Who was that? Was it the “Boss” that the bandit leader mentioned? What did he intend to do with them?
She glanced at Lord Draydon and found him still unconscious, unaware of the turmoil and fear that swirled in their hearts.
If only he would wake up,she thought desperately.Maybe he could give us a clue as to what or who we are facing…
She waited with bated breath until she heard the footsteps stop just outside the room. The knob jiggled a little before the softclicktold her that whoever it was had managed to open the door.
As the wooden door slowly slid open, Claire saw the shiny leather boots first. As the man stepped into the room, her eyes slowly slid up until they rested on features she knew all too well!
“Smithson!” the Duke cried in recognition. His features melted into a look of relief at the sight of his steward quietly entering the room. “Thank God, man! Help free us!”
Claire watched in confusion as the steward made no move to do so. Instead he just walked leisurely up to them, his hands behind his back as he surveyed them all with a cold glint in his usually placid gaze.
I do not understand…
“Smithson, what are you doing?” Oliver muttered in confusion.
The steward turned towards him, a cold, cruel smile twisting his lips.
“I suppose you are quite relieved to see me, Your Grace.” He turned to Lady Suzanna, who just glared quietly at him. “You, too, milady.”
“What is the meaning of this?” the Duke demanded. “I demand that you untie us right now. This is no time for games!”
“Oh?” Smithson gleefully turned towards him and cackled, the sound inspiring fear in Claire’s heart. “And why should I do that?”
He turned towards Claire and grasped her chin roughly with one hand. Her eyes shot daggers at him as Oliver howled and struggled, demanding that he unhand her.
“Why should I do that…” he continued, “when we have long been planning this?”
Oliver gaped at him in horror as he smiled. “That is right, Your Grace. I am the spy in your home, the rat that will sink your ship.”
He let her go and she glared at him, however futile it was.
“I have been working with the Duke of Lorchester all this time. How laughable that none of you realized it until now…”
Chapter 29
Oliver could not help but gape at his steward, the man he trusted with his life, as he declared his allegiance to the Duke of Lorchester.
But if he is in league with the Duke, why is the Marquess tied up with us?
“I do not understand…” he trailed off.
“Of course you do not,” the steward scoffed. “You were so fixated on your ships and your beloved Lady Claire. You were right to doubt the Marquess, though, as he would have stolen her from you.”
He turned towards Claire and the sick smile that twisted his features made her want to retch.
“Our plan was initially to draw in Lady Suzanna,” he explained in a soft voice. “That dowry of hers was very tempting, no? However, when the Viscount of Ranhold died, we realized there was a bigger prize—Lady Claire Rowley and her much larger inheritance.”
Oliver glared at them, sick to his stomach. He trusted this man completely!
“His Grace wanted his son to marry Lady Claire,” the steward continued. “We had it all plotted out. Once they were married, His Grace could get his hands on her inheritance. But you just had to come into the picture and ruin everything, didn’t you?”
His voice trailed into a menacing hiss as he turned to Oliver. “If you had kept your nose clean and stayed where you were, none of this would have had to happen. But, no…you had to win her heart and ruineverything.”
“Claire has her own mind!” Oliver said through gritted teeth. “She will choose who she wants to choose and she can see through your schemes as plain as day! That is why youfailed!”
“Oh…? But I don’t think we failed, young man,” a man chuckled.
