Secret Heiress

by Anne Herries

  ‘I am glad you came to me,’ the earl said when Daniel had finished telling his story. ‘I believe I know who killed your cousin—and, if you say someone took a shot at you, he may also be responsible for the attempt on your life.’

  ‘My agent has been making enquiries—but please tell me your ideas, sir. I know there was some talk of a farmer called Jackson, but I do not think it was he.’

  ‘Jackson had reason to hate my boy—the fool dishonoured his daughter—but there is another man, a gentleman of sorts. He lives in a rather run-down manor house a few miles from here, and I have reason to think Marcus may have been involved in some nefarious dealings with the rogue.’

  ‘Uncle?’ Daniel was shocked—he had hoped to shield the earl from the unpalatable truth. ‘You think my cousin was involved in something not quite legal?’

  ‘I believe this Kettleton fellow may have been responsible for the disappearance of several girls in the neighbourhood,’ the earl said with a heavy sigh. ‘Recently, a girl who once worked here as a maid returned to her home in the village. She told a tale of having been tricked and then forced to live and work in a house of ill repute. She had tricked her captors and escaped, being sensible enough to return home and tell her story.’

  ‘Good grief! I have been warned about this man, Kettleton, and concluded that he was involved in some foul business.’ Daniel frowned as he saw his uncle’s expression. ‘I had suspected it, but had no proof. Tell me what you know, please.’

  ‘The girl’s father came to me with some tale of Marcus having promised the girl marriage, but when the girl went with him, believing he would keep his word, she was handed over to another man. She says his name is Sir Henry Kettleton, and that he took her to the house where she was forced to do unspeakable things. I asked the father for some proof, but there is only the girl’s word, which, of course Kettleton would deny.’

  ‘Naturally, the word of a baronet would be believed above hers,’ Daniel said. He took a turn around the room, as some things began to be clearer in his mind. ‘I employed an agent, who has been asking questions about my cousin’s death. I believe Kettleton was indeed behind the attempt on my life…’ Daniel was suddenly struck by a terrifying thought. ‘He could well be behind Eliza’s abduction. Damnation! If he has her…’ He could not put the awful thought into words.

  ‘He may use her as bait to trap you,’ the earl apologised. ‘I am sorry you were caught up in this miserable affair, Daniel.’

  ‘I chose to become involved,’ Daniel said. ‘Besides, this man is evil and must be stopped.’ His brow darkened. ‘He has gone too far. If anything has happened to Eliza I shall certainly see him hang.’ The thought of the woman he adored at the mercy of a man like that was unbearable. ‘I must find her.’

  ‘I cannot say where he would have taken her. Kitty Robinson says the whorehouse is in London, but Kettleton’s own place is not far from here—a matter of ten miles or so to the east of Standish Village.’

  ‘Then I shall go there and have it out with him.’ Daniel looked grim. ‘I intend to get to the bottom of this somehow.’

  ‘Take care, Daniel. If he killed Marcus he will not hesitate to kill you.’

  ‘I shall be on my guard, but I must allow him to live for long enough to tell me where he has hidden Eliza.’

  ‘We cannot be sure he has her.’

  ‘It is the only explanation. I was puzzled to the reason for her abduction. There were other factors but it all fits: the attempt on my life and then Eliza’s disappearance. I am sure it is all in order to prevent my learning the truth about Marcus’s death and exposing Kettleton.’

  ‘Yes, I dare say.’ The earl looked thoughtful. ‘You must take some of my men with you. Ted Wright has an interest in Eliza’s welfare—and my gamekeeper Jenkins is a good man with a gun. A couple of the grooms might be handy in a fight.’

  ‘Yes, they may come in useful,’ Daniel said. ‘I shall go tonight, sir. If I can get into the house under cover of darkness, I might have a chance of taking Kettleton off guard. The most important thing is to discover where he has taken Eliza.’

  If anything had happened to her…but it was a thought too far. He could not bear to think of anything happening to the girl he adored. To have her snatched from him after one perfect night together was too cruel. He would never rest until he found her.

