Page 55 of The Remarkable Myth of a Nameless Lady
“Owen…” the Duchess sobbed. “Owen, how could you?”
“No, Mother, how couldyou?” Owen glared at her.
Jacob swallowed the bile that rose up his throat. “Mother? This cannot be true.”
“It is,” Owen replied.
“Let her speak!” Jacob shouted, black spots dancing in his vision. A cold sweat tickled at the back of his neck, threatening to bring unconsciousness with it.
“Jacob… I am… I am sorry… I am so very sorry,” his mother whimpered. She did not need to say anything more. Her tone, her apology, everything… it told him exactly what he did not want to hear. That it was true. All of it.
He got up shakily. “I need some air.”
“Maybe English air would suit you better.” Owen launched another jab, twisting the proverbial knife.
“I would not congratulate yourself, if I were you,” Jacob hissed, balling his hands into fists to stop him toppling over the edge. “No one knows of this, except for you, me, and our mother. If you try and usurp me, it will be your word against mine.”
Owen paused, anger glinting in his gaze. “Mine will triumph.”
“I would not be so sure of that. Mother’s reputation will be forfeit if you breathe a word. I do not think even you can be that cruel.” In order to prevent another fight from breaking out, Jacob pushed past his younger brother and exited the study. He listened for the sound of his brother following, but the hallway behind him remained blissfully quiet. There might have been a whisper of a sob, or that may have been his mind playing tricks on him. Either way, he did not turn back around.
Indeed, he did not stop walking until he reached the outbuilding where he had ordered Mistress Marigold and Meghan to be incarcerated. He was not sure why he had made his way here. Perhaps he needed something more urgent to distract his mind. After all, they still had tomorrow’s attack to contend with.
Though who can I ask for help now?His brother would not be willing. Then again, with the imminent attack being a threat to this house, maybe Owen would be more amenable to putting personal gripes aside for the sake of one night.
Before he could push away his own grief and pain and anger, however, he wanted to speak to these two women. If they could just give him the name of the shooter, or give him some indication as to whom it might have been, then he might not have to bow and scrape for his brother’s help.
I know it is not Mr. Price. Alicia has told me no lies thus far, and if she believes her father’s tale… then so must I. She is the only one who has been honest with me. I cannot refuse to believe her now.
“Your Grace.” The first guard of two bowed to him as he approached.
“I have come to speak with the ladies within,” Jacob said.
The two guards exchanged a confused look. “They are no longer here, Your Grace,” the second guard replied.
Jacob knitted his brow, equally confused. “Pardon?”
“They’re not here anymore, Your Grace,” the first guard repeated. “We were told to stay here until morning, but Mistress Marigold and Meghan aren’t here.”
“Then where are they?” Jacob pressed.
“His Lordship ordered them to be transported. A carriage came for them a half hour ago.” The second guard shifted uncomfortably.
“And where did he order them to be transported to?” Jacob was fast losing patience.
“I don’t know, Your Grace. We just let them out when the carriage came, as per our orders,” the first guard said.
Jacob had to bite his tongue. “Then there is no use in you being here.”
“What, Your Grace?” The second guard frowned.
“There is no use in you being here, as there are no prisoners for you to guard. You are dismissed,” he rasped, fury surging through his veins, white hot.
The guards wasted no time in hurrying away. Alone in the courtyard, in front of the outbuilding, it took every ounce of willpower that Jacob possessed not to howl at the moon like a rabid wolf. Owen had taken away his chance of discovering the shooter, no doubt to seize the glory for himself and make himself appear to be the more capable brother. Perhaps Owen already knew of the attack, and wanted to prevent it himself, so everyone would laud him and adore him, and think Jacob the useless figurehead. He had already taken steps toward that, when he interrogated the two women in the secrecy of the wine cellar, without informing Jacob.
Oh yes, Jacob had been thwarted again.
No more…It was time for Jacob to assert his authority, once and for all.
