Page 54 of Scars of a Passionate Revenge
He took the tray from Benedict’s hands and went into the breakfast room, leaving Benedict standing alone in the hall.
Just at that moment, there was the sound of horses’ hooves outside the door. Smith appeared as if from nowhere and opened the front door.
To Benedict’s amazement, there stood Cecil, looking rather disheveled, having just dismounted from his horse.
“Lord Grant, how nice it is to see you,” Smith said smoothly, as if it was completely normal for a visit from a Lord to take place at that time of day, let alone a visit from a Lord who looked as if he had not slept for several days. “Do come in. I see that the groom is already here to take care of your horse.”
Cecil handed the reins to the man who had appeared as if by magic at his side, then stepped into the house.
“Lord Grant, if you are here to see the baron, he is currently engaged, but you may wait in the drawing room,” Smith said.
Benedict marveled once again at how smoothly everything was orchestrated in a grand house such as this. He wondered for a moment if he would ever be master of such a household, before pushing the thought away. It was ridiculous, he told himself, to be thinking of such things at a moment like this.
Cecil cleared his throat and raked a hand through his hair. “Forgive my appearance, Smith. It is a long ride from Bath. I actually came to see my good friend Benedict. Perhaps we might avail ourselves of the drawing room all the same?”
Smith nodded. “Of course, My Lord.”
They went into the drawing room and Benedict finally spoke. “What on earth are you doing here, Cecil? Surely you have not left Lady Clara behind in Bath?”
Cecil nodded. “Don’t you worry about that. Everything will be settled between us soon. But I was worried about you, my friend. It seemed most mysterious, you leaving so suddenly like that, when everything had been going so well between you and Miss Dunberry. I went to your house first, but your man told me that you were here, that you had been taken ill?”
He paused and looked at Benedict closely. “You do look rather peaked, I must say. Have you really been very unwell? What happened, why did you leave?”
Benedict sighed. “There is rather a lot to tell you, Cecil. But the most pressing matter is what is unfolding in this house right now. You will no doubt think I am mad when I tell you this, but I am sure it is true.
The baroness has been trying to kill the baron, by poison, for months, it seems. I mistakenly drank some tea that was meant for him, and was very unwell for a while. I am much better now, and the baron, too, seems to be rallying. He is in the breakfast room right now, confronting her.”
As he finished speaking, they heard a shout from down the corridor, followed by a crash.
Cecil looked at Benedict in alarm. “What on earth is going on?”
Benedict shook his head. “I do not know, but I think we should go and help the baron. I do not think he should be alone with that woman.”
The two men left the room at once and followed the sound of the shouting.
When they entered the breakfast room, they saw the baron standing close to the baroness, a cup of tea in his hand.
“Drink it!” he was shouting. “If what I say is not true, then there is no reason for you to refuse it!”
The baroness was trying to push him away, her face contorted with fear.
Benedict cleared his throat. “My Lady, why will you not drink the tea?”
She let out a whimper, but did not reply.
The baron turned around to see Benedict and Cecil standing there, and took a step back from his wife. “She is denying it, of course,” he spat. “But we have evidence, do we not?”
“Benedict, show her the vial that you found in her chamber!” the baron ordered.
Benedict obeyed, pulling the vial of white powder from his pocket.
“Madam, please can you explain this?” the baron demanded.
She shook her head. “I- I have never seen it before!” she protested.
“You are lying!” the baron roared. “I will have no more of this in my own house!”
He strode across the room in a rage, then turned back to face his wife. “I have already called the magistrate, and they are on their way here to arrest you, so you had better start telling the truth now, before it’s too late!”
