Lucas stared up at her, hope in his eyes. “You speak true?”
“Clarence, the Duke of Canterbury, is not whomever that masked person is,” she said fiercely. “He is taller, and his shoulders are wider. Help me get out of here, and we will take down that imposter. I swear it to you. They will pay.”
She heard the sound of the rats in the walls and flinched, but her gaze stayed steady as she met Lucas’ scrutiny of her.
“I cannot untie you, for they will know it was me. However, I will send a message. Where should I address it to?”
She pondered whether to send it to her father or Clarence, but Robert might intercept anything sent to Father, so she decided on Clarence. “Send it to the Duke of Canterbury at his address in London. Promise them a gold piece if it arrives sooner than usual. His Grace will give it.”
Lucas’ eyes lit up. “I will send my grandson. He was forced to work here with me, or they’d kill his mother. We have been trapped for far too long. I will leave you the lantern, but I must go.”
Lillian squashed the instinctive wish to have him stay. The lantern might help keep the vermin at bay. Or just help me see their beady eyes as they tear into my flesh. She swallowed back the revulsion that thought wrought in her. “Thank you,” she said fervently. “I will be in your debt.”
“No, my lady. If we are freed from this tyrant, we will be in your debt.” With those last words, he left the room.
“My lady,” Janice’s voice held hope. It helped steady Lillian’s nerves.
“Yes, Janice,” she replied quietly.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help the terrors.”
“Sweet friend, no, it is not your fault. I cannot see reason with rats. You know that. It is not the fault of anyone, save my own dank imagination. I fear that I shall have to live with it the rest of my life. The sensation of them biting me will never leave me.”
Her breathing sped up just thinking about it. She tried to work up spit in her dry mouth, but found it a futile task.
“I understand, my lady.”
Lillian knew this to be true. Janice had a similar reaction to spiders, which Lillian didn’t care for either, but she didn’t scream when she saw them. Although, if they were to crawl on her and bite her… “Enough of that,” she said aloud.
“My lady?”
“Sorry, Janice. My imagination conjured up spiders, and that is all I will say on the matter.”
“Agreed,” Janice replied fervently.
They were silent then. Lillian worried that Jarvis would return long before a message could reach Clarence, much less have him there for her. And what of his wounds? What if he’d already died trying to rescue her?
With supreme effort, she tried to find the hope from yesterday. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she focused on Clarence’s eyes, his smile, more the feeling of safety he gave her. He’d saved her when she’d been merely a woman, a stranger in need of help. How much more would he be willing to do now that they were betrothed. She knew he had feelings for her. His ravings and mutterings during his fever had told him what he had not while conscious. Her own love could no longer be denied. No one else gave her the sense of belonging she had while with him. It was crazy, sudden, made no sense, but it was there, nonetheless.
Slowly, her heart changed to a steady rhythm, and peace hit her. He would come for her, save her from Jarvis’ perfidy and hatred. She vowed that if she survived this situation, she’d tell him of her love as soon as possible, regardless.
Steps sounded from outside the chamber again. Janice squeaked in fear, and Lillian’s whole body tensed, pushing acute pain down her arms and neck.
Jarvis threw the door open, and it crashed into the wall with a resounding boom. Her body jumped in surprise, and pain sluiced through her. A moan of pain slipped past her lips. His creepy laugh washed over her, and her body went numb with fear.
“I see that old codger has been here checking out my handy work. He left the light on just for me.” His sneer pushed her terror back to the forefront, but the recent bout with the rats made whatever he planned a little less frightening—unless it was to let the rats eat them alive.
She shuddered, which made him grin more. Let him think it was about his handy work. Better than him knowing her true horror.
He sauntered over to her table and gripped her bloody ankles in a tight squeeze. Unable to stop the cry of pain, she let the tears fall, no longer caring if he saw them. The pain became too much for her to bear without showing it.
