Sapphires Are an Earl's Best Friend (18 page)

But there was more. She handed him another sheet of parchment, and on it were lists of frigates and ships of the line, as well as an analysis of the weaknesses and strengths of each ship and its captain. More sheets detailed munitions and military orders, troop placements, vulnerabilities.

“Even with Napoleon out of the way, Lucifer could sell this information for a tidy profit. If this were to fall into the wrong hands, it could be devastating. But I am confused. Your father sent me several pieces of correspondence when we were in Town. This is not his hand. I wonder if it is Lucifer’s.”

Andrew swallowed. “That is not my father’s hand.” He knew it, though. He knew it very well.

He watched, wordless, as she opened another document. Her eyes widened when she’d scanned the contents. “Artemis,” she whispered.

Had he misheard her? He peered at the missive and the next she opened. Both were addressed to Artemis. He looked into her face and saw her gaze on him. “I’m sorry,” she said.

“Is this the Artemis—?”

“Yes. The assassin.”

“Why would these papers be in our possession?”

“Your father is Artemis.”

Andrew stared at the proof of his family’s treason. Irrefutable proof. “I can’t understand it,” he murmured. “Why?” He shook his head. “I don’t believe it. There must be some mistake.”

“I applaud your faith in me, Son.”

Lily jumped, dropping the papers, and Andrew jerked toward the doorway. His father filled the opening, making the tiny room seem that much smaller.

“Your Grace.” Andrew stood. “You have found us.”

The duke nodded. “I knew she’d hidden them. I did not know where. You knew all along.” The duke glanced at Lily. “And you! I should have guessed you would be trouble. Something told me to stand clear of you, but I’ve always had a weakness for redheads. A weakness I see my son shares.”

“If it wasn’t me, it would have been someone else. The Crown has suspected you for weeks.” She rose, defiant and unafraid. “We but needed the proof.”

“If you are looking to send someone to the gallows, you are too late. I am not Artemis.”

Lily lifted the documents. “These suggest otherwise.”

“They would if they were intended for me. I was not Artemis.” He looked at Andrew. “Your mother was.”

“You forced her into it. You gave her no choice!” Andrew dove for him, but the duke produced a pistol. Lily pulled Andrew back.

“Believe that if you want,” the duke said, “but the evidence will prove my innocence.”

Andrew tried to lunge again, and Lily held tightly. “He will use the pistol, Andrew,” she whispered then looked at the duke. “If the Duchess of Ravenscroft was Artemis, why have the attacks on the Diamonds in the Rough continued after her death?”

“How was I to stop them?” the duke asked. “I went to London, but the plans were in motion.”

“And you were in too deep. Better the Diamonds die, lest they discover your complicity.”

Andrew shook his head. This was not true. It could not be true. His mother an assassin? His father a traitor? His head reeled, and he felt dizzy.

The duke spread his hands. “She gave me no choice but to do as she bade me.”

“Is that why you killed her?”

“No!” Andrew protested. “It was an accident.”

The duke kept his gaze on Lily, and Andrew’s blood chilled. He did not want to believe it. He could not begin to comprehend any of this.

“I think you killed her because you were tired of living in her shadow,” Lily said. “I think you wanted the money for yourself.”

The duke clutched his chest in a mockery of innocence. “What would I gain from their deaths?”

“The loyalty and the gratitude,
lucrative
gratitude, of those who would rather the elite spies of England not stand in their way.”

Andrew shook his head. “How could you?”

The duke stared at him, and Andrew felt as though a stranger were looking back. This man was not his father. Or perhaps it was his father, but he had never known the man. He had only created the man he wanted his father to be.

“What do you know about it, little brat? You, who have lived a life of ease and privilege? How do you think your life has been possible? Do you think our family so different from that of other peers? We are bleeding blunt. That monstrosity of a house leeches pounds by the moment. And I was not going to be the duke who lost it all.”

“No,” Lily said. “You would be the duke who turned traitor. A lovely story for your grandchildren. You must come with me.”

The duke threw back his head and laughed. “Go back to the brothel you crawled out of,
Countess
. I’m here for the rubies and the rest of it.” He lifted his pistol. “And I will have what I came for.”

Andrew pushed Lily behind him, a gesture she did not seem to fully appreciate. “Step out of my way!”

But he stood firm, blocking her from skirting around him. In the small space, it was not difficult.

“My son, ever the knight in shining armor,” his father said. “Your mother and I never understood you. You did not seem descended from either of us. Throw me the bag with the jewels. Put the documents in it as well,” the duke said, gesturing to the cape on the floor, where the rubies lay glittering. “And you two can go back to bed.”

