Abruptly, Royce knew why Damen had said Breanna would never weep or swoon. This was a woman who kept her emotions in check. Her feelings, her thoughts, certainly her fears, would remain private, known only to her and to the select few she chose to trust.
He could even guess why. She’d survived George Colby. But he’d left his mark—in ways others could only imagine.
Yes, there was more to Lady Breanna than met the eye.Much more. Royce was willing to bet his life on it.
Damen cleared his throat, alerting Royce to the fact that he’d been staring. “Royce, may I present Lady BreannaColby.Breanna—Lord Royce Chadwick.”
“Lady Breanna.” Royce said politely, bowing at the waist, then walking over to kiss her hand.
“Welcome to Medford Manor, my lord.” Breanna’s tone was measured, her voice soft, lilting. Whereas Anastasia’s crisp English inflections had been muted by years in America, Breanna’s speech was utterly precise, the epitome of refinement.
Royce’s lips grazed her knuckles. “Your home is lovely.”
“Thank you. Not only for the compliment, but for your kind intentions.” She hesitated, then added, “I appreciate your riding out here so late in the day Damen seems to think you can help us.”
Royce straightened, one brow arching in question. “But you don’t?”
She rubbed the folds of her lavender day dress between her fingers. “I’m not certain. It’s not that I don’t trust Damen’s instincts. I do. It’s just that—”
“It’s just that I’m a total stranger and you’re uncomfortable with me.”
Surprise flashed in her pale green eyes, and she gave a self-conscious nod. “Exactly.”
“I understand your reluctance. But, I assure you, I know what I’m doing.HowI do it, now that’s a different story. You might not care for my methods, especially since they can get a bit risky. What I suggest is this: let me take a look at the package and note you received, ask you a few questions. After dinner, we’ll discuss my strategy. If you don’t care for it, I’ll leave.”
“And we’ll be right back where we started,” Damen put in tersely.
Breanna gave a resigned sigh. “That’s certainly true. Very well, my lord. We’ll try it your way.” She crossed over, retrieved a box from the end table, and brought it to Royce, shuddering with distaste as she handed it to him. “This is what he sent.”
Royce opened the box, carefully examining each doll before replacing them, turning his attention to the note.
He read it through three times before lifting his head, meeting Breanna’s anxious stare.
“Sit down,” he advised, gesturing toward the settee. “I want to hear everything you remember about what happened the night your father was arrested. Beginning after Bow Street led him away.”
Breanna inclined her head, frowning a bit. “Aren’t you going to react to the dolls and the note?”
“Yes.After I’ve gotten all the facts. Now have a seat and tell me about your confrontation with this assassin.” Royce glanced up, speaking to Anastasia and Damen as Breanna settled herself on the settee. “I want to hear the entire story from Lady Breanna’s point of view. No interruptions. Once I’ve finished, I’ll ask each of you if you remember anything different from or in addition to what she’s said.”
“In other words, keep quiet,” Anastasia supplied.
Royce perched on the arm of the settee, folding his arms across his chest and turning his full attention to Lady Breanna. “Go ahead.”
She wet her lips, lowering her lashes and staring at the rug as she mentally traveled back to the night in question. “The Bow Street runners led Father off. Damen, Stacie, and I stayed behind on the docks for a moment. I suppose we needed reality to sink in, to convince ourselves that the whole nightmare was truly over. I was weak-kneed with relief that Stacie was safe. She’d taken a terrible risk dragging that confession out of my father. Finally, we started to leave. Stacie walked first. Damen and I were right behind her. I got the oddest feeling…” She made a vague gesture with her hand. “I can’t explain it. I just sensed a pair of eyes boring into me. I whirled around—and reached for the pistol I’d been carrying. That’s when I sew him.”
“You saw him,” Royce repeated. “How clearly?”
“Not clearly at all. He was some distance away. It was late at night, and the fog was fairly thick. What I saw was the silhouette of a man, and the glint of his pistol. I saw him raise the pistol, aim in Stacie’s direction.I knew exactly who he was, and what he intended to do.I had to stop him. So I shot. I scarcely remember that moment. All I remember is knowing I had to do something or he’d kill Stacie. There wasn’t time to call out and warn her. There was only time to act. So I did.” “Then what happened?”