“I see the rats found you. Even faster than the last person I had here.” The lantern light glowed in his eyes as if the demons of hell resided within.
Lillian screeched as his nails dug into the raw flesh of the bites. Somewhere in her fear, anger burned at his torture, giving her courage. “Leave. Me. Alone.” Her words came out strong, a promise of reprisal within.
A flash of surprise covered his face. “You do not give the orders here, Baroness,” he sneered, but nonetheless released her ankles.
He took the few steps over to Janice’s table. Lillian turned her head and forced herself to watch, to know what all she’d need to get him back for and not hide from it.
He pinched Janice’s breasts, and Lillian called out, “Touch her again like that, and I’ll tell your master what you’ve done.”
As she’d planned, his attention came back to her. He slapped her across the face. “He is not my master. I am using him, and he doesn’t even know it.”
Blood spurted inside her mouth. She coughed and sputtered it out, defiantly spitting it on him. “You are not smart enough to pull that off,” she taunted.
He backhanded her again, then wiped the blood off on her robe, grazing her breasts, watching her face with a leer. “You yellow livered bastard. Your perfidy knows no bounds,” she said, her voice low with the depth of her anger. “I will kill you myself, if it’s the last thing I live to do,” she vowed.
For a moment, she had the pleasure of seeing fear and doubt in his eyes before he abruptly turned away and grabbed the lantern. “Let’s see how brave you are in the dark. Maybe the rats will take care of you for me, leaving nothing to bury.”
His laugh echoed down the hall as he departed the room, the light receding.
The whimper of fear left her. “Please, Clarence, come soon,” she whispered as the scratching in the walls became louder and more insistent.
“I promise, when we are out of here, I will make this up to you, Janice.”
“My lady, it is not your fault.”
“But you have been there for me all my life. Your calmness now helps.”
“I am terrified, my lady, but I do not have the fear of rats. I also could not be as bold as you against Jarvis. I think…” The sound of a small sob escaped Janice. “I think he’d had worse planned when he came in here. You distracted him.”
“I hope it lasts,” she replied fervently. “At least long enough for rescue.”
More footsteps approached, and the glow of light grew brighter. Had Jarvis returned already? She held her breath, waiting. Then Lucas came into view, and she released it in relief. “I cannot stay long,” he said, setting the lantern on the table like before. He also held a basin and a tin cup.
He dunked the cup in, and the sound of splashing had her throat swallowing reflexively. He set the basin next to the lantern and held her head, bringing the cup to her lips. He carefully tilted it, and she drank deeply. He repeated the process with Janice, then alternated between them until they said no more.
“I am sorry I can’t be doing more for you,” Lucas said as he picked the bowl back up. “I had to sneak this out as it was. I will be back with some bread and more water as soon as I can. Cook is baking a little extra special like.”
“Thank you. Please be careful.” Lillian’s heart swelled up. As ugly as the situation was, it helped to know that the people here were being forced to obey under duress and not because they wanted to.
“Thank you. My grandson left
within minutes of our talk this morning. The cook is ecstatic that we may be freed of the imposter. We have been living under the shadow of the threats from The Dark Duke for many years, my lady. At least a decade. By the time we suspected it might not be the Duke of Canterbury, it was too late. Our loved ones were in danger.”
“I am sorry, Lucas. I cannot express how much that saddens me.”
“It is enough that we will escape it. Now, I must go,” he said hurriedly before leaving.
Hope blossomed in her again, stronger than before. He’d come for her tonight. From the depths of her soul, she believed it.
“My lady, do you think we will be saved?”
Lillian heard the cautious hope in her maid’s voice. “Yes,” she replied with all the conviction she held. “He will come. He is strong and capable. We just have to hold on.”
“I will try. I hurt all over, except where I can’t feel at all. My hands…I can’t wiggle them. The shackles are too tight.”
“We will ask Lucas to loosen them a little, if he can.” But fear for her maid’s hands wouldn’t completely go away. She clenched and unclenched her own hands, grateful they still worked even as the pain wrenched through her.
