Page 93 of Her Duke in Shining Armor
“What in the name of God are you doing here, Burchell?” Fenton grated through grit teeth.
“Avenging my daughter,” the Earl’s voice was hard. “Oberton told me about my daughter’s diary and how you abused her over and over again.”
“That is a lie,” Fenton snarled.
“No, it is not!” Sarah’s voice cut in shrilly. “I was there and doctored her every time she got a black eye or a bruised rib.”
The old maid moved from the wall and climbed off her bed. She was actively trembling but she—to Eleanor’s pride—stood her ground. “I saw it all, you monster. I was there when I had to nurse her to health after she was forced to lose her second child. I was the one who she cried to day after day about how you insulted her. I was the one who she told how she feared for her life and was only staying for her child. You are a demon.”
Fenton was purple in the face. “You! I thought you were dead.”
“Speaking of dead,” Aaron pressed. “You killed your wife, didn’t you?”
“Shut your mouth boy,” Fenton snarled. “My affairs are not your concern.”
“I spoke to Doctor Nithercott,” Eleanor stepped away from Aaron’s back. “He told me she died of poison hidden in wine, and Sarah told me that she died the day after Grandfather’s visit. She then clarified it was after you had gotten into an explosive argument with Grandfather.”
“It was that day?” The Earl of Norwich gaped. “The day we argued about the payoff at the Exchequer? That day?”
“Payoff?” Eleanor asked, “What payoff?”
No one spoke until her grandfather did, “Eleanor, your father and I had a business venture that caused us to seek a tax levy from the Chancellor’s office. We managed to bribe the Lord of Herchire to grant us the levy but he was then found out and dismissed and the levy did not go through. Thankfully, Herchire did not finger us as his accomplices and we escaped prison that time. Your father and I were arguing about approaching another man but I thought it best to count our blessing and move on as the plan was too risky. And you’re telling me my daughter died the same day?”
“Yes,” Eleanor replied. “How did she die, father?”
Duke Brisdane’s jaw looked mortared shut.
“How did she die, Brisdane?” Aaron’s voice was not as kind. “Or do you want an incentive to talk?”
“Aaron?” Eleanor asked quietly.
“Tell us and I might ask the Lord Magistrate to give you a comfy prison in Newgate, where you can rot away and die in peace,” Aaron added. “If not, it’s the gaol for you. There is enough evidence against you. Doctor Nithercott and Mrs. Briks’ testimony, the damning words in the diary. Everything would add up, Brisdane. There is not much leeway here.”
Fenton’s head twisted to the Earl and his jaw spasmed before he spoke, “It was supposed to be you.”
“Pardon me?” The Earl of Norwich's eyes were wide.
“The wine was set for you,” Fenton admitted. “I wanted to shut you up permanently and Inever, I swear to God and his army of angels, Ineverwanted it to be Elizabeth. She came in and drank a glass by mistake. I knew that I was not the best husband, and I failed her many days but I loved my wife…once upon a time. We drifted, I grew absorbed with everything else and saw her as a distraction.”
Eleanor’s ears were ringing with her father’s confession. There was remorse in her father’s voice but not enough for her to completely pardon him.
“You planned to kill Grandfather…” she said quietly before anger burned her stomach. Her pistol was up and out before she could control her movement. “What about me Father, were you going to kill me too if I disobeyed you?”
“Eleanor!” he shouted. “No.”
“I wish I could believe you,” Eleanor swallowed tightly.
Aaron’s hand gently rested on the pistol and he pushed it down, “It’s over Eleanor. Please stay calm…for me.”
Turning away, Eleanor went over to Maria, reached out for her and as she came, hugged the frightened child. She tried to not cry and listened as Aaron told the Earl to keep the Duke under his barrel as he went for the constables.
Maria was a ball of nervous energy in her arms and Eleanor held her tightly, whispering, “It’s going to be alright,” over and over again. Her words were aimed at calming Maria but they helped her too.
When the constables came and took her father into custody, Eleanor sank into Aaron’s arms and finally let the tears for her mother flow.
Epilogue
The trial of Duke Brisdane for the heinous crimes of abusing his wife, her accidental death, and the plot to kill Lord Hamilton Burchell, the Earl of Norwich, was halfway completed. Since the scandal had broken, everyone knew what the end was going to be…a hanging. However, despite facing the inevitable, the lawyers still tried to delay it.
