Darkest Death, page 16
part #2 of Darkest Series
“Faster,” the duke said.
They didn’t speak anything else. A few minutes later, they were helping him up into a nondescript carriage. Then he sat down and back, his hands touching the fine leather seats. Well, not nondescript on the inside. He couldn’t believe how rich the carriage felt on the inside compared to the other carriage that he knew about.
The duke banged on the ceiling, and off they went, still silent. He carefully lay his bashed up head on the area reserved for it, Lady Sarah by his side, clasping his hand. It stung against the mild abrasions, but he’d be damned if he would mention it.
The air lay heavy with tension. Lord Archer worried about being followed, but couldn’t say why, especially as he couldn’t even remember clearly who’d hit him. Grogginess remained in his mind, and he only hoped things would clear up soon.
They made it to the townhouse without incident, and he accepted the help into the house as his head swam every time he moved it, making him feel as if it would float away like a hot air balloon. They took him to a chaise lounge in a sitting room near Canterbury’s library/study. Gingerly aware of the multiple bumps on his head, he tried to put things in perspective.
“Since my head is being uncooperative for this evening, would someone please tell me how the hell you happened to find me? I thought you’d all gone home already.”
“We had,” Lady Lillian said. But then Sarah—”
“Archer!” Hermione called out in something closer resembling a screech than anything else. She threw herself on him in a hug. He held back the dry heaves and hugged her back.
“Well, sister, that was quite the welcome. Should I inquire as to what you are up to this good evening?” he said as she sat back, perched on the edge of the lounge.
She slapped his shoulder with a cry laugh and then hugged him again. This time, he couldn’t stop the grunt of pain or the retching motion.
She jumped so back with an, “Oh!” and stood with her arms crossed.
His Sarah rushed to him, putting an arm behind his shoulder. “Archie! What is it?”
“My head. I was hit hard. I feel sick when I move too much, or my head jerks around and the dizziness will swamp me and cause me to want to retch.”
“What can we do?”
“Just a cool rag for my forehead perhaps? It might help with my headache.” He rubbed his forehead, resisting rubbing the lumps on the back of his head, but only barely.
“Do you want laudanum? Opium? I don’t know. Anything. I can’t stand seeing you in this pain,” Lady Sarah said urgently.
He closed his eyes as her soft hands brushed down his cheek. This soft love, the deep abiding friendship turned with lust, gave a peace to his heart that he never wanted to lose. He enclosed her small hand in his larger one, pressing it down against his cheek. “No, love. I need to have my wits about me.”
“You are currently witless!” she said in frustration. “You’re in so much pain, you can’t walk. How is not getting relief from that going to help?”
The worry in her eyes only caused him to fall in love with him more. “What did I do to deserve you,” he said softly.
A sharp intake of breath on her part, her eyes darkened, and she leaned in closer, her breaths now coming in short gasps. “Nothing. But all the same, I can’t help how I feel,” she said quietly.
“Ahem,” Hermione said.
“We’re still here,” Lady Lillian reminded them. The duke just laughed.
The flush wafting across Lady Sarah’s cheeks endured her even more to him when she did not pull away. She completely ignored them. “Lord Downing had me doubting you, your intentions. Because of what happened with Hermione, I was afraid…”
“What? What did that man do?”
“Which man?”
He narrowed her eyes at him. He knew what the marquess had done. “The Lord Downing one. Don’t play coy.”
“He said you only seduced me to get closer to Lady Lillian and the duke. Remember? You were there.”
He had been, and it had slipped right by him. “My dear, dear Sarah.” That had to have hurt her, and he’d been so caught up in the espionage, he hadn’t considered how the words might haunt her when they were apart. He took her face in his palms and drew her slowly to him, softly kissing her on the lips. “One does not send in the betrothal news to the Times if one does not plan on actually marrying.”
