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“Then why…?”
“Loving you was worth any price.”
“But why are you here?” Even as she spoke, she knew the answer with chilling clarity. Over his shoulder she could read the inscription on the crypt.Gareth, First Lord of Falcon’s Lair.“Oh, my love. You were here, all alone in the darkness, waiting to…”
They stood together, their breathing shallow, their thoughts scattered.
When she finally spoke, Felicity’s tone was resigned. “At least you won’t be alone now. Nor will I. We’ll face our fate together.”
“No.” He held her a little away, his eyes hot and fierce. “This is not to be your fate. I won’t allow you to give up.”
“But you said yourself that your powers have diminished, and I have none at all.”
“You forget the power of love.” He turned away, concentrating all his energy on the heavy door that barred their way.
As Felicity watched in amazement, a sound, like that of a terrible rushing wind, sent the door scraping open. Gareth caught her hand and led her up the steps and into the chill night air. Jagged slashes of lightning rent the heavens, and thunder shook the very ground as, together, they sprinted the distance to the castle. One look from Gareth sent the door creaking open on its hinges. They raced up the stairs and stopped short at Lord Falcon’s room.
Ian and Honora were standing beside the old lord’s bed. In Ian’s hand was a vial of poison. His eyes glinted with hatred as he turned to Felicity.
“How did you escape? And who is this stranger?”
Felicity realized that Gareth, in his diminished state, was no longer invisible.
“I am Gareth, First Lord of Falcon’s Lair,” he cried in a voice that rang with authority. “I command you to step away from Lord Falcon’s bed.”
Ian gave a chilling laugh. “How fitting. The first lord and the last. Both will die. You see, I gave my uncle his final dose of my special medicine.”
“Oh, Ian!” Felicity cried. “Why do you hate your uncle so?”
“If my father had been half a man, he would have killed his brother years ago. Then I would have inherited Falcon’s Lair, along with the title, instead of my wretched cousins. But at least one of us had the courage of his convictions. I will have the estate, and William’s wife as well.”
“You may have her with my blessing,” came a voice from the doorway.
William, leaning heavily on the arm of Diana Summerville, started forward.
“What are you doing in the company of my husband?” Honora demanded harshly.
Diana’s eyes flashed with an inner fire. “Bean summoned me when she couldn’t find your houseguest.”
“And you, William. How is it that you are alive?” Ian demanded. “I gave you the same dose of poison I gave your father.”
Felicity’s voice was triumphant. “Before you caught me, I gave both Lord Falcon and William an antidote. Your poison can no longer harm them.”
“You fool! I told you we should have killed the American sooner!” Honora cried. “Here, Ian.” Reaching over Lord Falcon’s bed, she tossed her lover a jewel-handled sword. “Since the poison hasn’t worked, use this to finish all of them.”
Ian caught it and advanced on Felicity. But before he could attack, Gareth dragged her roughly behind him, shielding her with his own body.
There was a time when Gareth, First Lord of Falcon’s Lair, would have been agile enough to dodge the thrusts of the finest swordsmen. But in his weakened condition he was no match for the enraged Ian St. John. The blade found its mark, piercing his chest.
As Gareth fell, there was a terrible commotion, and one of the servants belowstairs shouted, “My lord! My lord! Awake and rejoice. It is Lord Chandler, your elder son, returned from the perils of the Amazon.”
At that Lord Falcon rose up from his bed, his eyes wide, his senses alert. “Chandler lives? Can it be true?”
Like a proud old lion infused with new life, he seized the second sword. Tossing it to his son, he shouted, “Stop them, William! In the name of all Falcons!”
Felicity was only vaguely aware of the sound of scuffling, and the cries of Ian and Honora as they attempted to flee the wrath of William, Diana, and Lord Falcon. From the shouting, it would seem that the servants had joined in the chase. But she no longer cared what happened to Ian and Honora. All her energies were centered on the terrible drama being played out here. In the silence of the bedroom, she knelt and cradled Gareth in her arms.
“You cannot die, love,” she cried. “For there is something you must know.”