Page 70 of Indecent Desires of a Proper Lady
Margaret grimaced. “I had thought before that she was a more proper wife for him, but of course I was terribly wrong. But Catherine was practically heart broken. Once her father was found guilty of wanting to poison both Leonard and Juliet, she was sent away to exile for having had a hand in it.”
Sarah touched her hand to her mouth and gasped. “She is very dangerous then, indeed! Who knows what she could do next? We must go and help the men even if they wish to protect us. I think it is high time the men stopped leaving us at home.”
Margaret laid the letter down on the table. “I quite agree with you. We must send for the authorities. If the men that Charles is involved with are dangerous, then so could their lives be!” A cold dread filled her heart. “I have just gotten Philip back, I will not lose him again. Let us be off!”
Juliet stood, her voice full of determination. “Away, we shall go. To Kingdon House. Finally, we get to join the men in helping them solve this mess.” Grasping Margaret’s arm on the way out the door, she said, “This will be quite the adventure for your next book, do you not think?”
Margaret grinned, and she rushed to collect her belongings to ride the few hours to Hammersmith. It seemed to take an age, but they were using the second-fastest carriage, and she had alerted the driver most strongly of their urgent need. At least they had left early. Who knew if the men would still be there?
After asking for a few more directions in the village, they finally arrived in front of the cottage, a constable in tow. “We must be quick!” Margaret knew they were losing time. The constable, an older and much more unhurried man, tried to be polite and help each of the women down in turn.
“All will be well, My Lady. You will see. No need to rush or to worry.”
He had kept using that slow, annoying tone that made Margaret want to pull his hair out. “Constable, you are much mistaken. This is a matter of life and death!”
He shook his head with a smile on his face, and instead of staying behind to argue with him, Margaret ran to reach the doorway.
She had a bad feeling, something dark thumping in her breast, but they had to get into the house to see if it was true. If everyone was still well…and alive. The constable called out to her just as she reached the doorway.
“My Lady! You must allow me to go first. We do not know what we could find inside, of course.” Margaret, gritting her teeth with impatience, nodded, and the impossibly slow older man pushed through the doorway, and she wished to Heaven that she could push him over and search through the house with abandon as she so desired.
But there was no need. Once they entered the drawing room, they could see the figures there, all kneeling down around one person on the floor with a seething Charles standing in the doorway. “It is that man, Constable!” Margaret yelled and pointed, and Charles, wide-eyed with surprise and fear, attempted to push out of the man’s way and down the hallway, his hand firmly clasped to Catherine’s wrist.
But to Margaret’s delight and surprise, the constable did not prove half as useless as he’d appeared. With strength, he stopped Charles in the doorway and then pushed him against the doorjamb.
“Now, tell me what this is all about! You have these ladies here in quite a stir!” The constable called out, his voice growing angry in tone.
“Take your hands from me, you cretin! I am the Earl of Durby!” Charles yelled, attempting to wriggle free from the constable’s embrace.
Margaret suddenly noticed Felix. “He has tried to kill a man, Constable! And he is accused of arson, attempted murder, and more!” Felix pointed to the ground, where Margaret spotted Philip, and her heart nearly fell out of her chest. Letting out a scream, she knelt next to him as well and saw with horror the blood that was staining his coat and beginning to stain the floor.
“Philip, what has he done?” Her voice was choked, and turning her way, Philip smiled.
“Margaret,” he said softly.
Margaret frowned. “How can you be smiling at a time like this?”
Juliet and Sarah entered the room as well, sliding into their husband’s arms. But all were silent as Margaret hovered over Philip and Charles struggled against the surprisingly strong constable.
Philip chuckled. “It is only a flesh wound. You may all need not have death written upon your faces. I shall show you.” He sat up and pulled on his coat sleeve to reveal a long gash on his arms. “A bandage will suit me just fine.”
Margaret could feel laughter on her lips, but she refrained, kept it as a mere smile, and began to pull at a section of her dress. “Then a bandage you shall have,” and wrapped it around his arm to Philip’s mixed look of pride and surprise.
The rest of them stared in awe at Margaret as she completed bandaging his wound. Leonard leaned down to help Philip to stand. “Well, I suppose we were worried for nothing, then,” he smirked.
Juliet put her hands on her hips. “Will someone tell us what is happening? We came all this way, and,” she began to point her finger in Leonard’s direction, “you remember my words about not disclosing all information? There will be consequences to pay.”
Sarah added, “Yes, Felix. The consequences. Dire consequences.” Felix’s helpless face and Leonard’s look of surprise only made them all burst into laughter before Leonard shook himself to attention and parted the crowd.
“Constable, as the highest-ranking man in the room, I call for this man’s arrest, and I shall assist you with him. We can all be witnesses to his deeds and to his character. Juliet, we shall speak later, of course,” he added with a wink and grabbed onto Charles’ arm to help the constable take him down the hall to the waiting carriage.
Suddenly, a shriek filled the air, and the rest of them turned to see a wide-eyed Catherine, gripping the ends of her brown hair, threatening to pull it out. “You could not let me have my revenge, could you?”
Margaret pulled back, holding lightly onto Philip’s injured arm. At first Catherine had been looking at each of them, but her eyes settled on Juliet, and she raised a shaking finger to her. “You,” she seethed, “you have ruined everything. My whole life is now in a shambles. Because of you and your temptress ways.” She shrieked again and lunged forward, but not before Felix had grabbed her from behind.
Catherine fought and struggled but eventually sank into Felix, exhausted. Margaret was saddened by it all. It was clear that Catherine Stilton, once a famed woman of the ton, had now gone mad. It nearly made her feel sorry for her, remembering how they had once been close, but she pushed that aside as they made their way out of the house, Felix still holding on to Catherine.
The constable was already in the carriage with a subdued Charles, whose hands had now been tied. Felix stepped forward, “Constable, I believe this woman will need to be taken as well. I shall accompany you. And Leonard?”
