Legacy - The Wyndham Legacy Part 12

aAll right, Marcus, either we go to the music room right now and you prove your mettle else Iall never let you forget it, never.a aLetas go,a he said, then lifted her, set her on his desk and put her slipper back on her foot and deftly tied the ribbon. aShall I knot the ribbon on that brutal slipper, or have you regained your control?a aYouad best knot it.a It was very late, a late-summer rain pounding against the windowpanes. They were sitting in front of the fireplace even though the fire had quite died down to glowing embers, but they didnat care, for they were writing another ditty, this one about Napoleon and all his mistresses, a song the d.u.c.h.ess swore would never leave the bedchamber. Marcus told her the rumor of the emperoras lack of majesty in his male part. She stared at him and said quite seriously, aHow odd. I thought that all men were the same in that area. I mean, couldnat that song apply to all of you? There are differences, really?a He turned red with outrage, yanked her against him, and kissed her until she was panting and laughing at the same time.

A knock came at the door, and Marcus cursed, then sighed. He called out, aEnter!a It was Antonia and she was carrying a silver tray on her arms.

aGoodness,a the d.u.c.h.ess said, leaping off Marcusas lap. aWhat do you have there?a aA present from Badger. He said you were both to drink it down. He called it a por-ency drug, not to me, but to Spears, who was with him. I just overheard it and Badger looked very uncomfortable and he cursed.a aA potency drug?a Marcus said, trying to keep the smile off his face.

aThatas right. When I asked him what that was, he said it was an aphrodisiac. Whatas that, I asked him, but he just wagged his finger at me and told me to make myself useful, so here I am. Spears looked as if he would cry he was so embarra.s.sed. I think he was mad at Badger for telling me words I want to know but probably shouldnat. It was very curious. f.a.n.n.y wanted to bring it so she could look at you and get all moon-eyed, Marcus, but I wouldnat let her.a aThank you, Antonia.a He said to the d.u.c.h.ess, aJust two more years.a The d.u.c.h.ess took the tray from Antonia and set it on a tabletop. She sniffed. aIt smells like hot chocolate to me, with something in it I canat identify. Perhaps itas chopped snail toenails.a aBadger said you were to drink it and then do what you normally do. He said youad know what he meant.a aThe b.u.g.g.e.r. Yes, Antonia, we know. Thank you, m.u.f.fin. Go to bed now.a When Antonia was gone, Marcus raised a cup and gave the d.u.c.h.ess the other. aTo us, to snailas toenails, and Badgeras attempt at heir-making.a aHear, hear,a she said and drank deep. aAn heir. I surely like the sound of that.a They were asleep soon, snuggled together, her head tucked against his neck.

31.

THE BRIGHT MORNING light shone in her eyes. Odd, but she didnat want to open her eyes, the light was too bright, it hurt, but finally, she did slit her eyes open.

ah.e.l.lo, d.u.c.h.ess, itas about time you joined us. As you can see, your dear husband is already awake, unhappy with me and with his headache, and naturally head kill me if it werenat for the tight ropes around his hands and feet. Your bonds arenat quite as tight. I donat intend for you to suffer, not you, never you.a She stared in blank astonishment at Trevor. aI donat understand. Where are we? What are you doing here?a aTo begin with,a Marcus said, his voice so calm it frightened her, ahe somehow drugged that hot chocolate Antonia brought to us last night.a aYes, certainly. She said Badger made it. I donat believe it. Itas not possible, not Badger.a aOf course Badger made it and added the laudanum to it as well, just as wead planned,a Trevor said. aBut believe what you will, whatever romantic, honorable swill enters your minds. But didnat you wonder at all when Badger came back here and told you that all the Colonial Wyndhams were accounted for in London? No, I can see you didnat. Pity, but too bad.

aOdd that you survived the bullets that day. Three bullets in your wretched bodies, but you still managed to live through it.a aYouare a miserable shot,a Marcus said.

