by Alec, Joyce
* * *
As Joseph had suspected, his search of the trees gave him nothing but growing anger, frustrated that he could find nothing and no one about. Not that it was surprising—for the fellow had been given more than enough time to make his escape. He could not doubt that Lady Emily was in danger now, aware that the man who had grabbed her had been almost frantic in his desire to get ahold of the diamonds.
Running one hand through his hair, he leaned heavily on a tree trunk and let out a long breath. Perhaps he ought to encourage Lady Emily to return with Lady Millington to London after all, given that her life had been in danger twice now. But then again, this was the only opportunity they might have to discover who it was that was attempting to find the diamonds.
Letting out another sigh, he sat down right there in the dirt and tried to think. His clothes were already wet and cold and, despite the fact that the valet would have a fit over the state of his breeches, Joseph needed to sit here and simply think through what he was to do.
The maid being absent from Lady Emily’s side had made him question where she had gone to and whether such an absence had been deliberate, but seeing how injured she had been had thrown such thoughts from his mind. Besides which, it had clearly been a gentleman threatening Lady Emily. It angered Joseph to realize that there was not even a hint of recognition in his mind over the gentleman. The man had covered his features well, leaving Joseph with very little to go on. There would be no use in returning to the house to ask which of the guests had been absent from the house, for some had yet to break their fast by the time he had left the house and others were already in the drawing room or library. To discover the assailant from that was night impossible.
Something cracked behind him. Jerking, Joseph made to turn his head, only for something to be thrown over his head, pulling tightly around his neck.
He could not breathe.
“Where are the diamonds?”
A loud, grating voice pierced the air as Joseph tried vainly to struggle against the rope around his neck. The air was growing thick as he tried to drag in air, feeling his body grow weak as he tried to get free.
“Where are they?” the voice said again, low and menacing, as the rope was tugged a little tighter. “I know you have them. Where did you put them?”
Joseph felt his vision blur as his throat rasped painfully. “I will never tell you.”
An angry cry flooded the air as the rope was pulled tighter, making Joseph’s eyes roll back into his head. His arms fell by his sides, uselessly, his lungs burning as he fought to get in any air at all.
And then, the rope was gone. Joseph flopped back against the tree trunk, the sound of hurrying footsteps coming from behind him. Sucking in a lungful of air, he tried to look to see who it was, but his eyes would not focus. His whole body was weak and, turning onto his hands and knees, he coughed violently, his lungs screaming.
Slowly, his vision refocused, and he was able to stand. Shakily, he ran one hand over his throat, feeling the sting of the rope burns that had cut into his skin.
There was a desperation about the assailant, an urgency that told Joseph he would do even more than he had already done in order to find the diamonds. His concern for Lady Emily grew all the more as he began to stagger back towards the house, the words of the assailant ringing in his ears. He had to ensure she was all right. He had to ensure she was safe. Whether she knew it or not, Joseph had every intention of having Lady Emily in his life from this day onwards. He desired her to be free of the fear, free of the danger that currently surrounded her. His heart was filled with her, and it would not let her go.
9
Emily was taken from her bath just as the water began to cool, being firmly dried with warm, soft towels before being dressed in a warm gown and sent to sit by the fire. She saw Lady Millington’s concerned expression as Emily spread her hair out towards the fire, hoping it would soon dry.
“I am quite all right, Lady Millington,” she said softly, feeling a good deal warmer now that she had been given brandy to drink and a bath to sit in. “I am dry and comfortable. You need not worry.”
Lady Millington shook her head, her face paler than Emily had ever seen it before. “Someone tried to drown you,” she said, hoarsely. “I thought—”
“They only threatened to do so,” Emily replied, shuddering as she recalled how those dark eyes had glared into her own. “Believing that I would be alone and without help, I think they thought I would confess it to them almost at once.” She shook her head, her fear still coursing through her veins. “When I said I did not know, the look in their eyes struck me like a hammer blow.”
Her voice grew hoarse as she recalled just how angry the gentleman had seemed, even though she had spoken the truth. Lord Pallson had taken the diamonds and hidden them securely, and she did not know where. She had not felt the need to enquire, trusting him completely. The moment she had turned her eyes to see Lord Pallson approaching, her heart had lifted with such relief that she had grown weak, all the while gripped by the assailant’s strong hands.
Falling into the water had taken all of her breath from her body. She had struggled to reach the surface again, her voluminous skirts dragging her down. The water had been terribly cold, even though it was the height of summer, and she had barely been able to breathe. To have Lord Pallson’s strong hands grasping her, dragging her to the bank and helping her to her feet had brought such an overwhelming sense of thankfulness and relief that she had almost collapsed in his arms.
“You ought not to have gone out this morning alone,” Lady Millington chided, her lips quivering. “I cannot imagine what you were thinking!”
“In truth,” Emily replied quietly. “I cannot tell you what it was I was thinking. My mind was clouded with all that had gone on, but I can see now that I was foolish to do such a thing. Lord Pallson had warned me to be careful, as had you, but my heart and mind were terribly confused.” Her voice broke, tears filling her eyes as she realized just how foolish she had been. “I am truly sorry, Lady Millington.”
