Death of a Duchess

by Nellie H. Steele

  The remark unsettled me, though I could not say why. I suppressed a shiver as I experienced the sensation of an icy hand running down my spine.

  “How kind,” I forced out before turning to speak with Edwin. As we turned, I gathered from the glance I shared with Robert, the conversations on the other side of the table were no better.

  “Good evening again, Edwin,” I said.

  “Good evening, dear sister-in-law,” Edwin slurred. “And how lovely you look this evening.”

  “Thank you,” I answered. “And how did you meet Susie?” I inquired.

  Edwin chuckled. “Wouldn’t you like to know,” he said, tapping my nose with his finger.

  I failed to find the response or gesture amusing, though I determined any follow up a poor idea. His avoidance of the question told me all I needed or desired, to know.

  “She seems… very keen on you,” I noted.

  “Oh, she is… very, very keen,” he rambled.

  I was spared any further discussion when the first course arrived. The conversation turned toward the weather, the upcoming spring bloom and countryside farming. As the second course was served, we suffered the misfortune of the candles on the table blowing out. Mr. Buchanan tried three times to relight them, though each time they were snuffed out by some unidentifiable draft.

  My stomach tightened as I wondered if the source may be otherworldly. We finished our meal with no further disturbances, and I felt the tension in my shoulders ease as I collected the ladies to return to the sitting room, allowing the men to discuss their business over cigars and brandy.

  We settled onto the sofa and loveseat. I offered a nervous smile at them as I considered a topic of conversation. Goldie beat me to it. “So, Duchess, how d’you snag yourself a Duke?”

  Shock showed plainly on my face, I am certain.

  “Don’t be shy,” Susie encouraged. “We want to hear all the good bits.”

  Goldie nodded in agreement. “And the naughty ones,” she added with a giggle.

  “Perhaps we could discuss something else,” I suggested. “Are either of you partial to flower shows?”

  “Oh, come now, Duchess,” Goldie replied. “Don’t want to give up your secrets, hey?”

  “I am afraid I have no secrets to give,” I responded.

  “Oh, hear that, Susie? She got no secrets to give. She don’t want to share how she landed herself a Duke.”

  I resigned myself to the fact that I would have to tell them something to end the conversation. “We were an arranged marriage,” I answered. “There is little more than that to tell. Now,” I retorted, “perhaps a game of cards?”

  I rose to retrieve the deck when the doors opened and Robert, Edwin and Sir Richard strode through. Relief coursed through me as Buchanan began to serve after-dinner drinks.

  “That was quick,” I whispered to Robert as Edwin and Sir Richard rejoined their dinner guests.

  “I felt it best not to dawdle. It appears our female guests are rather vapid. I feared you may become bored,” Robert answered with a smirk.

  I suppressed a giggle before we rejoined the group. As I sat down, an icy gust of wind blew the doors to the foyer open. Buchanan rushed to close them. My jaw clenched. An eerie feeling settled over me. I glanced around, expecting to see Annie in the room, but found no uninvited guests.

  I smiled at Robert, who continued his discussion on rural farming in the area. Within moments, the lamps lighting the room went dark. Susie yelped like a wounded animal, clutching Edwin’s arm.

  My suspicions rose that the incident was due to an unearthly presence. Buchanan rushed to relight the lamps in the glow of the fireplace. However, in this instance, the lamps refused to relight.

  “I am certain we can carry on with only the fire’s light,” Robert assured him. Though I remained skeptical, certain something else prowled around the next corner to disturb our discourse.

  The next incident occurred moments after we resumed our conversation. The vase of flowers on a side table crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.

  “One may suspect the castle is haunted,” Sir Richard quipped. If only he realized how right he was, I reflected.

  Buchanan dashed from the room to gather a maid to clear the mess. My gaze focused on the heavy draperies on the nearest window. I leapt from my seat as they began to rise into the air. Within an instant, they were ripped from their rods and discarded in a heap on the floor. An icy wind gusted through the room and the curtains rose and danced across it. Both Goldie and Susie issued sounds of alarm in response.

