by Candace Camp
Laura went down to breakfast, Demosthenes padding along beside her. She was disappointed not to find James there, but Tessa greeted her eagerly, and Claude even rose to pull out her chair. Surprisingly, Tessa was not in tears, Claude was almost affable, and even Patricia and Archie were so enthralled with the mystery of Mr. Netherly’s motives that they greeted Laura with delight and began to bombard her with questions.
“I have no idea why he would do it,” Laura told them candidly. “I’m not sure even James does.”
“He doesn’t,” Claude assured her. “The magistrate and constable were just here. They said Netherly’s refused to answer any questions.” A faint smile tugged at his lips. “Apparently he just quotes poetry.”
“He would,” Tessa said darkly.
The discussion of Mr. Netherly continued, though Laura contributed little, more eager to finish her food and go find James than to speculate on the poet’s obscure motive. When she finished the meal, she was surprised to see that Claude followed her into the hall.
“Lady—that is, Laura . . .” When she turned back to him, Claude went on. “James told me you argued that I wasn’t the culprit. I wanted to thank you. And . . . well, I should apologize that I was not more welcoming when you arrived.”
Looking at his stiff demeanor, Laura thought he had more in common with his brother than either thought. She smiled. “Thank you. I hope that we can—all of us—become better friends.”
A faint smile lightened his stern expression. “I’m not sure James and I can ever be friends. But perhaps we can be better brothers. I—James has changed since he married you. You’ve filed down his sharp edges.”
“I’m not sure I deserve the credit, but I believe he looks at things a little differently now.”
He nodded, offering nothing further, and somewhat awkwardly they parted. Laura watched as Claude walked down the hall to James’s study. She had planned to see if James was there, but now she felt embarrassed to do so. She didn’t want to appear too bold, especially in front of James’s brother. James could, after all, come looking for her.
Feeling at loose ends, she strolled out to the terrace, Dem trailing along after her. Robbie was perched on the top step, and he jumped up at the sight of Demosthenes, coming forward to pet him.
“No studies this morning?” Laura asked lightly.
He shrugged. “Miss Barstow’s in her room, crying.”
It took Laura a moment to remember that Miss Barstow was the boy’s governess. “I see. She’s unhappy?”
“Mum was mad at her. But Mum left, so she’ll feel better soon.” He brightened. “You want to see something?”
Laura nodded and followed him into the house, feeling a trifle sorry for the boy, who often seemed lonely and bored.
“I found it yesterday,” he went on as he led her and Demosthenes up the back stairs. “Miss Barstow said I mustn’t disturb it.” He frowned. “She’s not a bad sort. I hope Mum doesn’t send her away, but she was frightfully angry.”
“At Miss Barstow?”
“Yes. But before that she was mad at Uncle James. She said Papa was a fool to trust him.” He paused at the top of the stairs. “Then Mum heard Miss Barstow tell me Mr. Netherly was a wicked man who tried to kill Uncle James. Did he really?”
“Yes.”
“Mum said Miss Barstow didn’t know what she was talking about and she shouldn’t gossip about her betters. It was because she likes Mr. Netherly.”
“Miss Barstow does?” Laura remembered the time they had seen Netherly coming up the back stairs and heading toward the nursery.
“No.” Robbie laughed. “Mum likes him. He’s her friend. But it’s a secret.” Robbie turned to Laura anxiously. “You won’t tell her I said that, will you? I swore not to tell.”
“No. I promise.”
Mr. Netherly was Adelaide’s secret friend? Was Claude’s wife having an affair with Tessa’s admirer? Perhaps she had become too cynical, living with James. Maybe it was just flirtation, or he simply showered Adelaide with the same sort of flowery comments he gave Tessa. Still . . .
“Robbie—” Laura began as she followed the boy into the sitting room over the ballroom. “Did Mr. Netherly ever borrow your slingshot?”
Robbie cackled. “No, he doesn’t do things like that. He’s boring.” He crossed the room and opened the doors onto the balcony. “Come see what I found.”
