"And now it's you ..." he said to Gavin, with venom.
"You
who inherited the estate, the title ... everything!
You,
the little brat who received
all
the love and acceptance that should have been mine!" Lucian's voice was becoming more and more hysterical as he spoke, making Alex wince every time he hit a shril
l
pitch. "And what of me? Nothing! I was given no title, not even a minor one. I was bequeathed no lands. Instead, when I came of age, it was suggested I join the Navy and go to war to make my fortune. I have no family, except my
fell
ow soldiers from the battlefield. We went to war, where we received no recognition and a pittance of a salary ... and then I came home to discover that my brother had been working at the War Office and turning himself into a legend!"
Alex could feel him coming unhinged; she was keenly aware of his anger and frustration as he continued, "You're no more than a child and now
you
are the earl? I fought for my country. Saved it! And I received nothing in return. So now I'm taking from you what you value most, because you deserve no more pleasure than your father did.
I'm
the one who deserves happiness. I'm the one who earned it."
"Earned it?" Gavin asked incredulously, unwittingly pushing his uncle to the breaking point. "How, exactly, did you
earn
it? By
killing
your brother? Your flesh and blood?"
"You insolent pup. You don't understand!" Alex felt him remove the pistol from her neck and saw him begin to point it at Gavin. In his anger, he had loosened his grip on her and she had enough space to move, but only to make a single attempt at saving them both.
Without pausing to consider the possibility of failure, Alex lifted her foot and slammed it down on her captor's instep with every ounce of her strength, spinning away from him as he doubled over in pain. She heard the report of the pistol and time stopped as she looked to Gavin, who was rushing forward with a roar, his face the portrait of anger.
He tackled his already off-balance uncle, bringing him to the floor and sending the pistol spinning across the room before landing two quick blows to his face. Alex turned to find something heavy that she could use to subdue
Sewell
but was interrupted by the door bursting open as the Duke of Worthington and
will
rushed in, the Baron Montgrave quick on their heels, holding a pistol.
Taking in the scene before them,
will
and the duke rushed to
pull
Gavin off his uncle and to restrain the older man, who squealed in protest.
"Montgrave has a pistol!" Alex announced to the room at large, alarmed.
"And thank goodness he does. We might have needed it," Gavin said as he approached her, concern in his eyes. "He's on our side, Alex." Taking her into his arms and running his hands over her extremities to find any wounds she might have incurred, he spoke softly to her, "Are you
well
? Did the bul
l
et hit you? Did he hurt you?"
"I'm fine," she said,
pulling
away from him, embarrassed that he would be touching her so intimately in front of the room
full
of men. "Our side? He is?"
"Yes, my lady," the baron spoke up, from where he was tying
Sewell
's wrists behind his back. "You see, I have been working with the War Office to root out a network of French spies operating out of Essex, which we came to believe was related to the earl's death. I also knew
Sewell
from the war. Even then, he vilified his brother and talked of ruining the Blackmoor name. I never thought he would have the courage to do it, but when I heard from you that he was here, I had a feeling he was involved. Of course, I had no idea that the two situations were related until Lady Vivian told me everything this afternoon."
"But
Ella
saw you in the gardens at the Salisbury
ball
! Discussing the robbery at Blackmoor House!
Before
it happened!"
"Did she? I
am
impressed, my lady. My informant and I had no knowledge of our being
followed
."
"If there is one thing women
excel a
t, Baron, it is eavesdropping. Would you care to explain how you were able to discuss the future?" She
still
didn't trust this Frenchman.
"In fact, we were discussing the robbery as it was
in progress,
Lady Alexandra. I left the
ball
immediately and headed straight for Blackmoor House. Of course, you and Lord Blackmoor were close behind me, so it was he who entered the house, ending
Sewell
's search before I was able to do it myself."
Alex turned to Gavin. "But you didn't believe me when I told you about your uncle!"
"No, I didn't." Gavin appeared just as surprised as she was. "And I didn't know any of this either. Although I'm rather unclear about why I wasn't apprised of my uncle's wrongdoings."
"We didn't want to upset you unnecessarily," the duke interjected. "We didn't have any proof of
Sewell
's involvement in either of these crimes."