“Where will you go?” Lily demanded, still pushing at Andrew.

“Somewhere your precious agents of the Crown will never touch me.” He motioned with the pistol. “Throw me the gems.”

“No.”

His father’s brows rose. “What?”

“Those rubies are mine as much as yours—Emma’s and Katherine’s too. You’ll not take them for your own selfish means. If you want to run, run. I won’t stop you—”

“Andrew!” Lily made another effort to push him out of the way.

“But you won’t take what rightfully belongs to the duchy.”

“You always were an arrogant little bastard.” He aimed the pistol.

Andrew did not flinch. “You won’t shoot me. I’m your son.”

“Move out of my way, or you’ll see just how deep my paternal affection runs.”

Andrew saw the look in the duke’s eye was not to be mistaken. He would shoot. Then so be it. There were some things worth fighting for, worth dying for. He would stand here and protect Lily and his family legacy until he was laid in his grave.

“No.”

“Have it your way.” The duke cocked the hammer, and Andrew flinched.
Misfire. Misfire.
He closed his eyes and heard the shot ring out. At the last second, he was shoved violently aside and hit his hip hard on the table. He went down on one knee then roared with anguish, “Lily!”

She was lying on the cold marble floor, and she was not quite certain how she had landed there. She heard Andrew calling her name, fear in his voice. She was shaking with fear too, but she did not feel any pain. That might be a bad sign. If she had been shot and felt nothing, did that mean she was dead?

But she couldn’t be dead. Her eyes were open, and she was rising to her knees, and she was staring at—“No!”

The duke lay blocking the doorway, a pool of blood spreading from his skull. She crawled closer and saw the wound in the back of his head.

“What happened?” Andrew was yelling. “Are you injured?”

“I’m fine,” Lily said calmly. She rose to her feet, looking straight ahead and into the chapel.

“Father!” He rushed to her side. He gasped when he saw his father and fell to his knees, cradling the man’s body. “No, no! I don’t understand.”

But she did. She understood perfectly. And at that moment, Lucifer stepped into the doorway. “Good evening. I believe you have something that is mine.”

“How long have you been waiting here?” Lily asked.

“I’ve been watching the house, waiting for you to come to me.”

“You might have been waiting all night.”

Lucifer smiled. It was a charming smile on what would have been a handsome man—if his eyes were not so full of hatred and contempt. “Sometimes a man is lucky. Now listen very carefully, lord duke and lady slut. You will do exactly as I say. I want those documents and all the jewels. And then I want you to return to the house and bring me enough blunt to buy my passage to the Continent.”

Andrew rose shakily to his feet. “You killed my father, you bastard!” His voice was full of anguish, and his clothes covered in blood, and yet he pushed forward and tried to move her out of harm’s way again. Lily stepped to the side and evaded him. When would he realize she had been trained for this?

“Perhaps we ought to serve you a four-course meal as well, Lucifer,” she said. “This is ridiculous. Nothing could persuade me to meet your demands. You will be charged in the murder of the Duke of Ravenscroft, as well as the other crimes you have committed here and elsewhere. And all of that is nothing compared to the punishment you will receive for your treason.”

“You are quaint, Lily. That is your name, is it not? I did nothing treasonous except possess sensitive information. It was stolen and sold, and I have done the Crown a service by recovering it. But no matter, as I will not be here to stand trial for any murders, because you will arrange a carriage for me within the hour.”

“Why would we do that?” Andrew asked.

Lucifer smiled, and Lily felt a chill run down her back. “Because if you do not, I will kill her son.”

Lily blinked and felt herself stumble. Andrew was right behind her and caught her by the arm, steadying her. “That’s not possible. I don’t have a son,” she heard herself say. But her head was throbbing, and the blood rushed so loudly in her ears, her voice made her sound as though she were trapped in a well.

“Lily.” Lucifer shook his head. “My dear Lily. Do you really think I am that much of a fool? Come, see for yourself.” He moved aside and gestured to the interior of the chapel. Lily swayed forward, but Andrew held her arm.

“It could be a trap.”

“To what end?” she asked, despair filling her as the truth became more and more apparent. “He needs us to escape—or at least you.” She was expendable, and so was her son. She would be kept alive only so long as she was needed to keep Andrew cooperative.

As if in a trance, she followed Lucifer to the outer door of the chapel. It was slightly ajar, and the darkness pooled outside. He swung the door wide for her, and she held the lantern aloft. And began shaking.

There was a small form on the grass, and the form was not moving. With a gasp, Lily rushed forward and knelt beside the boy. It was he. It was her son. Her hand hovered over his face, but she dared not touch him. His eyes were closed, and after a moment, she saw his small chest rise and fall.

