by Laura Landon
“Have you heard about the bill they’re considering in the House?”
“What bill? And what does that have to do with me?”
“It’s the Harbinger Bill. It will provide funds to support several hospitals for our soldiers who returned injured after the war.” Alex didn’t shift his gaze but remained focused on Gilchrist. “I’m sure you are one of the many sponsoring the bill, considering how much you owe the Marquess of Harbinger’s family.”
Gilchrist took a staggering step to the side, then righted himself. “You bloody bastard.”
Alex stepped around the wing chair. “Before I’m finished with you, you will be ruined. And so will the Duke of Balsam.”
Alex took a threatening step toward Belle’s father. He glared at the man who’d made Belle’s life so miserable that she’d attempted to flee to Scotland.
“Get out of my house,” Alex growled. “And stay away from your daughters. If I see you anywhere near either of them, the whole world will know what you did.”
The Earl of Gilchrist glared at Alex for several moments, then turned and walked toward the door Channing held open for him. When he reached the threshold he stopped and turned. “You’re a dead man, Halverston. A dead man.”
Alex stood rooted to the floor. Not one tiny muscle could be allowed to twitch. Not even the smallest flicker in the corner of his eye could be allowed to give away the women’s hiding place. It took every ounce of resistance not to race to the grotto and lay eyes on Belle and her sister, to know without a doubt that they were safe. To stand before their hiding place and guard them with his life. They’d had only seconds to escape to the boxwood hideout. Mere seconds. But he would not bring them out into the light until he could be sure Gilchrist was good and gone.
He could hear angry boot heels crossing the foyer. Alex forced himself to breath. Only when he heard the horses leaving the carriage gate and Channing returned with a nod that all was clear was he able to move. He walked to the sideboard and poured two fingers of brandy in a glass. Then he threw the burning liquor to the back of his throat.
“What a pleasant fellow,” Barnaby said, entering the room from a side door. He walked to where Alex stood and filled a glass with brandy for himself, then added another splash into Alex’s empty glass. “I do hope he visits often.”
Alex rolled his eyes, then gave his brother a condescending glare before he turned toward the glass-paned doors that led to the garden. But Barnaby shot out a hand to grip him by the forearm.
“Not yet, brother.”
Alex hesitated.
“Not yet,” Barnaby repeated. “Ten minutes of casual banter, Alex. Then you can bring the ladies back in. Gilchrist may have left a scout to watch you rush to the girls’ location. Best to give him nothing to report.”
Barnaby waited for Alex to sit, then he sank into the chair facing his brother. “Take care, Alex. Gilchrist is dangerous.”
Alex took a sip of his brandy. Barnaby wasn’t telling him anything he didn’t know. The man was a cold-blooded murderer. That thought alone was going to make the next ten minutes excruciating. “Have you discovered where Partmoore might be?”
Barnaby shook his head. “Sam’s checking out a lead, but nothing yet.”
“We have to find him. If Lady Vanessa cares for him as much as Belle says she does, she’ll do whatever she has to do to save him. We have to eliminate every advantage Gilchrist has before we can expose him or Balsam.”
Barnaby finished his drink, then rose. “I’ll check with the major and see if he uncovered anything.” He leaned toward Alex with one final caution. “Ten minutes, brother. Even if it starts to rain.”
Alex watched Barnaby until he was gone. With any luck he could rescue Belle and her sister before the sky opened up and they got soaked. If he survived the next ten minutes of waiting.
He fought the heavy lump in the pit of his stomach. He feared that Lady Vanessa would sacrifice her life for Partmoore’s unless they found him in time, but he knew for certain that Belle wouldn’t allow her sister to marry a monster like Balsam even if they didn’t.
She would sacrifice her own life to save her sister’s.
. . .
Alex lay in bed and stared at the moonlight that streamed through the open window. A slight breeze buffeted the leaf-heavy branches, and their movement created shadowy silhouettes along the ceiling. He was waiting for Belle to come. Hoping she would. Fearful that perhaps she wouldn’t.