“Something I hadn’t even thought of checking,” Hermione murmured. “Archer, there is something you need to know. The Marquess of Oxford didn’t just seduce me and promise we were engaged like I told you and our parents. It was worse than that. Only Lady Lillian and Lady Sarah knew the whole truth of it.”
Guilt tracked across Sarah’s eyes, as clearly as a rain storm across the sky. She pulled back and sat primly straight as if in Lady Bethany’s School for Young Ladies. Well, now he knew what she looked like when she felt guilty, but what possibly could be worse than a fake engagement to get her pregnant?
“I think it might be part of why Sarah’s upset now, worried and wondering. He took me to Gretna Green,” Hermione continued.
“He what?” both he and the duke bellowed in unison.
“He took me away. Made me believe we were married. Turned out to be a drunk bartender he’d paid to pretend to be a clergyman.”
The tears now flowed down her face, and Lord Archer now wished he’d punched the Marquess of Oxford in his very straight, long nose. He would next time, he vowed.
“Well. That tears it,” the duke said. “I see now why you asked me to keep him destroy him monetarily, Lillian.”
“What?” Hermione, Lady Sarah, and Lord Archer gasped.
“She asked me for a favor. I have put balls in motion. I have more I can do. I will utterly destroy him. I can make it so that he will not be welcomed across the threshold of decent establishments or anyone who values their reputation and standing of polite society. I can do all of this, if you’d like,” he said to Hermione.
That underlying steel and threat in his voice reminded Lord Archer that not all of The Dark Duke’s reputation came because of the copycat duke. He wanted to jump in and tell the duke yes. But recent events had taught him that his sister and her friends held a strong will of their own.
“I… A week ago, I would have said yes. But let me think about it.” One hand covered her throat, the other arm wrapped around her waist, sitting on her baby bump. She appeared conflicted.
Lord Archer swallowed hard against the anger pulsing in him at the marquess’ treatment of his sister. His surprise that Lady Lillian had asked for a favor—and been granted it—without telling the details came as a bit of a shock and helped mitigate the dark emotions swirling in him. He ignored the throbbing in his head as best he could. “Let me get this straight, Your Grace. Lady Lillian asked you for a favor, and you granted it without knowing why?”
“Of course. Her explanation was that it was not her story to tell. I accepted her loyalty to her friend and trusted she had her reasons.”
Lord Archer shook his head. “Even while the darkest of rumors were spread about you, I’d heard you were a champion of women. That you protected them. I thought them as unfounded as the others. You and I will need to have a talk. I’d like to ensure my sister was as protected as your own mother.”
“I would be pleased to do that.”
“Excuse me. Your sister is standing right here.”
“And a very strong willed and mouthy one she is, too,” Lord Archer teased as Lady Sarah gave him a look. But he saw the glint of amusement in her eyes and winked at her, enjoying that flush again stealing across her cheeks. I am sorry, sis, but the best way is to have the men make sure you are protected. Not because we don’t believe you can, but because of the way current morals and laws are favored.”
She appeared ready to mutiny again. He recognized only too well that particular jut of her chin. But then she relented. “Agreed. And the baby will benefit from it, so I supposed now is not the time to be stubborn.” He noticed how her voice had softened at the word baby and wondered at it. He made a mental note to ask her at a later time.
“Wait. What if the marquess is paying someone to harass us? He may be angry that she is not completely ruined. He has to know her baby is his. He bragged about his seduction of Hermione.”
His sister gasped then tears streamed down her face with no warning. “He bragged,” she choked out.
He leaned his head back. “Word got back to me fairly quickly, and I squashed it, but yes. Even with the husband who died, he might fear others might remember. If he’s been systematically blocked from making investments, that might push him to seek revenge.”
“He would have to be daft to attack us now. If caught, the consequences would be dire. Worse than a baby scandal. Even the most proper of women will allow their daughters to marry a man who’d ruined another lady.”
“Yes, they would,” Lady Sarah said bitterly. “The blame always falls on the women, even if she did not want the attentions.”