  “Excuse me a moment,” I said in a hurried voice and made my way to the door. I signaled Robert to follow me.

  “Won’t you excuse me for a moment?” he asked, setting his drink down before joining me in the foyer. “What is it?” he inquired in a hushed tone.

  “Annie,” I answered. “If they stay, she will continue her antics. We must disband the party.”

  Robert’s brow furrowed. “Annie?”

  “Yes,” I answered. “She has been disturbed of late. I shall go to the tower and try to lure her there while you send our guests on their way. Please make my excuses.”

  “Yes, I will. Lenora,” he said, catching my arm before I departed, “be safe.”

  I nodded in response and left him to deal with the closing of the dinner party. Robert’s voice carried through the doors and across the foyer as I ascended the stairs. “It may be wise to conclude the evening. I shall make arrangements for the carriage to be brought ‘round. Excuse me a moment.”

  With that settled, I disappeared into the upstairs hallways. With any luck, the foursome would soon depart. I wound through the halls, hurrying to the cursed tower room. I ascended the stairs without hesitation, shoving aside any dreadful memories.

  I burst through the doorway and into the tower. “Annie!” I shouted, still catching my breath. “Annie! You have my attention. What is it you want?”

  I spun in circles, searching the room for Annie. “Come now, Annie. You’ve frightened the guests enough. We are sending them home.”

  Annie appeared in the corner. Her hair hung limply around her pale face. Her eyes glowed red, her lips curled into a snarl. I stared at her. “What is it, Annie? Something has disturbed you. What is it?

  “I realize how disturbing the attack was for you. I understand now why you took your life, yet…”

  Annie rushed toward me. She drove me back to the wall, her icy hand pressed over my mouth. She shook her head at me as we stood nose to nose. I stared at her with my eyes wide. My mind sought to find the meaning in her actions.

  She removed her hand yet remained in close proximity to me. My brows knit and I asked, “What am I missing, Annie? What do I not understand?”

  Annie released her grip on me. I paced the floor, attempting to piece the puzzle together. Annie’s eyes followed me. “You were attacked. Someone forced himself on you.” Annie nodded. I continued, “It resulted in a child.” Another nod. “The attack coupled with the realization of your pregnancy left you despondent enough to take your own life.”

  Annie answered this statement with a shake of her head. Incorrect. But why? The crease in my forehead deepened. “The attack itself?” I questioned.

  Another shake of the head. “Then what? What led to your suicide, Annie? If not the attack or the resulting pregnancy, what?”

  Annie shook her head again. “What else can I be incorrect about?” I questioned aloud. “You threw yourself from this very tower for some reason!”

  Annie shook her head. Frustration grew inside me and I struggled to hold my patience. “For no reason?” I suggested. I received no response. My eyes narrowed, and an idea occurred to me. I repeated a shortened version of my previous statement. “You threw yourself from this very tower.”

  Annie shook her head. She signaled something to me. My stomach dropped. I shook my head at her. “No,” I murmured, lowering my eyes to the floor. “No, it cannot be.”

  Chapter 24
r />   Annie’s gaze bore into me. I raised my eyes to meet hers. “You did not end your own life. Someone… someone did that for you.” Annie nodded. “Someone murdered you!”

  Annie nodded again. My jaw dropped. “You were murdered,” I whispered again. My mind whirled. “Who? The same man who attacked you? Who forced himself on you?”

  Annie nodded. “Oh, Annie,” I cried. A flurry of notions buzzed through my mind. I resumed pacing as I sorted through the details. This had been what Annie attempted to tell me the night I fell from the window. She had not meant me harm, instead she had been communicating to me that she had been pushed.

  But who? I recalled our previous encounters and the dream in which Annie appeared to me. One detail stuck in my mind. Annie’s torment in my dream was witnessed by someone: Edwin. In retrospect, many of our encounters occurred after Edwin had visited the castle. And Annie had exhibited curiosity whenever Edwin was present.

  My stomach somersaulted at the concept. Edwin was a scamp and a cad, but a dangerous man with a penchant for forcing himself on women? I could not accept it. Or did I prefer not to accept it?