  Clouds had obscured the moon and it was dark when Eliza felt the carriage slowing to a halt. She tensed, ready to make her escape the moment it stopped. Glancing out of the window, she could just make out the shape of a house at the end of a long, curving drive. The horses were going very slowly now and she decided to take a chance. Wrenching the door open before the carriage actually stopped, she jumped out, falling to the ground in a heap and rolling to the side of the drive. In another moment she was on her feet, running swiftly towards the trees to the right of the drive. She heard the shout from somewhere behind her, realising that her escape had been noticed.

  Eliza’s heart pounded as she heard the sounds of pursuit, but it was very dark and she believed that, if she could only reach the trees, she might avoid her captors.

  Fortune was with her as she entered the dense wood. Eliza’s mind was working furiously. If she blundered through the wood in a blind panic she might trip over unseen hazards and injure herself. It would be better to go more slowly, feeling her way and making as little noise as possible. She could hear the men shouting to one another. They were as much hampered by the dark as she was, and from somewhere quite close, she heard one of them say he was going to fetch a lantern.

  ‘If we don’t find her, he’ll have our hides,’ the other man said. ‘You must have left the rope too loose when you tied her.’

  ‘It was as much your responsibility as mine. Kettleton is a devil. He’ll shoot the pair of us if the girl escapes.’

  Eliza held her breath. They had obviously not seen her. She tried to remain absolutely still as one of them returned to the carriage to fetch the lantern and the other one walked past her. He was within feet of where she stood, her back to a tree. She waited until he had gone past, listening to the sounds of rustling.

  Then she saw a light moving through the trees. For a moment the bearer paused and then turned away from her, moving deeper into the trees. Eliza hesitated, considering what to do. The men obviously thought that she would have run deeper into the woods in a panic. By holding her nerve, she had gained the initiative. When she could no longer see the light or hear any sound, she walked towards the drive that led to the house. She would follow the road and see where it led her. Perhaps she could find help—a passing carriage—or another house where she could ask for assistance.

  Now that she felt less afraid of being recaptured, Eliza had begun to feel the soreness on her hip and thigh where she had landed hard when she jumped from the carriage. Her wrists were sore, too, because the ropes had been tight at the start and she had chafed her skin trying to loosen them. There was a little more light now, because the clouds had rolled away from the moon. She did not know exactly where she was, but had recognised some landmarks before the coach turned off the high road into country lanes, and she believed she was not too far from Norwich and her home. Her captors had thrown her reticule into the carriage with her, though she had no idea what had happened to the remainder of her belongings. Perhaps they were still with the coach. No matter, she had a few coins in her purse and would be able to pay for assistance to reach Betty’s home.

  She had been walking for no more than twenty minutes at most when she saw the carriage approaching. Stepping out into the road, she waved at the driver and he brought his horses to a halt.

  ‘Please, you must help me,’ she said. ‘I have been abducted, but I managed to escape from my captors. I am trying to reach my home…’

  The coachman did not reply, but a tall gentleman was getting down from the coach. He came towards her, looking at her oddly.

  ‘Are you in some trouble?’

  ‘My name is Eliz
a Bancroft and I was abducted from near Lady Sarah Manners’s home in Wiltshire. I was held captive for two days, but this evening I managed to escape. I need to get to the village of Standish Hope—could you help me, please?’

  ‘What a terrible experience for you, Miss Bancroft,’ the gentleman said. ‘I am sorry that you have been treated so ill. Have you any idea who abducted you or why?’

  ‘I do not know why,’ Eliza replied, feeling relieved that she had been found by such a respectable gentleman. ‘However, I believe it was on the orders of someone called…Mr Kettleton, I think.’

  ‘Wicked,’ the gentleman replied. He offered her his hand. ‘Please step inside my carriage, Miss Bancroft. My home is not far and my wife will look after you until we can arrange for you to be taken home.’

  ‘How kind you are.’ Eliza took his hand, accepting his help into the carriage. She smiled as he took the seat opposite. ‘I do not believe you gave your name?’

  ‘Did I not, Miss Bancroft?’ The gentleman smiled as the carriage moved on. ‘How remiss of me? My name is Sir Henry Kettleton, and I regret to tell you that I have no wife.’