She and her sister had been visibly shaken when he’d gone for them after their father left. As long as their father didn’t know where they were, they could pretend that perhaps he never would, and that they were safe. Now they knew they weren’t. Not completely.
He held his breath and listened for the soft whisper of her slippers on the thick carpet down the hall. The relief that settled over him when he heard her approach brought a smile to his lips.
He couldn’t wait to see her. To hold her in his arms. To keep her close to him.
The door opened, and she slipped in as silently as a diaphanous vision.
“I was afraid you wouldn’t come,” he whispered, then held his arms out to welcome her.
She slipped out of her robe and lay beside him. “Vanessa was upset. I couldn’t leave until she fell asleep.”
He gathered her close to him and wrapped her in his arms.
“Are you going to tell me what Father said?” she asked as she snuggled against him.
“You can imagine what he had to say,” Alex answered. “He demanded I hand you and your sister over to him, and I said no.”
She lifted her head and looked up at him. “You want me to believe he simply accepted your refusal and left? Don’t take me for a fool, Alex. I know my father. I know he’s guilty of murder. I doubt he accepted your words and walked away without making some threats.”
Alex wrapped his arms around her and brought her back against him. “His threats mean nothing. You won’t have to go back to him ever again. And neither will your sister.”
“Don’t underestimate him, Alex. He’s dangerous.”
“It’s time we forgot about your father. I only want to concentrate on you.”
Alex brought his mouth down over hers and kissed her, then did just what he intended to do. He concentrated on every inch of her.
Chapter 24
The mood in the receiving room of Lord Halverston’s town house where they sat was somber. The ball to announce Lady Vanessa’s betrothal to the Duke of Balsam should be well into the first set by now. Instead, the bride-to-be was sitting beside Belle on the sofa, looking as pale as the white china vase on the table beside her.
“What do you think Father is doing?” Vanessa asked.
Belle looked at her sister and smiled. “He’s more than likely taking out his anger and his fury on any of the staff who are foolish enough to get within yelling distance of him.”
“Oh, Isobel,” Vanessa said on the verge of tears. “How can you smile at such a thought?”
“I’m not smiling because of what the staff has to endure but because of the embarrassment and humiliation Father is suffering.” Belle reached for her sister’s hand and squeezed her fingers. “Don’t you find that humorous? This was to be the betrothal ball that would bind one of his daughters to the most vile, reprehensible man in London. And the bride was fortunate enough to escape the monster’s clutches.”
Vanessa shivered. “I wonder if Father was able to send out notices in time to tell the guests that he’d cancelled the ball,” Vanessa said.
“I wonder what excuse he gave for cancelling the ball,” Belle continued. “I doubt he’d want to admit to Society that both his daughters managed to evade his evil intents.”
“Oh,” Vanessa sighed as a faint smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “He does deserve to be humiliated. He was a terrible father, wasn’t he?”
The night their father shot Viscount Harbinger in cold blood remained as a stark reminder of how evil their father truly was. T
he lack of emotion in his voice when he gave the order to kill Lord Springton was further proof. “He was more than terrible, Vanessa.”
Isobel felt Vanessa stiffen beside her and turned her head to focus on her sister. “What, Vanessa?”
“What about His Grace? How do you think the Duke of Balsam reacted when he heard there would be no ball?”
Isobel was stunned at her sister’s question. “Do you care?”
“No.” Vanessa lowered her head. “I didn’t like him. He frightened me.” Vanessa lifted her chin and looked Isobel in the eyes. “I’m not sure I could have married him, Isobel. I can’t even tell you the ideas that entered my mind when I thought of ways to get out of marrying him.”
Isobel pulled her sister into her arms. “Don’t think that way, Vanessa. You’ll never have to marry His Grace.”
