Page 19 of Beth: A Regency Romance Novell

“She disappeared years ago. My aunt said she left the country. She probably killed her. They didn’t get on.”

“I’m not interested in your charming family. Where is Beth?” Marcus growled.

“I didn’t lay a hand on her. She ran away. I’m not sure she’s still in the house.”

“She must be here. The place is locked up tight as a drum.” He pushed Ramsey toward the door. “We’ll go and find her. Move.” He prodded Ramsey in the back.

They walked down the passage and stopped at a door. “Whose bedchamber is this?”

“I use it.”

Marcus waved the gun. “Inside.”

Ramsey, holding up the candle stepped into the room. “Empty! As you can see.”

While keeping a close eye on him, Marcus backed into the adjoining dressing room. “Where else could she be? What about the servants’ quarters? Or the tower?”

“I was about to go up there,” Ramsey said. “Until I found the body. Scared the daylights out of me.”

“How do we reach the tower?”

Ramsey grunted. “Why should I tell you?”

Marcus raised the gun. “Because something unpleasant will happen to you if you don’t.”

“There’s a staircase on this floor, at the end of the passage.”

Marcus eyed the wedding gown and veil which was arranged on the bed. “Whose is this?”

“I planned to marry Elizabeth,” Ramsey said. “I’ve a preacher coming.”

Marcus stared at him. “What? Are you mad? Beth would never agree to it.”

“She wouldn’t have had much option. She’d be my baroness. She would have grown accustomed to it.”

“But for God’s sake, why?” He couldn’t believe Ramsey capable of anything as unselfish as pure love.

They walked the length of the passage before Ramsey answered. He opened a door to reveal a set of narrow timber stairs winding upward. He paused on the first step. “I don’t see that it’s any of your business. Why the devil are you here?”

“I’m making it my business.” Marcus prodded him hard between the shoulder blades to move him along. “I intend to return Beth to her family. But I shall deal with you first.”

“I have a damn good reason.” Ramsey’s voice rose a notch. “Harrow knows what it is. Ask him. Bloody dukes have such power.”

“And Harrow tends to use it wisely. Supposing your mad scheme succeeded. What were your intentions? To escape to the Continent with Beth? Your life wouldn’t be worth living in England.”

“She’s a spirited lass. But I would soon grow tired of her, I do quickly enough. Then she could go home again.”

“You really are deranged aren’t you.”

“Want her for yourself, eh, Nyeland?”

“You turn my stomach,” Marcus said. As they climbed the stairs, he steeled himself from the impulse to strike the man down. That would have to wait until Beth was found and brought to safety.

They had reached the upper landing. An arched door led into the round room at the top of the tower.

“Open it,” Marcus ordered.

At the sound of voices on the stairs, Beth and Lilly carried out their plan. Lilly crouched in a far corner while Beth waited behind the door. She held a heavy silver candlestick above her head.

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