  ‘You tricked me…’ Eliza gasped, feeling stunned. She flung herself at the door, but he grabbed her arm and threw her back against the seat. He took a pistol from his pocket and pointed it at her.

  ‘Are you going to kill me?’ A feeling of despair came over her as she realised that she had escaped his henchmen only to be recaptured by the man himself. ‘Why—why are you doing this?’

  ‘Because I have a score to settle with a certain gentleman,’ Kettleton said. ‘Seaton has been poking his nose into my affairs, and I mean to teach him a lesson. Unfortunately for you, you have seen too much—which means I shall have to make certain arrangements for you, though perhaps I may allow you to live.’

  Eliza swallowed hard. ‘If you meant to kill me, why did you not have your men do it when they captured me?’

  ‘You are quite right,’ Kettleton said and replaced the pistol. The carriage had gathered speed. ‘I shall not need this. If you jump now you will certainly suffer an unpleasant injury. Your death would be unnecessary. I have something far more interesting for you in mind. A pretty face like yours can be worth a deal of money. I shall probably sell you to the highest bidder, though I may sample your wares before I pass you on to certain of my friends.’

  ‘You are disgusting,’ Eliza said. She sat back in her seat again. ‘What do you intend to do to Lord Seaton?’

  ‘I shall send him a ransom note; when he comes looking, I shall kill him—or one of the rogues I employ will do it for me.’

  Eliza closed her eyes. How could she have been such a fool? Daniel would certainly come looking for her and then he would die. She would not give in so tamely, but it might be better to let her abductor believe she was too frightened to resist further. She took out a kerchief and began to weep noisily into it.

  ‘For goodness’ sake…’ Kettleton said testily. ‘Thank God we’re here.’

  The carriage was drawing to a close. He had his leg stuck out across the door, giving her no chance to give him the slip. When the door was opened from the outside, he jumped down and then ordered her to get out. Eliza took her time and then pretended to slip, falling into his arms. Her hand went to his pocket and she pulled out the pistol he had threatened her with earlier.

  ‘Put that down, you stupid little fool,’ Kettleton growled. ‘I’ll teach you to threaten me.’

  Eliza took a step backwards. ‘If you come near me, I shall shoot you,’ she warned. ‘Do not think I shall fear to do it, sir. I am quite indifferent to any harm you might sustain.’

  ‘Damn you…’ Kettle made a lunge at her, trying to grab the pistol. Eliza screamed and the pistol went off without her knowing quite how. She watched in horror as he fell back, a dark tide of crimson seeping from the hole in his chest. ‘You little bitch…’ He stared at her, then sank to his knees and fell forwards on to his face.

  Eliza was aware of his coachman and two others. They were all staring at her. She was terrified that one of them would shoot her, but they seemed stunned, and then she heard the sound of running feet and shouting. Suddenly about six men burst from the trees and came rushing towards her. There was some yelling as Kettleton’s rogues realised they were under attack and all three took flight.

  ‘Eliza…’ Daniel’s face looked misty as he moved towards her. ‘Are you all right? I heard the shot and feared…’

  ‘Daniel. I think I’ve killed him ‘ Eliza gave a little sob, took two steps towards him and fainted.

  Chapter Twelve

  Eliza woke to find herself lying in a soft comfortable bed in a room she had never seen before in her life. She sat up in alarm. Where was she? She had been abducted—twice—but then…a shudder took her as she recalled the terrible scene outside Sir Henry Kettleton’s house. He had threatened to kill Daniel and…she shivered as she remembered his plans for her and what had happened afterwards. She had taken his own pistol and shot him. Then Daniel had come.

  Eliza could not remember anything more. She thought she had fainted and the rest was hazy. Vague memories of being carried to a carriage and driven somewhere drifted though her mind, but it was all very faint, lost in mist. Her head was aching a little and she realised she had probably fainted because she had eaten hardly anything for days. She was about to try to get up when the bedroom door opened and someone entered carrying a tray. When she saw who it was, she gave a glad cry.

  ‘Betty,’ she said, ‘how glad I am to see you. Where am I?’

