Page 135 of Winterset
“A title that I suspect you did not rightly inherit but stole.”
“I did notstealanything. I earned it. My father was an old man. He had no use for it. And my brother was an imbecile who did not deserve the honor. I had no choice. Ihadto protect the title. I made sure they felt no pain.”
“Do you mean to murder me too?” I asked.
“Who said anything about murder?” Markham’s laughter filled the carriage. “You have quite an imagination, Miss Lockwood. But no matter how tempting it might be, even I would not kill a woman. I do havesomemorals.” He shook his head, still chuckling to himself. “You are right about one thing, however: Idomean to silence you. I cannot risk anyone discovering you are alive. Not only would that harm my reputation, but you might also tell someone of your suspicions about how I came to hold the title. You understand.”
“So what will you do with me, then?”
“I am taking myward”—he winked at me as if letting me in on a secret—“to an asylum for the insane.”
“You cannot.”
“I am a baron, Miss Lockwood, a wealthy one. I can do almost anything I want. Don’t worry though; it is a quaint place set upon a cliff in Scotland. There you can say anything you like, and no one will believe a word you say.”
“I am not insane.”
“I disagree. No sane person would fake their own death and hide for two years. Youaremad, Miss Lockwood. You must see this as the kindness it is.”
“It is prison.”
“That too.” He smirked. “You must admit, though, my planisbrilliant, don’t you think? I get to keep a clear conscience, and you get to keep your life.”
“You won’t get away with this.”
“I havealreadygotten away with it. Don’t forget, you have already been dead for two years.”
“Oliver will find me.”
“Oh, I am counting on it,” Markham said, glancing out the side glass. “To be honest, I expected him already.”
My gaze snapped to Markham’s. “What do you mean?”
“You must consider me slow of mind if you think I did not expect him to come after you,” he said. “Why do you think I waited to take you untilafterhe arrived at Summerhaven? My dear, I all but told him where I was taking you. If your Mr. Jennings does not find you, he is a great deal denser than I’ve given him credit for. If that worthless, waste ofa man ruins my chance to use my dueling pistols tonight, I will be most disappointed.”
This was a game to him. He was enjoying this.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“Were you not listening to a word I said?” he hissed, the corners of his mouth curling in contempt. “I told you I want to use my dueling pistols, and I want you silenced in an asylum.”
“I will be silent,” I pleaded. “Only please,please, don’t hurt Oliver.”
Markham sighed and looked heavenward. “I don’t know what women see in that man. In either of the Jennings men. An earl who refuses to use his title and a second son who is too weak to defend it.” He looked disgusted. “I did try to school Mr. Jennings the first night we met in the tavern. And do you know what he did? He had the audacity to look down his nose atme, a peer of the realm. I would be doing the crown a favor to dispatch them both. Then the title could be given to someone deserving.”
Until this moment, I’d been praying Oliver would come for me. That he would find me, subdue Markham, and bring me home. Now I prayed he would take the wrong road, that I would disappear into the night, and that he would remain safe.
But then I heard a noise outside, a horse, and the carriage swerved.
Markham looked out the window and grinned. “It appears your Mr. Jennings has finally found you. What do you think? Should I shoot him right away? Or should I make him suffer?”
I stared into Markham’s soulless eyes. “You are a monster.”
“Only to those who cross me, Miss Lockwood.” Markham alerted the driver to stop. And as the carriage slowed, he leaned forward, feeling for his pistol box.
Seeing an opportunity, I slammed my knee into his nose.
“Lud!” Blood burst from his nostrils like water from a fountain. As he fumbled for his handkerchief, I slid toward the door, and when he tipped back his head to stop the bleeding, I opened the door and jumped.
