CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Mercy gently removed her hands from Anna’s surprisingly firm grip. “Oh, dear. I do hope your mama is not too ill. Whatever is the matter? Have you summoned the physician?”
Since Anna’s mother was often taken to bed, Mercy wasn’t unduly alarmed. But the zeal with which Anna had clutched at her was slightly unnerving.
Anna waved away Mercy’s fears. “Oh, no. I’ll not let them at Mama with the leeches just yet. I thought perhaps you might consent to visit with her. She simply adores your company.”
Unfortunately, stepping out for a social call was likely impossible just now. She glanced quickly at Leopold and saw a subtle shake of his head to confirm her suspicions. “I do wish your mother a speedy recovery, but it is unlikely I shall leave the estate in the near future. But do please send for Dr. Heyburn immediately. He told me only recently that he’s having better luck with scented waters than with leeches.”
Lord Shaw stepped forward to claim her hand. As it was raised to his lips, she saw a happy smirk cross Anna’s face. Leopold’s lips pressed together as if he didn’t like what he was seeing. Lord Shaw’s lips dragged across her skin, and she repressed a shudder before tugging her hand back.
“It has been too long, my dear duchess, since I have had the pleasure,” Shaw said. “You do know how to keep a gentleman waiting.”
Oh dear. She had hoped he would have taken her word she’d had enough of his flirtations. Given the way he looked at her, he still thought he had a fair chance. But there was only Leopold she wanted, and only Leopold she would have or none other. “I have been much involved in the estate at present. I’m sure you made do without my company.”
Lord Shaw’s smile repulsed her. “Made do but never could replace. You shall have to take mercy upon me.”
Since Leopold’s hands had curled into fists, and Blythe looked about to erupt into flame, Mercy swiftly set Edwin on her knees to keep Lord Shaw at a distance. Neither Anna or Lord Shaw cared for Edwin’s company on their visits, unlike Blythe and Leopold. Although he never said one word on the subject, she was starting to suspect that her lover had grown fond of her boy. His boy. Their son.
She suppressed a smile.
When everyone had settled in comfortably, Anna leaned forward. “Now, since our trip was delayed, I am determined that you should come to London with us. I so want your company for a short while. It has been an age since we have done anything fun together.” Her glance shifted to Blythe and back again. “There is this splendid new modiste on Bond Street who makes the most delicious gowns. We simply must see for ourselves before she becomes all the rage. When everyone engages her services the bloom will be gone from her style. I do hate it when that happens.”
Blythe snorted. “You mean another scandalous dress that will damage Mercy’s reputation as a proper lady. The last modiste you took her to put her husband in a snit for a week.”
Oh dear. Blythe had hated Anna’s influence on her wardrobe during that season and she was correct that Edwin had been in a snit about those gowns. Given that they had not spoken directly since her return with Leopold, she hoped Anna being here wouldn’t make things worse between them.
Anna stoked her gold bracelet and smiled at Blythe with such condescension that Mercy considered throwing up her hands in defeat. “His Grace was right to be jealous of the attention Mercy received. She was very lovely in her youth.”
Although alarmed that Anna thought her less lovely now she was a few years older than the green girl she had been, Mercy strove to ignore the comment and control the flush of embarrassment heating her skin. Did she really look so different?
“Actually, I think the room is filled with naturally beautiful women,” Leopold said suddenly, his gaze dipping to where Anna still fiddled with her jewelry. “I cannot help feeling particularly lucky to be introduced to such remarkable women.”
A hot flush of pleasure raced across Mercy’s skin. Leopold had never given her a compliment before except in private. To hear him do so in public endeared him to her more. She wanted everyone to know how great his heart was. But her heart also swelled in wonder that he included Blythe in his comment. He would not be Blythe’s favorite person at the moment, yet he considered her remarkable, too. Her sister scowled at him, and then glanced away, a blush coloring her cheeks.
“Yes, yes.” Lord Shaw chimed in. “I cannot imagine a better place to be than at Romsey Abbey.”
“I quite agree,” Leopold said immediately.
His glance landed and stayed fixed on Lord Shaw. They sized each other up as if they were combatants. Thank heavens they were supposed to be on their best behavior during social calls or she feared Leopold would take umbrage at the heated looks Lord Shaw kept throwing her way. It was nice he was unsettled, but it was also quite unnecessary.
