CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Leopold paced the drawing room, glancing occasionally at his youngest brother with competing feelings of alarm and joy. He wanted to embrace him, welcome him home properly but it was unsafe to loosen his bindings. He would hurt Edwin if he was released.
And then Leopold would kill him.
“I cannot believe you told the duchess about me,” Allen growled.
“You try keeping secrets from her,” Leopold muttered. “She’s a force of nature.”
Allen scowled. “Will you be needing me much longer? I’ve got duties out in the stables that need attendance.”
“No.” Leopold held up his pistol—he’d taken it from Mercy’s pocket as he’d helped her to a chair—and turned it this way and that. “I can manage him if he becomes difficult.”
Allen’s frown grew. “You’re not cold-blooded enough. Neither is he, by the way. He wouldn’t have gone through with it.”
“How can you be so sure?” Leopold asked.
“He’s been full of piss and wind since he was a boy. He and my sainted brother, Edwin, had that in common. Some things never change.”
Tobias looked as safe as a pirate standing before an open chest of gold bullion. His hair was long and unkempt, skin deeply tanned. Clothing aged and untended with a definite seaman’s aroma. Leopold’s nose twitched. But did those things make him dangerous? His eyes were the same ones he remembered, golden brown in a tanned and scarred face. Once they had been trusting, if slightly mischievous. Life had not been kind to Tobias and Leopold’s heart ached for what appeared lost.
Allen left and they were alone.
Tobias tried his bonds one more time. “Untie me and we can end this. You deserve to be duke.”
“I deserve nothing of the sort you idiot,” he growled. “I cannot untie you. You cannot be allowed free inside the abbey. I don’t trust you.”
Tobias scowled. “But you trust them. She might look like Christmas morning, but for all you know she could be bringing reinforcements.”
“Mercy wouldn’t harm you. And she’s had other punishments for me and plenty of time for it.”
Tobias rolled his eyes. “She got you hooked all right, but wasn’t talking about the duchess. It’s the other one I’d be watching.”
“Other one? Lady Venables?”
Tobias shrugged. “If that’s her name. I’ve seen her about. Always talking to herself and the dead. Roams the forest leaving carrots in her wake for little bunnies to feast upon. Mad as a hatter, she is. If I was sleeping here I’d do it with one eye open.”
“Gray rabbits?” A feeling of dread crushed Leopold’s chest. He yanked his brother’s chin up and held his gaze. “When did you spy on Lady Venables? When, damn it?”
“Here now,” Tobias protested, “don’t you be getting rough with me. If you’re bedding them both, you’re a lot braver than I gave you credit for.”
Leopold squeezed Tobias’ jaw between his fingers. “I swear to God I will kill you if you do not answer my question.”
“Last week. Perhaps Thursday morning. As the sun rose.”
Blythe could have had ample time to capture the rabbits, secret them into the abbey, and leave the dead creatures to be found. The woman had free reign inside the abbey and grounds. Mercy would never suspect her sister.
He shook his brother. “Did you or did you not slaughter animals and leave them inside the abbey to frighten the duchess? Your answer will decide the fate of your miserable life.”
Tobias’ eyes widened. “I’m not mad.”
“But you could threaten a boy.”
“I was threatening our slimy cousin to begin with. I did not know he was dead until I returned to England and came back to Romsey. There’s not much news to be heard in the places I’ve been sent to. It’s not like anyone ever wrote back to me. When I found him gone, I settled on giving the duchess a good fright and taking a look at the boy so I knew who’d be coming for me later.”
Leopold slumped and did a quick calculation. The first dead animals had been left well before Tobias had returned to England, if he could be believed. Would he lie about it?
Leopold wasn’t sure, but if Tobias hadn’t been the culprit then there had been two threats to the boy all along; the letters from Tobias and the other grim business from someone infinitely more cold blooded.
The door burst open and Mercy raced across the room. “What have you done?” she shrieked.
Tobias recoiled. “Nothing.”
Leopold caught Mercy and held her back as her fingers stretched to claw at Tobias’ face. Mercy struggled toward Tobias. “Where are they?”
