Page 98 of The Curious Life of the Unfortunate Duchess
“He is lying!” David growled. “We saw you meet those men in London, Father. What did you promise them?”
“You are delusional, David, and a disappointment to me.”
“You are a shame to this family!” David spat back. “Elizabeth has cared for us since Mother died and this is how you repay her? By sending her with a killer?”
“I confess to nothing,” Percival told him. “Pack your things, family. I have had quite enough of Pembroke for one lifetime.”
“We will not go with you!” David cried. “Will you finish what you have started since you did not get your hands on the money now?”
“That is quite enough out of your mouth, boy! Pack you things at once!”
“Leonard,” Elizabeth said urgently. “Where is the money? Has my father access to it?”
Percival’s face paled and abruptly Elizabeth knew all that she had learned was true. Bile filled her throat and she swallowed her pain bitterly.
“I know where you left it,” David told Leonard. “Do not let him out of our sight while I go check for it. If it is not there, Your Grace, I will check his chambers. You will not go without it.”
“Thank you, David.”
“You cannot go into my chambers!” Percival howled and Elizabeth nodded at her brother.
“Check his apartment first.”
David disappeared, leaving the group to stare at Percival.
“You do not know what you are doing!” the Viscount growled at the Duke in a last-ditch attempt to assert his authority. “I will never permit you to marry Elizabeth now!”
Elizabeth gasped and a laugh escaped her lips and she looked at Leonard in disbelief but he was consumed with glowering.
“You are a twisted, devious man, Percival Follett. I would throttle you with my bare hands if Elizabeth would permit it.”
“You are wrong about me!” Percival snapped, slowly backing out of the salon. “I would never do anything to hurt my daughter. You are making a terrible mistake.”
“Where are you going, Lord Gordon?” Catherine demanded, springing forward as she realized he was trying to make his escape. “You will be sent to the barracks with Jasper.”
“Indeed, Lord Gordon,” a terrifyingly familiar voice demanded. “Where are you going?”
Suddenly the looming figure of Cooper appeared, his hand wrapped around a pistol.
“Cooper,” Elizabeth gasped. “What are you doing here?”
Cooper’s smile was jovial, pleasant even but the darkness lurking beneath was unmistakable and a familiar splash of terror washed through Elizabeth.
“Well, I did not get paid, Miss Elizabeth and I daresay, you are more trouble than you are worth.”
He raised the gun and cocked it at the her.
“Now sit down and tell me where to find my money.”
Chapter 31
With a collective intake of air and all the members of the household shrunk back in unison.
“There is no need for the gun,” Leonard told Cooper evenly. “I will get you whatever it is you wish.”
“Will you now?” Cooper drawled. “It seems to me, Your Grace, that you had an opportunity to avoid all this and you have failed terribly. Now this wench will pay the price, especially after all the trouble she put me and my partner through.”
Elizabeth stepped closer to Leonard where he stood in front of her protectively.