She stepped out onto the balcony after him, alarmed when she saw the child loop his arms over the balustrade and pull himself across it until his head was hanging over the edge. Dem let out a sharp bark, and Laura exclaimed, “Robbie! Be careful!”
“I’m fine,” he said, shooting her a scornful glance. “Look.” He pointed downward.
Laura planted her elbows on the stone railing and peered over the side. There, on a narrow lip, tucked in against the wall of the building, was a nest of twigs holding three small speckled eggs. Laura laughed, delighted. “Bird eggs!”
“I thought you’d like it. You’re nice. Like Uncle Walter.”
“Thank you, Robbie.” Laura’s mind was racing. “Robbie, did anyone ever borrow your slingshot?”
He glanced at her curiously. “No. Do you want to borrow it?”
She smiled. “I’m afraid I don’t know how to use it. It’s not a toy girls often have.”
“My mum did,” he said with pride.
Laura went still. “Your mother can use a slingshot?”
“Sure. She’s capital! She learned it from her brothers. She’s the one taught me.”
“Robbie!” His name came down the hall in a high, slightly wobbly voice.
“Miss Barstow.” Robbie shot Laura a guilty glance. “I better answer.”
He took off, leaving Laura standing on the balcony, staring numbly after him. Adelaide?
Laura sank down, sitting on her heels on the floor. Demosthenes, after an inquiring snuffle against her ear, lay down beside her and laid his giant head on her lap. Absently, Laura petted him as she contemplated the news she’d just learned. Had fluffy, silly, sugary Adelaide tried to kill her?
If James died, Adelaide’s husband would inherit the title. She would be the lady of the manor. And her son would someday inherit it all—sooner rather than later if Claude, too, suffered some mysterious illness.
Laura thought about Netherly, Adelaide’s “secret friend.” She remembered the small, shady spot hidden deep in the garden and the blanket she and Walter had found there. Secluded and sylvan, it was a perfect place for a lovers’ tryst as well as for an expert to aim a slingshot at a passing horse. That day that she and Walter had seen the man climbing the back stairs perhaps he had been going to meet Robbie’s mother in some unused room, not the boy’s governess.
It made sly, slimy sense. Two people to commit the crimes. Netherly to obtain the mercury and plant it in London when he called on Tessa and Adelaide to frighten the horses into bolting, sending Laura’s carriage down the treacherous hill. He would have pushed off the urn and probably crawled under the carriage to loosen the brake slipper. Either of them could have laced the medicine with mercury or put it beneath James’s bed.
Claude’s wife, she was beginning to think, must have been the brains behind the scheme. After all, she was the one who benefitted. Netherly, presumably, had done it for love—or at least for lust. Laura wondered whether the man had been an admirer of Tessa’s and strayed into an affair with Adelaide, or had been Adelaide’s lover from the beginning and only pretended to be one of Tessa’s swains to disguise his true interest.
“Come, Dem.” Laura rose to her feet. She must discuss all this with James.
James’s study, however, was empty except for Claude, who rose politely at her entrance. “Are you looking for James? He hasn’t returned yet.”
“Do you know where he is?” Laura asked.
“He was going for a walk, I believe, but that was some time ago.” Claude frowned. “But I’m sure there’s no reason to worry, now that Netherly’s locked up.”
“Yes, of course.” She could hardly confide her suspicions about Claude’s wife to him. She forced a smile. “Perhaps I’ll run into him in the garden.”
Suddenly Demosthenes let out a bark that reverberated through the hallway and charged down the hall. Fear flooded Laura. She ran after the dog, and Claude followed her curiously. When Laura opened the back door, Dem shot across the terrace, cleared the steps in a single jump, and tore off down the path.
Her heart thundering in her chest, Laura took off after him in a run. Claude was right behind her.
James climbed the steps from the road, his head down in thought. After the magistrate left, James had walked along the road, trying to ascertain where and how someone had caused Laura’s carriage accident. It wasn’t necessary, of course, but it still bothered him that her would-be killer had so little motive for what he had done. James was a man who liked to have all the details.
