Page 36 of Two Secrets to Surrender (Blackwood Legacy #2)

Chapter Thirty-Five

“ S hopping is a lovely distraction,” Xenia said brightly. “Thank you for suggesting it, Evie.”

“You’re welcome.” James’s wife, Evie, the Countess of Manderly, smiled in her shy way.

Gigi was strolling along the square with her two sisters-in-law. A curvy, bespectacled blonde, Evie preferred her studies to socializing. According to James, she was happiest in the greenhouse he’d built her, where she conducted experiments with plants. Gigi was touched that Evie had made the trip to check up on her.

Three days had passed since Gigi’s return to Chuddums, and she’d spent the bulk of it weeping in her bedchamber. She was grateful that her family had forgiven her for her reckless behavior…if only she could forgive herself as easily. She’d been a fool to entrust her heart to Conrad. Despite all the evidence pointing to his ruthlessness—his business dealings, sabotage of the spa, plan for revenge against his brother—she had given him the benefit of the doubt.

Over and again, she’d made excuses. She’d rationalized that he had a good heart, and because of his past, he merely needed time to trust and love again. She saw the extent of her self-deception. He’d been manipulating her, lying to her about his motivations this entire time. Now, because of her, the fate of Chuddums hung in the balance.

“Truth be told, my motivation was a bit selfish,” Evie said. “Since this is my first visit to Chuddums, I wanted to see the square myself. James has spoken highly of it.”

“You might as well see it now. While you still can,” Gigi said bleakly.

“Oh, my dear.” Empathy and worry shone in Xenia’s eyes. “Do you think Mr. Godwin intends to go through with his plan?”

“I don’t know what he is going to do. In his letter, he did not mention specifics.”

Gigi had received a note from Conrad this morning, which she’d shown her sisters-in-law.

Dearest Gigi,

Much has happened since we parted. Due to the pawn ticket you found, a connection was made between the assailant at the gala and my brother. Robert is now in police custody. As his days are numbered, he will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

The threat to my life is over. I have given orders to my guards that you no longer require protection, and I breathe easier knowing that my presence in your life does not compromise your well-being.

There is much left unsaid between us, and I ask that you grant me an audience so that I may better explain my behavior and the actions I have taken. I will return to Chuddums in a week’s time to discuss our future. Despite our separation, you are in my thoughts, and it is my greatest hope that we will soon come to a mutual understanding.

Your husband,

C.

“As someone who has not met Mr. Godwin, I know I am not the best judge of his character,” Evie said. “But I thought there were hopeful aspects to his letter. For example, he seems quite concerned for your welfare.”

“I was surprised to learn that he had guards following me,” Gigi admitted.

She wasn’t sure how she felt about it. On the one hand, his tendency to take covert actions and keep things to himself played a large role in their marital conflict. On the other, maybe it was his way of showing that he cared.

“Conrad’s protectiveness probably doesn’t mean anything,” she went on with a sigh. “He would act that way toward anything he considers a possession. To him, I’m no different from a piece of property.”

That, she realized, was what hurt the most. She’d fallen in love with him, but to him, she was just part of some plan. He wanted a nymph who would soothe his lust and a duchess who would enhance his prestige.

He never took me seriously—never saw me for who I am. He was just using me. And I was foolish enough to give him my heart.

Evie pursed her lips. “Don’t you think it is a good sign that he wishes to come to an understanding with you?”

“The problem is that his version of an understanding and mine are different. I’ve told Conrad what it will take to heal our marriage, but I know him. He is used to getting what he wants. He thinks he can negotiate his way out of this. That he can appease me with some trifling offer.”

“Building a square elsewhere for the villagers is not exactly a trifling matter,” Xenia said dryly. “But I see your point. He does not understand what Chuddums means to you and, more importantly, to the people who live here.”

“Precisely.” Gigi gave a morose nod.

Xenia hesitated. “This may not be my place to say…”

“Do speak freely, dear.”

“As a woman married to a man who likes to, ahem, dig his heels in?—”

“Ethan can be as stubborn as an ox,” Gigi said. “You might as well say it.”

“Well, your Mr. Godwin strikes me as a man who is similar in this regard. And from personal experience, I can say that issuing an ultimatum to an obstinate fellow is unlikely to be productive,” Xenia said earnestly. “Your threat to end your marriage might have led Mr. Godwin to feel backed into a corner. Therefore, he attacked you when, instead, he should have tried to work out a compromise.”

Gigi mulled over the confrontation.

“I was hurt and angry,” she confessed. “Because of that, I wasn’t the best of listeners. And I think…I think I did lash out at him.”

“You had reason to feel as you did,” Xenia said.