“Who are you talking about?” Tobias squeaked. “I’ve been tied up here for the past quarter hour.”
“Then who is working for you? Who has taken our son and my sister?”
Leopold spun Mercy around to face him and gripped her tightly. “Is Edwin missing?”
Tears fell down her cheeks. “I cannot find him or Blythe anywhere they should be. But I bet Tobias knows what’s been done with them.”
Panic gripped Leopold. He turned and wrapped his hand about Tobias’ throat. “Where is the duke?”
Tobias fought against his grip. “I swear on our mother’s grave, if I knew where she was buried, that I have done nothing to the duke and the mad one.”
“Mad one?”
Leopold released Tobias. Of all his siblings, Tobias had been the closest to their mother. He would never swear false on her memory. He wasn’t involved in Edwin’s disappearance. There was someone else working against Mercy. His best guess was Lady Venables, her own sister, but it didn’t make any sense. “He speaks of Blythe, Mercy.”
“Blythe, but why?”
“I cannot be certain, but she may be involved in your troubles. All along, we have assumed that Tobias here was your problem, but what if two threats existed? He has admitted to sending the letters, but not to killing the rabbits you’ve found. What if someone else has been stalking you? What if it has been your sister all along? You mentioned that she has not been herself since her son died. Could Blythe be unhinged?”
“That’s impossible,” Mercy argued. “She would never harm Edwin. She loves him.”
“Enough to want him for herself?” Leopold wiped away the tears streaming down Mercy’s cheeks. “She is a changeable, complex woman. I never considered her a threat, but after hearing what Tobias has observed of her when you are not around, I’m uneasy about her. Could she be trying to drive you away from Romsey and leave Edwin to her care? She dotes on him like a mother does her son. When was Blythe last seen?”
Mercy wiped her tears from her face, but more fell to replace them. “When she fled this room, she went upstairs and disappeared. No one has seen them since.”
Leopold drew her into his arms. “We’ll search for them. My concerns may be for nothing. She is likely only hiding from the ugly scene she witnessed. No doubt my fool brother has scared her witless.”
“She’s very protective of Edwin, but she would never do what you suspect.” Mercy pushed at his chest to gain her freedom and turned to face Tobias. “How important is family to you, Mr. Randall?”
Tobias glared at her. “Everything.”
Mercy smiled. “Untie him. He can be useful to us.”
Leopold grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. “That wouldn’t be wise. He is still a threat to Edwin.”
“Nonsense. He’d never hurt his nephew, would he?”
Tobias gasped. “Nephew?”
Mercy leaned close to Tobias. “If you harm your own flesh and blood, Tobias Randall, I will do worse to you than your brother can dream. Do we understand each other?”
“Nephew,” Tobias repeated rather stupidly again as Mercy drew back.
Did Leopold have to draw him a picture?
Mercy scowled. “Leopold, you never said your brother lacked for wits. I had assumed him to be rather more intelligent than this.”
“It has been many years since I’ve been in his company. Oliver is the clever one. Perhaps Tobias has used up what little wits he had.”
Mercy’s lips lifted in a sad smile. “Untie him so we can recover Edwin, my love. Bring him with you so he cannot disappear again.”
She swept out in a rush and began issuing orders to Wilcox and the housekeeper where they waited in the next room. Leopold glanced at his brother and saw bewilderment on his face.
“You and she and … the boy?”
Leopold rushed to untie his brother. “Now is not the time for this conversation.”
“Now is exactly the time,” Tobias protested. “Is the boy of your making or not?”
“Possibly,” Leopold hedged.
“I will have the truth, King Leopold. Did you cuckold our cousin?”
“It seems I did. And don’t call me King Leopold. We are far too old for those childish games to continue.”
“You never did have much of a sense of humor.” As the ropes fell away, Tobias surged to his feet, swung around and tackled him in a tight embrace. “You bloody brilliant bastard. What a way to get back at them. That changes everything.”
Leopold embraced his brother in return, but he didn’t like misleading Tobias as to Edwin’s conception. “I didn’t do it by choice, you idiot. I haven’t had control of my own life since our parents died. Let’s go.”
