North chuckled. “That is where you and I differ, Warrington. I see this as exactly the opportunity to right what has been wronged.”
At the sight of Cassandra’s fear, fresh anger seared through him. He would not argue with this man. Not while he had a pistol pointed at Cassandra. “What is it you want?”
“My inheritance.Mine.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“Oh, it makes all the sense in the world. Rest assured, I will get what I am owed. You will see to that. You’re going to give me the equivalent.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Aren’t you?” North lifted the pistol again and clicked his tongue. “A pity. I guess she’ll just have to come with me until I feel compensated, one way or the other. But if we leave, you must know you will never hear from either of us again. So what will it be?”
The reality of this man’s vile words sank in. “You would never get away with something like that.”
North jerked Cassandra up by the arm.
Fresh fear flashed across her features.
James took a step forward, and North tightened his grip on her.
He had to think. His couldn’t reach his pistol. He had some money he could give him and Elizabeth’s jewelry, but it was nowherenear the amount the land was worth. He had to try. “There, there is my strongbox. Behind you. I’ll open it. The contents are yours.”
Suddenly a high-pitched voice cried from the chamber’s entrance, “Let her go!”
They all whirled to see Rachel in the doorway, a pistol of her own pointed at North.
A flurry of activity burst forth.
Cassandra, taking advantage of the break in concentration, pushed on North’s arm, shoving the pistol upward.
It discharged and a bullet hit the ceiling. Plaster rained down on them in heavy, powdery chards.
Cassandra then bit North’s hand. He howled.
Seizing his opportunity, James lunged toward North and shoved him to the ground, pinning him until he could smack the gun away.
Cassandra grabbed the dropped pistol and then rushed to Rachel.
With the weapon eliminated the men continued to fight. They were physically evenly matched, until at length, James landed a punch on North’s jaw and he fell back, stunned. James lunged forward again, turned North over, and pinned his arms behind him. He thrashed, but James’s grip was firm.
“A rope, quickly!”
Within minutes Rachel returned with a curtain tie. With Cassandra pointing the gun at North, James secured him to the chair, and then he took control of the gun from Cassandra.
“Well,” James huffed, his breath heavy from the exertion, forcing North’s stare. “It seems we’ve had quite the turn of events.”
Chapter 43
It was nearing dawn when Shepard and two constables finally quit Briarton Park with Mr. North in tow. Fog curtained the courtyard, and as Cassandra inched closer to James, she could feel his warmth.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and she leaned into him.
It was over.
Mr. North—Mr. Longham’s murderer—was being taken into custody by the authorities, and James Warrington—the man who now held her future—stood strong next to her.
“So Robert Clark’s deathbed confession was at the root of all of this.” James shook his head. “Unbelievable.”
