The Ghost Who Loved Me (26 page)

He made the choice he should have always made.

Elizabeth saw the king’s soldiers arrive to Westerleigh. She cringed to see the villagers and servants put to death by fire while Father Creaton absolved them of their sins. Isabelle and James’ retainers were taken into custody and remanded back to the Tower of London for examination. They were all executed for heresy and witchcraft.

Elizabeth knew in her heart James was at last with Lenore. That much gave her consolation upon rising, feeling the past was at last dealt with. She felt a sense of panic to know her own troubles were far from over. They had only just begun in the present.

~ ~ ~

Simon gasped as he lay on the muddy bank, soaked to the skin and bleeding profusely. He struggled to remain conscious, unsure how much time elapsed.

He held his bleeding wound and pulled himself out of the water, collapsing onto the grassy bank, the agonizing pain in his chest making him clench his teeth at the pain.

Fury filled his hazel eyes as he thought of how they betrayed him and left him for dead. He forced himself to move, his knees digging into the grass to pull himself to his feet.

He was lightheaded with loss of blood as he stumbled towards the woods, not knowing which direction he was heading.

When he saw the castle in the distance, he staggered towards it, not stopping until he was a few hundred yards from the back entrance to the kitchens. He tried to call out but he was far too weak. Blackness descended upon him, his last thought of Edward.

~ ~ ~

“Will he live?” Elizabeth stared down at Simon as the surgeon made ready to leave his sickroom.

The older man shook his head grimly as he packed away his supplies in his leather case. “I can do nothing more. The bleeding is under control for now. He is incredibly lucky but he has lost a great deal of blood, Your Grace. He was also in the water for some time. I cannot say. It is in God’s hands.”

Elizabeth thanked him and Mr. Pettigrew saw him out. She sat at Simon’s bedside, her mind racing at this newest development. Simon was stabbed in the chest, narrowly missing his heart. Afterwards he was dragged and unceremoniously dumped into the stream a few miles away.

The footmen found traces of blood in the dirt on the stable floor. They determined whoever attacked him did it there and dumped his body in the stream, hoping he wouldn’t be found.

It was a miracle Simon made it as far as he did in his condition. Molly and Edie were on their way into the village that morning and stumbled upon his body lying on the grounds.

Elizabeth was grateful Simon had a change of heart at the very last, recalling what he said to her that night in her room. He said there were things he would tell her that would make her think unkindly of him.

He never had the chance to explain what those things were. She prayed fervently he lived to tell her who her maid was working with.

Edward was seemingly delirious at times, asking for his mother in bouts of crying fits, unaware of both time and place. They brought in a nurse to care for him. He was unable to walk or feed himself.

James was right. The curse seemed to be driving Edward’s illness, taking him as it had all the others who unknowingly were a part of this horrible crime centuries ago.

She felt pity for him, knowing he had no hand in it. The curse was indiscriminant, striking all those down who were Edmund and Isabelle’s ancestors.

It was strange she never considered why no Carlisle lived at Westerleigh all of these many years. They knew better of it. They came, and they died here, either by disease or tragically, or were driven to madness, all because of Isabelle.  

Edward didn’t ask after his companion Simon, and seemed childlike and needy. He was lost in the past, already disappearing from this world as Simon predicted he would. They could only wait to see if he would rally.

Daniel and Percy were leaving for London tomorrow, their work done at Westerleigh. They talked of going on a grand adventure to hunt other such demons in the Highlands of Scotland. She wished them well and promised to write often, shivering to think of their zeal in hunting demons and ghosts now.

Elizabeth was determined Simon Ives would live so she would discover who was behind this. She sat with him each day, never leaving his side. The maids came in and took care of changing his bedding and cleaning the room. She remained vigilant there, waiting for him to wake up, praying all would end.

~ ~ ~

“No, it cannot possibly be true,” Elizabeth whispered softly, her face paling in shock. She bit her lip as the truth dawned upon her. She rechecked her calendar on her secretary again, frowning to recall she had not had her monthly time in over six weeks since All Hallow’s Eve.

A fluttering feeling formed in her middle to know the likely cause. She placed a timid hand over her flat abdomen in shock, unsure of what to feel inside.

The joy she started to experience was mixed with a bit of sadness as well to know James was not here to share this happy moment with her, but somehow she knew he was, smiling down at her in his own maddening way.

A strange feeling of peace filled her to know that at last all of the injustices of the past were now made right. If the child she carried was a boy, a true Carlisle heir would finally claim Westerleigh.

A rueful smile curved her lips to think of how James would react to know he had at last found the means to wrestle all that was his away from the imposter who stole his life. He would no doubt say it was justice that she conceived that one night they were together.

