“I promise,” she pleaded, hoping she could make him see sense, “I won’t allow Nick to hurt you if you let me go. In fact,” she bargained, “if you release me now, I’ll hail a hack and go back to my uncle’s and say I simply got lost.Please.”
Augie snorted in derision. “Let you go? But you’re the perfect distraction. He won’t even know until it’s too late.”
Shaking her head at the riddle in his words, she tried again. “He’ll find you unless you release me.”
“Shut up.” The plump, be-ringed hand of Lady Corbett shot out across Jemma’s cheek. “But, our debts, Augie,” Lady Corbett cajoled, her hands held up in supplication. “We are ruined. Youmustmarry her.”
“I’m not going back to Bermuda, Mother. I’ve no desire to return to be mocked by the whole of the islands for marrying her. Nor do I wish to spend my days watching Father drool while a servant feeds him breakfast. It will take all of Sea Cliff’s wealth to make the Corbetts whole again. There are much easier ways to become wealthy if one knows where to look."
“Augustus, you don't know what you are saying.” Lady Corbett tried to take her son's arm, clutching at his coat and ignoring his attempts to pull away. “It's been our dream.”
“No, Mother. Sea Cliff isyourdream. Since I was a lad, you’ve harped about that bloody estate and pushed me into courtingher.” Augie turned to Jemma. “I never wished to marry you.Ever. You have always treated me as your eager lapdog.” He gave a sharp laugh.
Jemma swallowed. “I am sorry, Augie, if you feel I’ve mistreated you.” Her voice cracked. “You were my dearest childhood friend, for the sake of that friendship, please untie me. I’ll make sure His Grace rewards you.”
How can I persuade him to help me?
“I’ve no doubt I'll be getting money from the duke, but it won't be in the way in whichyouthink,” he mocked. “You overestimate my affection for you. You always have.”
Her shoulders slumped in frustration. He was going to leave her to the mercy of his mother. She tried again to loosen the ropes at her wrists.
“But I've waited so long, so very long.” Lady Corbett wailed as she wobbled from side to side in distress. Her faded red hair spilled free of its pins, whirling about her shoulders in a cloud. “You must marry her or I won’t have Sea Cliff and we’ll be destitute.” Lady Corbett fell to the floor at her son's feet. “What am I to do if you don’t marry her?”
“If you are smart, and I know you are, Mother, you'll dispose of this little problem and leave tonight. You said your goodbyes to Dorthea yesterday, and she is blissfully headed back to Yorkshire with no idea of your machinations. I’ll visit her later and tell her I’ve decided to stay on. She’ll welcome me. Tell everyone I was accosted on the streets of London and killed. My debts will likely be wiped clean out of pity for you and Father. I’ll send you money as soon as my future plans come to fruition.”
Lady Corbett pounded the floor in frustration. "I've done this all for you, Augustus!”
Augie stepped over his mother and made his way to the door. "You’ve done this all foryou.”
A great sigh of resignation escaped Lady Corbett and her eyes, red-rimmed and watery, looked up at her son with uncertainty. “But how shall I—”
“Look, Mother," Augie peered down at her cheerfully, "you’re going to have to tidy up things yourself.” He straightened and lay something on the bed. “Then you need to get on that ship bound for Bermuda. I promise I’ll contact you later.”
Gasping in horror, Jemma saw that Augie had placed a pistol on the filthy coverlet.
“I’ve loaded it for you. No one will even hear the gunshot. Not here in this disgusting brothel. You must take care of this before he finds her, Mother. Besides, everyone already assumes she’s dead, you may be able to convince the magistrate to hand you and Father Sea Cliff . You just need to try harder.” Augie leaned over and pressed a kiss to the top of his mother’s head. “Goodbye, Mother.”
“Augie, please.” Jemma implored. “Don’t do this.”
“Farewell Jemma.” He sidestepped around her, pausing only to shoot her a scathing glance over his shoulder before shutting the door behind him.
Her gaze turned to the pile of skirts, sobbing on the floor.
Lady Corbett pulled at her hair and pounded at the floorboards.
Jemma twisted her arm to pick madly at the knot above her wrist, fear making her fingers sweat and become slippery against the rope.She’ll kill me here in this room, and Nick won’t know what’s become of me.
The end of the primed pistol stared at her from the bed.
Frantically she tugged at the ropes and felt one of the knots loosen, and her eyes flew to the heap of weeping silk in front of her.
Suddenly, as if she knew Jemma was watching, Lady Corbett stopped her weeping, wiping at her tears with the hem of her skirt. She rolled to the side like a plump turtle and struggled to get to her feet. Finally, she stood, unsteady and sluggish, swatting madly at her cheeks and muttering.
“He's right of course. I must clean up this mess. Oh, how things have gotten mucked up.” A stream of snot ran out of one nostril and her complexion was a mottled red. “You’ve mucked up things.” She pointed a finger at Jemma.
“You don’t want to do this. I’ll sign over Sea Cliff to you. I’ve told you I don’t want it.” What could she do to convince Lady Corbett? “I can’t go back to Bermuda, you know that. I don’t wish to go back. The town knows I’m a fallen woman,” she said in a rush as her eyes welled with tears. “No one will welcome me, so you see I don’t need Sea Cliff.” At the hardness of Lady Corbett’s eyes, she whispered, “You were like a mother to me.” Did she sound convincing?
“Shut up,” Lady Corbett hissed, her fingers running over the coverlet towards the pistol. “You wereneverlike a daughter to me. I never cared for you. How could I? Your mother cleaned chamber pots.” Her face contorted in disgust. “You have always just been a means to an end. Had you married Augie like a good girl, I would have tolerated you, perhaps for years, before I made you eat my teacakes.”
