Page 54 of Taming a Beastly Duke
“Very well,” he said. “I murdered Charlotte. I tried to have Marcus murdered. But you will have a difficult time proving it if you cannot find me.”
Thomas was not prepared for Edwin to take back the journal. Nor was he prepared for Edwin to knock him down and try to flee the room. However, a familiar voice boomed in the doorway.
“Stop,” the constable shouted as Edwin resisted against him. The struggle lasted only a moment before the constable threw Edwin down onto the ground, detaining him just as he had detained Miss Barrett just hours before. “I heard all I needed to hear.”
Thomas pulled himself off the ground just as the constable prepared to lead Edwin through a crowd of morbidly fascinated servants.
“Release Miss Barrett at once,” he said, panting.
The constable nodded.
“As soon as I return, my lord,” he said.
Chapter Twenty-five
Adelaide stood stunned when the guards hurried to her cell with sheepish expressions. One of them fumbled with a key, while the other one mumbled something that might have been an apology if she had been listening. The only thing she heard was what the first guard said.
“You have been released, Miss Barrett,” he said. “We shall get your belongings back to you now. Follow us.”
Adelaide nodded numbly, her body moving despite her brain’s inability to understand what was happening. Just earlier that morning, they had believed her to be a conniving murderess. Now, they were releasing her without so much as an explanation. It was only by listening when they reached the secretary’s desk that she understood what had happened. Lord Edwin had been found guilty of the crimes of which she stood accused. Lord Thomas had discovered evidence and rushed to clear Adelaide’s name. Lord Edwin, it seemed, would be taking her place in the goal.
Adelaide arrived back at Lochville Manor to find another new physician entering Marcus’s room. She rushed up behind him, wanting to question the man, worried after what had happened to Marcus with Mr. Fletcher. But the physician turned to her with a firm expression, shaking his head.
“You cannot come in, Miss Barrett,” he said. “His Grace is gravely ill. I must tend to him at once, or if his condition is half as grim as I have been led to believe, he will die.”
Adelaide nodded, wincing as the door slammed in her face. She paced outside the door, praying that the new physician was not too late. She wrung her hands, chewing her lip until it bled and silently willing the physician to exit the room and speak to her. The memory of Marcus’s betrayed expression haunted her, and she thought about the future. She was unsure whether their love could survive such a horrible breach of trust. Even if it was built on the lies of his murderous cousin.
When the door to Marcus’s chambers opened, the physician stepped out, wiping sweat from his face. He looked at Adelaide with tired eyes, shaking his head.
“His treatments will be aggressive,” he said. “He is not to have any visitors at this time. I do not know how effective the treatments will be withsuch late-stage poisoning. All you can do is wait, and pray as much and as often as you can.”
Adelaide’s heart plummeted. She nodded numbly, the shock of the past couple of days still struggling to allow her emotions to catch up. She watched the physician leave, following after him a few moments later down the stairs in a state of utter fog. Fragments of thoughts struggled to compile sentences, most of which ended up being complete gibberish. She barely managed to find her way to the library, where she collapsed onto the sofa and her shoulders racked with sobs.
When Adelaide felt arms wrap around her, she noticed it was dark outside. She turned her head to see Edith’s pale, tear-stained face looking her over with grave concern.
“You have been asleep for two days, Adelaide,” she said, brushing sweat-soaked hair out of Adelaide’s face. “Are you all right?”
Adelaide blinked, confused.
“I only came in here this morning,” she said, shaking her head.
Edith bit her lip, shaking her head.
“You came in here two mornings ago,” she said. “Grandmother and I have tried waking you since then. But when your aunt failed to get you to respond an hour ago, she was prepared to fetch Mr. Fairfield. He has practically lived here, trying to correct those weeks of poisoning Marcus endured. I asked them all to let me try once more to wake you before they took you away to the clinic.”
Adelaide shook her head more firmly, trying to clear it.
“I do not need the physician,” she said, slowly standing. “I need to see Marcus. I need to know that he will be all right.”
Edith put an arm around Adelaide’s waist, slowly guiding her out of the room.
“No, darling,” she murmured. “You need a good rest in your bed.”
Adelaide began to argue. But her legs were unsteady, and she nearly caused Edith to fall. She nodded, silently allowing her friend to escort her to her chambers. Edith helped her into bed, stroking Adelaide’s damp hair.
“Rest, Adelaide,” she said softly. Her eyes were sad and burdened, as though she knew something Adelaide did not. Adelaide wanted to press her and see what she knew, but the last thing she remembered was Edith’s smile beneath the fresh tears that streamed down her cheeks before sleep claimed her unwittingly once more.
The following morning, Adelaide awoke to find a bottle of laudanum on her bedside table, along with a note from the physician with instructions for strict bed rest and how to take her medicine. She stared at the ceiling, her mind still frantic with the chaotic thoughts of everything that had happened. But soon, she fell into another deep, impenetrable sleep.
