A Scandalous Deception (28 page)

To everything there is a season, and a time
to every purpose under the sun.

Aaron glanced towards the man tasked with
warning Felicity about his presence, then turned his attention back
to John. “I’ll find out though.” Aaron pushed out of his chair and
followed the bespectacled man towards the back staircase.

“Actually, I’ll be on my way, Staveley,” the
scholar’s friend called to the man. “I’ll see you soon, I’m
sure.”

Perfect! No one would even realize the
scholar was missing then.

“Godspeed,” the man replied, then seemed to
notice Aaron and hastened up the steps.

Aaron followed the scholar, at a much slower
pace. There was no reason to attract attention in the taproom.
After reaching the top of the staircase, the corridor that met him
smelled of dank ale and was dimly lit, but Aaron could make out his
quarry perfectly well. He retrieved his dagger from the scabbard he
always kept strapped just inside his boot, then he rushed after the
scholar, who was easy to catch, as he had no idea he was being
followed.

Aaron quietly wrapped his left arm around the
man’s neck from behind, which made it very simple to thrust his
dagger into scholar’s back and twist it just a bit, puncturing the
fellow’s lung, making it impossible for him to call out for any
sort of help, a nice little trick he’d learned a while back. After
a moment, Aaron released the man who fell to the floor in a heap,
gasping for air.

“Nothing personal,” he said into the
darkness, retrieving his weapon from the fallen man’s back. “But I
would rather surprise my wife in my own time, if you don’t
mind.”

The scholar grasped into the darkness as
though that was going to help him somehow. Then his arm went limp
and Aaron wiped his blade clean before replacing it in the scabbard
in this boot.

Now, where to put the body?

He was able to make out what looked like a
doorframe in the corridor and Aaron moved quietly towards the door.
Sure enough, there was a handle and he pulled it open. Supply
cupboard.

The space looked just large enough to place
the scholar for the night or at least until someone found the
fellow. But by that time, Aaron would be long gone. He turned back
to the lifeless form in the middle of the corridor, bent at his
middle, hefted the man over his shoulder and then made quick work
of depositing the fellow inside the cupboard.

To everything there is a season, and a time
to every purpose under the sun

He dusted his hands across his trousers and
then started back for the taproom. John was looking anxiously in
his direction, but there was no reason to look anxious. Their
problem had been easily dealt with.

Aaron descended the steps, resumed his spot
across from his old friend and lifted his pint to his lips.

“Well?” John prodded. “What did he say?”

“Man of few words,” Aaron replied.

“He had nothing to say?” John frowned.
“Seemed talkative in here.”

Indeed he had. Still, Aaron shrugged in
response, as it seemed to be what John was expecting. “The fellow
has problems with his own wife, apparently. So I simply explained
that it would be best for him to return to London to deal with
his
wife and let me deal with mine.”

“And that worked?”

In a manner of speaking. Aaron smiled. “Very
reasonable fellow, actually.”

John nodded as though that made sense. But
then John had always been easy to appease. He never looked any
further than the most simple of explanations, and at times Aaron
had the feeling that his friend and business partner didn’t want to
look any deeper, and that suited them both perfectly.

“I still have a hard time believing that
she’s alive.” John scrubbed a hand across his brow. “That note and
all of that blood…” He heaved a sigh. “I am sorry, Aaron. I
searched every inch of the bay, hoping for some sign of her. I was
certain she’d been washed out to sea.”

Which was exactly what she’d wanted them to
think. Aaron tipped back his pint once more. Felicity was much more
crafty than he’d given her credit for. A mistake he wouldn’t ever
make again.

The sun was just coming up over the horizon
of the Peak District as Fin rode up to Prestwick Chase. Exhaustion
had set in over an hour ago, but he couldn’t stop. Any delay could
mean dire consequences for Lissy. So he’d pushed on, changing
horses when necessary, but never stopping for longer than just a
few minutes.

He handed the horse off to a groom and then
made his way to the manor entrance. Keeton greeted him at the door,
surprise splashed across his face. “Lord Carraway?”

“Lady Felcity, Keeton. I need to see her
right away,” he said, stepping over the threshold and wishing he’d
gotten at least of wink of sleep the night before. “Find her as
fast as you can.”

“Good God, Fin!” Luke Beckford said, rounding
the corner into the foyer. “This is like
déjà
vu
. You arriving unannounced and bellowing
for her. Except it’s not the middle of the night this
time.”

And neither was Fin bellowing, but he was in
no mood to argue the semantics with Luke. He sent the butler his
most formative glare and said, “Find her quickly.”

“Of course, sir.” Keeton started down the
corridor at a spritely clip.

“What’s wrong?” Luke asked, all traces of
humor from his voice long gone.

“She’s in trouble,” Fin replied. “And we
have to keep her safe.”

“Keep her safe?” Luke echoed. “What sort of
trouble is she in?”

But before Fin could answer that question,
Lissy’s voiced filtered down the corridor. “Fin!” she nearly sang,
appearing a moment later. “You are quick when you put your mind to
it.” Then she rushed forward and threw her arms around his neck.
“How are you possibly back already?”

Fin caught her about the waist and held her
against him. Just having her in his arms was a relief. He didn’t
truly think it was possible for Pierce to arrive at The Chase
before he did, but that niggling thought had plagued him the entire
journey back to Derbyshire. Thank God she was safe!