Trevor very slowly turned to him, rose to tower over him, raised the b.u.t.t of his pistol and brought it down hard on his shoulder.

aStop it, d.a.m.n you!a She was struggling, yanking hard at the ropes around her wrists, ignoring the pain that ripped through her, yanking and pulling until Marcus said, aNo, d.u.c.h.ess, Iam all right. Just hold still, love.a Trevor returned to his place, an overturned crate he was using as a chair. aWhat a brave hero he is, donat you agree, d.u.c.h.ess? Yes, my cousin Marcus needs to learn who is in charge now. Even now that heas in exquisite pain he wonat accept that heas finally lost. No, Marcus isnat a man used to losing at anything. Ah, d.u.c.h.ess, donat look at me like that, with blooda"my blooda"in your eyes. Obey your husband, just hold still. I am sorry about you, my dear, but I have no choice about this, none at all.

aAh, Marcus wonat even moan from the pain and he does hurt, d.u.c.h.ess, he does indeed. Isnat that odd? He knows heas going to die, yet he holds to that myth, to that absurd menas code, whatever the h.e.l.l it is, that dictates that he wonat yield and he wonat plead with me. Well, no matter.

ad.u.c.h.ess, if only you hadnat forced Marcus to marry you before that magical date of June sixteenth, I could have let you both live, or at least I would have considered it. All that lovely money, but then, d.u.c.h.ess, I learned you got fifty thousand pounds from your father and I wanted that too. I wanted all of it and the Wyndham legacya"which I never believed was reala"and the t.i.tle of earl of Chase, and now thatas what Iall get. Everything. Now Iall have everything. I must remember to compliment your dear mother, Marcus, on solving the mystery. Iall do it whilst weare all in mourning for your double tragic deaths.a aBut youare rich,a she said, trying desperately to clear her head, which was aching abominably, trying to understand, trying to talk to him. aYou said you were very rich.a aWould you expect me to admit to poverty, d.u.c.h.ess? I jested about it to allay any suspicions either of you might have had. I was so open with both of you. No, thereas very little money left, though my family doesnat know of it for Iave kept it to myself, for I am the head of the American Wyndham family and very soon now Iall be the head of the entire Wyndham family. My fathera"your unclea"was a wastrel, no other way to say it. He left us with food in the pantry, a little maid head gotten pregnant, and naught else. I was pleased he finally fell in a duel for making love to another manas wife. I was left with no choice. I was the head of the Wyndham family. No one else. Why do you think I married Helen? And I was but twenty-two years old. She was the richest girl in Baltimore and her father was a miserable old miller when all is said and done. No more, no less.a aBut a very rich miserable old miller.a aYes, my dear, beyond rich, at least thatas what I believed at the time. I killed him then wooed Helen. She was so soft, so vulnerable in her grief, so tedious in her innocence, but I did enjoy her delicious little body until she grew large with child. Then it was easy, a fall from her mare from a spur I planted beneath the mareas saddle, left alone in the rain to catch a chill, and it happened as I planned it to. She went into labor and both she and the brat conveniently died, leaving me a broken man.

aBut that money ran out. I was still the head of the Wyndham family. What to do? Then we heard from Mr. Wicks, bless his old manas kindly heart. He really believed the two of you would never reconcile your differences, whatever they were. The poor old b.a.s.t.a.r.d had forgotten about l.u.s.t and youth. And you, d.u.c.h.ess, you l.u.s.ted after Marcus since you were a child, didnat you? You wonder how I know that? Well, to give credit where credit is due, I must thank dear Aunt Gweneth and her lovely detailed correspondence with my mother all these years. She wrote of you, how she admired youa"your serenity, your unpretentious modestya"how very well-bred you were despite your unfortunate antecedents, but how she suspected that you would set your hooks into Marcus since you couldnat have Mark or Charlie, for they were your half-brothers, and your dear earl father wouldnat allow that.

aMr. Wicks didnat write all that much, but dear Aunt Gweneth did, every small piddling detail of her wearisome life, for she was a spinster, living off the charity of her brother and what else did she have to do? I learned about everything, about the earlas bitterness, his hatred of you, Marcus, because you didnat have the good taste to die with Mark and Charlie, and you, d.u.c.h.ess, the precious b.a.s.t.a.r.d whose mother he loved all his benighted adult life. Ah, how Aunt Gweneth despised your mother, d.u.c.h.ess, for she feared the womanas influence. She hated her sister-in-law, but she was a known evil, wasnat she? But your mother, what would the s.l.u.t do once the countess was dead? We know, of course, he married your mother, the stupid fool, and we suppose he died a miserable man because she died first.

aWrenching isnat it, all of it? Pitiful, really. But here we are and itas all very real now and nearly to the end. Did I tell you that I wanted to leave James in America for the boy has such a kind heart, as unsuspecting of evil as Helen was, but he wanted to come, insisted, so I made the best of it, insisted he was sullen and hadnat wanted to be here, and you believed it, even about the young lady head left behind in Baltimore. He had a fancy to meet you, Marcus, and you, d.u.c.h.ess. He doesnat know what life can be and how it can change men and make them what they donat really want to be.

