Page 94 of Passions of a Wicked Earl
“I was thinking of withdrawing in order to take a short nap. I don’t suppose you’d care to join me?”
She saw the doubts in his eyes as he kissed her hand.
“I’m fully recovered. The doctor said so.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to say this—I’d like to spend a bit more time visiting with Stephen. He’ll be leaving England as soon as he gets his orders. He’s warned Mother not to interfere. Maybe after your rest, he could walk you about the garden.”
“Just the two of us?”
“Just the two of you.”
Leaning over, she kissed him. He trusted her at long last, he trusted her completely. “Thank you. Tell him I’ll meet him at the pond in twenty minutes.”
He helped her to stand, and she felt his gaze on her as she made her way into the manor.
In her bedchamber, she saw the black skirt of one of the maids peeking out from behind the open door of the wardrobe. She was no doubt putting away some things.
“Please see to those matters later,” she said. “I’m going to lie down for a rest now.”
She walked toward her bed so she could yank on the bellpull. Suddenly, a cloth was covering her mouth—
And the world went black.
When she awoke, she was lying spread-eagled on the bed, her arms and feet secured to the posts. She was gagged, and, to her horror, Lady Anne Cavill was standing over her.
“You’re wondering what I’m doing here,” Lady Anne said, smiling benignly. “It’s simple really. I love Westcliffe. He doesn’t understand how much. I would do absolutely anything for him. Presently, you are in the way. So, you are distraught over the loss of the child and are going to kill yourself.”
Claire’s stomach roiled. Dear God, the woman was mad.
“Hemlock,” she said softly, lifting a vial. “It will be relatively quick. Unlike what my husband went through. I used arsenic with him. Took forever because I wanted people to think it was an illness.”
Claire shook her head.
“Yes,” Lady Anne said. “I had no choice. Westcliffe
had standards of a sort. He’d not take as his lover a woman who was married. Which was your fault of course. He knew what it was to find his wife in another man’s arms. So I had to eliminate my husband. Then you came to London. Rather convenient, really, because I knew sooner or later that you’d have to go as well. Pity he moved in front of you at Cremorne. The gent I hired was not as good a shot as he claimed.”
Good Lord! I was the target.
“Then Westcliffe fell in love with you. I didn’t want him mourning your death, and so I needed him to be angry with you again. That was where Stephen and the ball came in. But you figured it out. So here he is, once again at your side and upset with me. So I need you to kill yourself. He can mourn, then I shall be there for him.”
Struggling against the bonds, Claire fought to think of some way to get out of this situation. She tried to scream, but the gag made her feel as though she were choking.
“Now, the sticky part,” Lady Anne continued as though they were discussing a new flavor of tea, “is that when I remove the gag to give you the poison, you’re going to want to scream. Please don’t. Ready?”
Claire stared at the vial. The woman was going to force its contents down her throat.
“And don’t worry,” Lady Anne whispered. “I shall arrange you very nicely.”
She reached for the cloth.
The door opened. “I’ve had as much of Stephen—”
Claire tried to scream through the gag as Westcliffe came to a sudden halt. “My God. What the hell? Anne?”
Suddenly, a small pistol was in Lady Anne’s hand. “This is not what I wanted. But if I cannot have you in life, I shall have you in eternity.”
She fired.
