Thinking quickly, she tried to find the right words to say. “Don’t do this, Kent.” she whispered. “He doesn’t matter. You have me and George now. I thought we were going to work on being happy.”
His demeanor changed, and his face showed her something she’d never seen there before. Something she never thought she would. Pity. For her?
“Good morning, Lady Ganden.” Astlen said as he came over followed by the others. “Marvelous weather, it is not?”
∫ ∫ ∫
4 9
* * *
Lucy recognized them all. Astlen. Fawley. Coalwater. Denhallow. She also recognized every man’s varying form of angry and at the moment, the emotion seemed to bounce off them all. “I’m sorry this has happened to you. It isn’t fair.”
“Don’t trouble yourself.” Astlen said with an easy smile. “We’ll get him.”
She had no doubt they would. It was their method that worried her.
“Perhaps you could help us.” Denhallow stepped forward. “I’m sure you heard and saw things during your time with Lord Maltsby.”
Kent’s hand was on her arm again. “She has nothing to do with this. She’s not to get involved.” Her husband turned to her then. “I told you to go home.”
Was he trying to protect her?
Even while he pushed her away, he was protecting her. Suddenly, the pain she felt at his rejection didn’t seem so weighted. It was still there, but it no longer clouded her ability to think.
“Whatever you’re thinking to do, don’t.” Lucy said to them. “Lord Maltsby is a terrible man, but do not make yourself as terrible as he is.”
“Give us a good reason not to.” Astlen said. The charm was still there, but it had turned cold, nearly menacing. “Otherwise, we’ve no other choice.”
“Think about George.” Denhallow put in. “This affects you just as much as us.”
Lucy’s body locked as she realized just how right Denhallow was. Would the contract with Mr. Maltsby hold now that Lord Maltsby had been released from prison?
Kent turned her toward him. “The contract is binding.” he said as though he could read her thoughts.
“Prison was supposed to be binding.” Lucy whispered. She’d already decided that she would help. The moment she’d read the papers, she’d known she had no other choice.
Kent was enraged, the very thing she’d been trying to prevent had come in another way. What did it matter if he tried to get to Lord Van Dero or Lord Maltsby? The results would be the same.
Murder.
She still remembered his hands around Mr. Goody’s neck. For weeks, she’d imagined what it would have been like to see the life drain out of him. It had haunted her sleep and for that reason alone, she’d been glad that she’d stopped Kent. She didn’t want him to be haunted by his actions.
Would they kill Lord Maltsby? The legal way had already failed them.
She looked at the men before her and wondered if the road they were heading down was truly necessary.
“Go home, Lucy.” Kent commanded.
“Come with me.” she countered.
He ignored her and picked her up before he shoved her into the carriage.
“I… know something. I’ll tell you what you want to know.” Lucy said right before Kent could instruct the driver to leave. “Just come with me.” She hoped that once they were away from the scene where everything had fallen apart, she could reason with him.
Kent closed the door and leaned through the window. “Stay home. Don’t venture out again.”
“Kent.” she pleaded. She reached out.
He stepped away and motioned for his driver to go.
* * *
“Why didn’t you go with her?” Astlen said. “She clearly knows something.”
Kent wasn’t sure. “I’ll speak with her later. We don’t need what she knows in order to deal with Lord Maltsby.” He knew it was a possibility that Lucy could give them some insight, but he knew Lucy’s intentions better.
She’d try to soothe him and he did not wish to be soothed or comforted. He didn’t wish to be brought to the light and to see things her way. He’d chosen his path.
Yet he’d made a promise to her and if there was a possibility she knew anything, and if Lord Maltsby was aware of that fact, then it was best she went home and remained close to George. The threat of how far Maltsby would go to keep her silent was yet another reason to be rid of the man.
“We’ll discuss this no more out here.” Denhallow said as he glanced around. “Let’s go to my house.”
