Chapter 16
Edmund stretched out his back, feeling his cuts and bruises more acutely today. As he surveyed his work, pride shot through him. This secret garden would provide safety once again. This time, it would belong to Carolyn.
Thinking over the reaction he’d surely receive brought a smile to his face. Likely the gift would touch her as much as it had his grandmother. And, knowing it would be well tended to would surely help his grandmother’s soul rest in peace.
With a smile on his face, he collected the gardening tools and headed toward his stallion. Then, he froze. Wisps of black smoke curled up into the sky from somewhere on his property. The only structure that would be remotely close to that area was his hunting cabin.
An image of his father paraded through his mind. Had the devil released him long enough to allow the flames of hell to consume the structure? But, why?
Spurring into action, he jumped on his stallion and made his way toward the danger. Fear of not knowing what would welcome him gave him an extra push to encourage the beast to move faster. Had a few youths set the blaze by accident? Seeing the baron, viscount, and earl as children in his mind’s eye, his stomach rolled. Someone could be trapped inside exactly like he had been, all those years ago.
When he neared the structure, it was clear the place had been set on fire not long before. Luckily, it had rained last night so the still damp wood held no hint of the flames on the outside the structure. Glancing around, his heart stopped. Carolyn’s mare was bucking against her reins in the horse shelter.
Edmund jumped from his stallion and ran to the door. It was locked. Drawing upon his potent bulk, he kicked at the solid wood. The hinges ripped from the structure, giving him a limited view of the smoke-filled room.
Memories washed over him as the familiar acrid smell filled his nostrils. He coughed and ducked down. Securing his mask over his nose and mouth, he crawled inside, taking advantage of the small bit of air near the floor. Tears formed in his eyes at the combination of smoke and heat, but he blinked rapidly to clear his vision.
Fear held no place in his mind as he moved about the room, intent on finding Carolyn. Seeing her crumpled form next to the bed, he hastened to drag her toward the door. His heart accelerated as sweat poured down his face.
Working quickly, he pulled her out of the building and gulped in the fresh air. Panic gripped his chest when she didn’t move. Running his hands over her, he felt his heart split inside his chest. This couldn’t be happening again. He couldn’t lose her.
Recalling how Thomas had revived her, he pushed on her chest rapidly and blew into her mouth, praying it would bring the life back into her. Nothing happened. Tears spilled down his cheeks as he continued to give her as much fresh air as he could. She needed to breathe. Now. For him. He couldn’t live without her. He loved her too much.
Carolyn coughed, and he nearly collapsed in relief. When she opened her eyes and looked at him, he pulled her into his arms, burying his face in her hair, still strongly coated in smoke. His chest ached as all the love he held for her threatened to consume him.
“Edmund?” She croaked. “How did you find me?”
He only released her long enough to look into her beloved face. “I saw the smoke from the garden, so I rode toward it. When I arrived, I saw your mare.”
Her eyes moved to where he pointed, and she stiffened. “He tied my mare up so you would know it was me when you found my charred remains.”
The emotionless tone of her voice sent chills up his spine. “He?”
She nodded slowly, watching him cautiously as if she expected him to explode in any second. And, she was right. Knowing someone had tried to murder Carolyn had him seeing red. Heat engulfed him, having nothing to do with the burning structure twenty feet away.
The popping of the glass windows helped him focus. Lifting Carolyn into his arms, he carried her further away from the cabin. Each step he took brought the cooling breeze washing across his face and the air became more breathable, clearing his head. He set her in the grass and looked into her eyes.
“Who did this?” He forced out through clenched teeth.
“Your uncle.”
Shock had his head reeling. No. It couldn’t be. The man had acted like a father to him for so many years. He couldn’t believe it. He didn’t want to believe it.
“Why would Uncle Joseph do such a thing?” he asked, not expecting an answer.
She touched her hand to his cheek. “He enjoys playing the part of the duke without the responsibilities. Because of me, he was losing that.”
He shook his head. This couldn’t be right. “I don’t like this.”
“I know, but it gets worse.”
Standing up, he paced between the trees as agitation welled up within him. He had no reason to doubt her, but he didn’t like what she was saying.
“Just say it. I want to know everything.”
She tried to stand, then she fell back and guilt swamped him. Hurrying to her side, he fell to his knees and slid his arm behind her back, pulling her up against him. He let his anger and confusion drift to the back of his mind. Right now wasn’t the time to question her.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered as he brushed her hair away from her face. “I’m just so confused right now.”
“I know.” She leaned into him. “I’m sorry, Edmund, but I believe your uncle killed your father. Then, he knocked you out and put you in the cabin before setting the fire.”
He closed his eyes as his world spun. His head hurt. He didn’t want to think about this any longer.
“I see,” he responded, weakly.