  Passing this news to Robert would be near impossible. I must be certain. I stopped my pacing and stared at Annie. “Edwin?” I questioned, my voice breaking.

  Relief washed over me as Annie shook her head. Edwin was not the culprit. But then why did he appear in my dream, I wondered? Annie pointed to the floor. I shook my head, not understanding. She pointed again and signaled someone pushing her. The floor, I wondered? “Downstairs?” I responded.

  She nodded. “Your attacker… was from below stairs? One of the servants?”

  She shook her head. “Downstairs… but not a servant. Then who, Annie? Who else is downstairs? Obviously, it is not Robert. It is not a servant. It is not Edwin. The only other man in this house is…” I halted, realization dawning. “Sir Richard Prescott,” I whispered.

  Annie nodded, her lips curling into a sneer and a growl emanating from her.

  Warmth spread through my body as my knees went weak. Of course. How could I have missed it? Sir Richard Prescott. The man who attempted to force himself upon me at the New Year’s Eve ball. The man whose vulgarity knew no bounds. The man whom I had been warned about by multiple others. He attacked Annie, raped her, fathered a child with her against her will, then murdered her.

  A clapping noise broke my train of thought. “Bravo, orphan duchess, bravo,” Sir Richard Prescott said, stepping into the room. “I wondered if the rumors about you were true. And I wondered if Annie would impart the story to you.”

  I swallowed hard. He stood in the sole doorway, blocking it. I could not escape. He continued. “I will admit, your marriage to Duke Blackmoore puzzled me. Though when Edwin told me about your special talent and your investigation, it became clear. After several inquiries, I learned you were no charlatan.”

  I stood alone in silence. Annie had disappeared when Sir Richard entered the room.

  “You really should have listened to your brother-in-law and abandoned this, little orphan.”

  Sir Richard glanced around the room. With a deep inhale, he patted his chest. His hands clutched at his lapels and his chest puffed. “In this very room, Annie and I engaged in our… indiscretion.”

  “Indiscretion?” I replied incredulously. “You forced yourself upon her!” I shouted.

  “We shall agree to disagree on the terms, orphan duchess. But when she confessed she was carrying my child and planned to tell her husband, well…” he paused, glancing at me with narrowed eyes. “I simply could not allow that to happen.”

  “So, you murdered her,” I retorted.

  “I really had no other recourse. Reputation is everything in social circles. A bastard child with another man’s wife? That could have cost me far too much. Of course, from this height, it was simple to make it appear a suicide. I simply made myself scarce after she plummeted to her death and no one was any the wiser.”

  Silence filled the room for a moment. “Well, no one was any the wiser until you began poking around.”

  “And now the truth shall come to light anyway,” I responded.

  “That is where you are incorrect, orphan duchess. I murdered one woman to prevent the truth from surfacing.” He raised his eyebrows at me. My pulse raced and my throat went dry. Tears formed and threatened to spill to my cheeks. I glanced around the room for any help. Sir Richard glanced to the boarded window. “This will not prove as easy as the first time. I suppose I shall have to make do.”

  He lunged toward me. I dropped to my knees and scrambled toward the door. He caught my injured ankle and pulled me backward toward him. My fingernails scraped across the stone floor as I tried to stop my backward progress. Pain shot through my leg and I cried out as I fought to free myself. His grasp tightened as I attempted to kick him with my free leg.

  My leg found purchase and struck him in the chest. He fell backward, releasing my ankle. I scurried toward the door, climbing to my feet. I took one step toward the doorway when Sir Richard rammed into me, shoving me against the wall. Pinned, I was unable to move or fight. Tears spilled from my eyes as the rough stone walls scraped against my cheek. Sir Richard spun me to face him.

  “I want to watch the life leave your eyes,” he growled. His hands tightened around my neck. I grasped at them, desperately trying to pull them away. I was no match for his strength. As blood rushed into my ears, I struggled to breathe, my vision became fuzzy and my knees began to buckle.

  Chapter 25

  An icy chill passed through me and I assumed my life was leaving my body and death was replacing it. Over the rushing blood in my ears, I heard what sounded like a train being driven through a wall. Strong wind gusted around the room.

