Page 69 of Her Heart's Rightful Earl
‘Alexander, I must warn you–’ Margaret muttered. ‘The most recent of nightly visitations Marcus has received was just last night. I overheard a little of the conversation.’
‘Who was it?’
‘A ruffian. Not a man I recognized. It was very late.’
‘What did they say?’ Alexander was keen to know.
‘I regret to inform you that your name was mentioned …’
‘My name?’ Alexander stood in shock. He had taken such strict precautions to ensure he was not seen, nor followed. If a man was reporting to Marcus about Alexander, it seemed certain that his presence had been detected.
Alexander paced, running his hands through his hair, and turned to Margaret in anguish. ‘What did they say about me, Mother?’
‘I could not hear all the words. As I mentioned, I heard your name, though no context to support it. The only full sentence I heard was from Marcus himself and-oh!’ Margaret began to openly weep.
Alexander ran to her side, kneeling beside her. ‘What is it, Mother?’
‘It is too horrible!’ she cried. ‘It is the most damning of all.’
Alexander steeled himself. ‘Tell me, Mother.’
Margaret took a deep breath. ‘Marcus said the words‘systematic clean up, leaving no witnesses alive’.’
Alexander drew in a loud breath of shock as his mind whirled with the mess of how many people that category encapsulated, and he realized all those he loved could now be considered witnesses.
Suddenly, loud running footsteps could be heard outside in the hallway, and as Margaret and Alexander turned their headsquickly to the locked door, there began an urgent, loud, panicked knocking.
‘Lady Wellwood!’ Thomas’s voice shouted from the hallway.
‘Please! Help!’ Charlotte yelled as the knocks became louder. Alexander bolted towards the door.
Chapter 25
Arabella closed her eyes and tipped her head back against the cold stone wall behind her, wondering how she might be able to get out of this seemingly inescapable room. One far corner of the room was shrouded in dark shadows; was there perhaps an exit that way? Even if there were, Arabella’s hands were bound, and she would be unable to open any doors.
Even so, she looked over at the dark corner, squinting to allow her eyes to adjust, and as she did so, she noticed a shift of movement! The shadowy area morphed into a figure that moved insidiously into the dim light of the space.
Arabella shrunk back in fear as it looked like some sort of shadowy demon, the way it limped forward with a crouching posture and emerged with slow intimidation. Then it began to laugh—a low snigger to begin with, which built into a full-blown raucous cackle.
Arabella knew that laugh.
‘Lord Wellwood!’ Arabella muttered under her breath in shock.
As her distressed mind caught on to understanding it was Marcus, he straightened up and stepped further towards the chink of light that illuminated him.
He hadintendedto frighten her, Arabella realized. Why, otherwise, would he hide out and only make his presence known with such a dramatic entrance? The idea that Marcus was purposely scaring her made her shudder. Arabella knew now how extremely dangerous he was, and she knew he had not secured her here merely for a cosy conversation.
‘Lady Spencer! SweetArabella!’ Marcus cooed mockingly and then danced around impishly as he sang ‘the love of my brother’s life!’ He stopped. ‘HowisAlexander nowadays?’
Now that he was fully in the lighter part of the space, Arabella could assess his appearance. His usually immaculate facade had collapsed, his handsome features distorted in a grimace, his fair hair dishevelled, his expensive clothes wrinkled and stained, and his eyes betrayed a wild gleam that transformed his usually amiable face into something terrifying.
Peering more intently at the stains on his clothes, Arabella realized the bloodstains he previously claimed were caused by shaving were likely blood spilt from his victims.
She did not answer his question; could not articulate a response.
‘Iknowabout your secret little meetings with my brother!’ Marcus revealed. ‘The abandoned chapel, the old mill, the garden folly …’
‘What?’
