Who would do such a heinous thing?Claire wondered, feeling sick to her stomach.Was the Marquess really as dangerous as His Grace assumed he was?
She thought back to the strange expression on his face when she last saw him. No doubt, he was not happy when she let him down but he could not possibly try to murder her, and Lady Suzanna with her.
Could he?
She turned to Lady Suzanna and found her friend regarding the scene before them somberly, the tears streaming down her cheeks. These were men loyal to the Duke and his sister and they had been murdered senselessly in broad daylight while protecting them both.
Suzanna turned to Corman with tears in her eyes. “Kind sir, I am the sister of the Duke of Minsbury. Do you…do you think you can take us back home, please?” she choked. “And…can you please…make sure somebody takes care of them…?”
Claire felt her heart clench tightly but no words came out of her mouth. She was thankful that Lady Suzanna was able to voice her thoughts.
There was nothing she wanted more than to go home and forget everything that happened today.
How could something that started so wonderfully end so dreadfully?Claire wondered.
When she woke up that morning, happy and secure in the love of the Duke, she had no idea that she would suffer such a horrific ordeal after she met with the Marquess to inform him that she could not proceed with their courtship.
I really should have stayed away from the Marquess, like Lady Suzanna advised me to. How was I to know that everything would come to this?
Still, she could not help but blame herself.
* * *
Oliver must have paced a path through the thick Aubusson carpet in the foyer. It was already getting dark but there was still no sign of his sister and Claire.
Even if they took a detour to their favorite shops, it was very unusual for them to do so at this hour.
By now, Suzanna would be in the kitchens, seeing to dinner. Unless there was a ball of some sort, she would never be home this late,he thought with an increasing sense of dread.
Smithson, his trusted steward, stood to one side stoically.
A few moments later, Marley announced the arrival of a strange carriage.
“Who is it?” Oliver snapped. “I have no time for this.”
“He claims that his name is Corman and he has brought Lady Suzanna and Lady Claire with him.”
Without glancing at the old butler, Oliver threw open the door to find a huge, heavyset man standing on his doorstep with his hat in his hands. He looked up at Oliver striding towards him and for a moment, there was apprehension in his eyes.
“Who are you and where are the ladies?” he asked.
“Oliver!”
He looked up briefly only to have his sister launch herself against him. He held her dazedly for a moment, taking note of her disheveled appearance and the scent of smoke that lingered in her hair.
His gaze ran over her, checking her for any visible injuries before he asked, “Where is Claire?”
“In here, Your Grace,” a soft voice called out from within the confines of the carriage. He watched in relief as the lady he loved staggered out of the carriage.
He ran out to her and hauled her into his arms, breathing in her distinct scent mingled with smoke.
“I thought something dire happened to you!” he said fiercely. “I was about ready to go out and search for you both!” He turned to his sister, who was looking at him with tears shining in her eyes. “Come, let us all go inside. It is already getting dark.”
Once inside, he hovered over the ladies while the housekeeper and Marley rushed to make them more comfortable in the drawing room. Oliver had the physician called.
“I do not care if you have to haul him from wherever he is now,” he told Smithson with clipped tones. “Just make sure he is here within fifteen minutes!”
He turned to the two ladies and knelt before them. “I have failed you both.”