But he had found nothing—no broken shrubbery where someone might have hidden, nothing that might have been used to frighten the horses and they tossed aside. Finally, admitting defeat, he started back to the house. Perhaps Laura would have some ideas. The two of them hadn’t spent much time in conversation since he’d arrived home.
He was smiling at the thought—until he looked up and saw a woman sitting on the bench at the head of the stairs. When he saw the blond hair, his heart leapt, but then he realized that her hair was too bright a gold, the curls done up in blue ribbons to match her frilly blue dress. It wasn’t Laura, but Adelaide. No doubt she wanted to take him to task again for having doubted Claude. He suppressed a sigh. He must be polite and listen to her; Laura would wish it.
“James,” she greeted him gaily, rising to her feet. “I hoped I would catch you.”
“And so you have.” He reached the clearing at the top of the steps and paused politely.
“It’s such a lovely day. I thought we might take a walk down to the ruins.” She moved toward him, her hands by her side, half hidden by the voluminous folds of her skirts.
“That sounds charming,” James lied. “However, I must get back to work.” There was, after all, only so much sacrifice a man could make, even for Laura’s approval.
He started to pass by her, but Adelaide stepped into his path and raised her hand from the concealment of her skirts. In her dainty gloved hand was a pistol, aimed straight at his chest.
Well. He hadn’t expected this.
Adelaide raised an eyebrow. “What? No sardonic retort?”
Gone were the dimples and gracefully fluttering hands, the huge limpid eyes, the bright smile, the soft, pliable posture that made her look smaller than she was. Instead she stood straight and firm, the gun steady in her hand. Her face was cold and decisive. She might have been another person, distinctly out of place in her ruffles and ribbons.
“So it was you,” James mused. “I must say, this comes as a surprise.”
“I know. Poor, silly, vapid Adelaide.” Her voice dripped scorn. “So dear, so sweet. So boring. It’s quite useful.”
“I can see how it would be.” James moved closer. “You teamed up with Netherly, I take it. Or, no, I imagine it was more that he worked for you. What did you repay him with—money, your doubtlessly lovely body?” He took another step.
“Oh, no.” Adelaide took a step back, waggling the pistol at him. “Don’t think I won’t shoot you. Or that I’ll miss. I’m an excellent marksman. My brothers made sure of that.” Her smile was sly. “I’m even better with a slingshot.”
James’s eyebrows rose. “So that’s how you frightened the horses. Impressive.”
“You always discounted me. I knew you made fun of me. It made me laugh; I was the one making fools of all of you.”
“What’s your plan now?” he asked in a conversational tone, edging forward. “I take it you’ve returned to targeting me.”
“You’re the important one. If you’re gone, Laura will be unprotected, and I’ll have plenty of time to deal with her afterward.”
“That’s reasonable.” His cool tone concealed the surge of rage inside him.
“Stop talking. We’re going to the ruins.” She gestured with the gun.
“The thing is . . . don’t you think people will find it a mite suspicious if I am shot after the other attempts on my life and Laura’s? Say you kill me, you’ll still have Laura to murder, and, well, I’m assuming from your use of Netherly that your ultimate plan is to do away with Claude, too. That’s a great many bodies to explain.”
She shrugged. “No one will suspect sweet little Adelaide.” She batted her eyelashes mockingly, then reverted to a cold, commanding tone. “Now start walking.”
“No.”
“What?” Adelaide took a threatening step, the gun aimed straight at his chest. “I have a gun. Start walking or I’ll shoot you right here.”
“Very well.” He spread his arms out. “Go ahead. Shoot me here. Rather close to the house, though. They’ll hear the shot and be here quickly. How do you plan to explain my body lying bleeding on the ground? You won’t be able to get away in time. Everyone will know.”
“I’ll throw the gun away and go into hysterics because I found you lying here.”
“Mm, it might work.” He tilted his head consideringly. “Sure it’s worth the risk? I understand gaol is not a pleasant place to live.”