  In an instant, Sir Richard’s grip on me weakened. He stumbled backward several steps. I clutched at my throat, gasping for breath. Annie stood at the window. The boards were ripped off, one lay meters from Sir Richard. It must have struck him in the head, causing his retreat.

  “GO!” Annie shouted.

  In a panic, I flew from the room. I flung myself headlong down the stairs. Tears blurred my vision. I tumbled into the hallway. Regaining my balance, I fled down the hall. I glanced behind me as I heard footsteps on the stone stairs.

  As I turned back, I collided into someone. I struggled as arms closed around me. “Lenora, Lenora, stop, it’s me, it’s Edwin.”

  “Edwin?” I choked out. “Edwin, you must help me.”

  A new voice entered the conversation. “Oh, good, you caught her,” Sir Richard chimed in.

  Horrified, I glanced back at Sir Richard, then to Edwin. What did he mean? Sir Richard continued. “Quickly, hand her over, I shall finish the job.” Edwin hesitated, not moving. “Now, Edwin! We haven’t much time.”

  “We shall be caught. It will not be like the last time!” Edwin warned. I struggled to free myself but was no match for Edwin’s strength.

  “Let me go!” I shouted.

  “No, they will believe something preternatural occurred. We cannot allow her to leave. She knows, Edwin. She will tell, and it will mean the end for both of us. You played a part in Annie’s death, too, remember.”

  Edwin paused again, and Sir Richard continued his attempt to convince Edwin to his cause. Edwin’s grasp on me tightened, and I fought, fearing I was to be handed over to face my death. “And I wish to God Almighty I hadn’t,” Edwin spat out, shoving me behind him. “Run, Lenora, go!”

  I tore down the hall as Sir Richard attempted to reverse Edwin’s decision. “Edwin, you shall be ruined right along with me if this gets out. You will be disowned! Unwelcome anywhere, a social pariah.”

  “Leave, Richard. Go now and you may be spared. They can prove nothing, just get out.”

  I rounded the corner and their voices faded away. I sprinted down the hall, ignoring the screaming pain in my ankle. When I entered the hallway containing my room, I spotted Ella coming toward me. “Sinclair!” I screamed.

  “Your Gr
ace!” she exclaimed as I flung myself into her arms. “What is it?”

  I sobbed as I clung to her, attempting to restore a feeling of safety. “Quickly,” I gasped out. “You must fetch Duke Blackmoore.”

  “Of course, Your Grace,” Ella assured me.

  “Speak to no one, fetch His Grace and bring him at once to my room.”

  I sent Ella on her way, entering my room and bolting the door behind me. I paced the floor inside, my mind whirling at the turn of events. Moments seemed like hours and I worried that Ella may have been accosted or perhaps Robert. Had Sir Richard confronted one or both of them? I should have gone with Ella. I should not have sent her alone. Though I was weakened from the attack, I should have pushed myself. I fretted as I traversed the floorboards, my hand on my forehead.

  Finally, the doorknob turned, and the door rattled in the jamb. I froze, staring at the doorway. A fist pounded against it. “Lenora?” Robert’s voice answered.

  “Yes!” I called, rushing to the door and unlocking it.

  I hurled the door open and flung myself into his arms. “Lenora!” he exclaimed, holding me closer. “What is it?”

  I pushed back from him. “Where is Sir Richard? Edwin?”

  “Gone,” he answered. “Buchanan put them in the carriage moments ago.”

  “Are you certain?”

  “Yes,” he answered, his brow furrowing. “Why?”

  I closed my eyes as relief washed through me. So, he had departed as Edwin suggested. “Lenora, what is it?” Robert prodded.

  I opened my eyes and stared into his stormy gray eyes. Tears threatened as I considered the information I had to share. I had solved the mystery, but I did not receive the answers I expected. The news would be as shocking to him as it was to me. But I must tell him. He must know the truth.

  “I have learned the truth about Annie’s death. It is… not what I anticipated. You may wish to sit down.”

  Robert’s jaw dropped open as I told him of my discovery. “You… she… you have learned what caused her to take her life?”