to the leader of the people who’d been the cave, an older gentleman named Lord Jolly. “No more will you hide in the shadows. My friends and I will escort you back to London. Society will make room for you once again.”
Jolly wept as he bowed to the duke.
Van Dero turned back to his leaders and advisors. “As we enter into a time of peace, let us not forget that there are other battles to be fought. Gregory is gone, but there are other villains who must be put down.”
Madison stiffened at his promise of death.
Milly cleared her throat.
Van Dero cleared his as well. “I mean… there are others who need to be… stopped.” He smirked and a few of the men chuckled. “We’ve grown since we started, in both number and mercy. I am thankful for each of you and hope I can count on you in the coming battles for justice.”
“So long as there remains unfairness and cruelty in England, you can count on me,” said a dark-haired gentleman that Madison had never met said. He lifted his hand in support.
Other calls
of the same rang out. Other hands went up. Their numbers grew.
The women lifted their hands as well.
Madison’s hand went up.
And then the door opened and a flood of people came in followed by another striking man with dark hair.
“Sir Husher,” Oliver called.
Sir Husher’s pale green eyes turned toward the marquess and then he walked in his direction. Sir Husher didn’t look happy, but the people who came in did. There were another two dozen men and women. Madison recognized some of them from Oxford and gasped.
“I thought they were dead,” she whispered. She remembered stories of disappearances, strange fires, and sudden illnesses.
“That was the point,” Leo said. “Gregory wanted them gone. My brother hid some here. A few others went to the mountains.” Leo looked around at the crowd.
Madison did as well and her eyes caught those of a woman she’d befriended years ago.
Annie Hurrell. Madison hadn’t thought about her in five years. Annie had come with her father, a prominent doctor, to Oxford many times. They’d formed a friendship at the youth assemblies.
“Go say hello to your friend,” Leo encouraged. “I’m going to go speak to my brother.”
Madison gave Leo’s hand one last squeeze before she crossed to Miss Annie Hurrell.
They embraced and wept.
Madison’s lips trembled. “I thought you…”
Annie nodded. Her blue eyes pooled with unshed tears. “Oh, Madison.” She clung to her desperately. “It’s so good to see a familiar face after everything.”
“What happened? The fire…”
“We hid.” Annie pulled her away into a corner of the room and frowned. “It’s been a long time. It’s so strange to be around so many people again and in such a fine house.” She looked around nervously and then at Madison. She gave her a smile. “How are you?”
Madison forced a smile. She was concerned for Annie. “Well. Where are your father and mother?”
Annie pressed her lips together and sighed. “Gone.” There was a touch of anger in her eyes. “My father wasn’t the man I thought he was. My father was looking for a cure for Gregory. He was purposefully hurting people and making them ill in order to find a solution.”
The Long Awaited Lord Page 30