Fin inhaled her soft lilac scent, relishing
the calm before the storm. But he couldn’t foolishly waste whatever
lead they did have. So, he pulled back from her and said very
calmly, “Aaron Pierce is in London, or was. He’s apparently headed
this direction.”

Lissy’s mouth fell open and she began to
tremble like she was freezing, though Fin knew her reaction had
nothing to do with the temperature at The Chase.

“Aaron Pierce?” Luke asked. “What are you
talking about?”

Fin squeezed Lissy’s hand. “It’s all right,
sweetheart. I won’t let him touch you ever again.”

“Did you say Aaron Pierce?” Luke asked once
more.

Lissy met Fin’s eyes and nodded perceptibly,
silently accepting the fact that they had to confide in Luke, that
the tale she’d told for so long was about to unravel before
them.

Fin turned his attention to her
brother-in-law. “He’s alive,” he confirmed. “Dangerous and cruel.
And he’s headed here.”

Luke’s brow furrowed as though he was trying
to sort through this sudden development. After a moment, he
gestured in Lissy’s direction with his head. “Take her somewhere,
then. Somewhere he won’t find her until we can figure out how to
handle the situation.”

“No!” Lissy almost screamed. She was shaking
even worse, her teeth nearly chattering, but she shook her head.
“I’m not leaving. I’m not leaving Juliet and the children. If he
got here and I’m not—”

“You think he would hurt
children
?”
Luke’s jaw hardened and his green eyes darkened dangerously.

Lissy’s arms wrapped around her middle as
though she could stop herself from shaking. “I don’t think there’s
anyone he wouldn’t hurt.”

“Who exactly is this man?” Luke breathed
out.

“A nightmare,” Lissy returned. “The worst man
I’ve ever known, and I’m so sorry that I’ve put everyone in
danger.”

Fin slid his arm around her shoulders, hoping
to comfort her. “This is not your fault, Felicity.”

But she shook her head most stubbornly. “No,
Fin, it’s all my fault. I should have—”

“You should have what?” Fin asked. “Let him
continue to torture you? Let him kill you?”

“I made the mistake in marrying him, not
anyone else.” Tears began to trail down her cheeks. “It isn’t fair
that I’ve put the rest of you in danger.”

“The treatment you suffered at his hands
isn’t fair. Nothing is your fault.”

“I don’t care who he is.” Luke started in the
direction of his study. “He’s not entering my house and he’s not
putting anyone in any danger.” Then he bellowed, “Keeton!”

“Sir?” The butler fell into line behind
Luke.

“Send for Sir Nigel. Tell him to come at once
and to bring those burly sons of his.”

“Sir Nigel?” Lissy echoed, looking up at Fin
in alarm, the remaining color in her face draining away. “Is that
necessary?”

Fin nodded. Luke’s plan was actually a good
one. Of course, his would-be brother-in-law had already dealt with
one murderous villain in the past. It would stand to reason
Beckford would have a good idea of how to begin. “Having the local
magistrate on our side
before
I threaten to kill Pierce can
only be to our advantage.”

“Fin!” She shook her head. “Please don’t do
that. If Aaron hurt you—”

“He’s not going to hurt me or you, not ever
again.”

She didn’t look convinced, however; and she
shook her head once more. “You don’t know what he’s capable of.
I—”

“I won’t lose you,” Fin vowed fervently. And
he wouldn’t, no matter what he had to do or what it would cost him.
He loved her completely and facing life without her wasn’t an
option.

Lissy’s belly twisted in panic. Every fear
she’d had over the last three years was coming true. So many
questions flooded her mind. How had Aaron discovered her deception?
How did he know where to find her? And what would he do to her once
their paths crossed again? She suppressed the tremor that washed
over her.

She glanced up at Fin, at the dark circles
around his blood-shot eyes and his pained expression. Poor, dear
Fin, the best man she’d ever known. He looked as though he hadn’t
slept in a fortnight.

She forced a smile she didn’t feel to her
face and slid her hand into his. “You need to rest, Fin.”

His hand tightened around hers, a silent
promise of love and devotion. However, he shook his head. “I can
rest later. I can—”

“You won’t be any good to anyone if you don’t
get some rest now,” she interrupted, hoping to appeal to that
sensible side of him that she loved so dearly. “Come on. ” She
tugged him in the direction of the staircase. “I’m rather tired
myself. I’ll stay with you.” At least until he fell asleep.

“Lissy,” he complained, even though he kept
his pace even with hers down the corridor.

“You always take care of everyone else, Fin.
Now it’s my turn.” And one way or the other, she
would
take
care of him. She’d take care of Juliet and Ben and little baby
Georgie too. It wasn’t fair for everyone else to suffer because of
her foolish mistake all those years ago. One way or the other, she
would have to face the choices that she’d made, but she’d need to
face them without putting anyone else’s safety in jeopardy.

Luke had mentioned his dueling pistols the
other night, and though Lissy’s father hadn’t been a terribly
attentive parent, he had taught her how to shoot at a very tender
age. She didn’t imagine, however, that Fin or Luke would be in
favor of her retrieving either of the pistols. So she’d just have
to figure out how to get her hands on the weapons without anyone
else being the wiser. Aaron would, after all, come for her, and she
would need to be prepared.