She turned to Lucifer. “What did you do to him?”

“Nothing yet. He’s asleep and unharmed. I pressed a handkerchief dipped in tonic from an apothecary to his nose. He is not aware of any of this and, if you cooperate, he can wake up in his bed tomorrow morning.”

Lily wanted to thank God for small mercies, but she did not believe Lucifer would allow her son to go free. They were all damned now. The man’s reputation and penchant for violence told her that much.

“You!” Lucifer pointed behind her, and she turned to see Andrew standing in the light of the chapel. She had almost forgotten about him, but Lucifer had his plans. “Fetch me the contents of that hiding spot, and be quick about it.”

Andrew’s gaze met hers, and he turned slowly to do the man’s bidding. Lily looked away, back at her son. This might be the last time she ever saw him. She might be the reason he never grew into a man. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “So sorry. I never wanted this for you.” She reached out and brushed back a wisp of his hair. It was so much like her own color, and his complexion was pale, similar to her own. She had not been this close to him since he was a newborn babe, so she had not known he had a smattering of freckles on his nose or that his eyelashes were pale red. She reached out and touched his face, smoothing away a bit of dirt marring his beautiful skin.

Lucifer had not lied. The boy was warm and unconscious. He was not dead. Under her fingertips, she could feel the life in him. And it seemed once she had touched him, she could not stop. She knew the night was cold and her knees wet where she knelt, but she felt nothing other than her child. Her son.

She lowered her head to his chest, listening to his heart, hugging him to her. He no longer smelled like the sweet baby she remembered. He smelled of fresh hay and churned butter and of something all his own. She buried her head against him and closed her eyes. For this one moment, he was hers again. Hers alone, as he had been so long ago.

“This is quite touching,” she heard Lucifer’s cutting voice. “But I really must be going.”

Slowly, Lily rose from her son. It was an effort to tear herself away from him, but she reminded herself he was no longer hers. And only she could save him. She looked at Lucifer, noting Andrew had returned and handed the man the jewels and papers from the secret alcove. Andrew was watching her, his face drawn and haggard. He had lost both of his parents now, and he would very likely lose her as well before the night was over. But she could not let this end without telling him how she felt about him.

“Carry the boy toward the stables,” Lucifer ordered Andrew. “Lily, my dear, you walk beside me.”

They had little choice but to comply. For the moment. She would fight him, and she knew Andrew would never let the man who’d murdered his father leave the estate alive. She needed to think of a plan. Could they alert the grooms or someone in the house without putting a bystander in danger? Without endangering her son?

No, it was too dangerous to involve anyone else. They would be lucky if none of the guests was wandering about the grounds, foxed and disoriented.

“When we reach the stables, Your Grace will go inside and secure a fresh horse for me—a blood horse, mind you. Then you will bring me no less than one hundred pounds from the house.”

“What makes you think I have that kind of blunt lying around?” Andrew’s voice sounded cold and angry. The shock of his father’s death was wearing off. His anger might help them, but it could be a detriment if it led to impulsivity. “Use the jewels to finance your passage,” he said with a sneer.

“Save your suggestions, boy. I want to travel inconspicuously. I suggest you find me enough blunt to make it to the Continent, or I will slit first the boy’s throat, then your lover’s.” They had reached the side of the stable, and Lucifer gestured for them to pause in the shadows. “Put him down,” he ordered.

Lily reached for her son, cradling him as Andrew lowered him to the ground. They were close enough now that she could whisper to him. “Bring back a weapon,” she murmured as she took the boy.

“No!” he hissed. “We can’t ri—”

“No talking!” Lucifer roared, and Lily jumped from surprise. “Fetch me what I want, or I will kill them both.”

Andrew’s gaze was riveted to her face. She kept her own gaze steady, willing him to follow her instructions. “I only wanted to say
I
love
you
,” she said to Lucifer without breaking eye contact with Andrew. “I wish I had said it before. I wish I could tell you how much.”

“Lily—”

“Oh, do shut up!” Lucifer ordered. “I feel as though I may vomit. Go!” He gestured to Andrew. “And not another word.”

Andrew watched her for a long moment then moved along the wall of the stable until he disappeared inside. She watched him go from where she knelt on the grass and began to shiver. When she couldn’t see him any longer, she looked up at Lucifer. “When are you going to kill me?”

“What?” he gasped melodramatically. “I’m not going to kill you!” He was mocking her.

“There’s no need to kill the boy,” she said. “He doesn’t even know who I am. Kill me, but let him go.”

“You break my heart, Lily. I shall weep when I slit your throat.”