However, the more Gigi reflected upon her behavior, the more she regretted it.

“Conrad is obstinate, but he learned to be that way because of his past. He’s had to fight to survive. People—evil people—have had him against the ropes time and again, and only his determination saved him.”

Oh my stars. Did I corner Conrad, emotionally speaking? Did I escalate our conflict?

“Once cooler heads have prevailed, it will be easier to have a constructive conversation,” Xenia said. “You may come to an understanding yet.”

“I hope you are right.” Gigi sighed. “Do you want to know the greatest irony? I thought that he and I were like Thomas and Rosalinda. That, despite our differences, we were destined to be together…destined to meet here in Chuddums. I even thought that…that…”

“Yes, dear?” Xenia murmured.

“I thought that maybe our love was going to help break the curse.” A tear slid down her cheek. “Yet instead of saving Chuddums, I have helped to destroy it.”

Xenia put an arm around her shoulders. “Speak to Mr. Godwin first. Wait until he tells you his intentions before jumping to conclusions.”

“And if my fears come to pass?” she asked tearfully. “If Conrad chooses his vengeance over our marriage?”

“Then you will deal with that if it happens. With your family by your side.”

“ Ad Finem Fidelis .” Evie passed her a handkerchief.

“Thank you both.” Drying her cheeks, Gigi summoned a smile. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

The trio wandered through the square, which was ominously quiet. Since the news had broken that Mr. Pearce had lost everything, including his properties in Chuddums, anxious despair had gripped the village. Gigi knew the feeling. She felt as empty as some of the shop windows, as cold as the breeze that swirled up dried leaves and deposited them along the base of the now obsolete monument.

To distract herself, Gigi focused on Evie. While lovely, Evie wasn’t the chattiest of ladies, which made it difficult to ascertain the situation between her and James. Moreover, when the conversation veered toward more personal topics, Evie deftly redirected it to her work. Gigi was getting an earful about the critical role of pollination when Mrs. Sommers came hurrying toward them.

“Is something amiss, Mrs. Sommers?” she asked.

“Forgive my manners, but I am afraid there is.” The modiste darted her gaze over the square. “Have you seen Kenneth? He was supposed to come back to the shop for lunch, but he did not show.”

“We haven’t seen him,” Gigi said. “But we would be glad to help you look.”

“Thank you. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t intrude, but my poor boy has been targeted by bullies?—”

“Say no more,” Xenia said. “Let us split up to cover more ground.”

Xenia paired with Mrs. Sommers and Gigi with Evie. After seeing no sign of Kenny on their side of the square, Gigi led the way to the streets behind it.

“Conrad once caught bullies beating Kenny in one of the back lanes,” she said anxiously. “Maybe the poor lad was cornered there again.”

They searched a couple of alleyways to no avail. As they explored a third, Gigi had to cover her nose to block the stench coming from the large piles of rubbish. Suddenly, a figure materialized at the end of the lane. Gigi’s heart raced as he came closer and she recognized him: the waiter from the gala. He held a gun.

“Run, Evie,” she gasped.

She and Evie turned—but another man had emerged, blocking that path. Beefy and menacing, he, too, aimed a pistol at them. They were trapped.

“The first one to make a peep gets a bullet through her brains,” he said.

Gigi was about to scream anyway when she was grabbed from behind, a cloth shoved in her face. Sickly sweet fumes choked her. An instant later, she tumbled into oblivion.

When Gigi came to, she found herself sitting on the ground. She tried to move but couldn’t. Looking down, she saw ropes circling her arms and torso, binding her to a column. Groggy and confused, she tried to figure out where she was and how she’d come to be here. Panic swelled when she made out beastly shapes lurking in the dimness and the flutter of ghostly forms. Her cry of fear was muffled by her gag.

“Look who is awake,” said a strangely familiar voice.

A woman holding a lamp approached, her face hidden by the hood of her cloak. As she traversed the high-ceilinged space, the lamp illuminated passing objects. The shadowy forms weren’t animals but old machines…broken looms and spinning mules once used to produce textiles. And the hovering ghosts were remnants of cloth left on the looms.

I’m at the old mill. In a flash, everything returned to Gigi. Evie and I were looking for Kenny when those bounders kidnapped us. Dear heavens, where is Evie now?

Looking wildly around, she spotted her sister-in-law bound to another pole. Evie was slumped over, her blonde hair loose and falling over her face. The slow rise and fall of her chest showed that she was alive— thank heavens .

The woman stopped in front of Gigi. Crouching, she pulled down Gigi’s gag.

“Don’t try to scream,” she said. “I have a pistol, and I am not afraid to use it.”

