Page 52 of Taming a Beastly Duke
“How can I ever prove it?” she asked, wiping at tears that would not stop falling.
Helena shook her head sadly.
“I do not know, child,” she murmured. “I came to ensure your well-being. However, I also came with news. His Grace has worsened drastically since youwere brought here. His family is around him now, and it seems as if he may not be long for this world.”
Adelaide stared at her aunt in horror. She had known his condition was critical, but to learn that it was now so dire shattered any hope and resolve that remained. She burst into fresh tears, collapsing into her aunt as her grief threatened to engulf her.
“He cannot die,” she cried, her chest aching with every sob. “There has been a terrible mistake, and the real culprit is still there. In that very house.”
Helena pulled back, looking at Adelaide with confusion.
“Are you certain?” she asked.
Adelaide shook her head, fighting with all her remaining strength to compose herself.
“Someone slipped a horrible, accusatory note about Marcus beneath the door to my chambers not long after we first arrived at Lochville Manor,” she said. “I first thought it might be Edith or even the dowager duchess since it directly implicated him in Charlotte’s murder and warned me to get away from him. However, I am now confident that it is Lord Edwin. I do not know how or why he is involved in what is happening to Marcus, but I know there is something quite suspicious about him.”
Helena nodded, the fog in her eyes slowly lifting.
“Are you certain it is not Lord Thomas?” she asked.
Adelaide nodded fervently.
“I found Charlotte’s journal in the library,” she said. “There is a letter she wrote to Lord Thomas, I believe on the same day she died. She suspected someone close to Marcus of being nefarious and dangerous, and since she was writing to Lord Thomas to meet with him and continue discussing a shared suspicion, I know it must be Lord Edwin.”
Helena’s pale face drained of any remaining color.
“He fabricated evidence against you to have you falsely accused,” she whispered as horror overtook her features. She embraced Adelaide, kissing both of Adelaide’s cheeks. “I love you, my dear niece. However, I believe I must return to the mansion. No one can hear your testimony while you sit here. However, I can take this information to Lord Thomas, especially if I can find this journal, and together, we might be able to get your freedom granted.”
Adelaide nodded, but she grabbed her aunt’s shoulders.
“I am grateful for this,” she said. “However, please reveal the truth before it is too late to save Marcus. I would stay here for a lifetime if it gave Marcus a better chance of recovering.”
Helena nodded, giving her niece a doting, knowing smile.
“I shall do everything I can, darling,” she said.
***
Lucy Potter stood in the corner of the room, watching Mr. Fletcher prepare another dose of the tonic for her master. She knew it was not medicine, as she had been the one drugging his drinks for weeks under Edwin’s careful instruction. In the beginning, she had believed she was doing the right thing. She had had faith in Edwin’s word, believing that he would not misguide her and that she could trust the things he said to her. She had even risked her job to intrude on the meeting the Duke had with Mr. Morrison before his untimely accident. She did not know for sure, as Edwin had not told her anything of his plans since the day with the physician, save for giving her cold demands as to how she was to perform when he announced that Miss Barrett was guilty of the poisoning.
Tears stung her eyes as she recalled the devastation in Miss Barrett’s expression as the constable restrained her, the fear and anguish in her eyes as he dragged her, sobbing and pleading, from the duke’s chambers.
This is all my fault, she realized as the guilt neared its peak. My master is dying and an innocent woman will be punished for a crime that is not hers. And it is all because of me…
“Lucy,” Edwin said, pulling her from her thoughts.
Lucy looked up at him, thinking he would offer a kind word or reassurance, now that everyone else was gone.
“Yes?” she asked meekly, clasping her hands in front of her. However, her hope quickly died when she saw the indifference in Edwin’s eyes.
“Go fetch Thomas,” he said. “I would have his assistance with another form of ‘treatment.’ I need him feeling as guilty about Marcus’s death as Marcus felt about Charlotte. That will render him incapable of summoning the strength to do any secret sleuthing.”
Lucy stared at Edwin as realization dawned at last. His demands grew colder each time he spoke to her, and he had not touched her with any tenderness in a fortnight. She was helping Edwin kill a good, innocent man, even though it was Edwin who was the true beast.
“Miss Potter, go,” Edwin shouted, pointing aggressively at the door. “Fetch Thomas at once.”
The sharpness of his words broke her free of her stupor and she fled the room. She did not know where she might find her master’s friend, but she knew what she would tell him when she did.