Lady Millington grasped her hands at once, looking almost apologetic for expressing such a sentiment. “I am just truly concerned for you, my dear. I promised to keep you safe, and now, in the one place I was quite sure you would be out of danger, you are in the lions’ den so to speak!”
“But I have Lord Pallson,” Emily replied, trying to reassure the lady who had shown her so much kindness. “We are not without support, are we? And I am quite sure that, should I do just as he says and not take any more ridiculous walks outside without his companionship, then I will be quite safe.” Her brow furrowed for a moment. “Just so long as he does not endanger his own life.”
Lady Millington waved a hand, sitting back down and pouring tea from the tea tray that had been brought in moments before Emily had been taken from her bath. “I am quite sure he will be quite safe,” she replied firmly. “It is you that we must concern ourselves with.”
A loud rap on the door interrupted Emily’s reply, and after a glance towards Emily, Lady Millington called for them to enter.
Lord Pallson strode in, his eyes blazing—although as he neared Emily, she saw that they were a little bloodshot.
“Lady Millington,” he said harshly. “Lady Emily. Are you quite all right?”
“I am recovered, my lord,” she replied, wondering at the gruffness of his voice. “Is something the matter?”
To her horror, he lifted his chin and indicated a large red mark that seared his throat. She gasped, one hand to her mouth as Lady Millington’s eyes widened.
“Someone attempted to choke me half to death,” he replied, the reason for his harsh tone now evident. “They asked me where the diamonds were.”
Emily’s horror grew all the more. Somehow, by accepting Lord Pallson’s help, she had managed to embroil him in what was her family’s situation, to the point that he had been in danger of losing his life!
“How dreadful,” Lady Millington whispered, her e
yes wide. “Who was it, my lord?”
“I cannot tell,” he stated, sounding rather angry. “By the time they let loose the rope, my vision was so blurred that I could not see who it was running from me.” Shaking his head, he grasped Emily’s hand. “You cannot be alone again, Lady Emily. You must not. It is much too dangerous.”
Emily could barely speak, such was the constriction of her throat and the fear climbing up it. “I will give the diamonds to Lord Hatherley,” she stated, as calmly as she could. “This is too much. Lord Pallson, I cannot allow you to endanger your life on my account. No, I will not have it. The diamonds must go to him at once.”
She made to rise, only for Lord Pallson to keep her hand in his whilst Lady Millington whispered a “no”.
“You cannot, my dear,” Lady Millington replied, as Emily reluctantly took her seat again. “It is just as Lord Pallson has said before. To do so now would be to allow Lord Hatherley the opportunity to do all the more to your family!”
“I do not care,” Emily replied hopelessly. “I cannot continue to live my life this way. I want to see my father again. I want him to be safe, and I do not want Lord Pallson to risk his life for this. It is quite unfair, and I will not—”
“It has always been my choice to involve myself, Lady Emily.” Lord Pallson’s voice was calm and warm, trying to encourage her to remain calm despite the frantic thoughts whirling in her head.
“I must agree with Lady Millington, this is not the correct course of action. I am grateful that you wish to protect me, my dear, but to do so now will simply prove to Lord Hatherley that he has succeeded in his attempts to frighten you, and he could easily demand more. I know the gentleman well. His ruthlessness is well known.”
Closing her eyes, Emily sucked in a breath, feeling an almost physical pain at the thought of Lord Pallson having to endure such a terrible experience because of her.
And then, a sudden thought filled every single part of her.
“How, Lord Pallson?”
Her words were light and breathless, her fingers clutching at his sleeve.
“What do you mean, Lady Emily?” he asked, his eyes meetings hers as she stared back at him, her stomach tying itself in knots.
“How did they know that you had the diamonds?” she asked hoarsely. “I did not say a single word.”
For a moment, she saw the shock she felt register in his eyes. He was looking at her with confusion, then understanding, then horror as what she had said began to make sense.
“When the man held me, I said I did not know where the diamonds were. That was the truth. But then for you to be attacked only some half an hour later, that must surely mean that they must have discovered that it was you who has them.”
Lord Pallson nodded slowly, his head turning towards Lady Millington, who was staring at them both with wide eyes.
Emily did not even want to think it, but there were certain facts staring at her that she could not turn away from.
“I did not breathe a word to anyone, I assure you!” Lady Millington exclaimed, setting down her teacup so that it rattled in the saucer. “This has nothing to do with me.”
“I cannot believe it either,” Emily said, after a moment, her fingers now taking Lord Pallson’s ones. “Lady Millington has been nothing but a support to me. I know she wants what is best for me.”
Lord Pallson said nothing for a moment or two, before he eventually nodded. “I understand.”
Lady Millington looked a little relieved, her fingers shaking as she picked up the teapot to pour herself another cup. “I would never dream of allowing Emily to come to harm,” she said, her voice wobbling with emotion.
“Then,” Lord Pallson said slowly, “we must ask ourselves who else is aware of the diamonds being placed in my possession? Did someone see me hide them?” He shook his head. “No, that cannot be the case, for I was careful not to be seen, and they would not be demanding to know where they were if they knew where I had gone.”