Isobel wanted to reassure her sister again that she was safe from the Duke of Balsam, but the door opened and Alex entered. Lady Claire and Major Bennett were with him. Isobel and Vanessa rose.
When Lady Claire and her husband were seated, Alex poured glasses of brandy for himself and the major, then sat on the sofa next to Isobel.
Having him near her caused her body to warm, and a sense of peace wrapped around her nervous heart. When he reached for her hand, she knew she could survive anything life threw at her.
“What did you find?” Isobel asked. Lady Claire and the major had been invited to the ball where Vanessa’s betrothal to the Duke of Balsam was to be announced and had promised to report on what happened.
“We were met at the door with word that the ball had been cancelled. Unfortunately, Lady Vanessa was ill.” Lady Claire turned her attention to Vanessa. “My, but you don’t appear as ill as we were informed you were. You seem to have made a miraculous recovery.”
“Yes,” Isobel answered for her sister. “Vanessa has always recovered remarkably fast from every illness.”
Isobel shared a smile with her sister.
Tea arrived, and Isobel poured cups for the ladies. “What do you suppose will happen now?” she asked, looking at Alex.
“I’m not sure. We’ll have to wait and see. We’ve hired men to watch your father’s house. We’ll know the moment he makes a move.”
“What about Lord Partmoore?” Vanessa asked. “Have you any clue where Father has him?”
The major shook his head. “Not yet. But we’re hopeful we’ll know something soon.”
Isobel placed her hand over her sister’s. “Don’t worry, Vanessa. Lord Barnaby and the major will find him.” Belle kept her fingers twined with Vanessa’s and turned her attention to Lady Claire. “Did you happen to see the Duke of Balsam? Was he there?”
Lady Claire shook her head. “If he was, we didn’t see him. Nor did we see your father. We were met at the door by the butler and not allowed to enter.”
“Don’t worry, Belle,” Alex said. “This will be over soon. You will reach your majority in only one week, and by then I’m certain we will have located Lord Partmoore. Once we have him back, we’ll make sure your father never controls either of you again.”
“How are you going to do that?” Vanessa asked.
Alex shared a look with the major, but a knock on the door prevented him from explaining what plans they’d made.
Channing entered the room. “My lord, this just arrived for you.”
“Who delivered it?” Alex said, taking the folded paper from the silver salver the butler held out.
“I didn’t recognize the lad, my lord.”
Everyone remained focused on the Marquess of Halverston while he read the message. When he finished, he rose to his feet.
“Have my mount brought round, Channing.”
“Yes, my lord,” the butler said, then left the room.
The major rose and took the paper Alex handed to him. “What is it, Halverston?”
“It’s from Barnaby.”
“At this hour?” Lady Claire asked.
“Yes, he’s found something. He asked me to meet him.”
Isobel recognized the anticipation on Vanessa’s face. “Do you think he’s discovered something about Lord Partmoore?” Isobel asked, knowing Vanessa was dying to ask.
“I don’t know. We can only hope.”
“Are you sure it’s from your brother?” the major asked.
Alex nodded. “He said to meet him at the Keg o’ Ale. It’s a place he frequents regularly. If he’s discovered something, hopefully it means that this will be over all the sooner.”
“I’ll go with you,” the major said.
“No,” Alex argued. “You need to stay here. We can’t leave the ladies unguarded.”
Major Bennett nodded. “Don’t go unarmed then,” the major warned.
Alex agreed, then turned back to Isobel and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Don’t worry, Belle. I’ll be back soon. Perhaps with good news.”
Isobel followed him with her gaze as he left the room, then she walked to the window and watched him mount his horse and ride into the darkness.
“Do you think Lord Barnaby has found Lord Partmoore?” Vanessa asked coming up beside her.
Isobel wrapped her arm around her sister’s waist. “We can only hope he has.” She gave her sister another hug. “We’ll find out as soon as Lord Halverston returns.”
. . .
Isobel didn’t think it was possible for the time to pass so slowly. Every time she looked at the clock on the mantel, she swore it was no longer working, for it had barely moved.