They lay there silent for a long time. Lillian didn’t know what else to say to help her maid, other than to say they would be okay. But that could only be said so many times. How much longer until someone came for them?
All at once, the man in the mask rose up like a specter. She hadn’t heard the steps so had no warning. “I wish things could be different,” he said. “I truly admire you. Jarvis can’t shut up about your impudence. Did you really spit blood on him?” Laughter in the voice confused Lillian, but she answered the question.
“Yes” she replied with pride. “And I’ll do it again. He gets too close, I’ll bite him.”
Now the laughter came out full fledged and a little higher pitched. “It would be easier if I didn’t like you. He would go and find one of the few women of Polite Society who had more than cotton between the ears for a wife, even if he had to go to the enemy’s camp to find her.”
All of Lillian froze. The tone, the words… No. Her mind tried to deny it, but she suddenly knew. That flash of smile she’d scene when the scarf slipped earlier… It couldn’t be…
“My father and I are as much a victim of Jarvis as anyone else,” she defended, but watched and listened closely for any sign that she was wrong—or right—about what her ears told her.
The low laugh came again, this time, the tone proud and smug. “I am no one’s victim. I’ve been controlling Jarvis for so long, he doesn’t even know he’s been controlled. He’d be furious if he found out my real name. I will have my revenge on Clarence, and Jarvis will take the fall.”
“Why are you telling me all this?” It didn’t bode well for her future. No way this much would be revealed if they planned to let her and Janice go.
“You know, you’re right. I have no reason to tell you all this, except that I truly like you and will regret the need to kill you. Not enough to change my plans, but you truly came as a surprise.”
Then one of the stranger’s hands reached out to her ankles as a gasp left her. “Rats?” The hands traced around the cut Jarvis had left. Lillian watched, helpless, and then something familiar about the hands collided with what her mind had denied earlier.
“No,” she whispered then looked into the eyes. The blue eyes so much like Clarence’s. The blue eyes which had helped her choose fabrics… “Lady Amber,” she said grimly, noting Janice’s gasp beside her.
“Fair cop,” she replied and took off the mask with a deep sigh. “It will be a relief not to have to pretend around you anymore.” She rolled her shoulders back and stretched. “Binding my bosom is confining, but truly, not any worse than those awful corsets. Men’s clothing is so much more freeing. It allows one to move much quicker, and no one tells me I must have a chaperone to go anywhere. Truly, you should try it sometimes.” Then she laughed.
Lady Amber spoke as if they were talking about a soiree and its attendees. This cold detachment scared her more than Jarvis’ hotheadedness.
“You…you aren’t really a lady’s companion, are you?” Rather tame, but it was all Lillian could think of to keep her talking. Sickness pooled in her gut, making her nauseous again.
Her laugh tinkled out, no longer holding the deeper tones Lady Amber had imbued into everything. “Of course not, you ninny. I heard rumor that your father was looking and couldn’t resist a chance to get into your home and have more access to Jarvis and his family. Plus, I was paid to do it.” She laughed again. “I demanded a month’s pay in advance. Imagine my surprise when I learned you and Clarence became engaged. I couldn’t have designed a better happenstance. It’s too bad the Dowager Duchess made me stay with her. Then again, I nearly killed her, but she kept too many servants about her all the time.”
“But…why? It makes no sense.”
“Two birds, one stone. Clarence needs to pay for what he and his father did to mine. Jarvis, for what he did to me in my first shipping venture out.” The venom in her voice shot darts of fear to poke holes in Lillian’s hope for rescue.
“What is worth all this…elaborate scheme?” She couldn’t fathom how she could pretend so long.