“People are cruel,” Hermione added, stroking her stomach, causing him to wonder who’d hurt her about the baby.
“We know this all too well,” Lady Lillian added in bitterly. “My uncle Jarvis and my brother got away with much too much. And it’s worse if you are a servant as well.”
Lord Archer exchanged a look with His Grace. Their women obviously held some strong feelings they would need to help heal. “I will help you ladies get justice as much as we can. Jarvis is dead,” he added. “So that will have to be the final justice. Your brother is, too. It’s the latter we need to worry about right now. What motive did anyone have now that Jarvis is dead,” he asked.
“Tying up loose ends,” Clarence replied instantly. “I’ve been thinking about it ever since the Earl of Lamberth approached us this evening. I and the bow street runners always knew he was not the highest in the chain. Someone else, someone over Lady Amber, was also in charge.”
A loud knock landed on the duke’s front door. All of them stared in shock. At three in the morning, it was definitely not time for visitors.
“I’ll get it,” Duke Clarence said quietly, and pulled a pistol out from under his suit jacket, reminding Lord Archer of his own.
He felt under his jacket. It remained in its holster. One last worry, at least.
He tried to hear what was said. Hermione and Lady Lillian went to the doorway and Lady Sarah stayed with him and held his hand. “Murderers don’t usually knock,” he whispered. “It’s likely the authorities.”
“Yes, but what good would they have to tell us that could not wait until morning?” She squeezed his hand tighter. “We haven’t told you how we found you. There was a pistol near you. I believe you were supposed to be caught with Lord Robert and framed for his death.”
Lord Archer could only stare at her, wishing he could refute her words. Unfortunately, they made too much sense.
Had the law come for him?
Chapter Twenty
Lady Sarah
Fear and anger swept through her in revolutions, but she kept them under control and squeezed his hand. She knew that Lord Archie would never kill someone in cold blood, but he would in self-defense. And until he remembered more clearly the events of the night, he would be unable to explain himself.
She kissed his hand, then his forehead, and then moved to the doorway with Lady Lillian and Hermione.
“Can I help you, gentlemen?”
“There’s been a death, Your Grace,” the man said, his voice wobbling the only sign of nerves.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Who are you, and who is it that is said to have died?”
“I’m sorry, my lord. I’m with the London police. My name is Martin Smith. These are the night watchmen. Patrick O’Leary does his rounds here, and Miles Johnson is in charge of the area where the body was found. The person who has died has been identified as Robert Lancaster, the Earl of Lamberth’s son, your duchesses’ brother.”
Lady Sarah and Hermione followed as Lady Lillian went out to meet her husband. “Did I hear you say my brother is dead?” she asked. In the pale light from the lamps in the entry way, her face appeared strained.
All three of the police took their hats off as she approached. “Yes, Your Grace. I’m sorry to say, your ladyship that he has been positively identified by Lord Downing.”
“Lord Downing,” she asked sharply, and Lady Sarah put her hand on her friend’s shoulder to help her calm. The news bit her as well, but they had to keep a façade of calm about Lord Downing. “What does he know about my brother? No, you must be mistaken. Surely, my brother would not have died so soon after being released. We just saw my parents and brother at Hampsteads tonight, at that soiree.”
“Your Grace,” he said, clearing his throat. “See, it was in the alley behind Hampsteads where we found him. We think he was the victim of a footpad in the area, looking to find an unsuspecting gent or lady.”
“I see. How was he found?”
“Shot in the heart and a weapon next to him with Jarvis engraved. We have already spoken with your father. He directed us here. So we know that Jarvis was his uncle, and that they got along famously. We think that the footpad fought with him and shot him with his own weapon.”
Lady Sarah’s heart tripped at a gallop as if in a race to the finish line. If she hadn’t seen Lord Archer there, the scenario would work exactly. But she doubted the coincidence of Lord Downing finding the body after Archer had been knocked unconscious.
“I see,” Lady Sarah interrupted. “Please, I must get my friend some tea. This whole situation is disturbing.”