Kent rode with Denhallow since he’d sent Lucy home in his carriage. It was only seconds before Kent realized he should have ridden with someone else.
“I know you’re angry.” Denhallow began. “We all are, but now isn’t the time to isolate yourself from your family.”
“They’re better off without me.” Kent leaned back in his seat. “Besides, I’ve already secured it so Lucy will have nothing to worry about. She’ll have George and enough money to see her comfortably through the rest of her life. All that is left is to get rid of Lord Maltsby.”
Denhallow narrowed his gaze. “So, you’re willing to give up your life for this?”
“What life?” Kent asked. Then he narrowed his gaze. “Are you saying you intend to allow Lord Maltsby to wander the streets of London as though nothing had ever occurred? He scarred your face. You should be just as angry as me.”
“Mr. Goody scarred my face.” Denhallow corrected. “And while I would enjoy seeing Lord Maltsby executed, I want it done right. I want the world to know what he’s done. I want justice.”
Kent leaned forward. “We tried that.”
“No, we moved too soon.” Denhallow said. “Unmistakably, there are other players in this game. There is someone with more say than Lord Maltsby, someone with power for the courts. That is who we go after and then everything else will fall in line.”
Kent leaned his elbows on his knees. “And what if this other gentleman is untouchable? What if we can’t get to him? We don’t even know who he is.”
“Which is why I urge you to speak with your wife on this.” Denhallow said as the carriage stopped.
Kent looked outside and then glared at Denhallow. “What is this?”
“I thought you’d recognize your own residence when you saw it.” Denhallow had brought him home.
Kent stared at it and leaned back in the seat. “She doesn’t know anything about this.”
“Why are you so sure?” Denhallow asked. “Have you asked?”
“Yes.” Kent’s heart raced. “She volunteered to look but had no information herself.”
“Are you certain?” Denhallow asked. “I’ve a man who said she met with Lord Maltsby and that she was at the prison for hours.”
Kent was not at all surprised that Denhallow had found a way to keep record of who went to see Lord Maltsby. “They spoke about a painting, nothing more.” Kent said, as he recalled his conversation with Lucy about the very incident.
“That is a long time to speak of one thing.” Denhallow reached out and opened the door before leaning back. “Your wife says she knows something.”
“She was lying. She only wanted me to come home.” Yet at the same time, Kent could feel anger burning within him. Did Lucy know more? Had she lied to him when he’d asked?
Kent looked at the house again and a wariness set in. “I hope you’re wrong, Denhallow.”
“I hope I’m wrong as well.” Denhallow said. “For your sake, at least.”
∫ ∫ ∫
5 0
* * *
Lucy was in George’s room, sitting with him and Miriam on the floor when Kent came in.
Lady Nora sat in a chair with her needlework and smiled. “Good morning, my lord.”
Kent’s face revealed nothing as he greeted Lady Nora. Then he turned to Lucy. “I’d like a moment with you.” The words were kind, but his eyes told her it was an order.
Lucy’s stomach grew
queasy as she got to her feet. She’d had the entire carriage ride to go over what she would say to Kent and what knowledge she would reveal, but by the time she’d arrived at the residence, she’d come up with nothing.
She crossed the room, and Kent closed the door behind them.
“We’ll talk in the study.” he said.
She nodded and moved ahead of him. He walked behind her, stalking her. The study door closed behind them and she spun around only to spin again when Kent passed her and moved to stand in the middle of the room.
He placed his hands on his side and took a long breath. “You said you would tell me what I wished to know, so go on and do so.”
Again, she couldn’t read him. Was he angry? Upset?
Lucy swallowed. His question was vague. “What is it you want to know?”
He shrugged and finally moved to sit down. “I want to know whatever it is you were offering in front of the courthouse…that’s if you actually had anything to say and were not just simply trying to lead me home, trying to get me away from the crowd and from the other lords so that I wouldn’t plot a murder.”