“Take me to Knightly. I have an idea to get the truth from your uncle, and it would be better to have him believe me dead. And, I need you to bring the duchess to see me as soon as possible.”
~ ~ ~
Carolyn gulped down more water, feeling as though her stomach would burst with all the liquid. However, her throat burned and the cool water caressing her was the only thing that provided relief.
Fear from her ordeal still pounded through her. She could hardly believe Edmund, along with her brother and his friends had experienced something similar at such a young age. The thought of her terror being personified by youth buzzed inside her.
Seeing the dowager duchess’s confused face in the doorway, Carolyn pushed her disturbing thoughts aside. “Your Grace, please come in and sit with me.”
“The duke told me my presence was requested by the viscountess for a matter of great importance.”
“My sister greatly appreciates the haste at which you have come.”
Although hesitant, the woman stepped inside the room and took a seat, wrinkling her nose. “The smell in here is quite strong. I would speak to the viscount about having the hearth cleaned.”
Not ready to explain the smell came from Carolyn, herself, she shrugged. After arriving at Knightly, she managed to wipe away the majority of the soot from her body and had changed into one of Claire’s gowns. Although it didn’t fit properly, it served its purpose. However, at the time, she hadn’t even considered the scent of the fire on her skin or in her hair.
“It was I who requested your presence, not Lady Knightly.”
The woman lifted her chin as irritation filled her gaze. “I can see that. Do you intend to tell me why?”
“I need you to elaborate on what you told me earlier. About there being a threat to Edmund.”
The dowager quickly stood and paced the rug. “No. I already told you too much. Why you would think a change of scenery would alter my decision, I can’t imagine.”
“Tell me, do you care for your son?” Carolyn prayed for a positive response as she stared at the woman who had frozen at the question.
“You already know that I do.”
“Then, help me understand. If someone made a threat against him, I would think you would have a desire to stop them. Let me help you.”
The color left her face. “You can’t. That will only put you in danger, too. I spent a decade protecting my son from him, and I can continue to do it on my own. You just need to listen to me.”
Carolyn repressed a smile. The woman had admitted it was a man who was the danger. Soon, she would confess the rest. Carolyn simply needed to move this along faster.
“I know who you are talking about. It’s Joseph. What I don’t understand is how this arrangement came about.”
The dowager duchess crossed the room and stared out the windows. “Joseph had always wanted everything that Lawrence had. Including me. The man even fancied himself to be in love with me.” She shuddered. “You don’t understand the terrible things he’s done.”
“I understand more than you think. The smell you complained about earlier. It’s me.”
“What?” The dowager spun around to look at her, horror widening her eyes.
“He tied me to the bed in the hunting cabin and set it on fire.”
“Oh, God!” The woman clutched her chest and sank down into the nearest chair. “This is much worse than I thought.”
Feeling urgent, Carolyn crossed the room and sat beside the woman, patting her hand. “We can stop him, but I need you to tell me everything.”
With a nod, the dowager seemed to find some of her composure. “One night when Lawrence had been in one of his rages, Joseph must have heard us. He came barreling into the bedchamber, catching Lawrence off guard. I’ll never forget the hate on his face as he strangled his own brother with his bare hands. Then, when the duke’s lifeless body fell to the floor, Joseph turned to me and smiled, telling me I was now free.”
Carolyn gasped. The man wasn’t sane.
“He left his brother’s body there on the floor, took me by the hand, and led me into the next room to put his claim on me. He has considered me his from every moment since.”
“How can that be? I don’t recall hearing the duke had been murdered.”
“The fire in the hunting cabin was Joseph’s idea to wipe away the evidence. Since the magistrate wasn’t in a rush to see a hated man who supposedly died alone in his chambers, he sent word he would arrive when the time suited him. Joseph’s plan seemed to be ideal. That is, until he wanted Edmund to sit vigil.”
Staring wide-eyed, Carolyn could hardly believe the woman hadn’t murdered him herself in order to protect Edmund from such a thing. “Why did you let him?”
“I didn’t. We argued for quite a while. In the end, he relented when I promised him whatever he wanted to leave Edmund alone. As the years wore on, he required much of me.”
“I can’t hear this anymore.” Edmund stepped into the room. “I recall how happy you were following my father’s death. The way you tell it, Uncle Joseph ruined your life.”
Tears streamed down the dowager’s face as she looked at her son with pleading eyes. “Oh, Edmund. You aren’t supposed to be here.”
“Perhaps not, but I am here. How am I to believe a word of this when I remember your actions as well as your hateful words?”
“I didn’t have a choice. I had decided to take you and run away the day of the fire. I was packing when you came in, your flesh still burning, and right then I knew we couldn’t leave. You were not supposed to have been harmed. I heeded the warning. After all, he would find us and finish the job. I have spent the past ten years convincing him that he means more to me than you do. That you aren’t a threat to him.”