"Until now," Gavin said, retrieving his father's book from where it lay at their feet. "Alex has uncovered everything," he said with pride in his voice, handing the volume to the duke and congratulating Alex with, "Very
well
done, by the way."
Alex ignored the flash of pleasure she felt at his praise, and turned her questions on the baron, "But I saw you skulking around Blackmoor House!"
"That I
am
able to answer. You were not supposed to see Montgrave," Gavin interjected as the duke and the baron pul
l
ed
Sewell
to his feet. "You were not supposed to become involved at
all
. In fact, didn't you promise me that you were going to stay as far away from
Sewell hall
as possible this weekend?"
She ignored his attempt to redirect her attention, instead exclaiming, "You
knew!
You knew Montgrave wasn't a threat and let me go on believing he was? You didn't
tell
me? What else did you know? What else didn't you share? Need I remind you that it was
I
who found your father's messages,
I
who uncovered the connection between the espionage and the murder,
I
who discovered the book here,
I
who saved
your
life just moments ago? Where were Bow Street and the baron during
all
those times?"
"Alex, calm yourself. We decided it was best you not know."
"Who decided?" Alex said shortly, her ire rising.
"Alexandra," her father interrupted, "contrary to what you believe, there are some situations in which young women should not participate."
"Like this one, for example,"
will
added, attempting to be helpful. "Vivi and
Ella
put everything together as far as what was happening here, but we came to rescue you. They stayed at the manor."
"I rescued us!" Alex protested, meeting Gavin's gaze. "Tel them!"
"Indeed. She did. I have a feeling my uncle might
well
be nursing a broken foot," he told the duke and baron, who seemed to have little concern for the pain their prisoner might be suffering.
"Truly?
well
done, Alex,"
will
said, surprised.
«Well,
in any event, there's a reason we left Vivi and
Ella
behind."
"We're here!"
Ella
surprised everyone with her announcement from the doorway as the two entered, out of breath from their race across the heath.
"And we brought the constable!" This from Vivi, who was
followed
by the portly county constable, who had to pause to take great, heaving breaths and regain his composure before grabbing hold of Sew
ell a
nd, with the help of the baron, removing him from the room.
Taking in the scene,
Ella
wrinkled her nose. "Drat. We missed the excitement!"
"It appears we did," Vivi agreed, disappointment in her tone.
"Ah,
well
. Next time!"
Ella
brightened.
Alex smiled as the duke and
will
began to scold her friends, causing Gavin to lean down and whisper in her ear, "I am happy to see you smiling again."
She turned to him. "I remain vexed with you, my lord. I cannot believe you did not
tell
me about Montgrave!"
"Alex, I
will
not argue with you. You can be angry if you need to be, but I almost lost you today and there are other things I would prefer to do than spar."
"For example?" Alex asked.
"For example." He wrapped his arms around her again, and her heart began to pound as he continued, "I'd prefer to remind myself that you are safe. And that you are mine."
She smiled up at him. "I am yours, my lord. As much as you are mine."
He clasped her to him, holding her tightly until a throat cleared from across the room, and Alex and Gavin remembered that they had an audience.
"Blackmoor," the duke said, his casual tone belying his intent gaze, "perhaps you would like to explain exactly why your arms are wrapped around my daughter?"
Later that evening, Stafford Manor quieted as the guests took to their beds, and
Ella
, Vivi, and Alex curled up together on a wide, cozy chaise in the manor library where, for the first time that day, they ,were able to discuss the events of the afternoon. They had returned to the house just in time to change and welcome the first unsuspecting guests to the party and had spent the rest of the day and evening entertaining and pretending not to wish they were somewhere else.
Somewhere else, in this case, was with the duke, Blackmoor,
will
, and the Marquess of Langford, who had holed themselves up in the manor study for the rest of the afternoon and much of the evening, poring through the documents that the former earl had secreted away in
A History of Essex.
They were
still
there now, hours later and, as exhausted as she was, Alex refused to go to sleep without hearing their findings.
Ella
and Vivi, equal
l
y curious, had agreed to keep her company.
Alex yawned broadly, relaxing into the seat. "It's hard to believe that everyone who arrived today was completely unaware of what had gone on
all
morning!"