aJames wonat learn, for I will protect him as I will Ursula. It will be only the best for both of them and they will die as innocent as they live in their innocence now.a Marcus thought, let him talk and talk and talk, even as he worked the knots that bound his wrists together. Head believed Trevor would be a dandy, a fop, but he was none of those benign things. But head seen him as a man, a man to admire, a man to spar with, to share stories with, but he wasnat any of those things, he was evil and somehow twisted. Marcus realized then the truth of the rhymes and said blankly, aMy G.o.d, youare the b.l.o.o.d.y monster in the clues. Always there, always waiting to do evil, to harm and to lie and to kill. Thatas what the monk meant in the d.u.c.h.essas dream and thatas what the poem meant. Where thereas life thereas evil and one must always be on guard against it. Youare the evil here and you always were.a aAm I the monster? I donat really like the sound of that, Marcus, dear cousin. I suppose youare right, but still, it bothers me. I only do what I have to do. My mother is very expensive, you know. I told you, I want James and Ursula to have the very best and I couldnat provide it except this way. If Helen had been richer . . . ah, but she wasnat, the silly little s.l.u.t. My mother adores French fashions. What was I to do? And Ursula will be beautiful very soon now, not more than two years now and she will be glorious, a woman men will want. She must have her chance, and I am the head of the Wyndham family. It is my responsibility to see that she has it.a aYouare not the head of the Wyndham family, I am.a aNot for very much longer, cousin, not for more than a few more minutes.a aI donat suppose you would consider releasing us and returning to America,a Marcus said.

Trevor laughed, threw back his head and laughed deeply, his strong throat working. aYour only release will be with your death, cousin.a Time, the d.u.c.h.ess knew, they had to have more time. The bonds about her wrists were loosening even more. He had been considerate, if such a thing could be said of him. He hadnat tied her all that tightly. He believed her a woman, thus not a threat to him. He hadnat bothered to tie her ankles. She had to keep him talking. She had to think, dammit. So much had happened, so much pain, and head been responsible for all of it.

She looked at him until he met her gaze. His eyes softened. It scared her to death, but she said calmly enough, aSo you have been planning this? For how long? And you said that Badger was your partner. How did you get together with him?a Trevor leaned toward her. She jerked back, unable to help it. He just grinned at her. aI find Iam fatigued, d.u.c.h.ess, and quite tired of talking. I believe the two of you now understand why Iam doing this. I really donat want to kill you, d.u.c.h.ess, Iad much rather plow your belly until you became ugly to me, your belly all swelled out with child. Women with child should stay hidden. Theyare hideous. You should have seen Helen, all white and thin save for her huge belly. It was quite repellent. I wanted to call her a spider, but I couldnat, not until she was lying there, thrown from her mare, and then I told her what she was, what she truly was, and she screamed, not with terror from me but because the child was coming and it was ripping her apart.a Her bonds were free. He was seated on that overturned crate some six feet from her, a pistol dangling lazily in his right hand. What could she do?

aWell, Marcus, tell me, dear cousin. Who is the stronger? Who is the smarter? Who fooled you completely and utterly? Ah, yes, I am the head of the Wyndham family. I am fit to be the head of the Wyndham family, more fit than you. You and your asinine honor, your Englishmanas code. It makes you blind, makes you gullible.a She leapt to her feet and jumped at him, clawing at his right hand, madly tearing and screaming at him.

Marcus jumped to his feet and threw himself at Trevor. But his hands were tied, his feet were hobbled, no more than a couple of inches between the ropes that bound his ankles. Trevor knocked him off easily enough, then whirled about and threw the d.u.c.h.ess to the straw-covered floor. He fell on top of her.

But he was looking at Marcus, who was standing, just barely, and he was ready to charge again. aDonat move, cousin, or Iall put a bullet right in her lovely mouth.a She felt the hard metal against her lips. He pressed harder until her mouth was open and she tasted the cold metal, felt it press against her teeth.

Marcus took several clumsy steps back.

aSit down.a Marcus sat.

