He had not counted on his son growing a conscience or a backbone—two things that were truly detrimental to his plans.
Fortunately, Smithson told him that the Rowley girl had inherited an obscene amount of money—enough money to ensure that he would never have to worry about it ever again.
Of course, the crafty steward wanted to make sure that if he was to betray his lord and master, he would get an equal cut of the profits. After all, he was truly the brains behind the entire scheme.
“Well, it would seem that time is up,” he said happily to his partner. Smithson just looked stoically at him and the Duke of Lorchester fought the chill that crept up his spine.
If he can betray Minsbury, whom he had served for so long, it is quite possible that he would betray me as well.In that case, I must get rid of him before it is too late!
He took one last glance at the unfaithful steward and went inside the room. He would deal with him later.
“So, how is it going to be, young duke?” he sneered at Oliver. “Your life for theirs?”
“Father, this has got to stop!”
He turned towards his disappointment of a son and pointed a warning finger at him. “You shut up there, boy! You almost ruined everything.Everything!If you had half the brain that Smithson has, we would not be in this bind in the first place!”
“Father, you can’t!” Artemus pleaded with him. “Please… I will do anything! I will marry Lady Claire—she has already agreed—and then we will give you all of her inheritance. Just let us all go!”
The old duke turned towards Claire. “Is this all true?”
She nodded. “Please, Your Grace. Just spare us. I promise that we will not breathe a word of this to anyone!”
The Duke peered at her for any sign of deception but her brown eyes were as clear as a mountain stream. There was fear there, yes, anddesperation.
She was willing to bargain her freedom for the lives of everybody else.
“Hmm…That does sound like a tempting offer,” he mused. “But, of course, I will need to discuss this with my partner.”
“Please,” she pleaded with him. “Please consider, Your Grace.”
He grinned to himself as he walked out to find Smithson. Keeping Lady Claire alive meant that they would most likely have access to her sister’s inheritance, too. With Artemus as her husband, they stood to gain so much more.
“Have you dealt with them yet?” the steward asked him coldly.
“Not quite. I have an even better idea.”
Smithson glared at him. “Your Grace, I do not believe you realize that time is of the essence here. Do I need to remind you of what is at stake here?”
“Yes, yes, I know that,” the Duke of Lorchester snapped back at him. “But if we keep them alive, then we stand to gain so much more if we have access to the younger sister’s fortune as well.”
The steward looked at him as though he were stupid. “The constable is most likely on his way here right now!” he hissed. “Do you want to endanger all that we have worked so hard to achieve by biting off more than you can chew?”
The Duke stumbled back at the venom in his voice as Smithson grabbed the pistol and moved to stride into the room.
“Never mind,” he said briskly. “If you lack the courage to do the job, then I shall do it for you!”
His hand on the doorknob, the Duke watched in horror as the steward moved to murder all the occupants in the room without a fleck of emotion in his eyes.
The Duke watched as Smithson raised his pistol, when shots rang out from everywhere. He shrieked and fell down on his face, his hands covering his head in a vain attempt to protect himself.
He heard Smithson grunt in pain as he fell back, clutching his arm, the pistol clattering to the ground.
“Well, I guess I was right,” a voice calmly stated.
The Duke of Lorchester looked up and found Mr. Edwin Harrold, the constable, staring down at him. He watched as the constable took out another pistol and pointed it at him.
Behind him, two other men held Smithson down.