Her joy to learn she carried his child was mired by the present calamity within the household. In the weeks since they found Simon near death, he had yet to wake up and tell them what happened to him. He was struggling to survive, in and out of consciousness.

Edward was becoming uncontrollable in his own illness, shouting at them to leave him be as he lay abed, unable to get up even to relieve himself. They had already gone through one nurse this last month.

The woman declared it beyond her knowledge to care for someone in Edward’s present condition. Elizabeth determined she would have to put out an advertisement in London to find him another caregiver if the present one left her employ.

Elizabeth reasoned while she was there interviewing nurses, she could see her nephew who was born a month and a day early. Robert Nathaniel Surrey was born on November 16th, 1846 in the middle of the night, just one month ago.

She was anxious to see the infant and her family before the onset of winter and the holidays. Mama was now living in London and resigned to her fate, even making overtures of making new friends.

Her grandmother won the battle but the war was far from over between them. The pair of them took to fighting through the post, sending letters back and forth that only fuelled their mutual anger.

George wrote to say it was going well as long as they intercepted her grandmother’s letters before Lady Margot received them. That seemed to work to keep the peace for now.

Elizabeth sighed tiredly, wondering what she would say to explain her baby to her family. She knew as soon as it was known she carried a child, those who planned to extort her and her husband would learn of it. Their demands for money would arrive.

As yet, she received no blackmail letter from Annie or her accomplice. She expected every day that passed, a letter would arrive with their new terms, asking for monies she didn’t have to pay them off.

To occupy herself, she helped herself to Edward’s financial ledgers she found in Simon’s room, learning their finances were horribly stretched beyond their means.

She debated reaching out to the same sales agent Edward used in London to renew his efforts to sell the six country estates. It was all she could do to hold onto Westerleigh.

The huge tax debt had to be paid by the first of the year. The four years’ worth of taxes owing would beggar them, she knew, leaving nothing but a modest amount left over. She debated selling Carlisle Place and her former townhouse, knowing she had no desire to return to the city.

The thought of leaving Westerleigh never occurred to her. It was her home now and would soon be her child’s home. She was determined they would keep it at all costs. James would have expected her to do all she could to hold onto the castle.

To think of losing it spurred her into action, writing to the land agent at once to get the process started once more. She had to think of the future, even if a dark cloud loomed ahead in the distance foretelling of an oncoming storm.

A day later, Simon woke up and asked for her. Elizabeth entered his room, pleased to see him sitting up in bed. His gaunt face was turned away from her. She stood at his bedside, seeing he avoided her eyes deliberately.

“You despise me now, don’t you?” His voice was hoarse as he reached a trembling hand at his bedside for a glass of water. Elizabeth helped him to drink, saying nothing until he had his fill.

“You said there were things you had to tell me that night. Was this what you had to tell me of?” She handed him the note. “I know that Annie wrote it. Suppose you tell me what this is all about and I’ll decide for myself?”

Simon sighed and told her all, leaving nothing out. When he finished, she said nothing. He glanced over at her, seeing the pensive frown marring her forehead.

“I couldn’t go through with it. I changed my mind. But it was too late,” Simon lamented with a low groan, covering his face with his arm, unable to look at her. “I couldn’t bear for Edward to learn of what I did! I held them off for as long as I could. Annabelle contacted him while she was in London. She went through my room at Carlisle Place and found the agent’s stationary. As soon as she gave it to him, he knew I deliberately halted the sales of the estates to avoid paying them all off.”

“Simon you nearly died to stop all of this,” Elizabeth said gently, reaching out to pat his arm to console him. “I know you were trapped in the situation. I don’t blame you for it. It sounds as though you did all you could to protect both Edward and I.”

“But I didn’t do enough, did I? They are out there just hovering for the opportunity to go after you both now.” Simon’s voice was bitter with self-recrimination. “Had I never taken their money from the start, I’d not be here now. I don’t deserve your kindness, Elizabeth.”

“I’m going to London to hire a nurse for Edward,” Elizabeth began softly, seeing the pain in his eyes to learn Edward’s condition worsened during his confinement. “As much as you care for him Simon, you cannot do all of this alone. He needs care every minute of the day. While I’m there, I’ll see to this matter. I won’t be blackmailed by them another moment.”

Simon sat up higher, cringing from the pain in his bandaged chest. “You cannot go alone! I never thought him capable of this, Elizabeth. I knew he was angry at me. But to have me killed? What is to stop him from killing you if you seek to expose him?”

“I have no choice in it now, Simon,” Elizabeth bit her lip and looked down. “I’m expecting a child. We both know what will happen when word of it gets out. The fact I’ve not heard from them yet hardly convinces me this is over by far.”

Simon sighed and gazed at her sadly. “Annie told him you had a lover when she met with him in Tregaron. I’ll not ask who it was. I assume it was one of the servants here?”