  ‘You are in the earl’s house,’ Betty said. ‘Lord Seaton brought you here early this morning and the doctor gave you something to make you sleep. He said to let you rest until noon and then bring a light nourishing lunch. There is soup and a little chicken with some fresh bread and butter if you should fancy it, my love?’

  ‘I am very hungry,’ Eliza said. ‘All those men gave me the whole time was one piece of bread and some water.’

  ‘The rogues!’ Betty looked angry. ‘The earl has them in prison now, my love—and their master will join them if he survives long enough. They are all for the hangman’s noose.’

  ‘I did not kill Sir Henry, then? I thought he was dead…all that blood…’ Eliza shivered. ‘It was horrid, Betty—but what else could I do? He said he was going to kill Lord Seaton and send me to a house of ill repute.’

  ‘He never was?’ Betty was shocked. ‘If I had heard him say it, I should have killed him myself.’ She set the tray on Eliza’s lap and smiled encouragingly as she began to eat her soup. ‘That’s right, my love. Lord Seaton has business with the magistrate for there has been more wicked things going on than we dreamed. He told me to say he would be back this evening and will visit you then.’

  ‘I shall get up when I’ve eaten,’ Eliza said. ‘If someone will bring me some hot water and some fresh clothes. I feel as if I have not washed for a month.’

  ‘The doctor advised you rest,’ Betty told her. ‘But I shall bring the water and some of your clothes that you left behind, and then you may get up if you feel able.’

  Eliza thanked her and Betty left her to have her meal in peace. The soup was delicious and restorative and the chicken was moist and tender. Eliza ate her fill and pushed the tray away just as Betty returned with the water, followed by a maid with some of the clothes she had left behind when she went to work for Lady Sarah.

  The thought of her mother brought the sting of tears to her eyes. Did she still think that Eliza was a liar and an impostor?

  There was no point in distressing herself. Eliza knew that she might have more to worry her than the accusation of being a thief. She had shot Sir Henry Kettleton as they struggled for the pistol. No one else had heard his threats to her—would she be believed when she told her story to the magistrate?

  Daniel would believe her. As yet, she did not understand how he had happened to be at Sir Henry’s estate last evening, but somehow he must have discovered what was going
on and come in search of her. Perhaps he had some proof that would reveal her abductor for the rogue he was?

  Daniel saw his uncle waiting for him as he entered the house. The earl beckoned him into a small parlour, looking anxious.

  ‘What news, Daniel? Is all settled?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’ Daniel looked grim. ‘It is not certain if Kettleton will live above a few days, but it may be as well if he does not. He will certainly be hung for his crimes. His rogues have confessed it all. You were right to suspect that Marcus was concerned in the affair, but not of his own free will. He owed Kettleton more than ten thousand pounds and was blackmailed into helping him entice a couple of young women to his house. He thought it would just be some sport for friends, but when he realised what was actually happening to the girls he refused to bring any more young women. Kettleton was furious and threatened him. It is fairly certain, though not proved, that he was behind my cousin’s murder.’

  ‘I need no further proof,’ the earl said and sighed heavily. ‘Marcus should have come to me if he could not meet his debts—but we shall not dwell on the past. I wish to thank you for all you have done.’

  ‘Jed Bailey and Molly have been found safe and well. They went off like that because they both knew too much and were afraid of Kettleton. I am sure they will return now that he is safely under lock and key.’

  ‘So all is settled.’ The earl was silent for a moment, then, ‘I understand you mean to marry Miss Bancroft?’

  ‘Yes, if she will still have me. I love her and I think we shall be happy together.’

  ‘I shall settle the estate at Peterborough on you, Daniel,’ the earl said. ‘It was your cousin’s and came to him through his mother’s family, though under a trust and at my direction until he was thirty. It is not entailed and therefore I may do with it as I wish, since it was to pass to me should anything happen to my son as my wife had no remaining family. I think you will not want to live there and you may sell it with my blessing. It is probably worth nearly twenty thousand pounds. Marcus spoke of raising a mortgage on it. I objected to his intention, refusing my permission, but had he told me why he needed the money I should have understood.’