Shock percolated through Gigi as she stared at her captor.

“Lady Anne?” she said hoarsely. “I don’t…I don’t understand. Why have you done this?”

“Because my papa is too ill to act and my mama too weak.” Anne rose in a graceful movement. “Your husband is trying to destroy my family, and I cannot allow that to happen.”

“You…you were behind that falling statue?” Gigi asked in disbelief.

“If the numskull I hired had done his job properly, then Mr. Godwin’s death would have looked like an accident. In a perfect world, the knowledge of his claim to my family’s title would have died with him. Instead, I had to deal with a botched murder attempt and an uncle who threatened to take away everything from me.”

Anger overcame Gigi’s fear. “Conrad has a right to the title. Your papa was the one who tried to take away his birthright.” A thought occurred to her. “How long have you known that Conrad is your papa’s brother?”

“For some time,” Anne said mildly. “During bouts of delirium, Papa spoke of his younger half-brother Christian. He confessed his sins—the beatings, the sentencing to Creavey Hall. Mama insisted it was Papa’s illness talking, that he would never be capable of such malevolence. Making excuses for him is one of her hobbies. I, however, have never been one to bury my head in the sand. I sold off my jewels to hire an investigator. His discovery that Conrad Godwin was my long-lost uncle coincided with the latter’s arrival in London. I knew that Godwin must have some plan up his sleeve.”

“Did you tell your father about this?”

“Why would I bother?” Anne said coldly. “The entire situation is of his making. Even before his illness, he never protected me, my mama, or my sisters from harm. He emptied the duchy’s coffers, spending it on whores, horses, and cards, with never a thought for us. For anyone but himself. Now he will die alone in a cell, ravaged by a disgusting disease—fitting, I suppose.”

Anne’s indifference raised the hairs on Gigi’s nape.

“He is your papa. While he has committed unpardonable sins, have you no feelings for him?”

Anne tilted her head. “Not really, no. During my time on the marriage mart, he complained about every expense, watched every penny. He called me a ‘bad investment’ because he claimed I lacked the beauty, charm, and wit to attract a suitor.” She scoffed. “What I really needed to land a husband was a dowry, but Papa would rather spend money on the harlots who gave him syphilis than the daughter who could give him grandchildren.”

When you put it that way…

Gigi pitied everyone who had the misfortune to be born into Robert Beaufort’s sphere.

“I even came up with a plan to save us all. I was the one who approached Mr. Stockton and planted the idea of becoming his wife. I was the one who endured his tedious conversation. I even allowed his advances since they were accompanied by secret gifts I could sell to fund my campaign against Mr. Godwin.” Anger blazed in Anne’s eyes. “Yet the instant Mr. Stockton learned he would not be duke, he reneged on his promises. He abandoned me, just as Papa did.”

“That is Mr. Stockton’s fault, not Mr. Godwin’s,” Gigi pointed out.

“They are both to blame.”

Anne’s crafty expression sent a chill down Gigi’s spine.

“After I have dispensed with Mr. Godwin, my original plan will come into play. Mr. Stockton will become the duke, and I his wife. And if he were to have an accident a few months after the wedding…” Anne trailed off delicately. “I must confess that the life of a wealthy widowed duchess holds a certain appeal.”

She means it. She is mad and means to kill anyone she perceives as an obstacle—including Conrad. You cannot let that happen.

Gigi swallowed. “Dispensing with Mr. Godwin will not be as easy as it sounds. After all, you already failed once?—”

“Twice, actually. Do not forget the carriage collision,” Anne said. “Mr. Godwin is indeed a formidable opponent. I suspected that he must have something nefarious planned for me and my family, for why else would he have kept silent on his claim to the duchy? I enlisted my dearest childhood friend, Isobel, to discover his plans. Alas, even she, who has a talent for manipulating men, could not uncover his scheme. I could not take any chances, which led to the two, and unfortunately failed, attempts on his life.

“When Mr. Godwin came to the ball and unveiled his plan to destroy my family, I nearly panicked. But then I realized that all was not lost. When I saw you and Mr. Godwin together, I knew I had found his Achilles’ heel. His one weakness—you.”

Gigi remembered Conrad’s impassioned declaration: You, on the other hand, are everything. Not only will I be true, but I will also protect you with my dying breath. These are vows I’ve never given to any woman. Never wanted to, until I met you.

Her heart raced because she knew that while Conrad had lied about other things, he hadn’t lied about loving her. He would come after her. And he would do whatever was necessary to save her…including risking his own life.

“Don’t do this?—”

Anne retied the gag, smothering her words.

“Enough talking now,” Anne said. “Your husband will be here soon, and I must prepare for his arrival.”