Elizabeth glared at him in outrage. “I can assure you it was not!”

Simon frowned comically. “Don’t tell me it was Daniel?” At her darkening frown, he went on. “Percy?” She eyed him with a deepening scowl. “Schlossberg? Bloody hell! Say it isn’t so? I might have helped you out to avoid that!”

“Oh for pity’s sake, Simon! It was none of them! I shan’t tell you who he was, but I cared for him dearly. Annie knows very well it can’t possibly be Edward’s child. They will bleed me for the rest of my life. I have to go face this. I have no other choice now.”

“I’m going with you,” Simon replied tightly, his hazel eyes filled with anger. “One look at seeing me alive, they will rethink the matter or go to prison for what they did.”

“Do you not worry they will tell of your relationship with Edward? They know everything, Simon. And they have witnesses like the women at your boarding house, all for a part of their take. You risk going to prison too. I won’t ask that of you.”

Simon smiled sadly and looked away. “I deserve it for betraying Edward. But I will have the satisfaction of knowing they will all sit in prison for the rest of their days with me.”

“We leave for London as soon as you are fit to travel,” Elizabeth announced suddenly, grateful she didn’t deal with all alone. “They won’t be expecting us, I think. We have that much to our advantage.”

Simon eyed her in open admiration. “And to think Edward thought you a mouse all of these years. I see nothing less than a cat in you now, Elizabeth.”

“Someone once told me that inspiring fear in your enemies defeats them before the first blood is drawn,” Elizabeth said fondly, thinking of James and how he always relied upon his military instincts. “Let us hope they see the sense in standing down.”

~ ~ ~

Elizabeth looked down at the address written on Annie’s letter and back at the building before them. They sat in a coach outside. It was the residence of her younger sister Mary.

She and Simon had already established the place where Elizabeth dropped her months before in London was false. Annie very cleverly had herself left at a friend’s home to keep her sister’s residence from being known.

When questioned, the woman reported she had not seen or heard from Annie since then. They left feeling disheartened until Elizabeth found the letter in her reticule, relieved she thought to bring it as proof that Annie wrote the note luring Simon to the stables if they ran into difficulties.

“You’re not going in there alone,” Simon argued with her hotly. “What if Wesley is in there too, Elizabeth? Think of your condition! I’ll not let you go in there by yourself. I’m coming with you. We do this together.” Simon tucked a pistol in his vest. “I’m taking no chances with your safety. It was Annabelle who encouraged Wesley that I was no longer necessary to them. You need to remember what we are dealing with.”

Elizabeth nodded quickly, feeling a bit of fear. “Let’s do this before I lose my nerve.”

“Why didn’t you just send for the authorities as I asked you to?” Simon shook his head in frustration. “You owe me nothing, Elizabeth. I’m well aware that I incriminate myself to bring them to justice. I’m prepared to pay for my mistakes.”

“I’m not prepared to allow you to go down with them, Simon,” Elizabeth announced firmly, a stubborn glint in her eyes. “If we can get Annie to turn on him, we have won. He’ll not jeopardize all that he has stolen from others. I know this plan will work.”

Simon nodded and jumped down from the coach, helping her down. They went up to the flat where Mary lived and knocked upon the door. A younger version of her former maid opened the door, a small child held in her arms. She looked panicked to see them but let them in.

They sat on a dinghy settee after Mary put her son down for a nap. She was nervous, sitting in a scarred chair, twisting her fingers in her lap, her furtive looks darting between them. Simon was the first to launch into the tirade of questions.

“I swear to ye, I don’t know where she is,” she said again when they both began to question her answers. “I told her to stop what she was doing!” Mary shook her head sadly and looked at them both pleadingly. “She wouldn’t listen to me! She came here weeks ago when she first arrived back in London. Wesley was with her. I don’t know where he is staying. She said we would have more money than we knew what to do with. I told her I wanted no part of it. And that’s all I know! I swear it!”

“You realize you’re involved in this as much as she is, Mary?” Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. “The authorities would see it far differently. You knew what she was doing and did nothing.”

“She is my sister, M’lady! I don’t want no trouble! I told you all that I know!”

Simon regarded her doubtfully. He looked beyond her to see the two women’s cloaks hanging on pegs near the door.

“You’re lying. She’s staying here with you, isn’t she?”

Mary burst into tears, her face crumpling in her hands. “She’s with him! I don’t know when she’ll be back.”

Elizabeth had little pity for her, going in for the kill. “I’m sending for the authorities. They can determine your guilt in this. A man was nearly killed and you stay silent. I’m not paying one bloody shilling to keep them from telling their disgusting tales. So as you can see, I’m prepared to have my good name dragged through the gossip rags to see that your sister and Mr. Renstadt are arrested and put into prison.”