So that was why he wasn’t upset. He thought she’d lied. If only it were that easy…
And why wasn’t it that easy? She could go along with his assumption and say she knew nothing, play the innocent. But…Lord Maltsby had been released, which meant he had the means to cause trouble.
Kent needed to know what he was up against. Lucy moved and sat beside him.
He watched her closely, patiently. “I was short with you earlier. I apologize for it. I shouldn’t have spoken to you as I did.”
His words fed her guilt. “Kent…”
“I just didn’t want you involved in it all.” He lifted her chin. “If I am to protect George then it means I must protect you. He needs you.”
She grabbed his wrist. “Kent, you can’t go to war with Lord Maltsby. You don’t know…who he has on his side.”
Kent went rigid. His fingers remained on her chin. “And who does Lord Maltsby have on his side? You don’t know the answer to that. You told me so.”
He wanted that to the be the truth just as much as she did. She wondered if he even wanted her to lie. She wanted to, but she would only hate herself more if she chose to at this moment. Which meant she had to tell him the truth.
Footsteps made them both turn to the door. The butler brought a note and handed it to Kent.
Kent opened it and Lucy was thankful for the distraction…until he told her what it said. “It’s from Lord Maltsby. He wishes to meet. With both of us.”
“What?” Lucy was surprised. “Doesn’t he know you wish to hurt him?”
Kent looked at her. “Not hurt him, Lucy. I wish to end him. You’ll remain here.”
“Wait.” She grabbed his arms. “Kent, don’t go. Please.” Tears filled her eyes. “Don’t do this. Stay with me.”
He kissed her hard and then pulled away. “I’m glad we didn’t finish our conversation. The point is moot. I’ve been invited to his home. This ends now. You and George will be safe.”
There was no point in denying it now. Kent knew she’d been hiding something and didn’t want her to tell him the truth. He’d rather live the lie then know what she knew. He’d rather go to Lord Maltby believing her truthful and sacrifice himself in order to free them from the man’s hold.
How did she stop this man from walking out of the house? How did she keep him near?
She moved into his lap and grabbed his jaw with both her hands. “Kent, my love, please.”
His hands seized her hips. His eyes were wild. “Lucy…”
“I love you,” she said “and I need you. I need you to not do something that may get you in trouble. Please, don’t leave me and George alone.”
He lifted a hand and touched her cheek gently. “Lucy…” He closed his eyes.
She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close. His body came willingly to her. He tightened the embrace. She stroked his hair as she wept, almost sure Kent had never heard the words from anyone but his brother. “I love you and I want us to be together and I want you to be whole. That’s why…I said nothing. I don’t want you to be angry. I don’t want you to do something that would get you in trouble. I just want you to…”
He pulled away. “All right. All right, Lucy.” He rubbed her back, trying to calm her. “All right. I…understand.”
“We were happy.” she said. “Don’t let anyone take that away from us. Swear you won’t.”
He nodded. His gaze sealed with hers. “I won’t kill him.”
Lucy collapsed against his chest and gripped his jacket. “Thank you. Thank you. For me. For George. For yourself. You’ll see. It’s better this way.”
He lifted her chin. “I will not kill him, but you will tell me everything you know.”
She hesitated again.
He lifted a brow. “Lucy, if I am to trust you, you must trust me as well. Do you wish for me to act in the best interest of our family?”
She nodded.
“Then I must know everything.” he said. “And then, we’ll go and meet Lord Maltsby. Together. That way, you can make sure I don’t lose control.”
She cupped his neck. “I won’t let you lose control.”
“But please refrain from hitting me with a chair.” he said.
She smiled. “I won’t hit you with a chair.”
“Or a table. Or a lamp.”
She laughed.
He took the sound from her when he covered her mouth with his own.
Before they could get carried away, Kent pulled away and then set Lucy on the seat next to him. “Speak.” he instructed. “Tell me everything.”
