Tenacious Trents 03 - A Reluctant Rake (41 page)

Jordan settled beside her and placed an
arm around her back and gave her a quick squeeze. Thank goodness he
had arrived when he did. Audrey didn’t doubt that Millicent would
have scarred her beyond recognition. A chill went up her spine
recalling the feel of the cold blade against her cheek.

Jordan glanced down at her and then
took a handkerchief from his pocket. How had she missed that when
she was searching for his knife? He dabbed it against the small
point on her cheek where the knife had cut into her
skin.

“I would have hated Millicent for
harming you, but scars would not have changed the way I feel,” he
assured her, as if he read thoughts she was afraid to
acknowledge.

How do you feel, she wanted to blurt
out, but now didn’t seem to be the right place. They were sitting
in the middle of the stairs, his driver not far away and the dead
bodies of Lord and Lady Lydell were sprawled on the marble floor in
the foyer.

The front door opened a short time
later and three gentlemen stepped inside and took in the scene.
Jordan rose and descended the stairs to greet them. Audrey didn’t
have the energy or desire to go down there. Jordan could tell them
what they needed to know. She simply wanted these shackles off of
her wrists and to put this nightmare behind her.

Jordan and the footman who had seen the
argument stood to the side talking with two men, which Audrey
assumed were sent to investigate the matter. Did they have Runners
in Bath? It never occurred to her that they would be anywhere other
than London but certainly crimes took place in other parts of
England. She’d just never known of any.

The third man squatted down and was
studying the bodies. He wrote a few notes in a book then he took a
pad out of his satchel and began sketching. Did they do this every
time someone had been killed? It was all rather interesting though
she wished she weren’t a part of it. She would rather none of this
had happened or that she had learned about it by reading it in the
papers.

One of the gentlemen looked up at
Audrey and nodded to whatever Jordan was saying. He broke away and
mounted the steps and stopped a few before reaching her so that he
wasn’t towering over her.

“I am Mr. Hollings. Can you tell me
what occurred?”

Audrey sighed and began at the
beginning, when she received the note from who she assumed was
Jordan. She never did ask him if he had sent it but deep down she
suspected it was Millicent to get her out of the house and alone.
She would never trust so easily again.

He nodded and jotted down notes as she
spoke.

“Your story is the same as Mr.
Trent’s,” he concluded when she was finished. Did he think she
would lie? Audrey glanced at the bodies.

Perhaps investigators were used to
people lying to them.

“Is there a key?” He nodded to the
shackles.

“A few servants are looking.” Her voice
was monotone and seemed to be coming from someone who wasn’t her.
It was a very odd sensation and she really didn’t seem to
care.

“I hope they find it soon, those can’t
be comfortable.”

Audrey offered him a weak smile. They
were far from simply uncomfortable.

Footmen emerged from below carrying
what appeared to be tablecloths. They were draped over the bodies
before they were carried out. Some blood remained on the floor and
a maid began mopping up the evidence that the Lydells had died
there. Audrey watched it all with detachment. Would she ever get
their images out of her mind?

She studied the marble floor as the
water dried and the shine reappeared. One would never know what
happened here just a short time ago.

The footmen who had been sent for the
key returned.

“I am sorry, Mr. Trent. We couldn’t
find a key.”

Jordan glanced up at Audrey. There had
to be a way to get these off. She couldn’t wear them for the rest
of her life could she?

“Nor could we.”

Audrey turned to the voice of the maid
descending the stairs, the second one following her.

“Is there is a locksmith in town?”
Jordan asked one of the investigators.

“Stevens won’t be back until tomorrow
afternoon,” the man answered.

Audrey wanted to cry. How could she
stay this way for another day? She glanced out the window. It was
already getting dark. She had been gone from home for over
twenty-four hours. Her aunt and uncle must be beside themselves
with worry. “Shouldn’t we return to London?”

“Not until those are off,” Jordan
indicated to her hands.

“My family,” she began and didn’t
finish.

“Mine as well,” Jordan began to climb
the stairs, coming back to her. “I will have letters delivered so
they are aware.”

“We will see that they are taken care
of.” The man, who Audrey assumed was the butler,
offered.

“Thank you,” Jordan said before looking
down at Audrey. “I’ll go pen the letters, will you be alright?” He
studied her while he waited for her answer. She simply
nodded.

Jordan returned down stairs and stopped
before the butler. “Did Lydell keep paper and quills in the
library?”

“Yes, Mr. Trent. That is where he
worked.”

Jordan nodded and disappeared down the
hall.

Audrey allowed herself to slump against
the wall. She probably should get up and go downstairs but she
really didn’t want to move from this spot. Everything seemed to
ache and what she really wanted was a soft bed and deep, deep
slumber.