Mercy turned to Anna, hoping to distract the men. “Anna you looked equally exquisite that year. The embroidery was so remarkable that I always thought I could reach out and prick my finger on the thorns. The ladies were all agog for the design and Edwin told me you cut quite a swathe through the gentlemen’s hearts.”
“They were Blackberry vines; His Grace’s favorite fruit.” Anna preened a little and then turned her gaze on Leopold. “I see you are still enjoying the delights of Romsey Abbey.”
“Yes, it is very good to be at home again. I quite understand why Her Grace is hesitant to leave. The abbey is as I remember it from years ago.”
“But leave she must.” Anna interjected with a quick glance at her brother. “A woman must have greater society than this if she is to be admired as she deserves. The Duchess of Romsey must grace London’s ballrooms. She cannot allow herself to become a recluse.”
Leopold scowled. “I would have thought that what the duchess chooses to do with her time is nobody’s business but her own. She has her own mind, and is as stubborn as her predecessors. My cousin chose well for his wife. She does the family proud.”
Color leeched from Anna’s face, her hands curled into fists. “You did not know your cousin well, I’m told. He never mentioned you to me.”
One of Leopold’s eyebrows shot up at her last words. “I imagine he didn’t mention my existence to anyone. We were not on the best of terms. But I am curious as to why he would mention me to you in particular. Have you enjoyed a close acquaintance to the Randall’s for some time?”
Anna shifted in her chair. “For a good while, yes.” She wouldn’t meet Mercy’s gaze.
“Ah,” he murmured. Leopold’s gaze fell, his lips pursed. What was he thinking now? Was he as surprised as Mercy was by Anna’s comment? She’d had no idea Anna had an acquaintance with her husband before she married him. She’d thought Anna had been her friend first.
Edwin squirmed off her lap, distracting them all with the movement.
“He’s likely hungry,” Blythe murmured. “I’ll take him and see that he eats.”
Mercy smiled at her sister in appreciation. At least she harbored Edwin no ill will so far. “Thank you. Cook was to make him apple puffs again. He has become rather fond of them.”
When Blythe hurried Edwin out of the room, Leopold frowned at their disappearance. Was he as conflicted as she was about Edwin leaving her sight? If Edwin were not with Blythe, she would be greatly uneasy. But Blythe loved him. She would never let him come to harm.
Leopold caught her eye. “How long since you’ve been up to London?”
“Going on five years, I believe.”
“Yes, yes,” Anna agreed. “Much too long a time spent here.”
His frown grew. “Why so long?”
Because she’d been secretly hoping her midnight lover would come back one day and make himself known to her. And he had. Leopold was here now and the wait had been worth every moment of boredom and uncertainty. She smiled. “There wasn’t anything in London that I couldn’t find here. Besides, the country air is good for Edwin and Blythe was nearby and needed me.”
“That woman needs a life of her own,” Anna muttered.
“Anna, you are speaking of my dear sister. If I was ever to go to London then I would surely invite Blythe to come and stay with me at the mansion.”
A quick grin crossed Leopold’s face then disappeared.
Anna, however, looked offended by her plan to invite Blythe to London too.
“Well, then,” Anna said. “If I cannot convince you yet again to see sense, I shall bid you good day. Send a note round if you should change your mind. You know where to find superior company.”
Since Anna still played with her gold bracelet, Mercy closed the distance between them and lifted her arm for a better view of the piece. Blackberry vines were engraved into the soft metal. Mercy’s mouth grew dry. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat and met Anna’s gaze. “I’ve always admired your jewelry. You must love the piece to wear it every day.”
Anna’s smile turned a little bitter. “It was a gift.”
She didn’t say who from but Mercy was starting to wonder if the woman the duke had written about had been her friend, Anna. Blythe had not deciphered much of the text, but the word Blackberry had featured heavily in the duke’s remarks. Had Anna been engaged in an affair with her husband behind her back? Was that why he was always too tired to visit her bedchamber?
Mercy stared at her friend.
Anna tugged her arm back. “Good day, Your Grace.”
“Lady Barnet,” Mercy replied.
Anna turned for the door. Lord Shaw moved somewhat slower, bid her a good day in his usual lecherous way, eyes fixed on her bodice, and then followed his sister out.