Trevor looked down into her white face. aI enjoyed dressing you last night. You have a very lovely body, a womanas body, but lithe and slender, curved so very nicely. Odd, but Marcus looks like me. But weare cousins, arenat we, so it makes sense. Large men, dark, well-made men, fashioned to impress other males and seduce women. Did I tell you that little Helen couldnat get enough of me? She loved to touch me, to kiss me all over. Of course, I taught her how to kiss a man. I let her have her way and pleased her in return, until she bored me, then that was all I let her do, kiss me and caress me.

aShall I strip you before I have to kill you? No, you donat like that thought at all, do you, d.u.c.h.ess? I repel you. I didnat before but now I do. You love him, donat you? I always believed you did, even though he was too stupid to realize his good fortune. And now itas too late.a He got off her, rising slowly to his feet. aWell, you tried to take me down, d.u.c.h.ess. I like that. It proves youare of my blood, not cowards, either of you. But the time has come to finish this. I will make it quick, I promise you. Iam not cruel. All you have to do is drink a bit more, and youall fall asleep just as you did last night. Only this time you wonat wake up. Iam going to tie each of you to your horses. Unfortunately they will both go off the rather dramatic cliff just to the east of Trellisian Valley. I donat want to have to kill Stanley, heas a good mount, and as the earl of Chase, I would like to ride him now and again, but I must make it believable. Iall untie you once youare dead at the bottom of the cliff and drive back to London. Iall be there in the bosom of my family when we receive word of your tragic deaths.a aWhy did you wake us up?a Marcus asked. aYou could have given us enough and killed us without this charming scene youave played out. Ah, thatas it, isnat it, Trevor? You wanted us to know it was you all along. You wanted to bray and brag and gloat.a Trevor rose, the gun raised, his face flushed, then it seemed he got control of himself again. Slowly, he sat down again on the crate. aThink what you will,a he said, then shrugged. aIt doesnat matter. The outcome will be the same. Youall be dead and Iall be the earl of Chase.a He looked from one to the other of them. aLife is so terribly uncertain, isnat it?a Suddenly the d.u.c.h.ess began to laugh. It bubbled out of her, tears pooled in her eyes and she was nearly losing her breath she was laughing so hard.

He jumped to his feet, waving his pistol toward her. ad.a.m.n you, shut up!a aAh, but itas so very funny,a she said and went into gales of laughter, full-bodied laughter that made Marcus so afraid he thought head choke on it. What the h.e.l.l was she doing?

aWhat the h.e.l.l is so funny? Shut up, I tell you!a aYou, Trevor.a She hiccuped and laughed more. aYou. Youare so very funny. Actually, what you are is pathetic. You, the next earl of Chase? You? Youare a b.l.o.o.d.y madman, thatas what you are, insignificant, not really there as a man, just a shadow, yes, a madman, thatas what you are. Yes, youare sad really, a loudmouthed preening c.o.c.k, an a.s.s braying like a man, a real man. Youare nothing but a dismal excuse for a man, nothing more, just an excuse.a And she laughed and laughed until Trevor, his face blood-red now, fury roiling through him, roared to his feet, raised the pistol, and came over her. He had the pistol in his hand and he would strike her with it, hard and again and again, she saw it in his eyes, eyes shead believed once so warm and filled with intelligence and humor. Now they just held death and his loss of control.

Just as he was coming down over her, she drew her legs back to her chest to give her leverage and power and she kicked him in the groin. She kicked him so hard that for an endlessly long moment, he just hung there over her, poised to strike her with that pistol b.u.t.t, doing nothing at all now, not breathing, just staring down at her disbelieving, then he screamed and screamed, falling backward onto his back, clutching his groin, crying now, wailing really, the agony ripping him apart, and in those moments he was behind them, not even aware that they were there and that they were his enemies.

aWell done, d.u.c.h.ess.a She saw Marcus roll over on top of Trevor, grab the pistol, and toss it to her, for his hands were tied behind his back and hers were tied in front. She caught it and held it in front of her.

aGet off him, Marcus. Let him suffer, then weall see.a He rolled off Trevor and came up onto his feet. Slowly, he hobbled to her and sat down beside her. aUntie me if you can,a he said.

Shead released his wrists when Trevor, finally enduring the worst of the nausea and the tearing pain, managed to sit up. He looked into the barrel of the pistol that Marcus now pointed at him.

He cursed very softly.

The d.u.c.h.ess wasnat laughing now, but her voice was calm, not the detached, dispa.s.sionate calm of the old d.u.c.h.ess, but a determined calm, a nearly ferocious calm. aMy wrists are nearly free, Marcus. Donat bother with me, just keep that gun pointed at him. Just another moment. Yes, now Iam all right. Hold still and Iall untie your ankles.a When they were both free, Marcus stood slowly, the pistol never wavering from Trevoras face. He stomped his feet up and down to get the feeling back.

aWhere are we?a he asked.