“He screamed. His pistol struck the ground. I heard it. He clutched at his hand. Then, he bent, groped for his gun. That was when Damen drew his own weapon. The killer turned, stumbled away. After that, the night literally swallowed him up.”
“He never said anything? Never shouted anything at you?”
“No. I never heard his voice—other than the scream of pain.”
“And his appearance? What can you remember about that?”
“Only that he was tall. And somewhat lean, in terms of his build. I couldn’t make out his features, or even his hair color.”
Royce stroked his chin thoughtfully. “And the only one who knew this killer’s identity was John Cunnings. Unless…” A penetrating look. “You’re sure your father couldn’t shed any light on this? I understand that visiting him in Newgate would be unpleasant for you, but…”
To Royce’s surprise, Breanna’s chin came up, and she negated his statement with an adamant shake of her head. “No, my lord, you don’t understand. And I don’t mean how unpleasant it would be to brave Newgate. I mean how unthinkable it would be to face Father. However, that’s irrelevant. Because I’d do precisely that—anguish or not—if I thought it would help. But it wouldn’t. Father can’t tell us anything. I know that firsthand. You see, Wells and I were in the pub when my father met with Mr. Cunnings, instructed him to hire that killer.”
“Were you?” Royce could feel his interest peak “You overheard their conversation?”
“Every word. My father pressed Cunnings about meeting this associate of his. Cunnings refused. He insisted on being the sole contact. He said his associate preferred it that way. No name was ever mentioned Whoever this gunman is, only Cunnings knew his identity. Which is why Mr. Cunnings himself is now dead.”
“The assassin had to eliminate him. I agree.” Royce’s fingers stilled against his jaw. “Let’s get back to this meeting between your father and Cunnings-the one you overheard. Tell me what else Cunnings said, besides refusing to divulge the killer’s name. What other specifics about him did he mention?”
Breanna knotted her hands in her lap. “Cunnings said he’d known him for quite some time. He implied that the man’s accomplishments were impressive Cunnings assured Father that no matter where Stacie was hiding, his associate would find her and kill he. He described him as an expert tracker and an even better shot. Oh—and he added that he was expensiveVery expensive. The implication was that he was worth it, that he was accomplished in his line of work Does that answer your question, my lord?”
“As a matterof fact, it does.” Royce glanced down at the note he still held, reread its message. Then, he rose, lowering the piece of paper and leveling a grave stare at Breanna. “This man is dead serious about his threats, my lady. You were right to be afraid.”
She flinched, but didn’t look away. “I suspected as much.”
“I’m sureyou did.” Royce frowned, wishing he had a different evaluation to relay. He didn’t normally experience personal feelings when it came to the people involved in his investigations. But in this case … hell, in this case, it was more than money or finding missing relatives that was at stake—it was lives. What’s more, he couldn’t help but admire the way Lady Breanna was holding herself together, especially since he’d just confirmed her worst fear: that she was the ultimate target of a killer. Her inner strength was remarkable. Yet, at the same time, there was something about her—something disturbingly vulnerable—that made Royce wish there were a way to spare her this ordeal.
But there wasn’t.
The only way to maximize her odds of survival was to be as honest as possible, to let her know exactly what she was up against. And then to offer his services to protect her.
Roughly, he cleared his throat. “The only mistake you made was to assume the assassin would disappear from your life. He never would. His arrogance wouldn’t let him. He believes he’s superior, that no one can thwart him. You challenged that belief. Not only that, you had the audacity to maim him—who knows how badly. My guess is you put him out of commission for a while, which would explain his absence these past few months. He was probably nursing his wounded hand, recovering his marksmanship to its full potential. Now he’s back. He’s had months to harbor his rage and thirst for vengeance. He’s determined to put you in your place, and punish you for what you did.” A swift glance at Anastasia.”Afterhe finishes the job he took on but never completed.”
Breanna made a soft sound of surprise. “Are you saying he wants to hurt Stacie, not simply as retaliation against me, but to prove he’s the ultimate master at killing people?”
A terse nod. “Not only killing people, but completing his assignments. He wants to prove to you, to the world, to himself, that he never fails. The marchioness represents a failed execution—his first, if I had to venture a guess. He won’t leave a stone like that unturned.”