The silence after their departure was deafening. The clock chimed the hour, startling Mercy enough to jump.
“I believe I shall see your guests out, Your Grace. I know you like them but I’m afraid they both make me uneasy. Do excuse me for a moment while I ensure that they have gone. I’ll check on Edwin before I return to you.”
Mercy nodded, thinking of Anna’s remarks about how long she had known the Randall’s. Why would she pretend not to know the family if she were her friend? And the bracelet and her assertion that blackberry’s were her husbands favorite fruit. Mercy could not remember that about him.
She put her head into her hands as a door clicked shut. Why would Anna claim her husband would have confided in her about Leopold? Edwin had always discouraged Mercy’s invitations to Anna, which was why Mercy had gleefully resumed a close friendship after her husband had passed away. Yet Anna was not comfortable at Romsey Abbey for any length of time. She was not at all comfortable with her son, and was always trying to get Mercy to leave the estate for one reason or another.
A hand settled on her shoulder and squeezed.
Mercy sighed heavily. “I’m so sorry Anna was rude to you, my love. If she cannot be at least civil to you I will ask her not to call again.”
Cold pressed against her temple. “You’ll not have to worry about that for long,” an unfamiliar voice whispered in her ear. “Now get to your feet, don’t you dare say another word, and come with me. I’ll not hesitate to put a hole in that pretty head of yours, duchess.”
Mercy lifted her gaze and caught her reflection in a mirror. She gasped. A large pistol barrel rested at her temple, a wild looking stranger stood at her back. “What do you want?”
He winked at her slowly, curled his arm about her waist and hefted her and the chair backward. “Everything that was taken from me. We’re going to sit quietly and wait for the duke to come back. And then, my dear duchess, Romsey will fall to those who deserve it.”
~ * ~
Once the carriage had gone and Wilcox had reported that all of Lady Barnet’s servants had been accounted for, Leopold went to check on Edwin and Lady Venables before returning to Mercy’s side. No matter how things went, her friends and family would dislike him. Once they all spotted the resemblance, Mercy would undoubtedly be slighted. He might have wealth enough to make him acceptable to some, but without a title he was far beneath her social circle.
He eased the door to the morning room open and caught sight of Edwin sitting at a small round table with his aunt. Edwin’s face was covered in sticky cream and Lady Venables was dabbing at it ineffectually. The sight made him smile. “Do you mind if I join you for a moment, my lady?”
“Could I stop you?”
“Perhaps, but I wanted a word with you. It’s about Lady Barnet.”
“What about her?”
Leopold eased into a chair. “Did you know that the lady was acquainted so well with my cousin?”
A frown spread over her face. “I did not. She befriended Mercy shortly after her marriage and I must confess I did not like her from the start.”
“Did you think her attachment insincere?”
Lady Venables expression grew grim. “She was always trying to get Mercy alone. She would offer her advice on how to deal with the duke and none of it was to his liking. She even lived here for a time, toward the end of Mercy’s pregnancy, but once the boy was born she wanted nothing at all to do with him. I thought she was more interested in Mercy’s husband, especially when his health began to decline. She was here on the day he died.”
Leopold didn’t like the sound of that one bit. Had his cousin and Lady Barnet been lovers up until his death? If so, then his cousin had had rocks for brains to dabble anywhere but beneath his own wife’s skirts. “Lady Barnet has a husband somewhere, correct?”
His companion scowled fiercely. “If you could call it a marriage, then yes, she is married. But Lord Barnet spends his time in London and, when not in parliament, is a great patron of the theatre. I cannot remember the last time he returned to the country with his wife. I cannot remember the last time I saw them together.”
A nasty image was starting to form in Leopold’s mind. Had the attachment been so strong that Lady Barnet sought to drive Mercy from the abbey by frightening her into leaving? But to what end? There was no reason to do so when her lover had died.
It wasn’t beyond the realms of possibility for Lady Barnet to feign poor penmanship and send threatening notes if she’d come to resent Mercy being his cousin’s wife. But to destroy animals so callously, so cruelly and leave them on Mercy’s bed. He wasn’t sure a woman could be capable of such atrocities. He wasn’t sure he wanted to meet them.
In all honesty, Leopold had not taken a liking to Lady Barnet, especially when she suggested that Mercy was not the most ravishing woman in the room. Mercy took his breath away with every smile. It was not particularly nice to criticize a friend before others.