Lady Claire was doing her best to keep the conversation going, but Isobel couldn’t concentrate on anything Lady Claire was saying. All she could think of was Alex.
What if his brother had found Lord Partmoore and they were attempting to free him? What if Alex was in danger? What if something happened to him?
She knew it was foolish of her to worry, but she couldn’t help it. Obviously, neither could Major Bennett. Although he’d ordered all the doors and windows of Halverston locked and guarded, he still made the rounds of each floor, checking that all was secure.
Isobel had lost count of the number of times he entered the receiving room where they were. Each time, he walked to the French doors that led to the terrace to check that they were still secure behind their heavy drapery. Then, he checked the window that led to the street and stared into the darkness to watch for any sign that Lord Barnaby and Alex were in sight. When he was certain all was quiet, he let his gaze rest on his wife for a moment or two, then left the room to continue his watch.
An hour went by, then a second, and finally Belle heard a commotion at the front door. The major motioned for them to remain where they were, and he placed himself before the door. With his gun ready to fire, he threw open the door and stepped forward.
“What the hell,” a familiar voice bellowed.
Isobel breathed a sigh of relief. They were back. The voice was Lord Barnaby’s.
Alex’s younger brother entered the room and glared at the gun pointed in his direction. “What the hell is going on?”
Isobel rushed forward. She glanced at Lord Barnaby, then looked behind him to the empty space where Alex should be standing.
“Where’s Lord Halverston?” she asked.
A frown etched across Lord Barnaby’s forehead. “Alex? Isn’t he here?”
A swirling of fear churned in her stomach until she thought she might be ill.
The major walked to the desk where Alex had placed the note and brought it back. He handed it to Lord Barnaby.
“I didn’t write this.”
The floor shifted beneath Isobel’s feet. Thankfully, Vanessa and Lady Claire were close enough to steady her.
“How long ago did Alex get this?”
“A couple of hours.”
“Damn.” Lord Barnaby rushed to the door. “You stay here,” he said. “I’ll go after Alex.”
“Take some men with you,” the major added.
Lord Barnaby nodded, then left.
V
anessa and Lady Claire assured her that everything was going to be all right, but Isobel knew they were wrong. Nothing was going to be all right ever again.
She should have known her father would do whatever it took to win. Even murder.
. . .
Alex rode through the streets of Mayfair, then neared Covent Garden, where the Keg o’ Ale was located. Why Barnaby enjoyed coming here was beyond him. There were several pubs in better areas of London that served ale just as fine as the dark brew at the Keg o’ Ale, but Barnaby said he liked it here because the girls were prettier.
Alex smiled. His brother always did have an eye for a pretty lass. Alex would be glad when Barnaby found a suitable female and settled down. Maybe then he’d quit going on assignments for the government.
Alex didn’t like the dangerous assignments his brother undertook. Even though Barnaby assured him that now that the war was over the assignments weren’t all that dangerous, Alex knew that wasn’t always the truth. He knew his brother had risked his life on more than one occasion.
The Keg o’ Ale was within sight, and Alex pushed his mount toward the vibrant singing coming from the pub. He was anxious to see what Barnaby had discovered. Anxious to get back to Belle.
He was nearly there when he felt the first fiery stitch in his side. He reached inside his jacket, and his hand came out wet. Then, a second shot rang out and his arm went limp. He heard a third shot, and his whole body went numb.
He struggled to stay on his horse. Struggled to turn his mount around and make it back to his town house. But staying astride was impossible.
He lost his grip on the saddle and fell to the ground. He tried to keep from losing consciousness. Tried to keep Belle’s face in focus. Because he knew if he fell asleep, he’d never wake again.
But Belle’s face faded into darkness, and he knew no more.
Chapter 25
Isobel was too nervous to sit. She paced the room from one side to the other, stopping on each pass to look out the window for any sign that Alex was back.
