“Yes, ma’am,” he said, inclining his head and leaving the room. Finally alone, Juliet vented her fury in another earth-shattering scream, and retrieved the letter. The two lines had been written by a hand clearly ill-used to holding a pen.
The Duke met with an accident, the note ran.His family left for the country. Looks serious.
Met with an accident. Juliet had been around long enough to know what lay behind those simple words; and if the Duke’s family had left Town to see him, including the sister with a new baby, it must be serious.
Montague had not visited since the day of the picnic.
She hadn’t expected him to, considering she had handed him the drink that had soalmostkilled the new Duchess, but his continued absence with this news only meant one thing.
He had been responsible for this. For acquainting Nathanial with hisaccident.
Really, it had only been a matter of time before he tried something drastic, but she had thought their agreement to prevent his marriage from producing an heir, would have been of more use to her.
Before she left for the carriage, she tucked a small pistol in her purse and changed into a drab dress, a veil over her face. Now Montague had reached the end of his usefulness, she would have to ensure he wouldn’t do anything else drastic.
Montague’s apartment on James Street was dim and still when she arrived. If she hadn’t known he had nowhere else to go, she might have suspected he, too, had left Town for the summer. As it was, however, she presumed he was merely recovering from a late night of excess.
“Tell Sir Montague that a lady is here to see him,” she said as she swept past the butler and took stock. It was a regular bachelor’s house, and after a little deliberation, she walked through to the study. All she would have to do was beg himto take a walk with her, and as soon as they were somewhere undisturbed, she would shoot him and run for a constable.
Or perhaps she would shoot him here and now and have done with it. No servants knew who she was, and she would be able to slip from the house easily enough. Once outside, she could hire a cab.
The door opened and Montague entered the small space. She had forgotten how tall he was, and for a moment she wondered if one shot would be enough. The pistol was small and she couldn’t risk his survival.
“Well,” he said, a sardonic smile on his lips. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
“I thought you must have heard,” she said, sliding a hand inside her reticule. “Nathanial’s family have rushed to the country after a certain accident.”
His brows rose. “An accident?”
“Well no, Montague. I don’t believe it was.”
He had the audacity to look almost amused as he strolled forwards, and she fumbled for the trigger. “So you presume I’m responsible for my dear cousin’s hunting accident?”
“Hunting?” This time, it was her turn to raise an eyebrow, though her heart pounded in her mouth. “I had not known it was while hunting.”
“Where else might he be shot?”
“Do not pretend you were ignorant of this.”
“I hardly see what business it is of mine,” he said languidly.
“Of course you would deny everything, even to me.” Anger replaced her fear, and she strode in short, frustrated circles, her skirts swirling around her legs. “Even to me, you will not be honest.”
Montague raised a brow. “Even to you? What do you suppose you have done to gain my trust?”
“We had a common goal.”
His hand flashed out and caught hold of her wrist, pulling her into him. “You made a mistake coming here,” he murmured.
“Do not think to lectureme,” she snapped. “I will do as I please.”
“I’m afraid I can’t allow that. Not after the last time you took matters into your own hands.”
Her heart stuttered. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Liar,” he said, in a low, seductive voice one might use on a lover. “I was most impressed, you know, with your gall in handingmethe poisoned lemonade.”
“Is that what you think?” This conversation wasn’t going the way she had planned, and although her free hand was wrapped around her pistol, her skin was so slick with sweat, she half thought it would slide from her grasp.