He glanced at Lady Venables. “Well, she is gone for the day with no trouble caused.”
“She has gone, but will be back as surely as the sun rises in the morning.”
“Let’s hope we have a longer absence than that.” He glanced at Edwin, saw a streak of cream remaining on his cheek and grabbed a napkin to wipe it away. “Well, at least she took that scoundrel Shaw with her.”
Lady Venables’ eyebrow rose. “If you are leaving, sir, I think it vastly unkind to fuss about the boy in this way. He will become attached to you.”
“Would you rather have the cream smeared over his face attached to your gown instead?”
A rare smile crossed the woman’s face as she looked upon Edwin. “That is the way of boys. They are messy and unpredictable.”
Leopold grinned. “That we are. Shall we rejoin the duchess? I do not wish us to be separated for long.”
Her smile vanished. She nodded primly, held her hand out to Edwin, and headed for the door. Leopold followed, bemused by Mercy’s younger sister. She was as changeable as the weather. One moment hostile; the next almost on good terms with him. It seemed to him that she couldn’t work out precisely whether she liked him or not. At least, she didn’t view him as her enemy for the moment. However, it would not pay to relax around her. He could easily offend her without trying.
He glanced up when she stopped suddenly, blocking his way forward. He looked over her shoulder to see Mercy, sitting regally in a high backed chair across the room. She smiled. Yet tears rolled down her cheeks. His heart ached. The poor woman. She had so much strife in her life that he wondered if his staying at Romsey might be better. Could he make her life easier?
“Please do take a seat.” She indicated to the chairs opposite.
He frowned. Why was she behaving as primly as her sister? Why had she moved the chair so far away from its usual placement? Leopold moved ahead of Lady Venables. Mercy didn’t so much as twitch at his approach. When he got closer, her eyes slid downward and to the side. He followed where her gaze drifted and saw a pistol digging into her ribs.
“Don’t come any closer. Give me the boy.”
The harsh male request shocked Leopold and then his anger destroyed the shock. While he’d been gone, Mercy had been set upon. If she was harmed, he’d tear strips off the man. He couldn’t place the unrefined accent, but a common thug held Mercy at gunpoint. Behind him, Blythe gasped and he heard sounds of struggle. Leopold flung his hand backward, moving to step between the stranger and Edwin, to stop them advancing further into the room. “Hold him. Keep him safe.”
Leopold approached Mercy. “Show yourself, coward.”
“Oh, I’m no coward,” a deep voice rumbled. “Just prudent. Rumor has it you travel armed. Put it down on the floor, if you please.”
Leopold put his hand in his pocket, and then remembered he didn’t have the piece on him anymore. He’d given it to Mercy for her protection, but it appeared she’d not had time to use it. Was it hidden in her gown?
He withdrew his hand, and spread them wide, palms out from his sides. “I am unarmed.”
A wild mane of tangled blonde hair appeared around Mercy’s shoulder then disappeared again. The man, some years younger than himself, was dressed no better than a common sailor.
“Are you all right, love?”
Mercy nodded, then winced as the pistol was dug deeper into her ribs.
“Get on your knees,” the stranger ordered.
Leopold closed his eyes briefly, his mind sifting through possibilities and strategies. In that position, he’d never stand a chance of getting Mercy away to safety. The stranger would win. He shifted a little to try to get a better glimpse of the man behind Mercy. Although he was mostly hidden behind the chair, Leopold judged him to be of average height and build. If Mercy was out of the way, Leopold would be a match for him in a fair or dirty fight. Except for the scoundrel’s speed when he moved. If he ran, Leopold would never catch him. Leopold wouldn’t make that mistake again. “Who are you? What do you want here?”
The stranger laughed. “Nothing from you. Nothing you’ve got to give would ever change things. Only their deaths can make me whole again. Bring me the boy.”
Not a chance in hell. Leopold shifted his weight subtly from foot to foot. There was no way he would allow Mercy to suffer any more of this when he had the strength to protect her. He met her terrified gaze, let all the love he felt for her show in his eyes, and silently said goodbye.
The only way to stop this was a frontal assault and hope Mercy could flee to safety. There was no other way that he could see. He took a deep breath. “Over my dead body.”
He charged.