Vivi stretched, then assumed a similar position on the couch, leaning her head against Alex's shoulder. "It's true. Your mother covered up the missing men extremely
well
. I just wish she could have covered up our sneaking in a nap. I thought I was going to
fall
asleep at the supper table this evening."
Ella
lay down, placing her head on Alex's lap and saying, "A nap sounds wonderful! I think
I’ll
take one right now ... wake me when there is news?"
Alex smiled wearily and placed one hand on
Ella
's shoulder and the other on Vivi's knee, saying, "If nothing else, today taught me that you are the most wonderful friends a girl could ask for. Thank you for ignoring my instructions not to
tell
my parents about my heading to the
hall
. I don't know that we would have succeeded in capturing Gavin's uncle without my father, the baron, and
will
."
At that moment, the door to the library opened and
will
entered, looking surprised to find the trio. "I assumed you'd
all
be asleep!"
Alex straightened and said, "What happened? Are you through?"
"For the time being, yes," he replied. "There's much work to be done, but the earl left remarkably detailed logs of
all
the
ill
egal activities taking place on
Sewell
land over the months leading up to his death
—
he thought someone was smuggling weapons to the French, then information as the war quieted. It appears that the earl had suspected the culprit was Lucian, but only very close to the date of his death."
"Why did he not t
ell a
nyone?" Vivi asked, "He was so close to our fathers
—
they were like brothers to him. They could have helped."
"Pride,"
will
replied. "Desire to protect his family name. Perhaps even a misguided belief that he could protect his brother."
"What about
Sewell
's partners?"
Ella
asked.
"There is enough evidence to incriminate several wealthy Englishmen and a few Frenchmen who have clearly been meeting with
Sewell
to exchange money for information. We received word from the constable that
Sewell
has already given up the names of a half dozen of his partners in the hope that he
will
receive a less severe punishment."
"No matter what he admits, he's
still
a traitor and a murderer," Vivi said, sounding very much like her father's daughter. "It's difficult to be lenient with such crimes."
"Indeed,"
will
said, relaxing into the large leather chair across from them. "Now, little sister," he said,
all
owing a teasing tone to enter his voice, "would you care to explain what exactly has happened between you and Blackmoor in the last few weeks?"
Alex leveled him with a frank look. "Not particularly."
"Come now! It's obvious you are ... enamored of each other."
"Is it?" She attempted to appear bored, to little effect.
will
laughed. "You forget I have known you your entire life, Scamp. I can
tell
when there is something of import in that lovely head of yours."
She stayed quiet,
willing
herself not to rise to her brother's bait.
"You also forget," he said in a deceptively casual tone, "that I spent the day with Blackmoor."
Alex sat up straighter, causing Vivi to lose her headrest. She was unable to hide her eagerness. "Did he say something about me? What was it?"
Wil
l
laughed, enjoying the power he held over his little sister. "My, my. Is this the same sister who spent much of her time prior to this season expounding on both the irrelevance of men to her future and her marked lack of interest in marriage and the trappings of romance?"
"I didn't say men were irrelevant to my future. That's ridiculous. Nor did I show a lack of interest in romance." She ignored the three sets of eyebrows that rose in a silent yet eloquent response to her statement. "What happened? Was Father difficult with him?"
"I thought you weren't interested in discussing Blackmoor?"
"Oh,
William
, I do wish you would be quiet if you have nothing to say," Alex growled in irritation, then sat back and said, "I'm not interested. I was merely being conversational."
Al
l
three of her companions snorted with laughter. "You cannot honestly think that he'd
actually
believe that, can you?" Vivi asked before turning to
will
. "Take pity on her, my lord. Have you never wondered what a girl thought of you?"
"Never." He lied baldly, a broad smile on his face, then pressed on.
«Well,
I
shall
simply say that our father and he are currently having a serious conversation."
"What?!" She leaned forward, squashing
Ella
's head on her lap, causing her friend to cry out and sit up. Alex's "I beg your pardon,
Ella
" was
followed
immediately with, "
William
! What are they talking about?"
"I haven't any idea."
will
leaned back in his chair and stretched his long legs out in front of him. "It seems to me that it would likely have something to do with your inappropriate display this morning."
Alex stood. "Oh, no! Do you think Father is angry? Do you think Gavin is being lectured? Do you think I should go to him?"