Lucy sighed. “Lord Maltsby did not do this on his own. He and a group of men looked at who had the largest accounts with the bank and who they could afford to send away without much ado being made by their absences.”
“No one liked me.” Kent said. “Astlen had impregnated a lady everyone adored, Coalwater doesn’t speak, Fawley stole a precious item from another lord, and Denhallow was…obnoxious.”
“Exactly.” Lucy said. “Though, after getting to know you all, I can hardly understand why no one would miss you.” She touched his chin. “I’d have missed you.”
He took her hand and kissed her fingers. “Don’t try to distract me. It’s very easily done.”
She smiled.
“Why get rid of us?” Kent asked. “What did they want to do?”
“Invest the money in projects you and the others had refused to invest in. Lord Maltsby was sure it would be profitable but didn’t have the means or the backing do it any other way, not without great capital.”
“So, he got rid of us.” Kent said. “Was it really necessary? He could have played with our money and none of us would have been the wiser so long as he didn’t take all of it—”
“He needed all of it.” Lucy said. “Getting you out of the way was the only choice.”
“What did he use the money for?” Kent asked.
“To fund a war.” No investment cost more. War took great capital. Then it drained the pocket and continued to do so until it was finished.
“A war?” Kent was, astonished. “He funded an entire war with my money?”
“And Astlen and the others.” Lucy said. “To gain control of some mines somewhere.” Lucy shrugged. “I don’t know the details, but whatever they found made them very profitable and very dangerous. I only found out once you all were released from Mr. Goody’s home.”
Kent shot from his chair and paced. “A war? Does the prince know? Does Parliament know?”
“I doubt it,” she said. “But…I believe there are members of Parliament who’d overlook it.”
He looked at her. “Why do you say so?”
“Because, the Prime Minister’s father is one of the men who helped Lord Maltsby. In fact, I think his father was behind it.”
Kent thought. “The Duke of Van Dero.”
Lucy nodded.
Kent straightened. “And Lord Cephas? Was the Prime Minister involved?”
“I don’t think so, but you have to know he’d defend his father if charges were brought against him.” Lucy said. “These people are dangerous.”
Kent closed his eyes and put his fingers to his temple. “This is…bigger than I thought it would be.”
She stood. “So, you understand why I didn’t tell you? There is no point. If we all look the other way—”
“No.” Kent looked at her. “We can’t let them win, Lucy. We must seek justice.”
She swallowed and said, “But what if justice takes everything from you? Including your title?”
Kent reared back. “Why would it cost me my title?”
Lucy’s stomach quivered. As did her lips.
Kent moved and stood before her. “Lucy, what are you saying? Why would it cost me my title?”
∫ ∫ ∫
5 1
* * *
It was like being hit by the chair all over again. Kent’s mind went black. He couldn’t think, yet his mind continued to function in other ways. He was breathing. His heart beat at a normal pace, yet he could make sense of nothing. Kent found himself sitting and then felt hands grab his face.
“Your mother was with child when she married your father,” Lucy whispered. “He didn’t know until their wedding night. He told this story to Lord Van Dero.”
“I’m that child.” Kent said as his mind began to work again.
Lucy nodded. She looked so worried, so full of fright. “Since they were wed, he had no choice but to pronounce you his heir, otherwise, he’d have been shamed.”
“Which explains why they both wanted me gone.” Kent said. Everything made sense now. His mother’s hatred. Why Colby had always been the heir in her eyes.
Colby was the heir.
Kent was a bastard.
Lucy fell into his lap like a soft weight. “How are you feeling?”
Kent wasn’t sure. He felt nothing at the moment. He stared at Lucy. “How long have you known? Did you know when we met?” Was that why she’d taken pity on him?
She shook her head. “No, I found out after you all had been freed. Lord Maltsby was looking for blackmail in order to keep you all quiet just in case you came after him.”
Dread of The Earl (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) Page 24