  “Oh M’lady, please don’t! Annie didn’t know any better! It was all him! Wesley is just using her, he is! With his pretty face and his lies! She thinks he cares for her,” Mary said, sniffling into her dress sleeve. “I knew it was all a lie. I told her from the time I first met him I didn’t trust him. She said Wesley loved her. He wanted them to be together. Annie isn’t thinking straight. She’d never have done any of this!”

“But she has, Mary,” Simon informed her quietly. “She used her position as Lady Westerleigh’s maid to get information to harm Her Ladyship publically and blackmail her for money. The reasons don’t matter to the magistrate.”

“I’ll talk to her when she gets back! I swear I’ll get her to stop this! Please, just give me a chance to talk to her before you send for the police.” Mary regarded both of them pleadingly. “She’ll listen to me, M’lady.”

“Fine. We are staying at Carlisle Place in Mayfair. She has approximately one day to consider her position in this and contact me or I file formal charges against her and her accomplice for the theft of my jewels, the attempted murder of Mr. Ives, and blackmail,” Elizabeth said tightly and stood up. “We both know she will never step foot out of prison should I go forward with this. I don’t care if it ruins my reputation. I’ll not pay them a farthing! Is that clear?”

“Yes. Very clear, M’lady. I’ll tell her!”

Simon hid his smile and rose. “You will impress upon her that Her Ladyship means what she says, Mary. It is in her best interest to stay silent of all she knows.”

They left after that, Simon holding open the door and following her out of the building.

“And to think I once considered you a naïve twit,” Simon recalled dryly and shook his head in amusement. “Well done, Elizabeth. But did you mean all you said back there? It could get very ugly from here on out.”

Elizabeth smiled sadly and tilted her head thoughtfully under her fashionable hat. “I once cared too much for what people thought. I let it destroy my life and all that I could have had. I’ll not do it again. I mean to stand up to these people, Simon. They’ll not hold me hostage by fear of public scorn. I don’t care what society thinks any longer. I’ll not let anyone control my life again.”

“Bravo, but what of your child? If this goes public it could give William cause to challenge your claim to the estate. It could ruin you financially to fight him in court. Would you go that far?”

Her smile abruptly faded. “It is their word against mine. They have no proof of anything. Edward can hardly recall his name much less whether he fathered my child.” She saw Simon’s pained expression. She rushed to apologize. “Forgive me. I know it wounds you that he doesn’t remember you anymore, Simon. But even that is to my advantage. They have nothing in which to bargain with anymore.”

“We found no trace of Wesley in London since we arrived.” Simon replied solemnly. “I’ve known this other man for years. He won’t give up as easily. He’s made a fortune doing this.”

Elizabeth’s eyes hardened at his words. “Oh he will give up. You will see. He has little choice in it if he is to survive this. I know more than you think I do. While he has been plotting and planning, he forgot one minor detail in his schemes.”

“And what is that?”

“Women don’t forgive all that easily,” Elizabeth said quietly and refused to elaborate on what she meant by such a vague remark. “Come, we have someone we should call upon before it gets too late. I’m sure she will be only too happy to help us in this.”

~ ~ ~

Elizabeth and Simon were waiting when Annie arrived at Carlisle Place the next morning. The girl was unrepentant when she was shown into Edward’s study. She glared at both of them as she took her seat, her eyes smug.

“If you think your threats scare me, think again,” Annie warned them as Simon shut the door behind her. “You have no choice but to pay us, and pay us you will!”

Simon raised sandy eyebrow. “Annabelle, with all of your skulking about for Wesley, did you even think to take note of Edward’s finances lately? There is nothing left with which for Her Ladyship to pay you off with.”

Annie snorted. “That’s a lie! Ye think to cheat us, Simon! I knew we couldn’t trust you!”

“Actually, Simon is quite correct, Annie,” Elizabeth spoke up coolly, regarding her former maid with disgust. “You chose a poor mark this time. Edward has no money left. It is all gone. You can run with your tales. You might even be believed, but for what? As soon as I notify the magistrate of what you and Wesley did to Mr. Ives and the theft of my jewels, you will both go to prison.”

Annie smirked at her former mistress. “You’re just saying that, Lady Westerleigh. We both know you won’t turn me in. I know enough about you to ruin your life. You won’t see that happen.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “You think I’m the first lady to be caught with a lover in this city, Annie? And it’s doubtful I will be the last. You think any would blame me when they learn of Edward and Simon? Why should I care what anyone thinks? And who would ever believe you? A thief and a lying former employee, against the Duchess of Westerleigh?” She shook her head sadly and pushed the piece of paper on the desk towards her. “You will write out a confession. Name all those involved in this. In return, you are free to go.”