Page 46 of A Proposal to Wed (The Beautiful Barringtons #9)

L ucy walked down the stairs, Buttons and Boots leaping at her skirts and threatening to trip her as she descended.

Thank goodness for the kittens. They were an excellent distraction while she waited for her husband to return from wherever he’d gone.

Harry hadn’t bothered to let her know his destination, but it was either Marsden or London, she assumed.

Which was fine. Really.

After Harry had made his horrid accusations, Lucy had stayed in bed for the better part of the day, staring into the fire and allowing Boots and Buttons to jump all over her.

In a fit of pique, she hadn’t stopped Boots from gnawing on a pair of Harry’s boots or Buttons from shredding a pair of trousers.

She was angry. Furious. Heartbroken. Her husband had called in Father’s debts after promising not to. Sally was with child. Harry had put Lucy in an impossible situation. But not a murderous one.

Mrs. Bartle had wisely said little when she brought breakfast.

Granted, Harry had every reason to be outraged.

Lucy should have told him when Sally had first appeared instead allowing herself to be blackmailed.

But she’d been afraid of his reaction —and with good reason, it seemed.

He’d fled the premises after accusing Lucy of plotting his murder with Dufton.

A man she’d repeatedly told Harry she detested.

Bartle stood at the bottom of the stairs awaiting her.

If anyone knew where Harry had gone or when he would return, it would be the older man, but Lucy refused to ask. “I’ll be in the garden, Bartle. I think you two could use some fresh air.” She looked down at Boots and Buttons. “Come along.”

The kittens followed at Lucy’s heels, tumbling over each other and sliding across the floor.

“Possibly Roger,” she said, referring to Mr. Hammond’s large cat, “could conduct a class on mousing.”

“He’s in London,” Bartle blurted out. “I expected him back yesterday, but I suppose he was delayed.” An apologetic look crossed his scarred features. “I was under the impression you were aware, until Mrs. Bartle apprised me that you were not. Else I would have spoken up.”

“Thank you, Bartle.” Lucy touched his arm. “I suspected as much.”

Well, that was something, at least. Harry should be back soon. Then they would straighten out this stupid mess. Lucy wasn’t about to allow the argument between them to fester a moment longer. She would admit to her mistakes. Apologize. Expect the same from him.

“Accusing me of murder,” she said to Buttons. “Can you imagine? I’ve loved him for years.” Her words grew thick, thinking of the way he’d clutched his heart, as if the pain of her betrayal had broken it.

Straightening her shoulders, Lucy shook off her sadness and walked along the grass, the kittens leaping about, chasing each other and clawing a maple tree.

She wandered across the lawn and down the rutted road leading to Middlesbrough, though there was no reason to visit the village today and it was quite a lengthy distance without a carriage.

But Lucy didn’t want to sit about and wait for Harry to appear. A walk would improve her mood.

A half hour later, as she rounded a bend, thinking to turn back, Lucy caught sight of a carriage sideways across the road, doors flung open.

Raised voices floated on the breeze, although she couldn’t make out what they were saying.

Possibly someone needed assistance, which she would offer.

Picking up her skirts, she was about to call out when a loud thump sounded.

Lucy’s instincts, finely honed after Father, had her darting back into the line of trees.

A body fell into the road—a man. Pushed out of the carriage, landing in the dirt of the road. Blood covered one side of his face, his eyes closed.

Lucy placed a hand over her mouth to keep from screaming out his name.

Harry.

“Still alive.” A bulky man, barrel chested and thick, jumped out of the carriage.

“We don’t have much time. I trussed up the driver good, but he’ll be discovered sooner rather than later.

” He nudged Harry’s unconscious form with the toe of his boot.

“Estwood never even looked past the carriage door. So bloody full of himself. In a hurry to get back to his precious bride.” He looked behind him. “As you were to get back to me.”

“Always.” A woman came around the other side of the carriage, skirts swinging. “We aren’t that far from that monstrosity Estwood calls home, are we, Colm?”

Lucy’s eyes widened. Sally? And…Colm?

“It’s not too far, if you go through the woods a bit farther down. Takes a bit longer by road. Now, one more time, repeat to me the story we’ve rehearsed to explain why you’re with Estwood.”

Sally cleared her throat. “I overheard Lord Dufton threaten Mr. Waterstone, Lucy and Estwood. Worried for her safety, Mr. Waterstone and I agreed I should go directly to Yorkshire and warn Lucy. I was at the train station, and it was pure happenstance I caught sight of Estwood.”

