Haunting Secrets (28 page)

No, she argued with herself. She must stall for time. Soon Justin would realize she was missing and come looking for her. Someone must have seen her leave. Mrs. White! Hopefully, the housekeeper knew something.

Behind Victoria, the sisters whispered back and forth.
Sisters!
It was hard to believe they were sisters, especially since Victoria knew Anne was having an affair with Roderick…

Recalling the conversation she’d overheard while in the tunnels with Justin that day, Victoria stopped dead in her tracks. She had an idea. She spun around and met Bethany’s angry stare. “There is another thing I don’t understand.”

Bethany released an impatient sigh and folded her arms. “What now? I’m tired of your games, Miss Fawson.”

Victoria lifted her chin stubbornly. “If you want my help, then you’ll have to indulge my curiosity.”

“Fine. What do you want to know?”

“If you two are such
loving
and
devoted
sisters, why is Anne sleeping with your husband?”

Bethany hissed and swung her focus to Anne. “What? You’re having an affair with
my husband
?”

Color disappeared from Anne’s face and her eyes bounced back and forth between Victoria and Bethany. “Uh, of course not. That’s utterly ridiculous.”

“It is?” Victoria continued. “Jonathan even saw you and Roderick kissing behind the house the first day I was here. We were strolling the grounds, and witnessed a quaint scene between you and Roderick. Not only that, but once while I was with Justin, we overheard your conversation with Roderick while the two of you were hiding in Justin’s old bedchambers.”

“What?” Bethany’s voice lifted higher. She shoved at Anne’s shoulder. “What were you and Roddy doing in Justin’s bedroom?”

“Um, nothing. Nothing at all. Miss Fawson is lying.”

Feeling victorious, Victoria folded her arms and shot a knowing glance at Anne. “Does that mean you lied to Roderick and you are not carrying his child?”

Bethany screeched and wrapped her fingers around Anne’s throat. “How dare you.”

“She’s lying, I tell you,” Anne rasped as she tried to peel Bethany’s fingers off her neck.

“No, she’s not! I know my husband was sneaking around with one of the maids, but I had no idea it was
you.
I thought it was Sarah!”

Victoria shrugged. “He was having an affair with her as well.”

“Let…me…go.” Anne wheezed. “I…can…explain.”

“Explain?” Bethany snipped. “I think not,
sister.
You always thought you were better than me. You always wanted what I had, and you hated me because I married a Maitland and you could not. You always thought you were the better witch. Well, not any longer. I shall
not
let you win this time.”

Mrs. Maitland pushed her sister up against the cave’s wall and continued choking her. Victoria wanted to stop her, only because she worried that Anne was the one who’d put a spell on Justin. Obviously, Anne was indeed the better witch, since she fooled everyone who lived at Maitland Manor. If Anne had indeed put the curse on Justin—and she died now—he would always be a wolf.

With a sob, Victoria lunged for the struggling woman, trying to pull Bethany away. “Let her go, Bethany.”

“No. I want her out of my life forever!”

“But Justin’s spell…she has to lift the curse.”

“She didn’t curse him, you fool,” Bethany shouted and shoved Victoria away with her elbow.

Victoria stumbled back and fell over her long gown. Tears filled her eyes as she watched Anne slowly die.

Chapter Seventeen

Justin hadn’t been on the island since he was a young boy, but as he made his way through the thick trees and underbrush, memories of the trails he’d discovered returned to his mind. He followed one pathway that appeared frequently used. When the light at the end of the tunnel grew, he slowed his hurried steps.

Women filled the cave, all with digging equipment—as well as four burly men with whips and pistols.

Justin flattened himself against the wall of the cave, and breathed deeply, hoping to clear his mind of the panic rushing through him enough to think clearly. If he went barging through there, the guards would certainly shoot at him and try to stop him from rescuing Victoria. There must be another way to sneak through this section.

He rubbed his forehead and groaned.
Think Justin, think!

The sounds echoing in the cave stalled, and the atmosphere changed. Justin dared peek inside once again. There was some kind of commotion going on down one of the side tunnels, because the guards walked away from their posts to head in that direction. The women all wore perplexed expressions as their gazes watched in interest.