Not
if
I
slit
yours
first
. But she still needed a plan, and time was running out. When Andrew returned, they would need to act.

Her arms began to sag under the weight of her boy, and she lowered him slightly, until the backs of her hands touched the ground. Rough pieces of gravel scraped her knuckles. The drive was nearby, and the horses’ hooves had probably scattered some of the small, sharp stones over this portion of the lawns. Her fist closed around the gravel and sand, the small jagged pieces biting into her flesh. Her actions were hidden by the sleeping form of her son, but the longer Andrew took to return, the more agitated Lucifer became.

“Stand,” he ordered. “Leave the boy and stand beside me.”

She moved slowly, keeping her fists hidden in the folds of Andrew’s cape. The last thing she wanted was to give Lucifer an opportunity to put the pistol to her head. Then Andrew would never take a chance to attack the man.

“Move!” Lucifer ordered when she continued to drag her feet.

Hurry, Andrew. Hurry.

She heard footfalls, and prayed she had not imagined them. Lucifer looked in the direction of the sound as well, raising his pistol and readying it to fire. Andrew rounded the corner, leading a horse by the bridle. When he saw the pistol, he raised his hands to show he carried no weapon. Lily’s heart sank. But this was not the end. Andrew still had to go to the house to gather the quid Lucifer wanted. She feared that was the moment Lucifer would kill her. He’d have no use for her once he had the horse and the money.

“What took you so long?” Lucifer demanded.

Andrew dropped the bridle and moved to the horse’s flank, soothing the beast and pointing out the saddle. “I had to saddle him.”

“You took your time.”

Andrew shrugged. “It’s not something I do every day, and he has spirit.” His gaze flicked to hers, and there was something in it. Had she imagined it or…? Andrew’s hand slipped inside one of the saddlebags. If he had a weapon secreted inside, this was her chance. She could trust Andrew. He’d proven that over and over. Lily held her breath, and when Lucifer moved forward to take the horse’s reins, she loosed the mixture of sand and gravel into his face.

Lucifer yelled and brushed at the dirt and grime, and Andrew pulled some sort of metal implement from the saddlebag. He swung it at Lucifer, who still pawed at his eyes, and Lily realized it was a farrier’s hammer. The hammer made a thud when it hit Lucifer’s head, and he stumbled back. The horse, frightened by the commotion, danced to the side, and Lily ran to her son to move him away from the horse’s hooves.

Her loyalty to her son cost her. She’d thought the blow to Lucifer’s head harder than it was, and when she looked up from her small charge, Lucifer dove for Andrew’s abdomen. The two men sprawled across the ground, with Lucifer having the edge in this sort of fight. But Lucifer wasn’t fighting to win. He managed to roll Andrew over then jumped up and raced to the horse.

“No!” Lily screamed, but it was too late. She had only enough time to move the boy and herself out of Lucifer’s path as he spurred the horse away.

***

Andrew was damned if he was going to let that murderer escape now. Not only was his jaw throbbing where Lucifer had hit him, the man was on his best hunter. And then there was the small matter of Lucifer’s having murdered his father. The duke was no saint, but he didn’t deserve to be shot in the back in his own chapel.

And his mother.

Had he always known and just allowed himself to be deceived? He could not think of that now. He could not face it yet.

“Andrew!” Lily called. Sweet Lily. She loved him. And he loved her too. He didn’t know when that had happened. He’d loved her without even knowing it. But when he saw her throw the gravel into Lucifer’s face, that was the moment he knew for certain. That was the moment admiration and affection merged and he knew he would always love her. He knew he would do anything for her.

“I’m going after him!” Andrew called, racing into the stable. Several grooms, disturbed by the commotion, milled about, groggy and half-awake. “Out of my way.” He tore into the stall of one of the more amenable mares and led her out. As soon as he was free of the stables, he mounted clumsily and followed Lucifer.

“What are you doing?” Lily cried.

He turned to her. “You said you wanted to be there when I was forced to grow up.” If that time was not now, tonight, he did not know when else it could be. He raced away with the image of her shocked face in his mind. He knew which way Lucifer would go. If the man had any sense, and he did or he wouldn’t have stayed alive so long, he would head for the coast. He was wanted in London, or he might have made the trek there. It was as good a place as any to lose oneself, but it was a long ride from Nottinghamshire, and the coast was closer. Andrew was still on the estate’s grounds when he spotted Lucifer up ahead. Andrew wasn’t used to riding without a saddle, so he hung on tightly to the horse’s mane, leading her with his knees. Lucifer must have heard him coming, because he turned and spurred his horse forward.