Light flared in her eyes, and James thought she would fire. He tensed to jump. But at that moment something crashed through the shrubbery behind them, and a large, dark shape hurtled into the clearing. Demosthenes, teeth bared, flew straight toward Adelaide.
Adelaide heard the noise and whirled. James leapt forward, shouting, “No!”
He was too late. The gun roared, and Demosthenes went down. In the next instant, James grabbed Adelaide’s arm and grappled for the weapon. It went off again, firing harmlessly into the air.
In the distance he heard Claude’s bellow and Laura screaming his name. Adelaide raked her nails across his face, but James wrenched the gun away from her and hurled it into the fountain. He shoved Adelaide away, sending her staggering backward to land on the ground. He ran to Dem and dropped down on his knees beside the inert body.
Gently, he reached out to touch the dog’s bloody head. Behind him, Adelaide scrambled to her feet and picked up a rock, rushing at him. James flung himself aside, dodging the blow, and rolled to his feet.
“Adelaide!” Claude stumbled into the clear and came to a dead stop. “No!”
She paid him no attention but swung at James again. James grabbed her wrists, holding her off. Claude ran to them and wrapped his arms around Adelaide, pinning her arms to her side.
Laura raced into the clearing. “James!” She flung herself into his arms. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I’m fine.”
“I heard the shots, and I thought—” She broke off, her voice choking with tears, and hugged him again.
“I’m all right. It’s Dem—”
“Dem!” Laura released him and whirled around. “Oh, my God, Dem!” She ran to the dog, her tears flowing. “No, Dem, please.”
The dog’s tail gave a thump against the ground, and he opened his eyes, twisting his head up to look at Laura.
“Oh! Thank God, you’re alive. But all this blood . . .”
James knelt beside her, pulling his handkerchief from his pocket, and began to clean the wound. “I think the bullet just creased him.” He gave a shaky laugh.
Laura threw her arms around James again, smiling and crying all at once. “I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
“Shh, now. It’s all right.” He closed his arms around her. “It’s over now.”
Behind them, Adelaide snapped, “Let go of me. Let go this instant.”
Laura and James turned to see Adelaide twist out of Claude’s embrace. She faced her husband, her eyes stormy, but face cold and calm. “How dare you? He hurt me. I’m your wife. You should defend me.”
“Adelaide . . . I saw you.” C
laude gaped at her. “What in the name of heaven are you doing?”
She tilted her head proudly, tugging her sleeves into place and smoothing down her hair. Her voice was crisp. “I am protecting my son’s future. It wouldn’t have been necessary if you had stepped up and acted like a man. Since you refused, I had to do it myself.”
“You had to do what? Kill my brother? Are you mad?”
“No, I’m not mad. Just not a coward like you. I dare anything!” With that, she turned and sprinted for the steps down to the road.
Her action took them by surprise, and for a moment everyone just stared.
“Adelaide!” Claude shouted and began to follow. “Adelaide, stop!”
She reached the top of the long tiers of stairs and started down them at a run. Her feet slipped on the stone and she wavered, arms windmilling, then tumbled out of sight.
“No!” Claude roared and broke into a run.
James and Laura followed, stopping abruptly at the top of the stairs. Adelaide sprawled across a landing halfway down, unmoving, her head bent at an unnatural angle. Her bright hair had come loose and spilled over the stairs into the shallow water at the edge. Claude knelt beside her body, his hands over his face, his body racked with sobs.
James and Laura went down to him. James sent Laura a helpless glance, then reached out one hand and laid it on his brother’s shoulder. With his other hand, he reached back to take Laura’s. As they stood there, Demosthenes came up to stand with them, leaning his head against Laura’s leg.
James thought of Laura lying in this place, lifeless, and a shiver ran through him. He pressed a kiss against her head. “It’s over now, love. It’s done. You’re safe.”
And he would make sure she always would be.
chapter 45
Laura slipped quietly into James’s study. He stood at the window, staring out. Adelaide’s funeral had been two days ago, and the house was draped in full mourning, gloom hanging in the air. The suddenness, the violence, the madness of it all, had left everyone stunned.
