Page 52 of The Remarkable Myth of a Nameless Lady
“Thank you, Your Grace,” she whispered, fighting back tears of her own.
“I am only glad that I could assist, and that I came at an opportune moment,” he replied. “Had he stayed like that for much longer, I do not know what might have been done to soothe his breathing.”
“I sent Tom to fetch the physician, but he has not returned.” Alicia glanced down the road, in case he appeared, but he did not.
Jacob smiled at her reassuringly. “Then you did all you could.”
“It doesn’t feel like much,” she murmured, before scolding herself inwardly to come to her senses. “My father is right, though. Why are you here? Did something happen at the manor?”
Jacob sighed heavily. “In a manner of speaking, yes. I happened upon my brother interrogating Mistress Marzipan and that maid, Meghan. They know something, but they will not speak. As such, they have been locked away for the night, so they may think about their choices.” He cast her a sideways glance. “Although, Mistress Whatshername seems intent on blaming your father for the shooting. I hoped you might have discovered something to confirm or refute that? I could not wait until tomorrow to speak with you about it, or it may have been too late.”
“I have learned much,” she said quietly, steeling herself. Here he was, the gentleman who disturbed her every thought in the most remarkable way and would not be forgotten. Here he was, the only gentleman who had been able to take away the rough edges from her guarded heart. And here he was… the gentleman she could never have.
My cousin…
“You have?” he sounded surprised.
She dug her fingernails into her palms to give her courage. “Firstly, you should know that there is a plot in place for tomorrow night’s ball. The targets are the individuals who seized lands and titles from the Irish. My father was instructed to find their names in the ledger from the library and check those names against the list for the ball.”
“What?” Jacob whirled around, his face pale.
“There is more,” she went on. “Someone has been sending my father many letters, with instructions like that one. He doesn’t know who they are, but it is obvious they wish to hide their involvement. They have told him to burn every letter, so there can be no evidence. Indeed, he has burned the ledger pages for the same reason.”
“Your father is working for someone?”
She sighed. “It would seem so. Although, I should tell you, he was not the one who shot Elias. It was his musket, that’s true, but he was instructed to leave it by the stable. He thought it was for Elias to use.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“He was already leaving the manor when the shot rang out, and has a man who can corroborate that,” Alicia explained. “But, again, there is more… Ravencliff is not the house you think it is. Once upon a time, it went by the name of Ballyroyal, and belonged to my father. Your father tricked him into selling the property, at your mother’s behest. My father wasn’t the only one. All of the names on that ledger were people who had done the same—tricking the Irish into selling their lands and titles and giving them little in return, making what was owed to them disappear.”
Jacob gaped. “No… that cannot be true. My father would never do such a thing.”
“You don’t have to believe me if you don’t want to. I know it must be hard to hear, but your mother was privy to it all. Ask her if you want the truth.” Alicia grimaced. “You see… your father, the old Duke of Woodworth, was my mother’s brother. My uncle. My mother invited him and his wife—your mother—to stay at Ballyroyal, and it seems your mother liked what she saw.”
Jacob shook his head. “But that would mean that you are—”
“Your cousin, yes,” she cut in. “As I’ve said, you don’t have to believe a word that comes out of my mouth. But go to your mother, ask her of what I have told you, and I am certain you will receive the same reply. Although, she may paint herself and your father in a slightly more generous light than my own father did. After all, your father did take what was my father’s, without giving what was owed.”
And owed to me…
“I have to leave,” Jacob murmured. “I have to speak to my mother immediately.”
“I hoped you might say that.” Alicia lowered her gaze.
“I must speak to my brother and put plans in motion to prevent tomorrow’s attack,” he replied, almost to himself. “And I must know if the rest of what you have said is true.”
“Then what are you waiting for?”
Without another word, Jacob went to his horse and hauled himself into the saddle. A moment later, he had turned away from the cottage and disappeared into the darkness, enveloped by the night. Alicia had to force herself not to watch him go. There was no use in looking fondly at Jacob anymore, for he was not only her cousin, but he belonged to the dynasty that had taken everything from her.
Indeed, in that moment, she did not know if she would ever see him again. And maybe that was for the best. For, as long as he was in her presence, she would never be able to relinquish her thoughts of him, and the hold he had over her heart.
Yes, perhaps it was for the best. Perhaps, this way, she would have a hope of forgetting him one day.
Chapter 37
Jacob rode like he had never ridden before, his mind in utter turmoil. Part of him wanted to ride to the nearest port and sail away from this island altogether, but his pursuit of the truth led him the way he had come, on the road to the manor.