The servants milled about in the foyer,
talking so quietly that she couldn’t make out what they were
saying. The butler seemed to be giving instructions. A moment later
they all dispersed, going in separate directions, leaving Audrey
completely alone to stare at the spot where a woman she had known
since childhood, and had been friends with, died.

Jordan quickly wrote a note to Clayton
and another to Audrey’s aunt and uncle. He did not go into detail,
but enough to explain what had happened and to assure them that
they were both well. He also advised them that instead of returning
to London, he would be accompanying Audrey to her parent’s home, or
wherever her father happened to be to request her hand in marriage.
Given the circumstances and that they were without a maid as
chaperone, Jordan hoped to be married quickly, even if it meant
driving to Scotland.

He folded and sealed the letters and
returned to the foyer where the butler was waiting.

“I have a stable hand waiting to
deliver these. He won’t rest until he gets to London,” the butler
assured him.

“Thank you.” Jordan handed the missives
to the man. “Why are you being so accommodating? ” The servants
were going out of their way to be helpful. In most households the
staff would be grieving almost as much as the family but not in
this case. It was as if nothing out of the ordinary had
occurred.

“We feel badly for not knowing Miss
Montgomery was here and in danger. We wouldn’t have known about you
if your driver hadn’t come into the kitchen.”

“It isn’t your fault,” Jordan assured
him.

“We’ve known something was wrong with
Lady Lydell for some time and were beginning to suspect Lord Lydell
might be going a bit mad himself.”

Jordan nodded.

“We just wish to make it right for any
pain or inconvenience that has been caused by our lack of
assistance.”

He glanced back at Audrey. Her skin was
still deathly white and her eyes had taken on a haunted look. Thank
goodness the maid was sitting with her. Perhaps she had noticed how
distress she was as well.

“We can only hope the next Lord Lydell
is better, though we don’t hold out much hope.” Jordan didn’t even
know who was in line to inherit. As far as he knew there were no
brothers or male cousins. “Who stands to gain the
title?”

The butler sniffed. “A
second cousin who lives in
America
,” he said with
disgust.

Jordan bit back a laugh. At least it
would be some time before word was delivered and the man could
return to England.

He thanked the butler once again and
made his way toward to the stairs. He needed to be with
Audrey.

“Would you like me to make up a couple
of rooms in a separate part of the house, Mr. Trent?” the maid
asked.

Audrey’s eyes grew wide, almost in
terror. He didn’t want to stay here anymore than she.

“I think I will take Miss Montgomery
into town, or is there a coaching inn close by.”

The maid brightened. “There is, not far
away and you won’t even need to go into Bath.”

The less people they encountered the
less likely Audrey’s reputation would be damaged.

“I will go with you. The owner is
married to my older sister.” She stood and smiled down at Audrey.
“I’ll explain the situation and get you set up nice and
tight.”

Audrey searchingly looked at Jordan.
She hadn’t spoken since the investigator had questioned her and he
began to grow concerned.

“I don’t want to risk Miss Montgomery’s
reputation.”

The maid tisked. “My brother-in-law
won’t say a word to nobody. On that you have my word. And, if I am
with you, then you can enter with Miss Montgomery and nobody can
say anything about her traveling alone.”

She did have a point.

Audrey pushed her hands against her
knees and stood. She swayed slightly and Jordan reached out to
steady her. The last thing he needed was Audrey tumbling down these
stairs in the manner the Lydells had.

“Oh dear,” the maid
muttered.

“What?”

“We can’t have Miss Montgomery seen
with those on her wrists.” She turned and raced up the stairs.
“I’ll be right back.”

Jordan pulled Audrey close and assisted
her down the stairs. Though she was fully clothed her hands and
cheeks were as cold as ice. What did it mean? Was she getting
ill?

When they reached the landing Audrey
stopped and stared at the floor, a frown marred her brow. Instead
of continuing forward she sidestepped and walked on the outer edge
of the foyer to avoid stepping where the bodies had come to rest.
He needed to get her out of this house before she
collapsed.

The maid returned a moment later,
carrying a large cloak over her arms. She hurried down the stairs
and handed it to Jordan. He placed it over Audrey’s shoulders and
buttoned up the front to hide her arms.

The maid nodded and the butler opened
the door. Clayton’s carriage was waiting to take them to the
coaching inn. Jordan assisted Audrey and then the maid into the
carriage before he settled into the seat beside Audrey. As the
carriage jolted forward Audrey’s shaking began until the tremors
seemed to overtake her and Jordan pulled her onto his lap, cradling
and holding her close.

Why couldn’t she stop shaking and why
was she so cold? It was warm outside and she was in the thick cloak
that had once belonged to Millicent.

Oh God, Millicent was dead. Shot by
Lydell.