Page 75 of Her Magnificent Mistake
A new voice. “On that, you are incorrect, my lord.”
Hawk spun about to see Artrip—Artrip?—step out from behind the cottage, holding a gun.
“What—Artrip, what the fook?” Slowly edging around the picnic blanket so he was standing in front of Allie and Rupert, who had scrambled to their feet, Hawk shook his head to see the old butler waving such a thing around. “Put down that gun, someone might get hurt.”
The distinguished older man didn’t seem to hear him. He held the revolver confidently, the tip of the barrel pointing too accurately at Allie to allow Hawk to breathe.
Oh fook.
“Oh, this is delicious, is it not?” he murmured. “You running up here, my lord, so you might die in the most fitting of ways. I had only intended to kill your niece up here, hence why I followed her.” He edged sideways, his stance sure. “I followed her, you followed me, Lady Marcia followed you. Like some sort of Scooby Doo farce.”
Hawk’s arms were out from his side, trying to offer Allie some protection, but that utter tripe made him blink. “I—what?”
It was Rupert who hummed thoughtfully. “Ah, theScoobius doobiusis I believe the scientific name of the North Americancanusfamily known for its?—”
“Shut up, this is not about you,” snapped Artrip, momentarily pointing the gun at the lad. Cursing silently, Hawk did his best to shoo Rupert behind him as well, but…well, he was only so broad.
Trying to draw Artrip’s attention back to him, Hawk cleared his throat. “Whatisthis about, Artrip? Ye’ve been loyal to my family for years.”
“Oh, I amsoglad you asked, my lord, I was hoping for a monologue moment. I did not get the opportunity with the others.”
“A what?” Rupert asked, and Hawk considered smacking him to get him to stop drawing the attention of the madman with the gun.
Artrip puffed out his chest and used his free hand to smooth down his extensive combover. “A monologue moment, you puffed up popinjay—you think you know everything! You know, this is the moment when I explain everything as the hero becomes more desperate for escape.”
Hawkwaslooking around frantically now, wondering if he could nudge Allie and Rupert down the slippery stone steps toward freedom. Would a broken ankle be a sufficient gamble for freedom?
“Of course,” Artrip continued, the gun pointed solidly at Hawk, “I am the hero in this situation. Are you not going to ask,but why are you doing this, Artrip?”
“But why are you doing this, Artrip?” Allie blurted out, a tad shrill, though Hawk could forgive her that.
And every second Marcia was getting closer…
The butler inclined his head gratefully. “Thank you, my dear. You have impeccable timing.”
Nay, ignore her! Keep the gun pointed at me! Hawk ground out, “I’m more interested in hearing aboutthe others. The ones ye couldnae monologue to. Who are they?”
“Why, your family.” Artrip’s grin was polite and deferential, which made the subject matter all the more horrifying. “I killed your Uncle William and your cousins, Franklin and Roger.”
“Nay,” Hawk rasped, eyes wide. Ithadbeen murder? “They died from excess, and bad eels, and shite riding ability, everyone kens?—”
Artrip waggled the gun in a scolding way. “Helped along by poison to mimic bad food, a pillow held over William’s mouth—good heavens, that man was strong—and a slice off Roger’s saddle girth.”
“Holy shite,” muttered Rupert.
Hawk raised his voice. “Ye murdered them? In cold blood?”
“Oh no, in quite hot blood. That is the point. This was fueled by anger and years of hatred. Your grandfather, now?—”
Hawk surged forward, love for his Grandda transformed into hate of the man before him. Only Allie’s hold on the back of his shirt kept him from grabbing Artrip and being shot. “You killed Grandda as well?” he roared. “He was an auld man!”
“Older than I am, certainly, but not by too much,” Artrip continued smoothly, as if Hawk hadn’t just tried to tear that combover from his head. “And weak. He barely fought at all as I pressed the pillow against his mouth.”
Oh God. Oh, Christ in Heaven. I’m sorry, Grandda. So sorry.
Hawk’s throat was closing with emotion, and he could barely process this. They had all been murdered after all, even his Grandda. He had never even suspected.
“And what about the rest?” Rupert asked. “Hawk’s brother and wee cousin?”