Trevor, still struggling with the grinding pain in his groin, was silent for a few more moments, then he shrugged. aI hadnat expected you to ask me that just yet.a aWhy the h.e.l.l not? Thereas nothing else to ask you. Youave carried on about how brilliant you are, you the head of the Wyndham family, you the one who believes it his right to kill with impunity all in the cause of your d.a.m.ned duty, your responsibility to your mother and brother and sister. All right, tell me, cousin. Do they truly have no idea what youave done?a aPerhaps. My mother hates both of you, naturally. Does she know? And Ursula, so sweet, at least she seems so, doesnat she? Youave gotten to know James, an honorable boy, donat you think? He worships me. Youall never know for sure now, Marcus, will you?a aYouare quite mad, cousin. More important, youare sane in your madness and that is surely worse. Now you can tell me. Where are we?a aIall see you in h.e.l.l before I tell you.a aYou know something, cousin? It doesnat really matter, because youall be in h.e.l.l a long time before I will.a He raised the pistol, looked in that strong face that held too much resemblance to his own, and for that brief moment, he thought, dear G.o.d, heas my cousin, heas of my flesh, and he faltered. It was all Trevor needed. He kicked out at Marcus, sending grinding pain through his thigh, then lunged for the gun. Marcus wasnat quite fast enough. He felt Trevoras hands close around his wrist, squeezing it tightly, shaking his hand to free the gun, but he held tight.

Their struggle was a silent one, save for the grunts and heavy, ugly breathing. The d.u.c.h.ess was now on her feet, her hands free of the ropes, looking for a weapon, anything. She felt no fear for herself, just this nearly deadening fear for Marcus, and knew, knew somewhere deep down, that she had to tamp down on that fear. She managed it, flooding herself with savage frenzy and urgency.

They were on the hay-strewn floor now, still struggling for the gun, rolling over and over, panting more deeply now, sweating with exertion. She saw it then, a pitchfork, rusted with age, leaning crookedly against the far wall of the barn, looking none too st.u.r.dy, but no matter. She grabbed ita"d.a.m.n but it was heavya"and ran to stand over them.

But they were rolling over and over, first Marcus with the advantage, then Trevor, evenly matched. She saw that Marcus still held the gun, but Trevor was keeping well clear of it. She was terrified of striking Marcus. She circled them, waiting, waiting, wanting to scream each time it looked like Trevor would win.

Then, quite suddenly, the barn doors were flung open and brilliant sunlight streamed in.

Trevor, on top of Marcus at that instant, was blinded, and jerked back. It was all Marcus needed. He kicked him off and rolled away, coming up on his knees, raising the gun.

But the d.u.c.h.ess was faster. She raised the pitchfork over her head and brought it down with all her strength, striking Trevor squarely on the back of his head with the wooden handle, sending him sprawling on his face. He twitched once, then lay utterly still. She didnat know whether or not shead killed him and she didnat care.

aMarcus!a She was beside him in an instant, not really aware that North, Badger, and Spears were standing over them.

32.

BADGER PATTED HER back and clucked like a mother hen, feeling at once foolish at his display of emotion and so scared in his relief he wanted to yell with it.

aChocolate!a he said against her hair, furious with himself. aDear G.o.d, somehow that mangy b.a.s.t.a.r.d Trevor got laudanum into the chocolate I sent to you and his lordship. And like a fool I let Antonia carry it to you, never thinkinga"a aBut how did he manage it?a Marcus asked as Spears was examining his b.l.o.o.d.y knuckles and the bruises on his face. He looked over at his unconscious cousin, North beside him, feeling for his heart, as he spoke.

aI spoke to Antonia, just by chance really. Jesus, you canat imagine how that fear was curdling my toes when I didnat find either of you in bed where you should have been, all tight and cozy and tangled up together, like two ears of corn in a husk. The bed was empty and I donat mind telling you, and Mr. Spears will agree, I was nearly frothing at the mouth with fear. It turns out that Antonia paused only a moment to speak to f.a.n.n.y and the Twins went into the bedchamber for a moment.a He didnat tell them that Antonia had been plenty mad because f.a.n.n.y, the wretched flirt who wanted Marcus for herself, had demanded that she, not Antonia, take the chocolate to the d.u.c.h.ess and Marcus. Theyad argued until finally theyad both fetched a sovereign from f.a.n.n.yas bedchamber, then theyad tossed it to see who would carry the chocolate to the d.u.c.h.ess and the earl.

aThe Twins evidently were arguing about something. And while they were carrying on, even going to one of their bedchambers, Trevor quite easily poured laudanum into the chocolate theyad conveniently left in the corridor.a ad.a.m.nation,a Marcus said. aWhat if they hadnat argued? What if Antonia alone had been carrying that chocolate unbothered by her twin? I think that Trevor would have hurt her, both of them if necessary, perhaps even killed them as swiftly and remorselessly as he would a fly. What are two twins, fifteen-year-old cousins to him, after all? How the b.l.o.o.d.y devil did he get into the house?a It wasnat all that hard, so no one said anything. It was all so frightening, it still made Badgeras tongue thick and dry, sticking to the roof of his mouth.