Without contemplating any further, Justin made his move and sneaked into the cave. When a few of the ladies swung their heads toward him, he lifted a finger to his lips to keep them quiet. Their eyes widened, and they nodded. Soon all the others did the same.

He nearly stumbled over a shovel lying on the ground. But just as he stepped around it, an idea struck.

Justin lifted one of the shovels, and motioned for the women to do the same. Not saying a word, he made actions with his hands, trying to tell them what he wanted them to help him with. The guards must be taken out first.

Soundless excitement grew from one woman to the next as their faces lit up. They followed him toward the guards. As he snuck up behind the closest one, Justin lifted the shovel and whacked it on the other man’s head. The sound of cracking bones echoed in the cave, but the man fell in a motionless heap.

The three other guards heard and spun around, each grabbing at their pistols. Before Justin could get to them, the women swarmed around the men like killer wasps as they hit the men with their shovels. Within seconds, all the guards lay still.

Cheerful voices rose in victory, but Justin hushed the women again. “It’s still not over,” he said, pointing to the tunnel where other voices still came from. “Stay here.”

Victoria’s maid, Francine touched him on the shoulder. “Monsieur, we want to help.”

“Not this time, Francine. These women are not…normal. This is something I must do alone.” He squeezed her hand. “But go with the other ladies and leave this place. Now!”

Tears streaked down their faces as they hugged each other and as quiet as they could, hurried out of the cave.

Tightening his grip on the shovel, Justin proceeded down the tunnel, the voices growing louder by the second. When three women came into view, his heart burst with relief. Victoria still lived!

Bethany released the woman she was choking, and Anne fell to the ground, dead. Justin flattened himself against the cave wall again. He couldn’t make them aware of his presence yet. Thankfully, the tunnel was still dark, and he doubted they could see him as he watched and waited.

Sighing heavily, Bethany brushed her hands, turned and looked down at Victoria who sat in the dirt with her knees pulled against her chest. Tears pooled in her eyes, wrenching Justin’s heart.

Bethany shrugged. “Told you I’d win.”

“I had no doubt,” Victoria said quietly.

“Anne liked to think she was the better sister, but I am.”

“Obviously.”

Bethany grasped Victoria’s arm and pulled her up. “Now, where were we?” She tilted her head, studying Victoria. “Oh, yes. You were going to show me where the treasure is located.”

A tear fell from Victoria’s eye as she shook her head. “Why, Bethany?” Victoria’s voice broke.

Tears collected in Justin’s eyes. He hated seeing the woman he loved more than life itself in this kind of turmoil.

“Why, what?” Beth asked.

“Why are you doing this? You are wealthy already. You are married to a Maitland, just as you have always wanted. So why go through all of this?”

“My mother always told me I was too dim-witted to make it through life and marry out of my class. We were always poor. My ancestors were poor. I decided many years ago I would not have this kind of life. I want to be the richest person in the world, and having all the gold and silver here in these caves will get me that.” She flipped her hand. “And just because I’m married to a Maitland doesn’t mean I’m happy.”

“You still want Justin, don’t you?” Victoria asked.

Justin held his breath, not looking forward to hearing Bethany’s answer.

“Yes, I do.” Bethany lifted her chin, stubbornly.

“Even if he doesn’t want you?”

“He
will
want me. Once I get the treasure, another curse will be put upon him so he’ll love only me.”

Justin cringed as bile rose in his throat. He couldn’t let that happen!

“But, Bethany,” Victoria said, “don’t you want a man who will love you for
you
on his own free will?”

Justin’s sister-in-law scowled. “Oh course I do, you nit-wit, but powerful men have never wanted me. Believe me, I’ve tried to seduce them without my magic, but it doesn’t work.” She growled and grasped Victoria’s arm again. “Enough of this! Show me the treasure!”

Victoria shook her head. “I truly do not know about the treasure. My father found nothing in his research. Bringing me here was a waste of your time.”

“Forgive me if I don’t believe you.” She tightened her grip, making Victoria whimper. “Your father knew something, I just know it. I could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice.”

Justin straightened, more alert now. Apparently, so was Victoria. Her frightened expression turned to anger.

“What do you mean by that? You never met my father.”

“Oh, yes I did—before I killed him.”