Damen swore. “So the reason he’s back—”
“Is to kill your wifeand Lady Breanna. In that order.” Royce didn’t mince words. “But first, he wants to torment Lady Breanna. To make her feel the maximum amount of anguish and fear. That will restore the sense of power he feels he’s lost.”
Breanna came to her feet, and began moving restlessly about the room. “Tell me, my lord,” she said at last. “Is there nothing we can do?”
Royce weighed his answer carefully. “In my opinion, the best way to hold him at bay, to keep him from striking while we figure out who he is, is to pointedly ignore him.’’
“I don’t understand.”
“He’s expecting you to come apart at the seams. He can scarcely wait for that to happen, in fact. So you must deny him” the satisfaction. You have to retain your composure at all costs, to pretend you’re un-bothered by his threats. You have to make him believe his actions aren’t having the desired effect. That will force him to keep trying, which buys us more time. If he doesn’t think he’s successfully terrorized you—or terrorized you severely enough—he won’t move on to the next step of his plan.”
“Which is killing me,” Anastasia clarified. “Yes.”
“There’s only one problem with that, Royce,” Damen inserted. “While I’m relieved as hell that it will deter him from corning after my wife, won’t it make things worse for Breanna? Won’t it infuriate him if she remains so totally unruffled, intensify his obsession to try—and succeed—in terrorizing her?”
Royce nodded. “Yes. He’ll become bolder, more violent in his demonstrations. He’ll also become angrier, more frustrated. The positive consequence of that, is it might cause him to make a mistake.” A weighted pause. “The negative consequence is that it will make him that much more dangerous. Especially to Lady Breanna, who’s the main target of his rage. I won’t he to you. There’s risk involved here—high risk. On the other hand, there’s risk involved right now. A professional assassin is determined to murder these two women. The only way to eliminate the danger is to eliminate the killer. Which is just what I’m trying to do. Whether you choose to do things my way—that decision is yours.”
Silence descended, suffocated the room like a heavy blanket.
Breanna was the first to speak.
“You said you’d discuss your strategy with us after dinner. Does that mean you have a specific plan in mind?”
“I have the first steps of a plan, yes.” “I’d like to hear it.”
Royce pursed his lips, considering her request. As a rule, he never shared unfinished strategy with anyone other than Hibbert. But in this case, with both these women’s lives at stake, didn’t he owe them an explanation, if for no other reason than to let them make a decision as to whether or not they chose to put their safety in his hands?
“All right,” he conceded. “But remember, I have yet to review everything we’ve just discussed. I also haven’t heard Damen or your cousin’s recollections of the night you shot the assassin. Further, I have some remaining questions. For example, we haven’t even touched on the subject of the murdered guard. Some of the details of my plan won’t be worked out until I’m satisfied I have all the information I need—and until you’ve decided whether you’ll go along with my methods.”
“Fair enough.” Breanna smoothed a hand over her hair. “Putting those issues aside, tell us your ideas. Yourpreliminaryideas,” she amended.
Anastasia interrupted with an exasperated sound. “You both act as if we have all the time in the world. How do you know this madman will be patient while you sort out your plan? Shouldn’t we bedoingsomething— now?”
Royce flashed Anastasia a tolerant look, unsurprised by her reaction. Having sized up Damen’s wife, he’d guessed she’d be the impatient one, the one who was unwilling to wait. “I don’t think our time is unlimited,” he clarified. “But no, we shouldn’t be doing something. Not unless it’s therightsomething. If Lady Breanna takes my advice, stays calm andoutwardlyun-bothered by what’s happened thus far, it will buy us more than a week to close in on this man. I can almost guarantee it. The way his mind works—he won’t kill until the stage is set precisely as he means it to be.”
Breanna paced slowly about the settee as she considered his words. Then, she raised her head, regarded him through wary, questioning eyes. “You keep talking about my behaving a certain way, acting a certain part. You believe he’s watching me.”
At every possible opportunity, and without alerting the guards—yes.”
She paled a bit, but didn’t flinch. “And how do I show him I’m unaffected by his threats?”
“You go on with your life—taking certain necessary but subtle precautions,” he added. “You’ve already hired additional guards. Hire more. After all, a man was murdered just outside your estate. It’s only natural for you to seek protection. Get Wells to situate guards all around the periphery of the estate. After that, go about your business.”