“I’m sorry, my lady.”
“I am Countess of York,” she said primly.
“Countess, I am truly sorry to have interrupted your sleep time, but Lord Downing does not agree with our assessment and has asked that we find a Lord Archer. A friend of yours and the Duke and Duchess of Canterbury.”
“And my brother,” Hermione said.
“Your brother? You’re the Honorable Hermione?”
“Yes, I am. And I am a widow with child who needs her rest, especially after such shocking revelation.”
“We are truly sorry. We will leave soon. However, do you know where your brother is?”
“He is not here,” she said at the same time Lady Sarah thought to say he’d been with them all night. She thought she saw where this was going.
“When did you see him last?”
“Is this really necessary,” she snapped. “We have a woman who has just learned of her brother’s death, and a pregnant woman whom you are causing stress with your questioning. I hardly see the point of it.” She played as if she didn’t understand exactly why. Lord Downing was not someone Martin Smith could ignore.
“I am truly sorry, Countess, but Lord Downing was insistent he’d seen the two of them leave out back together.”
“Very well, then, if we must go through with this. He escorted us to Duke of Canterbury’s carriage, then said he’d planned to go back to the estates tonight, though he may have chosen to stay at his townhouse,” Lady Sarah said. “We’ve just become engaged, and tomorrow, the announcement would be printed in the Times. I’m staying with Duchess of Canterbury and brought Hermione along to start planning an engagement party.”
“I’m truly sorry to have disturbed you, Countess, especially with such bad news.”
“Hardly bad news, Mister Smith,” she said sharply. “Robert terrorized me and Hermione every time the family brought him to see us growing up. Thankfully, they left him home a lot. He was the worse to the duchess, even helping perpetuate a kidnapping against the duchess. Did her father mention that?”
“No, Countess, he did not.” He’d glanced at her keenly then. “I am surprised you did. It seems to give all of you a motive to have killed him yourselves.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Is this how the newly formed police investigate? It is a wonder we do not have murderous thieves in every corner of London. If we’d have wanted to kill him ourselves, we could have done it long ago. No, Lords Robert and Jarvis were working with Lady Amber and others to kidnap and torture. Find his cohorts. Those are likely the people responsible. Did you know that Lord Jarvis also happened to die this week?”
He’d taken a step back and turned a bright red when she first started. Now he leaned in close, eyes sparking with interest. “You don’t say? And where were all of you when that fortuitous event occurred?”
“I can hardly say since we do not have the details, only heard it from the Earl of Lamberth, who, of course, was highly upset. I am surprised he didn’t mention it.”
She nearly felt sorry for the man. She had him coming and going, and she knew it, had planned it. “Oh, and about Lord Downing? I would be careful of believing anything he says. He threatened me tonight because I refused to dance with him. He is uncouth and a low, vile snake of a man who does not deserve his title. Perhaps you should ask Lord Downing what he was doing in that alley to have discovered him so late. Has it become the practice of the men of the ton to go skulking in dark alleys? He likely killed Lord Robert himself to frame Lord Archer so he could move in and take me for himself. He was not best pleased that I arrived with Lord Archer, and fairly furious when he learned of our engagement. I am certain he was insulted that I chose a mere viscount over a duke with his pedigree.”
It had just come to her as she spoke, trying to keep the bobbies off kilter, but it made a certain amount of sense. Something clicked as she’d said it.
The affable bobbie who’d arrived had left, and in his place was a man who Lady Sarah would be wary of if she were a criminal.
“If there is nothing else, Mister Smith,” Lady Lillian said quietly, “then I beg of you to leave us. My friends and I have had quite the shock this week, and I have only been married a short time and am still adjusting. I doubt that I will get any more rest this evening, but a cup of tea is in order.”
“Of course, Your Grace. You all have given me a lot of information to process myself. I will come back around in the next couple of days to go over things with you. Please stay in London for the foreseeable future. No leaving to places unknown.”