Victoria suddenly turned into a woman possessed. She screamed and started hitting, clawing, and kicking at Bethany. Although Beth tried to fight it off, Victoria overpowered her. Justin pulled out his pistol, preparing for the moment he’d need it.

“How could you?” Victoria sobbed, plowing her fists into Bethany. “He did nothing to you! Nothing at all!”

A loud growl sprang from Beth’s throat and she was able to push Victoria off her. Victoria landed on her back, and Beth straddled her, grasping Victoria’s neck tightly.

“I will do whatever I want to get ahead in this life.”

Victoria cried out as she tried to peel Beth’s fingers away from her throat. Justin couldn’t stand anymore. He rushed from his hiding spot, pointing the pistol at Bethany’s head. “Release her, now!”

Bethany gasped and did as she was told. Using his foot, he pushed Bethany off Victoria. She scrambled to her feet and cuddled against his side. Protectively, he wrapped his arm around her, still keeping his steady aim on his sister-in-law.

“May God forgive me, because I can
not
have you hurting the woman I love.”

Blood left Bethany’s face as she stared wide-eyed at him. Slowly, she stood and faced him. Her gaze darted between him and Victoria, but then something caught her attention further behind them, and she offered a victorious smile.

“Think again, dear Justin.”

Before he had time to look behind him, two strong arms wrapped around his body like bands of steel. Victoria cried out and fell to the ground.

As Justin struggled, he peeked over his shoulder. One of the guards apparently hadn’t been knocked unconscious and now had Justin in a death grip. Bethany laughed and yanked the gun out of Justin’s fingers, then pointed it at Victoria.

“What a surprising turn of events, is it not?” Bethany snickered. “Now I know one of you can tell me where the map is—or the gold and silver are located. You have three minutes to speak or Justin’s lady-love is going to end up just like her father.”

Justin met Victoria’s frightened gaze. He tried to communicate with her without words, but he doubted she received his message. He loved her so much, and although he was used to feeling useless, he’d never experienced this kind of helplessness before, and the dejected feeling nearly had him doubling over in pain.

“Bethany, I know where the treasure is,” he said.

“No, Justin,” Victoria called out, tearfully. “There is no silver and gold.”

His sister-in-law produced a self-confident smile. “Splendid. Morris, loosen your hold so Justin can take us to the treasure.” She zeroed her focus on Justin. “And if you do anything to trick me, I’ll kill the woman who means so much to you.”

Just as Beth’s henchman loosened his arms, another voice came from somewhere within the tunnel, further down the dark abyss.

“No!” the voice screamed.

Before anyone had time to react, Jonathan ran out of the shadows and whacked a shovel over Bethany’s head. Instantly, she crumbled to the ground.

Shock vibrated through Justin as he witnessed his own brother turn into a madman.

Victoria screamed and covered her face. The guard left Justin and ran to Bethany, lifting her and cuddling her against him as he let out a mournful wail. Jonathan darted to Victoria and knelt beside her, taking her in his arms, protectively.

Justin jumped for the pistol that had fallen by Bethany’s side. He cocked it and aimed it at Morris. “Now you will do as I say!”

Morris jerked his head toward Justin. A growl-like sound escaped the man’s throat as he lunged at Justin. He pulled the trigger. The pistol’s explosion pierced the tunnel, echoing all around them. The guard clutched his bloody chest and sank beside Bethany. Motionless.

Victoria pushed Jonathan off her and glared at him. “Why did you kill Bethany?” she sobbed. “Now your brother’s curse will never be lifted.”

“No need to fear, my love,” Justin interrupted, pulling her up beside him. She threw her arms around his shoulders and cried in his chest. He met his brother’s puzzled stare. “Let’s hurry and leave. We’ll explain everything when we return home.”

He tightened his arm around Victoria and led the way back toward the open cave, Jonathan following behind with hurried steps. Just as they reached the cave, a woman jumped out from nowhere, stopping them all.

* * * *

Victoria lifted her head. When recognition struck her, she gasped. Standing in front of them, in a sheer white gown, Mrs. White domineered with her triumphant grin and deceiving eyes. No longer was the woman’s hair wound in the housekeeper’s bun and covered with a servant’s cap. Instead, her long, brown hair hung down her back and over her shoulders, provocatively.