“Clarence’s do good father interfered with mine doing his husbandly job. My mother is weak willed and deserved what she got. Father was just making her do as she was meant to do. Once Canterbury threatened my father, my mother took me away to live on Canterbury’s lands and didn’t let me see him. I left her as soon as I could and made it to my father’s house, where he took care of me and gave me all the attention I wanted. He let me do whatever pleased me. Helped me get back at the girl who stole my beau. It was my first killing.”
Lillian couldn’t keep the shock off her face.
“You are so naïve, Lillian. It is really too bad. Someone with your brains and money would be good to have around. Much better than Jarvis, though he has had his uses. Once he claims your family money, I’ll have him give me all that is not entailed, and he will die. A sad, sad death, and end of the Lamberth line.”
She stood and began to put her mask back on with a dramatic sigh. “As nice as it’s been to finally let someone in on my brilliance, I’m afraid, it is time to kill you both.”
Chapter Sixteen
Clarence slept off and on, but only when his body forced him to slow down. He had every peeler out searching for Lillian and Janice. He’d stop at nothing to get her back. And if she wasn’t alive when he found her… No, he couldn’t think that way. Therein lay the path to panic and despair. But try as he might to ignore it, his nightmare continuously returned to taunt him, to remind him that this was his fault. He should have given up his vengeance, or at least, left it to the courts once he’d met Lillian.
He stood up and paced, holding his side once in a while to ease the pressure, letting all the information he’d read simmer in the back of his mind.
“Your Grace, there is a young lad here with a message he refuses to give to anyone but The Dark Duke.”
Clarence frowned in annoyance. “I do not have time for paltry things, George.”
“As I am well aware, my lord. He says…it’s from The Dark Duke.”
Clarence stopped midstride. “Sorry?”
“Yes, it is true. He appears anxious and afraid. I thought, perhaps, it would be good for you to speak with him.”
Clarence glared at George then went to the door where the lad stood. Disheveled, clothing in tatters, the young male nonetheless gave him a look of hope. “You have a message for me?”
“Are you…are you truly The Dark Duke? The proper Dark Duke?”
“So I’ve heard it said.”
“Here.” The crumpled paper was shoved toward him, and he just stared at it. “There is someone pretending to be you holding a couple of women hostage. My grandfather wrote you a note.”
Clarence grabbed the note out of the boy’s hand and ski
mmed it. “George,” he bellowed. “Have Henry bring the carriage round. Send for the peelers and Lamberth. We have a lead.”
Hope wormed its way in despite telling himself to hold back. “You, lad, what’s your name?”
“Howard, sir. If you please. Your Grace.” The boy held his hat in his hand, turning it round.
“Easy, Howard. You have done a great service. You will ride in the carriage with me back to this imposter’s place. Come here.” He led the boy into the study and went to his desk. He pulled out a quid and handed it to Howard.
His eyes widened as he stared at it in his hand.
“There will be more once we’ve rescued everyone.”
The boy rushed him and hugged him. “We have been trapped, Your Grace. He…the one pretending to be you…threatened to kill my mother if we didn’t obey or told anyone. They killed Gina when she tried to run away.”
Howard’s words hit Clarence hard, and his wound throbbed. He sat for a minute, getting his bearings. Well, if that was what happened, no wonder rumors abounded that he was a murderer.
“Howard, it was not me.”
“I know, sir. You’re taller and wider, Your Grace, begging your pardon.”
“I will get to the bottom of this and help those who’ve had to live under the imposter’s thumb. You have my word.”
Howard’s eyes shone with unshed tears. “Thank you, your lordship. My mother being safe is the greatest gift I could ask for.”
“Lamberth has arrived,” George announced as he entered the study. “He is anxious to be going.”
“Yes, I imagine so.” Clarence stood up and walked around his desk. Putting a hand on Howard’s shoulder, he said, “You have been courageous to come here. I will not forget it.”
He guided the young man out to the hallway and handed him over to George. “The two of you get in the carriage. He will ride topside to give you directions. Make sure he has a warmer coat and hat before we depart.”
Darkest Valentine Page 14