"In order: No, I don't think Father is angry. Yes, I do think Gavin is being lectured
—
that's what Father does, remember? And no, I definitely do not think you should go anywhere near the study while they are locked in there. I think you should sit down and attempt to relax,"
will
said,
finally
sounding more like the brother she loved and less like the one she wanted to murder.
"You might try lowering your voice as
well
," Vivi suggested. "You
’ll
wake everyone in the house if you keep on like that."
She sat. And lowered her voice. "I'm sorry. I simply ...
well
, I seem to be rather overly excited."
"Real
l
y?"
Ella
said sarcastical
l
y, leaning back on the couch, one hand over her eyes, exhausted, but
still
managing to elicit a laugh from the others in the room.
"What is it that is amusing you
all
?" The voice came from the doorway of the library, drawing the attention of the entire group. Four heads turned toward Blackmoor, who entered with a tired, curious smile on his face.
Alex drank in the sight of him, thoroughly disheveled
—
somewhere he had lost his waistcoat and his cravat, his blond hair was unruly,
falling
into his face after hours of his running his fingers through it in concentration, and she could detect the hint of a beard on his face, which he had not shaved since that morning. He had never looked more handsome, more remarkable. She had never wanted to be near him so very much.
His grey gaze
fell
on her from across the room, and she could feel his inspection as he studied her. She longed for five minutes with a looking glass as she touched her hair nervously, knowing that he was seeing the stray auburn locks that had come loose from her topknot, her tired eyes, her wrinkled dress. Pushing a strand of hair behind her ear, she looked into his eyes and recognized the intensity there. It was the same emotion she'd seen that afternoon, and the night before. Her breath caught. He loved her.
She was shaken from her reverie by Vivi and
Ella
, who stood up in unison.
"I find myself exhausted," Vivi said, making a show of a wide stretch.
"Indeed. It has been a long day for me as
well
," replied
Ella
, who did not have to fabricate the yawn that
followed
her words.
They looked to each other with a nod, and then to
Will
, who was
still
seated comfortably in his chair. "And you, my lord?" Vivi said politely. "Are you not tired after your long day?"
"No. I find myself feeling rather energized."
Ella
and Vivi looked at each other, and Vivi tried again, with a slightly firmer tone, "Perhaps you would feel differently if you found your chamber, my lord."
"I don't think so." The corner of
Will
's mouth twitched, betraying his amusement.
"
William
, you would try the patience of a saint," Vivi said with a smile. "Must I ask you to escort two young women frightened of the dark upstairs?"
He laughed aloud. "You two? Frightened of something? I find that very difficult to believe."
Ella
lost her patience with the entire conversation. "Wil , just leave the room. Go wherever you'd like. But give Alex and Blackmoor some peace, please?"
Wil
l
winked broadly at her. "Now that's a request to which I cannot help but respond." He stood, waiting for
Ella
and Vivi to kiss Alex good night, then motioned them to precede him from the room.
When the trio had left, Gavin started across the room to Alex, who felt a sudden wave of nervousness. To cover it up, she said, "We seem to have a connection with libraries in the evening, don't we?"
He paused, cocking his head, contemplating her statement. She loved that about him. He
really
did think about what she said. Even when it was inane.
And about libraries. "Indeed, we do," he replied final
l
y, joining her on the chaise and taking her hands in his.
"It's interesting, real
l
y, when you think that the library isn't a room typical
l
y used in the evening, what with the difficulty of reading by candlelight and the high ceilings. They simply devour light usua
ll
y. Not my parents' libraries, of course, as you can see. They can also be rather drafty but, again, not these.
These are
—
"
He kissed her, interrupting her rambling. Within moments, she had forgotten what she was saying.
"Alexandra," he said,
pulling
away slightly and staring deep into her eyes. "My God, I love you."
She dipped her head, made shy by the comment.
"I don't know what I would have done without you today," he said, his voice rich with emotion. "I don't know how I would have handled my uncle and I can't imagine how any of us would have found the information left by my father, but, most importantly, I don't know how I would have survived the last few hours
—
poring over that information until I
finally
understood the reasons behind my father's death
—
if I hadn't known you were here, waiting for me."
"I'm so sorry, Gavin. About everything. I'm sorry it happened to you."