“If that’s true, why didn’t you tell me any of this?” he demanded, but Carolyn could see how much he was desperate to believe her.
“I wanted to. So many times, but it was impossible. Over and over, he’d threatened to kill you. I needed him to stop using you as leverage. Needed him to believe my lies. To believe I was the heartless person he wanted me to be.”
“Your story may be true, but you enjoyed playing the part too much.”
The duchess vehemently shook her head. “It killed me every time. Please, believe me.”
Knowing Edmund enough to realize he needed time to accept his mother’s words, Carolyn cleared her throat. “I hate to interrupt, but I believe time is an issue here. We don’t want Joseph to become suspicious regarding everyone’s sudden disappearance.”
“He’s out making his rounds,” the dowager explained. “He doesn’t like the idea of the tenants looking to the duke, so he’s trying to solidify his place.”
Carolyn cringed, wondering what kind of rumors the man would begin about Edmund. It didn’t matter, they would handle whatever arose. Right now, they needed to concentrate on how they were going to proceed with Joseph.
“That’s good that he is not at home. He shouldn’t know of our presence here. Now, I have a plan.” Carolyn looked at both faces, sincerely hoping this would work.
~ ~ ~
Edmund paced his study, not liking any of this. If everything was coordinated properly, the magistrate would arrive in just enough time for his uncle to see Carolyn and confess what he had done. They were placing a lot of emphasis on the man’s shock at seeing the supposedly dead woman.
Feeling his nerves tugging at him, Edmund slumped into his chair and held his head in his hands. The stress of the day beat down on him. In such a short time, he had almost lost Carolyn and had discovered he knew nothing about the woman or the man who’d been living in his home for years.
His mother’s claims ran through his head as the pained look on her face tortured him. How could this be true? Although he wanted to believe her, he wasn’t sure he could. Too many years of being treated like he was less than nothing overruled everything else. Likely, she was only trying to manipulate him the way she always had.
A knock at the door came as an unwelcome sound. Knowing he could easily ignore the person, he remained as he was. However, the thought that it could be the magistrate arriving too early brought his head up. Or, it could be Carolyn, unable to locate his uncle and not sure how to proceed. With a sigh, he granted them entrance.
When Uncle Joseph walked in, an easy smile on his lips, Edmund had to clench the arms of his chair to keep himself seated. This man had tried to kill Carolyn. And, if his mother was to be believed his list of sins spanned much further than that.
“Good afternoon, Edmund. I see you have decided to go back to locking yourself up in the study.”
Swallowing down his bile, Edmund nodded. “Everything is easier when I’m in here.”
The man chuckled. “Of course it is, but you can’t remain in here when you have such a delightful wife to entertain you. Where is your duchess while you hide yourself away?”
Edmund froze as prickles of unease stabbed into his flesh. Either Carolyn had been mistaken, or the man was anxious for him to find her. Considering he’d taken Carolyn to an unknown location, Edmund wondered how his uncle intended for her to be discovered. Clearly no one beside him had seen the smoke.
“Likely visiting her sister. She made mention of the desire yesterday.”
Seemingly satisfied, Uncle Joseph nodded. “Of course. Well, then, I suppose I’ll not fault you for remaining here today.”
Desperate for some sort of acknowledgment from him without putting Carolyn in danger, Edmund sat back and studied the man. “I’d like to talk to you about my father again.”
“If you must.” Uncle Joseph’s jaw tightened. “You know none of us like talking about him.”
“Then, this will be a better topic than the last time I requested information, since I’m more interested in his death than in his life.”
“His death?” The man’s eyes narrowed. “I cared for my brother. How can you believe talking about such a thing would be preferred?”
Edmund shrugged. “When he died, I’d been so relieved, that I never stopped to think about anything else. After that, my scars blinded me to, well, too much over the years.”
“That is understandable. Which is why it’s better to allow the past to remain where we left it. Behind us.”
“How did he die?” Edmund pressed, ignoring his uncle’s recommendation. “When I try to picture my father’s body, all I see from my memory is bruises on his face and on his neck.”
The direct look his uncle fixed upon him gave no hint to his thoughts. “Perhaps your mother was able to provide a little defense for herself.”
Forcing a mirthless laugh, Edmund leaned forward. “You expect me to believe the weak, battered woman strangled her husband? Try again.”
Uncle Joseph stood, and Edmund did the same.
“Edmund, I implore you, leave it be. You will not like what you find.”
Moving around the desk, Edmund drew up to his full height. The man may have been able to overpower the old duke, but he had no chance over him. Edmund was not afraid.
“Although I don’t mourn him, there are a number of other ways the situation could have been handled.”
