He released Elizabeth’s hand and took the steps two at a time. He followed Mr. Mason into Abigail’s room. The dark room held the stench of death. Will looked at Abigail’s gray face and was certain there was nothing the surgeon could do.
“What happened to her?” Will demanded.
“It is none of your concern.” Mr. Mason clutched his daughter’s hand.
Blood seeped from between her legs, soaking through the sheets. Elizabeth entered the room and gasped.
Abigail blinked her eyes open for a minute. She focused on Will. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I did this for you.”
After one last shuttering breath, she closed her eyes for good. Will stared at her still body wondering what she might have meant by her words.
Mr. Mason turned on him. “This is all your fault!” he screamed.
“What did you do to her?” Will demanded.
“She only wanted to be your wife. She made a deal with the devil just to be a duchess,” Mr. Mason ranted.
“What happened?”
Richard entered the room with a look of disgust. “She got what she deserved. They both did.”
Richard quickly explained the scheme Mr. Mason had planned in order for his daughter to become duchess. Caroline stood there, staring at the body.
“Richard, get out of London. Take your wife to your estate and do not let her out of your sight.” Will turned to Mr. Mason. “I am quite certain the constable will want some words with you.”
Unable to stand any more, Will escorted Elizabeth out of the house. Once in the carriage, the reality of what they had done sank in.
“Why?” he mumbled.
Elizabeth was there, holding him. “Do you remember I told you that some women would do anything to become duchess?”
Will nodded slowly, remembering her lessons.
“Abigail was one of them.”
Three weeks after Abigail’s death, Elizabeth became the Duchess of Kendal in a very private wedding. With only Will’s siblings and Elizabeth’s friends attending, they held the ceremony at the house.
“To the happy couple,” Lord Selby said, holding his glass of champagne.
Elizabeth sipped her champagne slowly. The nerves of the wedding had made her stomach a little off the past few days. Will reached over, grabbed her hand, and gave it a little kiss.
Finally, their lives were at peace. Richard did as Will suggested and left for the country house before Caroline could not travel. Mr. Mason, personally escorted to the docks by Somerton, left for New York.
“Your Grace, there is a Mr. Lewis here to see you. He said you would see him.”
“Thank you, Kenneth.”
Elizabeth looked over at her new husband with a smile. “Could your business not wait this morning, Will?”
Will pulled back her chair. “No. And you will meet him, too.”
“What is this about, Will?”
They walked together to the salon where Mr. Lewis awaited them. Elizabeth stopped at the doorway when she realized exactly why Will wanted her here. Mr. Lewis stood and bowed to them both.
“Your Graces.”
“Oh, my Lord,” Elizabeth whispered as she looked at the man. His red hair was streaked with gray but his green eyes sparkled.
“Mr. Lewis, I believe you have yet to meet your daughter, Elizabeth, Duchess of Kendal.”
Mr. Lewis stood there as if not knowing what to do.
Elizabeth turned to her husband. “How?”
Will smiled. “I truly appreciate Somerton’s talents.”
“I love you!”
Will hugged her and kissed her quickly on the lips. “I was hoping he could get here before the wedding but he was detained. Talk with your father. I will tell everyone why you left the breakfast.”
Elizabeth watched her husband leave them alone, and knew for certain, this time everything would be all right.
Epilogue
Anthony Somerton walked into Selby’s house quietly. While he had been invited to join the festivities, there was only one reason to be here. The cold November air had chilled him to the bone, but the house was warm and filled with people. He handed his greatcoat to the butler and walked into the room. After a journey that took him to France for five months, he was exhausted and done playing matchmaker.
Although, glancing around the room, he realized he’d done a good job. Avis held her daughter, Isabel, while Selby looked on. Jennette and Blackburn watched as Elizabeth held their son, Christian. Kendal gave his wife a quick peck on the cheek. Anthony wondered if they were keeping a little secret about a baby.
“Lord Somerton, welcome,” Avis said, coming to greet him. “It is a shame you could not make it to the church for the christening.”
“The roof might have fallen in if I should happen to set foot in a church,” he replied. “Your daughter is beautiful, just like her mother.”
With her father’s raven hair and blue eyes and her mother’s heart-shaped face, Isabel would grow up to be a beauty.
“Your charms don’t work on me,” Avis said with a grin. “Get some refreshments.”
Kendal and Elizabeth walked up to him before he could sneak away.
“Thank you again, Somerton,” Kendal said.
“And thank you for finding my father,” Elizabeth said quietly. “He is thoroughly enjoying his new life at the estate in Kendal.”
He kissed the new duchess’s hand. “You are very welcome.”
Pleasantries out of the way, he searched for the only reason for attending. Sophie arched a brow at him and then inclined her head toward the hall. He waited while she walked out of the room before joining her in Selby’s study.
“Welcome back, Anthony.”
“Enough, Sophie. I have waited an additional five months to get her name. I want it now.”
Sophie laughed softly. “Very well, I shall keep my promise. Her name is Anne Smith.”
Anthony waited for some sign of recognition, but her name was as common as she had been. Just an orange seller. “Do you know if she is still alive? It’s been ten years.”
“She is alive.”
Anthony frowned, seeing the way Sophie looked down when she answered. “What are you keeping from me?”
Sophie smiled and patted his cheek. “Why would I keep anything from you, my dearest brother? The woman you are searching for is in the room you just left.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christie Kelley was born and raised in upstate New York. As a child, she always had a vivid imagination, but never thought about writing. After receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, she worked for American Express, JPMorgan Bank, and Accenture Consulting. An avid romance reader, she finally turned to writing in January 2000. She sold her first book, Every Night I’m Yours, to Kensington Books, and has never looked back.
Christie lives in Maryland with her husband and two boys. You can visit her at www.christiekelley.com.
ZEBRA BOOKS are published by
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Copyright © 2010 by Christie Kelley
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
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ISBN: 978-1-4201-1800-1
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