It had been close, too close, so close that even now his heart was pounding faster than when that sod of a nag Midnight Fleet had beaten all odds and won at Ascot just last week.

He stroked his hand over the d.u.c.h.essas back, crooning like a d.a.m.ned turkey all the while. She got a grip on herself and drew back to look up at him. aHe wanted us to believe that you were in this with him.a aI beg your pardon, d.u.c.h.ess?a She grinned at the outrage in Spearsas voice. aMarcus and I knew Badger couldnat be involved with him, Spears. Never for a moment did we doubt you, Badger, never. But it pleased Trevor to taunt us with it.a aSee that you never doubt me in the future either.a aI agree. A most unworthy thought of a d.u.c.h.ess and an earl,a Spears said. aMost unbefitting either of you. Mr. Badger is a man beyond men.a aAmen,a said Marcus. He looked over again at North, whoad returned just two days before after visiting a military friend in Castleford, leaving only after head been certain that Marcus and the d.u.c.h.ess would be all right after theyad been shot. aWill he live, North?a aYes, I think so. The d.u.c.h.ess gave him a solid hit but his pulse is strong as is his heartbeat. If you like, Marcus, Iall take him to Darlington and see that heas put safely in the gaol. Iall even hire guards to keep an eye on him around the clock.a aIall go with you. I donat want to let him out of my sight again until I know heas safely locked behind some very st.u.r.dy bars. Yes, the guards are an excellent idea.a aWhat happened, my lord?a Spears asked. aI mean, why is Mr. Trevor still alive?a aI had the gun and I was ready to kill him. Then I realized who he wasa"my cousin, a Wyndham, my flesha"and I couldnat do it. It was the chance he needed. He jumped on me.a aThatas right, Marcus,a North said. aDonat flail at yourself. Iam glad you wonat have his blood on your handsa"either of your hands, for that matter. Have him deported to Botany Bay, a wonderful place I understand, savage as h.e.l.l itself. Let him finish out his life there. I daresay heall make his way amongst all the other criminals. At least youall be safe from him then.a aYes,a Marcus said slowly, aBotany Bay. I do believe I could arrange that without too much difficulty. Thereas no reason to have an ugly scandal if we can avoid it. Even though Aunt Wilhelmina deserves any and everything, Ursula and James donat. I donat want them hurt more than they have to be.a aI agree,a Badger said. He saw that the d.u.c.h.ess was nodding also, then turned to Lord Chilton. At Northas nod, he added, aThere, thatas all of us, my lord. Ah, I should add that Maggie was beside herself, let me tell you, screamed at Mr. Spears and me, even at poor Lord Chilton, who surely wasnat to blame, cursing us that we wouldnat bring her with us.a aThe picture painted with your words, Badger, quite boggles the mind,a Marcus said.

The d.u.c.h.ess managed to find a remnant of a smile, then said, aWe wonat have to worry about him ever again. Thank G.o.d, Marcus, youare safe. Youare whatas most important to any of us, and even if thatas not quite true, then youare whatas most important to me, at the very least. Oh dear, I was so scared he would kill you, so very scared. Donat you ever do something like that again.a She pulled herself out of Badgeras comforting hold and walked straight to her husband. He pulled her close and just held her, silent for several moments. He raised his head finally, saying, aHow did you find us?a Badger said, aWe went to the stables after I found Mr. Spears and told him you and his lordship were gone and what I suspected. Not that it was necessarily Mr. Trevor, you understand, just that theread been foul play, as Mr. Kemble of Drury Lane calls it, and sure enough, both Stanley and Birdie were gone. Lambkin was fit to eat the horseshoe nails, my lord, utterly stammering he was with confusion and mental turmoil. Ah, yes, I tracked you here,a he added simply, as if it were the most common ability on earth.