Uncle Joseph let out a sigh as he ran a hand through his hair. “I really didn’t want to do this, but just like him, you have forced my hand.”
Before Edmund could react, the man pulled out a pistol and aimed it at his chest. With narrowed eyes, Edmund calculated the movement it would take to disarm his uncle.
“Not a very good choice. How are you going to claim my death is an accident while you stand by with the smoking gun?”
A chilling smile turned up the man’s mouth. “That’s a simple one. You see, once you found your wife dead, you didn’t want to live any longer. I tried to stop you, but I was too late.”
Fury at the situation overwhelmed Edmund. The man so confidently stood there and talked about having killed Carolyn all the while planning to commit murder again.
“She’s not dead,” Edmund ground out.
Laughter filled the room. “She wasn’t an easy one to kill, but I assure you, it is over. The accident would have been so much more believable, had she remained dead when I strangled her with the vines in the garden. But, this is more poetic. You see, the stubborn woman decided to build up a fire in the hunting cabin and left the tender too close. It may be some time before her body will be discovered.”
“You will never get away with any of this,” Edmund growled.
“I already have.” Uncle Joseph lifted the pistol.
The door opened, taking the man’s attention just long enough for Edmund to lunge forward and grip his uncle’s wrist. Squeezing, he tried to dislodge the weapon while his uncle punched at him with his free hand.
With a cry, Uncle Joseph let go of the pistol. Quickly, Edmund twisted the man’s arms behind his back. He held his uncle completely at his mercy. Rage pumped through his entire being. It would be so simple to end the man’s life right there.
Forcing his blood to cool, Edmund relaxed his grip, ever-so-slightly. He wasn’t his father who needlessly inflicted pain for his pleasure. Nor was he his uncle who killed at his whim. He was his own man.
The cocking of the pistol drew his attention. His mother stood there, eyes wild as she held the weapon pointed directly at them. His heart stopped. He wanted to believe she cared for him too much to accept the scene before him. Which one of them was her target?
“Step aside, Edmund. Let me end this.”
“Gwyneth?” Uncle Joseph exclaimed. “You wouldn’t. I love you. I’ve taken care of you all these years.”
“No. You’ve use me. Force me to do things, to say things. You don’t love me.”
His uncle fought against his hold, trying to lunge toward her. Edmund held him tighter. With narrowed eyes, his mother lifted the pistol to the man’s head.
“Mother, don’t. If you care for me at all, put the gun down.”
Indecision raced across her face.
Edmund refused to give up. “Please. I need to see the truth of your words. Prove it to me now. That your actions over the past years have been the lie.”
“But, you have no idea all the terrible things he’s done. He deserves to die.”
“There’s been enough of that in our family. Let’s allow the magistrate to handle him.”
Her lips wobbled as tears formed in her eyes. He breathed easier as she lowered the weapon. She crumpled to the floor, her sobs deep, but Edmund could do nothing for her at the moment. With the threat of the pistol taken care of, the butler helped Edmund tie up his uncle until the magistrate could arrive.
It wasn’t long before the man came in with Carolyn trailing behind. Seeing the color drain from his uncle’s face gave Edmund a small bit of pleasure.
“You can’t be here,” Uncle Joseph whispered, as if believing only he could see her. “You’re dead.”
“Not this time.” She glared at him before rushing into Edmund’s arms.
It was more than an hour later before the house had finally settled, and Edmund was able to be alone in his study with his wife. He held her tightly to him, inhaling the flowery perfume of her skin mixed with the acrid smoke that attempted to take her life. The reminder of how fleeting life could be had him holding her tighter.
“I missed you,” he breathed across her skin.
She pushed back against his chest. “Is that why you ruined the plan? You could’ve been hurt, or even killed. The man has murdered before, and he had a pistol.”
With a nod, he brushed a stray lock of her hair from her cheek. “Yes, I know. That’s an obstacle you would have been less prepared to deal with had everything gone according to the plan. You know I couldn’t allow you to be alone with him. I love you too much to take the chance.”
“But, still, that wasn’t how . . . What? What did you say?”
He smiled at the utter shock in her eyes. “I said I love you, and I’ll say it again. I love you, Carolyn.”
Joy spread across her face as she threw her arms around his neck. He laughed as he caught her and spun her in a circle. This was what he expected from his life now. Love and happiness.
The realization that he truly was nothing like his father had seeped into his soul and changed him. There was good in him, and that was the part he intended to pass down to his children.
“I love you too, Edmund.”
Overwhelmed with the new sensations swimming around inside him, he crushed Carolyn’s lips with his. She clasped onto him, pressing her body further up against his. He groaned. Her eagerness was more potent than anything he’d experienced before. Needing her right now, he pushed her backward toward the sofa.
It was past time he provided the dukedom with an heir.