Although a frown crossed Tobias’ face, he couldn’t wait around to answer more questions. His boy was missing. He had to find out where Blythe had taken him before it was too late.
~ * ~
“Are you certain they are in there?” Mercy asked for the hundredth time.
Leopold nodded. “Edwin tried to answer me when I called out. Maybe he’s fallen asleep in the interim.”
Leopold didn’t say what else was on his mind. Had Blythe hurt Edwin to prevent him from calling out? He squeezed his eyes closed. His boy lived. He was sure of it. But for the moment Edwin was beyond Leopold’s reach. Blythe had taken him to a chamber and locked them in. She refused all entreaties to open the door. She did not believe Edwin was safe.
“Lady Venables, please, won’t you let Mercy see her son. She is desperate to see him.”
“Please, Blythe, I need to see him,” Mercy called.
“You cannot protect him. Not with a devil in the house.”
Mercy sobbed and pressed against the door. “Tobias Randall is very sorry to have frightened us with his letters. He has apologized and sought forgiveness. It is safe to come out, dearest.”
“Nowhere is safe. I’ll not lose Edwin, too. Go away. We will do well enough here on our own.”
Fear clutched at Leopold. Just how odd was Blythe? She had seemed sane, if a little more reserved than the usual lady he met. Were her mind and her heart completely broken?
He cocked his head at Tobias and they moved down the hall, away from the door. Wilcox rushed up the staircase to join them.
“We need to get in there,” Leopold said without preamble. “Now.”
“The door is inches thick,” Wilcox warned. “The only thing you’ll break is your shoulder.”
Leopold raked his hands through his hair. “There is only one door. Where is the key?”
“Missing. Maybe she could be coaxed out with a cup of tea and biscuit,” Wilcox suggested.
“She’s not a simpleton, man,” Tobias muttered. “What we need is a distraction.” He looked up and down the corridor. “We could set a fire and smoke her out.”
Leopold rolled his eyes. “For God’s sake, we are not setting fire to the abbey. You really are witless.”
Tobias scowled. “Well, the only other choice to get into the room is via a window. Do you think your men outside could be relied upon not to shoot at me again?”
Leopold shook his head. “That’s an unacceptable risk.”
The first time he had watched Tobias scale the abbey walls, he hadn’t known who he was but had been amazed by his skill. Now? He couldn’t accept the risk of losing him after finally finding him again.
“No, it’s not. Not when there is family involved.” Tobias stripped off his coat, his footwear, and then entered the chamber next to where Edwin was being held. “Wilcox, be a good chap and wave at the servants in the grounds outside the window. I want you to stay there as long as possible so they know I’m doing this with your permission.”
Tobias turned. “Brother, I’d suggest you return to the duchess. She’s likely to become hysterical when the glass breaks. In my experience, most women find it a bit unsettling.”
“I take it you’ve broken into ladies bedchambers before.”
“On occasion.” Tobias shrugged. “Usually there is a bit of excitement to dampen the danger, but I don’t think the mad one will be welcoming me with open arms.”
“All clear,” Wilcox called.
“All right then. Make way.”
When Tobias threw his leg over the windowsill, Leopold’s chest tightened. It was a damned dangerous thing to do and he would be more afraid for Tobias if he had not already seen him clinging to the walls. When he disappeared from sight, Wilcox hung out the window to watch his progress. He gave Leopold a reassuring wave to send him back to Mercy’s side and he hurried to join her. Mercy had slumped to the floor, head pressed to the wood. She was still calling to her sister to open the door.
Leopold drew Mercy to her feet and wrapped her tight in his arms. “We will have him soon, sweetheart.”
“How? Oh Leopold, she won’t even speak to me now. I want Edwin back in my arms. I want our son.”
Leopold pressed a kiss to her hair as breaking glass shattered the silence. Mercy cried out, but he kept her against him as even more broke inside the chamber. Inside, Tobias swore loudly and Blythe yelped. There was silence for a few moments and then Edwin started to cry.