“Make sure you tell the authorities you had no idea Estwood was in London.”

“Right.” Sally nodded. “Shocked at seeing Estwood, I immediately informed him of Dufton’s threats. Estwood told me of the attempts on his life. We journeyed here together, praying dear Lucy was safe.” Sally placed a hand on her throat. “We were quite frantic.”

“Perfect. Nearly as good as the failed attempts on Estwood’s life.” Colm winked. “And after both, I mentioned seeing Dufton in town. So, just as the carriage rounded this bend,” he instructed. “You were stopped.”

“Two men,” Sally nodded. “Not interested in me, only Estwood, whom they pulled from the carriage.” She gave a mournful sob. “One of the thugs mentioned Lord Dufton.” She looked up at Colm. “Do I sound appropriately terrified?”

Colm grunted his approval before kicking Harry in the ribs.

A groan came from Lucy’s husband.

“Told you I’d make you pay for firing me, Harry Estwood.

Just as I’ll make Dufton pay for stabbing me in the back by making sure everyone thinks he killed you once Sally tells her tale to the constable.

Think you’re so smart. Both of you. My cousin worked for Joshua Marsden.

I knew about the survey long before anyone else.

” He straightened, speaking to Sally. “I’ll take him to the quarry.

There’s a pond there. Make it look like they drowned him.

Everyone in Middlesbrough knows how angry Dufton is about losing Mrs. Estwood’s hand in marriage and denouncing Estwood at every turn.

I’ve said so often enough at the Goat’s Head. ”

“Before I departed London, I made sure the staff knew that Dufton had threatened Mr. Waterstone.”

“Did he?”

Sally shrugged. “The two did have a rather heated argument. The butler overheard Dufton yelling at my husband after Lucy wed Estwood. It wasn’t difficult to mention to our gossiping cook that Dufton threatened Estwood and Lucy with bodily harm.

Or how terrified I was for Lucy’s safety.

That’s what Cook will tell anyone who asks. ”

“Waterstone isn’t suspicious?”

“Not in the least. He thinks I’m visiting a friend in the country who has fallen ill,” she cooed.

“Or run off with a lover. Which is partially true,” she purred.

“Interrupting your meeting with my husband that day was most fortuitous. Terrible of him to have allowed Estwood to fire you without even so much as a note warning you he’d sold Pendergast. I felt awful for you. ”

“Ah, but you made me feel better that night.”

Lucy sucked in a breath and pushed herself behind a tree. Colm and Sally were not just in league together, but lovers. Colm had gone to confront Father in the days after the sale of the ironworks, and somehow her stepmother had ended up in Colm’s bed.

And Father thought I was the harlot.

“The authorities will question Dufton, and frankly, with his reputation, murder and kidnapping will seem plausible.” Sally’s lips drew into a smirk.

“He won’t be arrested—his title and wealth won’t allow it—but it will keep the authorities from looking elsewhere.

His standing in society will suffer further, of course. ”

“Bloody nob deserves it. Made me promises he had no intention of keeping.” Colm snorted. “No ironworks. No shares in Marsden. Not a farthing.”

“Poor Lucy will be distraught at Estwood’s death.” Sally’s face contorted into sympathy. “Thankfully, I’ll be here to console her.”

“And you, poor thing,” Colm said. “In your condition.”

Sally and Colm broke out into giggles.

“You must stop, Colm,” Sally wiped at her eyes.

“I fear we won’t get this murder accomplished if you keep teasing me.

I think I have everything well in hand. The constable, nor anyone else, will ever suspect I had a hand in this.

Or you.” She swatted playfully at him. “And as far as Lucy, the girl is so unintelligent, she makes my teeth ache. Once things are settled in our favor, I’ll make some excuse.

” Sally put a hand to her head with a small cry.

“The sheer tragedy of Estwood’s death caused me to lose the child.

” She giggled once more, the mournful look disappearing.

“Imagine, lording it over Dufton when you are in control of Marsden. He’ll be absolutely livid. ”

“You think she’ll accept my condolences?”

“Lucy likes men beneath her station, something we have in common.” Sally’s fingers trailed over his hand. “She’ll find you irresistible. As do I.”

Eww.

Sally had always been ambitious, though Lucy would never have considered her capable of concocting such a scheme. Or murder. Doubtless they meant to do away with Father as well.

Colm walked to the other side of the carriage and took up a length of rope before bending to tie Harry’s wrists. “I’ll go get the horses. If anyone comes by, go with our story until I can come back.”