A slow feeling of dread began to climb through Emily’s limbs. She did not want to admit it, but the knowledge that there had been one other person present that night began to tug at her mind.
“There is…Sarah,” she admitted slowly. “I cannot think that she would be involved in anything of the sort, but she did leave my side when I went out walking this morning. I will confess, however, that she did her best to prevent me from going outside in the first place.” She let her gaze travel towards Lord Pallson, who was frowning heavily.
“I saw your maid, as I went out to the trees,” he said slowly, his eyes fixed on the fire in the grate as though it were helping him recollect the events that had just taken place. “She was holding a handkerchief to her head. There was a bad cut, and she told me that she had been hit hard by something, which had forced her to step away from you…although she did not say that she was unconscious.” His frown deepened all the more, as Lady Millington drank her tea carefully, clearly using it in an attempt to keep her composure.
“Sarah is hurt?” Emily asked softly. “Well, surely then I must be quite wrong to think–”
“Unless it was intentional that she was injured,” Lady Millington interrupted. “It would certainly make us believe that she had nothing whatsoever to do with the diamonds and what occurred with you, Emily. To be injured would garner only sympathy, not suspicion.”
“And she is the only one who knows about the diamonds being in my possession,” Lord Pallson continued, turning his gaze towards Emily. She shifted in her seat a little uncomfortably, feeling torn between wanting to consider Sarah in such an unfavorable light and wanting to remain loyal to the servant who had been so devoted to her for so many years.
Sighing, she passed one hand over her eyes. “Did you say that Sarah saw you out of doors then, Lord Pallson? Did she see you moving towards the trees?”
Lord Pallson hesitated, his expression a little wary before he nodded slowly. “Yes, I believe she did. Whether or not the injury to her head was purposeful, she may have been able to tell the assailant that it was I who had the diamonds and directed him towards me.”
“But why not tell him before?” Lady Millington interjected, looking a little confused. “Why not tell him before now so that he did not need to threaten Emily?”
Lord Pallson rubbed his chin, his coffee-colored eyes now thoughtful. “I would consider that it was simply because she had not had the opportunity to meet with him and tell her the change to the placement of the diamonds. Who knows? Mayhap what occurred was what they had planned all along – she would be injured, supposedly, accidentally, ensuring that she herself was protected from having to explain her absence from Emily’s side. She was not able to tell the assailant that it was I who had the diamonds until after you had returned inside, Lady Emily. That was why he then came after me.”
There was a short, stunned silence. Emily felt as though the threads of her world were slowly being pulled apart, tearing at the seams. Sarah, her loyal maid for many years, was now supposedly the one who had brought such fear into her life.
“But why?” she asked, her voice barely louder than a whisper. “Why would she do such a thing?”
Lady Millington gave her a small, sad smile. “I would wager that money has a good deal to do with it, my dear. Besides which, we know very little of Sarah’s background, other than the references she brought with her. I recall that your father, in his grief and mourning, simply hired more staff without the least consideration for their backgrounds.”
Still struggling to believe it, Emily shook her head. “But Sarah has always been so kind,” she said, her voice breaking. “I have shared a good many things with her.”
“Did you ever tell her where you had hidden the diamonds when you were at home, with your father?” Lord Pallson asked gently. “Did she ever ask you about them?”
Trying to remember, Emily felt her brows furrow, as she realized that, yes, Sarah had often asked if the diamonds were safe, but Emily had always just taken it as a ge
ntle concern and had always answered that, yes, they were quite safe, but she had declined to state where they were hidden.
Could it be that Sarah had been told to find them and had become all the more desperate? She could not imagine her gentle maid shooting her father, but then again, until only a few minutes ago, she had not considered her maid anything more than devoted and caring.
“What should we do?” she asked. “We must know the truth, but if we ask Sarah, there can be no assurance that she would tell us.”
Lord Pallson nodded slowly. “I think I may have something,” he said slowly. “It will force the assailant to reveal themselves, although it will require all of us – and Lord Brighton.”
Emily glanced at Lady Millington, who was still drinking her tea. “You do not believe then that Lord Brighton has anything to do with these difficulties?” she asked slowly. “You think him entirely innocent?”
“Yes,” Lord Pallson replied firmly. “But we will require him. Lady Millington, might you speak to him quietly and ensure that he knows what has occurred? I will then meet with him and discuss the plan for this evening.”
Feeling as though everything were being organized around her, Emily pressed Lord Pallson’s hand. He turned to look at her, and she tried to smile at him despite the feeling of being entirely adrift filling her. “What is it you intend, Lord Pallson?” she asked softly. “And what must I do?”
Lord Pallson, evidently aware that she was feeling quite lost, pressed her hand. “I will discuss it all with you this afternoon, Lady Emily,” he promised gently. “But I must go for the moment. Your maid will be back up to see you very soon, and I do not wish to be here when she arrives.”
Emily felt her gut twist at the thought of having Sarah back beside her, dressing her hair and ensuring she was adequately dressed for dinner.
“You must behave entirely as normal,” Lord Pallson instructed, lifting his hands from hers. “You must not allow her to see any anxiety on your part, any mistrust. All must be just as it seems.”
