Page 110 of Marry in Secret
“That swine Cornelius just tried to kill me!”
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, he missed me, but where the hell is the villain? Cornelius!” he roared again.
Holden emerged from the servants’ area. “I think he and his friends were going to the village, m’lord. To the public house. There’s a skittles match on. They’ll be betting, I’m guessing.”
“Skittles match? I’ll give him skittles match.” Thomas stormed out.
He arrived at the public house, strode into the taproom and peered through the fug. “Where is he? Where is that weaselly little rat?”
“Would you be meaning your cousin, my lord? Mr. Beresford?” the landlord asked politely.
“That’s the one.”
The landlord gestured. “In the private sitting room, my lord. He and his friends don’t like to mix with the likes of us.”
“And we don’t like to mix with the likes o’ they,” someone called from the corner. There was a general laugh.
Thomas threw open the door to the private sitting room and found Cornelius seated with his two friends, playing cribbage at a table by the fire.
“There you are,” he snarled.
Cousin Cornelius jumped. He eyed Thomas nervously. “Is something the matter, cousin?”
“Cousin? Second cousin twice removed, is it not—”
“Once,” Cornelius muttered.
“As far as I’m concerned, that’s not damned well removed far enough,” Thomas snapped.
There was a muffled sound from the landlord, who had followed him in. Thomas turned around with a savage look, and the landlord’s face became instantly blank.
Thomas turned back to Cornelius. “How dare you!”
“Dare what?” Cornelius said nervously.
“Firstly, you tried to arrange a badger baiting on my land. With one of my badgers.”
“No, I didn’t.”
Thomas said in a voice loud enough to be heard by the ears no doubt pressed against the door, “All animal baiting is from now on forbidden on this estate; no badger baiting, no bear baiting or anything else of that kind. Is that clear?” Not a peep was heard from outside, but the landlord nodded.
“But you’re wrong about me,” Cornelius insisted. “I did organize one last year, it’s true, but I didn’t realize what it was going to be like. It was horrid, hideous, disgusting.” He shuddered. “Never again.”
Thomas was inclined to believe him. “Secondly,” he said in a lowered voice, “you tried to kill me this afternoon.”
“Killyou?” Cornelius’s eyes almost popped from his head. “I didn’t, I swear I didn’t. This afternoon, you say? I couldn’t have. I’ve been here all afternoon and haven’t moved.” He gestured to his friends. “Tell him, Perce, tell him, Monty.” His friends frantically concurred.
Thomas glanced at the landlord, who nodded to confirmit. “Hasn’t left the place since he arrived a good four hours ago, my lord.”
“See, Thomas?” Cornelius began in an aggrieved tone. “I think you owe me an apol—” He broke off, seeing Thomas’s expression. He held up his hands pacifically. “No, no, it’s nothing. Don’t owe me anything, Thomas. Never said a word to you. Was talking to Perce here who owes me a monkey, don’t you, Perce?”
Perce nodded.
“See, Thomas? No offense taken and none given, I hope.” He gave Thomas a sickly, placatory grin.
Thomas leaned over their table and in a steely soft voice said, “I’ve had it with you. You and your friends are leaving first thing in the morning, Cornelius.”