Marcus looked from one of them to the other. aYou tracked us here, Badger? This is beyond what you are supposed to be able to do. You are the d.u.c.h.essas valet. You are our cook. You know a lot about medicines. Now I hear that you tracked Stanley and Birdie here?a aWell, my lord, it wasnat all that difficult, truth be told. You see, Stanley has a strange shoe, put on by the d.u.c.h.essas father, some three years ago, a shoe in the shape of a star. Why, you might ask? I havenat the foggiest notion. It wasnat difficult, as I said, to follow you and find you here in old MacGuildyas barn. Poor old man, dead now and no one cares that this barn is falling apart and thatas why Trevor Wyndham brought you here. He rode Clancy around the estate many, many hours as I recall.a North shook his head. aAll I had to do was follow orders, Marcus. These two had everything well in hand. Iam sorry I left, Marcus. d.a.m.nation, I knew that the danger wasnat over by a long shot.a aYou, North, are just angry because you missed finding the treasure with us,a Marcus said, and punched his friend in the arm.

aAlas, thatas part of it, I fear.a Spears said, aHowever, my lord, having you at our side gave us additional confidence. In your anger, you wore a dark, quite menacing look that would challenge the devil himself.a There suddenly came a loud shriek from the barn door.

aHo! I knew wead find you! d.a.m.n you, Mr. Spears, and d.a.m.n you even more, Mr. Badger, I knew wead find you! Ah, and Lord Chilton, well d.a.m.n you as well, you sneaking lordship! Oh, h.e.l.l and the devil, all the funas over! It isnat fair, Iave missed all of it.a The d.u.c.h.ess looked at Maggie, dragging a red-faced Sampson behind her, then looked up at her husbandas astonished face. aHow,a she asked, giggling, her breath warm against his throat, ahow could you ever imagine that Maggie would willingly miss any of the fun?a aHo! Whatas this? Good G.o.d, itas Mr. Trevor, and heas sprawled in a very ungentlemanly fashion on the ground. Whatever has happened?a

Epilogue.

IT WAS LATE that night, a night of warmth and closeness and lingering fear and the weight of staggering loss, that Marcus, the d.u.c.h.ess, and all their friends, who just happened to be their servants, were seated in the dining room, the earl having insisted that all of them dine together, at least this evening, despite Spearsas vehement and quite vocal disapproval.

Marcusas mother, bless her heart, had hauled Aunt Gweneth and the Twins off to her own sitting room and told them that it was their own private banquet, that the earl was a man with odd notions that must be respected since he was the head of the Wyndham family, and thus they would conduct their own private party and leave the earl and the d.u.c.h.ess to theirs. She frowned at f.a.n.n.y, who had the temerity to point out that Lord Chilton wasnat a servant and he was allowed at their party.

When Badgeras smiling kitchen minions brought out the bottle of chilled champagne, Sampson, the Wyndham butler for fifteen years, a man of astute judgment, reserved demeanor and sober of mien, rose, cleared his throat and announced, aMy lords, my lady, Mr. Badger and Mr. Spears, I should very much like to make an announcement. Miss Maggie will be remaining here with the d.u.c.h.ess as her personal maid. I will also be remaining at Chase Park as butler.a He paused and Marcus frowned. aI should hope so, unless, naturally, you feel that thereas been too much impropriety, too much disorder and untidiness in a n.o.blemanas house.a Sampson cleared his throat again. aThat isnat quite what I meant, my lord. Actually, what I meant to say and what I shall say now is that Miss Maggie has agreed to become Mrs. Glenroyale Sampson. That, my lord, er, is my given name.a aOh my,a the d.u.c.h.ess said. She rose from her chair and walked to Maggie, leaned down and hugged her. aCongratulations, my dear. Itas wonderful. Sampson is a very fine man. And that emerald necklace looks marvelous on you.a Maggie, laughing, looking like a coquette while she batted her long eyelashes at the earl, said to the d.u.c.h.ess, aWell, heas a man of great stability, you know, not given to haring off to mills to see those poor men pound each other to death with their fists, or drinking too much ale at that horried inn in Bramberly, or gambling away all his coin at the nest of vipers in Eglington. Yes, Iave decided itas better to permanently settle down with a stable man, one who also thinks with his head and not just with hisa"well, never mind that. In any case, Iave decided not to return to the stage in London.a aHe is stable,a Badger said. aHe does think with his head. He will be faithful. He will take good care of Maggie. He will be tolerant of her occasional flirtatious lapses. Mr. Spears a.s.sures me that Mr. Sampson is just what all of us will admire.a aI, for one,a North said, acertainly admire his sang froid. I was witness to his dealings with an impertinent tradesman just yesterday, Marcus. The man was apologizing, ready to kiss Sampsonas highly polished boots before he left.a aGood G.o.d,a Marcus said. ad.u.c.h.ess, what do you think of this?a aI think,a she said, grinning around the earlas huge table, athat Sampson is quite the luckiest man in the world.a aThat is most kind of you to say so, d.u.c.h.ess,a Sampson said, clearing his throat yet one more time, abut I beg you to consider that Maggie here is also a very lucky lady. She saved Mr. Badgeras life and look what wonderful things have transpired for her in reward for her outstanding good deed. She will have me as her husband and Mr. Spears and Mr. Badger as cohorts. Everyone needs cohorts in life, d.u.c.h.ess, everyone.a aA husband isnat a bad thing to have either,a the d.u.c.h.ess said.