The door handle rattled, and then was flung wide as Tobias thrust Edwin out of the room. Mercy moaned and hugged Edwin to her, rocking him as the boy cried hysterically. After checking that the boy was unharmed physically, Leopold glanced inside the chamber.
Tobias was just settling Blythe on the narrow bed.
Leopold stalked inside. “Did you hurt her?”
“Of course not.” Tobias held out his bloody hand. “She took one look at this bloody mess, then me, and fainted.”
“Hells teeth, you’re hurt.”
“It’s nothing. Just a scratch.” But that scratch was leaving a tidy little patch of blood on the carpet at his feet while Tobias stood staring at Blythe. “Think she’ll be all right?”
Leopold caught Tobias by the wrist and lifted his hand. There wasn’t any glass that he could see in the wound so he took a chance and loosely bound his handkerchief around it. “I don’t know. When she wakes up, we will have to detain and question her. Let us hope she does not faint again at the sight of you.”
Tobias wiggled his fingers, and a wince crossed his face. “You should know, she put herself before the boy when I came through the window. She’d have clobbered me good and proper too if I’d gotten too close. Had that candlestick in hand, ready to send me to my maker. But, when she saw the blood, she wilted. Are you sure she’s the one?”
“There doesn’t seem to be any other possibility.” Leopold murmured.
Tobias heaved a heavy sigh. “Don’t be too hard on her. It would be a shame for a beauty such as that to be miserable for long. She is beautiful when she smiles.”
Now that was a surprise. Leopold could not remember seeing Blythe smile at all but it might take him a while to get used to his younger brother having an interest in the fairer sex. He wasn’t sure how Blythe would care for Tobias’ admiration either. Watching the two of them together could be interesting. When he’d known his brother before, he’d been young and had cared only for his hound and horses. Now, they were virtually strangers and would need to become reacquainted. Perhaps it would be best to limit Tobias’ association with Blythe until he lost some of his rough edges.
Tobias shuffled from the room, bowed to Mercy. “Is he well, Your Grace?”
“He is wonderful,” Mercy said as she laid her hand on Tobias’ arm. “Thank you for rescuing my son. Now, have that cut seen too. Wilcox will take care of you.”
“Leopold was correct before in the drawing room. You do the family proud.”
Mercy scowled at him. “How long were you listening and where were you?”
“Long enough to hear my brother gush over your beauty.” He glanced at the bed. “Are all the women in your family so pretty?”
Mercy shook her head. “Well, you are certainly a different kettle of fish than your brother. Honey drips from your tongue.”
Tobias pressed his lips together hard, eyes alight with mischief. “If I tell you what image your words evoked, I fear my brother would indeed kill me. I’d best take my leave of you. Until another time, Your Grace.”
When he followed Wilcox down the hall and out of sight, Leopold’s gaze moved to Mercy and Edwin where they stood clutching at each other. His heart swelled as he listened to Mercy and Edwin. His family. The two loves that would break him.
How would he bear not knowing how they fared?
Leopold took them in his arms and squeezed. They were everything to him now, his reason for living, his reason for breathing. But could he stay here with them on the outside of their lives, pretending to be happy with the arrangement and always wanting more?
Yet, the longer he stayed, the greater the chance of Mercy conceiving. She couldn’t bear his child outside of marriage without facing utter ruin and he couldn’t ask her to marry him and give up her title to become his wife. So where did that leave them? His heart might break in two, but he would have to go on pretending he was happy as a cousin.
Edwin wriggled, as if to get down. When Leopold moved to give him space, Edwin jumped into his arms, clinging with a tight grip about his neck, and hung onto him as if he would never let go. His eyes stung with unshed tears and he closed his eyes at how much he wanted to remain with Mercy and Edwin.
“There now. Isn’t that so much better?” Mercy said. “You have family now, Edwin. One big, wild family. We will likely never be lonely or bored again.”
Leopold looked beyond Mercy to where Blythe lay all alone. “What do you want done about your sister, sweetheart?”
Mercy’s smile dimmed. “I’m not sure what to do or think about Blythe’s actions anymore. But we should send for Dr. Heyburn. The physician can decide if Blythe’s health is in any immediate danger.”