aHear, hear,a said Maggie, winking at the earl, aand his lordship here is shaping up quite nicely, donat you think so, Mr. Spears?a aIndeed, Maggie, indeed.a The earl flung up his hands and yelled for another bottle of champagne. He turned to Lord Chilton, who was chewing on Badgeras fruit meringue on a sponge biscuit. aWell, North, does all this marital bliss warm your sinneras heart? Make you want to consider some leg shackles yourself?a North took his time swallowing. He looked around the table. He smiled at the d.u.c.h.ess. aActually, Marcus, all this overflowing of mating euphoria quite makes me want to hare off to that mill Maggie spoke about. Tomorrow, I think. I want to put a good five miles between me and the rest of you by noon. Iave done my visiting now and gotten my fill of excitement, jollity, and familial closeness. Now I want to go home to Cornwall and brood in solitude, hug my gloom close to my breast and no one elseas. In short, I will remain as I am, alone and quite happy with my own black cloud and seclusion. Yes, Iall walk the moors with my dogs and be quite as somber in my thoughts as any good man should be.a aWe will see, North, we will see,a Marcus said, and raised his champagne for another toast. aTo his lordshipas seclusion,a he said. aMay it end in the not-too-distant future.a aTo his lordshipas imminent demise as a black-hearted, quite handsome bachelor,a Maggie said. aHeas not a man to be wasted on dogs or moors.a aHear, hear,a the d.u.c.h.ess said.

aYour mother was very concerned, my lord. Begging your pardon, d.u.c.h.ess, but I must move on now to other matters. Thus, I read everything I could find on this Botany Bay, and found that we were right. Itas a thoroughly nasty place, primitive as that area around the Ganges River. No one manages to escape this Botany Bay. I told this to your mother, my lord. She then stopped fretting about Mr. Trevor. I told her it was at the end of the earth and filled with venomous serpents. She was quite relieved. I donat believe sheall speak of it again, my lord.a aWell,a Maggie said, tapping her fork against her champagne gla.s.s, aI wouldnat be content to send him there, all whole-hided, no indeed. Poor d.u.c.h.essa"she just smacks him on his head. Men donat get hurt when smacked on their heads. No, she should have taken that pitchfork and done him in then and there. I would have known what to do.a aBotany Bay isnat an easy place,a Badger said. aI agree with Mr. Spears. Master Trevor wonat be taking any trips away from there.a aStill, you were all too kind, too easy on that devil. What matter if he was kin? He lost all his rights when he was so very wicked. Trying to kill the d.u.c.h.ess, trying to do away with both of you and he would have, that one. He wouldnat have stopped and felt all kinds of guilt, no, he would have done away with both of you.a aThat is quite enough, my dear,a Sampson said kindly but with a certain sort of firmness that made the d.u.c.h.ess stare at him. aSurely the topic has been abused sufficiently. Mr. Trevor wonat escape that place. Everyone is safe. You have more than enough to think about now without the inclusion of that man who will shortly be gone from England.a The d.u.c.h.ess grinned at the look of utter astonishment on Maggieas face. aIs that you, Mr. Sampson? You said that to me?a aYes, indeed, dearest.a aWell, well, the man is capable of surprising me. Me! I quite like that, Mr. Sampson, perhaps. Once in a while. Mayhap twice a week.a aHear, hear,a the d.u.c.h.ess called out, looking toward her husband as she spoke. She was fingering the beautiful pearls that were looped about her neck, and she was smiling, a very soft smile.

aTwice a week?a Marcus said. aNo, surely more than twice a week.a aHis lordship isnat adhering to a gentlemanas code if you asked me,a Maggie said. aNot like Mr. Sampa", er, my dearest Glenroyale here.a aSurprises are quite nice, arenat they?a the d.u.c.h.ess said, still looking at her husband, still fingering those pearls.

t.i.tles by Catherine Coulter.

THE EDGE.

THE COVE.

THE MAZE.

THE TARGET.

BEYOND EDEN.

IMPULSE.

FALSE PRETENSES.

THE COURTSHIP.

MAD JACK.

ROSEHAVEN.